Govt. to conduct scientific study of the traffic management in J&K

Tahir Mushtaq


JAMMU, June 29: With Management of rising vehicles become a nightmare for the administration in the rapidly growing urban centers of Jammu and Kashmir, government has decided to formulate a comprehensive City Transport Policy for scientific management of the vehicles. 

Sources said that some private consultants are being hired by the Transport Department to do a detailed study of traffic pattern, road use and ways to deal with the jams at peak hours. 

Officials said that this will be for first time that such a detailed scientific study is being conducted in Jammu and Kashmir to effectively manage nearly 800000 vehicles which ply on the roads including thousands of floating vehicles which enter the state daily carrying pilgrims of Vaishno Devi shrine and other religious places in Jammu region. 

“To streamline the regulation of traffic smoothly in the cities of Jammu and Srinagar, a comprehensive City Transport Policy is being introduced very soon. 

This has become imperative keeping in view the problems administration face daily as the present infrastructure was not expected to deal with such rush ”, said a government officer. 

Minister for Transport Qamar Ali Akhoon said, “We are talking to some private consultants and scientific study would be conducted to suggest ways to streamline the traffic”. 

Sources said that number of awareness programmes are being organized in capital cities of the state and at district headquarters to keep people updated about the need to obey traffic rules. 

It is pertinent to mention here that close to eight lakh vehicles both commercial and private are running on the roads of the state and added to this are the thousands of floating vehicles which daily enter here. 

So far there are no decided traffic policy and it sometimes it get freaky while dealing with the traffic flow. 

“Traffic and transport authorities should have to work in tandem for strictly implementation of traffic rules to curb accidents to save precious lives, besides to avoid un-necessary jams”, said a official. 

Data says that so far 7, 19,221 vehicles have been registered upto ending December last. Of these 1, 26,180 are commercial and 5,93,041 are non-commercial, the meeting was informed. 

He said that after the completion of the prescribed formalities, the applicant is required to face a test to ascertain his eligibility, ability efficiency to satisfaction of the licensing authority and a learner licenses is issued with validity for six months. 

Transport department has already gone strict in giving driving licences, under Rule 15 of Motor Vehicle Rules 1989, no person is allowed to appear for the test of competence to drive unless he has held a learner license for a period of at least 30 days.

Shri Amarnath Yatra commences; first batch of 2096 flagged off

Tahir Mushtaq


JAMMU, June 28: The Yatra to the Holy Cave of Shri Amarnath commenced today as the first batch of 2096 pilgrims left Yatri Niwas at 0500 hrs from Bhagwati Nagar here. The yatra was flagged off by Tourism and Culture Minister Nawang Rigzin Jora. The heads of various departments were also present on the occasion. The upbeat pilgrims were chanting the slogans of “Bam Bam Bhole”. 

According to official report, the pilgrims included 1396 males, 421 females, 110 children and 196 Sadhus left the base camp in cavalcade of 73 vehicles. The vehicles included 32 buses of State Road Transport Corporation, 17 private vehicles and 24 light motor vehicles. 

The pilgrims will reach the south Kashmir Pahalgam base camp and the north Kashmir Baltal base camp in the evening, an official said in Srinagar. So far, 250,000 pilgrims have registered themselves with the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board for the Himalayan pilgrimage. 

An on the spot registration too has been opened for pilgrims, arriving in Jammu or in Srinagar without prior registration. Pilgrims are enthusiastic about the pilgrimage for two reasons - pleasant weather and greater sense of security along the route. 

Vehicles of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and the Jammu and Kashmir Police would escort the pilgrim convoys from Jammu to the two base camps. 

Nearly 30,000 personnel have been deployed for the security of pilgrims, all the way to the cave shrine.

Lack of coordination-poor planning derails zoo project in Jammu

Tahir Mushtaq


JAMMU, June 27: Lack of coordination and poor planning has derailed the much hyped development of Manda Deer Park into full fledged zoo, with experts raising doubts over the feasibility of the proposed plan approved by the Central Zoo Authority, first phase was to start at Rs 2.50 crore. 

Sources said that officials are not satisfied with the plan approved for the zoo and none of them wants to take the responsibility as they have found many drawbacks in the approved plan. Now a new Detailed Project Report (DPR) is being formulated and will be sent to the Central Zoo Authority. 

While at the moment Manda sanctuary is also acts as a rescue centre for the wild animals, who survive the man-animal conflict, no one from the wild life authorities is ready to take the responsibility of the project which has certain critical prospective implications. 

Sources disclosed that the earlier plan has not kept in view the problems the animals will face in case of emergency and with park getting concerned authorities has also made the master plan for the project under which park would be given a modern outlook beside this expanding its catchment area from the present 60 hectares to around 120 hectares. 

The plan included the creation of isolation wards, visitor education facilities along with making arrangements for civic amenities, service roads, administrative blocks, entry plaza and car parking. 

When contacted Regional Wildlife Warden, Upender Pachnanda said that they are studying new master plan for the project and department is waiting for the necessary funds from the central government. 

He further said that the department has sent the master plan for Manda Deer Park and also the department has identified another location at Sidra for the same project and both has been sent to Central Zoo Authority of India (CZAI) for approval. 

Around 85 different animal species which include Jungle Cat, Civet Cat, Black Bear, Blue Bull, Samber, Spotted Deer, Barking Deer, Goral, Porcupine, Peafowl, Ducks, Guinea Fowl, Turkey, Cinerous Vulture, Eagle and Owl," said the official. 

He maintained that presently, state government sanctions Rs. 13 lakhs annually for the improvement 
of this park. 

"Diet varies from species to species which is served once or twice a day depending on the food habit of the animals. Health of animals is monitored on weekly basis. Special care is taken of the young ones of the animals in the zoo," said the official. 

“In addition to it a well-equipped operation theatre for conducting operations and post-mortem of animals has also been made functional," said another forest officer of Manda Deer Park.

BOPEE becomes first in country to ensure 100% transparency

JKCET successfully concludes; answer key uploaded on BOPEE website

Tahir Mushtaq

JAMMU, June 26: The Jammu and Kashmir Common Entrance Test (JKCET-2011) successfully concluded today as Biology and Mathematic papers were held on the second day. Notably, no case of impersonation was reported from any of the 35 centres thanks to the techniques and methods adopted by the JK Board of Professional Entrance Examination (JKBOPEE).

BOPEE Chairman Prof M A Peer informed that nearly 90 percent of the candidates took the examination. Of those, 9300 were candidates for MBBS and allied courses, 5164 appeared for Engineering courses whereas; 6000 has appeared for both. He added that for the first time in India, question paper, carbon copy of answer copy as well as answer key has been provided to the candidate. With this cent percent transparency have been made in the CET examination which is unparallel in the country, he said. 

Answer key was uploaded by the BOPEE authorities on the official website at 10 pm on the concluding day of the exam. It is pertinent to mention here Chairman Prof Peer and Controller Examination Prof Gopal Gupta have completely transformed the BOPEE into a highly professional body with cent percent transparency in its functioning and complete satisfaction of the candidates.

Financial famine forces GMCH to curtail its menu for the patients

Tahir Mushtaq


JAMMU, June 24: A ‘financial famine’ is going on in the Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) as the administration is not even able to provide the patients a healthy diet as prescribed in the rules. 

According the official sources GMCH is directed to provide their patients a diet consisting of egg, cheese, cereals, vegetables, rice and chapatti, but from the past some days few of the items like eggs and cheese has been deducted from the menu reason scarcity of funds. 

“Enough funds are being provided to the hospitals for a sufficient diet but still the administration is not giving them the proper diet keeping the rest of the money with them” they added. 

Sources also revealed that earlier the authorities gave the patients all the prescribed food items but from about three weeks they are not providing those eggs and cheese in their meals. 

Moreover the milk ought to be provided to them is not being given. A deduction is being seen in the quantity of the milk also. 

Sources also said that the money is being misused by the authorities to fill the pockets of some officials. 

The funds provided to the hospital authorities are in crores but the funds are not wholly spent on the patients care. 

Kamlesh Kumari a patient admitted in the hospital from Bishnah said that earlier the authorities provided us egg in breakfast and cheese in lunch but from the last few days they have give us these two items in our daily meal. 

Suraj Kumar a attendant with a patient said that the authorities are definitely filling their pockets by reducing the menu of the meals. 

He added that this is not affecting our health but government’s treasure that the officials are misusing the funds for a common man. 

Minister for Medical Education R S Chib could not be contacted even after repeating attempts. 

However, Medical Superintendent GMCH, Dr Romesh Gupta said that due to lack of funds the administration has decided in a meeting to deduct these food items from the meal provided to the patients.

GMC Mess

Repair work started in emergency block without shifting patients

Tahir Mushtaq

JAMMU, June 22: It seems that Government Medical College (GMC) has forget its professional ethics as it has started repair work in the emergency block without shifting the patients admitted there. The people admitted in the block have to face the dust and unclean surroundings, which can further create health problem for them.

According to the sources, the construction work of the emergency block of GMC has been started by the authorities without shifting the patients out in the emergency ward. The cement and the dust is all around the patients admitted in the ward due to which patients find it unhygienic and unsuitable for having treatment. 
"Whereas, there is a 30 bedded block present in the hospital to accommodate the patients in healthy environment but the authorities is playing with the health of the patients. The block is provided with every possible facility for the patients’ better treatment" they added.

The patients have complained about the unhygienic environment to the authorities but the hospital authorities are not paying attention to these problems. 

One of the patients said that they asked the higher authorities about the problems they have to face but no consideration has been given to their concerns. He said that they are already not in a position to further convince them about their condition. 

An attendant complained that whenever the cement bags are opened the dust spreads in the environment and they have to inhale the same air due to which their health can be affected. He said that this fact is best known to the doctors but they are neglecting this. 

Narinder Singh said that it is good that GMCH is undergoing a construction work but it should not be done at the cost of the health of the patients. 

However when contacted Medical Superintendent, GMCH Romesh Gupta said that there are none of the patients with critical health problems have been admitted in the area where the renovation is going on.

Whereas talking about the full equipped block he said that there is no extra staff for the patients for shifting them in the block. 

"It clearly shows the attitude of the authorities who are aiming to run the AIIMS like institutions in the state. They have no sympathy for the people’s health " said a insider.

Police sleeping, while land sharks grabs land again at Akhnoor

Tahir Mushtaq


JAMMU, June 21: Within days of vacating the 150 kanals of land from the encroachers by forest department, land grabber has again managed to capture land and has destroyed the poles installed by the department. 

However despite FIR lodged by the department, police has failed to take any action against the land sharks, who have considerable political backing in the area. 

According to the sources on the intervening night of June 10, the land grabbers destroyed more than 40 poles along with wiring and tractorised the retrieved portion, while the officials are sleeping over the matter. 

Sources said that a notorious land grabber Bua Ditta has destroyed 40 poles which were installed by the forest department to secure the land which was being allegedly sold to some private parties. 

It is pertinent to mention here that about 30 hectares of land located in Panjore Patwar of tehsil Jammu and Garkhal area of tehsil Akhnoor was under the forceful occupation of the grabber for the last six years, but authorities had failed to take any action against him, despite having full knowledge about this. 
The land is being used for agricultural purposes despite that fact that in records it is shown as government land.



Sources said that though the concerned range officer has lodged a FIR No 132 dated 11.06.2011 with the Police Station Akhnoor but so far Police is also reluctant to take action against the people involved in the illegal act.



Earlier, in November, 2010, the land grabbers stolen away about 80 poles of the same closure which have so far not been recovered by the Forest Department.


When contacted Divisional Forest Officer (SHO) MFP Projects Rakesh Abrol said the forest department has vacated 24 kanals of land as per the official documents and logged an FIR against the accused and complete all other formalities. 

He further said that we are waiting for the police department to take action against the accused person. 

“The possession of forest closure in tehsil Akhnoor is still with the forest department; Bua Ditta has only dig-out the poles”, he said. 

However, Station House Officer (SHO) Akhnoor, Naresh Sharma could not be contacted even after repeating attempts.