Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, May 8: Kashmiri migrants today blocked the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway and resorted to demonstrations to protest against long duration power cuts in Jagti Township on the outskirts of the city.
Over 2,000 strong crown including men, women and children took out a protest rally from Jagti Township and marched towards the Jammu-Srinagar Highway blocking it at Kol Kandoli (Nagrota) on the outskirts of Jammu city this morning.
Waving the Tricolour and raising slogans against the authorities in general and Power Development Department (PDD) in particular, they sat on a dharna on the Highway and held protest demonstrations against 16-hour power cuts to the Jagti Township.
The Highway remained blocked for four hours forcing authorities to allow traffic on alternative link roads on the Highway and the Nagrota By Pass to avert problems to the commuters traveling to Kashmir Valley and other parts of the Jammu region.
Though the local authorities tried a lot to persuade the protestors to lift the road blockade but they did not budge and warned to continue the dharna till a written agreement is made by the authorities that there will not be more than eight hour power cut in the township as is prevalent in other parts of Jammu.
However they later lifted the road blockade on the assurance of Additional Deputy Commissioner, Jammu. He assured the protestors that there would be no power curtailment till the issue is sorted out between the Jagti township inmates and the authorities.
“We are facing power cuts for 18 hours. We cannot sleep and perform normal activities in view of the major power cuts by the Government”, Jagti dweller Sunita Devi told reporters.

Excelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, May 8: In order to streamline ever-increasing vehicular movement in summer capital, Minister of State for Home, Nasir Aslam Wani, today directed Traffic Department, SMC and SDA to immediately operationalize 56 bus bays and 6 parking lots which have been identified at different spots.
The Minister issued these directions at a high-level meeting which was attended by the DGP, Kuldeep Khoda, Principal Secretary, H&UDD, Suresh Kumar, Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Dr Asgar Samoon, IG Kashmir, S.M Sahai, IG Traffic, Muneer Ahmad Khan, DIG Traffic, Shafkat Watali, Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar, Baseer Ahmad Khan, Transport Commissioner, Mehraj Kakroo, Commissioner SMC and VC SDA, G. N. Qasba, Chief Engineer R&B, Kashmir, Mushtaq Ahmad, Chief Town Planner, Kashmir, Iftikhar Hakim, RTO Kashmir and Joint Commissioner Works SMC.
The Minister issued instructions to all the stakeholders to regulate city traffic and initiate strict action against defaulters. “The mindset among people has to change. Gone are the days of roadside parking. We have identified nearly 56 spots for bus-bays at pressure junctions so that traffic is managed in a more effective way. In first phase, 35 bus-bays will be made functional by June this year. Additional shelter sheds in consonance with city ambience will be constructed. Once bus stops and bays are operationalized, their use will be maximized and any deviation or violation will be strictly dealt with,” the Minister said.
The R&B Department is constructing 15 out of the 56 identified bus- bays in Srinagar city. The rest will be constructed by SMC and 35 of these will be ready by June this year.
Urging the Traffic Department to ensure that North and South Axis of Srinagar city are not frequently choked, the Minister stressed on putting in place a comprehensive mobility plan to address frequent traffic jams. He asked Commissioner, SMC and VC SDA to coordinate with Traffic Department for smooth regulation of vehicular movement.
To accommodate the growing number of vehicles within the city, the Minister asked VC SDA to make parking lots fully functional. He issued instructions for prominent signage of parking slots, bus-bays and no parking zones in Srinagar city for easy identification. The VC was asked to come up with action taken report within 10 days.
The Minister asked SMC to monitor big shopping malls so that these reserve their basements or ground floor for car parking. The Minister said that adequate manpower has been provided to manage traffic in and out of the city. He called upon traffic police to ensure that flow of vehicles is smooth and traffic laws are obeyed and offenders are booked. He said the all footpaths should be cleared of encroachments so that pedestrians can walk freely.
To manage flow of traffic in and out of the city, the Minister was informed that two corridors have been selected for installation of Traffic Signal System. The first corridor from Airport to Sonawar Chowk will cover 17 intersections while the second corridor from Panthachowk to HMT Chowk will cover 14 intersections.

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, May 8: All Kashmiri Muslim Migrants Committee, Jammu today extended full support to their brethren who are on dharna at Jagti township and in front of Relief Commissioner’s Office here demanding enhancement of cash relief.
“The demand is fully justified and we extend full support to it’’, president of the Committee Sheikh Fida Hussain along with his vice president Nazir Ahmed Lone told reporters here.
He criticized the Government for not paying any heed to the demand of the migrants sitting on dharna and chain hunger strike for over last one month now. He urged the Government to redress the genuine grievances of migrants from Kashmir Valley without further delay.
Sheikh also made an appeal to the Government not to furnish any information to any RTI activist regarding the Muslim migrants from Kashmir Valley putting up at Jammu as refugees in the interests of their security.
He said Muslim migrants played a vital role in keeping the banner of secularism unfurled and maintaining the sanctity of the Indian Constitution in Kashmir Valley. In case any information is furnished to RTI activists it should be done only after CID verification of the said activist. In case the said RTI activist is found involved in any militant activity then case should be registered against him and information be denied, he added.
Sheikh demanded that relief be enhanced to Rs 20,000 per month. He also demanded a proper representation to Muslim migrants in Apex Committee and quarters be also allotted to Muslim migrants at Jagti, Muthi and Purkhoo as they too are facing many hardships and problems.
He also urged the Government not to entertain any anonymous complaint against Muslim migrants and get such persons identified for security reasons.
Meanwhile the dharna and chain hunger strike launched by All Kashmiri Migrants Relief holders at Jagti township entered 44th and 16th day respectively. The protestors are demanding increase of relief to Rs 120 per member per day.
The protestors warned that in case the decision regarding the enhancement of relief was not taken in first Cabinet meeting at Srinagar the relief holders dharna can take an ugly turn.

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, May 8: Minister for Health, Horticulture and Floriculture, Sham Lal Sharma today said that horticulture and other allied sectors are mainstay of State’s economy and there was a need to switch over to modern techniques to ensure better turnouts.
This was stated by the Minister at a public and sectoral officers meeting at Akhnoor.
Mr. Sham said that Jammu and Kashmir has a rural economy and its growth was primarily dependent on the development of rural areas. He stressed upon the agriculturists to adopt new techniques and go for diversification of crops and set better dividends. He also stressed on effective planning and evolving innovative techniques suiting to the topography and environment of the State, especially in horticulture sector. He asked the farmers to work on multi-dimensional lines and not stick to the traditional crops and vegetables.
The Minister said that Jammu division has a vast potential, especially in cultivation of mushroom, tomatoes, potato and other vegetables and asked for identification of new areas for the same. He said that more efforts were required to strengthen the agriculture and horticulture sectors and enhance profitability of agro-based ventures so that educated youth are motivated to pick up their careers in horticulture, floriculture and allied sectors, adding that for this purpose Government was providing necessary facilities to the youth who would opt for agriculture profession.
Referring to the election to the Panchayats, he said “Coalition Government has achieved great feat by holding elections to these grass-root level institutions. It is after decades that this revolutionary measure has been initiated whereby the people at grass root level have been involved in policy formulation and implementation”, Minister maintained.
Mr. Sham directed the officers to involve Panchs and Sarpanchs in the implementation of various schemes and work in close coordination with them so that proper and area specific development was ensured.
Describing Akhnoor constituency as a water scarcity zone, the Minister said the Government has put special focus on Kandi areas in providing drinking water to people. Mr. Sham directed the concerned engineers to undertake cleaning and augmentation of existing dug wells and also press-in water tankers to ensure adequate potable water supply to the people.
Later, at a function, the Minister distributed 100 cheques among beneficiaries of remote and far-flung areas of Akhnoor under various Central and State sponsored schemes, organised by Social Welfare Department.

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, May 8: Project Sampark of Border Roads Organisation (BRO), in a function held here celebrated 52nd Raising Day.
Raised on May 7, 1960 the BRO has immensely contributed to road development in remote and difficult border areas. Project Sampark looks after the construction, improvement and maintenance of approximately 2600 km of strategic roads in border district of Jammu, Kathua, Doda, Udhampur, Rajouri, Reasi and Poonch for the last 37 years.
The celebrations on Monday kicked off with special Pooja at the Unit temple here, followed by GREF Sammelan, where Chief Engineer Project Sampark, Brig Umesh Chander Mehta addressed all ranks. He complimented them on behalf of DG BRO, Lt Gen Ravishanker and read out his message.
He congratulated all ranks on their excellent efforts, hard work and perseverance in successfully bringing Project Sampark to the second position among all the 18 Projects of the BRO in the country. A friendly basket ball match was also held between JCOs/officers and troops. A Barha Khana was also arranged for the BRO men.

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, May 8: Demanding early recruitment of youths in Jammu Kashmir Police (JKP), Member Legislative Council (MLC) Jugal Kishore Sharma, urged the Chief Minister to establish all the departments in the newly created districts.
He said this while addressing the gathering during the felicitation function organised by INC party workers and MLA Ramban and District Congress President, Bharat Gandhi at Ramlila Ground, Maitra, Ramban district. The INC party workers and people felicitated Jugal Kishore Sharma on being elected as MLC.
He further stated that all credit for the development of the district Ramban and his success goes to Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh.
He said that with the formation of the new districts the job opportunities to the unemployed youth have increased and the development will get a big boost.
Sharma assured construction of new bridge in place of dilapidated Maitra bridge with the cooperation of Union Health Minister and added that he has got two new high schools sanctioned for Ramban constituency.
He also informed that so far he has provided Rs 1.50 crore from his CDF and matching share for the electrification of un-electrified villages in district Ramban. He also announced the sanctioning of an ambulance for Ramban hospital from his CDF.
Among others present were block Congress president Budhi Singh, president Congress Women wing Narinder Kour, Ramsu block Congress president Farooq Katoch, district youth president Arun Raju, Mazdoor Union and INTUC president Mohd Akram Malik, vice president Gopal Krishen Raina, senior PDP leader Abdul Aziz Katoch, senior Congress leader Tariq Salim and Nasir Ahmed.

Excelsior Correspondent

POONCH, May 8: Member Legislative Assembly (MLA) Ajaz Ahmed Jan, today distributed 51 IAY cheques amounting Rs 10 lakh to the beneficiaries of Khanater Dalhera Panchayat under Backward Region Grant Fund (BRGF). The cheques distribution function was organised by Rural Development Department.
During the function, drought cheques amounting to Rs 10,40,000 were also distributed among the beneficiaries of the area.
Speaking on the occasion, Sarpanch Khanater Dalhera, Mohd Yasin, expressed gratitude to MLA for the special package of IAY cases among the deserving families of his panchayat. He also raised a demand for black topping of road, which was immediately conceded by the legislator.
Ajaz Ahmed Jan, in his speech expressed his resolve for the development of backward pockets of his constituency and Khanater panchayat was on his priority list. He promised for black topping of Khanater road in a month time and assured the public of equal development of all the region.
He also promised to open two new primary schools and issued directions to Block Development Officer (BDO) Aijaz Qaiser for gearing up MGNREGA works especially in flood control.

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, May 8: Lower Hari Market Association (LHMA) held an election to elect the new office bearers of the Association, here today.
During the election, Rajesh Dewan was elected as president, Varinder Gupta as general secretary, Sardar Ajinder Singh as cashier, Rajinder Bhatia as press secretary whereas Surjeet Kapoor, Parmodh Mahajan, Pawan Gupta and Raj Gupta as executive members.
Expressing gratitude to the members of the Association for electing him third time for the post of president, Rajesh Dewan assured them that he would do his best for the welfare of the Association and development of the market.

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, May 8: Jammu Kashmir Democratic Party (JKDF) Youth wing today held a meeting and discussed the future course of action on various public interest issues.
The meeting was chaired by Anil Gupta, Chairman, JKDF, who while speaking said that the youth should reach out to the common masses in order to know their problems and take stock of the developmental works, to be taken up in the future.
He advised the gathering to chalk out the programme to protest against the unscheduled power cuts being forced by PDD authorities, which have made the life miserable.
He also advised the student community to form JKDF student cadres and wings at colleges, universities and other educational institutions to build up the party base.
The meeting was organised by Munish Khajuria, Chairman, JKDF Youth Wing.
Among others present were Ankush Sharma and Rohit Kerni, general secretaries, Ravi Mehra, Krishna Kapoor, Sanjay Khajuria, Jyoti Dogra, Funny Sardar, Kapil Shastri, etc.