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Published from Srinagar | Jammu Regd. No. JKNP-5/SKGPO-2015-2017 Vol: 30 No. 79 Pages: 16 Rs. 5.00 epaper.GreaterKashmir.com GreaterKashmir.com, GreaterKashmir.net, GreaterKashmir.news MONDAY, March 20, 2017 20, Jamadi Al Sani, 1438 30 th Year of publication Bahar Complex Shalteing Zainakote * T&C apply Finance* Available CPCB approved Warrenty 2 Yrs/5000hrs* 7.5kva-500kva 979 792 7459 959 609 8718 TRIDENT REALTY Free Modular Kitchen & Wardrobes in all rooms Starting at 33 Lac onwards Building the Future Ready To Move Residential Apartments at Nodia Extension SPECIAL OFFER FOR KASHMIRIS G-way G-way Refer to Srinagar: Anantnag hospital’s lone remedy for maternity patients 185 referrals on an average every month, say doctors Locals demand immediate shifting of MCH Boomline KHALID GUL Anantnag (Islamabad), Mar 19: Doctors at lone maternity and childcare hos- pital (MCH) in this southern district mostly refer patients to Srinagar hospitals due to acute shortage of space. At least 185 maternity patients from here are—on an aver- age—referred to Lal Ded Maternity Hospital in Sri- nagar every month due to paucity of beds, according to official sources. “In 2016, at least 2,213 maternity patients were shifted to LD Hospital mainly because there were no beds available to perform caesarians,” sources told Greater Kashmir. The “unnecessary” refer- rals lead to overburdening of Srinagar hospitals. “Had the MCH been spacious enough and well- equipped, there would have been no need to refer patients from South Kash- mir to Srinagar’s hospitals including LD or GB Pant or JLNM, except in cases of extreme complications,” a doctor at MCH said. Inaugurated in 2002 by then PDP-Congress coalition government, the 40-bedded hospital caters to patients from entire south Kashmir as well as Chenab Valley and Pirpanchal region. “With more than 15,000 patients seen in its OPD and around 5,000 in the IPD every month, the hospital always remains overcrowded, with even two to three patients sharing a single bed in the IWT talks in Islamabad today 10-member Indian delegation reaches Pakistan to take part in meeting of Permanent Indus Commission AILING HEALTHCARE See Refer to Srinagar...on Pg-10 The hospital, according to officials, always remains overcrowded, with two to three patients sharing a single bed in the wards. Mir Wasim/GK New Delhi, Mar 19: A 10-member Indian delegation on Sunday left for Pakistan to take part in the meeting of Permanent Indus Com- mission (PIC) beginning on Monday in Islamabad. The delegation comprises India's Indus Water Commissioner P K Saxena, MEA officials and technical experts. Speaking to PTI, a gov- ernment source said India is "always open" to discuss and resolve concerns Paki- stan have over its projects under Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) bilaterally. The source, however, reiterated that there will be "no compromise" on India exploiting its due rights under the 57-year-old pact. However, the agenda for the meeting, taking place nearly six months after India decided to suspend talks on the pact in the wake of Uri militant attack, is yet to be finalised. Asked whether the delay in reaching consensus over agenda for the meeting will leave little time to resolve issues, the source replied in negative. "We always go into such meetings with optimistic mindset. In the past too, there had been delays in finalising agenda for the meeting, yet solutions were achieved," the source added. To drive the point, the source recalled how Paki- stan's concerns over India's Uri-II and Chutak hydroelec- tric projects were resolved seven years ago through dis- cussions. Pakistan had raised objections over designs of 240 MW Uri-II and 44 MW Chutak projects, built in Baramulla and Kargil dis- tricts of Jammu and Kash- mir respectively, saying these will deprive it of its water share under the pact. However, at a meeting held here in May 2010, the neigh- bouring country withdrew objections after Indian side provided details of these. Similarly, Pakistan has been flagging concern over designs of India's five other hydroelectricity projects -- Pakal Dul (1000 MW), Ratle (850 MW), Kishanganga (330 MW), Miyar (120 MW) and Lower Kalnai (48 MW) -- being built/planned in the Indus river basin, contend- ing these violate the treaty. It had approached the World Bank, the mediator between the two countries of the 57-year-old water dis- tribution treaty, in August last year raising issues over Kishanganga and Ratle proj- ects in Jammu and Kashmir. While there is no clarity yet whether issues relating to these two projects will figure during the meet as they are before the Bank, the source said Pakal Dul, Miyar and Lower Kalnai may be discussed. Accord- ing to Pakistan, designs of the three projects are not in line with the treaty, where- as India has maintained otherwise. INDIA IS ALWAYS OPEN TO DISCUSS AND RESOLVE CONCERNS PAKISTAN HAS OVER ITS PROJECTS UNDER INDUS WATERS TREATY. See IWT talks...on Pg-10 In turbulent Valley, Juvenile Justice System set to become a reality SPOTLIGHT 6-member apex committee headed by Justice (Retd) Hasnain Masoodi to constitute Juvenile Justice Boards, Child Welfare Committees in every district ABID BASHIR Srinagar, Mar 19: After years of flip-flop, the much-awaited juve- nile justice system in Jammu and Kashmir is becoming a reality in the strife-torn Valley, with the gov- ernment constituting its maiden apex committee to select mem- bers of Juvenile Justice Boards and Child Welfare Committees in every district. The apex committee will be headed by Justice (retd.) Hasnain Masoodi and include six persons as its members. In the wake of a Public Inter- est Litigation in J&K High Court, the Directorate of Integrated Child Development Scheme held a series of deliberations over the issue and has finally the set the ball rolling. The state government had come under severe criticism for non- implementation of the Juvenile Justice Act. “A six-member committee has been constituted which will act as an apex body for selection of members of JJBs and CWCs in each district,” Mission Director, ICDS, Talat Pervez told Greater Kashmir. He said the apex body will be headed by Justice Masoodi. “Heads of two departments of Kashmir Uni- versity, two members from NGOs and myself would be the members of the six-member apex committee,” Pervez said. THERE ARE 25,000 CHILDREN IN KASHMIR WHO HAVE NO RELATIVES AND NO PLACE TO LIVE. THE FIRST AND FOREMOST DUTY OF THE COMMITTEE CONSTITUTED UNDER MY CHAIRMANSHIP WILL BE TO FOCUS ON CHILD PROTECTION Hasnain Masoodi | Justice (retd.) Bypolls on cards, but campaigning remains a ‘challenge’ for politicians PDP optimistic to ‘repeat’ 2014 poll performance MUDDASIR ALI Srinagar, Mar 19: Senior leaders of ruling Peoples Democratic Party met here on Sunday to chalk-out a strategy for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls to Srinagar constituency. The meeting, chaired by constituency in-charge and senior PDP Minister Syed Muhammad Altaf Bukhari, was aended by Ministers and MLAs from Srinagar and Budgam as well as district heads and other party leaders. “This was our first formal meeting to review the preparation for the upcoming polls,” said senior PDP leader Naeem Akhter, who was part of the meeting. “We got feedback from MLAs and district presidents.” The PDP’s candidate for Srinagar-Bud- NC, Congress leaders meet, review strategy GK NEWS NETWORK Srinagar, Mar 19: A high-level joint coor- dination meeting of National Conference and Congress leaders, legislators, segment in-charges and office-bearers was held here on Sunday to discuss strategy for upcoming bypolls in Kashmir. National Conference President Dr Farooq Abdullah, Working President Omar Abdullah, Pradesh Congress Commiee Chief, Ghulam Ahmed Mir and National Conference General Secretary Ali Muham- mad Sagar addressed the meeting that was held to review preparations and strategy for upcoming by-elections to two Parliament Seats of Srinagar and Anantnag, a spokes- man of National Conference said. “Leaders of both parties discussed the current political situation and also reviewed See In turbulent Valley...on Pg-10 NC, Congress leaders want ECI to ‘create a conducive atmosphere’ MUDDASIR ALI Srinagar, Mar 19: While bypolls to two parliamen- tary seats in Kashmir are round the corner, the election atmosphere is missing on ground, particularly in South of Valley which continues to witness civilian pro- tests amid anti-militancy operations. The polls for elections to Anantnag-Pulwama and Srinagar Budgam Parliamentary seats were announced on March 9 followed by the announcement of candidates by the ruling and opposi- tion parties earlier this week. But there is hardly any political activity being carried by any party in both the constituencies. Though Kashmir has gradually come out of the summer uprising of 2016 in which at least 96 civilians were killed and almost 15,000 people injured in action by forces, the atmosphere remains surcharged particularly in southern areas as forces—after a brief lull—have intensi- fied the anti-mili- tancy operations. The mainstream parties acknowledge that carrying out election campaigning, particu- larly in South Kashmir There is no doubt that campaigning will be a challenge as the situation is not conducive and the government is doing lile to improve it. ALI MUHAMMAD SAGAR NC leader There is an impact of the situation of past nine months on minds of people. Now the continued crackdown on youth and abuse of power is leading to simmering anger. GA MIR JK Congress chief In the past we have seen when situation was worse, people participated in good numbers in the polls. Whether it happens this time, it remains to be seen. MEHBOOB BEG PDP spokesman See NC, Congress...on Pg-10 See PDP optimistic...on Pg-10 Feedback: [email protected] www.kashmirink.in Latest Issue has hit the stands Grab your copy! In this issue..... …And more A Greater Kashmir PUBLICATION WWW.KASHMIRINK.IN PRICE: `10/- PUBLISHED FROM SRINAGAR| VOL: 03 | ISSUE: 13 | 19TH MARCH, 2017 TO25THMARCH, 2017| PAGES: 16 | RNI REGN. NO. JKENG/2014/63007 UP win Does Kashmir need to worry? REPORT | SOFI AHSAN Broken Backs OPINION | GOWHAR FAZILI Kashmir, Azadi and the Hollowness of Left-Liberal Solidarity INTERVIEW | MAJID MAQBOOL Trust your capabilities even when odds are against you COVER | OPINION | NYLA ALI KHAN Majoritarianism is Feared as Much as Monarchism COVER | OPINION | ENGINEER RASHEED Ominous Tidings BOOK REVIEW | BASHARAT ALI Reading Fanon in Jaffna Geelani slams mainstream parties, says they are all power-hungry GK NEWS NETWORK Srinagar Mar 19: Reiterating his boy- cott call for upcoming parliamentary elections in Kashmir, the Chairman of Hurriyat Conference (G) Syed Ali Gee- lani on Sunday hit out at mainstream political parties including Peoples Democratic Party, National Confer- See Geelani slams...on Pg-10 See Bypolls...on Pg-10 Will address all your concerns, Mehbooba tells Imran Ansari MLA Pattan to be in-charge of Srinagar- Budgam constituency MUDDASIR ALI Srinagar, Mar 19: Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Sunday assured PDP leader and MLA Pattan, Imran Raza Ansari—who resigned from the State Cabinet last month follow- ing redistribution of portfo- lios—of “addressing all his concerns” and asked him to resume the office. “I assured him (Ansari) of addressing all his con- cerns,” Mehbooba, who is PDP President, told Greater Kashmir. “I will look into all the issues.” Ansari met the Chief Minister at her Gupkar residence here on Sunday following which the PDP leader was made in-charge of Srinagar-Budgam Parlia- mentary constituency which would go to the polls on April I ASSURED HIM (ANSARI) OF ADDRESSING ALL HIS CONCERNS. HE IS LIKE MY YOUNGER BROTHER. I WILL LOOK INTO ALL THE ISSUES. Mehbooba Muſti tells GK See Will address...on Pg-10 CMYK
