Mumbai, March 21

The world’s highest rail bridge being constructed over the Chenab river in Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir will be “terror attack-proof” and is expected to be completed by early 2019, the Konkan Railway has said.“Apart from being safe from all possible disasters, including earthquakes, this bridge will be absolutely safe to sustain terror strike and every precautionary step is being considered to make it foolproof,” Konkan Railway Chairman and Managing Director Sanjay Gupta told reporters, who visited the bridge site.“I want to assure you all that this bridge will be most safe and the perfect way to travel,” said Gupta.He said almost 60 per cent of the work was done, and after completion, the maximum permissible limit for a train over the bridge would be 90 kmph. An 18-coach train can tolerate wind speed of 80 kmph while passing through it.“We are making the bridge terror-proof. We have taken logistical support of DRDO officials and when completed, the bridge’s pillars and other parts can withstand a jolt created by 40 kg of RDX with no immediate adverse effect on the operation of the trains,” said another senior official.The construction of the 359-m high and 1,315-m long rail bridge started in 2005 and it was initially slated to be completed in December 2009.However, in 2008 the work was stopped amid fears over its stability and safety. Its construction restarted in 2010 and officials hope to complete it by early 2019.The bridge is part of the much-awaited 326-km-long Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla rail link that will connect the Kashmir valley with the rest of the country. — PTI

‘Can withstand 40-kg RDX blast’

• The world’s highest rail bridge (359 metre high and 1,315 metre long) is being constructed over the Chenab river in Reasi district. It is expected to be completed by early 2019
• The Railways has taken logistical support of DRDO officials. The bridge can withstand a jolt created by 40 kg of RDX with no immediate adverse effect on the operation of the trains, said a railway official

New Delhi, April 8

Two former top officials of Italian aerospace and defence group Finmeccanica have been convicted by a court in Italy for corruption in the sale of 12 VVIP choppers to India for Rs 3,727 crore.Giuseppe Orsi, former CEO of Finmeccanica, and Bruno Spagnolini, former head of AgustaWestland (a Finmeccanica subsidiary) were yesterday sentenced to over four years in prison, PTI reported.All eyes are now on the CBI, which had registered a case against 13 persons and six firms. Former Air Force Chief SP Tyagi and two Chandigarh-based firms are among those booked by for alleged bribery. — TNS

Recruits during a passing-out parade on the outskirts of Srinagar. Tribune Photo: Yawar Kabli

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, March 29

Over 140 youth from the state were inducted in Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry (JAKLI) regiment at a colourful passing out parade on Tuesday.A defence spokesperson here said: “143 recruits successfully completed strenuous training regime of 11 months at the JAKLI Regiment Centre at Rangreth.”“The passing-out-parade was attended by over 2,500 parents and relatives of the young soldiers from the state along with a number of civil and military dignitaries. The parade was reviewed by Major General BK Jain,” the spokesperson added.Major General Jain congratulated the young soldiers for their immaculate parade and impressed upon selfless service towards the nation.He also praised their contribution towards encouraging more and more youth from J&K to come forward to join the security forces and also highlighted the vital role played by the parents in motivating their wards to join the noble profession.Major General Jain also presented awards to the meritorious recruits, who excelled in various facets of training, said the spokesperson.Shabir Ahmed of Reasi received the Chewang Rinchen Medal. He was adjudged ‘best in firing’. Iftikar Beigh of Jammu was conferred the Bana Singh Medal for being ‘best in drill’.The JAKLI Regiment came into being as Jammu and Kashmir Militia in 1948 when the volunteers rallied to the clarion call given by Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah from the historical Lal Chowk for fighting the Pakistan-backed raiders.

The city bench of the Armed Forces Tribunal on Tuesday fined the Union government ` 50,000 for being insensitive towards a physically challenged soldier and denying him war injury pension

The Baglihar dam on the Chenab in Doda district. Tribune file Photo

Arteev Sharma

Tribune News Service

Jammu, March 28

Scanty rain and less snowfall are set to compound electricity woes of Jammu and Kashmir this summer as the state continues to generate only 50 per cent of its total power generation capacity due to low discharge of water into all major rivers.“The generation capacity of the state is 770 MW. Generation has come down drastically to around 400 MW due to low discharge into rivers. We have been running only two turbines of 150 MW capacity each of BHEP-I due to low water level in the Chenab. The generation capacity of other projects has been affected in view of low discharge into rivers,” said a senior official of the Jammu and Kashmir State Power Development Corporation (JKSPDC).The 450-MW BHEP-II is yet to be put on generation fully despite its inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. With its functioning, the energy generation capacity will go up to over 1,200 MW.The JKSPDC runs 21 power projects, including the 900-MW BHEP (BHEP-I and BHEP-II with 450-MW capacity each) in the state.The state requires 2,500 MW to meet energy requirements. The state purchases power from the Northern Grid and other resources to meet its power demand.“At least eight small power projects being run by the JKSPDC with an aggregate generation capacity of around 35 MW have been shut due to low discharge. Generation has been affected by scanty rain and snowfall in the upper reaches of the state,” said the official.He added that the current electricity demand of the state was nearly 2,000 MW, which was being met by purchasing power from outside the state.Ajay Gupta, Executive Director (Electric), JKSPDC, said they had been running only two of the six turbines of 150-MW capacity each of BHEP-I and BHEP-II due to low discharge of water.“Other turbines will be made operational only after snow starts melting, which will increase the water level in the river,” he said. He added that day-to-day power generation depended on the availability of water.To a query, he said less snowfall and scanty rain “could affect the overall power scenario” of the state in the coming summer.“The availability of water in rivers is not in our control. Power generation is dependent on discharge of water into the river, snowfall and melting of glaciers. It is a natural phenomenon and the prevailing scenario can disturb the power scenario,” Gupta said.The estimated hydro power potential of the state is 20,000 MW, of which 16,480 MW has been identified. Of the identified potential, only 2,458 MW (about 15 per cent) had been exploited so far.It consists of 770 MW in the state sector from 21 power projects, 1,680 MW from four power projects in the Central sector and 17.5 MW from two private-sector projects.