Sanjeev Pargal

JAMMU, Apr 22: Following

footsteps of her father, Chief

Minister Mehbooba Mufti

would not only be pressing for

opening of Suchetgarh cross-

border point in RS Pura sector

but also famous Chamblayal

point in Ramgarh sector of

Samba district as she under-

takes visit to both the border

points tomorrow.

“Apart from pressing ofopening of cross-border routes,she would also be reviewingpromotion of border tourism atboth the places, which were longpending demands of not only thelocal people but the people ofJammu,’’ official sources toldthe Excelsior.

Only few days before fallingill in December, Mufti Sayeed,then Chief Minister had visitedSuchetgarh sector and proposedpromotion of border tourism andopening of Suchetgarh-Sialkotroute.

Sources said MehboobaMufti would be taking a stepahead and proposing not onlythe promotion of border tourism

at Suchetgarh-Sialkot but alsoChamblayal route in Ramgarhsector of Samba district, whichhoused famous and widelyrevered religious shrine of BabaChamblayal ji, which is respect-ed by the people from both sidesof India and Pakistan.

The Chamblayal fair, whichis organized on third Thursdayof every July, is also attended bythe Pakistani Rangers, who offer`chadar’ on behalf of Pakistanipeople and take `prasad’ forthem. Prior to 1971 war, thePakistani people were allowedto visit the shrine on the day offair but the practice was stoppedafter the war.

Sources said after assessingthe ground situation, the ChiefMinister could take up the open-ing of these two more borderpoints with the Centre to pro-mote people-to-people links andgive boost to Indo-Pak trade likeWagah in Amritsar district ofPunjab.

“The Tourism Department,

whose charge is also held by

the Chief Minister, could take

steps for promotion of border

tourism at both the places

including Suchetgarh and

Chamblayal,’’ sources said

pointing out that Chamblayal

is addition to Suchetgarh bor-

der point of RS Pura sector,

whose promotion was on cards

during the tenure of Mufti

Mohammad Sayeed.

Noting that both Suchetgarhand Chamblayal have extremepotential to attract tourists inJammu, sources said it was theabsence of requisite facilitiesand certain security guidelinesthat both local as well as peoplefrom the other States wereunable to visit the two points.They added that once the facili-ties were generated at the twopoints, they could become cen-tre of attraction.

Mehbooba would alsoundertake tour of severaltourism and heritage areas ofJammu tomorrow includingMubarak Mandi, Rajinder Parkand various other destinations ofJammu, Samba and Kathua dis-tricts, which the Governmentproposed to develop as newtourist destinations.

Meanwhile, it has been

NEW DELHI, Apr 22:

Narendra Jadhav, member

of erstwhile National Advisory

Council (NAC) headed by

Congress President Sonia

Gandhi, was today nominated

by the Modi Government to

Rajya Sabha along with BJP

leaders Subramanian Swamy

and Navjot Singh Sidhu.

Malayalam actor SureshGopi, journalist SwapanDasgupta and boxer Mary Komwere also nominated as the newRajya Sabha members.

President Pranab Mukherjeenominated the six personalitiesfrom different fields to the Houseof Elders following a recommen-dation of the Narendra ModiGovernment, a Home Ministryspokesperson said here.

He said a formal notificationregarding their nomination to the

Upper House would be issuedshortly.

The President recommendsthe names of the nominated mem-bers – drawn from fields such asliterature, science, sports, art andsocial service – on the advice ofthe Government.

62-year-old Jadhav, an econo-mist, was a member of SoniaGandhi-led NAC during the UPAtenure from 2010 to 2014.

Besides NAC membership,Jadhav has had held several posi-tions. He was a member ofPlanning Commission from 2009to 2014 and Vice Chancellor ofthe University of Pune.

He is a prolific writer in threelanguages - Marathi, English andHindi - and credited with writingand editing more than 30 books.

Swamy, a Harvard-educatedeconomist, was a former Union

Excelsiordaily

REGD.NO.JK-71/15-17

RNI No. 28547/1992Vol No. 52 No. 112 JAMMU, SATURDAY, APRIL 23, 2016 20 Pages ` 4.00

INSIDE WEATHER� * Plight of Jammu migrants ...Page 10

* Paralyzed MGNREGA� Governor for institutionalized

system for grievanceredressal ...Page 3

� Mehbooba fixes targets toturnround farming sector . ..Page 3

� No Governmentdocument archived inJ&K since 1985 ...Page 5

� Dr Jitendra urges StateGovts to abolishinterview for Jobs ...Page 5

� Kohli, AB de Villiersset up 13-runwin for RCB ...Page 18

JAMMU :

Light rain/Thundershowers.

TEMPERATURE

Max: 33.7 Degree C

Min: 19.1 Degree C

RELATIVE HUMIDITY

RH-I (Morning): 45.0 per cent

RH-II (Evening): 47.0 per cent

Sunset on Saturday: 07.07 p.m.

Sunrise on Sunday: 05.53 a.m.

KASHMIR:

Light rain/Thundershowers.

TEMPERATURE

Max: 18.4 Degree C

Min: 7.6 Degree C

RELATIVE HUMIDITY

RH-I (Morning): 65.0 per cent

RH-II (Evening): 71.0 per cent

LEH: TEMPERATURE

Max: 18.6 Degree C

Min: 6.8 Degree C

Internet Edition: www.dailyexcelsior.com

E-Paper: http://epaper.dailyexcelsior.com

facebook.com/dailyexcelsior

twitter.com/dailyexcelsior1

dailyexcelsior.com/apps

‘Tainted’ officers being shielded by delaying enquiries

Committees on Makhdoom Sahib Ropeway

Project, RDA scam fail to complete probeMohinder Verma

JAMMU, Apr 22: Establish-

ing that some hidden hands are

hell bent to shield the officers fac-

ing departmental enquiries, two

committees constituted by

Tourism Department to conduct

probe into shutting down of

Makhdoom Sahib Ropeway

Project in Srinagar and Rajouri

Development Authority (RDA)

scam have failed to complete the

investigation even several months

after the lapse of the deadlines. In

three other enquiries also, no

progress has been made and

guilty officers remain unpun-

ished.

This has been revealed by theTourism Department itself in thestatus report furnished to the StateHigh Court in response to thedirectives issued vide ordersdated February 29 and March 17this year in the ongoing PublicInterest Litigation (PIL).

According to the status report,the copy of which is available withEXCELSIOR, the issue regardingMakhdoom Sahib RopewayProject at Srinagar came into dis-cussion during the meeting ofDepartmental Related StandingCommittee-IV on Tourism

Department convened onDecember 28, 2015 under thechairmanship of MLC VibodhGupta.

The DRSC of the State

Legislature desired to have

enquiry into the closure of

Makhdoom Sahib Ropeway

Project. Accordingly, a committee

headed by Director Tourism,

Kashmir and comprising of

Superintending Engineer, Medical

Engineering Department,

Kashmir, Financial Advisor of

Tourism Department and

Executive Engineer, Inspection

Division, Power Development

Department, Kashmir was consti-

tuted by Secretary to Government,

Tourism Department, Farooq

Ahmed Shah vide Government

Order No.496-TSM dated

December 31, 2015.

The Committee was asked toexamine the appropriateness ofthe selected technology andequipment for the RopewayProject; examine whether theprocess of bidding for the tech-nology and equipment was donein accordance with the laid downprocedure; look into the factors,both macro and micro, which ledto the development of snag in theequipment as a consequence of

which the ropeway had to be shutdown; verify whether there is anyelectro-mechanical defect in theequipment used in the ropewaysystem and suggest rectifyingmeasures which would make theropeway functional in a securedmanner.

The Committee had to sub-

mit its report along with the

recommendations by or before

January 31, 2016 but report is

still awaited, reads the status

report. However, it has not been

mentioned as to what steps

have been initiated to ensure

that the Committee headed by

Director Tourism completes

task assigned to it and what

were the hurdles in meeting the

deadline.

Similarly, vide GovernmentOrder No.TSM/DA dated January20, 2016 Joint Director TourismJammu was appointed as EnquiryOfficer to look into the complaintagainst Mohammad Javid Khan,the then Chief Executive Officer,Rajouri Development Authority,Kushal Chand and Devi Dass, thethen Executive Engineers of RDAand Gurcharan Singh, the then JERDA.

The allegations against

‘Operation to de-mine more areas to continue’

Army de-mines vast chunk of

civilians’ land close to LoCExcelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Apr 22: In a

major people-friendly decision,

Army today cleared vast chunk

of land from anti-personnel and

anti-tank mines from the fields

located close to the Line of

Control (LoC) in Nowshera sec-

tor of Rajouri district and

decided to go ahead with the

similar drive in other areas

along LoC in twin border dis-

tricts of Poonch and Rajouri.

Official sources told theExcelsior that Army jawans ofEngineering Regiment under Aceof Spades Division launched thedrive today in Lam sub sector ofNowshera tehsil in Rajouri dis-trict this morning on requests oflocal civilians and administration

to clear the vast chunk of fieldsfrom the mines, both anti-person-nel and anti-tanks to help thecivilians work in their fields.

The operation launched by theArmy jawans, who have special-ized training in de-mining thefields, launched the operationfrom Lam sector this morningand continued till this evening.The jawans of engineering regi-ment recovered a large number ofanti-personnel and anti-tankmines from the fields and keptthem in isolated areas.

“The mines will be defusedsafely by the Army personnelaway from the civil population toavoid any casualties,’’ sourcessaid, adding that the troopsplanned to carry out similar oper-ations in other areas along the

LoC in twin border districts ofRajouri and Poonch to help civil-ians move right up to the LoC tograze their cattle and cultivate

their land.Sources said some of the

mines have been defused on spot

Army personnel engaged in de-mining operations at Lam inNowshera sector of Rajouri district on Friday.

Land lease deed to be signed within days

Decks cleared for establishment of

Rs 100 cr Biotech Park at KathuaAvtar Bhat

JAMMU, Apr 22: Constantly

delayed for one year, the work on

much talked about Rs 100 crore

Biotech Park at Ghati Kathua is

likely to start soon as the Pollution

Control Board has given its clear-

ance to the project.

According to highly placedsources, the work on the projectwas constantly delayed for aboutone year as the Pollution ControlBoard had laid all such projects inthe red zone. However, afterchanging the guidelines for allsuch projects by the UnionEnvironmental Ministry, theindustry was brought from redzone to green zone and as a con-sequence if it, decks have been

cleared for the construction ofBiotech Park at Ghati as well,sources added.

Sources said the Biotech Parkwill be developed on 80 kanals ofland and the Department ofScience and Technology whichhas been allotted the land on leasewill sign the lease deed withinsome days for the project whichhas now come under green cate-gory. After signing of lease deed,the Department will take the pos-session of the land, sourcesadded.

In the first instance, the entireland will be fenced with com-pound walling followed by sub-mission of tender documents toCabinet for approval, sourcessaid, adding after seeking the

approval from the Cabinet theglobal tenders will be floated forconstruction of Biotech Parkwhich will be first of its kind inentire Northern India, sourcessaid.

Sources said as the decks havebeen cleared now the work on theBiotech Park will start within twoto three months.

When contacted Joint

Director Science and Technology

Mushtaq Ahmed said that

SIDCO had kept two conditions

for the allotment of land for the

project. First was seeking of No

Objection Certificate (NOC)

from Power Development

Department (PDD) and second

was NOC from Pollution

Control Board (PCB).

He said the NOC from PDDwas obtained within some daysbut it took about a year in seekingclearance from PCB as theCabinet order for the allotment ofland was issued in April last yearand land was allotted in May, lastyear. However, the possessionwas delayed by SIDCO for seek-ing clearance from PCB.

He said the project would nothave been cleared even yet hadthe Union Minister in PMO, DrJitendra Singh not taken personalinterest in this regard. It was withhis personal efforts that otherBiotech parks to be developed inother parts of the country got theenvironment clearance, he added.

It may be recalled that Dr

Dal dwellers unhappy over rehabilitation

in wetland turned colonySuhail Bhat

SRINAGAR, Apr 22: Dal

dwellers are finding hard to

battle it out at newly notified

wetland-converted-rehabilita-

tion colony at Rakh-e- Arth in

Bemina on the outskirts of city

as there is no approach road, no

proper drainage and no drink-

ing water while there are no

traces of promised school and

health centre.

With a project cost of nearlyRs. 416.72 crores residentialcolony spread over 7526 kanalsof land, the colony was allotted torehabilitate the Dal dwellers.Under the project, 2000 plotswere supposed to be allocated tothe Dal dwellers shifted to saveDal Lake. But, so far, just 200-300 families have been shiftedand they accused Government of

playing politics over grave issueof environment.

Mohammad Yousuf Chapri,

an environmentalist, said theGovernment has spotted a wetland to setup this colony which

is adversely affecting theecosystem and natural habitats.He castigated Government for

going against the nature. “It wasfailure in the beginning and it isfailure now. Here decisions are

taken in the kitchen cabinets. Itis already a flood prone area”,he said.

Ghulam Hussain Hang,

president welfare committee

Rakh-e-Arth, said in the year

2009 they were told that a resi-

dential colony will be allocated

to the Dal dwellers wherein

every facility will be provided to

them but the Government has

shifted them to cesspool which is

not fit for living.

“Our houses have developedcracks due to the marsh underly-ing this newly filled wetland.They have only rolled the upperlayer to befool us. The map of thecolonies which was shown to ushas schools, parks and health cen-tres but so far nothing has beenconstructed. We are the residentsof district Srinagar while as the

SC stays HC order on

Prez rule in U’khandNEW DELHI, Apr 22:

In a breather to the ModiGovernment, the SupremeCourt today stayed till April 27the Uttarakhand High Courtjudgement quashing the impo-sition of President's rule in thestate in an interim order thatalso stalled the revival of theHarish Rawat Government.

However, the brief order bythe apex court came after it tookan undertaking from the Centrethat it will not revoke thePresident's rule, which has beenrestored by today's order.

The court clarified that it waspassing an interim order as ameasure of balance for both theparties as the copy of the verdictwas not made available to them,one of the main grounds onwhich Attorney General MukulRohatgi sought a stay on theeffect and operation of HighCourt's yesterday's judgement.

"It is directed that the judge-ment of the High Court shallremain in abeyance till April 27,2016. That apart, as undertaken

by Rohatgi, Attorney General, theUnion of India shall not revokethe Presidential Proclamation tillthe next date of hearing," a benchcomprising Justices Dipak Misraand Shiva Kirti Singh said.

While listing the matter forhearing on April 27, the benchsaid that the High Court shall pro-vide the judgement passed yester-day to the parties by April 26 andon the same date the copy of theverdict shall also be placed beforethe apex court.

The Supreme Court's stay hasthe effect of undoing the revivalof the Congress Government ledby Harish Rawat by the HighCourt judgement yesterday, inwhich the ousted chief ministerwas asked to prove his majorityin the Assembly on Apr 29.

During the hearing, the benchalso observed that "as a matter ofpropriety the High Court shouldhave signed the verdict and madeit available to the parties to facil-itate them to appeal. It would alsohave been appropriate for us todo justice."

Swamy, Sidhu, Kom among

6 nominated to RS

Go ahead with FAK inquiry: HCExcelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Apr 22: Jammu and Kashmir High Court todaydirected the Government to go ahead with the inquiry initiatedagainst Food Analyst Kashmir (FAK), who was found responsiblein shielding M/s Khyber Agro Farms Pvt Ltd in manufacturingadulterated and substandard food items.

The Food Analyst Officer, Hamidullah Dar, had challenged theGovernment order wherein inquiry was ordered against him fol-lowing his negligence in performing the duty in checking the men-ace of food adulteration and further he had been attached by theauthorities.

Dar was seeking expunging the observations which have beenpassed against him by the trial court in the judgment wherein penalty ofRs 9 lakh and 6 months imprisonment was given to M/s Khyber Agro

Guv summons Legislature SessionExcelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Apr 22: Governor N N Vohra, in exercise of the pow-ers conferred upon him under Sub-Section (1) of section 53 of theConstitution of Jammu and Kashmir, has summoned the StateLegislative Assembly and the Legislative Council to meet atSrinagar on May 25 at 11 am.

Under the provision of Section 55(1) of the Constitution ofJ&K, Governor N N Vohra, has called upon the Members of theJ&K Legislative Assembly and the Legislative Council to assem-ble together in the Sher-i- Kashmir International ConventionCentre (SKICC), Srinagar on May 25 to hear his Address.

After the Address, each House of the Legislature will meet as aseparate body at the time specified by the respective PresidingOfficers.

JKP procures max non-lethal munitionNEW DELHI, Apr 22:

Police forces of Gujarat and Jammu and Kashmir were the top-mostusers of non-lethal munition, during last year, an official data said.

According to the data prepared by the Tear Smoke Unit (TSU)of BSF, more than 5.03 lakh non-lethal ammunitions were pro-cured by various state police and central forces by the end of the2015-16 financial year.

"In 2015-16, police forces have lifted more than 5.03 lakh non-lethal munitions and the major chunk was taken by police fromGujarat and Jammu and Kashmir," the force said.

These munitions are used by security forces and police units toquell protesters and control situations during law and order problems.

Border Security Force chief K K Sharma, during the annual govern-

HC directive on Govt servant postingExcelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Apr 22: High Court today held that transfer is an exi-gency of service of a Government servant and no Government ser-vant has a right to remain posted at a particular place or against aparticular post.

This significant judgment was passed in a petition filed byGhulam Ali Malik, a Girdawar in Revenue Department. The peti-tioner was initiated posted as Incharge Naib Tehsildar Chassana indistrict Reasi vide Order dated 11.08.2014. Later, videGovernment Order No. Rev/Gaz/248 of 2014 dated 21.10.2014, hewas transferred and posted as Incharge Naib Tehsildar Kahara inDoda district.

The petitioner assailed his transfer mainly on the basis ofTransfer Policy issued by the Government vide Order No. 861-

Suvidha trains between Jammu-Mumbai NEW DELHI, Apr 22:

In order to clear extra rush of passengers during the Summer,Railway will run Suvidha special trains between Jammu andMumbai next month.

The Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus - Jammu Tawi SuvidhaWeekly Special Train will depart from Chhatrapati Shivaji stationon May 6 at 6.35 AM to reach Jammu Tawi at 6 PM the next day.

In the return direction, Jammu Tawi - Chhatrapati ShivajiTerminus Suvidha Weekly Special will depart from Jammu Tawion May 8 at 7.20 AM to reach Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus at 6PM the next day.

The fares of Suvidha trains are higher than the regular trainsand determined through demand. Only confirmed and RAC tickets

Rains lash Kashmir valleyExcelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Apr 22: Kashmir valley was today lashed byintermittent rains and hailstorm at several places damaging appleand almond orchards in Pulwama and Budgam districts.

The rainfall in all the parts of the Valley started last night andcontinued till early morning. The downpour again started in theafternoon and continued for several hours intermittently. TheMeteorological Department has already predicted the wet spell andthe scattered rainfall for tomorrow.

Meanwhile, the apple and almond orchards suffered extensivedamage as a result of hailstorm along with heavy showers in areaslike Goosu, Frasipora, Rahmoo and Karimabad of Pulwama dis-trict in south Kashmir.

Local residents said that the strong hailstorm continued for

(Contd on page 6 Col 1)

(Contd on page 6 Col 3)

(Contd on page 6 Col 5)

(Contd on page 6 Col 1)

(Contd on page 6 Col 3)

(Contd on page 6 Col 3)

(Contd on page 6 Col 3)

(Contd on page 6 Col 1)

(Contd on page 6 Col 5)

(Contd on page 6 Col 1)

(Contd on page 6 Col 5)

A view of Rakh-e-Arth under rainy water of Bemina on theoutskirts of Srinagar on Friday. —Excelsior Photo

CM to visit border, other areas today

Mehbooba to take up opening of Sialkot,

Chamblayal routes to boost tourism

(Contd on page 6 Col 5)