Srinagar: The leaders of Peoples Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) on Sunday met in the summer capital, Srinagar, ahead of the four-day visit of Delimitation Commission to J&K from July 6.

Sources said that a meeting of the PAGD leaders was held here in the residence of its chairman and National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah on Gupkar road. “The meeting was attended by Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti and CPI(M) senior leader Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami,” they said.

They said discussion was held about the four-day visit of the Delimitation Commission to J&K. “A detailed discussion was also held to get the views of the leaders about whether to participate in the delimitation process or not,” they added.

However, after the meeting was concluded, the leaders didn’t speak to the media and left for their respective residences on Gupkar road.

The Delimitation Commission would interact with District Election Officers (DEOs) of all 20 districts of the Union territory and leaders of political parties.

Sources said J&K’s Chief Electoral Officer has invited political parties, including NC, PDP, Apni Party, Peoples Conference, Congress, Awami National Conference (ANC), CPI(M), BJP and National Panthers Party (NPP) to interact with the Commission.

The PAGD earlier this week cancelled its meeting at the residence of Dr Abdullah on Monday, stating that Ms Mehbooba, who is the Vice chairperson of PAGD, had some for personal engagement.

It would be the Commission’s first visit to J&K after it was formed in March last year to carve out more Assembly and Parliamentary constituencies in the Union Territory after the scrapping of Article 370 and Article 35A, besides bifurcation of the erstwhile state into two UTs. The visit of the commission to J&K holds significance as it comes about two weeks after 14 political leaders from J&K participated in an All Party Meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narandra Modi last month in New Delhi.

Lt Governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday said that the Assembly elections will be held soon after the Delimitation process is completed in J&K. However, the PAGD leaders are demanding that the delimitation process should be followed by restoration of statehood and then only Assembly election should be held.

Currently, J&K has 83 Assembly seats – 47 in Kashmir and 36 in Jammu. Once the delimitation process is completed, the Assembly seals will increase to 90. (UNI)

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir administration on Sunday lifted weekend curfew and reopened paid public parks in 13 districts – including seven from Kashmir division and six Jammu division– following significant decline in the number of fresh COVID-19 cases and deaths.

However, the daily night curfew between 2000 hrs and 0700 hrs will continue across the Union Territory.

As many as 338 people – including 238 from Kashmir and 100 from Jammu – tested positive for COVID-19 on Saturday in the Union Territory, where two persons lost their lives due to the infection.

“There will be no weekend lockdown in 13 districts – Jammu, Kathua, Samba, Poonch, Rajouri, Udhampur in Jammu region and Anantnag, Bandipora, Baramulla, Budgam, Ganderbal, Pulwama and Shopian in Kashmir valley,” an order issued on Sunday by the State Executive Committee read.

The order said that the concerned District Magistrates shall issue orders under CrPC to this effect. “All out door shops are permitted to open on all days between 0700 hrs till 1900 hrs. The market associations will have to fully cooperate with the local administration in ensuring strict compliance to the COVID appropriate behaviours,” it said.

It said that all shops in indoor shopping complexes and malls can open only for the consumers who are vaccinated of for customers with negative RT-PCR or RAT reports of 48 hours. “The shop owners and managers will have to ensure compliance to it. The District Magistrate shall strictly enforce this measure,” the order said.

The order said that restaurants and bars can open for in-dining at 50 per cent of its total capacity only for customers who are vaccinated or have negative COVID test result of 48 hours. “Indoor sports complex are also permitted to open with 50 per cent of its total capacity for vaccinated people or with negative COVID test report,” it added.

It further said that all paid public parks are also permitted to open only for vaccinated people.

The order said that for the remaining seven districts – including Srinagar – weekend curfew between 2000 hrs on Friday and 0700 hrs on Monday would continue to remain in force. “All outdoor shops are allowed to open for five days in a week, expect Saturdays and Sundays. Only 25 per cent shops in shopping complexes and malls can open subject to roster issued by the concerned Deputy Commissioners,” it said.

It said that there will be no restriction on entry of passengers and travelers from coming to J&K by all means of transportation. But, they will have to under COVID-19 test. (UNI)

By: Nadeem Nadu

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir reported 347 fresh covid-19 cases while two more people succumbed to the virus in the last 24 hours, officials said on Sunday.

They said 144 of the fresh cases were reported from Jammu Division and 203 from Kashmir Valley, taking the total count to 316976.

Regarding the fatalities, they said, both were reported from Jammu division and none from the Kashmir Valley, taking the toll to 4337.

Providing the district-wide details, the officials said that Srinagar reported 75 cases, Baramulla 10, Budgam 31, Pulwama 13, Kupwara 14, Anantnag 18, Bandipora 16, Ganderbal 19, Kulgam 6, Shopian 1, Jammu 13, Udhampur 6, Rajouri 10, Doda 13, Kathua 2, Samba 2, Kishtwar 4, Poonch 11, Ramban 8 and Reasi 75, all travelers.

Moreover, they said, 426 more COVID-19 patients have recovered in the last 24 hours—163 from Jammu Division and 263 from Kashmir.  So far 308672 patients have recovered, leaving active cases at 3967—1733 in Jammu and 2334 in Kashmir.

There was no new confirmed case of mucormycosis (black fungus) reported today and thus the cumulative number of confirmed cases remained at 30 in J&K.

A number of these cases were confirmed at diagnostic labouratories of CD hospital and GMC Anantnag.

The CD cases include female (40) from Qamarwari, male (29) from Hawal, male (65) and female (52) from Fruit Mandi, male (40) from Lal Bazar, female (26) from Azad Basti Srg, male (42) from Wahipora Pul, male (24) from Grawgund Pul, male (35) from Chatapora Pul, male (70) from Below Pul, male (45) from Tral Pul, male (14) from Kamgan Pul, female (18) from Abhama Pul, female (25) from Arihal Pul, male (24) from Warhol Shopian, female (30) from Zewan, female (25) from Awantipora, three males (12, 8, 8) from Lurgam, male (30) from Buchoo, female (38) from Noorpora, male (70) from Anantnag, female (35) from Hajan Bandipora, female (85) from Noorbagh Srg, male (38) from Ganderbal, female (40) from Aalikadal, female (32) from Kawdara, two males (65, 46) and four females (40, 50, 70, 54) from NA, female (NA) from Sopore, male (38) from Soura, female (50) from Alochibagh, female (35) from Pul, male (4) from Batamaloo, two females (36, 45) from Chanapora, female (31) from Batmaloo, three females (70, 38, 12) from Qamarwari, female (55) from Bemina, two males (50, 28) from Chattabal, male (65) and female (71) from Batmaloo, male (46) from Fatehkadal, male (69) from Rainawari, female (16) from Shanpora, female (44) from Shalimar, male (34) from Malla Bagh, female (15) from Shanpora Habak, male (17) from Brein, female (40) from Khanyar, male (28) from Aalikadal, male (61) from Bemina, male (29) from Lal Chowk, female (20) from Barbarshah, male (40) from Soura, male (46) from Hawal, female (56) from Amda Kadal, male (19) from Lal Bazar, female (25) from Qamarwari, female (40) from Srg, female (60) from Shahgund Bandipora, female (40) from Sanat Nagar and male (40) from Dalgate Srg.

The GMC Anantnag cases include female (38) from Cherpora Shangus, female (25) from Brariangan Shangus, male (26) from Shergund Shangus, male (30) and female (35) from Max Magulgund, male (30) from Max Brick Kiln, male (22) and female (8) from B K 151 Magulgund, male (45) from Waltengoo, male (40) from Khudwani, male (55) from Chittergull Ang, female (40) from Sadoora, female (21) from Cheeni Chowk, male (47) from Chittergull Hardpora, male (45) from Ahoo Paisan, male (18) from Sheikhpora Shg, female (48) from Satoora Bij, female (75) from Khiram Durpora, male (24) from Bijbehara, male (23) from Mahind Bij, male (40) from Sopore, male (19) from Pulwama, male (37) from Watnard, female (18) from Hardpora, male (23) from Brienty and female (31) from Tahjiwara. (GNS)

New Delhi: India recorded 43,071 new coronavirus cases and 955 deaths in the last 24 hours, taking the total tally to 3,05,45,433 and death toll to 4,02,005, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) data on Sunday updated.

India’s active cases also dropped further by 10,183 and it now stands at 485,350. While, 52,299 people recovered, pushing the total number of recoveries to 29,658,078. Active cases constitute 1.59 per cent of total infections and the recovery rate has now increased to 97.09 per cent.

According to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), 41,82,54,953 samples were tested for coronavirus up to July 3, 2021. Of these, 18,38,490 samples were tested yesterday.

On the vaccination front, the cumulative number has surpassed the 35 crore mark with 63,87,849 people being administered vaccine in the past 24 hrs.

Over eight lakh vaccine doses were administered on Saturday in worst-affected Maharashtra till 2100 hrs, the highest in a single day so far in the state, Shiv Sena leader Aaditya Thackeray tweeted. Maharashtra is the first state in the country to cross the three crore mark in vaccinating people.

India’s indigenous vaccine Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin vaccine was found to be 77.8 per cent effective against symptomatic Covid-19, the company announced as it concluded phase 3 clinical trials of the jab. The vaccine is also 65.2 per cent effective against the Delta variant and 93.4 per cent effective against severe symptomatic Covid-19, it claimed. (UNI)

Srinagar: Authorities on Sunday banned the use, possession, sale, storage and transportation of drones in the summer capital, Srinagar.

The decision by the district administration to ban drones in Srinagar comes against the backdrop of suspected drone attack on Jammu airbase and sighting of drones near various vital installations last week in J&K.

“To secure aerial space near vital installations and highly populated areas, it is imperative to discontinue the use of drones in all social and cultural gatherings to eliminate any risk of injury to life and damage to property,” read an order issued by Deputy Commissioner (DC), Srinagar, Mohammad Aijaz Asad.

The order said that decentralised air space access has to be regulated in view of the recent incidents of misuse of drones posing threat to security infrastructure as reported by the media and other reliable sources.

“Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has provided draft guidelines/standard operating protocol to regulate the use of drones in terms of weight classification, generation of unique identification number, height/altitude restrictions, speed restrictions, enforcement/panel action, etc,” it said.

The order said that keeping in view the security situation apart from concerns if breach of privacy, trespass, it is extremely dangerous to let unmanned aerial vehicles to wander around in skies within the jurisdiction of Srinagar district.

It said that the people, who already have drone cameras/ similar kind of unmanned aerial vehicle in their possession, should deposit the same at the local police station under proper receipt.

The order further said that government departments using drones for mapping, surveys and surveillance in agricultural, environmental conservation and disaster mitigation sector shall inform the local police station before undertaking any such activity in public interest. “Any violation of this order shall attract punitive action as warranted under relevant laws,” they added.

Meanwhile, Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria on Saturday said that the suspected drone strikes in Jammu airbase were an act of terror that was aimed at targeting key military assets. “Indian Air Force is in the process of bolstering its capabilities to deal with such security challenges,” he said. (UNI)

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the CoWIN Global Conclave on Monday, it was announced on Sunday.

“Shri @narendramodi will address the #CoWINGlobalConclave tomorrow, 5th July at 3 PM,” the PMO said in a tweet.

The National Health Authority tweeted: “We are elated to announce that Hon’ble PM @narendramodi would be sharing his thoughts on #CoWINGlobalConclave as India offers #CoWIN as a digital public good to the world to combat #COVID19. Join #CoWINGlobalConclave on July 5.”

Earlier on Sunday, the Union Health Ministry said that India’s vaccination coverage crossed the 35 crore mark on Saturday, with 35,12,21,306 vaccine doses administered through 46,04,925 sessions.

Baramulla: Union Additional Secretary, Department of Drinking Water and Rural Sanitation, Arun Baroka Sunday emphasised to work towards achieving the goal of plastic free rural India and solid and liquid waste management.

Arun Baroka accompanied by various concerned functionaries paid visit to Baramulla district where he took review of the Implementation of Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) Phase-2 besides taking a brief appraisal of other sponsored schemes and programmes.

The meeting was attended by Director Rural sanitation Tariq Ahmad Ganie, ADDC Baramulla, Aijaz Abdullah Saraaf, ACD Gulzar Ahmad Khan, BDOs among other concerned Officers.

On the occasion, the Additional Secretary took stock of various related aspects associated with SBM and its allied components wherein he was briefed about its current status and position by the ACD.

After taking a holistic review, Arun Baroka emphasized mobilising all the available resources effectively and productively so that desired results are achieved. He directed work in Coordination and cohesion besides stressed to sort out all the impediments, if any, in a stipulated time frame.

Moreover, he emphasised to work towards achieving the goal of plastic free rural India and solid and liquid waste management.