Draft approved, to be submitted to Planning Commission shortly

Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, May 10: The State Government has projected an increase of over 150 per cent in the outlay for the 12th Five Year Plan over the 11th Five Year Plan with an aim to achieve 8 per cent growth rate. The Draft 12th Five Year Plan, which was approved by the State Cabinet today, will be submitted to the Planning Commission of India shortly and it is likely to get the nod as the Union Government has already been liberal in extending huge financial assistance to the Omar Abdullah-led Government in the State.
Authoritative sources told EXCELSIOR that Draft of 12th Five Year Plan (2012-17) has been prepared for an outlay of Rs 67822.47 crore as against the Rs 25834 crore outlay in the 11th Five Year Plan (2007-12), which forms an increase of over 150 per cent over the preceding plan for the State.
The biggest gainers in the 12th Five Year Plan outlay over 11th Five Year Plan would be Power, Education, Roads and Bridges, Health and Medical Education, PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control, Agriculture and Allied Sectors, Social Welfare and Rural Development sectors, sources said.
For the Power Sector, the outlay during the 11th Five Year Plan was Rs 8190.12 crore but during the 12th Five Year Plan the outlay has been projected at Rs 17099.32 crore, which is an increase of Rs 8909.20 crore. Similarly, for the Education Sector, an outlay of Rs 9947.86 crore has been projected for the 12th Five Year Plan as against Rs 2132.25 crore during the preceding five year plan.
For the Health and Medical Education Sector, an increase of Rs 3152.31 crore has been projected during the 12th Five Year Plan. During the preceding plan the outlay was to the tune of Rs 1353.15 crore while as for the 2012-17 period outlay of Rs 4505.46 crore has been projected.
Likewise, outlay for the PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control and Agriculture and Allied Sectors for the 12th Five Year Plan has been projected at Rs 4464.23 crore and Rs 3379 crore respectively as against Rs 1826.79 crore and Rs 811.62 crore respectively during the 11th Five Year Plan. For the Social Welfare Sector, projection of Rs 2486.88 crore and Rs 2028.52 crore for the Rural Development Department has been made for the 12th Plan.
Stating that 12th Plan will aim at achieving a growth rate of 7.5 per cent per annum at constant prices, sources said that growth rate is expected to gain momentum with the progress of the plan, adding the growth rate is expected at 7 per cent in the first year and 8 per cent in the terminal year of the 12th   Plan.  “The focus of the State Government would be on an achievable rate of growth with due emphasis on the distributive aspects of growth and its linkage with unfolding of concrete employment opportunities in the economy”, sources said.
“Some of the factors, which are likely to help accelerate the rate of growth in the economy during 12th Five Year Plan, include the creation of an enabling atmosphere by growth in bank branches, rapid increase in tele-density, setting up of a large number of colleges, universities and technical institutions, record number of tourist arrivals in all three regions of the State during 2011”, sources said.
Stating that for accelerated growth the investment will have to be induced both in public and private sectors, sources said that the initiatives taken by the Government like a policy for power generation, which lays emphasis on Independent Power Producers (IPPs) and Joint Ventures (JVs), will lead to institutional/ private sector investment.
“The incentives being provided by the State Government and the Central Government for industries and commerce will also facilitate private sector investment”, sources further said.
Mentioning that 12th Plan will aim at reducing losses in the public sector, sources said that adequate steps would be taken to reduce the losses in Transmission and Distribution system, which continue to be too high. “Besides getting assistance from Union Government under R-APDRP, the T&D functions of the PDD will be unbundled and the roadmap indicated by TERI will be followed”, sources said, adding “the generation capacity of the power stations has been proposed to be added by 5000 MW during 12th Plan”.
During the 12th Five Year Plan, 6.4 lakh job opportunities are likely to be created because of implementation of employment oriented and developmental programmes of various sectors. “The problem of unemployment would be less acute at the end of 12th Plan as compared to the position at the end of 11th Plan”, sources added. Moreover, 45000 youth would be made employable during this period by roping in private sector for improving employability of youth through schemes like Uddan and Himmayat.
Stating that empowering people, Panchayati Raj Institutions and Urban Local Bodies for addressing the concerns of poor and the marginalized would also be priority areas for the Government, sources said, “the functioning of the Panchayats will be facilitated by provision of funds for implementation of the duties and powers assigned to them”, adding “an exercise is being carried out to arrive at specific formula for sharing of resources among three tiers of Panchayati Raj Institutions”.
Similarly, the funds and the divisions implementing the programmes assigned to ULBs under the Municipal Corporation Act will be progressively transferred to ULBs so that by the end of 12th Five Year Plan the ULBs would be able to discharge their functions fully.

NEW DELHI, May 10:
Agni-V, India’s most powerful missile with a strike range of over 5,000 kms, is set to get substantially higher destruction capabilities with plans to equip it with multiple warheads.
“We are working in this area. It will take time for us to develop but our work is on,” DRDO Chief Dr V K Saraswat told  when asked whether the agency is developing capabilities to produce a variant of Agni-V missile which can hit multiple targets.
Known as Multiple Independently Targeted Re-entry Vehicle (MIRV), the missile would be capable of carrying multiple warheads to destroy several targets.
Asked about the plans in that regard, he said, “Basic vehicle (missile) will remain the same. The first three stages will also remain the same and only the kill vehicle or the payload delivery system will need changes.”
Terming it as a “force multiplier”, the DRDO Chief said, “If I am able to do force multiplication with this… Where I was using four missiles, I may use only one missile. So it becomes a force multiplier given the damage potential.”
Such a capability exists only with a select few countries such as the US, Russia and China.
Comparing Agni-V missile to the best in the world, Saraswat said, “It is a game changer missile… It has taken the missile technology to the highest level and matches with the best and the current world standards.”
MIRV missiles are equipped with small on-board rocket motors and computerised inertial guidance system which manoeuvres warheads to several different trajectories.
On plans to develop missiles with 8000 km or even longer range, the DRDO Chief said that will be done according to the evolving threat perception.
“Whenever the need arises, we will develop… Right now we feel, 5000 km-class of system meets our threat perception and threat requirement. But that does not mean that we will not develop a longer range missile. We will develop, but depending on the evolving threat perception,” Saraswat said.
He said that the successful test flight of Agni-V missile has given the country the necessary capability to design and develop missiles of longer ranges as well.
“As far as the capability of doing that kind of work (developing longer range missiles) is concerned, this missile (Agni-V) gives you the capability to build any missile of a range on the higher side,” he said.
Talking about the ongoing efforts to develop an array of tactical missiles, Saraswat said, “Work is going on a number of tactical missiles such as the long and medium-range surface-to-air missiles. The Mark-I version of Astra Long Range Air-to-Air Missile will be ready by 2015.”
He said that the long-range surface-to-air missile would be ready by 2014 while its medium-range version will take a year more. Astra Mark-I will be an 80-km range missile.
Saraswat refused to divulge the range of the Mark-II version of Astra missile.
On development of 150 to 180-km range Prahaar missile for the Army, the DRDO Chief said the project has now matured and demonstrations were given to the force.
“We have demonstrated it (Prahaar missile) to the Army. It is a fully developed missile including its launcher and cannister. It is ready and, if the Army makes a choice then we can take it from the present demonstration stage to the production stage,” Saraswat said.
Prahaar is a derivative of the interceptor missile designed by DRDO as part of its project to develop Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) shield.
“Prahaar is a matured missile as it is a derivate of the endo-atmospheric interceptor of the BMD programme. We modified that and converted it into Prahaar,” he said.
Saraswat said that Prahaar can be used to launch different kinds of warheads, giving the commanders flexibility to choose from various options.
“It is a very good missile and gives you accuracy, range and capability to use different types of warheads. It gives tremendous flexibility to the commander. This will be a 150-180-km range missile,” he said. (PTI)

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 10: Two social activists through a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed in Jammu Wing of State High Court have sought directions to the Commissioner of Vigilance to file charge sheet in designated Anticorruption Courts against IAS and KAS officers involved in various corruption cases.
Through PIL the directives have been sought to file charge –sheet in designated Anticorruption Courts in FIR No 29/2003 VOJ (Canal Power House), FIR NO 21/2006 VOJ (illegal appointments in Local Bodies), FIR No 22/2009 VOJ against Babu Ram then CDPO Doda,  FIR NO 18/2005 VOK Rural Electrification scam, FIR No 8/2009 VOK infamous Gulmarg land scam and FIR No 17/2010 VOK against Gulam Hassan Wani the then Joint Registrar Cooperative Kashmir in view of the deemed sanction for prosecution as per the law laid down by the Supreme Court of India in case titled Dr Subramanian Swamy vs Dr Manmohan Singh and another decided on January 31 this year arising out of SLP( C )No 27535 of 2010.
The PIL has been filed by two social activists namely Sheikh Mohammed Shafi, S/O Sheikh Abdul Rehamn (ex MP) and Prof S K Bhalla through advocate Sheikh Shakeel Ahmed in which the petitioners have strongly highlighted the judgment of the Apex Court where in the Court fixed the time limit of three months for the competent authority to accord sanction in corruption cases and in the event of failure to accord sanction it is deemed to be granted.
The petitioners in their application have highlighted that in FIR No 8/2009 and the prosecution sanction was issued vide Government order No 02-GAD (VIG) of 2010 dated January 18, 2010. The competent authority accorded sanction for the prosecution of small fries only but is sitting over the sanction of Mehboob Iqbal (IAS) then Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Farooq Ahmed Shah then Additional DC Baramulla and Bashir Ahmed Khan (IAS) then Deputy Commissioner Baramulla.
The Petitioners submitted before the Court that respondents be directed to disclose the reasons for such a huge delay in granting sanction against senior officers when the case was received in GAD on December 22, 2009 and according to SVO investigation the accused entered into the criminal conspiracy for illegal transfer of State land at Gulmarg worth crores of rupees by misusing the provisions of Roshni Act.
The petitioners have also highlighted FIR No 17/2010 VOK registered against Ghulam Hassan Wani (KAS) then Joint Registrar Cooperative Audit whose case for sanction was received by GAD on December 26,2011 and the Commissioner of Vigilance was requested on January 17 to furnish comments on the representation of the accused officer which are awaited. The petitioners have also highlighted the inaction of State in sitting over sanction in case FIR No 18/2005 VOK in much publicized rural electrification scam in which Syed Asgar Ali then Director Rural Development Kashmir presently MLC PDP is allegedly accused along with BDO Zafar Altaf,  Mohammed Yousf Bhat , Mohammed Yousaf Ganie, Abdul Hamid Wani and Mohammed Saleem Khandey.
It was further submitted that in this case the proposal for sanction was received in the GAD on January 15, 2008 and the case was processed for orders of the competent authority and is under submission since January 14,2009. The delay speaks volumes about the dilly dallying tactics of powers that be.
The petitioners have also referred to FIR No 22/2009 VOJ registered against Babu Ram then CDPO Doda and SVO sought sanction on August 16,2011 and the case was referred by GAD to Social Welfare Department on January 12 this year form comments which are still awaited. The petitioners further submitted that in FIR No 21/2006 VOJ sanction was accorded against the small employees of Local Bodies and sanction is yet pending before the GAD.
It was further alleged that respondents have double standards while according sanction in terms of Section 6 of Prevention of Corruption Act. The petitioners have also alleged that recently the competent authority i.e the Chief Minister of the State declined sanction for prosecution of sitting Cabinet Minister, Ghulam Hassan Mir presently Minister of  Agriculture who was allegedly involved in making 53 illegal/ backdoor appointments in J&K Legal Service Authority. The petitioners have stated that this case is just a tip of ice-berg as number of the cases of similar nature are awaiting sanction before the competent authority.

Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, May 10: The final hearing in the alleged fake encounter case involving the designate Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Bikram Singh, who was Brigadier 1-Sector Rashtriya Riffles of Army in South Kashmir when the encounter took place, is on May 16.
Justice Mansoor Ahmad Mir of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court today adjourned the case till May 16 for final disposal of the petition.
The Counsel for the Defence Ministry while arguing the case told the High Court that the Supreme Court has given clean chit to the Lt General Bikram Singh as a PIL has been dismissed by the apex Court and the case has become irrelevant. But Advocate Zaffar Qureshi of the petitioner told the Court that petitioner is seeking investigation into the alleged fake encounter and the dismissal of that PIL by the apex Court has no bearing on the petition filed by the mother of the victim.
It may be mentioned here that a woman, Zaituna Begam, from Macchil area of Kupwara district last year filed a writ petition before the Jammu and Kashmir High Court at Srinagar, alleging that her son Abdullah Bhat was killed in a fake encounter in Anantnag in March 2001 and later branded as a Pakistani militant ‘Mateen Chacha’. The woman sought directions from the High Court for reinvestigation of the case in which five persons, including two army men, were killed.
The dead included  Colonel J P Janu, the then Commanding Officer of a local RR unit,  Sepoy Ganesh Kumar, Muhammad Shafi son of Abdul Rasheed of Hazratbal-Anantnag, and Abdul Ahad Sheikh son of Ghulam Muhammad Sheikh of Janglat Mandi-Anantnag. Another person was killed in the retaliatory action of the army and police later identified him as a resident of Pakistan,’Mateen Chacha’. Zaintuna alleges that the third person who was killed in the encounter was not a Pakistani but his son.
All the respondents – the Defence ministry, the State Government and SSP Anantnag – who have been named as respondents in the case, had filed their objections to the petition and had sought its dismissal.
The Defence Ministry had termed the petition as an afterthought  as it was filed a decade after the incident took place. The objections said that Lt Gen Singh, who was then a brigadier commanding the 1 Sector Rashtriya Rifles in South Kashmir, was returning to Anantnag after visiting various army units.
Later, when the army convoy stopped at Janglat Mandi in Anantnag, a militant disguised as a beggar opened indiscriminate fire upon the armymen, said the Defence Ministry objections filed before the High Court.
The SSP Anantnag in his objections had said the petition was not maintainable and people with vested interests, who had cases of subversion pending against them, were behind it. The State Government’s objections are same as filed by Senior Superintendent of Police Anantnag.

Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, May 10: A massive Security Grid is being created at Baltal and Nunwan (Pahalgam) base camps not only to thwart possibility of any terror attack on Amarnath yatris but also prevent influx of unregistered pilgrims during annual pilgrimage beginning June 25.
Official sources told the Excelsior that security forces, police, Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) and other agencies involved in security of the pilgrims have decided to install two large size gates at the main entrance of Baltal and Nunwan from where the pilgrims start their onward journey to Baba Amarnath ji shrine.
“The gates are being designed and constructed with the help of security experts. They would be in place well before start of the yatra”, sources said.
They added that the gates would be designed in such a way that no one was able to breach them. They would cover entire entrance of both the tracks and would be manned round-the-clock by para-military and police personnel. Only the pilgrims with valid registration slips would be allowed to cross the gates in addition to security and Shrine Board staff carrying duly authorized identity cards.
Sources said the gates would also serve as part of major security grids as not only the unregistered pilgrims but even the undesirable elements like militants and their Over Ground Workers (OGWs) would also be unable to breach them.
This was for the first time that the SASB and security agencies have come up with a new idea of installing fool-proof system of new kind of gates to prevent influx of any unregistered yatris as well as the anti-national elements.
Sources said the gates would be in place a week ahead of the start of yatra on June 25 to ensure that unregistered yatris even didn’t venture before the pilgrimage to reach holy cave shrine of Lord Shiva. Earlier, there had been precedent that some yatris used to reach Bhawan before start of the yatra and even fiddled with holy Ice Lingam of Lord Shiva.
Meanwhile, Gujjars have started venturing into the track from both Baltal and Nunwan sides to take photographs of the track from different places for the Shrine Board and other authorities to facilitate start of clearance operations.
“The Shrine Board authorities would also be surveying the track next week”, sources said, adding that the Gujjars were venturing into the track from different positions along with cameras clicking exact position of the twin tracks from Baltal and Nunwan and bringing in photographs.
Sources said the clearance operations would be started as soon as snow starts melting and hopefully both the tracks would be made fit for the pilgrimage before June 25 to ensure start of the yatra on due date. The yatra was due to end on August 2 coinciding with Sharavan Purnima and Raksha Bandhan.
Sources said deployment of security forces at the holy cave shrine, tracks and other vulnerable places would also start with clearance of snowfall. Security forces would conduct recee of the track before deployment. At some places, the security personnel would be deployed even during the snowfall to man some important positions, they added.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 10: Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy and National Conference president Dr Farooq Abdullah today spent 12th consecutive day in All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi but was recovering fast from viral and chest infections.
Dr G C Khilnani, who was attending upon Dr Abdullah in the AIIMS Neuro-Cardio Centre, said the Union Minister was recovering fast and responding to the treatment of viral infection and chest congestion.
“Dr Abdullah is fine and stable. His vital parameters and investigations are within normal limit. He will be in hospital for another four to five days’’, Dr Khilnani said.
Farooq was admitted in the AIIMS on April 29 after acute viral and chest infections. Prior to that he remained admitted in the same hospital for eight days suffering from pneumonic and other viral infections.
A team of doctors headed by Khilnani was regularly examining Farooq Abdullah.

Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, May 10: A woman of the Magam area in Central Kashmir’s Budgam district gave birth to five children at Lalded hospital here today. The mother along with her children is doing well and all of them are in fine health.
Afroza, resident of Magam gave birth to the children at the Lalded hospital after a caesarian. Children including two girls are in good health and they weighed above two kilograms each. She has already a son while as twice she suffered miscarriage. The surgery was carried out by Dr. Rizwana.
Both Afroza and her husband were elated after the birth of the five children while as happiness could also be seen brimming on the faces of their relatives. Attendants of the expectant mothers made a bee-line to the ward where Afroza is admitted and had a glimpse of the children.
Some of them clicked the photos of the children with the cameras of their mobile phones and the occasion turned festive.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 10: The State Government today ordered transfer and postings of seven Private Secretaries.
Sat Paul-II, Private Secretary with Financial Commissioner (Revenue) has been transferred and posted as Private Secretary with Commissioner/Secretary, ARI and Trainings.
Irshad Ahmad, Private Secretary with Commissioner/Secretary, Higher Education Department was transferred and posted as Private Secretary with Commissioner/Secretary, Public Works (R&B) Department.
Archana Raina, Private Secretary with Commissioner of Enquiries has been transferred and posted as Private Secretary with Chairman, Appellate Authority, Pollution Control Board vice Shakeel Ahmad.
Gagan Singh, Private Secretary with Commissioner/Secretary, Agriculture Production Department has been transferred and posted as Private Secretary with Commissioner/Secretary, Cooperative Department vice Farooq Ahmad.
Farooq Ahmad was transferred and posted as Private Secretary with Commissioner/Secretary, Animal and Sheep Husbandry Department vice Mrs Vijay Laxmi.
Mrs Vijay Laxmi has been posted as Private Secretary with Commissioner/ Secretary, Agriculture Production Department replacing Gagan Singh.
Shakeel Ahmad, Private Secretary with Chairman, Appellate Authority, Pollution Control Board, has been transferred and posted as Private Secretary with Financial Commissioner, Revenue vice Sat Paul-II.
Meanwhile, Mohammad Akram Malik after his repatriation in Animal and Sheep Husbandry Department, has been posted as Managing Director, J&K Agro Industries Development Corporation on deputation basis relieving Farooq Ahmad Lone, Director Agriculture, Kashmir of the additional charge of the post.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 10: A police constable posted as Personal Security Officer (PSO) with Deepender Kour, mother of Amandeep Singh, was found dead under mysterious circumstances at Rajinder Park along Canal Road early this morning.
Amandeep Singh was murdered in August 2009 by Choudhary Nagar Singh alias Nago’s son, Jatinder Singh alias Raja and his associate, Royal Singh, all of whom were in jail.
Police said Rakesh Kumar, 29, son of Darshan Lal R/o Gurha, Bakshi Nagar, has been posted as PSO with Depender Kour for past about 10 days after her permanent PSO had gone on leave.
Rakesh last spoke to his sister at 10 pm. At about 5 am today, the morning walkers saw blood riddled body of Rakesh lying in Rajinder Park. His AK-47 rifle was also lying near his body.
Police said two bullets had pierced through the body of Rakesh Kumar leading to his instant death. Though Nowabad police have registered a case under Section 174 RPC, police said it appeared to be a case of suicide and had nothing to do with the murder of Amandeep Singh as Rakesh had been posted as PSO only 10 days ago from the District Police Lines (DPL).
After post-mortem, body of Rakesh Kumar was handed over to his family and cremated this afternoon.
Weapon and bike of Rakesh Kumar have been recovered from the spot and sent for forensic examination.
Police parties headed by SSP Jammu Prabhat Singh, SP City (North) Jatinder Singh Johar, SDPO Abdul Rouf Lone and SHO Nowabad Inspector Sagar Singh visited the site of death for on spot investigations.
The matter was being probed.

ISLAMABAD, May 10:
India and Pakistan will hold their next round of talks on the military standoff on Siachen glacier in Islamabad during June 11-12 against the backdrop of renewed calls from the Pakistani civil and military leadership for the demilitarisation of the world’s highest battlefield.
“Pakistan and India will hold talks on the Siachen issue on June 11-12 at Islamabad,” Foreign Office spokesman Moazzam Khan said in a brief statement this evening.
He did not give details.
The last round of talks on Siachen was held in Delhi by the Defence Secretaries of the two countries almost a year ago.
The announcement by Khan came shortly after diplomatic sources told reporters that Pakistan had asked India to reschedule talks on the Sir Creek border dispute which were to be held in New Delhi next week.
The Pakistani side has sought fresh dates later this month or in June for talks on the Sir Creek issue, the sources said.
They said fresh dates would be decided through diplomatic consultations.
The reasons for Pakistan’s decision could not immediately be ascertained.
Foreign Office spokesman Moazzam Khan had recently announced that officials of the two countries would meet in New Delhi during May 14-16 to discuss the Sir Creek issue.
Some reports have suggested that Islamabad wants to assess progress on the Siachen issue before holding talks on Sir Creek.
Representatives from Pakistan’s powerful military play a key role in talks on both Sir Creek and Siachen.
There have been calls from Pakistani politicians, including main opposition PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif, for the demilitarisation of Siachen after 139 people were buried under dozens of feet of snow when an avalanche hit a high-altitude Pakistan Army camp at Gyari on April 7.
Pakistani commentators and security analysts have questioned the strategic value of deploying of troops at Siachen and also highlighted the environmental costs of the standoff on the glacier.
Search teams are yet to find any trace of the buried men, including over 120 soldiers.
During recent visits to the site of the avalanche, Pakistan Army chief Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani called for the demilitarisation of the glacier and said the India and Pakistan should resolve all outstanding issues to ensure “peaceful co-existence” which would allow the two sides to focus on development and welfare of the people.
Kayani said Pakistan hopes the Siachen issue is “resolved so that both the countries don’t have to pay the cost”.
However, he also contended that India had hardened its position by seeking the demarcation of the Line of Control instead of the authentication of troop positions on the ground.
“There is nothing like a peaceful resolution. The best thing is a peaceful resolution but short of that, we will do what we are supposed to do,” Kayani said during a visit to Gyari on May 3.
Defence Minister A K Antony has made it clear that there is no change in India’s stand on Siachen.
Pakistan has also considerably hardened its stand on the Sir Creek issue in recent months though the two countries had said they had made progress after a joint survey of the marshlands. (PTI)