Vol No.

50

Speaker sets up House Committee

Excelsior
daily
No. 52 JAMMU, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2014
REGD.NO.JK-71/12-14 RNI No. 28547/1992

20 Pages

` 3.50

Massive uproar by entire Oppn, NC members join issue on SHCs

Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Feb 21: The Legislative Assembly today witnessed unprecedented protests from the entire called inequality in sanction of Sub Health Centres (SHCs) across the State by the Government especially the former Health Ministers. After adjourning the House the sanction of the SHCs. He said he would announce composition of the House Committee soon. The concern from the ruling National Conference members

Delay in ropeway project, pathetic condition of Mansar road

Protests rock Assembly; Jammu-based Oppn stages walk-outs

Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Feb 21: Protests rocked the Legislative Assembly over inordinate delay in the start of work on the cable car project of Jammu and pathetic condition of Samba-Mansar road with Opposition MLAs accusing the Government of being biased towards all those projects which have the potential to ensure tourism promotion in Jammu region. After creating pandemonium on these issues for some time, the members of BJP, NPP and JSM staged walk-out. The protests from Jammubased Opposition MLAs started as soon as Minister for Urban Development, Nawang Rigjin Jora, on behalf of Minister for Tourism, informed the Lower House that there was no proposal for changing alignment of the Jammus ropeway in order to make historic Mubarak Mandi complex as one of its base station. For years together we were told that Mubarak Mandi will be one of the base stations of the cable car project but now we are informed that ropeway would be from Peerkoh to Mahamaya to Shahabad, BJP MLA from Jammu East, Ashok Khajuria said and sought to know as to why Mubarak Mandi was excluded from the ropeway project. On this, Mr Jora said, changing alignment of the project is not feasible at present juncture as obtaining permissions from different agencies including Central Empowered Committee of the Supreme Court is a lengthy process and already the project has suffered delay of several years, adding within two-three days the foundation stone of the project is being laid by the Chief Minister. Infuriated over the reply of the Minister, Mr Khajuria remarked, such excuses come in the way of construction of projects for tourism promotion in Jammu region only. He said, why there was scant regard to the Supreme Court guidelines/directions when Mahamaya forest area was being encroached upon. As there was no response from the Government, all the BJP MLAs left their seats in protest and then staged walk-out while raising Jammu Virodhi Sarkar Hai Hai slogans. Joining the issue, NPP MLA, Harshdev Singh said, despite repeated assurance from the Government during the past several years the work on the ambitious project has not been started till

Youth killed in Sopore, arms haul

Fayaz Bukhari

Entire Opposition protesting in the Assembly on Friday. Opposition including both from Kashmir and Jammu while ruling National Conference members also voiced concern over what they for 20 minutes amid massive uproar created by the entire Opposition, Speaker Mubarak Gul announced formation of a House Committee to look into

Excelsior/Rakesh over sanction of the SHCs could be well gauged from the fact that NC provincial president from Kashmir, Nasir Aslam (Contd on page 17 Col 1)

433 faculty positions among 2403 posts lying vacant Govt to open own food stores, GMCs, Associated Hospitals, other end monopoly of fair price shops health institutions on crutches in J&K
Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, Feb 21 : To end the monopoly of fair price shops and streamline the public distribution system in the State , the Government is opening 7679 new food stores in the State which will be fully controlled by it and in whose functioning there will be no role of private agencies. This was announced by Minister of CAPD and Transport, Ch Mohammed Ramzan while replying to annual grants of his ministries in State Assembly today. He said the new stores will be properly managed and they will be fully controlled by the Government and for their creation Rs 50 crore have been already released by the Finance Ministry. The total expenditure on them will be Rs 69 crore per year, he added. The Minister said that he was fed up with daily complaints from people regarding fair price shops as Government had no control over them. Neither we have any control over them nor could we place the people running them under suspension. Hence the decision was taken in the larger interests of the consumers of the State and for proper distribution of ration, he added. He said each ration depot will have one sales man and one helper. The Minister said these new food stores would be setup in both hilly and plain areas as per the requirement. This would help in meeting the demand of the people, he added. Later talking to Excelsior Mr Ramzan said the Government has no control over fair price shops. "We can't suspend them or take any other action against them''. He, however, maintained that those fair price shop holders who fall in the criteria will be absorbed but those who are over aged or have cases against them or were involved in black marketing will not be spared. The Government however will consider the cases of those who fall within criteria and are matriculate or 10+2, he added. The Minister said within this decision over two decade long problem will end in the State as at present one person was running eight fair price shops and as CAPD has manpower shortage it was dependent on private people. In present system one store was supplying ration from 600 to 700 families and in the new setup maximum 250 families will be dependent on one store, he added. With regard to Food Security Act, the Minister informed the House that it has advantages as well as disadvantages and in view of the same, the Act will not be implemented in toto. However, it will be implemented in parts in accordance with the requirement of the State so that no ration card holder is deprived of benefits under the State's public distribution system. The Minister said that State Government has procured and maintained stores with adequate sugar in order to meet the demands of the people. He said that the Government has also taken steps to streamline the distribution of K-oil in the State and maintain its adequate supply. The Government has also upgraded the monitoring mechanism to prevent any pilferage of K-oil in the State. Ch. Ramzan said that during last one year 142 new gas agencies have been sanctioned by different oil companies to provide LPG to the consumers at their door step. He said most of the agencies were opened in far off areas including 22 in Doda, 7 in Tangdhar and Teetwal and 17 in Rajouri and Poonch besides others. He said that the Government has ensured 100% home delivery in cities and towns across the State, adding that some defaulters among gas agencies have been fined upto Rs 1.20 crore. The Minister said that the storage capacity of ration and (Contd on page 17 Col 6)

*Shortage of 1757 doctors, 3239 paramedics in distts

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Feb 21: Notwithstanding demand for opening of more medical colleges and health institutions in Jammu and Kashmir, both the existing Government Medical Colleges and their Associated Hospitals are on crutches due to acute shortage of faculty members and para-medical staff. Even health institutions in districts are in the state of paralysis because of huge number of posts lying vacant during the past quite long time. The prevailing situation can be gauged from the fact that a total of 1504 posts of faculty, Gazetted Officers, para-medical and other staff are lying vacant in Government Medical College Jammu while as 899 such posts are vacant in Government Medical College Srinagar. Against 358 sanctioned posts of faculty in GMC Jammu, 155 are presently lying vacant while as 103 out of 450 sanctioned posts of other Gazetted Officers are vacant in this premier health institution, which is catering huge population of Jammu region. Likewise, 450 posts of paramedical and 164 posts of other staff members are lying vacant. In Government Medical College Srinagar, against 519 sanctioned posts of faculty, 278 are lying vacant thereby depriving people of timely medicare. Similarly, 140 posts of other Gazetted Officers and 481 posts of para-medical staff are mocking at the Governments tall claims about paying required attention towards strengthening of Medical Colleges. The situation vis--vis ventilators, which are considered as back-bone of the intensive care units and are oftenly required, is also miserable as in Government Medical College Jammu five ventilators are under repair and 17 have either outlived their utility or are beyond economic repair. Likewise, in SMGS Hospital, the only ventilator is presently nonfunctional. As far as Associated Hospitals of GMC Srinagar are concerned, 6 ventilators are non-functional in SMHS Hospital and four in Lalla Ded Hospital. Contrary to the fact that GMCs and Associated Hospitals are virtually on the crutches, the Minister for Medical Education, in a written reply to the question of Prof Chaman Lal Gupta, today said, the department is

SRINAGAR, Feb 21: Security forces have launched searches in Sopore this evening after unidentified militants shot dead a youth in the town while Army recovered huge cache of arms near the Line of *Pic on page 17 Control (LoC) in Uri, North Kashmir. Sources said that militants this evening date and this puts a question mark killed a youth, Waseem Meraj Malla son of Mehrajudin Malla resion the seriousness of the dent Kranshawan Colony Sopore outside his house. Government to take up the proSources said that two militants shot him from point blank range ject, adding this can be gauged (Contd on page 17 Col 1) from the fact that no specific grant has been earmarked for this project in the Budget for the next financial year. Excelsior Correspondent Merely keeping amount for private land acquisition and JAMMU, Feb 21: Governor N. N. Vohra, who is also the shifting of utilities is not going to Chancellor of Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences make any difference as the fact and Technology (SKUAST), Jammu, has appointed Dr is that during the past so many Pradeep Kumar Sharma, presently Assistant Director General years Government has only (Education Planning and Development) Education Division, given assurances on the start of Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi, as Vice work on the project, NPP lead- Chancellor of SKUAST, Jammu, for a period of five years or until er further said. he attains the age of 65 years, whichever is earlier, with effect Congress MLA from Chenani, from the date he takes over charge. Krishan Chander Bhagat raised (Contd on page 17 Col 4) the issue of ropeway project for Patnitop and wanted to know the present status of clearance to the project. Excelsior Correspondent The Minister for Urban Development, Nawang Rigjin JAMMU, Feb 21: PDP MLAs today protested in State Jora, who was replying to the Assembly against the absence of officers from Medical Education queries on behalf of the Tourism and Health Departments in the Officers Gallery during the debate Minister, tried to convince the on annual grants of Medical Education, Health and Family Opposition MLAs by explaining Welfare, Irrigation, PHE and Flood Control in the House today. the reasons behind the delay in As the Minister for Medical Education Taj Mohi-ud-Din and start of work but the protest from Minister of PHE and I&FC, Sham Lal Sharma stood up to move NPP and lone JSM MLA, the annual grants of their respective ministries and Deputy Ashwani Sharma continued and Speaker, Sartaj Madni asked NCs Dr Mustafa Kamaal to initiate later they staged walk-out by the discussion, PDPs Javed Mustafa Mir, Peer Mansoor and Ch accusing Government of being (Contd on page 17 Col 6) insensitive towards the projects of much importance for Jammu (Contd on page 17 Col 4) Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Feb 21: J&K police has solved the murder case of a B Tech student hailing from district Doda in Punjab with the arrest of an accused from Hoshiarpur district of Punjab and handing him over to local police there. According to police sources, a student hailing from district Doda namely Mehraj Khalid Mintoo was pursuing B Tech from Riyat Bahra Institute of Punjab. He was found dead in the institute during the intervening night of January 18 and 19. On getting information, Punjab police has rushed to the spot and after conducting postmortem, handed over the body of the victim to family members for last rites. (Contd on page 17 Col 6) leaving no stone unturned in providing the health care delivery system to the masses living in length and breadth of the NEW DELHI, Feb 21: State, adding the diagnostic facilities are being improved The Government today left open the possibility of giving effect with the installation of latest to Rahul Gandhi's pet six anti-graft legislations through ordinances machinery like CT Scans, venti- after the Opposition parties did not agree to extend the current lators etc. Parliament session. What to talk of GMCs and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath responded by stating, Associated Hospitals even the "We will discuss the matter" when asked by reporters if the health institutions in the districts Government would take the ordinance route on the bills. have been rendered paralytic by He also indicated that the Government would consider what the Government with huge vacan- views President Pranab Mukherjee may have in regard to promulgacies of doctors and para-medical tion of ordinances. staff. (Contd on page 17 Col 1) (Contd on page 17 Col 4)

Sharma new VC of SKUAST-J

MLAs resent absence of officers

J-K police solves Doda students murder

Govt may issue ordinances on bills

185 religious places of KPs damaged

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Feb 21: Jammu and Kashmir Government today said that 185 places of worship of Kashmiri Pandits (KPs) in Kashmir valley are either damaged or in a dilapidated condition. The above information was shared with the Legislative (Contd on page 17 Col 4)

Number of voters: Valley shows increase, Jammu decrease

Nishikant Khajuria
stituencies have registered a considerable decrease in the number of electors since 2002. In comparison to the 87332 voters registered in 2002 in Jammu-East, the number has shockingly decreased to 53335 in 2014 while in Jammu-West, there is a decrease in the number of voters from 163689 in 2002 to 149056 in 2014. More surprising is the fact that even within months from 2013 to 2014, the number of voters in Jammu- East as well as Jammu- West, has decreased from 55358 to 53325 and 151889 to 149056, respectively. The Gandhinagar Assembly constituency in Jammu is also registering a decrease in the number of voters from 2013 to 2014 even as there was a slight increase from 2002. The number of electors in this Assembly segments was 153334 in 2002, 143629 in 2008, 161640 in 2013 and 160157 in 2014. The other Assembly segments in Jammu province, which have registered a decrease in the number of voters from 2002 to 2013, include Kishtwar, Gulabgarh, Nowshera, Darhal, Rajouri, Kalakote, Surankote and Mendhar. Except a few, the Jammu constituencies where the number of voters has registered a growth, the increase is almost negligible. For example in Udhampur, Reasi, Gool-Arnas, Bani, Kathua, R S Pura, Marh, Poonch-Haveli and some other Constituencies, the increase in voters is around one percent. In Ladakh, all the four constituencies except Nobra, have registered a decrease in the number of voters since 2002. In 2002, the registered voters in Leh, Kargil and Zanskar were 74471, 64646 and 222792, respectively, whose number decreased to 70100, 60169 and 21022, respectively in 2014. In comparison, all the 46 seats in Kashmir valley, except Idgah, Khanyar and Habbakdal, the number of registered electors has significantly increased since 2002. In constituencies like (Contd on page 17 Col 4)

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INSIDE

WEATHER

JAMMU : * Guarding the frontier * KP Minority status ...Page 10 Light rain/thunder shower. TEMPERATURE Big ticket projects Max: 21.9 Degree C in twin cities on Min: 9.5 Degree C priority list: Omar ...Page 3 RELATIVE HUMIDITY AICC Secy asks Highest: 83.0 per cent Lowest: 65.0 per cent workers to gear up Sunset on Saturday: 06.23 p.m. for LS polls ...Page 3 Sunrise on Sunday: 07.07 a.m. Laws relating to SRINAGAR: Light rain/ snow conduct of elections TEMPERATURE being reformed ...Page 5 Max: 12.8 Degree C Rs 50 cr sanctioned, just Min: 1.8 Degree C RELATIVE HUMIDITY Rs 1 cr spend on Highest: 88.0 per cent Mubarak Mandi project ...Page 5 Lowest: 51.0 per cent Make sports important LEH : TEMPERATURE aspect of Max: 6.5 Degree C curriculum: Governor ...Page 18 Min: -10.0 Degree C

JAMMU, Feb 21: It may sound incredible but is true that when the number of electorates in the State, including Kashmir valley, is showing increase since the last one decade, a reverse of same is being registered in various constituencies of Jammu as well as Ladakh regions. Fourteen Assembly constituencies in Jammu and Ladakh have registered a decrease in the number of electors in comparison to the figures of 2002 while the increase in remaining segments, except a few, is almost negligible. However, on the other hand, all the Assembly constituencies in Kashmir valley, except three in Srinagar district, have shown considerable increase in the number of registered electors. In several Assembly segments of Valley, the increase is more than 25 per cent and even above 40 per cent in a few constituencies. According to the official figures, both Jammu-East and Jammu-West Assembly con-