Unrest in Kashmir and Strangulation of Education !

Kashmir: Depriving Education is Well Planned Conspiracy !

Raman Sharma

In a humane society and in a democratic set up like ours in India, everyone have the right to demand everything, even the Sun, forget the Moon and the Stars but only with a caveat that your demand should not infringe the rights of others.  It must be hypocrisy when you beat your chest and shout from the roof top and accuse others for not allowing you to exercise your rights, but on the same time not ignorantly but with a well planned conspiracy you ignore and deprive others of their due rights.

Let’s for the sake of arguments for a moment assume that demands of separatists and brigade of stone-pelters  in Kashmir are justifiable, but even then their reluctance and blockade of flow of education in Kashmir society is unacceptable. The Champions of so called Kashmir movement should explain to the innocent people there that what good can be achieved with strangulation of knowledge and education ?.

Now it’s almost 3 months that schools and other educational institutions are closed in Valley but the wheel of clock running fast, so does the world. How long will you keep these educational institutions closed ? if education is not more important than your so called ‘K’ cause then what had compelled  prominent separatist leader Moulvi Umar Farooq or must say Dr. Umar Farooq to attain doctorate (though appreciable), he is an alumni of one of the premier school of Kashmir, the Burn Hall School and posses graduation degree in Political Science and Literature. Why did he not wait to complete his studies till the resolution of Kashmir Cause. Because he is a shrewd man like all other separatist leaders who repeatedly keep shouting the bogy of right to self determination but never miss a good opportunity for themselves.

Without interfering in the personal lives of these leaders of secessionist- ideology  and militancy supporters of  Kashmir, it is humble request that they must at least reveal before their followers about their own educational qualifications besides kitty of wealth they hold in India and abroad, let’s forget  their kith and kin.

Perhaps this a well planned conspiracy to deprive the innocent children of their fundamental right to education, should the people of Kashmir need to remind what religion says “ Seek knowledge even if you have to go as far as China, seeking knowledge is your  duty ,”.

It is not only the right but also a duty to seek knowledge then why these people are trying to create a knowledge vacuum in the state, especially Kashmir.

It appears to be a conspiracy not to allow the revolution of education there in Valley, because education brings peace and these leaders don’t want the dust to settle and wish to keep the pot boiling.

An educated generation would call all their bluffs and would decide their fate with open mind. An educated youth would surely ask too many questions before deciding to get self involved in this hate propaganda and violence but it does not suit the self acclaimed leaders of resistance (new terminology used by few Journalists for secessionists and anti-India leaders ) and militancy supporters.

Despite difficult terrain and given demographic and other unpleasant factors in the region, the Himalyan State of ours have surpassed rest of India in flaming the light of literacy,  The Census data 2011 reveals that state witnessed a jump of over 12 percent literacy rate  (in comparison to 2001) standing at   67.17  whereas in the year 2001 it was 55.12 %, a jump of over 12 percent itself reveals that appetite for   learning is increasing in the state.  The overall increase in literacy rate of the country from 2001 to 2011 is 8.66 percent, which is now 74.04 % whereas it was 65.38 percent.

 The more enthusiastic and positive development of J & K that is to be noted in comparison to male literacy ratio is that there is growth of over 13 percent of female literacy ratio, it stood 56.43 % in 2011 census whereas it was 43 % in 2001. The male literacy rate increase was slightly above 10 %, in the year 2001 figures it was 66.60 percent and in 2011 it stood 76.75 percent.  

In the recent past, the youth of the state have shown keen interest in the civil services  exams not only at the state level but some have even brought laurels with their outstanding rankings at the Union Public Services Exams. These successful youth leaders have emerged as iconic and inspirational figures for candidates of the other states as well, this is matter of contentment and immense pride to be cherished by the people of the state. But it is pitiful that under a deep conspiracy a vicious and hate campaign is initiated in Kashmir to malign those who with their competence, dedication and hard work crack the civil services and Join IAS or KAS. They are being called as ‘Agents’ of the State, brutally denying the fact that their selection is not a charity by the government or the agencies, but they are selected because they deserve, to disparage their personality, even questions are raised on their  love for their own people and these hate mongers even don’t hesitate to tag  them as ‘traitors’ .

Unfortunately, a section of media in Kashmir have also felicitated these self acclaimed champions of Kashmir Cause to engulf an atmosphere of disrespect for the civil servants  and repulsive attitude for Civil Services Exams. Justifying the glorification of radicalization and militant ideology amongst the youth in Kashmir, some journalists have inked long and tedious editorials one after another. These journalists and editors who are not raising their voice again educational blockade are abettors in the heinous act of spoiling the futures of generations of Kashmir.

Those who opposing opening of educational institutions in the Valley till resolution of the Kashmir issue are enemies of their own people, even to wage a war against one’s enemy, one need competency, infrastructure, skilled manpower and knowledge. Only ‘Hatred’  is not a sufficient element to win a battle. About Raman: he is an RTI activist having email:  jkrtiact@gmail.com

Revenue Terminology ! Jammu and Kashmir...

Often We get confused when hear the words like Intikaab, Fard, Jamabandi, Gosha, Khata, Khewat and Khatoni. Since we don't understand the revenue terminology thus we have  remain dependent upon others to know what these words mean especially whenever we buy a piece of land.
Therefore in an attempt to provide you little bit of understanding of these words, a sincere effort has been made hope it would be useful for the readers.

Map entire land along banks of Tawi, identify encroachers for action: DB

Govt agencies unaware of extent of encroachments

Expresses concern over illegal extraction of minerals

11/08/2016/ Daily Excelsior

Mohinder Verma

JAMMU, Aug 10: Observing that all the concerned Government agencies are unaware of the extent of encroachments along the banks of River Tawi despite the situation having assumed alarming proportion, the Division Bench of State High Court comprising Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur and Justice B S Walia has directed for mapping of entire land along the banks of sacred river right from Nagrota to Phallian Mandal and then identification of encroachers for initiating stern action including demolition of unauthorised constructions.

These directions have been passed in a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by practising lawyer Diwakar Sharma and RTI practitioner Raman Sharma, founding members of “Save My Tawi Campaign” highlighting the plight of River Tawi because of encroachments, illegal extraction of minor mineral and uninterrupted flow of sewage water.

“It seems that the concerned Governmental agencies are completely unaware of the extent of encroachments on the banks of River Tawi. Moreover, confusion prevails as to which agency or department has to ensure that there is no encroachment and which department should have controlled and regulated the land along the banks”, the Division Bench observed in the open court, adding “this is mainly because no serious efforts were made in this direction and the concerned agencies always tried to pass buck on each other”.

Stating that encroachments that have taken place over the years and may be continuing on account of negligence or with the connivance of the official respondents are required to be dealt with seriously, the DB said, “first of all the official respondents must identify as to what exactly is the area, which forms part of River Tawi or its banks, which otherwise should have been controlled and regulated by the Irrigation and Flood Control Department, Forest Department and other Governmental agencies”.

“Once the extent of area is identified and property mapped, it would then be easy for the respondents to immediately act to demolish any unauthorised construction or encroachment or to prevent such an encroachment in future”, the DB said and directed the Divisional Commissioner, Jammu to constitute a committee of officers from Revenue, Irrigation and Flood Control and Forest Departments, Jammu Municipal Corporation, Jammu Development Authority and Nazool to identify and map the entire land along the banks of River Tawi from Nagrota to Phallian Mandal.

After mapping the entire land, the committee shall identify the encroachers, the extent of encroachments made by them, the nature of encroachment or construction raised by them and the time when the encroachment had taken place and thereafter necessary steps shall be taken for removing the encroachment, the DB further directed.

Pointing towards the status report dated July 22, 2015, the DB directed that a comprehensive report shall be filed by the respondents reflecting the steps taken to evict the encroachers whose names were mentioned in the status report. “Failure on the part of the concerned authorities in this regard would make them liable for action”, the DB made it clear.

In order to prevent encroachments in future, the DB has issued directions for preparation of record of satellite imagery of the entire area on fortnightly basis for examination of all the concerned authorities. “This will facilitate the concerned departments to ascertain whether any fresh attempt has been made to encroach upon the river banks”, the DB added.

Taking serious note of failure of the Jammu Municipal Corporation to initiate necessary steps to check pollution of river Tawi, the DB said, “the Corporation shall file a detailed affidavit reflecting the steps taken to prevent the free flow of sewage water from the city into the river as also the steps taken to prevent dumping of municipal waste on the river banks”.

Referring to the argument of the counsel for the petitioner that there was large scale extraction of minor minerals like sand, bajri etc from the Tawi bed without there being any effective mechanism to monitor the same, the DB observed, “the court has been informed that sand mafia was permitted to have a free hand on extraction of these minor minerals”.

On this, the Mining Officer, who was present in the court, drew the attention of DB towards SRO 133 dated April 20, 2016 which reads: “As a transitory measure and in order to ensure uninterrupted supply of minor mineral to the consumers, the department may issue permission valid up to July 31, 2016 for extraction of minor mineral to any existing quarry holder or to any person extracting such minor minerals or for transportation of such minerals on royalty basis”.

“From the statement of the Mining Officer it appears that there is no regulation on extraction of minor minerals, which goes on throughout the night including its transportation”, the DB observed, adding “admittedly none of the officers of the Geology and Mining Department is present at night to check as to whether extraction of minor minerals is taking place from the designated spots/blocks according to the prescribed coordinates or not”.

Accordingly, the DB directed Commissioner Secretary, Geology and Mining Department and SSP Jammu to file comprehensive and detailed affidavits as to how they propose to check the menace of illegal extraction of minor minerals from Tawi bed so that there is no loss of revenue to the Government on account of non-payment of royalty by those involved in extraction of such minor minerals and the extraction is permitted only from the designated blocks.

Poor implementation of MGNREGA in J & K

J & K Govt  Owes Several Crores Liability towards  MGNREGA Labourers

Raman Sharma

Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, MGNREGA or formerly called as National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, NREGA was passed by the parliament in year 2005 and received the assent of the president on 05 September 2005.

The preamble of the act makes the intention of the government and the law-makers clear wherein it says “ An Act to provide for the enhancement of livelihood security of the households in rural areas of the country by providing at least one hundred days of guaranteed wage employment in every financial year to every household whose adult members volunteer to do .Un-Skilled manual work and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto”.

The law had been brought to provide at least 100 days guaranteed job to every rural household everywhere in the country except  Jammu and Kashmir.

Section 1 (2) of the principal act, like many other laws passed by  the parliament of India made it clear that  this act was also not applicable to the state of Jammu and Kashmir.  

Therefore initially the rural population of the state was deprived of the 100 days guaranteed job works, but after witnessing huge response from masses and success of the act in other parts of the country, in the year 2007, an amendment was made in the  act to enable and extend the provisions of the law in our state state, and in may-2007 the parliament vide a new legislation known as  National Rural Employment Guarantee (Extension to Jammu and Kashmir) Act, 2007 extended the law here as well.

As the preamble makes it clear that the only aim of this law is to ensure guaranteed wage employment to the rural population and to be honest in Jammu and Kashmir also this law has provided uninterrupted and on demanded wage employment to the  households in the villages.

One main reason for the huge success of this act had remained the strict time schedule for every stage and provision of compensation to the applicant (villager) if the competent authority fails to follow the time schedule.  

As per the provision of the law, any major person of a rural household can apply to the competent authority seeking unskilled guaranteed job of 100 days in an year and once the application is submitted seeking job, the competent authority shall have to provide either job within 15 days or give unemployment allowance to the card holder.

Since this act deals with most vulnerable class of the society therefore the enabling provisions of the law are pro-poor. As per the act, the payment should be made to the worker within 15 days and in case of delay in releasing wages there is also a provision for compensation to the worker  under payment of wages act.

Different state governments have fixed different wage rates depending upon their minimum wages law and   financial resources and Jammu and Kashmir State is amongst those states that provide minimum wages, we are  just ahead of Bihar , Jharkhad, Chattisgarh where the minimum fixed wage to MGNRGA workers is Rs 167/day, Nagaland, Tripura and  Arunachal that provides minimum wage of Rs. 172/Day. In Jammu and Kashmir the fixed wage for MGREGA works is Rs. 173/Day, that is too low even if compared with our neighbouring state like Punjab (Rs. 208/Day)  Haryana (Rs. 259/Day) or even Himachal that gives Rs. 213/Day wage to its workers under MGNREGA.

The most unfortunate part in proper implementation of MGNREGA in Jammu and Kashmir is not only of giving meagre wage of amounting Rs 173 per day but the delay even in paying such meagre wage to the workers.

Yes, as per information provided under Right to Information Act ( which is available with this scribe) by the different blocks and district officers of the Rural Development department the officers have even given figures which in many cases  runs in Crores of rupees wherein they have confessed that the government owes a huge liability as cost of labour and material against the works done under the MGNREG Act.

In  all the 22 districts of the state, be it panchayats of Kashmir Valley, Jammu or Leh there is pending liability of labour wages.

It is not only aberrant and astonishing but shameful and sinful also that poor villagers who have volunteered their manual services are deprived of their legal wages, both the state and central government must bear the blame for this inordinate delay.

During the last 2 financial years the government of India have curtailed the amount of money given under MGNREGA to the J & K government, in the year 2015-16 the union government gave Rs. 55801.83 Lacs, in the year 2014-15 the figure was Rs 52171.08, whereas in the year 2013-14 the state government received MGNREGA funds of Rs. 60315.73 Lacs and in it was  Rs 76276.16 Lacs in year 2012-13.

The poor villagers are feeling helpless and running pillar to post to get their wages, neither the Block Development Officers nor the District Panchayat Officers are giving any satisfactory  reply to these helpless citizens  and in absence of the institution of Ombudsman, these victims of government’s apathy are at the verge of starvation.

After the completion of the terms of panchayats, the ray of hope for these villagers have further diminished as now the officers are not giving any sort of information or assurance to them.

What an irony that the citizens of that state are made to keep waiting for months to get even their due wages of Rs. 173/day where their own elected law makers MLAs and MLCs irrespective of political affiliation themselves decide to double their salaries and allowances without any consultation with the citizenry.

It would have been appreciated that if these honourable elected members of the legislatures had also shown similar courtesy to ensure timely release of the wages of these hard working citizens who had volunteered their manual services for their livelihood. About  Author: Raman Sharma is an  RTI Activist from Jammu and can be reached [a] jkrtiact@gmail.com, 9796811012. 

6804 Indian Citizens in Foreign Jails

6804 Indian Citizens in Foreign Jails

Over 40 percent Caged in Arabia and UAE

JAMMU,04/JUNE/2016: As per latest data available with the government of India, at least 6804 Indian Citizens are Languishing in foreign Jails and over 41 percent of them are caged in Jails of Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates alone.

The Information in this regard has been provided by the ministry of External Affairs to a Jammu based RTI Activist Raman Sharma in response to his online RTI application submitted to the ministry last month.

In its response, vide letter no . T.551/RTI/08/2016 dated 23/05/2016 , the director cum Public Information officer of the Consular, Passport & Visa (CPV) Division of the ministry of External Affairs it is being replied that there are 6804 Indian Nationals are currently lodged foreign Jails.

In its response the MEA has also admitted that many western countries do not share any information about the nationality of the Jail inmates. “Due to strict provisions of their privacy laws, many western countries do not share information about foreign nationals who are in their jails”, reads the reply furnished by the ministry.

The communication of the ministry also reveals that since 2013, at least 49 Indians died in prisons of different countries.

Citing different reasons for Indian National being jailed abroad, the MEA official has stated “ Indian Prisoners Lodged in foreign Jails for crimes such as violation of immigration/visa rules such as overstay and illegal entry, non possession of valid travel documents, economic offences, violation of employment contracts, working without any visa/permit”. The reply also cites consumption of alcohol  as a reason for arrest of Indian Nationals in such countries which have prohibition of alcohol. Though some Indians are also jailed for grave offences like drug trafficking, theft and murder.

Though the ministry has denied giving Male/Female and Major Minor wise information of Indian nationals in foreign jails and advised the applicant to approach respective Indian missions of different countries to get this information as they are designated public authorities.

The data provided in RTI discloses that Saudi Arabai and United Arab Emirate alone housed over 41 percent of total Indians Jailed abroad. In Saudi Arabia there are 1696 Indian prisoners followed by UAE and Nepal that have 1143 and 859 prisoners of Indian origin respectively.

Three other nations that have maximum number of Indians in their Jails are Kuwait-434, Malaysia-356 and U.K-356.

In Pakistan there are 230 Indians imprisoned, USA have jailed  188 Indians and in China there are  161 Indian citizens in jails.   

At least over 100 Indians are also languished in each country like Bangladesh,  Qatar, Singapore,  Oman and Bahrain that have detained 137, 129, 115, 113 and 107  Indians respectively.

Countries having least number of Indian Prisoners are Japan-7, Denmark-8, Kenya-5, Egypt-3, Prtugal-4 and Uzbekistan, Armenia, Fiji, Georgia, Hungary, Malta, Niger, Senegal only one Indian in their jails.

While giving his reaction over the reply and logic for seeking such an information, the applicant Raman Sharma said that he has no sympathy with the hardcore criminals of Indian origin and they must meet the designated punishment as pronounced by the foreign court but his concern is innocent Indians who fall in trap of fraudsters. He said he  simply wanted to raise this issue of Innocent Indians in foreign Jails who are not hardcore criminals but just in search of a better job become victims of the fraudsters and enter the foreign countries without valid Visa and travel permission and in such cases the government of India must provide all legal help to the Indians in foreign countries.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/jammu-kashmir/6-804-indians-languish-in-foreign-jails/246844.html

Funds for MGNREGA, PMGSY, Social Welfare Schemes Curtailed During Last Two Years

Central  Allocation  to  J & K

Jammu, 29/May/2016: During the last 2 years, the union government has curtailed financial allocation to Jammu and Kashmir State for various central sponsored schemes.

In different  communications received by RTI Activist Raman Sharma under right to information act from different ministries of government of India it has been revealed that the Union government has curtailed its funding to the Jammu and Kashmir government even for  flagship programs like Mahatama Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, MGNREGA, Pardhan Mantri Grameen Sadak Yojna and for social welfare schemes like Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme, Indira Gandhi National Window Pension Scheme, Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme, National Family Benefit Scheme and  Annapurna etc.

As per the RTI information provided Rural Connectivity division, ministry of Rural  Development , Government of India , during the financial year 2011-12, for implementation of much talked Pradhan Mantri Grameen Sadak Yojna or PMGSY Scheme, the GOI provided a financial assistance of Rs. 762 Crore to the state of Jammu and Kashmir , which though saw a steep reduction in the following year and only an amount of Rs. 266 Crore was provided to the state during the period 2012-13. In year 2013-14 again the then government increased the amount to double and provided financial aid of Rs. 523.24 Crore for the PMGSY.

However during the financial year, 2014-15 and 2015-16, the central assistance remained Rs. 416.60 Cr and Rs. 488 Crore respectively. It is pertinent to mention here that under the PMGSY scheme  the rural habitation of  Jammu and Kashmir state (as special category state) having population of 250 persons or above is eligible for road connectivity though for most of other states the minimum population criteria is 500 persons.

Similarly for the  implementation of National Social Assistance Program for implementation of Social welfare schemes likes IGNOAPS, IGNWPS and others for the welfare of the disables, senior citizens, widows etc the government of India provided an amount of Rs. 3453.06 Lacs during the financial year 2014-15 and Rs. 3435.47 Lacs during the last financial year, the central assistance to the Jammu and Kashmir state  for the same schemes was Rs. 4173.95 Lacs during the financial year 2013-14.

For the implementation of much talked Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment  Guarantee Act, MGNREGA also the Union government has limited its funding to the state of Jammu and Kashmir during the last 2 years, during the financial year 2014-15 the ministry of Rural Development (GOI) released only an amount of Rs. 52171.08 Lacs which was miserly increased in the year 2015-16 where the government released an amount of Rs.  55801.83 Lacs for implementation of MGNREGA scheme in Jammu and Kashmir State.  However during the previous years  the Union Government had provided a  whooping amount for MGNREGA scheme and during the financial year 2013-14 (Rs. 60315.73 Lacs) , in Financial year 2012-13 (Rs. 76276.16 Lacs) and  in Financial Year 2011-12 Rs. 78130.96 Lacs were provided to the state government.

Students Should Seek Evaluated Answer Sheets Under RTI Act

To

The public Information Officer,
JK  Board of School Education, Rehari,
Jammu_180005

SUBJ: Application under JK RTI ACT 2009.

Sir,

I have appeared in class 10th (2016) board exam as a regular candidate under Roll no.................  Board Registration Numb...................

 .
Kindly provide me information under the provisions Jammu and Kashmir Right to Information Act 2009. I am a resident of Jammu and Kashmir state and entitled to seek information as per section 3 of the act. The requisite  fees of Rs 10-Ten is enclosed herewith as Indian Postal Order bearing no..............

INFORMATION SOUGHT :

1.      Kindly provide me certified photo copies of all my Evaluated Answer Sheets of All the subjects i.e. Hindi, English, Maths, Social Studies and Science.

NOTE: The Hon'ble Supreme Court in the case of CBSE & Anr Vs Aditya Bandhopadhaya & Ors (Civil Appeal no. 6454 of 2011 arising out of SLP(C) No. 7526 of 2009) decided on 9/8/2011 has held that evaluated answer sheets of Universities, State Education Boards, Competitive Examinations, Recruitment Test, and Selection Tests etc are “information” within the meaning of RTI Act and therefore required to be disclosed under Right to Information Act. The PIOs are therefore under obligation to supply copy of evaluated answer sheets to the examinees.

Date:

Yours faithfully,          

Name of student:
Father's Name:
Address;

SAMPLE IPO.........NOT ORIGINAL....

Don’t Pay hefty Fee, Seek Evaluated Answer Copies Under RTI

Jammu, 13/May/2016: The students need to pay hefty fees to seek copies of their answer sheets from the state board or from university instead they should seek certified copies of evaluated answer sheets under Right to Information Act paying only Rupees ten.

RTI Activist Raman Sharma has appealed the parents and regular students of class 10^th whose result was declared 2 days ago by the Jammu and Kashmir State Board of School Education to use the provisions of Jammu and Kashmir Right to Information Act 2009 to get certified copies of evaluated answer sheets from the board.

He said the parents and the students need not to pay hefty fee or visit the board office and they can send their RTI applications along with an Indian Postal Order of Rupees 10 as RTI fees via registered post.

Sharma Informed  that the State Board is under legal obligation to provide the copies of the answer sheet under RTI Act as well,  as  this was ordered by the honourable Supreme Court in 2011, in case titled CBSE & Anr Vs Aditya Bandhopadhaya & Ors.

Sharma said not only class 10^th regular candidate but even private students of other higher classes  can similarly get certified copies under RTI law from the board. In the meantime  he has also uploaded a sample copy of the RTI application on his blog   jkrtiact.blogspot.in.  

TOURISM..

A

Interaction with Journalists at Dainik Jagran Office. Jammu

chai pe Charcha

Inviting Tragedy

Awaiting  Tragedy                                                                                           Construction of Bikram Chowk Flyover on Without Any Safety Measure

Bikram Chowk Flyover Bridge Construction                                             

Administration Closes Eyes, No Safety  at Construction Site

Jammu, 28/Apr/2016:Taking no cue from the Kolkata flyover bridge collapse that took lives of at least 21 innocent civilians on 31^st  March this year, the Jammu and Kashmir government and especially the local officers of the administration have closed their eyes as they are not paying any heed to the ongoing construction of flyover bridge at ever busy Bikram Chowk-Satwari Road of Jammu where the construction is in full swing but there are no safety guidelines followed.

The necessary safety arrangements have not been done, the vehicular traffic has not been diverted and everyday thousands of vehicles besides pedestrians pass through this construction site risking their lives.

Weighing 100s of tons of under construction pillars and concrete slabs are erected at the construction site and the innocent citizens in Vehicles and on foot are passing through this  it just inches away.

There are no safety norms followed by the construction company nor any other officer or official of any government department remain present there on the site to at least keep people away from this gigantic and  colossal construction material hanging in the air.

Though a petition in this regard was also submitted to the deputy commissioner Jammu copied to SP-City South, SDPO City South and SHO Police Station Gandhi Nagar, Jammu wherein RTI activist Raman Sharma has asked the authorities to take necessary steps in this regard. He has submitted to the district magistrate “ As you are well aware that the Construction of Bikram Chowk, Fly Over Bridges is going on & the department of traffic police has not diverted the traffic to any other route therefore thousands of vehicles & pedestrians cross this construction site of the flyover bridge”.  The petitioner besides blaming  the private Construction Company has also raised the issue of the negligence of the Economic Reconstruction Agency(ERA),   “This is really astonishing that neither the private construction company nor the ERA(the govt agency) took any Safety measures to ensure compliance of SOPS, Standard Operating Procedures & safety guidelines of civil constructions on a Public Place”, his plea to the DC reads.

Sharma has stated that there is hardly any arrangement made by the construction company to keep people away from the construction site, the under construction slabs & heavy pillar structure of the bridge passes through the main road & there is free movement of vehicular traffic.

While expressing concern, the activist has prayed to the DC to take immediate cognizance of the issue “ God forbids but if any vehicle even in low speed touch these under construction pillar & slabs there may be huge loss of precious human lives” he feared.

The petition was submitted in the DC office and other offices on 22/April under a proper receipt but even after loss of almost a week’s time no action yet been taken to ensure safety of the citizens.

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To                                                                                         

                                                                                       MOST IMPORTANT/URGENT

The District Magistrate,                                                                                     22/04/2016

Jammu.

Subject: Criminal Negligence of the Construction Company / Risk to Lives of Citizens near the construction site of under Construction FlyOver Bridge from Bikram Chowk towards Satwari .

Respected Sir,

I am a resident of Jammu and through this petition seek your kind intervention at an earliest, as the matter relates to precious lives & safety of innocent citizens. The details are as follow:

As you are well aware that the Construction of Bikram Chowk, Fly Over Bridges is going on & the department of traffic police has not diverted the traffic to any other route therefore thousands of vehicles & pedestrians cross this construction site of the flyover bridge.

This is really astonishing that neither the private construction company nor the ERA(the govt agency) took any Safety measures to ensure compliance of SOPS, Standard Operating Procedures & safety guidelines of civil constructions on a Public Place.

There is hardly any arrangement made by the construction company to keep people away from the construction site, the under construction slabs & heavy pillar structure of the bridge passes through the main road & there is free movement of vehicular traffic.

God forbids but if any vehicle even in low speed touch these under construction pillar & slabs there may be huge loss of precious human lives.

We all are well aware of the recent tragic incident there at Kolkata (West Bengal) where a flyover bridge collapsed causing loss to dozens of lives.

Hope, you take cognizance of this petition & direct the concerned authorities to take necessary steps so that no untoward incident happens.                                           

                                                                                                                        Yours faithfully,                                                                                                                   

                                                                                                                      

                                                                                                       Raman Sharma,

                                                                                                                          [  Applicant    ]

Applicant: Raman Sharma, 236,Mast Garh, Jammu 180001.

Mob: 9796811012, e,mail: jkrtiact@gmail.com.  

Copy to:  Worhty SP South,  SDPO-Gandhinagar,  SHO , Police Station:  Gandhi Nagar,                                         In-charge P/P: Ware House,    Jammu.

                                                                                                                        Raman Sharma.

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