WEDNESDAY, JULY 14, 2021 DAILY EXCELSIOR, JAMMU Excelsiordaily Established 1965 Delimiting J&K for political justice Founder Editor S.D. Rohmetra Ranbir Singh Pathania A Delimitation Commission with Justice entire UT of J&K into ninety units with a partic- versely, the elected representatives should be in a (Retd) Ranjana Desai as its Chairperson has been ular set of population, means of communication, position to better reach out to their electorate. ob Peter to Pay Paul. This is precisely what set up with a view to assessing the peoples' pulse terrain and like considerations. Nonetheless, treat- Political justice for all: The basic object of Unprecedented fury has happened in J&K in the past few and conducting a fair demarcation of assembly ing unequals equally is itself a violation of 'Right Delimitation Commission should be 'political Rdecades. seats in J&K. Thoughts and theories have flown to equality'. justice for all'. Without allowing itself to be Two yardsticks for two divisions: According to thick and fast on public platforms. Some say Jam- Uttarakhand model of delimitation: - Once pigeon-holed into a narrow, otiose and unwork- of rains the 2011 census, the population of Jammu division mu will be a gainer. Others say Kashmir will win we address the issue of 'rationalization of assem- able construction of rules and procedures, it is 53,78,538, while total area is spread over 26,293 hen benevolent, kind and all caring the see-saw battle. bly seats' we should be pretty open to discussing should rely on principles of equity, justice and sq km. While population of Kashmir division is What Delimitation Commission Can Do: - As Uttarakhand model of delimitation. As per the good conscience. If it sincerely wishes to deliver nature turns furious at times, it has its 68,88,475, and area is 15, 948 sq km. As per a Gov- per Section- 9 of Delimitation Act, 2002, "The model, J&K shall be divided into three zones- political justice to the people of J&K. To set at rest own ways and the man despite having ernment reply in Lok Sabha last year there are Commission shall, in the manner herein provid- the ever increasing gulf between two regions as W 37,33,111 voters (100894) in Jammu division, ed, distribute seats assigned to the Legislative well as cries of discrimination and neglect. The progressed so much in all respects is all helpless 40,10,971 (87195) voters in Kashmir division. The basic object of and undone before it. When it turns "hostile ", life is Assembly of each State and delimit them on the war cry remains now or never. Moreso, this discrimination percolates even to basis of the census figures …" Delimitation Commission Jammu or Kashmir win or loose, is a smaller scurrying here and there to hide to get protection the Lok Sabha and Panchayat level where. " …All constituencies question. Bigger view of the matter remains that and somehow be saved. The torrential rains that S. Province/ Average area Average Average shall, as far as practicable, be should be 'political justice for political justice to the people of J&K is delivered. lashed Jammu division on July 12, breaking No. region (Per Assembly) population voters geographically compact areas, The cat is belled permanently. and in delimiting them regard Representation for the unheard: - J&K is a records of decades while bringing some respite (Per Assembly) (Per Assembly) all'. Without allowing itself to 1 Jammu 710 square 149,749 souls 100894 shall be had to physical fea- miniature India. A small and a sparsely-spread from scorching heat, took heavy price therefore by kilometers tures, existing boundaries of be pigeon-holed into a state having number of cultures, castes, creeds and causing massive flash floods, destruction of prop- 2 Kashmir 346 square 145,366 souls 87195 administrative units, facilities religions. And to ensure that a almost every eth- erties and disrupting normal life for hours together kilometers of communication and public narrow, otiose and nic group finds a voice, a formula needs to be convenience" devised out in line with section-13 of J&K Reor- and causing massive landslides on the National If we compare Srinagar and Udhampur parlia- Question marks on 2011 census: - Serious unworkable construction ganization Act and Article-239(a) of the Consti- Highway and on other roads. The thunders, fre- mentary constituencies. Udhampur has an area of question marks have been placed with regard to tution of India, reading as "- (1) Parliament may quent lightening, the gushing water in Nallahs, about 20,000 square kilometers and 1490244 vot- credibility of figures detailed in 2011 census. The of rules and procedures by law create for- ers whereas Srinagar has an area about 5000 square birth rates in a few districts of Kashmir have (a) a body, whether elected or partly nominat- drains and roads, frightening sounds all around kilometers and 1205233 voters. shown an unusual spiral. Greater number of peo- 'Plain', 'Hilly', 'Semi Plain and Semi Hilly'. The ed and partly elected, to function as a Legislature made people plunge into worries of different hues It is in the same vein, Kashmir has greater num- ple have not yet turned up for enrolling themselves number of points to be allocated to population for the Union territory " - safety of their houses, vehicles, cattle, impact of ber of sarpanches/panches as compared to Jammu. under Adhaar. There is comparatively bigger gap should be lesser in category - 03 (semi-plain) and Let us hope jugglery and jarred figures at least uprooting of trees and electric poles and the like. As an obvious corollary whereof, the elected between voter/population ratio in Kashmir. Inter- much lesser in category -02 (hilly). Fact will give way to healthy political discourse and a parliamentarians/legislators from Jammu were estingly, number of non voters in many areas of remain not only the population, the drinking water, vibrant, balanced political setup in J&K with least The India Meteorological Department (IMD) made to justify themselves before greater number Kashmir is greater as compared to that in Jammu. road connectivity, infrastructure requirements do friction between regions or religions. having issued an orange alert for Jammu and of people and developing greater area with same One thing is clear that for purposes of delimi- need to be echoed on the floor of Assembly. To Let us wait and watch with our fingers crossed, Kashmir denotes that more rains, perhaps of the funds and time in the Parliament/Assembly, DDB tation, neither Jammu nor Kashmir in isolation is put it the simpler way, the people should be easi- toes upped and breaths gasped. same intensity, were likely to be expected which meetings and other developmental forums. a unit. Delimitation Commission has to divide the ly able to reach to the elected representative. Con- (The author was member of 11th J&K Legislative Assembly) should put all concerned on alert to try to mitigate, if not possible to prevent, as far as possible the impact of such rains. The "breathing time" got by July 13, 1931: The day seeds of hatred were sown the administration due to weather improvement following the heavy rains, must be utilised to gear Maj Gen Goverdhan Singh Jamwal prised because he was unaware about the condi- 4% retrospectively and the unit suffered and is time, if we do not make any arrangements they tions in Jammu. lying closed for the last twenty years, though High will find other destinations and will not come to up to meet problems like cleaning and de-silting n 13th July 1931, something happened When I told him about the industry, tourism and Court revoked the Government order after four Jammu and Kashmir and it will take long time choked drains and put in place other measures to which bisected the heart of the State of the economic conditions of Jammu and the fact that years but by then the unit had collapsed and this before they find Jammu and Kashmir again attrac- Jammu and Kashmir into two, called Jam- prevent accumulated water from entering houses O the youth was migrating outside for jobs he was was the Cooperative unit in which the state had 97 tive. They all appreciated my suggestion. Then I mu and Kashmir and created havoc. In fact, on that aghast and said he would speak to the Governor. % Equity since it was in Jammu and for the bene- told them we identify ten destinations in Jammu and shops besides taking other necessary steps day, a seed sown by the British, through their agent He made two observations which I can never fit of the Ex-servicemen and their widows, that is including Poonch, Rajouri, Bhadarwah, Kishtwar, to prevent chaotic conditions of flash floods and Abdul Qadar, who disappeared like a seed, but sure- forget. First, he said the world knows that J&K was why it met such a fate. It is still awaiting the Gov- Patnitop, Sanasar, Basohli and few others and put flooding of streets and lanes. ly gave the State a plant called Hatred, which was created by the Dogras and the Dogras alone defend- ernment nod with Rs 15 Crores assets. This is what about hundred large family type of tents at each codified by Sheikh Abdullah into a holiday against Besides extensive damage to many houses, ed the State and acceded by the then Dogra Mahara- is happening to the industry of the Dogras of Jam- destination so that a hundred families could stay at the Dogras i.e. the Maharaja and the J&K State ja, Hari Singh to India. Now 'how you can let it go mu. After 5 Aug 2019, we were hoping that it each destination which would make about a 1000 several vehicles, heads of cattle too reported to Forces to which the Dogras also succumbed which or how India can let Jammu suffer'. would now be rehabilitated but the clock is stuck! families at a time, and make it free which meant have been washed away only shows the intensity I have seen personally when they joined the Kash- When I presented him as our Supreme Com- The President, very matured and experienced about 5000 tourists will be visiting Jammu region of the heavy rains and the flash floods. miris to denigrate themselves. As MLC I had mander a tin of Sainik Vanaspati manufactured by statesman who had been the Chief Minister of every time for the next whole year. They all appre- advised the Farooq Govt. in 1997 to scrap this hol- Surprisingly, the rain and accumulated water enter- the J&K Ex-Servicemen Cooperative Factory in Madhya Pradesh said 'I am worried about your ciated it. Then, I said to make it more attractive, iday and start building bridges, but it was not to be Bari Brahmana Industrial Estate, he was much Industry' and then asked me about tourism. This put two shikaras in Mansar Lake, two shikaras in ing many houses in Shastri Nagar, Trikuta Nagar, till the State as created by us, the Dogras was dis- pleased on the initiative as was General KV Krish- is what I told him briefly which still holds good. Sruinsar lake and a small houseboat in Salal lake Gandhi Nagar, Channi Rama, Preet Nagar, membered. Who are responsible for this? The na Rao who had inaugurated the Factory in the After the holocaust when Kashmiri Pandits so that we divert 10% of the Vaishno Devi pilgrims Gangyal, Canal Road, Talab Tiloo and many areas Kashmiris themselves, and of course, we the presence of Dr. Karan Singh and, the then Chief were thrown out of the Valley there was a great to these destinations and to Patnitop etc. They all Dogras of Jammu who joined National Conference Secretary, Ghulam Rasool on 25 July 1993 dedi- vacuum and everybody was worried about appreciated it but nothing happened for a year then raises many questions about the planning of the and could not remove the chasm why, I need not cating it to the Veer Naries (soldiers' widows) for tourism in the State and that's what happened. The I enquired from the Chief Secretary who told me city, laying out of residential colonies, building stan- explain. whom 10 % of the net profit has been reserved, tourists lost their way. Then General KV Krishna that Kashmiris have lost everything and now if the dards and safeguards as also measures and provi- Suffice to say that when I refused to join Nation- with the remarks "I am so pleased, even surprised Rao, Governor of the State called me one day and shikaras and the house boats go, only will feel los- sions in place for managing such natural fury. How al Conference I was conveyed by Sardar Harbans that what I had pleaded with the Chief Ministers said 'Goverdhan, at this rate tourists will forget ing their culture and that was the end of it. That Singh, the former minister that 'Dr. Farooq has con- as the Chief of Staff to start such industries for the the State and also Jammu, which is quite peace- means they never wanted the tourists to come to much and who are responsible for using most of veyed that if General Goverdhan Jamwal does not rehabilitation of the soldiers who retire very ful and has lot for the tourists but since Kashmir Jammu and that's what has happened and is hap- the available land only for raising concrete jungles join us he would not fight the Assembly Elections young, 90% of them at the age of 33, but I did not is closed people may not come to Jammu as they pening for the last 31 years. There are no tourists and leaving no scope for the rain water to get as he did not participate in the Parliamentary Elec- know, Gen Goverdhan Jamwal had set up a facto- have started going to Kullu, Manali, Dalhousie, in Jammu and I had told this to the President that Nainital so you should think about it, and I am it had happened. Then the President said he would absorbed and find its own way of getting drained tions.' In fact, he also conveyed that 'if General ry worth 7 Crores with a turnover of 100 Crores Zorawar Singh could create this State how could I providing 200 jobs directly and many more indi- going to put you as one of the Directors with the discuss it with the Governor. He might have but out is a pertinent question and not out of context in not join to defend it', a very strong sentiment which rectly in my State only". Then I told the President, Jammu and Kashmir Tourism Development Cor- nothing happened. So Jammu will keep on suffer- totality. I could not resist. When I pointed out to the Presi- that Industry is only a facade in Jammu and is poration, presently headed by the Chief Secretary ing because of the animosities and no love lost for Scores of such small and big Nallahs in and dent, Shankar Dayal Sharma in 1993 that Jammu exploited by the unscrupulous politicians and the Ghulam Rasool'. In the next meeting I requested Jammu and today is the Day which reminds us why was collapsing. Dogras will never speak about it. bureaucrats, and corruption is rampant and there the Chief Secretary that we must do something to so, why Kashmiris will never live with us and ear- around Jammu city were meant only to drain They are too nationalists but the ladder called Jam- is no future for us. It just proves today that the same keep the tourist flow going at least in Jammu so lier we part company and establish two separate excess rain water and prevent any water logging or mu to reach Kashmir is now moth-eaten. It will col- unit which was in profit for 5 years from the day that when the conditions are peaceful in the Val- units, we will be living like brothers helping each flash floods due to rains but it is to be lamented that lapse and we will not know it." He was totally sur- one, was taxed with illegal Ad Valorum toll tax of ley people would start going there but in the mean- other. hardly any Nallah is seen not encroached in one or the other way thus disturbing natural course of draining excess water from the city. Any move to Story of two Kashmirs get such encroachments vacated are met with protests and resistance resulting in the position remaining as it is, only to be seen the havoc which Contrast in managing COVID-19 was witnessed two days back. A well devised pol- Ashok Bhan food materials or providing Per- uted. for identification of beneficiaries of the training, they will be Covid Isolation Centre with 5 sonal Protective Equipment Also, twin 500-bedded tem- under the special scheme envis- placed at the Covid care facility beds and also the availability of icy backed by framing necessary laws by the gov- akistan occupied Kashmir ernment alone can get such encroachments per- (PPE) kits to doctors and the porary hospitals were estab- aged by the government for fam- in a government school in the vil- testing facilities. In addition, out (PoK) is sitting on a catas- paramedical staff in PoK, Pak- lished by the Defence Research ilies who have lost their bread- lage. Additionally, another of 20 districts of J&K, nine dis- manently removed. It is shocking to observe that Ptrophe as its nagged Elec- istan is showing no concern, and Development Organization earner during the pandemic. Covid care facility will be set up tricts were in the Green Zone, even in the core city, most of such Nallahs have tion Commission gave go-ahead leaving the beleaguered people (DRDO). They started function- -Indian Army a helping hand in the village under the aegis of two in the Orange Zone and nine to conduct elections to the 45- disappeared as colonies are built over and around to suffer in silence and eventual- ing on July 1. In a bid to ensure that no one the Indian Army's Romeo Force. in the Yellow Zone. member assembly, defying ly wither into oblivion. Jammu and Kashmir Lieu- is left out of the COVID-19 vac- The training is for seven J&K is emerging as a role them thus preventing rain water from having its National Command and Opera- "People in Pakistan occupied tenant Governor Manoj Sinha cination drive, a team of Indian days. A series of talks and model amongst entities with way of drainage from these areas. tion Centre (NCOC), which had Kashmir (PoK) are facing a has been on the toes implement- Army and health workers demonstrations during the week large territorial areas in conduct- It is, however, a matter of great relief that the suggested postponing polls amid severe crisis of essential com- ing a host of measures to bring reached Kerani village, the last will help volunteers understand ing targeted testing, stratified the COVID-19 pandemic. modities as Islamabad fails to vaccination and providing grass waters of Chenab, Tawi, Tarnah and Ujh rivers in In a letter to the Chief Elec- deliver on its promise during the root-level medical care. J&K's tion Commissioner of PoK, the addition to several other Nallahs which were virtu- lockdown due to COVID-19 out- model has assisted the Union NCOC had stated that due to the ally in spate during the night and even morning break in the occupied territory. Territory in bringing down rise in the number of coronavirus The pandemic is acting as salt on COVID caseload and related hours started receding by afternoon. On the other cases in the country, the polls the wounds of residents. Though deaths per million population. hand, despite arrangements being made by the should be delayed. The letter the Government announced Even the Bombay High mentioned that large political Jammu Municipal Corporation to collect garbage, relief packages for the people of Court recently asked the Central gatherings due to elections will waste material etc from residential houses PoK, nothing has been done thus Government to adopt the door- lead to the further spread of the far," according to a recent report to-door vaccination model car- /shops, streets etc, still the drains built, even three potentially deadly virus in the in news agency ANI. ried out successfully by J&K and feet or more deep, are found choked resulting in state, adding that the number of -Vaccination target Kerala to cover 100 per cent pop- overflowing of rain water on streets and littering coronavirus positive cases are ulation. already high therein, reported In contrast, a total of 76 per them with polythene bags, garbage and flooding cent people of above 45 years Launched last month, the Geo News. J&K Government's door-to-door have been administered the them. Besides, these drains are rarely cleaned to Prime Minister Raja Farooq vaccination drive has yielded COVID-19 vaccine so far in keep in 'operational' form but usually remain Haider had accused the Pakistan encouraging results. Many dis- Jammu and Kashmir, which is Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) govern- tricts of J&K have achieved the choked. Every city and town must have a well among the leading regions in the ment of Prime Minister Imran target of 100 percent vaccination devised system and planning of drainage of water country in vaccination. Achiev- Khan of wanting to achieve its in the age group of 45 years and but Jammu city having virtually no drainage sys- desired results in the Kashmir ing the feat of 66 per cent when above. tem on modern lines is resulting in wreaking of elections. Farooq Haider said the national average is just 32 per down the case positivity rate. village near the Line of Control various aspects related to han- Mobile teams of health cent is a big achievement. havoc when it rains in torrents. that if Prime Minister Imran Due to collaborative effort from (LoC), crossing the difficult hilly dling and providing assistance to departments have been reaching Khan interferes in the election, Four districts -- Ganderbal, all stakeholders, coupled with terrains of the region and flow- asymptomatic Covid patients. even remotest and inaccessible Several questions remain unanswered in the then PoK will forget all courtesy. Jammu, Samba and Shopian -- comprehensive surveillance of ing rivers on foot, to conduct The training programme is areas to ensure 100 per cent vac- context of how much preparedness had the JMC He said that no matter what have achieved 100 per cent cov- Covid-19, decentralization of door-to-door inoculation. being led by Indian Army doc- cination of the people. Prime Minister does, Kashmir erage in this category, while the healthcare system, accelerated The Indian Army is collabo- tors virtually. After the pro- J&K's Weyan is the first vil- and other agencies to deal with the monsoon rains remaining districts continue with which are always expected to strike with all fury, will never become a province. vaccination drive, effective rating with the Union Territory gramme, the locals will be able lage in India to vaccinate all Since the election campaign promising progress, they added. Covid clinical management and administration to vaccinate peo- to provide basic medical assis- above 18 years of age range and speed. With what the people of Jammu began in the region over the past In a presentation recently continuous augmentation of ple living in far-flung areas of tance to those suffering from A remote hamlet in the witnessed on July 11 and July 12, was almost all few days 124 new cases of Union Secretary, Health and healthcare infrastructure has Jammu and Kashmir. Covid in remote areas where the Bandipora district of J&K has Family Welfare, mentioned that deep drains on both sides of roads not de-silted COVID-19 were detected with yielded favourable results in Captain Sadik Arman, an medical infrastructure is inade- become the first village in India three deaths. So far PoK has reg- J-K is performing reasonably controlling the spread of the Army doctor, said that the entire quate. to vaccinate all of its adult pop- and cleaned to allow free water flow resulting in istered 20,935 infections with well in mitigating the second virus. population of the Kerani village The topics being covered ulation. With the strenuous garbage overflowing on streets making any type of 594 deaths. In a small area, that wave of COVID-19. "With optimum utilization of has been vaccinated with the first during the training include man- efforts of health workers, Wey- movement, even of emergency ones, difficult on comprised just two and a half dis- About the augmentation of testing and vaccination capaci- dose. agement of patients, provision of han shot to national fame by vac- medical infrastructure and facil- them. JMC authorities claiming that encroachment tricts in 1947, the numbers are ties, strict adherence to SoPs and Indian Army has also been basic medication and food sup- cinating all above the age of 18 quite exorbitant. ities in the union territory, the Covid-appropriate behaviour conducting a lot of awareness plements as per medical advice, years. The village is located only over Nallahs responsible for much "devastation" There is completely a tale of administration has recently and by working 24x7, we can campaigns regarding the oxygen support, observation of 28 km away from Bandipora dis- strongly desired that such encroachments needed contrast when it comes to adopted a strategy to establish address the challenges of the COVID-19 safety protocols and vital signs and other administra- trict headquarters, but a distance to be removed sooner than any later. At the same COVID-19 management across five-bedded Covid care facilities pandemic," the LG Manoj Sinha the vaccination. tive issues. of 18 km has to be covered by the Line of Control (LoC). While with at least one oxygen-sup- said. Lauding the initiative, resi- The villagers, especially foot as there is no motorable time, reports that the drive to ban polythene bags administration and volunteers in ported bed at approximately The Police Department has dents of Kerani village expressed youngsters, are participating road. to prevent drains from getting choked now denotes Jammu and Kashmir have taken 4,000 panchayats to provide been asked to distribute face gratitude to the Army and the with a lot of enthusiasm. They There is no internet access in digging well when the fire was raging. However, sincere steps to stem the spread- immediate medical care to the masks amongst violators at Jammu and Kashmir Govern- expressed their gratitude to the the village. So, the residents coronavirus patients who can still it is better late than never and is advisable to ing pandemic by distributing checkpoints. People need to be ment for the drive. Indian Army for its outreach and couldn't get appointments for masks and food in far-flung then be referred to higher-level aware that the restrictions are for An Army battalion has also humanitarian assistance. vaccination like the way people ban use of polythene bags strictly. In the meantime, areas, residents of PoK are fac- facilities in case of emergency. their welfare and safety. started a training programme for -Parameters best in-country in urban areas do. let us see how best the administration deals with ing hardship. Additionally, 33,000 Covid care He has also passed specific volunteers on the management of Every Panchayat in J&K had (The author is Senior Advocate, the situation in the coming days as monsoon has Be it the adequate supply of medical kits have been distrib- directions to speed up the process Covid-19 cases. On completion been provided with at least one Supreme Court of India ) just started. (The views expressed by the authors are their personal) [email protected]