Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 26: Keeping in view the long run strategy to meet the ever growing drinking water needs of Jammu city and its adjoining localities, the Government will speed up the process of prestigious Chenab Drinking Water Scheme. All the bottlenecks coming in the way of project will be cleared and work will start soon.
To take stock of the physical status and alignment of the project, Minister for PHE, Irrigation & Flood Control, Sham Lal Sharma, today visited the proposed project site to have on-the-spot study of the situation. He discussed the pros and cons of the project with the concerned officers and instructed them to clear all hurdles for finalization of the project. He directed them to start the process of land acquisition for the filtration plant and laying the pipes and creating the infrastructure for developing the water station.
In order to expedite the entire process, the Minister ordered constitution of a committee of concerned departments which will work in close coordination and clear all barricades. He directed the CEO, ERA, Chief Engineer, PHE and Additional Deputy Commissioner, Jammu to complete the land acquisition process at the earliest so that the project is forwarded to the funding agency. Since the project was conceived long back and now it cannot brook any delay, he directed for disposal of all issues in a time bound manner.
While interacting with the media persons after inspecting the site of project, the Minister said that the project was prepared as a long run policy to augment the drinking water scenario of Jammu, but it could not be taken up by the successive regimes due to certain reasons. Now, in view of the growing needs of water due to wide spread migration of people from different parts of the State and sinking water resources, the Government has decided to take up this prestigious project.
The Minister said that the project has been proposed to be taken up to lift 200 cusecs of water from river Chenab in two phases and first phase is likely to be accomplished by 2016. The project cost for the first phase has been estimated Rs. 771 crore which will be funded by NABARD. On completion, the drinking water scenario of Jammu city will improve significantly, he added.
Earlier, the Minister inspected the Ranjan Lift Irrigation Scheme and directed the engineers to explore full potential of the scheme as per its original design capacity. He issued instructions for making all the pumps operational to augment the discharge capacity so that the water reaches upto the tail end to achieve the objective of the canal. He also ordered for undertaking necessary renovation of the station and proper upkeep of assets.
He also inspected the ongoing renovation/repair work of Ranbir Canal and set a deadline for the engineers to complete the works by of March 15, 2013.
Those accompanied the Minister included, Chief Executive Officer, ERA, Saurav Bhagat, Chief Engineer, PHE, Ashwani Sharma, Chief Engineer, I&FC, K.K.Gupta, Chief Engineer, ERA, Naresh Langeh, Additional Deputy Commissioner, Jammu, Dr. R.S. Sharma and other officers of the PHE/Irrigation & ERA.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 26 : J&K National Panthers Party (NPP) has said that it would corner the Omar Abdullah-led Coalition Government on the issue of non-performance and unemployment in the coming Budget session in State Assembly.
Addressing press conference here today chairman of the party and MLA from Ramnagar, Harshdev Singh said, “we shall vigorously and vociferously highlight in the Assembly the issues of non-governance, non-performance, regional bias, fractured work culture, lack of accountability and transparency, fiscal indiscipline and patronised corruption in the State”.
Mr Singh further claimed that State Government will also be cornered on the issues of poor delivery of services, with failure on its part to address and redress the genuine urges and aspirations of the people of the State and to redeem its promises. He alleged that the Government has been high on rhetoric and low on delivery, with all its tall claims, airy slogans and loud pronouncements having fallen flat.
Panthers legislator alleged that despite liberal Central funding and a plethora of Centrally sponsored schemes announced to support the infrastructural development of the State, the delivery on the ground has been negligible. He said the politico-constitutional apparatus has been collapsed and the administrative machinery having completely been paralyzed and the faith of the common man having completely shaken.
The NPP leader said that they would also highlight the “hostile discrimination” doled out to Jammu region in multifarious sectors, including development projects, employment opportunities and rural connectivity. He said that party legislators would take up the issue of bias against Jammu in the matter of tourism promotion and seek a package of at least Rs 500 crore for the development of Mansar, Surinsar, Dalsar and other lakes and the water bodies of Jammu region. Priority treatment needs to be announced for Mubarak Mandi Cable Car project, river Tawi conservation and development project alongwith its artificial lake. He said the issue of Jammu’s neglect and deprivation shall be vociferously agitated during the Assembly session commencing on February 28.

Excelsior Correspondent
UDHAMPUR, Feb 26: BJP Udhampur district president, Dina Nath Bhagat in consultation with state president of the Party Jugal Kishore Sharma and state general secretary (Org) Ashok Koul today nominated his team for the district.
He nominated Rakesh Gupta, Girdhari Lal Baru, Sumair Chand Khajuria, Rakesh Chand Anthal, Akshay Kumar and Manju Gupta as vice presidents. Krishan Lal Sharma and Beant Gupta were nominated as district general secretaries, Jagan Nath, Ajit Singh, Neelam Jogi, Suman Sharma and Mohan Lal Manhat as district secretaries, Mohan Lal Manhas as district treasurer, Jugal Kishore as district office secretary and Ashok Bassai as district publicity secretary.
He also nominated members to district working Committee.
The district president of the Party for Samba, Kashmir Singh has also constituted the body of the Party in consultation with its state president Jugal Kishore Sharma and state general secretary (org) Ashok Koul. The new team included Som Dutt Verma, Madan Lal Sharma, Narsingh Dayal, Satya Kour and Subash Verma as district vice presidents, Jangbir Singh, Narinder Sharma and Amar Singh as district general secretaries, Pitambar Nath Sharma, Suresh Sambyal, Pawan Bakshi and Veena Kumari as district secretaries. Omkar Padha has been nominated as district spokesperson and Darshan Gupta as district cashier.

Excelsior Correspondent
REASI, Feb 26: People Welfare Forum (PWF) took out a rally and submitted memorandum of demands.
The rally started from Zanana Park and culminated at District Development Commissioner office, where president of the forum Kuldeep Mengi submitted memorandum of demands highlighting various problems being faced by the people to District Development Commissioner Nirmal Sharma.
Kuldeep Mengi demanded mobilization of additional resources for the municipal committee and its proper utilization, construction of new lanes and drains in all wards, repair of existing lanes and drains, proper lighting system and sanitation as also replacement and repair of high mast lights.
He also demanded construction of protection wall along the nallah starting from Bus Stand to Secla and from grave yard to Raida, construction of bridge in Ward No. 11, completion of park at Ward No 3, framing advisory committee, construction of bathrooms and shifting of district hospital to newly constructed building.
Mengi demanded issuance of BPL ration cards to deserving families, improvement in the traffic management, concession in the buses and mini-buses for the students, completion of Grid Station, replacement of old water pipes, replacement of power cables and fencing of transformers.
DC Nirmal Sharma gave a patient hearing to the demands and assured necessary action.
Among others present were Uttamdeep, Balbir Singh, Sohan Lal, Kewal Gandotra, etc

Excelsior Correspondent
BANIHAL, Feb 26: Minister of State for Technical Education, Power, RDD, Information, Viqar Rasool Wani, laid foundation stone of model village Kaskoot in Banihal tehsil here today.
Addressing large gathering at Kaskoot, the Minister revealed that an amount of Rs.3.50 crore will be spent on the model village. So far, Rs. 25 lakh have been released and expended on development of spring and installation of the lights in village.
Viqar announced opening of JK Bank branch in the area besides trashed training centre will also be made functional soon in a rented building under skilled development programme at Kaskoot. He also sanctioned examination hall for GHS Kaskoot and assured the people up gradation of high school in the area. He also assured opening of more anganwadi centres on need basis. Besides, transformer repairing plant would be established at Banihal, he added.
The Minister informed that the construction of Kaskoot to Railway Station link road would be started soon. He said that the Zaben Asher water supply scheme at an estimated cost of Rs.1.87 crore will be completed by current year.

Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Feb 26: The protest demonstration carried out by some cable operators here today turned ugly after some of the protesters tried to put themselves on fire while registering protest against the Government directive on SEN Network to stop its operation in the Srinagar city.
This afternoon a group of SEN Network employees and employees of associated cable networks assembled at Press Enclave and raised slogans against the district administration. The protesters took strong exception to the Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar, Baseer Khan’s order to SEN to close down its operation as they were not in possession of the legal documents. The protesters alleged that this action has allegedly been taken at the behest of the owner of an influential cable television network of the State.
As the protesters were raising their protest some among them sprinkled kerosene over them and tried to put themselves on fire. However, this was thwarted away by the others present at the scene and such no harm was caused to the agitating protesters. The protesters asked the administration to come clean on the issue and allow the SEN Network to carry out the operation in Srinagar.
Meanwhile, VAADI television network along with some other sub-operators have decided to carry on their business. They have hailed the Government action against SEN Network and said that SEN was trying to monopolize the cable business in the State.

Excelsior Correspondent
KISHTWAR, Feb 26: A shopkeeper was today imposed a fine of Rs 2100 for selling misbranded salt in his shop here.
The sample of ‘Sugar Gold Premium Iodized Salt’, which had already been declared misbranded by the Food Analyst was lifted by the Food Safety Officers from the shop of Aizaz Hussain, son of Atta Mohd and residence of Pakal Saroor, which when sent for analysis at NABL accredited laboratory, Jammu, found misbranded.
Accordingly, the challan was produced before the court of Additional District Magistrate under Food Safety and Standard Act 2006. The Adjudicating Officer, RK Shavan after finding the seller guilty imposed a fine of Rs 2100 on him and directed him to return the whole stock of misbranded salt to the distributor.