Jammu fast becoming city of billboards, JMC sleeping

Tahir Mushtaq
JAMMU, Feb 12: The city of temples is fast becoming huge billboard, thanks to the rampant unauthorised erected hoardings, sign boards, advertisement portals in virtually every nook and corner of the city. Despite the recent drive launched by the Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) against these hoarding, walls, fencings, electric poles, buildings even roof tops continue to be used with impunity for putting up hoarding of all types even government ones. Added to this are the small private tutorials that have displayed their hoardings at many places to attract students. Even the roads have not escaped these advertisements sidelining the traffic rules as the visual impediments and distractions created by them could cause accidents on various roads. “Make a round of any part of the city and you will realize that advertisements, hoardings and posters have been fixed on virtually every available space. This has given the city very ugly look”, said Ankush Abrol, a resident of Gandhi nagar. Though JMC launched a special drive against these unauthorised hoardings recently but it did not had any effect on their use and most parts of the city continue to be in grip of these hoarding. Sources said that JMC has become slow in its drive as pressure was built on the officials to be selective keeping in view the business interests of some prominent people in the town. “Given the quantum of the illegal hoardings in Jammu, it seems that it will take months of sustained drive to make Jammu free from such illegal hoardings”, added a college student Megha Gupta. People say that if the officials are sincere about removing these hoarding they can do it within days, but JMC just do a publicity stunt. “There are certain norms regarding the use of the public spaces for advertisements in the city and we are making plans to intensify our drive against such violations”, Singh said. “Jammu is a big city and it will take some time to clear all the hoarding from the town, but we have directed officials to take required action”, he said. Amit Kumar, an Engineering student rued that even the trees on the roadsides have not been spared. “I don’t know under which law they are allowed to put banner and sign boards on the trees, it gives ugly look to the city”.

7 selected KAS officers waiting for appointment letters

Tahir Mushtaq JAMMU, Feb 10: Term it’s a official injustice or discrimination, seven candidates selected in the final list of Kashmir Administrative Services (KAS) of 2010-11 batch, are still waiting for the appointment letters. These hapless candidates are moving from pillar to post for getting joining orders but so far they have not received any reason for the delay on part of the officials. Sources maintained that Jammu Kashmir Public Service Commission (JKPSC) had recommended names of 189 candidates to the General Administration Department (GAD). These candidates qualified the KAS 2010-11 vide order number PSC/Ex-11/109 and were called for Medical Examination. Further, out of 189 selected candidates, joining orders of 182 were issued joining orders vide order number 02 of GAD of 2012/434 dated 02-01-2012 against the posts in the Junior Scale of Jammu and Kashmir Administrative Services, Jammu and Kashmir Police (Gazzetted) Services, and Jammu and Kashmir Accounts (Gazzetted) Services. Seven selected candidates Mudassar Buddar Mir (S. No. 82 in selection list) of Doda, Pankaj Sasan (Serial No. 119) of Rajouri, Irshad Ahmed Sheikh (S. No. 132) of Doda, Hosiyar Chand (S. No. 144) of Doda, Sham Singh Rai (S. No. 150) of Ramban, Vijay Kuamr (S.No. 189) of Vijaypur, and Sunaina Bharti (S.No. 188) R S Pura were not issued joining orders. These aggrieved selected candidates informed that they were made to understand that their names were withheld because of shortfall of height for the police service. They made representations to Chief Secretary, Revenue Minister Raman Bhalla, Haj and Auqafn Minister Ajaj Ahmed Jan. The ministers even write to the CM for his intervention in the case. But till date nothing has been done so far. One of the candidate Pankaj Sasan said that they worked hard to clear the tough exams but the attitude of the government is very unfortunate. “We fail to understand, why they are delaying issuing appointment letters to us. It is clear discrimination with us”.

J&K recieves 9 crore under RMSA

Tahir Mushtaq


JAMMU, Feb 08: With most of the centrally sponsored projects to strengthen the education sector in Jammu and Kashmir are running behind schedule, state has received additional Rs. 9 crore under Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) for strengthening infrastructure in secondary schools.


Officials said that the money is to be utilized for renovation of laboratories, maintenance and upkeep of electricity and water-channels, teachers’ trainings, purchase of library books and computers.


Official sources said that the in order to smoothly get the funds, Education Department has been asked by the central government to submit the progress report with regard to expenditure incurred during 2009-2010 under RMSA, requirement of textbooks in summer and winter zone, details of engagements of RETs as on date, progress as on date in opening and upgradation of schools under SSA and civil works under SSA.

It is pertinent to mention here that Minister for School Education Peerzada Mohammad Sayeed had recently taken a review meeting of the department to get feed back from the officials regarding the implementation of the central schemes. Government has already declared the education sector as essential services in the state.


Under the central plan each school will get approximately Rs.7.65 lakhs per annum under the scheme. Under the central government funded scheme the state will get the funds on the basis of 90:10 ratio as Jammu and Kashmir falls into special category state. 


Under Rashtriya Madhymik Siksha Abiyan (RMSA),students and schools from 8th to 12th standard are covered.


This programme was launched after the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) which covered the elementary education in the state RMSA will cover children in secondary schools”, said a official.


SSA 72 Computer Aided Learning Centres (CALCs) have been established in upper primary schools. As many as, 1901 primary schools have been opened, 1329 schools upgraded while 1021 Education Guarantee Centres being given primary status under the scheme.


The scheme of continuous, comprehensive evaluation (CEE) is set to be implemented with a renewed vigour and commitment with a view to securing the much-needed make-over of elementary education with emphasis on quality.

Mismanagement galore at SMGS, three patients share single bed

Tahir Mushtaq


JAMMU, Feb 07: Shri Maharaja Gulab Singh Hospital (SMGS) is at presently facing the problem of mismanagement. The hospital is at the heart of the city and therefore each and every patient prefers to go in this hospital for treatment.


The hospital has many wards for the indoor patience with beds. Each patient has to use one bed for his or her treatment. Sometime due to heavy rush of the patients two to three patient share a single bed.


At presently there is no such rush of the patience in the said hospital, but due to mismanagement the patients are suffering as in some wards two or more patience has shared a single bed and in some wards most of the beds are lying vacant.


Although three to four doctors and helpers are always present in each ward but still there prevails the mismanagement. But it is the duty of the concerned department to maintain proper sequence of the patients to provide them the best of treatment.


A senior Doctor posted in the hospital said that it is the duty of the concerned doctor to maintain proper decorum and the vacant beds are for emergency cases only. But the question arising is that if no emergency case comes to the hospital then why the other patients will suffer although the beds are vacant?


State government claims of spending huge amount of money in planning new establishments to facilitate the health needs of the people but unfortunately the existing facilities are none lying functional.  Even the basic equipment are not functional in the hospital.


The main purpose of the test is to evaluate respiratory diseases and conditions that affect the lings, including emphysema, severe asthma, and chronic bronchitis. It helps determine the effectiveness of oxygen therapy. The acid-base component of the test also gives information about kidney function. And, in the absence of this facility the patients are suffering.

Projects undertaken by ERA, saga of delays and unfinished projects

Tahir Mushtaq

JAMMU, Feb 05: While government has given clear direction to Economic Reconstruction Agency (ERA) to complete their work on prescribed time but the reality is opposite as many of the projects have not been completed so far.

It is patient to mention here that the government has given project of constructing national highway, bridges and setting up water supply schemes to the agency, but they have facing much delay. The ERA department delaying on the road and flyovers ongoing project, they are doing slowly work on this practices.

There are many projects fate of those hangs in balance, the construction work of Syedpora Harwan Bridge taken by ERA and started in January 2009 and as on date 30% of the work has been completed. And other flyover is not work start on them till the time.

According to source said that the schemes for the development and upgradation of various amenities in urban, sub-urban and rural areas of the Jammu and Kashmir. But the entire project is delaying day by day.

“The transport section has 9 roads project for Jammu region but only one has been completed and other 8 are incomplete. It is just a tip of the ice berg and there are number of projects which have been delayed beyond time”.

He further said that the other project is not approval at till time and the state government only given direction for completed the work as soon. He mentioned that funds passed by Assian Development Bank (ADB) the state government no role in which
he disclosed that the people of several areas like Bari Bharmana, saroor, kalu chak, Gangyal, and other areas facing daily routine traffic Jams, water logging on the national highway. The water supplies project is completed several is areas the work start on last many years.

There would have been coordination between various agencies of the government and the pointing to the nexus between the officials.

Officials said that they have 9 projects of road in different areas in which two are in Doda, two are in Udhampur, two are in Kathua, two for Jammu and one for Poonch. The one of road project is completed and other is sent for approvals. He also said that ADB Asian Development Bank provides the funds and there is no role of state government.

65 tubewells installed in R.S Pura, non functional due to lack of maintainance

Tahir Mushtaq

JAMMU, Feb 02: Nearly half of the 140 tubewells installed by the government in R.S Pura, Bishnah and Suchetgarh for irrigation purpose in recent years have become non-functional due to lack of maintenance and erratic electricity supply.

According to the sources nearly 65 tubewells are not working which has created worrisome situation for the cultivators who in absence of sufficient monsoon rains this year are battling the dry spell and possible crop failure.

However officials from the Irrigation Department say that they are supplying enough water and Department has created special teams to keep track of the infrastructure created to supply water to the farmers particularly in those areas which does not receive canal water.

At present the tube wells irrigate nearly 8000 kanals of crop land in the Jammu region particularly in rice producing area of R.S. Pura, Suchetgarh, Akhnoor, Bishnah and other areas.

"Basic norms were ignored while setting up of these tubewells and due to poor maintenance they remain non-functional most of the time. Even after repeated pleas to the officials no step is being taken to make them functional", said Taranjeet Singh, a farmer leader from R.S Pura.

He said that thousands of people are dependent on these pump sets and government should take proper steps so that farmers dont suffer. It is pertinent to mention here that each tubewell cost Rs 30 to 40 lakh and most of them have been raised by Public Health Engineering (PHE) Department and Irrigation Department.

However when contacted,a senior official from the PHE denied that there is any problem.

"Sometimes they stop working due to electricity cut but most of the time they are supplying water. Whenever there is any technical fault we ratify it immediately", official said.

"If farmers are facing any problem they should come to us so that we can send our technical teams", he said.

Most of the tail end villages facing the shortage of water include Baspur Bangla, Suchetgarh, Abdal, Grhana, Chakroi, Chandu-Chak, Abdullian, Vidhipur, Samka, Dera, Raipur Saida, Biyaspur and Parlah. Though Ranbir canal provides water for irrigation to majority of the Jammu region, but number of villages in R.S. Pura sector and Arnia in Bisnah sector are not covered by the canal and in absence of proper irrigation facilities are still dependent on rainfall.

"We produce the best quality of basmati rice in the region, but because of lack of proper irrigation facility we have to suffer losses every year", said Balwinder Kumar, a cultivator from Arnia village.
The farmers say that they had to suffer huge losses due to the apathetic attitude of the department as a large portion of their crop had wilted away due the unavailability of proper irrigation facilities. In Jammu region, total area under rice cultivation is around 109.60 thousand hectares and production is around 1828 thousands quintals (2006-07).

Seven district in J&K fall in poor category

Tahir Mushtaq


JAMMU, Feb 01: While the overall Below Poverty Line (BPL) population in Jammu and Kashmir has shown a downward trend in last decade, 7 districts out of 22 still fall in the poor category with 40 per cent of the BPL population in the state living in these areas.


Among the districts which fall in poor category include the three newly created districts of Reasi, Ramban and Kishtwar which were carved out by the previous PDP-Congress coalition government in the state.


On the basis of BPL head count ratio and BPL household count ratio conducted by the Directorate of Economics and Statistics, the seven poorest districts in the state are Reasi, Ramban, Kishthwar, Poonch, Kupwara, Kargil and Bandipora which have more than 30 percent (37.93 percent to 31.09 percent) estimated BPL population.


According to the survey these seven districts have 30-40 percent people below poverty line, 9 districts recorded 20-30 percent poverty and 5 districts recorded 10-20 percent poverty while 1 district recorded 0 to 10 percent poverty ratio.


The estimated poor population in the state has been recorded in newly carved out districts Reasi, with the indicator standing 1.04 lakh persons, Ramban, has 89 thousand poor people , Kishthwar has 80 thousand, Poonch has 1.35 lakh, Kupwara has estimated BPL population of 2.30 lakh. Baramulla has total BPL population of 2.23 lakh, Kargil has 71 thousand.


According to the survey of the 24.21 lakh people who fall in below the poverty line, 22 lakh are from rural areas and while 2.21 lakh persons live in urban areas.


“There has been decline but it is too slow and planners need to give more consideration to formulate policies for eradication of poverty ”, said a official.


Sources said that the study has revealed that newly carved out districts have higher BPL population percentage due to the remoteness from their erstwhile district headquarters resulting in slow development and are hence still rural in character.


However the good news for the planners is that there has been a continuous fall in the poor population in past over a decade (1993-2008). Figures say that the BPL percentage in the state in 1993-94 was 30.34 for rural, 9.18 for urban and combined total percentage of 25.17. It has now declined to 26.14 in rural, 7.96 in urban and 21.63 percent in 2007-08.