DAILY EXCELSIOR, JAMMU THURSDAY, JUNE 16, 2016 (PAGE 5)

Mehbooba flags-off evening flightfrom Srinagar International Airport

* Kashmir to get air connectivity with more cities soonExcelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, June 15: In asignificant development whichwould go a long way in boostingtourism and help expansion ofeconomic activity in J&K, ChiefMinister, Mehbooba Mufti todayflagged off maiden eveningflight from SrinagarInternational Airport.

Operated by private airliner,GoAir, the flight will take off at6.40 pm daily from SrinagarInternational Airport for NewDelhi.

Minister of State for Forest,Ecology and Environment,Zahoor Ahmad Mir, PrincipalSecretary to Chief Minister,Naveen Kumar Choudhary,Secretary Tourism, FarooqAhmad Shah, CommissionerCivil Aviation, Captain SKatoch, Chief OperatingOfficer, GoAir, Wolf Gang andDirector Srinagar Airport, R KShinde were present on theoccasion.

With the operation of regu-lar evening flight, GoAir willbe operating six flights dailyfrom Srinagar Airport includ-ing four on Srinagar-Delhi andtwo on Srinagar-Mumbai sec-tors.

The Chief Minister wasinformed that 34 flights areoperating from SrinagarInternational Airport daily

from 6.00 am to 7.00 pm. He felicitated the manage-

ment of the GoAir for startingevening flight from SrinagarInternational Airport andexpressed the hope that moreoperators will start early morn-ing and late evening flights toand from the Airport. She urgedthe GoAir COO to start lateafternoon flight betweenSrinagar and Jammu as most ofthe people, includingGovernment officials, regularlytravel on this sector.

The Chief Minister said onthe request of the StateGovernment, the AirportsAuthority of India (AAI) andIndian Air Force (IAF) haveagreed to allow flight opera-tions from Srinagar Airportupto 10.00 pm in the night andthe operators should now takeadvantage of this extendedflight operation timing espe-cially in the summer season,when there is maximum touristinflow to Kashmir.

She said the Government isworking with various airlinesand the Government of India toconnect Srinagar and JammuAirports with other cities of thecountry through direct flightsand also start internationalflights from Srinagar Airport.

She said discussions are onwith various airlines to carryfresh flowers from Srinagar toNew Delhi and Mumbai toboost the floriculture sector inKashmir.

Divisional CommissionerKashmir, Dr Asghar HassanSamoon, ADG CID, S M Sahai,Deputy CommissionerBudgam, Mir Altaf Hussain,

DIG Central Kashmir Range,Ghulam Hassan Bhat, DirectorFloriculture, Talat Parvaiz,Director Tourism Kashmir,Mehmood Ahmad Shah, SSPBudgam, Fayaz Ahmad andother officers of tourism, CivilAviation, Air Force and GoAir,besides representatives of tradeand travel organisations werepresent on the occasion.

Excelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, June 15: TheJ&K SRTC Workers Union tookup the issue of daily rated/ con-solidated drivers' issue with theCommissioner/ SecretaryTransport Department and theManaging Director of theCorporation today.

Led by chairman of theJ&K SRTC Workers UnionWajahat Hussain, general secre-tary Paramjeet Singh and othermembers, the Union membersduring meeting with theSecretary Transport R K Bhagatand the MD GA Sofi took up theissue of consolidated workersincluding drivers who have goneon strike. They stressed uponthe authorities to regularize theconsolidated drivers and otherworkers who have completedeight years in service.

The Commissioner/Secretary Transport informedthat due to ensuring Assemblysession, it is not possible to con-vene meeting in this regard. Hesaid when the session is over adecision in this regard would betaken. He said that a meeting ofthe Board of Directors on July 4,2016 has already been fixed andregularisation of consolidateddrivers is one of the agendas inthat meeting.

Meanwhile, chairman of theUnion Wajahat Hussain andgeneral secretary ParamjeetSingh said that for the last twodays some consolidated SRTCworkers/ drivers in Jammu havegone on strike and they arebeing requested to report back tothe duty as per assurance givenby the Commissioner/ SecretaryTransport Department and theManaging Director. They said in

case any action is taken by theManagement against the strikingconsolidated workers, they shallbe personally responsible for it.

A senior officers of theSRTC said that a meeting of theEstablishment- cum- FinanceCommittee regarding regular-ization of consolidated drivers/employees has been scheduledto be held on July 7 at JKSRTCheadquarters MA RoadSrinagar at 11 AM. The casespertaining to consolidated driv-ers will be examined in themeeting. Some consolidatedemployees misguided by someelements have proceeded onstrike. In case they continue todo so and ignore the appeal ofthe Commissioner/ Secretaryand the MD SRTC, their caseswill be considered for immedi-ate disengagement.

Minister of State for Education, Culture and Tourism, PriyaSethi during public darbar at BJP office on Wednesday.

Priya takes stock of people’s problems

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, June 15: Minister ofState for Education, TechnicalEducation, Culture, Tourism,Horticulture, Floriculture andParks, Priya Sethi, during her sit-ting at BJP Office today, tookstock of the problems being facedby the people and assured that thesame will be solved at the earliest.She also took up some cases withthe concerned departments, whichcould be sorted out on the spot.She said that the BJP has alwaysbeen at the service of the people ofJammu and every Minister hasbeen directed to regularly meet thepeople and ensure that no one ismade to suffer.

A large number of women hadalso reached the party office, whowanted to know about variouswelfare schemes related to them.

Briefing the people about vari-ous projects of her Ministry, PriyaSethi said that the present dispen-sation is committed to ensuregrowth and progress of tourismindustry in Jammu be it in the fieldof eco tourism, border tourismadventure sports or health tourism.She also shared the progress relat-ed to work of Gandola project inJammu.

Talking about Shivkhori, to bebrought up as major tourist desti-nation, she said that many projects,keeping in view the topographyand religious places of the area ,arein pipeline and modalities for thesame will be worked upon.

She reiterated that DPRs arebeing prepared and the case forlight and sound show at Bagh-e-Bahu and Katra is being pursued.

The Minister said that specialpackages are being developed bythe department to promote golf asa sport in Jammu. DiscussingMubarak Mandi as a heritage sitePriya categorically said that CMherself is chairing the committeefor preservation of MubarakMandi and this itself is an indica-tor to show that the presentGovernment is quiet serious in itspromise to have Jammu as anattractive and all encompassingtourist site.

BJP District Presidents-Ayodhya Gupta and Baldev SinghBillawaria, Mahila Morcha Stategeneral secretary Sanjita Dograassisted the Minister during hersitting.

President Pranab Mukherjee with President Alassane Ouattaraof Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) at the Presidential Palace at Abidjan.Also seen in picture is Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh.

President reiterates India’scommitment to Africa

Excelsior Correspondent

ABIDJAN (CÔTEDIVOIRE), June 15: The first evervisit by any President of India toAbidjan City of Côte d'Ivoire(Ivory Coast) underlining theimportance that India attaches toeach of the countries in Africancontinent,was marked byPresident Pranab Mukherjee'saddress at the bilateral delegationlevel talks between two countries,where he reiterated India's com-mitment to Africa and called forincrease in economic engagementbetween the two countries.

The Indian Delegation consist-ed of Union Minister Dr JitendraSingh, two Members of Parliamentand senior officers of the Ministryof External Affairs while the otherside was led by President AlassaneOuattara and senior Ministers ofthe Republic of Côte d'Ivoire.

The hallmark of the meetingwas signing of an MoU to facilitate

opening of Exim Bank Office atCôte d'Ivoire to promote trade,business and investment betweenthe two countries.

President Mukherjee called forreinforcement of regional coopera-tion and providing financial sup-port at concessional rates throughExim Bank. He also recalled thatduring third Indo-African Summitheld in New Delhi in October2015, Government of India hadcommitted USD 10 billion supportto Africa.

President Mukherjee alsoobserved that India's private sectoris ready to invest in Africa. He said,the need of the hour is not onlyavailability of technology, butavailability of appropriate technol-ogy.

President Mukherjee alsoemphasized the importance of pro-moting small and medium enter-prises which are important for theeconomic growth of developingcountries.

Govt identifies 16places for wheat,paddy mandies

Excelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, June 15:Minister for Consumer Affairsand Public Distribution ZulfkarAli today said the Governmentindentified 16 places in Jammufor establishment of mandiesfor wheat and paddy procure-ment after due consultation withvarious legislators and stakeholders.

In a review meeting attend-ed by MLAs of Marh andBishnah for establishing ofmandies, the Minister instructedthat the mandies should beestablished at Channu Chak,Gajansoo, Parladpur, Pargwal,Jourian, Bishnah, R S Pura,Ramgarh, Sanji Morh, NagriParole, Bajwal, Bishnoh,Sherpur, Arina, Vijaypur, andMarh.

Urging Food Corporation ofIndia (FCI) to ensure that themandies are established well intime, the Minister asked FCI toestablish the mandies byOctober 7, 2016.

He also instructedAgriculture ProductionDepartment to provide all thelogistic and infrastructural sup-port to FCI in the procurementprocess by October 1, 2016.

The Minister said that wel-fare of farmers is the top priori-ty of Government and everyeffort would be made to ensurethat they get due for their hardwork. He stressed on FCI thatfarmers should not suffer andshould be provided with"Reasonable Minimum SupportPrice."

General Manager, FCI,Secretary CA&PD, SecretaryAgriculture ProductionDepartment, Director CA&PD,Jammu, along with other offi-cers attended the meeting.

Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti flagging-off evening flightat Srinagar Airport.

MD appeals workers to resume dutySRTC Workers’ Union takes up

daily rated drivers issue with Secy

JKSCOA urges Govt to revoke SRO 105Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, June 15: J&K StoneCrusher Owners' Association(JKSCOA) has urged the StateGovernment to revoke SRO 105for the survival of Stone CrusherIndustry in the State.

Addressing a press confer-ence, Choudhary VikramRandhawa , a leader of JKSCOA,along with others office bearers,said a joint delegation of theAssociation from both provinces(Jammu as well as Kashmir)recently met House Committeeconstituted by the Speaker, J&KLegislative Assembly, to reviewthe implementation of controver-sial SRO 105, in Srinagar.

He said that the committeeheaded by its chairman, MohdAkbar Lone, held a threadbarediscussion with the delegation,which apprised the HouseCommittee to put forth the prosand cons following the imple-mentation of SRO 105.

"During deliberation, the del-egation apprised the committeeabout the ill effects of the SRO onStone Crusher Industry, which isrelated with the construction and

development of the nation. It saidthat not only the Stone CrusherIndustry but the public in generalwill also suffer a lot if SRO 105 isnot revoked", he told media per-

sons.Ch Vikram said that during

the deliberation, the delegationurged upon the House Committeeto put forth the report before theHouse keeping into considerationthe survival of the Stone CrusherIndustry in J&K and stressed forcomplete exemption of royalty bycontractors from unit holders.

He said that the department ofGeology and Mining shoulddirectly charge from stone crush-er unit holders.

JKSCOA leaders during apress conference at Jammu.

-Excelsior/RakeshSearches on IB in Hiranagar sector

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, June 15: BSF and police today conducted massivesearch operations along Manyari Post in Hiranagar sector of Kathuadistrict along the International Border (IB) after some suspiciousmovement was recorded in the surveillance camera last night.

Official sources said BSF, police and Village DefenceCommittees conducted massive searches in the area leading toNational Highway from Manyari along the IB after some move-ment was noticed on Pakistan side of the border last night, whichwas also recorded on one of the surveillance cameras.

However, sources said, there was no infiltration from the IB andsearches were conducted as precautionary measure.

The search operations were called off this evening as there wasno trace of any kind of intrusions on the Indian side, they added.

Senior officers of police also joined the search operation.