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6 engineers get Rs 80 lakh for no work 3 SEs, 2 XEns sitting idle in ERA 12/23/2015 11:24:31 PM Early Times Report Jammu, Dec 23: The Economic Reconstruction Agency (ERA) which has been executing works mega developmental projects in State from the last several years has been caught on a wrong foot as six senior engineers posted in this agency almost two years back have been assigned no work and an amount of Rs 80 lakhs has been paid to them as salary for doing no work. These senior officials, three of whom are Superintending Engineers (SEs) and two Executive Engineers (XEns), according to reliable reports are seen sitting idle all the day at ERA's Jammu office and its credit goes to our senior bureaucrats and CEO of ERA. Details available with Early Times reveal that three Superintending Engineers (SEs) namely R C Bhasin , P N Bali and B L Dhar were posted in Economic Reconstruction Agency (ERA) in March 2014. After posted these senior engineers in ERA the then Government led by Omar Abdullah failed to allocate them the respective jobs / assignment. During the same time (May 2014) two more Executive Engineers (XEns) namely D B Gupta and P N Gupta were also posted in ERA ...   READ MORE

FRONT PAGE STORIES

GAD's order to disclose info voluntarily goes unnoticed 12/23/2015 11:24:06 PM Avinash Azad Early Time Report Jammu, Dec 23: : Introduced in J&K by then chief minister Omar Abdullah, the e-governance seems confined to get little-bit information regarding any department, as repeated orders issued by General Administration Department asking various department to disclose information voluntarily in state. Paradoxically, the initiative taken to bring transparency ingovernance, but after around six years, when e-governance begun in state, most of the departments had not made available contact number of top babus on their respective websites. According to copy officials communiqué available with Early Times the GAD has repeatedly directed asked all departments to make...   READ MORE   Erstwhile NC-Cong regime messed up Total Sanitation Campaign JK failed to submit utilisation certificates; Centre refused release of Rs 103.36 crore 12/23/2015 11:23:56 PM Syed Junaid Hashmi Early Times Report JAMMU, Dec 23: The audit report on centrally sponsored Total Sanitation Campaign (TCS), popularly known as Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan (NBA), scheme has exposed the inefficiency and non-seriousness of the erstwhile NC-Congress regime. According to performance audit of Total Sanitation Campaign/Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan for the year ended 2014; Union Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation did not release funds to the tune of Rs. 103.36 crore during 2009-14 primarily because the Jammu and Kashmir government then headed by NC failed to submit utilisation certificates (UCs) and the Audited Statement of Accounts (ASAs) to the Union Ministry as required under t...   READ MORE   Panchayat Ghar rented out to chicken farm sealed after ET report 12/23/2015 11:23:54 PM Muhammad Mukaram Early Times Report Srinagar, Dec: 23: Taking cognizance of a report in Early Times, the Block Development Officer BDO, along with a team of officers cleared the premises and sealed the building of Panchayat Ghar which had been rented out by the Rural Development Department and Panchayati Raj to a chicken farmer in Dooru area of Anantnag against a paltry amount of Rs 150 a month. On December 7 Early Times carried a report titled "Panchayat Ghar rented out to chicken farm in south Kashmir". The building had been given to one Maqsood Ahmad Beigh, an employee of the RDD on rent 'after auctioning by the Panchayat Ghar itself @ Rs 150 per month'. Interestingly, inhabitant...   READ MORE   Govt pats its back for implementing NFSA, forgets Right to Education 12/23/2015 11:23:45 PM Abodh Sharma Early Times Report Jammu, Dec 23: While state Government is yelling at top of its voice, seeking credit of implementation of Food Security act in Jammu and Kashmir more than a year it was implemented in rest of the country, it is pity that Right to Education has still remained elusive for the children of the state and the state government is showing no intent to get the act implemented. Sources divulge that while onus if implementation of the Food Security Act that guarantees food to all citizens at highly subsidized rates lied on the Centre that has to provide ration to the state government, huge inadequacies in the field of school education in the state despite central sc...   READ MORE   NC sees NFSA implementation as chance to trigger unrest in Valley 12/23/2015 11:23:35 PM Early Times Report srinagar, Dec 23: The decision of the PDP-BJP Government to implement National Food Security Act (NFSA) in Jammu and Kashmir has snowballed into a major controversy and opposition National Conference is leaving no stone unturned to corner the coalition over the issue. On Wednesday scores of NC activists took to the streets in Srinagar and staged a protest demanding the Act should be rolled back. The protest was staged a day after the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) President Mehbooba Mufti assured that NFSA would be reviewed and the issues concerning people would be addressed. Sources told Early Times that NC wants to turn implementation of NFSA in the State as a "...   READ MORE   Vigil stepped up ahead of 'eid milad' march 12/23/2015 11:23:33 PM Asif Iqbal Naik Early Times Report Kishtwar, Dec 23: Police and other agencies have stepped up vigil in and around the town here after a poster, that was written in Urdu, asked people to take out 'eid milad march' on Thursday. The eid milad march was last held in the town over two decades back, ie in 1993. The call for it has been given by lesser known Allah-e-Sunat-Wal-Jammat outfit through a poster which carries an appeal for the people to participate in the march at Jamia Masjid, Kishtwar, on Thursday at 11 am. Even Kishtwar police and administration are unaware of the organization which is believed to be headed by some government official. As per the poster, a copy of which is av...   READ MORE   Sky is the limit: Continuity in Congress' Kashmir policy 12/23/2015 11:23:28 PM Early Times Report Jammu, Dec 23: It was on November 4, 1995 that the then Prime Minister P V Narasimha Rao had declared at Burkina Faso, formerly called the Republic of Upper Volta, that Sky was the limit as far as the demand in Kashmir for autonomy was concerned. "From a long distance away from home, I am addressing an appeal through this statement to the people of Jammu and Kashmir, at a time which could well turn their destiny once again in glorious manner, so as to make that lovely land a peer to paradise -jannatnishaan, as it has been called for centuries". It, according to autonomywallas in Kashmir, "outlined his package and set the stage to fulfill his commitment to the people of...   READ MORE   Winter vacations in Jammu schools from Jan 2nd 12/23/2015 11:23:23 PM Early Times Report JAMMU, Dec 23: The winter vacations in schools of Jammu will begin from Jan 2nd ."All the government institutions including recognised private schools upto Higher Secondary level falling in summer zone areas of Jammu division shall observe vacation with effect from 2nd January to January 13, 2016," a government order issued by the school education department here today said. An order also read that any default on part of the private schools in observance of the calendar of vacations, so authorised, shall attract action under rules....   READ MORE   GMCH docs ‘refuse to operate’ accident victim 12/23/2015 11:23:19 PM Early Times Report Jammu, Dec 23: The doctors at Government Medical College and Hospital (GMC&H) Jammu have allegedly refused to operate a patient who was critically injured in a road accident and was shifted to GMCH from Sub District Hospital (SDH) Bishnah for specialized treatment. Narrating their woeful plight with ‘Early Times’, the family members of the patient who had a fractured leg alleged that due to an unholy nexus between the chemist shops and doctors, they are denied treatment/operation as in haste they brought surgical items randomly but not from a particular medical shop specified by the doctors. One of the family members said, “Patient namely Raju Gupta resident of Bishnah...   READ MORE   Padder ventures into troubled waters, intends to fulfil election promises 12/23/2015 11:23:12 PM Early Times Report Srinagar, Dec 23: The Flood Control Minister Abdul Majid Padder on Wednesday said the government was committed to fulfil the poll promises. For Paddar's information, fulfilling the promises is not that easy and the statement may win him severe criticism from fellow minister especially from the education minister, Nayeem Akhter. Akhter committed a blunder during electioneering by promising withdrawal of cases against the stone pelters. The promise earned the party thousands of votes but the failure of the government to withdraw the cases is hitting hard at the popularity of the party in Kashmir valley. Padder can neither provide jobs to the unemployed youth (as promised...   READ MORE   Didn't push for declaring Oct 26 as holiday: BJP 12/23/2015 11:23:09 PM Early Times Report Jammu, Dec 23: On December 19, PDP president Mehbooba Mufti gave a certificate of appreciation to BJP while addressing party Ministers, legislators and office-bearers at day-long party meeting in Srinagar, which had been called to review party's preparations for upcoming Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) and Panchayat elections. Hailing the working of the BJP Ministers, she had, inter-alia, said: "This is the best ever Council of Ministers in the State. The BJP Ministers are working with full dedication and devotion under the command of Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed. The BJP has been upholding the coalition dharma". These were not off-the-cuff remarks; these were her wel...   READ MORE   Due to influence of power-brokers BJP, Cong agree not to highlight corruption of each other 12/23/2015 11:23:01 PM Early Times Report Jammu, Dec 23: Ruling BJP and opposition Congress appeared to the reach at consensus not to highlight each other's corruption cases and misdeeds. Instead of exposing each other, leaders of both the parties, which are arch political rivals at national level, have maintained a silence over reports of corruption and nepotism. While as Congress leaders are hesitating to highlight some allegations of corruption and misdeeds against BJP ministers during their 10 months performance, the BJP is also adopting delay tactics in accelerating investigation in corrupt cases registered against Congress ministers during their tenure from 2002 to 2014. Credible sources in the corridor...   READ MORE   Basohli bridge divides BJP Ministers 12/23/2015 11:22:48 PM Early Times Report Jammu, Dec 23: Two senior BJP ministers appear to be at loggerheads over the construction of first cable-stayed bridge in Basohli area of Kathua. Union Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar would dedicate the first cable-stayed bridge of north India to the nation on Thursday. The bridge would provide close connectivity to Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Punjab. The difference of opinion between the two senior BJP leaders came to fore on Wednesday when both the leaders tried to take credit for establishment of the cable bridge. "The bridge was not constructed because of an individual effort of a person but it is built by the whole nation," a senior BJP leader told ...   READ MORE   CM not invited, DyCM to skip function 12/23/2015 11:22:41 PM Early Times Report JAMMU, Dec 23: Deputy Chief Minister Dr Nirmal Singh is skipping the inaugural function of Basohli bridge on Thursday. The bridge which will be inaugurated by Defence Minister Manohar Parikar in the presence of Union Minister of State Dr Jitendra Singh, was also to be attended by Nirmal Singh as well as Health and Medical Education Minister Lal Singh. Ironically, Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed has not been invited to the function. Dr Singh who is also the senior representative of BJP in the state cabinet, according to sources has excused himself, saying he is preoccupied with another programme convened by Chief Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed in Srinagar. Nirma...   READ MORE   Vaishno Devi sees 50% drop in pilgrims as cold wave grips 12/23/2015 11:22:24 PM Early Times Report JAMMU, Dec 23: Every single day, around 10 to 15 thousand pilgrims visit the Vaishno Devi shrine in Jammu. But with Jammu and Kashmir in the grip of a cold wave, the number of pilgrims going for the yatra has dropped by 50 per cent. "Mumbai never gets so cold, but after coming here we feel we will freeze," said Rashmi Dubey, a devotee who came all the way from Mumbai but wasn't quite prepared for the cold. Even though thousands visit Vaishno Devi every day, most of them say they are not fully informed about the harsh weather conditions. Bad weather has also affected the supply of essential services. The Vaishno Devi management board warns pilgrims should come prepared f...   READ MORE   Security Agencies issue posters of militants Offer Govt job, reward to informers 12/23/2015 11:22:13 PM Early Times Report Srinagar, Dec 23: Security agencies have pasted dozens of posters of the most wanted Hizbul militants in south Kashmir's Tral town and have offered rewards for the informers. The posters pasted by various agencies carry the photographs with addresses of seven Hizbul militants appeared in different parts of Tral including Dadasar, Chandrigam, Noorpora, Rothsuna, Hardamir and Midora areas. "Anyone who helps Police and Security Forces in tracing these dreaded militants would be given a government job and cash reward. The names of informers will not be revealed. They can call on cell numbers in case they have information about these militants," read the posters. The se...   READ MORE   Suspension of 80 staff recommended for unauthorised leave 12/23/2015 11:22:02 PM Early Times Report Srinagar, Dec 23: The Deputy Commissioner of Kupwara district in north Kashmir has recommended suspension of 80 employees after they were found absent from their duties without any authorisation, an official said today. "Deputy Commissioner of Kupwara, K R Ranjan, during a surprise inspection to various government offices yesterday found 80 employees absent from their duties," an official spokesperson said. "Following this, the Deputy Commissioner recommended suspension of the absentees," he said. The offices visited by Ranjan included Block Development Office, Handicrafts Department, offices of various engineering wings and Chief Education Office of Kupwara district,...   READ MORE   Posted in Srinagar, officers bask in Jammu warmth 12/23/2015 11:09:22 PM Early Times Report Srinagar, Dec 23: Even as everything seems to freeze in Kashmir, many officials posted here look for excuses to be officially in Jammu, which is comparatively warmer. Such officials have been spending most of the time in Jammu, pleading that they have to attend official meetings with their ministers or commissioners in the Civil Secretariat Jammu. Since the day Durbar shifted to Jammu in November, the officials of the Srinagar Municipal Corporation, particularly the SMC Commissioner Showkat Ahmed Zargar, is often absent from his office chambers to "attend crucial meeting in Jammu." Officials said Zargar has been spending most of the time in the winter capital as he ...   READ MORE   Three siblings killed in mysterious blast in Udhampur 12/23/2015 11:09:01 PM Ashwani Sharma Early Times Report Udhampur, Dec 23: in a tragic incident three siblings (all minor) on Wednesday were killed in mysterious blast which took place inside a scrap dealer's shop near Birma Bridge in Udhampur police have registered case in this regard. The deceased have been identified as Vikas (15), Deepu (10) and Meeshu (07) all sons of Bhola Ram resident of Gandari district Ramban presently at Birma Pull (bridge). According to police sources, three minor brothers die...   READ MORE   Resort owner booked at Pahalgam for polluting Lidder river, spreading ‘infection' 12/23/2015 11:08:24 PM Saahil Suhail Early Times Report Pahalgam, Dec 23: The administration finally woke up from slumber, taking cognizance of an Early Times report, and booked an 'influential' resort owner for polluting Lidder river here and spreading infection. An FIR 99/2015 under sections 270 and 188 of RPC was registered against the owner of Kolahoi Green resorts, Pahalgam, on the direction of Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM), Pahalgam, at police station Pahalgam, a senior police officer said. He said that they had received directions from the higher ups to act against those who "damage the fragile environment of Pahalgam". SDM, Pahalgam, Nisar Ahmad Nisar, who had earlier assured action against th...   READ MORE   ‘Militancy claims 18000 lives in J&K in 2 decades’ 12/23/2015 11:08:18 PM Akshay Azad Early Times Report Jammu, Dec 23: More than 18000 casualities have been reported till Dec 2014 in last two decades of militancy in Jammu and Kashmir, according to a report. Jammu and Kashmir has been affected by militancy since 1990 and during this period the state has witnessed 18826 killings including 13,904 civilians and 4, 922 security personnel. The data released by Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) further disclosed that in last four years 950 incidents of violence were reported across the state. In these incidents 256 people were lost their lives which included 171 security personnel and 85 civilians. However, 327 militants were also eliminated in these incidents. ...   READ MORE   Rural electrification project likely to belie PM's assurances 12/23/2015 11:08:09 PM Bijay Charak Early Times Report Jammu, Dec 23: Blame it on the snail's pace at which the concerned agencies are executing the work, the Jammu and Kashmir government is likely to miss May 2018 deadline to electrify the remaining unelectrified villages of the state, despite having adequate funds As per the latest data of union ministry, in the month of April 2015 the state has 132 unelectrified villages. Out of these, only 26 villages were electrified till the end of November and 106 villages are still unelectrified in the state. The pace of work has belied the claims of Prime Minister, Narendra Modi made during his address to the nation on 15th August, 2015, wherein he announced tha...   READ MORE   Edu Minister's order for clubbing of schools dishonored with impunity 12/23/2015 11:08:03 PM A B Sharma Early Times Report Sunderbani, Dec 23: While the state education ministry has released strict orders to the chief education officer Rajouri to identify the schools with weak attendance within one-kilometer radius to be clubbed together to save upon the state exchequer, the order is being thrown to winds with impunity. The glaring example of such impunity is being watched tehsil Sunderbani where some of the zonal education officers have refused to release the list of the schools n the one kilometer vicinity only to appease their relatives working in such schools as teachers and enjoying the government money.. "It is only to provide benefit to their relatives working as te...   READ MORE   Mehbooba's political advisor to face heat for praising militant Burhan 12/23/2015 11:07:53 PM Peerzada Ummer Early Times Report Srinagar, Dec 23: Senior PDP leader and political advisor of Mehbooba Mufti is likely to face heat after terming the dreaded militant leader Burhan Wani a youth icon in Kashmir at present. The statement made by Peerzada Mansoor Hussain has generated a debate within the coalition with several party leaders of both the PDP and the BJP wondering about such a surprising remark and its timing. Though Mansoor trained guns against the former chief minister Omar Abdullah, accusing him of being responsible for giving rise to the new radicalised breed of youth in Kashmir, his remark wherein he termed an active Hizb commander Burhan Wani a youth Icon is being ...   READ MORE   Locals lift dharna, work resumes on Asia's longest rly tunnel 12/23/2015 9:44:43 PM Danish Muzafar Early Times Report Banihal, Dec 23: After locals lifted dharna from the construction site, the work on Asia's longest railway tunnel on the Katra-Banihal line at Hingni near here, which remained suspended for seven days, resumed today. Deputy Commissioner, Ramban, also imposed section 144 of CrPC in and around the project premises for the smooth conduct of work. The villagers of Seran, Shagan, Kundan and surrounding areas, who had staged a dharna in front of the portal of t...   READ MORE

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Lions Club Samba distributes stationery items One room for 80 students of 8 classes at Simkon Renewal of NOCs to ETT Institutes under scanner YNC deputation calls on SE-PDD, highlights concern over 'erratic power supply' Diocese holds Christmas get-together Drawing competition held to mark Christmas Two bootleggers held in holy town Katra NPSU burns effigy of DyCM for violating 'University Rules' JTC organizes protest rally Govt contemplates introducing Consumer Affairs as subject in schools: Zulfkar GDC Thannamandi inaugurates NSS winter camp District Sambo meet gets underway Director EEA Kolkata visits Jammu centre Rhyme Time Public School gets 1st position in championship Yoga association organizes Championship SaMaPa classical music workshop concludes Keep old constructions in Jammu & Srinagar cities out of FAR ambit: CFJ Edu Deptt to reward, punish teachers under new policy Plus 2 lecturer's forum strongly opposes diversion of Joint directors posts to KAS cadre DB reserves Judgment in case of 'suo-moto' powers of SAC Erratic BSNL service irk people Power shutdown HC stays PSC's notification regarding selection of AEs Chill in Kashmir as cold intensifies, snowfall likely Police recovered abducted girl after 5 months, accused held Annual mail of Khajuria biradri to held on January 14 CEO ERA directed to file status in regard to alleged encroachment within week Bihar based person held with 3 kgs of contraband NC leaders visit bereaved Ishtiyak's family Recruitment drive organized under UDAAN at Billawer PDP-BJP coalition making mockery of Governance: Omar 90 Railway officials granted promotion, IGP Salaria felicitates JKAED celebrates Kissan Divas J&K Bankers' Club organizes first meet Insaaf Movement locks JKEDI office Graduation ceremony of VTC organized NABARD organizes Senstization programme on JLG People hold protest against PDD after youth dies of electrocution SSB donates furniture Mahajan Sabha celebrates 125th birth anniversary of Justice Mehar chand National Consumer Rights Day celebrates at YCET Sarpanch inaugurates construction on 500 mtrs pathway Sant Mela Singh College organizes Display your Talent   READ MORE THIS SECTION

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79 youths in Kashmir have joined militant ranks this year: Govt Shorter Amarnath yatra period harmful to state's economy Green Manuring Another alliance of so-called Secular-Nationalists? 6th Police Martyr Memorial North Zone Inter Club T-20 Cricket Championship gets underway Football talent search tourney concludes   READ MORE THIS SECTION

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