Action against absent doctors

42 more doctors to face termination from Health Department

Tahir Mushtaq

JAMMU, Aug 31: The health department of the state government going to terminate 42 doctors from duty as they are absent from the long time.

According to official sources these doctors are posted in different health institutions of the state, but absent from the duties for years so the health department is taking some concrete steps against them.

Sources further said that due to the absence of these doctors’ health care suffers in these areas.

In is pertinent to mention here that some time back heath department has terminated 17 doctors from duty from the duration of 2004 to 2008.

Moreover to strengthen the medical and health facilities the health department is planned to posted the doctors who have completed their higher degrees from Government Medical College Jammu.

The doctors concern from different department of health department including Gynae, Radiology, Anesthesia, Eye, Ortho, Surgery besides some postgraduate and B-Grade doctors.

Talking to TNI Director Health Service, Jammu Dr Madhu Khullar said that the department has only 10 to 15 doctors at present and as per the requirement the department is posted them in different Sub District and District Hospital of the state.

Regarding the absent doctors from the duty Dr Khullar said that we have send a list of 42 doctors of who are absent from their duty for the long time to the higher authorities to take some strict action against them adding that the previously department had also terminate some doctors as they are doing job outside the state.

“As the post laying vacant so to appoint some deserving candidate their the health department is taking to step to terminate the doctor” said Dr Khullar.

It is pertinent to mention here that government is already under scanner for allowing doctors to work in foreign countries. While Jammu and Kashmir is facing acute shortage of doctors to run its health institutions, government has helped in emigration of 16 highly qualified medical professionals to Saudi Arabia through J&K State Overseas Employment Corporation Limited.

Official data says that the corporation which was established to explore employment opportunities for local youth in foreign countries has mostly helped highly trained and qualified professionals to emigrate to other countries.

Open manholes: Death traps on city roads

Tahir Mushtaq

JAMMU, Aug 14: Open manhole on various roads in the city has become death traps and is posing serious threat to commuters’ lives daily.

Shopkeepers and residents from various localities lamented that though they had informed the local Municipal staff several times about the open manholes in several parts of the city with plea to cover them, nothing is being done to repair them.

"Open manholes lead to an accidents as they are mostly situated exactly in the middle of the roads. There is always huge vehicular traffic, besides, a large number of schoolchildren use road everyday while going to their schools”, said Kartar Chand Bhagat, Kachi Chawni.

In most of the cases, contractors who are awarded the work of putting cemented or iron covers on the manholes use substandard material while making these, which is main reason for their short life. Though the concerned authorities get lot of money to construct drains but they kept the manholes uncapped which cause serious problems.

“It seems the authorities are always waiting for a tragedy to happen, so that to close the lids over these manholes. There have been several incidents when two wheeler drivers have been injured after falling in them,” said, Suresh Bushan, a shopkeeper near, Science college road.

The uncovered manholes have also caused problems for vehicles that often get stuck in them. At Patoli-Paloura road, there are many potholes created by the broken lids, which are still uncovered.

“There’s hardly a road in the city where one doesn’t find uncovered manholes. From the city centre Parade ground to Talab Tillo there are plenty of them”, said Sunil Kumar, resident of Resham Ghar colony. 

Jobs for weaker sections

Govt. fails to constitute committee for SCs in J&K

Tahir Mushtaq

JAMMU, Aug 13: To enforce and review the implementation of reservation rules, the state government had planned to constitute ‘Enforcement Committee’ from the past many years but still government has failed to constitute such a committee.

According to sources the government has announced certain schemes for the people belongs to Scheduled Castes (SC) in every department besides seats were reserved to give employment to the deserving candidate falling under SC category.

Sources said that to keep on check on proper implementation of the schemes so that benefit of reservations is provided to deserving candidates a need was felt for a separate committee.

While talking to TNI president All J&K SC/ST Retired Employees Forum Seva Dass Digra said that this is very unfortunate that if such a provision exists in the advisory board but the committee for the welfare of the deserving candidates has never formed.

Digra further said that the proposal of formation of the committee is just a eye wash due to which many candidates suffers from long time.

Whereas member of the advisory board Dr Satpal said that we don’t have any knowledge of any such committee as the advisory board never discussed about it.

He further said the higher official of the advisory board never do anything for the benefit of the community they acting only a mouth piece of state government.

Showing his anxiety about the said issue another member of the advisory board Vijay Lochan said that if there is such proposal with the advisory board then it should be implemented.

Lochan added that if the Enforcement Committee is formed it will help us to get information regarding the reservations and other schemes provided by the centre and state government.

“This is our right to be updated for the proper planning of the future of our children” said Lochan.

When contacted Vice Chairperson Advisory Board, Swarnlata said that the Enforcement Committee will be formed soon.

When asked about the reason in delay of formation of committee didn’t answer citing that she is busy in meeting.

Forest mafia destroys 1000 trees in Garkal, with backing some local politicians

Tahir Mushtaq

JAMMU, Aug12: Putting all the norms at bay, the forest land grabbers have allegedly destroyed around 1000 trees of different varieties planted by the MFP unit of Forest Department in Garkhal area.

Sources said that this has been done with the active help of some government officials and political patronage.

 Moreover, the land mafias have also tractorised the whole closure in order to cultivate it.

The alleged grabbers includes Mukesh Kumar son of Bua Ditta resident of Rajpura Mandi, Sham Lal son of Ishar Dass resident of Paragwal.

The locals of the area also allege that the concerned Police is not cooperating with the Forest Department as a result of which the morale of land grabbers is very high as they continue to plunder the State exchequer by damaging Green Gold of the State and sought intervention of Forest Minister to save this closure from the clutches of land mafia.

Pertinent to mention here that the Forest Department have established this closure which is spread over an area of 300 kanals in 1994-95 near the International border in order to maintain ecological balance and to save locals from Pakistani firing but for the last 4-5 years, the land grabbers have encroached upon it by cutting hundreds of Khair and Talli trees inadvertently. Moreover, they have been able to get the girdawari of 40 kanals of Forest land registered in their favour with the active connivance of revenue field staff.

When contacted Range Officer MFP Projects, Jammu/Kathua Range Tara Chand confirmed that on 8, August 2012 they have made plantation in the said closure in the presence of Forest Protection Force which have been uprooted during night hours by the accused and thrown away into the adjoining river.

He further said that the offenders are repeatedly causing damage to the said closure and in this regard several complaints were made to the Police but in vain.

However Station House Officer Akhnoor, Mahesh Sharma said that the case is in the court as the police department has submitted the challan in the court.

“Many times we asked forest department to deploy their security guard and we will provide security as per requirement” said Sharma.

Administrative inertia

Bio-engineering labs for Hospitals, wrangled in red-tapism

Tahir Mushtaq

JAMMU, Aug 9: From the past long time the health and medical education department of the state government planned to set a separate Bio-Medical Engineering to overcome the frequent technical problems in the diagnostic and life supporting equipments but till date the project hangs balance due to one reason or others.

According to the sources, out of 101 major equipments installed in different departments of Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Jammu in which 95 are functional.

It is pertinent to mention here that Department of IT, Government of India has already opened two branches of DOEACC in the State, one each in Jammu and Srinagar which is the only existing repair centers for such equipments.

The problem is more acute in health centres at district level, which had to face a major problem in case of any fault. “At times the machines remain out of order for days and weeks together as there is no engineering staff to take care of these.

Either these are to be send outside the state, or engineers had to be brought from private manufactures which is very cumbersome process”, complaints an official.

Officials said that out of 101 major equipments installed in different departments of Medical College, Jammu nearly 95 are functional, while remaining need minor or major repair.

“This is a major headache as when any equipment develops some snag, we have to wait for the repair work for days together as we don’t have much trained staff. At times just a minor fault puts the machine out of order for days”, said the insiders.

Despite repeating attempts in-charge principal GMCH Dr Aniece Choudhary could not be contacted for his official version.

Death of cattle in Samba

PCB fails to close down polluting units, claims of action only on papers

Tahir Mushtaq

JAMMU, Aug 06: Despite death of several cattle in Samba after drinking contaminated water, Pollution Control Board (PCB) has still failed to take action against the management of the Pharma unit, which is running illegally.

It also raises question mark over the claims of the board that action is being taken against nearly 800 industrial units which have been put under Red category by the government.

According to sources there are many units of chemicals, pharmaceuticals and pesticides in Bari Brahmana, Kathua and Samba area of Jammu which are running without Gas Chromatograph whereas the administration has send notice to Indo Swift Pvt Ltd to close the unit but not obeying to the administration the unit is still running.

It is pertinent to mention here that this unit was illegally operating and PCB has approved the permission up to June 2011. Now, how this unit was being allowed to operate is yet to be ascertained.

Moreover the PCB has indicated that this bulk drugs manufacturing unit and the lab have been put in the Red Category which showed that they are highly polluting units.

It is important to mention here that this unit’s Effluent Treatment Plant was also not functioning for the past some time resulting the discharge of polluted water from this unit to the drains and then to nallah and finally, in river, without being treated.

When contacted Regional Director PCB Showkat Ahmed Choudhary admitted that the said unit has default and not working properly.

He maintained that it is still not proved that after consuming the water coming out from that particular unit the death buffaloes died. “The department has sent the samples for the tests and waiting for the reports” said Choudhary.

He further said that it is the responsibility of Veterinary doctors to find the actual reason behind the death of the animals.

Despite putting more than 800 industrial units put under Red and Orange category in Jammu and Kashmir, for releasing tones of pollutants every day, none of them have been closed down by State Pollution Control Board (SPCB), despite clear directions of the Supreme Court of India.

According to the officials records nearly 390 highly polluted industrial have been catogeroised as Red and 459 units have been classified as Orange after survey by the government, but most of them are running without taking any major steps to contain release of highly toxic material.

Shocker awaits residents: Administration may increase prices of bricks

Tahir Mushtaq

JAMMU, Au 03: City residents, prepare for another shock, as administration may increase the rates of bricks after repeated plea by the brick Klin owners, who are alleging large scale losses due to increase in the prices of raw material.

Sources said that though so far association of Brick Klin owners and administration had held several rounds of talks on the issue without reaching any conclusion, but now there is every likelihood that administration may give its consent for same in next few weeks.

“There is tug of war going on between both sides. Though last year, new revised rates were announced by the administration, but it was rejected by powerful body of brick klin owners who are fleecing the people by charging higher rates in violation of the norms”, said a source.

Recently the association members have also met Chief Minister Omar Abdullah with demands that there should be revision of rates keeping in view the increased price of all the raw material, particularly coal, which is a major component during manufacturing of the bricks.

It is pertinent to mention here that few months back, district administration had notified the rates of various qualities and makes of bricks.

Sale rate of per thousand A class bricks have been set about Rs. Rs 3500, for class "B" quality of bricks, it has been fixed at Rs 2,990 per thousand at kiln site (local tax extra) and class "C" quality of bricks are to be sold at Rs. 2645 per thousand (local tax extra). Rate of "Tiles" has been sanctioned at Rs 3105 per thousand (local tax extra).
However in order to have higher profit margin, the klin owners are selling the C grade bricks at the rate of A grade bricks at various places.

About two months back administration had directed the Police to take action against the illegal selling and number of trucks were detained after a special crackdown was launched. Most of them were selling B and C grade bricks at Rs 8,000 to 10,000 per thousand, but much higher than the rates fixed by district administration.

“The owners are adhering to Section 13 of the J&K Brick-kilns (Regulation) Act-2010 which has laid specific norms and resorting to several malpractices like overcharging and manufacturing poor quality bricks”, alleged Nadeem Qadri, who runs a NGO.

When contacted Deputy Commissioner, Jammu, Sanjeev Verma said, “We are looking into the issue but the interests of people will be taken into account. So far no decision has been taken and we will hold talks with the association”.

Janakraj Mahajan, president of the Brick Kiln Owners Association, Jammu, said it has become necessary as they are facing great losses.

“Prices of raw material have shot up and we are bearing heavy losses. Administration should take immediate steps to announce new rates”, Mahajan said.

Affects water, train schedule

50 lakh people affected by technical snag in northern grid


Tahir Mushtaq


JAMMU, July 30: Nearly 50 lakh people in ten districts of Jammu were affected by the sudden in the Northern Grid station last night. 

According to officials after the maximum part of the state depends upon the supply coming from Northern Grid and after the fault occurred there were power cuts around 9 states of the country. 
It is pertinent to mention here that from the past long time the city is facing an unprecedented power crisis from the past long time and now this major fault in the grid station make people suffered the whole night. 
Across the state most of the people are literally sleepless during last night, as they faced long power shutdown. 

Pertinently the department is blaming the withdrawal of 152 MW of power by Northern Grid for the crisis and power theft as major reason for the present mess. 

When contacted Minister for Power, Shabir Ahmed Khan said after the fault arise in the grid state the department manage to take help from the local grid station for continues power supply to the affected areas of the state. 

Khan further said that the department is on work to sort out the problem very shortly the power supply from the Northern Gird station starts. 

Northern Grid (NG) had already cut down 152 MW of power to the electricity starved state about a month back and reprimanded Power Development Department (PDD) for its failure to improve its distribution system and curtail Transmission and Distribution (T&D) losses which have reached alarming 63 per cent. 

While the peak summer season has pushed up the power consumption to 2300 MW across Jammu and Kashmir, the PDD at the moment is able to provide only 1500 MW from all its sources. 600-700 MW to Jammu region and 700 to 800 MW to Kashmir region. 
However a senior officer from PDD said that its not only that extra consumption of power which has created power crisis in the state, but J&K is having one of the highest Transmission and Distribution (T&D) losses in the country and most of the electricity is lost during distribution part. 

T&D losses have shown an substantial increase in past decade. The losses have increased from 46.98 % in 2005-06 to 62.31 % in the financial year 2010-11, with State Electricity Regulatory Commission (SERC) blaming it mostly on the theft by the consumers and failure of department to take effective steps.