Ishtiyaq Ahmed 

Srinagar, Jul 03 : Indicating how Jammu and Kashmir is vulnerable to floods, at least floods were declared or water level rose above danger mark nine times for last five years in the state.

Jammu and Kashmir is vulnerable to floods. Few hours of rain are enough to create a flood scare in the state.

Despite that government has failed to take any measures for last several years to prevent floods.

As per official figures, the Irrigation and Flood Control Department, the authorities have declared floods at least nine times since 2014.

As per the figures, the floods hit the state in September 2014. The water level also increased above danger mark or created flood like situation in March 2015, April 2015, June 2015, July 2015, September 2015, April 2017, June 2018, and June 2019.

The divisional administration of Kashmir has been asked to remain on alert to deal with any eventuality during the month of July.

As per minutes of the meeting documents, Divisional Commissioner was informed that the administration has to be on high alert to meet the challenges arising out of the “adverse weather conditions, in order to prevent recurrence of the situation that was witnessed in September, 2014 floods”.

“The chair reiterated that a mock drill /exercise in this regard needs to be done and there shroud be no let off by any officer in addressing this situation,” the document reads.

The water level rises even by moderate downpour even despite the government made tall claims to prevent such disasters in the future. However, the government’s announcements have been confined to papers only.

The Union Ministry of Water Resources in December 2014 asked the state government for framing of the detailed project report for the 80-km Dogripora flood channel to be constructed from Awantipora in south Kashmir to Wular Lake in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district.

Under this mega project, a Rs 18,000 crore flood channel was to be created to carry the surplus flood discharge of Jhelum.

“However, nothing has been done in this regard so far. Even the government has failed to frame the detailed project report,” a top source in Irrigation and Flood Control Department told.

In July 2015, the first-ever disaster management plan was approved by the cabinet headed by the then chief minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed. However, the official said the plan is yet to be implemented.

After 2014 deluge, the government had announced that dredging of river Jhelum would be completed by December 2016 to prevent floods in future.

The drudging of Jhelum was to be carried out in two phases in order to increase its carrying capacity. (KNS)

Kashmir Despatch News

Sopore, July 03 : A 35 year old man was critically injured in a leopard attack on Wednesday evening in north Kashmir’s Sopore village.

Kashmir Despatch learnt that a 35 year old Ghulam Nabi Shiekh of Yonusa village of North Kashmir was critically injured in the attack before villagers came to his rescue after hearing his cries for help. He was taken to sub district hospital Sopore.

Hospital authorities also confirmed the incident to Kashmir Despatch and said that a man who was critically injured in leopard attack has been referred to the SKIMS Soura medical institute for advance treatment .

Pertainally, people nearby came to the spot to help injured man and the leopard ran away from there.

Srinagar, Jul 03 : V.K Singh, IPS, Director General of Police (Prisons) today visited Special Jail (Correctional Home) Pulwama & District Jail Anantnag to review the security arrangements & to assess the living conditions & training facilities in these jails.

During his visit, he was accompanied by SSP Anantnag- Altaf Ahmad Khan, SP Pulwama-Chandan Kohli, IPS & other Police Officers. Superintendent Special Jail Pulwama-Reyaz Ahmad/Superintendent District Jail Anantnag- Syroz Ahmed & other jail & SSB Officers were also present. The DGP asked Superintendent of Police, Pulwama for deployment of 1 Coy of CAPF for outer security of Special jail Pulwama in place of IR-10 of JKAP.

The DGP inspected all barracks, CCTV Control Room, hospitals, reformation blocks, kitchen & other sections of the Jails. He interacted with the inmates regarding food, accommodation, medical & training facilities available in these jails. He asked the Superintendents to take necessary measures for improving the facilities in jails & passed instructions for further toning up the efficiency & management.

DGP took a darbar of Prison staff during which he attended to their grievances. He said that emphasis is being laid on welfare, training & development of Prison staff. He emphasised that Prisons are an integral part of Criminal Justice System as such staff is required to work in the interest of security & reformation of inmates.

He also reviewed the ongoing construction work at both places & asked the concerned to ensure quality & pace. He gave on spot directions to Technical wing for upgradation of interview room at Special Jail Pulwama. (KNS) 

Srinagar, Jul 03: Jammu and Kashmir National Conference on Wednesday asserted the party has traditionally worked in the interest of the employees engaged in public sector, saying the party will continue to strive for the protection of the interests of the organized and the unorganized labor in the state.

Interacting with a delegation of SRTC retired employees party general secretary Haji Ali Muhammad Sagar said that the party has traditionally worked for ensuring employment benefits to the employees working in the state’s public sector. “The successive NC governments of the state have always made it a point to ensure all benefits to the employees working in the state and public sector. Our party manifesto is explicitly clear on the rights and privileges of the employees. We deem a contented work force crucial to the working of state administration. The employees in the public sector are the extended arms of the government. It was Sher e Kashmir who granted the benefits of the first pay commission to the employees. In due course of time Dr Farooq Abdullah extended the benefits of the second pay commission to the state employees. Omar Sahib during his stint as the chief minister took no time to grant benefits of 3rd pay commission to the employees engaged in the public sector. We will continue to lend ear to the genuine aspirations of the employees. The welfare of the state employees will continue to top our agenda of inclusive development,” he said.

Sagar said that Sher e Kashmir had started SRTC with just four buses. “The organization eventually achieved greater heights under the various NC led governments. Our party has always worked towards the establishment of institutions; the party has painstakingly ensured the even working of the institutions. It was Dr Farooq Abdullah who in his tenure added to the fleet of vehicles in SRTC,” he said adding, “The retirement age of the state employees were increased from to 58 during the Dr Farooq Abdullah led government. Keeping up with the agenda of party Omar Sahib increased the retirement age of the employees from 58 to 60. The work done by the party for the employees during its successive stints in the power speaks volumes about the importance that the party attaches to the welfare of the employees. In the future also the party will come up with a policy frame work for nurturing the public sector undertakings in the state. Rejuvenating the defunct state owned companies will top our agenda.”

Party’s provincial president Nasir Aslam Wani while interacting with the visiting delegations underscored the importance of a flourishing work force for the effective administration of the state. “We will ensure that the genuine demands of the workers are addressed to on priority basis. We will ensure speedy redressal of the issues of the in-service and retired employees,” he said.

The delegation of SRTC retired employees union was led by Ghulam Muhammad Beigh. The visiting delegation apprised the leaders about the range of issues concerning them. Party leaders assured the visiting delegations that they will raise the issues concerning them at appropriate forums. The leaders said the party was alive to the difficulties of both in-service and pension class of the employees of the state. (KNS)  

Srinagar, Jul 03 : Bharatiya Janata Party’s State General Secretary (organization), Ashok Koul on Wednesday held a meeting with Conveners and co- Conveners of Sadasyata Abhiyaan of Central Kashmir’s Budgam district.

Koul as per a statement issued on the occasion said “people have put faith in our party and thousands of youth and women are ready to join our party. So, we will welcome them during the drive.”

Leaders were emphasized that the party believes in “Nation first, Party second and self last.”

During the programme, Koul asked the convener and co-conveners of Budgam district to gear up for the party activities and hold such meetings at grass roots level and aware the people about the membership drive starts from 6th July.

The leaders were asked to stick to the party ideology and work as per the party leadership in the Valley.

Present on the occasion were Media & IT Incharge Kashmir Manzoor Bhat, Protocol Incharge Kashmir Nazir Ahmad Gilkar, Incharge Budgam Gh. Nabi Namthali, Incharge Pulwama Ashrar Azad, Dist. Gen. Secretary Aga Syed Mohsin, Manzoor Ahmad, Dist. President Budgam Haji Zubaida and others. (KNS) 

Srinagar, Jul 03: Scores of delegations, individuals from across the state called on National Conference vice president Omar Abdullah here at party head quarters Nawa- e -Subha, Srinagar.

Among the party leaders general secretary Haji Ali Muhammad Sagar, provincial president Nasir Aslam Wani, Tanvir Sadiq, Muhammad Syed Akhoon, Showkat Mir, Peer Afaq, Farooq Shah, Shabir Kulley, Jagjeet Singh Azad, and Advocate Reyaz Ahmad also called on the party vice president and discussed various issues concerning the party.

Meanwhile scores of party delegations from Tangmarg, Amirakadal, Pulwama, Kokarnag, Shopian, Hazratbal, Sonawar, Habbakadal, and Beerwah also met with the Party vice president and apprised him about a range of issues concerning the party. The visiting delegations apprised the party vice president about the development deficit and unaccountably of the local administration in their respective districts. The workers who had thronged the Party head quarters vowed to take the party programme to each door step. Party vice president assured to address to the concerns of the visiting delegations.

Meanwhile party’s state women’s wing president Shameema Firdous addressed a women’s convention at Khonmoh. She was accompanied by Provincial president women’s wing Er. Sabiya Qadri. While addressing the women workers and functionaries Shameema said that the need of the hour was to forge unity and worker for securing the greater interests of the state. She said that the NC is the only political dispensation in the state that possesses a panacea for the state’s problems.

Shameema while extolling the role of the women workers she said, “The need of the hour is to maintain the momentum of parliamentary elections, our state is beset with plethora of problems. The burning issue however remains to be that of unemployment. Unfortunately the remuneration which was given to unemployed youth was also discontinued by the former BJP-PDP government. Today the number of unemployed youth in our state is at all time high. The younger generations are feeling disenchanted and dejected; the absence of a popular elected government is taking its toll on the administration of the state. The need of the hour calls for an elected government which could further the cause of development and peace building in the state,” she said adding, “The new government under the leadership of Omar Sahib will make earnest efforts towards ensuring safe spaces for youth to pursue their vocations. The agenda of party is explicitly clear on giving women their due share at every strata of administrative level. We will ensure women’s reservation, and dole out other gender neutral policies for the greater women emancipation.” (KNS)