Interacts with R-Day contingent of JK, Ladakh NCC cadets

Jammu: Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha Friday interacted with Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh contingent of NCC cadets who participated in the Republic Day Parade at New Delhi.

The Lt Governor congratulated the Cadets who got an opportunity to represent the UTs of J&K and Ladakh, and lauded the commitment of Cadets and their training instructors who, despite COVID did well at training.

Terming NCC Cadets as the brand ambassadors of Unity, Discipline, Culture & Heritage, the Lt Governor called upon the youth of J&K to join the organizations like National Cadet Corps (NCC) which inculcate discipline and the spirit of amity and harmony.

He stressed upon the need to step up the efforts on the part of NCC Directorate of J&K and Ladakh and Education Department to engage more youth in NCC activities, with special focus on rural areas.

The Lt Governor expressed delight that this year, Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh Directorate received awards from Raksha Mantri & Raksha Rajya Mantri, besides DG Commendation. He advised the Cadets to make the most of the learning gained from the experience and wished them high success in their future endeavours.

Cadet Iqra Fayaz from Anantnag shared her experience and learnings during her time in the Republic Day camp. Similarly, Cadet Aman Singh expressed his pleasure for getting the golden chance after a strict screening and selection process to become a part of the J&K and Ladakh contingent for the Republic Day parade. Cultural team of the NCC contingent recited a song with the words “NCC ka naara –AatmaNirbhar Bharat Hamara,” penned down by an NCC Cadet.

The interaction concluded with the group pictures of Lt Governor with the Cadets.

Bishwajit Kumar Singh, Secretary, School Education Department; Sarmad Hafeez, Secretary, Youth Services and Sports Department; Brig. N R Babu, Officiating ADG, NCC JK&L Directorate; Col. P Bhaumik, Contingent Commander and CO, 1 J&K Girls Bn; ANO; officers and Instructors were present on the occasion.

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir on Friday recorded one more death due to Covid-19 taking the death toll to 1,944 while 66 positive cases were reported taking the tally of positive cases to 124,785 in J&K.

Of the exact number of 124,785 cases, 73,163 are from Kashmir and 51,622 from Jammu division.

An 85-year-old man from Yenihama Lar Ganderbal died of Covid today.

With his death, the fatality count due to Covid in J&K rose to 1944—1222 in Valley and 722 in Jammu division, the officials told GNS.

Officials said among 66 new cases, 51 belong to Kashmir division while as 15 are from Jammu division, adding that the total number of positive cases in Kashmir division have reached to 73,163 including 71,414 recoveries and 1,222 deaths while as total number of positive cases in Jammu division have reached to 51,623 including 50,773 recoveries and 722 deaths.

The officials said that the total number of active cases in Jammu and Kashmir are 654 including 527 from Kashmir division and 127 from Jammu division.

With 63 more recoveries, the tally of total recoveries in Jammu and Kashmir has reached to 122,187 which is 97.83 percent of the total cases.

“Cases tested positive in J&K include 25 from Srinagar, 01 from Baramulla, 08 from Budgam, 05 from Pulwama,   01 from Kupwara, 06 from Anantnag, 01 from Bandipora, 03 from Ganderbal, 01 from Kulgam and 00 from Shopian in Kashmir division while as 15 from Jammu division include 09 from Jammu, 02 from Udhampur, 01 from Rajouri, 00 from Doda, 02 from Kathua, 00 from Samba, 00 from Kishtwar, 01 from Poonch, 00 from Ramban and 00 from Reasi,” officials disclosed.

Notably, in the last 24 hours one person belonging to Kashmir division who was tested positive for COVID-19 has died.

As per officials figures, 26,309 positive cases including 458 deaths and 25,639 recoveries are from Srinagar, 8,128 including 174 deaths and 7,917 recoveries are from Baramulla, 7,788 including 7,634 recoveries and 118 deaths are from Budgam, 5,740 including 5,609 recoveries and 88 deaths are from Pulwama, 5,664 including 96 deaths and 5,548 recoveries are from Kupwara, 4,924 including 4,787 recoveries and 86 deaths are from Anantnag, 4,696 cases including 4,616 and 61 deaths are from Bandipora, 4,642 including 4,531 recoveries and 47 deaths are from Ganderbal, 2,699 including 2,623 recoveries and 54 deaths are from Kulgam and 2,573 including 2,510 recoveries and 40 deaths are from Shopian.

In Jammu division, 25,005 including 24,587 recoveries and 371 deaths are from Jammu district, 4,212 including 4,128 recoveries and 57 deaths are from Udhampur, 3,869 including 3,812 recoveries and 55 deaths are from Rajouri, 3,432 including 3,364 recoveries and 64 deaths are from Doda, 3,256 including 3,199 recoveries and 53 deaths are from Kathua, 2,832 including 2,781 recoveries and 40 deaths are from Samba, 2,732 including 2,709 recoveries and 22 deaths are from Kishtwar, 2,504 including 2,460 recoveries and 24 deaths are from Poonch, 2,135 including 2,110 recoveries and 21 deaths are from Ramban and 1,645 including 1,623 recoveries and 15 deaths are from Reasi.

As per the daily information bulletin 1,156,989 persons in Jammu and Kashmir are under observation while 34,512 persons have been kept under home quarantine besides that 654 persons are in isolation.

According to the bulletin, 1,020,661 persons have completed surveillance period and 99,218 persons are under home surveillance besides that so far results of 4,643,543 samples are available.

Out of 4,643,543’the number of samples tested negative stands at 4,518,758 while as 124,785 have tested positive, among them 654 persons are active, 122,187 persons have recovered and 1,944 persons have died.

Night temp improves, day remains chilly: Weatherman

Srinagar: After remaining closed for a day for repairs, Jammu-Srinagar highway shall reopen for one way traffic on Saturday and traffic ply from

“Tomorrow (February 6, subject to fair weather and better road condition, only one way traffic shall be allowed from Srinagar towards Jammu including  Banihal- Ramban (local traffic) on Jammu-Srinagar highway. No vehicle including fresh perishables shall be allowed in the opposite direction,” a traffic department official told GNS. the highway, the only surface link connecting Kashmir Valley with outside world, remained closed on Friday and shall  remain closed for next three Fridays for repairs, officials said.

Meanwhile, Mughal road, connecting Shopian and Poonch districts, also remained closed due to the snowfall. Srinagar-Leh highway has been officially closed on the orders by Divisional Commissioner Kashmir on December 30.

Meanwhile, night temperature improved further and settled above normal on Friday due to overcast conditions in Kashmir valley though the chilly weather conditions during the day continued following ice-cold winds from snow-clad mountains.

After witnessing above normal night temperature, people in Srinagar, woke up to a chilly Friday morning due to overcast conditions, coupled with ice cold winds.

However, as the day progressed there was some improvement in the maximum temperature though ice cold winds continued. Against 0.4 degree recorded on Thursday, the night temperature improved and settled at 1 degree, which is about 2 degree above normal. Water bodies and frozen taps have started to melt due to lowering of mercury in the city, where hundreds of water motors, pipes and other water equipment, including water tanks were damaged due to sub zero temperature.

Gulmarg was the only place in the valley where the mercury dipped and settled below normal. Against minus 6.4 degree recorded on Thursday, the night temperature at the ski resort was minus 9.4 degree, which is about 2 degree below normal. “Despite chilly weather conditions due to overcast conditions and ice cold winds, tourists, including adventure lovers, were out on ski slopes enjoying different snow related activities in the ski resort,” a hotelier from Gulmarg said.

The night temperature at world famous health resort of Pahalgam, about 100 km from here in south Kashmir, dipped though settled about 3 degree above normal. Against minus 3.3 degree recorded on Thursday, the night temperature at Pahalgam was minus 3.6 degree.

The mercury at Qazigund, gateway to the valley, Kupwara in north Kashmir and tourist resort of Kukernag settled at minus 0.8 degree, 0.8 degree and minus 1.3 degree, respectively.

However, world famous ski resort of Gulmarg, about 55 km from here in north Kashmir, was the only place in the valley where the mercury dipped and settled several degrees below normal.

A Met department spokesperson said the weather will remain dry during the next three days in Kashmir valley. “The dry weather could result in dip in the minimum temperature though the maximum temperature is expected to improve,” he added. (Additional inputs from UNI)

Civil Sectt Jammu gets state of art Wi-Fi facilities

Jammu: Chief Secretary, B V R Subrahmanyam Friday inaugurated a high-tech and state of the art Wi-fi network at Civil Secretariat, Jammu provided by Jammu and Kashmir e-governance Agency (JaKeGA). The top-notch technology is based on Software-defined Wi-Fi 6 Network which is among the best contemporary technologies in the field.

Secretary, IT Department, Simrandeep Singh briefed the Chief Secretary about the new Network. It was highlighted that the latest system has strong monitoring tools that can keep a constant watch on the performance parameters of the system. This is one of the first Wi-Fi 6 Enterprise Networks that have been implemented in J&K.

It was informed that the network has 222 Indoor and 20 outdoor access points connected through 37 points of pop racks across the Civil Secretariat premises. The network currently has 4000 registered devices and after going live, all the active users will be monitored simultaneously.

The Chief Secretary also visited the UPS based power back-up room which has the capacity of providing an uninterrupted power supply to all the equipment and access points of the main network for 5 hours; capable of keeping the network functional in cases of emergencies.

The Chief Secretary complimented the efforts of JaKeGA and IT Department on achieving the feat despite the hardships of COVID pandemic. He observed that “Software-Defined Wi-Fi 6 Network” would facilitate access to better internet connectivity and will reinforce Government’s resolve in transitioning to e-office mode to make public services more citizen-centric.

Anantnag: The authorities on Friday declared new winner for DDC election from Larnoo-8 seat in south Kashmir on recounting of votes.

District Panchayat Election Officer, Anantnag, had on Thursday notified recounting of votes for 08-Larnoo DDC Constituency and the proceedings took place at Conference Hall, Dak Bungalow Khanabal. Deputy District Election Officer Anantnag was Nodal Officer.

After recounting Sajida Begum (independent), who had previously lost by seven votes, was declared winner by 61 votes against Khahda Bibi, a PDP candidate and the previously declared winner.

The recounting of votes followed directions by Additional Commissioner, Kashmir, the Appellate Authority, before whom Sajida Begum had preferred an appeal as per the law.

The DDC Election for 08- Larnoo was conducted in Phase-1 on 28 November last year and then the Returning Officer had declared the Khahda Bibi as winner by a margin of 07 votes against her nearest rival Sajida Begum on 22 December last year when counting of the voting took place. (GNS)

Jammu:  Government informed that 10.77 lakh Golden Cards and Ten Thousand treatments have been done in Jammu and Kashmir in first 40 days after launch of Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (ABPM-JAY) SEHAT scheme.

The Scheme was e-launched by Prime Minister, Narendra Modi on 26th December 2020.

Since the launch of scheme, in first forty days, ten thousand free and cashless treatments worth Rs. 7.21 Crore have been provided to eligible beneficiaries under the scheme. Besides 10.77 Lakh Golden cards have been issued in addition to 12.90 Lakh Golden Cards issued under AB PM-JAY.

Financial Commissioner, Health & Medical Education, Atal Dulloo said, “AB PM-JAY SEHAT Scheme is a historical step in the direction towards Universal Health Insurance. We have made a humble beginning but there is a long way to go. It is heartening to see residents availing free and cashless benefits from reputed empanelled hospitals of Jammu & Kashmir.”

He further said, “Residents of Jammu and Kashmir have already started availing benefits under the scheme from reputed hospitals outside the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir. He added that since the launch of scheme, 155 patients have already availed benefits in empanelled hospitals from outside J&K Using portability feature of AB PM-JAY scheme.”

ABPMJAY SEHAT scheme launched by the government covers all residents of Jammu and Kashmir including employees and pensioners as well as their families.

ABPM-JAY SEHAT scheme in convergence with PM-JAY aims to provide Universal Health Insurance Coverage of Rs. 5.00 lakh per family on a floater basis. AB PM-JAY SEHAT has the same benefits as available under AB-PMJAY.

ABPM-JAY SEHAT scheme provides cashless access to empanelled health care services for the beneficiaries. More than 24000 empanelled public and private hospitals (including 229 hospitals empanelled within Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir) under AB PM-JAY are providing benefits under this scheme.

Srinagar: Police on Friday said that a “wanted” Over Ground Worker (OGW) of Jash-e-Mohammad was arrested from Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi, after he was deported from Qatar.

“A top OGW of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), Muneeb Ahmad Sofi son of Bilal Ahmad Sofi of Kanelwan Bejbehara has been arrested by a team of Kulgam Police from IGI Airport New Delhi this morning after his deportation from Qatar,” a police spokesman said.

He said the role the OGW surfaced in FIR no 58/2020 U/S 13, 18, 19, 38, 39 ULA(P) Act. “An accused arrested in the case disclosed that he along with other OGWs were collecting money for JeM from various districts in Kashmir and were handing over the collected amount to Muneeb Ahmad Sofi who was in Qatar and was in contact with active militants of JeM Waleed Bhai of Pakistan for purchase of arms and ammunition from Pakistan”.

The spokesman said a look out notice was published against Muneeb and a non-baiilable warrant u/s 25 Police Act  was obtained from the concerned court.”

Consequent to the deportation of the accused from Qatar to India, the spokesman said he was apprehended at IGI Airport and is being brought to Kulgam for further questioning and investigation, he added.

Srinagar: The Divisional Commissioner (Div Com) Kashmir, Pandurang K Pole today chaired a meeting of officers to review progress on AIIMS Awantipora, Bakshi Stadium Srinagar and other major projects in Kashmir.

The meeting among others was attended by , CE PHE, CE KPDCL, CCF, Director NIFT,  Manager NHAI, SE SIDCO and other concerned.

At the outset, the concerned officers briefed the chair about work achievement, progress made on the projects and about issues including land, compensation, shifting and re-alignment of  public utilities causing delay in execution of the work through power point presentation.

The  major projects reviewed during the meeting included AIIMS Awantipora, Baskhshi Stadium Srinagar, Bone & Joint Hospital Barzalla, Biotech Park Handwara, Comprehensive Sewerage  Scheme Srinagar, Emergency Landing Facility Bijbehara, Tourist Facilities in Baramulla- Kupwara circuit, Unani Medical College, Central University Kashmir, Ganderbal, Industrial Estates and various other major projects presently under execution in various districts.

The Div Com impressed upon the concerned for timely completion of all projects being executed by WUCMA, SKIMS, NBCC, NPCC, NIFT, Housing Board, CPWD, NHAI and various other departments and agencies under various schemes.

Stressing on expediting the work process, the Div Com said that disciplinary action shall be taken against the concerned for failing to complete projects within the stipulated time frame.

He directed concerned to submit location and department wise  status of issues impeding work process on projects.

He also emphasized all line departments to ensure projects facing any bottlenecks are addressed amicably.

The Div Com further directed concerned to expedite the work process on all projects and ensure that they are completed within deadlines.

Srinagar: The Peoples Conference (PC) Chairman Sajad Gani Lone on Friday said that his party will take all decisions regarding chairpersons of District Development Councils (DDC) on February 07.

“All decisions pertaining to chairman/ chairperson DDC elections will be made on 7th evening after consulting all DDC members,” Lone tweeted.

In the District Development Council elections, Lone’s party won eight seats- five in Kupwara and three in Baramulla—(KNO)

Srinagar:  In view of the encouraging flow of tourists to Valley, the Director Tourism Kashmir Dr GN Itoo Friday held a review meeting with Srinagar Airport Authority to discuss the ways and means to improve facilities and also beautify the ambience of the premises at Srinagar International Airport.

At the outset of the meeting, the Director Tourism Kashmir expressed satisfaction over the increased flow of the tourists to Kashmir following effective and prompt measures undertaken by the JK administration to contain the spread of the pandemic and strict adherence of SOPs which boosted the confidence of potential travellers to plan their trips to Kashmir.

Itoo said soon after the Government of India relaxed restrictions on domestic tourism, J&K Administration ensured that services providers follow all COVID19 guidelines for the safe holidays of the travellers.

He said due to the tourism department’s sustained promotional campaigns, they are expecting an increased influx of travellers in the upcoming spring and summer season.

To cater to the expected increase in the tourist arrivals Dir Tourism said the government and the airlines are also making every effort to increase the frequency of the early morning and late evening flights at Srinagar Srinagar Airport.

He emphasised on the need for tapping domestic tourism because of the restrictions on international travels.

He said the department is gearing up for the upcoming promotional programmes outside J&K including participation in Travel Trade Fairs and roadshows in collaboration with the local stakeholders.

In this regard, he said the Department of Tourism will work in tandem with concerned departments including airport authority, floriculture

department, cable car besides travel trade to ensure travellers have pleasing experiences in Kashmir from the time of their arrival to their departure.

While stating that airport is the first impression of the destination, Dr. Itoo said tourist should feel welcomed at this airport and directed the concerned and sister agencies including Cable Car Corporation, Tourists Police, JKTDC, Floriculture Department, Houseboat Owners Association, Taxi Operators Associations to provide all assistance and information to the travellers at their information counters.

He also impressed upon having tourist taxi services to all popular destinations from Srinagar Airport.

He said the department of tourism will also give a Kashmir Culture Centre facelift to its counter where all information will be provided to the travellers.

He also impressed upon Srinagar Airport authority and other concerned agencies on improving the overall ambience of the airport with the plantation of ornamental and fruit trees.