Bhalla provides ambulance to children of Balgran

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July 26, 2014

Excelsior Correspondent

Minister for Housing, Raman Bhalla donating ambulance to children of Balgran in Channi Rama.

JAMMU, July 25: Minister for Housing, Horticulture, Culture, Youth Services and Sports Raman Bhalla has said that Government has formulated a comprehensive plan to develop Jeevan Nagar locality with basic amenities like safe drinking water, road connectivity, education, health, uninterrupted power supply besides better lanes and drains with grating facilities.
This was stated by the Minister while interacting with the people of Jeevan Nagar W. No. 58 after launching Rs. 16 lakh development works in the locality, here today.
Mr Bhalla appealed the people not to dump building material in the lanes and also in nallahs, adding that such practices not only create trouble between development agencies but also affected the health of inhabitants. He said that ‘it is duty of every citizen to make the in and around the areas of locality neat and clean. He said that Government was committed to develop all localities with modern line facilities.
For facilitating the people of Kunjwani, Satwari, Gangyal, Babliana and Jeevan Nagar, the Minister informed that Government has earmarked Rs 19 crore for construction of 11-subways on Kunjwani-Satwari 6-lane road, adding that the project would be started soon after completing tendering formalities by Roads and Buildings department. He said the subways would be provide easily road crossing and avoid any untoward accident on the road.
Listing the measures taken by the Government to improve the living standard of the Jeevan Nagar people, the Minister said that Government has spent Rs 2 crore for development of 1 kilometer long strip along Ranbir canal from Satwari chowk to Jeevan Nagar.
Mr. Bhalla also conducted public grievances redressal camp at Jeevan Nagar and listened other development related issues of the residents of Jeevan Nagar. He gave patient hearing to them and said the Government was fully aware of people problems and was making all out efforts to mitigate in a phased manner.
Later, at Balgran-a home of destitute, Mr Bhalla donated a ambulance out of his constituency development fund to the orphan children for to and fro journey to them at market, hospital and also to the adopted schools.

Army’s Trishul Division holds ‘Op’ Sadbhavana function

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Daily Excelsior

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July 26, 2014

Excelsior Correspondent

Army handing over utility items to remote area villagers during Op Sadbhavana Function.

LEH, July 25: Indian Army’ Trishul Division organized a daylong event under the banner, “OP Sadbhavana Community Development 2014-15” at Kharnak, here today.
It was attended by various dignitaries from the civilian administration and the Army.
Gurmet Dorjay, Councillor, Animal Husbandry and Tourism, Leh graced the occasion with his presence.
Around 200 people drawn from Kharnak, Sumdho, Pangmur Karnark, Thukjay, Tasabuk and Samad and other small villages in the area participated. Furniture items, PA systems, Kitchen Sets and Solar Lanterns were handed over to seven villages falling under Samad and Kharnak region.
Other gifts were also handed over to the elderly and Ex-Servicemen of the region.
It was part of an endeavour by the Indian Army to maintain peace and tranquillity in every part of the nation, especially the remote areas.

Badal Club enters Baramulla District Hockey finals

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Daily Excelsior

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July 26, 2014

Excelsior Sports Correspondent
BARAMULLA, July 25: Outplaying Khalsa Club by four goals to three via tie-breaker in the semifinals, Badal Club sealed berth in the finals of the Baramulla District Hockey Championship, being organized by Hockey Baramulla, under the aegis of Hockey J&K at Degree College ground, here.
Earlier, both the teams tied (1-1) in the stipulated time and the match was decided via tie-breaker, wherein Badal Club prevailed over Khalsa Club by (4-3) to sail into the finals.
Arshdeep of Khalsa Club scored the first goal in the 28th minute of the match to help his side lead by one goal to nil in the first half. However, Tejinder Pal of Badal Club scored an equalizer in 36th minute and the match which ended with (1-1) draw in the allotted time.
Badal Club got 2 penalty corners and failed to convert any of them, while Khalsa Club also failed to convert any penalty corner into a goal.
Mohinder Pal Singh, Kamaljeet Singh and Gurpreet Singh netted goals for Badal Club in tie-breaker, while Tejinder Pal Singh and Balbir Singh missed the target.
On the other hand, Ramandeep Singh and Arshdeep Singh succeeded in scoring goals for Khalsa Club, while Gurpreet Singh, Gagandeep Singh and Gurpreet Singh Junior failed to score goals. Finally, Badal Club won the match (4-3).
Now, Badal Club will take on winners of the match between Vikram Club and SAI North in the finals.
The match was officiated by Ranbir Singh, Manjeet Singh, Devinder Pal Singh and Rajinder Singh.
The second semifinal of the tournament will be played between Vikram Club and SAI North on July 27, 2014 at the same venue.

Creation of Veterinary Universities will increase livestock products: VDA

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Daily Excelsior

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July 26, 2014

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 25: Jammu and Kashmir Veterinary Doctors Association (VDA) has said that the decision of Government for creation of two veterinary universities at Jammu and Kashmir will help in making the State self-sufficient in milk, meat, wool, poultry, eggs and fish production.
In a statement, vice president of the association Dr Zaffar Iqbal said that initiative of the Government for creation of two veterinary universities at RS Pura in Jammu and Shuhama in Kashmir will increase the livestock products.
He added that this endeavour would be not only to become self sufficient in this sector but also surplus to export to other deficit locations within and outside the State, he added.
He said that Jammu has an immense potential for livestock development owing to its varied agro-climatic zones, which are suitable for year round development in the livestock sector, adding that Jammu region has overall 66 per cent livestock population of the State.
Government already operates separate Departments for Animal and Sheep Husbandry for Jammu and Kashmir divisions and establishment of separate university for Jammu division will cater to the needs of these two departments and that of Department of Fisheries, in respect of general of regional based research needs and transfer of improved scientific technology for improving economic status of livestock rearing farmers as a part of broad based farming system.
He further stated that the climatic conditions of Jammu region comprising of sub-tropical and intermediate agro-climatic zones are most suitable for intensive livestock based farming system with sufficiently availability of arable and non arable land for supplying sufficient feed and forages to livestock in the form of roughages of the cereals and green fodder from exiting double and triple cropping systems and green and dry forage from an arable land.
“With the establishment of two veterinary universities, the area of operation being smaller will lead to more intensive are specified transfer of technology for accelerated development of region as has already been done by the Government by establishing two agriculture universities and two Government departments in field of agriculture, horticulture, animal husbandry, sheep husbandry in the two divisions of State”, he added.

Amla leads South Africa fightback on day two

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Daily Excelsior

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July 26, 2014

Colombo, July 25:
Hashim Amla faced a stern test of character in his first series as captain after South Africa lost three key wickets against a determined Sri Lankan bowling attack in the second Test Friday.
Amla, 31, dug in with a painstaking 46 off 134 balls as South Africa trailed the hosts by 323 runs with seven wickets in hand on the second day of the Test at the SSC ground in Colombo.
At stumps, South Africa were 98-3 with AB de Villiers (11) being the other not out batsman at the crease.
Amla is leading the South African team for the first time in this two-Test series after being named captain last month following the retirement of Graeme Smith.
With the wicket showing signs of deteriorating, Amla and his men now face an uphill task to put up a fighting total on the board.
Sri Lanka posted 421 in their first innings, thanks to a solid 165-run knock by Mahela Jayawardene and a defiant 72 by Test debutant Niroshan Dickwella.
South Africa were off to a shaky start in their first innings, losing their openers inside the first nine overs before seamer Suranga Lakmal sent back Faf du Plessis for a fighting 36.
Left-arm spinner Rangana Herath gave the side an early breakthrough when he caught opener Alviro Petersen off his own bowling in the second over for two.
Dean Elgar (one) followed suit, inside-edging off-spinner Dilruwan Perera to short leg where Kaushal Silva dived forward to take a sharp catch.
Amla and du Plessis tried to rebuild the innings with some patient batting but Lakmal broke their 58-run stand half an hour before close.
Du Plessis tried to swing a widish delivery from Lakmal but edged it to Dickwella who dived to his left to take a one-handed catch just inches off the ground.
South Africa wrapped up the Sri Lankan innings in the second session, starting with the dismissal of Perera who lobbed a simple catch to Amla off leg-spinner Imran Tahir (1-121).
The first session belonged to Jayawardene and Dickwella who shared a rollicking 100-run stand for the sixth wicket.
Jayawardene, due to quit Test cricket next month, hit 17 fours and a six during his nearly eight-hour stay at the wicket before being run out by a direct hit from Petersen about 30 minutes from lunch.
It was Dickwella who dominated the bowlers initially when Sri Lanka resumed at their overnight 305-5, driving and cutting South African fast bowlers for fours to belie his status as a Test debutant.
Jayawardene too picked up the pace, reaching the 150-run mark with a single to long leg off Dale Steyn.
The South African quicks struggled to make the new ball count in the crucial first hour, regularly pitching in loose balls that were promptly dispatched to the fence.
Morne Morkel’s short balls were hit for two fours on the trot by Dickwella, the batsman arching back slightly and ramping the second one high over the slip cordon.
The attritional first hour saw Morkel lose his cool and push away Dickwella as he was trying to take a run but the bowler apologised immediately.
Unruffled, Dickwella went on to complete his debut Test fifty with three runs off a full toss from Morkel that he nudged it to the mid-on region.
South Africa lead the two-Test series 1-0 after winning the first match in Galle by 153 runs. (Agencies)

Sharda Colony, Anuradha Puram plunges into darkness

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Daily Excelsior

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July 26, 2014

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 25: Sharda Colony and Anuradha Puram have been plunged into total darkness for last two days after the local transformers developed a snag.
The residents of the two adjoining localities have made umpteen requests to the authorities to install the transformer but to no avail.
Sharda Colony Welfare Committee representative Nana Ji urged the PDD authorities to take immediate steps in installing new transformers as people of the two colonies are facing many hardships due to power failure.
He said the complete blackout in the area has added to the problems of old and infirm as well as school going children who are unable to do their home work due to blackout.
He said the incessant rains and flood waters also damaged the Sharda Colony link road completely and the same be repaired at an earliest. He also demanded construction of a proper drainage system in the area for diversion of rain water.

Police, revenue officials conduct market checking

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Daily Excelsior

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July 26, 2014

Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, July 25: Police today claimed a joint team of police and revenue officials conducted market checking in Budgam and Anantnag districts and recovered a fine of over Rs 48, 000 from the offenders.
A police spokesman said SDPO Magam, SHO Budgam, SHO Chadoora and SHO Khan Sahab alongwith concerned Tehsildars and executive officers, conducted market checking in their respective jurisdictions and recovered Rs 29300, Rs 6300, Rs 2500 and Rs 2900 from the offenders, besides seizing 50 Kgs of polythene.
Rotten vegetables were also destroyed on spot, he said.
He said a joint team of police, Revenue and Municipal committee conducted a market checking at Mattan, Seer Hamdaan and Bijbehara in Anantnag district. During the checking Rs 7550 have been recovered from different shopkeepers as fine besides rotten vegetables and rotten fruits were destroyed on spot.

Water scarcity spark protests in Batamaloo

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Daily Excelsior

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July 26, 2014

Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, July 25: Scores of inhabitants of Batamallo and its adjoining area today protested against the Government and Public Health Engineering (PHE) Department over scarcity of drinking water.
The inhabitants of Sheikh Dawood Colony, Firdous Abad Colony, Dander Khah and other adjoining colonies came on roads on early morning and blocked the main Chowk Batamallo for about three hours.
“There is not a drop of water to drink as taps are running dry. Every time we visited the office of Executive Engineer Public Health Engineering with the request to restore supply in the area but to no avail,” protesters said.
They said that the Government till date didn’t pay any heed to their grievance. “Now the Public Health Engineering (PHE) Department is also showing reluctance to restore water supply in their localities, despite repeated assurance from different quarters”, they said.
Earlier, when angry protesters refused to end their protests, the Chief Engineer, PHE gave written assurance to them that water supply would be restored upto 24th of this month, protesters said, adding, a copy of which is lying with Mohalla Committee and SHO of local police station. “His assurance proved hoax like earlier ones, that was why we again came on roads to gave him reminder that if the water supply was not restored, he will be responsible for any untoward in the area,” they said.

PM meets MPs from northern states

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Daily Excelsior

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July 26, 2014

NEW DELHI, July 25:
BJP MPs from northern region including poll-bound Haryana today met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and shared their views on a range of issues, including those related to party organisation, Government functioning and their experiences as people’s representatives.
The meeting took place at a time when BJP is preparing for assembly elections in Haryana and has to decide the future course of action in Delhi which is currently under President’s rule.
BJP’s youth wing chief Anurag Thakur told PTI that party MPs from Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Jammu and Kashmir, Delhi and Haryana along with Chandigarh met Modi and “we were able to discuss a lot of issues with the Prime Minister”.
“He was very open about the various issues —how the MPs were feeling after getting into Parliament, about the functioning of the Government. All of us discussed many issues of local as well as national interest. Matters regarding the organisation were also discussed,” the MP from Himachal Pradesh said.
Thanking the Prime Minister for meeting MPs from the northern states, he said, “I think it is going to bridge the gap between the MPs and the Government”.
When asked about the Prime Minister’s response to the issues raised by the members, Thakur said, “He shared his views on many issues which were raised by MPs.”
Asked whether the members raised the issue of people from Punjab who were held captive in war-torn Iraq, he said, “I am sure that Government will work for the people who are stuck in Iraq and the Prime Minister was also concerned about these things.
“The Government has done very well in the last two months by evacuating more than 3000 people from Iraq and he has assured that everyone will be evacuated.”
Of the 41 people held captive in the strife-torn country, 31 belong to Punjab, four each to Himachal Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh and two to West Bengal.
“We need to congratulate the Government for evacuating more than 3000 people from Iraq to India and very successfully the 46 nurses, they have been brought back from the clutches of terrorists. It is a great achievement of the Government,” he said. (PTI)

Stone crushers risk lives in Zewan

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Daily Excelsior

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July 26, 2014

Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, July 25: The residents of Zewan are up in arms against the rampant pollution-noise and air-caused due to the stone crushers operating near the habitation. They are demanding their closure as these units pose danger to their lives.
“The stone crushers are affecting our normal life. Our children can’t study, we can’t worship. Even inhaling air has become dangerous. These units disrupt our peace,” said Zaheer Ahmad, a resident.
The residents alleged that these stone crushers which are six in number are running violating the PCB rules. “They even threaten the existence of flora and fauna,” he said.
PCB Law Officer Mohammad Maqbool told Excelsior that if the stone crushers run from population area “they have to go.”
“As per PCB rules, the existing stone crusher units have to run from a distance of half a kilometer and the new units from one kilometer away”, he said.
“If the stone crushers affect the health of the population then they have to shift, not the population. Whether residential colonies come up before or after the unit has been established,” Maqbool said.
Regional Director Pollution Control Board Mohammad Shafi said the entire area has become an industrial area and they cannot ask the stone crushers to shift their units from the residential area.
He said the units have to mandatorily run in the day and stop after evening.
Shafi said they can ask the crusher operators to increase the efficiency of controlling pollution emanating from their operation. He claimed that PCB teams regularly monitor these units.
The worried residents said the polluting units run in violation of safety norms, and “we demand the authorities to ask them to shift their units out of the residential areas”.