64 fire tenders for 52 lakh population of Jammu region
Yash Khajuria	9/16/2011 9:29:34 PM
JAMMU, Sept 16: For the population of 52 lakh who inhabit the ten districts of Jammu region there are only 64 tenders and 35 fire stations to deal with any major eventuality in the region. Official sources said that while rapid expansion of towns and urbanization has increased the workload of the Fire Service Department but there has been no major modernisation of its equipment or personnel gear for last two decades. Sources attribute the poor condition of the department to the diversion of funds by the government for modernisation of police force to combat insurgency which has put the expansion plans for the fire service department to backburner. Official data says that Jammu district has 10 fire stations, with 25 fire tenders which cover the city of 12 lakh population. While Samba has 2 fire stations and 4 fire tenders, Kathua has 2 stations and 3 tenders, Udhampur has 3 fire stations and 5 tenders, Reasi has 2 fire stations and 3 fire tenders. Similarly Ramban has 4 fire stations and 5 tenders, Doda has 4 stations and 6 fire tenders. While Kishtwar has 1 fire station and 2 tenders, while border district of Rajouri has 3 stations and 5 tenders and Poonch has 4 stations and 6 tenders. Further officials figures say that there are only 39 heavy duty pumps at the disposal of the department which is not enough to cover the entire population of Jammu region. “There is shortage of equipment and vehicles but there is a plan to increase the number of fire station according to the population ratio but government has to take the initiative”, said R.S Sodhi, Director Fire Services Department. However he said that they are making maximum use of the available resources to deal with any eventuality. “At present we can deal with any major incident and steps are being taken to meet the requirements of the personnel”, Sodhi said. However an official source said that the department is still lacking even the basic equipments and the field personnel does not have fire resistant suits, masks or potable oxygen cylinders to deal with any man made or natural calamity. “It is not only fire for which the department is unprepared for, but natural calamities like the 2005 earthquake if it again struck the state they are ill prepared”, said an official. “We had submitted our requirements and needs to the government and after we get the required funds major expansion drive will be taken up”, said Sodhi. It is pertinent to mention here that in past over a week over a dozen fire incidents involving crops has put question mark on the working and the response of the fire tenders, which in most cases reached the spot after the devastation. It is pertinent to mention here that keeping in view the needs of the rapidly expending population in the state the previous government in 2005 had made a detailed plan to build new fire station across the state keeping in view the population ratio of the respective districts. Sources said that the main reason why the proposal did not materlise was the cost involved which was beyond the capacity of the government. Each new fire station involves expenditure of Rs 1.3 crore and an additional staff of 26 personnel at each station, which is quite out of budget for the funds allocated to the department.

MGNREGA workdays to be increased from 100 to 200 days

MGNREGA workdays to be increased from 100 to 200 days
Yash Khajuria	9/15/2011 10:31:40
JAMMU, Sept 15: With view to engage youth in work and to divert their attention from violent tendencies, government may increase the employment days under Mahatama Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) from 100 to 200 days across the state. According to the sources, the implementation of the central scheme which was recently reviewed by the MLA M.Y Tarigami, who is chairman of the Assurance Committee of Legislative Assembly, has recommended that work days should be increased in the state keeping in view the large number of unemployed youth in the rural and far-flung areas of Jammu and Kashmir. Officials said that committee has also suggested for the amendment of the Panchayati Act for the better implementation and utilization of the central funds. “It could be an important way to divert the attention of the youth so that they don’t indulge in violence. Further it will create work employment workdays for the people”, said an official. The Committee has observed that with implementation of the scheme in rural areas, particularly those which have faced continued neglect, can empower their socio- economic status to some extent. “There is need to reach out at grass root level in the state as it is very important central scheme”, said Tarigami. Though recently a national survey has adjudged Jammu and Kashmir as best state in the country for successful implementation of schemes in Primary Health Care sector and Mahatama Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), but there are still many flaws as people have not shown much interest as the daily wages are less then what is given in private sector. In October this year government has said the engagement of as many as 17,500 supporting staff under the act to ensure timely execution of set targets. According to the economic survey carried out by the State Government in 2007-08, the funds utilization profile of NREGA during that period was very low. Data says that in Kashmir division, utilization was just 9.64 per cent of the available funds and in Jammu, it was 44.25 per cent. The report had said that the main reason was that the workers are not willing to work on the wages offered under NREGA and even those workers who have got registered fail to respond when they offered. "In the open market a laborer is getting average Rs 160 for working 9 hours a day whereas under NREGA he is getting Rs 110 only per day for working 8 hours", said a official.

Govt deptt owe whopping Rs 605 crore to PDD

Govt deptt owe whopping Rs 605 crore to PDD
Yash Khajuria	9/14/2011 7:30:36 PM
JAMMU, Sept 10: At a time when Government is making tall claims of reforming the power sector in the state and achieve revenue targets, different government departments still owe whopping Rs 605 crore to the Power Development Department (PDD). Officials said that this is the main hindrance in way of the Department to achieve its revenue targets. Sources said that most of the Government offices are using the electricity with impunity and despite repeated notices they have not responded to them. Sources said that government employees alone owe nearly Rs 28 crore to the department, putting question mark on the measures taken by the Omar Abdullah led government on reforming the electricity sector. It is pertinent to mention here that of the budget of Rs 5000 crore for the state, power sector consumes about Rs 2400 crore annually, while the revenue collection is just Rs 600-800 crore. “Speeches are ok, but no sincere steps are being taken by the PDD to recover the money from the defaulters. It will take years before the pending arrears are cleared by the government”, said a senior officer from the PDD on condition of anonymity. When contacted, PDD Chief Engineer Mohammad Qasim said, “We have taken steps for recovery but it will take time. These are pending for last many years and departments are also cooperating”. He said that they have took up the matter with the Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah who have assured that he will ensure that arrears are cleared. Every year PDD has the target of nearly Rs 1500 crore as revenue, but they are able to recover just Rs 600 to Rs 800 crore annually, due to which state had to face the wrath of the Union Power Ministry, which has warned the J&K from time to time, to improve its revenue collection. "While people are being made to shell out fees even using harsh measures, no effort is being made to recover dues from the departments who have emerged as major defaulters", said a official. It is pertinent to mention here that Power sector is a major headache for the J&K, while its use is increasing every year, but state had to divert crores to keep the power supply stable. Another worry is the higher Transmission and Distribution losses, which ahs reached nearly 72 per cent from 40 per cent just five years ago. Government has recently said that they intend to install 1200 capacitors to keep check on the losses on the advice of experts committee, but so far the project has also not helped much to check the losses. For providing uninterrupted power supply state requires nearly 2500 MWs of power at present. The restricted demand of power was nearly 700 MW for Jammu region and 800 MW for Kashmir region, which comes out at 1500 MW, but revenue recovery is falling every year. As per the data industry sector was to pay Rs 55.01 crore, while domestic sector Rs 216.14 crore and the agriculture sector owed Rs 147.81 crore for electricity consumed.

16 dead, 23 injured in Ramban accident

16 dead, 23 injured in Ramban accident
Yash Khajuria	9/13/2011 10:39:38 PM
JAMMU, Sept 13: 16 people today lost their life and 23 others were injured when a bus skidded off a road and fell into a deep gorge in Jammu and Kashmir's Ramban district. Reports said that the vehicle was on way from Ramban to Banihar and met with the accident on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway leading to death of the passengers. Many of the injured were later shifted to Government medical College (GMC) Jammu for treatment. The vehicle rolled down the 400-ft Khooni Nala at Nashri, 200 kms from here, they said, adding at least 16 people were feared killed while 23 others were injured in the mishap. After getting the reports, Army and police launched the rescue and relief operation. In recent past district has witnessed number of accidents involving busses, Sumo’s and Matadors in which many people have died or have received grievous injuries, putting question mark on the functioning of the traffic and police department. It is pertinent to mention here that today about 18 students were injured when a matador carrying students from Chanderkote to Ramban skidded off the road. In the incident one student had received serious injuries. Recently on September 8, a TATA Sumo bearing registration No:- JK02W-4932 had met with an accident on Karol-Kundi road in which two persons had lost their lives and three other were injured Government has asked the district administration Ramban to submit a detailed report within one month to find reason why the number of accidents has increased in the district and fix the responsibility for the same. As per the directions, Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Bashir Ahmed Khan has been appointed as inquiry officer to conduct the enquiry to ascertain the reasons due to which the number of road accidents has increased in recent past claiming number of precious lives. Sources said that enquiry team has also been directed to inspect the vehicles in the district and make a detailed list of the old vehicles plying on the roads so that necessary action could be taken against them. “It has been directed to fix the responsibility due to which accidents have happened and suggesting preventive measures so as to avoid such accidents in future. There is great resentment among the people”, said a source.