Mohinder Verma

LEH, July 14: The first full-fledged Indian airbase along the Line of Actual Control with China in the strategically important Ladakh region will come up at Nyoma and presently land acquisition process is going on at fast pace. The airbase would go long way in building up and strengthening existing military infrastructure along the border with the hostile neighbour.
Sources told EXCELSIOR that Indian Air Force has chosen Mudh area of Nyoma for construction of full-fledged fighter aircraft base, which would be the first ever along the Line of Actual Control with China. At present, the concerned authorities of the Army and Indian Air Force are engaged in land acquisition process.
“Soon after acquiring the required land, which is going on at fast pace, the Indian Air Force would start the construction work”, they said, adding “the construction of fighter aircraft base in Eastern Ladakh is part of Indian Air Force’s efforts to build up military infrastructure along the border with China”.
Stating that Nyoma is an important location for Army as well as Indian Air Force in the Eastern Ladakh, sources said, “though an air strip exists in Nyoma but the same cannot be used for the landing of fighter planes and heavy transport aircrafts”.  “This airstrip, which overlooks a highway being used by the Chinese Army, was last used in 1960s and thereafter India stopped using it. Now, IAF wants to construct full-fledged airbase at this location by acquiring additional land”, they added.
Nyoma, which is located at a height of 13,000 feet, would be used to station fighter jets and provide logistical help to the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and Army, which patrol the Line of Actual Control, sources said, adding “all types of aircrafts including fighters, helicopters and transport aircraft would be capable of being deployed and operated from Nyoma”. Moreover, an officer of the rank of Air Commodore would be commanding this full-fledged airbase.
It is pertinent to mention here that Nyoma airbase would be lower in height than the Advanced Landing Ground at Daulat Beg Oldie, which is considered as one of the highest landing strips in the world.
Stating that Nyoma airbase would strategically boost defense along the Line of Actual Control with China, sources said, “this station would help in maintaining supplies and other logistics to the forces deployed to check nefarious designs of dragon”.
This would be the fourth air force station in Ladakh region. At present, there are three stations-one each at Kargil, Leh and Thoise. The airbases at Kargil and Thoise are catering to the requirement of the forces deployed along the border with Pakistan. The Thoise airbase in Shyok valley is situated at an altitude of 10059 feet.
“The building of new infrastructure and strengthening of existing along the Line of Actual Control with China is of paramount importance keeping in view the aggressive attitude of neighboring country towards India”, sources said, adding “the frequent incursions by the Chinese
Army into Indian side in Ladakh region particularly in Chumur and Demchok clearly indicates the dragon has not mended its ways”.
“On one side the Chinese Army is indulging in frequent incursions into Indian territory and on the other side it has objection to the inadvertent crossing of LAC by the cattle-heads of Ladakh people”, sources said while disclosing that recently Chinese Army sent a threatening letter this side after some cattle heads went to their side.
The threatening letter was sent to Indian side by fixing the same on the horn of an animal.

Fayaz Bukhari

SRINAGAR, July 14: The Deputy Commissioner Jammu, A K Sahu, has refused to execute the shady land transfer deal of the Revenue Department of over 312 kanals of State land to a private party in Jammu, saying that the order has no Cabinet approval and is not in conformity with law.
The Deputy Commissioner Jammu, has shot a letter (Ref No. Dej/S-Q/2-14-15/975-78 dated 12-07-2014) to the Commissioner Secretary Revenue Department, Vinod Koul, in which he has expressed his reservations in execution of the shady land deal.
Sahu while refusing to execute the order writes that the Revenue Department order of transfer of State land measuring 312 kanals and 5 marlas situated in village Bain Bajal, Tehsil and district Jammu on lease for a period of 40 years in favour of the Jammu and Kashmir Housing Corporation Limited has no Cabinet sanction. “Reference of Cabinet decision and copy of Cabinet order has not been provided in this case which is required to be provided”, reads the letter.
The DC has asked the Commissioner Secretary Revenue Department to revisit the case as it is not in conformity with the law. “…it is requested that the case may kindly be revisited and necessary action may be taken accordingly in conformity with the rules/laws in this matter. Undersigned is unable to proceed further in execution of the lease deed in the given circumstances”, reads the DC’s letter.
Challenging the competence of the Commissioner Secretary Revenue Department, Vinod Koul, Sahu writes: “As per item 38 in IInd Schedule (Rule 8) of Jammu and Kashmir Business Rules all the proposal involving alienation either temporary or permanent or sale of Government property including land or temporary lease of immovable property of value more than Rs 50, 000 shall be brought before the Cabinet”.
“As per Rule (5) of J&K Land Grants Rule 1960, all available land has to be auctioned and for that Government has to convey its approval. In this particular case neither approval has been conveyed nor the auction of the available land has been done”, reads the letter.
The Deputy Commissioner in his letter has said that the Revenue Department order has not Jammu Development Authority or Housing Department clearance. “As this area falls within the Master plan of JDA and hence NOC of Housing Department/JDA is required for developing housing colony in the said area”, reads the letter.
Sahu writes that the execution of the Revenue Department order will lead into violation of Master plan of Jammu city and violation of High Court order that bars any construction in violation of Master plan after March 5, 2014.
The land transfer order (Rev/S/142 of 2014 dated 19-06-2014) issued by the Commissioner Secretary Revenue Department, Vinod Kaul, reads: “As recommended by the Deputy Commissioner, Jammu vide his letter No. DCJ/SQ/CHCL/Bain Bajal/2014-15/558 dated 29-05-2014 and keeping in view the pressing public demand for proper and modern housing facilities at affordable prices and also taking into consideration that such huge housing demand can’t be addressed by Government due to financial constraints, sanction is here by accorded to the transfer of State land measuring 312 kanals and 5 marlas situated in village Bain Bajal, Tehsil and district Jammu on lease for a period of 40 years in the first instance in favour of the Jammu and Kashmir Housing Corporation Limited subject to the payment of premium fixed by Deputy Commissioner (District Collector),  Jammu as per prevailing potential value of the land and ground rent as admissible under rules…”
Sources said that the higher authorities have sought records of the shady land deal after Deputy Commissioner’s letter in which he has refused to execute the Revenue Department order.

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, July 14: Notwithstanding tall claims of those at the helm of affairs in the Power Development Department (PDD), the power crisis has deepened in Jammu at a time when the heat wave is increasing day-by-day thereby making the life of the people virtually a hell.
Everyday there are protests and demonstrations by the people over the power crisis in various parts of Jammu but nobody from the Power Development Department seems to be ready to take steps to provide succor to the people during the scorching heat.
What to talk of the non-metered areas, even the localities where 100% metering of consumers was done several years back, have been reeling under acute power crisis. The intensity of the prevailing situation can be gauged from the fact that an hour of power supply is followed by an hour of power cut.
“Sometimes one hour long power cut is allowed to continue for one and half or two hours without any intimation to the consumers thereby conveying that those at the helm of affairs in the department are least bothered about the difficulties being faced us”, people told EXCELSIOR.
In such a situation when the people try to approach the concerned officers and officials to ascertain the reason behind the prolonging of curtailments nobody picks up the telephone at the grid stations. Even if somebody picks up the phone, the response remains unsatisfactory thereby compelling the people to come on the roads.
“The department has a number of times published the names and mobile numbers of the officers, who are supposed to respond to the public queries but it seems this exercise was only aimed at befooling the people as actually these mobile numbers remain switched off during the hours of emergency”, people said, adding “it is astonishing that officers of the department, which is headed by none else than the Chief Minister, are so non-serious towards the public grievances”.
According to the people, majority of the officers on being approached by the public after repeated attempts, usually express ignorance about the reasons behind the unscheduled and prolonged curtailments and try to pass the bucks on others.
Meanwhile, Minister for Housing and Horticulture, Raman Bhalla has written a letter to the Chief Minister seeking his intervention in providing relief to the people from deepening power crisis.
Sources privy to the communication said, “the Housing Minister has apprised the Chief Minister that the PDD don’t follow any scheduled pattern of power cuts”, adding “he has conveyed to Omar Abdullah, who is also holding the power portfolio that ongoing power cuts have made the life of Jammu people in general and inhabitants of his constituency in particular virtually hell”.
“People are regularly complaining about the frequent power cuts and the anger has reached the climax”, he said, adding “as the heat wave in Jammu is continuing unabated I fear if some corrective action is not taken immediately, their protests may increase further”.
“You may remember that during the last summer when we were faced with similar power crisis, I had requested for corrective measures in the shape of increased power supply. Moreover, I had also suggested a series of steps to contain power crisis. But I don’t know if we have taken any such step”, sources said quoting Bhalla’s letter.
“It is irony that despite paying tariff regularly people are being compelled to face the power cuts”, he said, adding “we cannot allow people to fend for themselves and we should do all that we can to ensure that those who are paying tariff do not suffer”.

Gopal Sharma

JAMMU, July 14: Cash crunch has badly hit the Treasuries across the State with the result the liability has reached nearly Rs 2000 crores as many bills were pending for the last several months whereas, many development works have either been stalled or affected with the shortage of funds.
Not only the bills of contractors from R&B, Irrigation & Flood Control, PDD, JMC/ SMC, Housing Board and Local Bodies were pending for the months together,  the Treasury bills of the employees and pensioners on account of GP Fund, Gratuity, pension arrears etc are also lying unpaid. The hapless employees and pensioners are being made to take turns of the Treasuries to receive their much needed money. Even many employees have failed to get their own hard earned money (GP Fund), out of their own savings from the Government Treasuries. Many of them needed this money for the marriage of their children while others for construction of  houses.
Worst is the condition in the Treasuries of district Jammu where liability has accumulated higher as compared to other districts. Sources in the department disclosed that only in Saddar Treasury Jammu, bills worth over Rs 150 crore were pending whereas, liability of Gandhi Nagar Treasury was nearly Rs 70 crores. Again, the liability of Talab Tillo Treasury was  around Rs 35 crore whereas, in New Plot Treasury of Jammu, the bills worth Rs 50 crore were pending for the last several months.
Sources further said that in Poonch Treasury bills worth over Rs 19.77 crores were pending whereas, in Udhampur the pendency was worth Rs 13 crores.  In Udhampur alone,  the bills of employees’ GP Fund worth Rs 5 core  and contractors’ worth Rs 2. 5 crore were still pending. Similarly, the liability of  Samba Treasury was to  the  tune of  Rs 5 crore, Bhaderwah Treasury worth Rs 6 crore and  Kathua Treasury worth Rs  11.5 crore including Rs 8 crore of employees’ Gratuity and GP Fund.
In Rajouri, the Tresuries’ liability has gone to Rs 22 crore and out of this total, employees’ GP Fund bills worth Rs 10.5 crore and Gratuity worth Rs 7.5 crore are pending.  There is strong resentment among the employees and pensioners against the Government as their own money is not being released in their favour at the time of need. The Treasury Officers and the staff have to face the wrath of the public, employees, pensioners and contractors under such circumstances.
Though several Treasury Officers and even the Director Accounts and Treasuries, Mohd Aslam Malik claimed that employees’ salary and pension were among the top priorities of the Treasuries, yet employees of some of the departments have been complaining of  non-payment of their salary for the month of June. Cash crunch in the State has affected the pace of developmental works on many projects while many contractors have stalled work as protest for non-payment of their pending bills for months together. With the cash crunch, public is the ultimate sufferer.
Contractors from JMC, R&B, Local Bodies and even the PDD especially engaged for the repair of transformers are the worst victims. Many contractors alleged that their cheques issued by the departments have lapsed as the Treasuries have gone dry. Their bills for the last over three to six months have remained unpaid. Chief Engineer R&B Jammu Hamid Sheikh when contacted claimed that bills of contractors of his department worth over Rs 60 to 70 crore were pending in various Treasuries and the amount may be more as of now. Replying to a question, he said this could be the problem of the Finance Department but their Division level engineers  were pursuing the contractors to continue their works taken in hand. Bills of many contractors of Jammu Municipal Corporation  are pending even for more than one year now.
Director Accounts and Treasuries, Jammu Aslam Malik when contacted disclosed that as of now, bills worth over Rs 1539 crore are pending in all the Treasuries of Jammu region. Out of the total,  bills worth Rs 886 crore pertained to power  sector while Rs 650 crore liability is of other nature.  The liability of contractors and firms has reached up to Rs 34 crore. The bills of employees and pensioners’ Gratuity to the tune of  Rs 80 crore and the liability of GP Fund bills has gone to the tune of Rs 100 crore.
Mr Malik further disclosed that bills of many contractors were cleared by June 20 while some were still pending. After April this year, some bills of the contractors were cleared. He said due to delay in receiving funds from the Centre this problem has been witnessed. He said not only in Jammu division, but similar problems is being faced by the Treasuries in Kashmir. Mr Malik, claimed that Treasuries were operating directly under directives from the Finance Department and priorities have been fixed for the release of funds. He said salary and pension are the top priorities besides Medical bills especially related to cancer, heart and kidney patients.
Director General Accounts and Treasuries, J&K Altaf Mirza when contacted said that cash crunch in the Treasuries was observed due to non-approval of budget in New Delhi. “The State has not received Plan funds so far. The delay in funds from New Delhi is the main reason behind the cash crunch. Now, since the budget has been approved, the problem will be sorted out shortly”, he added.
Referring to the liability of Kashmir region, Mr Mirza tried to play down  the pendency and claimed that liability worth Rs 400-500 crore could be in Kashmir. He said the liability in Jammu region is higher as compared to Kashmir as power bills of contractors are on higher side only in Jammu region.
Replying to another question, the DG Treasuries said the power billing is generally not included yet that is also a liability. He claimed that salary/ pension of the employees is being regularly paid and Medical reimbursement bills, pension, food grains and drugs supply bills are among the priorities of the Government. Under any circumstances, these bills of essential nature have to be paid by the Government.  When asked regarding delay in the payment of  contractors and employees’ own generated money in the shape of GP Fund etc, Mr Mirza said about 50 % of the bills of the contractors have been cleared in the State. The Government realizes the hardships of the employees and pensioners  and wants to clear their GP Fund and Gratuity bills but in view of delay from the Centre in receiving funds, this crunch is being faced by the State. He claimed that State would now get funds shortly and liability would also be cleared.

Sanjeev Pargal

JAMMU, July 14: In a major political development which indicated that ruling coalition partners—National Conference and Congress were set to part ways, the NC has decided to announce candidates for all 87 Assembly seats in the State with first list likely to be made public anytime this week.
Sources within the ruling party told the Excelsior that the National Conference has already obtained a panel of three candidates for each Assembly constituency from the district and block units of the party for all 87 seats, which would be put before Parliamentary Board of the party, which could meet at Nawa-i-Subh complex, the headquarters of National Conference in Srinagar, the winter capital of the State, anytime after arrival of NC president Dr Farooq Abdullah in Srinagar tomorrow.
“We have taken the panel of three candidates for every Assembly segment from our block and district units. The panel would be put before the Parliamentary Board and the seats on which consensus emerged would be announced within this week,’’ sources said, adding that in any case the National Conference high command would announce first list of the candidates this week.
They said as soon as Farooq Abdullah, former Union Minister and party president reached Srinagar, most likely tomorrow, the NC will call its Parliamentary Board meeting and make announcement of candidates.
The NC high command has already asked its Parliamentary Board members and other senior leaders to stay in Srinagar. The Parliamentary Board members from Jammu and Ladakh regions have also been asked to reach Srinagar.
Sources said the party’s senior leaders have obtained panel of three candidates for every Assembly segment from district and block units of the party, which would be put before the Parliamentary Board for the final choice.
They added that the National Conference has, in principle, decided to contest all 87 Assembly seats though it has received feelers from some Congress Ministers (both from Jammu and Kashmir regions) to wait for announcement of all candidates as they wanted to persuade their leadership for pre-poll alliance with the National Conference.
“However, we have decided to name candidates for all 87 Assembly seats in a phased manner. We will be releasing first list of the candidates this week,’’ they said.
The major opposition party, the PDP has already announced about 60 candidates for the Assembly elections and party sources said it could announce remaining candidates in the next few days to give enough time to the candidates to prepare themselves for the elections, which were due to be held in November-December this year.
National Conference president and former Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah had already given enough indications that the party could field some new faces in the elections in the wake of drubbing it received in Parliament elections in which NC lost all three Lok Sabha seats in the Kashmir Valley, which it contested in alliance with the Congress.
The Congress, the BJP and the Nationalist Panthers Party, three other major players apart from Joint Front floated by MY Tarigami-Hakim Mohammad Yaseen combine were yet to finalize their candidates for the Assembly elections.
The Congress and the BJP haven’t undertaken any exercise so far to finalize their candidates for the Assembly elections.

Fayaz Bukhari

Zadibal constituency with a sizable population of artisans and fishermen has been neglected by the successive Governments. It starts from Kawdara and extends upto Sadarbal and residents say basic amenities are lacking here.
The constituency is represented by Peer Afaq Ahmad of National Conference since 2008. The residents here have identical problem like lack of proper drinking water facilities, pot holed roads, lack of drainage, lack of proper electricity facilities and Ration Depots.
A look at the Sheikhul Alam Colony Kawdara reveals an under construction drain. Residents say work on it started in 2008 and it is still going on. “During rains and winters our lanes are flooded with water as there is no outlet for the drainage”, said Arshad Ahmad of Kawdara.
“In Surnai Mohalla pipes were laid to provide drainage facilities to the area but they failed. These pipes were laid 5 years back pipes by digging the road and so far road was not repaired”, says Arshad.
The look around the locality reveals rotten and broken electric poles with electric wires drooping and damaged at many places. At places High Tension wires pass over LT and they pose threat to human lives in the area. “We approached the concerned PDD authorities for repairs and replacement of electric wires and poles but they say that they have no money”, said Javed Ahmad, a local resident.
“Gadda Kocha, Sunrai Mohalla, Dali Pora, New Colony Kawdara and adjacent areas have no street lights. It is very difficult to travel in the evening on pot holed lanes and by-lanes. We approached the municipal authorities but they paid no heed”, said residents of the area.
The residents said that the streets are filthy as sweepers of the SMC hardly come to this area. “We have no dust bin facility in our locality”, they said.
The area is congested and there is no community hall, parks or playground for our children. Children are mostly seen on streets. And graveyard of the locality has no fencing and part of it is water logged.
Residents of the area say that there is only one Ration Depot for Kawdara area that caters to over 1000 families. “There are huge rush and queues at the Ration Depot and often people fight each other over the ration. We needs more ration depots. Besides, the ration is being sold in black market leaving people without ration. The deserving families have no BPL ration cards while non-deserving posses it”, said Abdul Rashid, a local resident.
As one walks into Hawal on the main road, it gives a better feeling but when one walks inside the lanes and by-lanes and meets the people, the story turns out to be a different one.
People here face acute water shortage and residents have to store water it for the day. Says Irfan Ahmad: “The taped water never enters our homes. We store water in underground tanks as we get only one hour water supply at 6 a.m. Sometimes we get another hour’s water supply in the evening.”
The area used to have a beautiful water body – Khusharsar, but over the decades the sewerage of the locality has turned into a cesspool. “During rains drains overflow and water enters our homes”, say residents of the area.
The area also faces electricity crisis in the form of frequent power cuts and low voltage. “We have one transformer for 40 households and there is low voltage. We approached MLA 3 years ago and the PDD officials with our problem but nothing happened”, said Javed Ahmad, a local resident.
The roads of the area welcome you to a bumpy ride as they are full of pot holes. “Some roads of the area were repaired recently but majority including that of Iqbal Colony lanes have not been”, say residents.
The residents also allege lack of facilities at the Narwara dispensary. They have also problem with the Narwara Ration Ghat where residents allege sugar is sold in black market and people are made to suffer on account of ration.
A peep into the nearby locality of Alamgari Bazar has no different story to tell. The area of the constituency also faces drinking water shortage. However, residents say that they get water from tankers during the Moharram.
Hanif Hussian, a local resident said that there is acute power crisis in the area. “Power supply remains only for 2-3 hours during the day and in the evening there are frequent power cuts. We approached the PDD JE several times but he says that the transformer of the area is overloaded that leads to frequent power cuts of the area”, says Hanif.
The residents said that the electric wires and poles are over 40 years old. Majority of the poles are damaged and wires are drooping leading to threat to human lives.
Another resident Nasir Hussain said that work on the drain in the locality began some 4 years ago but it is still under construction. “The sewerage of the area goes directly into Khushalsar water body which has turned into cesspool. We used to drink water from it, bath in it and now it is a cesspool, a breeding ground for diseases”, he said.
A drive through the narrow lanes reveals that some roads are in good condition but residents say inner lanes have been repaired on political consideration. “The Alamgari Bazar dispensary was not upgraded for past four decades. It lacks staff and medicine and staff”, says Asghar Hussain, a local resident.
Residents say that no kerosene was supplied to the people from Ration Depot of the area since March this year. The Ration Depot remains open for only two days and after that the officials always say that they have run out of supplies. “However, the ration is sold in black market”, allege residents.
The residents allege that the BPL cards are given to the non-deserving while deserving are left out. Last year we registered several complaints and 38 BPL ration cards issued to non-deserving were cancelled.
Another area of the constituency Gille Kadal has similar story to tell. “We have an acute water crisis here. Residents fight one another over the drinking water. Those who have storage tanks store it by using boosters but others object to it leading to quarrels. Water crisis has deepened for past one year in Baba Mohalla, Babapora, Pazalpora, Dar Mohalla, Watalwaier and Bohlachpora areas of Gille Kadal”, says Shafat Ahmad, a local resident of Gille Kadal.
Residents say that the drainage system in the area has failed and instead of draining water, our lanes get waterlogged during rains. “Some areas like Babapora are without drainage”, they say. The roads in the area are generally full of pot holes and are dusty.
Another resident, Aijaz Ahmad says that the area faces power crisis and the power infrastructure has not been upgraded for decades now. “The poles, wires are damaged in the area. Our mohalla, Babapora, has 60KV transformer and it has to cater to 100 households, it is always overloaded and voltage is very low. We have frequent breakdown of transformer and it takes weeks to repair it, that too we pay from our own pockets”, he adds.
Residents say that the Dispensary of the area has no doctor; it has a nurse and an ASHA worker. “We approached Director Health Services Kashmir several times with the demand of a doctor for the dispensary but so far it has not been provided. We also met MLA of the area several times but he showed no concern”, said Abdul Hamid, a local resident.
Another area of the constituency, Nowshera, is one of the most neglected. One of the main problems of the area is that majority of its areas are under green belt and no one can construct houses here. “We can’t construct houses here as it is in green belt. It is a major humanitarian problem here as several families are living in a single house. It affects our privacy. If our area has been declared green belt, we should be provided alternate land for the construction of houses”, said Ghulam Rasool Tiploo.
Residents say that there is acute water crisis in the area as the infrastructure has not been upgraded for past 5 decades now. “We store water and taps mostly remain dry here. People have to remain in cue to fetch water. We had fresh water spring here and authorities mixed drainage with it and it nowhere exists now”, says Ghulam Rasool Tiploo, a local resident.
“The drains of the area always remain blocked and at places are without manholes. We clean drains on our own and SMC never bothers”, says Gulzar Ahmad, a local resident.
“We don’t have a dispensary here and we have to go to SKIMS, Soura for treatment. Since it is a tertiary care hospital, they don’t entertain us. We have been demanding a dispensary in this area for long. Besides this people have cattle here and there is no veterinary here to treat them”, said Gulzar Ahmad.
Major chunk of the land of this area has been acquired by the SKIMS and residents say that they were not rehabilitated by the Government. “We donated land for the SKIMS hospital. We were promised fourth class jobs in the hospital but it were provided to those of the other area”, said Mohammad Yaqub, a local resident.
Residents said that the main road of the area, Polyclinic road is full of potholes. Power supply is erratic, poles are damaged and wires are at places 8 feet above the ground posing threat to human lives.
The area has large chunk of fishermen whose are mostly living below poverty line. They say that Government has not done anything for them for their upliftment. They are only used as vote banks by the politicians. Govt school building in the area where mostly children from downtrodden family study are in dilapidated condition and some of them are unsafe.
The area has a similar story about Ration Depot where ration mostly vanishes. Some areas of Nowshera are most backward despite being in the Srinagar city.
Adjacent locality of Lal Bazar has no different story. The roads of the area have been encroached upon and people face difficulty in commuting as there is space for only one vehicle to pass at a time. Says Masood Ahmad Hakeem: “Amda Kadal to Hawal road is now 8 feet only, it used to be 22 feet and over the years it has been encroached upon. From Molvi Stop towards Bagwanpora the roads are narrow and trucks fail to go inside the colony. There is no public transport due to narrow roads and people have to walk 2 kilometers to catch a bus at Molvi stop. People are ready for giving land for road widening but Government is not coming forward”, he added.
“In Amda Kadal area Government sold Nazool land of the area which could have been used for constriction of parks, playgrounds and other community level facilities”, say residents.
They allege that there were four public ghats on Nageen lake and used to go to Hazratbal in boats. These Ghats like Hakeen Yarbal were encroached upon by the some influential and Government remained silent spectator.
The residents said that they also have erratic power supply. A transformer caters to 200-300 households and they are overloaded and often develop snags. “It takes weeks together for the repairs and mostly we pay for it. The drinking water is supplied in the evening and morning only and people have to store water”, said residents.
The lanes and by-lanes of the area are also full of pot holes and are dusty. The area lacks Ration Depot and locals have to go to Lal Bazar Ration Depot which is overcrowded.
There is a dispensary in the area where there are no doctors but has only one Nurse.  The area also lacks playground and college. The students have to go to Islamia College for higher studies.
The residents of Omar Colony say that lanes and by-lanes of the area are full of pot holes and during the rains they remain water-logged. “It takes weeks for the Government to drain the water”, they say.
Says Tariq Ahmad, a local resident: “The main road of Botshah Mohalla has been encroached and it is now only 12-13 feet when the road width in Revenue records is 60 feet.
In some areas there is no drainage and in Almardar Colony where there is drainage, the drainage water seeps into the bathroom. “We went SMC officials but they didn’t respond”, say locals.
Residents say that despite for being a metered area, there are frequent power cuts and when transformers develop snag they have to repair it on their own. The area also has drinking water scarcity and they have to store the water. The area also lacks street lights.
The area has also acute street dog menace and residents say they have to accompany their children to school. They said that the PHC of the area is at Molvi Stop and the hospital of the area is under construction for past several years near Lal Bazar ground.
They allege that the MLA of the area never visited the locality since he was elected. “We met him and apprised him of our problems. He promised to resolve our problems but nothing happened”, they say.
The constituency is represented by Peer Afaq Ahmad National Conference. He defeated Shahi Jehan Dar of People’s Democratic Party (PDP) by a margin of over 1000 votes. Peer polled 4335 votes and Dar 3094.
The MLA Peer Afaq Ahmad told Excelsior that when he was elected in 2008 from Zadibal, the constituency was in shambles and only a particular area was developed and majority of the constituency was neglected over the years.
“Luckily Greater Srinagar project was launched in 2008 in Srinagar and it started from Zadibal with laying of sewerage pipes.  All the lanes and by-lanes were dug for laying the drainage pipes. Their restoration was a major challenge. The CM was cooperative and 90 percent of these roads where roads were dug are now macadamized. Pipes and tiles were laid in 1262 lanes of the constituency. I tried my best to provide basic facility to the people. I can’t claim 100 percent but 45 to 50 percent has been done”, said Peer Afaq.
He said that two main roads of the constituency are not macadamized as a drainage project was going on in those two areas. “Mirza Akmal Chowk to Baghe Ali Mardan Khan via Madeen Sahib and Botshah Mohalla Chinar Chowk to Charyar Masjid Alamdar Colony have not been macadamized yet. Tenders have been issued and they will be macadamized soon. It will be followed by link roads”, he added.
The MLA said: “During my tenure as MLA, 7 community centre were sanctioned and four of them are ready. These centres  are at Nowshera, Nalbal, Kanedwar, Gulshan Bagh, Kawdara and Hubbi Colony Sikh Bagh. Two Playgrounds were developed at Lal Bazar and  Amda Kadal. Work on these is in progress. Some of the schools were upgraded and 3 new school buildings were constructed.”
Peer said that PHC building at Lal Bazar Police Station is under construction and it will be handed over to the Health Department soon. “It was a long pending demand of the people and I got 7 kanals of land acquired for it”, he said
The MLA said that in power sector lot more needs to be done in the constituency. “It is not upto the satisfaction of the people. Lot needs to done. It is a fact that at few places HT passes over residential houses as there are no poles. We have installed 2100 street lights in our constituency”, he said.
Peer Afaq admitted that there is problem on drinking water front in some areas of his constituency. He attributed it to the increase in the population over the years. “In Omar Colony new pipes are being laid and the water crisis will be over there after the project is completed. We will also resolve the issue of water crisis in Babapora, Zoonimar and Dullipora Kawdara soon”, he added.

NEW DELHI, July 14:
Senior BJP leader and former Union Minister Ram Naik was today appointed as Governor of Uttar Pradesh and party’s veteran Delhi leader O P Kohli will move to Gujarat, in the first appointment of five Governors by the Narendra Modi Government.
According to a Rashtrapati Bhavan communique, Naik will take over in Uttar Pradesh after B L Joshi, perceived to be a close confidante of Gandhi family, was asked to tender his resignation. Joshi was the first Governor who tendered his resignation after the Modi Government came to power on June 17 this year.
A three-time Parliamentarian, 80-year-old Naik has the rare distinction of being the only Minister who completed five years as Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister in one Government.
Hit by cancer, Naik was bedridden in 1994 but fought back resolutely and overcame the deadly disease. He had announced in 2013 that he would not be contesting the 2014 elections.
78-year-old Kohli, who was a Rajya Sabha member from 1994 to 2000, takes over as Governor in Gujarat after 87-year-old Kamla Beniwal was shifted to Mizoram by the Government for remainder of her term till November this year.
A former Chief of BJP’s Delhi unit in 2009, Kohli has been associated with BJP since his student days and was President of its student wing — ABVP — and later became Chief of Delhi University Teacher Association.
According to the communique, Keshari Nath Tripathi, a former Uttar Pradesh Speaker will take over in West Bengal, a post which had fallen vacant after the resignation of M K Narayanan after he was nudged to resign.
A poet and author of books, Tripathi, who will turn 80 in November this year, was a five-time MLA and has written a few books like Commentary on “The Representation of the People Act, 1951” and two poetic books in Hindi – ‘Manonukriti’, ‘Aayu Pankh’.
In his student life, he went to jail in connection with the Kashmir Movement.
Balram Das Tandon, 87, founder member of Jan Sangh in 1951, was appointed Governor of Chhatisgarh after Shekhar Dutt tendered his resignation on June 18 after he too was sounded by the Union Home Ministry.
Tandon was the Deputy Chief Minister of Punjab in 1969 and later served as Cabinet Minister in Parkash Singh Badal’s Government. A six time MLA, Tandon was critical of Badal Government’s decision in 2012 of providing free electricity to State farmers.
Padmanabha Acharya, a member of working group on North East region of BJP and Co-Convener of Overseas Friends of BJP, was appointed Governor of Nagaland after President Pranab Mukherjee accepted resignation of Tripura Governor Vakkom Purushothaman, who was also officiating as Nagaland Governor.
The President asked Acharaya to perform the duties of Tripura Governor until regular arrangements are made, the communique said. (PTI)