SRINAGAR, Aug 5: Seven structures were damaged in different fire incidents across the Valley.
A police spokesman said fire broke out in the house of Abdul Ahad Sheikh son of Ghulam Rasool at Kachan in Ganderbal resulting in complete damage to the house.
Fire broke out in a building (Indra House) at Sainik School Manasbal in Lar, resulting in complete damage to the building.
The residential house of Mohammad Akber Bhat son of Mohammad Ramzan Bhat of Miyan Shah Sahab Rainawari, Srinagar was partially damaged in fire which engulfed the nearby residential houses of Mohammad Iqbal Bhat and Ghulam Nabi Bhat sons of Mohammad Sultan and Showkat Ahmad Bhat son of Ghulam Mohammad Bhat resulting in partial damage to structures.
A joint residential house of Ghulam Mohammad and Ghulam Rasool sons of Abdul Salam Panzoo at Ganiyatmanz, M.R Gunj was partially damaged when fire engulfed in it.
The joint residential house of Mohammad Ismail Sheikh and Mohammad Yaseen Sheikh sons of Abdul Gani Sheikh was burnt in fire at Nagbal Shopain, resulting in partial damage to the house.
Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah chairing a meeting at Srinagar on Tuesday.
Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Aug 5: Sensitising the concerned Government departments in particular and the society in general about the menace of drug abuse, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today underlined the need for identifying the scale and magnitude of the problem for coordinated response for its eradication.
“We should act promptly and effectively to nip the evil in bud,” Omar said chairing a high level meeting, which was also attended by a team of United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes (UNODC), here.
The Chief Minister said all concerned along with the civil society have to work in coordination and under one umbrella to check the drugs abuse and save the young generation falling prey to the menace.
An effective follow up mechanism after counselling and treatment of drug addicts also needs to be put in place to help stop the recycling of treated drug addicts, he said.
The Chief Minister said a comprehensive policy to tackle the problem and chop off its tentacles is the need of the hour.
He directed for drafting a policy for the State to address the issue more effectively.
“We cannot wait for taking immediate measures to tackle the problem as there is every apprehension that it may attain greater magnitude and dimension if not addressed well in time in a coordinated manner,” he said.
He said awareness and involvement of NGOs are the two most aspects needing focusing for the purpose.
The meeting among others was attended by Health Minister Taj Mohi-ud-Din, Minister of State for Animal and Sheep Husbandry N A Gurezi, Minister of State for Home Sajjad Ahmad Kitchloo, Director General Police K Rajindra and senior officers of various departments.
The UNODC team made powerpoint presentation on the subject and offered its help to the State in three important aspects of Normative Work, Technical Assistance and Research Policy Analysis to built a complete data on the issue and take appropriate measures to curb the menace effectively.
The DGP informed the meeting that in the Rehabilitation and Treatment Centres more than 5000 drug addicts have been treated.
DGP K Rajendra Kumar addressing a meeting of CID officers on Tuesday.
SRINAGAR, Aug 5: In order to review the overall functioning of Criminal Investigation Department (CID), a meeting was held at CID Headquarters here today.
Chaired by the Director General of Police (DGP) K. Rajendra Kumar, the meeting discussed all administrative issues of the wing, besides disposal of public interest cases.
Addressing the meeting, Mr. Rajendra said that CID is a vital organ of Police Organization which has a large scope of public service. He said that the wing with its subordinate units at different levels across the State has been serving the people of the State since its establishment. Besides administrative matters, the personnel of the Wing are engaged in public service, which they have proved at different occasions.
Stressing for further improvement in the working of different areas of the wing, the DGP said that all public interest issues including the verifications required for obtaining passport and employment should be disposed within shortest time frame. For this purpose, quick methods of conducting the verification need to be followed to avoid any unnecessary inconvenience to the aspirants. Information Technology (IT) has brought a revolutionary change in work culture across the globe and we also have to adopt the techniques to bring efficiency in our public service, said the DGP.
IGP (CID) Dr. B. Srinivas briefed the meeting about the working and improvements brought to ensure the disposal of various issues in a quick and befitting manner. He said that since January this year more than 60,000 verifications have been received for getting passport and appointments. Out of which 57,000 verifications including backlog have been completed and sent to concerned authorities. Besides the wing has been receiving verifications for LoC travel and Uddan Scheme at a large scale which are being cleared within shortest possible time, said the IGP. He said that CID Headquarters has been conducting weekly public hearing to finalize the cases pending for clearance of some observations.
Hailing the working of the Wing, the DGP stressed for further improvement in the methods to be flowed especially in the public interest cases. He assured that PHQ would provide generous logistic and monitory support to the Wing to upgrade its infrastructure and other components including mobility, connectivity, accommodation and manpower.
The meeting was attended by IGP (Tech) PHQ, HK Lohia, DIG (CID), Kifayat Hyder, SSPs, RK Jalla, BA Tamil, BA Makhdoomi, Rajesh Bali, Joginder Singh and Rajiv Pandey, besides other police officers.
SRINAGAR, Aug 5: Work is apace on 63 different Road and Bridge Projects in Kashmir division under R&B sector at an estimated cost of Rs. 442.08 crore, of this Rs.198.20 crore have been spent on the execution of these works up to the end of June 2014.
This information was given out in the meeting of the Committee on Public Undertakings of Jammu and Kashmir Projects Construction Corporation (JKPCC) held here today under the chairmanship of Legislator Abdul Rehman Veeri.
The other Members of Legislative Assembly, Dr Mustafa Kamaal, Nizam-ud-Din Bhat, Charan Jeet Singh, Ajaz Ahmad Jan, Muhammad Yaseen Shah and Member Legislative Council Asgar Hussain were also present on the occasion.
The meeting discussed threadbare various issues relating to the proper implementation of the schemes undertaken by the JKPCC.
The Committee reviewed the pace of work on Ganpath bridge across river Chenab at Doda, which is under execution since November 2006. The Bridge is likely to be completed in March 2016 at an estimated cost of Rs. 35.71 crore out of which Rs. 13.63 crore have been incurred on the execution of the bridge upto June 2014.
Earlier, the concerned MLAs enquired about the status of works being executed in their constituencies.
Speaking on the occasion Mr. Veeri stressed upon the officers that all the projects should be completed within the stipulated time frame so that benefits of the projects could percolate to the target population. He also underscored the need that the projects undertaken for execution should not be thrown half way for want of funds or any other formality.
Among others the meeting was attended by MD, JKPCC P L Bhushan, Director (F) R&B I A Wani, Director Finance JKPCC Dr. S K Sen, General Managers and Deputy General Managers of JKPCC and other concerned officers.
Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Aug 5: Raman Bhalla, Minister for Culture, Housing and Horticulture, called on N.N. Vohra, Governor, here at the Raj Bhavan today.
Mr. Bhalla briefed the Governor about to-date status of schemes and projects launched for preservation and promotion of local art and culture and efforts being made by the Housing Department for the creation of adequate housing stock in J&K.
Mr. Bhalla also apprised the Governor about the status of restoration works of Mubarak Mandi Complex, Jammu, by Mubarak Mandi Heritage Society. He also informed the Governor about the projects being formulated by the Culture Department to restore the pristine glory of several identified heritage sites in the State.
The Governor discussed with Mr. Bhalla the functioning of Agri Expo Zones for Walnut and Apples which have been established in J&K and enquired about the efforts being made to ensure the development of Horticulture in the State is pursued on a fully integrated basis, in close collaboration with two Agricultural Universities of the State.
The Governor urged Mr. Bhalla to urgently review the continuing works to refurbish the Kala Kendra, Abhinav Theatre and Tagore Hall and ensure that these are completed on the most urgent basis.
Prof. M.P.S. Ishar, Vice Chancellor, Jammu University also called on Governor.
Prof. Ishar briefed the Governor about the to-date status of admissions for the Academic Year 2014-15, the efforts underway to create additional infrastructure to meet the growing needs of the University, and the steps being taken to ensure filling of all the vacant teaching and non-teaching posts in the University. The Governor spoke to Prof. Ishar to ensure perfect arrangements being made for the University Convocation to be held on September 1, 2014.
The Governor urged the Vice Chancellor to take all necessary steps for the continuous upgrading of the academic and research standards in the University and conformity to decorum on all fronts.
NEW DELHI, Aug 5:
A demand was raised in Rajya Sabha today to restore pilgrimage to Kounsarnaag in Jammu and Kashmir with a member saying the issue was linked to religious and cultural sentiments of Kashmiri Pandits and Yatra was vital to promote communal harmony and strengthen economy.
Raising the issue during Zero Hour, Avinash Rai Khanna (BJP) sought the intervention of the Government for allowing the Kounsarnaag religious yatra to proceed, saying the Jammu and Kashmir Government had rescinded the order permitting the event.
He said the State Government’s decision to rescind the order permitting Kashmiri Pandits to proceed with the annual and peaceful religious yatra to Kounsarnaag was not proper as it promotes not only religious tourism but creates employment opportunity for thousands.
Khanna said Kashmiri Pandits have been taking out the Yatra annually and such a decision “has hurt their sentiments”.
He said the decision was taken after some organisations said it would fuel communal tension but instead the Yatra has a tradition to promote unity and integrity.
A large number of members associated with the demand.
Khanna through a special mention also raised the issue of “sabotage” of pilgrims camps recently during the Amarnath Yatra.
He demanded “a CBI inquiry into the sabotage of camps of pilgrims during the Amarnath Yatra.” (PTI)
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 5: The Department of Home has ordered transfer of three DySPs and their posting in the Vigilance Organization.
They included Zulfkar Ahmad (SDPO Kangan), Hira Lal Pandita (SO to DIG Udhampur) and Mohd Aslam (DySP Hq Kargil).
Union Minister for Science & Technology Dr Jitendra Singh welcoming Japanese Minister for Science & Technology Hakubun Shimomura at Anusandhan Bhawan in New Delhi on Tuesday.
NEW DELHI, Aug 5 : “India will soon revive the joint Indo-Japan Science & Technology Committee for a more effective coordination between the two important Asian nations”, said Dr Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, MoS in Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Space & Atomic Energy, while welcoming the Japanese Minister for Science & Technology Hakubun Shimomura, who called on him at his Science & Technology Office in “Anusandhan Bhawan” at Rafi Marg, here today.
Dr Jitendra Singh suggested to his Japanese counter-part some of the new Science and Technology proposals which could be taken up during the forthcoming visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Japan.
Dr Singh announced the Government’s plan to initiate the second phase of flagship programme of the “Indian Beam Line at High – Energy Accelerator Research Organization” (KEK) at Tsukuba for research on Advanced Materials.
He also proposed establishing an India-Japan joint centre in India in the area of “Life Sciences and Biotechnology” to look at the emerging challenges of disease biology in Asia.
Emphasizing the need for initiating collaboration in diverse fields of Science, Dr Jitendra Singh highlighted the importance on “Deep Water Ocean Technology” including technology development for extraction of Gas Hydrates.
He also suggested to his Japanese counter-part the launch of a comprehensive Fellowship Programme for India and Japan Researchers in order to build national talent capacity in both the countries.
The Japanese Science & Technology Minister Hakubun Shimomura appreciated the suggestions and proposals made by Dr Jitendra Singh and said that the cooperation between the two countries should enable India and Japan to move to a higher level of strategy engagement for providing leadership amongst Asian nations. This would also help in addressing the social needs in Health, Food, Energy and Disaster Management through application of Science & Technology, added Hakubun Shimomura.
The areas of Ocean Technology and Space Science were particularly emphasized by the Japanese Science & Technology Minister for collaboration between the two countries.
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 5: Describing the decision of the UK Government to hold a “special debate” on the human rights situation in Kashmir in the House of Commons as a brazen interference in the internal affairs of India, BJP State president and MP Jugal Kishore Sharma today said that Jammu & Kashmir is a settled issue and cannot be reopened under any pretext whatever.
“To reopen the settled issue of Kashmir would be to reopen the whole issue of Indian partition in 1947 and question the very formation of Pakistan,” he said, and added that J&K acceded to India under the same Act under which Pakistan came into being and the accession is irrevocable, final and non-negotiable. He also condemned the demand of the UK MP David Ward that Kashmiri Muslims be granted the right to self-determination.
Denouncing the suggestion that Kashmiri Muslims be granted the right to-self-determination, Sharma said much water has flown down the rivers Indus, Jhelum and Chenab during the past more than 66 years and an overwhelming majority of population in the State is deeply and unequivocally committed to India and the Indian political system. “UK cannot impose the sectarian will on the unwilling people of the State, as they are vehemently opposed to the Kashmiri leaders’ demands ranging from autonomy to self-rule to independence to merger with Pakistan to economic independence to the dual currency to demilitarization to India-Pakistan joint-control and have linked their political fate with the national mainstream forever,” the BJP MP said in a statement, adding that it is the BJP which represents the majority view, as it represents over 88 per cent of the State’s land area in the Lok Sabha.
The BJP MP asserted that it is not the Kashmiri Muslims whose human rights have been violated; it is the miniscule minority community of Kashmiri Hindus, minority Sikhs and even the patriotic Muslims in the Valley whose human rights have been ruthlessly violated by the Pakistan-sponsored radical forces in the Valley and added that the BJP would have appreciated UK had it taken up the issue of the oppressed, persecuted and hounded out minority communities and held the fanatics in the Valley responsible for the exodus of the minority community from Kashmir.
By referring to the human rights of those who have violated the human rights of the minority communities and have been attacking the institution of India State and demanding separation on religious ground, UK has committed a grave wrong and accorded legitimacy to the enemies of peace and humanity.
He said, and further added that the BJP will not allow another communal partition of the country. He urged the political establishment in UK to hold itself aloof from Kashmir, which is India’s internal affair. He also urged the people of the State to join the BJP to defeat anti-India moves initiated by Kashmiri separatists and their supporters outside the country.
JAMMU, Aug 5: The Bari Brahmana Industrial Association (BBIA) conducted a training programme for the industrial fraternity with the support of Ministry of Labour here today.
The senior officers from the Ministry including JA Khan and Devinder Singh besides Factory Inspector Jammu province Raj Kumar were present on the occasion alongwith several members of BBIA. While welcoming the officials and members of the industrial fraternity, Raj Kumar highlighted the various benefits provided to the Industrial sector by Labour Department.
General secretary BBIA Lalit Mahajan stressed upon the officials of labour, Govt of India and Factory Inspector Jammu province to provide latest information about the implementation of various acts related to industrial sector in the State, enabling members from the fraternity to submit their requisite returns in time. He said the Labour Department should work as facilitator for the industrial sector avoid any legal action in haste, rather units holders should be given sufficient time for the compliance of various acts, creating friendly atmosphere. Mr Mahajan also requested the department to introduce the system of online filing of various returns related to Industrial sector which will save their precious time. He also demanded that renewal of license be conducted after five years and not every year as the unit holders face problems.
The officials from Ministry of Labour assured that necessary steps would be taken to improve the relationship between Labour Department and industrial fraternity. Prominent among others present on the occasion included Romesh Badyal president Birpur Industrial Association, R P Aggarwal from Kathua Industrial Association Gagan Jain from BIA and Sidharth Dogra from BBIA.
