NEW DELHI, July 14:
Army chief Gen Bikram Singh today met Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari and requested speedy implementation of road projects in areas along the China border including northeast.
During the 40-minute-long meeting, the Army chief discussed the speedy implementation of road projects in areas such as Ladakh in Jammu and Kashmir and northeastern States with the Union Minister, Army sources said here.
As part of efforts to match infrastructure build up by the Chinese forces along the borders in the northern and northeastern States, the Government has approved several projects to help in improving mobility of the armed forces in these areas.
The projects approved by the Government include the construction of 73 strategic roads to be built in these areas but these have been delayed due to several reasons like lack of green clearances and difficulty in sending machinery to far flung areas.
The raising of a new Mountain Strike Corps along the China border has also been facing difficulty due to delays in the construction of these roads.
However, the new Government has taken several steps to fast track these projects and has given a waiver to defence projects including road construction work in the border areas. (PTI)
Army chief meets Gadkari on roads
DB grants last opportunity to 4 DCs
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 14: In a Public Interest Litigation seeking CBI probe into much publicized Roshni scam, Division Bench of State High Court comprising Justice Tashi Rabstan and Justice Bansi Lal Bhat today took serious note of non-compliance of the directions by four Deputy Commissioners regarding furnishing of entire revenue record to the State Vigilance Organization.
The DB has now granted last opportunity to these Deputy Commissioners for compliance of the directions failing which they will have to appear before the court on next date of hearing.
After hearing Advocate S S Ahmed for the PIL and AAG H A Siddiqui for the State, the DB said, “Deputy Commissioners of Udhampur, Pulwama, Budgam and Srinagar have not filed the compliance report”.
In the interest of justice, Division Bench granted two weeks last and final opportunity to Deputy Commissioners of Udhampur, Pulwama, Budgam and Srinagar to file compliance report, failing which they shall have to appear in person before the Court on August 5, 2014.
The Division Bench also directed Director Vigilance to file latest status report in the matter.
Director School Education takes punitive action against erring officials
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 14: Director School Education Jammu Tushar Kanti Sharma today ordered suspension of an official and stoppage of salary of a few others for dereliction of duty.
In a surprise visit, the Director along with the Chief Education Officer Jammu, Tarsem Lal took serious note of the casual attitude of the working in different Zonal Education Offices of Jammu district.
In the Zonal Education Office, Gandhi Nagar Jammu, the Director found that one Munshi Ram Head Assistant dealing with the GP funds of the staff had not properly maintained the register, which was not only mutilated but torn into several pieces. The Director expressed anguish over the condition of the register and the way the officials were performing their duties. Taking a serious note, he directed ZEO Gandhi Nagar Jammu to stop the salary of the officials with immediate effect.
In the Zonal Education Office Satwari, one Shamim Akhtar, Head Assistant was found absent from duty as no leave application of the official was available either in the office or the Attendance register.
The Director ordered that the said official be suspended with immediate effect for dereliction of duties.
He also directed all the Zonal Education officers to visit the schools of their zones regularly and submit the monthly action taken report to the Director School Education Jammu through proper channel.
Vigilance books officials of Handloom Project Samba
Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, July 14: Vigilance Organization has booked some officers and officials of Export Oriented Handloom Development Project Samba for committing irregularities in auction of iron scrap and thus causing a loss of more than Rs 7 lakh.
A case FIR number 22/2014 P/S VOJ under Section 5(1) (D),5(2)(d)PC Act SVT 2006 read with Section 120- B RPC against the accused officers and officials has been registered on the basis of outcome of an preliminary enquiry conducted into the allegations.
The enquiry revealed that Project Manager Export Oriented Handloom Develop-ment Project (EOHDP) Samba called tenders for auctioning of iron scrap-on “as it is where it is basis” for the material lying in the premises of the EOHDP Samba. The contract was awarded to M/s Lakshmi General Store who lifted 11,850/-Kg of iron scrap and Rs 1, 61,616 were earned by the Handloom Development Corporation (HDC).
The enquiry further revealed that M/s Sunil Iron Scrap had quoted Rs 2,81,000 per lot and Iron scrap was lying in (03) lots, the cost of which is calculated at Rs 8,43,000/- and by adding 5 percent to this amount the value comes to Rs 8,85,150/. In this way, the officers/officials of (EOHDP) Samba caused a loss of Rs 7, 23,534 /-to the State exchequer.
Approval for posting of 11 Inspectors in Vigilance
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 14: The State Home Department has accorded approval to the posting of eleven Police Inspectors to the Vigilance Organization.
They include Haseeb-ur-Rehman, Farooq Ahmad, Sajad Ahmad, Ashiq Hussain, Shakeel Ahmad, Barkat Hussain, Deepak Jasrotia, Hari Singh, Gurnam Singh, Om Parkash Chib and Tahir Hussain Haq.
Following the approval of Home Department, the necessary orders for posting of these Inspectors to Vigilance Organization, are likely to be issued by the GAD soon.
Fearing trouble, admn closes schools
Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, July 14: As protests by thousands of students rocked Kashmir valley today against the Israeli aggression on native Palestinians in Gaza, administration closed the schools in Kashmir valley for 15 days summer vacations beginning from tomorrow.
Thousands of students from over a half dozen educational institutions gathered at the Press Colony Srinagar to express solidarity with the people of Gaza.
“Down with Israel” reverberated in the streets of Srinagar, where scores of protests were held, demanding an immediate end to Israelis ongoing deadly strikes on the besieged Gaza strip.
Fearing trouble the authorities closed schools for 15 days summer vacations. A statement issued by Director of School Education, Mir Tariq Ali said that vide Govt. order No: 525 Edu of 2014, Dated 14/7/2014, all Government institutions and recognised Private Schools upto Higher Secondary Level falling in Kashmir Division and winter zone of Jammu Division shall observe summer vacations from July 15 to July 31.
“All the Schools have been strictly advised to observe the summer vacations as per the schedule in the interest of students given the rise in day temperature. Any default on the part of any private school in observance of the calendar of vacations, shall attract action under rules”, reads the statement.
Earlier, hundreds of students of Amar Singh College, S P College, Islamia College, Gandhi Memorial College, S P Higher Secondary and some private institutions marched towards the Ganta Ghar (historic clock tower) where they assembled and shouted pro-Palestinian and anti-Israeli vociferous slogans.
They were also carrying placards that read, “Stop killing in Gaza, Stop genocide, Crush Israel.”
On the occasion, a protestor also climbed up on to the Ganta Ghar, who was carrying a placard, “Down Down Isreal” amid chanting pro-Palestinian and anti-Israeli slogans.
Police didn’t allow the protesters to march towards Maisuma and Jamia Masjid Srinagar. However, the police dispersed the protestors near Women College Maulana Azad Road Srinagar, who insisted to march towards UN office after police chased them away. However, some protestors managed to reach outside UN office, where they protested against the bloodshed in Gaza.
Sources said the students of Women’s College M A Road Srinagar were barred from coming out of the college premises by the college authorities. However, after the College was closed, around two thousand college students protested and marched from their college to Jahangir Chowk. They were chanting anti-Israeli and pro-Palestinian slogans. The traffic movement was halted till the protesters dispersed off outside the Civil Secretariat Srinagar.
The Government employees under the banner of Employees Joint Action Committee (EJAC) led by Abdul Qayoom Wani, activists of CPI (M) and civil society members also held protest demonstrations at the Press Colony. They demanded an end to innocent killings in Gaza. They also burnt down the Israeli flag to vent the anger against the genocide carried out by the Israelis against the innocent Palestinian.
Kashmir Bar Association also held the protest inside the premises of Saddar Court Srinagar. However, some lawyers managed to come out of its premises and staged a sit-in protest on the road.
Meanwhile, Awami Muthaida Mahaz also took out a protest rally to condemn the killings and urge the leaders of the international community to broker peace in the region.
Power shut down
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 14: In order to shift some load of 11KV feeders from 10 MVA power transformer to 3.15 MVA Power transformer at R/Stn., Nanak Nagar, the power supply to the Nanak Nagar, Shastri Nagar and parts of Gandhi Nagar fed from 33/11KV R/Stn Nanak Nagar, will remain effected on 15-07-2014 (Tuesday) from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m.
2-day workshop on finalization of State Disaster Management Plan begins
Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, July 14: The 2-day workshop on finalization of J&K State Disaster Management Plan (JKSDMP) started today at SKICC here. The inaugural session was chaired by Chief Secretary, Mohammad Iqbal Khandey.
Financial Commissioner Revenue, Dr Arun Kumar, Member NDMA Dr Muzaffar Ahmad, Consultant, TATA Institute of Social Sciences Mumbai, Dr T Jayaraman, Principal Secretary Planning, B. R Sharma, Administrative Secretaries, Deputy Commissioners and other officers, experts and stake holders were present on the occasion.
A brief overview highlighting the main features of the draft of the J&K State Disaster Management Plan was presented and comments, inputs and suggestions from the participants were solicited for incorporation in the final draft so that an efficient, effective and comprehensive Disaster Management plan is formulated for the state incorporating all aspects.
Emphasis was laid on incorporating in the plan- aspects to strengthen the inter-agency coordination, early warning systems, emergency management exercises including class room type training, real life simulation exercises and capacity building to ensure effective and quick human resource response to any disaster.
During the discussions on the various features of the plan it was highlighted that besides having Disaster Management plan to deal with natural calamities like earthquakes, cloudburst, flash floods, avalanche and landslides, snow blizzards, wind storms, fire and drought, the phenomena of urban flooding like the one recently witnessed in Srinagar city and road safety and traffic management should also find due place in the Plan.
Member NDMA Dr Muzaffar Ahmad said that there is urgent need to revisit the construction plans, incorporating building codes while constructing new structures and retrofitting old ones. He especially talked about need to carry out audit of safety standards of all lifeline buildings of various essential and emergency services in the State.
Another important aspect of disaster management that was discussed was the region specific assessment and formulation of Hazard Risk Vulnerability ATLAS of Jammu and Kashmir.
It was emphasized that the plan should receive utmost priority with strong institutional base for implementation. The discussion and interactions with departments and other stake holders will continue on Tuesday, July 15, also.
Govt for holistic approach towards refugees: Dr Jitendra
Excelsior Correspondent
NEW DELHI, July 14: Addressing a meeting of Kashmiri Pandit United Forum here today, Dr Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), Personnel and Training, Science and Technology (Independent Charge), Atomic Energy, Space and Earth Sciences said, the present Government is fully aware of the problems faced by different groups of refugees in Jammu & Kashmir and is following a holistic approach in addressing their grievances whether they are Kashmiri Pandit displaced community or PoJK refugees or West Pakistan refugees or refugees uprooted from time to time in the aftermath of Indo-Pak war of 1965, 1971 and terrorism during the last 20 years.
Dr. Jitendra Singh said, the State of J&K is known for its composite culture,which is incomplete without the presence of Kashmiri Pandits in the Valley. While the displaced Kashmiri community deserves the right for a dignified secured return to the valley, no other section of refugees or society should feel let down simply because they opted to follow the nationalist stream of life.
Today’s meeting was organized to give awards to the meritorious students of class 10th & 12th studying in Delhi and belonging to displaced Kashmiri Pandits community.
While congratulating the students and their parents for securing high grades, Dr. Jitendra Singh said that this is a testimony to the intellectual caliber of this community that even while living and studying in uncomfortable and adverse circumstances, they are not only able to compete with students from other sections of society but are also able to excel and make a name for themselves and their elders.
The Kashmiri Pandit community has always been known for its excellence in the field of academics and education, he said, and hoped that the tradition of academic aptitude will continue even in the post-migration generation in spite of the cultural and linguistic dilution which the community had undergone during its years outside J&K. He suggested that conventional as well as unconventional methods, including workshops and creation of literature, to acquaint the young children of the community of their rich heritage, which they could not witness because of being born and brought up in alien milieu outside Kashmir.
On the occasion, 21 students from class 12 and 18 students from class 10 were awarded for securing high percentage of marks in the recently conducted Board exams. The award function was held as a part of “Meet Your Bright Stars 2014” programme under the aegis of Kashmiri Pandits United Forum. Prominent among those present on the occasion included KP United Forum office bearers P.L. Razdan President, Vijay Miskeen Vice President, B.L. Razdan General Secretary, Ganesh Magazine Treasurer, P K Raina Patron and Ramesh Peer Executive Member.
More than 1600 JDA residential plots in offing
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 14: Jammu Development Authority is shortly going to advertise more than 1600 plots at housing colonies at Gole Gujral, Kot Bhalwal and Birpur where basic infrastructure would be provided once the allotment procedure will be accomplished.
Recently a major anti encroachment drive was launched under the overall supervision of Vice Chairperson, JDA, Sushma Chauhan to free major portion of encroached land from the illegal encroachers and make available more land for the development of housing colonies.
The public in general is also being informed to remain in touch with Jammu Development Authority through its website www.jdajammu.in alongwith leading newspapers in which all formalities/details will be provided at the time of advertisement.