Precious Kashmir

Decisions related to asset monetisation, privatisation will help in empowering citizens: PM Modi

National

25/02/2021

New Delhi: Noting that the government focus should on people’s welfare and development schemes and it has “no business to be in business”, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said the government is going ahead with the mantra of “monetise and modernise” and decisions related to asset monetisation and privatisation will help in empowering citizens.

Addressing a webinar on the implementation of budget announcements related to privatisation, he said work is going on in full swing on modern infrastructure and multi-modal connectivity for Aatmnirbhar Bharat.

He said the government is working on Rs 111 trillion National Infrastructure Pipeline and there is a scope for the private sector to invest around Rs 25 trillion in this project.

He said there should be transparency in ‘monetise and modernise’ process and it should follow rules.

“The government is going ahead with the mantra of ‘monetise and modernise’. When government monetises, that space is filled by the private sector of the country. The private sector brings investment and best global practices with them. This modernises other things and brings modernisation to the entire sector, the rapid expansion of the sector and the creation of new employment opportunities. It is important to monitor this to ensure that there is transparency in this process and rules are followed,” he said.

Noting that the government has many underutilised or unutilised assets, PM Modi said that this is the reason why the Centre announced the National Asset Monetisation Pipeline.

“The government has many underutilised or unutilised assets. This is the reason why the Centre announced the National Asset Monetisation Pipeline. We have set a target to monetise around 100 assets including oil, gas, ports, airports and power. It is estimated to get a Rs 2.5 trillion investment. This process will continue,” he said.

“The money comes from assets monetisation and privatisation is being used to build houses for the poor, making roads in villages, opening new schools, providing clean water etc. Every decision related to asset monetisation and privatisation will help in empowering citizens whether they belong to the middle class or poor or farmer or labourers,” he added.

Gulmarg Construction Ban

Edit

Precious Kashmir

24/02/2021

Jammu and Kashmir High Court last week directed the government not to allow any constructions in Gulmarg. It also expressly directed Chief Conservator of Forests to ensure that no tree is cut down in ecological fragile area.

The Chairman, Pollution Control Board has been directed to ensure that all the hotels in Gulmarg have proper sewerage and drainage facilities

Also valuable land in the Valley continues to be under illegal occupation of people, most of whom purportedly wield a good influence within government circles. The officials have even admitted before the top court, common to J&K and Ladakh, that large chunks of land, especially at Gulmarg and Pahalgam, continue to be under than unauthorized occupation of the people.

In other words, precious public property continues to be exploited for commercial purposes by people without payment of a single penny towards use and occupation charges or damage.

Jurisprudence is vastly available on the subject in the context of leases, expired leases, rights if at all of lessees and manner of disposal and grant of rights to private persons in public properties at prime locations.

As has been pointed out and rightly so, the public exchequer is being exposed to tremendous loss and damage by the government by their dilatory tactics and their failure to take action with regard to public property.

The courts including the Supreme Court of India have repeatedly enjoined upon the State machinery to protect the land from encroachers and illegal occupants. The disposal of the State Land can only be by a fair, transparent, and open process.

It is important to note that public interest is the paramount consideration and one of the methods of securing it, when considered necessary to dispose of a property, is to sell the property by public auction or by inviting tenders. There may be situations where there are compelling reasons necessitating departure from the rule but then the reasons for it also must be rational and should not be discriminatory.

The top court has also underlined that the State is the trustee of all natural resources which are by nature meant for public use and enjoyment. The public at large is the beneficiary of these resources including forests and ecologically fragile lands.

The court’s directions are binding on the government. Also important is the purport of the recent directions by the J&K high court. The need is for the safeguarding the fragile environment of the area and all needed to done in this endeavour.

Delimitation Exercise: NC can’t have the cake and eat it too

Anchor stories

Precious Kashmir

24/02/2021

Delimitation Exercise: NC can’t have the cake and eat it too

By: PK Correspondent
Srinagar: National Conference leaders staying away from Delimitation Commission has raised many questions.
According to the observers if the NC believes that J&K’s reorganization was a “wrong step” then why did it participate in the recently held District Development Council (DDC) elections?
“The National Conference needs to clear the air. It cannot have the cake and eat it too. Either it has to accept the changes that have been made vis-à-vis Jammu and Kashmir or it has to stay away from the entire process. It can’t be choosy. The party has stayed away from delimitation exercise but will participate in assembly elections, whenever these are held. Isn’t this strange,” said an observer.
Former J&K chief minister and senior Congress leader, Ghulam Nabi Azad also expressed dismay over the NC staying away from the exercise. “NC leaders should have participated in the delimitation meeting. However, they chose to boycott it and it is not a good thing. The National Conference has a majority as they have three MPs and all of them were appointed as the members of the commission, which would have made our case strong.”
It’s in place to mention here that senior National Conference leader and MP Justice Hasnain Masoodi had said, “The whole exercise (delimitation) is illegal for us. We cannot make our suggestions there. This exercise is against the constitutional provisions of democracy. Our participation would have amounted to accepting the whole illegal exercise. We have a clear stand that the whole thing is illegal.”
The Congress Party that has not been invited to be a part of the delimitation exercise while reacting to NC staying away from the process said, “NC is entitled to decide what it wants to do, but the questions will rise if NC participates in assembly elections after delimitation without it actually having been upgraded back to state.”
“See this is their own (NC’s) decision. Only they are entitled to respond to it. But questions could be raised if the assembly elections are held after Delimitation under the same format, that is with 90 member assembly under UT.” JK Congress Chief Ghulam Ahmad Mir told a local news agency.
An analyst said, “National Conference has to decide whether it wants Article 370 back or the statehood. It cannot sail in two boats. The party’s ambiguous stand is creating confusion among the people. It needs to clear many things before it becomes too late.”
It may be recalled that the Centre had constituted the Delimitation Commission for Jammu and Kashmir on March 6 last year to redraw Lok Sabha and assembly constituencies in the Union Territory under the provisions of the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019.

Be goodwill ambassadors of JK: Lt Governor to tourists

Front

Precious Kashmir

24/02/2021

Be goodwill ambassadors of JK: Lt Governor to tourists

Interacts with tourists at Dal Lake, asks them to carry message that JK is ideal, safe tourist destination

Srinagar: Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha on Tuesday evening paid a visit to Dal Lake, where he met several tourists who came from different parts of the country.

During his interaction with the tourists, the Lieutenant Governor enquired about the experiences of their visit to Jammu and Kashmir.

“Be the goodwill ambassadors of Jammu & Kashmir and carry the message to your respective areas that J&K is an ideal and safe tourist destination”, the Lt Governor asked the Tourists.

While assuring the tourists a safe and pleasant visit to J&K, the Lt Governor observed that the Tourism department, local community, and other stakeholders are collectively providing a tourist friendly environment to facilitate the visit of the tourists coming to J&K.

From eco-tourism to winter sports, from pilgrimage to adventure tourism, J&K offers a host of attractions to tourists to experience the scenic beauty, warm hospitality, rich culture and heritage of J&K and make their visit to the UT a memorable one, added the Lt Governor.

He advised the tourists to also explore the unexplored beautiful tourist places of J&K.

The tourists, while sharing their experiences, said that they feel very much delighted to visit Kashmir.

They also said Jammu and Kashmir is a safe place for all kinds of tourism activities and is really a paradise on earth.

Sonamarg set to be thrown open for tourists on Feb 25

Front

Precious Kashmir

24/02/2021

By: Raja Syed Rather

Ganderbal, Feb 23: Jammu and Kashmir government has decided to throw open picturesque Sonamarg tourist resort February 25 in a bid to promote tourism.

This year, the tourist destination will be open for tourists and locals earlier than previous years.

Deputy Commissioner Ganderbal Shafqat Iqbal said all the basic facilities have been restored which include water and electric supply in Sonmarg area.

“The tourist destination will be thrown open on February 25 this year,” he said adding “the administration is organizing a winter festival in collaborations with Tourism department to promote tourism and attract more tourists to visit the destination on the first day of opening.”

He said that all arrangements in this regard have been made and tourists can enjoy different colorful programs on the occasion. “People will made aware about different schemes of the government so that they can avail the benefit,” he said.

The DC Ganderbal requested people to be part of the event in large numbers and help the administration to promote Sonamarg as the best tourist destination in Kashmir—(KNO)

Transporters defer strike

Front

Precious Kashmir

24/02/2021

Jammu: Jammu and Kashmir transporters Tuesday deferred the strike after a crucial meeting with the officials from &K administration.

Transporters had called for an indefinite strike in J&K from February 24 against the imposition of tax and had demanded increase in fares.

“We were all set to hold a pan J&K protest by stopping all major and minor passenger vehicles,” Vijay Kumar, leader of Transporters said.

He said the meeting was convened by government between transporters and transport commissioner and with other officials of concerned department.

Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner Srinagar Shahid Iqbal Choudhary assured the transporters that the government is for earliest and a viable resolution of their genuine demands and urged them to call of their strike.

Speaking in a special meeting he convened with them the DC assured the heads of different associations associated the transport sector that their genuine demands would be taken up with higher authorities and a viable resolution be found within a stipulated time period.

The assurance followed an extensive discussions on issues the transporters said face them and their set of demands.

No license required to operate stone crushers, hot, wet mixing plants in JK: Govt

Front

Precious Kashmir

24/02/2021

Notifies new rules, removes burden of dual registrations

Jammu: In order to promote ‘Ease of Doing Business’ by creating a business-friendly environment, the Government of Jammu and Kashmir Tuesday notified the J&K Stone Crushers/ Hot and Wet Mixing Plants Regulation Rules, 2021 which have dispensed away the requirement of a license to start operation of stone crushers/ hot and wet mixing plants in Jammu and Kashmir. The decision will facilitate establishment and functioning of stone crushers, hot & wet mixing plants and boost the supply of raw material required in the construction sector. This will also expedite completion of various mega-projects in Jammu & Kashmir.

The new rules recognize a stone crusher/hot and wet mixing plant as a mineral-based (raw material) processing unit different from those indulged in mineral mining activity. As such, the applicability of provisions regulating the working of industrial units has been extended to cover these units, thus, doing away with the need of obtaining respective licenses from the Mining Department. However, if a stone crusher/hot and wet mixing plant undertakes mining of mineral as an additional line of activity, it shall then be additionally governed by the rules applicable to mining industrial units.

The rules make it obligatory on the mineral processing units to procure minor minerals from a valid mining concessionaire registered with the Mining Department. The Department has been authorized to inspect such units, ascertain the source of the raw material and undertake seizure of the illegally sourced minerals.

Moreover, the rules also simplify the unit establishment process by reducing the requisite clearances/ NOCs to merely two documents namely- Consent to Operate (CTO) from Pollution Control Board (PCB) and NOC from the concerned Deputy Commissioner regarding the title of land and its usage. Issuance of district-level NOC has been brought under the J&K Public Services Guarantee Act, 2011 making it mandatory to issue the document within 30 days.

The industrial units can voluntarily opt for registration with the Industries and Commerce Department through Udyog Aadhar registration to avail the benefits under various Government-sponsored schemes.

The decision provides major relief to the entrepreneurs by removing the burden of double registrations wherein the unit holders had to go through the rigorous procedures of registrations/ licensing with the Industries and Commerce Department as well as the Mining Department.

Army man killed, 2 injured in Firing Range accident

Front

United News Of India

24/02/2021

Jammu: An army jawan was killed and two others suffered injuries when the barrel busted at Firing Range in Akhnoor area on Jammu outskirts.

Defence spokesman said that on Tuesday afternoon during practice fire of 73 field regiment at KFFR Khwada (Artillery Firing Range) the barrel of 105 MM Gun suddenly busted resulting in injuries to threw army personnel namely Gunner Sayan Ghosh, Naib Sub Ashoke Bosle and Havaldarr Adesh Kumar.

All were shifted to Military Hospital, Akhnoor.

The spokesman said that Gunner Sayan Ghosh of Artillery Regiment suffered a fatal injury due to a firing accident while carrying out live firing training.

“More details of the accident are being ascertained,” he expressed.

Covid claims one more life, 94 test positive in JK

Front

Precious Kashmir

24/02/2021

Srinagar: The Covid-19 pandemic on Tuesday claimed one more life while 94 fresh positive cases were reported from Jammu and Kashmir.

With the fresh death due to Covid-19, the death toll due to the pandemic in J&K has risen to 1,955.

Among 94 new cases, 72 belong to Kashmir while 22 are from Jammu division. The total number of positive cases in Kashmir have reached to 74,128 including 72,295 recoveries and 1,230 deaths while total number positive cases in Jammu division have reached to 51,891 including 51,003 recoveries and 725 deaths.

The officials said that the total number of active cases in Jammu and Kashmir are 766 including 603 from Kashmir division and 163 from Jammu division.

With 62 more recoveries, the tally of total recoveries in Jammu and Kashmir has reached to 123,298 which is 97.84 percent of the total cases.

“Cases tested positive in J&K today include 40 from Srinagar, 8 from Baramulla, 4 from Budgam, 5 from Pulwama, 4 from Kupwara, 2 from Anantnag, 4 from Bandipora, 2 from Kulgam and 3 from Shopian in Kashmir while 22 from Jammu division include 10 from Jammu, 8 from Udhampur, 2 from Kathua and 2 from Samba,” officials said.

As per the daily information bulletin 1,275,245 persons in Jammu and Kashmir are under observation while 34,066 persons have been kept under home quarantine besides that 766 persons are in isolation.

According to the bulletin, 1,128,963 persons have completed surveillance period and 109,495 persons are under home surveillance besides that so far results of 5,062,994 samples are available.

Out of 5,062,994 the number of samples tested negative stands at 4,936,975 while as 126,019 have tested positive, among them 766 persons are active, 123,298 persons have recovered and 1,955 persons have died.

Court rejects bail plea of PDP leader Parra

Front

Agencies

24/02/2021

Srinagar: A special court rejected the bail application of PDP leader Waheed Parra on Tuesday, saying the charges against him were “grave, serious and heinous in nature” and that a preliminary analysis of evidence collected so far show he was aiding militancy in Jammu and Kashmir in the garb of a politician.

In a 19-page order, the special court here rejected the argument that Parra was a budding politician and said “a perusal of the CD file transpired that in the garb of a politician, the petitioner had been playing an active role in funding the militants and had also been demanding arms and ammunition against payment by misusing his position”.

The bank accounts show huge transactions and the matter is still being investigated and the facts would come out with the passage of time and conclusion of investigation, the court said.

Parra was detained by the Criminal Investigation Department (Kashmir) and brought from Jammu on a transit remand, after his release by an NIA court on January 9.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) had arrested Parra on November 25 in a separate case related to militancy.

1...4,3244,3254,326...5,070 Page 4,325 of 5,070