Nishikant Khajuria

JAMMU, Apr 17: In a

shocking development, the

State Government is shifting

Art treasure of Jammu to

Kashmir on the pretext of

‘inadequate storage capacity

here’ and ‘suitable weather

conditions in the Valley’.

The collection of significant Artworks during the last 58 years, arebeing taken away from Galleries ofthe Kala Kendra Jammu to the socalled strong rooms of J&KAcademy of Art Culture andLanguages in Srinagar.

This visible art treasureincludes oil painting, acrylicpaintings, sculptures, artifactswooden works, modern Art,Basohli paintings and collectionof the works of top artists of thecountry. J&K Academy of ArtCulture and Languages is custo-dian of these art works, whichwere on display in the KalaKendra gallery.

A formal order for shifting ofthis Art treasure from the KalaKendra Jammu was issuedrecently and process for thesame has been started by theconcerned authorities, official

sources informed the Excelsior.While the official order has

the direction to shift these Artworks from Kala Kendra Gallery,the decision of taking this treas-ure to Kashmir has been taken bythe J&K Academy of Art Cultureand Languages on the pretext ofinadequate space and hostileweather conditions for the stor-age here, sources added.

Ironically, these art works

are being shifted to the

Academy's strong room at Lal

Mandi Srinagar, which was

flooded with water in

September 2014 thus causing

irreparable damage to historic

manuscripts and other valu-

able things kept there whereas

hot weather conditions are

being listed as one of the main

reasons behind not keeping

these works in Jammu even as

this problem can be overcome

by simply installing an AC

(Air Conditioner).

The art collections, beingshifted from the Kala Kendra,include 300 paintings, 91 minia-tures, 34 artifacts, 80 sculptorsand a number of rare photo-graphs.

When contacted, the

Secretary JKAACL, Aziz Hajiniadmitted that the valued Artworks of Jammu, includingpaintings, artifacts and photo-graphs were being shifted toKashmir in view of theGovernment order for vacatingthe Kala Kendra.

“The staff has been deputedto prepare complete details andinventory of these Art works,which are being shifted fromthe Kala Kendra and will betransported to Kashmir alongwith the Darbar move,” he saidand added that the decision ofshifting was on Governmentdirection and he had no otheroption.

According to SoujanyaSharma, Administrator of theKala Kendra Jammu, these Artworks were occupying the spacein Kala Kendra and a requestwas made to Government forshifting the same for organizingart related activities and work-shops here. “We are in dire needof space and studies for organiz-ing Art workshops and with theshifting of these works, KalaKendra will be in a position tocarry out the activities, for

Excelsiordaily

REGD.NO.JK-71/15-17

RNI No. 28547/1992Vol No. 52 No. 107 JAMMU, MONDAY, APRIL 18, 2016 12 Pages ` 4.00

Excelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Apr 17:Militants this evening shot at andcritically injured a shopkeeper inSouth Kashmir’s Shopian dis-trict.

A police official said that mili-tants this evening fired at a shop-keeper, Khursheed Ahmad Loneson of Abdul Rehman Lone resi-dent of Heff in Zainapora area ofShopian outside his shop.

Police immediately rushed tothe spot and Lone was shifted toDistrict Hospital Shopian for

treatment. He was later shifted toSrinagar for specialized treat-ment. Police said that he hasreceived bullets in lowerabdomen and his condition wascritical.

Senior police and securityforce officials rushed to the spot toassess the situation. However, mil-itants had run away from the spotafter firing at him and leaving himin a pool of blood. Police, CRPFand Army conducted searches inthe adjacent areas for the militantswho fired at the shopkeeper but noone was arrested.

High level security review with top Comdrs

No leniency with militants, ANEs;

stick to SOP on civilians: Suhag*Army sees spurt in intrusion bids this year

Sanjeev Pargal

JAMMU, Apr 17: Amidst

fresh wave of violence in

Kashmir, which has taken toll of

five including a woman, Army

chief Gen Dalbir Singh Suhag

today held high level review of

security scenario with Northern

Army Commander, top Army

Commanders of Jammu,

Kashmir and Ladakh and Air

Commander, Western Command

at Northern Command

Headquarters in Udhampur in

which he called for strictly deal-

ing with militants and anti-

national elements and sticking to

liaison with para-military forces

as far as law and order situation is

concerned to ensure that innocent

civilians were not killed and

Standard Operating Procedure

(SOP) is strictly adhered to.

Sources in Jammu and NewDelhi told the Excelsior that apartfrom Kashmir situation, whichcame up for specific review, theArmy chief had detailed assess-ment of the situation prevailingalong the Line of Control (LoC)

and International Border (IB) withPakistan and LAC with Chinaincluding latest Demchok incidenton Ladakh and Army’s strategy forupcoming Unified Headquartersmeeting.

GOC-in-C NorthernCommand Lt Gen DS Hooda,AOC-in-C Western Command Air

Marshal SB Deo, GOC Nagrotabased 16 Cops Lt Gen RRNimbhorkar, GOC Kashmir based15 Corps Lt Gen SK Dua and Lehbased 14 Corps GOC Lt Gen SKPatyal attended the high levelmeeting among others that waschaired by Gen Dalbir Singh

GAD fails to conduct periodic review Lack of funds, manpower constraints

road-block in PSGA implementation*Time frame for several services fixed irrationally

Mohinder Verma

JAMMU, Apr 17: The much

talked about Public Service

Guarantee Act (PSGA), which

was enacted to ensure timely serv-

ices to the common masses, has

failed to yield desirable results

even after the lapse of five years as

no focus has so far been laid on

making provision of funds and

dedicated manpower, which are

imperative for effective imple-

mentation of this legislation.

Moreover, the GeneralAdministration Department, whichis the nodal agency at the Statelevel, has failed to conduct period-ic review of implementation of theAct so as to find out the lacunas.

It is pertinent to mention herethat Chief Minister, MehboobaMufti has twice expressed seriousconcern over non-adherence totimelines fixed for providing serv-ices identified under Public Service

Guarantee Act during the past oneweek.

According to the informationcollected by EXCELSIOR fromvarious implementing authoritiesin majority of the districts, lack ofspecial manpower and funds areresponsible for poor implementa-tion of PSGA.

Not only at the time of enact-ment of this legislation even there-after no focus was ever laid on ear-marking funds to facilitate timelyservices to the people despite thefact that need of funds is being reg-ularly felt particularly in some vitalsectors.

Quoting some examples,

sources said that for providing

power and water connections the

requirement of funds is usually

felt. The officers of Public Health

Engineering and Power

Development Departments gen-

erally pass directions to the staff

for installation of power and

water connections by mentioning

“subject to availability of funds”.

They cite requirement of funds

for laying of water pipes, installa-

tion of poles and service wires.

What to talk of funds for imple-mentation of Public ServiceGuarantee Act, there is no provi-sion for generating awarenessamong the people. It is because oflack of awareness that people arenot filing appeals before First andSecond Appellate Authorities afterbeing denied services within thespecified period.

There is a provision in the Actwhereby the delinquent officerscan be punished for denying serv-ices to the people within specifiedtimeframe.

Manpower shortage is anotherroadblock in the effective imple-mentation of PSGA as at the timeof enactment of the Act no focuswas ever laid on this vital aspect.“The offices of SDMs, Tehsildars

and Additional DistrictDevelopment Commissioners areunder tremendous pressure in theabsence of adequate manpower”,sources said.

Similarly, the sanctionedstrength of staff in the offices of theDeputy Commissioners is almostthe same as it was prior to theenactment of PSGA. The samestructure of manpower is doingmultifarious duties like revenuerelated works, complaints of gener-al nature and applications underRight to Information Act andPublic Service Guarantee Act.

Notwithstanding the fact that

periodic review of implementa-

tion of any piece of legislation is

imperative to find out lacunas

and take corrective steps, this

exercise has not been carried out

during the past quite long time

by the General Administration

Department, which is the State

INSIDE WEATHER� * Pattan trauma hospital ...Page 6

* Network of roads� Farooq decries divisive

attempts under garb ofultra-nationalism ...Page 3

� Meet deadlines orface action: Veeriwarns officials . ..Page 3

� PM to inaugurateShrine Board’sSuperspeciality Hospital ...Page 5

� Mir recalls role of Pandits in founding Congress ...Page 5

� Maxwell, openers powerKXIP to first win overPune in IPL-9 ...Page 10

JAMMU :

Light rain/Thundershowers.

TEMPERATURE

Max: 33.6 Degree C

Min: 26.8 Degree C

RELATIVE HUMIDITY

RH-I (Morning): 41.0 per cent

RH-II (Evening): 43.0 per cent

Sunset on Monday: 07.03 p.m.

Sunrise on Tuesday: 05.58 a.m.

KASHMIR:

Light rain/Thundershowers.

TEMPERATURE

Max: 14.2 Degree C

Min: 13.3 Degree C

RELATIVE HUMIDITY

RH-I (Morning): 90.0 per cent

RH-II (Evening): 92.0 per cent

LEH: TEMPERATURE

Max: 21.8 Degree C

Min: 3.7 Degree C

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Incursions on DM's agenda in ChinaBEIJING, Apr 17:

Recurring incidents of incursions, implementation of an agree-ment to reduce tensions between border patrols and Sino-Indiastrategic concerns were among the issues expected to figure inDefence Minister Manohar Parrikar’s talks with top Chinese mili-tary officials tomorrow.

Parrikar, who arrived here from Shanghai by a special aircraft,will hold talks with Chinese Defence Minister General ChangWanquan, Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission(CMC) General Fan Changlong and others.

CMC which is the supreme commanding body of the 2.3 mil-lion strong People’s Liberation Army (PLA) is headed by ChinesePresident Xi Jinping.

Parrikar will call on Premier Li Keqiang. Later, he would visitChina’s recently integrated western command military headquar-ters which has jurisdiction over border with India.

The Minister is accompanied by senior officials from army and

Shopkeeper injured in militant firing

Govt ration seized, one heldExcelsior Correspondent

DODA, Apr 17: A storekeeper of Consumer Affairs and PublicDistribution (CAPD) Department has been arrested for black-market-ing Government ration, which was meant for public distribution.

As per police sources, on specific inputs, a team from Gandohpolice station conducted raid in shops at Bhatyas and seized over500 quintals of Government ration, which was meant for publicdistribution under National Food Security Act (NFSA).

During investigation, the concerned storekeeper of CAPDDepartment identified as Abdul Rashid Zargar was arrested.

Despite availability of space at Government food store, thestorekeeper had unauthorizedly unloaded the ration in the shops ofAbdul Latief Bania and Ghulam Mustafa at Bhatyas for black-mar-keting.

A case under FIR Number 27/16 under Section 409 and 511

Gangsters nabbed with pistolsExcelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Apr 17: Acting tough against gang fights, policefoiled a murder plan by arresting four gangsters along with threecountry made pistols, live cartridges and sharp-edged weaponsfrom Nanak Nagar area, falling under the jurisdiction of TrikutaNagar police station.

As per police sources, on specific information received from reli-able sources that some criminals have hatched conspiracy to murdertheir rival, a team from Trikuta Nagar police station laid a naka nearNanak Nagar and signaled an Etios car to stop for checking.

On seeing police cops, the driver accelerat-ed the vehicle and escaped from the spot.

Anticipating something fishy, the cops chased and intercepted thevehicle near some distance from the naka point.

During checking, police recovered three country made pistols,two live-cartridges, one magazine and four sharp-edged weaponsand arrested four persons, traveling in the car.

* Pic on page 4

(Contd on page 4 Col 1)

(Contd on page 4 Col 3)

(Contd on page 4 Col 1)

(Contd on page 4 Col 3)

Army chief Gen Dalbir Suhag and GOC-in-C NorthernCommand Lt Gen DS Hooda in Udhampur on Sunday.

Insufficient space, hot climate are claimed reasons for shifting

Art treasure of Jammu being

taken away to Kashmir

Normalcy returns to Srinagar, curfew

continues in Kupwara Fayaz Bukhari

SRINAGAR, Apr 17: Life

in most parts of Kashmir

returned to normal after

remaining paralysed for five

days due to strikes, protests

and restrictions but the cur-

few like restrictions contin-

ued in Handwara and

Kupwara towns where five

persons have been killed

since last week.

A police spokesman saidthat the situation remainednormal and peaceful across theKashmir valley today. “Therewere no reports of stone pelt-ing from any part of theValley. Markets were open,transport and rail servicesoperated normally at most of

the places”, he added.There were no restrictions

in Srinagar today and the dayhas passed off peacefully withno untoward incident reportedfrom anywhere in the Valley.However, strict curbs on themovement of people remainedin force in some areas in NorthKashmir, including Kupwaraand Handwara towns, for thefifth day to maintain law andorder. The restrictions may beeased tomorrow in Kupwaraand Handwara towns as theSunday passed off peacefullyin North Kashmir where fivepersons were killed in allegedsecurity forces firing.

The normal activitiesresumed today elsewhere inthe Valley as no separatist

group has called for a strikefor today and restrictionswhich remained imposed inparts of Srinagar were liftedtoday after four days.

The shops, fuel stations

and other business establish-

ments opened after four days

in the city here and other

districts, the public trans-

port was also back on roads.

The mobile internet servic-es remained suspended acrossKashmir to prevent rumormongering but the ban may berevoked tomorrow after

assessing the situation. A sen-ior telecom official said thatthe mobile internet blockade islikely to be lifted by tomor-row.

The train services in theValley also resumed todayafter four days of suspension.Severe damage to the traininfrastructure has been causedin the past during protests inKashmir and Railway authori-ties have used the suspensionof services as a method to pre-vent damage to their property.

(Contd on page 4 Col 1) (Contd on page 4 Col 1)

Excelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Apr 17:

Kashmir valley was lashed by

heavy rains today with weath-

erman forecasting freak

weather to continue for next

36 hours due to Western

Disturbances over Kashmir.

The rains led to waterloggingin many city areas includingCity Centre Regal Chowk andlow lying areas in the outskirtsof Srinagar.

Director Meteorologicaldepartment, Sonam Lotus toldExcelsior that WesternDisturbances over Kashmir led torains today. He said that rainsmay continue during the night andthere will be intermittent showerstomorrow. He, however, said thatweather will be dry from Tuesday.

The rains started across

Kashmir in the morning andcontinued till evening. The rainsexposed faulty drainage systemin summer capital as several citymarkets and low lying residen-tial colonies have been water-logged.

The city markets includingSarai Bala, Hari Singh High Street,Magarmal Bagh and Batamaloo,have been waterlogged and as aresult the shopkeepers are facingextreme difficulties.

The streets, lanes andbylanes of low lying residentialcolonies including in HMT,Rawalpora, Raj Bagh, Bemina,Batamaloo, Lasjan, Kursoo,Barzulla and other uptown areashave been waterlogged andinhabitants of these places saidthat no arrangement has beenmade by Srinagar MunicipalCorporation for dewatering.

The Residency Road in City

Rains lash Valley, water-

logging in City Centre

(Contd on page 4 Col 3)

* Pic on page 4