Govt issues notification

Srinagar: The government has ordered that the value of land notified in terms of Jammu & Kashmir Preparation and Revision of Market Value Guideline Rules, 2011 should adequately factored while determining the property tax.

In a notification, the Housing & Urban Development Department has ordered that the value of land notified is adequately factored in while determining the unit area values for levy of property tax under different laws.

“In exercise of the powers conferred by the Jammu & Kashmir Property Tax Board Act, 2013, the Jammu & Kashmir Municipal Act, 2000, and the Jammu & Kashmir Municipal Corporation Act,2000, the Government hereby direct that for the levy of property tax on any land or building, the value of land as notified in terms of Jammu & Kashmir Preparation and Revision of Market Value Guideline Rules, 2011(circle rate) shall be a key determinant of the value of the property apart from the nature of construction, the kind of use, the age of the property, or any other relevant consideration,” reads the notification.

“The Property Tax Board, or as the case may be, the Municipal Corporation, Council or Committee concerned shall ensure that the value of land so notified is adequately factored in while determining the unit area values for levy of property  tax under the aforesaid Acts.”

It is worthwhile to mention that J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha had last year said that the UT administration would not impose any property tax from the people in Jammu and Kashmir.

“Some people are saying that property tax will be levied from people of J&K. I am telling you clearly that no such tax would be levied in by the UT administration,” Sinha had said while addressing people in Baramulla district.

Sinha, however, said that nobody should have objection if elected representatives will take any decision for increasing facilities for general public. (KNO)

Srinagar: After remaining closed for about a year due to Coronavirus pandemic, all degree colleges reopened on Monday in Srinagar and other parts of Kashmir amid strict COVID-19 guidelines put in place by the government.

Students were being screened at the entrance of their respective colleges and only youth wearing facemasks were allowed into the premises. Most of the colleges have made adequate arrangements for adherence of COVID-19 protocol, including availability of hand sanitizers at the entrances of the institutions.

However, the educational institutes witnessed partial attendance even as many parents expressed concern over the safety of their children in view of COVID-19 pandemic.

All educational institutes, including schools, colleges and universities, operated barely for two weeks in the 2020 academic session before the COVID-19 pandemic forced a country-wide lockdown bringing life to a grinding halt.

“We are very happy that our regular classes have started after over a year. We have lost a lot in terms of academics in 2019 due to unrest post abrogation of special status of J&K and then in 2020 due to COVID-19 pandemic,” Shazia, a Women’s college student, said.

She said she is very excited to meet her friends and teachers, whom she hadn’t seen for a very long time.

“Besides education, we also missed on extracurricular activities, including sports, which is an important aspect of overall development of a student,” Shazia said.

She hoped that the current academic session passes off without any problem so that students can work to fulfill their dreams. Similar views were expressed by other students.

Officials said the physical class work for students in Kashmir colleges resumed on Monday. “Even though attendance was not 100 per cent, we are hopeful that full attendance will be achieved in coming days after the parents are satisfied with the arrangements which have been put up in colleges”.

They said sanitization of college premises and other precautionary measures have already been taken care of by the Education Department.

All the educational institutions, including schools, colleges and universities, in J&K were closed in March last year in view of COVID-19 outbreak.

Srinagar: The Deputy Commissioner Srinagar and incharge Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Shahid Iqbal Choudhary said administration will address concerns of parents and private school administration regarding School fee and transportation before re-opening of schools in Valley.

“The opening of schools amid Covid-19 with huge enrollment is a big call and SOPs has been already notified to take precautions. Almost one thousand schools in Srinagar District with overall enrollment of one lakh thirty thousand students will resume classes,” he said.

“We took the initiative to train teachers of all educational institutions. They were trained regarding adoption of covid protocol,” he said.

Choudhary said schools are being augmented with every requirement related to Covid Protection.

The DC said all the heads of institutions have been trained as well in standard operating procedures.

“Steps will be taken on school level as well so to ensure confidence in students and parents which is very important to get more response of children in schools. Teachers of schools and other management have been trained and health department associated to provide required support to ensure safe and hassle free opening of schools”, he said.

In response to a question on Private Schools Association not offering transport facility to students, Choudhary said there are lot of issues of parents and private schools and a recent interaction witnessed good advancement.

“As far as transport issue is concerned, we will have them on table soon before reopening of schools to discuss these issues so that they can be resolved soon,” he said.

Jammu: Taking serious note of its employees visiting foreign countries in private capacity without seeking prior permission, the Lt Governor administration in Jammu and Kashmir has directed all the government employees to follow the rules strictly and threatened to take action against violators.

In an order, the General Administration Department (GAD) said the procedure for granting permission in favour of government employees for private visits to foreign countries has been prescribed clearly by the administration.

“It has been provided that the station permission for proceeding outside the country on private affairs shall be granted by the administrative department in the same manner as leave outside the country,” the order issued by Commissioner Secretary, GAD, Manoj Kumar Dwivedi read.

Further, the order said the finance department in its circular on February 21, 2019 inter alia clarified that prior permission of the competent authority for leaving the station would be mandatory when a government employee intends to visit a foreign country in private capacity.

“It has, however, been observed that the officers/officials of various departments are proceeding on foreign visits without obtaining prior permission of the competent authority, in violation of rules/norms, as a consequence of which such cases are recommended for post facto sanction thereby defeating the purpose of an elaborate set of instructions/guidelines notified on the subject. The matter has been viewed seriously by the authorities,” the order said.

The order impressed upon all the officers and officials working in various government departments, public sector undertaking, boards and commissions to strictly adhere to the instructions issued on the subject and not to undertake any foreign visit on private affairs without prior approval of the government.

“Administrative secretaries, heads of departments shall take note of these instructions and take appropriate action against the defaulters and shall not process any case for post facto sanction,” it said.

Mumbai: Asserting that Jammu and Kashmir has become a promising destination for investors with new economic and industrial reforms, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha Monday said the changes that have taken place in the last 18 months have given a determined push to the socio-economic development of the Union Territory.

Sinha made these remarks during the release of the book – Tipane Kashmirchi (Notes on Kashmir), untold stories authored by Arun Karmarkar in Mumbai, an official spokesperson said in a statement issued here on Monday.

Speaking on the occasion, the Lt Governor observed that changes that have taken place in the last 18 months have given a determined push to the socio-economic development, besides empowering the common people in Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory for the first time. “J&K has a development deficit of 73 years and there will be challenges to fill the gaps, but the administration is fully prepared to deal with it,” the Lt Governor said.

Speaking on Economic reforms, the Lt Governor observed that a new Industrial Development Scheme of Rs 28,400 crore has been unveiled for attracting investment in the UT, besides creating opportunities for the youth. “With such a scheme and a ready land bank, the investors would find J&K as a promising destination for their investments. The UT Government is committed to take industries up to the block level for inclusive growth,” he said.

“I have visited different parts of the Union Territory continuously in the last 6 months. 70 percent of the population is below 35 years and there is no shortage of manpower and resources. We are taking comprehensive measures through initiatives like Mission Youth to harness demographic dividend and ensuring youth’s engagement in a constructive way, contributing to the overall development of J&K,” the Lt Governor added.

Underscoring the reformative initiatives taken by the Government for the growth and prosperity of J&K, the Lt Governor said that the second installment of Rs 250 crore to Jammu and Kashmir Bank as Interest Subvention was disbursed on the February 11. The first installment of Rs 250 crore was released last year as part of our Rs 1350 crore economic package and 3 lakh 41 thousand small and big business units were given relief from the trauma of the corona epidemic.

On power generation, the Lt Governor said that despite the immense potential of Hydro Power, only 3500 MW of power was generated in J&K in the last 73 years, causing small businesses and citizens to face power problems. We have approved several projects worth Rs 54,000 crore within 3-4 months and we aspire to generate 3500 Megawatt of power in the next four years to make Jammu Kashmir a power surplus.

Compared to other states, the budget of Jammu and Kashmir has been four to five times more in per capita, yet the development that should have been done, the kind of industrialization that should have taken place has not happened, he added.

The Lt Governor, while speaking on the opportunities created for the young entrepreneurs observed that an amount to the tune of Rs 264 crore has been disbursed as financial assistance to 16,800 youth (against the assumed targeted of 8500) identified from all the 4290 Panchayats in J&K to become entrepreneurs under the Back to Village.  All the Panchayats have been provided with sports kits worth Rs 20,000 each during the Back to Village-3 programme as per the local requirements, he added.

The Lt Governor remarked that – “The people of Jammu and Kashmir were deprived of basic rights. Few vested interests hampered the development reaching the doorsteps of the people for decades”.

He said that there is no escape from accepting the truth that deliberately, under a thoughtful strategy, the development of J&K, the aspirations and dreams of the people were suppressed by a few people and a particular section. We have taken another big step to correct the errors of history.

Speaking on the abrogation of Article 370 and its impact, the Lt Governor observed that on August 5, 2019, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, by abrogating Article 370 of the Constitution, gave Jammu and Kashmir the status of Union Territory and fully integrated it into the mainstream of the nation. And for a long time, the conspiracy being run by those certain classes of people against the people of Jammu and Kashmir was destroyed in an instant.

Quoting the Prime Minister, the Lt Governor said – “Articles 370 and 35A gave Jammu and Kashmir nothing but massive separatism, militancy, nepotism, and widespread corruption”.

“With a population of 1.3 crore, J&K was not only connected with the mainstream of the country but the new dawn of development and trust has been witnessed across the Union Territory,” he added.

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Monday reported 64 fresh cases of Covid-19 taking tally  of cases in J&K to 125,405 while as no death related to covid-19 was reported in last 24 hours in the UT.

Of the exact number of 125,405 cases, 73,636 are from Kashmir and 51,769 from Jammu division. Officials told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that among 64 new cases, 53 belong to Kashmir division while as 11 are from Jammu division, adding that the total number of positive cases in Kashmir division have reached to 73,636 including 71,954 recoveries and 1,226 deaths while as total number of positive cases in Jammu division have reached to 51,769 including 50,883 recoveries and 725 deaths.

The officials said that the total number of active cases in Jammu and Kashmir are 617 including 456 from Kashmir division and 161 from Jammu division.

With 69 more recoveries, the tally of total recoveries in Jammu and Kashmir has reached to 122,837which is 97.96 percent of the total cases.

“Cases tested positive in J&K include 35 from Srinagar, 03 from Baramulla, 03 from Budgam, 05 from Pulwama,   00 from Kupwara, 01 from Anantnag, 01 from Bandipora, 00 from Ganderbal, 02 from Kulgam and 03 from Shopian in Kashmir division while as 11 from Jammu division include 08 from Jammu, 03 from Udhampur, 00 from Rajouri, 00 from Doda, 00 from Kathua, 00 from Samba, 00 from Kishtwar, 00 from Poonch, 00 from Ramban and 00 from Reasi,” officials disclosed.

As per officials figures, 26,564 positive cases including 460 deaths and 25,874 recoveries are from Srinagar, 8,161  including 175 deaths and 7,957 recoveries are from Baramulla, 7,825 including 7,670 recoveries and 118 deaths are from Budgam, 5,793 including 5,669 recoveries and 88 deaths are from Pulwama, 5,671 including 96 deaths and 5,569 recoveries are from Kupwara, 4,960 including 4,833 recoveries and 86 deaths are from Anantnag, 4,704 cases including 4,628 and 62 deaths are from Bandipora, 4,660 including 4,582 recoveries and 47 deaths are from Ganderbal, 2,711 including 2,643 recoveries and 54 deaths are from Kulgam and 2,587 including 2,529 recoveries and 40 deaths are from Shopian.

In Jammu division, 25,097 including 24,639 recoveries and 373 deaths are from Jammu district, 4,239 including 4,156 recoveries and 57 deaths are from Udhampur, 3,873 including 3,814 recoveries and 55 deaths are from Rajouri, 3,436 including 3,366 recoveries and 64 deaths are from Doda, 3,256 including 3,203 recoveries and 53 deaths are from Kathua, 2,835 including 2,786 recoveries and 40 deaths are from Samba, 2,733 including 2,710 recoveries and 22 deaths are from Kishtwar, 2,519 including 2,471 recoveries and 24 deaths are from Poonch, 2,135 including 2,114 recoveries and 21 deaths are from Ramban and 1,646 including 1,624 recoveries and 16 deaths are from Reasi.

As per the daily information bulletin 1,223,192 persons in Jammu and Kashmir are under observation while 33,832 persons have been kept under home quarantine besides that 617 persons are in isolation.

According to the bulletin, 1,079,478 persons have completed surveillance period and 107,314 persons are under home surveillance besides that so far results of 4,868,541 samples are available.

Out of 4,868,541 the number of samples tested negative stands at 4,743,136 while as 125,405 have tested positive, among them 617 persons are active, 122,837 persons have recovered and 1,951 persons have died.

New Delhi: India reported 11,649 fresh Coronavirus cases in the past 24 hours taking the tally to 1,09,16,589, a slight fall from the previous day’s count of 11,711, Union Health Ministry said on Monday.

Meanwhile, 90 more fatalities in the same period took the death toll to 1,55,732.

Of the fresh fatalities, 40 were from Maharashtra, 15 from Kerala and 3 from Punjab and 2 from Karnataka, 1 from Chhattisgarh and 6 from Tamil Nadu, as per the ministry.

The total number of recoveries surged to 1,06,21,220 with 9,489 more patients getting discharged since yesterday.

As per the ministry’s data, the number of beneficiaries vaccinated till now has increased to 82,85,295.

According to ICMR, as many 4,86,122 samples were tested yesterday takings the total samples tested till February 14 to 20,67,16,634.

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday handed over a chadar to Minority Affairs Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi that will be offered on his behalf at the shrine of renowned Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti.

The shrine at Ajmer is one of the holiest Sufi shrines, frequented in large number by the faithful.

“Handed over a Chadar that would be offered at the Ajmer Sharif Dargah on the 809th Urs of Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti,” Modi tweeted.