DAILY EXCELSIOR, JAMMU SATURDAY, JANUARY 25, 2014 (PAGE 7) Declare Jammu as heritage city PDP laid strong foundation of peace, inter-regional unity in State: Beigh Excelsior Correspondent Minister for PHE Sham Lal Sharma, Minister for Housing Raman Bhalla, MP Madan Lal Sharma and others releasing brochure during awareness programme at Jammu on Friday. Sham, Bhalla, Madan highlight importance of water sanitation Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Jan 24: Continuing campaign to generate awareness among various stakeholders of the society about the water sanitation and its judicious use, a mega one-day training-cum-awareness programme was held at Police Auditorium, here today. The programme was organized by the Communication and Capacity Development Unit (CCDU) in collaboration with NGO National Development Foundation (NDF). Minister for PHE, Irrigation & Flood Control, Sham Lal Sharma was chief guest, Minister for Housing, Horticulture and Culture, Raman Bhalla was guest of honour on the occasion. Member Parliament, Madan Lal Sharma and MLA, Ashok Khajuria were special invitees. Chairman, State Water Resources Regulatory Authority, S.S. Kapur, Commissioner/Secretary PHE, Dr.Pawan Kotwal, Deputy Commissioner, Jammu, A.K. Sahu, Chief Engineer, PHE, K.K. Gupta, Superintending Engineer (Hydraulic), Jammu, Rajiv Gandotra, State Coordinator, CCDU, Dr.Narinder Butyal, Chief Functionary, NDF, Rajiv Khajuria, engineers, doctors, Sarpanchs, anganwari workers, ASHA workers, resource persons on the subject and prominent citizens from different parts of Jammu district were present on the occasion. Speaking on the occasion, Sham Lal Sharma said that awareness of water sanitation, conservation and its judicious use is an important component of National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP) and PHE Department has been mandated to implement this programme in letter and spirit. He asked the concerned to expand its area of operation at the block level and conduct frequent awareness camps to educate the masses at the bottom level to achieve the real spirit of the programme. Maintaining that Sarpanchs/Panchs have greater responsibility to ensure safe drinking water and conservation of water resources in the rural areas, the Minister asked the PRIs to play their pro-active role and full-fill responsibilities in their jurisdictions. He said that Panchayat functionaries are the custodian of Government assets and schemes in their areas and they must monitor the activities in their areas to ensure better services to the people at the grass root level. Raman Bhalla congratulated the organizers for holding this important event and asked the participants to utilize their experience on ground to ensure safe drinking water to the people. He stressed the need for holding such workshops in other areas to educate the masses about the water sanitation and conservation. He also called for taking preventing measures to ensure judicious use of water. A speaker during an interaction programme organised by PHD Chamber of Commerce at Jammu on Friday. —Excelsior/Rakesh J&K Chapter of PHD Chamber interacts with Director AAI Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Jan 24: The J&K Chapter of PHD Chamber of Commerce & Industry started its activities for the year here today with an interaction with Ramesh Kumar, Director Jammu Airport, AAI and M Yadalah its DGM. Speaking on the occasion Mr Ramesh Kumar, Director Jammu Airport stated that expansion of Jammu Airport is taking place and the work is in progress. He said M/s Anil Kapahi Construction is executing the project worth 40 crore which is likely to be completed by August 2015. He said the Jammu Airport will have ultra modern facilities just like other airports in India. These facilities included escalators, Aero Brides, FIDs etc, he added. Further AAI has a plan for construction of new turned building at Beli Charana for which land acquisition for 137 acres is in progress. The runway extension work which is pending since long for which State Government has to provide the land by transferring Army establishments to other alternate locations, the State administration has been requested to expedite the same and handover the land to AAI at the earliest because it is related to safety issue. Vikrant Kuthiala, Chairman J&K State Committee PHD Chamber suggested for expeditious completion of runway extension, increase in number of X-Ray machines, security frisking points, increase in seating capacity in both pre and post security check in areas as also for provision of proper arrangements for visitors to the departure terminal. He also suggested for creation of a food court, increase in number of shops in the departure lounge. In the under construction arrival terminal, he suggested for providing adequate dedicated taxi parking, creation of prepaid taxi booth and establishment of a counter for local tour and hotel operators within the arrival terminal. Further he stressed on introduction of evening/night flights and creation of dedicated cargo complex. The meeting was conducted by Rajesh Motial and the vote of thanks was proposed by Rajesh Gupta. Madan Lal Sharma called for close coordination between different agencies to achieve the common goal of ensuring safe drinking water and conservation of water resources. He emphasised the need for organizing awareness camps on regular basis at the grass root level by ensuring massive participation of people, especially the Panchayat functionaries to achieve the objective of Government programme. He said safe drinking water is fundamental right of every citizen and Government should step up its efforts in this direction. Dr.Pawan Kotwal while giving details about the functioning of CCDU and State Level Water Sanitation Mission said that Government has adopted a wellknit strategy to generate awareness about the water sanitation and its usages amongst the general masses at all levels. Besides, the Government has constituted District Level Water Sanitation Missions, headed by concerned Deputy Commissioners to take care of the issue. The department has devised a comprehensive programme to cover all areas by imparting necessary trainings to various stakeholders including Panchayat Members about the water sanitation and conservation of traditional water resources. Various speakers, including former engineers also spoke on the occasion and exchanged measures for sanitation and conservation of water. Bakaya promises redressal of Kalika Nagar residents’ problems JAMMU, Jan 24: Terming Jammu as symbol of brotherhood and secularism, former Deputy Chief Minister and senior leader of People's Democratic Party (PDP) Muzaffar Hussain Beigh today exhorted residents of all the three regions of the State to work unitedly to frustrate evil designs of forces propagating divisive agenda for petty political gains. Addressing meeting of the PDP Jammu urban, Mr Beigh appreciated Jammuties for providing shelters to people from different regions-irrespective of their caste, creed and religion, when violence was on its peak in the State. He said that during crucial time people of Jammu maintained communal harmony and brotherhood and frustrated evil designs of divisive forces. Reiterating resolve of PDP to cement inter-regional relations, Mr Beigh said that patron of PDP Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, who is crusader of peace, is symbol of unity and secularism. "Under the leadership of Mufti Mohammed Sayeed, PDP has been propogating the agenda of peace, unity and reconciliation in this region", he said and reminded the party workers that with 16 MLAs PDP has changed political discourse of the State and has laid strong foundation of peace and inter-regional unity in the State. Vice President Trilok Singh Bajwa, Senior Leader Ved Mahajan, Dhaman Bhasin, Shanti Devi, Deepender Kour, Ch Hussain Ali Waffa, Fallail Singh, Hamid Choudhary, Maj Gen (retd) R S Jamwal, Dist Presd R K Bali, Amrik Singh Reen, Muzaffar Hussain Beigh addressing PDP activists at Jammu on Friday. —Excelsior/Rakesh Capt Anil Gour, Suresh tourists. Being a historical Sharma, Rafiq Malik, Ashiq city Jammu has potential to Hussaain, Ashok Jogi, develop as heritage city. Rajender Manhas, Kuljeet It was also demanded that Singh Jamwal, A V Gupta, Jammu district should be Ashok Bhat, Ashok Siddah, declared as separate tourist Mohinder Kotwal, Chaman destination. A separate tourist Angral, R S Billoria, Puneet circuit should be announced Jamwal, Jitender Bhat, M K for Jammu district. Bhat, Susheela Jamwal, Anju Jammu region has potential Bhan, Vikram Singh and others were present in the meet- to develop as biggest industrial centre. There is a need to ing. "Before 2002 there were start some big industrial units complaints of discrimination in Jammu. Setting up of such with Jammu region but PDP big industrial units would proled Government under the vide employment to unemleadership of Mufti ployed youth and would also Mohammed Sayeed had help in creating indirect carved out a path of inclusive employment for number of development and growth in youth, party demanded. the State", he said and listed various steps which were taken under PDP regime to remove discrimination with different regions and subregions of the State. Earlier in the meeting of the Jammu urban, PDP demanded that all historical places of Jammu should be preserved as heritage sites. In the meeting a resolution was passed with one voice. In the resolution party demanded that Mubarak Mandi, Bahu Fort and other historical places should be declared as heritage sites to attract Talwara migrants stage dharna, demand relief as per SC judgment Excelsior Correspondent Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Jan 24: Former Chief Secretary and MLC Vijay Bakaya assured the residents of Kalika Nagar Lower Muthi that all steps will be taken to solve their problems of drinking water and power. Addressing the meeting of the residents of the area organized by Kalika Nagar Residents Welfare Association (KNRWA), Mr Bakaya assured them sanction of electric poles, ration depot and prompt gas delivery in their locality. He also assured them that for this purpose money will be sanctioned from his Constituency Development Fund (CDF). The residents after pinning high hopes on Mr Bakaya appealed him to solve their long pending demands. On the occasion 20 members of the area also joined NC. The meeting was also attended by working president NC Minority Cell M K Yogi, other leaders, S N Dhar, Pinky Bhat and Rajnath Fotedar. While Capt (retd) Subash Chander, A K Pandita and Inderjit Sharma were among the prominent members of Residents Association who attended the meeting. REASI, Jan 24: Talwara migrants today staged a massive dharna in front of the office of District Magistrate (DM) here, demanding relief as per SC judgment. Hundreds of militancyaffected migrants of Rajouri, Reasi, Udhampur and Doda districts resorted to a massive dharna in front of the DM office this morning. They were demanding implementation of 2007 Supreme Court direction to the Government of India to pay them (Talwara migrants) the cash relief at par with the Kashmiri migrants. Addressing the protesting migrants, Prof Bhim Singh, Chief Patron of National Panthers Party (NPP) and Member of NIC accused NCCongress Coalition Government in J&K of ignoring Jammu Migrants. The State Government is forcing the Talwara migrants to starve and die in distress only because they are from Jammu Pradesh, he said and reminded the Central Government that Supreme Court in July 2007 had directed the Central Government as well as State Government to pay Rs 21 crore to the Jammu Migrants as arrears because they had not been provided any relief since 2004. Prof Bhim Singh said that the Supreme Court had referred a contempt petition to the High Court of J&K in 2009 for appropriate action, but the High Court has not been able to ensure implementation of his own order in four years, he regretted. He alleged that half of the migrants who were determined and approved by the Government have been deleted from the list of the migrants. The migrants in a resolution decided to march to Delhi and stage dharna in front of Parliament in February 2014 to seek implementation of Supreme Court order. Govt re-constitutes State Innovation Council Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Jan 24: The State Government has re-constituted the State Innovation Council for promoting innovation in Jammu and Kashmir. Headed by the Chief Secretary as its Chairman, the 23-member Council comprises of Administrative Secretaries of different departments, ViceChancellors of five State universities, Directors of different institutes and presidents of Chamber of Commerce Jammu /Kashmir. The council will encourage young talent and local universitiesc Colleges, medium and small scale industries and R&D Institutes besides preparing an innovation roadmap 2010-2020 for the State. It will map opportunities for innovation in the State and identify and reward talent in innovation and disseminate success stories. Further, the council will organize seminars, lecturers and workshops on innovations to educate public at large and serve as a platform for exchange of information on innovation among concerned stakeholders. Administrative Secretaries of Planning and Development Department, Finance, Science and Technology, Agriculture, R&B, RDD and Panchayti Raj, Health and Medical Education, Higher Education Department, Youth Services and Sports, Tourism Department are the members of this Innovation Council. The Vice-Chancellors of Jammu University, Kashmir University, SKUAST-Jammu, SKUAST-Kashmir and SMVDU, representative of National Innovation Council and Directors of SKIMS Srinagar, Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine Jammu, Executive Director of Entrepreneurship Development Institute and Director National Institute of Technology, Srinagar are other members of this Council. Protest against police, people block road Excelsior Correspondent SUNDERBANI, Jan 24: Residents of Sunderbani town including traders today came out on the road and held protest demonstration against police for its failure to solve the theft cases in the area. The local shopkeepers and residents assembled in the main market and then took out of protest march against local police authorities. They alleged that last night thieves broke into two shops in the main market and decamped with cash and other items while several houses in the area were burgled in last one week. The police has failed to prevent the thefts and trace the burglers. The protesters then moved to the Jammu-Rajouri-Poonch highway and blocked it for about half an hour. Later, with the intervention of Additional SP Nowshera, Parshotam Sharma, the people lifted dharna. He assured the public to solve the cases and also pull up the concerned police staff. The traffic remained disrupted for half an hour on the busy road. Dogri adaptation of Kannada play concludes Theatre Fest Lalit Gupta JAMMU, Jan 24: Theatre Festival-2013, organized by Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages, concluded with presentation of Dogri play X-Reflection by Natraj Natya Kunj, at Government College for Women auditorium, here today. Directed by Abhishek Bharti and adapted in Dogri by Kumar A Bharti, the play originally in Kannada, titled 'Siri Sampige' by Chandrashekhara Kambara, is based on a Kannada folk tale about a prince who has a human and a serpent form. In the play the prince, who in search of the perfect woman makes his relatives to cut his body into pieces and put him into pots. When pots are finally opened a Nagraj appears out of one of the pots and disappears while from the other the prince who becomes himself again, comes out. Unable to find his perfect mate, Prince marries Siri Sampige (Shampa in Dogri). But refuses to be with her and continues his search instead. The Nagraj after seeing Shampa is being rejected by her husband takes the form of the Prince and is with Shampa who becomes pregnant. Upon refusal by Prince to accept the child, Shampa undergoes a 'priksha' and the prince has to accept the pregnancy. The unhappy Prince comes to know about the snake. When Shampa reveals that it was the Nagraj who took form of the prince, while being with her, the prince knows now that it was the whole time his other self who was with Siri and he can finally A scene from the Dogri play X-Reflection performed on Friday. Excelsior/Rakesh accept her and the child. In the The other highlights of the end, the prince in a fit of jeal- play were appropriate design of ousy kills the Nagraj and dies masks, lights, background score, himself. Thus fulfilling the sound effects and make up. A ancient prophecy that he will well-knit production, which saw die upon the death of his broth- all the departments working in er. unison, the play came out as a Today's performance incor- befitting finale of the theatre porated a mix of folk style and festival. modern theater languages like The cast included Akshay Body Theater and mime. Razdan as Prince, Surbhi as Complimenting the Dogri Shampa, Rishi Kumar as script, today's presentation by Nagraj, Priyanka Thakur as using native dance poetry Maharani, Aditya Bharti as forms like Kud, 'Haran', 'Yatr' Sunder, Abhishek Sharma as and 'Kaarak', came out as Nat, Neha Bhat as Nati, Rishav ingenious endeavor that along Satti as Wazir, Kanav Sharma as with 'sutradhar' included ele- Dyala, Amandeep Sharma as ments of dance, drama, narra- Sarpanch, Rakesh Dogra as tion, song, sex, death and reli- Lambardar, Garu Ram as Jogi, gion. With the result the dra- Lalit Sharma as Haran\Samant, matic experience for audience while in chorus were Tejan was like participating and shar- Bharti, Rahul Sharma, Allen, ing a religious ritual in the form Niharika Sakshi, Shubangi of a play. Dhamir and Aditya Gupta.