Precious Kashmir

Railway road turns into garbage site in Budgam

City

08/12/2021

By: Naveed Ul Haq

Budgam: The railway road in central Kashmir’s Budgam district is rapidly turning into a garbage dumping site as the concerned have failed to remove the garbage that could be seen piled up in the area.

Locals said that the road near the railway station Budgam is rapidly turning into a garbage dumping site, thus posing a grave threat to commuters and nearby residents amid threat of 3rd wave of COVID-19.

“The nearby residents are seen throwing garbage and other waste material due to the lack of dustbin there that produces foul smell,” they said.

The locals said that the garbage dumped alongside the road is causing a lot of inconvenience to daily commuters and passers-by and the authorities were watching as mute spectators.

Despite repeated attempts, executive officer, Municipal Committee Budgam was not available for the comments. (KNO)

NCDRC can seek 50% or entire amount of state panel order for stay: SC

National

Indo Asian News Service

08/12/2021

NCDRC can seek 50% or entire amount of state panel order for stay: SC

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday held that the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) can direct the deposit of the entire amount or more than 50 percent determined by the state commission for conditional stay.

A bench of Justices M.R. Shah and B.V. Nagarathna said: “Pre-deposit of 50 per cent of amount as ordered by the state commission under second proviso to Section 51 of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019 is mandatory for entertainment of an appeal by the national commission.”

It pointed out that the object of the pre-deposit condition is to avoid frivolous appeals.

“The said pre-deposit condition has no nexus with the grant of stay by the national commission. while considering the stay application in staying the order passed by the state commission, the national commission can grant a conditional stay directing the appellant(s) to deposit the entire amount and/or any amount higher than 50 per cent of the amount in terms of the order of the state commission,” the bench said.

The top court’s ruling came in a case involving the interpretation of Section 51 of the Consumer Protection Act 2019, which prescribes pre-deposit for filing appeal before the NCDRC.

The top court framed a question to examine: “Whether the national commission can pass an order to deposit the entire amount and/or any amount higher than the 50 per cent of the amount in terms of the order of the state commission while entertaining the appeal in view of Section 51 of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019.”

It concluded: “The national commission has to assign some cogent reasons and/or pass a speaking order when the conditional stay of the order passed by the state commission is passed subject to deposit of the entire amount and/or any amount higher than 50 per cent of the amount either as an ex parte order or after hearing both sides and considering the facts and circumstances of the case.”

Section 51 of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019 provides that no appeal by a person, who is required to pay any amount in terms of order of the state commission shall be entertained by the national commission unless the appellant has deposited 50 percent of that amount in the manner as may be prescribed.

The top court judgment came on the appeals filed by a group of builders aggrieved by the direction of the NCDRC to deposit the entire decretal amount determined by the state commission for conditional stay. The bench said: “The national commission can grant a conditional stay of the order passed by the state commission on deposit of the entire amount and/or any amount higher than 50 per cent of the amount as ordered by the state commission in the aforesaid manner.”

One of the petitioner’s counsel argued Section 51 imposed a statutory limit that the pre-deposit amount cannot be higher than 50 percent of the decretal amount.

Winter Olympics: IOC does not foresee any situation to postpone Beining 2022 Games

Sports

Indo Asian News Service

08/12/2021

Winter Olympics: IOC does not foresee any situation to postpone Beining 2022 Games

Lausanne: With just around 55 days to go Winter Olympic Games in Beijing and despite the threat of worsening of the global Covid-19 pandemic due to the new strain of the Novel Coronavirus, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) does not foresee a situation in which it would be forced to postpone the upcoming Winter Olympic Games like it had to do in case of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

The Beijing Winter Olympic Games are scheduled from February 4-20,2022.

The IOC had to postpone the Tokyo Olympic Games, which were originally scheduled to be held in July 2020, by a year and the Games were eventually held in July-August 2021.

Christophe Dubi, the Olympic Games Executive Director, said he does not foresee such a situation because the Closed Loop system that the Chinese authorities have put in place for the Beijing Winter Games is very strong and capable of tackling any eventuality.

“No (I don’t seen any such threat) Even though we have learned that in the case of Covid, we have to be flexible and be ready for every eventuality.

“The Closed-loop system can control and tackle all situations, we are not saying that Covid will not move ahead but we have planned and worked out all scenarios. We have a very strong team in place there and the Closed Loop System is capable of handling all situations,” said Dubi.

Juan Antonio Samaranch Jr, chairman of the IOC Coordination Commission for the Beijing Winter Olympic Games, said, “For the Games to be successful, they have to be safe. The Closed Loop System that they are adapting at Beijing makes it very safe,” he said.

Both Dubi and Samaranch Jr along with the IOC director of communication Mark Adams fielded questions on various issues on the opening day of the three-day IOC Executive Board meeting here on Tuesday.

Samaranch Jr expressed IOC’s disappointment over the decison by the United States of America (USA)of a diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Winter Games,terming it a “political decision” but said at least the sportspersons are free to participate in the Games.

All three assured that the Games will be safe for everyone as they will be held as per the Olympic Charter.

Generic Drugs

Edit
Oped

Precious Kashmir

08/12/2021

Once in a while, there are calls from some quarters regarding the prescription of generic drugs by the officials and doctors in Jammu and Kashmir. Drug Controller J&K, Lotika Khajuria while making such a call said generic medicines available at Jan Aushadhi Kendras across Jammu and Kashmir are not only cheaper and affordable but at par with the branded name medicines when it comes to quality and efficacy.

Generic medicines are copycat versions of branded drugs and are equal to their recognized counterparts in terms of strength, quality, efficacy, and safety, thus says a doctors’ body here.

As they cost 80 to 90 percent less than the branded medicines, the doctors body says it would make drugs accessible to poor patients who are otherwise finding it hard to buy expensive branded medicines.

The progressive step to say the least was recommended by the erstwhile Planning Commission’s High-Level Expert Group on Universal Health Coverage very long ago. While the step will surely reform the way essential medicines are distributed to patients, those in favour of the status quo on price and distribution have succeeded so far.

It is important to note that competition often leads to substantial lowering of prices for both the original brand-name product and its generic equivalents.

As per an analysis by the Generic Pharmaceutical Association carried almost seven years ago, generics accounted for 88% of the 4.3 billion prescriptions filled in the US.

The code of ethics issued by the Medical Council of India in 2002 calls for doctors to prescribe drugs by their generic names only.

The relative merits of branded and generic drugs have been discussed, with varying opinions. The solution to the problem of branded versus generic drugs only lies in strengthening the existing quality control structure. The government needs to work on all fronts including strengthening the quality control makeup.

Efforts from the government agencies are lacking awareness on the availability of affordable alternatives to expensive brands. It is a known fact that the majority of cancer patients die for want of treatment because they cannot afford expensive branded drugs. While generic drugs make treatment affordable to the poor, researches have shown that generic drugs significantly reduce deaths among cancer patients.

The government must work to make it a reality and ensure that problems of the past do not come in achieving the endeavor for the larger public good.

Govt announces austerity measures to promote fiscal discipline in J&K

Front

United News Of India

07/12/2021

Govt announces austerity measures to promote fiscal discipline in J&K

Jammu: The Jammu and Kashmir administration on Monday announced austerity measures to promote fiscal discipline and curb expenditure.

As per the order issued by Atal Dulloo, Financial Commissioner (Additional Chief Secretary), Finance Department, in order to promote fiscal discipline, without restricting the operational efficiency of the government and to ensure balanced pace of expenditure, all the Government Departments and Autonomous Bodies funded by the Government are ordered to adhere to economy and austerity measures.

It directed 10 per cent cut on office expenses (OE), leave travel concession (LTC), telephone, petrol (PoL), research and survey, hospitality and sumptuary out of budget estimates of the ongoing financial year.

The Financial Commissioner further ordered a 10 per cent economic cut on camps and seminars out of the budget estimates 2021-22.

The department also imposed a 10 per cent economy cut on travel expenses out of the budget estimates of 2021-22.

The government ordered Balanced Pace of Expenditure, stating that during the last quarter of the current financial year, the expenditure should be limited to 30 per cent of budget allocation and in the month of March, the expenditure should be limited to 15 per cent of Budget Estimates.

It directed for advance payment to contractors under terms of duly executed contracts, so that the government would not renege on its legal or contractual obligations and any loans or advances to government servants or private individuals as a measure of relief and rehabilitation as per service conditions or on compassionate grounds.

Utmost economy shall be observed in organising conferences/seminars/ workshops and only such conferences, workshops or seminars, which are absolutely necessary, should be held, read the order.

It further directed that holding of exhibitions/fairs/ seminars/ conferences outside J&K is strongly discouraged except in the case of craft/investment promotion of exhibition for tourism/art and there shall be complete ban on holding of meetings and conferences at private hotels. Government buildings/ premises should be utilised for holding meetings and conferences instead, added the Financial Commissioner.

He said a 10 per cent economy cut is imposed on conduct of camps and seminars out of the Budget Estimates 2021-22.

Purchase of new vehicles to meet the operational requirement is permitted, but only against condemnation as a replacement measure, added Dulloo.

He said the travel expenditure should be regulated, so as to ensure that each Department remains within the allocated budget.

The facility of Video Conferencing may be used effectively and travel for the purpose of attending meetings should be avoided to the extent possible, he added.

According to the order, no furniture shall be procured out of the available funds, except in case of newly established offices with the concurrence of the Finance Department.

There shall be a complete ban on holding of official dinners and lunches, except those hosted by the Chief Secretary and the Lieutenant Governor or with specific approval of the the Lieutenant Governor, it added. (UNI)

Fix timeline for completion of Bathinda-J&K gas pipeline project: Centre to PNG Ministry

Anchor stories

Ibni Maqbool

07/12/2021

Fix timeline for completion of Bathinda-J&K gas pipeline project: Centre to PNG Ministry

By: Ibni Maqbool

Srinagar: In a significant development, the Government of India has directed the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (P&NG) to fix the deadline for completion of gas pipeline network from Bhatinda in Punjab to the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.

Documents accessed by The Precious Kashmir reveal that the Ministry of Home Affairs has directed the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas to fix a timeline for completion of the project.

According to the documents, the Ministry of Petroleum has Natural Gas (P&NG) has informed that the project is viable and there are procedural delays.

These details have been revealed by the Jammu & Kashmir government in its latest report on status of iconic projects in the Union Territory.

In her budget speech for the ongoing financial year, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced revival of the gas pipeline project.

The ambitious 725- kilometre long Bhatinda-Srinagar gas pipeline project was announced by the Government of India in 2011 but it did not see any progress due to non-availability of funds and other issues.

On July 7, 2011, the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board(PNGRB) authorized GSPL, a subsidiary of the Gujarat Government to lay Bhatinda-Jammu-Srinagar gas pipeline to ensure gas supply for industrial, commercial and domestic use in Jammu and Kashmir.

The gas pipeline was to be laid through the districts of Kathua, Samba, Jammu, Udhampur, Ramban, Anantnag and Srinagar.

The project was to be completed in three years i.e. July 6, 2014.

In 2020, GSPL wrote to the PNGRB to surrender authorization to extend the pipeline beyond Punjab to Jammu & Kashmir citing that the project is not commercially viable.

Retail trade of construction material: Govt mulls action as dealers fleece consumers, charge exorbitant rates

Anchor stories

Precious Kashmir

07/12/2021

Retail trade of construction material: Govt mulls action as dealers fleece consumers, charge exorbitant rates

By: Arshad Dijoo

Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir government is mulling to streamline the retail trade pertaining to selling of construction material to consumers in small quantities.

As the selling price of truckloads of construction materials is somewhat monitored, it has been learnt that the small businessmen, who retail out and do petty business of construction material, are fleecing consumers by arbitrarily fixing prices per square feet on their will, which sans any market intervention.

Reports reaching Precious Kashmir, said that the traders involved in retail trade of construction materials are earning “huge margins” of profit in this “unregulated” trade.

As per official sources, Chief Secretary J&K Arun Kumar Mehta recently in a meeting of officers has taken a “strong exception” to this reported “unfair trade practice” whereby innumerous gullible consumers, who purchase building material in retail from small kiosks are fleeced and charged arbitrarily amounting to tens of times of the original cost.

As such, directions have been passed to the Divisional Administration and line departments to learn the market trends by conducting spot surveys and work out a calculus so that this section of trade is “regulated” henceforth.

“A common man, who needs a certain number of bags of sand and bajri or bricks for repairs at his home or for any little construction purpose, has to pay through nose to small time retailers, who sell these items at a cost some “fifty times” higher than they obtain themselves in a truckload,” officials said.

“If a truck load of sand of 200 square feet costs around Rs 6,500 to 7,000 for a retailer, he sells it in fragments for around Rs 16,000 to the customers, thereby earning a huge undue margin and fleecing the needy consumers,” an official, explained on the conditions of anonymity.

The government wants to regulate this sector of building material retail trade so that undue profiteering is stopped henceforth and such tradesmen are “reigned in”, the official said.

“It is a huge sector of unregulated trade whereby these building material kiosks on roadside sell construction material much dearer to the original cost as per truckloads. As people quite often need construction material in small quantities, these retail dealers earn huge profits by selling the material dearer to us and nobody is even able to argue. The rates are set by retail dealers themselves at their will,” said Ghulam Qadir Sumji of Eidgah Srinagar, who was seen transporting a load carrier with sand and bajri for some renovation work at his home.

Officials from Geology and Mining department and Meteorological department are being roped in “to give a fair calculus” and help set “certain benchmarks” by which the construction material retail trade be regulated by the authorities, the officials said.

An exercise in this respect is being conducted by the concerned officers whereby divisional administration is able to gauge the market trends and “streamline” it for the benefit of consumers.

Govt exploring full potential of J&K’s pilgrimage tourism: LG

Front

Precious Kashmir

07/12/2021

Govt exploring full potential of J&K’s pilgrimage tourism: LG

Jammu: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Monday said that his administration is giving a dedicated focus on exploring the full potential of Jammu and Kashmir’s pilgrimage tourism by developing various religious tourist circuits across the Union Territory.

Delegations of All Party Development Committee (APDC) from Reasi; Yuva Rajput Sabha; and Pracheen Bhairav Mandir Trust today called on Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha at Raj Bhavan here.

The delegation of All Party Development Committee led by its president, Sukh Dev Sharma apprised the Lt Governor of various developmental issues of district Reasi, including development of Sula Park, sanction of Gandola from Sula to Bhimgarh Fort Reasi, besides fixing the rates of sand and minor minerals and proper functioning of M C Hospital.

Meanwhile, a delegation of Yuva Rajput Sabha (J&K) led by its president, Rajan Singh met the Lt Governor and put forth the demand of declaring holiday on the birthday of Maharaja Hari Singh for honoring the great decisions and reforms brought by him during Dogra rule.

The Lt Governor while listening to the issues and demands of the delegations assured them of appropriate action on merit.

A delegation of Pracheen Bhairav Mandir Trust led by Chandan Datta comprising Mahant Romil Sharma and others called on the Lt Governor and put forth the demand of bringing Sri Kaal Bhairav Mandir, a unique religious and heritage site situated at Chowk Chabutra, Jammu, on the pilgrimage tourist map and developing tourist facilities there.

While interacting with members of the delegation, the Lt Governor said that the UT government is giving a dedicated focus on exploring the full potential of J&K’s pilgrimage tourism by developing various religious tourist circuits across the UT. He assured them of early redressal of their demand on merit.

Ensure 100% geo-tagging of all assets: CS to officials

Front

Precious Kashmir

07/12/2021

Ensure 100% geo-tagging of all assets: CS to officials

MGNREGA & PMAY (G)

Jammu: Chief Secretary, Dr. Arun Kumar Mehta Monday chaired a meeting to review the progress achieved by the Rural Development Department under various centrally sponsored schemes.

It was informed that under MGNREGA, the Department has registered 98% expenditure against the released amount by generating 170.87 lakh man-days employment through the issuance of 12.41 lakh job cards in the current financial year. The Department has completed 44,509 works and has ensured geo-tagging of 98.67% of works under phase I and 84% of works under phase II.

Under the Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA), The Department has conducted capacity building training for 37,500 PRI members and 3500 sector enablers, besides undertaking construction and renovation of 41 Panchayat Bhawan. Additionally, 450 elected representatives were also sent on exposure visits outside J&K to study best practices being implemented in PRIs of other States and UTs. The RGSA Programme aims to develop and strengthen the capacities of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) for rural local governance to become more responsive towards local development needs.

Under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Grameen), the Department has assisted 26,113 households in constructing pucca residential houses and has registered 60% expenditure against the released amount of Rs. 319.42 crore.

Under Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen), Rural Development Department has constructed 10,230 individual household toilets and 212 community toilets, besides focusing on the preparation of village-level solid/liquid waste management plans.

Further, J&K Rural Livelihood Mission has mobilized and linked 6,345 self-help groups (SHGs) to financial institutions and released Rs. 35.97 crore in favour of 4,244 SHGs. Under UMEED, it has covered 976 Mahila Kisan under agro-ecological programme (AEP); 292 Mahila Kisan under livestock assistance and provided 1,443 households with Agri-Nutri gardens. Under Startup Village Entrepreneurship Program (SVEP), the survey is underway in Rajouri and Anantnag districts for the subsequent rollout of benefits.

Moreover, under the Integrated Watershed Management Programme, the Department is implementing 41 projects each under phases IV and V to tap the potential of rainwater harvesting and augment water supply in the watersheds.

The Chief Secretary directed the Department to ensure 100% geo-tagging of all assets being created under MGNREGA and PMAY(G), besides developing time-series data to track progression and development under the schemes. The Department was also asked to undertake de-weeding of ineligible beneficiaries under PMAY(G) and close the scheme by December 2021.

The Chief Secretary directed the concerned to display the lists of all developmental works being undertaken in the current financial year at Panchayat Ghars including the expenditure on material and labour.

Dr. Mehta emphasized the creation of a database capturing the necessary information of PRI members and formulation of a mechanism to collect their feedback on completed works in their respective jurisdictions. “Work authentication by the concerned elected representative of the PRI will ensure proper monitoring of various developmental works and strengthen the grass-root democracy, he said”.

The Department was asked to ensure the creation of at least 20,000 SHGs and their linkage with various banks and markets.

The Chief Secretary further directed the Department to prepare all village-level sanitation plans by 15th December 2021 and ensure their implementation in convergence with the MGNREGA scheme by developing infrastructure for scientific solid and water waste management and associated biogas generation.

Reviewing the low coverage under the Himayat scheme, the Chief Secretary directed immediate intervention to boost candidate placement post-training in consultation with the stakeholders.

Additional Chief Secretary, Finance, Principal Secretary, Rural Development Department, Commissioner Secretary, Forest, Ecology and Environment, Mission Director, J&K Rural Livelihood Mission, Mission Director, Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen), Director, Rural Development, Jammu, Director, Rural Development, Kashmir, CEO, Integrated Watershed Management Programme, and Chief Operating Officer, Himayat along with concerned officers of the Department participated in the meeting.

Armed forces face shortage of 9,362 officers, 1,13,193 personnel

Front

Indo Asian News Service

07/12/2021

New Delhi: The Central government on Monday said that the Armed Forces face a shortage of 9,362 officers and 1,13,193 personnel.

In the Indian Army, 7,476 posts of officers and 97,177 posts of junior commissioned officers and other ranks are vacant. In the Indian Air Force, a total 621 officers and 4,850 junior commissioned officers and other ranks are vacant. In the Indian Navy, 1,265 officers and 11,166 junior commissioned officers and other ranks’ posts are vacant.

Minister of State (Defence) Ajay Bhatt in a written reply to BJP’s Rakesh Sinha in Rajya Sabha said the government has taken a number of measures to reduce the shortages.

These include sustained image projection, participation in career fairs and exhibitions and publicity campaigns to create awareness among the youth on the advantages of taking up a challenging and satisfying career in the Armed Forces.

To encourage the youth to join the Armed Forces, motivational lectures are regularly organised in schools, colleges, other educational institutes and National Cadet Corps (NCC) camps.

Further, the government has taken various steps to make the service in the Armed Forces more attractive including improvement in promotion prospects in the Armed Forces and to fill up vacancies.

As per the government policy on the subject, all citizens irrespective of their caste, creed, region or religion are eligible for enrolment in the Indian Army.

“After Independence, it has been the policy of the Government not to raise any new regiment for a particular class/ community/ religion or region,” the minister said.

The deficiency is spread across all Arms and Services of the Indian Army. (IANS)

1...3,7363,7373,738...5,089 Page 3,737 of 5,089