Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, May 5:  Minister for Rural development, Panchayat Raj and Parliamentary Affairs, Ali Mohammad Sagar said that Omar Abdullah led Coalition Government is leading the State to an era of development and prosperity.
He said that Srinagar is being beautified and historical places in the city including Khanyar, Naqashband Sahib, Khankahi Mohlla, Eidgah, Syed Mansoor Sahib and Shrine of Makhdoom Sahib are being developed as tourist destination, adding that Rs. 6500 crores are being expended on road widening from Dalgate to Zakura road project. He said that locals would be provided financial assistance to the tune of Rs. 30,000 each for construction of guest rooms for tourists at these tourist places.
Mr. Sagar said that some selfish politicians are talking about Srinagar city being ignored which is far from reality. He said that during last few years 50 community centres  have been constructed in the Srinagar city, while 24 sports stadias have also come up for the youth.
Speaking about the unemployment problem, Mr. Sagar said that city youth are being employed in Police and financial assistance is being provided to them for setting up income generating units. He said that 120 industrial units have been set up by his Government for Srinagar youth.
The Minister said that Government is committed to develop all three regions of the State. He said that normalcy and peace is revisiting the Valley which was the dream of Chief Minister.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 5 : Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand today distributed cheques worth Rs 28 lakh to beneficiaries of block Khour covered under Indira Awaas Yojana (IAY) of Rural Development Department.
A total of 110 beneficiaries of IAY were distributed cheques of Rs. 25000, as first installment of financial assistance for construction of dwelling units. Ten Panchayats of the Block were covered including Dori, Dager, Khara, Nathal, Sawama, Kangoli, Dehrian, Kaleeth, Bakore and Hamirpur.
Reiterating commitment of the Government to develop rural and backward belts of the State, Deputy Chief Minister  Tara Chand said work on the roadmap to upgrade rural infrastructure is apace and focused attention is being paid to uplift socio-economic profile of the rural folks. He said with active support of the Union Government various schemes have been initiated in the rural sector for benefit of those who are living in far-off border areas of the State and have limited access to the resources.
Directing to maintain quality standards in works, the Deputy Chief Minister said that routine inspections should be done to keep a tab on pilferage and to ensure use of good quality material in development works undertaken by the department. He said under BADP two major projects of cluster model villages are underway at Pargwal and Khour involving works worth crores of rupees, adding that durable infrastructure can only be created when proper standards are maintained in work execution.
Calling upon Sarpanchs to be agents of positive change, the Deputy Chief Minister said elected representatives of local self Government should work with missionary zeal and ensure that better infrastructure is created in their respective Pachayats.
Underlining importance of training for the elected representatives of Pachayats, Tara Chand directed the Director, Rural Development Department to organize full day training program for the Sarpanchs and Panchs, so as to clear doubts regarding the Panchayati Act.
He said fully empowered Panchayati Raj is ambition of the Government and several steps have been taken to ensure that various provisions of the Act are implemented in letter and spirit, adding that elected members once aware of their duties and responsibilities, can perform in a better and efficient manner.

Promote tourism, deal with traffic problem

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 5: Strongly criticising  State Government for effecting unscheduled power cuts and announcing three times hike in the water tariff, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI), Jammu has demanded to improve the electricity supply system and review its decision of water tax, ensuring a reasonable hike.
Addressing a press conference here after taking charge of new body of the Chamber, elected last week, its president Y V Sharma said immediately after the Darbar Move from winter capital here, the PDD authorities have commenced unscheduled power curtailment. He said the supply position was good when the winter secretariat was here. He said power supply is the basic need of the trader and the industrialist besides other consumers, it may effect their daily life and routine work. He urged the Government to ensure better supply of electricity, as people from this region are contributing in better way towards the revenue being generated on account of electricity.
Referring to the recent exorbitant hike announced in the water tariff by the PHE authorities, the Chamber president said that three times hike was unjustified and will put extra burden on the public. “Our’s is a welfare State and the Government must review its decision’’, Mr Sharma said adding that a reasonable hike be given in this regard.
Mr Sharma stressed that Government must give more attention towards raising tourism infrastructure in Jammu region. He said a large number of pilgrims visit Mata Vaishnodevi, Shiv Khori and Shri Amarnath shrine every year. More infrastructure is needed to be raised at main pilgrim centers in Jammu including Sukrala, Purmandal, Utterwahni, Sarthal, Sudhmahadev Gouri Kund, Patnitop and Dera Baba Bandda Bahadur.  He said the train will be reaching Katra within one year and pilgrims would go directly there. It will cause impact on business activity in Jammu. To attract pilgrims to Jammu, the work on Mubarik Mandi Heritage Project, Gandola project from Mubarak Mandi to Mahamaya, Environment Park at Mahamaya, Tawi beautification, creation of artificial lake over Tawi etc. be expedited. Jammu-Suchetgarh-Silakote and Nowshera-Mirpur roads should also be opened for trade and tourists on the pattern on Wagha in Punjab, he maintained.
While referring to growing traffic congestion in Jammu, CCI chief said that roads be widened, more flyovers be created and traffic signals system be established at main chowks besides creating new parking spaces. Work on flyovers at Jewel Chowk, Bikram Chowk and Rehari Chowk be taken up on priority. There is need to create sub ways at many busy areas for the public. The General Bus Stand be remodeled and upgraded by converting it into a multi-storied one.
Chamber president further demanded that during Amarnath Yatra land row, Jammu businessmen had suffered huge losses for about 3 months and the Government had agreed to compensate them. The Government backed out of its promise. He demanded that Government must honour its commitment. He also demanded extension in the Income Tax exemption, extension of Central packages to J&K industry, development of infrastructure for industry, improvement of roads, lanes and drains at Transport Nagar, Fruit and Sabzi Mandi besides creation of more Ware Houses.
Secretary General Arun Gupta also projected the demands of traders and industrialists and urged the DyCM to take up issues regarding better facilities at these places after taking on the spot assessment there. He referred to the harassment to traders by Employees State Insurance Corporation officials and resented directing retailing of Best Price Shop in Jammu thus effecting local small businessmen. Other members of the Chamber including Sham Lal Langar, Anil Gupta, Deepak Aggarwal and B B Gupta were also present.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 5: Chairman National Panthers Party and former legislator, Prof Bhim Singh, today asked the State Government to hold delimitation of block, districts and assembly constituencies to end 60 years long discrimination or get ready to face the wrath of people from this region.
Addressing a press conference here today Prof Singh, who was accompanied by  Dalip Kumar (MLC), Talengana Movement leader, said that Panthers party would be launching a big movement against the Government. A public campaign has already been started and now the people and NPP activists will move from streets to jails in support of their demand. He alleged that the dynasty rule of one Kashmiri family has crossed the saturation point.
He alleged that some leaders in Congress and NC are loathed in corruption, nepotism, land grabbing, misuse of public exchequer and even a few indulging in criminal acts. Therefore, they have no moral, political or even constitutional right to stay in power. He urged the State Governor to dismiss Omar Abdullah led Government in the State without any delay.
Prof Singh also assured the visiting Talengana leader from Andhra Pradesh, Dalip Kumar, that NPP will provide all possible support for creation of separate Talengana state.
NPP leader questioned the State Congress leadership for trying to exploit the great soul of Maharaja Hari Singh only to woo Dogras, as was witnessed during recent unveiling of Maharaja’s statute at Tawi bridge. He alleged that it was Congress leadership and Late J L Nehru himself who drove to Srinagar to support Sheikh Abdullah in his Quit Kashmir Movement against Maharaja Hari Singh and today Congress leaders at Tawi bridge are seen singing praises for Maharaja, knowing that great Maharaja is the living identity of people of Jammu. He asked Congress to justify its stand.
Dalip Kumar assured Prof Bhim Singh and his party that his organization will accord full support to NPP in reorganization of J&K State.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 5: Over hundred members of J&K Employees Joint Action (GEJAC) will sit on 24-hour fast, on the opening day of the Civil Secretariat at Srinagar in support of their demands on May 7.
Addressing a joint press conference here today, Sushil Sudan, Suresh Sharma and Subash Verma said that in view of the Government’s failure in taking any decision on the pending demands of the employees, it has been resolved by the Employees’ Joint Action Committee to observe 24-hour fast and protest dharna outside Civil Secretariat in Srinagar on the opening day of ‘Darbar’.
They claimed that twenty representatives from Jammu province are leaving for Srinagar tomorrow. On the first day of the opening of Secretariat at Srinagar, over one hundred GEJAC members will sit on dharna- cum- fast as a mark of protest. Further course of action will also be announced by the Committee leadership on Monday.
These leaders said that Government has failed to release 6th Pay Commission arrears in two cash installments, to regularize all kind of daily wagers, contractual, consolidated and adhoc employees, remove pay anomalies and increase retirement age of the employees from 58 to 60 years. They warned the Government not to test the patience of the employees and honour its commitment made during agreement with employees’ leadership.

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, May 5: Police today seized 180 bags of Public Works Department (PWD) cement in Rajouri, which were being off-loaded at a private shop instead of Executive Engineer, PWD Rajouri office. Three persons have been arrested in this connection.
Truck No. 1580 JK02AR was seized by the police when 180 bags of cement were being off-loaded in the shop of Vijay Kumar son of Jagdish Raj R/o Rajouri.
Police arrested Vijay Kumar, truck driver, Ranjit Singh of RS Pura and conductor Mohammad Ikhlaq of Chingus, Rajouri.
The cement was being taken from PWD office Jammu to Executive Engineer office in Rajouri.
Police said a case has been registered at Rajouri police station under Sections 407 and 411 RPC for further investigations including involvement of PWD officials in the cement scam.
Police parties led by SHO Rajouri Inspector Varinder Gupta made the arrest under the supervision of SSP Rajouri Mubassir Latifi.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 5: Police today arrested two youths and recovered a large quantity of intoxicants from their possession in Rehari area under the jurisdiction of Sarwal police post.
The accused have been identified as Anil Kumar son of Amarnath and Vicky son of Sukh Ram, both residents of Kanji House.
They were caught by a Sarwal police post team headed by Sub Inspector Ravi Parihar along with 850 intoxicant capsules, SDPO Bakshi Nagar Abdul Rouf Lone said.
A case has been registered against the accused at Sarwal police post under NDPS Act for further investigations.
The youths had reportedly been smuggling intoxicant capsules from Punjab.