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Excelsior daily REGD.NO.JK-71/15-17 RNI No. 28547/65 Vol No. 53 No. 136 JAMMU, THURSDAY, MAY 18, 2017 16 Pages ` 5.00 Fayaz Bukhari SRINAGAR May 17: Defence Minister Arun Jaitley today impressed upon the Army Commanders to main- tain strict vigil along the Line of Control (LoC) and remain prepared to give a befitting reply to any misadventure from across the border. He urged the Armed forces to deal strictly with the inimical forces without harming civil- ians. Soon after his arrival here, the Defence Minister this evening reviewed the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir and along the LoC and International Border with Pakistan in a meeting with Army chief General Bipin Rawat and top Army Commanders. Jaitley arrived here this evening and was received at Srinagar Airport by Finance Minister, Haseeb Drabu and other top Army Commanders. Soon after his arrival at Army's Chinar Corps Headquarters at Badami Bagh Cantt, he was briefed on the prevailing situa- tion in Jammu and Kashmir and along the LoC and International Border. Army chief, Gen Bipin Rawat, Sanjay Mitra, Defence Secretary (Designate) and sen- ior Army officers including Northern Army chief D Anbu and 15 Corps General Officer Commanding (GOC), JS Sandhu were present in the review meeting. The top Commanders briefed Jaitley about the situa- tion along the LoC in the State and International Border and various measures to strengthen the counter infiltration grid along the LoC. He was given detailed presentation of the mili- tant camps in PoK and the launching pads along the LoC which have become active recently after the melting of snow from the mountain passes. The Defence Minister was briefed about infiltration bids ‘Deal firmly with inimical element s, no harm to civilians’ Jaitley for strict vigil along LoC, asks for befitting reply GST Council meets today Excelsior Correspondent SRINAGAR, May 17: The 14th meeting of the GST Council to be chaired by Union Finance Minister, Arun Jaitley is set to begin here tomorrow with Finance Ministers, Finance Secretaries and other taxation officials from all the States and Union Territories attending the crucial meet on new tax regime. Probe into commotion at CM’s function Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, May 17: Taking serious note of commotion and unruly situation at the function of Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti at SKICC, Srinagar yesterday, the Government today ordered an inquiry into the circumstances that led to unwarranted situation, a result of which the CM had to leave the function in a huff. An order issued by the General Administration Department (GAD) said Shailendra Kumar, Commissioner/Secretary, Industries and Commerce Department has been appointed as Inquiry Officer in the case. He would inquire into the circumstances leading to commotion and unruly situation besides damage to infrastructure during the function organized by the State Rural Livelihood Mission. "The inquiry will, inter alia, include fixing of responsibility on the officers and officials of various departments and organizations, which had been assigned with the task of smooth conduction of the function, but failed to discharge their duties scrupulously,'' the GAD order said. PWD Enggs booked by Vigilance Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, May 17: Vigilance Organization, Jammu has booked then Engineers of PWD (R&B) Division Ramban for alleged irreg- ularities in road works. A case under FIR number 19/2017 under section 5(1) (d) r/w 5(2) J&K PC Act and Section 120-B RPC, has been registered against the then Executive Engineers of PWD (R&B) Division Ramban and others on the basis of a verification conducted into the allegations of glaring irregularities and gross violation of norms in the execution of Banihal-Duligam road and Link road Chaknarwah, constructed during the year 2000 to 2010. The verification revealed that developmental works on Bahihal-Duligam road were carried out during the period 2000- 2010 and an amount of Rs 1,95,06,860.00 was spent on this proj- ect by the then Executive Engineers PWD (R&B) Division Ramban, namely G N Shiekh, Opinder Kar, A K Darbari and Parvaiz Shah. Moreover, departmental works on Link road Chaknarwah were also carried out during the period 2000-2010 and an amount of Rs 1,45,11,387.00 was spent on the project by 600 Anganwari Centres found closed, 1400 officers absent Excelsior Correspondent RAJOURI, May 17: In a major crack down involving 300 Government officials, over 600 Anganwari Centres were found closed and nearly 1400 employees of the ICDS Projects of Social Welfare Department (SWD) absent from duty, in district Rajouri today. The District Administration, Rajouri on the instructions of Deputy Commissioner, Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary today carried out a surprise check of Anganwari Centres across the district except the areas affected by cross-LoC firing in Nowshera divi- sion. The inspection was carried out by SDMs, Tehsildars, Naib Tehsildars and even the Girdawars/ Patwaris, deputed for the task. The inspection started at 10.30 am, however, the officials were sta- tioned and deployed at respective areas without prior information about inspection. Jammu Rly Stn third cleanest NEW DELHI, May 17: The Visakhapatnam railway station is the cleanest, followed by Secunderabad, among the 75 most busy stations in the country. As per a survey, the report of which was released by Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu here today, the Jammu Railway Station occupied the third spot, while the New Delhi station was ranked at 39 among the most busy stations. The survey was carried out by the Quality Council of India. The Darbhanga railway station in Bihar was the dirtiest among the most busy stations. Clean toilets at platforms, clean tracks and dustbins at stations were some of the criteria for judging railway stations for cleanli- ness. This was the third survey on cleanliness done by the railways to keep a tab on rail premises as part of its 'Swachh Rail' campaign. "We want all stations to be clean. There are many stations which have improved their cleanliness ranking from last time," Prabhu said after releasing the survey report. DB directs GAD to conclude RDA enquiry in 4 months Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, May 17: In the much publicized Public Interest Litigation (PIL) highlighting alleged hushing up of Rajouri Development Authority (RDA) scam, Division Bench of the State High Court comprising Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice Janak Raj Kotwal today directed the General Administration Department (GAD) to conclude the enquiry against then CEO within four months. After hearing Advocate Sheikh Shakeel Ahmed appearing for the PIL whereas Senior AAG Seema Shekhar appearing for the State Government, the Division Bench observed, "in compliance of order dated April 10, 2017 Senior AAG filed the status report on April 21, 2017 in which it is stated that a departmental enquiry has already been initiated against the then CEO Rajouri Development Authority and the documents have also been supplied to Tourism Department". 12 injured as security forces launch anti-militancy ops Adil Lateef SRINAGAR, May 17: Security forces today conduct- ed counter-insurgency opera- tions in South Kashmir dis- tricts during which locals resorted to stone-pelting to hamper these operations against the militants, resulting in injuries to 12 persons. The operations against mili- tants were launched in Shopian, Kulgam and Pulwama districts separately. Police said: "in an effort to flush out the holed up militants", the security forces including Special Operation Group (SOG), Army and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) conducted extensive searches in Heff and Shirmal villages of Shopian district. The operation was launched during midnight and continued till around 10 am. "There was no specific infor- mation about the militants but it was a speculative operation," a police officer said, adding at least 1000 security personnel were involved in the operation. At least five militants includ- ing a wanted commander Saddam Padder belonged to these two villages. "Militants do come and go in Heff and Shermal and that is why the operation was launched," the officer added. As the dawn descended, locals in large numbers came out of their houses and started protests against the search oper- Jammu woman Sangeeta ready to climb Mt. Everest Rajesh Dhar JAMMU, May 17: Born and brought up in Jammu, 52- year old Sangeeta Bahl is wait- ing in the wings at the base camp18, 000 feet above the sea level today, attempting to scale Mount Everest. Sangeeta, the only Indian climber among other 10 climbers across the world, will be leaving for Camp-Two 21,500 ft high at 2 am tomorrow and after staying for a day there, will leave for camp-3 at the height of 23,000 ft on May 20, 2017 and after a one-day stay, will move to camp-4 at a height of 26,000 ft, while May 22 or 23 will be the summit day. She will return within two days. While talking to EXCEL- SIOR from the base camp, Sangeeta said that it was a great, excellent rather an ecstatic feel- ing to be there and vie for the summit. She said that it was snowing earlier and now it feels nice as the weather conditions have drastically improved. Bahl said that she has a dream to scale 7 summits of the world and she has already scaled 5 out of these 7 summits, adding that if successful, it will be her 6th summit. Sangeeta, who in her school days studied in Presentation Convent Senior Secondary School Jammu, first climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro, the highest moun- tain in Africa at the age of 46 1 1 villages badly hit, camps increased More people desert houses on LoC as Pak continues heavy shelling Sanjeev Pargal JAMMU, May 17: There has been no let up in migration from forward villages along Line of Control (LoC) in Nowshera sector of Rajouri district as majority of popula- tion from village Sher Makri shifted to the migrant camps while Pakistan army resorted to heavy shelling and firing in Balakote sector of Mendhar tehsil in Poonch district in wee hours of this morning. Official sources told the Excelsior that since the migra- tion from villages, located close to LoC in Nowshera sector con- tinued even though there was no major incident of Pakistani shelling and firing today, the administration has increased number of make shift migrant camps from four to five. The Government Girls Higher Secondary School, Nowshera was designated as fifth migrant camp and people arriving from the forward vil- lages were being accommodated there. Four migrant camps already made operational included Government Boys Higher Secondary School, Nowshera, Government Middle School, Bawali, Government High School, Nonial and Government Middle School, Nonial. Sources said 435 more peo- ple, mainly hailing from village Sher Makri in Nowshera sector, Mohinder Verma JAMMU, May 17: Notwithstanding repeated directions from the Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti about making administration responsive to the needs of the people, majority of the Deputy Commissioners have not been conducting mandatory field visits and their conduct has been taken seriously by the higher authorities. In all the meetings with the Administrative Secretaries and the Deputy Commissioners, the Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti is laying thrust on reaching out to the people particularly in the rural areas to resolve their issues on the spot. She has explicitly told the heads of the civil admin- istration in each district to make field visits a part of their routine duty. The Chief Minister is of the observation that people have been extremely receptive to administration whenever it has responded to their problems pos- itively and responsibly and field visits would make the adminis- trative more responsive to the needs of the people in the length and breadth of Jammu and Kashmir. It has been made mandato- ry for all the Deputy Commissioners to pay field visits at least twice a week so as to assess the grievances of the people at their door steps and resolve on the spot, official sources told EXCELSIOR, adding the field visits not only allow the Deputy Commissioners to understand the situation on the ground but also instill confidence amongst public regarding the adminis- tration reaching out to them. "They are also required to submit work done programme in the form of tour diaries and the work done statements to the higher authorities particularly to the Divisional Commissioners and this exercise has been made mandatory requirement of the official business", sources fur- ther said, adding "not only their own field visits the Deputy Commissioners are also required to ensure that their subordinate officers conduct field visits in their respective areas and submit the reports to the Deputy Commissioners on timely basis so as to ensure proper monitor- ing and supervision of entire administrative mechanism". However, it has been noticed with serious concern by the higher authorities that either Div Coms t ake serious note of non-submission of tour diaries Majority of DCs in J&K not conducting mandatory field visits *Tall claims about making admn responsive stand exposed Excelsior Correspondent SRINAGAR, May 17: The High Court today directed the Srinagar Municipal Corporation, to ensure that no public space and footpath are encroached by the vendors for smooth traffic movement. The Division Bench com- prising Chief Justice Badar Durez Ahmad and Justice Ali Mohammad Magrey directed the Municipal Corporation Commissioner Dr Shafkat Khan, who was present in the Court, to ensure that there are no street vendors on public roads and footpaths which are meant for vehicular traffic and pedestrians respectively. Commissioner stated before the court that the drive for removing unauthorized street vendors is going on and 90% of streets are free of roadside ven- dors. Court directed him to file his status report in this connec- tion along with photographs on next date of hearing. Transport Commissioner has been directed to submit an affi- davit on next date, indicating therein the exact extent of vehi- cles registered in Kashmir which are between the age of 0-15, 15- 20, 20-25 and above 25-years. Court directed him to give the details of these vehicles in a break-up of two groups viz commercial and non-commer- cial and further break-up into buses, minibuses, three-wheel- ers and non-commercial vehi- cles into cars, two-wheelers and others. Court further directed him to inform it about registration numbers and registration cer- tificates of those vehicles which have crossed the age limit of 25 years. Advocate General of the State has been directed to exam- ine the possibility, in a phased manner, of switching over com- mercial vehicles into CNG. "As part of the first phase, the Government may consider grant of permission of commer- cial vehicle beyond 15 years on the condition that they will con- vert from petrol/diesel to CNG/LPG", directed Indian Oil Corporation through its counsel has been directed to indicate as to whether they are in position to establish centers where CNG can be provided in Kashmir par- ticularly Srinagar. Court directed the Regional Transport Officer Kashmir to ensure that 'pollution under con- trol' certificate for vehicles beyond 15 years of age shall be granted only if pollution param- eters are within control. "Fitness certificate shall also be granted when the vehicles are mechanically fit. The certifi- cates would also be granted strictly on six monthly basis so that any vehicle which does not have the certificate beyond six months would require to obtain that certificate and in default not to ply on roads", court said. About the abolishing of unauthorized bus and sumo stands the list of these stands is already notified by the Transport HC directs SMC to ensure no public space is used by vendors Avtar Bhat JAMMU May 17: Notwithstanding the claims of Government to construct 4000 kilometer roads this fiscal year, the situation on ground is totally disturbing with most of roads in Jammu city and its outskirts in shambles- the main reason for this being that the Kashmir valley reeling under unrest for quite a long time now, so the Government is not showing any interest towards the developmental works in Jammu region also. According to reliable sources, the State Government is not taking any keen interest in executing the developmental works in Jammu region where the condition of roads is worst as their renovation and repair work was not taken up in hand during last two years now. The main reason for this being that the developmental works have suf- fered in Kashmir valley due to unrest and the Government wants to keep the works pending in Jammu too. Sources said that the State Government is not showing any interest in the developmental process in otherwise peaceful Jammu region and the people here are also made to suffer and bear the brunt of the unrest in Kashmir. This is the rea- son that the condition of roads in Jammu is worst and many of them are not fit for movement of traffic also. Even the condition of some neglected roads is so bad that they have been turned into cesspools of water also, sources added. Sources said that recently the blacktopping of the roads was under- taken in hand in outskirts of Jammu city on the insistence of a local MLA but the same was aban- doned later on the instructions of the concerned Minister. The issue was also taken up by a senior BJP leader with the Party national president Amit Shah during his recent visit to Jammu. The BJP leader said that delaying the developmental process in Jammu is slated to damage the Party's image in the region which has secured overwhelm- ing public mandate during last Parliamentary and Assembly elections, sources added. Sources said the BJP leader was so upset with the style of functioning of the concerned Minister that he was left with no alternative but to narrate the whole story before the national president of the Party. Sources said the failure of the Government to renovate and repair the roads in Jammu city and its outskirts during last two years has generated a lot of pub- lic resentment with people tak- Jammu made to suf fer for Kashmir unrest Roads in shambles, Govt sleeping * Watch video on www.excelsiornews.com * Watch video on www.excelsiornews.com INSIDE WEATHER Relief to young entrepreneurs *Cross LoC trade ....Page 8 Mehbooba inaugurates Semi-mechanized car parking facility at Srinagar ....Page 3 Cong enrolls 8.25 lakh primary members ....Page 3 Don’t make LoC a political theatre: Rana ...Page 5 Zulfkar for strict enforcement of laws to contain profiteering ...Page 7 Clinical KKR restrict Sunrisers to 128/7 ...Page 14 JAMMU : Partly cloudy TEMPERATURE Max: 38.0 Degree C Min: 22.2 Degree C RELATIVE HUMIDITY RH-I (Morning): 53.0 per cent RH-II (Evening): 54.0 per cent Sunset on Thursday: 07.25 p.m. Sunrise on Friday: 05.31 a.m. SRINAGAR: Possibility of light rain/ Thundershowers TEMPERATURE Max: 25.0 Degree C Min: 12.9 Degree C RELATIVE HUMIDITY RH-I (Morning): 88.0 per cent RH-II (Evening): 71.0 per cent LEH: TEMPERATURE Max: 24.2 Degree C Min: 10.9 Degree C Download Mobile Apps of Daily Excelsior for Android and IOS http://www.dailyexcelsior.com/apps/ Download on the Google Play Store Download on the App Store A truck driver sleeps on onion bags at a wholesale market in Jammu on Wednesday. Defence Minister Arun Jaitley and Army chief Gen Bipin Rawat with other top Commanders in Srinagar on Wednesday. (Contd on page 6 Col 3) (Contd on page 6 Col 3) (Contd on page 6 Col 5) (Contd on page 6 Col 5) (Contd on page 6 Col 7) (Contd on page 6 Col 7) (Contd on page 6 Col 1) (Contd on page 6 Col 3) Large number of mortar shells fired by Pakistan in Balakote sector of Poonch. Portion of road damaged at Toph Sherkhania, Jammu. Another pic on page 6. —Excelsior/Rakesh (Contd on page 6 Col 5) (Contd on page 6 Col 5) (Contd on page 6 Col 1) (Contd on page 6 Col 7) (Contd on page 6 Col 7)
Transcript of page-1final.qxd (Page 2) - EPAPER - DAILY...
Excelsiordaily
REGD.NO.JK-71/15-17RNI No. 28547/65Vol No. 53 No. 136 JAMMU, THURSDAY, MAY 18, 2017 16 Pages `̀ 5.00
Fayaz BukhariSRINAGAR May 17:
Defence Minister Arun Jaitleytoday impressed upon theArmy Commanders to main-tain strict vigil along the Line
of Control (LoC) and remainprepared to give a befittingreply to any misadventurefrom across the border. Heurged the Armed forces to dealstrictly with the inimicalforces without harming civil-
ians. Soon after his arrival here,
the Defence Minister thisevening reviewed the securitysituation in Jammu and Kashmirand along the LoC andInternational Border with
Pakistan in a meeting with Armychief General Bipin Rawat andtop Army Commanders.
Jaitley arrived here thisevening and was received atSrinagar Airport by FinanceMinister, Haseeb Drabu and
other top Army Commanders.Soon after his arrival at Army'sChinar Corps Headquarters atBadami Bagh Cantt, he wasbriefed on the prevailing situa-tion in Jammu and Kashmir andalong the LoC and InternationalBorder.
Army chief, Gen BipinRawat, Sanjay Mitra, DefenceSecretary (Designate) and sen-ior Army officers includingNorthern Army chief D Anbuand 15 Corps General OfficerCommanding (GOC), JSSandhu were present in thereview meeting.
The top Commandersbriefed Jaitley about the situa-tion along the LoC in the Stateand International Border andvarious measures to strengthenthe counter infiltration gridalong the LoC. He was givendetailed presentation of the mili-tant camps in PoK and thelaunching pads along the LoCwhich have become activerecently after the melting ofsnow from the mountain passes.
The Defence Minister wasbriefed about infiltration bids
‘Deal firmly with inimical elements, no harm to civilians’
Jaitley for strict vigil alongLoC, asks for befitting reply
GST Councilmeets today
Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, May 17: The14th meeting of the GSTCouncil to be chaired by UnionFinance Minister, Arun Jaitleyis set to begin here tomorrowwith Finance Ministers, FinanceSecretaries and other taxationofficials from all the States andUnion Territories attending thecrucial meet on new tax regime.
Probe into commotion at CM’s functionExcelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 17: Taking serious note of commotion andunruly situation at the function of Chief Minister Mehbooba Muftiat SKICC, Srinagar yesterday, the Government today ordered aninquiry into the circumstances that led to unwarranted situation, aresult of which the CM had to leave the function in a huff.
An order issued by the General Administration Department(GAD) said Shailendra Kumar, Commissioner/Secretary,Industries and Commerce Department has been appointed asInquiry Officer in the case.
He would inquire into the circumstances leading to commotionand unruly situation besides damage to infrastructure during thefunction organized by the State Rural Livelihood Mission.
"The inquiry will, inter alia, include fixing of responsibility onthe officers and officials of various departments and organizations,which had been assigned with the task of smooth conduction of thefunction, but failed to discharge their duties scrupulously,'' theGAD order said.
PWD Enggs booked by VigilanceExcelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 17: Vigilance Organization, Jammu has bookedthen Engineers of PWD (R&B) Division Ramban for alleged irreg-ularities in road works.
A case under FIR number 19/2017 under section 5(1) (d) r/w5(2) J&K PC Act and Section 120-B RPC, has been registeredagainst the then Executive Engineers of PWD (R&B) DivisionRamban and others on the basis of a verification conducted into theallegations of glaring irregularities and gross violation of norms inthe execution of Banihal-Duligam road and Link roadChaknarwah, constructed during the year 2000 to 2010.
The verification revealed that developmental works onBahihal-Duligam road were carried out during the period 2000-2010 and an amount of Rs 1,95,06,860.00 was spent on this proj-ect by the then Executive Engineers PWD (R&B) DivisionRamban, namely G N Shiekh, Opinder Kar, A K Darbari andParvaiz Shah. Moreover, departmental works on Link roadChaknarwah were also carried out during the period 2000-2010and an amount of Rs 1,45,11,387.00 was spent on the project by
600 Anganwari Centres foundclosed, 1400 officers absent
Excelsior Correspondent
RAJOURI, May 17: In a major crack down involving 300Government officials, over 600 Anganwari Centres were foundclosed and nearly 1400 employees of the ICDS Projects of SocialWelfare Department (SWD) absent from duty, in district Rajouritoday.
The District Administration, Rajouri on the instructions ofDeputy Commissioner, Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary today carriedout a surprise check of Anganwari Centres across the districtexcept the areas affected by cross-LoC firing in Nowshera divi-sion.
The inspection was carried out by SDMs, Tehsildars, NaibTehsildars and even the Girdawars/ Patwaris, deputed for the task.The inspection started at 10.30 am, however, the officials were sta-tioned and deployed at respective areas without prior informationabout inspection.
Jammu Rly Stn third cleanestNEW DELHI, May 17:
The Visakhapatnam railway station is the cleanest, followed bySecunderabad, among the 75 most busy stations in the country.
As per a survey, the report of which was released by RailwayMinister Suresh Prabhu here today, the Jammu Railway Stationoccupied the third spot, while the New Delhi station was ranked at39 among the most busy stations.
The survey was carried out by the Quality Council of India.The Darbhanga railway station in Bihar was the dirtiest among
the most busy stations.Clean toilets at platforms, clean tracks and dustbins at stations
were some of the criteria for judging railway stations for cleanli-ness.
This was the third survey on cleanliness done by the railwaysto keep a tab on rail premises as part of its 'Swachh Rail' campaign.
"We want all stations to be clean. There are many stationswhich have improved their cleanliness ranking from last time,"Prabhu said after releasing the survey report.
DB directs GAD to conclude RDA enquiry in 4 months
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 17: In the much publicized Public InterestLitigation (PIL) highlighting alleged hushing up of RajouriDevelopment Authority (RDA) scam, Division Bench of the StateHigh Court comprising Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice Janak RajKotwal today directed the General Administration Department(GAD) to conclude the enquiry against then CEO within fourmonths.
After hearing Advocate Sheikh Shakeel Ahmed appearing forthe PIL whereas Senior AAG Seema Shekhar appearing for theState Government, the Division Bench observed, "in compliance oforder dated April 10, 2017 Senior AAG filed the status report onApril 21, 2017 in which it is stated that a departmental enquiry hasalready been initiated against the then CEO Rajouri DevelopmentAuthority and the documents have also been supplied to TourismDepartment".
12 injured as security forceslaunch anti-militancy ops
Adil LateefSRINAGAR, May 17:
Security forces today conduct-ed counter-insurgency opera-tions in South Kashmir dis-tricts during which localsresorted to stone-pelting tohamper these operationsagainst the militants, resultingin injuries to 12 persons.
The operations against mili-tants were launched in Shopian,Kulgam and Pulwama districtsseparately. Police said: "in aneffort to flush out the holed upmilitants", the security forcesincluding Special OperationGroup (SOG), Army and CentralReserve Police Force (CRPF)conducted extensive searches inHeff and Shirmal villages of
Shopian district. The operationwas launched during midnightand continued till around 10 am.
"There was no specific infor-mation about the militants but itwas a speculative operation," apolice officer said, adding atleast 1000 security personnelwere involved in the operation.
At least five militants includ-ing a wanted commanderSaddam Padder belonged tothese two villages. "Militants docome and go in Heff andShermal and that is why theoperation was launched," theofficer added.
As the dawn descended,locals in large numbers came outof their houses and startedprotests against the search oper-
Jammu woman Sangeetaready to climb Mt. Everest
Rajesh DharJAMMU, May 17: Born
and brought up in Jammu, 52-year old Sangeeta Bahl is wait-ing in the wings at the basecamp18, 000 feet above the sealevel today, attempting to scaleMount Everest.
Sangeeta, the only Indianclimber among other 10climbers across the world, willbe leaving for Camp-Two21,500 ft high at 2 am tomorrowand after staying for a day there,will leave for camp-3 at theheight of 23,000 ft on May 20,
2017 and after a one-day stay,will move to camp-4 at a heightof 26,000 ft, while May 22 or 23will be the summit day. She willreturn within two days.
While talking to EXCEL-SIOR from the base camp,Sangeeta said that it was a great,excellent rather an ecstatic feel-
ing to be there and vie for thesummit.
She said that it was snowingearlier and now it feels nice asthe weather conditions havedrastically improved.
Bahl said that she has adream to scale 7 summits of theworld and she has already scaled5 out of these 7 summits, addingthat if successful, it will be her6th summit.
Sangeeta, who in her schooldays studied in PresentationConvent Senior SecondarySchool Jammu, first climbed Mt.Kilimanjaro, the highest moun-tain in Africa at the age of 46
11 villages badly hit, camps increasedMore people desert
houses on LoC as Pakcontinues heavy shelling
Sanjeev PargalJAMMU, May 17: There
has been no let up in migrationfrom forward villages alongLine of Control (LoC) inNowshera sector of Rajouridistrict as majority of popula-
tion from village Sher Makrishifted to the migrant campswhile Pakistan army resortedto heavy shelling and firing inBalakote sector of Mendhartehsil in Poonch district in wee
hours of this morning.Official sources told the
Excelsior that since the migra-tion from villages, located closeto LoC in Nowshera sector con-tinued even though there was nomajor incident of Pakistanishelling and firing today, theadministration has increasednumber of make shift migrantcamps from four to five.
The Government GirlsHigher Secondary School,Nowshera was designated asfifth migrant camp and peoplearriving from the forward vil-lages were being accommodatedthere. Four migrant campsalready made operationalincluded Government BoysHigher Secondary School,Nowshera, Government MiddleSchool, Bawali, GovernmentHigh School, Nonial andGovernment Middle School,Nonial.
Sources said 435 more peo-ple, mainly hailing from villageSher Makri in Nowshera sector,
Mohinder VermaJAMMU, May 17:
Notwithstanding repeateddirections from the ChiefMinister Mehbooba Muftiabout making administrationresponsive to the needs of thepeople, majority of the DeputyCommissioners have not beenconducting mandatory fieldvisits and their conduct hasbeen taken seriously by thehigher authorities.
In all the meetings with theAdministrative Secretaries andthe Deputy Commissioners, theChief Minister Mehbooba Muftiis laying thrust on reaching out
to the people particularly in therural areas to resolve their issueson the spot. She has explicitlytold the heads of the civil admin-istration in each district to makefield visits a part of their routineduty.
The Chief Minister is of theobservation that people havebeen extremely receptive toadministration whenever it hasresponded to their problems pos-itively and responsibly and fieldvisits would make the adminis-trative more responsive to theneeds of the people in the lengthand breadth of Jammu andKashmir.
It has been made mandato-
ry for all the DeputyCommissioners to pay fieldvisits at least twice a week so asto assess the grievances of thepeople at their door steps andresolve on the spot, officialsources told EXCELSIOR,adding the field visits not onlyallow the DeputyCommissioners to understandthe situation on the ground butalso instill confidence amongstpublic regarding the adminis-tration reaching out to them.
"They are also required tosubmit work done programme inthe form of tour diaries and thework done statements to thehigher authorities particularly to
the Divisional Commissionersand this exercise has been mademandatory requirement of theofficial business", sources fur-ther said, adding "not only theirown field visits the DeputyCommissioners are also requiredto ensure that their subordinateofficers conduct field visits intheir respective areas and submitthe reports to the DeputyCommissioners on timely basisso as to ensure proper monitor-ing and supervision of entireadministrative mechanism".
However, it has been noticedwith serious concern by thehigher authorities that either
Div Coms take serious note of non-submission of tour diaries
Majority of DCs in J&K not conducting mandatory field visits
*Tall claims about making admn responsive stand exposed
Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, May 17: TheHigh Court today directed theSrinagar MunicipalCorporation, to ensure that nopublic space and footpath areencroached by the vendors forsmooth traffic movement.
The Division Bench com-prising Chief Justice BadarDurez Ahmad and Justice AliMohammad Magrey directed theMunicipal CorporationCommissioner Dr Shafkat Khan,who was present in the Court, toensure that there are no streetvendors on public roads andfootpaths which are meant forvehicular traffic and pedestriansrespectively.
Commissioner stated beforethe court that the drive for
removing unauthorized streetvendors is going on and 90% ofstreets are free of roadside ven-dors. Court directed him to filehis status report in this connec-tion along with photographs onnext date of hearing.
Transport Commissioner hasbeen directed to submit an affi-davit on next date, indicatingtherein the exact extent of vehi-cles registered in Kashmir whichare between the age of 0-15, 15-20, 20-25 and above 25-years.
Court directed him to givethe details of these vehicles in abreak-up of two groups vizcommercial and non-commer-cial and further break-up intobuses, minibuses, three-wheel-ers and non-commercial vehi-cles into cars, two-wheelers andothers.
Court further directed himto inform it about registrationnumbers and registration cer-tificates of those vehicleswhich have crossed the agelimit of 25 years.
Advocate General of theState has been directed to exam-ine the possibility, in a phasedmanner, of switching over com-mercial vehicles into CNG.
"As part of the first phase,the Government may considergrant of permission of commer-cial vehicle beyond 15 years onthe condition that they will con-vert from petrol/diesel toCNG/LPG", directed Indian OilCorporation through its counselhas been directed to indicate asto whether they are in position toestablish centers where CNGcan be provided in Kashmir par-
ticularly Srinagar.Court directed the Regional
Transport Officer Kashmir toensure that 'pollution under con-trol' certificate for vehiclesbeyond 15 years of age shall begranted only if pollution param-eters are within control.
"Fitness certificate shall alsobe granted when the vehicles aremechanically fit. The certifi-cates would also be grantedstrictly on six monthly basis sothat any vehicle which does nothave the certificate beyond sixmonths would require to obtainthat certificate and in default notto ply on roads", court said.
About the abolishing ofunauthorized bus and sumostands the list of these stands isalready notified by the Transport
HC directs SMC to ensure no public space is used by vendors
Avtar BhatJAMMU May 17:
Notwithstanding the claims ofGovernment to construct 4000kilometer roads this fiscalyear, the situation on ground istotally disturbing with most ofroads in Jammu city and itsoutskirts in shambles- themain reason for this being thatthe Kashmir valley reelingunder unrest for quite a longtime now, so the Governmentis not showing any interesttowards the developmentalworks in Jammu region also.
According to reliablesources, the State Government isnot taking any keen interest inexecuting the developmentalworks in Jammu region wherethe condition of roads is worst astheir renovation and repair workwas not taken up in hand duringlast two years now. The mainreason for this being that thedevelopmental works have suf-
fered in Kashmir valley due tounrest and the Government
wants to keep the works pendingin Jammu too.
Sources said that theState Government is notshowing any interest in thedevelopmental process inotherwise peaceful Jammuregion and the people hereare also made to suffer andbear the brunt of the unrestin Kashmir. This is the rea-son that the condition ofroads in Jammu is worstand many of them are notfit for movement of trafficalso. Even the condition ofsome neglected roads is sobad that they have beenturned into cesspools ofwater also, sources added.
Sources said thatrecently the blacktoppingof the roads was under-taken in hand in outskirtsof Jammu city on theinsistence of a local MLAbut the same was aban-doned later on the
instructions of the concernedMinister. The issue was alsotaken up by a senior BJPleader with the Party nationalpresident Amit Shah duringhis recent visit to Jammu. TheBJP leader said that delayingthe developmental process inJammu is slated to damage theParty's image in the regionwhich has secured overwhelm-ing public mandate during lastParliamentary and Assemblyelections, sources added.
Sources said the BJP leaderwas so upset with the style offunctioning of the concernedMinister that he was left with noalternative but to narrate thewhole story before the nationalpresident of the Party.
Sources said the failure ofthe Government to renovate andrepair the roads in Jammu cityand its outskirts during last twoyears has generated a lot of pub-lic resentment with people tak-
Jammu made to suffer for Kashmir unrestRoads in shambles, Govt sleeping
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INSIDE WEATHERRelief to young entrepreneurs*Cross LoC trade ....Page 8Mehbooba inaugurates Semi-mechanized car parking facility at Srinagar ....Page 3Cong enrolls 8.25 lakhprimary members ....Page 3Don’t make LoC a political theatre: Rana ...Page 5Zulfkar for strict enforcement of laws to contain profiteering ...Page 7Clinical KKR restrictSunrisers to 128/7 ...Page 14
JAMMU : Partly cloudy
TEMPERATUREMax: 38.0 Degree C Min: 22.2 Degree C
RELATIVE HUMIDITYRH-I (Morning): 53.0 per centRH-II (Evening): 54.0 per centSunset on Thursday: 07.25 p.m.Sunrise on Friday: 05.31 a.m.
SRINAGAR:Possibility of light rain/ Thundershowers
TEMPERATUREMax: 25.0 Degree C Min: 12.9 Degree C
RELATIVE HUMIDITYRH-I (Morning): 88.0 per centRH-II (Evening): 71.0 per cent
LEH: TEMPERATURE
Max: 24.2 Degree C Min: 10.9 Degree C
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A truck driver sleeps on onion bags at a wholesale market in Jammu on Wednesday.
Defence Minister Arun Jaitley and Army chief Gen BipinRawat with other top Commanders in Srinagar on Wednesday.
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Large number of mortarshells fired by Pakistan inBalakote sector of Poonch.
Portion of road damaged at TophSherkhania, Jammu. Another pic onpage 6. —Excelsior/Rakesh (Contd on page 6 Col 5)
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