Drinking and irrigation schemes to be fast tracked: Taj

Inspects lift irrigation scheme, Lethpora Pulwama

SRINAGAR, JULY 10: The Minister for PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control Mr. Taj Mohi-ud-Din Tuesday reaffirmed the commitment of the government and said that several key schemes have been launched to provide portable drinking water and irrigation facilities to augment growing demand.

Addressing a public rally at Padgampora Pulwama, Taj said that a PHE scheme at Malangpora costing Rs. 5.23 crore and irrigation scheme coming up at Padgampora costing Rs. 4 crore would be completed during the current financial year. After completion of these schemes several villages of the area will receive regular supply of portable and irrigation water, he added.

The Minister during his visit to Pulwama also inspected the renovation and desilting work carried on the lift irrigation scheme Lethpora, irrigating an area of 4400 acres.

The Lethpora lift irrigation facility constructed in 1972 was lying defunct. The Minister during his earlier visit had directed to renovate the facility for which Rs. 1 crore was released.

The said scheme after completion of the renovation work is providing irrigation facilities to Lethpora and Khrew areas with a discharge capacity of 90 cusecs, the Minister was told.

Taj also directed the officers to ensure work on these ongoing schemes is fast tracked and progress monitored.

Council Petition Committee Meets

            SRINAGAR, JULY 10- The Petition Committee of Legislative Council met here today under the Committee’s Chairman Mr. B.R.Kundal.

            The Meeting decided to deliberate upon matters of collective social significance. The people were asked to approach the committee with their petitions regarding collective developmental issues and redressal of grievances.

            However, the cases which are Sub-Judice and those of government employees shall not be taken up by the committee.

            Legislators, Ghulam Qadir Pardesi, Naresh Kumar and Nizam-ud-Din Khatana gave their suggestion regarding the functioning of the committee.

Nasir releases Desi Dawah te-Desi Elaj, Jawahar-e-Kayinath

Says several measures initiated for preservation of Culture

            SRINAGAR, JULY 10- While calling for the need to preserve and propagate the distinctive culture of the state, the Minister of State for Tourism and Culture, Mr. Nasir Aslam Wani has said that the government has already initiated several measures for the same and the intellectual community should also contribute their bit in the same.

            The Minister was speaking after releasing books titled “Desi Dawah te-Desi Elaj”  and “Jawahar-e-Kayinath”  authored by Mr. Mahraj Krishen Mawa (Masroor) at a function organized by Funkar Cultural organization.

            Dr. Mustafa Kamal, MLA, DG, Accounts and Treasuries, Mr. Wali Mohammad Aseer Kishtwari, Secretary Cultural Academy, Mr. Khalid Bashir, Media Advisor to Government, Mr. Farooq Ahmed Nazki, Prof. Fida Mohammad Husnain, General Secretary, Funkar Cultural organization, Mr. G. R. Hasrat Gadda and several prominent writers, intellectuals, poets, prominent citizens attended the function.

            Mr. Wani said that the state has a unique culture known for tolerance, mutual brotherhood which has also been reflected through the works of the great poets and philosophers and the need of the hour is to follow those ideas and propagate the same to the posterity.

            Enumerating the steps taken by the government for the proper preservation and upliftment of the culture, the Minister said that adequate care is being taken for the ensuring that the various facets of the same are effectively documented as well as preserved.

            Dr. Mustafa Kamal while speaking on the occasion highlighted the contribution of Kashmiri Pandits in different facets of life said that they form an inseparable part of the Kashmiri ethos and the time is not far away when they would return to their homeland and live with their Muslim brethren.

            Media Advisor, Mr. Nazki and Secretary Academy, Mr. Khalid Bashir also spoke on the occasion and highlighted the relevance of the books in the present context.  They maintained that the books are of great importance and would serve as a resource material for the posterity.

            A paper highlighting the importance and significance on the books was also read on the occasion.

Congress reacts to Kamal’s statement

‘NC should introspect and read history’

(VOS):

Srinagar, July 10: Terming National Conference Additional General Secretary Dr Mustafa Kamal’s statement that Congressmen in J&K are on the payrolls of New Delhi and PHE Minister Taj Mohiudin won elections with the help of army, senior Congress leaders Tuesday strongly reacted to the assertions.

In a statement to VOS a group of district Congress presidents and other leaders said, “NC leaders have always tried to make better relations with New Delhi and made several accords in this direction.”

“NC should introspect and read the history once again. The 1975 Indira-Sheikh accord is a historical reality. Documents related to the accord can expose the claims of Kamal,” they claimed.

Terming Taj Mohi-ud-Din as commander-in-chief of coalition government, they said, “Taj sahib has proven his mettle and has become popular leader due to his charismatic personality. Dr Kamal and other people like him are afraid of Taj sahib’s popularity. By dragging army, Dr Kamal is trying to hide his sins which he has committed always to remain in power,” the Congress leaders alleged.

The leaders who issued statement included Mohammad Amin Bhat (MLC), Haji Abdur Rashid Dar (ex MLA), Usman Majeed (ex minister), Habib-ullah Bhat, Gulzar Ahmad Wani, Abdul Gani Khan, Inyatullah Mir, Mohammad Zahid Jan all district presidents, Mohammad Sultan Mandoo, Abdul Qayoom Shah, Gulzar Ahmad, Mushtaq Ahmad Khanday and Ishfaq Jabar Lone.

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�h!�hey pushed the state into darkness and economic mess by selling out water and power and now replaced J&K Bank with RBI which has resulted in virtual bankruptcy”. They strike close bonds with everybody in Delhi at political and personal levels while trying to befool people with slogans here, Mehbooba said and stressed that days of NC’s political deception and gimmickry were numbered if people saw through their tactics. She said the resources of J&K belong to its people and the arrangement with NHPC needs to be renegotiated to secure enough funds for development and employment of youth. “Our youth are among the best in the world and if NC had not sold state’s water resources they would have had enough opportunities to grow to the highest level of economic emancipation” she said.

Referring to the issues of development and amenities in the towns she visited, Mehbooba urged the government to launch expansion and consolidation of health care in these places. Similarly sewerage and drainage system was almost non existent and needed immediate attention. She said drinking water and power supply had caused huge dislocation in daily life but the government had been unable to respond to these burning issues.