Govt hands over Poonch power scam to Vigilance

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today ordered suspension of seven Engineers including a Chief Engineer and action against six others (totaling 13) after an Inquiry Committee headed by Principal Secretary, Power AK Mehta found "serious lapses’’ in installation of transmission towers in Poonch that led to complete power failure in the border district on January 18 after normal snowfall.

Omar, who holds the portfolio of Power Development Department, has handed over the case to the State Vigilance Organisation (SVO) for further investigations as five Engineers involved in the lapses and financial irregularities have retired.

"Seven serving Engineers, who were at the helm of affairs at the time of procurement and installation of transmission towers, have been suspended while six others involved in the scam have retired. Of six retired Engineers, one has been absconding while another has expired. Action against the retired and absconding Engineers would be taken by the Vigilance Organisation’’, official sources told the Excelsior.

Excelsior had today exclusively reported that the Chief Minister has ordered action against the erring Engineers on the basis of preliminary inquiry conducted by a high level Committee headed by Mr Mehta, which confirmed various lapses in the installation of transmission towers in Poonch.

After approval of the file by Chief Minister and Minister of State for Power Vikar Rasool, Mr Mehta today issued a Government Order No. 36 PDD of 2013 dated 14-2-2013 suspending seven Engineers from the services. The suspended officers would remain attached with the office of the Development Commissioner (Power) during the period of suspension.

The suspended Engineers were Mohammad Qasim, Chief Engineer, Procurement & Material Management, J&K (then Executive Engineer), Devinder Pal Singh Bali, Executive Engineer, Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojana, Rajouri-Poonch (then AEE), Nissar Hussain, Executive Engineer, Commercial Division, Jammu (C&S wing) (then AEE), Rajeev Chopra, Assistant Engineer, EM&RE Division-II, Jammu (then Junior Engineer Store), Sumit Puri, JE Electric Central Stores Division, Jammu (then JE), Barkat Hussain, JE TLCD-I, Jammu (then JE) and Murrir Hussain, AEE, EM&RE Division Batote, Sub Division Banihal (then JE).

Of six retired Engineers, who were involved in the scam, one has since died while another was absconding as he couldn’t be traced. They would be investigated by the Vigilance Organisation along with seven serving Engineers.

Sources said the Inquiry Committee headed by Mr Mehta and comprising Chief Engineer (Designs) Vinod Khajuria among others had found that a total of 245 transmission towers had been installed in the border district of Poonch during 2005-2008, which were commissioned in 2011.

"Instead of purchasing the transmission towers from three specified companies including Public Sector Undertakings SAIL, the then PDD Engineers went for purchase from another company reportedly for undue benefits’’, sources said.

They added that the towers turned out to be sub standard, which was evident from the fact that within two years of commissioning, most of them were either uprooted or got folded with normal snowfall and windstorm.

"As the border district of Poonch was prone to snowfall, the transmission towers had to be of high density and top quality to ensure that they withstand impact of windstorm and snowfall. However, the sub standard quality towers were uprooted with normal snowfall on January 18 this year leading to disruption of electricity supply as 133 KV transmission line in Poonch district was made non functional’’, sources said.

They added that the Enquiry Committee has also pointed out that in addition to sub standard towers and use of other material, there was also fault in dimensional installation, due to which the towers were uprooted. "This indicated lack of technical expertise in installation of towers’’, they said.

Sources said the Vigilance Organisations would investigate the aspect of monetary considerations in installation of transmission towers as the case has been handed over to them. The Vigilance Organisation would be formally submitted entire record pertaining to purchase of towers and preliminary report of the Inquiry Committee for registration of a case and initiating further action in the matter.

"As the Engineers went for purchases from a company, which didn’t figure among three companies approved for purchases by the State Government, there was every possibility that the sub standard towers were purchased due to monetary considerations’’, sources said.

The added that the PDD top brass was also examining installation of existing transmission towers right from Bafliaz to Thanna Mandi to look into their quality and ensure that they too were not uprooted during further snowstorm.

"Some of the existing towers could also be in danger’’, sources said but added that the authorities would take precautionary measures for them so that they withstand windstorm or snowfall.

Worthwhile to mention here that on January 18, windstorm and normal snowfall had uprooted several transmission towers and folded others leading to failure of 133 KV transmission line in Poonch, which disrupted power supply in the entire border district.

The district was now being fed from 33 KV transmission line from Mendhar.

As reported, the Government has released funds and taken the help of Power Grid Corporation of India (PGCI) for repair work and restoration of electricity supply in Poonch district. The Government hoped that electricity supply would be completely restored in Poonch in one and a half months.

Jammu Srinagar NH closed for traffic

Parts of Kashmir Valley experienced the first snowfall of the season overnight, including the Jawahar Tunnel area forcing closure of the Jammu-Srinagar national highway.

The officials said here that the Srinagar–Jammu National highway is closed due to snowfall at Jawahar Tunnel and other places. Efforts are being made by Chief Engineer, Beacon, to clear the snow and re-open the road.

The officials said that the depth of snow recorded at various places this morning is: “Jawahar Tunnel 10 inches, Verinag 4 inches to 5 inches, Kokernag 3 inches to 5 inches, Pahalgam 5 inches, Anantnag 1 inch, Kulgam 3 inches, DH Pora one feet, Shopian one feet, Sedow one to one and a half feet, Gulmarg around 2 feet, Tangmarg 6 inches, Kupwara 3 inches, Lolab 4 inches to 5inches, Gund 6 inches, Gagangir 7 inches to 8 inches, Sonamarg 7inches, Ganderbal 1 inch, Baramulla 2 inches, Rafiabad 5 inches, Srinagar one inch, Bandipora 2 inches, Handwara 2 inches, Pulwama 3 inches.

The officials said that the Chief Engineer, Mechanical Engineering Department Kashmir started snow clearance operation in many areas of the Valley, where snow death exceeded 4 inches, including Gulmarg-Tangmarg Road, Verinag, Pahalgam, Kulgam, Shopian-Sedow, Ganderbal-Babanagri, Kupwara.

The Gulmarg-Tangmarg road has been re-opened for vehicular traffic, but only vehicles with 4x4 or anti-skid chains fitted on tyres are being allowed between Tangmarg and Gulmarg.

Saving water bodies in Kashmir

When god created the blue planet and filled the deep drenches with fresh water, he would have hardly thought that one day man will pollute it to such an extent where from it will become impossible to beat a retreat. The importance of water is becoming a worldwide issue and India does not fall too deep in the count. And in India, when we peep deep, J&K is found quite high up in the list.

Indeed, Srinagar is blessed with the deep depths of the Dal and the Pacific water of the Wullar besides the countless little rivers and streams. The valley might be decorated by these water bodies by nature itself, but only to be polluted with heap of waste by the people themselves.

The various aspects which are responsible for snatching the glory of these water bodies, we found five main cornerstones after a detailed case study of 25 days.

* Heavy drenching of Dal still unnoticed:-
When it comes to drenching, it has been going on from the past few years openly and unnoticed. The people to hold responsible are the boatmen residing in houseboats who every now and then try to convert a portion of the Dal into a kitchen garden. Our team has even found a company of boatmen cultivating vegetables on large scale for commercial purposes. On looking into the water and after a prolonged investigation, it was found that the Srinagar Development Authority (SDA) Department constructed a separate colony years ago near JVC Bemina to habitat the boatman on large scale and curb encroachment. The plan worked for a couple of years. But after that, to utmost surprise, these boatmen sold away these houses in colonies to earn revenue and rehabilitated to house-boats again on mass-scale to add to the problem.

* Waste-disposal into Dal:-
Valley produces tons of garbage every day. Besides the local people residing near the water bodies, some other vehicles ferrying waste from surrounding areas were found dumping heaps of garbage into these water bodies en mass.
The environmental activists reacted to the serious problem which later ended up in the construction of large pits for waste disposal and free dustbins especially to Dal residents.

* Sewage-flow Dal and Wullar:-
In the past few years, all the drains in the city and adjoining had one common destination? The Dal in the central and the Wullar in the northern side. Due to constant sewage flow into these water bodies, their size was decreased by around 15 kilometers which is shocking yet not surprising.

Taking notice of the serious problem, various sewage-treatment plants were established which ceased a problem to a greater extent but our team report suggests that there is still a lot of work to be done to tighten the screws on the grave problems.

* Use of toxic chemicals:-
To ensure early ripening of the fruits and increase the size and quantity of other commercial vegetables, valley-folk drove relentlessly towards profitable and lucrative markets by making use of chemicals which proved to be a disaster for the aquatic life.

The case study in Apple town of Kashmir sopore revealed to our team that decline in fish population in world famous Wullar lake was a consequence of the frequent use of toxic-chemicals. And that was not all! The use of these chemicals became so orthodox that they soon began to be supplied to every nook and corner of the valley. As ill luck would have it, the ultimate sufferer of the hazard was the aquatic life in general and surrounding population in particular.

As an evil consequence, Cholera cases were reported recently from several villages like Lawaypora.
This case study was enough to reveal the curtains which had not been raised from several previous dark years.

Illegal Mining in Jammu and Kashmir

Illegal mining of sand and pebbles in various nullahs across Jammu-Lakhanpur Highway sector has caused serious damage to at least two major bridges, namely Devak and Balole. Portions of basements of these vital bridges have got exposed and partly washed away by the floods during current monsoons. Mining mafia has been lifting sand, stones and pebbles close to the basement pillars of the bridges rendering them vulnerable to flash flood damages. Despite a ban imposed by the authorities on illegal mining, the illegal activity continues unabated, mostly at night or in early hours. This is not possible without the connivance of supervising authorities supposed to impose the ban strictly. The cost of repairs to the damaged bridges, as disclosed by the authorities, will run into many crore rupees besides consuming several months for bringing it to completion. This is a major anti-national act and deserves to be taken serious note of. Persons involved in these clandestine activities should be given exemplary punishment. The mining mafia has to be exposed and their connections and conduits should be prosecuted under the law. Lifting of construction material obtained from the nullahs should be banned 500 meters up and down the site of all bridges of this crucial national highway.

Capping LPG cylinders in Jammu Kashmir

Chaotic situation has developed in regard to capping of LPG cylinders ordered by the Government after consultations with oil and gas majors in the country. On September 14, Union Government announced drastic reform in supply of LPG cylinders and fixed maximum of six cylinders per family per year on subsidized rates. However, additional cylinders would be available on higher rates. But this is not a uniform criterion. The Congress ruled states like Delhi will provide nine cylinders per family per year on subsidized rates and beyond that cylinders will be available on higher rates.

In the case of Jammu and Kashmir, only six cylinders per family per year have been allowed. It means that since half of the year (2012) is already gone, for the remaining period of six months till March 2013, each family in the State will get only three cylinders on subsidized rates. Anybody in need of extra cylinders will have to pay the higher price though that too is not sure because the Government is yet to decide what would be the price of non-subsidized cylinder.

This drastic decision has been taken by the Union Government in view of spiraling bill on energy resource in the country. The bill was likely to touch 200 lakh crore of rupees by the end of current financial year. The Prime Minister had touched on this point during his recent broadcast to the nation. He was emphatic in stating that some hard measures had to be taken to bridge over country's financial difficulties. Capping of the supply of LPG cylinders is the result of one such austerity measure. Hike in the price of diesel may not evoke as much of public resentment as the new policy of supply of LPG cylinders has evoked. The reason is that diesel is consumed by affluent sections of society and big business magnates who run diesel cars. But LPG is a dire necessity for all and curtailment of cylinder is going to adversely affect the middle and lower middle class of our population.

But the manner in which the entire matter is handled in our State has raised many fingers. Firstly, if Delhi ---- a Congress run State--- has been allowed nine cylinders per family per year, why should not this be possible for J&K State when we know that this hilly and mountainous State is debilitated economically in more than one way? Objectively speaking, the State should be allowed nine cylinders per family per year, and that would be justified in view of long winter and greater consumption as a consequence. Secondly, much chaos has been caused by asking consumers to get their gas cards re-verified although only three months back this exercise had been completed. Why are half hearted decisions taken by the gas outlets and why does the Government let them have their way. It is harassment of the people and unacceptable as it will call for PIL on a large scale. People have not forgotten the ordeal through which they were made to go when three months ago they were asked to get their gas cards verified. Re-enactment of that activity will earn the wrath of the people. Therefore the Government should immediately order stopping of re-validation of gas cards in the case of those that have already gone through the process.

Reports are coming in that besides ordinary consumers, even the Congress and NC activists including some ministers have expressed resentment to the capping of LPG cylinders to a maximum of 6 in the case of J&K State. Some ministers have even said that they would be raising the issue in the forthcoming cabinet meeting and will forcefully plead for a mechanism of rationalizing the decision. Revenue Minister disclosed that he has even written to the Chief Minister about people's resentment to the unjust capping of cylinders and demanded revision of the policy. He has also pointed out that re-validation of gas connection is harassment of civilian population.

In final analysis, it is true that the country is passing through financial hardship and the Government has to take drastic steps to check its deterioration. It is also true that ultimately people will have to bear the brunt. But at the same time, the reformative measures should be uniformly applicable, and secondly these should not cause harassment of the ordinary people. The Government should have worked out smooth transition from one set of conditions to another. Put in simple words, the Government has to do two things to bring this chaotic situation to an end. One is to increase the number of subsidized LPG cylinders from six per family per year to nine and second is to withdraw orders of re-verification of gas connections in such cases in which verification has already been done. This will ease the situation

Pakistani Refugees in Jammu and Kashmir

Sixty-five years after they were forced to leave their homes and strayed into Jammu and Kashmir in search of security of life, nearly 6000 Hindu and Sikh families, the 1947 partition refugees from Pakistan, have been "sympathetically" heard by the rulers in New Delhi. The irony is that many among the rulers who showed them sympathy in New Delhi are their former compatriots, who, by quirk of destiny, did not land in Jammu and Kashmir in the aftermath of the mayhem of 1947 as these more unfortunate ones did. The Prime Minister himself is one among the more fortunate refugees from Pakistan.

The one question that haunts them now is this: will the State administration be inclined to take serious note of the "request" of the Home Ministry to give a sympathetic deal to these lesser mortals? There seems no convincing answer to this question. If the State Government is that humane and unbiased as to respond to the entreaties of the Home Ministry, it would have found a solution to the issue long back and not protracted it over a long period of sixty-five years. A look in retrospect reveals the injustice done to these refugees by the State as well as the Union Government despite their unending supplication, appeals and protests. Theirs is a saga of gross denial of civic rights, blatant violation of human rights, transgression of international law and suppression of natural law flowing from moral philosophy that guides states in running their affairs. The semblance of justice which the Union Home Ministry expects the State Government to extend to them, if agreed to, will flow only to the third generation of these displaced people --- two of their generations having lived and died in destitution. Sometimes this belated eye-wash response by the Home Ministry seems more farcical than practical. Which constituency does the Home Ministry's passing the buck posture serve? That is what the third generation refugees would want to know.

Last time the issue of West Pakistan migrants in Jammu was heard when the Pradesh Congress Chief led a delegation of top political leadership of Jammu and met with the Prime Minister, Congress Chief, Home Minister and many other ministers. The delegation was given time and was also heard "with sympathy". Of course, on humanitarian grounds, Pradesh Congress Chief has done something very appreciable which no one did prior to him. The affected community will be thankful to him for having opened up their case with powers that be.

But to be realistic about the entire affair, this is only the first stage of struggle for winning human, political and civic rights of these people. For them and their political sympathisers, the more strident struggle now is with the State Government after the Union Home Ministry has referred the matter to the State Government with all the humility and servility at its command. The reason for the Home Ministry to be infinitely apologetic in referring the matter to the State Government is not that it is stridently following standard norms of protocol. The real reason is that firstly it is overcome by a sense of guilt and secondly but more importantly it has given nothing to the supplicants except profusion of lip-service and media hype. No law, no constitution and no legal instrument can be higher than the human law. And human law flows from the simple truth that man is the most rational creation of God. The State Government overlooked the constitution and the law of the land as well as Article 370 to which it attaches extraordinary political sanctity, and decided to welcome and rehabilitate the militants who had left their homes in Kashmir with the tacit purpose of becoming part of vast subversive machinery and party to the treasonable act of destroying the Indian State by force of arms. They acted in collusion with foreign subversives in not only extirpating a small religious minority of Kashmir but also in contriving cold blooded killing of thousands of innocent Kashmiris. Despite that we will not grudge the State government the humanistic aspect of accepting them back and rehabilitating them. The Union Home Ministry demonstrated its munificence by offering substantial financial support to the State for rehabilitating these seditionists. But where did that humanistic sensitivity evaporate in thin air in the case of the West Pakistan refugees who are languishing in neglect for last six decades. Home Ministry's sugar-coated rhetoric does not do them any good; it rather insulates negative elements in the State administration. The West Pakistan refugees of 1947 carnage expected a far realistic and non-political response from the Prime Minister if not others just because the Prime Minister, himself a victim of the partition, understands the severity of their case and its ramifications. Justice to them is both uncertain and delayed.

DDK Srinagar Director attached

The Station Director of Doordarshan Kendra (DDK) Srinagar, Shammi Shair, was today attached to Doordarshan Headquarters in New Delhi and Qayoom Wadera, Director Doordarshan Kendra Leh, has been appointed as Director DDK Srinagar.

Shammi Shair was facing corruption charges and Central Bureau of Investigations (CBI) and Doordarshan Vigilance are investigating the embezzlement charges leveled against her.

However, misleading the Additional Director General Doordarshan New Delhi, Ashok Jailkhani, about a TV anchor of "Good Morning J&K", daily morning show from DD Srinagar, who was arrested from a house boat and later released on bail proved to be proverbial last straw for her. She had informed the ADG that the TV anchor's uncle had passed away while she was in police lock as she failed to turn up for morning show.

Reports said that Jailkhani met the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Prasar Bharti, Jawahar Sircar, today and informed him about the incident. The two officers also discussed the corruption charges she is facing and decided to remove her from DDK Srinagar.

It may be mentioned here that CEO Prasar Bharti, Jawahar Sircar had said in July this year during an annual conference of the North Zone officers of the official electronic media at SKICC Srinagar that DDK, Srinagar had become a hub of corruption. He had assured that he will clear the mess and those responsible will not be spared. Sources said that removing the tainted director was another step towards that direction as first step was taken in July this year when former Director DDK Srinagar, Dr. Rafiq Masoodi, who was Deputy Director General (DDG) DD at New Delhi was suspended.

Masoodi was suspended for misappropriation of funds amounting to crores of rupees, allotting contracts without proper sanction, and projection of wrong facts regarding engagement of casual labours at DDK Srinagar. Besides this a Departmental inquiry had found that he had allegedly purchased 9000 segments for DD's Current Affairs morning show in 2009 and 2010.

The CEO had taken a serious note of the allegations leveled by the Private producers of Kashmir valley against Shammi Shair. They had told the CEO that she had failed to revive programme activity and had drawn crores of rupees in the name of her friends, relatives, acquaintances, neighbours and even her own drivers and domestic helps. The private producers had handed over several hundred page documents to the CEO as an evidence of her alleged frauds.

Longest Surviving Militant Arrested in Jammu kashmir

Mehraj-ud-Din Wani alias Javed alias Daand, the longest surviving militant of Kashmir who was arrested by police yesterday from Jammu-Srinagar National Highway and lodged in Kishtwar police station, was widely connected to top brass of militants, operating from Pakistan including Dawood Ibrahim, his younger brother Anees Ibrahim and United Jehad Council (UJC) chief Syed Salah-ud-Din.

Daand, who was among the first five youth who had joined militancy in Kashmir along with Salah-ud-Din, Hamid Sheikh, Yasin Malik etc had some top politicians of Jammu and Kashmir on his hit list when he was traveling from Nepal to Kashmir on the directions of Pakistan’s Army and Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), with whom he had close rapport.

Married to a Hindu girl in Nepal, named Sapna Goura of Kathmandu, Daand, a resident of Krank, Shivan Colony, Sopore in Kashmir, was stated to be in Nepal capital in the office of Pakistan Embassy along with official Arshad Ayub when IC-814 flight was hijacked from Nepal and taken to Kandahar after brief landing at Amritsar on December 24, 1999. India had to release Moulana Masood Azhar, the chief of Jaish-e-Mohammad in lieu of hijacked passengers along with two other top ultras Omar Sheikh and Mushtaq Latram. Name of Daand didn’t figure in Kandahar hijacking FIR as he had been operating with at least 25 code names.

Sources said there was also a possibility that Pakistan Embassy in Nepal had been used for pumping hawala money and arms into India, which were used for fanning terrorism in the country especially Jammu and Kashmir.

Daand had frequently traveled from India to Pakistan and Nepal on different identities using passports and visas arranged for him (in Pakistan) by Pakistan Army and ISI officials. He had a long list of contacts in Kashmir Valley, other parts of country, Pakistan, Nepal and Saudi Arabia.

Addressing a press conference here this afternoon, IGP Jammu Dilbagh Singh said Daand, a resident of Sopore belonged to first group of five militants from Kashmir, which had crossed over to Pakistan for arms training in 1988. He had returned to the Valley in 1989 after arms training and was presently in the rank of Salah-ud-Din, Dawood Ibrahim, Moulana Masood Azhar etc, all of whom figured in the list of ‘top 20’, wanted by India from Pakistan for fanning terrorism in the country.

He was part of Muslim Mujahideen in Pakistan initially but had later worked with almost all militant outfits including Hizbul Mujahideen, Lashkar-e-Toiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad, Mr Singh said, describing arrest of Daand as a prize catch.

The IGP Jammu said the militant had traveled Pakistan and Nepal a number of times to mobilize support for militancy and generate hawala money for terrorists. He had been using different identities for his travel on Pakistani passports and visas, he added.

Dilbagh Singh said the militant has claimed during preliminary interrogation that he was on way to Kashmir for treatment of his brain tumour in Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), Soura. However, his statement would be verified after medical examination, he added.

Mr Singh said the extent of Daand’s involvement in Kandahar hijacking was being probed. However, he added that Daand was close associate of Dawood Ibrahim and his younger brother Anees Ibrahim and had several times enjoyed their hospitality in Karachi including their Clifton restaurant.

Reliable sources said some top politicians of Jammu and Kashmir were on hit list of Daand and that was the reason for his traveling to Kashmir from Nepal. He had entered Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh a day before as an ordinary citizen on fake identity and then boarded a train to Jammu. He was traveling to Srinagar in a TATA Sumo when a Kishtwar police party on an input developed by an Intelligence agency nabbed him between Batote and Ramban yesterday. He was taken to Kishtwar for questioning.

Sources said since Daand was longest surviving militant, Pakistan Army and ISI had assigned him the task of using old militants and target top political leadership of the State to give a boost to the militancy.

"Very top politicians’’, sources remarked when asked as to who could be the targets of Daand.

In another significant disclosures, sources said, Daand was present in Pakistan Embassy at Kathmandu, Nepal in December 1999 when the militants hijacked Indian Airlines plane to Kandahar. A Pakistan Embassy official, Arshad Ayub and Daand were closeted with each other and the possibility of their involvement in the hijacking was not ruled out. India has quite often blamed Pakistan for hijacking as Moulana Masood Azhar, Omar Sheikh and Mushtaq Latram, all three militants released in lieu of the passengers, were later spotted in Pakistan.

Sources said Daand was being quizzed to ascertain his as well as Pakistan Embassy official Arshad Ayub in Kandahar hijacking.

DIG Doda-Ramban range Gareeb Dass was investigating the case and leading police team in interrogation of top militants.

Meanwhile, Major General Ramesh Babu, GOC, Counter Insurgency Force (Delta) said the arrest was made in a joint operation conducted by Army and police. He said it was a major success for security forces.

They added that Daand had traveled to Pakistan at least six times from India and paid more than a dozen trips from Pakistan to Nepal using different identities and passports. Pakistan Army and ISI officials mostly arranged his passports and visas.

During one of his trip from India to Pakistan, he was issued visa on the request of hardliner Hurriyat Conference chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani. Police said they have evidence that Geelani had recommended Daand for issuance of Pakistani visa.

Initially, Daand was involved in various subversive activities but once he joined top brass of militants like Salah-ud-Din, Dawood Ibrahim etc, he started acting as motivator, fundraiser and launching commander for militants. He was instrumental in sending militants from Jammu and Kashmir and other parts of the country to Pakistan for arms training and arranging return of trained militants to India for carrying out terror acts.

He had also been instrumental in generating hawala funding for the militants of Kashmir from various foreign countries like Pakistan, Saudi Arabia etc.

Though six trips of Daand from India to Pakistan and over dozen flying visits from Pakistan to Nepal have been confirmed, sources said he might have traveled quite often between India, Pakistan and Nepal. During one of his trip, he married a Kathmandu’s Hindu girl, Sapna Goura showing his identity as Hindu on passport and visa, which he had managed with the help of Pakistan Army and ISI officials.

Sources said Daand was close associate of Dawood Ibrahim and his younger brother Anees Ibrahim besides United Jehad Council (UJC) chief Syed Salah-ud-Din, though there had been reports that he had fallen apart with Salah-ud-Din for past couple of years along with Saleem Qureshi, who had surrendered in Kashmir three years back.

Daand had generated huge hawala funds from Dawood and Anees and pumped them into the Kashmir Valley for funding militancy. He has admitted having visited and stayed quite often at Clifton residence of Dawood and Anees at Karachi and executed some tasks at their behest.

Sources said the involvement of Daand in Lajpat Nagar blast at New Delhi in 1996 was also under investigations. His two associates were involved in that blast. During questioning, his involvement was likely to surface in many terror activities not only within Jammu and Kashmir but also across the country as during past 25 years in militancy, he had developed contacts in India, Pakistan, Nepal and some Gulf countries.

Sources said though Daand had claimed that he was traveling to SKIMS in Srinagar from Kathmandu, Nepal for treatment of his brain tumour, sources said he could have easily afford such treatment anywhere in the world due to his close proximity with Dawood brothers, Pakistan Army and ISI.

"We have reports that he had been tasked to revive his contacts and target top politicians of the country’’, sources said.

Daand was a member of UJC, an umbrella group of several militant outfits.

Police said Daand had provided logistical support by giving fake travel documents to the five Pakistani men, who had hijacked IC-814.

The aircraft with 176 passengers on board, was hijacked by five Pakistani militants and forced to land in Amritsar, Lahore and Dubai before being taken to Kandahar, then Taliban’s bastion. Rupin Katyal, one of the 176 passengers on board, was killed during the seven-days stand-off.

Police said with the help of the Pakistan diplomat in Kathmandu, Mehraj-ud-Din had reportedly smuggled weapons, ammunition and fake currency into India.

The IGP Jammu said after his return from training in 1989, Daand had been arrested in Uri and sent to Kot Bhalwal Jail, where he came in contact with militants like Syed Salah-ud-Din, Nayeem Khan and Imran Rahi.

He was released and crossed several times to Pakistan on fake passports via Wagah border and also Nepal during the period to carry out the plans of militants, Dilbagh Singh said.

In Pakistan, he met top militants - Bilal Sidiqee, Ehsan Dar, Javaid Guru, who motivated him set up bases in Delhi and other places in 1992. Mehraj-ud-Din set up his network in Delhi, Saharanpur and Bangalore and carried out hawala operations, the IGP said.

In Delhi, Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde said, "we have to confirm the reports on Daand’s role in hijacking of IC-814 plane from Nepal to Kandahar in Afghanistan. If correct, I congratulate the J&K Police."

Consolidation of water resources

Terming the last 3 years a golden era for the departments underneath his charge, Minister for PHE, Irrigation and control Taj Mohi -ud -Din nowadays aforementioned consolidation of water resources within the State was a serious action throughout the amount.

Addressing a public meeting at Bhanderkote in Tangmarg nowadays, the Minister aforementioned underneath his leadership several historic steps to preserve, defend and consolidate water resources within the State were taken by the govt.. He aforementioned J&K Water Resources Act 2010 was a vital milestone during this direction. He aforementioned many alternative steps were taken like construction of Ravi Canal and construction of lake Jammu Tawi, Chattabal weir and stabilization of water level in Jehlum, besides stabilization and improvement of the many previous and necessary irrigation schemes.

Mr Taj aforementioned around Rs. one thousand large integer are completed as water usage charges from varied agencies that is around one third of the State's total revenues. He aforementioned water usage charges collected would be utilzied for purchasing back power comes or rising water resources within the State. For this, he aforementioned recently associate ordinance was conjointly issued by the govt..

Responding to the native demands, the Minister proclaimed unleash of Rs one.50 large integer for water theme (WSS) at Bhanderkote. He conjointly directed for preparation of project for rising and maintaining Roose Kute Canal and upgradation of native reservoir and distribution network. He conjointly directed for completion of flood protection works within the space on priority.

The Minister conjointly directed for formulation of project report for irrigating orchards and kandi areas within the section.

Chief Engineer, PHE Kashmir G.R. Zargar and officers of district administration attended the Minister throughout.

Corruption in India

Mahatma Gandhi once said "Corruption and hypocrisy ought not to be the inevitable products of democracy, but they undoubtedly are today". By this he meant that the basic idea of democracy was to empower the masses not to turn them into corrupt human beings. But somehow along the road that idea has been completely lost and what we have today is uncontrolled and unbridled corruption.

For any country to become a superpower it requires an efficient, hard working, dedicated and above all, a corruption free machinery.. The human nature is such that we can never be satiated. No matter what our riches are, we always have this urge to want more. In other words when people are dissatisfied with what they have they invent dishonest ways to acquire more, which is simply known as corruption. In the Indian society corruption has become so deep rooted that it is quite impossible not to encounter it in your daily routine. One of the major areas where corruption has set its roots deep is the Government, especially the lower bureaucracy, but with the recent telecom scams being unearthed and now the Coal scam it is quite evident that corruption has left no part of the government from its grasp. It rules one and all. If somehow we could remove the word 'corruption' from India then I'm sure that we would become a developed nation earlier than we think. Now the important question here is whether corruption has halted India's growth or, made it stagnant? Well I certainly feel that corruption is a like a malignant cancer and if we do not take strong preventive measures right now, then we might as well let it feed on us. If India aspires to be developed country it must fight this disease of corruption with an iron hand. There should be no exceptions. A strict law should be passed and defaulters harshly punished. Examples must be set so the future generations learn to stay away from this menace. With the likes of Anna Hazare taking up the baton to highlight the menace of corruption in India, the day is not far when India would finally break free from the tentacles of this disease.
As a matter of fact no country in the world is free from corruption but in these countries corruption is not as rampant and free as it is witnessed in India. I bet the USA also faces problems because of corruption but they have a better way of handling it, a much better way of punishing the errant people. As of present India ranks 93 out of 183 in the corruption perception index, a much better rank than its neighbours Pakistan and Bangladesh but much higher than that of China which ranks 72. When the C.B.I unearthed the 'great' 2G scam it was realized that it cost the exchequer a loss of 1.76 lakh crores, approximately $33 dollars in revenues. Can you imagine the amount of roads, or the number of schools or the number of hungry Indians that could have been fed or in general the amount of development work that could have been undertaken with that mount of money. The then union telecom minister A. Raja took now finds himself behind bars. That is not all. The Bofors scandal in which the then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi was implicated shook the conscience of the entire nation. Not even the office of the Prime Minister, supposedly one of the most respectable offices in the country, was free of corruption. The Telgi scam, the Bihar fodder scam in which the then Bihar Chief Minister, Lalu Prasad Yadav was involved, the Taj Corridor scam in which the then Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Mayawati was charged with corruption, and the very recent cash for votes scam in 2008 and the commonwealth scam in 2010 and now the coal mining scam which is called as mother of all scams as its resulting in a loss of approx 186,000 crore to the exchequer during the period 2004-2009 speaks volumes about the prevalent corruption scenario in India. Scams and development in India go hand in hand. Whenever there is some large development work, no matter in which part of India, some part of the tax payer's money is always siphoned off. Take the 2010 commonwealth games scam for instance. The commonwealth games which were supposed to showcase India to world were nothing but an embarrassment. First was the fear that the stadiums would never be constructed on time, with Melbourne unofficially kept on stand by. Secondly, the construction work was shoddy with most of the venues being completed in haste. Thirdly, most of the projects when completed had overrun their costs. And when finally an enquiry was set up to look into the commonwealth games debacle, it was found that the organizing committee had cost the exchequer a loss in excess of Rs. 23,500 crore. Nothing really happened except that it made up for one the most sensational news of 2010.In 2010 Anna Hazare, a social activist and a Gandhian got the nation's attention going on corruption with his fast until death unless a strong Anti Corruption Bill was passed in the Parliament. His fast at Jantar Mantar soon attracted thousands of people every day with the both the print and electronic media taking a strong stance against the Government for its apathetic attitude towards corruption.

Anna Hazare soon became the rallying cry for the millions of Indians of who were sick and tired of corruption and wanted the Government to act on it. The Government soon buckled and it promised to appoint a committee to draft a bill .The point here is that most of us Indians have witnessed or experienced corruption in one form or the other, and unless we raise our voice against it the government is just going to sit on it. It is unless we, the ordinary people, the heart of India, start doing something, only then would this evil be uprooted from our society. The fight against corruption has often been dubbed as the second fight for our independence. The first fight was to free our country of foreign powers while this fight would be to weed out all forms of corruption from our society.   

                                    By   Nayeem Wani

Power production in Jammu and kashmir

Capacity production of power is that the dream of the Chief Minister. He needs that in next 5 years, the State ought to be able to manufacture 4000 MW of power to spice up its programme of creating the State self-sufficing during this major sector. we've the made water resources and that we would like harnessing the resource into generating power. There will be no justification for the State to be deficit in power once it's most of water resource obtainable. In his recent scrutiny of Baglihar Hydro electrical Project (BHEP) at Chanderkot in Ramban, it absolutely was reminded that the primary stage of 450 MW BHEP was inaugurated by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in 2008 and therefore the project started industrial generation of power from Apr one, 2009. "The powerhouse has generated ten,724.06 million units of energy by the top of August 2012 value Rs four,027.450 large integer since its scrutiny against associate expenditure of Rs five,506.30 crore," a political candidate voice aforesaid. Presently pre-commencement works besides some essential works of stage second area unit below execution. associate expenditure of Rs 673 large integer has been incurred up to July 2012 on BHEP stage second, scheduled  to be commissioned by August 2015. All this augurs well for the state and hopefully when researching an extended ordeal of power shortage, the State can enter a replacement section of adequate power provide. this could naturally provides a boost to speedy industrial enterprise of the State and rejuvenation of arranged  off industries so as to revive the economic and monetary health of the State. The satisfying facet is that the Chief Minister has totally understood the importance of strengthening power sector and streamlining its generation, transmission and distribution system. varied reforms prompt for the PDD solely recently have sent a message that the current Government is seriously involved with delivery in forceful modification for improvement of power position within the State.

One more KP youth hospitalized

The condition of 1 additional fast youth at Jagti territorial division stern sweetening of money relief conjointly deteriorated tonight and he was shifted to GMC Hospital for treatment.

According to reports Ajay Bhat UN agency is leading the dharna and was on quick unto death was shifted to GMC tonight when his condition became vital. The doctors at Jagti earlier within the day had referred Bhat to GMC seeable of his deteriorating condition. however Ajay had refused to require medical facilities and continued  to stay on quick.

Sunil Pandita UN agency too was on quick for 3 consecutive days and was hospitalized when his condition deteriorated on September four night Saturday on indefinite quick this morning once more to point out commonness with Ajay Bhat and R K Pandita the opposite fast youth stern sweetening of money relief.

Mr Pandita UN agency was in GMC Hospital for twenty-four hours was discharged from the hospital last night. Instead breaking his quick he resumed the fasting once more this morning.

However another youth Kaka Jemaah Islamiyah Kachroo UN agency was referred by doctors to GMC last night remains below going treatment there.

A large variety of camp inmates of Jagti joined the dharna in support of the demand associated urged the govt. to require immediate call failing that they're going to accelerate then movement and conjointly won't hesitate in taking an extreme step.

The protestors raising slogans in support of their demands command the hardness of the State and Central Governments accountable for the plight of the displaced Pandits generally and relief holders particularly. They aforesaid it's a pity that the govt. in last twenty three years of KPs mass exodus has did not settle the community. "We have lost religion in each Central and regime as they did not handle our drawback humanitarianly forcing the relief holders to require extreme step’’said Ajay Bhat.

Ajay created associate attractiveness to any or all KP organizations political and non political to hitch their struggle to require it to its logical conclusion. The camp organizations together with JCC, JTC, Displaced Joint Council, KPC Unit Jagti have extended full support to the current struggle.

The dharna conjointly continued  at TRT Purkhoo and alternative TRTs nowadays in support of the relief holders of Jagti. The TRT inmates of Purkhoo have condemned the military action on Jagti inmates.

Meanwhile the token fasting of relief holders before of Relief Organization continued  nowadays. Ravinder Raina UN agency is leading the fasting aforesaid that the agitation can continue until demand is met.

Importance of agriculture in Jammu kashmir Economy

Underlining the importance of agriculture and allied activities within the economic development and job creation for youth within the State, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on weekday aforesaid that the Brobdingnagian potential of Jammu and geographical area during this sector must be controlled to the utmost to comprehend the self reliance in agriculture production and comprehensive economic process.

Omar Abdullah aforesaid that agro-based little industries promise substantial and viable avenues for budding entrepreneurs of the State to venture upon and earn handsome howeverter|sustenance|resource} not just for themselves but more. He aforesaid Government has introduced varied schemes during this relevancy encourage investment during this sector. He asked the youth to require best advantage of those schemes and make a healthy and growing MSME temperament in agriculture and allied sectors.

The Chief Minister asked the involved departments to make awareness concerning the viability and profitableness of investment during this sector within the State encouraging the native youth by providing all of them technical, monetary and alternative facilities envisaged in varied programmes initiated by the govt..

The Chief Minister aforesaid that so as to offer goodish positive stimulus to the husbandry and agriculture activities, his Government has created this sector free from taxes, adding that varied schemes of providing concessions and subsidies to push husbandry and agriculture also are being enforced within the State.

Omar Abdullah was reviewing the event of agriculture and husbandry sectors in Ganderbal Assembly body at a gathering of officers here this afternoon.

Taking appraisal of varied agriculture schemes below implementation within the body, the Chief Minister was knowing that over 4900 hectors of land has been brought below the cultivation of paddy in Ganderbal body throughout current Kharief seasons to attain the assembly target of 23000 tonnes of rice.

The Chief Minister was told that as several as 367 quintals of quality paddy seed, 360 quintals of potatoes, a hundred and seventy quintals of fodder and forty seven quintals of hybrid maize seed are distributed amongst the farmers within the body this year. associate quantity of over Rs. one large integer has been provided to the farmers within the form of incentives and grant on major agriculture activities during this year.

It was expressed that agriculture activities area unit being inspired within the body below varied Centrally and State sponsored schemes together with technology mission, ISOPOM, RKVY, micromanagement, seed village programme, poly-green homes development programme, vermin culture, water gather, irrigation pumps and power tillers providing schemes.

Taking temporary on husbandry activities the Chief Minister was told that the assembly of apple within the body throughout last year was over 51000 tonnes, production of pear over 3000 tonnes, cherry concerning 1800 tonnes, plum over a thousand tonnes, apricot over 480 tonnes, peach 430 tonnes, grapes 277 tonnes, quince apple 641 tonnes, strawberry two tonnes and pomegranate thirty six tonnes. the assembly of walnut was concerning 5000 tonnes whereas the assembly of almond has been registered at twenty two tonnes.

Omar Abdullah was told that Rs.73 large integer are provided by manner of grant to the horticulturists for promotion and growth of husbandry activities within the body below varied schemes.

Ecological degradation in Chenab Valley

People’s party (PDP) nowadays assured to formulate a comprehensive action set up for the socio-economic growth of the individuals of Chenab natural depression.

The party additional assured that subnormality and underdevelopment of this region would be removed by implementing this comprehensive action set up.

Addressing a powerful public meeting, that was organized in reference to the inspiration day operate of the party, patron of PDP Mufti prophet Sayeed nowadays aforementioned that Chenab natural depression space was economically also as strategically vital region within the whole sub-continent because of accessibility of giant natural resources within the sort of water and forest during this belt.

He, however, regretted that rather than rising socio-economic conditions of the native individuals of Chenab natural depression, the exploitation of water and forest resources has resulted into ecological degradation and destabilization of earth science options and an interruption in peaceful lives of common voters.

He powerfully demanded that services of international specialists ought to be used to take care of ecological balance during this belt. "Instead of giving edges to the accessible resources to the residents of Chenab natural depression, the rulers solely bartered away the forest and water resources for his or her personal power", Sayeed aforementioned, whereas inform towards grossly discriminatory agreements singed by the serial National Conference regimes.

Exhorting party employees to agitate for his or her real demands, PDP patron demanded that locals ought to incline priority within the new hydro-electric comes and different biological process activities happening during this belt. "Instead of appointing locals on tiny petty jobs, the agencies have interactiond in execution the hydro-electric comes should open coaching centres here to coach the native at leisure youth thus on engage them on technical and masterful jobs", he demanded, adding, "employment opportunities for locals should be created whereas constructing hydro-electric comes during this belt.

While rigorous free electricity for the individuals of erstwhile Doda district, he aforementioned that residents of Chenab natural depression have 1st right the water flowing from their space. "It is ironical that different elements of the country ar benefited from the electricity generated from this region however inhabitants of this belt were neither obtaining power nor different basic amenities", he determined.

Demanding correct rehabilitation of the individuals whose land has been noninheritable  for biological process activities, he aforementioned that residents of this belt are facing displacement also as ecological disaster because of construction of mega hydo-electric comes and different biological process activities in their areas. He aforementioned that besides giving adequate compensation, the affected individuals should be properly restored.

Speaking on the occasion, former Deputy Chief Minister Muzaffar Hussain Beigh blasted serial National Conference regimes for the subnormality of Chenab natural depression region.

Expressing his deep concern over non accessibility of basic amenities during this belt, former Deputy Chief Minister regretted that varied Central sponsored economic condition alleviation schemes weren't reaching this belt because of prevailing mess within the State.

Senior PDP leader and MLC Sayeed Asgar Ali affected a resolution within the meeting that was passed with one voice.

SC passes strictures against JK Govt

Supreme Court these days passed strictures against the regime for its failure to implement the recommendations of Padmanabhan Committee relating to Subordinate Judicial Pay Rules.

These strictures were gone by the Apex Court of the country whereas reacting to the compliance report filed by the Jammu and Jammu and Kashmir Government relating to the Subordinate Judicial Pay Rules.

The Bench of the Supreme Court comprising Justice Aftab Alam and Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai once hearing battery of lawyers ascertained, "the amendments created in Jammu and Jammu and Kashmir Subordinate Judicial Pay Rules, 2011 issued vide SRO-244 dated August five, 2011 seem to be in complete deviation from the advice of the Padmanabhan Committee, punctually approved by this Court", adding "apart from this, there area unit different instances of non-compliances with the Committee's recommendations as known by V K Jhanji, senior advocate showing for the applicants".

The Supreme Court any ascertained, "we area unit deeply disturbed over the approach the State of Jammu and Jammu and Kashmir is continuing within the matter and planned to require applicable steps to create the State accommodates the court's directions reliably, in letter and spirit".

However, Sunil Fernandes, counsel showing for Jammu and Jammu and Kashmir created the request that an additional chance be allowed to the Law Secretary to create amendments. He submitted that the Law Secretary would hold discussions with the Registrar General of the Jammu and Jammu and Kashmir judicature and also the candidates and would take steps for implementation of the recommendations of the Padmanabhan Committee, as directed by this Court.

Accordingly, the Supreme Court bench accepted the submissions created by Mr Fernandes and directed the Law Secretary to carry a gathering with the Registrar General of the judicature and also the candidates on Sept ten, 2012, adding the proceedings of the meeting shall be recorded within the kind of minutes, punctually signed by all the participants. "It is hoped and expected that following the meeting, correct steps are taken for implementation of the Padmanabhan Committee's recommendations with none any delay", the Supreme Court bench same.

With these directives, the Supreme Court place up the case for hearing on Sept twenty four, 2012.

Earlier, Jammu and {kashmir|Kashmir|Cashmere|Jammu and Jammu and Kashmir|geographical area|geographic area|geographical region|geographic region} in a very compliance legal instrument submitted that amendments are planned within the Jammu and Kashmir Subordinate Judicial Pay Rules, 2011 issued vide SRO-244 dated August five, 2011 whereby it's providing if any super time pay scale has been awarded to District Judges, capable 100 percent of the choice grade strength, in dispute of the rule, a similar are allowed to continue in their personal capacities.

"The future strength are maintained strictly at the speed of 100 percent of the choice grade strength of District Judges and also the relevant enlisting rules be changed accordingly", the legal instrument same.

Ravi Canal Project

CM intervenes to clear prestigious Ravi canal project

After robust protest by the senior Minister, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah nowadays intervened to induce clearance for the development of remaining portion of the celebrated Ravi Canal project aimed toward transfer revolution in components of Jammu province.

Rs 275.15 large integer project of construction of Balance Portion/Extension of main Ravi canal upstream Ravi watercourse from Basantpur right upto the influx of Reservoir of Ranjit Sagar Dam was caught in officialdom hurdles for past two-and-a-half years when it got cupboard nod in 2010.

Minister for PHE, control and Irrigation, Taj Mohi-ud-din, told wood shavings that government minister Abdul Rahim Rather was sitting on the file of the project, finance's that area unit raised by his Ministry on its own. He same that the project can irrigate one.33 hundred thousand acres of land in 3 districts of Jammu province that eighty two klick canal and five hundred klick tributaries were created thirty years back.

He same that he shot off a letter to Chief Minister concerning Finance Ministry making hurdles in clearing the project last week and was assured that the project are cleared. Taj Mohi-ud-din same that the file was cleared nowadays when CM asked Finance Ministry to clear it and therefore the work on the project would be launched before long.

The Minister same that State has suffered loss to the tune of around Rs 9000 large integer owing to non-implementation agreement with geographical area for drawing water for irrigation and power share from Ranjit Sagar Dam throughout past thirty years.

Frustrated over non-clearance of the project despite his diligent efforts, the Minister last week proclaimed boycott of the longer term cupboard conferences to pressurize the govt.. Last week the Minister boycotted the cupboard meeting in protest against the non-clearance of the file by the Finance Department. "It is waste of your time to sit down in an exceedingly cupboard meeting whose selections aren't honoured", the cathedral told wood shavings once asked concerning his boycott to the cupboard conferences.

The Cabinet in its call (No. 41/2/2010 dated 15-02-2010) had granted approval to the project of construction of the Irrigation and control Department starting off at village Satwain upto Basantpur wherever existing Ravi Canal starts. the cupboard had directed the Irrigation and control Department to organize an in depth Project Report (DPR) for project and submit it for the approval when getting all necessary approvals and concurrence of designing and Finance Department.

The Cabinet had additionally shaped a sub-committee consisting Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Minister for Rural Development, Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs and Minister for Public Health, Irrigation and control. Its job was to look at all relevant aspects of dispute with geographical area.

The Cabinet sub-committee in an exceedingly robust letter (No. PW/Hyd/P&S/IWT/2009/702 dated 25-06-2010) to the geographical area Government declined to lease out five hundred acres of land to the geographical area for the development of Shahpur Kandi Barrage from that Government of J&K was to draw water as per 1979 agreement. The letter same that even the compensation for the land provided for Ranjit Sagar Dam wasn't given to the State beneath 1979 agreement.

The letter asked the geographical area Government to compensate the losses suffered by J&K State for past thirty years owing to non-implementation of the agreement by geographical area. It demanded power share of forty % from Ranjit Sagar dam to compensate the previous power loses. The letter additionally vulnerable the geographical area of legal re-course just in case it fails to pay the compensation.

According to Minister, the Finance and therefore the Law Departments of the govt. of Jammu and geographic region raised queries as if it looked they were pleading the Punjab's case. The Minister said: "Former justice of Supreme Court of Asian nation, V N Khare, whereas hunting the documents given to him for judgment asked him that facet area unit the Law and Finance Departments of J&K." He had asked area unit they pleading Punjab's case or J&K's?

The judgment of the previous extra law officer of Asian nation Amarendra thermoplastic additionally criticized the State's Law Department and same J&K's case is real.

The Finance Department in its queries had declared the project as wasteful expenditure just in case geographical area didn't permit drawing of water from Ranjit Sagar Dam. Minister Taj Mohi-ud-din same that J&K isn't drawing water from geographical area territory however from its own watercourse and from its own territory at village Satwain and geographical area has no locus standi in disallowing drawl of water from Rajit Sagar Dam whose sixty five % territory belongs to Jammu and geographic region State and therefore the State has zero.69 MAF water share from the RSD that has the guarantee of presidency of Asian nation.

The Finance Department had additionally raised the question of termination of the all water sharing agreements by geographical area with the neighboring States in 2004 to that cupboard sub-committee had already provided the solution. The Minister same that the queries of the Finance Department and Law Department were unreasonable and it looked if they were batting for geographical area and not the Jammu and geographic region State.

Monuments Preservation Act Jammu Kashmir

Though rules are imperative for higher implementation of any legislation however within the monuments made Jammu and Kashmir identical for a significant piece of legislation--- Ancient Monuments Preservation Act remained out of focus of the successive Governments throughout the last ninety two years. But, identical have currently been ready and are being submitted to the Law Department for vetting and notification within the Government Gazette.

The Ancient Monuments Preservation Act was enacted during this erstwhile princely State throughout the tenure of Maharaja Hari Singh in 1920 AD and thereafter this very important piece of legislation did not receive any attention of the successive Governments despite the actual fact that there's a provision for the framing of rules beneath Section 20-B and twenty three of the Act.

"In the absence of correct rules, many very important points vis-à-vis preservation of monuments of the State remained amorphous and monuments were being declared State protected solely by approach of issuance of notification. Even it had been not clearly outlined on what quantity previous a monument ought to be for declaration as State protected one", official sources told EXCELSIOR.

It was solely within the year 2010 that this Act received the eye of Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah, and Culture Minister, Nawang Rigjin Jora, who got the legislation updated by obtaining it amended within the State Legislature.

Since rules operate as beacon light-weight for correct implementation of any piece of legislation, the govt additionally felt it imperative to induce the foundations of Ancient Monuments Preservation Act, 1920 framed. Accordingly, Commissioner Secretary, Tourism and Culture, Atal Duloo assigned this task to some officers headed by former Director General of the Department of Archives, Archaeology and Museums and presently Consultant within the Culture Ministry, Khursheed Ahmed Qadiri.

The exercise of framing rules came to an finish within the recent past following that the Department of Archives, Archeology and Museums place the foundations in public domain for inviting objections or suggestions, sources informed, adding currently this exercise has additionally return to an finish and extremely shortly the foundations are being submitted to the Law Department for vetting and then issuance of SRO and publication of identical within the Government Gazette.

When contacted, Khursheed Ahmed Qadiri, Consultant within the Ministry of Culture confirmed that rules of J&K Ancient Monuments Preservation Act are framed and are being forwarded to Law Department shortly.

"In the foundations, we've clearly outlined the procedure needed to be adopted for declaration of any monument as State protected", he said, adding "there wasn't a lot of clarity on many points however currently the foundations can properly guide the Department of Archives, Archaeology and Museums for correct implementation of the Act within the monuments made State".

As per the foundations, the Department of Archives, Archaeology and Museums will impose bound prohibitions so as to safeguard the monuments in higher approach. It may impose fee for visit to the monuments. beneath the foundations, permission would need to be obtained before any form of excavation in and round the monuments.

Moreover, permission would need to be obtained for removal of something from the monuments besides filming and photography of the monuments.

Besides rules of J&K Ancient Monuments Preservation Act, rules of J&K Heritage Conservation and Preservation Authority have additionally been framed and being forwarded to the Law Department for vetting.

"The rules can govern the functioning of the Authority, guide in survey, listing and grading of the tangible and intangible heritage of the State", sources said.

It is pertinent to say here that a complete of forty three monuments within the State have already been declared as State Protected whereas as method for seven others goes on. the newest addition within the list of State Protected Monuments is Bamiyan kind Buddha in Kargil district. this can be maybe the primary State Protected Monument from the Ladakh region.

The Department of Archives, Archaeology and Museums has already identified 651 heritage places and monuments, which may be thought of for declaration of State Protected.

Director SWD reviews functioning

Director Social Welfare Jammu, M H Bhatti, reviewed the functioning of the department in district Samba here these days.

Accompanied by the officers of the Directorate of Social Welfare Jammu, Mr Bhatti, who recently took over the charge, held review meeting within the workplace of District Social Welfare Officer, who is additionally Nodal officer of the ICDS comes, Samba. All the officers of the department together with CDPOs attended the meeting.

During deliberations, Mr Bhatti stressed upon the officers to watch the functioning of Anganwadi Centres and conduct routine inspections of those centres. He directed all the officers to submit tour diaries beforehand and work done statements to the respective Programme Officers and District Social Welfare Officer. Mr Bhatti asked the CDPOs to confirm the supply of quality nutrition in all the Anganwadi Centres. He said that nutrition ought to reach up to the beneficiaries as per the prescribed scale.

The Director additionally referred to as on Deputy Commissioner, Samba Mubarak Singh and mentioned with him numerous problems relating to timely sanction and disbursement of Pre-Matric Scholarships and tendering method of nutrition things needed for Anganwadi Centres. He requested the DDC to conduct periodic review of Social Welfare department.

MLA Bhaderwah inaugurates Bus Stand

May Day in Jammu Kashmir

In reference to the planet could Day, functions, rallies and protests were held here these days. Daily wagers, workers, Anganwadi staff and helpers and labourers raised protest in support of their demands. They impressed upon the State Government to satisfy their demands.

Addressing a rally at Regal Chowk, Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), state President and MLA Kulgam, Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami said that the operating category continues to suffer within the trendy times. He said the operating category has been subjected to differing types of ill-treatment at the operating place. 

Tarigami said the woes of labourers, who are engineers of economic prosperity, are on the rise. He underlined the need for wider unity among the operating folks for reversing the disastrous neo liberal economic policies. He said there's no space for any illusion, adding that solely united struggle of the toilers will force the govt. and employers to concede the real demands of the operating folks.

Tarigami wasn't allowed to require out a protest rally from Sher-i-Kashmir park and stopped by the police close to the Regal Chowk whereas heading towards the most areas of the town centre.

Meanwhile, thousands of Anganwadi staff and helpers, ASHA staff, PDD daily wagers, Horticulture Non-Gazatted workers Union, Agriculture daily wagers and casual staff union, Kishan Ganga Power Project, floriculture casual labourers union, SKICC workers union, Aircel Land Ousters and Security Guards staff Union', Jammu and Kashmir medical and Sales Representatives Association gathered at Sher-i-Kashmir to watch 'May Day. 

The protesters were carrying banners, placards and shouting slogans demanding concrete measures to contain price-rise, creation of employment, strict enforcement of basic labour laws, social security for toilers, abolition of contractual operating system, change of Minimum Wages Act and fixation of statutory minimum wage of not but Rs ten,000 per month and pension for all.

Addressing a could Day rally organized by Jammu and Kashmir Coordination Committee of Trade Unions (JKCCTU), Mohammad Maqbool President, JKCCTU said that anti-working policies are being dictated by the imperialist finance capital. He said this has created an enormous gap between the poor and also the wealthy.

"The sky rocketing of the costs, rising unemployment and corruption at high places have created the lives of operating category folks miserable. Policies of outsourcing, privatization and casualization of jobs have created matters worse and there's no one who would explore this side of the exploitation of the operating category," said Maqbool.

Rallies were additionally organized by Mazdoor Union, Jammu and Kashmir Trade Union Centre and Casual staff Association of SKIMS-Bemina in reference to the planet could Day. many labourers from across the valley participated in these rallies.

Trade unions hold protest in Jammu

Workshop on fruits packaging inaugurated

Abrogation of Article 370 for industrial progress

Former Union minister and MLA Jammu West, Prof Chaman Lal Gupta, has said that for the complete growth and promotion of business during this a part of the country, abrogation of Article 370 from J&K was should.

Speaking to the Excelsior on the sidelines of a perform organized at the Chamber Bhawan on seizing the charge by newly elected body led by Y V Sharma here these days, Prof Gupta said that for the complete growth and promotion of business within the State, abrogation of Article 370 was should. No huge industrialist would really like to speculate here with the long run policy underneath such a law/ bindings. Some industrialists came here and showed interest to speculate only for the lure of incentives. 

"Let the incentives be stopped they're going to finish up and return. this manner the State isn't planning to take a lot of advantage. Our youth won't be able to get secured job for any long. the govt. cannot supply a lot of jobs once you have over six lakh unemployed educated youth within the State. Let the Indian Constitution flow freely during this a part of the country and then see the response of the industrialists from outside", Prof Gupta maintained.

The State Government can have to be compelled to suppose on the lines to {supply|to produce} uninterrupted twenty four hour power supply to the business. a lot of facilities and favourable and industry- friendly atmosphere is required to be created that remains missing. Traders are faced with plenty of issues that are nonetheless to be removed. 

"I hope new team that is capable and experienced, would consider the most important problems with the traders and industrialists and find them addressed in close to future. Our support can forever be there to the Chamber team and also the trading community", stated Prof Gupta.

Earlier, re-elected Chamber president Y V Sharma, secretary general Arun Gupta (younger brother of Prof Chaman Lal Gupta), senior vp Sham Lal Langar, junior vp, Anil Gupta, secretary Deepak Aggarwal and treasurer Bharat Bhushan Gupta, were garlanded profusely and facilitated by the unions of the many markets/ Bazar associations and individual businessmen and industrialists. many distinguished persons of the town were additionally gift. 

Devinder Singh Rana, Political Advisor to Chief Minister, additionally visited the Chamber House and extended greetings to the newly elected team. He spent your time with the elected body and offered full support from the govt. to the present premier body of traders. 

Y V Sharma told media-persons that he would consider the necessary problems with the traders and industrialists and take a look at to return up to their expectations. He said early completion of Jammu beautification comes as well as Gandola from Mubarikmandi, artificial lake, parks at the Tawi banks, extra fly-overs/ specific ways that, creation of a lot of parking heaps are going to be their priority. The team can move ahead in consultation and take a look at to search out resolution to the varied problems with the community. 

Mr Sharma said the complete team has taken over the charge of the new workplace these days and it might work sort of a single unit for the welfare of the members of trade and business.

Radio Utsav in Jammu and Kashmir

Jammu Intl Convention Centre