A Danger Not TACKLED
In Kashmir, fruits might cause cancer. This revelation was made in a survey done by Kashmir’s municipal authorities five months back in which it was revealed that a banned carcinogenic chemical was being used to artificially ripen imported fruits in Srinagar. But this deadly practice is still in vogue and authorities have done little to stop this menace.
In June this year, a survey was conducted by a designated officer of the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) which proved that almost all the traders associated with imported fruit storage and distribution in Srinagar use the harmful and proven carcinogenic Calcium Carbide to ripen the imported fruits including Mango, Banana, Orange, Pineapple and others.
Calcium Carbide is known to have cancer-causing properties and if consumed for long it may cause neurological disorders, memory loss and cerebral edema.
This survey was conducted on the orders of Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir which found that all the twenty fruit storage unit holders in Srinagar use Calcium Carbide to ripen the imported fruits early and the chemical is easily available in the market.
Now after five months, Food Safety Officer (FSO) of SMC says, “We submitted the report before Divisional Commissioner in June this year but so far no action has been taken.” He further informed that Calcium Carbide is banned in other parts of India, but it is having free run only in Kashmir.
The official further said that these units existed in the summer capital in areas like Parimpora Fruit Mandi, Magarmal Bagh, Lal Chowk Bund, Hari Singh High Street, Old Bus Stand and others.
The Food Safety and Standards Act which was introduced in Jammu and Kashmir last year clearly bans the usage of this chemical and states offenders are liable to face both imprisonment and fine. “But so far we have only stopped issuing licenses to these traders and we don’t have orders to act against them or close these units down,” said the FSO.
“These imported fruits are perishable fruits that can’t be transported when ripe and the market for these fruits is so high that we can’t wait for their natural ripening,” said a fruit trader. Since Carbide can ripen the fruit in almost 24 hours, therefore most traders are using it as a fruit ripening chemical.
“We have been using carbide for last several decades, if there are health problems arising out of it we are ready to stop such practice but government needs to provide avenues to traders to use alternatives,” said trader.
Easing Kashmir VISITS
After, 20 long years UK lifts its advisories against travelling to Srinagar and Jammu cities. UK is the third country—after Germany and Japan—to lift advisories against travel to the Kashmir Valley.
The tour operators in UK have already started preparing their trips to the valley but back in valley the move is taken as a positive step, however at the same time the people associated with tourism have shown their distress as the advisories have been lifted from the state capitals only.
The confinement of UK tourists alone to Srinagar district is sheer injustice which needs to be reviewed again, feels Siraj Ahmad, General Secretary Kashmir Economic Alliance (KEA).
While as President Travel Agents Association of Kashmir (TAAK), Rauf Tramboo says the visit of British tourists only to Srinagar can’t have desired impact on tourism sector at large.
Wild Frontiers an adventure travel company will be holding the first Kashmir trip that will include a three-day lake journey and trekking in the Himalayan foothills, charging ?1,850 (Rs 1,61,345) per person excluding air travel.
According to the Wild Frontiers website, Kashmir, has been closed for too long and we are delighted to be able to offer this tour, focusing entirely on the fabled Vale.
“The three-day water-journey from Dal Lake to Manasbal Lake and beyond will take you on a beautiful watery trail, first taken by the Moghul rulers in the seventeenth century, and then by the British two hundred years later. Staying in lovely mountain camps, we will see and walk among the Himalayan foothills. We will also visit the mountain village of Gulmarg and spend four nights on Srinagar’s famous houseboats. This relaxed tour of Kashmir, will be perfect for anyone wanting to unwind and see this amazing place at a slow and steady pace.”
Azim Tuman, Chairman Kashmir House Boat Owners Association, welcomes the step and thank the Governments of the UK and India as well as the State Government for the move. He says it will boost tourist arrivals from foreign countries which will also affect the carpet industry in turn. “Foreign tourists have always been the main buyers of carpets and our carpet industry has been struggling because of such advisories. Now, we hope it will get a boost,” Tuman said.
While as people hope other countries, including common wealth nations will follow and soon lift their respective advisories.
But the ambassadors outside the valley claim that their countries are reluctant to lift their advisories due to the unrest especially when acts like Disturbed Areas Act (DDA) and Armed Forces Special Power Act (AFSPA) are still in vogue following which all European Union countries have issued travel advisories to its citizens cautioning them against visiting Kashmir since 1989.
A Road Omar Is Keen To HAVE
Old links might resume soon after the fresh initiative of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for opening of Jammu-Sialkote route with the support of Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and his Pakistani counterpart.
This route was an important traditional trade link between Punjab (Pakistan) and hilly State of J&K before 1947. The people of this hill state used to go to Lahore and Amritsar via Sialkote. During that period, Jammu was also connected to Sialkote via train. The distance between these two cities is just 38 kms (From Old Tawi bridge).
Even during partition majority of the people from one community shifted to Sialkote and they still visit their relations via Wagah border which is very lengthy and day long tiresome journey while via R S Pura-Suchetgarh, it is hardly 45 minute journey.
Apart from people, several bodies of traders and industrialists of Jammu have welcomed the statement of Chief Minister in which he remarked that he would recommend opening of Jammu-Sialkote road to the Centre for travel and trade.
Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Jammu president, Y V Sharma while welcoming the statement of Chief Minister said this link has remained the traditional trade route prior to 1947 and opening of this trade link will give major boost to the economic activities on both sides. “Within few years, these destinations may emerge as international business hubs which will strengthen people to people contact,’’ he added.
Bari Brahmana Industries Association president Annil Suri said at present the trade between two sides is being carried through Wagah-Attari, Munabao-Khokhrapar and via Dubai but if this route is opened, Jammu will also emerge as big trade hub. “There may be more than 3000 tradable items likely to be exchanged on this international border and government will also generate huge revenue,” he said.
Associated Chamber of Traders Federation chief, Yash Paul Gupta said reviving business activity on this route will boost the economic activities in this part of the south Asian region.
He further said even the traders, apple growers and those dealing in handicrafts in Kashmir, will get great benefit of this route. Mr Gupta said opening of this route will also strengthen relations and CBMs measures between the two countries.
Papa and His GUNS
Papa Kishtwari is infamous for his tenure in government forces and involvement in a number of killings. In a recent development, a city court has directed prosecution to produce witnesses in a murder case, of Ali Mohammad Mir, against Papa Kishtwari and the co-accused, at the earliest.
The trail is going on in principal district and session’s court, against Ghulam Muhammad Lone alias Papa Kishtwari and his associates who are allegedly involved in a murder case of Mir, who was abducted in 1996 and then killed. Mir was a contractor by profession. Till date his body has not been traced while his son is trying hard to find out his remains for the last rites.
The court has observed the direction of producing witness will be conveyed to the prosecution once, Public prosecutor Abdul Aziz Teli returns from Haj. The counsel for Zahoor Ahmad Mir, son of the murdered contractor, Advocate Babar Jan Qadri also argued against the bail application moved by Khurshid Ahmad Mir and Ghulam Rasool Ganaie, the two associates of Kishtwari.
“I pleaded before the court that unless the unaccounted arms used by Kishtwari and his associates would be recovered and all his militia men arrested, the bail matter should not be heard as it can put life of my client at risk,” Qadri said.
The counsel also mentioned in the court that the weapon lying with Kishtwari gang is yet to be recovered and claimed the investigation was not done properly by the officers. “And till the weapons are not recovered and absconding criminals are not arrested, the bail to Kishtwari and his associates will cause danger to the complainant (Zahoor Mir) and the society at large,” Qadri pleaded before the judge.
Qadri while mentioning the Kishtwari was running a gang of around 150 persons among which only three have been arrested so far, showed concern for non compliance of court orders seeking a direction to SSP Srinagar to provide adequate security to the complainant.
To trace out the body of the victim, his son had pleaded before the court that his father was allegedly killed by pro-government gunman Ghulam Muhammad Lone alias Papa Kishtwari and his associates. He had sought court directions to the government to take all necessary steps in conducting DNA testing of all the unnamed graves so that the body of his father can be identified and recovered. State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) had also recommended DNA testing of bodies lying in alleged mass graves in Kashmir.
Mir also wants the government to pay a compensation of rupees five crore besides a job under SRO-43. While his counsel wants the court to direct the government to ensure for the safety of the petitioner by providing a reasonable security, citing the reason that he is under constant threat from the absconding criminals and killers of his father. And for the same an FIR has been registered against the accused in police station Nishat (2007)
Battling in Virtual WORLD
Solidarity call is building on virtual world for the release of Kashmiri youth, Muhammad Rafiq Shah, jailed for his alleged role in Delhi serial blasts that killed 76 people and left 200 injured in 2005.
Global online petition platform called Change.org which is empowering people everywhere to create the change they want to see, recently saw the signature of the aging mother of Rafiq, Mahmooda Akhtar who signed on it to secure the release of her son. The petition was signed by many students from Kashmir University, where Rafiq was present in his class in 2005 when blasts rocked Delhi.
The grieving mother who has already exhausted all options and has now lodged an online petition, seeking prime minister, Dr Manmohan Singh’s intervention in her son’s release.
“I request the Kashmir Diaspora to help in signing my online petition, and to press the central and the state governments to release my son,” said Rafiq’s bedridden mother.
Shah, a student of Islamic Studies at the Kashmir University, was arrested from his Alasteing home outside Srinagar on November 21, 2005, by Kashmir and Delhi police on information provided by another accused during interrogation.
“Rafiq has never visited Delhi,” his family maintains. “Besides, university records show clearly that he was present in class during the days of the blasts.” Initially, the police claimed that the student was involved in arranging funds for the blasts and planting explosives in a bus.
“I also request the students of all universities in the state and outside to show solidarity with me and help me in securing my son’s release,” she says.
His detention has been extended several times by courts in Delhi on the pretext that his alleged role in handling the bombs was being probed. He is presently lodged in Delhi’s dreaded Tihar Jail.
Pertinently, Change.org claims to have more than 20 million users in 196 countries, which it claims that people every day use their tools to transform their communities – locally, nationally and globally.
