Saturday, 25 February 2012

Hindustan Construction Company (HCC) Plunders Bandipora cover story 26 feb-3 march 212 issue


Hindustan Construction Company (HCC) Plunders Bandipora

.Illegal stone-crushing smothers thousands villagers in Bandipora
 .Fail to undertake pollution control measures
. All the HCC crusher units are operating in violation creating  doubts among the local population which is up in arms against the agency,

Kashmir Scenario   Disclosure
Bandipora: Hindustan Construction company ( HCC) is destroying the environment & natural resources of Bandipora unabatedly without any check from the higher authorities. In this regard, the “Kashmir Scenario” has learnt a series of startling disclosures with reference to this grim veracity.
Pertinently, the level of solid macro particles (SMP) is growing in the environment and posing a serious threat to public health in dozens of villages here in the North Kashmir’s Bandipora District, as Hindustan Construction Company (HCC) executing 330 Megawatt Kishen’ Ganaga Hydro Electric Power Project and in this regard has set up a huge crusher unit in violation of rule and regulations. However, the environmental watchdog, the State Pollution Control Board (PCB), and allied departments are watching like a mute spectator are lacking in will to crack the whip against Hindustan Construction Company-HCC- the owner of stone-crushing unit, which has vandalized the environment and ecology in the area.
    SPCB officials, as well as the district administration, have been in the complete knowhow of the fact that HCC crushers don’t even have licenses and are being run without the No Objection Certificates (NOC) from several concerned departments like Forest, Fisheries, Geology & mining  and Industrial departments, according to residents.
     An environmentalist preferring anonymity alleged that HCC management have strong political links and are also hand in glove with the authorities. “Huge amount of money is involved in entire trade so government as well the enforcement authorities have shut their eyes to these blatant violations since last one year” he alleged.
     Official sources told that the District Head of the Industries Department shot about four letters to HCC management asking them to produce the NOC’s of several departments to get the crusher unit registered, however HCC has failed to produce any and  is even trying lot to cool down the Industries officer, besides presenting offers to him, sources said.
The letters expose how activities of HCC were going on illegally under the very nose of the authorities causing pollution and destroying the forest cover despite the public outcry. The letters also re-established the suspicion of official patronage being provided to HCC operations in the name of project construction.
Reliable sources revealed that the forest department has intimated government and its Legislative Environment Committee about the illegal existence of  HCC crusher within the demarcated forest zones, department has intimated the government that the crusher should immediately stopped if not found environmental friendly. Besides this all the HCC crusher units are operating in violation creating doubts  among the local population which is up in arms against the agency,
       In blatant violation of rules governing environmental protection in Jammu and Kashmir, HCC crusher units in the area are not undertaking the measures to minimize the pollution levels. . “Being a red category industry, the pollution control norms for the stone crusher are  being violated with impunity? As per SPCB norms, there should be three rows of trees encircling the stone crusher for reducing the impact of dust emission. But not a single tree has been planted around the crusher”, sources said.
     “The dust also adversely affects visibility, reduces growth of vegetation and hampers aesthetic sight of the area. It can also cause lung cancer and several other ailments after entering into a human body” locals added.
      Recently, Deputy Commissioner Banidpora Manzoor Ahmed Lone halted work on the project after locals complained  of the massive pollution of water resources due to the mismanagement in HCC’s execution of the project work. Earlier locals were complaining that the HCC management while violating the rules are draining the muck, residue and crusher ruminants into the  nearby water resources, which was then conformed by the state premier Laboratory in National Institute of Technology where the water samples were found highly toxic  due to the HCC pollution. The Lab report of   water samples declared that the pollution in the nearby water resources has increased three fold after the HCC started draining wastage, crusher residue and other garbage into the water resources.
State government in particular and SPCB in general is facing public ire for being unresponsive to public health hazards. A resident of Kralpora says breathing fresh air is impossible due to the dust in the area, with so many stone crushers are operating illegally here. Despite several complaints, the pollution control authority is yet to take action against them.
     “The connivance run deep or else how could such a huge crusher plant can operate here around lush green forests?” asks another resident, who has been diagnosed with lung disease.
      “The public perception is gaining ground that the government including SPCB is reluctant in calming down for it is being faced several pulls and pressures besides some favour exchanging hands” locals said. The department has served notice to several of them in these two districts but the crushing is going unabated.
     Locals in the area said “The concerned Ministries and departments are aware that the illegal crusher unit set up by HCC run on a regular basis”.
Certainly, HCC is destroying the once serene atmosphere of Bandipora with Impunity. 

Status Quo on Kashmir favours Mainstream: Bilal Gani Lone.kashmir scenario weekly newspaer interview 26 feb-3 march issue


Status Quo on Kashmir favours Mainstream: Bilal Gani Lone
Bilal Gani Lone is the senior pro-freedom leader of Jammu & Kashmir. Chairman Peoples Conference and Hurriyat Conference (M) executive member, Bilal Gani Lone is viewed as the emerging face of pro-freedom thought in the state of Jammu & Kashmir.
In an exclusive interview with the Kashmir Scenario, Bilal Gani Lone Talks to Rameez Makhdoomi& Kaiser A.Mir.
How did you happen to join pro-freedom politics?
I have joined pro-freedom politics on account of my father’s assassination as he was my role model and ideal. The sprit for achieving freedom for the nation and other revolutionary concepts I imbibed from my father. I was doing my business but after tragic assassination of my father I decided to join pro-freedom politics so as to give message to killer that we are not afraid of him. The circumstances forced me to join politics.
We are from a normal Kashmiri family. My father left a simple & moral background for us and we are always attached to ground zero. We are still the agriculturalists that we used to be.
Sometime back one of your interviews created ripples in which you were quoted as saying that separatists are getting money from Pakistan?
The simple crux of my viewpoint is that you need finance to run politics be it mainstream or pro-freedom politics. No movement can run without finance. But doing politics for the sake of money and finance is “Haraam”.
How do you view the damning disclosures made by wikileaks about Hurriyat (M)?
Wikileaks is not a gospel truth. It is a partly true and partly false because these leaks are based on conversations and individual interpretations and cannot be relied upon.
It is said that pro-freedom political parties like Hurriyat are out of colour during peace times and get activated only during civil unrests. What is your take on this?
The resistance movements witness their own ups and downs. The mainstream is for power politics. The pro-freedom camp is representing sentiments while they (Mainstream) exploit the sentiment and it is the pro-freedom amalgam that stands for resolutions. In addition one has to bear in mind that the circumstances are also made difficult by authorities for pro-freedom politicians.
Mirwaiz Umer Farooq has some time back stressed the need for Hurriyat Conference to address the day to day problems of masses. How do you view this?
This vision is direly needed and it is “better late than never” as we need to be much more pro-active and take the Hurriyat conference to grassroots. If we ask masses to stay away from mainstream politicians than we have to draw some sought of mechanism to help masses address their day to day problems.
The people are facing lot of hardships as the institutions are functioning like mafia wherein the masses have no say and might is right has become the order of day.
Some analysts stated that Hurriyat (M) was not able to get desired results from talks with center. What is your taken on this?
I do not understand whom you call analysts. The analysts herein run multinational companies outside Kashmir and give analysis through their cosy chambers. We have to bear in mind that nothing can be solved without dialogue. Every conflict on world has been solved through dialogue.
Besides, dialogue is a complicated process and you should not expect that dispute like Kashmir would be solved in one sitting. If anybody has better way other than dialogue to solve Kashmir he should take the lead we are ready to follow.
My personal belief is that we should engage for the resolution of Kashmir dispute and safeguard our younger generation. We have already sacrificed 1.25 lakh people for achieving freedom and this sacrifice is a big fixed deposit for our sacred movement.
Does lack of unity among pro-freedom leadership undermines it in a dialogue process?
The government makes it alibi sometimes. But it is quiet illogical and has nothing to do with a dialogue process. We live in a society wherein different political opinions are functional. At the macroscopic level, all the pro-freedom parties and leaders stand united as we all believe in resolution of ‘Kashmir Dispute’ and an end to status quo.
The status quo on Kashmir greatly favours the mainstream parties and politicians.
How do you perceive the response of current Central Government towards dialogue process?
The response towards dialogue process in place for Kashmir is always dictated by the system and not by a particular government. It is the matter of New Delhi`s policy only not the government be it the government of Congress or BJP or any other government.
How do you view the impact of degraded situation in Pakistan from several years on the Kashmir issue?
We need to bear in mind that Pakistan is a big thing as they are a state in themselves. But, I wish for a stronger Pakistan as it is only the nuclear power in world. The kashmiri people and leadership if develop  the proper strength and character can achieve the desired results.
What is your take on prevailing human rights situation?
The current human rights situation continues to remain grim. The recent killings of Rafiabad and Uri youth prove this veracity. Actually, the trooper on ground has developed his own vested interests and wants to draw benefits from continuing bloodshed. The system is quiet barbaric as it has only futile enquires and commissions to offer.
The mainstream parties & politicians only shed crocodile tears .If they are so much concerned why do not they leave the system and confront it openly.
Do you believe it is time for pro-freedom camp to ponder over contesting elections?
No, I do not think so. Elections are too small and petty reality for us as they are held after every five or six years for governance purpose. We the pro-freedom parties stand for bigger realities such as the resolution of Kashmir Dispute.
What is the way ahead according to you to solve Kashmir dispute?
I do not have any road map. But, the concrete solution can only be achieved through an effective participation of the main  party i.e Kashmiris and the other two big players India and Pakistan. Only trilateral involvement can solve this dispute and no bilateral involvement would work.

Sunday, 5 February 2012

Islamic Concept of Jihad Nasrah Batool.edit page article 5-12 feburary,2012

Islamic Concept of Jihad
Nasrah Batool
Jehad is an Arabic word used as noun for struggle. Struggle in life starts right after the birth. As kids we struggle hard to utter the first word, to take first step on our own, and later on to get good grades etc.
People struggle hard to earn a living and support their families. Every struggle is a jihad and every struggler a mujahid. But Islamic Jihad is a totally different concept- Jihad fee sabeel Allah.
Wikipedia defines Jihad as an important religious duty of Muslim. And another authentic dictionary of Islam defines it as a holy war of muslims against non believers.
People get an idea that all wars or struggles associated to a muslim are Jihads Islam supports. My idea of Jihad is different and to a very great extent I find it right too. A person fighting for his personal rights, his possessions etc. is practising personal jihad. Associating this Jihad to Islam just because the person is Muslim is not right in any way. Also a war is not a war of guns and blood. It is a war of morals and principles with violence as the last extent.
Jihad fee sabeel Allah (in the way of Allah) starts from the time we first learn, understand and believe that there is no god but Allah and Hazoor Mohammed (SAW) is His prophet and the real struggle is to take along that belief upto the grave.
The most beautiful form of Jihad is Daawah (Invitation to join your beliefs). The struggle to live with your beliefs among non believers and invite them to come to common terms.
Yes, I want my religion to spread to every bit of every heart (who doesn't) but no not by force or by eliminating the antis. There is always a proper way for that. Learn from the lives of Mujahids who have survived with a flag erected high in much worse times and lived a lively life. Who could be a better Mujahid than our Prophet Mohammed (SAW).
From my very little knowledge and memory, I remember having read once about an old lady who used to throw garbage on our beloved prophet. And then one day when she didn't Hazrat Mohammed (SAW) went to see if everything was ok with her. Beloved Mohammed (SAW) didn't chose a revenge way, but the way of humanity and so did his supporters. We the followers, however sometimes enraged choose a totally different way just to show our passionate love for the most peaceful and great personality. And then through our deeds create a very bad picture of great teachings of our beloved prophet.
Great lives weren't there to talk big about but to be followed. Remember we represent a peaceful religion. When others say that Islam was spread under the shadow of swords don't take out a sword. Make them understand how things worked back then and how they are now. Miscreants are everywhere. Don't aid their efforts by some foolish acts, out of anger.
Don't give Islamic Jihad a bad name. And to the people judging my beliefs, don't judge a book by its cover. Every book entitled Jihad is not Islamic. I believe my religion is most peaceful.

Saturday, 4 February 2012

Kashmir Cable Operators Face Step Motherly Attitude- cover story the Kashmir scenario 29 january-05 feb 2012

Kashmir Cable Operators Face Step Motherly Attitude
Kaiser A.Mir

In Jammu and Kashmir, the local media has been muzzled by the state in different forms during the past two decade long political movement.  While the state Government is continuing with the ban on the airing of news on local cable channels in Kashmir with the argument that the Cable Television Network Regulation Act 1995, does not allow broadcasting of news. But what is interesting to point out that Jammu cable operators  seem to be immune from the act because in that part of world local cable operators are broadcasting news without such obstruction. The step-motherly treatment has annoyed the cable operators and public in valley who term the ban as unjust and biased.
 The ban was first invoked in both regions of the state during Amarnath Land transfer agitation in 2008. While the ban on Jammu-based cable channels was lifted soon, in Kashmir the cable operators had to wait for almost a month.
But the story did not end here, it turned worst in 2010. During the 2010 summer unrest, in which more than 120 youth were killed, as the situation deteriorated in the Valley, the channels were asked to stop broadcasting news altogether. The Jammu and Kashmir government also banned the Iran based international satellite news channel, Press TV, in September 2010. The local administration had accused the cable channels of “fomenting trouble” by launching “misinformation campaign.”

“The government is playing double standards, how can they use the same law differently in two parts of an unified state. At one side we are told that airing of news on cable was prohibited under law, but on the other side they are allowing airing o f news in Jammu. We fail to understand then under which law does the Jammu cable operators broadcast new. Besides it is also unconstitutional that a local channel cannot broadcast news but non-local channels can do it freely. This ban has adversely affected our work and local cable industry on whole has been the victim because people were subscribing to this service as they used to get information about local issues, otherwise for entertainment purpose there are many other cable services like DTH etc. Hence government must shun its double standards and review their decision and revoke ban immediately”, said the representatives of Kashmir cable operator.

While speaking to a vivid viewer of local cable news Sheeraz Bhat said, “The ban must be revoked because in a democratic society, the voice of media is voice of people and to suppress it is totally undemocratic. Many local issues were raised by local media that were not taken by any national or international media channels. The issues like inflation, black marketing, unemployment, social issues and other problems of people were highlighted and brought in notice of administration”.
Sometime back a senior official in this regard had stated-“We have told the cable operators to adhere to the Cable Network Act 1995 in letter and spirit as under this act they can’t telecast news”, D.C. Srinagar, Mehraj Ahmed Kakroo  had told local  media . The District Magistrate had then said the government is not imposing restrictions on media but cable operators can’t go against the law by telecasting news.
Pertinently, the divisional administration recently had stated that the Government has decided to review the ban on cable news. “We have not taken any decision on lifting ban as of now. We will review it. If cable operators do not indulge in misinformation and disinformation campaign, government has no problem (to lift the ban). However any decision taken would not apply to foreign news channels banned in Kashmir,” Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Dr Asgar Samoon had told reporters. Samoon had further said the situation in Kashmir has “improved considerably.” “Under Right to Information people have right to know about the happenings around them. The cable channels have been a source of entertainment for people. (But) these days’ people usually get news through newspapers. The cable operators (in Kashmir) can focus on local issue of public importance which national new channels and other regional channels do not perform,” he had said.

But recently in a contrasting note the Senior cabinet minister Taj Mohiuddin came out openly against the reviewing of ban and said, “I have not heard of lifting ban on telecast of news by local cable channels. And if there is any such move, I will oppose it and take up the matter with the Chief Minister. I stand for banning these channels as they violate ethics and cause nuisance. Everybody cannot become journalist and these cable operators openly violate ethics of journalism through non-professionalism.”

The sane analysis is that those advocating ban should look at the scenario related to cable news in Jammu and if the ban is not lifted in Kashmir the same paradigm should be followed in Jammu. According to sane voices the current attitude of Government towards Kashmir Cable operators in Kashmir is clearly step motherly and un-democratic.