Appeal to Deputy Commissioner Kathua

A large number of schemes are initiated by the State as well as Central Govts to protect and preserve water bodies in the greater interest of general public. A very old heritage pond is situated at main road Swan Chak Kathua. It is popularly known as Sankat Mochan Shiv Mandir pond. Adjacent to the pond a beautiful Shiv Mandir and amighty peepal tree are located. A large number of Kathua people visit this temple daily to worship Lord Shiva and give feed to fishes.
The present condition of the pond is very deplorable. It is filled with mud and grass and broken boundary walls . It has become a garbage dumping spot creating foul smell and harming living fishes. It requires immediate cleaning and repair to boundary walls to stop further damage. Since the Govt is concentrating on protection of water bodies, it is requested to include this heritage pond in the coming projects for repair and maintenance
Lt Col VP Sharma (Retd)
Ward No-13, Shastri Nagar
Kathua

Blacktop Basohli-Bani road
The road connecting Basohli with Bani though black-topped needs repairs at various places to allow smooth vehicular traffic on it. Being an important road link from tourist point of view, it needs to be maintained on regular basis. The road patch near about 25 Kms is in worst condition. The drivers hesitate to ply on this portion fearing damage to their vehicles.
As such it is requested to the District Administration Kathua to address this issue on priority basis.
Veer Singh
Bani

Plea to JMC authorities
This is to draw attention of the JMC authorities towards the insanitary condition in Shastri Nagar, Gandhi Nagar, Rampura and Naibasti.
The lanes and drains of the above mentioned areas are full of filth, garbage and muck which have vitiated the environment of the area. The Safaikaramcharis are hardly seen in the area and it seems they are not accountable to any one.
The area also witnesses regular power cuts, and these cuts have made the life of people quite miserable in this scorching heat. The same is the condition of PHE department. It has forgotten the schedule of water supply and the people are facing acute shortage of water.
In light of these issues, it is requested to the JMC authorities to redress them at the earliest.
Th Puran Singh
K B Raina

Open Vegetable Research Centre at Chenani
I would like to request the Governor J&K State to open Vegetable Research Centre of SKUAST-J at Chenani. It is pertinent to mention that Chenani tehsil has emerged as vegetable hub of Jammu province. Not only to Jammu but large quantity of vegetables is also sent to Srinagar and Pathankot at the peak season.
The farmers of Chenani are hard working. The vast agriculture fields of Chenani have got gifted irrigation facilities in the shape of rivers, rivulets, springs and ever green bowlis. The farmers use traditional methods of irrigation. The quality of soil is rich. The rainfall is good throughout the year and Govt has provided road connectivity to every village. Chenani has unique varieties of potatoes and tomatoes and other vegetables which the farmers grow even upto this time.
The unorganised vegetable sector of Chenani urgently requires systematic efforts for seed multiplication and market utilisation. No research work has been done on these traditional vegetable varieties in local climate of Chenani. With the efforts of farmers Chenani produces more than fifty trucks of potatoes and vegetables daily for various vegetable markets. Keeping in view the availability of vast Agriculture land, good climate and God gifted irrigation facilities. It is requested to J&K State Govt to sanction full Krishi vigyan Kendra for Chenani with special focus on vegetable and potato research Wings.
Rajinder Anthal
Chenani, Udhampur

e-tendering of Link road Khushustal Kishtwar
Time and again I request and remind the authorities concerned to take up the tendering process of link road Khushustal -Tangastal-Gangchoorin – Arsi in Matta -B Panchayat for which Suvey stands already conducted and DPR prepared by PWD (R&B) Division , Kishtwar District Kishtwar
It is, high time to inform the Governor of J&K and concerned authorities to take early action in the matter so that the people do not feel inconvenient any more.
Rajinder Sharma
Bera Bhat
Kishtwar