Srinagar, Jan 12: There was some relief from chilly weather conditions on Tuesday even as bright sunshine greeted people though ice cold winds continued in the summer capital, Srinagar, and other parts of the Valley.
Meanwhile, world famous ski resort of Gulmarg was the coldest place in the valley after the mercury dipped about 2 degree from Monday and settled at minus 11.2 degree.
A Met department spokesperson said the weather will remain dry during the next about three days. “The dry weather will result in considerable dip in the night temperature though the maximum temperature is expected to improve due to sunshine”.
After witnessing above normal night temperature despite a slight dip, people woke up to a chilly Tuesday morning in Srinagar due to overcast conditions, coupled with ice cold winds. However, as the day progressed sun came out from behind the cloudy though ice cold winds continued. Against minus 0.2 degree recorded on Monday, the night temperature in Srinagar was minus 0.9 degree, which is over a degree above normal.
Gulmarg, where the ski slopes are covered under several feet of snow, was the coldest place in the valley at minus 11.2 degree, which is 3 degree below normal.
“Despite chilly weather conditions, the tourists are out on ski slopes enjoying different snow related activities. All the ski slopes have been thrown open for tourists,” a hotelier from Gulmarg told UNI over the phone.
The night temperature at world famous health resort of Pahalgam, about 100 km from here in south Kashmir, dipped and settled at minus 5.3 degree, against minus 4.6 degree recorded on Monday. The night temperature was 2 degree above normal.
The mercury at Qazigund, gateway to the valley, Kupwara in north Kashmir and tourist resort of Kukernag settled at minus 1.4 degree, minus 1.8 degree and minus 3.9 degree, respectively.

‘Pak, China together form a potent threat; Islamabad continues to embrace militancy’

New Delhi, Jan 12:  Amid ongoing border tension with China, Indian Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane on Tuesday said that there has not been any decrease in the strength of troops either on the Chinese side or Indian side as far as friction points are concerned.

He was of the view that issues will be addressed between the two countries on the basis of mutual and equal security and exuded confidence that the two sides would be able to resolve the issue. He was addressing the annual press conference here, ahead of the Army Day on January 15.

“Every year PLA troops come to traditional training areas. With winter and completion of the training period, training areas have been vacated. Fair to assume those troops who were in-depth areas in Tibetan Plateau have gone back and that’s the reduction in strength on the plateau,” the Army Chief said. “There has been no decrease in strength either on their side (China) or our side as far as the friction points are concerned,” he said.

General Naravane said that there has been no change in the status quo in Eastern Ladakh and asserted that both sides would be able to reach an agreement, which would result in disengagement and de-escalation.

“As far as the situation in Eastern Ladakh is concerned, the situation is the same as prevailing last year. There has been no change in the status quo,’ he said.

Referring to the resolution of the present situation, he expressed the hope that based on the principle of mutual and equal security, the two sides would be able to reach an agreement that would result in disengagement and de-escalation and disengagement from the friction areas. “And, once de-escalation has been achieved then an overall de-escalation and a reduction in strength of the troops in the forward areas,” he said.

Asserting that the Army has maintained a high state of alertness all along the northern borders, he said, “We are hoping for a peaceful solution but are ready to meet any eventuality. All logistics are taken care of.’

The Army Chief’s note of caution and hope came even as the troops of India and China are facing a military stand-off in eastern Ladakh since April-May, 2020.

On being asked about the mobilisation by China in last summer, the Army chief said it was nothing new, they came for usual training in the areas, and that the Indian army is ready.

The Army chief said that Pakistan and China together form a potent threat and the threat of collusivity cannot be wished away.

“Pakistan continues to embrace militancy. We have zero-tolerance for militancy. We reserve our right to respond at a time and place of our own choosing and with precision. This is a clear message we have sent across,’ General Naravane said.

He said that a broad roadmap has been prepared to bring in all the new technologies to develop a technology-enabled army to meet challenges of future.

“The Army is in the middle of restructuring and are transforming from manpower to technology-intensive force, and we are looking at blockchain, big data, artificial intelligence and quantum computing. We are fully committed to various integrated commands. We will calibrate for smooth transition,” he said.

The Army chief said land surpluses like those from the soon-to-be closed military farms would be used to seek infrastructure of equal value.

On a recent report on stress in the military, he said the report was not based on an adequate sample size.

Ex ministers, public delegation call on LG Sinha
Precious Kashmir News
Jammu, Jan 12: A public delegation from Rajouri led by former Minister and senior leader of J&K Apni Party, Chowdhary Zulfkar Ali called on Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha at the Raj Bhavan here Tuesday.
The delegation hailed the government for initiating the implementation of Forest Rights Act for betterment of tribal community.
He further apprised the Lt Governor about various developmental issues of Rajouri area including augmentation of Banking facilities, upgradation of health facilities, besides other issues of public importance.
Similarly, former Minister, Abdul Ghani Kohli met the Lt Governor and submitted a memorandum of demands pertaining to the welfare issues of Gujjar-Bakerwal community including creation of Gujjar scout; setting up of model Eklavya institutions; transport facilities for nomadic people, among others.
He expressed his gratitude towards the Lt Governor led UT Government for taking several measures for the upliftment and holistic development of Gujjar-Bakerwal community of J&K.
The Lt Governor, while interacting with the members of the delegations, observed that for the first time in history, the tribal community of J&K has been provided forest rights and a new chapter of their development is being written.
He assured the members of the delegations that all the genuine issues projected by them would be taken up on merit for their redressal and urged the former Ministers to continue working towards welfare of the people.

‘No option to choose from 2 vaccines, doses to be given 28 days apart’
Agencies
New Delhi, Jan 12: The government has committed to buy from the Serum Institute further 4.5 crore doses of Oxford COVID-19 vaccine, Covishield, at a price of Rs 200 per shot plus applicable taxes by April, in addition to a firm order given to the company for 1.1 crore doses. Flights have started ferrying the vaccines to different cities from Pune from Tuesday morning.
According to the purchase order placed on Monday, each dose of the vaccine has been priced at Rs 200 and with GST of Rs 10, it would cost Rs 210. The HLL Lifecare Limited, a public sector undertaking, issued the supply orders on behalf of the Union Health Ministry on Monday.
The first order of 1.1 crore doses of Covishield will be worth Rs 231 crore, while the total amount, including the commitment for 4.5 crore doses will amount to an estimated Rs 1,176 crore at current rates, according to sources. “It is further informed that there is a commitment to purchase further 450 lakh doses from Serum Institute of India Pvt Limited, a manufacturer (through subsidiary Serum Institute of Life Sciences Pvt Limited) at Rs 200 per dose plus GST if applicable by April 2021,” the letter of comfort signed by Prakash Kumar Singh, Additional Director, Government and Regulatory Affairs at Serum Institute of India (SII) and R S Manku, Vice President (Govt Business) stated.
“This is in continuation to the supply order dated January 11 for supply of 1.1 crore doses of Covishield vaccine as approved by DCGI vide permission dated January 3 for restricted use in emergency situation,” it stated. The government on Monday also placed an order to Bharat Biotech for 55 lakh doses of indigenously developed Covaxin costing Rs 162 crore. India had recently approved two vaccines, Oxford’s Covishield manufactured by SII in the country and Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin, for restricted emergency use.
The country will launch its COVID-19 vaccination drive from January 16 in what Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called the world’s largest inoculation programme with priority to be given to nearly three crore healthcare and frontline workers. According to the COVID-19 Vaccine Operational Guidelines, the shots will be offered first to an estimated one crore healthcare workers, and around two crore frontline workers, and then to persons above 50 years of age, followed by persons younger than 50 years of age with associated comorbidities based on evolving pandemic situation.
Meanwhile, the healthcare and frontline workers who will be inoculated in the first phase of the vaccination drive against Covid-19 starting Saturday will have no option to choose from the two vaccines that have been given emergency use approval, the union health ministry said on Tuesday.
The government has approved two vaccines – Covishield, the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine manufactured by Serum Institute of India, and Covaxin, which has been developed by Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech together with the Indian Council of Medical Research.
In a joint press conference by the health ministry, ICMR and the Niti Aayog, officials also clarified that the two doses of the vaccine will be administered 28 days apart, and the vaccine is expected to offer protection 14 days after the second dose is given.
The recipients of the vaccine will get a message one day before they are to be administered the vaccine. Officials said that 1 crore registrations have already been completed for the vaccination drive on CO-Win app, the IT platform that has emerged as the backbone of the massive programme set to be rolled out across the country on January 16.
The two companies whose vaccines have been approved have already started dispatching the shots to various cities. Airlines were due to deliver 56.5 lakh doses on Tuesday to various cities, Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said on Twitter.

Nadeem Nadu
Srinagar, Jan 12: Three travelers were among 113 fresh novel coronavirus cases reported in Jammu and Kashmir in the last 24 hours, officials said on Tuesday. Also, one person died due to the virus, taking the fatality count to 1912 in J&K.
Among the fresh cases, they said, 65 are from Jammu Division and 48 from Kashmir Valley, taking the total tally to 122764.
Giving district-wise details, they said, Srinagar reported 24 cases, Baramulla 5, Budgam 2, Pulwama 5, Kupwara 3, Anantnag 1, Bandipora 2, Ganderbal 2, Kulgam 2, Shopian 2, Jammu 48, Udhampur 5, Rajouri 0, Doda 2, Kathua 1, Samba 4, Kishtwar 0, Poonch 1, Ramban 2 and Reasi 2.
Moreover, they said, 198 more Covid-19 patients have recovered and were discharged from various hospitals—98 from Jammu Division and 100 from Kashmir valley. The number of active cases has reduced to 1682 in J&K.
The officials said total number of active cases in Jammu and Kashmir are 1,682 including 847 from Kashmir division and 835 from Jammu division.
With 198 more recoveries, the tally of total recoveries in Jammu and Kashmir has reached 119,170 which is 97.07 percent of the total cases.
As per the officials, 970,625 persons in Jammu and Kashmir are under observation while 33,336 persons have been kept under home quarantine besides that 1,682 persons are in isolation.
897,576 persons have completed surveillance period and 36,119 persons are under home surveillance besides that so far results of 4,138,707 samples are available.
Out of 4,138,707 the number of samples tested negative stands at 4,015,943 while as 122,764 have tested positive, among them 1,682 persons are active, 119,170 persons have recovered and 1,912 persons have died. (GNS)

New Delhi, Jan 12: The Supreme Court on Tuesday suspended the implementation of three farm laws until further orders and constituted a four-member committee to understand the ground situation and get a clear picture about the laws.
After hearing a batch of pleas challenging the newly enacted agriculture reform laws, a three-Judge Bench headed by Chief Justice S A Bobde and comprising Justices A S Bopanna and V Ramasubramaniam said, “We are going to suspend the implementation of the three farm laws until further orders… there will be a committee to hold talks.”
On Monday, the Apex Court had expressed displeasure over Centre’s way of dealing with the farm protests. “We are extremely disappointed with the way Centre is dealing with this,” the Court had averred and asked the government, if it would suspend implementation of the three farm laws or the court should step in.
Today, senior counsel ML Sharma, representing the farmers’ unions, submitted that the real facts about farmers could not be placed before the court on Monday, saying the peasants are not willing to appear before any committee.
“We have the power to suspend the legislation. But the suspension of legislation must not be for an empty purpose. We will form a committee which will submit a report to us,” the Court said.
The committee, comprising of experts of agriculture and agri-economics is expected to play a significant role in resolving the impasse between the farmers and Centre. This expert panel includes Bhupinder Singh Mann of the Bharatiya Kisan Union, Anil Ghanwat of Shetkari Sanghatana, Dr Pramod Kumar Joshi and agricultural economist Ashok Gulati.
The court made its point saying this is not ‘politics’, adding there is a difference between politics and judiciary and asked the farmer unions to cooperate.
Senior lawyers Dushyant Dave, HS Phoolka, Colin Gonsalves, who represent 400 farmers’ bodies, were not present during the course of hearing on Tuesday. “They were supposed to consult the farmers on formation of a committee and come back today,” apprised senior counsel Harish Salve.
During the proceedings, the CJI said there is an application which claims that a banned organisation is helping in the farmers’ protest, which has entered 45th day today. “Can the Attorney-General accept or deny it?” CJI Bobde asked. In reply, Attorney General KK Venugopal said, “We have said that Khalistanis have infiltrated into the protests.” In response, the CJI directed the A-G to file an affidavit by Wednesday.
Meanwhile, the farmers who are camped out around Delhi in large numbers since late November – made this clear, as they did back then and in December, when they said “now is not the time for a committee”.
They also called an urgent meeting of farmers’ bodies at 1400 hrs on Tuesday regarding Supreme Court’s judgement.

Escape tunnel likely to be completed by March- end
Precious Kashmir News
Srinagar, Jan 12: The Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Pandurang K Pole Tuesday chaired a meeting to review pace and progress made on Z- MORH and Zojila tunnels connecting Kashmir with the Ladakh region.
At the outset, Executive Director, NHIDCL, gave a detailed Power Point Presentation (PPP) of Z-Morh tunnel, construction of approach roads, lanes, protective walls, drains besides the road and other projects.
The chair was informed that despite the snowfall the work process was going on smoothly on Zojila tunnel.
At the outset, the Div Com said that the 65 percent physical work has been completed on Z- MORH while as its escape tunnel is likely to be completed by March- ending.
He said that despite snowfall and harsh weather conditions, the work was going on smoothly almost on all road and tunnel projects.
Stressing on the speedy work process, the Div Com instructed concerned to ensure prompt response by all concerned departments to all bottlenecks causing inconveniences in the construction process.
He emphasized on immediate lifting of scrap from the Z- MORH site and ensure adequate dumping site facility is provided to the concerned for dumping purpose.
He further stressed on providing uninterrupted power supply and carrying out snow clearance work on all approach roads and sites.
The Div Com directed concerned to ensure land acquisition process is completed with release of compensation to the land losers at the earliest.
At the outset, the Div Com also reviewed the status of various other projects including approach roads of Srinagar-Zojila and Kargil, Gulmarg- Baramulla Highway, Vailoo- Donipawa Ashajipora Alstop beisdes various other proposed road projects in Kashmir.
Div Com directed concerned to put all men and machinery into service and expedite the work process.
The meeting was informed that the deadline for the tunnel is December -21, 2023 however, a bonus upto Rs 400 crores shall be provided to the concerned agency if the project is completed before it’s set deadline.
Among others, the meeting was attended by Executive Director, NHIDCL, Anand Pahal, Commandant HAWS, CE Beacon and other concerned.
While DC Kargil and ADC Gabderbal other concerned also attended the meeting through videoconferencing.

CS reviews easing business establishment process
Precious Kashmir News
Jammu, Jan 12: Chief Secretary, B V R Subrahmanyam Tuesday chaired a meeting to review the measures to be taken for easing the business establishment process in Jammu and Kashmir.
Administrative Secretaries of departments of Revenue, Animal/Sheep Husbandry & Fisheries, Power Development Department, Industries & Commerce, Forest, Ecology & Environment, Labour & Employment, and Jal Shakti, besides Secretary, Pollution Control Board (PCB) and concerned HoDs participated in the meeting.
It was informed that currently entrepreneurs face various challenges at the pre-establishment stage in acquiring various NOCs and clearances through a cumbersome process which has retarded the growth of industries in Jammu & Kashmir.
To ease the business establishment process in J&K, the Industries & Commerce Department proposed a reduction of compliance burden by doing away with certain NOCs, while relaxing several pre-requisite approval/clearances for initial 2 years.
Emphasizing the importance of a pro-active engagement by the Industries & Commerce Department, Chief Secretary urged the Department to promptly and proportionately reduce the registration-related documentation required for setting up Red, Orange, Green & White categories of business units inside the designated industrial estates.
Chief Secretary also advised the Department to bring a proposal for providing interim permission/provisional registration to entrepreneurs on the basis of a few essential clearances including ‘consent to establish’ from the Pollution Control Board, whereas the rest can be obtained within a period of 2 years. Additionally, PCB was also asked to enhance the validity of ‘consent to establish’ from the existing 1 year to 3 years.
Further, Chief Secretary asked the I&C Department to nominate SIDCO as the Nodal Agency for grant of permissions related to electricity, water, sewerage connections to the units being established inside industrial estates. For a periodic review of grant of these permissions, a committee chaired by the General Manager, District Industries Centre and respective Manager Estates, SIDCO was asked to be put in place.
The Department was also advised to evaluate the establishment of ‘J&K Enterprise Promotion Board’ under the Chairmanship of Administrative Secretary, Industries & Commerce Department to further review the issues pertaining to the establishment of Industries in Jammu & Kashmir.

Precious Kashmir News
Srinagar, Jan 12: The Food Safety department has asked all the business operators especially those selling local snacks including Nader Moonji, Pakoodas, Samosas and allied food articles to stop usage of cooking oil with Total Polar Compounds (TPC) above 25 percent.
As per an official handout, the said food business operators have been directed to monitor used cooking oil and if the percentage of TPC is above 25 percent, such oil should be stored separately which will be collected against cash payment by Arise Green Private Ltd RUCO Industrial Area Phulera Tehsil Phulera district Jaipur, Rajasthan through their representative M/S Shushil Vaishnav, Mob. No 9983635111.
It has been informed that the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India in association with the Biodiesel Association of India has flagged off Repurpose Used Cooking Oil (RUCO) Project to convert vegetable oil, animal fats into biodiesel for running diesel vehicles or any other equipment that uses diesel.
RUCO enables the collection of edible cooking oil by authorised agencies from food business operators and individual users which can then be transferred to a plant to make biodiesel.
Meanwhile, the Food Safety Department has warned Food business operators found using cooking oil having more than 25 percent TPC adding that the erring shall be dealt strictly as per provisions of Food Safety & Standards Act.

Jammu, Jan 12: For Bamboo Entrepreneurship and Bamboo Infrastructure Development, Jammu and Kashmir Administration and North East Cane and Bamboo Development Council (NECBDC) on Tuesday signed Memorandum of Understanding here.
The signing ceremony of MoU between UT of Jammu and Kashmir and North East Cane and Bamboo Development Council (NECBDC) for Bamboo Entrepreneurship and Bamboo Infrastructure Development in J&K was held at Convention Center.
Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and MOS (IC) Ministry of DoNER and MoS, PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space Dr Jitendra Singh with other dignitaries, attended the occasion.