Excelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, May 1: Deputy Chief Minister, Tara Chand today conducted tour of Srinagar city and interacted with traders, senior citizens and shopkeepers. He also visited Lal Chowk and Budshah Chowk.
The Deputy Chief Minister issued on spot orders for beautification of Lal Chowk and Budshah Chowk and its pavements. He directed Commissioner, Srinagar Municipal Corporation for installation of dust bins in the areas and to ensure full sanitation of entire city.
Mr. Tara Chand also visited Sangarmall Shopping Complex where he interacted with senior citizens, traders and representative of various shopkeeper associations.
Earlier, the Deputy Chief Minister chaired a meeting at Banquet Hall to discuss various steps being taken by Srinagar Municipal Corporation for beautification of Srinagar city.
The meeting was attended among others by traders, various associations of shopkeepers, hotels and other senior officers.
The meeting discussed threadbare various issues including sanitation, conservation of Dal Lake and shifting of Dal dwellers, sewerage and drainage problems, facilities to tourists, smooth functioning of street lights, widening of various city roads including Boulevard road etc.
The Deputy Chief Minister said that an amount of  Rs. 15 crore is being spent for modern drainage system in Srinagar city to solve the problem of water logging. He said that a number of steps have already been taken for the beautification of Srinagar City especially in connection with sanitation. He further said that a number of STPs have already been completed. He said that shifting of Dal dwellers to newly established colony is under progress and the land vacated by them would be included with Dal Lake.
He  directed Commissioner, Srinagar Municipal Corporation to ensure the proper functioning of street lights, adding it is the responsibility of all stakeholders to cooperate with the Government machinery for the conservation of world famous Dal Lake which plays a major role in attracting the tourists all over the world.
However, Mr. Tara Chand stressed for the congenial atmosphere and said the peace is imperative for not only overall development of the State but also boosting the tourism sector in the State which gives a lot of employment opportunities to the educated unemployed youth.

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, May 1 : Minister for Revenue, Relief and Rehabilitation, Raman Bhalla today has directed the Irrigation Department to ensure irrigation facilities upto tail end of rural Raipur-Satwari areas.
The Minister said Government is committed to provide adequate irrigation facilities to the farmer community through Ranbir canal, irrigation tube wells and pump sets so that they do not face any inconvenience during Rabi sowing season.
Mr. Bhalla was addressing the villagers after kick starting modernisation work on Khandwal Irrigation Channel at Chib Mohalla in Raipur-Satwari, for which Government has earmarked Rs. 11 lakh.
Mr. Bhalla asked the department to immediately start desilting works of minor and major distributaries in the areas so that the irrigation water could reach upto tail end of the villages. He asked the engineers to repair the breach portion of the distributaries of the areas so that the farmer community could avail the benefit during Rabi sowing season.
The Minister asked the people not to put debris in the irrigation distributaries as such type of practices not only create problems for the department but also affects the farmers.
Mr. Bhalla informed that Government has launched number of schemes for boosting the agriculture production across the State like providing latest techniques equipments. He said that several sale outlets have been opened especially in far off and rural areas for providing timely seeds and fertilizers to the farmers.
Regarding upgradation of Government High School, Raipur-Satwari, Mr. Bhalla said that a proposal is under active consideration of School Education Ministry for approval, adding after getting approval.
For improving power scenario in Raipur-Satwari and Barzalla villages, the Minister said Government is committed to provide regular power supply in every nook and corner of the State by creating new receiving stations. He said Government has identified the land for construction of receiving station at Barazalla and Over Head Tank at Raipur -Satwari.
For the convenience of villagers, Mr. Bhalla asked the RDD to construct 35 Individual Household Toilets under Total Sanitation Campaign scheme in the Raipur-Satwari village. He said under the scheme, Government has provided Rs. 3700/- for construction toilet unit.
Taking serious note on the delay of construction work of Multipurpose Community Hall at Raipur-Satwari, the Minister asked the accompanied R&B Department Executive Engineer to cancel allotment of work and allot the fresh one for timely completion of the project.

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, May 1: Mr S C Singh, Executive Director, Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd (PGCL), Northern Region-II, dedicated a kitchen and a dining hall under its CSR scheme to the children of Rotary Inner Wheel (Home for mentally retarded chidren) at Channi Rama Jammu.
Power Grid was approached by the office bearers of the school for extending helping hand in constructing a dining hall and a kitchen in addition to face-lifting of the entire building. Power Grid immediately agreed to the proposal and constructed a kitchen and a dining hall for the needy children. Power grid also undertook the work of face-lifting of the entire building under its package at a total financial implication of Rs 15 lakh.
Power Grid had earlier also dedicated a hall and stair case at a cost of Rs 10 lakh to the said school under its CSR scheme. Further Power grid has provided Rs 7 lakh to the school as financial aid to the school from 2010-11 till date in addition to requirements like inverter, beds, almirahs, mattresses, quilts, bed-sheets and pillows amounting to Rs 2.5 lakh. Rs 5 lakh would be provided to the school as financial assistance in the current financial year, a handout issued by Power Grid revealed.
Mr S C Singh assured the management committee of the continued support from Power Grid in their yeoman service to the needy and deprived children.
Mr Singh was accompanied by S D Joshi, AGM (C&M), Stanley Mathews, Chief Manager (HR) and other senior officers of the Power Grid. Among others Mrs Ravi Dubey, president, Rajinder Kapoor, secretary and M N Prabhakar from Rotary Innwer Wheel were present. They hailed the efforts of Power Grid in helping them in noble causes.

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, May 1 :Like other parts of the country, the fourth death anniversary of veteran Gandhian  and founder member of Gandhi Global Family, Nirmala Desh Pandey was observed at Lawrence Public School, Jammu in an impressive function here today.
Joint Director Information, Jammu, Soujanya  Sharma was the chief guest while Wing Commander, M.M. Joshi was the guest of honour.
President Gandhi Global Family Jammu and Kashmir, Padam Shree. S.P. Verma, Vice President, Shakuntla Joshi, President Gandhi Global Family, Mumbai, Ashraf Khan, Mohd. Hameed Bichoo, students, parents and large number of activists of Gandhi Global Family attended the function.
Speaking on the occasion, S.P. Verma remembered the contributions of Nirmala Desh Pandey towards the society and the country. Describing her a great messenger of Gandhiji’s ideology, he said that Gandhiji’s philosophy is timeless and his ideology on world peace and social harmony is as relevant today as it was over six decades ago. He urged upon the activists of Gandhi Global Family and the participants of the function to follow the foot steps of Nirmala Desh Pandey in eradicating the social ills of the society like dowry, female foeticide, drug menace and alcoholism.
Mr. Verma described the role of NGOs and other social organizations as significant in creating a developed and harmonious society and appealed them to further enhance their efforts in serving the mankind.
On the occasion 14 ladies working in the different fields were awarded with Nirmala Desh Pandey award, 2012 in the shape of certificates for their active participation, outstanding contribution and exceptional services extended towards the society.
The awardees include Sureshta Khajuria, Madhvi Sharma, Hajara Begum, Dr. Usha Kher, Prabha Jain, Saravjit kaur, Lalita Nagar, Usha Anand,. Nirmal Padha, Hema Babar, Veena Jajren, Prof. Twinkle Suri, Sunita Kundal amd Tsering Spaldom.