Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, May 7: J&K Pradesh Youth Congress has announced the Organizational elections for the first stage of booth level from May 16 to 19.
This was disclosed by Pankaj Punia, Election Incharge for J&K Pradesh Youth Congress during a press conference here this evening.
He said that last year lakhs of youth joined Youth Congress and hoped that the in this fiscal this strength will get increased.
He added that the filing of nomination forms for the said elections will commence from May 12 onwards and the candidate who will fill the nomination form for the elections should be the member of Youth Congress and there is no withdrawl process for this election. He said that the scrutiny, objections and symbol allocation dates are May 13 and 14.
“In this election process, Youth Congress members from outside J&K will be engaged for free and fair elections in the J&K”, Punia maintained.
“The winners of these booth level elections will be entitled to take over the elections of the Lok Sabha and Raj Sabha, he said, adding, that the voter list has been completed and all the arrangements for the smooth conduct election have been made”.
Responding to the query he said that there is Rs 100 fee for filling up the nomination form in case of open category whereas for SC/ ST and Women candidates there is 50 per cent discount”, he maintained.
He added that the elections will be held at nearly 9000 booths across the State and the youth having membership of Youth Congress, ID proof, Residence proof and having his/ her name in the voter list were entitled to fill up the nomination form for the elections.

Excelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, May 7: On the opening of Civil Secretariat here today on Annual Darbar Move, Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah was accorded rousing welcome by the Council of Ministers, Administrative Secretaries, officers, and other Government functionaries. He was also given Guard of Honour by the Jammu and Kashmir Police contingent.
The Chief Minister inaugurated six upgraded clerical halls for Industry, Revenue, Higher Education, Estates, Treasury and CM’s Secretariat. He also inaugurated three digitalized meeting halls in the Civil Secretariat.
Director Estates, Khurshid Ahmad apprised the Chief Minister about the silent features of the newly digitalized meeting halls and upgraded clerical halls.
He said that the first floor of new building in the Secretariat premises has been completed and made functional.
The new Additional Block of Civil Secretariat is being constructed by the JKPCC. It involves an expenditure of Rs. 28.75 crores. It will comprise of six stories and it likely to be completed by August 2013 as stated by Managing Director, JKPCC, Madan Gupta. He said that under the instruction of the Chief Minister, JKPCC completed the first floor of the Additional Block in just six months.
The Additional Block will have six chambers for Ministers, six offices for Administrative Secretaries, Committee Halls, IT section, Library, Stock Rooms and other accommodation for offices.

Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, May 7 : The Governor’s Secretariat in the Raj Bhavan, here commenced functioning today.
N. N. Vohra, Governor, inspected the newly constructed physically challenged-friendly ramp and a toilet constructed on his instructions to facilitate the differently abled persons visiting the Raj Bhavan. These deficiencies had been noticed when a group of children were invited to the Raj Bhavan.
The Governor went around the various wings of the Raj Bhavan Secretariat and issued instructions regarding repairs required in certain areas and stressed need for maintaining cleanliness, better management of office records and enhanced maintenance of the lawns and gardens and sustained satisfactory upkeep of the entire Raj Bhavan .
The Governor inspected the 20 KW Solar Power Plant and 2000 LPD Capacity Solar Water Heating system installed at Raj Bhavan last year and issued instructions for securing the optimum functioning of both the units.
Navin K. Choudhary, Principal Secretary to the Governor, and other Raj Bhavan officials accompanied him during the visit.

Excelsior Correspondent
Jammu, May 7: Deputy Chief Minister, Tara Chand today reviewed progress of various works under flagship JNNURM scheme and reviewed preparedness of various departments for the summer season.
Calling for effective utilization of development funds, Mr. Tara Chand directed the officers to speed up the pace and progress of various works which have been undertaken in the city, adding that liberal funding made available to the State is linked with timely completion of projects and delay would not be tolerated.
He said proper work schedules need to be prepared and all executing agencies should stick to the schedule and responsibility needs to be fixed for any lapses in the execution.
Among others the meeting was attended by Deputy Commissioner, Jammu Sanjeev Verma, Director Local Bodies, Jammu F. C. Bhagat, Vice-Chairman, JDA, Sarita Chouhan, Commissioner, JMC K.L. Khajuria, Chief Engineers PHE, PWD, PDD, UEED, SP City, SP Traffic and senior officers of other concerned departments and NBCC.
Laying emphasis on maintaining quality, the Deputy Chief Minister called for random sampling to check quality standards while executing development works. The line departments as well as executing agencies should go for the third party inspections also, so that no loop holes are left while maintaining quality of the works, he added.
Mr. Tara Chand said effective execution of the prestigious projects is possible only when there is coordinated effort of all the concerned. He directed for on-site addressing of all the operational and technical aspects involved in the execution.
Meanwhile, several deputation called on Deputy Chief Minister to project problems of their respective areas.
While addressing the delegations, the Deputy Chief Minister said that Government is steadfast in its resolve for equitable development of all three regions and work on the road map to address development aspirations of the people of the State is apace.
Ex-Minister Dr. Ramesh Sharma led a delegation of people from Nowshera constituency and projected demands of the area. He called for expediting various developmental works undertaken by the Municipality and release of extra funding for works of immediate nature. Demand of taking up lane and drain works, prioritizing UIDSSMT works and various other issues of concern were discussed in detail.
Delegation of Santan Dharam Sabha led by Narinder Sharma projected demand of laying tiles in front of gates of the temple , need for water cooler and general upkeep of the area.
The delegation of J&K ITI Employees United Front met the Deputy Chief Minister and demanded separate Directorate, early conduct of cadre DPC and filling of vacant posts in the department.
Members of Jammu Heritage Society led by Baldev Khullar discussed steps which need to undertaken for promoting Dogra culture and making Jammu city more attractive for the visiting tourists.
The delegation of Megh Sudhar Sabha projected demands of the community.
A delegation of people from Talab Tillo projected the demand of proper cleanliness and starting of lain, drain works on priority basis. Chaman Lal, Ex-Cooperator led the delegation.
The Deputy Chief Minister gave a patient hearing to all the demands put forth by the people and assured for early redressal of all the genuine issues. He also issued on spot directions to the concerned authorities for earliest possible redressal of the matters brought up by the people.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 7: Reiterating its demand for re-organization of the State by creating separate States of Jammu and Kashmir and granting Union Territory status to Ladakh, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) today urged the State Government to pass a resolution in this regard and send the same to Centre for approval.
By creating three separate States of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh will lead to the development of the State, Narinder Kashyap, National general secretary BSP and MP told reporters here today along with BSP State president, Tulsi Dass Langeh.
He said the three regions of the State altogether have different geographical conditions, different culture and language as well as living pattern. Besides they have such a vast territorial area that it is difficult to cover the surface distance, he added.
Keeping the same in view the BSP is demanding the reorganization of the State, so that the equal development of all the three regions is possible, he said.
He said normally the Civil Secretariat functions for six months in Kashmir and rest six months in Jammu and crores of rupees are spent on moving offices from one place to another. By creating separate States of Jammu and Ladakh and granting UT status to Ladakh this money can be saved and utilized for the betterment of the people of all the three regions, he added.
Mr Kashyap said that BSP is wedded to the ideology of Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar and after taking over as Union Minister in 1952 he had suggested that the issue of J&K should be resolved once for all otherwise it will turn into a grave problem some day. Dr Ambedkar was himself in favour of small States for the overall development of the country, he added.
He said taking a cue from Dr Ambedkar the BSP chief Mrs Mayawati got a resolution passed in State Assembly of UP to carve out three separate states and this resolution was sent to Centre for approval. Earlier Uttrakhand has been also created out of UP and Himachal and Haryana States were carved out from Punjab, he added.
Mr Kashyap said that BSP and people of Jammu have also passed a resolution regarding re-organization of the State in his presence and same was approved by Ms Mayawati and the issue was also raised by him in Rajya Sabha which was supported by other parties also.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 7: Various associations and unions of the employees have endorsed the strike call given by the Joint Consultative Committee (JCC) for May 8 & 9.
All Jammu and Kashmir Electric Department Linemen & Workers’ Union in a meeting held today under the leadership of Ghulam Nabi decided to extend full support to the Employees Joint Action Committee/JCC to observe Kaam Chhorh Hartal on May 8-9. The president of the Union appealed all the members of the body to observe complete strike on Tuesday and Wednesday in support of employees’ demands.
J&K Central Non-gazetted Electric Employees Union (Distt body) in a meeting held at Udhampur today resolved to endorse two day strike call given by JCC on Tuesday and Wednesday in support of employees pending demands. The meeting was held under the chairmanship of Krishan Kumar, district president of the Union. The main demands included release of pending 6th Pay Commission arrears, enhancement of retirement age of employees from 58 to 60 years, regularization of daily wagers and removal of pay anomalies of the clerical cadre.
All Jammu, Kashmir & Ladakh Teachers’ Federation led by Balwan Singh Jamwal in a convention held here decided to endorse two- day strike call given by JCC on Tuesday and Wednesday. Senior trade union leaders Ram Kumar Sharma, Manga Ram, Joginder Singh, Sudershan Sharma and others also attended. It was resolved by the members to observe complete strike. An appeal was issued to the teaching community to observe Kaam Chhor Hartal. They said a grand rally will be organized at Exhibition Ground tomarrow. On Wednesday employees will ‘gherao’ Civil Secretariat at Srinagar.
Meanwhile, J&K United School Teachers Association (USTA), unit Samba in a meeting held under the chairmanship of district president Raj Kumar Sharma endorsed the strike call given by JCC on May 8-9. The district president criticized the State Government for causing delay in addressing their pending demands. It was stressed upon the Government to resolve the pending issues of the employees and teachers community which also include removal of pay anomalies among teachers cadre, early conduct of DPC of masters, headmasters, lecturers and class-IV employees and framing of transparent transfer policy for schools. The Association appealed the teachers to participate in large number in strike.
Daily Wagers Union Public Workers (R&B) Department, Lok Nirman Bhawan, in a meeting held today endorsed the two day strike call given by the JCC on May 8 & 9. The Union appealed its members to observe complete strike on Tuesday and Wednesday.
All Graduate Clerk Cadre Association of district Rajouri has also supported one day strike call for May 8. The Association appealed the members to observe complete strike in support of employees demands.

Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, May 7: In order to upgrade judicial infrastructure 42 projects are coming up with an estimated cost of Rs. 89 crore to augment the already existing one in the State.
The information was given in a high level meeting chaired by Minister for Rural Development, Law, Justice, Panchayats and Parliamentary Affairs, Ali Mohammad Sagar. Commissioner Secretary Law, G. H. Tantray, Advocate General, M. I. Qadri, Managing Director, JKPCC, Chief Engineer, R&B, Kashmir, Special Secretary, Law and other senior officers were present.
While asking the officers to speed up the pace of work on the ongoing projects, the Minister said “we have to ensure that the same is completed within the stipulated time and it would go a long way in strengthening the judicial infrastructure across the State besides ensuring that people get the required legal help within the shortest possible time.”
Mr. Sagar also asked the executing agencies – JKPCC and R&B to work in close coordination with the Law Department so that these projects are executed well within the requirements and specifications as provided in the plan.
The meeting was told that the District Court Complex, Srinagar being constructed at Mominabad, Srinagar would be completed in November this year. Similarly, the Judicial Academy in August and Sub-Judge Court at Baramulla, Munsiff Court Building, Pampore and Administrative Block of the Advocate General’s Office in November and September 2012 respectively.
It was also given out in the meeting that 42 new projects to upgrade the judicial infrastructure have been undertaken by the Government which among the other works include construction of District Court Complexes at Pulwma, Kulgam, Ganderbal, Handwara, Samba, Kishtwar, Ramban, Doda, Bhaderwah, Udhampur, Poonch and Rajouri. Construction of District Court Complex at Mominabad, Srinagar and Munsiff Courts at Magam, Damhal-Hanjipora, Kulgam, Qazigund, Boniyar, Shangus, Charar-i-Sharief, Sanko, Bishnah, Reasi, Thatri-Bhaderwah, Kathua, Mahanpur, Thannamandi, besides construction of Lawyer Chambers at Srinagar.

Excelsior Correspondent
POONCH, May 7: Fifteen new guests arrived here from the Pak occupied Kashmir while a total 47 passengers crossed sides at Chakkan-da-Bagh LoC point in district Poonch today.
An official spokesman said that a total 37 persons came from the PoK side today. They included 15 new guests from Pak administered Jammu and Kashmir while 22 Indian returnees.
Ten passengers today cross to that side from here. They included four J&K residents going there for first time to meet relatives while six PoK returnees. The LoC point was opened today between 2.20 pm and 2.45 pm.
SDM Hajira, (PoK) Arshad Mehmood from the PoK side while M A Qureshi DSP DAR Poonch and Abdul Hamid GM DIC Poonch were deployed at the LoC point from Indian (J&K) side to facilitate the travelers.