NEW DELHI, July 30:

The Cabinet today decided to write off Rs 59.74 crore interest amount to be paid by the Jammu and Kashmir Government to the State-run FCI for purchase of foodgrains on credit way back in 1999-2002.
“The Cabinet cleared the Food Ministry’s proposal to write off interest amount of Rs 59.74 crore to be paid by J&K to FCI,” sources said.
The interest amount accrued as on October 1, 2013 has been waived off for the State Government, while the State had demanded the complete waiver of Rs 70 crore, sources added.
The Food Corporation of India (FCI) had supplied foodgrains on credit between 1999 and 2002 to J&K. The State Government has already paid the cost of foodgrains and had requested the Centre to write off the interest payment.
Early this month, State Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had met Union Food Minister Ram Vilas Paswan seeking complete waiver of Rs 70 crore interest on payment due to the FCI.
The State is implementing universal public distribution system. (PTI)

Mir Farhat

Pampore constituency which touches its borders with Pulwama, Tral, Srinagar, is a link between Central Kashmir and South Kashmir. Though on development front the road connectivity across the constituency has improved a lot, yet inhabitants have woeful stories over electricity, education, health and drinking water.
The constituency which has about 80 villages and 80,000 voters has been represented twice since 2002 by People’s Democratic Party member Zahoor Ahmad Mir in the Assembly. Mir is contesting the forthcoming Assembly elections from the constituency.
Mir defeated Congress candidate Mohammad Anwar Bhat in 2008 Assembly elections by a margin of over 5000 votes. Mir polled 11117 votes and Bhat 5969.
The constituency is famous for saffron and the saffron economy has made its residents and businessmen thrive. However, the saffron growers and residents said the Government and their representatives had done nothing to boost the vital trade in the international market.
“Our basic demand from years has been to organize saffron buyers-sellers meet to promote saffron in the world market. Our legislator didn’t do anything regarding it,” said Murawath Hussian Mir, chairman Fallah Behbood Committee in Pampore.
Mir said that a saffron park was allotted for the constituency, but the MLA for his vote bank shifted it into his own area which is “far away” from the National Highway and will not serve any purpose.
“The park was constructed to boost and promote saffron among tourists and businessmen. But now it has lost its purpose as it is being built inside the constituency, too away from the National Highway,” Mir siad.
Pampore town that is the face of the whole constituency has been neglected by the MLA, according to residents. Two sports stadia lying along on the Highway which are vital for promoting sports spirit among youth have not been provided with basic infrastructure. Sports stadium at Kadlabal is submerged in water and it has turned into a cesspool. The other sports ground some hundred meters from the former is without any fencing and basic infrastructure.
Sports enthusiasts of Pampore have protested against Jammu and Kashmir State Sports Council and local authorities time and again for playing a mute spectator to the mess that has resulted in the stadia.
The residents particularly youth demanded dewatering of the stadium so that they are provided with proper space to play their favourite games.
“It used to be one of the premier ground in Pulwama district, but thanks to the official apathy it has become a cesspool of water and mini-bus stand has been carved out of the land,” said the residents.
They accused Municipal Committee Pampore for the bad condition of the stadium saying: “They frequently throw off the garbage into the stadium as the stadium is situated on the National Highway which makes their job easier. Lot of bad smell emanates from the garbage and sedentary water which is health hazardous.”
The inauguration stone of the stadium was laid by then Sports Minister RS Chib, Ghulam Nabi Nabi Rattanpuri, ex-MP and local MLA Zahoor Ahmad Mir in April 2010, but all the promises of equipping the stadium with modern gadgets, according to the residents, didn’t materialize.
The town also grapples with basic amenities like clean, filtered drinking water, electricity outages, poor drainage, lanes and street lights.
Being the main business centre, the town generates sufficient money for Town Committee. But the residents accused the committee for messing up the conditions in the town and also blamed the MLA for “failing to rein in” its officials.
The drainage maintenance has been prey to the dispute between UEED and Municipality.
The schools in the constituency crave for improvement as lot of schools have been upgraded, but a number of primary schools are functioning from rented rooms. Even some schools face shortage of accommodation.
Four high schools have been upgraded into higher secondary which include Ladhoo, Samboora, Lethpora, Khrew; eight middle schools including Chandhara, Konibal, Nihama, Zantrag, Padgampora, Wuyan, Bathen, Barsoo have been converted into high schools; 21 primary schools upgraded as middle schools across the constituency in the last 12 years.
Primary school in Alamdar Colony Shaar which has 40 students functions in two rented rooms, primary school in Sheikh Mohalla, Shaar, has over 40 students, but the students are cramped in a single room which has been mentioned as school and the school in Shaar Shaali has two rooms for more than 50 children.
Some schools across the constituency have less infrastructure and deficiency in staff, the students said, adding that most of the schools have very less space to play.
The condition of the roads in the constituency has improved from the last seven years, with most of the link roads metalled and macadamized.
However, roads in many villages like from Lethpora to Chandhara are in shambles, with residents demanding immediate macadamisation.
Despite assurance from Power Development Department that there will be no power curtailments during Iftar and Sehri, people of Pampore town said they have no such respite.
Residents said power curtailments have become routine during Iftar and Sehri times. They complained that load shedding is being witnessed for more than an hour during Iftar time.
Inhabitants in Nihama, Marwal, Samboora, Hatiwara, Rajpora Balla also showed resentment over erratic electricity.
Unabated excavation of soil in saffron land by mafia of contractors and builders in Pampore area has saffron growers fuming, as blamed the Government and their legislator for failing to curb the loot of the saffron gold.
With no official stopping this mafia, the earthmovers have been used on Karewas land in villages of Chandhara, Letapora, Barsoo, and Samboora in broad day light from last few years to carry this illegal excavation.
Locals said the land mafia has been supplying this soil to contractors for widening Highway on which the work has been going on for the last few years at the cost of precious Karewas land that provides livelihood to thousands of people.
They alleged that despite repeated pleas to the officials concerned no action has been taken against this mafia to save the land.
“Every day hundreds of tippers and tractors ferry soil from Chandhara, Letapora, Barsoo, and Samboora. The administration has failed to stop this vandalisation of our golden land,” Safdar Ahmad Dar of Samboora village.
The inhabitants also fumed at the slow pace of construction work on Government Degree College, Pampore.
Despite its foundation stone laid by Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah himself in 2011, more than three years have passed, the proposed work on Government Degree College, Pampore is yet to start.
The local alleged that the official apathy has led to the delay in its construction. The residents said their MLA has not “pursued” the swift construction of the college with the Government.
Students said they have to face a lot of problems in the rented building, where college is presently been run.
“CM has promised us that the work on the college will commence by March 2012 but we don’t understand why the construction has been delayed, the students have to face problems in the existed college which is operational from a rented building which lacks basic amenities like lavatories for students,” they said.
Nazir Ahmad Baba, a local resident said the Government should start the construction of college as soon as possible, as students will not to suffer.
With the river Jehlum snaking through the constituency, the residents said they are being supplied impure drinking water through water supply schemes.
Healthcare in the constituency has not seen much facelift in the last many years except a 50 bed sub district hospital in Pampore town, and primary health centers in Konibal, Ladhoo, Zantrag, Khrew, Nihama, Lethpora and sub centers in Goripora, and Marwal.
However, the residents said that a new building in Pampore sub hospital has not been completed thus far. Residents in Goripora village said their sub centre is not functioning from the last many years. Most of the residents also complained health centers have deficiency in staff like doctors, and infrastructure.
Inhabitants of villages Mohamviji, Rishipora, Banderpora, Larkipora also said the lanes and bylanes in their villages are in shambles. They said they are facing irregular power cuts, supplied impure drinking water and have least health facilities available to them. The road from Kakapora to Padgampora that passes from Lelhar, Hajibal, and other villages is in shambles and has huge potholes.
Residents in Kakapora town said the lanes and bylanes are damaged, and the town has no drainage facility and also the street lights have not been installed.
“The town sinks into complete gloom and darkness after dusk as street lights have not been installed here,” said a shopkeeper, Showkat Ahmad.
Member Legislative Assembly Zahoor Ahmad Mir when asked about the genuine grievances of the inhabitants of his constituency, he said the overall developmental report in his area was satisfactory.
“I have allotted water supply schemes and tube wells to almost every village of my constituency though filtration system in some area might be defunct. Roads in my constituency are metalled and macadamised; those roads which are damaged have been taken up for repairing and widening. Tenders for Rajpora, Chandhara road have been floated and work will be started soon. Work on widening and macadamisation of Kakapora to Padgampora is ongoing,” Mir said.
Asked about the grievances of the town residents, Mir said Pampora town is the first one in the Valley where street lights were installed for Rs 40 lakh. “Some lights are not working, they should have been repaired by the concerned department, MLA can’t repair them,” he said.
“People from Pampore town don’t approach me for their grievances. They come for their individual benefits, but not for collective grievances of their town,” he said.
On the deteriorating condition of the stadia in the town, Mir said the then Sports Minister RS Chib had laid the foundation stone did nothing except laying it and promising sky to the people and blamed the present NC-Congress Government for neglecting his constituency.
“I sanctioned Rs 10 lakh at the foundation laying time for the stadium at Kadlabal, and Rs 27 lakh from District plan. But this Government did nothing to improve the status of the stadia even after I raised the issue in District Board meeting, Assembly and with the concerned Sports Ministers. But they all neglected it,” he said.
He said the infrastructure in schools has improved, yet there are some lacunae that need to be addressed. On schools functioning from rented and cramped rooms, he said he was not aware of them and will take the matter with the Chief Education Officer. “And in some cases land for the buildings is not available, which is a problem,” he said.
On illegal construction and soil extraction of soil in Saffron land, the legislator admitted that it was a fact. “I raised the issue with all concerned. I even wrote to Chief Minister, went to the Revenue Minister and told the Deputy Commissioner, Tehsildar number of times. But they did nothing,” he said.
On construction of Saffron Park in Dessu village and not along the Highway, Mir said the residents of Pampore objected to the park when they were asked for land. “Dessu residents gave free land to the park. Besides, I did not want the money approved for the park to lapse,” he said.
The legislator said his major projects during his tenure for the constituency were a Government Degree College, shopping complex, and Women’s Industrial Training Institute.

NEW DELHI, July 30:
US Secretary of State, John Kerry arrived here today to hold 5th Indo-US Strategic Dialogue tomorrow during which India will be raising issues of snooping by the US’ NSA and terrorism even as the two sides will explore “transformative initiatives” in key areas such as defence and energy.
Kerry along with his Indian counterpart Sushma Swaraj will co-chair the Dialogue which will also be attended by senior representatives of various ministries including home and defence. Union Minister of State for Commerce (Independent charge) Nirmala Sitharaman will also participate in the Dialogue which will explore ways to strengthen bilateral business ties.
Noting that the Indo-US ties were at a stage of “stable and mature growth”, the Spokesperson in the External Affairs Ministry said the two ministers are expected to explore new frontiers and initiatives to further promote bilateral relations.
Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s September visit to the US during which he will hold talks with President Barack Obama in Washington at the invitation of the American leader, the Spokesperson said, “The opportunity (of Dialogue) will be taken to explore transformative initiatives which can move the Indo-US relations to the next level. In this context, Kerry will also meet the Prime Minister…”.
He also said the focus area during Swaraj-Kerry talks would be security, energy, trade and investment, science and technology, human resource development and regional issues.
Asked if India would raise the issue of snooping by US’ National Security Agency (NSA) on BJP among others, he said there was “considerable disquiet” in the country over the issue and leaders do reflect the public concerns. The issue is expected to be discussed under the cyber-security section, he indicated.
After reports emerged that BJP was among a group of foreign political parties targeted by the NSA in 2010 earlier this month, MEA had summoned a top US official and conveyed that the allegations were unacceptable and sought assurances from the US that it would not happen again.
On whether India would raise the issue of movements of JuD Chief Hafiz Saeed, designated terrorist by the US, he said any issue which impinges on India’s security, of which the homeland security was an important part, and where the Government thinks that the US can assist will be raised.
On the defence front, the two sides are in consultation to upgrade their ties by simplifying technology transfer policies and exploring possibilities of co-development and co-production of defence systems to invest the relationship with strategic value.
The defence trade has shown significant growth in recent years with aggregate worth of defence acquisition from the US crossing over USD 10 billion.
While major initiatives in defence field are likely to be discussed during US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel’s visit next month, tomorrow’s dialogue will set the tone for the same.
The US Secretary of State’s visit is first high-level interaction at the political level after the new government came to power here, the MEA Spokesperson said.
Kerry’s visit two months ahead of Prime Minister Modi’s trip is aimed at instilling some vigour in bilateral ties, which appeared to have lost momentum in the final years of UPA regime.
While the ambitious civil nuclear cooperation agreement is stuck with American companies apprehensive of Indian liability law, the trade ties have also not shown impressive growth. Total bilateral trade in goods touched USD 63.7 billion in 2013, registering a mere growth of 1.7 per cent over the last year.
India-US ties hit a low at the end of last year after senior Indian diplomat Devyani Khobragade was arrested in New York, strip-searched and charged with visa fraud for allegedly underpaying her babysitter. (PTI)

NEW DELHI, July 30:
Lt Gen Dalbir Singh Suhag, whose appointment as Army chief had kicked up a row, will tomorrow take over as the next head of the 1.3 million strong force succeeding Gen Bikram Singh who is retiring.
Suhag was designated as Army chief in May by the outgoing UPA Government ignoring protests from his predecessor Gen V K Singh and BJP.
59-year-old Lt Gen Suhag, a Gurkha officer who had participated in the 1987 Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) operation in Sri Lanka, is currently the Vice Chief of Army Staff.
He will have a tenure of 30 months as the 26th Chief of the armed forces.
Suhag was made the Vice Chief of Army Staff in December last year. Earlier, he had taken over as the Eastern Army Commander on June 16, 2012.
He was at the centre of a controversy triggered by ‘Discipline and Vigilance’ ban imposed on him by the then Army chief Gen V K Singh in connection with an intelligence operation in Assam earlier.
The ban on Suhag, the then 2 Corps Commander, was lifted soon after Gen Bikram Singh took over in May, 2012.
BJP had questioned the “hurry” in making the appointment and insisted that the matter be left to the next Government.
However, soon after the NDA Government took over, Defence Minister Arun Jaitley said the new dispensation will continue with the appointment made during UPA rule.
Suhag was a Company Commander in ‘Op Pawan’ in Sri Lanka in 1987 and commanded 53 Infantry Brigade engaged in counter insurgency operations in the Kashmir Valley from July, 2003 to March, 2005.
An alumnus of Sainik School, Chittorgarh, he joined NDA in 1970 and was commissioned into 4/5 GR (FF) in June 1974.
The General Officer has attended various career courses in India and abroad which include LDMC at CDM, Secunderabad in 1997-98, NDC Course at New Delhi in 2006, Executive Course in USA in 2005 and Senior Mission Leaders Course (UN) in Kenya in 2007.
He holds the distinction of commanding 8 Mountain Division in Kargil from October 2007 to December 2008.
Traditionally, the appointment is made two months ahead of the retirement of the incumbent Army chief but the UPA Government deviated from this practice when Bikram Singh was appointed in 2012. (PTI)

NEW DELHI, July 30:
IAF chief Arup Raha today took over as the Chairman, Chiefs of Staffs Committee from incumbent Gen Bikram Singh who is retiring tomorrow.
The Chairman, Chiefs of Staffs Committee is the senior-most military officer in the country.
Raha was handed over the baton of the CoSC by Gen Singh at a ceremony in South Block, Defence officials said.
Raha, 59, will hold the office for a period of 29 months and would probably be the longest-serving officer in the chair.
He has got the long tenure because of the resignation of former Navy Chief Admiral DK Joshi in February after a series of mishaps involving naval warships.
Raha will continue in office till December 2016 and is expected to push for increasing jointmanship among the three services as the CoSC.
He is also expected to push for the creation of three new tri-services commands including Space, Cyber and Special Operations.
The proposal for raising the three new formations is with the Government for quite some time now and deliberations are being held between all the stakeholders for an early decision on the issue. (PTI)

Excelsior Correspondent
RAJOURI, July 30: A missing woman was found murdered in the forest area of Ding village in tehsil Nowshera today.
A police spokesman identified the deceased as 33-year Bholla Devi, wife of Tilak Raj, resident of village Ding. On July 24, the husband of the deceased lodged a report with the Nowshera police that his wife was missing. For two days, he also remained searching for the woman along with his relatives and in-laws and then went underground on July 28 along with his two minor children Ajay and Aman Kumar.
Today morning a villager noticed the body of the woman lying in the forest. It was wrapped in a blanket and half dumped in the earth. He informed the matter to the other villagers. They contacted Nowshera police about the matter.
A police party from Nowshera rushed to the spot and removed the body to Sub District Hospital for postmortem. The police also examined the spot and it was found that woman had been apparently done to death by strangulating her throat and then wrapped in a blanket. The accused had left the body half dumped in the earth.
The police registered a case and started investigation. It was also looking for the husband who has also gone missing along with his children. The in-laws alleged that the girl has been murdered by Tilak Raj and he has gone under ground to evade arrest by police. After postmortem, the body was handed over to the relatives.

Excelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, July 30: One person died and three others were injured when a Santro car fell into Dal Lake near Lalit Grand Palace, Srinagar today.
Reports said that driver of a Santro car bearing registration number JK0 1G-7183 coming from Grand Palace lost control over the vehicle and it fell into Dal Lake today injuring four boatmen and one of them Abid Ahmad Kaloo son of Mohammad Maqbool of Tailbal Srinagar succumbed to injuries in the hospital.
The injured have been identified as, Suhail Ahmad Kaloo son of Mushtaq Ahmad, Bilal Ahmad Kaloo son of Shabir Ahmad both residents of Karpora Brain Nishat.
Police arrested three persons identified as Ajay Khar son of Moti Lal of Jammu, Sanjay Bhan son of M K Bhan of Shivpora Srinagar and Imran Khan son of Farooq Ahmad of Sazgaripora, Hawal Srinagar and seized the Santro car. The driver of Santro car escaped from the spot. Police have registered a case.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 30: Thieves barged into the house of former Minister and decamped with gold ornaments and cash worth around Rs 10 lakh in Nowshera town of Rajouri district. However, the police have arrested the ex-servant of the Minister’s house in the case.
As per police sources, some unidentified thieves barged into the house of former MoS and Congress leader Dr Ramesh Chander and decamped with gold ornaments and cash worth around Rs 10 lakh.
The family members were not present, when burglars entered the house and decamped with gold ornaments and cash.
A case under relevant Sections was registered at Nowshera Police Station and manhunt was launched to nab the thieves.
When contacted SSP Rajouri Mubassir Latifi said that ex-servant of Minister’s house identified as Purshotam Lal has been arrested and during questioning he has confessed his involvement in the theft.
Further investigation into the case is going on.

NEW DELHI, July 30:
CBI has registered 50 cases in Jammu and Kashmir between 2011 and 2014 of which eight have been closed during the period, Lok Sabha was informed today.
Minister of State for Personnel and Training, Jitendra Singh said 14 cases were registered in 2011 and 2012 each while in 2013, 17 cases were registered and in 2014 till June 30, five cases have been taken up for probe.
The Minister said four preliminary enquiry were registered in 2011 and 2012 each.
In 2013, eight enquiries were registered while in 2014 till June 30 two preliminary enquiries have been registered by the agency, he said.
The Minister said five cases and three preliminary enquiries have been closed during the period.
“The remaining regular cases which have not been closed by CBI are 45 in number and are at different stages of trial/investigation in CBI. So far as remaining PEs (15) are concerned their status are such as ‘referred to department for regular departmental action’ or ‘converted into RC’,” he said.
The Minister said there was no delay in closure of cases as it is done as per due process of law.
“Out of five regular cases closed by CBI in four cases, closure report has been accepted by the Court concerned whereas in one case court has taken decision on closure report. Hence there is no delay,” he said.
In a separate reply, Singh said CBI has registered 134 cases in Uttar Pradesh in which accused were arrested by it.
“The record of number of arrests carried out in individual cases either by CBI or by the State Police is a matter of individual case record and is not being maintained centrally,” he said.
The Minister said no time frame can be assigned for completion of investigation as it varies from case to case. (PTI)