Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 13: The Jammu and Kashmir Budget Proposals for the year 2014-15, have invited mixed response from business and industrial bodies.
Chamber of Commerce and Industry has welcomed the extension of Tourism incentives, continuation of VAT remission and exemption for another year, enhancement of audit limit but expressed its dismay over no redressal of its submission with regard to rationalization of VAT rates on various items and other issues.
“Our submission with regard to rationalization of VAT rates on various items like Desi Ghee, dry fruits, milk powder, diesel, etc to bring them at par with the rates prevalent in neighbouring State and reduction of VAT on goods at CSD canteens have not been addressed. Because of huge difference in VAT rates, there is diversion of trade to the neighbouring State,” said the CCI president Y V Sharma in a statement.
He also lamented that the entrepreneurs’ demand for granting free hold right to the industrial pieces of land allotted to them for business purposes was also not settled. Further, he added, the announcement of VAT reduction on Shawls to 5 percent is also ambiguous as this item already comes under `Made-ups’ category on which there is no VAT.
‘In view of rising inflation and escalation of prices of goods, increase of threshold limit from Rs 7.5 lakh to 10 lakh is inadequate and should be increased to Rs 25 lakh while TOT limit should also be increased to at least Rs 60 lakh for the same reason, Mr Sharma said.
Further, the CCI observed, the provisions for other social and welfare sectors like Health, Education, Agriculture should also be increased in view of the importance of these sectors for better quality of life of the people.
Association of Industries, Gangyal, has expressed its disappointment with the Budget Proposals notwithstanding VAT remission to the industry for another year, cashless system of VAT remission on purchase of raw material from SICOP and increase in the audit limit to Rs 1 crore.
The Government did not consider many issues, suggested by the Association of Industries, like reduction of electricity, conferment of free hold rights on industrial unit holders, etc, observed the Association during a meeting held under the chairmanship of its president Balbir Gupta.
J&K Coordination Committee of Trade Unions (JKCCTU) while reacting over the budget termed it an eye wash. The president of the Committee Mohammed Maqbool Ganai said there is double digit inflation leading to over 12 percent price rise due to which the real wages of working class have gone down. He said the working class was expecting relief from Government in the budget but there hopes were belied.
The Government has failed to revise the minimum wages of the working class. Instead of reviving the State Public Sector, the Government gave thrust on further disinvestment. Moreover no regularization and wage policy was announced in the budget, he added.
Fazal Hussian Khan chairman Panchayat Association while criticising the budget said that it has failed to offer any thing to Panchs and Sarpanchs whose number is 36,000. He said Rs 46 crore kept for them in budget is a meager amount and this way the Government has cheated them. Nothing was said in the budget about enhancement of remuneration of Panchs and Sarpanchs in the State though they had pinned high hopes in Finance Minister.
Budget proposals invite mixed response of business bodies, others
Former Minister appears before police
Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Feb 13: Police today questioned the former Health Minister, Shabir Ahmad Khan, after he walked into a local Police Station this evening where a case was registered against him last week for alleged attempt to molest a lady doctor.
Khan was questioned for about an hour by Police in Police Station Shaheed Gunj where an FIR was registered against him for attempting to molest a lady doctor working in Health Department.
The former Health Minister was not arrested by police but was asked to furnish a bail bond of Rs 25000. Sources said that Khan in his statement told police that he is innocent and the complaint of the lady doctor against him is false.
Earlier in the day Khan arrived in Srinagar from Jammu and directly went to Circuit House, Srinagar and said that he will fully cooperate with the investigations.
While speaking to media soon after his arrival, Khan said that he was not absconding and was with his people during these days. “I was with my people during all these days and approached the court to use my right”, he added.
Khan said that he has full faith in judiciary. “I applied for bail which is my right. I have faith in judiciary to get justice”, he added
The former Health Minister described the compliant registered against him as conspiracy. “It was a conspiracy to defame me and against my political carrier”, he said.
When asked why he was evading arrest, the Health Minister said: “I was using my right for bail.” However, he denied that he was absconding.
Khan appeared before Investigation Officer (IO) on the directions of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court.
Yesterday a single bench of the High Court in Srinagar comprising Justice J R Kotwal directed Khan to appear before the investigation officer. However, the court asked police to release him on personal bond of Rs 25000 in case he is arrested.
However, Khan was directed not to leave State by Justice Kotwal who passed the order on the anticipatory bail plea Khan presented by his counsel.
Chief Judicial Magistrate, Srinagar, had issued a non bailable warrant against Khan on February 7 after police told court that he was not cooperating with them.
Khan resigned as a Minister last week and Governor N N Vohra accepted the resignation of Khan on the recommendation of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. On Monday, Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly Speaker Mubarak Gul had given his nod to arrest Khan.
Police cop dies under mysterious circumstances
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 13: A police constable posted at Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), died under mysterious circumstance near Jewel area, falling under the jurisdiction of Nowabad police station.
As per police sources, police constable namely Jatinder Singh, son of Preetam Lal of Narwal, posted at Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) suddenly fell unconscious near Jewel.
He was rushed to GMC Hospital, where doctors pronounced him as brought dead.
The body has been handed over to family members for last rites after completing legal formalities.
A case under relevant Sections has been registered at Nowabad police station and investigation started.
Katra Action Committee suspends shut down, appeals Govt to bring legislation within 10 days
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 13: Katra Action Committee urged the Government to bring necessary legislation in the ongoing Assembly session within 10 days to keep sealing process in abeyance including demolition of construction until comprehensive Master Plan is put in place. For the time being the committee has decided to suspend shutdown in Katra, so that pilgrimage to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine may not suffer.
This was disclosed by Shiv Kumar Sharma, member of the committee while addressing media persons here this afternoon. Member Legislative Assembly (MLA) Reasi Baldev Raj Sharma, Rattan Singh Manhas, Raj Kumar Padha and other members of the Committee were also present.
Shiv Kumar Sharma asked the Government to take notice of ongoing strike/shutdown by the business establishment at holy town Katra owing to the sealing process of construction in violation of Master Plan.
He said that house committee of the Legislative Council constituted comprising Davinder Singh Rana, Sheikh Ghulam Rasool, BR Kundal and Jugal Kishore already have recommended that Master Plan of Katra was prepared without satellite mapping and without adhering to the ground realities and there are other flaws also.
“Since Katra is a world fame town and availability of accommodation and other facilities have been instrumental manifolds for Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Yatra in flow resulting enormous economic developments in entire State plus employment to lakhs of unemployed youths of the State”, he added.
MLA Reasi in his speech also urged the Government to bring necessary legislation in the current session of the Assembly to provide relief to entire State and find out amicable solutions encountered to the process of development due to defective Master Plan.
Besides legislation necessary legal frame work should be regulated in such a way that development may not be impaired in future, he added.
Effective monitoring mechanism should be devised so that no such incidents of unapproved construction may take place and putting the Government and public in embarrassment at any stage, MLA stated.
LPG cylinders seized from commercial establishments
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 13: A joint team of Legal Metrology, CAPD and Oil companies conducted surprise checking and seized 14 LPG cylinders from different commercial establishments.
The joint team inspected hotels, restaurants and tea stalls in Shahedi Chowk, Residency Road and Below Gumat areas where the cooking gas cylinders were found in use illegally.
The seized cylinders were handed over to the Sales officer of Indian Oil Corporation for further action under rules.
Meanwhile, Deputy Controller Enforcement has appealed general people to avail the benefits of IVRS system for booking of their refills by registering their mobile numbers with their LPG distributors. The IVRS number of BPCL is 9419256789.
DC holds conference on electoral awareness, participation
Excelsior Correspondent
REASI, Feb 13: Deputy Commissioner Reasi Shahid Iqbal Choudhary accompanied by senior officers of district administration held day long interaction with Booth Level Officers and Sector Officers for reviewing the arrangements for forthcoming elections and progress achieved under the ongoing electoral awareness campaign “Jashn-e-Jamhuriat / Reasi-Celebrating Democracy” which is completing six months next week.
The team of officers also discussed the issues related to new administrative units, their jurisdiction and area.
The DC reviewed the booth wise performance of BLOs for electoral registration and targets achieved during National Voters Day under SVEEP campaign.
Nodal Officers informed that Grievance Redressal Toll Free Line established at election cell has received overwhelming response in last two weeks and BLOs’ complaints were also addressed. A polling station wise availability of basic minimum facilities assessment was also discussed. All 301 polling stations are being provided the necessary infrastructure for assisting the voters.
Administration has established 22 Electoral Registration Centers in remote areas and 18 Electoral Facilitation Counters apart from more than 300 Women Electoral Facilitation Counters at hamlet level. Special drive has been launched for covering differently abled voters. A review meeting of sector officers across the district was also held at Arnas.
Later, interaction was organised for discussion on issues related to jurisdiction and boundaries of newly created administrative units in the district. It was informed that a committee of senior officers of Revenue and Rural Development Departments has been entrusted with working out the basic layout of units following which the DC will tour these areas beginning 18th February.
SDM Mahore Ashwani Khajuria, ACD Joginder Singh Rai, DPO Rohit Sharma, CEO Ashok Sanyal, CEO Katra Dev Authority Rajinder Singh, DSWO Rafiq Ahmed, Tehsildar Rattan Singh, BDOs and other officers of various departments attended the meeting.
Transporters associated with oil tankers frame welfare committee
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 13: Transporters associated with Oil Tankers today constituted a 13- member Welfare Committee on the name and style of “Oil Tanker Transporters’ Welfare Committee” to represent their grievances and demands at appropriate Forum.
The Committee members included Bhupinder Singh Bhalla, Davinder Singh Pappi, Ranjit Singh, Davinder Singh Baghii, Gurmeet Singh, Sham Lal Wadwa, Sanjeev Kumar Raju, Ajit Singh Jeeti, Harasis Singh, Surinder Singh Bittu, Avtar Singh Beera, Manmohan Singh Vicky and Amreek Singh.
The Committee has also been mandated to take all necessary steps for the welfare of all people associated with the trade of oil tankers and to apprise the Government, Transport Department, Oil Companies and other stakeholders about the plight of the transporters.
15th LS to enter record books: CM
Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Feb 13: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today said the 15th Lok Sabha was going to enter the record books but for no good reason, apparently referring to the unruly scenes in the Lower House of Parliament over the Telangana issue.
“So the 15th Lok Sabha is going to be one for the record books and for absolutely no good reason whatsoever,” Omar wrote on micro-blogging site Twitter.
Maj Gen KH Singh to be first Lt Gen from Northeast
NEW DELHI, Feb 13:
Maj Gen Konsam Himalaya Singh, a specialist in Jammu and Kashmir operations and hailing from Manipur, has become the first officer of the Army from the Northeast region to be promoted as Lieutenant General.
His name was cleared in the latest promotion list of the force and he will soon proceed to command a Corps formation, Army officials said today.
The officer, who is the second-in-command of the Bhopal-based 21 Strike Corps, hails from the Charangpat village in Thoubal district of Manipur.
The officer has achieved this feat at a time when there have been several reports about discrimination against students and people from the region in different parts, including the death of Arunachal Pradesh student Nido Tania last month here.
An alumnus of the Sainik School in Goalpara, Assam, Singh was commissioned in the 2 Rajput batallion in 1978 and commanded 27 Rajput when it was based in Siachen.
A specialist in Jammu and Kashmir operations having done five stints there, the officer was awarded the Yudh Sewa Medal for his unit’s gallant actions during the Kargil war in 1999.
Two IAF officials Air Marshals P K Barbora and SK Gogoi have become three-star officers in the armed forces but Singh is the first from the northeast region to achieve this feat in the 1.3 million-strong force. (PTI)
Cong MLC alleges violation in construction of malls
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 13: Congress member Jugal Kishore Sharma alleged violation of norms in construction of some malls and also a few those having cinema halls and sought action taken by Government in this regard keeping in view safety of the public.
Minister in-charge, Urban Development and Urban Local Bodies, Nawang Rigzin Jora while responding in the Legislative Council during Question Hour today said that no malls have been constructed against the provisions of law except one that of Katra which is presently sub- judice. Mr Jora said a few malls with provision of cinema halls/ PVR are coming up in Jammu province. Two permissions for construction of malls with cinema halls have been given by Jammu Municipal Corporation.
Mr Jora further said that one permission for construction of mall with provision of cinema has been given by the Municipal Council Kathua. Besides, a multiplex has been constructed in Katra within the limits of MC Katra. The building permission case for construction of Mall with Cinema hall in Jammu has been granted by JDA recently. The structure stability certificate and NOC from Fire and Emergency Services has been obtained in both the cases. For Cinema hall, the Deputy Commissioner has powers to grant permission. There was no direct role of his department. The case in the Tribunal was going on and the department would act as per norms and its role. Till the case is disposed off, they are unable to take any cognizance. Moreover DCs were not under his domain.
He pointed out that in case of Cinema Hall at Katra permission was granted in 1980-81 and in the year 1987 permission was granted for hotel at the adjoining land of cinema hall and in 2010-11 the owner of these buildings applied for PVR permission with District Administration and on the other hand took the case to Tribunal and the case is still pending there. Besides, Jugal Kishore, Naresh Gupta also raised supplementaries.