Excelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, June 4: While asserting that the Government has already formulated a comprehensive plan for assuring all round development of Srinagar city, the Minister for Rural Development, Parliamentary Affairs and Panchayats, Ali Mohammad Sagar today directed the officers to speed up the process of implementation of developmental schemes.
The Minister was speaking at a review meeting convened to discuss the status of the implementation of various developmental works and also the compensation cases of those people whose properties have been acquired for carrying out the road widening and other related activities in old city Srinagar.
The Minister while directing the officers to immediately settle the pending compensation cases within the shortest possible time and care should be taken that the same is given inconsonance with the existing market rates.
Mr. Sagar also asked the officers to prepare a comprehensive plan for acquisition of land at Namchibal, Baebdemb, so that construction of health and community centre can be carried out. “It is the endeavour of the present Government to provide the State of art facilities and requisite infrastructure to the people of the old city Srinagar, he added.
The Minister also asked the Director School Education to work in coordination with the District administration so that the upgradation of schools from middle to high school level is done at Kalishpora and Nowhatta. He said that necessary funds have already been transferred and placed at the disposal of School Department.
The District Development Commissioner, Srinagar, . Bashir Khan, Director School Education, M.S.. Rather, Chief engineer, R&B, Mushtaq Lone, Additional District Development Commissioner, Srinagar, M.A. Qadri and other senior officers of other department were present in the meeting.

Stray dogs menace
Excelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR June 4: Underlining the need to upscale the sterilization process to reduce stray dog population in Srinagar city, Chief Secretary, Madhav Lal today asked Srinagar Municipal Corporation to further improve sanitation, garbage lifting and regular sweeping across the city.
The Chief Secretary while chairing a meeting with officers said that civil society, various animal welfare organizations and Government institutions must work together to solve this problem within the legal framework. He said people have to realize that the garbage thrown in the streets significantly contributes in attracting stray dogs as such they should ensure that garbage is properly disposed off and streets and lanes are kept clean and asked the Srinagar Municipal Corporation to launch awareness in this regard.
The Chief Secretary was informed that stray dogs especially from “Red Areas” where significant number of dog bites have been reported are caught and transported to Animal Birth Control Centre (ABCC) Shuhama for their sterilization.
Detailed deliberations were held on additional steps and interventions that can be taken within the legal framework to address the problem.
Matters related to fresh survey, Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA), creation of additional infrastructure, training of more vets and associated personnel also came under discussion in the meeting.

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, June 4: To celebrate “World Environment Day”, WWF- India, J&K in collaboration with Global Gandhian Family, Youth Hostel Association and Environment Awareness forum organised “Save Tawi River” campaign.
In the campaign, about, 200 students from four eco-friendly schools namely Lawrence Public School, Panjtirthi, Sidhra, New Environmental School and Shiksha Niketan School participated and cleaned the polythene and other non- renewable damped wastes.
The participants took a pledge on the eve “World Environmental Day” to make the cleaning of river Tawi a regular activity, which is the main source of water to Jammu city and is now being degraded day by day due to garbage disposal.
During the event, Environmental experts attended the participants and said that due to pollution the aquatic flora and fauna especially the number of species of fishes have declined to a large extant in the river.
They appealed the students to save the city from various environmental problems in coming future.
After the cleaning of the river, the students took out a rally in the streets in order to aware the public about the pollution and its protection.
On the occasion, Additional DC, SP Verma from Global Gandhian Family, Major General GS Jamwal from Paryavaran Sanstha, Dr CM Seth, Chairpersons, WWF-India, J&K, Prof Bhoola Nath, Roop Lal Bharti, Retd PCCF, IC Jandial from J&K Public Technocrats Society, Bushan Parimo from Environmental Awareness Forum, Kapil Padha from Van Sampada, besides various others were present.

Excelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, June 4: Indian cricket icon and goodwill ambassador of the Indian Army, Lt Col (Hony) Mohinder Singh Dhoni on the third day of his visit to the Northern Command, interacted with the patients of 92 Base Hospital and officers and jawans of Chinar Corps here today.
After his arrival from Baramulla, Mr Dhoni called on General Officer Commanding designate of Chinar Corps, Lt Gen Om Parkash, who is scheduled to take over the charge on June 9 . He also interacted with the other senior officers and troops of the Corps at Badami Bagh Cantonment.
Mr Dhoni also met the children from down town, Srinagar and gave them autographs and also had photo-session with them. The school children seen delighted while interacting and also posed some questions. Dhoni replied their queries.
Accompanied by the senior army officers, then he moved to 92 Base Hospital and interacted with the soldiers undergoing treatment there. He thanked the ailing and injured jawans for their sacrifice in the duty of the nation. Mr Dhoni also presented them gifts and wished for their speedy recovery.
Being a Territorial Army officer, Lt Col Dhoni visited two TA battalions based in Srinagar. At 126 Infantry Battalion (TA/ JAKRIF), he was received by the CO, Col S S Pathania. He interacted with the officers and jawans for some time there and also posed for a photograph with them. He also paid a visit to 162 Infantry Battalion (TA).
Thereafter, he left for Delhi in the afternoon. Mr Dhoni is scheduled to visit Leh and Siachen glacier base camp on Tuesday and Wednesday, Defence spokesman Lt Col J S Brar said.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 4: In a Public Interest Litigation seeking establishment of an eye bank in the State, Division Bench of State High Court comprising Acting Chief Justice Virender Singh and Justice Hasnain Massodi issued notice to the State and directed Commissioner Secretary Health and Medical Education to file an affidavit containing the list of blind/ visually impaired persons suffering from corneal blindness.
The Division Bench also sought information regarding the total number of corneal replacement procedures undertaken since 2007 whereby cornea rendered dysfunctional by any disease was replaced by healthy human cornea procured through eye-donation.
After hearing Senior Advocate S S Lehar with Advocate Ajay Sharma appearing for the petitioners—Advocates Rinku Sharma and Ajay Sharma, the DB sought total number of requests received year-wise from 2007-2011 in different hospitals of the State for replacement of blind/ diseased cornea by a healthy cornea and the number of requests during the period from the persons willing to donate their eyes on death.
The DB also sought the details of existing facilities, if any, in the hospitals in the State for procurement of cornea by eye donation, their preservation and transplant.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 4: Newly elected Pradesh Youth Congress Committee general secretaries from Jammu region, Varinder Singh Chib and Manjit Singh Jat have expressed their resolve to wage a fight against corruption and work hard for tackling unemployment issue in the State.
Talking to Excelsior here today, Mr Chib, a former NSUI leader and an active student leader from Jammu University, said that strengthening Congress at the grass-root level in all blocks and wards of the State will be his priority. He said there are still some pockets where some other political parties are dominating. The youth leaders of the party would focus on such areas and spread the message of the party and also its policies and programme.
“Unemployment is the big issue today and over five lakh educated youth in J&K are without any job. To tackle this issue is a great challenge before new PYC leadership. A focused campaign would be launched on this issue and in consultation with the top leadership of the party and some youth oriented programmes would launched. For this, assistance from the IYC leader and AICC general secretary Rahul Gandhi (MP) would be sought,’’ Mr Chib maintained.
He further said that with the vision of Rahul Gandhi, this new system of elections for PYC, LS/ Assembly level Committees was started and it will help a lot to the dedicated and committed youth worker to grow and reach up to higher position. The youth have high hopes now.
At the same time, Mr Chib, a noted social activist, strongly opposed the increasing corruption in political and bureaucratic circles and maintained that people are in no mood to tolerate corruption in public life any more. Rahul Gandhi has already given a green signal in this regard and Youth Congress is certainly going to launch a movement against it in State, Mr Chib added
Manjit Singh Jat, PYC State general secretary and a fire brand youth leader from Akhnoor, while expressing full faith in the leadership of Rahul Gandhi said that this new democratic system of PYC elections has given a new ray of hope to grass root level youth Congress activists. It will certainly give strength to the party. He said new Youth Congress team will also work towards removing differences, if any, among certain senior leaders within the party and reach out to the people in remotest parts of the State.
Responding to a question he said,“Many youth (bike riders) are being killed in road accidents. Worst is the condition of roads. There is no proper monitoring, traffic jams have made life horrible. Condition of roads in the region is bad. Traffic signals system is not in place. The PYC will take up these issues strongly with the concerned authorities.
Commenting on his other priorities, the newly elected PYC leader said to wage a fight against corruption in the political and bureaucratic circles, keep an eye on the proper implementation of Centrally sponsored schemes like MGNREGA, RGGVY and PMGSY, strengthening of Congress Party at grass- root level and increase its reach up to remote parts of the State in all the three regions will be the main focus.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 4: Over twenty-eight hundreds candidates appeared the MEd combination of the ongoing Jammu University Entrance Test (JUET) here today, conducted by the University across the State.
As per the handout issued by the Office of the Public Relations, University of Jammu, a total of 4312 candidates appeared in the four subjects (Chemistry, MEd, MP Ed and PGDBM) of the Jammu University Entrance Test (JUET) here today at nine centers including Jammu, Kathua, Poonch, Rajouri, Srinagar, Udhampur, Reasi, Bhaderwah and Leh.
A total of 1268 candidates have applied for Chemistry combination, out of which 1174 candidates appeared in the test while 109 candidates were absent.
In MEd combination, 3230 candidates have applied and 2814 candidates appeared and rest were absent where as in MP Ed combination, out of 120 candidates who had applied 111 candidates appeared in the test and 9 were absent.
In PGDBM combination, 213 candidates appeared in the test out of a total of 244 candidates who have applied for the same while 31 were absent.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 4 : As per revised curtailment schedule of 11 KV feeders emanating from Receiving Station on 33 KV Jhajjar Kotli-Reasi line due to outage of 132/33 KV Grid Station Ser Barh (Katra), the shutdown to 2×6.3 MVA Reasi R/station in group-A areas including Bhaga, Karwa, Dera Baba, Gran Morh, Mari, Bidda, Bhamag from 5 a m to 8 a m and Group-B areas Reasi town, Seela, Pannassa, Reasi Vijaypur from 8 a m to 11 a m, 1×6.3 MVA Pouni R/station in Group-A Ransoo, Taryath, Bharakh from 11a m to 1 p m and Group-B Pouni, Lair, Nar, Zero Morh, Nagar, Dhanua from 1 p m to 3 p m, 1×3.15 MVA Dharmari R/station in Group-A Dharmari, Thuroo, Ganjote & its adjoining areas from 3 p m to 5 p m and Group-B Arnas & its adjoining areas from 5 p m to 7 p m, 1×2.5 MVA Sarh Bagga R/station in Group-A in Mahore, Gulab Ghar & its adjoining areas from 7 p m to 8.30 p m and Group-B in Badar, Chasana & its adjoining areas from 8.30 p m to 10 p m and 1×6.3 MVA Panthal R/station in Group-A Serely, Chamba, Panthal, Trikuta Agro from 10 p m to 11.30 p m and Group-B Panj Pindia and Bansa Morh from 11.30 pm t0 1 am will be observed.
Essential load viz PHE, Army & PHE railway will remain curtailment free. The curtailment schedule will be effective from June 4, 2012 from 5 p m. The curtailment will be on rotational basis for both the groups.

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, June 4 : Minister for Revenue, Relief and Rehabilitation Raman Bhalla today asked the PDD, PHE, and ERA officers to reach out to people and ensure regular supply of safe drinking water and uninterrupted power supply in scorching heat, adding that the concerned department should gear up their men and machinery to redress public grievances.
This was stated by the Minister while interacting with the officers of PDD, PHE and ERA after examining the problems of the inhabitants of Sainik Colony and Channi Himmat particularly related to irregular power and drinking water supply, here today.
For providing uninterrupted power supply in Sainik Colony and its adjoining areas, he asked the PDD to upgrade 6.3 MVA receiving station installed at Sainik Colony and shift G-6 feeder load to G-7 feeder receiving station installed at Bathindi so that the regular power and drinking water supply is ensured to the people of Transport Nagar, Channi Himmat and Sainik Colony during summers. He asked the locals to use electricity judiciously in peak hours and desist from illegal power connection.
The Minister said that their development related issues would be redressed in a phased manner, adding that focus of the Government is to develop all the periphery basties on modern lines by providing all basic amenities like safe drinking water, power, better roads, bye-lanes, drains, besides educational and healthcare infrastructure.
For providing better place to morning and evening walkers, . Bhalla said Government has earmarked Rs. 30 lakh for development of recreation park strips over nallah at Nai Basti and Shastri Nagar. He said that the upcoming park would add to the beauty of the areas. He said the place would have landscaping, illumination, construction of walkways, flower beds with irrigation facilities and drinking water reservoir.
Later, the Minister also inspected the construction work of 36.50 meter span vented causeway over local nallah including road widening of approached road from Sector A to Sector-G at Sainik Colony, coming up at an estimated cost of Rs. 2 crore.
Mr Bhalla said the causeway would be completed by July this year, adding after completion of the project, a population of 50000 in Sainik Colony Sector-A, B, C, F, G, Chowadhi, Dilli Birpur, Ratnu Chak and Greater Kailash will be benefited.
The Minister informed that a detailed project report costing Rs. 300 crore has been submitted to Central Government for construction of bridges, upgradation of nallah and digging of tube wells in the Gandhi Nagar constituency.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 4: Minister for PHE, Irrigation & Flood Control, Taj Mohi-ud-Din accompanied by Minister for Revenue, Relief and Rehabilitation, Raman Bhalla and Minister of State for PHE, Revenue and Home Nasir Aslam Wani today inaugurated an additional 50000 gallon per hour discharge capacity filtration plant at Boria in Bahu Fort area.
MLA, Indu Pawar, President NC Jammu Province Rattan Lal Gupta, Chief Engineer PHE B R Dogra, Chief Engineer I&FC Ashwani Sharma, Executing Engineer PHE City-II, N N Raina, Executing Engineer Mechanical, Division South, Rajnish Bal besides other senior officers of PHE, I&FC and R&B were also present on the occasion.
Addressing the gathering, Mr. Taj said that with the commissioning of Rs. 1.85 crore filtration plant at Boria across the river Tawi, adequate drinking water in Bathindi, Nowabad, Doongian, Reika, Kiryani, Shanker Nagar, Channi Rama, Sainik Colony, Thanker, Rajiv Nagar and Nowabad would be supplied to the residents of the areas. He said construction of this 1.80 MGD filtration plant at Boria was taken up in the year 2002. He said with the commissioning of additional filtration beds approximately 9 lakh gallon per day water will be added to the existing system which will provide respite to the people especially during summer.
The Minister said Government has done a lot to conserve and protect the water resources of the State. He said J&K was the first State in the country to enact laws regulating usage and ownership of water resources.
In his address, Mr. Bhalla said Government is working on a plan for development of adequate drinking water facilities in peripheral areas of Jammu city. He said that coalition Government is committed to provide all basic amenities like drinking water, power supply, healthcare and education. He said that comprehensive plans are in pipeline to provide adequate water supply to rural and far flung areas of the State.
To improve the drinking water facilities in his home constituency, the Minister said PHE Ministry has already dedicated 22 deep drill tube wells to the people. He said instructions have been issued to PHE and ERA authorities to put their sincere efforts in providing adequate drinking water supply in various localities in city of temples during summer season so that the people of urban pockets do not feel any problem due to scarcity of drinking water.
Speaking on the occasion, Minister of State for PHE, Home and Revenue Nasir Aslam Wani said with the inauguration of this additional filtration plan, the drinking water scarcity has been solved. He asked the PHE officers to supply the drinking water to the people especially Raika, Bathindi, Chatta Thanger and Sainik Colony areas of the Gandhi Nagar constituency twice in a day.
Regarding development issues, the Minister said that during three and half years of the present regime, unprecedented development has been witnessed across the State.