Sewerage projects running behind schedule in Jammu, Srinagar

Sewerage projects running behind schedule in Jammu, Srinagar

Yash Khajuria

JAMMU, Nov 08: The construction work of two major sewerage projects in the state of J&K which is been awaited completion for many years is likely to delay more, as numerous problems are being encountered by the agency responsible for carrying out such works in the Eastern part and this would have adverse impact on the entire ambitious project.

The project was started in March 2008 under the Urban Infrastructure and Development Scheme (UIG) of the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) is still seems to be inapt to end the multiple problems being faced by the common masses.

The State Housing and Urban Development (HoUD) Department is overseeing the implementation of the projects which is being executed by the National Buildings Construction Corporations Ltd (NBCC).

In its official report the HoUD has said that the pace of execution was slow due to shifting and realigning of BSNL and PHE utilities, site clearance and extremely narrow and congested areas of the old city. The overall physical progress achieved with regard to sewerage projects in Jammu and Srinagar stands at 40 per cent and 45 per cent respectively.

However, Commissioner JMC K L Khajuria when contacted has said that the project is being executed by three different agencies that is ERA, NCCC and HoUD, for which they have been provided the allocation of funds by mean of loan by different organization besides the funds allocation by the central govt. and they are working on the said project to finish it off at nearest.  Even a sewerage treatment plant being executed by HoUD, scaling of 27 million litre daily (MLD) capacity is about to complete in Jammu which is part of the project and it will complete December 2013.

Pertinently, the budget allocations by the Central government for the two sewerage systems are Rs 129.23 crore and Rs 132.92 crore respectively.

Besides construction of two plants in these cities, sewerage projects also include laying of trunk, lateral and raider sewer lines across major residential and commercial areas there and also providing house connections.

The house connections phase will be taken up only after major sewerage lines are laid down which is a difficult part because of traffic congestion in commercial areas and limited space availability in residential areas of the old city, the official report says.

In Jammu, sewer lines are being laid in 55.83 kilometers of the city connected to more than 30,000 homes. In Srinagar, the sewer lines will be connected to 48,000 homes spread across 143.8 kilometer area.

The HoUD has set 30 September, 2013 and 31 March, 2014 deadline for the sewerage project completion in Jammu and Srinagar respectively.

Whatsoever the claims of different authorities over delay in start of work, completion of already taken up work and digging up of roads in some areas once again, the fact is that people have been facing numerous difficulties during the past several years. Each and every agency responsible for the completion of project and those supervising the execution of the same should ensure that people’s difficulties are reduced at the earliest.  

Outsiders making mockery of sports council rules

Outsiders making mockery of sports council rules

Yash Khajuria

JAMMU, Nov 07: Despite the strict orders by JK state sports council in order to curb the misuse of the sports complex by some non player individuals, who often utilise the shutter’s court for their entertainment, the outsiders making mockery of the orders are continues to stay on to the lines of Badminton court.

Though, a state level tournament is on, hence the conditions in the indoor complex are far different but on the other day, the irrelevant occupying of the badminton court by the non player creates hurdles for us because we do not have much time for practice,” said one of the senior shuttlers on the condition of anonymity.

“All the badminton courts remained occupied by the junior shuttlers till 7.30 pm and when it’s the turn for the seniors, we find the stadium close,” he claimed.

Pertinently, due to hectic schedule, the shuttlers get time late in the evening to attend practice session but unfortunately they got deprived of that, as most of the senior shuttlers are employed in various departments.

Another shuttler showing anguish states that non-conduct of the coaching camp and lack of practice was the underlying cause of the shameful performance in the recently held senior national championship and if it remains continued, you cannot expect miracles from us in the upcoming state championships. That is why it is better to quit,” he stressed in a highly disturbed manner.

The state sports council had issued an order regarding the closure of complex at 8 pm after the complaints being poured in by some individuals regarding the disturbance created during practice session of the players at the sports complex.

Intrestingly when contacted to the Indoor Sports Complex manager Satish Gupta, he while applauding his on back has said that since the day he has joined there is a continuous conduct of games is on in the Indoor Complex and he said that we have issued the cards to players and only those who have cards are allowed to practice here at the indoor complex till 8:00 pm as the Secretary, J&K Sports Council, has issued instructions regarding the closure of the Indoor Sports Complex after 8 pm.”

Even any of the players met inconvenience to the closing time, “We really feel sorry for the shuttlers but we have no option but to follow the instructions,” he added.

Defaming Press

Fake Journalists Violate Traffic Rules, With Bogus I-Cards

Defaming Press

Yash Khajuria
JAMMU, Nov 07: Excuse me… I am a media person!!! Just cram these words and vomit if any security officials or traffic police curbs your way is the key to have a press official card in their pouch for many now a days.

Keeping in view the popularity and craze of the media in the present day society, many persons are using the logo “media/press” on their vehicles and even many are using holograms of different media houses in state particularly in the winter capital of the state. 

Even there are examples that these persons are doing other businesses and jobs not remotely related with the media. The purpose of the use of these logos and words of media/press is only to get certain privileges people feel being enjoyed by the media men. 

In Jammu city one can see hallmark of reputed news channels, different newspapers being pasted on the private vehicles of peoples which doesn't have any connection with the media line. It directly/indirectly affects the image of genuine media persons professionally working in the city. 

There were also incidents when such persons were found involved in unscrupulous and illegal activities. Recent incident of unearthing of a brothel in Trikuta Nagar area in Jammu is testimony to this fact. 

Reacting to this fast growing trend, General Secretary of Press Club Jammu, Sohail Qazmi said that indeed some news channels and newspapers were not behaving responsibly. They issued the press cards and stickers to relatives and friends, which did not have any remote link with the media line. This trend is needed to be checked because no one knows how such persons would use these press cards, added Qazmi. He also said that any wrong use of the cards hampers the image of the whole media fraternity. 

When talked to the eminent Journalist Principal Correspondent Dainik Bhaskar (Amritsar) Devender Padha said that whenever intercepted with such persons, the police authorities should take stringent action against those peoples which did not have any connection with the media line. 

Tarun Upadhyay, Principal Correspondent for national daily “Hindustan Times” says “It's amounts to demeaning the sanctity of the Press. Any one by printing press card from a computer can't become a journalist. The police must not only take serious action against such people but law should also be amended to make it a highly cognizable crime”, the authority should also check whether cards are genuine or not, he adds. 

Mohit mehra eminent Journalist and Editor-in-Chief of a Local daily said that there are also many instances in the past where such fake media persons are found involved in smuggling activities. This conduct of these fake journalists has squeezed the space for genuine journalists. 

He also said that initiative of State Information Department to issue official media cards to the media persons. The department after consulting with the media organizations should issue media cards. After completion of the process, all other cards should be cancelled and considered null and void, any person found using these cards should be strictly punished, he added.

Eminent Columnist for national Dailies and a freelance writer Vikram Sharma in this context has said that Misuse of media is a commonplace phenomenon in Jammu and Kashmir. Be it regarding a tag of a press sported on a vehicle or otherwise also, the issue has not been brought under clinical scanner of any administrative department.
The information department has kept its eyes closed and cops do not even bother to get the actual information from the vehicle owner. This is a serious challenge for the state as all are left unchecked that can lead to serious repercussions as the volatility of the state on the terrorists’ and other militant’s activities front is not hidden by the government itself.

Dr. Varun Suthra, eminent columnist and a medical officer in this context has said that there must be some mechanism in authorizing such Identity cards there should be strong coordination in between the media agencies and the Information department. Now organizations have also changed their policies and has opted a very strict approach in this connection, he added.  

However when contacted to the officials of traffic police regarding the frequent distribution and misuse of the press cards he applauded the efforts of TNI for taking concern over this serious issue as the traffic police have face a lot of problem on daily related to the issue said above. He said that the Traffic Department has also demanded a list of the genuine media personnel’s in Jammu by the state Information Department and now we are not allowing any exemption to those who are not in the list.   

Moreover, for the official quote over the increased trend any of the authorized officials including SSP Jammu police could not be contacted despite several attempts.

Fair Play affects Playgrounds in Jammu, Cause Sports to Suffer

Govt. Ignores Sports

Fair Play affects Playgrounds in Jammu, Cause Sports to Suffer

Yash Khajuria

JAMMU, Nov 05: The pathetic condition of two major grounds in the city that located at Parade Ground and Gandhi Nagar has exposed the tall claims of the government for strengthening of sports infrastructure in the State. Dussehra Ground which is famously known as   Dussera Ground is crying for immediate renovation as the official apathy has put the future of budding sportspersons at stake. 

Notwithstanding to the constant decrease in the performance in sports sphere of the players in their respective games, the authorities responsible to make efforts in improvement of sports infrastructure in the state are not offering their concern over the decreasing graph of sports venues in city, but are absorbed in generating revenue by pacing commercial activities on the grounds meant for sports practices.

It may be mentioned here  that  the Dussera ground and the Parade Ground are charging  Rs. 5000/- and Rs. 15000/- per day for Non-Sporting practices extensively from the past long time and not a single event is being organised by the concerned authorities since long.  Sportspersons not happy with the working of the sports authority in the state have alleged the authorities for step-motherly treatment meted out to them. While talking to TNI, they have expressed resentment over the negligent attitude of the DYSS and JKCA who failed to uplift the standard of the sports grounds in J&K.

“They are proudly announcing the notification regarding the free space available for the trade fairs, Circuses and political non-political activities every time but are least bothered about conducting any sporting event at the said grounds. They can use these venues even for coaching camp if not to talk of conducting tournaments,” said Maninder singh young footballer who plays for PDD.

“Despite being in such a accessible venues in the city, the sports bodies has not shown much interest to step in improvising or even maintaining these grounds, Rather they are not bothered to revive the condition of the ground after the Dussera festival, the poles once erected out there at the time of Dussera are not been disinterred since long time,” said Chetan Sharma a Local from Gandhi nagar.
“The approach of the authorities portrays their mammonish instinct for the grounds as those grounds are not available even for kids who play there on weekends because of being occupied by the political and non political practices throughout the year, he adds.
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