Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 26: A K Angural, a senior ITS officer of 1987 batch today took over the charge as General Manager Telecom District (GMTD) Jammu from Sandeep Sawarkar, who has been transferred to Bhopal Circle of BSNL.
A son of the soil, Mr Angural has served almost all the Telecom districts of J&K Circle including Leh-Ladakh, Srinagar, Udhampur, Jammu and Rajouri in various capacities before proceeding to foreign deputation to TCIL for seven years from 2003 to 2010 for its Foreign Telecom projects. During this assignment, he worked as Project Director of TCIL’s Foreign Project in Ethopia for two years and for five years in Mauritius and was instrumental in successful implementation of a most prestigious Pan-African e-Network Project of Govt of India for Tele-Education and Tele-Medicine in Malawi, Zambia, Mozambique, Comoros, Medagaskar and Seychelles by visiting these countries during the period.
On return from foreign assignment, he was again allotted J&K Telecom Circle and was working as Additional General Manager, looking after the charge of TDM, BSNL Udhampur for the past one and half year. Hailing from small village Swankha in Samba, Mr Angural graduated from Regional Engineering College, Srinagar in 1986 and has served in DRDO as Scientist before joining DOT in 1989.
Angural takes over as GMTD Jammu
20 ASIs promoted in Armed Police
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 26: Additional Director General of Police (ADGP), Armed and Law & Order, K. Rajindra Kumar today ordered promotion of 20 Assistant Sub-Inspectors as Sub-Inspectors in IR/Armed Police. These promotions were cleared by the Departmental Promotion Committee which met at Armed Headquarters today under the chairmanship of ADGP.
The promoted personnel include Chandan Singh, Rakesh Kumar, Sona-Ullah, Sarwar Hussain, Bashir Ahmed, Abdul Majid, Ghulam Mohammad, Vijay Kumar, Ghulam Ahmed, Abdul Majid, Mohammad Akram, Kaka Ram, Ghulam Nabi, Ghulam Nabi, Bodh Raj, Bashir Ahmed, Abdul Karim, Abdul Rahim, Hoshnak Chand and Yoginder Lal.
House Committee examines land acquisition records
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 26: A meeting of the House Committee constituted by the Legislative Council to look into the acquisition of 796 Kanals Agriculture Land for Industrial Growth Centers at Rakh Amb Talli, Samba was held today under the Chairmanship of the MLC Ajat Shatru Singh, .
The Committee members MLCs, Vijay Bakaya and Ravinder Kumar Sharma, besides Commissioner Secretary Industries & Commerce, Umang Narula, Commissioner Secretary Agriculture, Shaleen Kabra, Commissioner Secretary Revenue B.A. Runyal, Secretary Legislative Council Mohammad Ashraf Mir, Deputy Commissioner Samba, Mubark Singh, Director Agriculture Jammu Director Industries and Additional Commissioner Jammu also attended the meeting.
The issue of acquisition of land at Rakh Amb Tali, Samba was threadbare discussed in the meeting.
Deputy Commissioner Samba informed the Committee that the process of acquisition of land at the site was initiated in the year 2000.
However, due to non completion of formalities the process lapsed, and the acquisition process was again initiated in 2010.Notifications under Section 4,5,6 and 6-A of the Land Acquisition Act has been already issued. He also informed that out of 796 kanals 773 kanals are rain-fed cultivable and the rest 23 kanals are non cultivable. The Industries Department has deposited Rs. 36.6 crores with the Collector for paying compensation to the land owners.
Principal Secretary Industries and Commerce informed the Committee that due to non- availability of land, most of the entrepreneurs have turned back and established their industrial units in neighboring states like Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh.
With the result State has not been able to benefit from the Industrial package granted by the Central Government. He urged the Committee to dispose of the matter as early as possible in view of the urgency involved in establishing the Industrial growth centers in Samba. Commissioner Secretary Agriculture Department also shared his point of view on the issue.
The House Committee inquired from the officers the reasons for non completion of early acquisition process and the causes of delay in finalization of present process. They also emphasized the need to strike a balance between requirements of Industrial sector and Public interests viz a viz Agriculture sector with which 70% of state population was associated.
The House Committee directed the Revenue Department to furnish all relevant details about the acquisition process, the nature of land, the objections raised by the concerned people and also to explain the delay caused in finalization of the earlier acquisition proceedings. It was also asked to furnish this information by or before 7th of May 2012, so that the same is examined in the next meeting.
Gang of petrol pump robbers busted, 5 held
Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Apr 26: Police have busted a gang of petrol pump robbers and arrested five members of the gang involved in at least four cases of robberies.
A police spokesman said that over the last few months seven petrol pump robberies took place across North Kashmir. He said the first incident took place on January 2 in the late night when a gang of robbers claimed to be armed with pistols made a forcible entry into Auto Care Petrol Pump Sopore and extorted an amount of Rs. 1.44 lakhs at gun point from petrol pump.
“Another incident took place on January 12 and petrol pump namely Humara Filling Station at Seelu, Sopore was looted on January 13 another petrol pump namely Khanday Filing station Bulgam was also looted. On March 1 one more petrol pump located at bypass Sopore was targeted and Rs. 7,000 was looted by this gang. In Bandipora and Baramulla two more pumps were robbed by the same gang,” said the spokesman.
The spokesman said that case FIR No’s. 10/2012, 60/2012 U/S 392/RPC & 03/2012, 08/2012 U/S 457, 398 were registered in Police Station Sopore and Tarzoo respectively. Investigation into these robbery incidents was taken up by police and a massive manhunt was launched to nab the culprits.
KHAROF resents suspension of traffic on Higway
Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Apr 26: Kashmir Hotel and Restaurant Owners Federation (KHAROF) has expressed its dismay over the Government’s decision to suspend the vehicular traffic on Srinagar-Jammu National Highway on April 28 and 29 and May 5 and 6 due to the shifting of the Civil Secretariat offices to Srinagar.
In a statement, KHAROF President, Faiz Bakshi said that the decision would hit the tourism sector on these days adding that the tourists would be pushed to un-imaginable hardships as well. He said the tourists have already finalized their itinerary by carrying out the Railway reservations and hotel reservations for their onward destinations.
“The closure of National Highway is un-necessary and it sends a wrong signal outside the State. At a time when Kashmir is experiencing a good flow of tourists in view of the improved situation and as a result of huge promotional campaign by the Government and tourism stake-holders to attract more tourists to Kashmir, the restrictions on the movement of vehicles has upset hotel industry, travel trade and tourists who are supposed to travel by road,” Mr Faiz said.
3 persons injured in road accidents
Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Apr 26: Three persons were injured in different road accidents across the Kashmir valley today.
Reports said that a motorcycle bearing registration number JK01N/1293 collided with a Tata Sumo No JK03/1293 at Gallander-Pampore on Srinagar-Jammu National Highway. The mishap resulted in injuries to the motorcyclist Mehraj-ud-Din son of Ghulam Qadir and pillion sider Nisar Ahmad Hajam son of Abdul Majid resident of Namblabal, Pampore. Both the injured were admitted in SKIMS, Soura, Srinagar for treatment. A case has been registered in this regard.
A Tata Sumo bearing registration number JK05/3611 hit and injured Mushtaq Ahmad Najar (15) son of Ghulam Hussan resident of Zab-Khurhama. The injured were hospitalized.
TE convenes DPC in absence of recruitment rules
Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Apr26: The department of Technical Education has convened Departmental Promotion Committee (DPC) meeting tomorrow for making promotions and adjustments of departmental candidates in absence of recruitment rules.
A circular about DPC was issued by the Director Technical Education this evening.
It may be mentioned here that the Technical Education Department had sent recruitment rules to General Administrative Department (Technical Education) in 2009 for incorporation of various categories of posts created by the government in 2003, 2005 and 2007. The rules have not been finalised by the GAD so far while the Department has convened DPC for making promotions.
Cop hust during training, one ends life
Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Apr 26: A police constable was injured during a joint training session in Srinagar here today.
A police spokesman said that Constable Farooq Ahmad 544/S of District Police Lines, Srinagar got injured in head due to accidental fire of Pump Action gun, during its demonstration at a joint training session in Zainakote, Srinagar. The training session was held at the Battalion Headquarters of 44 Bn CRPF camp at Zainakote. The injured was hospitalized. Meanwhile, a police constable ended his life by consuming poison at Khanaabl in Anantnag district today. A police spokesman said that Constable Operator Waseem Raja son of Sharief-ud-Din Shah resident of Banihal presently posted at IRP 11th BN Khanabal, Anantnag, consumed some poisonous substance at his place of posting. He was shifted to SKIMS, Soura, Srinagar where he expired. A case has been registered in this regard.
Vernisage of Rajendar Tiku’s paintings at Kala Kendra
Governor, first lady inaugurate show of eminent artist
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 26: In one of the rare public display of the works by Rajendar Tiku in the winter capital, Governor N N Vohra and First Lady Usha Vohra at the Kala Kendra here inaugurated a show of artist’s latest works today.
The highlight of the show titled as ‘Connections’, was the vernisage of paintings by Tiku, who otherwise is a well-known sculptor of the country. With today’s show that establishes his control and mastery in both paining and sculpture, he has entered the elite group of artists for whom medium is no limitation for creative expression.
Talking to Excelsior, Tiku said that ‘in long artistic career beginning from late 1970’s, he has been constantly involved with bringing out in the tangible form the seemingly intangible aspects of silent and the sacred embedded in our civilizational life and tradition.
He said that he gets inspired from shapes and objects ranging from mundane ones located in our immediate surroundings to visual grandeur of monuments located in the trajectory of the timeless.
Dr Lalit Gupta, art historian, also gave an overview of Tiku’s artistic oeuvre on the occasion.
Governor and First Lady showed keen interest in artist’s works. They also watched the projections of Tiku monumental works in stone that he executes on invitation in symposia and workshops in different parts of the country and abroad.
Speaking on the occasion Governor complimented Rajendar Tiku on the high quality of his works. He said that he has been suggesting to the artist to exhibit his works in Jammu so that budding artists could draw inspiration and learn techniques from versatile sculptor and besides people of Jammu would also get an opportunity to see his works. He hoped that Tiku would also show his works at Srinagar.
Rajender Tiku’s exhibition will remain open for public viewing from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. upto 28th April 2012.
Dy CM reviews progress of JDA projects
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 26: Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand said that the Government aims to complete various ongoing projects under execution by Jammu Development Authority in a stipulated frame.
Mr. Tara Chand gave these remarks while chairing the 73rd Board of Directors meeting of JDA, here today.
The meeting took a detailed review of the physical and financial progress of various projects under taken by the authority and reviewed the status of action taken on decisions of previous Board meeting.
Among others, the meeting was attended by Principal Secretary Finance M. I. Khandey, Principal Secretary Housing Urban Development Suresh Kumar, Principal Secretary Planning B. B. Vyas, Divisional Commissioner Jammu Dr. Pawan Kotwal, VC JDA Sarita Chauhan and representatives from Town Planning and other concerned departments.
The meeting was informed that Jammu Development Authority is working on the road map to upgrade urban infrastructure and undertake modern projects for residential and commercial complexes, in tune with the present growing demand of better infrastructure in summer capital of the state.
The Deputy Chief Minister while reviewing the progress of under execution projects, directed the authorities to expedite the pace of pending works to make these operational at the earliest. He advised the authorities to personally monitor the works and ensure completion of the same in stipulated time frame.
Mr. Tara Chand stressed that there is a need for regular monitoring of the projects and asked the executing and various line departments to work in close synergy.
He said all the concerned agencies should complete their work on time and the project should not be delayed due to lack of coordination at any level, adding that every project is vital and should be completed well on time.