Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 7: The Motor Parts Dealer Association today flayed JDA and PDD for deteriorating conditions of roads and supply of power in Transport Nagar.
In a meeting with Chamber president, Y B Sharma, at his office in Transport Nagar, the Executive Committee of the Association apprised him of the basic problems regarding power and sanitation. The members alleged that the matter has been brought to the notice of the concerned authorities many a times but all in vain.
“There is no system of sanitation. Roads are being encroached upon by kiosk and rehri owners. It appears that it is free for all for the encroachers to get land and power with the consent of lower staff of JDA and PDD”, the committee members said.
The committee members requested Sharma to get their grievances solved by projecting them to the concerned Minister at the earliest.
The meeting was attended by S Balbir Singh Sethi, Nishi Kant Khajuria, Rajinder Prasad Kakkar and Sanjay Dogra along with other senior executives of Association.
Motor parts dealers flay JDA, PDD
Lowest ever trade at LoC
Excelsior Correspondent
POONCH, June 7: The lowest ever trade worth over Rs 17.2 lakh was witnessed at the Chakkan-da-Bagh LoC point in district Poonch today.
An official spokesman said that just one truck goods worth Rs 11.2 lakh came from the PoK side today when the LoC point was opened while banana loaded in four trucks was sent to PoK by the traders from this side. The value of fruit was put at around Rs 6 lakh. Arshed Mehmood from Pakistani side and Dharam Pal from Indian side were deployed as trade facilitation officers.
For the first time after the commencement of trade between the two sides in 2008 via Chakkan-da-Bagh, lowest ever trade has taken place today, the spokesman added.
Hideout busted, arms recovered
Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, June 7: Police and security forces busted a militant hideout in Central Kashmir’s Budgam district and recovered arms and ammunition from the hideout.
Meanwhile, militants fired upon the house of a Numberdar in the Kulgam district, but there was no loss of life or property in the incident.
A police spokesman said that Budgam Police busted a hideout in Beerwah and recovered arms ammunition. The spokesman said that Budgam Police along with 2 RR launched a search operation in the area of village Hanji Lawaypora at Beerwah in Budgam district. He said during search operation a hideout was busted.
The spokesman said two RPG grenades, four Chinese grenades, one Chinese pistol, one pistol magazine and three rounds of pistol ammunition were recovered.
Meanwhile, the spokesman said that unidentified gunmen fired upon the house of the Numberdar of Qaimoh-Kulgam namely Mohammad Sidiq Bhat aged 45 years son of Wali Mohammad resident of Gobbal, Kulgam. However, there was no loss of life or property in the incident. Police has registered a case and investigations have been taken up.
Plus 2 Lecturers’ Forum holds meet
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 7: All J&K Plus 2 Lecturers’ Forum held a meeting under the chairmanship of its president NS Jamwal and demanded regularization of the incharge incumbents and issuance of formal orders.
The speakers discussed at length the issue of eradicating inchargism from the School Education Department once for all and emphasized upon issuing formal orders at earliest.
While speaking, NS Jamwal, demanded reorganization of the school education department, upgradation of the higher secondary schools to the level of intermediate college, 40 per cent college quota, benefits of time bound promotions, incentives for highly qualified Plus 2 lecturers, grade pay of principals and their non-vocational status on priority.
Among others present were Charan Dass, M Bali, Tarsem Singh, Ashwani Sharma, BD Sharma, Pardeep Singh and Deepak Sharma.
MLA fined for wrong parking
SRINAGAR, June 7:
In an unprecedented move, police today fined and challaned a sitting MLA for parking his vehicle at a wrong place.
Reports said that independent MLA from Langate, Engineer Rashid was fined after his vehicle was found parked on road side near Hat Trick Restaurant at Rajbagh.
When contacted, Engineer Rashid, “law should be implemented in letter and spirit. All are equal before the eyes of law and I appreciate the officers for taking action”.
“I had parked the car to get some documents photocopied. I don’t know whether I had parked the car wrongly but yes I was fined and I think this is good”, he said, adding “such actions will definitely help police in managing traffic”.
In response to a question, he said, “I don’t know what would have been the response of the police in case car of any Minister had been parked wrongly”. (KNS)
Raise public importance issues: Malhotra to Sub Committees Chairmen
Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, June 7: Chairman, Legislative Council, Amrit Malhotra chaired meeting of Chairmen of Sub Committees at Council Secretariat.
The Chairmen of various Committee including Sheikh Ghulam Rasool, B. R. Kundal, Rafiq Ahmed Shah, Syed Asgar Ali besides Secretary Law, G. H. Tantrary, Secretary Legislative Council, Mohammad Ashraf Mir, Deputy Secretary, Mohammad Maqbool and other officers of Council Secretariat attended the meeting.
This was the first meeting of the newly elected Chairmen of various Sub Committees where in several public interest issues were discussed.
Chairman underscored the need for raising public interest issues in Committees meetings. He stressed that they should remain pro-active in redressing the public importance issues. He said “we are the public representatives and have the first and formost duty to solve the people’s problems and take important issues with the concerned departments for their immediate redressal”.
Mr. Malhotra called upon the departmental officers to ensure their presence in committee meetings and make themselves accountable before the committees for the welfare of the people of the state.
It was decided that at least 6 meetings would be convened by the chairmen of the each committees during the year.
Jora reviews Action Taken Report on HLC
Shri Amarnathji yatra
recommendations
Omar reviews Ganderbal Master Plan
Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, June 7 : Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah on Thursday received detailed presentation of Draft Ganderbal Master Plan at a high level meeting here.
The Draft Master Plan has been prepared under the directions of the Chief Minister to address the growing requirements in Ganderbal town for upgradation of basic amenities, expansion of economic activities, development of new housing colonies, enhancing educational ambit, decongesting roads, creating lung places and sports arena, widening of roads, diverting the traffic flow from the heart of town to periphery by constructing new roads, creation of recreational facilities, beautification of riverfront, launch of IT sector initiatives, development of well designed drainage and sewerage systems, adequate water supply and area management.
The meeting was attended by Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, Nasir Aslam Wani, Chief Secretary, Madhav Lal, Principal Secretary Planning, B. B. Vyas, Principal Secretary Housing and Urban Development, Suresh Kumar, Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Masood Samoon, District Development Commissioner, Ganderbal, Showkat Ahmad Mir and other senior officers.
The Chief Minister said that Government is focusing on the holistic development of towns all over the State under State and Centrally sponsored schemes. He said that the comprehensive development of these towns is being carried forward through Master Plans. He said each Master Plan should be substantiated with the zonal plan so that development takes place equitably, feasibly at all levels.
Agitating KP youth warn Govt against delaying employment package
Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, June 7: Youth All India Kashmiri Samaj (YAIKS) which restarted its suspended 22 days long hunger strike at Pratab Parak here from June 5 today warned the Government of dire consequences if it continued to delay the implementation of PM’s employment package of 6000 jobs for displaced Pandit youth.
The dharna is led by YAIKS Chief & Member Apex Committee, R. K. Bhat. He said the darna cum hunger strike was suspended at Jammu on account of assurances of two ministers Revenue, Relief and Rehabilitation Minister Raman Bhalla and his deputy Nasir Aslam Wani who had promised that employment package will be implemented in to by issuing orders in favour of the pending merit list candidates soon. This assurance was further reiterated by the Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah in the Apex Committee meeting on April 18 this year. Besides, the CM also assured enhancement of cash assistance in favour of relief holders and issuance of ordinance for protection of shrine and temples in Valley till passage of Bill in this regard in the State Legislature. But more than two month have passed nothing has been done till date in this regard putting a question mark on the intensions of the Government, he added.
Bhat said as the Pandit youth were totally denied their share in Government jobs during the turmoil period and it was only after hard struggle that Prime Minister announced a package of 6000 jobs in 2008 but its implementation has been on snail’s pace resulting in a lot of desperation among the displaced youth.
In an appeal to Chief Minister and other concerned Ministers Raman Bhalla and Nasir Aslam Wani he urged them to live to their commitments. “Our silence should not be taken as a sign of weakness as further delay will compel us to take extreme steps which will have serious consequences’’ Bhat added.
He demanded immediate implementation of de-reserved 800 posts and 700 non-joining posts and waiting list of Class IV from the pending merit list and fresh advertisement of remaining 3000 posts under State sponsorship with five years age relaxation for over aged youth of the community.
Meanwhile a delegation of YAIKS called on Mr Bhalla also today demanding immediate implementation of package. He informed the delegation that he is holding a meeting soon for preparation of memo to be presented in next Cabinet meeting.
Natrang’s Children Theatre Camp begins at Amar Singh Club
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 7: Natrang Children Theatre Camp-2012 started here at Amar Singh Club, today. The camps was inaugurated by Natrang Director Balwant Thakur.
This is one of the major annual theatre event of Natrang which has started it 22 years back and has been doing it regularly, said Balwant Thakur The workshop would be conducted by Sumeet Sharma who has Masters Degree in Dramatics and has a good amount of experience in Children Theatre and effective use of theatre as a means of personality development he is also country’s highest award holder for the youth in the field of performing arts.
The first week’s training would be imparted by Shilpa Gupta who is also a Natrang’s product and has been doing professional theatre with children since last 15 years with Shri Ram Centre and Amity International School New Delhi. A major children’s play will be mounted during this 40 days workshop besides the other activities which will hone the talents of children.
Giving details about this ambitious theatre happening in the town Balwant Thakur said that top experts and professionals in the field will impart training on personality development, public speaking, memory development, confidence gain, infusing creativity through the latest developed techniques of Oxford Summer School (UK). The faculty will include trained experts of National School of Drama and Indian Theatre Department, Chandigarh.
He said theatre is one of the most effective medium of human development and Natrang in the last 30 years has developed such training methodology for children which has shown amazing results. Drama is one of the arts through the practice of which children may grow and mature as superior human beings.
Balwant Thakur further said that “we should attempt to train children, as far as we can, to see as to look, to hear as well as to listen, to observe with knowledge and imagination; to perceive, to relate, to associate.” Others who spoke on the occasion included Sumeet Sharma who has successfully conducted past eight children theatre camps of Natrang and has established a name for himself as an expert of children’s theatre and theatre for personality development; he would be assisted by Mohit Sharma who is pursuing Masters of Theatre Arts from University of Mumbai.