Anantnag: The District Development Commissioner (DDC) Anantnag, Dr Piyush Singla Monday inaugurated the Multilevel car parking (MLCP) at Janglat Mandi, here.

While interacting with the public, media and officials of MC Anantnag, the DDC said that the car parking was of immense need to reduce congestion on town roads and added that the Multi Level Car Parking will reduce the issue of road side parking.

He appealed to the public to utilize the facility to ease traffic movement on the roads. He said that he has passed directions to the traffic department to implement a zero tolerance policy against roadside parking given that an alternative is available.

Dr Singla said that the parking facility is available at nominal charges and therefore the violators and wrong parkers will be strictly dealt with under law as the congested road is a vital route connecting GMC Anantnag to the rest of the town.

The President MC Anantnag, Hilal Ahmad while addressing the public said that this was the long pending demand of car owners visiting the District and the said initiative will definitely make the people heave a sigh of relief.

Meanwhile, the MLCP was constructed by R&B at a cost of Rs 16.02 crores. With a plinth area of 7858 sqm, the facility can comfortably accommodate 200 cars at a time. The car parking charges will be Rs 30 per car per day.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Anantnag also interacted with the public on the occasion and said that traffic jams on the route shall be a concern of the past with the opening of this facility.

The event was attended by DSP Traffic, officials of MCA, media fraternity besides a large number of people.

Srinagar: Weatherman on Monday forecast mainly dry weather for next ten days with possibility of light rain and snow around December 8-9 at some places in Jammu and Kashmir.

“As expected, weather has improved and is mainly clear in all districts,” an official of the meteorological department here said.

Regarding forecast for next ten days, he said there is possibility of light rain or snow around December 8 to 9 at some places. “Rest the weather would be mainly dry. Overall, there is no significant weather for next 10 days in both J&K and Ladakh.” He, however, said that there would be gradual fall in night temperature.

Meanwhile, the official said that Srinagar had 15.3mm of rainfall during 24 hours till 0830 hours while the summer capital recorded minimum of 2.6°C against previous night’s 0.6°C. The temperature was above 3.5°C. Mercury fell as low as minus 2.5°C on December 1 which was lowest temperature recorded this season so far.

Qazigund had 17.8mm of rain during the time even as it recorded minimum temperature of 3.2°C against minus 3.4°C on the previous night, he said. The temperature was 4.2°C above normal for the gateway town of Kashmir for this time of the year, he said.

Pahalgam had 12.2mm of rainfall in the 24 hours while as the famous resort in south Kashmir recorded a low of 0.6°C against 2.7°C on previous night.

Kokernag, also in south Kashmir, had 13.2mm rainfall while as it recorded a low of 1.9°C against 2.3°C on previous night which is above normal (minus 0.6) °C by 2.4°C, the official said.

Kupwara town in north Kashmir also had 10.3mm of rain even as it recorded a low of 1.0°C against 1.0°C on the previous night, the official said.

Gulmarg, the world famous skiing resort in north Kashmir, had 12.2mm of snowfall in the 24 hours till 0830 hours and recorded a minimum of minus 0.7°C against minus 1.4°C on the previous night, the official said.

Ladakh’s Leh had 1 cm of snowfall and recorded a low of minus 5.6°C against last night’s minus 6.4°C while Kargil town recorded a low of minus 2.5°C. Drass in Kargil, the second coldest place in the world after Siberia, recorded a low of minus 12.0°C, the official said. (GNS)

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Monday that IndiaRussia strategic ties have grown stronger despite the challenges posed by Covid, and thanked visiting Russian President Vladimir Putin for his personal investment in strengthening the bilateral partnership.

In his opening remarks ahead of the 21^st annual bilateral summit with President Putin, PM Modi also thanked the Russian leader for taking time out from his busy schedule to visit India for their face-to-face summit, which is their first such meeting in two years.

“I know that in the past two years due to Covid this is your second trip abroad; and your visit today signifies your attachment to India, and your own personal involvement in taking forward the ties. Your visit also signifies the importance you attach to India-Russia ties,” said PM Modi.

“Despite the challenges posed by Covid there has been no change in the pace of growth in IndiaRussia relations. Our special and privileged strategic partnership has continued to grow stronger,” he added.

PM Modi said the two countries have been seeing very good cooperation in the fight against Covid, whether in vaccine trials and production, or in humanitarian assistance or in helping their stranded nationals return home.

He said 2021 is a very significant year for their bilateral relations, as it marks 50 years of the 1971 Indo-Soviet Treaty of Peace, Friendship and Cooperation and also 20 years of the strategic partnership.

“In this significant year, being able to personally meet you for the bilateral summit is a matter of great joy to me,” PM Modi said, adding that President Putin has been the main driver behind the growth in the bilateral strategic partnership in the past 20 years.

“Many kinds of geopolitical changes have taken place, but in the midst of all the variables IndiaRussia friendship has remained a constant. Both nations have engaged with each other without hindrance, and have also kept each other’s sensitivities especially in mind. This is truly a unique and trusted model of inter-state friendship.”

Remarking on the inaugural 2+2 dialogue held between their defence and foreign ministers, PM Modi said with the move the two sides have begun a new mechanism to take forward the ties.

“We have been regularly in touch on Afghanistan and other regional developments. The regional partnership emerging from the Eastern Economic Forum and the Vladivostok summit has led to practical cooperation between our two nations in the Russian Far East. In order to strengthen our economic ties, we are going to adopt a long term vision,” he added.

He said the two sides have targeted USD 30 billion trade and USD 50 billion investment till 2025. “We need to guide our business communities in order to reach the target,” he added.

He said that the different agreements signed will help to support the Make in India initiative, and the defence partnership is becoming stronger with co-development and co-production. “In space and civil nuclear spheres too our cooperation is growing.”

He congratulated Russia on getting observer status in NAM and becoming dialogue partner in the IORA, adding, “in both the platforms it was our pleasure to back Russia’s candidature.”

“We both share similar views on many international and regional issues. We will get an opportunity to discuss these at the summit,” he added. (UNI)

New Delhi: India and Russia on Monday concluded the long pending deal worth around Rs 5,000 crore for manufacturing nearly 6 lakh AK-203 rifles under a joint venture in Amethi, Uttar Pradesh, and also signed an agreement to extend military technology cooperation for the next decade, from 2021 to 2031.

The contracts and agreement were signed after Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his Russian counterpart Sergey Shoigu held the 20^th meeting of India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Military & Military Technical Cooperation, said sources.

Singh termed Russia as India’s long-standing special and privileged strategic partner and said that the relations were time-tested & based on common interests in multilateralism, global peace and prosperity, mutual understanding and trust.

The two sides signed a Protocol on Amending the Agreement between India and Russia on cooperation in the field of Kalashnikov Series Small Arms Manufacturing, a contract for procurement of over 6 lakh AK-203 Assault Rifles through the joint venture Indo-Russia Rifles Private Limited, and an agreement on Program for Military Technical Cooperation from 2021- 2031, said sources.

A protocol of the 20th IRIGC-M&MTC was also signed by the two Defence Ministers, the sources added.

Singh called defence cooperation one of the most important pillars of the bilateral partnership.

“India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Military & Military Technical Cooperation is a well-established mechanism since last two decades. It provides a platform to discuss and implement mutually agreed agenda for defence cooperation. I wish to acknowledge with respect your valuable personal contribution to strengthen our bilateral defence cooperation,” Singh said.

Singh also expressed hope that Russia will remain a major partner for India in these changing circumstances.

“From Ministry of Defence, we have urged for greater military-technical collaboration, advanced research, co-development and co-production of defence equipment leading to self-reliance of India. Separately, we proposed greater engagements in Central Asia and the Indian Ocean region,” he said.

Rajnath Singh also said that India is a continuation of the vast Eurasian landmass and at the same time central in the enormous Indian Ocean region. He hoped for Russia’s cooperation in all domains. (UNI)

New Delhi: Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday said Russia views India as a great power, a friendly nation and a time-tested friend, and added that ties between both countries have been developing and are now looking into the future.

In his remarks ahead of the bilateral summit with PM Narendra Modi here, President Putin said the two sides are cooperating and investing in very important matters, including in the energy sector, and high tech, and space.

He also mentioned Afghanistan, and said: “Naturally, we are concerned about everything that has to do with terrorism. I mean, the fight against terrorism, also the fight against drug trafficking and organised crime. And with that regard, we are naturally concerned about the developments of the situation in Afghanistan.”

“We perceive India as a great power, a friendly nation and a time tested friend. Relations between our countries have been developing and are now looking into the future,” Putin said.

On trade, he said that there was a decline in trade turnover by more than 17% last year, and in the first nine months of this year there was growth by more than 38%. “We have every opportunity to reach the levels of trade we have targeted, and the same applies to investments.”

He said the programmes that were discussed today “will be fully implemented, including the training of Indian spacemen” in Russia on Gaganyan,

“We also cooperate greatly in military and technical sphere like no other country. By that I mean that we develop high technologies together as well as produce in India,” he added.

Putin also said the “two sides have a common important agenda that is of interest to India and Russia, and by that I mean environmental cooperation”.

“We think about the green agenda and the development of our economies, but naturally we proceed from the reality and the needs of our economies that is to consistently increase the level of life for our citizens,” he said.

Putin said the two sides continue to cooperate jointly on the global agenda and concurred with what PM Modi said, adding “our positions are quite similar or coincide”.

He said that with the 2+2 dialogue held today, “we will continue to develop our cooperation in the international agenda and in the military sphere”. (UNI)

Srinagar: Pursuing the Department’s vision of introducing/promoting the Kashmir based vegetables, spices, and other agriculture commodities on the global marketing platform, the Department of Agriculture Kashmir in collaboration with an international marketing group (Lulu Group) has showcased the Kashmir specific vegetables, spices, cereals, at Dubai (UAE).

The Director Agriculture Kashmir, Chowdhary Mohammad Iqbal said the Department of Agriculture Kashmir under the supervision of Principal Secretary AP&FWD, Navin Kumar Chowdhary is working on a long term ambitious plan to strengthen the agriculture sector in J&K.

He said in this regard a number of initiatives including integrated farming approach, diversification of agriculture, organic way of cultivation, introduction of new marketing channels, MoUs with different stakeholders, e-marketing of saffron at IIKSTC Dusso, etc have been taken.

Earlier, the vegetable consignment including Kale, Turnip, Carrot, White Radish (Long), Cauliflower, Broccoli, Lotus roots, Rice, Dried Mushrooms and Saffron was sent to UAE from Srinagar International Airport and the entire operation of grading, packing, labeling was conducted under the strict supervision of Director Agriculture Kashmir.

Pertinently, all the global requirements for the international trade of vegetables and other agricultural commodities were considered while sending the consignment to UAE.

Director said that so far as the recent initiative of sending vegetables to UAE is concerned, it will open a new window for Kashmir Specific vegetables, agri products/ commodities, spices to a new global marketing arena.

Srinagar: Police and security forces on Monday arrested a militant and his associate in Ningli area of Sopore in north Kahsmir’s Baramulla district, officials said.

“Acting on specific input regarding presence of (militants) in Ningli area of Sopore, a cordon and search operation was launched by Police, 52RR and 177 battalion CRPF in the area,” a police official said in a statement. “During the search operation (militant) and his associate were challenged by the search party. However they tried to escape from the spot but the alert search party apprehended them tactfully,” the police said.

The active militants’ has been identified as Towfeeq Kaboo son of Ghulam Rasool Kaboo of Kaboo Mohalla Arampora Sopore while as a militant associate has been identified as Bilal Ahmad Kaloo son of Abdul Rahman Kaloo resident of Takiabal Sopore.

“In this regard a case under relevant sections of law has been registered and further investigation has been taken up.”

Directs department to upload survey details within 1 week

Jammu: Chief Secretary, Dr. Arun Kumar Mehta Monday chaired a meeting to review the functioning of the Social Welfare Departments and achievements under various schemes.

Commissioner/ Secretary, Labour & Employment Department, Administrative Secretary, Social Welfare Department, along with Mission Director, Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS), Mission Director, Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS), and concerned HoDs participated in the meeting.

It was informed that the Department has conducted a comprehensive verification drive and found the orphans of COVID victims (693) to be safe. The Chief Secretary directed the Department to get all eligible children registered for assistance from the Central Government.

It was further informed that the ICPS has so far registered 102 Child Care Institutions (CCIs) and is running a helpline number 1098 to ensure necessary assistance to minor children who are in need of care and protection.

The Chief Secretary directed the department to ensure that all residential homes for minor children obtain required registrations before 31st December 2021 after which no such home will be allowed to function without complying with the Government norms and guidelines.

Further, the department was asked to undertake an extensive IEC campaign to popularize the child helpline 1098 to facilitate reporting of cases of child neglect and cases of children in need of assistance.

The department was also asked to evaluate the number of children in street situations and upload the survey details on the Bal Swaraj portal within 1 week; to be subsequently provided with assistance as per directions from the Supreme Court of India.

Under Poshan Abhiyaan being run by the ICDS, it was informed that growth monitoring devices have been given to all the Anganwari Centres and growth parameters of targeted children are being monitored through the Poshan Tracker portal on a real-time basis.

The Chief Secretary directed the department to operationalize all non-functional Anganwadi Centres, besides opening new Centres, as per the sanction given by the Government of India, within one month.

The department was also asked to ensure that all Anganwadis have functional toilets, water connections, and Poshan Vatikas. Moreover, the Department shall focus on providing Government accommodation to at least 4,300 Centres in the next financial year through convergence with MGNREGA, District CAPEX, and PM Adarsh Gram Yojana in consultation with the PRIs and develop these centres as hub of various activities.

The Chief Secretary emphasized making important Government buildings accessible to the differently-abled persons and senior citizens under the Sugmya Bharat Abhiyan by constructing ramps, hand grills, and lifts in a time-bound manner.

Dr. Mehta entrusted the Labour & Employment Department to encourage the private establishments with more than 50 workers with a special focus on brick kilns; to open up crèche facilities and provide proper facilities for drinking water and sanitation to the workers and employees.

Further, the Chief Secretary directed the Department to open at least one each of Child Care Institute, Nari Niketen, and Old Age Home at each district for providing required assistance to the targeted population. The Department was asked to saturate all individual beneficiary schemes including pension, scholarships, and PM Matru Vandana Yojana.

The Chief Secretary also reviewed the preparatory works on the rollout of the Prevention of Child Rights Act, 1955; SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act, 1989; and State Action Plan for Senior Citizens, which are being implemented for the first time in Jammu and Kashmir.

Srinagar: In a significant development, the Government of J&K has directed the SICOP authorities to handover the custodianship and operations of Pashmina raw material bank to Department of Handicrafts & Handloom (DH&H) Kashmir.

The Director Handicrafts and Handloom, Kashmir Mahmood Ahmad Shah confirmed that this step has been taken to ensure hassle free distribution of Pashmina raw material to the artisan and weaver community. The ready supply of Pashmina raw material shall help artisans and weavers to manufacture pashmina shawls mobilizing very little resources of their own.

The department is also organizing weavers and spinners in Cooperative societies and providing them financial assistance to procure raw material.

It  may be reiterated that the Directorate of Handicrafts and Handloom Kashmir has embarked upon the publicity and promotion of G I certified products and has strengthened the local spinning by conversion of many centres into Pashmina spinning centres along with the  procurement of modern charkhas from SKUAST-K.

The Department of Handicrafts and Handloom, Kashmir has identified Indian Institute of Carpet Technology (IICT) Srinagar Campus for housing the raw material as the place is conveniently located in the craft concentrated area and the artisans/weavers can easily approach the place for procurement of the raw material.

It becomes imperative to mention that GOI has sanctioned Rs 2.00 crores for the procurement of Pashmina for artisans and weavers, now this amount can be utilized for the purpose it has been sanctioned.

By: Nadeem Nadu

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir has reported 108 new Covid-19 cases while as two persons succumbed to the virus in the last 24 hours, officials said on Monday.

22 of the fresh cases were reported from Jammu division and 86 from Kashmir, taking the overall tally to 337915.

There were deaths, one each from the Valley and Jammu division, due to the virus during the last 24 hours, they said. So far 4483 persons—2186 in Jammu and 2297 in Kashmir—have died due to the virus, they said.

Giving district wise details of the fresh cases, the officials said that Srinagar reported 40 cases, Baramulla 11, Budgam 4, Pulwama 9, Kupwara 6, Anantnag 2, Bandipora 6, Ganderbal 7, Kulgam 1, Shopian 0, Jammu 11, Udhampur 0, Rajouri 2, Doda 7, Kathua 1, Samba 0, Kishtwar 0, Poonch 1, Ramban 0 and Reasi 0.

A number of these cases were confirmed at CD hospital’s diagnostic labouratory and include female (70) from Chowkibal Kupwara, male (25) from Sogam lolab, male (35) from Diver lolab, male (70) form Sogam lolab, male (40) from Manzgam, female (40) from Dardpora, male (30) from Magam Handwara, male (32) from Langate Handwara, female (32) from Murran pulwama, female (50) (NA) from Malangpora Pulwama and male (29) from Dusso Pampore.

Moreover, 151 Covid-19 patients recovered during the time, 30 from Jammu Division and 121 from Kashmir, they said.

So far 331771 patients have recovered, leaving active case tally at 1661—430 in Jammu and 1231 in Kashmir.

They said there was no new confirmed case of mucormycosis (black fungus) reported today. So far 58 black fungus cases have been confirmed in J&K, the officials said.

The officials also informed that 62071 doses of covid-19 vaccine were administered during the time in J&K. (GNS)