Precious Kashmir

Dal Lake an asset, collective effort needed to preserve it: Prof Talat

City

16/02/2021

KU’s DSW organises 3-day awareness campaign under Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan

Srinagar: Vice-Chancellor of University of Kashmir Prof Talat Ahmad said on Monday that Dal Lake in Srinagar is both an asset and heritage which needs to be preserved for posterity. He called for a serious effort by one and all to stop any further deterioration of the water body.

Inaugurating as chief guest a three-day awareness campaign under Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan, Prof Talat said it is important to control the inflow of deleterious effluents into Dal Lake while ensuring that its water quality is maintained as per scientific norms.

The awareness campaign titled ‘Good Health, Good Hygiene’ has been organised by the varsity’s Dean Students Welfare (DSW), in and around areas of Dal Lake. The Monday’s programme was held in Dal Lake areas falling along its Hazratbal banks.

“Academic institutions, policy-planners, NGOs and people need to join hands in this endeavor and make serious efforts to stop any further deterioration/pollution of this Lake,” he said, asserting that such awareness programmes led by students can go a long way in making people understand the importance of water bodies and the need to keep them clean.

The Vice-Chancellor said the university has already constituted a high-level Working Group on Dal Lake conservation to see how it can, in association with policy-planners and civil society, contribute to Dal lake conservation.

Prof Talat also went around Dal lake areas along its Hazratbal banks and later distributed health and hygiene kits and pamphlets among local residents.

KU Registrar Dr Nisar Ahmad Mir, who was a guest of honour, said a three-pronged strategy—prevention, prohibition, redressal—is needed to preserve Dal Lake.

He said the university is actively focusing on addressing some of the pressing societal and environmental problems through its academic, research and outreach endeavors. “This includes Dal lake conservation as well,” he said, appreciating the DSW for organising the awareness programme.

Dean of Students Welfare Prof Raies A Qadri said the university students, who are leading this door-to-door awareness campaign, will be distributing pamphlets about the importance of good health and hygiene, among people.

“This is a grassroots-level campaign being organised under Government of India’s Swachh Bharat Abhiyan,” he said.

The campaign launch event was, among others, attended by Dean Behavioural Sciences and Chief Proctor Prof Showket Ahmad Shah, Cultural Officer Mr Shahid Ali Khan, Junior Coordinator DSW Mr Zahid Jeelani and other staff members of the office of DSW.

17-yr-old hangs self to death in Habba Kadal

City

Precious Kashmir

16/02/2021

Srinagar: A 17-year-old boy committed suicide on Monday evening by hanging himself to death in Habba Kadal area of Srinagar.

Official sources told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that a 17-year-old boy identified as Suhail Ahmad son of Mukhtar Ahmad Badyari hanged himself on Monday evening at his home near Sona Masjid Karfari Mohalla of Habba Kadal in Srinagar.

They said that he was immediately rushed to SMHS hospital where doctors declared him brought dead.

Meanwhile, local police has taken cognizance of the incident and started investigation into the matter.

Advisor Bhatnagar meets delegations, individuals

Jammu & Kashmir

Precious Kashmir

16/02/2021

JAMMU: Advisor to Lieutenant Governor, Rajeev Rai Bhatnagar, today met scores of delegations and individuals during the public outreach programme held at Civil Secretariat here.

The delegations and individuals apprised the Advisor of their issues and demands and sought an early resolution for the same.

A deputation of individuals working in Drug De-addiction and Rehabilitation centres across Jammu and Kashmir raised several issues pertaining to the drug menace in J&K besides other issues with the Advisor. They demanded adjustment in Police department besides one time relaxation in new recruitments of Police department.

Advisor Bhatnagar during his interaction with the delegation commended them for their efforts in curbing this social evil. He urged them to continue such efforts and assured them that all of their genuine issues will be looked into.

On the occasion Advisor Bhatnagar also released a book titled “Drug De-addiction and Rehabilitation of Youth”by Drug De-addiction and Rehabilitation Centre (Kashmir Zone).

Another delegation ofJ&K Road Transport Corporation Workers Union raised several issues regarding release of wages and other concerns with the Advisor. They demanded immediate release of their salaries and other dues.

Similarly, a deputation ofAll J&K Contingent Paid Education Employees Union raised several issues pertaining to their career prospects and other related concerns with the Advisor. They demanded minimum wages for all contingent paid employees, SRO 520 in favour of Land Donors besides other service benefits.

Likewise, a delegation of shopkeepers of Bhagwati Nagar Jammu demanded suitable rehabilitation policy in lieu of land acquisition for National Highway construction.

Another delegation of individuals from Bhour, Jammu demanded functionality of NTPHC centre in the area, construction of playground, protection walls for Panchayat ghar and cremation ground besides other developmental works for the area.

Similarly a deputation of individuals from Kurhama, Ganderbal demanded establishment of Community Health Centre in the area by the upgradation of Primary Health Centre besides other developmental benefits for the area.

Besides these delegations, several individuals from Jammu, Kupwara, Srinagar, Budgam, Rajouri, Kokernag, Anantnag and other areas raised various issues with the Advisor and sought immediate redressal of the same.

Advisor Bhatnagar, while responding to the issues and concerns of delegations and individuals, assured them that all of their genuine issues and demands will be redressed on priority.

ReT aspirants stage protest, demand appointment orders

Jammu & Kashmir

Precious Kashmir

16/02/2021

Srinagar: The empanelled ReT aspirants held a protest demonstration today, demanding immediate issuance of their appointment orders.

The protesters assembled in Press Enclave Srinagar and raised slogans in support of their demand and against the Government, particularly the Commissioner Secretary and Director Education.

The protest was led by one Mudasir Hasan, who castigated the government for halting appointment orders in favour of the aspirants, who were empanelled in 2015-16 as Rehbar-e-Taleem teachers.

“Our protest is against the Government’s dilly dally tactics in issuing our appointment orders,” he told KNT.

One of the protesters Asmat Hassan said that High Court has issued clear cut direction in their favour but the Government was only giving hollow assurances. “We are left with no option other than to hit the streets as there is no other mean to earn our livelihood and most of the candidates have crossed the upper age limit to get any other job,” she added.

The protesters demanded implementation of court order and also sought the intervention of Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha for immediate issuance of their appointment orders. (KNT)

Muslims help family in cremation of Hindu neighbour

Jammu & Kashmir

Precious Kashmir

16/02/2021

Srinagar: Muslims helped a Hindu family in cremation process of a man who died in Maisuma area of Srinagar city today.

Locals told KNT that one Rakesh Kumar who was not keeping well from past several months breathed his last. Muslim neighbours arranged everything required for the cremation process.

Locals said they arranged a priest and shouldered the dead body. Kumar was cremated at Batamloo area of Srinagar city.

The deceased was living with couple of family members. “He once had a flourishing ready-made garment business but losses in business affected his health and status,” said an elderly Muslim man.

He said Kumar had two sons but both abandoned him after he received set back in his business.

PM to address NASSCOM Technology and Leadership Forum on Feb 17

National

United News Of India

16/02/2021

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the NASSCOM Technology and Leadership Forum (NTLF) on February 17, 2021 at 1230 hours via video conferencing.

The 29th edition of NTLF is being organised from February 17th to 19th, 2021 and themed on ‘Shaping the future towards a better normal’.

It is the flagship event of the National Association of Software and Service Companies (NASSCOM).

The event will host 1600 participants from more than 30 countries and more than 30 products will be showcased.

Wakeup Call

Edit

Precious Kashmir

15/02/2021

With its epicenter in Tajikistan, an earthquake measuring 6.3 on the Richter scale shook Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, the Delhi-NCR and Uttarakhand on February 12. Earthquakes are not new to this part of the globe. According to National Centre for Seismology (NCS), which maintains a nation-wide seismological network comprising of 115 seismic stations, during the last year (1st January 2020 to 31st December 2020), a total of 965 earthquakes with magnitude 3 and above have been reported.

India has been divided into four zones viz. zone V, IV, III and II according to the seismic zoning map of India prepared by Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) based on historical seismicity and strong ground motions.

Out of these zones, Zone V exhibits the highest seismic risk and zone II has the least.

All districts of Kashmir valley and Doda district fall in Seismic Zone-V, and the rest of the districts fall in Seismic Zone-IV.

The time of occurrence of a big earthquake cannot be predicted accurately with existing technology even as government of India revealed in parliament on February 5 that it plans to strengthen the existing National Seismological Network with additional 35 field stations during 2021-22, thus making it to 150. This will help in the detection of smaller earthquakes in selected locations.

The earthquake of 6.3 is a major jolt and fortunately, there has been no loss of life even as some houses developed cracks. Nevertheless, it highlighted the need for preparedness on part of the government beforehand rather than managing its aftermath.

Giving the high vulnerability, there is no ordinary escape for the region from susceptibility to earthquakes. However, the foreknowledge of potential danger areas can help mitigate the impact of a disaster. Keeping in view the preparations of the J&K, any jolt leads to more panic.

In 2005 a big quake of 7.6 on the Richter scale led to the loss of around 80,000 lives with Pakistan Administered Kashmir being the worst affected. On this side of the J&K, the quake caused devastation along with the frontier villages particularly in Uri and those in the Kupwara district. If anything, the recent quakes should be a warning about a possible repetition of the natural disaster in the region.

There is a need to accept earthquakes as a reality and do everything to redefine development plans, especially in terms of building quake-resistant buildings. There ought to be a systematic resort to disaster drills to educate the public on what to do during an earthquake. Preparedness remains the key to such disasters.

J&K to remain UT, Centre fixes no deadline for statehood

Anchor stories

Afaq Bhat

15/02/2021

J&K to remain UT, Centre fixes no deadline for statehood

Srinagar: Union Home Minister Amit Shah has reiterated that J&K’s statehood will be restored at an appropriate time but hasn’t fixed any deadline for it.
An analyst while talking to Precious Kashmir said, “It appears that the Centre is satisfied with J&K functioning as a union territory and it seems in no mood to disturb the status-quo.”
He said, “It appears that the forthcoming assembly elections will be fought without J&K’s statehood being restored. The politicians will have to work with curtailed powers.”
“Even after the assembly elections are held the Lieutenant Governor will be the boss and the affairs will be managed by the Centre directly. New Delhi not fixing any timeframe for restoration of J&K’s statehood and merging the AGMUT cadre with J&K cadre are direct hints that the status of union territory is there to stay,” the analyst added.
An observer said, “The formation of District Development Council (DDC) Boards has pushed the politicians to a grass root level and they will have to work very hard to prove their worth.”
He said, “Assembly elections in J&K are likely to be held after the delimitation process is completed. Jammu and Kashmir regions will have equal number of assembly seats. It’s not going to be a cakewalk for the regional parties to capture the chief minister’s office this time around.”
The observer said, “Regional parties have been raising the pitch to seek J&K’s statehood back but for time being the Centre has said no. What will be interesting now is who all will contest the elections and what will the big leaders do? Will they contest the assembly polls or stay away from the process?”
He said, “According to the warrant of precedence in the union territory ministers don’t enjoy the ultimate authority. They just act as facilitators and not as decision makers. Politicians have been left with no other option other than to accept what they have been given.”
A politician said, “We have to reorganize ourselves now. Until we don’t get the statehood back we will not get any big role to play. It seems that the Centre wants to run J&K as a union territory for a few more years and if the experiment works then restoration of the statehood looks difficult.”
He said, “Political parties in the new setup won’t have any bigger role except taking care of the local issues as the major powers have been taken over by the Centre. We have to remain content with what we have got at least for the time being.”

Tragedy averted after recovery of 6.5 Kg IED in Jammu: IGP Jmu

Front

United News Of India

15/02/2021

Tragedy averted after recovery of 6.5 Kg IED in Jammu: IGP Jmu

Achieved major success in past few days; arrested heads of TRF, Lashkar-e-Mustafa: DGP

Jammu: The Jammu and Kashmir police on Sunday claimed to have arrested two chief commanders of two separate militant outfits including The Resistance Front (TRF) and Lashkar-e-Mustafa in the past few days across the UT and also averted major tragedy by recovering an Improvised Explosive Device weighing 6.5-kg from near General Bus Stand here.

IGP Jammu range Mukesh Singh addressing a press conference here told reporters said that they have been on high alert for the last three days as there were inputs that on the anniversary of Pulwama attack militants groups may carry out some major attack in Jammu Bus stand.

He said that based on these inputs checking points were established at critical points and last night a person namely Suhail was found roaming suspiciously in the area.

“He was carrying a bag. One being questioned and checking of the bag around 6.5 KG IED was recovered which was not active. During questioning he said that he was a student if nursing college and was studying in Chandigarh. He was tasked by Al-Badr handlers in Pakistan to place this IED one of three places including Raghunath Mandir, Railway station and Jammu bus stand,” he said.

He said that on further questioning Sahil revealed that after placing the IED he was supposed to take a flight to Srinagar and he was to be received by a high ranking OGW of Al-Badr, Shakeel Khan at Srinagar.

“After meeting Shakeel Khan he was supposed to become an active militant. This was his planning,” he said.

The IGP said another person in Chandigarh was also in the know-how of this planning. He has also been picked up from Chandigarh and has been identified as Qazi Waseem and there is another person Abid Nabi associated with this outfit.

“He has also been arrested,” he said.

The IGP that by his arrest and by recovery of the IED a major tragedy has been averted in Jammu.

The Director General of Police Dilbag Singh said that police carried out two major successful operations and arrested two chief commanders of TRF and Lashkar-e Mustafa.

He said that to give a local name to a militant outfit, Lashkar-e-Toiba created an outfit by the The Resistance Front while Jaish-e-Mohammad created Lashkar-e-Mustafa to carry out militant activities in Jammu and Kashmir.

Singh said that the major operations were carried out by the Anantnag police and Jammu police and busted the militant outfits by arresting their chief commanders.

He said that to sponsor militant activities in Jammu and Kashmir from across the border, the militant outfits operating in Pakistan have been trying to give new faces to militant outfits in J&K and from the last several months two new groups were floated by the name TRF and Lashkar-e-Mustafa.

He said that TRF is being run by Lashkar-e-Toiba while the militant outfit Lashkar-e-Mustafa is being run by Jaish-e-Mohammad from across to border to carry out militant activities not only in Jammu and Kashmir but in some other parts of the country including Delhi.

“Lashkar-e-Mustafa came into being recently in August last year,” he added.

He said that the chief commander of Lashkar-e-Mustafa, Hidayatullah Malik who was leading this outfit and was active from the last few months, was arrested by the police. He said that Hidayatullah was working as OGW for a long time and later became active to carry out militant activities sponsored by Jaish-e-Mohammad.

The J&K Police Chief said this was a major success for the security forces and there had been major revelations by the Hidayatullah during interrogation.

He further said that in another major success one more chief commander of another militant out TRF being run by Lashkar-e-Toiba, Zahoor Rather alias Sahil and Khalid was also arrested. Singh said that Zahoor was arrested during an operation on the intervening night of 12 and 13 February.

“Zahoor was active for a long time and was a trained militant. He was leading TRF. He was also working as an OGW. In 2002 he was working with Hizbul Mujahideen,” he said.

Singh said that Zahoor remained active for 5 years and later surrendered in 2006 and he again became active in 2009 and in 2009 his handlers sitting in Pakistan knew his potential.

He said that Zahoor was handed over the responsibility of running TRF in Jammu and Kashmir and he was involved in killing 3 BJP leaders in Kulgam last year.

He said that intensive questioning of Zahoor Ahmad is going on and it is expected that some more breakthroughs will take place trough Zahoor.

Singh while complementing the Jammu and Samba police said that a major tragedy was also averted today by arresting an associate of Al-Badr militant outfit and recovered IED from his possession.

“I congratulate the police officials who led this operation and arrested the Al-Badr associate to avert major tragedy in Jammu region,” he said.

No registration required for setting up business unit in JK: Govt

Front

Precious Kashmir

15/02/2021

Eliminates requirement of 15 NoCs as prerequisite to setting up industry, introduces Single Window System

Jammu: In a major move to revive the business sector and boost investor confidence with a business-friendly environment, the Administrative Council which met under the Chairmanship of Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha has approved a series of measures for simplifying business establishment process.

As per the decision, the pre-requisite No Objection Certificates (NoCs) /Approvals have been relaxed for setting up of a business unit. The Udyog Aadhar Memorandum as per the condition of the Government of India shall be the only requirement for a business unit to be set-up.

Earlier, as many as fifteen NoCs/Clearances were required for a business unit to establish, which have now been reduced to a bare minimum. These bare minimum NoCs/Approvals shall be required subsequently, for which two sets of Single Window Committees have been established – One for business units coming up within Industrial Estates and another Committee for Units outside the Industrial Estates.

These Committees shall ensure time-bound issuance of the NoCs/Approvals pertaining to Power Connection, Water Connection, Building Plan, etc, as per specified timelines on case to case basis.

Further, a Divisional Level Committee has been approved, which shall periodically monitor the working of the above Committees and address issues, if any, related to issuance of NoCs/Approvals.

No prerequisite approvals shall be required as a general rule except for NoCs/ Approvals from departments like Pollution Control Board (CTE/CTO), NoC from Fire and Emergency Department, Change of Land Use from Revenue Department, etc wherever applicable.

Lt Governor, Manoj Sinha said that consistent policy actions are being taken to encourage large scale investment, innovation, restoring Jammu Kashmir’s advantage in resources and skilled workforce to create a business-friendly environment and drive economic growth.

“The recent decisions taken by the government in business sector including new Industrial Developmental Scheme will give a fillip to Jammu & Kashmir’s economy. These ambitious structural reforms will not only improve the J&K’s ranking in the Ease of Doing Business Index but also create an unshakeable foundation for business entities, industries planning to invest in the Union Territory,” the Lt Governor observed.

The UT government is consistently making efforts with reforms, and soon planning to launch end-to-end online services for the businesses. The regulations are being made simpler and business-friendly by the government.

The government of India had last month approved a new Industrial Developmental Scheme with an outlay of Rs. 28,400 crore to give a major push to the economy of the region and providing huge employment opportunities to the people. The scheme is being implemented with the vision that industry and service led development of J&K needs to be given a fresh thrust with emphasis on job creation, skill development, and sustainable development by attracting new investment and nurturing the existing ones.

The new Industrial Developmental Scheme will provide major support to local industry, besides creation of new business opportunities. The scheme aims to take industrial development to the block level in the UT of J&K, which is for first time in any Industrial Incentive Scheme of the Government of India and attempts for a more sustained and balanced industrial growth in the entire UT.

The new Industrial Developmental Scheme has been simplified on the lines of Ease of Doing Business by bringing GST Linked Incentive that will ensure less compliance burden without compromising on transparency. The scheme is made attractive for both smaller and larger units. Smaller units with an investment in plant & machinery upto Rs. 50 crore will get a capital incentive upto Rs. 7.5 crore and capital interest subvention at the rate of 6% for a maximum of 07 years.

Pertinently, during the launch of the new Industrial Developmental Scheme, the Lt Governor had promised that the implementation of the new scheme would be done in a manner that is friendly and hassle-free to the investors and it would be ensured that entrepreneurs from within J&K and outside find a smooth and progressive ecosystem for their business plans.

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