DAILY EXCELSIOR, JAMMU MONDAY, MAY 21, 2018 (PAGE 9)

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CINEMAAPSARA AUDI-1: DEAD POOL 2 (HIN) -10.00 AM, 01:00 P.M., 04:00 P.M., 7.00 PM (FRI, SAT, SUN- 10.00 PM).APSARA AUDI-2: RAAZI - 09:45 AM, 12:30 P.M., 3:30 P.M., 6:30 PM. HARI THEATRE: FALOODA- DAILY 4 SHOWS INDIRA AUDI-I: 1. DEAD POOL 2D HINDI - 9.30 AM, 2. DEAD POOL 2D HINDI - 12.00 PM, 3. DEADPOOL 2D HINDI - 2.30 PM, 4. AVENGERS INFINIT 3DH - 4.55 PM, 5. DEAD POOL 2D HINDI - 07.30 PM.6. DEAD POOL 2D HINDI - 9.50 P.M.INDIRA AUDI-II: 1. HARJEET - (PUN) - 9.45 AM, 2. RAAZI- 12.20 PM, 3. HARJEET-(PUN) - 2.30 PM,4. DEADPOOL-2 2D (HIN) - 4.50 PM, 5. RAAZI - 7.10 PM. 6. RAAZI- 09.35 P.M. INDIRA AUDI-III: 1. FALOODA - 09:30 AM, 2. HARJEET (PUN) - 11:35 AM, 3. KHAJOOR PE ATKA -1:55 PM, 4. HIGH JACK- 4.15 PM, 5. HARJEET (PUN) - 6:25 PM. 6. 102 NOT OUT- 8.40 P.M., 7. HAR-JEET (PUN)- 10.35 P.M.WAVE CINEMA-1: RAAZI (U/A) - 3D - 10:30 AM, 1:30 PM, 4:30 PM, 7:30 PM, 10:25 PMWAVE CINEMA-2: 1. DEAD POOL 2 (A) HINDI - 9.30 AM, 2. DEAD POOL 2 (A) ENG - 12.05 PM, 3.DEAD POOL 2 (A) HINDI - 2.40 PM, 4. DEAD POOL 2 (A) HINDI - 5.15 PM, 5. DEAD POOL 2 (A) ENG- 07.50 PM. 6. DEAD POOL 2 (A) ENG - 10.30 P.M.WAVE CINEMA-3: 1. HARJEETA- PUNJABI (U) - 9.45 AM, 2. AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR-3D (U/A)HINDI - 12.20 PM, 3. HARJEETA- PUNJABI (U) - 3.15 PM, 4. HARJEETA- PUNJABI (U) - 5.50 PM,5. 102 NOT OUT (U) - 8.25 PM. 6. HARJEETA- PUNJABI (U)- 10.40

J&K Biodiversity Board non-functional, no meeting held during past over 2 years

and Kashmir BiologicalDiversity Rules, 2015 clearlystate that the Board shall meetat least twice in a year. "By notconvening its meeting sinceDecember 2015 the Governmenthas rendered the Board non-functional", sources said.

What to talk of convening reg-ular meetings of the Board, theconcerned authorities have evenfailed to implement the decisionstaken in the 2nd meeting of theBoard held in the month ofDecember 2015, sources saidwhile disclosing that Board hadapproved setting up of BiodiversityManagement Committees (BMCs)in 12 Panchayats of the State infirst instance namely Doodu-Basantgarh, Gujjru- Nagrota,Kalaroos-Lolab, Diskit-Nubra,Drass, Duksum, Dagapora-Haran,Athol i -Gulabgarh-Padder,Marwah-Wadwan, Gurez andBani.

This decision was in conso-nance with Rule 19 of J&KBiological Diversity Rules, 2015which makes constitution ofBiodiversity ManagementCommittee in every local bodymandatory for maintaining data onbiological resources and their pro-tection.

"What to talk of generatingpublic awareness regarding con-servation of biodiversitythrough Biodiversity Mana-gement Committees across theState the concerned authoritieshave even failed to establishsuch committees in 12Panchayats", sources informed,adding "even decision of theBoard in its 2nd meeting regard-

ing roping in experts and NGOsinterested in biodiversity activi-ties to facilitate and supplementthe efforts of Board has not beenhonored till date".

In the absence of regular meet-ings of the Board even action planfor conservation of biologicaldiversity could not be prepared tilldate as such the objective behindsetting up of Board stands defeat-ed, sources said.

"It is a matter of concern thatthe Government is paying noattention towards biodiversity con-servation especially when some ofthe rare and valuable flora andfauna are threatened with extinc-tion in all the three regions of theState", sources regretted.

As per the J&K BiologicalDiversity Rules, 2015, the StateBiodiversity Board is required toadvise the Government on anymatter concerning conservation ofbiological diversity, sustainable

use of its components; commis-sion studies and sponsor investi-gations and research; organizecomprehensive awareness pro-gramme regarding conservationof biological diversity; givedirections to local bodies andBiodiversity ManagementCommittees for effective imple-mentation of the Act; devisemethods for ensuring protectionof right including intellectualproperty rights over biologicalresources and associated knowl-edge etc.

When contacted,Commissioner/Secretary toGovernment, Forest, Environmentand Ecology Department SaurabhBhagat confirmed that Board hasyet not formulated action plan forconservation of biodiversity."Required steps will be initiated inshortest possible time to make theBoard functional as per the provi-sions of the law", he added.

CM reviews key development projects of Jammuinformed, is expected to be com-pleted by May next year.

The meeting was alsoinformed that work on Rs. 51 crSatwari-Kunjwani road has beencompleted by 90%.

Mehbooba Mufti wasinformed that work on Rs. 151crore project of laying of sewer-age network in the city has beenin advanced stages and is likelyto be completed by July thisyear.

Mehbooba specificallystressed on completing schemesof drinking water and powersupply in time so that people donot face any difficulty particu-larly during summer months.

Under AMRUT, the ChiefMinister was informed that 27projects have been taken up forRs 206 crore involving creationof green spaces, drainage, sew-erage, urban transport etc. Rs 24

crore installation of intelligenttraffic light system in the city isin full swing and it would befully functional by July thisyear, the meeting was informed.

The Chief Ministerexpressed concern over the slowpace of execution of R-APDRPin Jammu and directed clearanceof bottlenecks for smooth com-pletion of the scheme.

Under the Rs 622 crorepower restructuring project, themeeting was told, capacity of 25out of 27 receiving stations hasbeen improved, 995 kilometerout of 1307 kilometer of LT linehas been replaced by AB cableand 21441 out of 27252 metershave also been replaced.

In the tourism sector, theChief Minister was informedthat 70% progress has beenachieved on Suchetgarh projectand it would be ready by March,

2019. Similarly, the Rs. 400crore Tawi Riverfront project isabout to be started with tendersfor the first phase having beenfloated and work to be allottedin the coming 15 days, the meet-ing was informed.

The Chief Minister alsoreviewed that finalistion of sitesfor street vendors and availabili-ty of facilities like lighting,drinking water, sanitation etc atthese places. She directed theJammu Municipal Corporationto undertake procurement of 40more sewage carriers and con-struction of more public wash-rooms in the city.

Mehbooba was informedthat Rs. 15 crore has beenexpended on repair andimprovement of lanes and drainsin the city during the last oneyear or so.

Principal Secretary to ChiefMinister, Rohit Kansal;Divisional Commissioner,Jammu, Hemant Sharma; IGP,Jammu zone, SDS Jamwal;Secretary, Tourism; RigzianSampheal, Heads of allDepartments; Deputy Commis-sioner, Jammu, Rajeev Ranjanand other senior officers of divi-sional and district administrationwere present in the meeting.

Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti reviewing pace of projects in Jammu on Sunday.

Brother, sister die in mishaptowards Rajouri town on Maruticar No. JK-11-B/6821. Rajawas driving car. He lost controlon the vehicle and it landed intoa deep gorge. Both of them werekilled on the spot, the policesaid.

Later, their bodies wereshifted to Darhal Hospital by

police for post-mortem and con-ducting other legal formalities.The bodies were later handedover to the family for perform-ing last rites.

Entire village and adjoiningarea were shell shocked over thetragic death of two young mem-bers of a family.

Wreckage of Maruti car which met with an accident inDarhal area of Rajouri on Sunday. —Excelsior/Bhat

Restrictions in parts of Srinagarparticularly through areas con-sidered to be bastion of MirwaizUmar Farooq. However, pedes-trian movement was allowed inthese areas.

Farooq was killed in 1990,while Lone was killed in 2002while commemorating 12thanniversary of Farooq at Eidgahin Srinagar.

The old city will continue toremain sealed tomorrow on theoccasion of Mirwaiz anniversaryas a precautionary measure toprevent violence.

And a minor boy was injuredafter security forces opened fireon a group of protesters whopelted stones at them inArampora village of Sopore inNorth Kashmir's Baramulla dis-trict last evening.

Security bones fired teargasand rubber bullets after theirvehicle came under stone-peltingin Arampora area.

A nine-year-old boy, identi-fied as Rizwan Ahmad Kaboo,son of Reyaz Ahmad Kaboo ofArampora, was injured. He wasimmediately taken to sub-districthospital Sopore.

He was hit by a rubber bulletin his head and was later referredto SKIMS hospital in SouraSrinagar for specialized treat-ment.

And in the meantime, securi-ty forces today continued itsoperation in North Kashmir'sHandwara forests after killingfour militants.

They killed four members ofa group of at least six militantswho had recently infiltrated intoKashmir and recovered arms andammunition from them.

Sources said that reinforce-ments of Army and SOG havebeen rushed to the area and theoperation is still going on againstthe rest of the militants of thegroup.

And train services inKashmir resumed today afterremaining shut yesterday due tostrike called by separatists.

Meanwhile, all KashmirUniversity examinations sched-uled to be held on Monday havebeen postponed, said a varsityspokesman.

Fresh dates will beannounced later, he added.

Petrol, diesel prices all time high of local sales tax or VAT. Pricesin Delhi are the cheapest in allmetros and most State capitals.

With this increase, petrol hastouched an all time-high, breach-ing the previous high of Rs 76.06touched in Delhi on September14, 2013. Diesel rates are also atthe all-time high level.

This is the seventh straightday of price increase since oilPSUs on May 14 resumed dailyprice revision after a 19-daypre-Karnataka poll hiatus. In all,petrol price has been raised byRs 1.61 a litre and diesel by1.64 in last one week. (PTI)

KLF killed 2 Sena leadersSharma and his son Kumar,

who were followers of DeraSacha Sauda, were killed onFebruary 25 last year at ‘NaamCharcha Ghar’ in Jageda area inLudhiana, while Gupta was shotdead on April 23, 2016 inKhanna, also in Ludhiana.

The NIA said during investi-gation it was found that killingsof Sharma, his son and Guptawere part of a trans-nationalconspiracy hatched by the seniorleadership of the KLF.

“Eight incidents of killingsor attempted killings were exe-cuted as part of this conspiracybetween January, 2016 andOctober, 2017 in Punjab,” itsaid, adding a charge sheet wasfiled in this connection earlierthis month.

“The objective of the con-spiracy was to destabilise thelaw and order situation inPunjab and to revive the fledg-ling terrorism in the state,” theagency said.

The conspiracy had its foot-prints in several countriesincluding Pakistan, the UK,Australia, France, Italy and theUAE, the NIA said.

“As part of the conspiracy,

large amounts of funds weresupplied through Italy, Australiaand the UK to the perpetrators ofthe killings — Hardeep Singhand Ramandeep Singh.

“These funds were used bythem to purchase weapons forexecuting the killings and otherlogistics,” it said.

The conspiracy includedrecruitment and training ofHardeep Singh and RamandeepSingh in Italy, Dubai and theUA, the agency said.

The NIA said while Singh isthe permanent resident of Italy,Ramandeep Singh belongs toLudhiana.

“Both these persons weretrained by one GursharanbirSingh, a UK national. AnotherUK national, Jagtar Singh Johal,who has been arrested in thecase, was involved in the fund-ing of the conspiracy,” it said.

The NIA said day-to-daycoordination of the conspiracywas done by Pakistan-basedHarmeet Singh alias ‘PhD’.

The charge sheets werebased on the evidences collectedfrom oral, documentary, materi-al and electronic sources, it said.(PTI)

Qazigund tunnel to open next yearbetween Banihal and Qazigundby 16 kms.

"The project is likely to becompleted by next year," Qadirsaid.

The tunnel has two paralleltubes, one for each direction.Each tube will be seven metres(23 ft) wide with two lanes. Oneof the tubes was completed inFebruary this year.

The tubes are interconnected

by passages at every 500 metresfor maintenance and emergencyevacuation.

The tunnel will have forcedventilation for extracting smokeand stale air and infusing freshair. It will have state-of-the-artmonitoring and control systemsfor security.

It is expected that commutersusing the tunnel will have to paya toll. (PTI)

Pak calls for ceasefire during day,violates it at night

called for ceasefire, this is forthe first time when within twodays of shelling and firing, theyurged the BSF for halting theguns to prevent more damageson their side.

Meanwhile, the InternationalBorder in all three districts ofJammu, Samba and Kathuaremained calm today after three-four days of intense activity dur-ing which the BSF foiled threemajor infiltration attempts by themilitants, which were aided andabetted by the Pakistani Rangerswhile there were reports that oneof the intrusion bids might havebeen successful through a cross-border tunnel.

However, the BSF conductedanti-tunnel exercise along theInternational Border in Hiranagarbut couldn't detect the tunnel sofar. The infiltrators, if any, alsoremained untraced as they werenot spotted by any securityagency or the civilians later.

Security agencies havereports that a number of mili-tants were camping at thelaunching pads on Pakistan sideof the International Border andthey could try to infiltrate under

the cover of ceasefire violationsby the Rangers. In view of this,the BSF was already maintain-ing very high alert along theborder right from Lakhanpur toAkhnoor to thwart the intrusionbids.

Sources said the BSF mightaccept the ceasefire plea of theRangers but would retaliate veryeffectively if Pakistan again violat-ed ceasefire or tried to push infiltra-tors into the Indian territory fromthe International Border.

Jammu and Kashmir witnesseda spurt in Pakistani shelling and fir-ing along the IB and the Line ofControl (LoC) this year.

Over 700 incidents of fire andshelling were reported, which left38 people including 18 securitypersonnel dead and scores injured.

Meanwhile, Pakistan army vio-lated ceasefire on the LoC in Lamand Janghar areas of Nowsherasector in Rajouri district thisevening by resorting to few mortarshelling and firing with automaticand semi-automatic weapons.

Though there was no officialconfirmation, an Army jawan wasreportedly injured in the shelling.

The Army retaliated effective-ly to silence the Pakistani guns.

Thermal image shows Pakistan bunker going in flames inSialkot sector.

Pak to give greater autonomy to PoKKashmir Affairs & Gilgit-Baltistan, yesterday briefed theCommittee on the PoK andGilgit-Baltistan reform propos-als, an official statement said.

The meeting chaired byPrime Minister Shahid KhaqanAbbasi reviewed these proposalsand after detailed deliberations aconsensus was reached on the"devolution of greater adminis-trative authority and financialpowers" to the PoK Governmentand the Gilgit-BaltistanGovernment, according to thestatement.

The details of administrativeand financial reform have notbeen shared so far.

However, there was also con-sensus over retention of the PoKand Gilgit-Baltistan Councils asadvisory bodies; and the grant ofa five-year tax holiday to Gilgit-Baltistan so as to create adequateincentives for the development ofthe region and bring it at par withthe other areas of Pakistan.

Gilgit-Baltistan is treated as aseparate geographical entity byPakistan. Balochistan, Khyber-

Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab and Sindhare four provinces of Pakistan.

India has termed as "entirelyunacceptable" any possibleattempt by Pakistan to declare theGilgit-Baltistan region, borderingthe disputed Pakistan-occupiedKashmir, as the fifth province.India has protested to China overthe CPEC which goes throughGilgit-Baltistan region.

It is believed that China'sconcerns about the unsettled sta-tus of Gilgit-Baltistan promptedPakistan to change its status.

Earlier media reports had saidthat Pakistan plans to elevate theconstitutional status of the regionto provide legal cover to theCPEC.

The NSC also endorsed thatFATA shall be merged withKhyber Pakhtunkhwa along withthe introduction of the adminis-trative and judicial institutionalstructures and laws of KhyberPakhtunkhwa, the statement said.

The Committee directed theconcerned ministries to work outthe constitutional, legal andadministrative modalities for themerger in consultation with allparties in the Parliament.

The meeting was attended byInterior Minister Ahsan Iqbal,Minister for Defence & ForeignAffairs Khurram Dastgir Khan,Chairman Joint Chiefs of StaffCommittee Gen ZubairMahmood Hayat, Army chiefGen Qamar Javed Bajwa, Chiefof Naval and Air forces, ISI chiefand other senior civil and mili-tary officials. (PTI)

DISCLAIMER‘‘Daily Excelsior’’ does nottake responsibility for thecontents of the advertise-ments (Display/ Classified)carried in this newspaper.The paper does not endorsethe same. Readers arerequested to verify thecontents on their own beforeacting there upon.’’

Centre committed to equitable developmentof all 3 regions: Dr Jitendra

Pooh-poohing such allega-tions, he said many new schemesand projects were introduced forthis region by Modi Governmentand funds allocated for theregion are in no way less than thefigures given to other region.

He, without naming anyparty or leader, said some dis-gruntled opposition leaderswho have been rejected by themasses are making oft repeat-ed allegations that Jammuregion is facing continuousdiscrimination while as a mat-ter of fact some new projectswhich were sanctioned by theModi Government for Jammuregion have not been yet start-ed in Kashmir valley.

In this regard, he cited theexample of Biotech Park at GhatiKathua, first seed procession plantat Kathua, Cable Stayed bridge atBasholi first of its kind in NorthIndia, first IIT and IIM for Jammu,first river cleaning project forDevika Udhampur, three passportoffices in different districts ofJammu region, i.e Kathua,Udhampur and Poonch.

He said Jammu got first RUSAEngineering College at Kathua,first Radio Station for Udhampur,weather forecasting plant at Katra,while out of Rs 3800 crore sanc-tioned by Central Governmentunder PMGSY road schemes forthis financial year, Jammu gotmajor share of Rs 2100 crore.

Besides, the Pakal Dul PowerProject in Kishtwar district, thefoundation of which was laid byPrime Minister, Narendra Modiyesterday is also in Jammu region.The Jammu has highest Railwaybridge in Reasi district, he added.

"These were all additionalprojects approved for thisregion", he said and asked thepeople to reject such leaderswho are misleading them fortheir vested interests.

Dr Jitendra Singh said thatModi not only ensured equitablefinancial and fiscal aid for all thethree regions of the State but alsotried to ensure equitable psycho-logical attention to the threeregions. This is the reason that PMheld programmes in all threeregions Ladakh, Kashmir andJammu yesterday, he added.

Dr Jitendra Singh accusedthe terrorists of not respectingthe teachings of holy Quran byresorting to violations in fastingmonth of Ramzan. "The onus ofmaintaining ceasefire in thisholy month lies on those whoclaim to be believers of Islamand teachings of holy Quranwhich preach that there shouldbe no violence in this fastingmonth and no body should beharmed are being violated byterrorists themselves'', he added.

Paying glowing tributes toMaharana Partap, he said thoughthere are misgivings in public lifestill some leaders have set anexample by sacrifices and selfeffacement. In this regard, he citedthe example of Lok Nayak, JaiParkash Narayan a veteran free-dom fighter who turned down theoffer of Deputy PrimeMinistership made to him by thethen Prime Minister, Jawahar LalNehru because of his ideologicaldifferences with later.

Dr Jitendra Singh said for-mer Prime Minister, MorarjiDeasi also resigned as DeputyPrime Minister and FinanceMinister in the Government ofIndira Gandhi on differences ofbank nationalization.

He said in present timeNarendra Modi reiterated to servenation and not to run the

Government just to stay in power.The bold decision of demonetiza-tion taken by Prime Ministerproves beyond the doubt thatModi works with conviction andnot for electoral gains.

The function was alsoaddressed by Minister of Housingand Urban Development, SatSharma who paid glowing tributesto Maharana Partap and highlight-ed his role. He asked the people tobe vigilant against the forces inim-ical the national cause.

Param Vir Chakar, Bana Singhand Rajput Sabha presidentNarayan Singh were also presentin the function which among oth-ers was addressed by Rakesh,Dharam Jagran chief.

Rakesh said the time has cometo strengthen the social fabric tobuilt healthy and strong nation. Hereminded the contribution ofMaharana Partap who united thedivided society of India at thattime and fought war with evadingMughals. Some forces are inimicalto divide the people of the countryon the name of caste, colour andcreed for vested interests to weak-en the nation, he added.

13 years on, construction of MiddleSchool Gangbugh left mid way

Aslam Wani also provided Rs 5lakhs for the building from hisConstituency DevelopmentFund (CDF) but that amountwas also not utilized.

A source in the departmentsaid the school is operatingfrom a rented accommodationwith only three classrooms for35 students and the depart-ment has posted 9 teachersincluding 6 General LineTeachers, one ReT, two RRTsand one head of the institu-tion.

"The school is functioning ina pathetic condition. There is nocompound in the school and thestudents are always beingchoked like cattle's inside theclass rooms. The worst part isthat there is no privacy for girlstudents and female teachers asthey have to share the only toiletinside the building with othernon local tenants", he said.

An official of the EducationDepartment said that they hadalready registered an FIR

against the concerned contractorwho left the work mid way andthe case is in the Court now.

He said the construction ofthe building was earlier execut-ed by Budgam district as theschool was under their jurisdic-tion up to 2008. However, it waslater shifted to BatamalooEducation Zone of Srinagar dis-trict and this was also one of thereasons which halted the con-struction work of the building.

He said the issue also hasbeen already discussed with thehigher authorities and they cameto the conclusion that the sitewas not feasible for the con-struction of the building as it isbeing constructed in a low lyingarea. "We have taken an initia-tive that the school building willbe constructed at another placeof the area and we are waitingfor the No Objection Certificate(NOC) from the court. The con-struction work will be startedsoon after the case is solved," hesaid.