Omar reviews development of Ganderbal

Inspects projects, interacts with people

(VOS)

Ganderbal, July 12: Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah today reviewed various ongoing development works in PHE, Flood and Irrigation sector in Ganderbal Constituency at a meeting of concerned officers he chaired here. The District Development Commissioner, Showkat Ahmad was also present in the meeting.

It was stated in the meeting that as many as 18 water supply schemes have been completed in Ganderbal Constituency while 5 are under progress. It was further stated that under the District Sector three water supply schemes have been completed at a cost of over Rs. 2 crores. The water supply scheme Wakura Lift-I and Lift-II, water supply scheme Khurhama, Khan Mohalla at Khanpora are in progress.

The Chief Minister was informed that Hadura water supply scheme has been completed at a cost of over Rs. 8.50 crore to provide drinking water to 18 habitations with population of over 54,000. The Wakura Phase-I and Phase-II being constructed at a cost of about Rs.15 crores is likely to be completed by the end of December 2012. Water supply schemes Naqashband Colony, Korang, Dangarpora, Dangarpora-Tulmulla, Gogigund, Bunpora, Chunt Waliwar and Gratpora-Benihama are likely to be completed in 2012-13 at a cost of about Rs. 25 crores.

It was said that four schemes benefitting 39 habitations with about 70,000 souls have been completed during the last year while seven schemes to benefit 78 habitations with 1.33 lakh souls are likely to be completed in 2012-13 under NRDWSP Coverage Programme.

 Meeting was told that impounding reservoir at Alastang to augment the source for six schemes namely Hadura, Shuhama, Wakura, Tulbagh, Shanpora and Ganderbal covering 45 habitations with over 88000 souls is being constructed at a cost of about Rs. 4.90 crores. An amount of over Rs. 3.36 crores has so far been spent on this 200 lakh gallon impounding reservoir. Another impounding reservoir at Lariprang augmenting the source of 11 schemes covering 84 habitations with 1.25 lakhs souls is also under construction at a cost of Rs. 21.55 crores in the Constituency.

The Chief Minister was told that water supply Ziarat Sherief Meeshah Sahib involving Rs. 11.78 lakhs, filtration plant at Takiya Khalmulla at a cost of Rs. 10 lakh, stabilization of Lar water supply scheme and water supply scheme for new developed areas have also been completed during the last year.

Taking brief on the works under progress in Irrigation and Flood Control sector, the Chief Minister was told that two schemes namely Nangdara Canal and Dabchi Canal have been completed at a cost of over Rs. 11 crores to benefit Ganderbal, Bobsipora, Mardabad, Serch, Doderhama, Choudhary Bagh, Fetahpora, Kujjar and Gadura.

It was informed that seven irrigation schemes involving about Rs. 15 crores are under progress in the Constituency. Under NABARD two schemes at Rs. 4 crore are also in progress in the Constituency. As many as six tube wells at Guzhama, Waskura, Kundbal, Goripora, Waliwar and Sherpathri are in pipeline. Flood protection works on Sindh Nallah and Tulmulla Nallah have also been started.

The Chief Minister inspected various works in the Constituency and interacted with people. He asked the officers to make completion of schemes time bound ensuring benefits of projects to the people. 

PDP condemns assault on Peerzada Ashiq

(VOS)

Srinagar, July 12: Peoples Democratic Party has condemned the “senseless assault” on noted journalist Peerzada Ashiq of Hindustan Times.

In a statement the party chief Spokesman Naeem Akhtar said “the attack on the senior scribe is unacceptable”.

He, according to a PDP press release, said there was no occasion for such a crime when the people around the accident site were apparently worked up over the loss of life and poor rescue efforts. He said the occasion calls for introspection both for the society and the government which basically has failed to provide security on the roads.

 “The unaddressed problems of Bijli, Sadak Pani are causing misdirected outrage which points to an anarchical situation in which even journalists are targeted for reporting or not reporting in a particular way”, he added.

Akhtar said the reports that there was no police around any where on the road are also a cause for concern.

Expressing solidarity with Peerzada on behalf of the party and its leadership he said the police should investigate the matter and bring the culprits to book.

Sagar asks RD officers to ensure transparency in MGNREGA

(VOS)

Ganderbal, July 12: Minister for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Ali Mohammad Sagard today directed officers to ensure that the funds earmarked for the MGNREGA scheme, which has registered a phenomenal growth in implementation are utilized to the maximum, the Minister maintained that it should be implemented according to the guidelines set and bonafide expenditure should be done.

An amount of Rs. 2100 crore has been earmarked as labour budget for the State under MGNREGA. The Information was given in a review meeting convened by the Minister for Rural Development Panchayati Raj, Law Justice and Parliamentary affairs Ali Mohammad Sagar.

Sagar also directed the officers to see to it that convergence with other schemes of different departments is done so that the ambit of this flagship scheme gets broadened and more people get benefited besides ensuring that more development of rural areas is ensured and more man day’s are created.

The Minister while directing the officers to work in a synergized manner with the Panchayati Raj Representatives said that the same is necessary for ensuring the need based a development of these areas. He said that they should also be consulted during plan formulation so that concerned needs of their respective areas are incorporated in it.

Sagar also maintained that the government is committed to put in place a three tier system of local governance and in this regard elections to the Block Development Councils would be held very soon so that effective decentralization of powers is ensured at grass root levels as well.

Minister of State Aijaz Ahmed Khan while speaking on the occasion said that it has been the endeavor to ensure transparency and accountability in implementation of various flagship programmes and maintained it was due to the sustained efforts of the government and officers of the Rural Development Department that the scheme has registered a phenomenal growth.

Commissioner Secretary Rural Development Farooq Ahmed Peer, Directors of Rural Development Jammu and Kashmir Shafiq Raina, Mir Altaf Ahmed, SE’s Rural Development, ACD’s of both the divisions, Xen’s and other senior officers of the department were present.

Adhere to rates of brick or face action: Div Com to Kiln owners

“Establishment of Cement hollow-blocks to be encouraged”

(VOS)

Srinagar, July 12: Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Dr. Asgar Hassan Samoon today , asked brick kiln owners to adhere to the rates already fixed by the Government or face action, as per law.

He was speaking during a high level meeting with senior officers to discuss the issue related to enforcement of rates of bricks.

The meeting was attended by Deputy Commissioner, Budgam Khurshid Ahmed, Deputy Commissioner, Anantnag, Farooq Ahmed Shah, Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar, Baseer Ahmed Khan, Chief Engineer R&B Kashmir, Mushtaq Ahmed Lone, Director CAPD Kashmir, Mir Mushtaq Ahmed, ADDC Pulwama, Mir Tariq Ahmed, Joint Director Industries, Bilal Ahmed, Joint Director, Geology & Mining, Nisar Ahmed and President, Brick Manufacturers Association, Malik Zahoor Lasjan and their office bearers.

Various issues were deliberated in view of the public resentment against illegal hike of rates of bricks. It was decided to test the various samples of bricks being manufactured in the Valley, to check for its size, strength and various specifications.

It was decided that a committee headed by Deputy Commissioner Pulwama, comprising of Deputy Commissioner, Anantnag and Deputy Commissioner, Budgam would analyse the existing rates of bricks which had been fixed in November last year and consider enhancement on the basis of the escalation in coal prices since November, within a period of one week. The additional charges for transportation would be applicable, which would be notified separately by Transport Commissioner.

Div Com asked all Deputy Commissioners to encourage setting-up of manufacturing units for Hollow-cement blocks in their districts, so as to provide alternate to kiln bricks, since hollow-blocks are non-pollutant, earthquake resistant and its overall cost is cheaper. Any person having at least two kanals of non-agricultural land can apply for establishment of such units to the concerned Deputy Commissioner, for which bank finance will be made available and all necessary assistance and help will be given by the Industries department as well as Deputy Commissioners for establishing cement hollow-block units. Preference would be given to unemployed youth.

DC Baramulla organizes Drug De-Addiction Programme

(VOS)

Srinagar, July 12: In an effort to bring drug de-addiction Services to the people, the Jammu and Kashmir Police in collaboration with Drug De-addiction Centre Baramulla, SDFC and Civil defense Baramulla organised an awareness and treatment camp at Government Higher Secondary School Rohama, Baramulla

The inaugural speech was given by vice principle of Hr. Secondary School Rohama which was followed by detailed lecture and treatment facilities provided by District Police Baramulla at DPL Baramulla by Dr. Inayat Mir (in charge DDC Baramulla)

More than 500 students/teachers and some locals were given awareness and health hazards of drug abuse. A detailed lecture on the growing menace of drug abuse amongst youth was given by Baramulla Police.

This initiative of Baramulla Police was appreciated by the locals and the respectable of area.

ANC pays tributes to 1931 Martyrs

(VOS)

Srinagar, July 12: Jammu and Kashmir Awami National Conference has paid glowing tributes to the martyrs of 13 July, 1931 on their 81st martyrdom anniversary which is being observed all over the state tomorrow.

In a statement issued on the eve of the Martyrs Day, party president, Begum Khalidah Shah, said the massacre had taken place at a time when, giving vent to his pent-up anger against the autocratic rule, a brave youth, Abdul Qadeer Khan, had delivered a fiery speech in the premises of historic Khanqah-e-Mu’alla, Srinagar.

 “Pointing towards Maharaja’s palace, Khan raised a slogan to destroy the despotic and imperialist government brick by brick. Charged with sedition, his trial was conducted at the Central Jail, Srinagar. Even the trial court was shifted to the jail. At this, there were massive protest demonstrations outside the jail,” she said.  

Begum Khalidah said the event marked the first revolt against the centuries old autocratic rule. “By offering the supreme sacrifice, several Kashmiri youth laid the foundation of the freedom struggle and paved the way for taking it to its logical end,” she said.

The ANC president said it was on the very next day (14 July, 1931) that Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah was arrested along with several other leaders, including Sardar Gawhar Rahman, Mistry Muhammad Yaqub, Choudhary Ghulam Abbas, Maulvi Abdul Raheem and Ghulam Nabi Gilkar.