The Tribune – Gutted Sufi shrine to be restored in 2 yrs: Omar Abdullah

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, July 1. A week after the shrine of Pir Dastageer Sahab was gutted triggering protests in the Valley, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today said the shrine would be restored, keeping its original characteristic intact, within two years. Omar, who is also the chairman of the Muslim Waqf Board, said this while interacting with members of the civil society, including various Imams and other religious heads.

He said he would monitor the restoration work on the basis of its “original structural characteristic”.

Omar said digital photographs, images and maps of the shrine had been documented in detail by the government through the Indian National Trust for Art and Heritage (INTACH), J&K chapter, which would help restore it to its pristine glory.

In view of allegations of sabotage behind the June 25 fire incident, Omar also sought suggestions regarding the “expansion” of the ambit of inquiry ordered to ascertain the reason of the fire.

“Two inquiries — one by the divisional commissioner and the other by the police department, through a special investigation team (SIT) — have been constituted and suggestions to expand the ambit of these inquiries will be given proper consideration,” he added.

Mufti Bashiruddin Ahmad, who heads the self-styled supreme court of Shariah here, had accused the Chief Minister of “destroying evidence” by carrying out “hasty” cleaning up operations at the shrine. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), too, had expressed similar concerns. Omar appreciated the restraint exhibited by the people to maintain amity and peace in the state.Normal life was restored in the Valley yesterday after witnessing clashes between protesters and security forces amid shutdown calls and restrictions placed by the government.

The CM said the management and staff of all shrines under the Muslim Waqf Board would be trained in the use of fire safety equipment, while asserting that directions had been issued to conduct fire safety audit of all shrines.

He sought the support of the civil society at large to help maintain tranquility, especially in the wake of the ongoing tourist season in the state.

Deputy CM Tara Chand, Minister for Rural Development Ali Mohammad Sagar, Minister of State for Home Nasir Aslam Wani, vice-chairman of Muslim Waqf Board MY Qadri and Imams of various shrines were present at the meeting.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2012/20120702/main5.htm

The Tribune – Inclusive government Omar style, Jammu & Kashmir Cabinet meets near Line-of-Control

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, May 30. In an effort to reach out to people in far-flung areas of the state, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today visited Teetwal in Kupwara district on the Line of Control (LoC).

The Chief Minister drove to Teetwal after chairing a Cabinet meeting at Tangdar. As Teetwal village is located 16 km from Tangdar, Omar inspected works and took stock of the road stretch connecting the two areas.

Incidentally, Teetwal was badly affected by the earthquake that had shaken the remote area in October 2005. The Kishenganga river also flows through Teetwal and parts of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

“Inclusive development with focused attention on remote areas has been underlined as an important concern in the development policy of the government. The transfer of power and authority from the secretariat to the village level and involvement of people in decision-making is the government’s endeavour,” Omar said while interacting with locals of Teetwal village.

After receiving feedback on the state of the health, road communication, water supply and education sectors of the area, Omar promised to take up the issue of upgrade and improvement of the road between Tangdar and Teetwal at the “highest level” in the Central Government. The road is at present under the supervision and execution of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO).

He said issues related to improvement in the telecommunication and telephone services would also be taken up with the Centre. Omar passed directions for the creation of a facility centre at the Teetwal crossing point. He also directed for resolving land issues related to the establishment of Degree College, Tangdar.

The District Development Commissioner was directed to identify land for a sports field at the nearby Karnah area. In Teetwal and Tangdar, Omar met various deputations of Gujjars, Auqaf Committee, panchayat members, local Congress committee, transporters, traders, labourers and Bar Association members. Minister for Finance Abdul Rahim Rather accompanied the Chief Minister during his visit to Teetwal.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2012/20120531/main3.htm

The Hindu – No compromise on environment conservation for tourism: J & K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah

Srinagar, 26 May 2012. Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday said a well planned strategy was required to boost tourism without compromising with the conservation of environment.

“Various modules are available to focus simultaneously on both these important areas”, Mr. Omar said interacting with a group of 31 India Forest Service (IFS) Probationers here.

Replying to the IFS Probationers questions on the development of tourism and conservation of environment, the Chief Minister said, the aggressive marketing of tourism by Himachal Pradesh and Arunachal Pradesh has badly affected the aspect of environment there.

“A balanced approach has to be put in place to develop and market tourism without compromising on the issue of environment importance”, he said, adding, the challenge in Jammu and Kashmir is in the area of creating a befitting infrastructure for tourists.

“We have underlined strict adherence to environment preservation and protection pre-requisite for infrastructure development in the tourist areas. The monitoring by courts has also narrowed down the chances of environment degradation due to infrastructure development”, he said.

The Chief Minister said the constructions at tourist places in the past have been haphazard and there is now a ban on any construction in tourist places like Pahalgam.

The group of IFS Probationers, first in the last 30 years, are on a study tour of the State to get appraisal of forest management measures and strategies in place to conserve forest wealth and the environment.

Replying to another question, Mr. Omar said timber smuggling during the time of militancy has damaged the forest wealth of the State.

“Generation of a forest takes decades. We have concentrated on rejuvenation of the depleted forests under CAMPA and under various State and Centrally sponsored schemes”, the Chief Minister said.

Stating stringent laws were in force to curb smuggling of timber and illegal felling of trees, Mr. Omar said, “The Forest Department is strictly enforcing these laws”.

The Chief Minister said the state Forest Department has identified pastures for grazing of cattle of migratory population.

“Measures are in place to maintain these pastures,” he said adding that cattle grazing in the mountains is being allowed in a well-planned and disciplined manner.

In reply to a question about manufacturing of bats and supply of timber, Mr. Omar said, the timber industry and afforestation can thrive side-by-side under a balanced approach towards both.

“Using of willow for manufacture of bats and supply of timber for construction purposes should keep pace with the afforestation and conservation process”, he said, adding, the State government is allowing import of timber to relieve the pressure on the local plantation.

On the conservation of Dal lake and rehabilitation of Dal dwellers, the Chief Minister said a comprehensive plan has been put in place to address both the issues.

He said the aspect of dependence of Dal dwellers on the lake is being taken care of in the overall rehabilitation policy for these families.

Mr. Omar said reaching out to the people and making them feel that you are one among them creates a lasting impression in society.

“There are scores of such examples of officers who served in the State in various capacities and imprinted praiseworthy and lasting impression in the minds of people for the sincere service they rendered”, he said and asked the probationers to make this approach the standard of service delivery. (PTI)

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article3459433.ece

The Tribune – AFSPA amendments under review: PC

The Armed Forces (Jammu and Kashmir) Special Powers Act
Changes under CCS consideration n J&K interlocutors report to be out soon

Dinesh Manhotra, Tribune News Service

Jammu, April 10. Union Home Minister P Chidambaram today said his ministry had proposed three amendments to the Armed Forces Special Power Act (AFSPA) and those were under the consideration of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS). Chidambaram was on a day-long visit to the state to review its security situation.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has been pressing for partial revocation of the AFSPA and reducing the footprint of security forces in the state in a phased manner.

“The Ministry of Home Affairs has proposed three amendments in AFSPA. They are under the consideration of the CCS,” he told reporters here after a meeting with J&K Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) leaders.

Regarding the report submitted by the three interlocutors appointed by the Centre, Chidambaram said their report would be made public only after consideration of the same by the CCS. “Once the decision on these amendments is taken, we will make the report public,” the Home Minister said.

The three interlocutors on Jammu and Kashmir — noted journalist Daleep Padgaonkar, noted academician Radha Kumar and former Information Commissioner MM Ansari — had submitted their report to Chidambaram in New Delhi on October 12, 2011, laying down a roadmap for the government to address all issues pertaining to the state.

Omar has repeatedly pitched for making the report public, holding a debate on it and thereafter implementing the recommendations. Political parties in the state have also been demanding that the report be made public.

Earlier, on arrival from New Delhi in the morning, Chidambaram visited the cave shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi and paid obeisance at the sanctum sanctorum.

The Home Minister also met senior Congress leaders of the state and discussed various issues pertaining to the functioning of the coalition government.

Although PCC chief Saif-ud-Din Soz denied any discussion on AFSPA in the meeting with Chidambaram, Congress’ Jammu-Poonch Lok Sabha member Madan Lal Sharma said Congress leaders had expressed their reservation against withdrawal of AFSPA from the state at this juncture. “I told the Union Minister that time is not ripe for revocation of AFPSA from the state,” Sharma said.

Soz said the functioning of the government was discussed in the meeting. “We told the Home Minister that the Congress has been providing every possible help to the state government to restore lasting peace in the state and ensure smooth functioning of the coalition,” he said and disclosed that Congress leaders discussed some issues regarding the Jammu region.

A delegation of the All Parties Sikh Coordination Committee Kashmir also met Chidambaram and highlighted the hardship being faced by Sikhs in the state.

AFSPA allows armed forces to :

Fire upon or otherwise use force, even to the causing of death, against any person who is acting in contravention of any law.

To arrest without a warrant and with the use of necessary force anyone who has committed certain offences or is suspected of having done so

To enter and search any premise in order to make such arrests.

The act also bestows legal immunity to the officials, which means that they can not be sued or prosecuted in j&K since 1990

First introduced in the states of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura, the Act was later extended to Jammu and Kashmir as the The Armed Forces (Jammu and Kashmir) Special Powers Act, 1990 in July 1990.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2012/20120411/main1.htm