Excelsior Sports Correspondent
JAMMU, July 24: Ace tennis player of Jammu and Kashmir and trainee of Chandigarh Lawn Tennis Association, Sumitpal Singh bagged double title in the ongoing All India Talent Series at Chamund Centre for Tennis Excellency, JS International School Farmana Gohana, Sonipat in Haryana.
In the singles Under-18 final, Sumitpal defeated Himanshu Mor of Haryana by (7-5, 6-3), while in the semifinals, he got better of Abhishek Gor by (7-6, 6-3).
Earlier, in the quarterfinals, Sumitpal drubbed Sagar Serawat of Haryana by (6-4, 6-2), while in the pre-quarterfinals and the first round, he prevailed over Rohit Kumar of Haryana and Himanshu Saini of Haryana by (6-4, 6-1) and (6-1, 6-3) respectively.
In Under-18 doubles event, the duo of Sumitpal and Daksh of Haryana thrashed the pair of Mayank Yadav and Harshit Yadav by (4-0, 4-1) in the summit clash, while in semifinal and quarterfinal matches, the duo defeated Rohit Kumar and Krishna of Haryana and Himanshu Saini and Yubraj of Haryana by (5-4, 2-4, 7-4) and (4-0, 5-3) respectively.
The pair of Sumitpal and Daksh was awarded bye in the first round.
With this performance, the ranking of Sumitpal has improved and his rank now is 70 instead of 100, which makes him eligible for the main draw of major tournaments.
J&K tennis star Sumitpal bags double title
Sharma demands double laning of Siot-Kalakote road
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 24: Former legislator and senior Congress leader Ashok Sharma has demanded double laning of Siot-Kalakote road at the earliest as it is essential for development.
In a statement issued, Sharma said that the Siot-Kalakote road was to be handed over to GREF as per the decision of District Development Board, Rajouri. The work was kept pending in the wake of the tendering of the same by ERA in the year 2006-07, he added.
He further stated that the Chief Minister during public meeting about two and half years back had assured that the Siot-Kalakote road shall be constructed very soon, but unfortunately nothing has been done till date.
Sharma urged the concerned authorities to make the said road double lane at the earliest.
1650 IAS officers short
NEW DELHI, July 24:
There is a shortage of about 1,651 IAS officers in the country, the Rajya Sabha was informed today.
The total authorised strength of Indian Administrative Service (IAS) is 6,270. Of these, 4,619 officers are in position, Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions Jitendra Singh told Rajya Sabha in a written reply.
A maximum of 139 vacancies exist in West Bengal as against the authorised cadre strength of 359, followed by 118 and 108 in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, respectively. The authorised strength of IAS officers in UP is 592 and for Bihar it is 326.
Besides, 97 such shortage exists in Madhya Pradesh, 93 in Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Mizoram and Union Territories (AGMUT cadre), 92 each in Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat against their sanctioned strength of 417, 337, 376 and 297 respectively, among others. (PTI)
Pooja of Central Asia’s oldest Lord Buddha statue performed
Excelsior Correspondent
KARGIL, July 24: Lama Gurfil Rinpochay performed first pooja of the Central Asia’s oldest Lord Buddha statue at Appatee here.
Lama Gurfil Rinpochay visited the status site at Appatee along with dozens of monks and offered prayers. This was the first pooja in the history which was performed by Lama Gurfil Rinpochay.
While speaking, Lama Gurfil Rinpochay said that this is the oldest statue of Buddha in Central Asia after Afghanistan.
He stated that the Muslim population of Kargil protected this statue, which is an example of integrity and communal harmony.
He also expressed gratitude to the Muslim community people for protecting this statue of Lord Buddha.
“If the Tourism Department highlights this precious statue, there will be heavy inflow of tourists as this statue site falls in the way between Kargil and Batalik”, he added.
Adopt industries as means of employment: Kichloo
Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, July 24: Minister of State for Industries and Commerce, Sajjad Ahmad Kichloo today on second consecutive day paid surprise visit to various industrial units in Srinagar city to have on spot review of functioning of these units.
The Minister was accompanied by Financial Commissioner, Industries and Commerce, Khurshid Ahmad Ganai and senior functionaries of Industries Department.
On the occasion, Mr Kichloo said that the aim behind visiting industrial units is to assess the performance of industrial units at ground level and to look into the demands being projected by unit holders from time to time.
Mr. Kichloo said a comprehensive plan has been formulated for up-gradation of functional industrial units besides revival of sick industrial units, adding that the industrial sector is one of the most important sectors of the State economy.
The Minister directed the concerned officers to work with more dedication and make concrete efforts to bring more and more youth under the ambit of the schemes launched in industrial sector in the State. He underlined need for establishing industrial units in rural areas also so that new opportunities of employment are opened for educated youth there.
Mr Kichloo said that though our State economy is agrarian in nature and mostly depends upon agriculture, horticulture, animal husbandry and tourism like sectors, yet industries is playing important role in the field of State economy. He said time has come when our youth should made paradigm shift from service sector to industrial sector.
Earlier, various deputations of unit holders met the Minister and presented their charter of demands. The Minister assured them that their genuine demands would be looked into and resolved at the earliest.
JMC seizes 10 kgs polythene bags, recovers Rs 13,900 from defaulters
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 24: Continuing its drive against menace of adulteration in commonly used food items during ongoing Shri Amarnath Yatra, holy month of Ramzan and forthcoming Eid festival, Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) seized 10 kilograms of polythene carry bags and imposed a fine of Rs 13,900 on defaulters.
The team of Health and Sanitation wing of JMC under the supervision of Dr Mohammad Saleem Khan, Health Officer, JMC on the directions of Commissioner JMC inspected various food establishments like hotels, restaurants, meat and chicken shops, provisional stores, bakery shops, food stalls, vegetable vendors, fruit juice corners/vendors, tea stalls and ice-cream corners at Kanji House, Amphalla, Roop Nagar, BC Road, Indira Chowk, Grater Kailash, Shalamar Road, Hari Market, Karan Market and Gumat areas.
The team seized 10 kilograms of polythene carry bags and a fine of Rs 13,900 was imposed on defaulters. Three person were also booked under COTP Act 2003 and a fine of Rs 600 was recovered as penalty from them.
The team also destroyed 30 kilograms of stale cooked food and 50 litres of Jaljeera which was not fit for human consumption. The team also lifted eight samples of different kinds of food articles from different areas and sent to the Food Analyst Jammu for ascertain its standard of purity.
Vision document on Eco-Tourism in Jammu Hills released
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 24: World Wide Fund for Nature India and Centre for Environment Education and Training (CEET) jointly with Directorate of Tourism Jammu today released vision document on Eco-Tourism in Jammu Hills and also launched Eco-Tourism Nature Camps in Jammu Hills during a function at Indian Institute of Public Administration, Jammu.
Additional Commissioner Jammu Rehna Battul was the chief guest, whereas Soujanya Sharma, Director Tourism Jammu presided over the function. Joint Director Tourism Shiv Kumar Gupta was the guest of honour and Dr Raman Kesar CEO Patnitop Development Authority was the special guest. Anjali Sharma Director Door Darshan, PP Sharma retd IFS and Vikrant Kuthiala, Industrialist among others also attended the function.
Launching event was attended by schools, colleges, representatives of Tour and Travel industry, Hotel and Lodges Association, IIPA members, environmental NGOs, University teachers and research scholars from Jammu University and Central University Jammu, CEOs of Tourism Development Authorities of Jammu province, officers of Tourism Department, Wildlife Department and Travel Agents from Jammu.
Dr CM Seth, chairperson WWF/CEET welcomed the participants and informed that WWF-India jointly with Indian Institute of Forest Management Bhopal surveyed all district of Jammu province and published a report on status and potential of Eco-tourism in Jammu Hills.
Rehna Battul, said that since this programme is mainly for students, they should take full benefit of nature camps as part of environment education in schools.
She said that all of us should come together and make Eco-Tourism successful in state. She assured that the administration will take up with government to frame and issue the State Eco-tourism policy.
Soujanya Kumar apprised the participants about the development of new tourism circuits in Jammu province particularly development of Mantalai and Chirayi projects.
In the end vote of thanks was presented by the chairperson Dr CM Seth.
Bikram Club drubs Jagjeet Club to enter semis of Baramulla Hockey
Excelsior Sports Correspondent
BARAMULLA, July 24: Bikram Club thrashed Jagjeet Club by four goals to one (4-1) to enter the semifinals of the ongoing Baramulla District Hockey Tournament, being organized by Hockey Baramulla, under the aegis of Hockey J&K at Government Degree College ground, here.
Earlier, Jatinder Singh scored two back to back goals for Bikram Club in 22nd and 26th minutes of the match to get an early lead. Then, Dharamvir Singh scored a superb goal for Jagjeet Club to decrease the lead. However, Rajinder Singh senior increased the lead to make it (3-1) in their favour and a splendid goal by Devinderpal Singh in 58th minute helped Bikram Club to clinch victory with the (4-1) margin.
Bikram Club got 7 penalty corners and failed to convert any of them, while Jagjeet Club received 2 penalty corners without any success.
The match was officiated by Manjeet Singh, Ranbir Singh, Pupinder Singh and Satinderjeet Singh. Badal Club will lock horns with Khalsa Club in the first semifinal at the same venue tomorrow.
Development of backward areas main focus of Govt: Rather
Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, July 24: The Minister for Finance and Ladakh Affairs, Abdul Rahim Rather today announced macadamization of Nowhar- Branwar road within two months, adding that the road stretch from Branwar to Neego- Sheikhpora-Jabad shall also be widened and upgraded to improve road connectivity in this backward kandi area of the Budgam district.
He said owing to the primary importance of road accessibility in mobilizing trade and economic activities, a comprehensive road connectivity plan has been taken in hand in nook and corner of the Chrar-i -Sharief constituency, which mostly comprises hilly and rugged terrain.
During his daylong extensive tour of the far flung kandi areas of Chrar-i- Sharief constituency, particularly Brenwar, Neego, Sheikhpora villages, Rather asked the concerned engineers of R & B to also prepare a detailed works estimate for construction of an approach road from Branwar to Chak Surisyar immediately so that hardships of people of that remote habitation are removed. He also directed the engineers of the Public Health Engineering department to further augment and streamline drinking water supply in Branwar and its adjacent areas on war footing basis. He said that all possible measures will be taken to revive Chowdhary Khoul for providing irrigation facilities to the farmers of this rain fed kandi area.
Responding to the demands of the people about ration, Mr Rather said that the consumers of the State will be provided ration on higher scale shortly as the Centre is expected to clear the case for re- validation of ration quota shortly in favour of the state.
The Minister was accompanied by a team of senior officers and engineers of PHE, R&B, RDD, PDD and CA&PD Departments.
Mr Rather also addressed series of public gatherings during his tour and reiterated Government’s resolve to ensure equitable development of all the regions and sub-regions of the state. He said that the State under the leadership of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah is passing through a golden era of progress in all the spheres of life. He said development of backward and remote areas has remained the main focus of Government’s policy frame work.
People protest as damaged bridges not repaired
Excelsior Correspondent
MENDHAR, July 24: The people from Harni and Galuta area today held protest as two vital bridges in the area which were washed away last year during rains and flood, were not repaired by the R&B.
Today due to rain and flood in the nallahs the movement of traffic on Harni-BG road and Harni-Nar road remained suspended for several hours in the morning. Many students, Government employees and other people remained held up on these two routes for hours together.
People of the area then held protest against the R&B authorities and alleged that despite request to concerned officials, the repair work was not initiated during last one year. They demanded that work be initiated at the earliest on these two bridges which got partially damaged during last rainy reason.