New Delhi: After his summit meeting with Japanese PM Fumio Kishida, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to have a summit meeting with another Quad partner, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Monday that is likely to see the two sides announce an interim free trade deal.

The signing of the early harvest deal would pave the way for negotiations on the full India-Australia Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement. Australian Trade Minister Dan Tehan is quoted as saying that the early harvest deal has been finalized after multiple rounds of negotiations between the two countries.

Former Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott was last year appointed special envoy to take forward the negotiations that had been stalled. “I’m hoping that we will be able to do it over the next few days,” Dan Tehan told ABC Radio National last week.

“These are tough discussions and obviously in the end we’ve got to make sure it is in our national interest and … in India’s national interest. “My hope would be we would have something by the end of this week or early next week.”

The deal is considered critical for Australia, following the recent export bans from China, with which its relations have taken a downward spiral. The bilateral trade in goods and services between India and Australia increased from US$10.12 billion in 2007 to US$18.08 billion in 2020.

Two-way foreign direct investment was valued at US$1.04 billion in 2020. After the interim trade deal, both sides are keen to push for the full India-Australia Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) covering most trade in goods and areas such as services, investments, government procurement, and intellectual property.

In 2020, India was Australia’s seventh-largest trading partner and sixth largest export destination, driven by coal and international education. Both sides agreed on formal resumption of negotiations on the CECA during the 17th India-Australia Joint Ministerial Commission held on September 30 last year.

An interim FTA between India and Australia will lower import duties and expand market access for a limited number of items and sectors. Australian producers are keen on encouraging market access for products not made in India or commodities where India experiences a shortfall in supply, such as pulses, grains, and oilseeds. India is likewise keen to secure market access for its textiles, leather, and gems and jewelry.

In January, India had said that sensitive dairy and agriculture items, such as milk, butter, milk powder, or wheat, would be kept out of the trade deal. The focus would be on items not produced in the country, such as blue cheese and Australian tree nuts like macadamias.

In their meetings held in February this year, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and Australian Trade Minister Dan Tehan’s teams identified key items to be prioritized for greater market access. Among these, the education sector was identified as offering mutually beneficial prospects for both countries. Among the reported proposals is the possibility of allowing Indian students to extend visas by an additional three-five years.

On Friday, Australian Prime Minister Morrison said that he and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be discussing enhancing bilateral trade and investment as well as cooperation in defence and security, besides other areas during the virtual summit on Monday. The two leaders would also be discussing the situation in Ukraine.

In a statement, the Australian PM said that he would be hosting PM Modi for the Virtual Annual Leaders’ Meeting on March 21, the second such meeting since the two sides announced the bilateral Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2020.

“Australia and India’s strong bilateral relationship is based on mutual understanding and trust, a commitment to democracy, and a shared vision of an open, inclusive, resilient and prosperous Indo-Pacific.

“Prime Minister Modi and I will discuss deepening our trade and investment relationship and harnessing new economic opportunities to support our mutual economic recovery and growth. “Central to these endeavours are strengthened cooperation in defence and security, science and technology, and critical minerals and clean energy.

“We will also discuss a range of regional and multilateral issues, including the situation in Ukraine and its implications for the Indo-Pacific, and Myanmar. “I look forward to reaffirming our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and advancing our shared bilateral and regional agenda.” (UNI)

New Delhi: Every rural household in 101 districts in several states across the country are getting clean tap water under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), a report said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced the JJM on August 15, 2019, with the aim to provide tap water supply to every rural home and public institution by 2024, to enhance ease of living of people.

According to a report of the former Additional Secretary, Drinking Water and Sanitation (Jal Shakti Ministry), Bharat Lal, published in monthly magazine ‘Yojana’, it claimed around 9 crore (46 per cent) rural households across the country have been provided tap water supply connections.

Every rural household in States namely Goa, Haryana and Telangana, and Union Territories (UTs) – Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Daman and Diu, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, and Puducherry have tap water connections, the report said.

At the announcement of JJM, out of total 18.70 crore rural households, only 3.23 crore (17 per cent) had tap water connections, it said.

As per the report, 7 States and 2 UTs have set the target to achieve 100 per cent coverage of rural households this year, 9 States in 2023, and 8 States in 2024. Among the North Eastern States, Sikkim which targets to achieve 100 per cent coverage in 2022, has so far covered 80 per cent of the rural households, it said.

In Union Budget 2022-23, Rs 60,000 crore earmarked for ‘Har Ghar Jal’ under the JJM to provide tap water connections to 3.8 crore rural households. (UNI)

Srinagar: A student from Rajouri area of Jammu division died after a basketball poll fell on him at Regional Institute of Management and Technology University in Mandi Gobindgarh, Punjab, sources said.

They said that Faisal Ahmad Quershi, a resident of Rajouri pursuing BSC Radiology from RIMT Institute in Punjab died after a basketball poll fell on him while playing on Saturday evening.

Additional Spokesman of Jammu and Kashmir Students association, Danish Lone confirmed the incident to a local news gathering agency and said the student died after a basketball poll fell on him while playing. “The body of the student has been shifted to his native village after completing medico legal formalities,” he said.

Punjab Police has taken cognizance of the incident. (KDC)

New Delhi/Jammu: Border Security Force (BSF) DG Pankaj Singh on Sunday said that “the BSF is committed to maintain the sanctity and integrity of our borders to thwart designs of anti-national elements”.

He also said that the force has deployed security surveillance systems and all BSF personnel deployed at border areas are experts of handling these surveillance systems.

“BSF troops are competent enough to tackle any nefarious designs by the anti-national elements. He also briefed that drone threats is the biggest challenge in the present scenario and the BSF has been handling this challenge very effectively and anti drone systems are being installed at the International Border,” Singh further said.

BSF Director General who was on a two-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir also interacted with the troops and applauded them for their commitment towards the safeguarding of International Borders with professionalism.

He also applauded the troops for their dedication and continuous efforts of making the Retreat Ceremony fascinating.

During the visit, Singh also participated in the security review meeting chaired by Home Minister Amit Shah at Raj Bhavan in Jammu on Saturday.

BSF Deputy Inspector General Surjit Singh Sekhon also briefed DG Singh about complexities of management of the border area under prevailing current security scenario and also informed him about recent threats being faced by the BSF on the Jammu International Border.

Shah on Saturday reviewed the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir and laid emphasis on proactive operations against militants and choking their logistical and financial support systems.

The Home Minister directed that the security grid should be further strengthened to ensure zero cross-border infiltration and to eliminate militancy completely in order to achieve Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a peaceful and prosperous Jammu and Kashmir. (IANS)

Srinagar:Health department would conduct a survey of iodine deficiency disorders (Goitre) among the children in the age group of 6 to 12 years in four districts of Kashmir valley, officials said.

They said, the Government Medical College Srinagar through its nodal department of Community Medicine (SPM) is conducting iodine deficiency disorders survey among the children in the age group of 6-12 years, studying in government and private schools.

The survey would be conducted in four districts of Bandipora, Ganderbal, Kupwara and Shopian in the valley under the principal investigator of the survey Dr. S. Muhammad Salim Khan Professor and Head of Department (HOD), Community Medicine, Government Medical College Srinagar, a statement said.

The teams from Community Medicine department of GMC Srinagar shall be visiting thirty clusters, each covering 90 boys and girls in pre puberty age groups, covering 2700 children per district.  A total of 10800 children shall be enrolled in four districts in Kashmir.

Every child enrolled in the study would be examined for any goiter that is enlargement of thyroid gland in the neck as per classification by World Health Organization (WHO).

In addition salt samples shall be taken from every fifth enrolled child while urine samples will be collected from every tenth enrolled child to estimate iodine content as salt and urine respectively.

Directorate of School Education, Kashmir has already given the permission for the survey while addressing all concerned chief education officers of respective districts for necessary cooperation and support.

The survey is financed under National Iodine Deficiency Disorders Control Program (NIDDCP) and was delayed due to COVID pandemic which forced closure of schools for almost two years. Training of field staff has been given by senior faculty from Department of ENT, GMC Srinagar.

This study would tell us about the prevalence of iodine deficiency among the vulnerable population of 6-12 years which has been addressed through universal iodization of edible salt decades back. Some population groups and strata are still found consuming rock salt which is devoid of iodine content making people vulnerable to iodine deficiency as water and soil are the main natural sources.

However due to rains and snow, the iodine is lost in erosion of upper layers of soil. Further faulty cooking practices also cause loss of iodine in foods, said Dr. Khan. (UNI)

Srinagar:Parts of Kashmir valley received rainfall with the overcast sky in Srinagar and its adjoining areas as the weather office forecasted isolated to scattered light rain or traces over Jammu and Kashmir during the next 24 hours, here on Sunday.

A Meteorological Department office forecast predicted isolated to scattered light rain or traces with mainly dry weather in Jammu and Kashmir.

Reports of rainfall were received from several north Kashmir areas including Kunzar, Tangmarg and the ski resort of Gulmarg.

The sky is overcast in Srinagar and its adjoining areas with the minimum temperature recorded at 8.2 degree Celsius against the 10.7 degree Celsius recorded the previous night. It also received 0.3 mm of rainfall during the 24 hours till 0830hours on Sunday.

Ski resort of Gulmarg in north Kashmir recorded a low temperature of 1.8 degree Celsius and it also received 2.8 mm of rainfall till 0830hours on Sunday.

Tourist resort of Pahalgam in south Kashmir recorded a low of 2.9 degree Celsius, Qazigund 5.8 degree Celsius, Kokernag 5.2 degree Celsius while frontier Kashmir district of Kupwara recorded a low of 8.2 degree Celsius on Sunday. (UNI)

Srinagar:After remaining shut last week as a precautionary measure the authorities have allowed vendors to put up their stall in the weekly traditional “Sunday Market” in Srinagar amid tight security arrangements.

The “Sunday Market” remains shut last week and vendors were not allowed to put up their stalls by the authorities as a precautionary measure.

On March 6, a hand grenade was lobbed by militants near the busy Amirakadal road when large number of shoppers had thronged to the “Sunday Market” resulting in injuries to 38 people including a cop.

However, two persons including a 20-year-old girl later succumbed to their injuries in Shri Maharaja Hari Singh Hospital in Srinagar.

However, Police on March 9 had arrested two persons in connection with “Sunday market” grenade attack incident at AmiraKadal.

Hundreds of vendors selling all daily items, have set up their stalls from the Tourist Reception Centre, Residency road, LalChowk,  Amirakadal and Hari Singh High Street on Sunday and the area was abuzz with shoppers.

Security forces were deployed in strength from Tourist Reception Centre to Hari Singh High Street at various vulnerable points were checking luggage and frisking shoppers to ensure that no untoward incident takes place in the weekly market.

People in large numbers from all across the Kashmir valley use to throng the weekly Sunday market from early morning in Srinagar to make purchases of their choice. (UNI)

Electricity snapped in Dal Lake area

Srinagar:Electricity was snapped in the tourist hub area of Dal Lake, following the sudden fall of Poplar trees and electric poles near the Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Complex (SKICC) at Boulevard Road on Sunday, officials said.

Poplar trees fell on electric wires that crumbled the poles to the ground near SKICC on Boulevard Road in Srinagar, snapping electricity in the tourist hub areas of Dalgate, Gagribal, Tangbagh, Buchwara, Drugjan and Abi Dal Lake areas, houseboats and several hotels.

Traffic was also blocked due to the fall of trees and electric poles on the road, causing inconvenience to the tourists and public.

A Power Development Department official said, “Men are at work and trying hard to restore the electricity at the earliest”.

The Traffic department advised the motorists to use the foreshore road, instead of the Dalgate-Nishat in view of a road blocked near SKICC. (UNI)