Srinagar: The Ministry of Home Affairs Tuesday informed the Lok Sabha that a total of 2041 kilometres of LoC and International Border has been covered with the fence.

The Minister of State in the Ministry of Home Affairs Nisith Pramanik was responding to the queries raised in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday including the total stretch in kilometres on the borders where fencing is to be erected with neighbouring countries and the details, the target that has been achieved and the border areas along Pakistan and Bangladesh where fencing has been completed and the details thereof.

In a written reply filed to the parliament, the MoS Home said that the fencing is being erected on the Indo-Pakistan border, Indo-Bangladesh border and Indo-Myanmar border. “So far 5187 Km length of the International border has been covered by a fence”, the reply reads.

It reads that the total of 2041 kilometres of the Border of Indo-Pakistan has been covered by a fence.

It further reads that the unfenced area includes non-feasible stretches where fencing could not be constructed due to riverine and marshy land. “These stretches are being covered through technological solutions. Fencing along remaining feasible stretches has been hampered due to firing/objections from the counterpart country, difficult terrain, short working season, land acquisition problem, public protests and Covid-19 situation etc. Government has been persistent in its efforts to remove obstacles and ensure timely completion”, the reply filed by MoS Home reads.

“To check fake Indian currency and animal trafficking, the Government has adopted a multi-pronged approach which inter-alia includes round the clock surveillance and patrolling on the borders and establishment of observation posts”, the reply reads. “Increase in the number of BSF personnel. Construction of border fencing & floodlighting. Use of water crafts/boats and floating Border Out Posts (BOP) for domination of riverine areas.”

It also mentions the advance technological equipment like Hand Held Thermal Imager (HHTI), Night vision Device (NVD), Twin Telescope, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV); upgradation of intelligence setup and enhanced coordination with the State Governments/concerned intelligence agencies in the steps taken by the government. (KNO)

By: Ishtiyaq Ahmad

Srinagar: The Chief Engineer Roads and Buildings department Kashmir informed that work on a 500-bedded Pediatric hospital in Srinagar’s Bemina will be completed in four months.

The under-construction hospital will be a big relief for the patients of the valley.

The work on the hospital which was proposed to be a 200-bedded maternity care facility initially was started in 2013 during the National Conference (NC) regime. However, former Chief Minister, Late Mufti Mohammad Sayeed on October 17, 2015, gave it an extension and laid the foundation stone for 500-bedded Mother-Child Hospital.

In 2019, the government accorded sanction to conversion of the 200-bedded Maternity Hospital and the 300 bedded Pediatric Hospital at Bemina, Srinagar into a full-fledged 500-bedded Children’s Hospital.

The Chief Engineer, Er. Showkat Jeelani said: “We have received State Administrative Council (SAC) approval to the construction of a 500-bedded pediatric hospital at Bemina, Srinagar and now the work will start”.

He said that in the next three to four months they will complete the work.

Officials said that once complete, the hospital would be under the management control of the Government Medical College, Srinagar. “The hospital will strengthen the pediatric care facilities in Kashmir division, ease the burden of patient load on the existing tertiary level hospital, and ensure quality maternity, neonatal and pediatric care to the patients” they said.

Sources said that as per the previous plan, the GB Pant Hospital, valley’s lone children’s hospital located in the Sonawar area, will be converted into a general hospital as the staff and paediatric facilities from there would be shifted to the new premises.

It is to mention here that The Administrative Council (AC) headed by Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha, recently gave fresh administrative approval to the construction of a 500-bedded pediatric hospital at Bemina, Srinagar.

“The project will be upgrading vital pediatric facilities on modern grounds and will be completed at an estimated cost of Rs. 114.81 crore. The new hospital will be equipped with all modern equipment for managing the high risk pediatric cases to further reduce the infant mortality rate,” the government has said.

It will also serve as the Centre of Excellence in Pediatrics in Kashmir Division and will assist the Union territory in mitigating a possible third wave of COVID-19 pandemic. (KINS)

By: Bhat Imran

Srinagar: The Government of India (GoI) has asked the Ministry of Education (MoE) to prepare a comprehensive COVID-19 response document to mitigate the impact of the pandemic on schools in Jammu and Kashmir and other states of India.

The official documents revealed that the GoI has said, “To mitigate the impact of the pandemic, schools will not only have to remodel and re-imagine the way teaching and learning have happened so far, but will also need to introduce a suitable method of delivering quality education through a healthy mix of schooling at home and schooling at school.”

“With the present C0VID wave, that is more virulent and faster spreading, an urgent need was felt to plan for the challenges ahead and prepare to make progress for the sake of students, parents, community and all stakeholders involved in this pursuit,” GoI said.

It also said that taking a holistic view, MoE has prepared a comprehensive COVID-19 response document consolidating all the previous guidelines and intervention to mitigate the impact of the pandemic.

It reads that the guidelines were issued on May-04-2021 and it delineates detailed action plans and timelines for all stakeholders involved on access, retention, and continuous learning capacity building and stakeholder engagement.

The MoE also said that the COVID- 19 pandemic has impacted over 240 million children across India who were enrolled in schools.

“Moreover, extended school closures may cause loss of learning,” the documents read. (KNO)

By: Nadeem Nadu

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir reported 140 new covid-19 cases while three persons succumbed to the virus in the last 24 hours, officials said on Tuesday.

70 of cases each were reported from Jammu Division and Kashmir Valley, taking the infection tally to 321865 in J&K, they said.

Providing the district-wide details, the officials said that Srinagar reported 21 cases, Baramulla 7, Budgam 5, Pulwama 4, Kupwara 15, Anantnag 2, Bandipora 4, Ganderbal 9, Kulgam 2, Shopian 1, Jammu 11, Udhampur 3, Rajouri 19, Doda 15, Kathua 1, Samba 1, Kishtwar 2, Poonch 2, Ramban 5 and Reasi 12.

There were three fresh deaths due to the virus, all from Jammu division, they said. With these d fatalities, 4384 people have fallen victim to the pathogen in J&K—2147 in Jammu division and 2237 in Kashmir.

A number of cases were confirmed at diagnostic laboratories of CD hospital and GMC Jammu.

The CD cases include female (38) from Khanyar, male (18) from Kralpora, male (23) from Barbarshah, male (23) from Bengal, female (36) from Dadsara, female (40) from Banderpora, female (32) from Khoji Bagh Baramulla, female (40) from Pinglena Pul, three males (65, 62, 45) and two females (58, 36) from NA, male (70) from Srinagar, male (32) from Baramulla, male (30) from Tekipora Lolab Kup, male (70) from Kokernag, female (24) from DRDO Hospital Khanmoh, male (74) and female (69) from Rawalpora, two females (45, 70) from Batmaloo, male (55) from Gupkar, female (41) and male (47) from Elahibagh, female (30) from Sopore, female (25) from Botakadal, male (30) from Nowshera and male (27) from Chatterhama.

The GMC Anantnag cases include female (18) from Kulgam, male (35) from Srinagar, male (65) from Chattisgarh and female (65) from Fatehpora Ang.

Moreover, they said, 98 more COVID-19 patients in last 24 hours have recovered— 38 from Jammu Division and 60 from Kashmir, taking the number of people who have recovered in J&K to 316188. With this, there are now 1293 active cases—520 in Jammu and 773 in Kashmir.

There was no new confirmed case of mucormycosis (black fungus) reported today. So far 35 black fungus cases have been confirmed in J&K, the officials added. (GNS)