Udhampuri gets national awardExcelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Sept 24: Eminentpoet, writer, scholar and critic Dr.Jitendra Udhampuri has beenselected for conferment of nationalaward for literature-2015. Theaward will be presented by thePresident of India in a function tobe held at the plenary hall ofVigyan Bhawan, New Delhi onOctober 1. The award comprised ofMemonto, citation and Rs-2.5 lacsin cash.

Dr. Udhampuri is a house holdname in the Jammu region of thestate. After rendering 30 yrs of mer-itorious service in the field ofbroadcasting, he retired as seniorDirector, All India Radio.

Besides being a reputed broad-caster, Dr. Udhampuri has cease-lessly worked over 50 years for theenrichment of Dogri, Hindi, Urduand Punjabi literature. He is authorof 32 books in Dogri, Hindi, Urduand Punjabi languages.

Some of his notable workshave been translated in other lan-guages like English, Hindi, Urdu,Kashmiri, Nepali and Czech. He is

a trend setter in modern Dogripoetry and has introduced severalinnovative themes and experi-mented with new styles in hisverse.

His yeoman service to thecause of Dogri, Hindi, Urdu andPunjabi literature and culture hasbeen recognized by numerous hon-ours and awards conferred on himat the state, national and interna-tional levels. These include presti-gious Padmashree awards, SahityaAkademi award, SahityaAkademi's national award fortranslation, another national awardby the central hindi directorate,prestigious senior fellowship byUnion Ministry of culture, role ofhonour by the governor J&K Govt,gold medal and certificate of meritby J&K Govt. Decorated fivetimes in the year 1985,1 986, 1990,2004 and 2011 by the J&K Stateacademy of art culture and languagesfor his best creative literary works. Heis recipient of Duggar Sahitya RatanSamman from madam Sonia Gandhiand Dogra Ratan Samman from theGovernor, J&K State.

Governor, CM greet people on Eid-ul-Azha

Excelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Sept 24:Governor N. N. Vohra has felici-tated the people of the State onthe auspicious occasion of Eid-ul-Azha and prayed for theirwell-being and prosperity.

In his message of greetings,the Governor has hoped that thisfestival will further strengthenthe bonds of communal harmo-ny, mutual brotherhood, amity,tranquility and the glorious plu-ralistic ethos for which the Stateof Jammu and Kashmir is wellknown. He has prayed for sus-tained peace, progress and pros-perity in the State.

Chief Minister, MuftiMohammad Sayeed, also

extended warm greetings to thepeople on the auspicious occa-sion of Eid-ul-Azha, wishingthem well-being and prosperity.

In his message of felicita-tions on the eve of Eid-ul-Azha,Mufti Sayeed said the holy occa-sion of Eid-ul-Azha imbibes inus the spirit of making honestyand truthfulness a way of life."The holy occasion also teachesus to maintain high principles ofselfless service to the AlmightyAllah and the humanity," headded.

He expressed hope that thisholy occasion will strengthencommunal brotherhood, harmo-ny and bring peace, prosperityand well-being to the State andthe people all over the world.

DAILY EXCELSIOR, JAMMU FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2015 (PAGE 3)

PDP-BJP alliance will successfullycomplete full term: DyCM

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Sept 24:Expressing satisfaction overthe performance of present dis-pensation in translating itswords into action, DeputyChief Minister, Dr NirmalSingh today made it clear thatthe PDP-BJP alliance, which isworking with seriousness andresponsibility, would success-fully last for the full term.

"Although it is a stupen-dous task to bring the existingsystem back on track but withour firm determination andvision we will gift the peoplean accountable and transparentdispensation which theydeserve", maintained theDeputy Chief Minister whileinteracting with prominent citi-zens of Jammu during an inter-action function organized bythe civil society members inthe backdrop of Eid, Navratrasand Diwali festivals.

Minister for Industries andCommerce, Chander ParkashGanga, Minister of State forEducation, Information andCulture, Priya Sethi, MLAs,Sat Sharma, Rajesh Gupta, DrGagan Bhagat and DaleepSingh, MLCs, Ashok Khajuriaand Romesh Arora besides rep-resentatives of various socialand business organizationswere present on the occasion.

Dr. Singh said that Jammuis popularly known as abode ofpeace where everyone is

received with love and affec-tion as hospitality is the basictenet of our state which isblessed with unique compositeculture and abundant scenicsplendor. He said that suchevents further add to theGovernment's efforts of creat-ing a comfortable and hos-pitable atmosphere besideshelping in ensuring equitabledevelopment. He said that theJammu region is bestowed withabundant scenic grandeur andpotential and the Governmentis envisaging a number ofambitious projects to tap thesame to the fullest. He soughtcooperation from the citizensin realizing the dreams of thePrime Minister Narendra Modisaying that their role is ofutmost importance in thisregard.

Spelling out various initia-tives of present dispensationbeing taken up for develop-ment of the region, the DeputyChief Minister said that speedyexecution of beautification andpreservation work on MubarakMandi complex, developmentof Tawi lake, establishment ofRs 201 crore multi tier parkingat General Bus Stand and Rs 25crore parking project atPanjtirthi and implementationof R-APDRP are some of theseendeavors.

He also elaborated on vari-ous development projectsbeing planned by theGovernment for implementa-

tion soon which inter-aliainclude management of 17 nal-lahs in Jammu city, expansionand elevation of JammuRailway Station, developmentof Hari Singh Park, develop-ment of 18 virgin lakes inJammu division, Essel Worldand Amusement Park at RanjitSagar Dam and creation ofYoga Centers at Mantalai andPatnitop etc.

Chander Prakash Gangaalso hailed the members ofcivil society for organizing thisprogramme which provided agood platform to the people ofall faiths interact and promotecommunal harmony and broth-erhood.

Priya Sethi informed that acomprehensive plan to rope inexpert companies for holdinglight and sound shows andrelated prgrammes to attracttourists is being formulated.She also said that theGovernment is working undera well knit strategy to restoreand preserve the spots of thestate having cultural, religiousand historical significance.

Former ADGP, AnjumManhas, former DC KhalidHussain, former ChiefConservator, Wild Life, RajaSayeed, Dr. Tahil Choudhary,Zaffar Choudhary, Former IG,Farooq Khan, President JammuDistributor Association, AttarSingh, President Jammu WineTraders Association, J. S.Jasrotia, Chairman, Federationof Industries, Rajesh Jain,President Wholesale ClothMerchant Association, DesRaj, President, PetroleumDealer Association, AnanSharma, President, JammuHotel and RestaurantAssociation, Kuldeep Wahi,President Jammu Hotel andLodges Association, InderjeetKhajuria, Manmohan Singh,Vice President, Chamber ofCommerce, Ramesh Langerand Secretary General,Chamber of Commerce, ArunGupta and Jatinder Khalsawere among others present onthe occasion.

Policeman volunteers tractorfor people’s convenience

Excelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Sept 24:Upholding the tenets of humanity,a policeman in south Kashmir'sShopian district volunteered atractor for general public to facil-itate their crossing of Ranbi Arastream in absence of a bridge anddiversion.

Due to heavy rains couple ofdays ago, a diversion over RanbiAra stream at Batapora in moun-tainous region of Shopian waswashed away - fourth time sincelast year - leading to immenseinconvenience to local populace.

In absence of the diversion,the public movement came to haltas gushing waters of Ranbi Aradidn't let anyone to cross and

there was huge risk if any attemptwould have been made by anyindividual.

However, a policeman name-ly Abdul Majeed came to the helpof people and volunteered histractor. The policeman, who isdeployed in District Police Lines(DPL) Shopian, didn't chargeanyone for crossing the RanbiAra and hundreds of peoplethroughout the day benefitedfrom the tractor service.

"I didn't charge anyone andfilled the fuel myself. As youknow everyone is in need thistime because of Eid, so I decidedto volunteer my tractor for peo-ple," the policeman said. Localshailed the policeman and show-ered praises on him.

When contacted, the DeputyCommissioner of Shopian, BashirAhmad told Excelsior that theyare working to restore the diver-sion. "By tomorrow evening, theconnectivity would be restored,"he said.

People cross Ranbi Ara stream in a tractor voluntarily pro-vided by a policeman. -Excelsior/Younis Khaliq

Governor inauguratesweek-long Art Camp

Excelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Sept 24:Governor N.N. Vohra inaugurat-ed at the Raj Bhawan here today,a week-long National Level ArtCamp which is being organizedunder the auspices of Raj Bhavan,in collaboration with the StateTourism Department.

The camp has been organizedin line with the "In Residence"programme, to appreciate the cre-ative potential of known artists.

The nine artists from Jammuand Kashmir and other States inthe country who are participating

in the camp are, K.K. Gandhi,Sangeeta Gupta, DharmendraRathore, Charan Sharma, ManishPushkale, Nabibakhsh Mansoori,Shafi Chaman, Vijender Sharmaand Vinod Sharma.

On the occasion of the com-mencement of the Camp, theGovernor and the Lady Governorwelcomed the artists to the beau-tiful valley of Kashmir and inter-acted with them. SecretaryTourism, Farooq Ahmed Shahand other senior officers of theRaj Bhavan were present on theoccasion.

Governor N N Vohra interacting with artists after inaugurating National Art Camp.

DyCM Dr Nirmal Singh along with Ministers interacting with prominent citizens of Jammuduring a function at Jammu on Thursday.

CVC briefs Governor about VC's functioning

Excelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Sept 24:Kuldeep Khoda, Chief VigilanceCommissioner (CVC), Jammuand Kashmir, called on GovernorN.N. Vohra, here at the RajBhavan today, and briefed himabout the functioning of theVigilance Commission and thevarious objectives achieved sincethe Commission's establishment.

Mr. Khoda apprised theGovernor about the to-date statusof the complaints received by theCommission, their disposal andthe conclusions arrived at by theCVC for making the institutionmore effective and result orientedin eradicating the menace of cor-ruption, particularly by establish-ing deterrence against the corruptelements in the State.

The Governor asked the CVCto lose no time in putting in placeall required steps for the speedydisposal of graft cases pendingwith the Commission.

HCC gets Rs 1783 crNH work in J&KNEW DELHI, Sept 24:

Hindustan ConstructionCompany (HCC) today said it hasbagged a Rs 1,783.42-crore con-tract from NHAI for construc-tion of a highway in Jammu &Kashmir (J&K).

"The company has beenawarded a prestigious NHAIcontract worth Rs 1,783.42crore to construct a 36-km high-way, which includes 3 kms oftunnels between Ramban andBanihal in Jammu & Kashmir,"Hindustan ConstructionCompany said in a BSE filing.

It further said: "The projectis part of NHDP Phase II pro-gramme of NHAI on NH 1A(now NH 44) and is known forits difficult terrain and low tem-peratures, especially in the win-ter season."

HCC President and CEO-E&C Arun Karambelkar said:"This project not only allows usto further expand our presencein road-related business seg-ments, but also gives usimmense pride as this highwaywill contribute to infrastructuregrowth of our nation."

HCC added that highwayNH 1A is a major road connect-ing Srinagar with the rest of thecountry.

The stock was trading at Rs18.40, up 3.08 per cent, on BSE.(PTI)

Rs 566 cr released by treasuriesExcelsior CorrespondentSRINAGAR, Sept 24: The

Finance Department has releasedan amount of Rs 566 crore fromvarious treasuries of the StateSeptember 22 to 23.

All the payments for whichthe bills/cheques were received atthe treasuries upto September 23,2015 were paid particularly inrespect of salaries, wages, con-tractors/firms, land compensation,local bodies as also all such pay-ments relating to general publicand the employees.

In order to ensure that the pay-ments are made smoothly at thetreasuries without any inconven-ience to the general public, theDirector General, Accounts &Treasuries, on the instructions ofFinance Minister, Dr HaseebDrabu visited all the treasuries ofdistrict Srinagar personally today.

Don’t share videos oninternet: Geelani

Excelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Sept 24: A dayafter appealing people not toresort to any act on Eid whichcould hurt the sentiments ofother communities, the separatistleader and hardline Hurriyatchairman Syed Ali Geelani todayurged the people not to make andshare videos on internet.

In a statement here, the sepa-ratist leader while extending hisheartfelt greetings of Eid-ul-Adha to the Muslims of world ingeneral and Jammu and Kashmirin particular, appealed people tocelebrate Eid with austerity, sim-plicity and according to theIslamic principles.

He said that the aim of aMuslim is to attain benevolenceof Almighty Allah by this sacri-fice so they will perform thisobligation according to the truespirit of Islam. Asking people notto make and share the videos ofthe slaughtering of the sacrifi-cial animals, Geelani said thatour beloved ProphetMuhammad (PBUH) had pro-hibited the slaughtering of oneanimal in front of another ani-mal.