PM, Sonia flag off first train connecting Jammu to Kashmir Valley

JAMMU, June 26: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh along with UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday flagged off the first train connecting Banihal in Jammu region with Qazigund in Kashmir Valley.

The newly constructed station in Banihal, 125 km from summer capital Srinagar, was decked up with flowers and garlands to receive the VVIPs for flagging off the first train which will pass through 11 km tunnel through Pir Panchal range.

The eight-coach train carrying school children and officials of IRCON and Railways reached Qazigund in 25 minutes.

The Banihal-Qazigund section, which includes an 11-km long tunnel, the country's longest, reduces the 35 km distance to 18 km.

It has been constructed at a cost of Rs 1,691 crore.

The Prime Minister and Gandhi boarded the train before its departure and interacted with the school children. They returned to Banihal from the new tunnel.

The Udhampur-Banihal section is expected to be completed by 2017 connecting the Valley to the rest of the country round-the-year without any hindrance.

The train will make regular operation from Banihal to Baramulla in north Kashmir from 27th June.

The Banihal-Baramulla -Banihal train will make five trips daily beginning at 7.10 AM from Banihal and 7.35 AM from Baramulla.

Besides the Prime Minister and Gandhi, others present on the occasion were Governor N N vohra, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Railway Minister Mallikarjun Kharge and Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad.

Train service is already operational within Kashmir Valley on the 118-km-long route between Qazigund and Baramulla in north Kashmir.

This was inaugurated by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on 11th October, 2008.

The tunnel has been constructed using New Austrian Tunnelling Method, which has been used for the first time on such a large scale in India.

This method optimises the tunnel design by mobilising the inherent ground strength in adopting a curved section, providing primary support system immediately after excavation and monitoring the ground behaviour while permitting it to develop its inherent strength.

A three-metre wide road has been provided inside the tunnel for maintenance and emergency rescue and relief operations.

The tunnel has been made water-proof by providing continuous PVC membrane between primary and secondary lining.

Prez for community-based system to check drug abuse

NEW DELHI, June 26: President Pranab Mukherjee has called for developing a nationwide community-based system for prevention of alcoholism and drug abuse, which can connect various stakeholders at every level.

Presenting the first National Awards for Outstanding Services in the field of Prevention of Alcoholism and Substance (Drug) Abuse at a function in New Delhi on Wednesday, Mukherjee said alcoholism and drug abuse are a matter of serious concern for a nation like India, given its young demographic profile.

There is an urgent need for concerted efforts of all stakeholders to prevent and eradicate this menace, he said.

The awards were presented on the occasion of International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.

United Nations Secretary general Ban Ki-moon's message was also read out at the event.

"It is imperative to improve our delivery mechanisms. Schemes and programmes should effectively reach the target groups, including through partnerships with the private sector and civil society. They should be in keeping with the evolving needs of the vulnerable sections of our society," Mukherjee said in his address.

The President stressed for more outreach programs that bring to the youth the stark facts about substance abuse.

He called upon teachers, faith-based groups, health care providers, law enforcement officials, and all community leaders to join together to address the problem.

Five agencies under Institutional category and two persons under Individual category were facilitated by the President.

On this occasion, Union Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Kumari Selja said alcohol and drug addiction have become a major concern in the last few years as the mechanism of social check has got eroded.

The Youth Development Organisation from Imphal, TT Ranganathan Clinical Research Foundation from Chennai, Gram Panchayat of Chharba in from Dehradun, Central Young Mizo Association from Aizawl and Nehru Yuva Kendra from Manipur were hounoured in Institutional category.

Anil Awachat from Pune and Soram Ratan Singh from Imphal were awarded for their works in dealing with the menace in Individual Category.

Terrorists will not succeed in their designs: PM

SRINAGAR, June 25: A day after the militant strike in Srinagar left eight soldiers dead, Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh on Tuesday said the entire country is standing united against terrorists and they will not succeed in their designs.

"I want to pay my tributes to the soldiers who laid down their lives while fighting the terrorists," Dr. Singh said in his speech after inaugurating 850 MW Rattle power project here along with UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi.

The Prime Minister said the entire country is standing united against the terrorists.

"The terrorists will not succeed in their designs." Security is a pre-requisite for development, the Prime Minister said as he paid tributes to the soldiers killed in militant strike on Monday, asserting such attacks would not deter efforts to bring normalcy in the state.

Gandhi also condoled the death of army personnel in the militant attack. "Our analysis is that the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir has shown considerable improvement.

The terrorist- related violence in 2012 had shown a sharp decline and was the lowest in last two decades," the Prime Minister said.

However, Dr. Singh said there was a need to keep a constant vigil to prevent attacks like the one that took place on Monday at Hyderpora.

On the power front, the Prime Minister said the Centre will provide all help to Jammu and Kashmir in overcoming the power shortage and announced several steps in this direction, including additional 150 MW supply from the Northern Grid.

Dr. Singh said that J-K was drawing 1664 MW from the Northern Grid which did not suffice the needs of the state.

"I announce an additional 150 MW for the state to meet its power requirements. I also hope that other projects like Uri II project in Baramulla will be completed soon and the state will receive power from it," he said.

Dr. Singh said a transmission line costing Rs 1629 crore between Srinagar and Leh is being laid, which will meet the electricity needs of people in Ladakh region throughout year.

The Prime Minister said the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation has taken five ITIs and plans to take two more for imparting training to the youth for working in power projects.

He said the Power Grid Corporation will also set up a training institute at Kangan in Ganderbal district.

PM lays foundation stone of 850 Mw Hydel project in J&K

SRINAGAR, June 25: Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday laid the foundation stone of 850 Megawatt hydel power project in river Chenab at Drabshala in Jammu and Kashmir.

Foundation stones for two more projects one in Leh and other in Kargil were also remotely laid down by PM and Sonia Gandhi. The project will be completed in five years.

Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh paid tribute to the jawans killed on Monday in the valley.

He said that India was firmly united against terrorism; and won't let terrorist succeed in their nefarious designs.

Singh also said that with the projects being implemented in the region will enhance growth and employment.

He said that Centre was giving full support to the state to overcome problem of power shortage.

Sonia Gandhi applauded the development being done by UPA Government.

She praised the increasing potential of the youths of Jammu and Kashmir and said that with project employment in the state will increase.

Terming the Power plant project as beneficial for the entire state, Congress President expressed hope that the people whose land has been acquired for the project will get adequate compensation.

Kharge made Railways Minister, eight inducted as Ministers

NEW DELHI, June 17: In perhaps the last reshuffle and expansion of the Union Council of Ministers, Mallikarjun Kharge was made the Railways Minister as eight more were inducted with veterans Sis Ram Ola and Oscar Fernandes making a comeback.

After Sunday’s reshuffle in the party, senior woman leader from election-bound Rajasthan Girija Vyas and K S Rao from Andhra Pradesh were brought in as Cabinet Ministers in Monday’s exercise which was an all-Congress affair.

Three new faces -- Santosh Chowdhury, J D Seelam and E N S Nachiappan were made Ministers of State along with veteran Maharashtra leader Manikrao Gavit.

With the fresh inductions, the strength of the Union Council of Ministers has gone up to 77.

The oath of office and secrecy to the new ministers was administered by President Pranab Mukherjee at a ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan attended by Vice President Hamid Ansari, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and union ministers among others.

71-year-old Kharge, who missed out in the Chief Ministerial race in Karnataka last month, has been compensated with the heavyweight Railway portfolio after being shifted from Labour and Employment.

Labour has now been given to Ola, the 86-year-old Jat leader from Rajasthan who gets back the same portfolio he had held in the UPA-I.

Fernandes, who had also been Labour Minister and Sports and Youth Affairs Minister in UPA-I, got Road and Highways Ministry, succeeding C P Joshi who resigned over the weekend.

Girija Vyas got Housing, Urban Development and Poverty Alleviation, a portfolio held by Ajay Maken who also had quit on Saturday to work for the party.

K S Rao (69), a five-time MP from coastal Andhra Pradesh who nearly quit Lok Sabha after being ignored in the Cabinet expansion last year, was given the Textiles portfolio.

Among new Ministers of State, Seelam, a former IAS officer, is a dalit face from Andhra Pradesh. He got Finance.

Gavit, 78-year-old tribal leader from Maharashtra and a nine-time MP, has been allotted Social Justice and Empowerment portfolio.

Santosh Chowdhury, a dalit from Hoshiarpur in Punjab, was given Health & Family Welfare Ministry.

Nachiappan, a member of the JPC on 2G scam and a member of the panel of the presiding officers in the Rajya Sabha, was given Commerce and Industry.

The reshuffle was expected for some time after the exit of DMK's six ministers and resignation of Pawan Kumar Bansal and Ashwani Kumar.

Nitish 'secular', Rahul Gandhi 'natural leader': PM

NEW DELHI, June 17: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday called Nitish Kumar "a secular leader" reaffirming the possiblity of a Congress-Janata Dal United alliance, after JD(U) parted ways with BJP on Sunday.

"In politics there are no permanent friends or enemies. We decide as the situation evolves," he said at Rashtrapati Bhawan where eight new minsters were inducted into the Cabinet.

Talking to reporters at the event Prime Minister Singh also called Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi "a natural leader" addressing speculation of him being UPA's prime ministerial candidate for the 2014 Lok Sabha polls.

"I have always said, as far as I am concerned, I would be very happy to see Rahul step into my shoes," he said.

"Rahul Gandhi is a national leader. He has all the right qualities that a leader should have."

Addressing chances of Congress's third term in power he said, "we will have a third go as UPA and the people will again repose their faith in us."