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Audit report unveils murk over Baghliar Hydroelectric Project Contractors given undue favours 4/2/2011 10:12:48 AM Syed Junaid Hashmi JAMMU, Apr 1: Audit of Jammu and Kashmir Power Development Corporation (JKPDC) has raised serious doubts over reliance of respective state government's especially those led by National Conference (NC) on National Hydroelectric Project Corporation (NHPC) despite its acknowledged incapacity to complete hydroelectric projects within scheduled time and budget. The audit has held JKPDC, which entrusted J&K's controversial 450 megawatt Baghliar Hydroelectric Project (BHEP) to NHPC, responsible for poor contract management and granting undue favours to contractors engaged for completing the project. Report says that taken up for execution in 1999 on turnkey basis in state sector at an estimated cost of Rs. 3495 crore, Baghliar was to be completed by year 2004. Civil and Hydro mechanical works were awarded in April 1999 to Jaiprakash Associates Limited for Rs. 1622 crore while the electro-mechanical works were allotted to Voith Siemens and VA for Rs. 492 crore. Both were supposed to complete the work by December 31, 2004. However, the report refers to repeated cost ...   READ MORE

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"Like Ayodhya, with which one section is emotionally attached, graveyards belong to our ancestors; free them from encroachers" Religious talk inside House does not send good message outside: Speaker 4/2/2011 10:12:19 AM Bharat Bhushan JAMMU, Apr 1: While Speaker Mohammad Akbar Lone today said mazhabi (religious) talk inside legislative assembly "does not send good message outside, PDP's Zulfikar Ali said like Ayodhya, with which one section felt emotionally attached, he had great affection for graveyards which belonged to their ancestors. Zulfikar said it was painful to know that some graveyards had been under the illegal occupation of encroachers. Sincere efforts be made to evict them and other waqaf property, he demanded. He said while some graveyards used for other purposes, a building of sericulture department also existed on waqaf land. "Our sentiments are attached to graveyards," he asserted....   READ MORE   SHRC rendered dysfunctional in Omar Govt Commission working without 2 members, IGP, other staff 4/2/2011 10:11:11 AM Ahmed Ali Fayyaz JAMMU, Apr 1: During Omar Abdullah-led coalition government, fate of the much hyped Jammu & Kashmir State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) is just a little different than other fully dysfunctional autonomous bodies---J&K State Accountability Commission, J&K State Information Commission et al. Government has announced formation of Truth and Reconciliation Commission in March and constituted J&K State Vigilance Commission in February this year but neither of the two has been provided staff and other logistics. While three successive Chairmen’s repeated requests to provide an IGP rank officer for supervising investigation have fallen on deaf ears of successive governme...   READ MORE   NC, Cong agree to 3:2 formula; Vakil, Monga likely to withdraw Cong to contest Jammu, Poonch 4/2/2011 10:06:45 AM Early Times Report SRINAGAR, Apr 1: Finally the Coalition partners, Congress and National Conference have reached an agreement on seat sharing in the ensuing Legislative Council elections in Jammu and Kashmir, sources disclosed. Highly placed sources said that Congress and NC high command have decided that out of five seats which are expected to go collation way three will be contested by NC candidates and two by Congress. While Congress candidates had filed nominations on four seats, it has been reliably learnt that two candidates will withdraw their nominations as per the agreement. The two who are likely to be told to withdraw include Abdul Gani Vakil and Bashir Monga, sources s...   READ MORE   Govt lacks check on public transport 4/2/2011 10:06:22 AM Early Times Report JAMMU, Apr 1: Notwithstanding the Government claims to act tough against the drivers and transporters violating the standing rules and norms, both continue to rule the roost and maintain monopoly as they like. The failure of the Government to bring a comprehensive transport policy in the state despite the claims of Transport Minister, Qamar Ali Akhoon the situation is deteriorating day by day as the drivers and conductors of commercial vehicles continue to enjoy a total immunity from the law. The drivers and conductors of commercial vehicles have made such a monopoly that a commuter though knowing that they are violating the standing rules does not dare to conf...   READ MORE   CDR recommends autonomy for Kashmir, slavery for Jammu 4/2/2011 10:06:04 AM Rustam JAMMU, Apr 1: The solution put forth by the CDR suggests basically three changes in the existing situation. One, Jammu and Kashmir is a disputed territory and this problem has to be settled. In other words, the CDR considers Pakistan a party to the so-called Kashmir dispute and virtually holds India responsible for the prevailing tensions in the South Asian region. It doesn't blame, not even once, Pakistan that has been bleeding India with a thousand-cut on a daily basis and fomenting troubles in Kashmir by instigating handful of Kashmiri secessionists. This means the Delhi-based think tank wants New Delhi to address the Pakistani interests in the Indian Jammu and Kashmir. And...   READ MORE   If Jam't-e-Islami ‘divorces’ Geelani? 4/2/2011 10:05:44 AM Early Times Report JAMMU, Apr 1: In the coming days, the Jama't -e-Islami is likely to take a decision on its future relations with Geelani's Hurriyat. On February 6, the Jama't-e-Islami's Amir while talking to a local news agency hinted at pulling out of Hurriyat (G) by April. He ruled out joining the Mirwaiz led Hurriyat. While most of the seniors in Jama't are anti Geelani, the youth support him and have been resisting onslaught against the elderly leader. According to insiders, the Jama't cannot afford to pull out from Hurriyat (G). Notwithstanding the contribution of the organization, the decision to pull out may cause a major political storm within the Jama't. And, in the changi...   READ MORE   View from Gilgit-Baltistan 4/2/2011 10:05:20 AM Neha JAMMU, Apr 1: Senge H Sering, who got his masters in Development Studies from the University of East Anglia and who has been living in the United States ever since years, is originally from the Pakistan-occupied Gilgit-Baltistan region, an integral part of India. He is also a visiting fellow at the Delhi-based Institute of Defence Studies and Analysis (IDSA). He is a known political activist from Gilgit. He left his original habitat years ago fearing threat to his life from the Pakistani authorities. He was an unwanted person there because of his views on Pakistan and its agents in Kashmir. He has come out with a scathing attack on Pakistan and its supporters in Kashmir and what ...   READ MORE   MP Lal Singh has encroached land at Hiranagar: Spolia 4/2/2011 10:05:03 AM EARLY TIMES REPORT JAMMU, April 1: MLA Jagdish Raj Spolia today said that Member of Parliament (MP) Lal Singh possessed over 324 kanals of land at Karandi Khurd in Hiranagar, Kathua, in violation of Agrarian Reforms Act and had also encroached upon land of poor people. Raising the issue before the Question Hour in legislative assembly, he said the MP had also purchased land from a non-state subject.Spolia said if action could be taken against bureaucrats, why it should not be taken against politicians. He also submitted to Speaker Mohammad Akbar Lone a copy of an inquiry report of vigilance commissioner into the incident. The copies of the report were also made available to scribes....   READ MORE   Businessman hangs self to death 4/2/2011 10:04:47 AM EARLY TIMES REPORT JAMMU, April 1 : A businessman today allegedly committed suicide by hanging himself to death inside his shop at Ware House here. He was identified as Krishan Kumar, son of Sant Ram of Rehari. Police sources said he as usual opened his shop at Ware House in the morning. While the shutter remained open, the door was closed by him, the sources added. However, when his son came, he found his father hanging from the ceiling fan hook. Some family tension was stated to be the reason behind provocation. Police had registered a case in this connection ...   READ MORE   45% decline in militancy: DGP 4/2/2011 10:04:35 AM JAMMU: There has been a 45 percent drop in militancy in Jammu and Kashmir in January to March compared to the corresponding period last year, state police chief Kuldeep Khoda said Friday. "We have stepped up our operations and several top terrorist commanders have been killed while the number of civilian and security casualties have come down drastically," Khoda told reporters here. "Overall, it has been a 45 percent decline in militancy," he said, adding that "militancy is there and militants are there. Our efforts are on to neturalise them". The police chief said the state was not asking for additional security forces for the forthcoming panchayat polls beginning April 13. "There ...   READ MORE

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BJP takes exception to double standards of govt towards press Work on Artificial Lake on Tawi likely to restart Tweets force Omar think over minor’s detention TBA bids farewell to CCT Khwaja Bashir Jammu writers allege discrimination by Director Libraries Live cricket matches in theaters BAJ Calls off Strike CJM rejects bail of Chairman, Secy of Priyadarshni Institute 5-day training programme for Information officials concludes 41st earth day 2011 on April 22 Sitlee II, III phases increased 5.4 MGD water in Jammu: Taj Omar delivers ‘sermon’ on supremacy of legislature JKPA warns of intensifying their agitation, if demands not met JD Institute of Fashion Technology cheers for team India Relatives of militants are given passports: Minister All party meet denounce cutting short of Shri Amarnath yatra pilgrimage Gulmarg with -3.1 degree coldest in Kashmir, Leh recorded -3.4 Tehreek-e-Insaf seeks fresh registration of Jammu migrants No shifting of slaughter houses outside city’s vicinity, a gross violation Nagseni, Kishtwar gets J&K Bank business unit Sanatan Dharam Sabha holds meet to discuss Shoba Yatra Committee to look into allegations of distribution, upgradation of PHCs Every district to have women college Air Force recruitment rally at Udhampur from April 25 Entry ticket for New Jakhni Park starts ADDC distributes computer certificates among trainees Women camp against domestic violence Training schedule for polling staff announced Natrang Theatre Festival-2011 concludes with ‘Game of Chess’ Forest deptt demolishes 8 illegal structures PDP to hold protests at tehsil headquarters on April 9 Incorporate 73rd amendment on Panchayati Raj: JKPP Pvt schools illegally charging annual fee, alleges Parents Asso Acute shortage of foodgrains at Kishtwar Sudershan Sharma Forest deptt organises seminar on environment conservation Folk theatre workshop concludes JKP to organise Inter Zone Sports Meet in Jammu CRPF 96TH batallion celebrates its 24th raising day CEO issues notification for 5th Phase of Panchayat elections Speaker nominates members of House Committee Facilitate Hajj pilgrimage of militants’ innocent relatives: Tarigami Opposition all praise for successful conduct of Budget session Speaker adjourns House sine-die LA passes Bills on Energy Efficiency, Cooperatives, Panchayats Eminent Scientist delivers guest lecture at MIER J&K Samaj Kalyan Kendra held condolence meet State Finance Commission, SHRC reports tabled in LA Govt upgrades health centres on population, distance basis: Sham Mir walks out of House   READ MORE THIS SECTION

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Body Building Championship held WCC wins by 46 runs in Rajiv Cricket Police Public volleyball tournament concludes Inter college sports meet held Inter-department cricket tourney of JU From Mumbai mayhem to Mohali   READ MORE THIS SECTION

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