Vol 9 | No 03 | APRIL 15, 2016

ﻮر य ﯽ اﻟﻨ गम ﻟ ोत ﺖ ا  ﻤ ٰ ा ﻠ

ﻈ म

ﻟ

ो ا

ﻦ

स

ﻣ

म त U N IR IV M ER H MERC TIMESSITY OF KAS MEDIA EDUCATION RESEARCH CENTRE, UNIVERSITY OF

APPLES INSTEAD OF ALMOND

Inside Buthgam, the safe haven for the Brick Conference on kiln and Sand Horticulture chaired by SPOUT IN FAST FOOD MERC Mafi a industry Khurshid Ganai OUTLETS M P2 P3 P5 Times } ﻮر य ﯽ اﻟﻨ गम ﻟ ोत ,MEDIA EDUCATION RESEARCH CENTRE ﺖ ا  ﻤ ٰ ा ﻠ

ﻈ म

ﻟ

ो ا

ﻦ

स

ﻣ

म त U N IR IV M ER H SITY OF KAS Vol 9 | No 03 | APRIL 15, 2016 2 Buthgam, safe APPLES INSTEAD haven for Brick OF ALMONDS

v Bintul Huda cumbersome to grow apple orchards and Sand Mafi a but we cannot afford low profit, we : Kashmir is known for its get by growing almonds”, explained production of quality almonds, but, Majid Hilal , apple garden owner. in Budgam the recent conversion While speaking to MERC Times of almond orchards into apple Dr. Fayaz Ahmad Banday, Head gardens has put a question mark Division of fruit science SKUAST-K, on its viability . It has now become Shalima said, “The main reason for a common maxim of every orchard low produce of fruits is obsolete and owner that “doing almond business traditional early blooming varieties is to embrace misfortune”. of almond plants farmers are Mohammad Razaq, an almond growing. garden owner of Hayat pora village, He further added that “Our Budgam , complains that agricultural department is doing extensive technology has made huge research to produce late blooming advancement worldwide. Farmers varieties, We have produced are using genetically modified and some late blooming varieties like high yield varieties of saplings which “Maqdoom”, “Waris”, “Shalimar” boost both quality and quantity of and “parbat” but these are not v Munawar Hussain until and unless the administration the fruit, and unfortunately we are still apt for climatic conditions of stops receiving a prodigious amount growing same species of almonds Kashmir as they bloom only few Budgam: Once referred to as one of revenue”, said Yawar Hussain, a from many decades. days after traditional early blooming of the serene and ravishing districts local resident. He further added, “The varieties and also Horticulture of Jammu and Kashmir, Budgam, According to district Geology and unprecedented focus of horticulture department has not been able to the abode of Nund Reshi is now on mining department, an amount of RS department towards apple gardens keep these late blooming varieties the threshold of environmental 9.918.682 lakh have been collected in and their indifferent approach available in the market. disequilibrium. His quote “Aan the year 2013-2014, which is the 9th towards almond orchards have Dr Muzaffar Husain, official Poshi teli yeli wan poshi” which most in the 22 districts of Jammu and created this situation. of Agriculture department said, inspires the whole world to protect Kashmir. The revenue collected Unlike almond tree apple gardens though 70% land in Budgam is the environment, unfortunately, in district Budgam comes mostly need irrigation system, regular sustainable for “wader”. We are now doesn’t seem to have any impact on from brick kilns and sand excavation insecticide spraying and huge in coordination with Horticulture Budgam residents. industry. investment at the starting but despite to provide adequate seeds and There are around 207 brick kilns “The smoke that comes out that people are showing keen interest provide proper education regarding functioning all over the district while from these chimneys contributes in growing apple gardens. “It is production of Almond tree. at ground level the number rises to significantly to particulate matter 300-350, an official sources said. which remains suspended in the air. “The district administration does The air we breathe in then causes not seem to be concerned about these bronchial infections and disturbs alarming figures at all and it will not, respiratory quotient” Dr Muzzafer, an expert said. “With no check and control, everyone can and is allowed by administration, for some perks, The smoke that to excavate soil and sell it for petty comes out from amount of money” Asif Ali, a local these chimneys habitant said. contributes This uncontrolled loot of natural significantly to resources not only destabilizes particulate matter environmental balance but has given which remains birth to too many challenges as well, suspended in the district is facing, he added. the air. The air we On being asked about breaking of norms, Farooq Ahmed khan, Head breathe-in then of Department of Mining said, we causes bronchial are keeping an eye on it, but, we also infections and generate good revenue from it. We disturbs respiratory lack proper technology, but, we have quotient put our demand to government. In future we will get all this done and problem will be over ﻮر य ﯽ اﻟﻨ गम ﻟ ोत ,MEDIA EDUCATION RESEARCH CENTRE ﺖ ا  ﻤ ٰ ा ﻠ

ﻈ म

ﻟ

ो ا

ﻦ

स

ﻣ

म UNIVERSITY OF KASHMIR त U N IR IV M ER H SITY OF KAS Vol 9 | No 03 | APRIL 15, 2016 3

v Wajahat shabir high density plants and root stocks by importing material from Europe, he added. : In order to boost farmers and to discuss the We demand more steps for bettering the aspect of issues for promoting Horticulture sector with various seeds, adequate storage and more suitable marketing stakeholders, a one day Horticulture conference was facilities, said Isfaq Majeed, a local farmer. held in Srinagar under the Supervision of Advisor to Joint Secretary Ministry of Agriculture said,” Director Governor Khurshid Ahmad Ganai. Agriculture Kashmir should deploy concerned officers Informing the stakeholders and farmers Advisor to for specialized trainings so that they can work at newly developed spice park coming up in the month of July. Six mobile soil testing Vans and five soil testing Conference on laboratories have been set up at the grass root level to help out the farmers. Also Horticulture regarding the National Mission on Saffron, it was said that production is chaired by being taken up on modern lines through National Horticulture Board, said an Khurshid official source. Director Horticulture P.K Gupta, Director Agriculture Ganai Governor Khurshid Ahmad Ganai said, for developing Kashmir Showkat Ahmad Beig, Director HPMC, MD its apprehension capability under public sector RS. Agro Industries Development Corporation, MD SIDCO, 60 Crore have been provided to the Department of MD National Horticulture Board, other officers and a Horticulture. large number of fruit growers and entrepreneurs from While RS 4.75 crore has been provided for developing all over the valley attended the conference.

RS 4.75 crore has been provided for developing high density plants and root stocks by importing material from Europe

Media and South Asia: bridging the gap v Saba Khan on the sectors in which Jammu and Kashmir as a state has under performed, Srinagar: Jindal University organizes including of primary healthcare acess, dialogue on Economic Development infant mortality rates levels and income Growth. Experts debate kashmir’s inequalities. Economic problems and opportunities. Panelists in this event felt that Sonipat-based OP Jindal Global economic data collection methods need University conducted a day-long seminar to be made more rigorous in order in the Kashmir University Campus to inform betterpolicy making in the in Srinagar on Sunday, April 10th, on state .the panelists also agreed that the theme of “Economic Growth and trans –border trade in energy and the Development in Kashmir” other goods and services would create a The experts debated on Kashmir enterprises for resolving the rapidly disempowering local insititution and massive economic boom in the Kashmir . Economic problems and opportunities. increase in the unemployment problem people . The Panelists included Professor They talked about the infrastructure in in kashmir ,where almost 40% of the Dr Javed Iqbal spoke on the energy Rajeev Malhotra of Jindal School the Kashmir . The deliberations focused existing labour force is currently crisis in Kashmir where almost 25%of of Government and Public Policy on policy inadequacies and failures employed in the government sector . He the total state population still lives ,Professor Kathleen Modrowski of in the state of Jammu and Kashmir also that we have our own traditional without electicity. He emphasized Jindal School of Liberal Arts and with regard to key problems such as , skills in the valley . how critical it is for the state to invest Humanities, Professor Sreeram Chaulia Physical Infrastructure, Socio-economic Mr shakeel added. Locals should be in micro –hydropower projects and and Professor Deepanshu mohan of inequalities, energy crisis ,educational encouraged to acquire these skills from improve the royalty sharing on power Jindal school of internationals affairs Paradigm and the flawed development outside the state and add value by setting purchase agreements signed between .Prominent Kashmiri intellectuals who models that have failed to solve problems up local business across the valley. centre and the state. spoke at this event included. Mr Noor of kashmiris. Dr Peer Suhail criticized the national Professor Rajeev Malhotra said on Ahmed Baba,Professor Gul wani,Dr. Mr Shakeel Qalandar emphasized Hydro power Corporations land this occasion that the Chief Minister Ms Muhammad Maroof shah ,Mr shakeel on the need to develop the small scale accquistion policies,saying that they are Mehbooba Mufti will do better to focus Qalandar and Dr. Peer suhail ﻮر य ﯽ اﻟﻨ गम ﻟ ोत ﺖ ا  ,MEDIA EDUCATION RESEARCH CENTRE ﻤ ٰ ा ﻠ

ﻈ म

ﻟ

ो ا

ﻦ

स

ﻣ

म त UNIVERSITY OF KASHMIR U N IR IV M ER H SITY OF KAS Vol 9 | No 03 | APRIL 15, 2016 4

Unbeaten Tra c Rules Ignored Performance: in Downtown Wadoo v Hayat Manan ‘We have become victims of the masses to adhere to traffic of the double standards of the rules and regulations for the v Adnan Hilal Srinagar : Once called the government. If the traffic police general good of everyone. commercial hub, Srinagar’s can regulate traffic in the city A college student, Shabnam Srinagar: President Football Players Welfare downtown areas are troubled by centre why can’t they Wani, from downtown said, Association (FPWA) Mehraj Ud Din Wadoo on the lack of traffic policing with depute traffic police at busy ‘As the traffic department congratulated the J&K Bank Football Team for huge difficulties and traffic jams intersections in downtown’, installed traffic lights to better winning the All Gold Cup in Bihar with becoming a constant source of said Mr Hakeem, a resident of streamline the traffic in and a ‘magnificent unbeaten performance’ in the discomfort for the locals. Chowk. around Lal Chowk in 2014, the tournament. “It’s great to see Kashmiri footballers performing beautifully both in and outside the state” said Wadoo. “I have also come to know that J&K Bank team has restricted the entry of outside and foreign players providing ample opportunities to local players and generating employments for state’s talented youth” Wadoo added. Taking a serious response against Football Development Forum Wadoo said, “Any organization that is related to football must support and encourage the positives and not to point out negatives. If you are not in a position to help then at least don’t try to pull people down who are trying to climb up.” Taking a dig at Football Development Forum General Secretary and a former footballer of FPWA Zahoor Ahmed said: These self-proclaimed football People residing in congested SSP Traffic Maqsood-u- downtown area was largely left developmental forums have no concrete background areas like Habba Kadal, Zaman, said, “We cannot out of the ambit’. ‘At peak hours & have been continuously issuing Rajouri Kadal and Nowhatta, regulate the traffic everywhere in the morning and evening, negative and derogatory witness heavy influx of traffic with such a minuscule number the areas witness bumper to statements, criticizing movement, accuse the traffic of personnel.“We do hold traffic bumper traffic jams causing every positive steps for department of meting out a step awareness programs from time inconvenience to students and development should motherly treatment to them. to time but it is the responsibility office-goers’, he added. not be taken seriously by the media. Praising J&K Bank Tuition centers: Burden or Bliss Football Team, v BISMA FAROOQ “We need to send our wards to work load he gets from his school Zahoor added the tuition centers because they and tuition centre as well. “J&K Bank Srinagar: Difference of attitude don’t get the quality education Allegedly, students being has provided about private tuition centers in the colleges and schools,” Gul compelled to attend the tuition employment to more while deliberating about its Mohammad, parent of a first year classes suffer due to malpractice than 200 players so far elements, is attentively of teachers at tuition which has no parallel a mess with regard to centers. and their Management different age groups. “Private tuitions is qualified enough Having different should be banned. It adds to resolve the small ambiances on certain burden to the students. registrations issues point, the reaction of They are left with no with JKFA.” definite people is different or less time or extra- over the consideration. curricular activities,” a In Kashmir, tuition youngster said. centers had started getting “We are very much more population of students as student said. concerned about the studies of compared to schools and colleges. “It is becoming a trend in our our children. Our wards don’t Becoming a norm in wake of society to attend the tuition finish their curriculum in their the alleged failures, the being classes, although I don’t need any schools and colleges, so we provided quality education by the extra classes but my family says send them to tuition centers to schools and colleges is allegedly me to do so,” a 10th class student complete their syllabus,” a group lacking everywhere. said while being worried of the of parents said. ﻮر य ﯽ اﻟﻨ गम ﻟ ोत ,MEDIA EDUCATION RESEARCH CENTRE ﺖ ا  ﻤ ٰ ा ﻠ

ﻈ म

MEDIA EDUCATION RESEARCH CENTRE,

ﻟ

ो ا

ﻦ

स

ﻣ

म UNIVERSITY OF KASHMIR त U N IR UNIVERSITY OF KASHMIR IV M ER H SITY OF KAS Vol 9 | No 03 | APRIL 15, 2016 Vol 8 | No 12 | OCTOBER 30, 2015 5 SURGE IN FAST FOOD OUTLETS

v Saher Iqbal have only Kashmiri Wazwan but because of high market demands to other varieties Srinagar: A chain of fast food outlets that has they have added several dishes to their braced up in the city are ready to serve the best menu. “From Pizza to Momos, people want from Burgers to Momos. The trend to eat out to taste something different. So we need to has hand-picked up among locals. To cater the be prepared for that. demands of people, Srinagar city is witnessing a Parvaiz Ahmad Mir the owner of “Grills” escalating of fast food outlets as the trend of fast at Nigeen Srinagar famous for food culture is picking up fast in Kashmir. its Shwarma said, that it was his son who “We started few months back. Earlier we used gave him the concept of Sharwama. “We to host very limited customers, but now we had good response from customers from receive a good number. Majority of customers very beginning and that is the reason we besides tourists are either students, working are opening another branch of “Grills” at classes and families too visit sometimes,” Baghat . Waheed Shabir who runs a fast food outlet, Mahnoor Manzoor, a class 12 student of Chillz and Grillz in Srinagar said. Kothi Bagh Higher Secondary School said. Ahmad a restaurant owner said, that initially “Whenever I feel hungry I go out and eat there was dearth of restaurants in the city, but, something from any outlet. More important now we have enough restaurants in the city now it is very trendy and we too prefer it. which gives stiff competition to provide a good quality and affordable price to the customer,” he We started few months back. Earlier we used to host very limited customers, added. but now we receive a good number. Majority of customers besides tourists are Ahmad further added that earlier they used to either students, working classes and families too visit sometimes

Kashmiri traditional street food SnowShoe hazardous for health Introduced In v Waseen Ahmad high temperature, chemical reaction takes place,” Dr Shakeel, a general physician said. Kashmir Srinagar: : In Kashmir, street food like Aalow Moreover he added, repeated use of the v Mohammad Hussain Monj, Nadir Monj and Pakodas are becoming same oil irritates the lining of the digestive : the world famous ski-resort becomes first health hazards for the people as the food is tract. These chemicals interact with the cells place in India to host SnowShoe activity when SnowShoe being prepared by frequently reused oil. in the lining of the food pipe, the stomach and Federation of India (SSFI) held J&K Tourism SnowShoe The procedure for making these snacks are the intestines and alter their genetic makeup, championship at ski resort in the first week of April. hazardous for health. The oil used to prepare thereby killing the cells. The event was organized by SSFI in collaboration with these snacks is often of low quality and is Meanwhile Assistant Food Commissioner Directorate of Tourism, Kashmir. The objective of the event reused several times. Moreover they use some Hilal Ahmad Mir said that we are continuously was to introduce SnowShoe sport in India and for that that colouring agents in it during its preparation to keeping our eye on those vendors and we will try SSFI chose Gulmarg as the destination. give it a catchy look. The snacks are being sold our best to stop these activities in the market. SnowShoe sport is popular in European and American and prepared at every nook and corner of the “Besides this we have also taken some samples Countries, is new entrant in India and in April Gulmarg valley. People consume it in large quantities, of oil which are proven as sub standard oil and become first Winter Sport destination in Country to host mostly in evening hours. we have taken action against those vendors’, he its activity. “I love eating these snacks and often eat added. The event was flagged off by Director Tourism, Kashmir, these in evening hours. If there are any health Mahmood Ahmad Shah alongwith SSFI President Mir hazards due to these snacks then the concerned Mudassar, WGFI President Col. Dhillon, Assistant Director authorities should keep an eye on these Tourism Dr. Ilyas, Olympian Gul Mustafa and SSFI vendors.” a food junky, Aijaz Ahmad said. treasurer Mir Nazir. A young participant of Narbal area of As per the health experts, oil is being heated Budga namely Ifshan finished first while as Umer Hamid of to temperature typically between 149 degrees Budgam finished second. Umer Farooq of Srinagar gained Celsius and 215 degrees Celsius. The fatty the third position acids in the oil break down into harmful trans While terming the moment as historically important, fats. Additives, such as food colouring and the Director Tourism said, “We are happy to see Gulmarg preservatives used in these snacks react with becoming first place in entire Country to host any SnowShoe the fatty acids from the oil to produce toxic sporting activity. It is small step towards a brighter future aldehydes. as this sport and activity has got immense potential” “During cooking of snacks, proteins and On the occasion SSFI President, Mir Madassar said, “We carbohydrates in the food react with the hot are trying to procure more equipment and will introduce oil. Oil-soluble flavors in the food are therefore this activity in other parts of Country apart from released into the oil. If the oil is heated to a very and .” ﻮر य ﯽ اﻟﻨ गम ﻟ ोत ,MEDIA EDUCATION RESEARCH CENTRE ﺖ ا  ﻤ ٰ ा ﻠ

ﻈ म

ﻟ

ो ا

ﻦ

स

ﻣ

म UNIVERSITY OF KASHMIR त U N IR IV M ER H SITY OF KAS Vol 9 | No 03 | APRIL 15, 2016 6 KHUSHHAL SAR Vegetable growers face SHRINKS AND tough competition STINKS outside state v Imran Ali Ask for HYV seeds, other facilities Srinagar: Once famous for its pristine water and eye- catching beauty Khushhal Sar stinks today. The lake which stretched from Zoonimar to Aali Masjid, and linked up with Anchar Sar is now squeezed to half its size.Ef- fluents and garbage from surrounding areas are directly dumped into the lake. Polythene and garbage has choked it completely. Mohammad Ibrahim Ganie, a local inhabitant said a local resident “In my childhood, people both young and adult bathed and swam in the lake for the whole day in summer, tourists used to visit here, they enjoyed shikara ride in the lake. Today it stinks so much in summer that we need to cover our nose to walk near it”. Besides its scenic attraction for tourists, the lake was an important source of income for many locals, Zadibal Nadru, a product of Khushhal Sar, was famous across Kashmir for its delicious taste. Fish and fodder along with other lake products were also obtained from the Sar, he added. Speaking to MERC Times, Assistant Professor, Envi- ronmental Science Department, Kashmir University Dr. Samiullah Bhat, said , “These water bodies including v Muneem Farooq Srinagar and . Budgam is the Anchar Sar, Khushhal Sar, Gil Sar are our assets and we largest vegetable-producing district in the need to preserve them but unfortunately the concerned Srinagar: The Valley’s Vegetable growers, Valley followed by Srinagar. agencies are taking less efforts to do so”. while accusing the administration of pay- There is only one canning plant at Lal There are numerous causes like improper drainage ing less attention to them, said that in last Mandi run by the Horticulture depart- system, weak surveillance over encroachments, non- season they faced huge losses due to lack of ment. “People throng the plant to get items professional approach of concerned agencies that created demand from the outside states. canned. If the government installs more chaos”. “There should be a proper mechanism to main- “At least, each grower incurred a loss of canning /packing plants, we will have tain these lakes. The concerned agencies should be tech- approximately Rs 5 lakhs,” a grower, Mo- fresh vegetables off-season as well. Then nically equipped to carry out preservation processes” he hammad Shafi said adding that “Govern- we would not be forced to import vegeta- added. ment is not able to provide hybrid seeds to bles during off season (December-June) Reflecting the non seriousness of authorities towards the all growers, which forces the growers and the price rise of vegetables can also be the deteriorated condition of Khushhal Sar, Secretary, to cultivate crops on their old seeds hence checked”, the growers said. Lakes and Waterways Development Authority (LAWDA) causing delayed and less production,” he Describing Kashmir a large scale produc- said, “As of now,LAWDA has not any revival plan for added. er of vegetables, Agriculture department’s Khushhal Sar. The Department is presently working on Explaining other reasons for the tough information officer, Naseer Ahmad Lone Conservation of the and the ”. competition, he further said that usually said, “Vegetables are grown on about 26966 vegetables were cultivated earlier than hectares in the Valley. A hectare produces other states in the Valley, which created de- 200 quintals of vegetables which generates mand for our produce. But with the advent revenue of about 100 crores annually”. of technology farmers of other states have Hailing different initiatives of depart- switched to improved seeds and techniques ment for improving vegetable yields, Nas- allowing them to cultivate their crops ear- eer Ahmad said that the department has lier thus reducing the demand for our pro- put forward a proposal of Vegetable cluster duction. in towns and other urban areas.“The de- He urged the government to introduce partment is trying to educate the growers HYV seeds to provide timely and improved about the latest techniques,” he added. production. “HYV and improved seed qual- Experts in SKUAST believe that veg- ity can again get us back to the track,” he etable production can register a massive added. increase if the farmers use modern tech- To meet the requirements of the Valley, niques and effective seeds. “If farmers are he also requested to install canning and encouraged to opt for vegetables, Kashmir packing facilities at the headquarters of can become a major supplier of vegetables”, vegetable producing districts of Budgam, they said. ﻮر य ﯽ اﻟﻨ गम ﻟ ोत ,MEDIA EDUCATION RESEARCH CENTRE ﺖ ا  ﻤ ٰ ा ﻠ

ﻈ म

ﻟ

ो ا

ﻦ

स

ﻣ

म UNIVERSITY OF KASHMIR त U N IR IV M ER H SITY OF KAS Vol 9 | No 03 | APRIL 15, 2016 7 Village Without Water v Saba Bhat water. We request the higher authorities to look into the matter to help us’ Sarpanch Nisar Ahmad Beigh Srinagar: The residents of Qazigund villageof An- said. The residents have to get water from two kilo- antnag are facing shortage of water, due to the blast- meters distance. ing for construction a tunnel for four lining of Jam- The matter came into the limelight after people of mu-Srinagar Highway the village found fuel-like smell in the drinking wa- Following the foul smell in a spring at Reshinag ter coming from the spring. ‘We have been forgotten Lowermunda in Qazigund, residents stopped using by the administration’ says Nisar Ahmad. water supply from it. A report by the Geology and On 31st of March, a geology team comprised of Dr Mining department Kashmir has found that the sol- A S Sodhi (CCGK), Khursheed Ahmad Mir (AMO), utes (oil emulsion) in the spring water can be a ex- and Showkat Ali Shah (I/C DMO ) con- pressed as possible chemical compounds of mixing ducted a site inspection to the areas. The results of ANFO (Ammonium Nitrate Fuel oil). Explosive might still take months while the villagers suffer materials used during the blasting with infiltrating without sources of drinking water. recharge water (of under construction four lane tun- to not use water for the drinking purposes but they “We are looking into the matter and we assure to nel) as one of the blasting agent contain fuel oil. are not even supplying drinking water form the last them that issue will be resolves and relief will be Residents said PHE has already appealed people one week. ‘PHE officials failed to provide us safe provided to people”, said a PHE official. Bandipora area O cial Apathy Turns Khurhuma Dab Canal Into Drain lacks electricity v Showkat wani the canal.” many villages are dependent on canal for many purposes which include irrigation and drinking v Sabeeha Shaheen :Khurhuma-Dab canal ,a fresh water ca- purpose but pollution of the canal has make it unsafe nal in Ganderbal has turned into effluent drain. Resi- for domestic and irrigational use. Bandipora: While there is a hue and cry over the dents and business establishment located on its banks When contacted Mohd Yusuf district officer, pollu- hike in the power tariff, at the other end there is a release sewage in to the canal and authorities are look- tion control Ganderbal,he said, “if there is any genu- small Hamlet of Khodi Mohalla Sumlar of district ing as mute spectators. ine concern regarding water pollution of the canal Bandipora which is in complete darkness in the Local residents say some people through effluent then residents can register formal complaint in our 21st Century. into the canal and authorities are least bothered office and then we will act on it according to statutes." Kashmir is good at providing power at enormous about it even toilet waste is discharged into the canal. Inhabitants who use this water for various purposes rate, but, what could be the shamefulness of the Accordingly to state water pollution Control act say that water of the canal was used for drinking pur- administration that in the 21st century Khodi Mo- 1974, Any person involved in offence of polluting water pose but nowadays one have to think hundred times halla Sumlar of district Bandipora is reeling under body is liable to get 6 months imprisonment and pen- before putting their hand in the canal. darkness, said Mohammad Shafi, a local resident. alty up to twenty thousand Rupees but act seems not “One fail to spot any aquatic animals in the canal so Kashmir being one of the largest producers of acting in this case . is the level of pollution.” They further added. electricity in India has multitude of villages yet Adil Magray a local resident said "The canal stinks Residents demand proper attention by concerned au- to be electrified, one of them is our village who to much it is unbearable to walk near it. Authorities thorities towards the canal so as to save the water body haven’t received electricity yet, he added never tried to stop offenders involving in polluting from extension. We residents have approached the authorities many times but, “we have only been given false as- surances”.At that time they assured us the work will be started soon, but nothing has been done yet and government has failed us, said Zakir Hussain. Polo ground in shambles When contacted, the Power Development Depart- ment (PDD) officials said, that the villagers will v Mozam Bhat tion (JKFA) for the maintenance tenance of Polo ground”. have to wait till “a new scheme is announced”. of Polo Ground. This year we were able to Speaking to MERC TIMES, Chief Engineer PDD, Srinagar: The famous Polo “The condition of polo ground continue our football activities Bashir Ahmad Khan said, we don’t have any ground football stadium in Sri- is very bad nowadays as they in winters as well, otherwise scheme yet through which we could install poles nagar which was once consid- have just neglected this ground, in past all activities were held and transformer in the area, however, once the new ered as the hub of football in while in past all the football in Jammu. The ground will be schemes come up, electricity will be supplied in to Kashmir and which has hosted activities were held in this soon in good condition and foot- the village. many tournaments in past is ground”, said Hilal Ahmad a lo- ball activities will be resumed Further the dependency on the firewood is re- waiting for its maintenance cal. there in summers”, he added. sulting in various number of health issues espe- now. However Zameer Thakur, “One cannot always play on cially women fall prey to diseases like tuberculosis After the devastating floods President of JKFA said,“due to grounds laid with synthetic turf and asthma due to overuse of firewood which emits of 2014 in which most of the Sri- our busy schedule of hosting as it hampers the performance enough smoke .We are hoping to get electricity as nagar city got submerged, no some of the matches of 2nd Divi- of the players”, said Haroon soon as possible from the newly formed govern- measures were taken by Jammu sion I-League here we were not Rashid, a football player who ment, said Khurshid Ahmad. and Kashmir Football Associa- able to concentrate on the main- plays for a local club ﻮر य ﯽ اﻟﻨ गम ﻟ ोत ,MEDIA EDUCATION RESEARCH CENTRE ﺖ ا  ﻤ ٰ ा ﻠ

ﻈ म

ﻟ

ो ا

ﻦ

स

ﻣ

म UNIVERSITY OF KASHMIR त U N IR IV M ER H SITY OF KAS Vol 9 | No 03 | APRIL 15, 2016 8 Mehjoor’s Hymn: A New DC tightens noose Ritual In Schools against poppy v Nadeem ’, Faesal said. During ‘Mehjoor Day’ function on cultivators Srinagar : ‘Sahibo Sath Cham Mea 10th April ‘Minister of Education Chani’ a famous hymn written by Shayir- Naeem Akhter urged Education v Ali Mohd Pathan e-Kashmir (Poet of Kashmir) Ghulam Department to ensure the recitation of Ahmad Mahjoor will now be recited during ‘Sahibo Sath Cham Mea Chani’ during Kulgam: To eradicate the menace of morning assemblies, in the schools of morning assembly in all the educational poppy/bhang cultivation in district . institutions. Kulgam, Deputy Commissioner, Shah Feasal, Directorate of School Mehjoor was born on August 11 in the Dr Syed Abid Rasheed lchaired a Education Kashmir (DSEK) passed the year 1887 in Mitrigam area of Pulwama meeting with the officers of Excise & orders asking all the school heads of of South Kashmir and died at the age of Taxation and Revenue departments. Kashmir division to ensure that famous 66 on April 9 in the year 1952. Former While chairing the meeting, the prayer of , Ghulam Ahmad Mahjoor, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan DC stressed upon the Executive ‘Sahibo Sath Cham Mea Chani’ (Oh Lord, My only Singh released a postage stamp in his honor on June Magistrates (Tehsildars) to swing Hope) is regularly recited. ‘It is for all the schools of 26 in the year 2013. into action to destroy the poppy cultivation, if any. It was decided in the meeting that a joint team of Revenue, Police and Excise departments shall be constituted to Devsar awaits renovation ensure destroying of poppy crop in district Kulgam. It was given out in the meeting of collapsed bridge that Excise Department has already identified some areas in Kulgam v Danish Alam Tehsil where poppy cultivation is done on commercial scale which is Kulgam: Devsar and its adjacent against the NDPS Act. areas continue to remain cut off The DC called for a stringent from Kulgam Town. Reason, a action against those who cultivate bridge connecting the two ends poppy and other narcotic drugs. collapsed more than eight months Pertinent to mention here, that ago. recently PSA was slapped against a Bridge which was constructed drug trafficker. over 1000 ft wide famous Nallah It is pertinent to mention that under Veshav, collapsed during disastrous Section 15 of the Act, the production, September floods. With the result, process and transformation of poppy locals are helpless to travel additional is completely prohibited and the ten to eleven kilometers in order to one who indulges in such activity reach to the district headquarters. is liable to a rigorous imprisonment A population of more than 30,000 for six months and a fine of Rs 10000. residents of Devsar and its adjoining The meeting was further informed areas is left with a single narrow that public notices have been already passage as the only link between the issued to inform the people about the two ends. illegality of the poppy cultivation. In “We once visited the then MLA this regard, the revenue authorities Sakina Itoo, but in her tenure have been impressed upon to engage neither did she turn up nor could local panchayat bodies to dealt with allot any fund for the reconstruction of the bridge.” said suffering too he said “We usually fail to reach on time the menace. Besides, the religious Muhammad Ibrahim Mir, President Halqa Devsar. to our schools and colleges.” leaders have been requested to “Even newly elected MLA, Abdul Majeed Padder also Officais say that the re-construction will take some dissuade people about the hazards could help us in building the bridge” he added. “we did everything to make things better and easy of cultivation of poppy. People are suffering, especially the students, as this but due to challenging weather circumstances we The meeting was attended by SP bridge provided the only short passage to other areas are unable to do anything. Now, the work has started Kulgam, ADC, ACR, ETO and all , “we have to travel extra ten kilometers to reach the for the reconstruction and it will take more than Tehsildars. main city, earlier, which was two kilometers away.” two months to complete this bridge`` said Divisional said a college student. Adding that their studies are Commissioner, Kulgam.

ﻮر य ﯽ اﻟﻨ गम EDITORIAL TEAM ﻟ ोत ﺖ ا  ﻤ ٰ ा ﻠ

ﻈ म

ﻟ

ो ا

ﻦ

स

:Patron: | Chief Editor: | Editor ﻣ

म Prof. Khurshid Andrabi, Vice-Chancellor Faruq Masudi Muslim Jan त U N IR Graphic Artist: | Students Editorial Team: IV M Aga Shahi Muhammed Nadeem, Wajahat Shabir, Munawar Hussain. ER SH SITY OF KA e-mail: [email protected] | website: www.mercs.uok.edu.in