Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Apr 18 : Governor N. N. Vohra, chaired a series of meetings to review the status of arrangements related to the Shri Amarnathji Yatra-2012, at Raj Bhavan here today.
Among others, Nasir Aslam Wani, Minister of State for Home, Kuldeep Khoda, Director General of Police, K. B. Agarwal, Principal Secretary, PWD, B. B. Vyas, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, Navin Kumar Choudhary, Principal Secretary to the Governor and Chief Executive Officer of the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board and other concerned senior functionaries participated in the meetings.
In the meeting with the Minister of State for Home, the Governor had a detailed review of the security arrangements being made for Shri Amarnathji Yatra-2012. He also discussed with Mr. Wani and concerned officers up to-date status of the action taken to implement the recommendations of High Level Committee which was set up on the directions of the Governor and the Chief Minister after last year’s Yatra, particularly those relating to the opening and clearing of tracks along both the routes to the Shrine.
Among the decisions taken it was agreed that the PWD will immediately approach the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways for taking up the project for improvement and upgradation of Baltal-Holy Cave route and the time bound execution of this project through the Border Roads Organization.
The Governor directed the CEO of the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board to urgently visit Pahalgam and Baltal to assess the status of the snowmelt and preparatory work for undertaking various works related to the forthcoming Yatra. He also directed the CEO to discuss all Yatra 2012 issues with the Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir; Deputy Commissioners of Anantnag and Ganderbal Districts, CEOs of the Pahalgam and Sonamarg Development Authorities, Director, Indian Meteorological Department, Srinagar, Chief Engineer, Project Beacon, Border Roads Organization and other related agencies.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 18: Federation of Industries Bari Brahmana has expressed strong resentment against the new power tariff hike announced by the J&K State Electricity Regulatory Commission.
In a meeting of the Federation held at BBIA Bhawan here today under the chairmanship of Annil Suri, the members expressed their strong resentment towards the new power tariff issued by JKSERC in which the Industrial sector of J&K has been penalized for being 100% metered and contributing full payment for the power supplied.
The Federation pointed out that the average increase in the tariff is 6% for LT and HT supply and 12% in case of HT -PIU. With further addition, of 22% electricity duty, the cost of production of the industrial units will increase and their products are unviable in the market. It has been observed that the SERC has ordered for a substantially higher tariff for the industrial category of consumers, namely , LT- industrial supply, HT industrial supply and HT-PIU Industrial supply.
They termed it as unjustified for the reason that the loss level in the industrial category are substantially lower and thus the tariff for such categories needed to be lowered. Again, the loss level in the feeders of the industrial category of consumers are around average 12% which is below the national average as against the total adjustment as proposed by PDD of about 52.82 % to be applied, which is patently unjust, arbitrary and irrational. It said the industrial units have been set up on the assurance of the State Government of lower industrial tariff to enable industries to be competitive and promote industrialization in the State. The Federation alleged that PDD has failed to comply with earlier, directives issued by SERC from time to time with regard to Metering, Energy audit, region/ district wise details for power supplied and recoveries, loss studies in various categories of consumers, upkeep and maintenance of transmission lines and grid stations and the power curtailment preventive maintenance plans. It sought the intervention of Chief Minister in this regard. Senior members T S Reen, S C Dutta, Vinod Rishi and Jatinder Aul also attended the meeting.

Excelsior Correspondent

SAMBA, Apr 18: Chief Secretary, Madhav Lal today stressed upon the officers of Agriculture, Horticulture, Floriculture, Sericulture, Fisheries, Animal and Sheep Husbandry, Revenue Departments, besides bank authorities and allied agencies to work in tandem to ensure 100 percent coverage of farmers under Kissan Credit Cards (KCCs) scheme in a time bound manner.
The Chief Secretary was speaking after distributing 255 KCCs among the beneficiaries at an awareness camp-cum-exhibition organised as part of campaign for 100% coverage of farmer families under the KCC scheme at village Gho Brahmana.
The camp was organised by the Agriculture and Revenue Departments in collaboration with Banking Institutions to make farmers aware about the benefits and opportunities for diversifying their agriculture and allied sector activities.
The Chief Secretary said that the Kissan Credit Scheme (KCS) was taken up as national priority but its implementation in the state did not take up well. He stressed the need to expedite the scheme so that the farmers are able to get the benefits of credit flow and are able to buy good quality seeds, fertilizes, machinery and equipments to get maximum returns from their land holdings and improve their economic condition. He further added that the 18 % lending was to be done in agriculture sector but in the state it is only 6% thus there was a great need to expedite the lending in agriculture for which KCC is the best source.
Commissioner Secretary, Agriculture Production Department, Shaleen Kabra highlighted the importance of KCCs in development of agriculture sector and improving the socio-economic status of the rural population.
Earlier, District Development Commissioner, Samba, Mubarak Singh, highlighted the achievements registered under agriculture and allied sectors in district.
Director Agriculture, Jammu, Ajay Khajuria, threw light on agriculture and allied sectors and highlighted the benefits of KCC scheme.
Director Command Area, Jammu, Dr. Nirmal, heads of various departments, bankers and a large number of farmers were present on the occasion.
Farmers in large numbers visited the stalls installed by different wings of the agriculture and allied departments for the demonstration and creating awareness about various schemes being implemented by them. The farmers also attended the awareness programme and the skill development programmes organized by various departments at the venue.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 18: In order to carry out the work of laying of 11-KV XLPE HT cable circuit for 11 KV CB-2, R-2 & WZ-I feeders at Gujjar Nagar alongwith shifting of utilities of R-2 & WZ-I feeders in connection with widening of Gujjar Nagar, Circular road, the power supply to the Gujjar Nagar, alternate power supply to D. C. office, CM’s complex and Dalpatian Mohalla fed from 11 KV CB-2, R-2 & WZ-I feeders will remain affected on April 19, 2012 (Thursday) from 11 A.M. to 4 P.M.
Meanwhile, in order to complete the work of stringing of bus bar in 33 KV New 132/33 KV 50 MVA, Power transformer- III bay at Grid station Gladni, the shut down of 33 KV G-6 feeder of Gladni Grid Station on April 21, 2012 from 8 a.m. to 10.00 a.m. has been allowed.
During the shutdown period, the power supply to Channi Himmat, Bathandi, Sainik Colony, Sunjwan and MES Sunjwan will be affected.

CD against SIT

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 18: Principal Sessions Judge Jammu, Jang Bhadur Singh Jamwal, today rejected pre-arrest bail of Shahzad Feroz Butt, claiming to be reporter of Sahara News Network, who had allegedly impersonated himself as Mohan at the time of preparation of CD against Special Investigating Team (SIT) constituted for investigation into the land grabbing cases.
According to the police case, complainant Vikramjeet Singh along with one Gurvinder Singh purchased a piece of land at Chowadi from one Mohd Sharief and constructed boundary wall. After the purchase of land, mafia active in Jammu under the patronage of accused Ravinder Kumar Gupta alias Gola Shah started interfering into their peaceful possession.
The complainant approached the Revenue Department for demarcation of the land and after demarcation, it was certified that land belongs to the complainant and one Gurvinder Singh. Later, the accused accompanied by some goonda elements started threatening the complainant, who accordingly lodged a complaint with the Police Station Gangyal.
Later, scared by the threats extended by the accused, the complainant agreed in making false statement against the police official with regard to demanding of money and accordingly a false CD was prepared in order to save the accused from the Special Investigation Team.
On the basis of written report and direction of court, police registered a case for the commission of offences under various sections of RPC and 3/25 Arms Act. During the course of investigation, it came to fore that petitioner has impersonated himself as Mohan at the time preparing the CD.
After hearing Advocate Ankush Manhas appearing for the petitioner and Public Prosecutor for the State, Principal Sessions Judge observed, “if such types of cases are not dealt with heavy hands, there is every likelihood to have a chaos in the society. The crime is against the society and if the petitioner is admitted to bail, there is likelihood that he is going to tamper with the evidence and police will not be able to procure the best evidence available”.
“The petitioner is not entitled to pre-arrest bail as his custodial interrogation is required because the recoveries are pending. The police have yet to recover the laptop and CD of the forcible statement made by the complainant under threat of the petitioner along with other accused”, the Court said, adding “the act of the petitioner could not have been accomplished without the help of each other and all the accused were hand in globe with each other”.
“Though Court is conscious of the fact that prevention of crime is not the job of the court but still it cannot be over sighted that the functionaries those who are functioning in the administration of criminal justice system should not be made weaker also”, the Court said while denying pre-arrest bail to petitioner.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 18: Additional general secretary National Conference (NC) and former Minister, Dr Mustafa Kamal, has asserted that his Party is a secular organization and it has upheld the traditions of secularism and communal harmony in the State and sacrificed many party-men to uphold this tradition.
Addressing a public meeting of NC workers of Ward Number 4 and 10 today, Dr Kamal said that his Party is committed to fight the communal forces in future also. Some people are labeling NC as Party of Muslims only, which is not correct, he added.
The NC leader said has NC been the party of Muslims only the first Ministry of Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah would not have been represented by veteran leader Shiv Narayan Fotedar as Chairman Legislative Council and Kashyap Bandhu, Sham Lal Saraf, Jia Lal Kilm and Sardar Budh Singh as ministers.
He said Sheikh Abdullah took over in 1975 after a long spell of 22 years and his Cabinet consisted of four members in which Devi Dass Thakur represented Jammu region and Sonam Narbo was from Leh. After historic elections in 1977 due representation was given to Hindus in the Cabinet of Sheikh Abdullah. Same practice was repeated by Dr Farooq Abdullah after he took over as CM, he added.
Dr Kamal while lambasting the opposition said that they have done nothing for the welfare of the State except raising cheap slogans and emotive issues. The Opposition has no policy and programme for the people of the State and want to grab power at any cost, he added.
He said had the Opposition really done some thing for the people during its three year rule, it would have not lost elections in 2008.
Provincial president, Rattan Lal Gupta also addressed the meeting and highlighted the achievements of the coalition led by Omar Abdullah.
Later a delegation of Gujjars and Bakerwals led by Ch Haroon provincial vice president NC felicitated Dr Kamal at a function at Sher-e-Kashmir Bhawan here for his appointment as additional general secretary of the Party. The function was attended by provincial president, Rattan Lal Gupta and Party’s Women’s Wing provincial president Laxmi Dutta.

Excelsior Correspondent
RAMBAN, Apr 18: A truck loaded with ration of Food Corporation of India (FCI) plunged into River Chenab at Nihad on Jammu-Srinagar National Highway early this morning.
The ill-fated vehicle bearing registration number JK01L-8698 was on its way from Jammu to Srinagar when it met with accident.
On getting information, a police party from Ramban Police Station rushed to the spot and brought out the critically injured truck driver from the gorge. He was immediately rushed to Ramban Hospital where doctors declared him as brought dead.
The deceased has been identified as Nasurulla, son of Habibullah of Sheeri, Baramulla.

Excelsior Correspondent
UDHAMPUR, Apr 18: Police today rescued 21 bovine animals from the hands of bovine smugglers, who were transporting them to Kashmir Valley in a truck.
“Based on a tip off, a police party led by SHO, Police Station, Udhampur, laid a surprise naka at national highway near Jakheni and while intercepting a truck bearing Registration No JK14A-5797, found 21 animals loaded in specifically fabricated double layer cabins, which were immediately rescued”, said police spokesman.
He said that both the bovine smugglers, Gogar son of Qasim Bakarwal residence of Roun Domail, Udhampur and Abdul Gani Bhat residence of Qazigund, Kulgam, were arrested on the spot.
In this connection, a case against FIR No 131/2012 U/S 188/RPC, 3PCA, 13/194 MV Act stands registered at Police Station Udhampur.