Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Mar 24:  Minister of State for Power, Mohammad Ashraf Mir informed the House that during the current year in Kashmir Province including Lolab, about 5480 distribution transformers got damaged upto ending February 2015 while 5492 were repaired and re-installed in the period.
The Minister was replying to a Calling Attention Notice by Qaiser Jamsheed Lone. He said that the capacity of Receiving Stations as well as Distribution Sub-Stations is more than sufficient to cater to the load demand of the consumers of Lolab constituency.
Mir said due to recent rains and landslides majority of transformers were damaged adding that repair time of transformers depends upon the extent of damage. He said the average restoration time is of 4-5 days in urban areas and 10-12 days in rural areas.
The minister said that at present 13 Distribution Transformers (DTs), out of total 469 including 7 No 25 KVA DTs are under repairs. Ashraf Mir said that one Naseer Ahmad Khan (Civilian) son of Mohammad Yaqoob Khan from Nunwani, Kalaroosa was fiddling with the electric network un-authorizedly on March 6 this year and got electric shock. The person was referred to the SKIMS, Soura Srinagar for treatment where one of his arms has been amputated during the surgery to save his life. The concerned Police Station has been informed by the Electric Sub Division Kupwara vide No: KSD/645-46 dated 07-03-2015 for lodging an FIR to this effect.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 24: Jammu Kashmir Coordination Committee of Trade Unions (JKCCTU) has expressed grave concern over the anti employees policies of the State and Central Governments.
The JKCCTU president Mohammad Maqbool Bhat while criticizing the Government policies said that privatization will lead to capitalism and more exploitation of working class.
Mr Maqbool while commenting on recent budget presented by Finance Minster in State Assembly termed it an eye wash and anti working class. He said budget has also ignored the sufferings of working class who are living in miserable conditions and who were already under the heavy burden of price rise.
He said neither minimum wages have been raised nor any pro employee policy has been announced. Except formation of Committees there is nothing in this budget, he added.
He said further the power budget has said to speed up the reforms process by unbundling and privatization which will be having adverse effects on the existing power crisis.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 24: A 50-year old man in an inebriated condition today fell from Karli Bridge in Nagrota area of city outskirts.
According to a police spokesperson, the man has been identified as Javed (50) son of Abdul Majid, a resident of Khairpur (UP). He said that the man received minor injuries in the mishap and after getting first aid at Government Medical College and Hospital, Jammu, he was discharged.
The concerned police has taken cognizance of the matter.

Excelsior Correspondent
RAMBAN, Mar 24: Dharamkund police arrested an SPO of District Police Anantnag along with 2 kilograms of charas.
As per police sources, on specific information, Dharamkund police raised a naka and intercepted a bus, which was on its way to Ramban Bus Stand from Sangaldhan.
A person identified as SPO of District Police Anantnag Bashir Ahmed, son of Mohammad Ramzan of Gundipora, tehsil Devsar, district Kulgam was put to checking.
During checking, police recovered 2 kilograms of charas wrapped in two plastic packets and arrested the accused.
A case under FIR number 2/15 under Section 8/22 narcotic Durgs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act has been registered at police station Dharamkund and investigation started.
Police team headed by SHO Dharamkund police station Inspector Arun Kotwal made the arrest under the supervision of Narinder Singh Parihar, DySP Headquarters Ramban and SSP Ramban Randeep Kumar.

Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Mar 24: J&K Bank conducted a financial literacy and credit counseling session at Rural Self Employment Training Institute (RSETI) Sopore, which was attended by a batch of 60 trainees undergoing Entrepreneurship Development Programme.
Director RSETI Riyaz Ahmad Mir informed the trainees about importance of the credit counseling session while Facilitator FLCC Baramulla highlighted benefits of savings with banks besides various attractive plans of banks like Savings Bank Account, Recurring Deposit, Mehandi Deposit and other fixed investment plans.
He explained to them various products of the bank like Kisan Credit Card, Education Loan, Computer and Laptop Loan facilities and subsidy linked plans of Government agencies so that they also spread the message in their respective areas for the benefit of people and other unemployed educated youth.
Customer rights and responsibilities, recycling of funds, RTGS, NEFT were also discussed.
Educating the trainees about how to finalize their credit proposals with the bank, the facilitator educated the trainees about pre sanction, post sanction and post disbursement formalities required to be completed by the entrepreneurs. He impressed upon them to establish their units for income generation to ensure the repayment of installments to the Bank and for earning of livelihood.
Certain clarifications were sought by the participants regarding various schemes which were cleared on spot by the facilitator.
Another such credit couselling camp was organized at Seer Jagir in Sopore.
Meanwhile, the bank organized an awareness camp regarding PMJDY besides a Coin-cum-Note exchange mela at Majalta in Udhampur.
Speaking on the occasion, Cluster Head Iqbal Singh highlighted the Bank’s efforts to provide world class banking facilities to unbanked areas. He also informed the audience about the salient features of Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojna Scheme.

Excelsior Correspondent

LEH, Mar 24: With an aim at developing skill, knowledge and temperament towards science, a day-long Science Exhibition and Idea Competition under Rashtriya Madkyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) was organized by DIET, Leh, here today.
More than 400 students of around 80 schools, 77 Government schools from all parts of the district excluding Nubra and Durbuk and 3 private schools affiliated to J&K Board of Secondary Education from Leh participated in the exhibition wherein Deputy Commissioner Leh Saugat Biswas was the chief guest.
Biswas said it is the duty of the teachers to help foster scientific temperament among students. He also encouraged for conducting more such science related works which would then carve ways for students to participate at platforms out of Ladakh.
The students from each school in groups gave presentation of the innovative science models made on various themes.  While inspecting their counters along with principal DIET Konchok Wangmo, the DC Leh appreciated and motivated the students with applauds for their effort, knowledge and confidence.
Judges for the exhibition Dr Tsering Stobdan and Dr Dorjey Angchuk scientists of DIHAR Leh; and Ishey Namgyal, Sr Lecturer (DIET) Leh and Rinchen Namgyal Lecturer (DIET) Leh, declared the top-5 schools in `High Category’, namely Government High School Achinathang, Chuchot-Yokma, Chumathang, Housing Colony and Shara while Govt M/S Shang, Lehdo, Khachey-thang, Domkhar Barma and Chemdey as top five schools in middle category.
Prizes were given away by Dr Tsering Stobdan, Dr Dorjey Angchuk and Principal DIET Leh Konchok Angmo.
Earlier, on-spot quiz competition was also organized by the Snow Leopard Conservancy where they distributed prizes for winners of the competition. Deputy Chief Education Officer and other officers of education department were also present on the occasion.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 24: On the eve of 84th Martyrs day, Akhil Bharatiya  Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) Jammu University (JU) Unit organized a blood donation camp in JU in which about 70 ABVP activists including 21 girls donated blood in memory of Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Raj Guru and Sukhdev.
Prof Nagesh Thakur, ABVP National president, was the chief guest and Prof Narinder Singh, Associate Prof, SKUAST, Jammu was guest of honor.
Speaking on the occasion Prof Nagesh Thakur said that blood donation is a most precious gift one must give for those who are in dire need of it. He also said that donating blood is a greatest service to the humanity.
Prof Rajnikant, Dr Parminder Singh, Pawan Sharma and Sanjay Verma were prominent among those who donated the blood and inspired others to donate blood. Many senior ABVP activists who also donated their blood on this occasion included Bhavana  Bharti, Lokinder Singh , Arun Jamwal, Anil, Barun Salathia, Rajiv, Sandeep, Asha,  Harsh, Alok, Vikas, Ajay, Daleep, Sumit, Karan, Raj, Abhishek, Pulkit and Kanav.
The team of doctors from Department of Blood Transfusion, Government Medical College Jammu was led by Dr Nayeem Akther.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 24 : The Governor N N Vohra has rejected assent to the Bill seeking  reservation (ST Status) for the Pahari speaking people of  the State.
Giving this information in the Legislative Council today, Secretary Mohd Ashraf Mir said that the Bill,  The Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill, 2014 (LA Bill No. 18 of 2014), passed by both the Houses of the State Legislature during the last session ( August 2014) and presented to the Governor for his assent, has been returned by the Governor for reconsideration  for the Legislature under Provio to section 78 of the Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir.  It is pertinent to mention here that the Bill pertains to  providing  ST Status to the Pahari speaking people of the State.
The secretary further informed that the  Bills ‘The Jammu and Kashmir Pharmacy (Amendment) Act, 2014’,  ‘The Jammu and Kashmir Water Resources (Regulation and Management) (Amendment) Act, 2014’ and ‘The Jammu and Kashmir Civil Services (Special Provisions) (Amendment) Act, 2014’,  passed by both the Houses of Legislature during the last session (August, 2014) have been assented to by the Governor.

Excelsior Correspondent
RAMBAN, Mar 24: A retired Army jawan was arrested along with 9 kilograms of poppy straw from T-Morh area, falling under the jurisdiction of Banihal police station.
As per police sources, on specific information, police party from Banihal police station laid a naka at T-Morh and intercepted a person in Army uniform.
The police team asked the person to produce his identity card and when it was verified it was found the person was ex-Army jawan. By wearing Army uniform the person used to dodge the police to carry the consignment of drugs through Kashmir to Banihal through train and then to Punjab via bus.
During checking of his belonging, police recovered 9 kilograms of poppy straw and arrested the retired Army jawan, who has been identified as Sukhwinder Singh, son of late Amarjeet Singh of Landha, tehsil Payal, District Ludhiana, Punjab.
A case under FIR number 34/15 under Section 8/15 Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act has been registered at police station Banihal and investigation started.
Police team led by SHO Banihal police station Inspector Tariq Ahmed Naik, made the arrest under the supervision of SSP Ramban Randeep Kumar.