Excelsior Correspondent
New Delhi, July 25: PCC president and Rajya Sabha Member Prof Saif-ud-Din Soz today projected the issue of new rail projects in J&K in the Union Parliament.
Prof Soz through a starred question in Rajya Sabha today stressed the Union Railway Minister to undertake Railway line between Jammu and Poonch, Jammu and Doda, Baramulla and Kupwara and Baramulla and Uri as early as possible.
Responding to the question, the Railway Minister Sadanand Gowda informed that surveys for construction of of Railway Line from Jammu to Poonch and Baramulla and Kupwara have been completed. He said the Railway line between Katra and Banihal would be completed by December 2017.
Prof Soz later met the Railway Minister and urged him to take up construction of Railway line between Jammu to Poonch, Jammu to Doda and Baramulla- Kupwara at the earliest.
Soz rakes up issue of new rail projects in J&K
‘Lifestyle’ launches 1st store in Jammu
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 25: Lifestyle, India’s leading fashion destination synonymous with fashion and gracious living, has launched its first store in Jammu at Wave Mall, Channi Rama. The store is spread across an area of 30,000 sq ft and offers customers the latest in fashion and beauty.
Renowned for its widespread collection, trendy product portfolio, youthful and vibrant interiors, “Lifestyle” provides its customers a seamless shopping experience.
Bringing four concepts under one roof – Apparel, Footwear and Bags, Children’s wear, and Beauty & Accessories, “Lifestyle” is the absolute one stop fashion destination. Customers can choose from hundreds of leading national and international brands including Louis Philippe, Jack & Jones, Being Human, Van Heusen, Arrow, US Polo, UCB, Allen Solly, Levis, Kappa, Bossini, UCLA, Biba, Melange, Juniors, Baggit, Puma, Red Tape, Catwalk and many more.
Customer friendly layouts, chic and comfortable ambience and attractive window & merchandise display are highlights of the new store. Convenient signage and navigation, attractive colour schemes, flooring and fixtures distinct to each category escalate the convenience and ensure a delightful shopping experience.
Commenting on the occasion, Kabir Lumba, Managing Director, Lifestyle International (P) Ltd said, “Lifestyle stores epitomize highly relevant product portfolios, refined customer service leading to a delightful shopping experience. The Lifestyle store in Jammu is our 43rd store in India and we are truly excited to launch our first store in Jammu.”
Part of the prestigious Dubai based Retail to hospitality conglomerate, Landmark Group, “Lifestyle” stores are present across leading Indian cities including Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Mangalore, Jalandhar, Kanpur, Chennai, New Delhi, Noida, Gurgaon, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Mumbai, Thane, Pune, Coimbatore, Ludhiana, Ghaziabad, Surat, Nagpur, Vijaywada, Bhopal, Chandigarh, Amritsar, Dehradun, Kolkata, Mohali and now Jammu.
Positioned as a trendy, youthful and vibrant store, Lifestyle offers consumers an enjoyable shopping experience. Each Lifestyle store offers a convenient one-stop shop and a choice of over 500 national and international brands.
Driver held with poppy straw
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 25: Police today arrested a tanker driver along with five kilograms of poppy straw from Baggu Nallah, falling under the jurisdiction of Batote police station.
As per police sources, on reliable information, police party from Batote police station intercepted a tanker bearing registration number JKO2V-5411, which was on its way to Jammu from Srinagar near Baggu Nallah, Batote.
During checking, police recovered 5 kilograms of poppy straw and arrested the driver, who has been identified as Gurmeet Singh alias Kala, son of Joginder Singh of Upper Gadigarh Jammu.
A case under FIR number 74/14 under Section 8/15 Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act has been registered at police station Batote and investigation started.
Police team headed by SHO Batote police station Mohammad Iqbal made the arrest under the supervision of SSP Ramban Javed Iqbal Mattoo.
‘Jamut-ul-Vida’ celebrated in Kashmir with religious fervour
Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, July 25: Lakhs of people today joined prayers in mosques, Khankahs, shrine and other holy places throughout the Kashmir valley and Ladakh region on the occasion ‘Jamut-ul-Vida’, last Friday of holy month of Ramzan.
The main congregations were held at Hazratbal shrine on the bank of Dal Lake, which houses the Holy Relic of Prophet Muhammad and historic Jamia Masjid.
Several lakh people, including women and children, from different parts of the Valley joined the Friday prayers at Hazatbal shrine despite humid and hot weather for the past several days.
The divisional authorities had made all arrangements, including transport and security, for the devotees on the occasion.
Additional traffic police personnel were deployed to regulate traffic.
More than a dozen roadside vendors have put up their stalls around the shrine.
Lakhs of people also joined Jamut-ul-Vida prayers at historic Jamia Masjid in the down town city this afternoon. Large number of women and children, who had come from different parts of the city and outskirts, joined the prayers.
Similar congregations were held at the shrine of Hazrat Mehboob-ul-Aalam, Syed Sahib Sonawar, Sheikh Dawood Batmaloo, Jenab Sahib Soura, Gousal-ul-Azam at Khanyar and Sarai Bala, shrine of Mir Syed Ali Hamdani, Sheikh Nooruddin Wali, Naqashband Sahib, Asar Sharief Pinjoora and Baba Reshi shrine.
Reports of celebration of Jamut-ul-Vida was also received from Kargil, Drass and Leh in Ladakh region.
Man held with illicit liquor
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 25: Police today arrested a bootlegger along with 38 pouches of illicit liquor from Gajansoo Chowk.
A police spokesman said that, on specific inputs, police party from Gajansoo police post arrested a bootlegger namely Siyaram, son of Mungi Lal of Bihar, presently residing in Gajansoo.
During checking, police recovered 38 punches of illicit liquor from his possession.
A case under relevant Section has been registered against the accused at Gajansoo police post and investigation started.
Police party headed by incharge police post Gajansoo PSI Jasvinder Singh made the arrest under the supervision of SHO Kanachack police station Rakesh Kumar and SDPO Domana Sanjay Parihar.
Tourists being ‘looted’ openly at behest of Municipal Committees in Valley
Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, July 25: Large number of tourists from within and outside the country visiting different parts of the Kashmir valley are being ‘looted’ openly by the private contractors at the behest of the Municipal Committees.
These contractors to whom the Urban Local Bodies Department has outsourced the “Entry Fee” collection task through the Directorate of Urban Local Bodies, Kashmir have not only been harassing the tourists but also sending wrong impression about the much talked about hospitality of the Kashmir valley.
There are a total of 40 Municipal Committees and three Municipal Councils across the Kashmir valley and almost all these Urban Local Bodies have been collecting “Entry Fee” from the visitors through the private contractors for merely entering their jurisdictions.
“The rate of Entry Fee being charged by the private contractors at the behest of Municipal Committees varies from area to area”, official sources told EXCELSIOR, adding “moreover, at several places the tourists are being compelled to pay Entry Fee for the Municipal Committee as well as development charges for the Tourism Development Authority”.
This can be gauged from the fact that Municipal Committee of Tangmarg collects Rs 30 per vehicle as Entry Fee and then Gulmarg Development Authority charges money from every vehicle.
However, the rate of Entry Fee being charged by the private contractors at behest of Municipal Committee of Ganderbal is higher than the Municipal Committee of Tangmarg. The ‘authorised’ contractor of the Ganderbal Municipal Committee collects Rs 40 per vehicle.
Another astonishing fact is that Municipal Committee of Ganderbal charges “Entry Fee” for whole day while as Municipal Committee of Tangmarg collects “Entry Fee” for per trip which means if a vehicle crosses Tangmarg twice a day its operator will have to pay Entry Fee twice.
While charging “Entry Fee”, the private contractors even use flithy language against the tourists whenever they dare to pose any question about the justification behind ‘looting’ them. “This is mainly because of the fact that those at the helm of affairs in these Municipal Committees don’t bother to see whether the private contractors are behaving properly with the tourists while collecting Entry Fee”, sources said, adding “in this way these private contractors are giving wrong impression to the tourists about Kashmir valley and its people, who are otherwise known for hospitality”.
As far as Jammu province is concerned, there are 33 Municipal Committees and only few of them are charging “Entry Fee”. “Unlike Municipal Committees of Kashmir valley, these few Urban Local Bodies of Jammu region don’t charge from the private vehicles and collecting “Entry Fee” only from the commercial vehicles”, sources said.
For example, Municipal Committee of Katra, the base camp of cave shrine of Shri Mata Vaishnodevi which is visited by more than one crore pilgrims every year, is collecting “Entry Tax” only from the commercial vehicles and the private vehicles are not charged.
When contacted, Director Urban Local Bodies, Kashmir, Hilal Ahmed Parrey said, “Entry Fee is basically the source of sustenance for the Municipal Committees, which have outsourced the exercise to the private contractors”.
In reply to a question, “the money being generated through Entry Fee is used for the developmental activities as well as meeting the salary component of the staff of these Municipal Committees”.
When asked about harassment being meted out to the tourists at the hands of private contractors engaged by the Municipal Committees and justification behind charging Entry Fee from the private vehicles, the Director Urban Local Bodies, Kashmir preferred to remain mum for a while and then he disconnected the telephone not to be picked up again.
According to the sources, the Urban Local Bodies Department has not framed any uniform policy about collection of taxes by the Municipal Committees and harassment of private contractors and varing rates of Entry Fee are the outcome of the same.
Cop shot dead by militants, OGW arrested
Fayaz Bukhari
Srinagar, July 25: Militants this evening shot dead a police constable who was regulating traffic at Bijbeheara in the South Kashmir district of Anantnag.
The Deputy Inspector General of Police, South Kashmir range, Vijay Kumar, told Excelsior that constable Mohammad Altaf of Police Station Bijbehara who was regulating traffic near Goriwan Chowk in Bijbehara area of Anantnag district was fired at by militants injuring him critically. “He was removed to SKIMS hospital Srinagar where he succumbed to injuries. He was hit in the abdomen and chest”, he added.
Kumar said that Mohammad Altaf Gania (belt no. 935) son of Gul Mohammad Gania of Ganderpora, Eidgah Srinagar was posted in Police Station Bijbehara. He said that this evening he was regulating traffic and was not carrying any weapon when two mortar cycle borne militants fired at him with a pistol from close range. He said that militants fled after carrying out the attack leaving the constable in a pool of blood. He was immediately rushed to the hospital where he died.
DIG said that they had inputs about the possible militant strike in Anantnag district today and security forces were already alert. He said that there was deployment of the security forces in the township but not at the place where the cop had gone to regulate traffic.
Senior police and security forces officials rushed to the spot to assess the situation. The traffic on the highway remained disrupted but was later regulated but there was a huge traffic jam caused after the attack.
Kumar said that the security forces have launched a man hunt to nab the culprits behind the killing of the constable. However, so far no one was arrested.
In the meantime an Over Ground Worker (OGW) of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) was apprehended with a pistol and grenades in a joint operation by Police and Army in Pattan area of Baramulla district last evening.
A Police spokesman said that acting on a specific information, Baramulla Police along with 29-Rashtriya Rifles (RR) of Army laid a Naka at Baba Teng, Pattan last evening. He said that during the search at the naka an OGW of LeT outfit, Parvaiz Ahmad Khuroo son of Ali Mohammad resident of Chanpora Sopore, was arrested.
The spokesman said that a chinese pistol, with one magazine, five pistol rounds and two grenades were recovered from him. Pattan police have registered a case in this regard and investigation is on.
India wants China to cease all activities in PoK: Jaitley
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 25: Defence Minister Arun Jaitley said today that the Government has been keeping strict vigil on the presence of Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK).
“We have asked China to cease all such activities in PoK,’’ Jaitley told the Lok Sabha in a written reply to Rayapati Sambasiva today.
“Government pays close attention to Chinese activities in PoK and it has conveyed its concerns to China and asked them to cease such activities,” he said.
He said issues are discussed by the Government in regular meetings with Chinese counterparts and “entire gamut of bilateral, regional and global issues are discussed.”
“There are regular meetings between India and China at various levels including the highest level in which all such issues are discussed,’’ the Defence Minister said.
The presence of Chinese Army troops has been witnessed in recent times and there numbers were estimated to be around 5,000 by the Army couple of years ago. They were mainly involved in construction activities there.
Replying to another question of PDP MP from Srinagar Tariq Hamid Karra on Tosamaidan firing range in Kashmir, Jaitley said a civilian was killed and three others were injured in an incident on July 16, 2014 due to littered shell at Tosamaidan meadows in Central Kashmir.
“No firing by the Army has taken place at Tosamaidan meadows since November 15, 2013. Unauthorized persons are prohibited from entering the Impact Area and sign boards and notices to this effect are prominently displayed. The notification of any field firing range or its shifting is subject matter of the State Government,’’ he added.
Replying to another question by PDP MP from Anantnag Mehbooba Mufti in Lok Sabha, the Defence Minister said the total number of Long Range, Field Firing Range and Air to Ground Firing Rangers in the country, which are operated by the defence forces, are 81.
However, he declined to disclose other details sought by Ms Mufti on the ground that they were not in the interest of national security.
Giving out the reasons for delays in execution of road projects by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), Jaitley said delay in forest and environmental clearance, hard rock stretches and difficulty in availability of construction material are the main reasons behind it.
In response to another question of Om Prakash Yadav, Jaitley said 50 soldiers lost their lives in Siachen Glacier due to climatic conditions and avalanches in the last three years while 16 soldiers died while serving in UN peacekeeping operations during that period. Jaitley said the Government was aware of the “strategic importance” of Siachen Glacier and requisite forces have been deployed in that area on basis of the “threat perception, ground situation and other operational needs”.
50 soldiers were killed in the last three years up to July 20 in Siachen Glacier owing to landslides, floods and avalanches and climatic conditions, he said.
Siachen was once the world’s highest battlefield where Indian and Pakistani troops were constantly engaged in skirmishes till 2003 when ceasefire was declared.
India maintains more than 3,000 troops on the glacier where Indian posts have been built at altitudes up to 23,000 feet.
Jaitley said India has deployed 7,148 troops in UN peacekeeping operations. “16 troops have died there in the last three years.”
The Indian contingents are deployed in Congo, Lebanon, South Sudan, Golan Heights, Sudan, Ivory Coast, Iraq, East Timor and New York. Six Indian soldiers were killed in Congo, two in Lebanon and eight in South Sudan.
To another query, the Minister said the Government has ordered a study into the stress level encountered by young officers of the Army and has also asked the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) to develop methods to mitigate it.
“A lab of DRDO undertook a study on ‘Factors Causing Distress among Young Officers of Indian Army’ with objectives to study the level of distress prevailing among the young officers; the casual factors that create distress among young officers and deplete their resources to cope with it and to suggest remedial measures to manage stress among young officers,” he said.
The Minister said the report was submitted in April 2014 and the DRDO lab has already developed ‘Suicide Risk Assessment Test’ to identify at-risk personnel which has already been handed over to the Army.
Meanwhile, answering another query on alleged attacks by Sri Lankan Navy on Indian fishermen, Jaitley said continuous efforts by the Government have led to the release of 536 of the 541 arrested by that country till July 18.
He said as per a 2008 agreement, the two Governments have agreed that there would be no firing on Indian vessels and Indian fishermen would not go to the “sensitive areas” designated by the Sri Lankan Government.
To a query on missile test range, the Defence Minister said the DRDO has proposed to set up such ranges in Rutland Islands in Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Nagayalanka in Krishna district of Seemandhra State.
7 IAF personnel killed in crash
SITAPUR (UP)/NEW DELHI, July 25:
Seven IAF personnel including two officers were killed today when an ALH Dhruv helicopter in which they were flying from Bareilly to Allahabad crashed in Sitapur in Uttar Pradesh.
The pilot of the chopper had given a ‘May Day call’ (emergency call) before the crash and lost radio and radar contact after that, IAF spokesperson said in Delhi .
The IAF aircraft had on board two pilots and five air warriors. There are no survivors, he said.
The chopper had taken off from Bareilly at 1553 hours and crashed approximately around 1657 hours, the spokesman said.
The IAF has ordered a Court of Inquiry and teams have been rushed to the crash site in Sitapur.
A Wing Commander, Squadron Leader, Junior Warrant Officer, Sergeant and an LAC along with two Corporals were killed in the crash.
Sub Divisional Magistrate, Sidhauli, A K Srivastava said that the chopper was engulfed in fire as it crashed in Manipurwa in Ataria area.
District Magistrate, Sitapur, JP Singh said that the helicopter was heading towards Allahabad when it crashed. Sitapur is nearly 160 km from Bareilly and over 90 km from Lucknow. (PTI)
Controversy dodges Rs 100 crore tender for supply of solar lights
Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, July 25: Controversy has dodged issuance of subsequent corrigendums to the tenders for purchase of various solar items by J&K Energy Development Agency (JKEDA) with various reputed firms of the State and country openly challenging the decision of authorities and demanding that the same be reconsidered to ensure wider participation of suppliers and agencies in the tender.
According to sources, J&K Energy Development Agency (JKEDA) falling under the Ministry of Science and Technology called the tenders for supply 47,000 solar lights worth Rs 100 crore for Doda, Rajouri, Poonch, Kishtwar, Bandipora, Kulgam Kupwara, Reasi, Shopian, Budgam Udhampur and Ramban districts. Out of them 10,000 additional solar lights are alone to be purchased for Kishtwar district, sources added.
However to manipulate the contract, three corrigendums were issued by the Agency from time to time to the tender notice issued in the last month, sources said. The due date for the receipt of tenders was June 30 last month which was first extended to July 7, 2014 and subsequently to July 21, 2014.
Sources said to manipulate the tenders the first corrigendum was issued by the agency on June 18 where in the discrepancies regarding the experience in terms of financial years relevant to the dates of issuance of tenders was made.
However not satisfied with it, the authorities issued second corrigendum on June 24, 2014, where in the scope of eligibility was increased to facilitate more firms to participate in the tenders. After issuance of second corrigendum the due date was extended to July 21, sources added.
Sources said after issuing two corrigendum to tenders, the agency suddenly remembers the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) of India guidelines and issued the third corrigendum on July 10 as an afterthought putting in the pre qualification criteria, verbatim, as envisaged in the circulars issued from time to time by the CVC of India. Questioning the issuance of three corrigendums to tenders some reputed suppliers of the State and country have said that when the CVC guidelines have been issued in year 2002 why the agency did not kept them in consideration while issuing the tender notice first or later during the two subsequent corrigendums and why it issued the third corrigendum for the same, sources added.
Sources said these suppliers while challenging the Agency decision of issuing the three corrigendums said that it has broken the basic spirit of CVC guideline which was for the civil and electrical contractors and not for suppliers and store items. But the third corrigendum was issued to discourage the prequalification, benefit a particular firm and discourage the other young suppliers and firms of the State and country.
Sources also said that supply of solar items falls under store category and it has been incorporated with civil works which is not justifiable at any cost and the guidelines of CVC of India were misinterpreted in this regard.
Sources while quoting the CVC guidelines said despite the fact that, the Commission has also repeatedly emphasised, that the indenting departments should ensure that there is adequate scope of fair play and wide participation to ensure healthy competition, so no monopolies are created.
The suppliers while questioning the issuance of corrigendum have made it clear in their dissent note that the second corrigendum seems to have been issued without understanding the market dynamics of the solar market whose evolution in India is still in a nascent stage and probably there would be hardly any company which could match the pre qualification set, sources said.
They have made it known to the agency that the corrigendum post facto changes the dynamics of fair play and limits the competition drastically despite the fact that the purchaser needs to look at factors wherein the overall cost of the project should not spiral due to lack of competition.
Sources said the suppliers in their representation to Ministry have said this over reliance and undue haste in incorporating CVC guidelines need to be looked into with due diligence with reference to the various representations received.
Sources said the suppliers have in their representations also asked that the Agency should have cross checked with Ministry of New and Renewable Energy in writing with all the facts in hand.
Sources said this way of issuing tenders has put the fate and lively hood of many young entrepreneurs associated with other companies in balance. It also includes that lot of skilled and unskilled workers, from the State, who are associated with them.
Sharing the concern of the suppliers the Tariq Hamid Karra, MP from Srinagar has written a letter to Piyush Goyal Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy seeking his immediate intervention in the matter.
The MP, while taking serious exception to issuance of three corrigendums by the Agency said this way the agency tries to elbow out all the firms intending to cast their tenders to facilitate issuance of purchase order to a single blue eyed firm by inserting tailor made condtions in the initial tender to suit the said firm.
He said the intending firms in their representation to MP have complained that such unethical practice will not only promote monopolistic trade but also set a blow to the efforts of the Government to encourage the educated unemployed youth to venture into the non Government sector by setting up their own enterprises.
However when contacted Secretary Science and Technology, Pervez Malik said that he has no knowledge about the tenders as he joined the Department on June 21 and the same was done before his joining.
Gulzar Hussain, CEO JKEDA said that no competition has been discouraged and the corrigendum was issued in view of CVC guidelines. He said the Agency has received many tenders for the supply of solar lights and after evaluation a decision will be taken.