DAILY EXCELSIOR, JAMMU FRIDAY, MAY 10, 2013 (PAGE 7)

Kashmir Tourist Festival from May 14Excelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, May 9:

Commissioner Secretary,

Tourism and Culture, Atul

Dullo today said that tourism

is a tool for the economic

development of both urban

and rural areas and to boost

the sector, State Government

is contemplating to organize

a chain of activities during

current season.

As a part of the pro-

gramme the Department of

Tourism, Kashmir is organiz-

ing Tourist Festival of

Kashmir from May 14 to May

29, 2013 during which vari-

ous activities will be held at

famous Tourist Spots includ-

ing Kashmir Haat, aimed at

attracting large number of

tourists and showcasing the

handicrafts and other products

of Kashmir.

Commissioner/ Secretary

was addressing a meeting of

officers, tour operators and

hoteliers, convened to review

the arrangements being made

to organize Festival of

Kashmir on the scheduled

dates.

Mr. Dullo said that the fes-

tival spread over two weeks is

first of its kind in which the

State and Central

Governments will jointly pro-

vide funds besides, private

partners like Tour Operators,

Hoteliers, Houseboat owners

and other agencies related to

tourism sector will play a

vital role in making the festi-

val a success.

Earlier, Director Tourism,

Kashmir, Talat Pervez

apprised the meeting about

the steps taken by Tourism

Department Kashmir to

involve all the stakeholders to

participate in this economy

boosting activity of Kashmir

valley, 'the Paradise on earth'.

Among others the meeting

was attended by Director

Information, Zaffar Ahmad,

Director Handicrafts, Salma

Hamid, Secretary, Academy

of Arts, Culture and

Languages, Khalid Bashir

Ahmad, Director Floriculture,

Sunil Misri, Director

Fisheries, R. K. Dogra,

Regional Wild Life Warden,

Kashmir, M. A. Tak, Director

Colleges, Dr.Nalni Kohli,

Chairman, HBOA, Azim

Tuman, President TASK, M.

Ibrahim, Chief Executive

Officer of Gulmarg, Space

Communications, and other

Tourist Development

Authorities of Valley and

Travel Agents.

Giving details of the

Festival, Mr Dullo said that

the inaugural function will be

held at Kashmir Haat onMay

14 and Minister for Tourism

G. A. Mir will be the chief

guest on the occasion.

Minister of State for Tourism

Sajjad Ahmad Kichloo and

Secretary Tourism

Government of India Parvez

Dewan will be guests of hon-

our.

He said that besides pres-

entation of cultural bonanza,

exhibition stalls will be set up

to showcase various products

of Art and Craft of Kashmir,

horticulture produce, Agro

based food products, Floral

pictures, pictures of wildlife

of Kashmir, Fish biotic life,

Traditional Kashmiri Art,

Clothing, Musical instru-

ments, Kashmiri cuisine and

live demo of preparation of

Kashmiri cuisine.

He said that on May 15,

Sabri brothers will present

Qawali at SKICC, followed

by Photography exhibition,

Trekking Expedition at

Zabarwan on days of the festi-

val.

Govt committed to connect every

village with towns, cities: Sakina Excelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, May 9:Minister for Social WelfareSakina Itoo today said thatGovernment is very much com-mitted to connect every villagewith towns, cities and providerequisite amenities to them par-ticularly better road connectivity,health care, safe drinking waterand quality education etc.

The Minister was addressinga large public gathering at a farfar-flung area near Peer Panjalhills at village Hilmitroo-Akahalin district Kulgam.

The Minister said that manylong pending demands like Byepass Akahal road, high school,providing of portable water inGujar Basti area etc have alreadybeen met by this Government andadded that, 2 Kms Khulshan-Hilmitroo road is being con-structed at an estimated cost ofRs. 134 lakh.

Ms. Sakina said that direc-tions have already been given toextend Khulshan-Hilmitroo roadto Gujar Basti, so that the peopleof the concerned area avail bene-fits of the transport. She askedthe executing agency R&B toexpedite the work of the projectand assured that the necessary

steps would be taken to make theroad comfortable for people ofthe concerned areas during thecurrent financial year.

She also directed the con-cerned agencies for widening of8 Kms Chowgam-Lamad-Branyal and 9 Kms Devsar-Akahal-Kulgam, so that thetransport may function smoothlyon these roads.

On the occasion, sheannounced Rs 1.50 lakh for thefencing of graveyard of villagefrom her CDF.

The Minister said that theGovernment is making everyeffort to provide quality ameni-ties to the people of rural areasand making the rural areas at parwith urban areas. She said morethan 75 per cent of the issues anddemands of her constituencyhave been fulfilled by the presentGovernment under the leadershipof Omar Abdullah and added thatGovernment was making everyeffort to redress all the grievancesof the people in phased manner.

Listing the achievements ofthe present Government, she saidthat Acts like Public ServiceGuarantee and Right toInformation have been passedand enforced for prompt delivery

of services.On the occasion, the Minister

also distributed 14 old pensioncards among the beneficiaries andadded that efforts are on to pro-vide succour to widows and othereconomically week sections.

Responding to the demands ofthe locals like opening of timberdepot, widening and macadem-ization of Akahal bye pass road,extension of Khulshan-Hilmitrooroad Gujar Basti, installation of25 KV electricity transformer,upgrading of health centre etc, theMinister issued the directions tothe concerned officers for takingearly steps to fulfil the demandsof the locals.

Avoid communal controversy over

Doda Municipality: Dr JitendraExcelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, May 9: Expressingconcern over controversy rakedup by a widespread public per-ception in Doda that realignment,delimitation and renaming ofMunicipal Committee wards inDoda city is biased in favour of aparticular community, Dr JitendraSingh, BJP National ExecutiveMember and ChiefSpokesperson, has appealed theadministration to bring all sec-tions of civil society on board andtake steps to dispel such animpression before it leads to anavoidable communal divide in anotherwise harmonious relation-ship among different communi-ties living in the area.

Dr Jitendra Singh, said thatthough there are several otherpending demands, includingexpediting the work to completeGanpath Bridge, improvinghealth and education infrastruc-ture and upgrading 50 year oldmiddle school in Bijarni/Gaddi,but the issue of unanimouslyacceptable nomenclature and fairrealignment of Doda Municipalwards with consensus deserves

highest priority because of itspossible negative fallout.

He said that the erstwhileDoda district has always servedas the most glaring example ofcommunal amity for the whole ofState especially during turmoilperiod. He said, moreover,realignment, delimitation orrenaming of Municipal wards is apurely professional exercise andshould not be influenced by anyextraneous consideration addingthat if this rule is not adhered to incase of Doda Municipality, it willset a bad precedence to be fol-lowed in other parts of the State.

Dr Jitendra Singh called uponthe leadership of all political par-ties, particularly the ruling coali-tion not to succumb to temptationof seeking mileage by appeasingone community at the cost of theother.

He further informed that BJPDoda Mandal (block) led by itsMandal (block) President MunshiRam Parihar and under the guid-ance of prominent local BJPleader Gajay Singh Rana havealso made a formal representationon the issue to the Chief Secretaryof the State.

Gupta takes a dig at style of

Coalition Govt functioningExcelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, May 9: Jammuis being deprived of not onlytheir due in developmentalactivities and other spheres oflife but also attempts arebeing designed to harm theinterests of the people by cer-tain elements operating fromwithin and outside theGovernment.

This was alleged by theformer Union Minister andMLA, Prof Chaman LalGupta. He was responding tothe complaints of the leadersof various associations of thetraders and workers heretoday.

Prof Gupta contacted cer-tain high ups to know aboutthe facts and regretted thestyle of functioning of theCoalition Government of theState was detrimental to theinterest of the people.

He said that instead of tak-ing realistic steps to removethe congestion in the city,some strange measures are

being adopted in this connec-tion.

Prof Gupta particularlyreferred to the need of con-structing flyovers in the muchneeded areas of Jewel Chowkto Talab Tillo, B.C road toAmphalla to Janipur andpointed out that projects havebeen put under the carpet andflyover is being taken up forexecution from BikramChowk to PresentationConvent etc.

He also referred to themany other problems facing tothe people of Jammu andpointed out that by spendinglarge sums the traffic signallights have been raisedwhich do not work at most ofthe crossings and proving justwhite elephants. He alsopointed out that crores havespent for introducing sewer-age system in the city butthere are little signs of theircompletion even after expiryof years. Moreover, the con-ditions of roads and laneshave been badly affected dueto haphazard manner theworks are being executed.

He also assailed theGovernment for not holdingthe Civic Elections despiterepeated assurances andannouncements.

Jammu business bodies come

forward in support of Sham Lal Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, May 9: Comingforward in support of theMinister for PHE, Irrigation andFlood Control Sham LalSharma, various business bodiesin Jammu today warned thatattempt to malign image of theformer would invite strong reac-tion and series of protests byJammu people.

While addressing a jointpress conference, here today,representatives of several mar-ket associations in Jammu saidthat the vicious campaignlaunched by unscrupulous andanti-national forces on the pre-text of spurious drug scam wasa well planned conspiracy to set-tle scores with the Jammu leaderwho had gone down heavily onthem on several issues of nation-al interest during the recentlyconcluded Budget session.

“They visualize Sham Lal asa stumbling block in pursuingtheir anti-national agenda andhave thus launched a negativecampaign against him for theirown vested interests leavingaside any logic,” said RajeshDewan, president of Lower HariMarket Association.

Reminding that a high levelprobe was underway on the spu-rious drug case and the issuewas sub-judice, Mr Dewan saidthat the anti-social elementswere unnecessary jumping thegun just to speak against the

Jammu based leader and createtrouble ahead of Amarnath pil-grimage.

“However, these elements

would be thoroughly defeatedand a line of action will bedrawn for series of protests anddharnas here if voice of Jammuis muzzled,”he warned.

Those who were present inthe press conference, included,Anil Gupta (president of LowerRaghunath Bazar Association ),Rajesh Raina ( president of HariMarket Association), RajivGupta (president of GummatBazar Association), GuruSwaroop Gupta (president ofNew Hari Market Association)and others.

They also criticized theGovernment for shifting ofGeneral Bus Stand from itsexisting place to outside the city.

Ramzan inspects ongoing

development worksExcelsior Correspondent

KUPWARA, May 9:Minister for CA&PD andTransport, Ch. MohammadRamzan today visited Handwaraand conducted inspections ofSub-District Hospital Chougul,Bye-Pass road Handwara,District Court Complex, TouristReception Center and variouson-going projects.

The Minister was accompa-nied by the DistrictDevelopment Commissioner,Kupwara Itrat Hussain Rafiqi,officers and engineers of variousdepartments during the tour.

He was informed that 20kanals of land was purchased forconstruction of District CourtComplex at a cost of Rs. 3.50crore while Rs. 2.30 crore havebeen released for constructionof court building.

The Minister also inspectedthe Sub District Hospital,Chougul and inquired about thefacilities and medicines beingprovided to the patients. He

directed the CMO Kupwara tomonitor the functioning of thehospital.

The Minister also touredBye-Pass road and instructed theauthorities for ensuring its earlycompletion.

While visiting the CJMCourt at Handwara, the Ministerinteracted with the Judges andbar members and other relatedissues with the CJM Handwara.

Several deputations met theMinister and apprised him abouttheir demands and problemsregarding irrigation facilities,water, power, transport and roadprojects.

Later, the Minister whileaddressing the joint meeting ofofficers and public representa-tives said that crores of rupeeshave been utilized for comple-tion of many projects duringpresent Government's tenure andmore is to be done during theremaining years, for this pur-pose he sought the cooperationof the people.

Representatives of market

bodies addressing a press con-

ference at Jammu on

Thursday. -Excelsior/Rakesh

Minister for Social Welfare Sakina Itoo addressing a gathering at Kulgam on Thursday.

PSO of outgoing

ADC arrested

for theftExcelsior Correspondent

UDHAMPUR, May 9:Police today arrested aPersonal Security Officer(PSO) of outgoing AdditionalDistrict DevelopmentCommissioner Ramban InderSingh on charges of theft inRamnagar.

The accused, identified asPritam Singh (SPO number724/SPO) of Ramban district,was found to be the kingpin inthe case of theft of iron platesworth Rs 2 lakh, registeredwith Ramnagar police station.

He had fled away leavingbehind his service weapon andother belongings after policestarted conducting raids totrace his whereabouts inJammu, Udhampur, Doda,Ramban and Reasi districts. Hewas arrested today by a team ofRamnagar Police Station.

According to Police, otherfive accused in the case, identi-fied as Maroof of Ramban,Arshad of Gandoh, Zulfiqar ofRamban, Shehjad Hussain ofBatote and Noorani of Parnotewere already arrested.

The SPO is being interro-gated to find out whether thisgang of burglars was involvedin other theft cases or not.

Interrogation of the accusedrevealed that SPO PritamSingh had hired a private vehi-cle from Ramban after beingcontacted by one ArshadHussain of Darai GarhRamnagar, came to Ramnagaralong with vehicle during mid-night, committed theft alongwith co-accused and shifted thestolen property to Batote dur-ing the same night.

Excelsior Correspondent

LEH, May 9: DeputyCommissioner, SimrandeepSingh, conducted two-day tourof the Nyoma Sub-Divisionand reviewed the working ofthe administration at Sub-Division level.

He took stock of variousdevelopmental works and inter-acted with the people atChumathang and Nyoma. Thepeople apprised him of theirproblems. The DC orderedinquiries into the works relatedto Kasturba Gandhi BalikaVidayalaya and CommonPurpose Hall in Nyoma.

He also took a review meet-ing of the sectoral officers andinstructed them to remain pres-ent in the station to address the

problems of the people.Later, the Deputy

Commissioner visited theremote village of Thukje inChangathang region of Nyomaand interacted with thenomadic Pashmina rearers ofthe region. Changathang is theworld famous belt of PashminaGoats near the Tibet-Himachalborder in Ladakh.

The DC assured thePashmina rearers to addresstheir various demands. He alsovisited the Upshi Sheep farm ofthe State Government and tookstock of various activitiesundertaken by them to supportthe Pashmina rearers.

The DC was accompaniedby District Sheep HusbandaryOfficer, SDM Nyoma and SHONyoma.

DC conducts extensive tour

of Nyoma Sub-Division