JAMMU DIARY
Wetland turns into dumping ground

Though the Jammu Municipal Corporation has erected a signboard warning to prosecute trespassers at its wetland in Paloura, it is being used by various constructing agencies for dumping debris. Locals say the wetland was once house to various species of birds, but due to the dumping of debris, the pond has shrunk to almost half of its original size. (See picture)

Harassment in name of security

In the militancy-infested state, some cops quite often enter into unseemly fracas with journalists in the name of security. During the Independence Day celebrations, a cop after scanning cameras of TV journalists, found an easy prey in a reporter from a local daily. “Cigarettes are not allowed,” said the cop and the reporter quietly handed over the pack to one of the employees of the stadium. The imposing cop then took two ballpoint pens from the reporter and “minutely” checked them and drew few lines on his palm. Perturbed over this, the reporter remarked, “Befikar raho RDX nahi bhara hai”.

Smoking ban being violated

A ban on smoking in public places is not being strictly enforced in Jammu as many people, particularly teenagers can be seen openly flouting it. Be it a busy market, bus stand, hospital or any government office in the city, people can be seen smoking openly without the threat of being caught or fined.

Posh locality, poor roads

The Channi Himmat colony is one of the few well-planned and posh localities of the city. Many VIPs live in large mansions here. Despite this, the government has failed to provide good roads. There are potholes all over and trenches dug up for laying cables or water pipes have not been blacktopped.

Self-styled journalists

Journalism is not a passion for many self-styled scribes in the twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch. Except for a few local journalists who get byline stories published in various local and national newspapers, rest of them are into the profession just for the journalist tag. Whereas for some of these so-called journalists, who cannot even write a single sentence, their profession is something that gets them government contracts while for others, it is a means to enjoy privileges offered by the administration and the Army.

(Contributed by Tejinder Singh Sodhi, Ravi Krishnan Khajuria, Sunaina Kaul and Shariq Majeed)