Govt wakes up from slumber: GMC to have eye bank soon

Tahir Mushtaq

JAMMU, Oct 03: After fifteen years since its enactment, the state government finally mooted a proposal to establish a Regional Institute of Ophthalmology (RIO) in Srinagar and two eye-banks one each in Government Medical Colleges of the state to comply with statutory obligation under the Jammu and Kashmir Transplantation of Human Organs Act, 1997.

This was disclosed by HOD Department of Opthalamology Dr Sudhir Bhagotra while talking to TNI.

Dr Bhagotra further said that proposal has been sent to the state government for further proceedings.

He maintained that after sanctioned the funds by the state government the department needs to purchase the required infrastructure of functioning of Eye Bank.

“As per the new guidelines of the centre government for the transplant of body organ there are certain rules which have to be fulfilled by the department for running an eye bank” Dr Bhagotra added.

It is pertinent to mention here that the hospital had the facility of Eye Bank a decade ago but due to some problems the bank had to be closed. 

After Human Organs Transplantation Act was passed in the country envisaging transplantation of human organs, including eyes, in a recognized and registered medical institution by competent eye specialists the eye bank in GMCH has closed as it does not follow the norms and guidelines required for an Eye Bank.

 As per sources, the Eye Bank infrastructure had been deported to other departments. The ambulance of the eye bank is now being used for transportation of the students.

Sources further said that the project would be fully funded by Union government.

“The Union government had assured the state government to fully fund the project which is to the tune of Rs. 78 Crores, but the land was to be provided by state government” sources said, adding that the state government has identified 16 Kanals of land in Dewanbagh Sringar.

Courts to have video conferencing facilities to hear criminal cases

Tahir Mushtaq

JAMMU, Oct 02: All the jails and courts in Jammu and Kashmir will be soon connected with video conferencing facility, allowing judges to conduct trial while sitting at their respective courts.

A senior officer said that centre has asked the J&K to select the people for handling the equipments. “There is need for a separate technical wing to run the project and they have to be imparted necessary training to handle it”, said an official. 

As part of the centrally sponsored E-Court project, National Informatics Centre
(NIC) has started a detailed survey of the requirements to implement the project
and the report will be submitted to the central government for the final approval.

Sources said that state government is showing keen interest in the project,
keeping in view problems police is facing while shifting militants and hardcore
criminals to courts during the trial period.

“NIC has already asked its unit in the state to make detailed report about the
requirements and problems they will face when the project would be started, as it  will be the main implementing agency”, officials said.

The project is being implemented in Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Haryana and
Himachal Pradesh as part of the modernisation plan for the jails and courts and
speeding up the justice process.

“It had been found that the detainees had to waste a long period before they were
produced in the trial courts. The reason was they had to be moved from distant
places to the district headquarters where the courts exist, this will simply the
process”, officials said.

Sources said that Government of India plans to spend over Rs.500 crores on the
rehabilitation of jail inmates over next decade.

Few years back government had decided to install E-attendance system in all the jails of the state for the daily attendance of the staff, though the project was not fully implemented, but at some jails it is working. At many places, CCTV cameras have been installed to keep an eye on the inmates, many of them are local and foreign militants.

JMC misusing money non-productive works

Passenger sheds in city taken over by beggars, no benefit to the people

Tahir Mushtaq

JAMMU, Sept 25: Constructed for the benefit of commuters travelling by public transport, passengers sheds in the city have become resting place for beggars. In absence of any action by the Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC), most of the people are not using them now. 

Passenger shed at Gole Market, near Women College Gandhi Nagar, Jewel Chowk, Amphalla, Main stop, and at Parade are totally ‘encroached’ by beggars. Begging, the most common urban problem has taken alarming dimensions in Jammu city, who roam the market places seeking alms.

“Beggars in Jammu are mostly from other parts of the country who are brought here under a well planned strategy not only to fleece but also to commit petty crimes- the government however seems to be sleeping over the issue” said Amit Singh, a housewife.

Most sheds have been rendered useless for daily commuters, who use the public transport system to reach their destinations every day.

These stops have turned out to be a waste of money, as these are not being utilised for the purpose they were constructed. At some places fruit sellers are using them for storing place.

“These are for the benefit of passengers and the authorities need to create awareness about them. Beggers should be removed from these sites,” says Bupesh Kumarl, a local resident.

Commuters allege that at some place, drug addicts could be seen using the places during the evening hours, which have become a threat to the people moving near these places during evening hours.

 “They have become a nuisance for the people particularly the tourists as they follow them in the markets. Though they are mostly children, but their handlers are always near them keeping a close watch”, said a shopkeeper at Gandhi Nagar.

For being the city of temples, Jammu is a paradise for the beggars who mostly come from other states like Orrisa, Bihar, Rajasthan, and Gujarat along with their families, with the hope of getting good alms here.

Decks cleared for city’s first ropeway project from Bag-e-Bahu and Mubarak Mandi

Tahir Mushtaq

JAMMU, Sept 21: The much delayed Mubarak mandi-Bag-e-Bahu ropeway project may soon see the light of the day, as the Pollution Control Board (PCB) today conducted public hearing to get the feedback from people regarding the project, after which the report will be sent to Union Environmental Ministry for clearance.

The project is pending for last over a decade due to non-clearance from the union environment ministry which has raised its objection over the impact on the forested areas, falling on its way.

Sources said that the views of the people living close to the proposed project will be incorporated in the final report to be sent to centre after which the work is likely to start on the ambitious project.

The project was to be constructed on a BOT (build, operate and transfer) basis, in which the state government had to provide the land and private parties had to raise the infrastructure, operate it for 30 years or so and then transfer it back to J&K.

When completed the project will connect Mubarak Mandi, Mahamaya Termple, Bagh-e-Bahu, Bawe Wali Mata Temple, Peerkho temple allowing people to enjoy the beauty of the these places.  

According to sources from the corporation, the EIAA which was established in 2006 in Jammu and Kashmir to clear the environmentally fragile projects, had not given it consent to the ropeway citing that it will damage the environment around the area and will threaten the wildlife.

Row between state’s Environment Impact Assessment Authority (EIAA) and J&K Cable Car Corporation had threatened the ambitious 24-crore Mubarak Mandi-Bahu fort ropeway project, as despite directions by the government to start the work, the EIAA had not given its clearance to the project.

When contacted Chairman PCB, Lal Chand said, “The view of people is necessary before the environmental clearance as per the rules laid down by the government. The work can only start then. Clearance from EIAA and Union Ministry is necessary”.

Sources said that officials from the Pollution Control Board (PCB) had also raised the question on the project by saying that it falls within 10-km of the Ramnagar wildlife sanctuary.

It is pertinent to mention here that the prestigious ropeway project has faced the delay from 1996, when it was conceived by the then Farooq Abdullah government, to boost the tourist attraction in Jammu region.

             

In 2005, much hype was created by the government to start the project, but it continued to face delay due to the differences between different agencies in the state.

Poor electricity revenue collection continue to distress govt.

Mulls to introduce energy accounting

Tahir Mushtaq

JAMMU, Sept 17: Distressed with the poor electricity revenue collections, the state government has decided to introduce ‘energy accounting’ to make officials in respective divisions accountable for the failure to achieve the set targets this year.

Sources said that the decision was taken during a high level meeting chaired by Finance Minister Abdul Rahim Rather which was also attended by Commissioner Secretary Power Development Department (PDD), Sudanshu Pandey to review the progress of revenue collection, primarily in view of  recently revised   targets of  Rs 1675 set by the centre for this fiscal. Earlier the state had set the target of Rs 1200 crore for 2011-12.

A senior officer said that energy accounting plan, envisages tallying of electricity units distributed from particular feeder during a specific period with the revenue collections made thereto. “If there will be any discrepancy the officers at the helm of affairs will be held responsible for the lapses” a senior officer said.

Though a sources claimed that the measures could still not be able to help government to achieve the set target of Rs 1675 crore, but it will be a last ditch effort to mount pressure on the field staff responsible for checking power pilferage.

“This year we have not set any particular target, but will introduce energy accounting to make officials manning the feeders supplying electricity to particular locality accountable. They in turn will ensure that power theft is curbed”, said Pandey.

Union Power Ministry has been regularly asking the state to increase revenue from electricity, bring down power purchase bill and Transmission and Distribution (T&D) losses, which were currently around 60 to 65 per cent and initiate other reforms.

It is an open fact now that the electricity purchase bill this fiscal is likely to cross 25,000 crore mark, a huge amount for the state which have limited resources even for development works. So far state government is forced to divert some of the plan funds from other sources to meet the rising energy demand.

Power sector is a major headache for the J&K, as its use is increasing every year, the state had to divert crores of rupees from developmental works to keep the power supply stable.

No Fire alarm system in hospitals

157 hospitals, nursing homes lack fire safety measures in J&K

Tahir Mushtaq

JAMMU, Sept 16: Raising question mark over the safety measures of the hospitals,  majority of the Government as well as private hospitals in Jammu and Kashmir have been found lacking equipment to tackle the fire incidents.

Sources said that a survey conducted by the government with the help of Fire and Emergency Services Department has found that most of the hospitals are poorly prepared for any major fire incident, which could be life threatening for hundreds of patients and people visiting the hospitals.

At the same time, the administration of all the Government hospitals and nursing homes was directed to equip their health institutions with the required firefighting equipment to avoid any untoward incident that results in loss of life and property.

A senior officer said that during the survey across the state, the Fire Department inspected a total of 157 hospitals including Government Medical Colleges of Jammu and Srinagar and their Associated Hospitals and nursing homes and the outcome of the same was shocking keeping in view that there are no fool proof fire alarm system.

"These revelations indicate that authorities of the Health and Medical Education Department, who are at the helm of affairs in the Government hospitals, have never paid any serious attention towards installing fire fighting equipment”, a source claimed.

Sources said that Home Department, the Fire and Emergency Services Department has started preparing specific requirements vis-à-vis fire safety measures both short term and long term for each and every hospital.

After going through the detailed report, government has directed the hospitals and construction companies to have consonance with the Part-4 of the National Building Code which are required to be followed by the hospitals and nursing homes, sources said while informing that National Building Code’s Part-4 deals with the fire safety measures and is quite clear about the safety of life.

Stopping power losses: Annual APR of officers on performance in Energy Accounting

Tahir Mushtaq

JAMMU, Sept 12: Trying to plug the power losses, Annual Performance Report (APR) of officers and engineers of Power Development Department (PDD) will be now based on their performance in energy accounting system started by government from this fiscal.

Due to failure of the government to stop the power losses, even the Planning Commission of India (PCI) has repeatedly expressed his dismay over the failure to achieve the targets.

As per a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) executed with Government of India under Accelerated Power Development Reforms Programme (APDRP), the state government was to bring down T&D losses to 25 percent by December 2006. But contrary to it, the losses gone up from 45 percent in 2005-06 to over 62 percent in 2010-11 due to unsatisfactory implementation of the Centrally sponsored power reform Programmes.

Officials said that PDD has also asked the government to give Rs 65.05 crore for purchasing 3.15 lakh electronic meters for 100 percent metering of the consumers in Jammu region. At the moment out of 6 lakh consumers in Jammu, only 2.85 lakh are fully metered.

The PDD is heavily dependent upon the budgetary support from the state government to provide electricity to  the consumers.

“An analysis of the data revealed that for every unit of energy supplied to the consumers by the department during 2010-11, the state had spent an amount of Rs. 5.77 from its budget”, said a engineer.

The new system envisages tallying of electricity units distributed from a particular feeder during a specified period with revenue collections made at the end of the month. If any mis-match is found in the energy supplied and revenue realized, the concerned officers and field staff will be held responsible for the lapse.

A senior officer from PDD said that most of the power theft can be stopped if field staff and engineers take active part in detecting the power pilferage and taking prompt action. “At times the power theft is being overlooked by the officers and if they are given targets and made responsible for losses, they are likely to perform well”, he said.