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Excelsior daily REGD. NO. JK-71/18-20 RNI No. 28547/65 Vol No. 54 No. 355 JAMMU, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2018 16 Pages ` 5.00 For first time, J&K to have comprehensive R&R Policy for projects affected populace Mohinder Verma JAMMU, Dec 24: For the first time, Jammu and Kashmir is going to have a comprehensive Rehabilitation and Resettlement (R&R) Policy for the people being affected due to various devel- opmental projects as final draft has been prepared and will be placed before the State Administrative Council (SAC) headed by Governor Satya Pal Malik shortly for approval. Official sources told EXCELSIOR that with Government taking various ini- tiatives for overall development of the State exercise of legal powers for acquisition of private property becomes imperative and leads to involuntary dis- placement of people depriving them of their land, livelihood and shelter besides uprooting them from their socio-cultural environment. "Displacement of the peo- ple, for any reason, has trau- matic, psycho-social and socio- cultural consequences for them thus broader concerted efforts are required on the part of the planners to include in the displacement, rehabili- tation and resettlement process framework not only those who directly lose land and other assets but also those who are affected by acquisi- tion of assets", sources said. Moreover, the State being vulnerable to disasters ranging from destructive floods to cata- strophic earthquakes, snow bliz- zards to avalanches, wind storms to fires and landslides to soil erosion many a times wit- ness voluntary or involuntary displacement of people from the affected or vulnerable areas. Keeping all these aspects in mind, the Department of Disaster Management, Relief, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction prepared a draft R&R Policy and forwarded the Sanjeev Pargal JAMMU, Dec 24: Governor Satya Pal Malik today called for taking all measures for safety and security of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi ji pilgrims as he inaugu- rated Bhawan- Bhairon Ghati passen- ger ropeway project for the pilgrims from the Raj Bhawan here after which the service for the pilgrims was formally launched. While e-inaugurat- ing the prestigious and high-tech project, which has been completed at a cost of Rs 85 crore, the Governor drew the attention of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) officials towards ropeway tragedy at Panchkula in Haryana and called upon them to keep safety of the pilgrims high on their agenda while operating the service. However, the Governor was assured that Bhawan-Bhairon ropeway project has been con- structed at par with European standards and has all requisite safety norms. The project has three tier safeties and in case of failure of one system, it will switch over to second and third systems automatically. Apart from safety of the pilgrims travelling through ropeway on Bhawan-Bhairon track, Malik also called for taking all adequate measures for security of Mata Vaishno Devi Ji pilgrims in view of ever Take all steps for security, safety of pilgrims: Guv Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Dec 24: In a sig- nificant observation, a high- level Parliamentary Committee has called upon the Central Government to recon- sider implementation of Goods and Services Tax (GST) on tourism-related activities in Jammu and Kashmir as it was having negative impact. The Panel has also voiced concern over negative publicity of the State in other parts of the country due to militancy, which was keeping the tourists away from the State. In its report to the Parliament, the Committee com- prising senior Parliamentarians, has listed number of reasons for declining rush of tourists to Jammu and Kashmir especially the Valley and suggested certain measure which the Central and State Governments can take to revive tourist industry, which was passing through critical phase. The Parliamentary Committee noted that the Goods and Services Tax has had a "neg- ative" effect on tourism in Jammu and Kashmir and called upon the Central Government to reconsider the indirect tax regime on tourism-related activ- ities in the State to give boost to tourism. Quoting stakeholders, the Parliamentary Panel pointed out that sourcing of products and materials is an issue in the State. "Unlike other States, resi- dents of Jammu and Kashmir and its business owners spend huge amounts of money on procuring essentials, most of which have to be flown in, which increases their capital expenditure,'' the Committee said. It added that the sensitive nature of Jammu and Kashmir must be taken into consideration during the development of tourism in the region. The implementation of GST on tourism in the region will have manifold effects, mostly negative on its econo- my," the Committee said and suggested that implementation of the Goods and Services Tax should be re-considered in the State and tourism-related activity, which will be of great help in promotion of tourism and its revival. The Parliamentary Panel said small business owners of small-scale hotels, bed and Parl Panel calls upon Centre to reconsider GST on tourism in J&K Dal lake freezes, no respite in Dec Excelsior Correspondent SRINAGAR, Dec 24: The cold wave conditions swept Kashmir today with the tempera- tures breaking the 11 year old record by dipping to minus 6.8 degree Celsius in Srinagar freez- ing Dal lake and other water bodies. Since the beginning of 40-day harsh part winter-Chillai Kalan- which started on December 21 and will end on January 30, the tem- peratures plummeted. ITBP trooper killed, 35 hurt Excelsior Correspondent RAMBAN, Dec 24: An Indo- Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) trooper was killed and 35 others including driver were injured when a bus carrying them skid- ded off the road and fell into a gorge along the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway. The ill-fated vehicle bearing registration number JK04-5369 was on its way to Jammu from Srinagar, when the driver lost SC to hear Ram Janambhoomi case on Jan 4 NEW DELHI, Dec 24: The Supreme Court is scheduled to take up a batch of petitions for hearing in the Ram Janambhoomi Babri Masjid title dispute case on January 4. The matter is listed before a bench comprising Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice S K Kaul. The bench is likely to con- stitute a three-judge bench for hearing as many as 14 appeals filed against the 2010 Allahabad 12, 18 pc GST slabs to be merged NEW DELHI, Dec 24: Finance Minister Arun Jaitley today hinted at further rationalisation of GST by merg- ing the 12 and 18 per cent slabs, while criticising Congress for oppressing the country with a high indirect tax rate of 31 per cent. With an increase in revenue, India will eventually have a standard Goods and Services Tax (GST) rate between 12-18 per cent for commonly used goods. This would be in addi- tion to 0 per cent and 5 per cent Pak shelling in Nowshera, schools closed Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Dec 24: Pakistani troops today resorted to indis- criminate firing along the Line of Control (LoC) in Nowshera sector of Rajouri district, prompting authorities to close all schools as a precautionary measure. The unprovoked and intense firing and shelling from across Sharif gets 7 years jail ISLAMABAD, Dec 24: An anti-corruption court in Pakistan today sentenced oust- ed Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to seven years in jail in the Al- Azizia Steel Mills graft case while acquitting him in the Flagship Investments corrup- tion case in the high-profile Panama Papers scandal. Accountability Court II Judge Muhammad Arshad Excelsior Correspondent BILLAWAR, Dec 24: Hitting out at opposition par- ties, Union Minister in PMO Dr Jitendra Singh said today that so-called "Mahagathbandhan" is in itself a confession of opposi- tion defeat and is prompted by the defeatist realization of inability to face Narendra Modi in an electoral battle. Addressing a meeting of BJP party workers at Lakdi near here today, Dr Jitendra Singh said the victory of BJP in Lok Sabha election is a foregone conclusion and the desperate attempts to bring together a conglomerate 'Mahagathbandhan' by opposi- tion parties, portrays their weak- ness and should be seen as a compliment for the BJP. The Mahagathbandhan, he said, is not a combi- nation of political parties, but, in fact, a Mahagathbandhan of the aspirant PMs, since each of the Party leaders in this combination have been perpetually aspiring PMs for the last several years. Dr Jitendra Singh said, while the opposi- tion has nothing substantial to point out against the Modi Government, the BJP, as a rul- ing party, has so much to showcase as a part of develop- ment in the last four-and-a- half years that "it is now up to us to go from door to door and make the people aware of it." Dr Jitendra Singh cautioned against the conspiracies and intrigues of Congress and its allies, and said, the people of India have already made up their mind that Modi should continue as Prime Minister for the next term also. "It is now only a war of nerves being forged, in vain, by the opposition," he said. He added that Narendra Modi has given a transparent Government in the country which took various initiatives for the upliftment of poor and downtrodden people in remote and far-flung areas of country while the scam tainted Congress leaders are knee deep in corrup- tion and even after five years still corruption cases surface against them. INSIDE WEATHER Submission of Action Reports not optional ...Page 8 * Whopping number of contempt petitions PDP discusses poll strategy ...Page 3 BJP MLCs seek their involvement in Govt affairs as per LC mandate ....Page 3 Ware House-Nehru Market traders raise demands ....Page 5 PDP’s concern overn snail’s pace work on Baramulla- Udhampur Railway line ....Page 5 Dazzling Rasool slams cracking ton, debutant Qamran scores fifty ...Page 14 JAMMU: Mainly dry TEMPERATURE Max: 20.2 Degree C Min: 5.3 Degree C RELATIVE HUMIDITY RH-I (Morning): 82.0 per cent RH-II (Evening): 53.0 per cent Sunset on Tuesday: 05.32 p.m. Sunrise on Wednesday: 07.31 a.m. SRINAGAR: Mainly dry TEMPERATURE Max: 10.2 Degree C Min: -6.8 Degree C RELATIVE HUMIDITY RH-I (Morning): 87.0 per cent RH-II (Evening): 59.0 per cent LEH: TEMPERATURE Max: 5.9 Degree C Min: -14.7 Degree C Download Mobile Apps of Daily Excelsior for Android and IOS http://www.dailyexcelsior.com/apps/ Download on the Google Play Store Download on the App Store HC takes serious note of outdated report filed by LAWDA on Dal Fayaz Bukhari SRINAGAR, Dec 24: The High Court has taken serious note of the outdated report filed by Lakes and Waterways Development Authority on Dal lake and warned of serious view of the non-compliance of court directions and expert committee reports. The Division Bench of Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice Sanjeev Kumar took serious note of the LAWDA for ignoring the Court directions on the lake especially on flow of effluents into the water body. The HC said: "Despite peremptory directions made by us on 27th November 2018, the authorities have not moved a single step." "We have received a report dated 14th December 2018 under the signatures of Dr Abid Rashid Shah, Vice Chairman, LAWDA which would show that references is being made to cer- tain steps taken in May 2018 or otherwise that much before the recommendations of the Committee of Experts were made or the interventions by this Court by the order dated 27th November 2018", read the Court order. The High Court said that authorities are expected to take robust steps to prevent activities which are detrimental for the lake. "The respondents are expected to take robust steps, especially stoppage of certain works which are detrimental to the very existence of the Dal lake. In addition, steps towards increasing public awareness and stopping sewage of effluents reaching the Dal lake have to be aggressively pursued by the respondents", read the Court order. Court said that the deci- sion on the recommendations made by the Expert Committee have to be taken by the Government at highest level. "Be that as it may, we have received the second report of the Committee of experts which is dated 12th December 2018. The second report would show that cer- tain suggestions and directions stand made by the Committee of experts on which a decision is to be taken by the Government authorities at the highest level", the HC said. "Let this report be forthwith placed before the Chief Secretary for taking a view on the recommendation of the Committee with regard to the assignment of work to the Vice- Chairman of LAWDA", read the Court order. Court directed compliance of its directions and suggestions made by expert committee strictly. "All authorities shall ensure strict compliance with the directions made by this Court on 27th November 2018 and by the Committee in both its reports", court directed. "We make it clear that so far as the recommendations of the Committee regarding stoppage of certain detrimental activity in Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Dec 24: The State Government today set up State and Divisional-level Committees to begin prepara- tions for general elections, which will project all require- ments including manpower, security, transport, equip- ments etc. An order to this effect was issued today by the General Administration Department. The State level Committee will be headed by Principal Secretary, Home Department as Chairman. Members of the State-level Panel included Director General of Police, Principal Secretary to Government, Transport Department, Financial Commissioner, Revenue, Commissioner/Secretary to the Government, Revenue Department, Additional Director General of Police (CID), Divisional Commissioners of Jammu/Kashmir and any other officers as may be co-opted by the Committee. There will be two Divisional-level Committees, the Government order said. The Committee for Kashmir Division will be headed by the Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir as its Chairman, Inspector General of Police, Kashmir as its member and any other officer, who may be co- opted by the Committee as its member. The Divisional-level Committee for Jammu will have same composition like that of Kashmir. It too will be headed by the Divisional Commissioner, Jammu and will have the Inspector General of Police, Jammu as a members. The Committee too can co-opt any other officer as its member. The State-level Committee has been mandated to project requirements and options for conduct of general elections in the State on the basis of inputs from the Divisional-level Committees. "It has been asked to make an assessment of the ground level situation taking into con- sideration security logistical, personnel, equipment and all other requirements,'' the Government order said. The Divisional-level Committees have been asked to conduct assessment of manpow- er, security, logistical transport, equipment and all other require- ments. The Divisional-level Panels will submit an outline of the possibilities and constraints to the State level Committee, the order said. The Divisional-level Committee has been asked to submit its report to the Government by January 15 while the State level Committee will submit its report by January 31. The general elections in the State are scheduled to be held in April-May as five year term of Lok Sabha will end on May 26, 2019. Sources said the reports by the Committees will help the Government make preparations for the elections. Governor Satya Pal Malik e-inaugurating Bhawan-Bhairon Ghati ropeway project from Raj Bhawan in Jammu on Monday. *Watch video on www.excelsiornews.com *Watch video on www.excelsiornews.com *Watch video on www.excelsiornews.com * Pic on page 6. Video on www.excelsiornews.com Govt sets-up State, Divisional-level Panels for general elections Avtar Bhat JAMMU, Dec 24: Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Sarkarivah (national general secretary) Bhaiya Ji Joshi is arriving on two days tour of Jammu tomorrow morning. Joshi, who is second in the RSS hierarchy after its chief, Dr Mohan Rao Bhagwat during his two days hectic schedule of Jammu will discuss the prevail- ing political situation in the State with RSS, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), VHP leaders and representatives of other sister organisations of Sangh Privar. Sources said, RSS leader will meet senior BJP and Sangh Parivar leaders from Ladakh here on December 26 and dis- cuss the prevailing situation with them. The former BJP MP from Ladakh, Thupston Chewang who has recently resigned from BJP and whose resignation has not been accept- ed by the party as yet, has also been invited to the meeting, sources added. They said that RSS leader will have detailed deliberations with the BJP and Sangh leaders from Ladakh. The meeting is being viewed as significant since the recent drubbing of BJP in Urban Local Bodies (ULB) elections in Leh as Sangh has taken serious exception to it, they added. Joshi will discuss the caus- es of the same with leaders form Ladakh and also deliber- ations will be held on the main demands put forth by the Ladakh Bhudhist Association during 2014 elections which included grant of UT status to Ladakh, inclusion of Bhoti Language into Eighth Schedule of Indian Constitution and grant of one ministerial berth to Ladakh in Union Council of Ministers. Sources said that there is lot of resentment in Ladakh as BJP failed to fulfill these promises after coming to power at Centre especially not giving representa- tion to this remote region in Union Council of Ministers regarding which a public announcement was made by senior BJP leaders including Union Minister, Nitin Gadkari during a rally in Ladakh in 2014. Sources said that efforts will be made to motivate the aggrieved BJP leader from Top RSS leader arrives today to discuss J&K situation ‘Mahagathbandhan’ confession of Oppn defeat: Dr Jitendra (Contd on page 6 Col 5) (Contd on page 6 Col 3) (Contd on page 6 Col 1) (Contd on page 6 Col 3) (Contd on page 6 Col 3) (Contd on page 6 Col 1) Final draft r eady , to be placed befor e SAC shor tly for appr oval (Contd on page 6 Col 3) (Contd on page 6 Col 7) (Contd on page 6 Col 7) ‘Take steps to counter negative publicity’ Govt to inter link tourist spots in Jammu Bhawan-Bhairon ropeway launched (Contd on page 6 Col 5) Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh addressing a BJP meeting at Lakdi, Billawar on Monday. (Contd on page 6 Col 5) * Pic on page 6. Video on www.excelsiornews.com BJP defeat in Ladakh to figure (Contd on page 6 Col 7) Merry Christmas To All Our Readers
