PDD negligence claims life

Boy dies, 4 family members injured

Tahir Mushtaq

RAMBAN, Feb 16: Due to the carelessness attitude of Power Development Department (PDD) towards their profession a boy lost his life whereas other four members of his family received burn injuries, early this morning.

According to locals at around 6:30 in the morning the voltage of electric supply suddenly increased to 440 volts in village Brahrgadi of Makerkote area tehsil Banihal district Ramban.

They further said that the deceased boy was trying to remove the fuse when he caught electric shot, the family members shifted him to Sub District Hospital (SDH) Banihal, where doctors declared him brought dead, while his four family members in effort to save his life received injuries.

The deceased has been identified as Reyaz Ahmed student 10th class son of Ghulam Mohammad resident of Brahrgadi. Whereas four other family members who injured in the incident identified as Nasama Begim wife of Abdul Qayoom , Gulzara Begun wife of Abdul Rahid and Farooq Ahmed son of Abdul Rashid. All the injured were admitted in SDH Banihal.

Meanwhile after the incident, around 4000 people of the area took to streets and blocked the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway for several hours at Magarkote in protest against the Power Development Department.

Locals alleged that this is not the first incident but it is now become a routine in their area and the administration is not taking any concern step in this regard.

Locals further alleged that after the completion around three hours of incident no one from the administration has come to assess the situation.

They said that we are feeling unsafe in our homes as the LT wires and electric poles are also not maintained by Power Development Department and they demanded that whosoever found guilty in this incident shall be punished.

After the intervention of District Development Commissioner (DDC) Ramban Bashir Ahmed Dar and Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Randeep Kumar the protest ended.

DDC Ramban assured that the administration will provide the compensation under rules to the family of the deceased person and injured persons. He directed the PDD to initiate a legal enquiry in this regard.

Whereas Executive Engineer PDD Ramban Habib Choudhary assured that the department will submit the enquiry report within 10 days.

In this regard a FIR has been logged under FIR No. 28/2016 u/s 314A, 337 RPC against PDD Official at Police Station Ramban.

PDD in deep slumber, many areas reeling under darkness

Tahir Mushtaq

RAMBAN, Feb 12: On the one side the state has one of the largest power project Bhagliar located at Chanderkote area of district Ramban, producing 950 MV electricity, on the other side Bass Mohalla of the said area is facing difficulties due to unavailability of continue electricity.

Adding to their woes, there is no one in Power Development Department (PDD) to listen to their problems.

Sarpanch of the said area Mushtaq Ahmed Lone when contacted said that at many instances we tried to speak the concern Assistant Executive Engineer (AEE) or Junior Engineer (JE), but they never respond to our phone calls, for what purpose the government has appointed these people when they are not available to hear our grievances.

Lone further said that this is not the case of few days but from around one year we are undergoing in the same state of long power cuts adding that the administration is not taking any step in this regard.

Similar reports are pouring from other rural areas including Raj Garh, Ghandri, Kabhi, Sumbarh and Harogh besides many such areas.

Local alleged that the LT transmission lines in many areas are getting in pathetic condition day by day, but the concern department is failed to maintain due the reason best known to them.

Locals further alleged the concern officers never bother visited to the effected areas which is a major cause of concern adding that it is only line mans and casual workers who are maintaining these transmission lines.

While talking to Rising Kashmir, AEE Ramban King Kumar said that the department is suffering from shortage of man power due to which we are unable to reach every area.

He further said that one major reason behind the frequent and long power cuts is power theft which causes overloading due to which many times fuse get blown.

Traffic continue on national highway after fresh snowfall

8MeT expecting more rain, snowfall

Tahir Mushtaq

RAMBAN, Feb 7: Many parts of district Ramban received fresh snowfall, ending the dry spell, with the Srinagar- Jammu National Highway being closed for some time due to bad weather.

The 300 km arterial highway, the only road link which connects the Valley with rest of the country, especially in the areas around Jawahar Tunnel and Patnitop forced its closure.

"The Srinagar-Jammu National Highway has been re-opened for traffic which was earlier closed due to snowfall," a spokesman of the Traffic Police department said.

There was snowfall in many areas across the district Ramban including Pogal Paristan, Gool, Patnitop besides other parts of state like Baderwah, Gulmarg, Sonmarg, Pahalgam during the night. Banihal, the gateway town to Kashmir Valley in south, received 4 inches snow in upper reaches and 6 inches at Jawahar Tunnel.

However more than 150 passenger and load carrier vehicles were stranded for several hours across at both sides of Jawahar Tunnel, moreover Banihal Qazigund-Baramulla train continuing its services during the fresh snowfall and the stranded passengers enjoying while travelling by train.

Jammu Kashmir is currently under the grip of 'Chillai- Bachei' the 16-day harshest winter period after 40 days of Chillai Kalan which begins on December 21 every year.

While talking to Early Times Director Metrology Department Sonam Lotus said "We are expecting moderate rainfall across the state and snowfall at upper reaches in valley from 10 February night to 13 February".

People left high & dry due to discrepancies in ration cards courtesy CAPD, Pvt Co

Tahir Mushtaq

RAMBAN, Feb 6: Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution (CAPD) Department of the state government and the Private Company entrusted to maintain rationees records again have left people of Ramban District high and dry due to discrepancies in ration records registration as per 2011 Census.

According to the president Dealers Association Ramban (DAR), Mohammad Ayoub Zohda, there is an error in registration process of new ration cards in district Ramban owing the casual attitude of the concern department.

He further said that that the registration forms of many people are still missing, moreover there is a mistake of ration card holder's names. In this connection a meeting of the delegation of Dealer Association Ramban was held with District Development Commissioner (DDC) Ramban Bashir Ahmed Dar to discusses various issues pertaining to new registration and updating old ration cards.

Taking cognizance in this regard, the DDC Ramban directed all the Tehsil Supply Officers (TSOs) of Ramban district to rectify the mistakes in ration cards and updated the same as per 2011 Census. DDC Ramban also assured the delegation that in future there will be no such errors in ration cards and the system will run smoothly.

Dealer Association Ramban president said it is the fault of the CAPD Department and the private company which was entrusted the responsibility of registering the list of new ration card holders.

He further said, "We are on protest for the last two days and will continue till our demands are fulfilled".

Talking to Early Times Assistant Director (AD) CAPD Ramban Abdul Rashid said that department has updated the list of new consumers in different tehsils across the district.

He however shifting the blame said that the inaccuracy whosoever is not from the department side but is from the private company which was outsourced.

MGNREGA marred by corruption, pilferage

Tahir Mushtaq

RAMBAN, Feb 2: The much hyped Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) that was aimed at providing rural employment has been hijacked by the corrupt officers and officials who have been designated to oversee its implementation.

Despite ferocious credit war between political parties over MGNREGA, it is a pity that nearly eight years after its inception, a large chunk of rural population does not have any idea of the scheme and a large number of those who are engaged under the scheme are denied wages by the government babus.

One such incident has been reported from Panchayat Hochak under block Ukerhal of tehsil Ramsu district Ramban where RDD engaged about 80 locals under MGNREGA and later failed to pay their wages despite lapse of four years.

Locals alleged that in the year 2013-14 they started leveling work with estimated cost of Rs 5 lakh, but after the completion of four years they didn't get their payments. They further alleged that the panch of the said Panchayat Hochak namely Om Singh had taken Rs 300 each from 80 engaged labourers in year January 2014 as commission for the release of payment.

Moreover the Sarpanch of the said panchayat Tirath Singh Hockah had also taken an amount of Rs 10000 from a labour namely Janak Singh in year 2015 for the same purpose, but our woes increased when these people demanded Rs 40000 more in the name of payment release.

Assistant Commissioner Development (ACD) Ramban Gul Hussain Kraipak said that he was not sure whether payment invoice for the year 2013 and 2014 has been sent to the concerned bank or not.

"The department shall first verify the allegations and if anybody is found guilty within the department or even Sarpanch/ Panch, action under law shall be initiated" he added.