LG Sinha releases pictorial e-compendium at Raj Bhawan

Jammu: Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha Tuesday released a pictorial e-Compendium of 1676 projects completed during 2020-21 under the District Capex, here at Raj Bhavan.

The publication of the compendium is part of transparency framework to inform stakeholders of developmental works and enable them to participate in the process of identification and execution of works, which has assumed even greater significance in view of grass-root level planning process being promoted in the UT after the landmark implementation of 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendment Act, observed the Lt Governor.

The Lt Governor noted that the number of projects completed during 2020-21 at 1676 is higher than 1165 projects completed during 2019-20, despite the Covid 19 pandemic, which is result of a host of reforms institutionalized in project execution, such as mandatory Administrative Approval, e-tendering, physical verification, due budgetary provision, submission of geo-tagged photographs and online payment through JK PaySys.

It is an attempt to bring about greater accountability, the characteristic of emerging work culture in the UT, the Lt Governor said.

The District Capex is an extremely important component in the overall developmental framework of the Districts of J&K. The government has put all the 1676 infrastructure projects completed during 2020-21 into public domain with geo-tagged photographs.

Initiated last year, this practice involves putting every government work into public domain so that people participate in monitoring of expenditure being incurred under various schemes. The objective behind this is to ensure that money is spent as per the needs and aspirations of general public to address the gap between what is projected and what is actually achieved on ground, he added.

Urging people to actively participate in the developmental process so that projects implemented are in line with their needs, the Lt Governor said that the novel initiative is aimed at making the administration more responsive, besides inculcating a kind of responsibility among all the stakeholders from top to grassroots level.

“It will sensitise actual beneficiaries to be watchful and take due interest in making every penny spent from government coffers attain what it is envisioned to achieve originally while envisaging such developmental activities. This document is a visual glimpse of what we have achieved, and what needs to be done going forward”, the Lt Governor added.

The Lt Governor instructed all the Deputy Commissioners to host the relevant portions of this compendium on their district websites so that maximum number of people gets access to the same. He also asked them to encourage people to come forward with their feedback so that necessary action is initiated as per their suggestions.

Arun Kumar Mehta, Financial Commissioner, Finance Department, while speaking on the occasion, said that several procedures have been streamlined in the UT of J&K under the guidance of the Lt Governor, with the objective of improving public service delivery.

This e-Compendium provides information which can be easily accessed and understood, besides serving as a useful reference for all stakeholders, he added.

Nitishwar Kumar, Principal Secretary to the Lt Governor was also present on the occasion.

Urge Govt to waive off interest on loans for next 5-years’

Srinagar:  Tour operators on Tuesday demanded a comprehensive bailout package.

In a statement they said, “Be it leisure, adventure or pilgrimage operators the government should give interest waiver for various loans raised by tour operators in different segments like purchase of tourist taxis, adventure tourism equipments, trekking and camping equipment, office automation, technology tools, power back-ups, staff trainings, term loans and soft loans.”

The statement said, “ The interest should be waived off for next 5 years. We also demand a GST waiver for all tourism products for the next two years. The major annual expenses of not less than seven to eight lakhs are spent annually by a tour operator on six months advance promotional activity such as participation in trade fairs, printing of publicity material, pen drives & on vendor management through Google etc., besides expenses on travelling and boarding.”

It said, “Kashmir tourism industry has been in doldrums since 2019. It needs a respite and the government should come forward to help us. There was some improvement in tourism activity from December 2020 till March 2021 but unfortunately the 2nd COVID-19 Wave has again disrupted the tourism activity. We have suffered projected losses around Rs 1350 crore till November 2020.”

It said, “The tourism incentive scheme should be extended for the next 15 years. Travel agents and tour operators should be included in the scheme and all pending cases should be released at the earliest.”

The statement said, “Recently the government had announced a relief of around Rs 3 Cr to the weaker section of the society such as Shikara Wallas, Pony Wallas etc, indeed it was a welcome step, but the amount is too meager for them to survive till the next tourism season starts, which is not likely to commence before 2022.  However, the legitimate tour operators, numbering around 700 – 800 who are the front runners in promoting destinations have been ignored and left to fend on their own. It is paramount to give brief about the tour operators and their financial implications.”

The statement said, “The tourism incentive scheme should be extended for the next 15 years. Travel agents and tour operators should be included in the scheme and all pending cases should be released at the earliest.”

Srinagar: The government forces on Tuesday launched a search operation in the hills of high-profile Gupkar areas in the summer capital, Srinagar, after suspicious movement was observed, official sources said.

They said that suspicious movement was observed in the wee hours on Tuesday in the hills near Gupkar area, where the houses of former chief ministers, politicians and officers of security agencies are located.

“A search operation was immediately launched by security forces in the hills while security has been beefed up on Gupkar road,” they said.

However, they said so far nothing suspicious has been found during the operation. This is for the first time since the eruption of militancy that searches were conducted in the hills. (UNI)

Srinagar: Suspected militants lobbed a grenade at a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) party in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama district on Tuesday, officials said.

CRPF officials said militants lobbed a grenade at a ‘naka’ party outside a CRPF camp in Tral area, but it missed the target and exploded on the road, causing no injuries or loss.

Additional police parties have reached the spot. The area has been cordoned off and a search operation has been started to nab the attackers. (IANS)

Jammu: The Government of India has sanctioned establishment of three Common Incubation Facility Centres worth Rs. 7.81 crore at Anantnag, Baramulla and Jammu.

Principal Secretary, Agriculture Production & Farmers Welfare Department, Navin Kumar Choudhary, while explaining about details of this approval, informed that the first Incubation Facility Centre will be established at Anantnag with an estimated cost of Rs. 2.70 crore which will have focus on processing fish and fishery based products. The Centre will aim for a manifold increase in production of fish, processing, packaging and export to different parts of the country as well as abroad, he added.

He said that the second Centre will be established at Narwal, Jammu, with an estimated cost of Rs. 2.68 crore for processing of dairy products. The Government is according focused consideration on increasing milk production and Jammu and Kashmir is likely to be transformed into milk surplus territory, he added. He said that focus of this facility will be to promote value addition by way of producing milk based products like butter, cheese, ghee, chocolate and packaging and marketing of the products on scientific lines. He added that J&K will soon turn into one of the important destinations of milk based products.

Choudhary further informed that the third Incubation Facility Centre will be established at Baramulla for processing of apple and other fruits and vegetables. This will give a new dimension to processing, packaging of fruits and vegetables of international standard and consequently better marketing and income to the growers. Horticulture Department is already implementing an ambitious scheme of High Density Plantation and establishment of large scale CA stores, he added.

Choudhary further informed that one more proposal of establishment of Incubation Centre at Ramban is likely to be considered by the Center government shortly. This proposed Centre will focus on olive, lavender and other important products like Rajmash of erstwhile Doda region.

He further informed that three sanctioned Incubation Facility Centres at Anantnag, Baramulla and Jammu will be completed in one year’s time. He hoped that these Centres will prove to be a milestone in the history of processing and marketing of Agricultural, Horticulture, Dairy and Fish products in J&K. It will certainly help in achieving the goal of doubling the income of farmers.

Jammu and Kashmir Horticultural Produce Marketing and Processing Corporation (J&K HPMC) Limited has been designated as the Nodal Agency for execution of all these three sanctioned projects.

MD, JK HPMC, Shafaat Sultan, expressed confidence over setting up of these Centres within the given time lines.

By: Naveed Ul Haq

Budgam: At least two minor girls and a boy died on Tuesday evening after they fell into a pit in Narwara Beerwah area of Central Kashmir’s Budgam district.

Official sources said that the trio fell into a pit while playing in Beerwah area, saying that they were immediately rushed to a nearby hospital where doctors declared them dead on arrival.

They identified the trio as four-year-old boy Sabzar Ahmad, three-year-old Dua Jan and two-year-old Arsheman Bashir—all the residents of Narwara Beerwah.

Meanwhile, a police officer said that an investigation into the matter has been initiated. (KNO)

Srinagar: Government of Jammu and Kashmir has Tuesday ordered transfers and postings in administration, appointing Surinderjit Singh as Private Secretary (HoD Rank) in State Election Commission.

The Government Order No. 464-JK (GAD) of 2021 Dated: 25-05-2021 to this effect, states that Javaid Ahmad Mir, Private Secretary in the State Election Commission, J&K, is transferred and shall await further orders of adjustment in the General Administration Department.

Ghulam Mohammad Wagay, Private Secretary in the Tribal Affairs Department has been transferred and shall await further orders of adjustment in the General Administration Department, it states.

“Surinderjit Singh, Private Secretary (HoD Cadre) presently awaiting orders of adjustment in the Directorate of Animal Husbandry, Jammu is transferred and posted in the State Election Commission, J&K on ex-cadre basis”, it concludes.