Thursday 23 August 2012

Educational Institutions functioning from Private Houses in J&K

Education Minister Mr. Peerzada has always set new benchmarks of corruption for his colleagues in Omar Abdullah's NC- Congress coalition government in Jammu & Kashmir. He has almost ruined the functioning and credibility of Jammu & Kashmir Board of School Education and made education a game more dirty than prostitution. There had been opposition against him from various quarters from a long time and finally he was compelled to offer his resignation which was surprisingly not accepted by Mrs. Sonia Gandhi.

3000 HEADMASTERS AWAIT CM's STAMP on their promotion. Some of them have retired from service waiting for their confirmation and hundreds of other are now awaiting the CM's approval so that at least their pensionery benefits are finalised. The WAIT OF 9 LONG YEARS HAS BEEN NERVE WRECKING.

Latest report in The Tribune once again highlights the failure of the government in the education sector in Jammu & Kashmir. The government had announced 22 new degree colleges for the state but even after its more than an year, these institutions today are just on paper or are functioning from a temporary accommodation. The slapdash approach of the government can be gauged from the fact that it has even failed to identify the requisite land for establishment of campuses in some cases, while some colleges are being run from two or three rooms in private houses or government higher secondary schools.

Last year, the government had announced 22 degree colleges, including 11 model degree colleges, in the state. The model degree colleges were to be developed with an estimated cost of Rs.8 crore under the UGC's scheme for backward districts.

The opposition had written to the PM, HRD Ministry and the UGC Chairman to look into the violations by the government but hardly anything has been done.

Sunday 12 August 2012

Jammu & Kashmir update!

J&K's 669 MW Hydroelectric projects ill- planned, Power Ministry napping!

Power ministry caught napping, Govt failed to take timely actions. Power Ministry hardly sought answers for Hydroelectric Projects being located in areas which are seismically active area, where natural disasters struck repeatedly.

For example, 240 MW Uri- II hydroelectric project which is likely to be completed by March 2013 bore brunt of earthquake which struck Uri and Pakistan occupied Kashmir on October 8, 2005. This was followed by flash floods in March 2007, May 2010 and September 2011 which resulted in washing away of the coffer dams. 


Medicinal plants that can win J&K a fortune
Some of the most needed medicinal plants grow in Jammu & Kashmir. However, unfortunately the government has been ignoring these resources for unknown reasons. Experts believe the plants can win the state quite a big fortune.

A plant commonly called as Soungul/ Pooes-Tul (Taxus Baccata) collected by Dr. Bashir is believed to yield some alkaloids that are used as anti- cancer drugs in the world of ailments. The plants needs to be studied seriously. 

Vanwangan (Podophyllum Emodi) is found growing all over Kashmir from 6000- 10,000 especially in Fir forests of Gulmarg and Gurez valley. The root of the plant yields Podophyllum resin, which is very popular in modern medicine. It is a powerful purgative and its action somewhat corresponds to that of mercury, hence it is named Vegetable Calomel.

Another important plant is Kuth (Saussurea Lappa). The Sanskrit name of Kuth is Kashmirja, which means "produced in Kashmir". Kuth is used as an aromatic, stimulant, as a medicine for cough, asthma, fever, dyspepsia and skin diseases. It is also used in stimulating mixtures for cholera and prescribed as stomatic tonic, for ulcers and in rheumatism. It is also used as a depurative and aphrodisiac.


Jammu City getting Breathless
There is a bad news for the residents of the city on the health front, as the presence of suspended particles in the city's air is way over the limit considered safe for breathing. Vehicular, industrial pollution has touched a new high. 

A data gathered by the State Pollution Control Board suggests that the Suspended Particulate Matter (SPM) and the Respiratory Suspended Particulate Matter (RSPM) have seen a steep rise in the past two decades, crossing the limits suggested safe by health experts.

Jammu's Air Quality

Particulate Matter                         Current Level                             Normal Level
SPM                                             110- 114                                   100
RSPM                                           220- 230                                   200