Earthquake threat: J&K to train 500 engineers to in construction of quake resistant buildings

Tahir Mushtaq


JAMMU, Sept 9: Although Jammu and Kashmir still does not have any law making it compulsory to construct earthquake resistant buildings, the state disaster management cell constituted after the 2005 disaster has so far trained about 500 engineers and architects in construction of quake resistant structures. 

According to the officials the cell is now making plans to impart training to 
masons and construction workers on district basis so that they could use their expertise on the field particularly in rural areas. 

Amir Ali, project coordinator of the cell said, “Still we have lot to do, but 
before 2005 we had no experience in disaster management, but we are learning now”. 

According to the officials all the people were trained with the assistance of 
National Institute of Disaster Management, Ahmedhabad and other national 
institutions. 

It is pertinent to mention here that on October 8, 2005 a powerful earthquake had struck the Jammu and Kashmir including the Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK), leaving about 1400 dead in J&K and around 70,000 dead in PoK and destroying thousands of structures. The cell was established after the killer quake both in Kashmir valley and Jammu region to coordinate the disaster management work in future. 

Ali said, “On technical front we are still not upto the mark but we are investing in technical as well as human resources so that we may not have to face the situation similar to 2005”. 

He said that the Disaster Management cell has also launched a ‘techno-legal 
Regime’ so to amend the building law to enforce construction of earthquake 
resistant structures. “So far there is no such law to enforce people to construct earthquake resistant structures and this technical legal regime was introduced to emend existing laws”, he said. 

Government has already issued order in March this year making it compulsory for all government departments to construct new buildings according to the quake resistant structures. 

Officials said that the cell will also conduct a training programme for doctors on disaster preparedness in which 50 doctors including 15 from Jammu region would be trained. 

The area of concern for the government and other agencies are the rural and far-flung areas of the state were lack of resources and modern building plans are still not been implemented. 

The cell has also approached the respective District Commissioners to nominate engineers and other technical staff so that they could be imparted training.

GMCH mess

Architectural problems mar new emergency block of GMCH

Tahir Mushtaq

JAMMU, Sept 8: To cater the health care need of the ever increasing rush of patients in the old emergency of Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), the government had established the additional block of emergency, but that has also failed to serve the purpose due to ill conceived architecture and lack of facilities.

The heart of the matter is that even the doctors and paramedics were not satisfied with the facilities made available in the new emergency block. About 400 to 450 patients suffering from various ailments visits daily for their treatment.

It is pertinent to mention here that the old emergency of the hospital has shortage of many essential equipments besides the space was not adequate to accommodate heavy rush of patients.

A doctor deployed on duty, on the condition of anonymity, said they had been facing shortage of infrastructure and other required facilities owing to which they were not been able to give satisfactory treatment to the patients.

He added, “There are only two toilets for patients i.e. one each in ground floor and first floor in the new building. But there is no separate toilet facility available for the doctors. The new block is total wastage. It seems that architectural advice had not been taken by the department before designing the structure.”

He further said that cabins made to examine the patients are so small that patients cannot be examined inside. He disclosed that there were only two ventilators in the emergency which was less and plenty of other facilities are also required to facilitate quality health care.

A paramedic also expressed that their strength was not sufficient which puts additional burden on the existing paramedics. She questioned, “The government is not been able to provide adequate staff and equipment in GMCH then why Super Speciality Hospital is being build. Instead of constructing buildings the focus must be on strengthening the existing health care system.”

One of attendants with a patient namely Gulu Devi from Akhnoor alleged that doctors were not attending her. She suffers from paralysis and admitted in emergency but very rarely doctor come to examine her because of which we are not been able to understand her state of health, she added. She expressed total dissatisfaction with the healthcare facility in the emergency particularly with the sanitation.

However, the Casualty Medical Officer (CMO) refused to comment over the state of affairs. She maintained that she was not supposed to answer the media queries.

When contacted, Medical Superintendent, GMCH Manoj Chalotra, he informed that Jammu Kashmir Project Construction Company (JKPCC) holds the responsibility for maintenance of new Emergency Block.

He admitted that design of the block is ill conceived and blamed JKPCC that constructed the building. However, soon JKPCC is going to handover the responsibility of new Emergency Block to hospital administration thereafter efforts would be made to improve the thing, he added.

He further said that as far as shortage of staff is concerned the administration yesterday appointed ten more staff nurses from Srinagar on contractual basis.

Pertinently, the people are impatiently waiting for the functioning of Super Specialty Hospital in Jammu, but there is no guarantee that this hospital will retained the needed infrastructure and other required facilities for the health care of the people.

JCC holds talk with CS

Amid pressure from the Govt. employees pen down strike continues

Tahir Mushtaq

JAMMU/SRINAGAR Sept 7: With strike launched by the employees entering its second day, Chief Secretary Madhav Lal today held another round of talks with the representatives to out the issue, as the work was crippled in all the government departments in the state.

The leaders and office bearers of employees association were advised against holding the rallies and public demonstration in view of the prevailing situation and the reconciliatory attitude being pursued by the Government towards the resolution of the pending demands.

It was emphasised in the meeting that the Government is looking into the various demands of the employees, particularly revision of Road-Map for the payment of arrears.

Meanwhile, District Magistrate, Srinagar has clarified that section-144 CRPC is in force in the Municipal limits of Srinagar city. In this context, he has also clarified that no request for holding of any protest demonstrations on behalf of the employees association has been received by him.

He has, therefore, appealed to the employees to respect the prohibitory orders which are in force.

In Jammu, on second day of the three day strike call given by the Joint Consultative Committee (JCC) of the government employees in Jammu and Kashmir, work in offices was affected with workers organising a major demonstration near Exhibition ground.

Protesters raised slogans against the apathetic attitude of the government for its failure to fulfill its commitment made to the employees to release the arrears of 6th Pay Commission report and regularization of the adhoc and contractual employees.

Reports said that at many places workers held demonstration outside their offices and continue to suspension of their work. Due to the strike, functioning of the colleges, agriculture department, Housing Board and other offices remained affected. However with many of the union adopting a neutral role during the present agitation, work continues in other departments.

JCC leaders have called the employees to make the Srinagar rally on Thursday a grand success to send a strong message to the government that they will not be coved down by the threats and divide and rule policy adopted by the administration.

They have also urged the workers to organise rally in Jammu to support the cause of thousands of workers who are fighting against the arrogant attitude of the present regime.

Addressing the gathering, JCC senior leader Ram Kumar Sharma said that the three day long strike in the state will send a message to the leaders that they cannot befool the workers.

SRTC mess

SRTC land sell plan falls flat, as none showed interest

Tahir Mushtaq

JAMMU, Sept 5: The State Road Transport Corporation (SRTC) has’ deferred’ its ambitious plan to sell its land resources to meet the salary component of its employees and other liabilities of the corporation.

According to sources some legal problems and lack of interest shown by the buyers towards the landed property of the state run corporation, forced the corporation to delay the commercial exploitation of the landed assets, which was decided after the agreement between SRTC employees union and Management in March this year.

It is pertinent to mention here that corporation had decided to dispose of about 5 kanals of land at Pathankote-Dalhause road and 138 kanals of land at Pampore to meet the liabilities of its employees and pay off debts to J&K Bank Limited. As per the agreement reached between the management of the corporation and the office bearers/workers of the SRTC Union on March 10, 2008 and subsequently modified on March 24, 2008, the Corporation was to explore commercial exploitation of its landed property in order to meet the liabilities.

The Clause 3rd of the agreement of March 10, 2008 reads as “Release of 42 slabs of COLA w.e.f. 31.03.2008 out of proceeds of economic exploitation of the assets of the Corporation”.

However J&K SRTC workers union leader Didar Singh said that they will not accept the salary without COLA and want permanent solution for the future.

“Every time the management betrays us and to get salary, we have to take path of agitation”.

Adding, “This time we will not accept anything short salary plus 42 slabs of pending COLA”.

The SRTC the state carrier has a fleet of 1300 vehicles, but due to the mismanagement at different levels the corporation has become one of the loss making enterprise in Jammu and Kashmir.

Although the state government was providing a budgetary support of Rs 17 crore per year but most of it was used to pay off debts incurred by the corporation during last over a decade.

Mubarak Mandi palace vanishing heritage: Thanks to government

Tahir Mushtaq

JAMMU, Sept 3: With faulty planning and red tapism, the much hyped Mubarak Mandi Palace renovation seems will not see the light of the day and the heritage palace will become a part of the history.

According to the official sources, the cost for the renovation of the palace is estimated Rs 236 crore and but it had missed about three deadlines in the past and right now the work is far from completion.

“The authorities concerned are least bothered about slow pace of restoration work and if the government is really serious than it has taken immediate steps to conserve and develop the complex into its original architectural form,” sources maintained.

Sources disclosed that Archeological Survey of India (ASI) is also suffering from shortage of manpower which is another faction causing delay in restoration work.

A 63 year old Mul Raj Abrol, a resident of Mubarak Mandi said that the Mubarak Mandi is now become “Barbad Mandi” due to the apathy of the government.

He further said that since the renovation work of the palace starts neither any minister nor any government officers visited to check the work that is the main reason the work is still pending.

 “It will also help in promoting tourism in the state if the palace restored to its original shape as it also has Dogra Art Museum inside palace” Abrol said.

He maintained that when government offices were there in the Mubarak Mandi complex the administration at the period of six month to one year look after the maintenance work of the building, but after the shifting of the offices there is nobody to take care of this heritage site. Due to which it loses its identification slowly.

He added that at the same site people often visited for their official works in the different departments placed in the palace. But as there is no office in the complex nobody came there to witness the heritage of Dogra rulers.

The renovation of the fort complex, constructed by the Dogra rulers is saga of apathy and neglect. Initially government had made the project report for Rs 53 conservation project, which was later raised upto Rs 150 crore. Now the cost has escalated to Rs 250 crore.

Officials said that INTACH, New Delhi has already submitted Detailed Project Report (DPR) of 90 percent of the buildings along with Vision Plan for which the Society has already constituted Advisory Committee to study the same.

As per the revenue records, the heritage complex is spread over an area of 120 kanals and 16 marlas. The palace architecture represents a unique blend of Rajasthani, Mughal and Baroque European influences. The most beautiful segment is the Sheesh Mahal, The Pink Hall now houses the Dogra Art Museum which showcases about 800 rare and exquisite Pahari paintings from Jammu and Basoli schools of paintings.

The work was entrusted to four leading institutions of the country in 2007, including Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), Indian National Trust for Art, Culture and Heritage (INTACH), National Museum, New Delhi and Geological Survey of India.

Teachers’ front alleges mess in transfers of teachers

Tahir Mushtaq


JAMMU, Sept 1: Govt. Teachers Front Jammu has alleged large scale bungling in recent transfers of teachers in Jammu District.

On the day, August 16, Anna Hazare started his indefinite fast to focus attention on corruption rampant in all walks of life and country wide stir was launched against the menace and to press for strong law and powerful institution to book the corrupt, large scale transfer of teachers were ordered by the CEO Jammu. The President of the front Sudesh Chaudary has alleged that the clear cut guide lines laid by the minister for education to effect transfers of teachers in keeping with the set norms and the policy laid down, were violated and many teachers who have already their postings at Jammu city schools for decades together were not moved out of the city but shifted to some other schools in the city. On the other hand many teachers serving in rural areas for more than three years were not automatically posted in Jammu city schools. It is alleged by the front that many transfers were made in Jammu city schools on pay off to the officials in the CEO office. Rs.30,000 each is alleged to have been fixed for teachers transfer to Jammu city, including of those who have already served a long tenure in the city. They were only shifted to some others schools in the city.

A Principal of a Higher Secondary school in Jammu Tehsil has complained that five of his teachers have been transferred from the school to Jammu city or its peripheries. But no replacement of the same has been ordered, with the result that the HS school is facing acute shortage of staff and loss of study by the students.

The President of the front has further stated that strangely instead of issuing orders of transfer, under a single order and lists sent to the respective Principals or Head Masters, separate orders for every transfer of teacher were issue and the copies of these orders were never sent to the concerned schools nor to the teachers. The teachers who were already in contact with the concerned staff were made to come personally or send their relatives to collect transfer orders. This was done to help the officials in the CEO office to get pay offs before handing over transfer orders to the concerned, the front has alleged.


It is further alleged that the transfer orders, duly singed by the CEO were issue on 16th August, the same were not handed over to the effective teachers or their family members, coming to the CEO office for the purpose. Those who paid the tips to the officials concerns were handed over orders on spot, while others were made to take several rounds of the office to get the orders. In many cases delaying tactics were used to harass the transferred teacher, to force them to pay bribe to the official, before order was handed over to them.

The transfer orders were kept under lock in the almirah of a concerned official, who was most of the days either on leave or gone for some official work out of office. In certain cases the transfer orders of some teachers were stated to 
have been misplaced, as a tactic to make the concerned to pay bribe.

The front has demanded a thorough probe into the whole murky affair by the Minister for Education, Peerzada Mohammad Sayeed.

Govt. sets apart Rs 1 crore for Hemophilia department at SMGS

Tahir Mushtaq

JAMMU, Aug 29: There is some good news for the children affected with Hemophilia disease has government has kept a separate funds for the patients to provide them necessary help.

According to official sources, the centre government has sanctioned the total about of Rs 1 crore for the factors given to the effected children.

A source said that if the department dealing with the patients in SMGS hospital gets good response then they will send the proposal to higher authorities for increasing the funds for the same.

Sources disclosed that after getting direction from the State High Court to provide the treatment to the children suffering from the deadly disease, the government has approved the funds to the department.

The Hemophilia is a genetic bleeding disorder affecting about 7500 families in the state. Children are born with this bleeding disorder such person lack blood clotting ability and the blood does not clot whenever there is even a minor injury.

According to the reports that the condition of children and young in the state is quite pathetic and painful with more than 90% having developed physical deformities due to non availability of life saving medicine called Factors. 

Reports further say that about 20% have already become HCV and HBV positive. All these are preventable if they are provided free treatment.

Experts say that a person who has hemophilia has a tendency to bleed excessively. Think of the last time you had a cut or scrape. When the bleeding stops on its own, you're seeing clotting in action.

They added that if your blood is clotting normally, your body naturally protects itself. Platelets, which are "sticky cells," go to where the bleeding occurs and cover the hole, plugging it up. This is the first step in the clotting process. When the platelets plug the hole, they release chemicals that attract more sticky platelets and also activate various clotting factors, which are proteins in the blood. These proteins mix with the platelets to form fibers, which make the clot stronger and stop the bleeding. Our bodies have clotting factors that work together to make fibrinogen, the substance that makes the fibers.

A registrar, Pediatrics Department SMGS, said that till date the department has provided the factors free of cost to about 30 effected children besides this around 5 adults have also come for the treatment of Hemophilia disorder. He further said that there are 400 registered children suffering from the same disease in Jammu province.

“As the department has recently started this, so we inform the registered patients telephonically. And very soon the department will establish a unit for Hemophilia patients” he added.