Curfew continues in Anantnag
Anantnag, Sep 2 (ANI): Curfew continued in Jammu and Kashmir's Anantnag town for the fourth day on Thursday.
Restrictions were also imposed on the movement of people in the old city areas of Srinagar as a precautionary measure.
Shops, educational institutions, banks and private offices remained closed and all modes of public transport were off the roads.
Some private vehicles could be seen plying the roads in the civil lines area of Srinagar and in Budgam, Ganderbal and Bandipora towns.
Curfew was reimposed in the Kashmir Valley after the death of teenager Irshad Ahmad Parray of Anantnag in police firing on Monday evening.
Parray, 11, was killed when a huge mob of stone pelters attacked the Sherbagh police post in Anantnag after which security forces fired rubber bullets at the protesters.
With Parray's death, the number of people who have lost their lives in the ongoing unrest, which started here June 11, has risen to 65.
The Kashmir Valley has experienced a surge of violence that has led authorities to impose frequent curfew restrictions in several parts of the State.
Curfew was initially imposed on June 30 in parts of northern and southern Kashmir to stop demonstrations over the death of a couple of protestors.
It was lifted some days later, but was again imposed as fresh violence erupted. (ANI)
Hurriyat Conference announces break in agitation on eve of Eid
Thursday, September 02, 2010, Srinagar: Hardline faction of Hurriyat Conference, spearheading the 80-day-long agitation in Kashmir Valley on Thursday announced a three-day break in protests on the eve of forthcoming festival of Eid-ul-Fitr next week.
"There will be no strike on September 9, 10 and 11 in connection with Eid-ul-Fitr," Hurriyat Chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani said issuing a fresh 11-day protest calendar.
Eid-ul-Fitr is being observed on September 10 or 11, depending on the citing of the moon which marks the beginning of a new month in the lunar calendar.
However, Geelani asked people to observe the festival with simplicity and stage demonstrations after Eid prayers.
He also announced a break in the strike on September 5 to allow people to prepare for 'shab-e-Qadr' (the night of power).
As per the earlier calender, there will be no strike tomorrow, which marks 'Jumat-ul-Vida', last Friday of the ongoing holy fasting month of Ramazan.
The Hurriyat conference has called for a complete shutdown in the Valley that has adversely affected the economy of the state.
The 80-day period of shutdowns and curfews has dented the economy of Jammu and Kashmir by a whopping Rs 21,000-crore.
The Valley has been rocked by violence following the death of a teenager on June 11 after he was allegedly hit by a tear smoke shell near Rajouri Kadal area of the old city. Street protests broke out in the Valley which has claimed 65 lives so far.
President Patil visits flood-ravaged Leh, promises timely help from armed forces, govt.
Leh (Ladakh), Sep.1: President Pratibha Patil visited flood-ravaged Leh in the Ladakh region on Wednesday and reviewed ongoing relief and rehabilitation efforts with Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Minister of New and Renewable Energy Farooq Abdullah, Jammu and Kashmir Government officials and senior Indian Army and Indian Air Force officers.
Jammu and Kashmir Governor N.N. Vohra and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had earlier received Patil at Leh Airport.
During her visit lasting a couple of hours, the president stopped at one place where she was told that the damaging effect of the August 6 cloudburst was the highest. She also visited a rehabilitation camp run by the army and non-governmental organizations, and interacted with survivors of the natural calamity. She distributed shawls and sweaters to the affected people.
The August 6 flash floods triggered by a cloud burst devastated large parts of Leh. At least 183 people, including 35 army men, 18 Nepali and Tibetan workers, three French, one Spanish and one Italian tourist were killed. Between 200 and 500 people are still missing.
Lauding the determined and courageous efforts of security forces and expressing appreciation for their determination in providing relief to the distressed through their ongoing rehabilitation drive, President Patil told locals that the whole nation was with them.
During her rousing speech, Patil said that visits by the Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, and Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, to the sites that were destroyed by the cloudburst and their promises of providing prompt relief, was proof of the administration's keenness to rehabilitate the dispossessed at the earliest.
She also said the presence of the armed forces in Kashmir was required to neutralize all internal and external threats.
Union Minister of New and Renewable Energy Farooq Abdullah when asked how the relief and rehabilitation drive in Leh was progressing, given the ongoing disturbances in the Kashmir Valley, told ANI TV: "All three districts of Kashmir are equally important - Srinagar, Jammu and Ladakh. At present, in Ladakh, we have to ensure that everyone is provided with relief and is appropriately rehabilitated. We have set October 15 as the deadline for completing our relief and rehabilitation efforts."
On his part, Omar Abdullah echoed similar views, saying the state government has redirected its efforts to providing complete relief and rehabilitation to those affected by the August 6 cloudburst.
"650 homes have been completely damaged; 620 homes are partially damaged. In the first phase, we have to restore these damaged homes and rehabilitate the people who have been affected by this tragedy. Thereafter, the restoration of shops and business establishments will be the second part of the rescue and rehabilitation effort," said Omar Abdullah.
Replying to question posed by Pashe Dorje, an affected victim of the cloudburst, on what steps was the government taking to restore check dams to prevent a recurrence of floods in the region, Omar Abdullah said: "Houses are being restored and repaired, and nullahs (wide ditches) will also be fortified."
He also said that the process of moving flood affected victims from tents to repaired houses has begun, and added that insofar as cash and aid compensation was concerned, 202 residents from Leh had received them, while in Kargil, 218 had been benefited. He also promised the recipients that their cheques would be encashed at the earliest.
Responding to another question on the impact of hartals (shutdowns and strikes) on people in the Kashmir Valley, and how influential was Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani in instigating Kashmiris to take part in such agitations, Omar Abdullah candidly admitted that Geelani had control over some elements responsible for these disturbances, but reiterated that his government was determined to restore normalcy and public faith.
When asked whether he felt that the situation in the valley and in other regions of the state was spinning out of control, he firmly replied: "Absolutely not."
He said that it was important to review the situation on ground in all three regions from time to time.
When asked why children were taking part in the stone-pelting demonstrations in Srinagar and South Kashmir, and whether security forces were targeting them as well as others, Omar Abdullah again replied "Absolutely not, children are not being targeted. Children have no business to be on the streets. Their parents should keep the children off the streets. If the children are on the streets, taking part in demonstrations and protests, then their parents are at fault, not the security forces or the state government."
He also used the occasion of his visit to appeal to the protesters and agitators to spare hospitals and schools. He said that if school building were not attacked and destroyed, children could attend to their studies rather than being on the street. Hospitals, he said, should not be attacked, as they must be available to treat the injured.
Apart from dignitaries present for the president's visit, there were representatives from the Ladakh Scouts, the Signal Corps, the Corps of Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (EME), the Ordnance and the Mahar Regiment.
Lt. Gen. B.S. Jaswal, General Officer Commanding of the Indian Army's Northern Command, who was recently denied a visa to visit China as part of a military delegation, was also present during President Patil's visit to Leh.
It maybe recalled that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had announced a grant of Rs.125 crore during his visit to Leh on August 17. He had also announced Rs.100, 000 as ex-gratia relief for the next of kin of those who died in the calamity and Rs.50, 000 each to those injured.
Flash floods and mudslides have swept the road links and bridges in the area. The deluge has damaged hospitals, schools, government buildings, bus terminals, radio station transmitter, telephone exchange and mobile-phone towers.
Five villages Sabu, Phyang, Nimoo, Choglumsar and Shapoo were the worst hit by the flash floods. Old Leh city was also among the worst affected. (ANI)
Government of India grants Rs. 3.56 billion for Dal lake conservation
Srinagar, Aug.31: The Central government has sanctioned a grant of 3.56 billion rupees for conservation of the Dal lake in Srinagar.
Imtiyaz Ahmad, a boatman at the Dal lake, said that the lake's conservation would benefit the tourism sector greatly.
"We want the lake to be cleaned properly. It will improve the condition of our area. The tourists would then like to spend more time in the Dal Lake, said Ahmed.
"Once cleaning of the Dal lake takes place, the tourist would also be drawn towards the clean and beautiful lake," said Fayaz Sofi, another boatman.
Dal Lake is the second largest lake in the State. It is also an important source for commercial operations in fishing and water-plant harvesting.
Under the supervision of the State Department of Lakes and Waterways Development Authority (LAWDA), high-tech machines were imported from abroad for the conservation work, which is gradually progressing.
Irfan Yaseen, Vice-Chairman of LAWDA, said that the project was delayed because it needed a large grant.
"Rs. 356 crore, (3.56 billion) has been given by the government to buy high-tech machines for the cleaning of the Lake. Many people complained that the project has been discussed many times but nothing has been done. But the situation has changed. Both the Prime Minister and the Chief Minister has taken interest in the progress," says Irfan Yaseen. (ANI)
