Excelsior daily REGD.NO.JK-71/15-17 RNI No. 28547/65 Vol No. 53 No. 44 JAMMU, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2017 14 Pages ` 4.00 Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Feb 13: The Cabinet which met here today under the chairmanship of Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti ordered transfers and postings in civil and police administration. Bipul Pathak, Principal Secretary to the Government, Transport Department has been transferred and posted as Commissioner of Enquiries. Vineeta Gupta, Transport Commissioner, J&K, was trans- ferred and posted as Director General, IMPA relieving Lokesh Dutt Jha, Financial Commissioner, Revenue of the additional charge. Sanjeev Verma, Commissioner/ Secretary to the Government, PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control Department, has been transferred and posted as Commissioner/Secretary to Government, Tribal Affairs Department vice Saurab Bhagat. He will also hold the additional charge of Technical Education and Information Technology Department relieving R.K Goyal, Principal Secretary to Government, Home Department of the additional charge Nirmal Sharma, Commissioner of Enquiries, J&K, has been transferred and posted as Commissioner/Secretary to the Government, Cooperative Department. Saurbah Bhagat, Secretary to the Government, Tribal Affairs Department, has been trans- ferred and posted as Secretary to the Government, PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control Department. Hemant Kumar Sharma, Secretary to the Government, Cooperative Department, was transferred and posted as Secretary to the Government, Transport Department. Mohammad Javed Khan, Custodian General, J&K, was transferred and posted as Excise Commissioner, J&K. He shall take over the charge of the post upon retirement on superannua- tion of Tsering Angchok, on 28.02.2017. Arun Kumar Sharma, Joint Financial Commissioner, Agrarian Reforms in the office of Financial Commissioner, Revenue, has been transferred and posted as Director, Urban Local Bodies, Jammu, vice Soujanya Kumar Sharma, who shall report in the General Administration Department for further posting. Pradeep Kumar, Director, Rural Development Department, Jammu, has been transferred and posted as Secretary, J&K State Information Commission, against an available vacancy. Ravinder Kumar Bhat, Director, Panchayati Raj Institutions, J&K, shall hold the additional charge of the post of Director, Rural Development Department, Jammu. Reyaz Ahmad Wani, Additional Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar, was transferred and posted as Director, Urban Local Bodies, Kashmir, vice Tufail Matoo, who shall report in the General Administration Department for Cabinet orders major reshuffle in civil, police admn * Several IPS, IFS officers promoted Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Feb 13: The Cabinet in its meeting chaired by Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti today accorded sanction to the creation of Tourism Development Authority, Tosa Maidan. Tosa Maidan is one of the largest meadows in Kashmir valley and is surrounded by dense forests with the potential of developing into a world class tourism destination. The Chief Minister had dur- ing her visit to the area in May last year announced creation of a separate Tourism Development Authority for the development of tourism infrastructure in Tosa Maidan. Apart from the normal tour & picnics, Tosa Maidan has a huge potential in terms of adventure including winter sports, hiking, mountaineering, horse riding, para gliding, rock climbing, trekking etc. In another significant deci- sion, the Cabinet accorded sanction to the creation of Tourism Development Authority, Shopian-Dobjun- Peer-Ki-Gali & Tourism Development Authority Bani- Basohli along-with creation of 21 posts of various categories for each Tourism Authority. The Cabinet accorded sanc- tion to the promulgation of the Ordinance to amend the Jammu and Kashmir Panchayati Raj Act, 1989. The elections to the Halqa Panchayats were held in the year 2011 and the tenure of 5 years has expired in July, 2016. For conducting fresh elections of the Halqa Panchayats, the process has been initiated; hence the need had arisen for promulga- tion of an Ordinance, so far as it related to elections to Panchayats and delimitation of Halqa Panchayats. For the purpose of holding general election under this Act in the year 2017, the superinten- dence, direction and control of the preparation of the electoral rolls and conduct of, all election in accordance with this Act shall vest in the Chief Electoral Officer. The power to determine and delimit Halqa Panchayats in accordance with this Act shall vest in the Chief Electoral Officer. The Cabinet approved approved the Jammu Master Plan - 2032. The Jammu Master Plan- 2021 currently in vogue was prepared in the year 2004, for an estimated population of 19.29 lacs covering an area of 305 Sqkm. To take care of the future development requirements of Jammu City upto 2032, the revised Master Plan for the city has been formulated, keeping in view that the physical growth of Jammu City, has spread up to Bishnah and Samba. The Jammu Local Planning Area under the revised Jammu Master Plan-2032 will be spread over an area of 652.33 Sqkm including whole Municipal Corporation of Jammu, Municipal Committees of Ghomanhasan, Bishnah M.C, Bari Brahmana M.C and Vijaypur. The total villages included in the revised JMP will be 324 including the 103 vil- lages of extended local area of Jammu Master Plan -2032 approved Cabinet approves 4 new TDAs, extends amnesty for power consumers * Nod to PR (amendment) Ordinance FIR lodged against rumour mongers Curfew like restrictions in parts of Kashmir Fayaz Bukhari SRINAGAR, Feb 13: Normal life was affected in Kashmir today due to a shut- down called by the separatists against the killing of two civil- ians and four militants in an encounter in Kulgam district of South Kashmir while cur- few like restrictions were imposed in parts of South Kashmir. Shops and commercial establishments remained closed in Srinagar and Public transport was mostly off the roads. However, some vehicles were plying. Authorities made heavy deployment of police and para- military forces across Srinagar to prevent any violence. However, there was no restric- tion on movement of people. Restrictions were imposed in South Kashmir's Kulgam district and Shopian town where two civilians were killed yesterday. However, the movement of peo- ple was allowed on the Srinagar- Jammu highway passing through south Kashmir. A police official said that there is no restriction on the movement of people anywhere else in the Valley but security forces have been deployed in sensitive areas to keep a tight vigil on anti-social elements. Police said situation across the South Kashmir remained normal and it was under control. He said there was no curfew, but Section 144 was placed in some areas. A police spokesman said that the reports circulated on social network sites about the death of an injured person in Kulgam, is false and baseless. DIG South Kashmir S P Pani said, that some people are giving false information and spreading rumors on WhatsApp groups and on the Facebook pages regarding death of some injured person. "In this regard, it is clarified that all injured persons are stable and seven injured have been dis- charged today from district hos- pital, there is no report of any injured person succumbing. The update is misleading and is as such refuted." Reports from all the district headquarters of the Valley said that all shops and business Advance teams may leave for shrine in April-May Heavy snowfall at cave, tracks set to make clearance operations tough Sanjeev Pargal JAMMU, Feb 13: Though there has been heavy snowfall this year in the entire Kashmir valley including holy cave of Shri Amarnath Ji, located at a height of 12,756 feet from sea level in Anantnag district of South Kashmir Himalayas and twin tracks of Chandanwari and Baltal, the authorities were set to start snow clearance operations fol- lowed by repair and widening of tracks ahead of the schedule to ensure that the annual pil- grimage proceeds well in time. Official sources told the Excelsior that since major spells of snowfall generally ends in March, the Pahalgam Development Authority (PDA) would start snow clearance operations in the month of April while Public Works Department (PWD) would undertake similar task along Baltal route. "The snowfall this year has been unprecedented especially along Shri Amarnath ji cave area and the twin tracks, leading to the holy cave shrine, from Chandanwari in Pahalgam, Anantnag and Baltal in Ganderbal district. The snow clearance operations are likely to require massive efforts, which would be launched well ahead of the schedule to start pilgrimage on scheduled date on June 29,'' sources said. When approached for com- ments, Additional Chief Executive Officer (ACEO), Shri Amarnath Ji Shrine Board, Jatinder Singh, said as soon as the twin tracks are accessible, the concerned authorities would start snow clearance operations. "There has been heavy snowfall this year and it contin- ues till March. The clearance operations would start and the tracks would be made fit for movement of the pilgrims,'' Singh said, adding all arrange- ments would be made for the yatris. Forty-day long pilgrimage this year is scheduled to start on June 29 and would con- clude on August 7 coinciding with Shravan Purnima and Raksha Bandhan. According to sources, both Chandanwari and Baltal tracks had been widened at some places post-Amarnath yatra last year especially in the months of September and October. They said tracks at some more places, wherever possible, will be widened during snow clearance operations, which are undertak- en by the Pahalgam Development Authority along 45-kilometres Nunwan- Chandanwari-Holy Cave track and Public Works Department at 13-kilometres long Baltal route. Sources, however, said that registration for Shri Amarnath Ji shrine will be opened in 433 branches of Jammu and Kashmir Bank, Punjab National Bank and Yes Bank across the country from March 1 this year with 15,000 pilgrims to be registered per day-7500 each for Nunwan and Baltal tracks. "The on-line registration has been done away with but Group Registration will be done at the bank branches. Under the Group Registration, only one person from the Group can do registra- tion of all Group members, sub- ject to completion of formali- ties,'' sources said. A maximum of six lakh pil- grims can be registered this year for annual pilgrimage of Shri Amarnath ji shrine from both the tracks as the yatra has been confined to 40 days. However, the people undertak- Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Feb 13: Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti today asked for inclusion of non migrant Kashmiri Pandits in the welfare endeavor of the Government. She also directed provision of all basic facilities of healthcare and education at the transit accommodation centres in the Kashmir valley where members of the com- munity are presently putting up. Chairing a high level meet- ing of Rehabilitation, Relief & Disaster Management Departments here today, the Chief Minister said the members of the Pandit community who did not leave their homes in the Kashmir valley also need atten- tion as many of them are living in very poor conditions. She said members of all migrant commu- nities like Muslims, Sikhs etc should be given space in any transit accommodation facilities being built there, thus, respect- ing the pluralistic ethos of the place. Mehbooba enquired about the supply of ration to Pandit families, particularly at Jagti and stressed on making the distribu- tion process simple and hassle free. She suggested opening of some Fair Price Shops in the migrant camps and Pandit habi- tations to ease out the problems of the inhabitants. The meeting was informed that a 40 bedded hospital has been readied at Jagti Township which is being operationalised soon. The meeting was also informed about other meas- ures being taken by the Government for the welfare of Pandit migrant community. They included health insur- ance cover to the migrant community, providing cash assistance through bank accounts to put check on pil- ferage, restoration of RBA sta- tus in case of persons who come from such areas and shuffling of overstaying staff at camps to provide a much more transparent relief system to the beneficiaries. The meeting was also informed that the documentation process for relief distribution among the beneficiaries of PoK Displaced Persons has been sim- plified and now only three docu- ments are needed instead of 11 as prescribed earlier. It was also informed that camps would be held at various tehsils and loca- tions to reach out to the genuine beneficiaries and settle down their cases. It may be mentioned here that the State Government has started disbursement of relief package in respect of Displaced Persons from PoK and so far 96 such families have been paid the cash relief with Rs. 5.50 lakh per family. Several deputations during last few months had met the Chief Minister and requested Relief distribution to PoK refugees simplified CM for inclusion of non-migrant KPs in Govt’s welfare schemes Excelsior Correspondent KATHUA, Feb 13: Four employees of J&K Bank were killed in a tragic road accident on Jammu -Pathankot National Highway at Palli in Kathua district this morning when a car, in which they were travelling, collided head on with a bus. “The incident took place when the car bearing registration number JK02BL4097 en route to Pathankot from Jammu, first hit the divider and then crossed it and collided with the super fast bus bearing registration number JK02AN 6981 which was on its way to Jammu from Kathua near Sodhi Resort in Palli area of Kathua," a police official here said. He said that all the deceased were employees of the J&K Bank and were posted in Pathankot. They were on their way to the Bank when the acci- dent took place. The deceased were identi- fied as Bank Manager, Mohan Singh, S/o Sher Singh of Trikuta Nagar, Jammu, Rakesh Singh Charak, S/o Sukhdev Singh Charak of Birpur Ratno Chack, Ajay Koul S/o Makhan Lal Koul of Talab Tillo, Jammu and Anil Kumar Gupta, S/o Lal Chand Gupta of Shastri Nagar Jammu. They were shifted to District Hospital Kathua by local people. However, two employees had died on spot while two suc- cumbed to their injuries on their way to Hospital, police said. Panic gripped entire area after the news spread in Palli and villages surrounding it. After receiving the message Additional DC Kathua, Bharat Bushan and DySP, Ajay Kumar and other civil and police offi- cers rushed to the spot. The driver of the bus howev- er, fled away after the accident and was at large till last reports came in. The Kathua Police has registered a case under FIR number 46 under Section 304. Soon after hearing the news, the family members of the Bank employees as well as JK Bank staff members and officers rushed to DH Kathua in panic. Later the bodies were handed over to their respective families for cremation. They were cre- mated later in the afternoon. The funeral of the deceased was also attended by Bank 4 Bank officials killed in Highway tragedy Mohinder Verma JAMMU, Feb 13: Jammu and Kashmir State Vigilance Commission is all set to become defunct as Chief Vigilance Commissioner and one Vigilance Commissioner are completing term within next eight days and another Vigilance Commissioner's tenure will come to an end on March 31, 2017 but the PDP- BJP Coalition Government has yet not initiated any exer- cise to identify the new incum- bents for this vital Commission. The Jammu and Kashmir State Vigilance Commission was created vide SRO-59 dated February 15, 2011 issued by the General Administration Department in exercise of the powers conferred under Sub- Section-1 of Section 3 of the Jammu and Kashmir State Vigilance Commission Act, 2011, which received the assent of the Governor N N Vohra on January 19, 2011. The Act provides for the con- stitution of State Vigilance Commission to inquire or cause inquiries to be conducted into offences alleged to have been committed under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 2006 by the public servants, corporations established in the State by or under any Act of the Parliament or the Act of State Legislature, Government companies, soci- eties and local authorities owned or controlled by the Government. However, for two years State Vigilance Commission could not be made functional because of dilly-dallying approach of the then Government regarding appointment of first ever Chief Vigilance Commissioner (CVC) and two Vigilance Commissioners. Vide SRO-48 and SRO-49 dated February 11, 2013, Governor N N Vohra appointed Kuldeep Khoda, former Director General of Police J&K and R K Jerath, former IAS officer as first ever Chief Vigilance Commissioner and Vigilance Commissioner respectively. Gous-ul-Nisa Jeelani, former Principal District and Sessions Judge, was appointed as second Vigilance Commissioner vide SRO-353 dated August 1, 2013. Like the State Information Commission (SIC), the J&K State Vigilance Commission is also going to become defunct as Chief Vigilance Commissioner Kuldeep Khoda and one Vigilance Commissioner R K Jerath are completing their tenure on Khoda, Jerath retiring on Feb 21, Gous-ul-Nisa by ending March J&K Vigilance Commission all set to become defunct *Govt yet to begin exercise for new incumbents INSIDE WEATHER China politicizes terror Pahalgam medical deficit ....Page 6 Mehbooba directs mainstreaming of disaster preparedness by all deptts ....Page 3 Priya reviews Maha Shivratri arrangements ....Page 3 AoA key to political stability ...Page 5 Hold polls under Panchayat Election Commission: Monga ...Page 7 Bowlers turn on heat as India beat Bangladesh by 208 runs ...Page 12 JAMMU : Mainly clear TEMPERATURE Max: 23.1 Degree C Min: 8.4 Degree C RELATIVE HUMIDITY RH-I (Morning): 81.0 per cent RH-II (Evening): 47.0 per cent Sunset on Tuesday: 06.16 p.m. Sunrise on Wednesday: 07.15 a.m. SRINAGAR: Mainly dry TEMPERATURE Max: 14.2 Degree C Min: -2.2 Degree C RELATIVE HUMIDITY RH-I (Morning): 89.0 per cent RH-II (Evening): 39.0 per cent LEH: TEMPERATURE Max: 1.1 Degree C Min: -16.1 Degree C Download Mobile Apps of Daily Excelsior for Android and IOS http://www.dailyexcelsior.com/apps/ Download on the Google Play Store Download on the App Store Farooq bats for Indo-Pak talks PANAJI, Feb 13: Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and National Conference president Dr Farooq Abdullah has said that dialogue was necessary between India and Pakistan to have permanent peace in Kashmir. Speaking at a panel discussion on 'India-Health of the Nation' as part of 'Difficult Dialogues' organised at International Centre Goa here last night, he said, ''How long are we going to continue the killings? What is the way forward?. We can't, as Vajpayee (former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee) said friends can change but neighbours can't. ..I contin- uously say do not wait till last gun falls silent. You have to talk to Top cops among 16 dead in Pak blast LAHORE, Feb 13: Senior police officers were among 16 people killed today when a Taliban suicide bomber blew himself up targeting them during a protest rally outside Pakistan's Punjab Assembly here that also wounded 60 others. Lahore Traffic Police chief capt (R) Ahmed Mobeen and Senior Superintendent Police Zahid Gondal were among five police personnel killed in the blast, police officials said. Lahore police chief Amin Wains confirmed the death of Mobeen. He, however, did not confirm about other casualties. "I J&K Bank to issue 3.65 cr shares NEW DELHI, Feb 13: J&K Bank will issue over 3.65 crore shares on preferential basis to the State Government to raise Rs 250 crore. J&K Bank said the allotment to Government of Jammu & Kashmir, promoter and majority shareholder of the bank, will be at Rs 67.39 per share aggregating to over Rs 249.99 crore. "It is proposed to offer, issue and allot on a preferential basis, equity shares of the Bank for an amount not exceeding Rs 250 crore to the J&K Government," J&K Bank said in a regulatory fil- ing. It said it is raising funds to meet needs of bank's growing busi- ness, including long term capital requirements for pursuing its Fresh WD to hit J&K on Wed SRINAGAR, Feb 13: A fresh Western Disturbance (WD) is likely to hit Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday, which could result in moderate to heavy snowfall in upper reaches though plains will receive only intermit- tent rains. However, night remained chilly in the Valley. Regional Meteorological Department director Sonam Lotus said that a fresh WD, originating in Arabian sea and entering the region through Afghanistan and Pakistan, will hit the State on Wednesday. However, he said this WD will not have much impact in the plains, which would receive intermittent rain from Thursday evening though upper reaches will receive moderate to heavy Army pays tributes to soldiers Excelsior Correspondent SRINAGAR, Feb 13: Army today paid homage to two sol- diers, Lance Naik Bhandoriya Gopal Sinh Munimsinh and Sepoy Raghubeer Singh, who were killed in a gun battle with mili- tants in Frisal area of Kulgam dis- trict in South Kashmir yesterday. Major General KK Pant, Chief of Staff Chinar Corps laid wreaths on behalf of the Corps Commander and all ranks of the Corps at Badami Bagh Cantt in Srinagar, said an Army spokesman. Tributes were also paid by officials from civil administration and other security agencies that included the Divisional Pak shells forward posts on LoC Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Feb 13: Pakistan army this evening violated ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC) in Sunderbani sector of Rajouri district, targeting forward Indian posts with small and automatic weapons and mortars. Official sources said Pakistan army started indiscriminate firing on forward Indian posts at 6.05 pm in Sunderbani sector initially using small and automatic arms and later resorting to mortar shelling. "The Indian side effectively retaliated, leading to heavy exchanges that continued for some time,'' sources said, adding that there were no casualties or damage on the Indian side in Pakistan The Swift car which was damaged in a road accident at Palli near Kathua on Monday. -Excelsior/Magotra (Contd on page 4 Col 1) (Contd on page 11 Col 1) (Contd on page 4 Col 1) (Contd on page 11 Col 3) (Contd on page 11 Col 1) (Contd on page 11 Col 5) (Contd on page 4 Col 1) (Contd on page 11 Col 3) (Contd on page 11 Col 3) (Contd on page 11 Col 3) (Contd on page 11 Col 1) (Contd on page 4 Col 1) * Watch video on www.excelsiornews.com * Watch video on www.excelsiornews.com * Pic on page 11. Video on www.excelsiornews.com * Pic on page 11. Video on www.excelsiornews.com (Contd on page 11 Col 5)