Vohra says promote water sports, plan for Ranjit Sagar dam abandoned

Vohra says promote water sports, plan for Ranjit Sagar dam abandoned

Yash Khajuria

Jammu, Aug 22: At that time when N. N. Vohra, Governor himself stressed the vital consequence of promoting watermanship among youth and involving them in various  water sports activities to optimally benefit from existing nature’s bounty in the state.

On the same time the highly anticipated project to develop Ranjit Sagar Dam as a water sports spot which includes nearly seven activities as recommended in the survey report by the National Institute of Water Sports Goa, has remained a dream unfulfilled due to the apathetic attitude of the government.

Pertinent to mention here that, despite being lucrative for the water sports activities this place which has been honored with a special Art gallery at London “Basholi Art Gallery” in which paintings and Pashmina Shawl of the area are being preserved by the foreigners” is deprived to be groomed either a water sport spot or a tourist spot.

It was supposed to be developed as biggest water sports facility in Jammu and Kashmir, but the project has failed, with no further concern has been dropped by any of the departments.

Jagdish Raj Sapolia, MLA from the area said that the area is an absolute place to be developed water sports spot as it was tabled to the government by the Surveying agencies. “Despite being lucrative from the sports point of view the area including 23 kilometer of lake stretch, have enriched amount of environment and potential to attract tourist across the country but the government as per its discriminatory attitude towards Jammu is not interested to develop such sports in the province and steps are not been initiated towards this exercise.

Over this concern, when contacted to the Minister for Tourism and Culture Nawang Rigzin Jora said that the Government has offered tender notice for couple of times for the said project but unfortunately nobody has shown interest for the developmental practice at that place.

 What are the reasons that government did not get any positive response over the project?

“Besides government is always there to promote the tourism and culture in any possible spot, may be the companies did not yet observed the incredible nature and efficiency of tourism attraction of that place hence they did not approach further. If somebody will see any possibility of profitable business and comes to the government side we will definitely move forward to the said project”, said Jora.

VLDC Draws Blank, PDD groping in dark over Electricity Load

VLDC Draws Blank, PDD groping in dark over Electricity Load

Yash Khajuria
JAMMU, Aug 21: Despite the month long extension by the Power Development Department (PDD) in its much hyped Voluntary Load Disclosure Scheme (VLDS) up to August 31, the response from the consumers has remained very poor.

Sources in the department said that despite wide publicity in the print media, about 50 Mega Watts of extra load could be ascertained so far by the PDD in Jammu region, But the response so far has did not came even one fourth to the expectations.

It is pertinent to mention here that The JKPDD, in its notifications on May 16 had given an opportunity to the consumers of various categories to regularise their unauthorized load till July 9, 2012.

The PDD has once again requested the consumers to come forward and voluntarily disclose their power load with details of various ‘Frequently Asked Questions’, in its recent notification to avoid any penal action under section 95 of Jammu Kashmir Electricity Act 2010.

Also, Jammu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) had appealed to the State Electricity Regulatory Commission and to the Power Development Department to extend the deadline under VLDS, besides clarifying different queries of the consumers publicly, so that more and more consumers can avail the benefit of the scheme.

Pertinently, PDD has pleaded that in absence of the actual data of installed load, JKPDD is unable to plan and upgrade the existing transmission and distribution system to cater the actual load, this leads to more interruptions/breakdowns of power supply. Besides this, unregistered load also lead to extensive damage to distribution transformers and other network.

What could be more disgusting that the consumers across the state had shown the least concern over the soft procedure adopted by the concerned department as the Section 95 (1) of the Jammu Kashmir Electricity Act 2010 says that whoever dishonestly hooks main power lines, tampers with meters, installs or uses a tampered meter, current reversing transformer, loop connection or any other device which interferes with accurate or proper registration, calibration or metering of electric current can also face up to one month in jail.

Hockey struggling to survive in J&K

 Hockey struggling to survive in J&K

Internal squabble between parallel associations creates confusion among players 

 Yash Khajuria

JAMMU, Aug 16: Tug of war between two Hockey association in Jammu and Kashmir are casting its affect on players and game.

The game has become causality of internal politics and political influence and playing are in total confusion at the moment which is affecting their performance in the national championships.

Sources said resentment is brewing up among some of the office bearers of both the associations regarding their non- functioning. “Two associations namely J&K Hockey Association and Hockey J&K are responsible for conducting the activities in the state but unfortunately the internal politics within two associations has put the future of players at stake.

“Both the federations are dictating terms by sending their separate teams for various prestigious tournaments creating a mess in state hockey”, said a officials on the condition of anonymity.

He further said “It has been a while since the state championship was conducted.  Even the district championships are not a regular feature. For selecting state team in nationals both the associations complete mere formality by conducting selection trials separately”.

The Hockey J&K although has been registered with the Hockey India but it is an adhoc body because the elections are yet to be held to elect its office bearers.

Another hockey official claimed. “President of Hockey J&K, Narinder Batra who is also the general secretary of Hockey India has done nothing for the promotion of  game in the State despite being a son of the soil.

Meanwhile, the pathetic condition of famous K K Hakhu Astro Turf Stadium has made situation even worse. The stadium once famous for hosting the prestigious Indira Gandhi Gold Cup Championship featuring international stars is now in shambles.

It is pertinent to mention here that recently the Jammu Kashmir hockey association has conducted its elections and formed its new body where the other association is also in a fray to conduct the elections but the authority are not looking in mood to discard either of the associations.

Interestingly the authorities has also displayed the loop hand to the said associations as the Secretary, J&K State Sports Council, Dalip thussu who has recently joined the post has said that he do not have any idea about the technicalities for the said associations and did not answered when asked to disagree one of the association so that the players could opt for the fare one and could be able to participate in the upcoming state as well as national level hockey tourneys.

Now it’s a big question that if the authority did not affirm its genuine body for hockey in the state then what will the future of the hockey in the state.

Anganwari Centres being clandestinely outsourced, Govt unaware

 Anganwari Centres being clandestinely outsourced, Govt unaware 

Yash Khajuria
JAMMU, June 20: The Anganwari Centres being run by the Social Welfare Department under the ICDS project are being outsourced by the persons in-charge at their own whims and fancies under the nose of Department higher ups without even caring for the basic guidelines. However, the Minister for Social Welfare Ms Sakina Itoo claims that all was well as strict vigilance being maintained by the department to check the day to day working of the Anganwadi Centres.

According to sources, there were many Anganwadi Centres which runs on outsource basis by the persons in-charge under the nose of Government functionaries. One such centre in satwari area is running from last 3 years but the department has not inspected the spot even at the single time as a result of which the centers holder are having benefits from government even without devoting needed time to their respective effort, he said.

Sources alleged that the person in-charge were not making any efforts to attract people that they send their kids to the centers yet the unhygienic condition of the center are annoying to the parents of the existing kids in the centers.

Pertinently, the children at the AWCs should be goaded to make a habit of using footwear while using toilets. The anganwadi workers and helpers must ensure that the nails of children are properly cut and they should wash their hands with soap before and after meals, after using toilets or playing outdoors, the toilets and floor of the AWCs must be cleaned with disinfectants and germicide floor cleaners every day.

Good hygienic practices are meant to reducing incidence of malnourishment and keeping diseases at bay. As AWCs cater to the children below six years, it is important that the practice of good hygiene starts at this level.

However, most of these centres are unable to feed nutritious food to children enrolled there which is against the guidelines, the kids who are able to complaint even 5tto their parents are left on the unhygienic dusted without cemented floor” said a parent who opted out his kid from the center due to the apathetic condition of the centers.

The cooking area which should be kept scrupulously clean with no cobwebs or dirt on the walls and windows are just being used in open environment even the owner do not effort to do this practice sincerely as it is the matter of nutrition of kids.

The Joint Director of the department informed that there were 28577 centres in the State out of which 28300 were functional and rest were sub-judicial.

When contacted, Minister for Social Welfare Ms Sakina Ittoo said department was making some complex for the AWC’s but it will take some more time in completion when questioned about the above said conditions of the AWC’s she said that our Departmental Team are inspecting the AWC’s in the state regularly to keep check on the centres but we do not have any information of such centres, Even people feel free to inform myself or the accessible authority  if they found anything wrong in the AWC’s in the state, she added.