Another batch of devotees leave for Amarnath
JAMMU : Amid tight security, the 28th batch of pilgrims today left for the Amarnath cave shrine in south Kashmir Himalayas from here.
As many as 1,045 pilgrims, including 628 men, 219 women and 5 children, left from the Bhagwati Nagar base camp in Jammu in a cavalcade of 28 vehicles at 4:50 AM, police said.
The convoy has already crossed Kud on Jammu-Srinagar National Highway and would reach their destinations at Baltal and Pahalgam base camps by this evening, they said.
With today’s batch, a total of 49,205 pilgrims have so far left from the Jammu base camp for the Amarnath shrine. (AGENCIES)
20 killed in bus-train smash
HYDERABAD : In a gruesome accident, 20 people, mostly school students, were killed when a private school bus in which they were travelling was hit by the Nanded passenger train near Masaipet in Chegunta mandal in Medak district of Telangana today.
The bus belonged to Kakitiya private school in Loopran. The accident took place at an unmanned level crossing and the driver of the ill-fated bus was among those killed. According to police sources,the toll may go up. In all, the bus was carrying 30 students who were on their way to Kakatiya high school located in Toopran.
The injured, some of them in a serious condition, were rushed to nearby hospitals.
Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao expressed shock and grief over the loss of lives in the major accident. He was in constant touch with district officials.
The bus was carrying the students to their school from Islampur when the mishap occured.
(AGENCIES)
horoscope
Thursday July 24-2014
Aries : Today, you will appreciate beautiful things and exotic artefacts. You may even seriously think of pursuing a business related to such commodities. However, you may not be able to make up your mind, says Ganesha. However, you will decide to keep an open mind about it.
Taurus : Today, you may have something at the back of your mind that will grip you with its complexity, says Ganesha. Speak freely as your words are capable of making a great impact on others. You may not be willing to confront unpleasant situations today. Don’t worry, the stars seem in your favour, predicts Ganesha.
Gemini : Today, you are likely to get encouragement and support for your endeavours from all quarters. You have a gift of gab and your ability to dispel tension with even the simplest of your remarks will be put to test. Still, you will rise to the occasion and prove your mettle. Taking good care of your health is important, and you are no exception.
Cancer : If you are a stockbroker, you may feel that things are not going too well for you. Today, you may regret being a stockbroker. Manufacturers must delay the launch of a new product. However, after a waiting game, you may go on to launch the product with a fanfare. Ganesha wishes you a good luck.
Leo : You will be filled with extraordinary self-confidence today. You will be able to take firm decisions when it comes to work related issues. You will not face any difficulties in completing your tasks today, and will achieve success. You need to guard against getting into any confrontations with your father or other elders, says Ganesha.
Virgo : It is quite possible that you will love financial challenges that are thrown at you, as they whet your appetite for success. You will come up with innovative ideas and improved methods of problem-solving. Ganesha assures you that your current business ideas will work wonders.
Libra : Trivialities should be the least of your concerns today. Do not let the small things faze you out. Remember that it is the overall picture that matters, and not one small stroke of the brush. Bear this is mind, since you may come under some pressure from subordinates at your workplace. Just remember to consider all possibilities before making any decisions. Also, take time to relax and maybe even meditate. It is the key to finding some peace of mind on this hectic day, reminds Ganesha.
Scorpio : You will live the day in two dominant shades, feels Ganesha. One part of your day will be tinted in nostalgia and thinking, while the other will be spent in making up for the time you lost while star gazing and ignoring your work. Do not let the ghosts of your past haunt you because some things are best left behind while making a new beginning, says Ganesha.
Sagittarius : Look before you leap, says Ganesha. Cupid has strung his bow and aimed an arrow at you. Love’s labour will easily aid you to woo a young, tender heart. But don’t be swept away by easy prospects and guard your reputation at all costs.
Capricorn : You will starve for some free time, but will find it difficult to steal even a minute from your busy schedule, even if it is for unwinding your overworked soul, says Ganesha. In times like these, one can hardly think straight, let alone be innovative. You will, however, work your way out by prioritising matters. By the end of the day, your efforts may get paid off, leaving you with the thought that it was all worthwhile after all!
Aquarius : Your ideas are bang on target today! Everything you touch turns into gold. You have it in you to make it big, and the time is now. When the going gets tough, the tough get going — you’ve heard this before, now it’s time for some action, says Ganesha.
Pisces : Stabbing with a pen is so much more satisfying than slicing with a sword. With these lofty ideals in mind, you will launch an assault upon your unsuspecting prey with your lethal presentation skills, eliciting cries of sheer ecstasy and tremendous applause. Don’t get carried away though, says Ganesha.
Leh airport scandal
If we go back a little in recent past, we will find that the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India had earned the displeasure of the previous government when it pointed out a number of serious irregularities in the execution of some major projects and decisions of the Government of India. But the CAG stuck to its official mandate and, in honest performance of its constitutional duties, defended the provisions of the Constitution of India. Experience shows that when arrogant governments get cornered for their advertent or inadvertent administrative lapses, they react perilously to the extent of jeopardizing the democratic institutions of the country. Honest and efficient watchdog mechanism is the pre-requisite of democratic dispensation. The theory of checks and balances with which political scientists are very familiar, is implementable in more than one way. CAG exactly performs that role provided it is honest and dedicated to the service of the State and the nation.
It is the job of the CAG to find out and highlight irregularities and this has not to be taken as a hostile stance by the governments concerned. Democratic governments have to take the critical reports of the CAG as path finder and not as obstruction. CAG does not seek to perform the role of the opposition in the Parliament but, of course, it supplements the criticism of the opposition by producing facts and figures and data and statistics that are official and convincing. Having brought it to the notice of the government, the CAG moves ahead and does not stop to find what happened to the government as the opposition would.
The report of the CAG on the Leh Air Force Station runway is an example in sight. Its report has brought out how irresponsibly government functionaries at various levels have been in handling the issue of resurfacing of the Leh airport runway. A certain fault was detected in the runway as far back away as 2006 and now eight years down the line the fault has not been corrected while almost double the estimated amount has been spent from time to time and in installments. It is a sordid story on the part of the engineers, contractors and concerned functionaries to put forward excuse after excuse for not removing the fault and making the air strip safe for the fighter airplanes to land and take off.
The Defence Ministry, which is in control of the Leh airport, shall have to take stock of things in right earnest and cut short the complicated and time consuming process of resurfacing the air strip. This task cannot be left to the whims of contractors and the pleasure of engineers. Moreover, one gathers from the CAG report on the subject that the Engineering staff deployed on the task was not really qualified for doing the job. If they are holding some senior positions, that does not necessarily make us sure that they are capable of delivering the goods. The Defence Ministry shall have to requisition the services of highly qualified and experienced engineers to take up; the job. It must also re-examine whether the contracting company that has undertaken the project has the requisite potential to deliver.
Actually the thinking and work culture at the Defence Ministry needs to be revolutionized. Read between the lines, the CAG report does not brush aside the possibility of an element of corruption in the Leh Air Force Station air strip resurfacing project. It is for the Ministry to conduct ministerial level inquiry and find out the reason why after a lapse of eight years and spending nearly fifty crore rupees the Leh air strip is sill incomplete and unserviceable.
Expanding Kargil airport
Kargil, like some more towns in Ladakh region is strategically important town. Its strategic importance was revealed when the notorious Kargil war broke out in 1999. Till then, Leh airport enjoyed all the importance and the attending conveniences because of its importance to the defence establishment and also to the local administration. However, Kargil war brought home to our defence strategists that Kargil airport had to be developed to make it feasible for landing of all types of civilian aircrafts.
This is not a big airport. It actually belongs to the State government, and the State government needed to have connectivity in emergency and during the long winter months so that administration of the district would run smoothly. Civil authorities have given it on lease to the Airport Authority of India, who, in turn, passed it on into the administrative control of the Indian Air Force. Presently, the Runway dimension is 6000 ft X 100 ft (1829 mt X 30 mt) and the Terminal Building has the capacity to handle 100 peak hour passengers at a time. As is known to all, the Defence Ministry has been working on upgrading and improving border defence capability on a larges scale so as to thwart the efforts of our adversaries, both China and Pakistan, of creating turmoil on the border. The revised and recast border security perception entails, among other things, road, rail air connectivity.
Likewise, in an additional step, the Air Force has the project of expanding the Kargil airport runway to a length of 3,000 feet enabling all categories of civilian aircrafts to land at it. All expansion and development work will be undertaken by the Defence Ministry and the airport is likely to be given on extended lease of 20 years. Though this is a civilian airport yet being managed and maintained by the Air Force it can be used by the Air Force if and when need arises. Even as far as civilian needs are required, there has been demand from the local population for enhancing civil air service to Kargil. This need will also be met with as the expansion project undertaken by Ministry of Civil Aviation progresses.
My career really took off after that ton in Perth: Tendulkar
Mumbai, July 23:
Once again terming it his best Test ton, batting legend Sachin Tendulkar today said his career took flight following the knock of 114 on a bouncy WACA track in 1992, adding that the innings against a hostile Australian attack in Perth gave him immense confidence.
“One innings that changed my career or gave shape to my career was in Perth, 1992. Perth, at least at that time, was regarded to be the fastest wicket and the hostility of the Australian fast bowlers was something which was difficult to handle. I was able to score a 100 and I was only 19,” he said during an interaction with school children here.
“And just two matches before that, I had scored a hundred in Sydney but they were two different kinds of surfaces. I knew that Perth was the kind of wicket which I would not get to play anywhere in the world and If I can bat on Perth and score runs then I am possibly equipped to go on any other track which is fast and bouncy and score runs there.
“My career was just starting. I had done well for a couple of years by then but it really took off after that Perth innings because I felt I was ready to take on the world. By no means I was over confident but I became a confident cricketer where any challenge put up against me, I was equipped to face that,” he added.
The retired great interacted with Ryan International school children at north western Malad during the launch of ‘Kaspersky Kids Awareness Programme’.
His response came when he was asked by a student to rate his best Test century out of the 51 tons he had scored in his 24-year international career in which he also notched up 49 ODI hundreds to make it a round 100 centuries.
Tendulkar hung up his boots last November after a glittering career that saw him amass 15,921 runs in Tests, at an average of 53.78, and 18426 runs in 463 ODIs at an average of 44.83. (PTI)
‘Conflicting signals coming on India’s stand on WTO Agreement’
WASHINGTON, July 23:
Stating there were conflicting signals coming from India on the ratification of the World Trade Organisation trade facilitation agreement, a senior trade expert said any blocking of the global trade deal would undermine the confidence of the international trade community in the new Modi Government.
“I think, if India takes steps that undermines, the agreement, from my perspective that (would) seriously undermine the confidence the international business community has about the Modi Government,” Jake Colvin, vice president, Global Trade Issues at the National Foreign Trade Council told.
“The international trade community is watching the Modi Government’s decision very closely, which will send a clear signal one way or the other to investors, business owners, and policy makers,” an official familiar with the negotiations said.
“Everyone is hopeful that the Modi Government will make good on the promises India has made and join the other countries that are already taking action to implement trade facilitation and food stock piling,” said the official strictly on condition of anonymity.
It is learnt that the US had recently presented two separate papers to India.
However, sources familiar with the negotiations alleged that so far Indians have not engaged at all.
In fact, New Delhi rejected the second proposal without even reviewing it, informed sources said.
The first paper is believed was a national experience paper tabled in March, describing US approaches over the years to address concerns regarding food security.
The second, tabled last week, is understood to be a proposal for the work programme on food security.
For example, it is reported to suggest the Secretariat compile a literature review on approaches to food security.
“The US business community is alarmed by the conflicting signals that is being sent by India about the WTO agreement and about what they are going to do with the agreement.
“We think that the deal is generally good for business and also short of inclusiveness, makes its easier for small and medium size business to engage in the global market place,” Colvin said.
The American business community, Colvin said, has the impression that the Modi Government is pro-business and hoped that its election would result in co-operation with the international business.
India not ratifying the trade facilitation agreement reached last year in Bali, would “be a strong signal that would counter that,” he said.
Hoping that all of the countries that agreed with the trade association agreement will implement it according to the provisions that were agreed to, Colvin said if India fails to do that, “it’s disappointing”.
Such a move, he said, would be harmful to the pro- business image of the Modi Government, and also to the World Trade Organisation. (PTI)
Govt reviews functioning of JCC Bank
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 23: The Government today reviewed the functioning of Jammu Central Cooperative (JCC) Bank in a meeting held here in the premises of Head Office of the Bank at Rail Head Complex.
During the review meeting, Administrator JCCB, Joint Registrar Cooperatives (Admn), Mufti Mohammad Farid-ud-Din briefed the Secretary, Cooperative Department, RK Koul, regarding working of the bank and gave a resume of latest initiatives taken in improvement of the bank. He also suggested several measures for streamlining the working of the bank.
Secretary, Cooperative Department R K Koul stressed upon the bank management to improve recovery portfolio to the maximum of 100 percent on current demand and substantially in respect of the arrear demands. He laid emphasis upon the maximum recovery in Non Performing Assets (NPA) cases. He also laid stress on the need to cut down on the managerial expenses as it is the drain on the feeble financial recourses of the bank.
R K Koul directed the bank management to circulate performance indicators to its branches by fixing targets of advances and recoveries especially in NPA cases and laid emphasis on the monthly review of the performance i.e. before 10th of every month. The incentives to the employees should be linked to their performance alone and the non-performers should be held accountable.
Additional Registrar, Jammu Cooperative Societies, Anjana Tikoo (KAS) and Deputy Secretary to Government Cooperative Department, Mukhtar Ahmed (KAS) were also present in the meeting.
The meeting was also attended by CEO/GM (Admn) JCCB, Ganesh Chander Sharma, GM (Banking) Sikander Gupta, GM (I&V), Sarwan Das Choudhary and DGM (Advances), Mohammad Mushtaq.