Precious Kashmir

Jammu ropeway to be major tourist attraction in region: LG

Front

17/07/2021

Jammu: Giving a determined push to the tourism sector in the Jammu region, Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha Friday inaugurated the much-awaited 1.18 km long Peerkho-Mahamaya section of Jammu Ropeway.

Speaking on the impact of the prestigious project on tourism, the Lt Governor observed that the complete operationalization of the Jammu Ropeway would give a further boost to the tourism sector in J&K, besides giving a fillip to the socio-economic development of the region by generating direct and indirect livelihood opportunities to the locals.

“Jammu ropeway will be a major tourist attraction in the region. It will instill new enthusiasm in the tourism sector in Jammu & Kashmir and add to aesthetics of Jammu city”, remarked the Lt Governor.

With the throwing open of Peerkho-Mahamaya section of the ropeway to public, the religious tourism circuit connecting three major temples of Jammu city viz. Peerkho, Mahamaya, and Bahu temple has also been completed. It will provide lifetime experience to the tourists, added the Lt Governor.

The Lt Governor directed the officers to devise a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the periodic inspection of the ropeway and maintain the highest safety standards and professionalism, besides keeping in view the ecology factor, while operating the facility in order to ensure the safety of visiting tourists looking forward to a joyful ride.

He also directed the concerned officers to complete the pending auxiliary works immediately for easy access of tourists and make them operational at the earliest.

The Jammu Ropeway project also offers a host of facilities including restaurant, walkways, lawns, public utilities, parking space, and other recreational facilities for the people.

Pertinently, Jammu ropeway is a hybrid system, the critical components having been imported and integrated with the Indian system. Costing Rs. 75.83 crores, the project comprises of two sections: Section-I is between Peerkho (Below Mubarak Mandi) and Mahamaya, with a distance of 1.184 km, whereas Section-II is between Mahamaya temple and Bahu, with a distance of 0.485 km.

Chander Mohan Gupta, Mayor, JMC; Jugal Kishore Sharma, Member Parliament; Baseer Ahmed Khan, Advisor to the Lt Governor; Dr Arun Kumar Mehta, Chief Secretary; Mukesh Singh, Additional DGP; Sarmad Hafeez, Administrative Secretary, Tourism Department; Dr Raghav Langer, Divisional Commissioner, Jammu; Anshul Garg, Deputy Commissioner Jammu; MA Wani, MD J&K Cable Car Corporation, and other concerned officers were present on the occasion.

Purnima Sharma, Deputy Mayor JMC, and Municipal Corporators also attended the inaugural ceremony.

J&K records one death, 221 positive cases

Front

Jahangeer Ganaie

17/07/2021

By: Jahangeer Ganaie

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory Friday recorded one death due to Covid-19 while as 221 fresh positive cases were also reported, taking the number of total active cases in the UT to 2,116.

With one more death the death toll in the UT has reached to 4,362 and 221 fresh positive cases reported on Friday has pushed the tally of positive cases to 319,576.

Of the exact number of 319,576 cases, 198,462 are from Kashmir division and 121,114 from Jammu division. Officials said that among 221 new cases, 118 belong to Kashmir division while as 103 are from Jammu division, adding that the total number of positive cases in Kashmir division have reached to 198,462 including 194,997 recoveries and 2,231 deaths while as total number of positive cases in Jammu division have reached to 121,114 including 118,101 recoveries and 2,131 deaths.

The officials said that the total number of active cases in Jammu and Kashmir are 2,116 including 1,234 from Kashmir division and 882 from Jammu division.

With 208 more recoveries, the tally of total recoveries in Jammu and Kashmir has reached to 313,098 which is 97.98 percent of the total cases.

“Cases tested positive in J&K include 40 from Srinagar, 15 from Baramulla, 15 from Budgam, 19 from Pulwama, 06 from Kupwara, 09 from Anantnag, 02 from Bandipora, 08 from Ganderbal, 03 from Kulgam and 01 from Shopian in Kashmir division while as 103 from Jammu division include 19 from Jammu, 04 from Udhampur, 10 from Rajouri, 17 from Doda, 07 from Kathua, 13 from Samba, 08 from Kishtwar, 12 from Poonch, 12 from Ramban and 01 from Reasi,” officials disclosed.

Meanwhile, authorities on Friday said that one fresh case of Mucormycosis popularly known as black fungus was reported in the UT and tally reaches to 33.

One Covid death has been reported from General hospital Rajouri.

As per officials figures, 70,858 positive cases including 832 deaths and 69,585 recoveries are from Srinagar, 23,478 including 280 deaths and 23,026 recoveries are from Baramulla, 22,787 including 22,483 recoveries and 204 deaths are from Budgam, 15,082 including 14,791 recoveries and 193 deaths are from Pulwama, 13,986 including 165 deaths and 13,746 recoveries are from Kupwara, 16,275 including 15,963 recoveries and 205 deaths are from Anantnag, 9,425 cases including 9,252 and 100 deaths are from Bandipora, 9,797 including 9,615 recoveries and 77 deaths are from Ganderbal, 11,202 including 11,031 recoveries and 117 deaths are from Kulgam and 5,572 including 5,505 recoveries and 58 deaths are from Shopian.

In Jammu division, 52,624 including 51,301 recoveries and 1,138 deaths are from Jammu district, 11,255 including 11,070 recoveries and 133 deaths are from Udhampur, 10,840 including 10,534 recoveries and 224 deaths are from Rajouri, 7,102 including 6,818 recoveries and 122 deaths are from Doda, 9,252 including 9,081 recoveries and 149 deaths are from Kathua, 7,116 including 6,959 recoveries and 119 deaths are from Samba, 4,582 including 4,482 recoveries and 43 deaths are from Kishtwar, 6,214 including 6,023 recoveries and 94 deaths are from Poonch, 5,934 including 5,800 recoveries and 66 deaths are from Ramban and 6,195 including 6,033 recoveries and 43 deaths are from Reasi.

As per the daily information bulletin 2,613,283 persons in Jammu and Kashmir are under observation while 9,356 persons have been kept under home quarantine besides that 2,116 persons are in isolation.

According to the bulletin, 2,298,709 persons have completed the surveillance period and 298,740 persons are under home surveillance besides that so far results of 10,906,400 samples are available. Out of 10,906,400 the number of samples tested negative stands at 10,586,824 while as 319,576 have tested positive, among them 2,116 persons are active, 313,098 persons have recovered and 4,362 persons have died. (KNO)

No prayers in Jamia Masjid, Dargah Hazratbal

Front

United News Of India

17/07/2021

Srinagar: Prayers remained suspended in main worship places, including historic Jamia Masjid and Asaar-e-Sharief Hazratbal, which houses holy Relic of Prophet Muhammad.

However, prayers were held in local mosques, particularly in the interior areas, in Srinagar and other parts of the valley.

The Wakf board has announced suspension of all prayers in 133 shrines and other religious places while the management of Jamia Masjid too announced that no prayers would be held in the worship place to prevent spread of COVID-19. (UNI)

Sgr records 33.4 degree Celsius as mercury soars across J&K

City

Precious Kashmir

17/07/2021

Srinagar: People in Kashmir Valley endured a hot day as mercury soared to 33.4 degrees Celsius in summer capital Srinagar, officials said on Friday.

A meteorological department official said that today’s maximum temperature in Srinagar was two degrees higher than the previous day and nearly four degrees above normal.

Jammu, the winter capital of J&K, recorded a maximum of 35.2 degrees Celsius against normal of 34.2 degrees Celsius and previous day’s 34.9 degree Celsius, he said.

Qazigund, the gate town of Kashmir, recorded maximum of 31.0 (against normal of 27.9) degrees Celsius, Pahalgam 27.8 degrees Celsius while Kokernag recorded 31.6 degrees Celsius, the official said.

The border town Kupwara recorded maximum temperature of 33.8 degrees Celsius against normal of 30.5 degree Celsius, he said.

World famous skiing and tourist resort Gulmarg in north Kashmir recording maximum of 23.4 degrees Celsius against the normal of 20.8 degree Celsius for this time of the season for the place, the official added.

The official said there was possibility of light rain with thunder at isolated to scattered places in J&K till 18th July

“There will be gradual rise in maximum temperature till July 18,” he said, adding, “There is possibility of moderate rain at widespread places with thunder and gusty winds most likely during July 19-21. Besides there are chances of heavy Rainfall at isolated places during the above period,” he said.

Regarding rainfall scenario in Jammu and Kashmir, he said Jammu, Poonch, Ramban, Udhampur, Bandipora, Baramulla, Ganderbal, Pulwama and Srinagar had normal rainfall while Reasi and Samba had excess.

Anantnag, Budgam, Kulgam, Kupwara, Shopian, Kathua, Rajouri and Kishtwar districts had deficit rainfall, he added. (GNS)

Govt seeks details on land used for construction of schools in J&K

City

Precious Kashmir

17/07/2021

By: Bhat Imran

Srinagar: The administration on Friday sought information of the lands that have been used so far for the construction of private and government schools across Jammu and Kashmir.

Principal Secretary to government for School Education Department, B K Singh said that by the information, authorities will check as to how many schools were constructed on rented lands and government lands.

Singh said, “We are verifying as to whether the schools have been constructed on private or government land.”

“We are also checking if one respective school has been constructed on government land, has the concerned school got the approval for the same from the government,” he said.

Singh further said that the information sought from the concerned officials of the school education department is a kind of survey in which “we are checking various things for the streamlining of the department.”

“Through this survey, the government will also check how many schools have encroached the government land and in case if there is any school that has encroached the government land, then there is a problem and that needs to be resolved,” he said.

Singh said that the survey will be for both private as well as private schools. (KNO)

Sgr-Leh highway closed for weekly maintenance

Jammu & Kashmir

United News Of India

17/07/2021

Srinagar: The 434-km-long Srinagar-Leh national highway remained closed on Friday for weekly maintenance.

Meanwhile, two-way Light Motor Vehicle (HMV) traffic was restored on Srinagar-Jammu highway, historic 86-km-long Mughal road and Anantnag-Kishtwar roads are also open, a traffic police official said.

No traffic was today allowed on the national highway, the only road connecting Union Territory (UT) of Ladakh with Kashmir for weekly maintenance, particularly at Zojila pass, he said. The UT administration Kashmir and Ladakh have decided to suspend traffic on every Friday to allow Beacon authorities to undertake the repair and maintenance of the road. One-way traffic will be resumed on Saturday subject fair weather and good road conditions.

He said two way LMV traffic was restored today on the Srinagar-Jammu highway. However, the Heavy Motor Vehicles (HMVs) and security force convoy will be allowed from Jammu to Srinagar.

He said LMVs will be allowed to ply both sides on Mughal road, which connects Shopian in south Kashmir with Poonch and Rajouri in Jammu region. HMVs will ply from Shopian to Poonch only, he said.

Only LMVs will ply on the Anantnag-Sinthan-Kishtwar road, he said adding no HMV will be allowed to ply on this road. (UNI)

Covid: 2,802 norm violators fined in Kashmir

Jammu & Kashmir

Precious Kashmir

17/07/2021

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir police realised a fine of over Rs 3.65 lakh from 2,802 COVID Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) violators in the valley during the past 24 hours.

A police spokesman said this evening that continuing its efforts to curb the outbreak of 2nd wave of Coronavirus, during the last 24 hours, Police have realised fine to the tune of Rs 3,65,230 from 2802 people and registered one FIR throughout the Kashmir valley for violating the various guidelines, rules and SOPs regarding Covid-19.

The special drive against the violators of Covid-19 guidelines and rules continued throughout all the districts of Kashmir Valley to ensure that people adhere to SOPs/guidelines envisaged by the government to curb COVID-19 pandemic.

Community members are once again requested to cooperate with the Police in containing the spread of Coronavirus by following the SOPs/ guidelines/protocols for their own safety and for the safety of others. The special drive shall continue throughout the districts of Kashmir Valley to strengthen the safety measures.

13 injured in Rajouri road accident

Jammu & Kashmir

Precious Kashmir

17/07/2021

By: M S Nazki

Jammu: At least thirteen persons were injured in a road mishap near Behrote Thanamandi in Rajouri on Friday.

They said that a load carrier bearing registration number JK11D-9303, met with an accident near Sora Bridge in Behrote. The vehicle enroute from Sangiote, Ghambir Mughlan, Manjakote towards Shadra Shareef skidded off the road and fell at a distance of over fifty feet on another road, they said.

In the incident, thirteen persons identified as; Sadia Liaqat, Saira Anjum, Arman Khan, Shamima Akhter, Mushtaq Ahmad, Nasreena Akhter, Zainab Bi, Rahmatullah Khan, Aasiya Kouser, Arbaz Khan, Zarina Akhter, Mohammad Ahsan and Amanullah Khan were injured, they said.

All of them were taken to PHC Thanamandi from where all were shifted to GMC&AH Rajouri for advanced treatment, they further said. (GNS)

Dilapidated Shopian roads irk locals

Jammu & Kashmir

Jahangeer Ganaie

17/07/2021

By: Jahangeer Ganaie

Srinagar: Several vital roads in Shopian district are in dilapidated conditions as authorities have failed to repair them on time, locals alleged.

The locals said that several roads including Chitragam-Sugan road, Zainapora-Aglar road, Hajipora-Wasawhalan road and Babapora-Watchi road have been in a very bad shape for many years now.

The residents of Sugan, Dragad, Heffkhuri, Maldera, Chitragam and its adjacent areas said that Chitragam-Sugan road has not been macadmised from the last several years due to which locals- mainly patients and the aged people have to suffer a lot.

They added that the condition of the road is so bad that it is difficult to move by foot on this road.

Meanwhile, the locals from Aglar, Darbagh, Nikloora and its adjacent areas also said that Zainapora-Aglar road is in very bad condition and needs to be macadmised at an earliest.

Locals from Hajipora, Chotigam, Wasawhalan and its adjacent areas said that this vital road was macadamized around ten years before and since then no attention is being given towards the road.

The locals accused the government of neglecting the area for too long now and requested them to look into the matter.

Locals from Watchi, Safanagri and Babapora areas also alleged that authorities have failed to repair and macadamise the main road in the area despite macadamisation being sanctioned for the road even last year.

Commenting on the bad condition of the roads, Assistant Executive Engineer, Roads and Buildings Department-Sub Division Zainapora, Nisar Ahmad, said that all four roads are in a plan of repair this year.

“Some roads will be fully macadamized while patches of some roads where condition is bad will be macadamised this year,” he said.

He said that the macadamisation process is going on in the district and very soon all the roads will be macadamized. (KNO)

India-Pakistan T20 World Cup game rekindles rivalry in UAE

Sports

Indo Asian News Service

17/07/2021

New Delhi: India and Pakistan are set to play again in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), a region that has hosted eye-ball grabbing, crazily oscillating matches in the 1980s and 1990s. The two teams face off in the T20 World Cup in October-November after the International Cricket Council (ICC) put them in the same group on Friday.

Since year 2000, when India last played Pakistan in Sharjah, the two have faced off in the UAE only four times — twice in Abu Dhabi in 2006 and twice in Dubai in 2018 during the Asia Cup. They were all ODI matches with the 2018 games being part of Asia Cup, organised by Asian Cricket Council.

The World Cup will be the first time they will play T20 format against each other on the UAE soil though it is yet to be decided which of the three venues will host the match. It will also be the first T20 match between the two countries in five years, the previous one being during the 2016 World Cup in Kolkata.

While India hasn’t been keen to play there, the Covid-19 situation – or monsoon, as described by the Indian board – has forced the World Cup, hosted by India, to be shifted there.

Former cricketers, who have played in Sharjah, say that though the teams are not as evenly matched as they were, the match will still draw crowds.

“We played in the 1980s. At that time, both sides would get equal crowds. Emotions used to run very high. Winning was the only thing you could think of. Of course, only the players who were mentally strong could survive. It was the best platform for them [to perform and attain stardom]. Sharjah separated men from the boys,” said Dilip Vengsarkar who played several matches in Sharjah.

Those matches were organised by a private body, the Cricketers’ Benefit Fund Series (CBFS), which would name a few cricketers every season and present them with a benefit purse from the tournament’s earnings.

Though Vengsarkar thinks the audience will be big and interest high, he said the Indian team is much stronger. He, however, said that an India-Pakistan game is unpredictable as was proved by the ICC Champions Trophy final in 2017 in which unfancied Pakistan beat India.

“It will be similar [in terms of interest]. Indian team is much, much stronger. But the thing what you saw a couple of years back [in the Champions Trophy]… the build-up, hype and interest will be the same, more or less. Everybody likes to see this game,” Vengsarkar told IANS.

Former India left-arm spinner Maninder Singh, who too played in Sharjah in the 1980s and came up with stellar performances, said the interest would be there but perhaps not as much.

“I have my doubts [on whether it will match up to the hype of the 1980s]. There are not many heroes in Pakistan cricket. There will be interest, but I don’t think there will be as much. Now, the Indian side is stronger than Pakistan side,” Maninder, who received the CBFS benefit purse in 2000, told IANS.

“The traditional rivalry that two countries have, you will see. Back in the day, I think why it took off was due to the presence of so many Indians and Pakistanis. Living in the UAE, they weren’t getting much cricket. So this would create interest, especially because of traditional rivalry. That it was played regularly also helped.”

Over the years, since the BCCI has gotten richer and financially stronger and could pay big money to its players the cash-rich tournament organised in Sharjah by CBFS lost the attraction. The BCCI then stopped allowing its players from visiting the UAE.

Ex-India off-spinner Shivlal Yadav, who too like Vengsarkar and Maninder, was received a benefit purse, in 1998.

“The Sharjah cricket tournament was organised by Abdul Rahman Bukhatir [the brain behind CBFS]. ICC stopped that. He used to honour players and give players money. Now all those things are not required, so there is no point of private tournament being hosted or the BCCI sending team there,” Yadav told IANS.

But Yadav still felt that the match will attract eyeballs.

Pace bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar, currently in Sri Lanka for the white-ball series, told the media on Friday that he was looking forward to the big game.

“It is always exciting to play against Pakistan. It is always a pressure match. Of course, it will be a high-intensity match but to be honest we haven’t yet thought about it. Because we have got a lot of cricket left. We have matches in Sri Lanka. In England, there are Test matches, then IPL… But of course, when we get over the IPL, we will start thinking about it,” he said.

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