Traffic woes for Jammuities with Darbar Move

Tahir Mushtaq


JAMMU, Nov 16: After the Darbar Move to the winter capital of the State Jammu, there has been a rapid increase in the number of vehicles plying on the roads resulting in traffic congestion.


According to the sources, there is an increase of about seven to ten thousand vehicles in the past few days just because of Darbar Move in Jammu.


Heavy rush on the roads is now a common scene these days and frequent traffic jams has made the situation more worst.


Traffic cops are having a tough time on the roads to streamline the ever busy traffic. 


Maintenance of roads and flyover, repairing and painting of dividers would not help in solving the traffic problem unless some stern measures will be taken by the administration.


The existing flyover in Jammu which was made for shortening the distance to cover various routes of the city is utilized for the movement the VVIPs of the State after the shifting of Darbar to Srinagar in summer. 


When contacted Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Traffic, Jammu Zahid Manhas said “for the smooth functioning of the vehicles the traffic department has set up around ten to eleven check points”.


He added that as per the requirement of the location, the department has also increased three to four traffic personnel at every check point for the period of six months till the Civil Secretariat remains in Jammu.

For JKIL Azad still CM of J&K and Chairman of the company

Tahir Mushtaq


JAMMU, Nov 10: For Jammu and Kashmir Industries Limited (JKIL), Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad is still the Chief Minister of the state and chairman of the JKIL.


Surprised, but quite true as even after two years since the change of guard in the state, the company has not bothered to upgrade the website casting doubts over the tall claims of the state government which is investing crores of rupees in e-governance projects.


Not only this, as per the list of Board of Directors posted on the website, former Minister  of State Industries & Commerce department, Dr. Ramesh Chander Sharma,  is shown as vice-chairman, while  former chief secretary S S Kapur, who has since long retired from the service, is still as one of the  Directors of the PSU .


The list of the members of the Board of Directors available on the website of the state owned company www.jkil.gov.in.


Another director mentioned in the list is Atal Dullo with his position mentioned as Commissioner Secretary Forest Department, who is at present Commissioner Secretary Tourism.


Sources said that the lapse shows how serious the government is about modernizing the working of its offices and departments for which Chief Minister misses to chance to claim that he was keen to strengthen e-governance system in the state.


Few years back industries department had launched a major project to invite private investment in the state to create employment in the industrial sector.


Government had taken a major initiative about eight years back to implement e-governance in all the government departments, Public Sector Undertakings (PSU)s and other organisation under the centrally sponsored scheme. Most of the support is provided by National Informatics Centre (NIC), which is a premier institution of the Government of India, established in 1976. Respective departments have to maintain the infrastructure which includes the software content.


Even the website of NIC (J&K) does not have a list of the government department websites and only message it shows when one clicks the sub group is site under construction”, said an official.

Board of Directors

1.	Ghulam Nabi Azad, Hon’ble Chief Minister Minister I/C Industries & Commerce	Chairman
2.	Dr. Ramesh Chander Sharma, Hon’ble Minister of State, Industries & Commerce Deptt.	Vice-Chairman
3.	S. S. Kapur, Financial Commissioner, Planning & Development Deptt.	Director
4.	B. B. Vyas, Commissioner/Secretary to Govt. Finance Department	Director
5.	Lokesh Jha, Commissioner/Secretary to Govt. Industries & Commerce Deptt.	Director
6.	Atal Dulloo, Commissioner/Secretary to Govt. Forest Department	Director
7.	Raman Soni, Managing Director, J&K Industries Limited	Director

Swimming Pool in shambles at MA Stadium

Tahir Mushtaq

JAMMU, Nov 08: Uncertainty looms large over the future of budding swimmers due to delay in the renovation of the only Swimming Pool at MA Stadium here.

As a consequence, the budding swimmers are not only losing precious practice sessions but the non-conduct of domestic competitions has made the situation worse.

“What is the fun of getting admission in the stadium for practice when the concerned authorities are not taking keen interest in the renovation of the pool”, said one of the swimmers”.

“How can you expect from us to win medals in the national competition when we do not have adequate facilities at our disposal”, he added.

“It looked as if the authorities are non- serious about the timely renovation of the swimming pool”, said another swimmer.

He added that “there is no dearth of talent in the State provided we should get opportunities and that could happen if we get adequate sports infrastructure to prove our worth at the higher level”.

Parents of the swimmers also expressed concern over non-seriousness of the authorities over his matter.

“In every competition, the ministers came and made announcements about spending huge amounts to construct stadiums but at the same time the existing sports infrastructure is lying in ruins”, said one of the parents.

“Constructing number of stadia in every district would not serve any purpose unless the authorities laid stress on keeping the existing infrastructure intact”, he opined.

“The Secretary, State Sports Council, Kiran Wattal has taken some initiatives to revive the sports scenario in the State but still there is a long way to go”, said another parent.

“It is high time now for the State Sports Council to act in time regarding the timely renovation of the swimming pool otherwise the time is not too far away when we lose faith over the functioning of the Sports Council”, he added.

Radio taxi jumbled in red-tapism despite efforts of CS

Tahir Mushtaq

JAMMU, Nov 04: To provide better transport facility to the people at the doorstep, the State Government has planned to introduce the concept of radio taxi few months back, but the fate of plan hangs in imbalance owing to red-tapism.


According to sources, Chief Secretary Madhav Lal had directed the transport authorities of the state to engage transaction advisor by September 5 for introducing radio taxi service in the twin capitals.
In this regard, he issued the directions during a high-level meeting. The transaction advisor will initiate the process of preparing and inviting bids in a transparent manner to facilitate launch of the radio cab service.


“The Radio Taxi Service, fitted with up-to-date facilities, on operation will be available at the doorsteps to the callers adding the facility will add modern and new dimensions to the traffic system in the state. The service will be available round the clock both to the citizens and tourists once it takes off and grows in popularity” sources added.


But till date no fruitful step has been taken by the concerned authority to make things happens and the plan is limited to the paper work only.


Sources maintained that this is not the first time when the state government has made strategies to improve the transportation facilities but failed to execute the same.

Patients suffer as non-functioning of technical equipments exposes tall claims

Tahir Mushtaq


JAMMU, Nov 03: Notwithstanding tall claims of Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) for providing better facilities, the non-functioning of technical equipments exposes it all as the patients who came from far flung areas of Jammu region for treatment are having a tough time.


According to sources, that there are only two Computerized Tomography (CT) Scan machines in the hospital.


Out of the two, one machine has been installed in the Emergency and the other is in ward. 


Few days back there was a technical fault in both machines due to which they stopped functioning.  The out of order MRI machine being installed in the hospital has made the situation even more worst.


Sources also revealed that the reports of X-Rays are also not correct thereby increasing woes of the patients. 


In a startling revelation by the sources, the doctors referred the patients to either Shri Maharaja Gulab Singh (SMGS) Hospital or some private hospital or a private laboratory for the tests.


“ I approached to GMCH for the HIV test and was suggested by the concerned doctor to go for private clinic of his choice for the said test which costed me Rs 1,460 which otherwise could be available in the hospital free of cost.


When contacted HoD Radio-Diagnosis Department, GMCH Dr. Ganshyam Dev Gupta said that due to voltage fluctuation, the tubes in the CT scan machine got fused.


He added that the repair work the machines is in progress and exuded confidence that the problem would be sorted out.


“The doctors on duty refer the patients to the SMGS Hospital for the tests but not to other private medical institutes” maintained Dr Gupta.

Minister overlooked Cabinet decisions, shifts Ayurvedic college from Samba to Akhnoor

Tahir Mushtaq


JAMMU, Oct 30: It seems in Jammu and Kashmir, major decisions are taken on whims of ministers rather than following any rules when it comes to establishing hospitals or educational institutions. This can aptly apply when it comes to the opening up of the prestigious Government Ayurvedic Medical College and Hospital in the state.


To benefit people of one constituency a minister throwing all the official norms to the wind transferred the Government Ayurvedic Medical College and Hospital at Akhnoor not bothering about the cabinet decision.


According to official sources, the cabinet had approved the said college for Birpur Samba through the decision no. 25/2/2011 dated 28.01.2011 and Government order no. Rev (S) 42 of 2011 dated 17.02.2011, but the Minister for Health is pushing to construct hospital at Akhnoor, which is his own constituency.


Sources disclosed that the estimated cost for construction of the said college and hospital is Rs 200 crore, adding that at Birpur the land measuring 100 kanals was also identified for the same purpose.


There is something fishy in between the two ministers due to which the ministers are silent.


After receiving directions from the Minister of Health Sham Lal Sharma, Assistant Commissioner (Revenue), Jammu has sent a letter vides no. DCJ/SQ/IMS/2100-12/1234-36 dated 03.08.2011 to the Director Indian System of Medicines, Jammu in which he mentioned that in village Sangani tehsil Akhnoor that land measuring 93 kanals has been identified under khasra no. 334 for construction of the college.


“At various instances the locals of Samba approaches to the concern officials for the said issue, but no one is ready to hear anything in this regard” said Gagroop Singh Sambyal.


Whereas, Minister for Industries and Commerce, Surjit Singh Slathia said that he has already plead this matter in the cabinet, but no action been taken against it by the cabinet so far.


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


Sources also said that the minister shifted the college from Birpur to village Sangani tehsil Akhnoor and started construction work from the Housing Board spent more than sixty lakhs rupees though this land has not transferred by the state government.


“Moreover, the Government Ayurvedic Medical College and Hospital comes under Medical Education Department, but the concerned minister seems to be helpless” they added.

Imaging systems for Jails a non-starter, Rs 13 lakhs wasted on defunct systems

Tahir Mushtaq

JAMMU, Oct 28: While the state government is undertaking various projects and introducing latest technologies to revamp and keep police force fit for fighting the insurgency in the state, but there are many projects already taken by the police which because of unplanned acquisition and planning has cost state exchequer lakhs of rupees.


According to sources, in 2002, the Director General (Prisons) in order to automate the attendance system in jails for recording the attendance of prisoners and jail staff and also to prevent entry and exit of un-authorised persons from the premises, had ordered the purchase of three Imaging Identification System (IIS) and their allied accessories at a estimated cost of Rs 13.06 lakhs from a Jammu based firm. But within its warranty period all of them become non-functional owning to poor maintenance and lack of trained persons.


These sophisticated imaging systems were installed in the district jails situated at Poonch, Rajouri and at sub-Jail Hiranagar which house number of dreaded foreign and local terrorists.


Sources say that after the systems become non-functional the officials brought in the engineers from the company in March and July 2003, but even after the repairs carried out by them, the systems did not work and are still not working.


Sources further said that the working of these systems at district jail Rajouri and sub-district jail Hiranagar was unsatisfactory soon after the installation and the machine installed in Poonch jail could not be put to use because of non-availability of trained operator.


It is important to mention here that, even the Controller and Auditor General of India (CAG) in its Audit scrutiny in January 2006 had revealed that the department has not made either the purchases in proper manner nor had they any trained staff for maintenance of the system.


The then Director (Prisons) had told the CAG that the systems would be repaired when trained persons will be available for handling of these imagers. But the question still remains why the purchases were made overlooking the facilities available. But still they have not been made functional in the state.