15 dead in Budgam landslide, boy still buried

Fayaz Bukhari/
Gopal Sharma

Srinagar/Jammu, Mar 31: The holding up of weather for past 40 hours has reduced the flood threat in Kashmir valley but there is no let up in the panic as weatherman has forecast fresh spell of rains for three days. And rescuers in Budgam village retrieved 15 bodies from a house that was buried under landslide yesterday.
The water level of Jhelum in Srinagar has reduced from 19.70 feet to 16.70 feet in last 32 hours which is below flood level. According to Chief Engineer Irrigation and Flood Control Department, the water level of Jhelum was 16.7 feet at Ram Munshibagh at 10 p.m. and 13.5 feet at Sangam.
The reduction in water level has brought respite to people but the rains that have started again tonight have again caused panic. Residents of Kandizal in Pulwama where Jhelum bund is cut in case of increased water level in the river are much worried. They are manning the bund round the clock to prevent its breach or cutting and the last time when it was cut to prevent flooding in Srinagar was way back in 1997.
Hilal Ahmad, a resident of Kandizal said that the villagers are first victims if the bund is cut to divert the water from river Jhelum to save Srinagar city from flooding. He said that yesterday when water level was rising police, Army and district administration planted mines to blast off the bund but the villagers resisted.
But the Government has taken a decision if the water level rises again due to three day spell of rains starting from tonight the bund will be cut. These people are much worried as are the people who are living on the left side of the river Jhelum.
Director Meteorological Department Srinagar, Sonam Lotus, told Excelsior that wet weather will prevail over the State for next three days. He said that there will  be moderate to heavy rains during this period.
The panic caused by the fresh rains has led to deserted market places in Lal Chowk, Jawahar Nagar, Rajbagh, Hari Singh High Street, Goni Khan and other places as the shopkeepers have shifted their goods to safer locations three days back when the flood alert was declared two days back.
Irfan Ahmad who sells readymade garments in M A Road said:”We will shift the goods to our shops after the fresh rain spell is over. Memories of last year’s floods are fresh in our minds and we don’t want to take any chance.”
Majority of the people who were caught in floods last year have shifted to safer locations along with the belongings. “We will not return till the fresh spell of rains is over”, said Mohammad Abbas of Rajbagh who lives with his relatives in old city.
There are still water logging problems at few places in Srinagar and other areas. The National Highway at Pampore is still water logged despite no rains for last 44 hours. As a large portion of the highway in Pampore is under water people have to use arduous alternate routes.
Schools and colleges have been closed across the Valley in view of the flood threat while ongoing examinations have been postponed by BOSE.
However, University of Kashmir will hold examinations as per schedule from tomorrow in view of the improving flood situation, an official of the varsity said.
In the meantime, rescue operation continued at Laden village in the Central Kashmir district of Budgam, and rescuers have found 15 bodies from house that was buried under mudslide. For whole day they were searching for the body of 10-year-old Faisal who is buried under the house in which he was sleeping with his family members Sunday night.
Rescuers had narrow escape today when they were digging the earth to retrieve the body of the boy and a landslide again hit the place. However, they continued searches and have decided against using the earth movers and will go for manual search.
The 15 recovered bodies were buried this afternoon and a large number of people participated in their funeral. Those laid to rest are eight siblings including five sisters Naseema (18) and Shugufta (15), Bisma (9), Shahida (16), Fareeda (14) and three brothers Bilal Ahmad (13), Mohammad Iqbal (12) and Reyaz Ahmad (22) and their parents Ghulam Nabi Hajam, Zaina Begum. Others include Mohammad Shaban, his wife Ruksana (21), their son Mohammad Aslam (24 days) and two sisters of Mohammad Shaban, Shehmeeza (9) and Naseema (18) (daughters of Laldin Hajam).
Lala Hajam’s family had shifted to their neighbours house as they feared that their house will collapse due to sinking of land but they ran out of luck as death followed them. He and his four family members were among the 16 persons who were buried alive.
The authorities have warned landslides in hills of Kashmir due to incessant rains and have asked people to shift to safer places in the slide prone areas. The Deputy Commissioner Shopian has advised the people living in the areas of Kellar, Zampatheri, Phalipora, Dunaroo, Bataphogen, Mujpatheri, Kreachipathri, Heerpora Duchana, Ringward, Devpora, Kathuhallan, Shahlatoo and all the upper reaches of district Shopian to take precautionary measures to avoid any mishap and loss of human lives. They have been asked to move to the nearest stable and safe structures in case there is any apprehension of landslides, land slips and land erosion.
And the Police and civil administration today continued to evacuate people from landslide and flood prone areas. Policeman across the valley are being deployed to assist the administration in strengthening the bunds wherever it is observed to be weak and digging drains to siphon out water from water logged areas.
Police in Shopian today evacuated 46 persons including children and ladies from landslide prone area of Ringward, Kellar. Police cleared the clogged streams to prevent triggering of landslides in the area. Police and civil administration is closely monitoring the situation in the area.
Six houses in Kondbal, Safapora developed cracks, Ganderbal police and the local administration evacuated 39 inmates to a safe location in a nearby Middle school. Ganderbal police also assisted the locals after a gate on a channel leaked water in the adjoining area. The gate was restored and the leak was sealed.
In South Kashmir, NDRF contingent consisting 46 persons reached South Kashmir Flood Control Room in Anantnag, today. Police and District administration that oversees the flood operations divided the NDRF contingent along with the SDRF teams into three teams and were deployed at three different flood prone areas.
The first team was dispatched to Bijbehara under the command of SDPO Bijbehara that will manage and operate the flood situations in Shamsipora, Arwani, Tulkhun and adjacent areas. Second team under the command of SHO Police Station Anantnag will assess and operate in flood prone areas of village Dantar, Mir Dantar, Pushwari, T B Shah Muniward and the third team under the command of DSP Anantnag was deputed in Seepan area and will mange villages Anzwala, Mirgund, Chee, Arder, Matipora and Aung.
Seven families consisting 40 persons were evacuated and shifted to Middle School Arhal after a landslide hit Arhal Gandpora in Kokernag area. Two residential houses were damaged during the night at Sunbari Kokernag due to landslide. Police and civil administration is keeping a close watch in the area
At Kakpora, Pulwama near Naman road drain was dug by police to drain out water from an inundated locality.
In North Kashmir’s Baramulla district, Baramulla in co-ordination with civil administration has evacuated 101 families consisting 461 people across the district from landslide prone areas and were shifted to various safer places during past three days.
Seven families consisting 28 people were evacuated from Khan Mohalla Chandoosa and were shifted to Panchayat Ghar Chandoosa. One family consisting 8 people were evacuated from Rajpora Chandoosa and were shifted to the house of relatives at Rajpora Chandoosa. Four families consisting of 32 people were evacuated from Lateefabad Chandoosa and were shifted to the house of relatives at Lateefabad Chandoosa. Fifty families consisting 150 people were evacuated from Baila Salamabad Chandoosa and were shifted to temporary huts located at dumping area. 10 families consisting of 55 souls were evacuated from Limber Boniyar and were shifted to the house of relatives at Limber Boniyar.
In Tangmarg area four families consisting 25 people were evacuated from Treran Tangmarg and were shifted to Panchayat Ghar Treran. Six employees of stone crushers were evacuated in Shrai Mohalla Tangmarg and were shifted to safer places. Both the places were inundated due to flash floods.
In Pattan area, eight families consisting 56 people were evacuated from Matipora Pattan and were shifted to the house of relatives at Matipora Pattan. Nine families consisting 60 people were evacuated from Tantraypora Pattan and were shifted to the house of relatives at Tantraypora Pattan. Eight families consisting 41 people were evacuated from Mahrajpora Pattan and were shifted to the house of relatives at Mahrajpora Pattan.
Police in Bandiproa assisted the locals to restore a bund at Bangitaar, Hajin to prevent breech in river Jehlum and deployed its men to keep a close vigil in the bunds during the night.
The incessant rains and melting of snow coupled with rise in temperatures has increased the chances of landslides and erosion of land masses in all areas which are sleepy and hilly in nature and the weather outlook for April 01 to April 03, 2015 may further aggravate the situation.
Meanwhile with little improvement in the weather , the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway was cleared by the BRO authorities today while reports of 16 houses collapse have been received from Mahore area of Reasi and killing of 12 goats from Rajouri.
Reports said that the fresh land slides at Kheri near Udhampur, Gangroo, Magarkote, Higni Digdol, Sherbibi, Panthal and Shaitani Nallah in Ramban district were cleared by the BRO and National Highway authorities early today and most of the   Kashmir and Doda-Kishtwar bound vehicles were cleared. The Batote- Kishtwar road was also blocked at several points for the last three days and now traffic has been restored.
IG Traffic, J P Singh told the Excelsior  that all the stranded passengers at Jammu were cleared as 1200 passenger vehicles  and 1900 trucks, tankers and other load carriers were allowed to move towards Kashmir today. He said during the day, the weather remained better but now in the evening, the rain has again started in the hilly areas. But till this evening, the highway was clear.
Mr Singh said about 140 vehicles of  tourists had been stranded for the last two days on that side of Jawahar Tunnel  and these people were also allowed to move towards Jammu this evening.  The decision about the down or the up convoy on April 1st, will be taken up tomorrow morning after reviewing the over all situation. The road from Batote to Doda and Kishtwar has also been cleared and the traffic restored today, the IGP said.
Meanwhile, a Met spokesman  predicted rain and thunder storm in most of the areas of the region in next 24 hours. He said that the weather would improve after three days.
At Banihal, two shops and a house were damaged due to fresh land slides at Khan Mohalla at the same location where seven shops were damaged yesterday. The power supply to many areas of Ramban and Banihal has been snapped and Ramban-Gool road continued to be blocked for the last three days.
The body of truck driver who was washed away in flooded Nallah in Pancheri area of Udhampur could not be traced till today. The police and family members were searching for the body at the downstream.
Reports from Reasi said that about 16 houses have been collapsed in Mahore area while three families of Gulabo, Ghulam Qadir and Abdul Rashid  were shifted to a nearby Govt School as their houses came in the grip of sliding zone at Tuksan village. The victims were also provided assistance by the local administration. Mahore-Chasana and Mahore-Gulabgarh roads were also still blocked while Reasi-Mahore link was cleared today.
Reports from Poonch and Rajouri said that about half a dozen houses were partially collapsed  today while 12 goats of a nomad were killed at Gai Panjal near remote Badoon area last night. These goats came under land slides while a villager was also injured. Identified as Liaqat ali, son of Abdul Aziz, he had been referred to GMC Hospital Jammu from Rajouri hospital.
The power infrastructure in Surankote, Mandi, Mendhar, Thannamandi, Kotranka and Kalakote areas besides Mahore, Arnas, Ramban, Dudu-Basantgarh, Chenani and Doda  has been damaged due to rains and land slides. A large number of power transformers have also been damaged and department is facing difficulty in getting such large number of transformers repaired from own workshops. The rain and hailstorm has also caused damage to the crops in Jammu, Samba and Kathua belts besides parts of Udhampur and Reasi districts.

*Govt accuses NC of playing politics over bodies

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Mar 31: Government today faced embarrassment in the Legislative Assembly as two MLAs of the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) joined the Opposition in protest over ‘undue delay’ in rescue operations in the wake of recent floods in Kashmir valley and then staged walkout. Even several members of Coalition partner Bharatiya Janata Party were not satisfied over the administration’s response to situation arisen due to rainfall in different parts of Jammu region.
As soon as proceedings of the House started, all the legislators of National Conference and Congress started protest over, what they alleged, ‘inadequate’ response to the prevailing situation and ‘undue delay’ in the rescue operations particularly in Budgam district where 15 bodies were retrieved from the debris.
In the meanwhile, some BJP MLAs too started protest and said that in many areas the administration has not reached the affected populace. They demanded that directions should be issued to the official machinery for prompt response to the people in distress.
The Government faced major embarrassment when two PDP MLAs—Zahoor Mir and Mushtaq Ahmed left their seats and moved near the Well of the House in protest against non-availability of dewatering pumps in their respective constituencies.
Though Speaker, Kavinder Gupta and Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Basharat Bukhari, tried to convince the Opposition MLAs as well as those of PDP that Government would apprise the House about latest development but their efforts failed to bring order.
“We had given prior information to the Government about the situation in Budgam but the Government was insensitive towards the lives of people. If they had acted in a timely manner so many lives could have been saved”, National Conference MLA, Ali Mohammad Sagar said.
Another National Conference MLA, Mubarak Gul said, “it is because of the Government’s slackness that so many people have lost lives in Budgam”, adding “by not taking the issue raised on the floor of Assembly seriously, the Government has also shown disrespect to the House”.
Amidst continuous protest from the Opposition MLAs as well as two PDP Legislators, who refused to return to their seats despite directions from the Chair, Minister for Haj and Auqaf, Abdul Rehman Veeri said, “we appreciate your concern but at the same time you must be thankful to the Government for its prompt response to the situation”, adding “Chief Minister himself rushed to Srinagar from Union Capital and personally visited different parts of Srinagar city to take stock of the situation”.
“Where were your Ministers during September 2014 floods”, he shouted at Opposition, adding “at that time Government was completely missing but this time we wasted no time in reaching out the affected people”. He further said that adequate amount has been kept at the disposal of Divisional Commissioners of Kashmir and Jammu for relief and rescue operations.
Pointing towards the protest of PDP MLAs near Well of the House, National Conference MLA, Nazir Ahmed Gurezi said, “your own MLAs are not satisfied with the Government’s response to the situation”. Amidst Nikami Sarkar Hai Hai slogans, all the Opposition MLAs staged walk-out. They were followed by both the PDP MLAs.
Later, talking to media-persons outside the Assembly, Mubarak Gul said, “so many people have died because of the negligent attitude of this Government. Timely action could have saved these lives but unfortunately they didn’t do anything”.
He said that the Government was informed that people were living in a vulnerable house and were required to be shifted. “The entire village where these people have died is mourning the loss and the Government is not concerned about their woes”, another NC MLA Ali Mohammed Sagar said.
Accusing the Central Government of showing insensitivity towards the flood-hit people, CPI (M) MLA M Y Tarigami said that Union Government must share the responsibility and come forward to help in rescue and rehabilitation of the affected people.
“Government of India in my opinion does not seem to be serious, they have not treated us at par with other flood-hit States. They have released only Rs 200 crore, which we feel is highly insufficient”, he said.
Congress Legislature Party leader Rigzin Jora expressed disappointment with the response of the Government towards the situation facing the State in view of incessant rains. He accused the Coalition of wasting two months in Government formation, which could have been utilized for rehabilitation and reconstruction.
He warned the Government to be serious in dealing with the impending dangers so that precious lives and properties can be saved.
However, Minister for Education, Naeem Akhtar, while talking to reporters outside the Assembly, accused the Opposition particularly National Conference of playing politics over the sufferings of the people.
“The allegation of misleading the House is baseless. There was no casualty when the Chief Minister made a statement in the House and at that time rescue operation was going on”, he further said, adding “it is unfortunate that National Conference is playing politics over the bodies of people”.
Later, Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Syed Basharat Bukhari presented a detailed status report on the incident of land erosion in village Laden of Tehsil Chadoora in the House.
He said 221 families were evacuated from various areas and lodged in the tents provided by the district administration and also in the Government buildings situated in safer places in the respective areas. All the necessary steps to provide free ration, water and basic amenities were taken so as to ensure that the evacuated people do not face any sort of inconvenience.
However, 64 families preferred to stay with their relatives and did not avail the facility of staying in tents or Government buildings. He said the spot where the ill fated incident took place leading to death of 16 persons was also visited by the Deputy Commissioner, Budgam, along with the locals of the area. He said the locals had informed the Deputy Commissioner that the spot was not vulnerable to any land erosion or landside.
“Till now 15 dead bodies have been recovered and one body is yet to be retrieved for which the efforts were on”, he said.

Sanjeev Pargal

JAMMU, Mar 31:  In a major bid to promote tourism in Jammu, Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, who holds charge of the Tourism Department has called upon the legislators, heads of Tourist Development Authorities (TDAs) and senior officers of the Department to come out with detailed list of unexplored areas in the region to develop them as new tourist destinations to attract the tourists.
He has also asked the TDA heads and legislators to come out with list of unexplored tourist destinations and steps to develop them to attract tourists in these areas apart from more facilities required in known tourist stations to further promote them.
These directions were passed by the Chief Minister while reviewing performances of TDAs of Jammu division here last night.
“There were several areas, which can attract tourists, but they have not been promoted and lacked facilities necessary for the tourism,’’ he reportedly said in the meeting and called upon officers of the Tourism Department, heads of TDAs and legislators to come out with detailed list of these areas and ways and means by which they can be promoted to attract the tourists.
Mufti Sayeed is reported to have proposed water sports in Ranjit Sagar dam in Kathua district and Baglihar in Ramban district and construction of huts there to facilitate tourists. He said the tourists can be attracted in a big way for water sports, which will boost local economy.
He called for speedy work on artificial lake in river Tawi and ropeway projects at Mubarak Mandi and Patnitop and development of an International Yoga Centre at Mantalai, once the Ashram of Yog Guru Dhrinder Brahamchari. He said Mantalai can also be linked to ropeway project.
According to him, there were several untapped areas in Bhaderwah and Kishtwar including Jai, Poonch and Rajouri districts and other parts of Jammu including Bani, Basohli and Billawar, which can be sold to the tourists as major sites of attraction once the facilities were generated there.
The Chief Minister proposed “mission mode” to attract tourists this season in Jammu region which has potential equivalent to that of Kashmir but has remained untapped.
The State Government is also working towards promoting Jammu as an independent tourist destination and plans to bring the region’s Dogra heritage into focus as mentioned in the Common Minimum Programme of the PDP-BJP coalition Government.
“The tourism potential of Jammu is equal to that of Kashmir…The J&K Tourism Department will work in mission mode to attract leisure tourists this season,” Mufti said.
Calling for collaborated efforts by stakeholders to showcase various recreational places in Jammu as one summer package for tourists, he said the initiative to sell Jammu as an independent tourist destination has already been set into motion.
Referring to several recreational and historical places in Jammu region which have not been showcased so far, Mufti said places like Ranjit Sagar Dam in Lakhanpur-Sarthal, Sanasar and Baglihar Dam in Patnitop, Surinsar and Mansar lakes in Udhampur and Samba, Sinthan Top, Warwan in Kishtwar, Shahdara Sharief in Rajouri, Budha Amarnath and the seven lakes in Poonch have to be sold in a big way this season to promote Jammu as a “destination with recreational abundance”.
During the meeting, Mufti took a detailed feedback from all the Ministers, MLAs and MLCs to promote Jammu as one tourism package. “If tourism has to flourish, we have to have right linkages at the right places,” he said.
The Chief Minister said he will personally monitor the occupancy levels of all TDAs this season. “We cannot afford to keep infrastructure at these places idle. Our Tourism Authorities have to be professionally managed so that these become self-sustained,” Mufti Sayeed said and added that improving occupancy levels will be the top priority of the Government.
Mufti said in the long-term, the Government will need to draw a map to develop high-end tourism infrastructure also so that we cater to a totally new class of overseas and domestic visitors.
Speaking on the occasion, Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh laid stress on bringing on the main stage Jammu’s Dogra heritage which has also been mentioned in the Common Minimum Programme of the coalition Government.
“Besides heritage tourism, Jammu’s border tourism potential also needs to be explored in a big way,” he said.
The CEOs of Poonch, Rajouri, Patnitop, Bhaderwah, Kishtwar, Surinsar-Mansar and Lakhanpur-Sarthal Development Authorities briefed the Chief Minister about the present status of their Authorities.
Deputy Chief Minister, Dr Nirmal Singh, Minister for Health and Medical Education Lal Singh, Minister for CAPD, Ch Zulfikar, Minister of State for Transport, Abdul Gani Kohli and Minister of State, Public Works and R&B Sunil Sharma participated in the meeting, which lasted over four hours.
The MLAs and MLCs who also attended the meeting included GM Saroori, Javed Rana, Devender Rana, Shakti Parihar, Daleep Parihar, Neelam Langeh, Rajiv Jasrotia, Jeevan Lal, Qamar Hussein, Shah Mohammad Tantray, Neelam Kumar, Dina Nath Bhagat, Davinder Manyal, Firdous Ahmad Tak, Ranbeer Singh Pathania, Sham Lal Baghat, Jahangir Hussain Mir, Dr. Shahnaz Ganai, Naresh Kumar Gupta and Yashpal Sharma.
Commissioner/Secretary Tourism, Shailendra Kumar, Director Tourism, Jammu, RK Verma, MD JKTDC and Director Tourism, Kashmir, Farooq A Shah and Deputy Commissioners of Samba, Udhampur, Kathua and Rajouri districts also attended the meeting.

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Mar 31: The Government today categorically ruled out denying reservations to Scheduled Castes anvalley, where there was no population of SCs saying Jammu and Kashmir belongs to all citizens of the State and no one can be debarred under Jammu and Kashmir Constitution from extending benefits of 8 per cent reservation to SCs in any district.
The Legislative Assembly after brief debate and reply by two Ministers including Rural Development Minister Abdul Haq Khan and Social Welfare and Forest Minister Bali Bhagat rejected the private member’s bill moved by Independent MLA from Langate Engineer Abdul Rashid, which proposed that since there were no SCs in the Kashmir Valley they shouldn’t be given benefits of 8 per cent reservation in district and divisional cadre posts there.
As Haq Khan opposed the bill, Rashid reminded him that he along with his party MLAs had protested in the Assembly and gave call for Kupwara bandh when reservation to SCs and STs was extended in all districts of the State.
The bill proposed that there should be no reservation to SC/STs, where they had no population. Further, it said, there should be one time promotion to SC/STs and not promotions after promotions.
Responding to the bill, Social Welfare and Forests Minister Bali Bhagat said Jammu and Kashmir belongs to all citizens of the State.
“As per Jammu and Kashmir Constitutions, 8 per cent reservation has been extended to SCs in the entire State and not the districts or the area, where they reside,’’ he said, adding population wise reservation to the SCs is not feasible as there can be 40 per cent population of SCs in Jammu or any other district but that doesn’t mean that they will get 40 per cent reservation in jobs in that district.
“Reservation to SC/STs has been implemented in entire country. Jammu and Kashmir can’t be an exception. The previous Government had taken a good step by implementing reservation to SC/STs in all districts of the State. That decision can’t be revoked,’’ Bhagat said.
Rashid was, however, of the view that reservation to SC/STs should be confined to only those areas, where they live and not the Kashmir Valley or any other areas of the State, where they have zero population.
Speaker Kavinder Gupta later asked Engineer Rashid as to whether he was pressing his private member’s bill for introduction in the House or withdrawing it after the Minister’s reply.
Rashid pressed the bill for introduction and the Assembly rejected it by voice vote. Only Rashid votes in favour of the bill.

Financial indiscipline galore as deptts not acting on CAG findings

Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Mar 31: In what could be termed as height of insensitivity towards grave financial indiscipline and loss to the Government, majority of the departments in Jammu and Kashmir are acting as mute spectator to whopping financial irregularities being pointed out by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) instead of taking corrective measures to revamp the system. Moreover, several autonomous bodies are showing reluctance year after year in submission of annual accounts for the audit despite getting grants worth hundreds of crores from the Government.
The audit process of CAG starts with the risk assessment of various departments, autonomous bodies, schemes/projects, criticality/ complexity of activities, level of delegated financial powers, internal controls and concerns of stakeholders and previous audit findings.
Based on this risk assessment, the frequency and extent of audit are decided and an annual audit plan is formulated. After completion of audit, Inspection Report containing audit findings is issued to the head of the office for furnishing replies within one month. Whenever replies are received, audit findings are either settled or further action for compliance is advised.
During the last few years, CAG has reported on several significant deficiencies in implementation of various programmes/activities as well as on the quality of internal controls in selected departments, which have negative impact on the success of programmes and functioning of the departments. The focus was on auditing the specific programmes/schemes and to offer suitable recommendations to the executive for taking corrective action and improving service delivery to the citizens.
Five Performance Audits and 36 Paragraphs proposed to be included in the report of CAG for the year ended March 31, 2014 were sent to the Principal Secretaries/Secretaries of the respective departments. However, replies in respect of one Performance Audit and nine Paragraphs were not received till October 2014.
According to the data of CAG, there was opening balance of 8037 Inspection Reports and 29751 Paragraphs as on April 1, 2013 and during the year 2013-14, there was addition of 1216 Inspection Reports and 8059 Paragraphs. However, during the year 2013-14, only 735 Inspection Reports and 5185 Paragraphs were settled by the departments. Due to this, 8518 Inspection Reports and 32625 Paragraphs were pending for disposal by the departments as on March 31, 2014.
“This is despite the fact that hand book of instructions for speedy settlement of Audit Observations/Inspection Reports issued by the Finance Department provides for prompt response by the executive to the Inspection Reports issued by the Principal Accountant General (Audit) and Accountant General (Audit) to ensure remedial action and fix accountability for the deficiencies and lapses”, the CAG regretted.
“The pendency of large number of Inspection Reports and Paragraphs of serious financial irregularities and loss to Government even after being pointed out in Audit clearly indicates lack of response of the Government departments”, the report said, adding “Government should not act as mute spectator to lack of responsiveness of departments to Audit and revamp the system”.
The CAG has also brought to the fore that a total of 365 annual accounts of 32 Autonomous Bodies were awaited in Audit as on March 31, 2014. Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils of Leh and Kargil, Sher-i-Kashmir Universities of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Jammu and Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir Legal Services Authority, Srinagar and Provident Fund Organization, Srinagar have not submitted 67 accounts during the period ranging between one to 19 years.
“These Autonomous Bodies are not submitting accounts despite the fact that they are getting substantial funding from the State”, the CAG said, adding “this is a serious financial irregularity persisting for years”. It is pertinent to mention here that during 2013-14 financial year, these Autonomous Bodies received Rs 831.28 crore grants from the State.

Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Mar 31: Former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today appealed to tourists not to cancel their booking for visiting Kashmir in view of flood threats.
“Those of you with bookings to visit Kashmir please PLEASE don’t rush to cancel. Instead I request you wait to see how things develop,” Omar wrote on twitter.
The working president of National Conference said the tourism industry had bad year since the September floods last year.
“The Tourist industry had a disastrous Autumn & a really bad winter because of the floods. Finally things were looking up in April.
“Now because of the recent rains & accompanying news stories hotels are reporting up to 40% cancellations which is a disaster for them. So my earnest appeal to you is please keep the faith, don’t rush to cancel. Wait to see how the next few days go & then decide,” he added.
Omar asked his followers to retweet his tweets as a favour to the tourism industry of the Valley.
“I’ve never asked for RTs before but as a favour to the tourist industry of  Kashmir please RT my last 4 tweets as many times as possible,” he said.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 31:  In a major reshuffle, the Government today ordered transfers and postings of 48 Doctors (Consultants) in the Health and Medical Education Department with immediate effect.
They include Consultant Gynae, Consultant Ortho, Consultant Anesthesia and Consultant Paediatrics.
Dr Girdhari Lal Manhas has been transferred from Government Hospital Gandhi Nagar and posted at District Hospital Gandoh while Dr Sunita Kesar has been transferred from CHC Akhnoor and posted at CHC Bishnah.
Dr Ravi Parihar has been transferred from SDH Bhaderwah to Government Hospital Sarwal, Dr Bimla Bhagat from SDH Bishnah to CHC Nowshera, Dr Munaza Choudhary from Police Hospital Jammu to SDH Surankote and Dr Sudhakar Sharma from Kote Bhalwal Jail Jammu to DH Rajouri.
Dr Renu Sudha has been transferred from District Hospital Reasi to Gandhi Nagar, Dr Usha Bhau from CHC Sohanjana to SDH Akhnoor, Dr Chander Shekhar from SDH Akhnoor to SDH Ramban, Dr Sunil Raina from SDH Sunderbani to Gandhi Nagar, Dr Naresh Khajuria from SDH Nowshera to CHC R S Pura, Dr Anil Mehta from Government Hospital Gandhi Nagar to DH Reasi, Dr Renu Gupta from CHC R S Pura to DH Samba, Dr Shabeer Ahmed from DH Ramban to SDH Sunderbani, Dr Veena Chib from DH Samba to CHC Sohanjana,  Dr Savita Amla from DH Udhampur to SDH Ramnagar, Dr Shahnaz Bhatti from DH Poonch to DH Rajouri, Dr Shabnam Laila from DH Kishtwar to DH Doda, Dr Varsha Kotwal from DH Doda to Government Hospital Sarwal and Dr Renu Manhas from SDH Ramnagar to Government Hospital Sarwal.
Dr Vijay Sabarwal has been transferred from Government Hospital Sarwal to DH Kishtwar, Dr Neeraj Mahajan from GMC Jammu to CHC Basholi, Dr Sushil Sharma from DH Reasi to Accident Hospital Vijaypur, Dr O P Thapa from SDH Sunderbani to DH Udhampur, Dr Shalinder Kumar from  DH Rajouri to DH Kathua, Dr Ab Salam from DH Rajouri to PH Jammu, Dr Ganishyam Arora from Police Hospital Jammu to DH Rajouri, Dr Rakesh Sharma from Government Hospital Sarwal to DH Kathua, Dr Shiv Kumar from CHC Bhaderwah to DH Doda, Dr Mohd Rafi Wani from DH Doda to DH Reasi, Dr Paviter Singh from DH Kishtwar to Government Hospital Sarwal, Dr Som Chadgal from DH Kathua to SDH Bhaderwah and Dr Vikrant Sharma from DH Samba to CHC Bishnah.
Dr Sanjiv Bharti has been transferred from DH Reasi to DH Kathua, Dr Sammer Padha from SDH Akhnoor to DH Reasi, Dr Dharamvir Singh from SDH Akhnoor to DH Rajouri, Dr J P Sharma from SDH Sunderbani to  DH Udhampur, Dr Shabir Hussain from Banihal to DH Doda, Dr Pawan Kumar from CHC Chenani to CHC Sohanjana, Dr Muqurab Hussain from SDH Surankote to Police Hospital Jammu, Dr Sushan Dhar from SDH Ramgarh to Accidental Hospital Vijaypur, Dr Sangeeta Singh from Government Hospital Sarwal to DH Poonch, Dr Rajesh Angral from DH Samba to Trauma Centre Thathri, Dr Arun Arora from Government Hospital Gandhi Nagar  to CHC Basholi, Dr Laughi Bhan from CHC Hiranagar to Government Hospital Gandhi Nagar, Dr Liaqat Ali from CHC Bani to SDH  Sarwal, Dr Arafat Waheed from DH Doda to DH Ramban and Dr Anjana Rathore from DH Kishtwar to CHC Chenani.