Panel to review Tourism functioning, to meet NHAI officials
Jahangir Sofi
Srinagar, Jan 19: A Parliamentary delegation comprising 31 delegates will arrive in Kashmir tomorrow (Wednesday) to review the Tourism, Culture, road and transport sectors in the valley.
Special Secretary to the Government and Secretary Tourism, Sarmad Hafeez told KNO that the Parliamentary delegation will meet the officials from Tourism department and other stakeholders.
The Parliamentary Panel is scheduled to meet with stakeholders on leading aspects of Road sector, Tourism, Travel and Hospitality sector, in addition to a meeting with officials of Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), and J&K UT Government on ‘Role of highways in nation building.’
Divisional Commissioner Kashmir P K Pole said: “The 31 member Parliamentary delegation will be visiting Kashmir tomorrow, the delegation will review the Road, Air, and Railway connectivity in Jammu and Kashmir.”
The committee was also look into the Tourism and Cultural promotions in the valley, pertinent to mention that Srinagar Jammu National highway is a vital surface link between Kashmir and rest of the country which frequently gets closed in winters due to heavy snowfall, landslides and shooting stones, which also results in delay of essential supplies and other commodities to the valley.
All the successive governments’ so far have failed to find alternatives to the crises that result from the closure of the Srinagar Jammu National Highway in the 70-plus history of Kashmir.
To curb the road connectivity crises Government of India approved implementation of projects for four-laning of the mountainous Srinagar Jammu National Highway.
The road widening project has failed to complete despite missing several deadlines.
Earlier, National Highway Authorities had said that work on four- laning of Srinagar-Jammu National Highway was stopped at many places and excavation work was also halted in the areas which proved vulnerable. It further said they are exploring the options of tunnels and wide-ups along the highway.

Jammu Jan 19: Director Information and Public Relations, Dr Syed Sehrish Asgar along with officers and employees of Department of Information and Public Relations Tuesday condoled the demise of renowned journalist and Editor-in-Chief of Wadi-ki-Awaz, Ghulam Nabi Shaida who passed away last night after a brief illness.
In this connection, a condolence meet was chaired by Dr Sehrish at Media Complex here in which all the employees of DIPR participated. The participants expressed deep sorrow and grief over the demise of GN Shaida.
Speaking during the condolence meet, Dr Sehrish highlighted the contribution of GN Shaida during his professional career and said that his death is a great loss to the society as he played a leading role in highlighting the local public issues through his journalistic work.
Dr Sehrish observed that Shaida Sahab was an able journalist and upright professional who devoted his entire life for public good.
Dr Sehrish and other participants offered their deepest condolences to the bereaved family and prayed for eternal peace to the departed soul and courage for the bereaved family to bear this irreparable loss. (KINS)

Precious Kashmir News
Jammu, Jan 19: Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha has greeted the people on the eve of the Birth Anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh Ji, the tenth Sikh Guru.
In a message of felicitations, the Lt Governor observed that Guru Gobind Singh Ji was a great spiritual master, a warrior, poet, and philosopher, who throughout his life stood up against injustice and strived for establishing a society based on equality, brotherhood, and love.
“The values underlying the teachings of the great Guru and his valour transcends time and continues to inspire generations”, he added.
The Lt Governor expressed hope that the precious teachings of Guru Gobind Singh Ji would always keep us on the path of righteousness and wisdom, guiding our endeavours to establish a just social order furthering peace, prosperity and strengthening the bond of communal harmony in the region.

The Lt Governor prayed for sustained peace and progress in the UT and the well-being of the people of J&K.

Precious Kashmir News
Jammu, Jan 19: The Government on Tuesday informed that 113 new positive cases of novel Corona virus (COVID-19), 53 from Jammu division and 60 from Kashmir division, were reported today, thus taking the total number of positive cases in Jammu and Kashmir to 123538. Also one COVID-19 death has been reported from Kashmir Division.
Moreover, 120 more COVID-19 patients have recovered and discharged from various hospitals including 52 from Jammu Division and 68 from Kashmir Division.
According to the daily Media Bulletin on novel Corona virus (Covid-19), out of 123538 positive cases, 1103 are Active Positive, 120512 have recovered and 1923 have died; 716 in Jammu division and 1207 in Kashmir division.
The Bulletin further said that out of 4297224 test results available, 4173686 samples have been tested as negative till 19th January, 2021.
Till date 1032753 persons have been enlisted for observation which included 32892 persons in home quarantine including facilities operated by government, 1103 in isolation and 64711 in home surveillance. Besides, 932124 persons have completed their surveillance period.

Providing district-wise breakup, the Bulletin said that Srinagar has 25867 positive cases (including 37 cases reported today) with 239 Active Positive, 25175 recovered (including 18 cases recovered today), 453 deaths; Baramulla has 8069 positive cases (including 05 cases reported today) with 60 Active Positive, 7836 recovered (including 05 cases recovered today), 173 deaths; Budgam reported 7722 positive cases (including 07 cases reported today) with 52 active positive cases, 7555 recovered (including 08 cases recovered today), 115 deaths; Pulwama has 5675 positive cases (including 04 cases reported today) with 70 Active Positive, 5517 recoveredand 88 deaths;Kupwara has 5628 positive cases (including 02 cases reported today) with 61 Active Positive, 5473 recoveries (including 08 cases recovered today), 94 deaths; Anantnag district has 4852 positive caseswith 50 Active Positive, 4718 recovered (including 02 cases recovered today), 84deaths; Bandipora has 4680 positive cases (including 01 casereported today)with28 Active Positive and 4591 recoveries (including 09 cases recovered today), 61 deaths; Ganderbal has 4578 positive cases with 73 Active Positive, 4459 recoveries (including 03 cases recovered today)and 46 deaths; Kulgam has 2682 positive cases (including 02 cases reported today)with 39 Active Positive, 2589 recoveries (including 03 cases recovered today)and 54 deaths while as Shopian has 2553 positive cases (including 02 cases reported today)with35 active positive cases, 2479 recoveries (including 20 cases recovered today)and 39 deaths.
Similarly, Jammu has 24705 positive cases (including 40 cases reported today) with 171 active positive cases, 24167 recoveries (including 29 cases recovered today), 367 deaths; Udhampur has 4184 positive cases69 active positive cases, 4058 recovered (including 01case recovered today)and 57 deaths; Rajouri has 3863 positive cases with 06 active positive, 3802 recoveries and 55 deaths; Doda has 3426 positive cases with 09 Active positive, 3353 recovered (including 06 cases recovered today)and 64 deaths; Kathua has 3249 positive cases (including 01 cases recovered today) with 03 active positive cases, 3195 recovered (including 05 cases recovered today) and 51 deaths; Kishtwar has 2730 positive cases (including 01 cases reported today)with 01 Active Positive, 2707 recoveries (including 03 cases recovered today);22 deaths; Samba has 2825 positive cases (including 02 cases reported today)with 87 active positive cases, 2698 recoveries (including 06 cases recovered today)and 40 deaths; Poonch has 2484 positive cases (including 07 cases reported today)with 29 active positive, 2431 recoveries (including 02 cases recovered today)and 24 deaths; Ramban has 2130 positive cases (including 02 cases reported today)with 13 active positive, 2096 recoveries and 21 deaths while Reasi has 1636 positivewith 08 active positive cases, 1613 recoveries and 15 deaths.
According to the bulletin, among the total 123538 positive cases in J&K, 11472 have been reported as travelers while 112066 as others.

The Bulletin said that the breakup represents districts from which the patients have been traced or are ordinarily residing.

The bulletin added that there are 1321 COVID dedicated beds, 1185 Isolation beds with 1157 vacant beds and 136 ICU beds where 115 beds are vacant in Jammu division while there are 2345 COVID dedicated beds, 2197 Isolation beds where 2112 beds are vacant and 148 ICU beds where 134are vacant beds in Kashmir division. There are a total of 3666 COVID dedicated beds, 3382 Isolation beds with 3269 beds vacant and 284 ICU beds with 249 vacant beds in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.

The Central Government is continuously monitoring the evolving situation of Covid-19 in the Union Territory and is providing all necessary support towards effective containment of the spread of Covid-19 and better clinical management of positive cases.

Issues helpline in case of non-availability of drinking water
Precious Kashmir News
Srinagar, Jan 19: Jal Shakti (PHE) Department Kashmir has restored all 483 affected water supply schemes post heavy snowfall across the region.
The department has restored 257 gravity water supply schemes and 226 lift water supply schemes which were affected after Kashmir valley witnessed heavy snowfall on January 2nd and 3rd, 2021.
The department in its statement stated the Lieutenant Governor of J&K, Manoj Sinha had taken a review with regard to winter preparedness and had directed to restore any disruption within 24 hours.
In the aftermath of heavy snowfall between January 2 and 3, the department deputed adequate field staff and machinery at different sites in the entire Kashmir Valley for restoration of these schemes in order to give relief to the general public.
Wherever, the statement said, Lift Water Supply Schemes could not function on account of non-availability of electricity, diesel generators were put in use for operationalization to provide immediate relief to the general public on account of drinking water supply.
In district Srinagar restoration works were completed within 24 hours, whileas in other districts restoration works have been completed as per target, it added.
It added that during the last few days due to extreme low temperatures, the pipe network system has been damaged on account of freezing of water in certain areas for which restoration works have been completed for most of the schemes, and added that for the remaining schemes the restoration work is under progress on war footing basis.
The department has also urged the consumers to use water judiciously and in case of any complaint regarding non-availability of water, the following telephone numbers can be contacted for redressal: 0194-2450247, 0194-2477207.

Precious Kashmir News
Jammu, Jan 19: The Department of Higher Education signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI) for up-skilling of students enrolled at the Cluster Universities of Srinagar and Jammu at SPMR College Jammu.
The MoU is part of the department’s initiative of up skilling the undergraduates across J&K by embedding skill courses in the curriculum or offering them as Certificate, Diploma, Advanced Diploma and Degrees while they graduate from the institutions of higher learning, a statement said adding many sectors like agriculture, horticulture, fashion technology, paramedical, pharmacy, nursing and food technology had been identified in this regard.
Bemina Degree College, Srinagar joined the ceremony through virtual mode.
Commissioner Secretary, Higher Education, Talat Parvez, while highlighting the significance of the MoU informed that the department has taken various initiatives to ensure that the workforce of tomorrow has future ready skills. The youth need to be motivated to develop a quality of self development and self entrepreneurship, he added. In this regard, he informed that the new initiatives of Higher Education Department which are in sync with New Industrial Policy of the J&K and the National Education Policy, introduced recently, shall in the longer run make huge impact on the skilling of the youth.
Director Colleges Jammu and Kashmir, Professor M Y Peerzada, underscored the importance of skill development programs which greatly help in developing industrial, entrepreneurial and social skills in students as per the requirements of market. He said that the department is working on developing existing faculty in various skills and Principals have been empowered to take the services of any faculty across the country who has expertise in the selected skill. He appreciated Principals of host colleges for taking a lead in skill enhancement pursuits.
President ICSI, CS Ashish Garg, in his remarks, stated that the corporate world is in dire need of youth with problem solving skills. He assured that his institution will extend all support for successful implementation of MoU for larger benefit of students of Jammu & Kashmir.
Pertinently, the department of Higher education has signed MoUs with partner institutions like SKUAST (K), IIHM, SKIMS, Institute of Music and Fine Arts, JK Academy of Art Culture and Languages, IUST, Central University Kashmir, University of Kashmir and National Institute of Fashion Technology. The areas of collaboration are imparting skill to the undergraduates in the domains of IT and ITES, Food Technology, Hospitality and Catering, Pharmacy, Paramedical, Fashion Technology, Mass Communication and Journalism, Company Secretary, Cost accountancy. About 13 MoUs have so far been signed with different institutions for skill enhancement and one MoU with My transform for placements.

Shopian, Jan 19: An unidentified body was found in orchards of Tazipora Awneera area of Zainapora belt of South Kashmir’s Shopian district.
An official said that a body was spotted by some locals in orchards on Tuesday afternoon and accordingly informed the police.
A police officer said that a team has reached the spot and has recovered the dead body, saying that “identity of the body is being ascertained.”

New Delhi, Jan 19: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday led the former and current Indian cricketers in greeting Team India on their historic series win over Australia in Brisbane.
India won the fourth and final Test of the series with three wickets, clinching the series by 2-1. This is the first time Australia lost a Test match at Brisbane since 1988.
With 2-1 series triumph, India also retained the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. India had won a historic Test series Down Under two years back also.
Lauding the Indian cricket team, PM Narendra Modi said on Tuesday that the country is “overjoyed.”
‘We are all overjoyed at the success of the Indian Cricket Team in Australia. Their remarkable energy and passion was visible throughout. So was their stellar intent, remarkable grit and determination. Congratulations to the team! Best wishes for your future endeavours,’ Modi tweeted.
Tendulkar lauded every member of the team for taking responsibility and take the side across the line at some point during the series.
‘Every time we got hit, we stayed put & stood taller. We pushed boundaries of belief to play fearless but not careless cricket. Injuries & uncertainties were countered with poise & confidence. One of the greatest series wins! Congrats India,’ he tweeted.
‘Congratulations to #TeamIndia Flag of India for the historic victory and retaining the Border-Gavaskar trophy Trophy We are proud of your excellent performance and the grit & determination displayed by our young players,’ Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju said in a tweet.
Regular skipper Virat Kohli, who is on paternity leave, was happy by the team’s grit and determination.
‘ WHAT A WIN!!! Yessssss. To everyone who doubted us after Adelaide, stand up and take notice. Exemplary performance but the grit and determination was the standout for us the whole way. Well done to all the boys and the management. Enjoy this historic feat lads. @BCCI,’ Kohli said in a tweet.
‘@ajinkyarahane88 led the side brilliantly, giving a lot of confidence to youngsters and Pujara exhibited his steely resolve once again. Can’t forget the young bowling unit. Fantastic team AUSvsIND,’ VVS Laxman tweeted.

‘Khushi ke maare pagal. This is the new India. Ghar mein ghuskar maarta hai. From what happened in Adelaide to this, these young guys have given us a joy of a lifetime. There have been World Cup wins but this is special. And yes,there is a reason Pant is extra special,’ Virender Sehwag said in tweet.
‘Congrats to the Indian cricket team @BCCI That’s one of the best series wins I can ever remember on Aust soil & to do it after being bowled out for 36, plus a depleted squad-shows tremendous character, resilience, courage & belief. Just fantastic @RaviShastriOfc @ajinkyarahane88,’ former Australia spinner Shane Warne tweeted.

‘Speechless !!! Fortress Gabba has been breached !! What a great great game of Test match cricket . I still have goosebumps . Complete team effort . Jab hausle ho Buland toh har mushkil lage aasaan ! #TeamIndia Flag of India #Merabharatmahaan, ‘ Mithali Raj tweeted.

Srinagar, Jan 19: The government on Tuesday gave additional charge of CEO, Ayushman BharatPradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojna, to Choudhary Mohammad Yasin (IAS).
The 2015 batch IAS officer has been given the charge till further orders in addition to his duties as Mission Director, National Health Mission, J&K, according to a government order issued here, a copy of which lies with GNS.