Asks Admin Secys, HoDs to expedite works to achieve set targets for 2020-21

Precious Kashmir News

Jammu, Jan 22:  Principal Secretary to Lieutenant Governor, Nitishwar Kumar Friday chaired a meeting to review  implementation of the directions of Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha with regard to achievements in public services delivery through digital platform, besides best practices in Public Administration and execution of three works in each department targeted for 2020-21 fiscal.

The Principal Secretary reviewed department-wise and sector-wise implementation of the directions of Lieutenant Governor with regard to identifying the delivery of public services through digital platform, best practices in public administration, identification and execution of three works in each department in the Financial Year 2020-21, besides registration of beneficiaries under SEHAT and distribution of cards, digitization of land records and Wakf properties and Geo-tagging.

At the outset, the Principal Secretary enquired about the utility and other amenities along Srinagar-Jammu Highway and the pace of works on the projects to be finished this fiscal.

Regarding the implementation of Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojna (PMAY), it was given out that certain districts are lagging behind in achieving the set targets.

To this, Principal Secretary Kumar directed Secretary Rural Development Department and concerned Deputy Commissioners to expedite the process of identifying, tracing beneficiaries and subsequent sanctioning process for them.

The Principal Secretary asked the IT Department to bring all departmental websites and their services on a common online platform so that people taking rounds to government offices could be reduced and all services be extended to them through digital platforms.

The Principal Secretary also reviewed the targets of Forest, Environment and Ecology Department, wherein he was briefed about various schemes and projects taken up by the department for the implementation during the current fiscal.

In the Higher Education sector, the Principal Secretary was informed that a common portal for admissions and other services would be made for colleges and universities, besides e-library and best practices on student welfare like University Management Information System and Skill Development courses have been introduced in the UT.

While reviewing the Ayushman Bharat and recently launched SEHAT Scheme, it was given out that under the erstwhile Ayushman Bharat Scheme, 5.9 lakh families were covered while under the recently launched SEHAT Scheme, 14.5 lakh more families are being covered.

Principal Secretary directed MD NHM J&K to issue Golden Cards to the beneficiaries who have been registered as soon as possible and expedite the process to cover the remaining families within stipulated time besides on spot coverage of unregistered beneficiaries if they report for treatment at hospitals.

He also asked the NHM to extend focused awareness about the SEHAT Scheme so that the scheme’s benefit trickles down to the whole population of J&K.

Jammu, Jan 21: In his maiden Unified Command meeting, Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Thursday reviewed overall security scenario across the Union Territory.
Official sources here said that LG Sinha chaired at security review meeting here at Convention Centre in which border security, law and order situation, hinterland security and other concerns were discussed.
Top brass of security from Home Department, J&K Police, Army Intelligence Agencies, CRPF, BSF and others attended the meeting.

“The officers briefed the LG about overall security situation while threadbare discussions were held on various security related matters,” sources added.

Committee meets stakeholders on promotion of transport, tourism, culture
Precious Kashmir News
Srinagar, Jan 21: In a first of its kind visit after the Covid-19 outbreak, a delegation on Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture held a meeting with stakeholders to review and examine the status of Highways/State Highways, potential and promotion of Tourism sector and preservation of archaeological and heritage sites in Jammu and Kashmir here today.

The Committee led by its Chairman, Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha T.G Venkatesh held threadbare discussion on the development of Road, Railway and Air Connectivity during the meeting.

Speaking on the occasion, Chairman said that the all-round development of UT is a major goal of Government of India. He said the Committee is on a visit to understand the problems of residents of J&K to resolve them.

He said that the committee is here to listen to the stakeholders about constraints specifically being faced by them in these sectors like road transport and what measures are needed to be taken to ensure that the highways in J&K match international best standards and road safety measures being taken in J&K.

The Chairman also said that the Committee shall also take stock of the promotion of Tourism sector vis-à-vis tapping domestic tourism, promotion of rural and adventure tourism, hotel infrastructure and development of highways for better road transport connectivity.

During the meeting various representatives from tour, travel and hospitality sector representing KCCI, Hotelier Club, TAAK, TASK, PILTOF, HBOA, CTT, AKTO, NTTA, HSG and DTOAK raised various issues related to better connectivity and promotion of Tourism sector.

Demanding better road connectivity, the stakeholders apprised the committee about the problems faced by people due to frequent suspension of both road and air connectivity particularly closure of Srinagar- Jammu Highway during the winter months.

A number of issues and demands were raised by the stakeholders to the Committee like frequent closure of Srinagar- Jammu highway, revival and renovation of houseboats, uninterrupted power supply to hotels, financial packages for artisans, rising unemployment graph due to adversely affected tourism sector, need for cap on airfare, train connectivity, promotion of tourist destinations, round the clock functioning of Srinagar International Airport, better facilities at airport, lifting of travel advisories, cultural and adventure sports, medical tourism promotion, preservation of cultural and heritage, enhancement in central government funds, revival and restoration of lakes and other water bodies and better road connectivity across all tourist destinations.

The committee members assured that all the genuine issues shall be taken at appropriate level for resolution.

The committee also held a meeting with officials of Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Government of India, ASI and UT Government on promotion and preservation of Archaeological sites and artefacts in J&K and concerned officers briefed the delegation on measures taken for promotion of archaeological sites, monuments, and artefacts through a power point presentation.

The Parliamentary Standing Committee, presently on three day visit to Kashmir is led by Chairman of the Committee T.G Venkatesh and other MPs of the delegation on visit to Srinagar include Prassana Acharya, Vinay Dinn Tendulkar, Margani Bharat, Rahul Kaswan, Ramesh Chandra Majhi, Chhedi Paswan, Kamlesh Paswan, Sunil Kumar Pintu, Tirath Singh Rawat, Rajiv Pratap Rudy, Ramdas Chandrabhanji Tadas and Krupal Balaji.

Dr Jitendra Singh, Union MoS Prime Minister’s Office and Dr Farooq Abdullah MP Srinagar also attended the meeting. Besides, senior officers from Ministry of Tourism Govt of India, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir P. K Pole, Secretary Tourism J&K Sarmad Hafeez,, Deputy Commissioner Srinagar Shahid Iqbal, Director Tourism, Director Archives & Archaeology, CGM NHAI, GM NHAI, ADG MoRTH and other senior officers were also present on the occasion. The meeting was also joined by senior officers of the UT Administration through video conferencing arranged by NIC Srinagar.

Abid Bashir
Srinagar, Jan 21: Various stakeholders of Kashmir’s tourism sector Thursday urged the visiting Parliamentary delegation to put a word across at New Delhi to ensure highway uncertainty ends in the Valley once for all and that the air-travel is made more convenient with genuine fares so that tourism picks up in the region.
The stakeholders also demanded better roads and road connectivity if Government of India wants to give Kashmir tourism a boost stating that frequent closure of Srinagar-Jammu highway is the main reason for “mess” in Valley at a time when tourism needs a push.
Talking to KNO after meeting the delegation, Kashmir Chamber of Commerce, Industries (KKCI) President Sheikh Ashiq Hussain said: “We put across our view point before the committee and we are hopeful that they will take our pleas forward. We demanded end to the Srinagar-Jammu highway closure once for all. The highway closure triggers mess across the Valley. As soon as the highway gets closed, the Air fares goes high. We urged the MPs to ensure that air travel is made convenient so that it will become easier for everyone to travel. See despite repeated promises by the previous regimes and officials on improving the highway condition, we see closure of this only road link again and again. We demand there should be an accountability and punishment to the agencies and officials who fail to meet the deadlines.”
Among the visiting parliamentary delegation, MoS in PMO Dr Jitendera Singh and NC chief and sitting MP Dr Farooq were also present.
Speaking to KNO after meeting the delegation, president Kashmir Houseboat Owners Association Hameed Wangnoo said: “We explained the series of issues confronting the houseboat owners. We also presented a memorandum. Every year such delegations come, but so far noting except assurance is what we get. Lets hope this time, our demands are met. We demanded a direct rail link between Srinagar and Jammu and raised the air-fare. We told them that Srinagar-Delhi airfare is so high that a tourist would think twice about visiting Kashmir. When highway gets closed, air-fares go sky-rocket, which is injustice.”
All J&K Shikara Union President Ghulam Ahmed Kolu said that they explain the ill plight of Shikara owners to the MPs stating that all the promises made to them turned out to be hollow. “We have now demanded soft loans to revive our business so that tourists enjoy Shikara rides in Dal and Nigeen lakes,” he said.

Chairman United Tourism Forum Manzoor Ahmed Pakhtoon, who also met visiting delegation said that they briefed the MPs about the issues confronting tourism, culture and transport. “We told the MPs that tourism has suffered since past 30 years. We have been frequently telling the GoI about the series of problems the tourism sector is facing. We told the delegation that people associated with tourism are on the verge of starvation and grant-in aid or a financial package was what we demanded strongly for tourism revival in Kashmir,” he said. “We also raised the houseboat extinction issue as from 2500 houseboats, the present number is just 950.”