Tawi campaigners missing

Whenever NGOs or politicians start a campaign or exercise and come up with a slogan to save the Tawi, it generates a lot of hype which they fail to sustain. They release directions and orders to save the river but no major changes can be seen. Garbage and waste has surfaced on the Tawi bed as the water level of the river has receded, but the campaigners for the river preservation are nowhere in sight. Vikram Sharma

Sports activities get going

After the Darbar shifted to the winter capital from Srinagar over a month ago, Jammu is abuzz with sports activities. The J&K Police, CRPF, Youth Services and Sports Department and the J&K State Sports Council are holding sports activities. While the CRPF organised a football tournament recently, Chief Minister’s women T-20 cricket tournament is underway here. The Press Club of Jammu also organised a two-day carom and chess championship for journalists. Amir Karim Tantray

Holding on to traditions 

The Kashmiri Pandit community is making every effort to keep its traditions alive and pass them on to future generations, born and brought up in exile. Pandits outside the Valley continue to celebrate two rituals — ‘Gaad batte’ and ‘Yaksha Amavasya’ — associated with the cold weather and mysterious origins of Kashmiris. On both occasions, mainly celebrated in December, fish is cooked and presented to ‘Gar Devta’, while on Yaksha Amavasya, a special dish of turnip and mutton is cooked. Although Pandits  live away from their homeland and don’t see the charms of falling snow, the community carries on its traditions. Sumit Hakhoo

BJP ministers silent

The state government, in which BJP is an equal partner, has opposed setting up of a minority commission in J&K. It has also denied state holiday on the birth anniversary of last Dogra ruler Maharaja Hari Singh. While BJP ministers have maintained a guarded silence on the two issues, party spokespersons have issued hard-hitting statements against their own government. Dinesh Manhotra

Car registration hassles

Installing high-security number plate on vehicles is full of hassles in Jammu. Despite the process being computerised, the Regional Transport Office (RTO), Jammu, has made it difficult for people to get their vehicles registered. After facing a lot of hardships while applying for the registration number, consumers have to first pay for the high-security number plate at the RTO office in Narwal. The office gives the time and date for fitting the number plate, but at the installation centre at the old RTO office, the consumer is made to wait for at least 3-4 hours before the number plate is fitted. After fitting the plate, the consumer has to go back to the Narwal office to get the registration certificate printed, causing inconvenience to them. Amit Khajuria