DAILY EXCELSIOR, JAMMU SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2015 (PAGE 9)

Excelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Oct 16:Additional Director General ofPolice Civil Defence, HomeGuards and SDRF, L Mohantiinspected State DisasterResponse Force (SDRF) 1st BnHeadquarters at BarzullaSrinagar, today. He interactedwith officers of the Batallionand inspected rescue equip-ments available with them.

Commandant SDRF 1st Bn,Abdul Waheed apprised theADGP about the availableresources and shortcomings onaccount of rescue equipments,particularly flood related equip-ment like Boats, Rafts, Life

Jackets, Lifebouy Tubes, aswell as deficiency of manpow-er.

Mohanti gave instructionson the spot to expedite the ten-dering process in order toensure that the rescue equip-ments are arranged. He stressedon imparting specialized train-ing to the SDRF personnel,through NDRF. He appreciatedthat all the SDRF personnelpassed the swimming courseand encouraged them to workwith dedication for the better-ment of the society. Heimplored the SDRF personnelto be in a state of readiness tomeet any challenges that cometheir way.

Jugal asks BSNL authoritiesto improve services

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 16: MemberParliament, Jammu-PoonchConstituency, Jugal KishoreSharma stressed upon the BSNLauthorities to improve servicesparticularly mobile connectivityand enhance its reach to theuncovered areas. He wasaddressing the TelephoneAdvisory Committee meetinghere today.

The meeting started withwelcome address by GMTD,Gautam Lal who also gave abrief note on various servicesoffered by BSNL Jammu. Themembers raised many questionswhich were answered by theconcerned BSNL authoritiespresent on the occasion. The MPstressed upon the need ofinstalling towers in border vil-lages so that people of thoseareas could also avail the benefit

of mobile and internet services.He also stressed for providinggood internet speed to the con-sumers as per their need. TheGMTD assured MemberParliament that the mobile sig-nal issue will be dealt with prop-erly.

Mr Jugal also discussedabout landline services inJammu city. He also assured hisfull support to BSNL for anydifficulty faced by company inlarge. He also suggested thatfree night calling from BSNLlandline to any landline andmobile of any service providerand National incoming roamingfree on BSNL mobile numbersmust be given wide publicity.

Subash Jandial, Sat PalPappi and Kashmira Singh, TACmembers and senior officers ofBSNL were also present on theoccasion.

Gupta lays foundationof bridge over DevikaExcelsior Correspondent

UDHAMPUR, Oct 16:Minister of State for Finance &Information Technology, PawanKumar Gupta laid foundationstone for the construction of adouble lane motorable bridgeover Devika rivulet at OmaraMorh here today.

After laying the foundationstone of 14.5 meters double lanemotorable bridge being con-structed at an estimated cost ofRs. 1.23 crore by Public WorksDepartment, Gupta said thatmore such developmental proj-ects are in pipeline whichinclude double lane of Omara toForest Office road, installationof lights & construction of footpath along side of circular roadbesides construction of bridge

over Devika near ice factory.The Minister also directed

the concerned officers of theexecuting agency for ensuringtime bound completion of theproject while maintaining quali-ty on ground.

While giving instructions tothe engineers of executingagency, Mr. Gupta said the bet-ter road connectivity andbridges are vital for social andeconomic upgradation of peopleand there should be no compro-mise with the quality of materi-al.

Among others, ExecutiveEngineer PWD, Rajesh Gupta,Engineers of the department,prominent citizens and people ofthe area were present on theoccasion.

Weed out menace ofdrug trafficking: Ganga

Excelsior Correspondent

KATHUA, Oct 16:Emphasizing the significance ofa drug free society for rapidgrowth and development,Minister for Industries &Commerce Chander PrakashGanga said that this will helpchannelize youth's energy inright direction which is pre-req-uisite for ushering in an era ofprogress and prosperity.

The Minister, while speakingat a function organized by thePeople’s Forum for HumanValues here today, highlightedthe role of youth in steering thesociety towards a better world tolive in.

The Minister said that drugmenace is a serious threat topublic health, safety and well-being of humanity which needsto be dealt strictly at all levels.He said that the society is facingserious consequences of drugabuse and it undermines the

socio-economic and politicalstability and sustainable devel-opment. Besides, it also distortsthe health and fabric of the soci-ety besides pushing the younggeneration towards pettyoffences and heinous crimes.

Ganga stressed upon theyouth to involve themselves insports activities which wouldhelp them to be mentally andphysically fit besides keepingthem away from such socialevils. He directed the policeofficials to put sincere efforts insolving the cases pertaining todrug abuse besides initiatingconcerted steps to weed out themenace of drug trafficking.

MLA Samba, DistrictDevelopment CommissionerSamba, Sheetal Nanda, SSPSamba, Joginder Singh, DIG(Retd) Vijay Singh Sambyal,President Peoples Forum forHuman Values, Karan Singh,other officials and locals werepresent on the occasion.

Distt Admn launchesroad safety drive

Excelsior Correspondent

SAMBA, Oct 16: Takingserious view of the constant risein road accidents, particularlyon the highway, DistrictAdministration Samba hasstarted a district wise drive onroad safety.

Under this awareness pro-grammes will be held in allschools, both private andGovernment in which resourcepersons from TransportDepartment and from the trafficwing of the Police Departmentwill be explaining variousaspects of road safety includingrules, signals, safety measuresthrough discourses, movies andinteractive sessions.

The first event in the serieswas held for students of AdarshVidyapeeth, Samba and another

at K.P. Higher SecondarySchool, Samba.

Speaking on the occasion,District Magistrate, Samba,Sheetal Nanda said that there isgreat need to inculcate disci-pline and self-control amongstthe young generation who arethe more vulnerable population.She desired that road safetyawareness should percolate toone and all to ensure preventionrather than punitive action afterviolations take place.

The ARTO, Sambainformed that similar such pro-grammes will be organisedevery week and cover allGovernment employees also.Drives for proper parking,wearing helmets and seatbeltswill also be undertaken in thedistrict with the help of schoolchildren.

District Magistrate, Sheetal Nanda speaking during roadsafety awareness programme at Samba on Friday.

Day 3 of Navratra FestivalSonu Mangotra adjudged best

in Devotional Song CompetitionExcelsior Correspondent

KATRA, Oct 16: On thirdday of the All India DevotionalSong Competition at NavratraFestival 2015, participantsmesmerized the audience withthe melodious voice andBhajans.

Sonu Mangotra fromPunjab bagged Ist Positionwhile 2nd place was shared byShivankur Bharti from Jammu,Shivam Sharma from Reasi,Bunty Kumar from Jammu andReema Devi from KanyalaJammu. 3rd position wasshared by Vishwa Gandharvfrom Jammu among 14 partici-pants.

The Devotional SongCompetition was adjudged bythe panels of experts in musicincluding Brij Mohan, leadingMusic Composer, Dr UshaBhagati and Ex-HoD Music.

The proceedings were con-ducted by Rakesh Wazir, whois chairman of the saidCompetition besides memberNavratra Festival.

Earlier, the competitionstarted with lighting of a tradi-tional lamp by chief guestChander Prakash Ganga,Minister for Industries alongwith MLA Reasi Ajay Nanda,Addl District DevelopmentCommissioner Rakhwal, SDMKatra Anil Chandel, DistrictInformation Officer, Reasi DrAshwani Hansa, Addl S PKatra Sameer Kotwal, Dy S PKatra Ashok Sharma, TehsildarKatra Kavita Pandoh besidesoffice bearers of Hotel &Restaurant Association Katraand members of DevotionalSong Committee, RakeshWazir, Sham Lal Kesar, SardariLal Dubey, Harish Dubey,Virender Kesar, Ajay Sharma,Gopal Singh and others.

Chander Prakash Ganga,while speaking on the occa-sion, extended greetings on theoccasion of Navratra Festivaland said that All IndiaDevotional Song Competitionis the platform for the newsingers.

Winners of Devotional Song Competition on Day-3 ofNavratra Festival at Katra.

JMC continues cleanliness drive,removes encroachments

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 16: Whilecontinuing cleanliness driveapart from the routine sanitation,the Jammu MunicipalCorporation (JMC) today under-took the extensive drive inPoonch House, Talab Tillo,Bohri area Ward No. 40 as a partof programme on sustainedbasis as desired by PrimeMinister of India, so that“Swachh Bharat is a reality”.

The cleanliness campaignwas led by R.S. Jamwal, JointCommissioner (Adm),Municipal Corporation, Jammu,along with Dr. Saleem Khan,Health Officer, JMC and otherprominent persons of the areanamely Baldev Raj, PresidentMarket Association, Raj Kumar,Rakesh Gupta, Sanjay Baru, ShivCharan Sharma. On the occasion,a large numbers of locals wereinvolved in this awareness cumcleanliness drive to make it amass movement and the area hasbeen cleaned thoroughly.

Further, another team led byDr. Zaffar Iqbal, MVO under-took the aforesaid drive in RoopNagar, Ward No. 62 and Sidhra,Ward No. 71, where with theactive participation of senior cit-izens and general public of thearea the mass campaign pro-gramme was held and cleanli-ness drive was undertaken toclean the said areas.

The JMC once again appealsto one and all to come forwardand be a pride participant in thisawareness cum cleanliness driveto make the environment and theareas clean so that “SwachhBharat is a reality”.

Besides, the Enforcementstaff conducted the anti enforce-

ment drive in the area of BelowGummat, Bikram Chowk ApsraRoad Gandhi Nagar and clearedthe footpaths and pavements inthese areas. During the drive theteam seized one truck load ofmaterial which was found keptby the shopkeepers / hawkersplaced by encroaching uponfootpaths and pavements caus-ing inconvenience to thepedestrians and also creatinghurdles in the free flow of vehic-ular traffic.

JMC officials removing encroachments from Gumat area onFriday.

Shootout at District Court ComplexSikh Organizations condemn police

inaction; seek arrest of Kala, associateExcelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 16: VariousSikh Organizations condemnedthe inaction of the police author-ities against the real culprits ofthe broad day light shootout andattempt to murder which tookplace in District Court Complex,Jammu on October 6, 2015.

Addressing a press confer-ence, the representatives of vari-ous Sikh Organizations includ-ing Akali Dal Man, Akali DalBadal, Sikh Intellectuals, SikhStudent Federation and DistrictGurdwara PrabandhakCommittee Jammu, said that asper the FIR lodged with Janipurpolice station, Surinder SinghKala alongwith his accomplicesDavinder Singh alias Bunty andJasvinder Singh alias Chotu andsome other persons had attackedRanjodh Singh alias Nalwa withdeadly weapons to kill him.They added that police has notarrested Surinder Singh and hisassociates till date.

“A malicious campaign of

misinformation in order to mis-guide the administration andgeneral public has been launchedto shield the real culprits, whoare roaming freely despite hav-ing done such a dastardly act”,they alleged.

They stated that the publicconscience and faith in thepolice has been shaken badlydue to the incident, adding thatapathy of police is condemnable.

They demanded that the cul-prit who attempted to murderRanjodh Singh alias Nalwa bearrested without any furtherdelay and a high level enquiryshould be conducted into thecore issue of dispute of shopsnumber 217 ad 50 located in fruitand vegetable complex Narwalto know how these shops wereclandestinely transferred in thename of Surinder Singh andDevinder Singh, when RanjodhSingh had equal share in theshops and Kala had alreadyadmitted in court that Nalwa isequal partner in these shops.

Representatives of Sikh Organizations interacting with mediapersons at Jammu on Friday. -Excelsior/Rakesh

Mohanti for specializedtraining to SDRF personnel

Govt reconstitutes StateSocial Welfare Board

Excelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Oct 16:Government today orderedconstitution of GoverningBody and ExecutiveCommittee of the J&K StateSocial Welfare Board.

The Members of theGoverning Body are Dr. (Prof)Nirmal Gupta (Chairperson),Administrative Secretaries ofEducation, Finance, SocialWelfare, Health & MedicalEducation, Rural Development& Panchayati Raj besides Prof.Deepshika Kotwal, DrDarakshan Andrabi, DineshGupta, Dr Sonam Dawa Lonpo,Mrs. Annusuya Khosa, FarooqAhmed (Help Poor VoluntaryTrust), Syed Shujaat Bukhari

and two representatives ofCentral Social Welfare Board.

The Secretary of the Boardwould be the MemberSecretary of the GoverningBody.

The Members nominated tothe Executive Committee ofthe Board are Dr. (Prof) NirmalGupta (Chairperson),Administrative Secretaries ofEducation, Finance and SocialWelfare departments, Prof.Deepshika Kotwal, SyedShujaat Bukhari and one nomi-nee of the Central SocialWelfare Board.

The Secretary of the Boardwould be the MemberSecretary of the ExecutiveCommittee.