Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, June 24: Speaker Legislative Assembly, Mubarak Gul today directed the Public Health Engineering (PHE) Department to ensure adequate drinking water facility to S.D.A Rakh Colony, Sangam, Rather Mohallah, Badiwardi and Islam Yaribal Mujahid Manzil areas.
He also asked them to provide water connection to 100 bedded Maternity and Children Hospital (MCH) Noorbagh on war footing basis so that the hospital would be commissioned soon. He also asked the Health and Medical Education Department (H& ME) to speed up the pace of construction work of Allopathic Dispensary Palpora building for which the funds would be arranged from State sector.
These directions were given by the Speaker while chairing a high level meeting with the officers of PHE, H&ME Departments convened to review the pace of progress of construction of ongoing health institutions besides drinking water facility in Eidgah Constituency here today.
The Speaker asked the H&ME Department to pursue the executing agency Jammu and Kashmir Project Construction Corporation (JKPCC) for speedy work on AD Palpora. He also directed the H&ME Departments to upgrade health institutions of Krishbal, Shinglipora, Brriwar and Goripora so that the people of these areas may not suffer for want of medicare facilities.
While discussing the immediate commissioning of 100 bedded hospital at Noorbagh, Mr. Gul asked the PDD and PHE to ensure adequate drinking water and power supply to the hospital immediately so that the same could be made functional soon.
It was informed in the meeting that project worth Rs.27 lakh has been prepared by the PHE and the department has floated tenders in this regard.
Detailed discussion was also held on various issues including menpower and equipment in all existing health institutions of Eidgah Constituency.
Mr. Gul also asked the H&ME authorities to organize a free medical camp in Goripora area.
Commissioner Secretary, H&ME Gazanffar Hussain, Chief Engineer PHE Kashmir Muzaffar Hussain Lankar, Director Health Services Kashmir Dr. Saleem-ur-Rehman, Director NRHM Dr. Yashpaul Sharma and other officers and engineers of PHE, H & ME Department were present in the meeting.
Speaker for immediate commissioning of 100 bedded hospital
Inter-School Meet held
Excelsior Correspondent
Competitions on essay writing, debate, quiz, drawing and talent hunt in dancing and singing were organised.
Around 250 students from six Govt High Schools and Senior Secondary Schools participated in the Competitions. The winners were given prizes and certificates.
The parents of the students expressed their gratitude and said that such activities by the Indian Army are indeed of great importance for their children to build confidence and develop healthy competitive spirit.
Gani of Punjab wins 118th Ravta Dangal title
Excelsior Sports Correspondent
Winner and runners-up wrestlers of the first malli bout were awarded with cash prize of Rs 25,000 and Rs 12,000 respectively by chief guest, State General Secretary BSP and Candidate from Nagrota Constituency, Rakesh Wazir; President J&K Indian Style Wrestling Association, Shiv Kumar Sharma and NC Block President, Sham Lal Sharma, President of Ravta Dangal Committee.
Dangal was organized by Ravta Dangal Committee in collaboration with J&K Indian Style Wrestling Association under the overall supervision of Treasurer Indian Style Wrestling Association of India, Shiv Kumar Sharma and Panch Raj Paul Kesar.
Around 76 wrestlers drawn from within and outside the State participated in the event.
In all 40 bouts were played in the one day long Dangal and expenditure of Rs 1,55, 000 has been incurred for conducting the dangal.
Army provides furniture to Govt schools
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 24: The Kachrial Battalion of the Indian Army today distributed the furniture to Government Primary School (GPS), Upper Bararoh and GPS Thanger at tehsil Akhnoor.
The furniture was distributed to make the classroom conducive and give the students better study environment. The joy and enthusiasm was evident on the faces of the students on receiving the furniture as they too could enjoy studying on the desks provided to them.
Speaking at an impressive ceremony, Sushma Sharma, Headmistress, GPS Upper Bararoh and Subhash Chander, Headmaster, GPS Thanger, appreciated the gesture of the Indian Army.
The event was also attended by local Sarpanch Ashok Kumar, Numberdar, Sanshar Chand, and Panch, Desh Raj.
People protest, block highway against water scarcity
Excelsior Correspondent
SAMBA, June 24: The inhabitants of Samba town held a protest demonstration against the water scarcity in the town and blocked Jammu-Pathankot National Highway for 30 minutes.
Hundreds of people including men women and children took to streets and protested against the water scarcity in the town. They accused the PHE Department of its total failure in maintaining water supply in the area in this hot and humid Summer.
The protest was led by Vinod Kumar district president of Youth Congress Samba. He alleged that the department has failed to supply water in the town which has added to people’s woes to a great extent.
He said the callousness of the department has forced the people to come to streets and resort to protest. He warned that people will intensify agitation in case the water supply was not restored immediately. The road blockade was lifted on the assurance of Executive Engineer, PHE Samba, Ajay Gupta that water supply in the area will be restored soon.
Ramesh Sippy, Hema Malini to work together after ‘Sholay’
MUMBAI, June 25:
Filmmaker Ramesh Sippy is set to direct ‘dream girl’ Hema Malini once again after the duo delivered Bollywood’s cult classic ‘Sholay’ 39 years ago.
The film will be titled ‘Shimla Mirchi’ and will go on floors in August. The romantic saga will also feature ‘Citylights’ star Rajkummar Rao. Actress opposite him is yet to be finalised.
“Ramesh Sippy’s ‘Sholay’ was released 39 years back in 1975, when he created the character of Basanti with his favourite actress Hema Malini.
“Ramesh Sippy is going to work with Hema Malini after ‘Sholay’ in ‘Shimla Mirchi’ and like his other films, the first letter of his next film is also with the letter ‘S’,” a release said.
Sippy’s last release as a director was ‘Zamaana Deewana’ in 1995. The film starred Raveena Tandon and Shah Rukh Khan in the lead. (PTI)
Virender Gupta holds Valley leadership responsible for alienation of Kashmiris
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 24: Prof Virender Gupta, president of Jammu State Morcha, today alleged that the Kashmiri leadership, which also include Mufti family, was responsible for the alienation of people of Kashmir by not allowing them to become the part of national mainstream.
“For their own benefit they kept the settled issue of Jammu and Kashmir alive and directly or indirectly supported the separatist elements in the Valley, including the terrorists and they are still playing the same game, he said while reacting to Mehbooba Mufti’s statement at Ganderbal.
Prof Gupta alleged that the Kashmiri leadership created wedge between different regions and different communities of the State. “It discriminated against the people of Jammu region and Ladakh region. It always opposed the empowerment of these regions, denied them their due share in political, administrative and economic structure of the State. It did not allow equitable development of these regions vis-à-vis Kashmir Valley. Thus the people of these regions feel alienated from the Kashmir Valley,” he explained.
The JSM leader said that as a first step of duty, the Kashmiri leadership should try to end the alienation of the people of Jammu and Ladakh regions from the Valley before talking of alienation of Kashmir from India.
“Jammu and Kashmir is a part of India and it cannot play anything in itself different than India with regard to SAARC countries. Only one of the SAARC countries i.e. Pakistan has its boundaries adjoining Jammu and Kashmir where as rest of the SAARC member countries are far off from Jammu and Kashmir, hence telling the people that SAARC cooperation should begin from Jammu and Kashmir amounts to befooling the people,” Prof Gupta said.
“The leadership at the national level has now realized the mistakes those were committed by the earlier leadership at the time of accession of Jammu and Kashmir State with India by providing special status under Article 370 to Jammu and Kashmir. So it wants to undo the past mistakes and bring Jammu and Kashmir, the Kashmir Valley, in particular in national mainstream by abrogating Article 370,” Prof Gupta said.
IGP Kashmir flags off Triathlon
Excelsior Sports Correspondent
The event is part of the 9-Day Kashmir Summer Festival.
The Triathlon was sponsored by the Tourism Department Kashmir and organized by the Indian Institute of Skiing and Mountaineering (IISM) Gulmarg Kashmir. Teams from different schools of the Valley participated in the event.
Later, the IGP also flagged off the boat race events at SKICC, Srinagar.
Speaking on the occasion, Mir while highlighting the importance of sports events for the physical and mental development of the youth said that such events provide a competitive environment for the youth to showcase their talent. He said more and more sports events should be held covering various events and activities to encourage maximum participation of youth.
Later medals and mementos were distributed among the participating teams.
Among others Director, IISM, Gulmarg Kashmir, Col. J.S. Dillon, senior officers of the Tourism Department and various school children were present on the occasion.
Sports Training Centre at Jammu, Srinagar soon: Bhalla
Excelsior Sports Correspondent
The Minister said this after laying the foundation stone for the construction of Play Field at Bandu Rakh coming up at an estimated cost of Rs. 50 lakh by J&K Sports Council.
Senior officers of Youth Services and Sports besides Panchs, Sarpanchs, number of players and the locals of the area were present on the laying of the foundation stone.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Bhalla congratulated the people of Bandu Rakh, Kunjwani, Jogian and its adjoining areas for fulfilling of their demand of play field. He said that major thrust was being laid by the Government to promote sports and games particularly in the peripheral areas and to popularise sports among youth in the State.
He stressed upon the youth to take an active part in sports and said that better facilities will be provided to the players when the play field with Pavilion block/Indoor block will be constructed.
The Minister apprised the gathering that Sports Training Centre each at Jammu and Kashmir would be coming up soon at a cost of Rs. 20 crore to encourage the local talent and to channelize the energy of the youth in the right direction. He said that Rs. 3 crore would also be sanctioned shortly for Kunjwani to Narwal National Highway lighting project.
The Minister said that State has witnessed unprecedented development in all sectors in the recent past adding that scores of developmental projects like roads, bridges, schools, colleges, health institutions have been completed due to the tireless efforts of the Government. The Minister said that durable assets have been constructed in the peripheries at par with urban areas to benefit the neglected and marginalized sections of the society
The Ministers distributed sports kits among the players which were provided by J&K State Sports Council.
Earlier, the Minister inaugurated an exhibition of recent paintings by reputed artist of the state, M. Akram Khan at Art Gallery Amar Mehal Jammu.
The Minister while speaking on the occasion said that M. Akram Khan as a versatile artist of the State has carved a good nitche in the state art realm adding that his creation depicts love, nature, rural life and sensibility of the synergy between man, woman and environment.
Neymar steers Brazil into last-16, Mexico also through
Brasilia, June 24:
Powered by the genius of star striker Neymar and egged on by a roaring sea of yellow, Brazil sailed into the pre-quarterfinals with a 4-1 demolition of Cameroon while Mexico hammered Croatia 3-1 to also make the last-16 of the FIFA World Cup.
Neymar once again proved to be the chief architect of Brazil’s victory, scoring twice in their crucial last Group A fixture here.
In doing so, the 22-year-old striker delivered yet another reminder of just how much the hopes of the football-crazy nation depends on his young shoulders.
Neymar struck in the 17th and 34th minute while Fred and substitute Fernandinho found the net once each, in the 49th and 84th minute respectively, setting up a last 16 clash with Chile, who finished second in the Group B after losing their last preliminary clash against the Netherlands.
For Cameroon, Matip had equalised in the 26th minute but that was only for eight minutes before Brazil again surged ahead.
In Recife, a draw was enough for Mexico to go through but a 10-minute blitz from 72nd to 82nd minute saw them fire home thrice with their inspirational skipper Rafael Marquez breaking the deadlock in the 72nd minute.
Andres Guardado scored within another three minutes before Javier Hernandez rounded off the tally in the 82nd minute. Ivan Perisic got a consolation goal for Croatia at the fag end of the match.
Mexico will now face the Netherlands, who topped Group B by remaining unbeaten.
However, the Brazil-Cameroon clash was the most awaited for the fans here and as the day passed, the red seats at the Estadio Nacional turned yellow with the home team supporters trooping into the stadium in huge numbers.
Considering the favourites tag with which they had entered the tournament, it was a die or do situation for the hosts and for a while, when Matip equalised in the 26th minute, it looked like Cameroon might spoil the party.
But that was not to be as Neymar reasserted his supremacy one more time with a fine low shot past Charles Itandje in the Cameroon goal.
Neymar’s first goal of the match, in what was Brazil’s 100th Cup game and this edition’s 100th goal, came when he deftly guided the ball into the far corner of the net after being fed by Luiz Gustavo’s perfect low cross from the left.
The home fans were stunned soon as Matip sidefooted one into an empty net, thanks to a defensive lapse by Dani Alves who was easily beaten by Allan Nyom.
In between, barely a few minutes after his first strike, Neymar had a powerful attempt parried away by the Cameroon custodian.
The goal they conceded might have exposed the chinks in Brazil’s armour at the back, but the hosts neutralised it to an extent by scoring two more after the change of ends.
Hulk, Fred and Neymar each one of them had a shot at goal but could not find the back of the net. But it was only a matter of time before Brazil opened the floodgates.
Heavily criticised for his wretched showing in the 3-1 win over Croatia and goalless draw with Mexico, Fred finally found his name on the scoresheet when he headed in a David Luiz cross from the left wing position. There was a hint of doubt on whether Fred was in offside position but the referee thought otherwise.
With Brazil 3-1 ahead, coach Luiz Felipe Scolari replaced Neymar with Willian in th 71st minute, avoiding the possibility of a yellow card that would have kept the prodigy out of the round of 16 game.
Neymar came off to a rapturous reception before Fernandinho glided one past the Cameroon goalie six minutes before time.
Mexico also turned on the style after a sluggish start against Croatia, who were reduced to 10 men when replacement forward Ante Rebic was sent off just before the final whistle after his reckless tackle on Carlos Pena.
Mexican goalkeeper Ochoa, who had garnered admiration for his spirited show against Brazil in an earlier group match, was once again a standout performer stopping everything that was thrown at him by the Croatians. (PTI)