TOP STORY OF THE DAY

Cong once again succeeded in not getting Kashmiri Hindu Shrines Bill passed in Assembly 3/6/2014 12:05:36 AM Sandeep Bhat JAMMU, Mar 5: The "much awaited" Kashmiri Hindus Shrines and Religious Bill, which was introduced in the Legislative Assembly on Tuesday, was not passed once again. The Bill was referred to the Joint Select Committee of both the Houses for further deliberations. Introduction of Bill in the Assembly had exposed serious differences between two coalition partners namely Congress and National Conference as former strongly opposed passing of the Bill while as later was adamant to get the Bill to be made as a Law. Congress under the leadership of Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand strongly opposed passing of the Bill. The Congress leadership was united to send the Bill to the Joint Select Committee. It is widely believed that Bill can be passed with some amendments but Congress members were adamant on sending this Bill to the Joint Select Committee. Speech of fire-brand Congress Minister Sham Lal Sharma on the floor of the Assembly was a clear indication that Congress had made it up its mind to oppose passing of the Bill in its present form. Failure of the Government to pass...   READ MORE

FRONT PAGE STORIES

J&K to go to polls in five phases from April 10 to May 7 MCC comes in force immediately 3/6/2014 12:05:16 AM Early Times Report JAMMU, Mar 5: Elections to 16th Lok Sabha in J&K are going to be held in five phases from April 10 and Model Code of Conduct has already come into force. This was disclosed by Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Umang Narula at a news conference here today. The CEO said notification for Jammu-Poonch Parliamentary seat would be issued on March 15, last date of filing nominations would be March 22, scrutiny would take place on March 24 and March 26 is the last date of withdrawal...   READ MORE   JKPCC bleeding exchequer by delaying vital projects Cost of over 10 projects escalated several times 3/6/2014 12:03:50 AM Akshay Azad JAMMU, Mar 5: Infamous for nepotism, corruption and irregularities in its projects, the Jammu and Kashmir Project Construction Corporation (JKPCC) has continued to bleed the state exchequer by delaying the projects of pressing public importance and escalating their cost from 40-250 percent. Sources informed Early Times that despite some serious strictures against the corporation and its officers, the working of the JKPCC has grown from bad to worse, raising a serious question on its very need. "The construction of Community Health Center Mahore, Reasi was allotted to JKPCC in the year 2008-09 at an estimated cost of Rs. 10.63 Crores, but the Corporation has revised the estima...   READ MORE   Cong-NC split wide open, members clash in LC Breach of privilege against ex-Army chief 3/6/2014 12:03:36 AM No decision on gunpoint: Chairman Syed Junaid Hashmi JAMMU, Mar 5: Split wide open! Congress and National Conference (NC) today clashed in the Legislative Council over the issue of Chairman Amrit Malhotra delaying decision in the legality of privilege committee which had been probing into ex-Army chief Gen. V.K. Singh's comment over Army paying J&K legislators. The issue was raised by MLC and Provincial president of National Conference (NC) Devinder Rana immediately after the question hour was over in the Legislative Council today. Rana pleaded with Chairman Amrit Malhotra to let the House know status of the privilege committee which had been probing into the comments made by ex-Army Chi...   READ MORE   J&K declares 42% polling stations as 'Critical' 3/6/2014 12:04:00 AM Early Times Report JAMMU, Mar 5: The Jammu and Kashmir Election department today declared 42 per cent of polling stations in the state as "critical", and said elaborate security arrangements will be put in place for free and fair polls. "As many as 4,059 polling stations have been declared as critical in Jammu and Kashmir," Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Umang Narula told reporters here today. Narula was replying to the question about sensitive and hyper-sensitive polling stations and security arrangements made for the incident-free polls in Jammu and Kashmir. The CEO said 9,633 polling booths would be set up in the state, which is 500 more than that of 2009 elections and these booths ...   READ MORE   Of 1133 plots allotted for establishment of industrial units, only 57 percent units functional J&K SIDCO fails to promote industries in J&K 3/6/2014 12:03:11 AM Bivek Mathur JAMMU, Mar 5: The nodal agency for promotion of industries in Jammu and Kashmir-J&K State Industrial Development Corporation (J&K SIDCO) has failed to use the land allotted for establishment of industrial units as it has established only 57 percent units, as per the report of Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India. An audit was undertaken between March 2013 and June 2013 covering the examination of records of the Head office, Regional office Jammu and five industrial estates of the company involving 238 plots of land with an area of 1946 kanals (22 percent) out of 13 industrial estates involving 1133 plots of land with an area of 8938 kanals, which were selected based...   READ MORE   Election schedule in J&K 3/6/2014 12:04:07 AM Jammu-Poonch : Notification March 15, Elections April 10 Udhampur-Kathua : Notification March 19, Elections April 17. Anantnag : Notification March 29, Elections April 24. Srinagar-Budgam : Notification on April 2, Elections on April 30. Baramulla-Kupwara and Ladakh : Notification on April 12, Elections on May 7....   READ MORE   Kichloo clarifies on solar cookers, lights `Saroori, Asgar Ali are frustrated' 3/6/2014 12:02:59 AM Asif Iqbal Naik JAMMU, Mar 5: Reacting to the news item published in "Early Times" with regard to the alleged irregularity and illegal transfer of solar cookers and solar lights to Kishtwar constituency. Minister of State for Industries & Commerce, Home, Tourism, Housing and Urban Development Sajjad Ahmed Kichloo said that both PDP MLA Syed Asgar Ali and MLA Inderwal Ghulam Mohammad Saroori are going through a frustration phase. He denied any irregularity in distribution of solar cookers and solar lights. While talking to "Early Times", Kichloo said that MLA Inderwal was asleep when the Ministry of New and Renewable Resource Energy Government of India through the department of Jammu and K...   READ MORE   Lok Sabha elections: Delay in announcing candidates by Cong fuels rumours 3/6/2014 12:02:44 AM Early Times Report JAMMU, Mar 5: Election Commission of India has formally announced dates for the Lok Sabha elections but Congress party has yet to announce candidates for Lok Sabha seats of Jammu and Kashmir. It is almost certain that National Conference and Congress would contest Lok Sabha elections in coalition so Congress is likely to contest elections on two seats of Jammu region and one seat of Ladakh but still there is confusion over Congress candidates. It is believed that Congress would repeat its candidates namely Madan Lal Sharma from Jammu-Poonch Lok Sabha seat and Choudhary Lal Singh from Udhampur-Doda seat but till today no confirmation has been made by the Congress. In ...   READ MORE   Creating 2008-like situation in Jammu Dogra heritage under threat 3/6/2014 12:02:35 AM Rustam JAMMU, Mar 5: Are there elements in and outside the establishment who are creating in Jammu province a 2008-like situation by undermining the invaluable Dogra heritage? Will the proud Dogras allow such communal elements to destroy the Dogra history, culture and invaluable heritage? The answer is both yes and no. Yes, because there are regressive elements who are outraging the sensitivities of the Dogras by trying to undermine the significance of their historical sites, as, for example, Bahu Fort area and areas surrounding this historical, cultural and religious site not only of the Dogras but even the non-Muslims across the country, especially West Bengal. It has come to the notice...   READ MORE   20 cases selected twice, 12 urban beneficiaries get undue benefits 6423 APL families get benefits of BPL under IAY 3/6/2014 12:02:22 AM Avinash Azad JAMMU, Mar 5: Rural Development Department had provided benefits for Below Poverty Line (BPL) schemes to Above Poverty Line (APL) families, moreover 20 cases in seven blocks were selected twice during the period 2008-13 and assistance for construction of new houses was paid twice to the same beneficiary resulting in excess payment. The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report revealed that as per Indira Awaas Yojana (IAY), schemes guideline the benefit was to be provided to only rural houseless BPL families. The audit noticed that out of 12981 assisted beneficiaries 6423 beneficiaries (49 per cent) who did not fall in the BPL census 2002, in 12 tested checked blocks had b...   READ MORE   RDD fails to interlink IAY with other schemes 3/6/2014 12:02:10 AM Avinash Azad JAMMU, Mar 5: The State Government was expected to facilitate construction of smokeless chulas, sanitary, latrines, electricity connections but the Rural Development Department (RDD) had failed to meet the expectations of Union Government. For the purpose there was to be convergence of IAY, with activities and funds provided under the total sanitation campaign (TSC), RGGVY, MGNREGS, NRDWP and SGSY. The audit observed the department had failed to interlink these programmes with IAY so that the possible benefits under these programmes could be extended to the beneficiaries. The BDOs stated that no instructions in this regard had been received from the higher authorities. The...   READ MORE   Azad punctures Omar's balloon AFSPA 3/6/2014 12:01:56 AM Neha JAMMU, Mar 5: Notwithstanding the fact that NC working president and Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah spoke differently at different times about the feasibility or otherwise of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) that gives a legal immunity to the security forces involved in anti-insurgency operations, he always tried to give the people of Kashmir to understand that the revocation of this Act and withdrawal of the Army from certain areas of the state would commence during his regime. Only last week, he said so on the floor of the Assembly. Interestingly, in Kashmir during the same week, he said that he would take up this issue with the Government of India later t...   READ MORE   CAG points out chinks in PMGSY in J&K R&B for poor planning 3/6/2014 12:01:33 AM Kunal Shrivatsa JAMMU, Mar 5: The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India in its Report on Social, General, Economic (Non-PSUs)) sectors for the year ended March 31, 2013 has pointed towards mishandling of several road projects by the State Government under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY). The CAG Report pointed out that 1248 road projects sanctioned under phase I to VII (2000-01 to 2007-08, the construction of 227 projects (18 percent had been fully completed- Stage I & II) while 671 road projects (54 percent) were completed upto Stage-I level only as of March 2013. CAG Report noticed that out of 1248 road projects with road length of 6102 Km sanctioned during the period...   READ MORE   407 industrial units running without renewal consent of PCB Water, Air testing laboratories not upgraded 3/5/2014 10:46:50 PM Arun Singh Jammu, Mar 5: Disregarding the increasing pollution level in the state as many as 407 industrial units are running without mandatory renewal consent in violation of Prevention and Control of Pollution Act in the state for the past ten years. Moreover, the Board had failed to upgrade its existing Water and Air laboratories. As per the report of Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG), no register which was required under the provisions of pollution control Acts to watch the fulfillment of consent conditions, had been maintained either in the Regional offices or by the Member Secretary of the Board to keep a watch on the fulfillment of the conditions or violations in this...   READ MORE   Hundreds of families yet to be electrified in Mallikote of Reasi PDD officials filing misleading reports of electrification 3/5/2014 10:46:21 PM Javaid Naikoo Srinagar, Mar 5 : The tall claims of development stand exposed as hundreds of families in Mallikote area of Reasi district have been forced to live in "Dark Age". The government has failed to electrify their houses even in the twenty first century. The irony is that the PDD officials have been filing misleading reports to the contrary. Surprisingly the government has received huge amounts under centrally sponsored scheme namely Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojana (RGGVY).However according to the residents of Mallikote, Bani and Baggan officers of Power Development Department (PDD) who are considered close associates of some politicians have filed wrong reports about t...   READ MORE   111,984 criminal, 164474 civil cases pending before HC, Subordinate Courts 3/5/2014 10:46:36 PM Bivek Mathur Jammu, Mar 5 : About 111984 criminal cases and 164474 civil cases are pending before the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and other Subordinate Courts inthe state. The information was tabled in the upper house of the legislature in reply to an un-starred question CQ number 308 of its member Dr. Bashir Ahmed Veeri. Further the details read that a total of 93038 cases with 5244 criminal and 87794 civil cases are pending with the High Court and with 106740 criminal cases and 76680 civil cases, a total of 183420 cases are pending before the sub-ordinate courts in the state.To another question of member about the total number of fast track courts arranged for the last four years a...   READ MORE

CARTOON CORNER

E-PAPER PREVIEW

LOCAL NEWS

Ensure no illegal construction in Pahalgam: DB INTACH paid Rs 33 Lakh for preparing 'incomplete' DPR: CAG Kejriwal sees no long term role for army in Kashmir Police organise symposium on communal harmony at GDC Mendhar GCE organizes Talent hunt show NABARD organizes 'Financial Inclusion and Literacy Programmes' JKIMC organizes prize distribution ceremony GDC Thannamandi celebrates International Mathematics Day AFWWA organizes Diabetes Screening Camp 12 bovines rescued, smuggler escapes Women among two commit suicide in Jammu Fresh snowfall witnessed in Gulmarg, upper reaches in valley Youth found dead under mysterious conditions 2 drug peddlers held with prescription drugs SIC directs RTO Jammu to allow inspection of records Lawyers protest change of name of Bahu HC directs GAD to file objections Bollywood actor Mukesh Rishi vists Euro Care Encroachment of prime JDA land at Patoli Mangotrian Manjit questions discrimination against Jats Senior Govt official accused of land grabbing attempt Orders DIG Udhampur-Doda to file SIT report or appear in person Land transferred to JDA in Sunjwan, possession awaited KPC castigates political parties for blocking Kashmir Hindu Shrines bill LC passes 6 bills, 73rd amendment now a step away from reality Court acquits murder accused Ex-Servicemen seek removal of VAT on CSD goods Srinagar all set to host fifth edition of International Buyer-Seller Meet SC reserves judgment on Gool killings, Kishtwar riots AJKCPMFWA discusses issues Four injured in Bus- minibus head on collision 7 days skill development workshop concludes Seven years of VVAPS in education sector BJP leader demands 25 % reservation for locals in BGSBU IME celebrates world wildlife day Police rescues mentally sick woman from committing suicide Seva Dal activists condole demise of Cong leader's father BJP alleges violation of Model code of conduct in Reasi Sports stadium coming up in Rajouri shortly Fine imposed on defaulters in Kishtwar Chairman LC adjourns House sine-die Timber Sale depot likely to be opened at Haripur PDP holds protest against Dr Farooq Abdullah for anti-Kashmiri remark NSUI members accorded warm welcome 'AtoZ' Institute kicks off plantation drive at Rajouri   READ MORE THIS SECTION

OTHER STORIES

Lok Sabha Elections 2014 Voting Schedule 9 phase LS polls from April 7, counting on May 16   READ MORE THIS SECTION

ARCHIVE SECTION

Wednesday, March 5, 2014 Tuesday, March 4, 2014 Monday, March 3, 2014 Sunday, March 2, 2014 Saturday, March 1, 2014 Friday, February 28, 2014 Thursday, February 27, 2014

STOCK UPDATE

BSE Sensex NSE Nifty

CRICKET UPDATE