Thursday August 24, 20174 DISTRICTS

STATE TIMES NEWS AKHNOOR: Students ofGovernment Degree CollegeAkhnoor, on Wednesday heldprotest against the GCWParade Administration ontheir harassment in the nameof discipline, dress code andpunctuality by the collegeadministration.

Students of AkhnoorCollege boycott their classes

and in the shape of rallymarched towards main roadand blocked it for more thantwo hours.

Addressing the gatheringVishu Sharma, SanjaySharma, Sanjay, Varun,Harsh, Amit Koshal, VishalRaina, Ashish Choudharyimmediate removal of theCollege Principal, AnitaSudan. They also said the

administration of GCW,Parade doesn't know how totreat women with respect.They demanded from theGovt. to take action againstthe college administrationand removal of PrincipalGCW, Parade. They warnedthe Govt. if demands of stu-dents are not fulfilled, theywill intensify protest in alldegree colleges.

Akhnoor students protest in supportof GCW Parade students

Students blocking road to mark protest at Akhnoor.

FIR against I/C District MineralOfficer Geology & Mining Deptt

STATE TIMES NEWS DODA: Police on Wednesday registered an FIR againstIn-Charge District Mineral Officer Geology and Miningdepartment Doda-Kishtwar regarding the breach ofcriminal trust.

According to a report, a complainant namelyKhursheeda Begum wife of Mohd Ramzan resident ofGawari Tehsil Gandoh district Doda lodged a writtencomplaint at Police Station Gandoh to the effect that oneMoti Lal, In-Charge District Mineral Officer Geology andMining department Doda-Kishtwar had authorised thecomplainant to extract the minor mineral under notifica-tion No. 133 dated April 20, 2016 for the period of fiveyears. The complainant deposited an amount of Rs 7 lakhwith the non-complainant vide Govt. Receipt No.5906229 Dated June 11, 2017 in presence of some wit-nesses. But later on the said accused denied that no suchamount was received by him. The complainant was notallowed to collect royalty and further added that there isno such order passed in this regard. In this way, thealleged accused has committed the offence of cheating,misappropriation of property and criminal breach of trustand further requested for taking legal action against theaccused etc.

Upon the receipt of this complaint, Doda Police tookcognisance into the matter and registered a case vide FIRNo. 72/2017 under sections 420, 409, 403 RPC againstthe alleged accused at Police Station Gandoh and inves-tigation was set in motion.

STATE TIMES NEWSPOONCH: The locals ofPoonch town held a strongprotest and blocked the BusStand - Purani Poonch Roadagainst power and watercrises in the town.

They said despite repeatedrequests to PHE authorities,the problem of water scarcitywas not solved due to whichpeople, including men, womenand children came on road.They blocked not only theroad but the entry - exit routesto the main city.

The locals said that therehad been unscheduled powercuts up to 12 hours andalleged mismanagement andnegligence of the PHE andPDD Department. Theypointed out that due to thefailure on the part of depart-ments the public is made tosuffer. They strongly criticisedthe senior officers of thesedepartments that repeated

complaints lodged with themare given no cognisance andno action is taken to redressthe consumers' grievances.

Immediately on receipt ofinformation, the NaibTehsildar Mohd AkramTantray alongwith XEn PDD

Maqbool reached the spot andassured that action will betaken to improve the situationat the earliest.

On the assurance of seniorofficers, the people liftedDharna and traffic wasresumed.

Poonch residents protestagainst PHE, PDD, block road

People staging sit-in along with utensils at Poonch.

STATE TIMES NEWSBHADARWAH: Panicgripped Bhadarwah town thisafternoon as people weretaken aback after police sud-denly imposed restrictions onvisiting famous tourist spotsPadri, Seoj, Ramtund andKailash meadow by drumbeating without assigningany reason.

With record number oftourists visiting these placesin last three months, the sud-den order came as a shockingsurprise. Chaos and confu-sion gripped Doda Districtwhen a drum beater reported-ly hired by police departmentstarted reading the orderissued by Bhadarwah Policeregarding restrictions andconditional visit to thefamous tourist destinationsincluding Padri onBhadarwah-Chamba Inter-State Road, Seoj Dhar,Ramtund and famous pil-grimage destination KailashKund.

People were skeptical overthe reason behind such anorder and were seen attribut-ing various reasons like ter-rorists movement, escalationof India- China conflict, etc.

A resident of MohallahSarafan Bhadarwah saidthat this may be the result ofincreasing tension on Indo-China border but I am unableto understand that how comepolice has imposed restric-tions in Bhadarwah Valleywhen Bhadarwah is the onlyplace in Jammu and Kashmirwhich is at least 200 Kmsaway from any internationalborder or LoC. Meanwhilepeople, especially those asso-ciated with tourism were seenup in arms against the policeand termed the order as mostirresponsible and madeapprehensions that it willmar the budding tourismindustry of the region.

President Travel TradeAssociation, TariqChoudhary said that this is

surely the handiwork of coali-tion government on thebehest of communal forces,who are hell bent to vitiatethe peaceful atmosphere todamage the prospects oftourism here.

"If restrictions are nottaken back immediately wewill be compelled to come onstreets and surrender thekeys of our Hotels and GuestHouses to the administra-tion," Choudhary warned.

"The news of restrictionspread like a wild fire andwithin minutes several book-ings got canceled resulting inhuge loss as we have alreadymade all the arrangementsfor a large trekking groupwho were supposed to visitSeoj, Kailash and Sarthal butthey canceled their tripimmediately after the news,"said Humayon Khan, ownerof Chinar Hotel andRestaurant at Sungli TouristResort.

"This is highly irresponsible

and condemable move on thepart of police, I am unable tounderstand that what policewant to prove by resorting todrum-beating, if there issome apprehension, they caninstall a picket there," saidNeeraj Singh Manhas,District Youth President,National Panthers Partyadding that Police is just shy-ing away from its responsibil-ity.

When contacted SDPOBhadarwah Brijesh Sharmasaid, "The restrictions havebeen imposed as these arehigh altitude areas. We justwant visitors to take priorpermission before going tothese areas."

However, According toTehsildar BhadarwahMasood Ahmed, "I am unableto understand as why Policeincluded Padri as there is nosuch restriction in the ordercopy with me and onlydebarred areas are Seoj,Ramtund and Kailash."

Restrictions on visiting high altitude areas irk tourism stakeholders Hoteliers seek immediate revocation of order

STATE TIMES NEWS BILLAWAR: Kisan Sabha helda convention at Sachara inTehsil Billawar in which a largenumber of farmers fromBillawar, Ramkot and Lohai-Malhar Tehsil participated.Various issues causing concernin the area were raised by theparticipants. State President ofKisan Sabha, Hari ChandJalmeria presided over the con-vention while Udey Chand wasthe Chief Guest on the occasion.

Jalmeria in his addressexpressed grave concern over thevery bad condition of theBillawar- Macchedi-BadnotaRoad, grave shortage of doctorsin the Sub-District HospitalBillawar and other hospitals anddispensaries, shortage of teach-ers in the Govt. schools in far offand rural areas, non- conduct-ing of elections for Panchayats,denial of district status toBillawar, problems created tofarmers by proposed dam onUjh River at Panjtirthi etc. He

said that the Govt. was not pay-ing due attention to the compre-hensive development of ruralareas and to the agriculture andallied sectors.

Udey Chand said that thechange of faces at political levelis of no use until it is followed bychange in system for the people.He cautioned the youth of grow-ing drug addiction and appealedthem to remain away fromdrugs, tobacco and other psy-chotropic substances. He sup-ported the demand of district forBillawar. Punnu Ram JamodiaVice President of Kisan Sabha,conducted the proceedings.Others who addressed the con-vention include Bishan DassSharma, Kamal Singh Jamwal,Ramankant Singh, Chuni LalMistri Ex Sarpanch Lahri,Hukam Chand Jalmeria,Krishan Gopal Upadhiya,Khushi Ram Ex SarpanchMacchedi, Shamsher Singh,Master Krishan Verma andArvind Singh Jalmeria.

Kisan Sabha discusses issuespertaining to Billawar

STATE TIMES NEWS RAMBAN: The Ministerfor Animal, SheepHusbandry and Fisheries,Abdul Ghani Kohli,reviewed implementationof District DevelopmentBoard decisions onWednesday .

The minister who is alsochairman of DistrictDevelopment Boardemphasised upon all offi-cials to work diligently forthe early implementationand completion of DistrictDevelopment Board deci-sions.

He also stressed onawareness campaigns toeducate people about vari-ous welfare schemes andalso ensure the identifica-tion and coverage of gen-uine beneficiaries undersuch programmes.

The legislatures of GoolArnas Aijaz Ahmed Khan,MLA Banihal Vikar

Rasool Wani, MLARamban Neelam Langeh,MLC Sham Lal Bhagat,District DevelopmentCommissioner (DDC)Tariq Hussain Ganai,ADDC Ravinder Sadhu,ADC Angrez Singh Rana,CPO Uttam Singh, Headof Departments of variousdepartments, ChiefEngineers besides sectoraland district officers werepresent.

Earlier, the DDC gave adetailed power point recapof the demographic andgeographic attributes ofthe district with financialand physical position ofallocated budget.

He informed that out oftotal approved plan of Rs.123.57 crore, net avail-ability was Rs. 20.43 croreand out of which Rs.14.31 crore has been fullyutilised with the expand-ing percentage of 70.08.

‘Rs 14.31 cr spent from allocated budget for Ramban’

STATE TIMES NEWS KATHUA: Director Colleges,Dr. G. M Tibet Baqal paid amaiden visit to Govt. DegreeCollege, Kathua and discussedwide ranging issues with princi-pal of the college concerningcollege development and NAACaccreditation. During his visithe also inaugurated a newlyestablished library ofDepartment of Chemistrywhich shall provide easy accessto researchers and students. Healso interacted with the facultyof the department and congrat-ulated them for making all outeffort in providing books, jour-nals and research related mate-rial in the newly establisheddepartmental library.

He suggested the faculty toget linked with the leading insti-tutes of the world for better sci-entific innovations. He stressedthat UGC has already laiddown conditions for establish-

ment of such libraries in differ-ent departments to acquireknowledge and inculcate thehabit of book reading amongthe students. While interactingwith the students he urgedthem to be innovative and todevelop reading culture bymaking optimum use of thelibraries. He also suggestedthat for NAAC accreditation,

the college faculty should workon war footing and to makesome outstanding contributionin academics.

Principal of the College Prof.Assa Ram Sharma thankedDirector Colleges for sparinghis valuable time and suggest-ing some useful measures forbetter growth and developmentof the college.

Director Colleges visits GDC Kathua

Director Colleges, Dr. G. M Tibet Baqal inauguratinglibrary at GDC Kathua.

STATE TIMES NEWS REASI: Salal Power Stationof NHPC Limited organiseda blood donation camp atZorawar Hospital,Jyotipuram on Wednesday.The camp was inauguratedby Vinita Shekhar andHimanshu Shekhar, GeneralManager, Salal PowerStation in presence of M.GGhai, Chief Engineer (Civil),Ajay Shrivas, ChiefEngineer (Electrical),Navdeep Singh Heera,Commandant CISF, othersenior officers, employees,CISF personnel and womenfrom NHPC Family.

NHPC doctors associatedthe para medical team ofblood bank, DistrictHospital, Udhampur duringthe camp.

Speaking on the occasionShekhar said that SalalPower Station has organised

Blood Donation Campwherein CISF Unit of thePower Station is also partic-ipating. He appealed to allpresent to donate blood asblood donation is harmlessand costs nothing to thedonor but it helps in saving aprecious life. He further saidthat blood donation is themost significant contribu-

tion that a person can maketowards the humanity. So,Salal Power Station shallcontinue to organise suchcamps in future also.

About 46 donors includingNHPC employees, theirfamily members, CISF per-sonnel and KV, Jyotipuramstaff donated blood duringthe camp.

Salal Power Station organises blood donation camp

A volunteer donating blood during the camp at Reasi.

School in Udhampur shut sinceAug 15 due to absence of teachers STATE TIMES NEWS

UDHAMPUR: A government-run primary school in aremote village of Jammu and Kashmir's Udhampur dis-trict has allegedly remained closed since August 15,prompting authorities to order an inquiry against twoteachers posted there.

The school, set up in a wooden structure at Nanansoovillage on a hill-top, about 30 kilometers from Udhampurtown, has remained closed since August 15 due to non-presence of the teachers posted there, the villagersclaimed.

Chief Education Officer Udhampur Jattu RamBharadwaj said a probe has been ordered into the closureof the school.

"The closure of the school for the past nine days, if true,is a serious issue, and we have immediately ordered aprobe to unravel the truth," said Bharadwaj.

"We have taken a serious note of the matter and will nottolerate such a thing. Stern action will be taken againstthe teachers if the allegations are proved right," he added.

Bharadwaj said he was in Jammu to attend a meetingand could not visit the school today.

The villagers alleged that the students were turning upfor the school daily and waiting for hours together outsidethe closed structure, only to return after some time.

STATE TIMES NEWS KISHTWAR: Army organiseda mega event for the locals ofKishtwar District : 'CulturalFest : 2017' for the second con-secutive year under the theme'Unity in Diversity' at the his-toric Chowgan Ground onWednesdsay. The fest was anamalgamation of varied cultur-al programmes highlightingculture of different regions ofIndia and stalls of food, enter-tainment and games for peopleof all the age groups to rejoiceand cherish. About 300 stu-dents from various schools ofKishtwar District and otherparts of the country participat-ed to showcase their talent and

performed folk dances ofKishtwari, Kashmiri, Paddari,Gujarati, Marathi andRajasthani culture.

The highlights of the eventwere Rope Malkhamb and PoleMalkhamb by Troupe fromUjjain (M.P), Bharatnatyamby Arundhati from Mumbai,Kathak by Nidhisha from NewDelhi, Kishtwari Folk Danceby A.B.N High School andKashmiri Folk Dance byNeelam Academy, Kishtwar.

The event was graced by over10,000 locals from KishtwarDistrict including officials ofarmy, civil administration,police, CAPF and other civildignitaries.

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Army organisesmega cultural fest

Students making human pyramid at the cultural fest at Kishtwar.

STATE TIMES NEWSNOWSHERA: Member ofLegislative Assembly (MLA)Ravinder Raina onWednesday convened a meet-ing of sectoral officers ofSub Division Nowshera atPWD Dak BunglowNowshera to take a review ofvarious ongoing developmen-

tal works and schemes.The status of various infra-

structural projects beingexecuted by R&B, I&FC,PHE, PDD, EducationDepartments besides func-tioning of CAPD,Agriculture, Horticulture,Animal Husbandry Deptswere reviewed in detail andthe MLA exhorted upon theconcerned sectoral officers toexpedite the ongoing devel-opmental works.

While reviewing the work-ing of PDD and PHE, theMLA stressed for coverageof all the uncovered hamletsin the sub-division besidesdirecting the XEn to ensurethat power pilferage isproactively checked and dis-crepancies in the generationof electricity bills is rectified.He impressed upon the offi-cers of PHE and PDD to

establish close liaison toaddress the problems per-taining to supply of drinkingwater.

The agriculture and horti-culture officers wereinstructed for conductingawareness camp in the Sub-Division to motivate thefarmers to switch over tomore productive and costeffective fruit crops and cul-tivation techniques and forimproving the functioning ofschools and health institu-tions in the area, necessaryinstructions were passed onto the officers of Educationand Health Departments.

MLA directed the con-cerned officers of CA PD toensure proper and regularsupply/fair distribution ofration in the sub division.

MLA Raina exhorted uponall the officers to work withzeal and utmost sincerity forsolving the issues of the pub-lic in time bound manner.

SDM Nowshera AbdulSattar, DFO Vijay Kumar,SDPO Nowshera, XensPHE, PDD,I & FC, PWDbesides sectoral heads of allthe departments attendedthe meeting.

Ravinder reviews status of ongoingdevelopmental works, schemes

MLA Ravinder Raina chairing a meeting at Nowshera.

STATE TIMES NEWS BISHNAH: J&K GrameenBank donated water cooler toGovernment HigherSecondary School, Rehal Teh.Bishnah. R.K Chhibber,Chairman, J&K GrameenBank who was the Chief Gueston the occasion inauguratedthe water cooler installed inthe school and distributedmementos to the distinctionholders of the school. He spoke

at length about the variousschemes of the bank particu-larly education loans. He alsoapprised the gathering thatJKGB has lowest interestrates and people should takemaximum benefit out of it.

School Principal, R. PSharma appreciated theefforts of the bank and extend-ed his thankfulness.

Speaking on the occasion,Vipan Gupta Sr. Manager

MF&FI Deptt. J&K GrameenBank informed the partici-pants about the Project YoungChampions wherein the stu-dents can open their accounts.

Area Manager Jammu K.LSharma presented vote ofthanks. Pvt. Secretary toChairman, Mukul Mehta wasalso present during the event.Programme was attended byPanchs, Sarpanchs and otherdignitaries of the area.

Grameen Bank donates water cooler to GHSS Rehal

STATE TIMES NEWSRAJOURI: GaneshMahotsav will be celebrat-ed this year in AnandBharti Vidyapeeth Rajouriunder the arrangements ofSanskriti Pravah SamittiRajouri. This was disclosed by the

District President ofSamiti Rajesh Bunty dur-ing a press conference heldat Rajouri on Wednesday.

Bunty said that a KalashShobha Yatra will be takenout from Anand BhartiVidyapeeth Rajouri at 8:30AM on 25th August, 2017

and on the same day theMurti Sthapna will bedone. The Havan, Pooja,Bhajan Kirtan will contin-ue till 4th September, 2017when the Murty will betaken out in a ShobhaYatra and will be immersedin the local river by theChief Guest 1008 Visha-watmanand Saraswati JiMaharaj

Prominent among thosepresent on the occasionincluded Dr Mohan Sanehi,Sandeep kumar Bali, AmitVaid, Shjivam Gandotra,Naresh Sharma, BittooSharma, Jatinder Sassan,Rohit Bali, Rohit Sharma,Sunil Sharma, Rajat Guptaand Aisha Bali.

Ganesh Mahotsav arrangements finalised

District President of Samiti Rajesh Bunty addressingmedia persons at Rajouri.