Precious Kashmir

J&K Bank’s new scheme ray of hope for business community: KCCI

Front

12/01/2022

Srinagar: Kashmir Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCC&I), President, Sheikh Ashiq Ahmad Tuesday stated that the business community of Kashmir was undergoing a period of unprecedented stress and turbulence and heading towards financial instability.

“The Special One Time Settlement Scheme 2021 announced by Baldev Prakash, Managing Director/CEO, The Jammu and Kashmir Bank Ltd declared on 10th of January, 2022 was a ray of hope for the business community,” he said.

While appreciating the efforts put in by Baldev Prakash for the said Special Scheme. However, at the same time as mentioned the Scheme is valid for 30 working days for which the sanction or otherwise will be conveyed within seven working days of the receipt of application with a maximum repayment period of six months. “The Kashmir Chamber of Commerce & Industry requested the Bank Authorities not to make the Special Scheme time bound and extend the repayment time of six months as the Covid restrictions started all over India that affects the business community directly.”

President KCC&I appealed to the business community to avail this Special One Time Settlement Scheme to settle their accounts and avail this opportunity to get benefitted.

“In this time of crisis, the government has also announced the appointment of Baldev Prakash as the Managing Director/CEO of the J&K Bank. We hope that under your dynamic leadership all the issues related to the business community are looked into and addressed at the earliest.”

The business community of Kashmir views the appointment as a positive development to augment the good work done by the management of the bank under the leadership of Baldev Prakash. Now that the Government would be announcing important fiscal interventions aimed at reviving the economy, the role of J&K Bank would be critical in effective implementation of any measure, he said.

J&K figures among top ranking UTs, States in Covid vaccination

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Precious Kashmir

12/01/2022

Jammu: Jammu and Kashmir figures among the best equipped states and Union Territories in the fight against Covid-19 pandemic. It is also the second state and UT in the country to achieve 100 percent vaccination of age appropriate population.

The reassuring statement has come from Director Health Services, Jammu, Dr Saleem-ur-Rehman to allay the rising fears of the third Covid-19 wave in the region.

The Director has advised the public not to neglect Covid appropriate behaviour due to the purported ‘mild symptoms’ being reported amid the latest Covid wave. “We have started witnessing an exponential rise in the number of Covid cases and there is a need to avoid panic and adopt Covid appropriate behaviour,” he said.

The DHS said that J&K has received extraordinary support from the Union Government in its fight against the Covid and is well prepared to deal with an eventuality.

The Director attributed the achievement of record number of vaccinations to close monitoring from the highest level of UT administration led by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha. The regular review and intervention by the Lieutenant Governor, the Chief Secretary and the Additional Chief Secretary has put J&K in the best shape, he said.

Putting in simpler words, the DHS explained that the reason behind the readied stance of J&K is due to the surplus availability of beds and oxygen plants.

`We have more than 84 functional oxygen plants, two 500 bedded DRDO hospitals and 250 plus ventilator supported beds. Intensive Care facilities are available at all district hospitals and sufficient number of beds for Covid patients are available up to the level of Sub District hospitals’, summarised the DHS.

One major development with respect to Covid preparations is the galvanisation of pediatric Covid care facilities. The DHS informed that special SOPs have been circulated in this regard. The facilities include specialised equipment and specially trained pediatricians.

“Mock drills were also conducted at every district headquarter and Medical College today to prepare for any challenge the pandemic presents before the administration,” he informed.

7 persons injured in Poonch accident

Front

Precious Kashmir

12/01/2022

Poonch: Seven persons were injured in a head-on collision between an army vehicle and video coach bus near Tota Gali in Poonch district on Tuesday.

Official sources said that there was collision between army vehicle and the video coach (JK02BH-5393) at Tota Gali.

The injured include Ajaz Ahmed (14) son of Alif Din of Sumbal, Mahmood Ahmed (28 ) son of Mohammad Latif of Gursai, Nazir Hussain (48) son of Lal Din of Marhote , Shafqat Ali son of Mohammad Rashid of Marhote, Arshad Iqbal (23) son of Mohammad Iqbal and Mohd Bashir (70) son of Gulab din of Narain and Bagum Johan (65) wife of Sala Mohammad of Narain.

All the injured have been shifted to Army Hospital BG Gali for treatment. They were later treatment to GMC Rajouri. A police official confirmed the accident and subsequent injuries to seven persons. (GNS)

COVID-19 resurgence: Impose self-restrictions, save economy from further shock: Div Com to people

City

Nasir Azam

12/01/2022

COVID-19 resurgence: Impose self-restrictions, save economy from further shock: Div Com to people

By: Nasir Azam

Srinagar: As Covid cases records spike, the Divisional Administration Kashmir Tuesday urged people to impose self-restrictions so that the region’s economy is saved from further shock.

Divisional Commissioner Kashmir P K Pole said that his fervent appeal to people of Kashmir amid Covid case spike is that they should impose self-restrictions to prevent spread and further damage.

“The best way to prevent further spread is that people should impose self-restrictions. Lockdowns shatter economies and we don’t want to go for lockdowns at a time when Kashmir economy has started to revive,” Pole said.

He said people must go for self-imposed restrictions and follow Covid Appropriate Behavior (CAB) in spirit. “People must avoid unnecessary travel and switch to online mode of education, work to prevent spread of Covid and Omicron,” the Divisional Commissioner said.

He said that the administration has already sealed some coaching centers for violating the CAB and in view of the spurt cases. The Divisional Commissioner said that lockdowns shatter economies and there is no plan with the government to impose lockdown as of now.

“The imposition of lockdown is the sole prerogative of Lieutenant Governor and top officials in the government. At this juncture when Kashmir economy has started to revive after back to back jolts, lockdown will further shatter it again,” he said, adding that people must themselves take measures to prevent spread so that their livelihood doesn’t suffer.

Pertinently, J&K reported over 1100 Covid positive cases on Tuesday while Kashmir region witnessed five fresh cases of Omicron variant. With Omicron making its entry into Kashmir, the Divisional Administration wants people to go for self-imposed curbs that entails, avoiding unnecessary, travel and venturing out of homes, mingling with people, social and religious gatherings and following CAB whenever out of homes. (KNO)

Work with added zeal to deal any exigent situation: DC Sgr to Doctors, officers

City

Precious Kashmir

12/01/2022

Draws Action Plan for Covid mitigation in view of surging cases

Srinagar: In wake of present Covid-19 situation, the Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, Mohammad Aijaz Asad Tuesday chaired a meeting of senior health functionaries and senior officers of District Administration to draw an Action Plan to tackle and mitigate the 3rd wave of Covid-19.

Additional Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, Dr Syed Hanief Balkhi, SDM East/ Incharge Nodal Officer Covid-19, Owais Mushtaq, CMO, Dr Jameel, Nodel officers from CD Hospital, Dr Navid Nazir, Dr Saleem, Dr Irfan, besides Deputy CMO, ZMOs and other concerned were present in the meeting.

During the meeting, a threadbare discussion was held to formulate a comprehensive action plan to prevent the spread of infection of the deadly corona virus and ensure better management of available resources.

Some medical experts emphasised on utilization of services of final year MBBS students and ISM Doctors if required at any point of time for providing services like tele-consultation and monitoring of mild Covid cases after due orientation by faculty to reduce the workload on existing system engaged in Covid duty and provide boost to efforts of triaging.

Some senior Doctors also suggested for suspending OPD services except of emergency nature in all Government hospitals till positivity rate is declined so that upto mark Covid care services are ensured.

With regard to keep adequate back up of staff, the meeting stressed on pressing Red Cross Volunteers on service by giving them proper patient handling training.

One of the Doctors also suggested that strict referral policy should be adopted to lessen the pressure on Tertiary care Hospital for effective covid care mitigation and management. Besides, a Referral Control Room be also established for effective and prompt monitoring of patient referral is managed.

Addressing the meeting, the Deputy Commissioner stressed upon all to work with added zeal and dedication to deal any exigent situation arisen due to Covid-19. He also urged for better cooperation between line departments to beat the imminent surge of Covid-19 cases in the District.

Sgr-Jmu highway to remain open for 1-way traffic today

Jammu & Kashmir

Precious Kashmir

12/01/2022

Sgr-Jmu highway to remain open for 1-way traffic today

Jammu: The Jammu-Srinagar Highway, the only surface link connecting Kashmir with the outside world, shall remain open for one-way traffic on Wednesday, officials said.

“Tomorrow (Jan 12), subject to fair weather and better road condition LMVs Passengers shall be allowed from Jammu towards Srinagar (only one way) in view of narrow and slippery conditions of road at many places on Jammu-Srinagar highway and shall be allowed from Nagrota Jammu at 0600 hrs upto 1200 hrs & from Jakheni (Udhampur) at 0700 hrs upto 1300 hrs,” a traffic department official said.

He said no vehicle shall be allowed before and after cut off timing.

Meanwhile, Mughal Road, connecting Shopian with Poonch and Rajouri districts, remained closed for vehicular movement in view of snow accumulation at Peer Ki Gali.

Also, Srinagar-Sonamarg-Gumri road remained shut for vehicular movement in view of snow accumulation on Zoji la axis and has been closed till further orders.

Traffic movement on kishtwar-sinthan road also has been halted on Kishtwar-Sinthan road in view of snow accumulation, they said.

Punjab resident arrested on abduction charges

Jammu & Kashmir

Precious Kashmir

12/01/2022

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Police arrested a Punjab resident for allegedly abducting a girl from south Kashmir.

Police said they received a written complaint on January 10 from a south Kashmir resident alleging that his daughter has been kidnapped by Sanju Singh, a resident of Pundail in Gurdaspur district of Punjab.

Accordingly, a case under relevant sections of law was registered at Police Station Awantipora and an investigation was initiated.

“During the course of investigation, a police party headed by Station House Officer Awantipora with the assistance of a technical team tracked down the location of the accused person in Banihal area,” a police spokesman said. “Immediately a police team was dispatched to Banihal to rescue the abducted girl. The team was able to recover the kidnapped girl from Sheer Bebi Banihal and arrested the accused person involved in the commission of crime within 5 hours.”

After fulfilling all medico-legal formalities, the girl has been handed over to her legal heirs, the police said, adding further investigation into the matter is in progress.

2 patients airlifted from Gurez to Bandipora

Jammu & Kashmir

Precious Kashmir

12/01/2022

By: Sajid Raina

Bandipora: The administration in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district on Tuesday airlifted two patients from snowbound Gurez valley to Bandipora for immediate medical relief, officials said.

Officials said that on the directions of Deputy Commissioner, Bandipora, Dr Owais Ahmad, the duo patients requiring emergency evacuation from Gurez Sub Division airlifted from Baduaab and Neeru to Bandipora.

Notably, the snow-clad Gurez valley remains cut off from the rest of the Kashmir parts during winters, owing to heavy snowfall in the valley. (KNO)

Amid closure of coaching center, students asked to pay hefty amount

City

Precious Kashmir

12/01/2022

By: Bhat Imran

Srinagar: Following the government directives to switch the online mode of teaching in view of rise in COVID-19 cases, some private coaching institutes in Kashmir are forcibly, asking the students to pay the hefty amount.

It has been leant that the students are being forced to pay the hefty amount in the name of tuition charges that too at the time when the government has ordered the private coaching institutes to switch the teaching to online mode.

One of the students said, “I am pursuing NEET coaching in one of the leading private institutions wherein the management is forcing us to pay the charges at earliest. The compulsions were made after the government ordered them to change the mode of teaching from offline to online.”

The student said that earlier there used to be no such compulsion. “But, now they (management of coaching centers) seem to be insecure about the fee they collect from the students.”

Meanwhile, another 11th standard student said that she is pursuing private coaching in one of the leading institutes.

“I have been pursuing coaching for only the past few weeks. For the past two days, concerned officials of the management at the coaching institutes have been entering class only to announce that they are collecting 60 percent of the charges,” she said.

In the meantime, the concerned officials at Directorate of School Education Kashmir (DSEK), did not respond to the calls.

Pertinently, the government earlier this week has ordered the private coaching institutes of Jammu and Kashmir to adopt the online means to teach the students in view of steep rise in COVID-19 cases. (KNO)

PMGSY: J&K Govt submits proposals worth Rs 2462 cr to Centre

Anchor stories

Ibni Maqbool

12/01/2022

PMGSY: J&K Govt submits proposals worth Rs 2462 cr to Centre

By: Ibni Maqbool

Srinagar: In a significant development, the administration of Jammu & Kashmir Union Territory has submitted projects worth Rs 2462.71 crore to the Government of India for sanctioning under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY)-III.

Documents in possession of The Precious Kashmir reveal that J&K UT administration has submitted project proposals of 235 roads involving 1782.72 kilometers to the National Rural Infrastructure Development Agency (NIRDA) for sanctioning under PMGSY.

“Out of 235 roads, 173 roads of 1108.46 km have been proposed with 3.75 m carriageway width at an average cost of Rs 125.21 lakh/km, 58 roads of 621.04 km have been proposed with a carriageway width of 5.50 meter with an average cost of Rs 156.73 lakh/km and 04 roads of 53.27 km have been proposed with carriageway width of 7.00 m at an average cost of Rs 190. 38 lakh/km,” reads the documents.

The projects involve total financial outlay of Rs 2462.71 crore- of which Rs 2188. 25 crore has been proposed as GoI’s share and Rs 274.76 crore as UT share.

The projects came up for discussion during the pre-empowered committee meeting held at New Delhi on December 9, 2021 through videoconferencing. The meeting was held under the chairmanship of additional secretary (Ministry of Rural Development) and Director General, National Rural Infrastructure Development Agency (NRIDA).

The Centre is likely to take a final call on the projects during the empowered committee meeting which will be held after the J&K government responds to observations raised by the Centre during the preliminary meeting.

The PMGSY is an ambitious road connectivity programme launched by the Government of India to provide all-weather road connectivity to unconnected villages.

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