Guru Resolution: Cong still indecisive

SYED ALI SAFVI

SRINAGAR, Sep 21: Amid speculations that Congress may abstain from voting, the much awaited Congress legislature party meeting, which was held here this evening, primarily to discuss the party’s stand vis-à-vis the resolution seeking clemency to parliament attack convict, Afzal Guru, ended without discussion.

According to the party insiders, the meeting, which lasted 15 minutes, decided to again meet on September 27 to discuss the crucial issue.They said that J&K Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) president, Prof Saif-ud-Din Soz, told the party legislators to wait till September 27.

“Let’s wait for the party high command’s directives in this regard,” Soz said. “We will meet again on September 27 to clarify our stand.”

The resolution is scheduled to come up for voting in the State Legislative Assembly on September 28.

Pertinently, the meeting was attended by JKDPN president, Ghulam Hassan Mir, and JKPDF chief, Hakim Mohammad Yasin. Both the leaders were invited to the meeting by the JKPCC chief.

However, Congress Legislature Party leader, Chowdhary Mohammad Aslam, Deputy Chairman State Legislative Council, Arvinder Singh Micky, were conspicuous by their absence.

Other Congress legislators who preferred to stay away from the meeting included minister of state for higher education, Manohar Lal Sharma, Viqar Rasool, Naresh Gupta, Subhash Gupta, Haji Ali Mohammad Bhat, and Ashok Kumar.

Pertinently, independent MLA from Langate, Eng. Abdul Rasheed, has submitted a resolution to the Speaker of the state Assembly seeking clemency for the December 2001 Parliament attack convict, Afzal Guru, who has been sentenced to death by Supreme Court of India.

After the mercy petition filed by Afzal’s wife to President was rejected, political parties in Kashmir are afraid that the decision could stir more than a hornet’s nest in the strife torn valley.

The state’s principal opposition party, PDP, has extended its outright support to the Guru resolution, while Jammu based parties BJP and Panthers Party have announced to oppose the resolution “tooth and nail”.

Ruling coalition partners - National Conference (NC) and Congress – are yet to make up their mind.

While speculations are rife that Congress may abstain from voting to avoid angering their vote bank in Jammu and Kashmir, NC is reportedly in a state of dilemma to make its choice.

Meanwhile, according to reliable sources, JKPDF president, Hakim Mohammad Yasin, may vote in favour of the resolution.

In demilitarization din, CRPF eyes 500 kanals of land in Budgam

SYED ALI SAFVI

BUDGAM, Sep 19: In a move that has a potential of angering public and triggering yet another spell of unrest in strife-torn valley of Kashmir, paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) is planning to acquire around 500 kanals of land in central Kashmir’s Budgam district.

According to reliable sources, the CRPF wants the land for establishing a training centre and living quarters. The land is a kilometer and half away from the district headquarters.

The move has created panic among residents who are worried about their safety.

“We don’t want to live under constant fear,” said the residents.

Mainstream political leaders and separatists are aghast at the move.

Former minister and MLA Khan Sahib, Hakim Mohammad Yaseen has termed the move as “unfortunate”.

“I don’t understand why they chose only Budgam for this purpose. Humhama, Sheikhpora, ShariefAbad, Damodar Karewa are already under their occupation,” he said.

He said on one hand there are talks about demilitarization and on the other hand more and more land is being acquired by the forces in the valley.

The sources said that the land owners, mostly property dealers who are not the residents of the area, are willing to give land to CRPF while the residents are against any such move.

Pertinently, according to official statistics, 128257 kanals of land have been occupied by security forces in the Kashmir valley. Incidentally, Budgam district tops the list with 55468 kanals of land under security force occupation. Damodar Karewah, occupied the security forces, has around 500 acres of land that belongs to farmers of Budgam district. However, for the last three decades, the farmers have been fighting a legal battle to get their land back or an "adequate compensation".

Moreover, the landowners of Damodhar Karewah, Wathoora and Kralpora villages, had filed a contempt petition in the State High Court wherein they submitted that security forces had "violated and dishonoured" High Court and Supreme Court orders, by "failing to either acquire and pay compensation or vacate around 4000 acres of land in its occupations since 1952 at Old Airport by March 31, 2010".

Minister for Revenue, Raman Bhalla, had on September 2, 2011 directed officials of district administration Budgam to conduct a fresh survey of land under acquisition of security forces in many areas of the district. The survey, he said, would be carried out jointly by a team of Defense, Revenue, ATS and other concerned departments "to avoid any confusion".

Interestingly, Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) had on August 10, 2011 alleged that 200 acre land near Indian Air Force station in Budgam district has been grabbed by private parties in connivance with government officials. The BJP had demande a probe by CAG and Ministry of Defence into the matter.

According to established norms, the army camp should be away from civil population, and it should not be constructed on agriculture land or in orchards.

However, in case of Budgam the identified land is very adjacent to civilian population and is an orchard land.

Talking to Kashmir Times, MLA Budgam, Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi, said that the people are divided over the issue.

“Some are in favour and some are against it. I will go by the will of the people,” he said.

Pertinently, district administration is supposed to get NOC (No Objection Certificate) from the concerned MLA before giving land to the men in uniform.

“If the said land is given to the forces, it will open a Pandora’s box,” Yaseen said.

When contacted, IG CRPF Operations, Dr BN Ramesh, said that they were looking for land in Kashmir.

“CRPF has 17 battalions. We need to develop a permanent battalion sites and for that we need around 200 acres of land,” he told Kashmir Times.

When contacted, District Development Commissioner (DDC) Budgam, Mohammad Rafi, said that there are certain guidelines that need to be followed in such cases.

"We need to give some priority in finding appropriate land for security forces who are on internal security. It's not like they asking and we refusing. But there are certain parameters that need to be fulfilled," Rafi said. "First, we have to see that the move is not affecting the agriculture land. The Land Revenue Act prohibits conversion of agriculture land for non-agriculture purposes. Second, it should not result in creating unemployment unless it offers an alternative employment package. Third, in such cases, we have to obtain a NOC from local MLA."

Rafi also said that there was a difference of opinion among the people regarding transfer of land.

"Land owners, most of them absentee land owners, are willing to give their land to security forces, but the residents are objecting it," he said. "Amid stiff opposition, we may not be able to do it."

Significantly, according to government statistics, 55468 kanals of land have been occupied by security agencies in Budgam district, 51992 kanals of land in North Kashmir, while in south Kashmir, security agencies have occupied 20797 kanals of land.

The DDC said that his office has not yet issued legal notification, but the CRPF has been asked to look for an alternative location, which is away from the civil population.

"We are looking for a suitable location for them," he said.

7 Yrs On, New Bus Stand Budgam Yet To Be Made Operational

Commuters Suffer; Shopkeepers Threaten Suicide; Administration Sleeps

SYED ALI SAFVI

BUDGAM, Sep 16: In a case of share negligence and apathy, the state government, even after seven years, has failed to shift Budgam Bus stand to its new location, much to the dismay of commuters, and shopkeepers, who have threatened to commit suicide in the wake of callous attitude of the state government and Budgam district administration.

The state government had acquired 41 kanals of land near Naraspora, one and a half kilometer from Budgam district headquarters, for establishing bus stand. The site was strategically located and ideally suited for the bus stand. The government spent crores of rupees in developing the site and compensating the land owners. However, the money seems to have just been thrown down the drain as the district administration has failed to make the new Bus stand operation even after seven years, for reasons best known to the authorities.

District Development Commissioner (DDC) Budgam, Mohammad Rafi, who also happens to be chairman of Regional Transport Authority Budgam, had at a meeting, held on July 6, 2009 asserted that the new Bus Stand would be made functional “soon”.

Assistant Regional Transport officer Budgam had issued a letter No 458-62/ARTO Budgam/ 2011, dated 23.05.2011 directing all transport association owners to ply their vehicles from the new Bus Stand Budgam from May 9, 2011.

Worried over unnecessary delay, the DDC, on record, had brought to the notice of general public and all the transporters that the new Bus Stamd would be made operational from May 12, 2011. However, four months on, the Bus Stand is yet to be made functional.

Chaos: Old Bus Stand

Executive Officer Municipal Committee Budgam vide letter No 09/280-81, dated 02-09-2009 had informed DDC that necessary instructions should be issued to concerned agencies for making new Bus Stand functional.

“Office of the Executive Officer Municipal Committee Budgam has already discussed the said issue with your office vide letter No MC/Bud/07/405, dated 07-03-2007 and suggested for making the Bus Adda functional,” the letter read.

Members of Shopkeepers and Owners Association, New Bus Stand Budgam (SOA) alleged that when they approached to DDC budgam they were told that the Bus Stand would not be made operational “because of some political pressure”.

“We borrowed huge amount of money from banks and other financial institutions to acquire tenancy rights of the shops, but since the Bus Stand has not been made operational our shops are closed down and the burden of loan is increasing day by day,” the shopkeepers, who have acquired shops at the new Bus Stand said. “We have been pushed to wall. We have reached to a stage where there is no option except committing suicide.”

They said that their repeated pleas have only fallen on deaf ears.

The members of SOA had filed an RTI with DDC Budgam, seeking information about the action taken by his office regarding shifting of Bus Stand.

Interestingly, the office of DDC Budgam directed the applicants to Executive Officer, Municipal Committee, Budgam, stating that “this office is neither the appellant authority nor PIO for the concerned matter”. (DCBI/RTI/11/166-68, dated 13.08.2011)

DESERTED: New Bus Stand.

The shopkeepers also shot a legal notice to DDC Budgam on August 27, 2011 urging him to make the new Bus Stand operational “to the satisfaction of your promises within 15 days”.

“Almost three weeks have passed, but we have not received any reply from the office of DDC Budgam,” the shopkeepers association said.

Pertinently, the SOA had, on October 6, 2009 had made a representation to Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah, seeking his intervention into the matter.

Additional Secretary to CM’s Private Secretariat had directed DDC Budgam to “examine the grievances for its redressal”.

The DDC Budgam had on November 16, 2009 asked Executive Officer Municipal Committee Budgam for report.

When contacted, DDC Budgam told Kashmir Times that there is a certain disagreement between sections of the society vis-à-vis shifting of the Bus Stand.

“It generally happens. If you have an established market somewhere and you want to shift a bus stand, there will be disagreement. This has happened in Ganderbal, Kangan or in the case of even Lal Chowk. So the kind of hindrance we are facing is not unusual. May be the divide here (in Budgam) is deeper, but we should be able to sort it out over a period of time. It’s not that we can not enforce our writ, but the fact of the matter is that we want to solve it amicably where people go with us and we could make them understand that this is not for the benefit of the government, but for the benefit of the people, commuters, passenger traffic and shopkeepers,” he said.

He said that it was unfortunate that Budgam town has not developed over the last three decades.

“It’s as bad or as good a headquarter as it was in 1979 when it was established,” he said.

Asked about the delay in making the Bus Stand operational, the DDC said, “Some people with vested interests were creating hindrance. Most of them are shopkeepers at old Bus Stand. They have basically livelihood concerns. They can not be dismissed of hand. We are trying to address the concerns of both sides,” he said. “A balanced act is required where the old Bus Stand does not get suddenly deserted. Some amount of activity is retained there to the extend that it does not cause hindrance to the commuting public.”

Khomeini, the man who changed course of world history, was a Kashmiri

Syed Ali Safvi

SRINAGAR, June 4: Much has been written and said about the founder of Islamic revolution of Iran, Ayatollah Ruhullah Khomeini (RA), but very few people know that the iconic figure who changed the course of world history traced his family roots to Kashmir.
According to historians, one of Khomeini’s ancestors, Syed Shahab-ud-Din Hyder, had arrived to Kashmir in 766 Hijri and got settled here.
“According to ‘Aasar-e Bastani Azarbaijan’, volume 2, Syed Shahab-ud-Din Hyder was the grand¬son of Safi-ud-Din Ardabili,” says Syed Mohammad Anis Kazmi, a noted historian of Kashmir. “There is also a mention of Syed Shabab-ud-Din and his two brothers in ‘Shajrat-ut-Toyiba’.”
According to Kazmi, one of the brothers of Shahab-ud-Din is buried at Habak Magam while another – Syed Qutub-ud-Din, popularly known as Peer Haaj Mitha - is buried in Jammu.
Moti Lal Saqi has also given a detailed account of Peer Hajj Mitha in “Sheeraza Urdu”, he says.
Kazmi says that the progeny of Shahab-ud-Din lived in Kashmir at Namchibal, Khanqah for a long time.
“Shahab-ud-Din is buried at Namchibal and his shrine is popularly known as ‘Bab Syed Hyder’,” he says.
Shahab-ud-Din’s son, Syed Mohammad Jabalil Amli, is also buried at Namchabal and his shrine is popularly known as “Syed Sahib”, he adds.
“Detailed account of this family is given in ‘Kohl-ul Jawahir’, written by Allama Ibn-e Raza, and published from Lahore in 1264 Hijri,” says Kazmi. “One Photostat copy of the book was sent to Ayatullah al-Uzma Marashi al-Najafi (R.A.) about 40 years ago and another copy is with Justice Hakeem Imtiyaz.”
The family, according to Kazmi, lived in Kashmir until Khomeini’s grandfather, Syed Ahmad, moved to Iran.
“Syed Jabalil Amli’s son was Syed Abdul Gani; Syed Gani’s son was Syed Hassan; His son was Syed Nowroz; Nowroz’s son was Syed Abdul Hadi; Hadi’s son was Aqa Syed Hussain; Hussain’s son was Syed Amir-ud-Din; Amir-ud-Din’s son was Syed Safdar; Safdar’s son was Syed Buzurg; Syed Buzurg’s son was Syed Ahmad, the grand¬father of Syed Ruhullah Khomeini,” says Kazmi.
According to him, all of them, except Syed Ahmad and Syed Safdar, are buried in Kashmir.
“Some of them are buried at Khanqah-e Sokhta, some are buried at Daulatabad, and some at Rang Paristan Surteng,” he says.
As per Kazmi, Syed Safdar and his son Syed Buzurg had migrated from Kashmir and settled in Calcutta (now Kolkatta) where Syed Ahmad was born. However, Syed Buzurg came back to Kashmir, he adds.
“Meanwhile, Syed Ahmad had gone to Iraq for religious studies. After completing his studies, he came back to Kashmir, but left for Iran with one Haji Baqir Khan Irani where he got married with an Iranian girl,” Kazmi says. “Syed Ahmad stayed back in Iran and settled there.”
Pertinently, some historian claim that Syed Ahmad lived in Lucknow and migrated to Iran from there. However, according to a statement of Khomeini's elder brother, Syed Morteza Pasandideh, Syed Ahmad’s point of departure was Kashmir, not Lucknow.
According to Kazmi, from 1261 Hijri to 1390 Hijri, no one knew about the whereabouts of Syed Ahmad.
“It was only in 1390 Hijri when Ayatollah Khomeini was living in exile in Iraq and then Iraqi president had asked all non-Iraqi’s to leave Iraq that Ayatollah Aga Syed Yousuf Kashmiri invited him to Kashmir,” says Kazmi. “To which, Ayatollah Khomeini replied, ‘I would have loved to visit my ancestral home, Kashmir, but I am afraid I can't’.”
Kazmi says after going through the letter of Ayatollah Khomeini, Aga Yousuf wrote back to him, asking for more details about his ancestors.
“In reply to Aga’s letter, Khomeini wrote ‘I only know that my grandfather, Syed Ahmad Kashmiri, had migrated to Iran about 130 years ago. He got married and settled here’,” Kazmi says.
All the letters of Ayatollah Khomeini which he had written to Aga Yousuf are preserved in the personal library of Aga sahib, Kazmi adds.

Sadiq Ali, a nice man to know

Syed Ali Safvi

As the old adage goes, "Those who live in the hearts of others, never die.” Three weeks have passed since Kashmir lost a veteran politician, acclaimed poet, flamboyant writer, and an active environmentalist in Sadiq Ali, but his memories will always live within the hearts of many of his admirers.

Sadiq Ali was among very few Kashmiri politicians who did not allow their political differences to come in personal relationship. Although, he switched from one party to another, he was never heard going public against any party.

Sadiq or "Aseer", as he was known among literary circles, was keen to develop different facets of his personality, which in turn helped him retain a good measure of balance despite having to change political affiliation at times.

He was born into a humble family of Hassanbabad in Srinagar. Jaffar Ali, his father, was a paper machie artist and a rich businessman.

After completing MA in Political Science from Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), Sadiq plunged into politics at a young age.

He clung to his principles all his life and always held himself aloof from petty political intrigues. He maintained a decent public profile, showing keen desire to make his mark in spheres other than politics.

For his unflinching willingness to call spade a spade and deep political insight, most political leaders held him in good regard.

He contested 1967 election from Budgam assembly segment and lost to National Conference (NC) candidate, Hakim Syed Mehdi.

In 1977, after Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah returned to power, Sadiq was nominated to State Legislative Council on the recommendations of Ayatollah Aga Syed Yousuf Budgami.

This was the time when Sadiq came close to Sheikh Abdullah and Begum Abdullah. After Sheikh’s death, Farooq Abdullah again nominated Sadiq to the state Legislative Council in 1983.

In 1996, he successfully contested as NC candidate from Zadibal assembly segment.

Sadiq remained treasurer of NC working committee for 23 long years, during which he grew close to the party and was always consulted by the party leadership on crucial political and party matters. Though he was considered a balanced representative of Shia community in NC, he never got the ministerial birth.

In 2002 assembly election, Sadiq was initially denied, but later given the party ticket to contest from Zadibal assembly segment.

Being an executive member of J&K Anjuman Sharie Shian and one of the close confidantes of its founder, Sadiq Ali would enjoy popular support in elections particularly from Zadibal segment where the Anjuman had considerable sway over the major chunk of voters.

However, in 2002, things had changed. The party which Sadiq was representing had denied mandate to Aga Yousuf’s son, Aga Syed Mehmood. Consequently, Sadiq was asked to leave the party, which he refused. He contested election and lost to the Ajuman Sharie-backed independent candidate, Shahjahan Dar.

Sadiq accused then senior NC leader and minister, Moulvi Iftikhar Hussain Ansari, of sabotaging his re-election bid from Zadibal. He said that the NC leader’s supporters had cast their votes in his opponent’s favour.

Sadiq demanded action from the party high command against the leader. However, after he felt that his incessant pleas were falling on deaf ears, he decided to quit the party on moral grounds.

After leaving NC, the dejected Sadiq joined PDP and was asked to handle state affairs of the party.

On March 9, 2008, NC patron, Farooq Abdullah, announced that Sadiq has rejoined the party.

As a legislator, Sadiq was a cut above the rest given his indepth understanding of political, economic and cultural environment of the state.

It was on Sadiq’s suggestion that the autonomy resolution was brought for detailed discussions and subsequent voting in the state assembly in June 1999.

During his House debates, he vociferously opposed the unification of Pakistan-administered Kashmir (PoK) with Jammu and Kashmir, asserting that “adopting the resolution would only increase tensions between India and Pakistan”.

Sadiq had also given some important recommendations to resolve the Kashmir imbroglio. The “Self Rule” report put forth by him has also been widely endorsed both in India and Pakistan and has been regarded as one of the most “workable solutions” of the six-decade old dispute.

Besides being a noble politician, Sadiq was an active environmentalist. His contribution in the field of environmental protection is laudable.

Pained by the pitiable plight of Dal lake and other water bodies, he had written a detailed research paper about the conservation of Dal lake to prevent the waterbody from further degradation. Sadiq had also written a comprehensive paper on the deteriorating condition of the state forests.

Sadiq Ali is survived by his wife and four sons, youngest of whom, Tanvir Sadiq, was elected as a municipal councilor from Madin Sahab constituency. Tanvir had also unsuccessfully contested 2008 Assembly election from Zadibal segment as independent candidate.

Question marks over crackdown on USG clinics

SYED ALI SAFVI

SRINAGAR, May 11: Even as the state government continues its crackdown on ultrasound clinics in the state, legal experts and J&K Private Diagnostic Centre Association have termed the clampdown as “illegal” and uncalled for.

Pertinently, the health department has so far sealed nearly 200 ultrasound clinics in Kashmir and Jammu for not adhering to PNDT Act besides not being registered with the concerned authorities.

However, J&K Private Diagnostic Centre Association belies the claims, saying that the health department’s crackdown against ultrasound clinics is “unauthorized”.
The health authorities have sealed the clinics for not having stipulated 500 square meters space. However, according to PNDT act, there is no mention of “500 square meters” space.

“USG clinics should have adequate space to accommodate USG scanner, printer, CVT, table and couch for the patient. The room should be large enough to allow trolley to be wheeled in the patient to be transferred to the couch,” reads the Act (Page no 28 (3) Para 1).

In complete contradiction to PNDT Act, the health department has issued direction that only those doctors can perform ultrasound, who possess post graduation degree in Radiology, feel members of the association.

According to the PNDT Act, even MBBS doctor having undergone training in ultra-sonography can perform the ultrasound.

“To uphold the standard quality of USG clinics the registration is given to those ultrasound centers who have either a well qualified radiologist performing these investigations, possessing DMRD or MD or DNB in radiology, or an MBBS doctor having sufficient experience and having undergone training in ultra-sonography,” reads the Act (Page no 28 (3b) Para 1).
Significantly, in Delhi any MBBS doctor, physician, gynaecologist, surgeon, neurologist, having six months training certificate from any recognized radiology department can apply for PNDT registration.

President of J&K Private Diagnostic Centers Association, Umar Iqbal, said that if the trained Sonologists can perform ultrasound in government run hospitals why not in private clinics.
“Even in SMHS hospital, most of the times house physicians / Assistant surgeons perform the USG,” he told Kashmir Times. “In health department, doctors mostly working as sonologists have not done even house job in radiology from any medical college. So, if an assistant surgeon can perform USG in the state’s premier hospital why not in private clinics.”
Umar termed it “injustice” and “unfortunate” to have unqualified people scanning the patients in state run hospitals and qualified doctors being stopped to conduct the tests in private clinics.

“Even the gynaecologists are being stopped from conducting the tests,” he added.
Umar said that in June 2006, acting on the directions of High Court, Directorate of Health Services gave registration to ultrasound clinics in the state. However, since 2009, the directorate not only refused new registration but also refused renewal of registrations.

“About 250 diagnostic centers have applied for registration and renewal of registration for USG, X-ray and laboratories. Surprisingly, only 20 have been registered for reasons best known to the authorities,” he added.

He said that in all the states of India, PNDT registration is given to the qualified clinics before the purchase of equipments but in Jammu and Kashmir, an NOC is required before the purchase of equipments and the PNDT registration is given in the second stage “which doubles the exercise for both the applicant and the department and making it a very lengthy process which is also not recommended in the PNDT regulation”.

“On one hand the state government is asking unemployed youth to generate employment in private sector and on the other the legally run clinics are being sealed,” he said.
Umar also shot a letter to chief minister, Omar Abdullah, ion May 7, 2011 urging him to take notice and initiate appropriate action at his end.

“An impression was created by concerned authorities in general public that ultra sound clinics were responsible for the illegal disclosure of sex determination. This is done at the behest of some misguided elements and vested interest,” the letter reads.

Meanwhile, a delegation of J&K Private Diagnostic Centre Association, led by its president, union minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah here.

“Being a doctor himself, he understood our problem and directed minister for medical education and minister for health to resolve the problem,” Umar said.

When contacted, minister of state for health, Javed Ahmad Dar, told Kashmir Times that the drive is aimed at eliminating the menace of pre-natal sex determination in most if the ultrasound clinics.

“According to the recent census the sex ratio in J&K has considerably dropped and government is very serious and concerned about it. The ongoing drive against ultrasound clinics is aimed at curbing the practice of sex determination,” he said. “Most of the ultrasound clinics have been found involved in SDT (sex determination test).”

The minister said that some of the diagnostic centres were running illegally.

“They (ultrasound units) were required to submit form ‘F’ after every month. However, they never bothered to submit it. Consequently, action was taken against them,” he said.
Stating that the closure of ultrasound clinics have affected the healthcare system, another senior minister told Kashmir Times on condition of anonymity that the government should have given some time to ultrasound unit holders to complete the registration formalities.

“The ultrasound unit holders have been applying for registration and renewal of registration since 2009. They are not to be blamed. It’s the health department’s fault for not registering them,” he said.

Kashmir to have state of art IT park soon

• IT policy to be sent to cabinet by Apr end: Minister

SYED ALI SAFVI

SRINAGAR, Apr 6: With the aim to boost Information Technology (IT) sector and attract multinational companies (MNCs) to set up their units in Kashmir, the state government is mulling over an idea of setting up information technology parks (ITP) in Jammu and Kashmir.

Talking to Kashmir Times, minister for information technology, Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi, said that a state-of-the-art information technology park would be set up at Ompora Budgam, which would be ready by the end of this year.

“We are also trying to acquire land in Jammu for setting up of information technology park there. We have already asked Industries department to make land available for the same,” he said.

Ruhullah said once the projects are completed, they would not only help to promote IT sector in the state, but also generate employment for educated youth.

He said that the information technology department is expecting to generate 20000 to 25000 jobs through the MNCs, which are expected to set up their units at the ITPs.

“Last year we had persuaded companies like Raheja, Panchsheel, Tata Consultancy to set up their units in Kashmir, but due to five-month unrest, they changed their mind,” he said.

Referring to the much awaited IT policy, Ruhullah said that the policy was ready and would be sent to cabinet by the end of April.

“Once the policy gets cabinet approval, we will invite big outside companies to invest here,” he said. “We will also be able to create more opportunities for local entrepreneurs.”

He said the department is presently implementing central schemes like State Wide Area Network (SWAN), State e-Governance Service Delivery Gateway (SSDG), State Data Centre (SDC), and Common Service Cen¬tre (CSC) in the state.

“All block, tehsil, district level government offices are being be connected through SWAN,” he said. “SWAN will facilitate the working in offices. The applicant will not have to move from one office to another, and any kind of record can be retrieved at any office.”

He said the state government has planned to establish common service centers (CSC) in remote areas, “where IT has to play an important role in making the centers functional for delivery of services”.

“Every effort is being made to expand the ambit of IT and exploit it fully in the state," he said.

He stressed the need for taking IT to the remote areas for larger benefits.

Ruhullah said that around 200 kanals of land at Ompora have already been ear¬marked for the establish¬ment of ITP.

“I have also directed the officers of Industries and Commerce to identify more 200 kanals of land at Ompora for the purpose,” he told Kashmir Times. “We are planning to set up IT parks in Kashmir valley and Jammu to make Jammu and Kashmir IT-friendly state.”

He said a joint inspection of the proposed sites, including Jammu and Samba, would be conduct¬ed to ensure early commencement of work on the projects.

Earlier, chairing a meeting to review progress of the proposed project, at his civil secretariat office in Jammu today, the minister said the IT has given new concept of life globally.

“Technological intervention has become imperative to ensure all round development. In the present era of technology, people feel incomplete without access to IT,” he said, and directed the officers to take necessary measures for development of the sites proposed for setting up IT parks in Jammu and Budgam.