BY: Jaison Wilson

New Delhi: India is seeing a deluge of China-made drones, many of them are said to be sighted near the country’s military installations and highly protected areas.

There are nearly five lakhs mostly illegal Chinese-made drones in different sizes and weights, experts say, that pose serious security threats to the country.

The drone market in India is inundated with Chinese-made Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and they are not regularised as per the standards, Sai Pattabiram CEO & founder of Chennai-based Sree Sai Aerotech Innovations Pvt. Ltd. (SSAI) said while talking to UNI.

“To counter these illegal drones, we have to create an indigenous drone ecosystem with proper measures in the country,” Pattabiram says.

The UAVs that can be manoeuvred remotely by a pilot are becoming the signature weapon of terrorists across the globe. The country saw this in the June 27 twin drone attack at the Air Force Station in Jammu.

Among those drones that are used by the military, Iran, Turkey, and China have serious arsenals, there are emerging drone alliances around the world.

Reports say that an improvised low-cost rotary-wing drone was used to drop explosives at the IAF Jammu.

According to the Central agencies, over 300 drones and unidentified flying objects have been sighted along the sensitive border with Pakistan after the 2019 abrogation of Article 370.

Drones have very little infra-red or radar signature to be picked up by the traditional air defence systems and it’s hard to track them at night or in foggy weather because of their small size and low engine noise.

The present technology is not fully equipped to neutralise UAVs.

Their Radio Frequency (RF) is similar to our wifi routers. Even if we use RF jamming to inactive drones, it can affect the Internet as well, Pattabiram says.

Apart from the aggressive tracking, he also suggests monitoring within the country.

According to a study by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the drone market is estimated to touch 886 million dollars by 2021 in India.

Based on their weight, UAVs can be classified into five categories–nano (weighing up to 250 g), Micro air vehicles (MAV) (250g – 2kg), Miniature UAV or small (SUAV) (2-25 kg), medium (25-150 kg), and large (over 150 kg).

They need to require a licensed pilot and permit from the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). However, nano drones need not require a permit.

As per the Unmanned Aircraft System Rules, 2021, issued by the Ministry of Civil Aviation, the ability to fly a drone in the country is subject to the type of drone and the corresponding permit and license needed for it.

These rules have several restrictions on drone use apart from licences and permits to use drones.

The Ministry is reported to be in the process of preparing new rules to regulate drone use in India.

Pulwama: Union Secretary, Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, Dr. Shekhar C Mande, Sunday visited Lavender farm Bonura, Pulwama. He was accompanied by Director CSIR-IIIM, Jammu, Dr. Srinivasa Reddy.

During the visit, the Union Secretary interacted with the Self Help Group members of Pulwama and Tral blocks who apprised him of various issues pertaining to cultivation and marketing of their crops. He assured them that a MoU will be signed with Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) which will provide marketing support to SHG members in terms of well groomed purchasing potential players for extracted medicinal oil.

Union Secretary impressed upon the officers for promotion and development of different types of floral species, herbs and shrubs for their multiplication on commercial lines to generate employment of unemployed youth of the valley. He said that IIIM Bonura is going to provide orientation cum training and field visiting opportunities to identified SHG members who can start their own aroma enterprises.

During an interaction with Farm In charge IIIM Bonura, Dr Sahid, assurance was given regarding distribution of Lavender and RoseMary saplings among newly identified SHG members of Pulwama, Tral and Pampore in coming months.

Srinagar: In order to ensure smooth vehicular movement  and passage of pedestrians, a road length of 213 kms has been black topped/macadamized during the last 40 days by the R&B department in Srinagar district.

In this regard, the Deputy Commissioner Srinagar  Mohammad Aijaz Asad said that Lieutenant Governor Administration has given focused attention towards extensive road connectivity, besides their upgradation, maintenance and repairs .

The DC said a better road network is pivotal for overall development and all possible measures are being taken in this regard.

Giving details, the Superintendent Engineer R&B Circle  Srinagar/Budgam said that against the set target of macadamizing road length of 171 kilometers under 61 works about 142 km road length has been macadamized so far  and remaining work will be completed within next one month.

Similarly, the Superintendent Engineer(R&B) Circular Road Project informed that a road length of 71 kms have been black topped during the same period against the target of 85 kms. He said work is going at full pace and the remaining 14 km of road will be macadamized over the next couple of days. This excludes the Road network to be maintained by SMC.

Pertinently, except main arterial roads all other roads in lanes/sub lanes were transferred to Srinagar Municipal Corporation a few months ago.

Indore, MP: A 2012-batch Indian Administrative Service officer posted as Additional Commissioner (Urban Administration and Development) has been placed under arrest for fraud, forgery and criminal conspiracy.

“A first information report was registered on June 27 against bureaucrat Santosh Kumar Verma on the basis of a complaint by the District Court’s Judicial Magistrate Vijendra Singh Rawat. On October 6, 2020; the accused – with an eye on promotion – forged an order, in the judge’s name, stating that he (Verma) was absolved of assaulting a lady and other charges levelled in 2016,” City Superintendent of Police Harish Motwani said. (UNI)

By: Nadeem Nadu

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir reported 224 new covid-19 cases even as one person succumbed to the virus in the last 24 hours, officials said on Sunday.

They said 74 of the fresh infections were reported from Jammu Division and 150 from Kashmir Valley, taking the overall case tally to 318693.

Regarding the fatality, they said, it was reported from Kashmir Valley, taking the death toll to 4357.

Providing the district-wide details, the officials said that Srinagar reported 53 cases, Baramulla 14, Budgam 10, Pulwama 23, Kupwara 8, Anantnag 12, Bandipora 13, Ganderbal 12, Kulgam 3, Shopian 2, Jammu 7, Udhampur 5, Rajouri 2, Doda 23, Kathua 12, Samba 0, Kishtwar 6, Poonch 12, Ramban 2 and Reasi 5.

Moreover, they said, 349 more COVID-19 patients have recovered, 104 122 Jammu Division and 227 from Kashmir. So far 311334 patients have recovered, leaving active cases at 3002—1412 in Jammu and 1590 in Kashmir, they said.

There was no new confirmed case of mucormycosis (black fungus) reported today and thus the cumulative number of confirmed cases remained 31 in J&K.

A number of new covid-19 cases were confirmed at diagnostic labouratory of GMC Anantnag and include female (30) from Kapran Verinag, female (30) from Mailhora Sangam, three males (35, 25, 12) from D B Z Badragund, female (40) from Waltengoo, male (30) from Verinag, male (23) from Bhan, female (50) from Khrewan, female (40) from Gassipora Wanpoh, male (25) from Gundipora, male (60) from Shergund Ang, male (75) from Banihal, two males (33, 62) from Danter Ang, male (44) from Mumbaim PA Charai Telwani, male (23) from Assam PA Tailwani Charai, male (36) from Uranhall Bij, male (30) from Waghama Bij, female (26) from Arwani Bij, female (25) from Mehand Bij, female (26) and male (30) from Khiram Khudpora. (GNS)