Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir government on Sunday lifted night curfew amid improvement in covid-19 situation.

The decision was taken by the State Executive Committee and it also reiterated that all offices shall regulate the attendance of its employees in such a manner so as to ensure that appropriate Social Distancing Norms are maintained.

“A maximum number of people permitted to attend any indoor gathering shall be strictly restricted to 50% of authorised capacity.”

Banquet Halls in all the Districts of J&K have been permitted to allow gathering up to 50% of the authorised capacity (with verifiable RT-PCR or Rapid Antigen Test for Covid19 not older than 72 hours), preferably in open spaces.

“Cinema halls, theatres, multiplexes, restaurants, clubs, gymnasiums and swimming pools are permitted to function at 25% of the authorised capacity with due precautions such as CAB and adherence to SOP”.

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday asserted that radio can be a great medium to share positivity as well as recognise those who bring changes in the lives of others, on the occasion of ‘World Radio Day’.

“World Radio Day greetings to all radio listeners and those who enrich this outstanding medium with their talent as well as creativity. Be it at home, during journeys and otherwise, the radio remains an integral part of people’s lives. It is an amazing medium to connect people,” the PM wrote in a tweet.

Mentioning about his monthly radio programme ‘Mann Ki Baat’ in which he addresses the nation, the Modi said, “Due to Mann Ki Baat’, I repeatedly see how the radio can be a great medium to share positivity as well as recognise those who are at the forefront of bringing a qualitative change in the lives of others. I would also like to thank all those who contribute to this programme.” (UNI)

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday met former Kenya Prime Minister of Kenya Raila Amolo Odinga, who is currently in India on a private visit.

In a statement, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said that the two leaders share friendly personal relations going back decades.

“Prime Minister Modi expressed his happiness at being able to meet Odinga after almost three and half years. Prime Minister recollected his multiple interactions with Odinga since 2008 in both India and Kenya, as well as the latter’s support to the ‘Vibrant Gujarat Summit’ in 2009 and 2012,” it said.

The two leaders also discussed other issues of mutual interest, the statement added.

Expressing his commitment to further strengthening India-Kenya relations, Prime Minister Modi “also conveyed his best wishes to Odinga for his good health and future endeavours”, it said. (IANS)

Srinagar: After downsizing the special security cover of four former Chief Ministers, authorities in Jammu and Kashmir have now withdrawn ambulances and jammers deployed with them.

The special security group (SSG) created for the security cover of chief ministers, including serving and former chief ministers, was downsized recently and the SSG cover of four former Chief Ministers, Dr Farooq Abdullah, Ghulam Nabi Azad, Mehbooba Mufti and Omar Abdullah was withdrawn.

The security duties of the former Chief Ministers were assigned to the security wing of the local police.

Now, ambulances and jammers which used to form part of the security cover of former Chief Ministers have also been withdrawn.

This came to light on Saturday when Dr Farooq Abdullah went to old city Srinagar without any ambulance and jammers.

While ambulances were deployed with the security cover of the former Chief Ministers to attend to medical emergencies, jammers were used to prevent militants from triggering explosives devices through remote control using mobile phones.

Officials said the former Chief Ministers would not be given ambulances and jammers during their movement in Srinagar city.

“When they move on inter-district journeys, both ambulances and jammers would form part of their security cover,” officials said. (IANS)

New Delhi: With an aim to provide speedy and clean urban transport system to the public, seven states and two Union Territories have sent 16 proposals for the expansion/fresh construction of metro rail projects to the Centre.

The proposals also include three regional rapid transport systems that will connect different parts of Haryana and Rajasthan with Delhi, as well as two from Jammu and Kashmir.

Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Singh Puri had told the Lok Sabha on February 10, that urban transport was an integral part of urban development, and while it is the responsibility of the state governments concerned to initiate, develop, and fund urban transport infrastructure including metro rail projects, the Central government considers financial assistance to such projects under the Metro Rail Policy, 2017.

“Based on the feasibility of the proposal and availability of resources, the Central government considers such projects in cities or urban agglomerates,” Puri said, adding that no new metro rail proposal was submitted by the Gujarat government for funding.

Of the 16 proposals, the most (three) were from Maharashtra, and included construction of the 43.80-km-long second phase of Nagpur Metro in five years from the date of approval. Similarly, the state has submitted a proposal for a 33-km-long Nashik Metro, to be completed in four years from the date of approval.

The third proposal is for a 29-km-long Thane Internal Ring Project, likely to be completed in five years from the date of its approval.

Puri said that the Delhi government has sent a proposal for constructing three remaining corridors of Delhi Metro under the fourth phase with a total length of 43.677 km, to be completed in five years from the start of work.

The Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry has also received two metro rail projects from Kerala for Kochi Metro, of which a two-km-long stretch under Phase 1A which is likely to be completed by June this year. Another project is of 11.20-km-long corridor in Phase II that will likely be completed in four years from the date of its sanction.

Uttar Pradesh has sent two proposals – one for the extension of 14.958-km-long Noida Metro from Sector 51 in Noida to Knowledge Park in Greater Noida, likely to be completed in 38 months from the date of its approval, and the second for a 15.14-km-long Gorakhpur MetroLite project in Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s home city, to be completed in four years from the date of sanction.

From Jammu and Kashmir, a 23-km-long MetroLite project in Jammu and of the same length for Srinagar have been proposed, with a completion date of March 2026.

The Tamil Nadu government has also sent a proposal for construction of 118.9-km-long second phase of Chennai Metro which is likely to be completed in six years from the date of sanction.

The Centre has received a proposal for construction of 28.50-km-long Metro Rail Connectivity project that will connect from HUDA City Centre to Cyber City in Gurugram, and is likely to be completed in five years from the date of the sanction.

It has received the proposal to construct a 22.424-km-long MetroNeo project in Uttarakhand capital Dehradun, likely to be completed in three years from the date of sanction.

The three proposed Regional Rapid Transport Systems (RRTS), connecting various parts of Rajasthan and Haryana with Delhi, include the 107-km-long Delhi-SNB, and the 33.3-km-long SNB-Sotanala, connecting Delhi, Gurugram, Shahjahanpur, Neemrana, and Behror in Haryana and Rajasthan. These two projects are expected to be completed in six years and five years respectively from the date of sanctions.

The third project is 103.02-km long-Delhi-Panipat RRTS that will connect the national capital with Haryana’s Sonipat and Panipat and is likely to be completed in six years from the date of sanction. (IANS)

Chairs DISHA district meeting at Udhampur

Udhampur: Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology and Ministry of Earth Sciences, Minister of State for Prime Minister’s Office, Dr Jitendra Singh said here on Sunday that the historic River Devika project, built at the cost of over Rs 190 crore, will be complete by June this year.

North India’s first river rejuvenation project will offer a unique destination both for pilgrim tourists as well as recreation tourists, in addition to being a state-of-the-art cremation centre, he said. This will bring Udhampur prominently on India’s map, he added.

Comparing it with the pioneer “Namami Gange” project of the Central Government, Dr Jitendra Singh thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for sanctioning the Devika project, which was formally launched by Modi during his visit to Jammu in early 2019. He said, it is now the responsibility of all of us to accomplish this project by June this year at any cost.

The project includes the construction of three sewage treatment plants of 8 MLD, 4 MLD and 1.6 MLD capacity, sewerage network of 129.27 km, development of two cremation ghats, protection fencing and landscaping, small hydropower plants and three solar power plants. On completion of the project, the rivers will see reduction in pollution and improvement in water quality.

Later, speaking to media after presiding over the DISHA meeting, Dr Jitendra Singh said that the country’s first Highway Village being constructed by NHAI is coming up on fast track on Udhampur National Highway and the Centrally funded Medical College will start its classes next year through NEET selection.

Udhampur-Kathua-Doda is possibly the only Lok Sabha constituency in the country which got three centrally funded Medical Colleges in Udhampur,Kathua and Doda respectively with the efforts of Dr Jitendra Singh as its MP.

To review the physical/Financial achievements of the programme/schemes being implemented in the District Udhampur covered under DISHA , Dr Jitendra Singh chaired a District Development Coordination & Monitoring Committee Meeting (DISHA) at Conference Hall DC Office Complex Udhampur.

DDC Chairperson, Udhampur Lal Chand, DDC Vice Chairperson, Juhi Manhas, Pathania, Deputy Commissioner, Udhampur Indu Kanwal Chib, SSP, Vinod Kumar, BDCs, President MC, Dr Jogeshwar Gupta, MC Ramnagar, MC Chenani, DDCs and other nominated members of DISHA Committee i. e. PRIs, Women, representatives of ST, SC,NGO besides District/Sectoral Officers of different departments attended the meeting on the occasion.

Threadbare discussion were held on various schemes being implementing in different sectors of the District like Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, NRLM, Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana,National Social Assistance Programme, Pradhan Mantri Gram Awaas Yojana, Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sanchaye Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, PMKSY, Soil Health Card, Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana Urban (PMAYU),Pradhan Mantri Gramin Awaas Yojana (PMAYG), 14th FC, MGNREGA, Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana, Status of Chenani –Sudhmahadev (NH-244), Status of Medical College, Status of Degree Colleges, PWD,Financial status under CSS ( District Capex budget 2021-22), PMGSY, PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojna, Distribution of soil health cards, Pradhan MantriFasalBimaYojana, PMKSY, Status of ongoing projects, DILRMP, PMMVY, Poshan Abhiyan, Education, FCS&CA, Network Problems, Beautification of National Highways and Tunnel, PMGSY/CRF Roads, National Highways & Local Employment, Jal JeevanMission, Scaling up of New initiatives, Proper Supply of Electricity, etc discussed in detail.

At outset, Deputy Commissioner Udhampur, Indu Kanwal Chib extended a warm welcome to Dr Jitendra Singh and gave a sector wise detailed powerpoint presentation of the physical/financial progress achieved during the year 2021-22 under various flagship programmes/schemes incorporated under DISHA being implemented in the District , besides mega projects.

Dr Jitendra Singh took extensive review of all schemes undertaken by different departments in the district. District heads of various departments apprised the Union Minister about the status of different schemes taken up and their status as on date. The Minister directed the concerned departments to mobilize their men and machinery for effective implementation of all schemes and coverage of 100% eligible beneficiaries under all schemes and no eligible beneficiary to be left out. The Hon’ble MoS directed all the officers to work in coordination for better results at the grass root level. He further directed the officers to remain in touch with the people, pay regular visits and organize camps in all the remote and far-flung areas so that the people are made aware about the benefits of these schemes.

Dr Jitendra Singh informed that Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana(PM-JAY) “SEHAT” is the largest health insurance scheme which aims at providing a health cover of Rs. 5 lakhs per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization across public and private empanelled hospitals in India. The Union Minister directed the concerned department to expedite the process in the District so that all the eligible beneficiaries can avail the benefits of this scheme. While reviewing the progress of Devika project, Chief Engineer UEED, apprised the Union Minister that package-1 DevikaGhat development work stands completed and handed over to concerned authorities. It was directed that DDC shall conduct regular meetings with all concerned including Councilors/ President MC, Udhampur expedite the works on package so that it can be completed within the time frame.

While reviewing Pradhan Mantri AwasYojana (PMAY), Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), 14th FC, SBM-G, Dr Singh asked concerned officers to ensure all the works taken up are completed within time frame. The Union Minister directed all the concerned departments to ensure 100% coverage of all eligible beneficiaries and golden cards for the whole population in the district.

During the meeting, it was desired that Jal Jeevan Mission shall be implemented in Mission Mode for 100% piped water connection to the public. The Jal Shakti Department Udhampur was directed to expedite the tendering process. The Chairman issued directions regarding smooth and proper supply of electricity in far flung areas of Moungri, Panchari and Upper reaches of Basantgarh as demanded by various BDCs Chairpersons. In this regard, PDD Deptt. /District Administration to explore funding provision for improving/ augmenting the Power Scenario by filling the infrastructure gap. It was decided that proposal for Foot over Bridge at Tikri and Jakhani on National Highway be submitted to the National Highway Authorities for early construction of the same as demanded by the BDCs Chairpersons and President Municipal Council, Udhampur.

It was decided that the National Highways viz. NH-44 and NH– 244 should be beautified by developing viewpoints, green areas, parks, raising monuments enroute to these important Highways and Tunnels as per feasibility. The Chairman issued directions to the PMGSY and PWD while identifying the new roads projects under PMGSY network the same shall be vetted by the Members of PRIs and the CRF roads by the BDCs and DDCs. Further, officers of PMGSY and PWD were instructed to ensure quality work in all the projects and if the quality is not upto the mark, then the elected members of PRIs and ULBs shall bring the same into the notice of Deputy Commissioner.

DDC Chairperson, Lal Chand, Vice Chairperson, BDCs and PRIs appreciated the efforts made by District Administration for effective implementation of various centrally sponsored schemes in the district on ground. They projected several demands before the Chairman for consideration. The Chairman gave a patient hearing to their demands and directed the District Administration to take appropriate action to ensure that the genuine demands are projected and fulfilled well in time.