Jammu Jan 8: Lieutenant Governor office in Jammu and Kashmir has partly delegated financial powers, involving various inter-departmental transactions, to officers of Forest Department.
A notification in this regard, lies with KNS, reads that “In exercise of the powers conferred by Section 67 of the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization Act, 2019, the Lieutenant Governor of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir is hereby pleased to delegate his Financial powers to accord Administrative Approval, Technical Sanctions, Award of Contracts, Sanction for sale of Minor Forest Produce and Crude resin, Sanction of Rewards and Power to issue raw drugs/minor forest produce in favour of the Officers of Forest Department.”
The (financial) powers as to their extent have been indicated in the Annexure appended to the notification. (KNS)

Chennai, Jan 8: Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan today said the COVID vaccination programme would be rolled out across the country very soon.
Talking to reporters after inspecting Tamil Nadu’s preparedness for administering the vaccine ahead of the roll out at the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital here, he said medical professionals have shown exemplary courage in tackling COVID in the country.
‘Earlier, we had only few labs. Now we have 2,300 labs for testing COVID. We are now exporting ventilators, PPE kits and N-95 masks’, he added.
Stating that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had taken proactive steps in tackling the corona, Dr Harsh Vardhan said frontline workers, sanitary workers, medical practitioners and defence personnel will get priority in the first phase of vaccination. Later, people above 50 years with co-morbidities will be vaccinated, he added.
‘We are happy that we have developed the vaccine in such a short period. we have now given emergency use license.’, he said.
‘Very shortly we will begin the vaccination programme across the country’, he said, adding, like how we eradicated polio, corona too would be eradicated.”
He lauded the Tamil Nadu government for tackling the COVID-19 and said the state handled the challenging situation by conducting 100 per cent RT-PCR tests and brought the virus spread under control. ‘State Government’s very good planning and management has brought the pandemic under control,” he added.

Jahangeer Ganaie
Srinagar, Jan 8: Jammu and Kashmir on Friday recorded four deaths due to COVID-19 taking the death toll to 1,907 in the Union Territory while 127 positive cases were reported taking the tally of positive cases to 122,303 in J&K.
Of the exact number of 122,303 cases, 71,656 are from Kashmir and 50,647 from Jammu division. Officials told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that among 127 new cases, 42 belong to Kashmir division while as 85 are from Jammu division, adding that the total number of positive cases in Kashmir division have reached to 71,656 including 69,261 recoveries and 1,198 deaths while as total number of positive cases in Jammu division have reached to 50,647 including 48,894 recoveries and 709 deaths.
The officials said that total number of active cases in Jammu and Kashmir are 2,241 including 1,197 from Kashmir division and 1,044 from Jammu division.
With 278 more recoveries, the tally of total recoveries in Jammu and Kashmir has reached to 118,155 which is 96.51 percent of the total cases.
“Cases tested positive in J&K include 22 from Srinagar, 05 from Baramulla, 04 from Budgam, 05 from Kupwara, 04 from Pulwama, 00 from Anantnag, 01 from Bandipora, 01 from Ganderbal, 00 from Kulgam and 00 from Shopian in Kashmir division while as 85 from Jammu division include 48 from Jammu, 06 from Udhampur, 05 from Rajouri, 05 from Doda, 04 from Kathua, 00 from Kishtwar, 10 from Samba, 03 from Poonch, 02 from Ramban and 02 from Reasi,” officials disclosed.
Notably, in the last 24 hours four persons who were tested positive for COVID-19 have died, among them two belong to Kashmir division and two to Jammu division.
As per media bulletin, patients who have died include one each from Budgam and Bandipora in Kashmir division and one each from Jammu and Rajouri in Jammu division.
As per officials figures, 25,554 positive cases including 451 deaths and 24,712 recoveries are from Srinagar, 8,019 including 172 deaths and 7,749 recoveries are from Baramulla, 7,653 including 7,463 recoveries and 111 deaths are from Budgam, 5,586 including 5,391 recoveries and 93 deaths are from Kupwara, 5,627 including 88 deaths and 5,387 recoveries are from Pulwama, 4,828 including 4,663 recoveries and 84 deaths are from Anantnag, 4,666 cases including 4,557 and 61 deaths are from Bandipora, 4,529 including 4,389 recoveries and 46 deaths are from Ganderbal, 2,666 including 2,562 recoveries and 53 deaths are from Kulgam and 2,528 including 2,388 recoveries and 39 deaths are from Shopian.
In Jammu division, 24,250 including 23,405 recoveries and 363 deaths are from Jammu district, 4,156 including 4,001 recoveries and 57 deaths are from Udhampur, 3,857 including 3,713 recoveries and 55 deaths are from Rajouri, 3,414 including 3,312 recoveries and 64 deaths are from Doda, 3,230 including 3,147 recoveries and 49 deaths are from Kathua, 2,726 including 2,688 recoveries and 22 deaths are from Kishtwar, 2,799 including 2,552 recoveries and 39 deaths are from Samba, 2,467 including 2,405 recoveries and 24 deaths are from Poonch, 2,118 including 2,070 recoveries and 21 deaths are from Ramban and 1,630 including 1,601 recoveries and 15 deaths are from Reasi.
As per the daily information bulletin, 937,286 persons in Jammu and Kashmir are under observation while 24,797 persons have been kept under home quarantine besides that 2,241 persons are in isolation.
According to the bulletin, 879,368 persons have completed surveillance period and 28,973 persons are under home surveillance besides that so far results of 4,034,984 samples are available.
Out of 4,034,984 the number of samples tested negative stands at 3,912,681 while as 122,303 have tested positive, among them 2,241 persons are active, 118,155 persons have recovered and 1,907 persons have died. (KNO)

Srinagar, Jan 8: The Covid-19 Vaccination dry run was today carried out in Budgam, Ganderbal, Pulwama, Baramulla, Kupwara and Kulgam districts of Kashmir division under the supervision of the respective district heads.
During the dry run doctors and paramedics were sensitized beforehand and were directed to plug all loopholes, if any found in the present exercise and ensure foolproof arrangements for the conduct of COVID-19 vaccination.
BUDGAM: District Development Commissioner (DDC) Budgam, Shahbaz Ahmad Mirza today inaugurated dry run exercise of Covid-19 vaccination at Sub District Hospital Kremshore.
The DDC also took stock of the arrangements put in place in the designated centers and was accompanied by Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Budgam, Dr Tajamul Hussain during the visit.

On the occasion, CMO informed the DDC that the Department of Health Budgam is fully geared up to undertake Covid-19 vaccination in the district. He also said that the designated centers have been fully equipped with requisite facilities including men and machinery.

The CMO informed that 3 similar centers have been established at SDH Nagam, SDH Beerwah and PHC Ichgam. He further said that at each center, 25 health care workers have been registered for dry run exercises, and once they are fully trained their services will be used for Covid-19 vaccination admission process.

He said under Ist phase, health care workers including Asha, Anganwandi workers will be administered the vaccine.

GANDERBAL: As a part of the nationwide exercise, the Department of Health and Family welfare Ganderbal today conducted a mock drive on COVID19 vaccination, here at District Hospital Ganderbal.

The dry mock drive was inaugurated by the Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Ganderbal, Farooq Ahmad Baba.

Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Mehraj-u-Din, Medical Superintendent, District Hospital, Dy. CHO Ganderbal and other concerned were present on the occasion.

The ADC, while speaking on the occasion, directed the concerned officers to work in a mission mode to ensure the successful conduct of the mock drive of the Covid-19 vaccination to avoid any inconvenience during the actual vaccination drive in the district.

Earlier, the Chief Medical Officer said that this exercise is being done to avoid loopholes when the COVID-19 vaccine becomes available for use.

A total of 25 beneficiaries who were already scheduled for vaccination on Co-WIN App were vaccinated following all Covid SOPs who were then kept under observation in the observation room for 30 minutes.

Meanwhile, the functioning of Co-WIN App, on which all beneficiaries are going to be uploaded, was demonstrated to the participants.

Similar mock drive on Covid-19 vaccination was also conducted at SDH Kangan and PHC Lar.

PULWAMA: The dry run of Covid-19 vaccination was today inaugurated by Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Pulwama, Dr Haseena at Tahab of Pulwama block.

The CMO monitored the sessions of administration of COVID-19 vaccination to the beneficiaries at the selected sites.

Besides Tahab, the dry run was also held at CHC, Rajpora and NTPHC, Samboora where all the operational guidelines for COVID-19 vaccination roll out were followed in letter and spirit.

The Chief Medical Officer on the occasion informed that all protocols pertaining to vaccinations were strictly followed in all the three locations and elaborated that three rooms as per the guidelines, designated for COVID-19 vaccination were set-up. These rooms included the Waiting room, Vaccination room and the Observation room.

CMO informed that 25 beneficiaries from each vaccination site were pre-identified and uploaded on to the COWIN portal. Also five members Trained Vaccination Team already uploaded on COWIN App were present with pre-designated roles and responsibilities.

She said special attention was also given to AEFI Management and on disposal of bio-medical waste.

BARAMULLA: Deputy Commissioner Baramulla Dr G N Itoo today kick-started the COVID-19 vaccine dry run campaign across the district.

In this connection, a brief function was organised by Sheeri Medical Block of health department at UPHC Old Town Baramulla where the DC was invited as the chief guest to launch the campaign.

The DC on the occasion complimented the health functionaries of the district and said that they worked tirelessly during the tough time that emerged due to pandemic outbreak.

Dr Itoo also informed that about 300 health workers from across the district have been chosen to get vaccinated in the dry run campaign.

Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Medical Superintendent Associated Hospital GMC, Nodal Officer, Block Medical Officer Sheeri and other concerned officers were present on the occasion.

Similar functions were also organised at GMC Baramulla, Sopore and Pattan where several health workers were vaccinated as part of the dry run campaign

KUPWARA: The dry run for Covid-19 vaccination was today held at Primary Health Centre (PHC) Nutnusa, under the supervision of Deputy Commissioner (DC) Kupwara, Anshul Garg here.

During the day-long exercise, more than 25 health workers were administered dummy vaccines aimed at to test the mechanisms and find possible gaps in the system ahead of the actual Covid-19 vaccination.

The DC stressed upon all the stakeholders to work with added dedication so that better results are achieved at ground level.

Earlier, the DC inspected the Vaccination Room, Observation Room and Waiting Room of the PHC and took stock of the preparations for carrying out the vaccination process.

The DC on the occasion was accompanied by ADC Kupwara, Nazir Ahmad Lone, Chief Medical Officer Kupwara and other concerned officers.

Similar Dry Run exercises were carried out at PHC Trehgam and PHC Drugmulla with participation of 25 Health Workers at each location.

KULGAM: The District Administration along with the Health Department Kulgam today organised a dry run of Covid-19 vaccination in the district.
The dry run was held to assess operational feasibility, to test the linkages between planning and implementation, and identify the challenges prior to actual implementation of COVID-19 vaccinations here.
While sharing the details, the CMO said that the sole purpose of this dry run is to ensure smooth conduct of Covid-19 vaccinations and to check and fill the gaps if any imperative for conducting Covid-19 vaccinations smoothly and successfully in the district.
It was informed that earlier dry run was carried out at District Hospital Kulgam and Yaripora hospitals and today the dry run exercise was carried out at Emergency Hospital Qazigund, PHC Frisal and NTPHC Srandoo.

Kashmiri lawyer files petition, seeks examination centre in Srinagar
Srinagar, Jan 8: Jammu Kashmir High Court Friday directed Bar Counsel of India to consider the representation of Kashmiri Lawyers to get an examination centre established in Kashmir Valley for the ‘All India Bar Examination.
Pertinently, ‘All India Bar Examination’ is being conducted with no examination centre in Kashmir capital Srinagar. The aspirants are decrying injustice, appealing the Bar Council to set up an examination centre somewhere in Srinagar.
Advocate Parvaiz Lone filed a writ petition before J&K High Court seeking directions for Chairman Bar Counsel of India to establish Examination Centre for Kashmir Division in Srinagar. The petitioner in his petition submitted that it is very hectic and undesirable for Kashmiri aspirants to visit Jammu.
Justice Sanjeev Kumar after hearing the arguments of Advocate Parvaiz Lone directed Chairman Bar Counsel of India to consider the representation and decide the same before the commencement of this examination. (KNT)

Animal Husbandry Deptt urges people to take precautions; Ban on import of poultry to be reviewed after one week
Sheikh Danish
Srinagar, Jan 8: The Animal husbandry department on Friday said that there are no reports about death of any bird anywhere across the Valley, saying that the government has so far managed to control the bird flu and that the decision to ban the import of poultry will be reviewed after one week.
While interacting with KNO, Deputy Director Animal Husbandry, Ghulam Ahmad Lone said that the government has already taken steps to control the bird flu. “Ito Control the bird flu here in J&K, the Principal Secretary has already issued a circular wherein he has banned the import of poultry,” he said.

He added so far, the department has managed to control the flu as there was no report from anywhere about the death of any bird.

“We have formed groups of district and village level officers to monitor the situation, who are visiting the places falling under their jurisdiction. After banning the import, we will have to wait till one week and later the decision will be reviewed accordingly,” he said.

He further stated that people have to take precautionary measures. “There is no harm in having paltry or eggs. But, precautionary measures must be taken. The poultry meat should be boiled for 20 minutes and people should have only boiled eggs for some time,” he said.

He added that the people associated with poultry should also wash their hands quickly and also wear proper protection kits after entering into the poultry farms, adding that the waste should also be disposed off properly.

JKPSC issues notification for 257 post
Precious Kashmir News
Srinagar, Jan 8: The Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission Friday advertised several posts to carry pit recruitment through the Combined Competitive (Preliminary) Examination, 2021.
In an order the commission said that it has received a requisition from the government for carrying out recruitment to various posts through the combined competitive examination.
As per the order around 257 posts of which 141 will be filled through J&K Police (G) service, 60 through J&K Accounts (G) service and 56 through Junior Scale of J&K Administrative Service.
The order states that the vacancies will be filled up in accordance with the provisions contained in the Jammu and Kashmir combined competitive examination rules 2018 (SRO-103).
“Notification inviting application for the preliminary examination is likely to be issued in the 3rd week of January,” the order reads.
It further states the preliminary examination is likely to be held in the last week of June or 1st week of July, 2021. (KNO)

Kupwara, Jan 8: An Army porter Friday afternoon received injuries in a landmine explosion at Nad Tangdhar in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district while he was collecting wood for personal use.
Defence sources told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that an Army porter received injuries in a foot in a landmine explosion at Nad in Tangdhar sector this afternoon.
They identified the injured as Showkat Ahmad Check, son of Late Ghulam Rasool Check of Tangdhar Nad.
They said that the injured porter was not on duty and had gone to the area to collect the wood for personal use only.
They added that the injured was evacuated to Sub District Hospital (SDH) Tangdhar where he is being treated for the injuries in the foot while his condition is stated to be stable.

Meanwhile, a senior police official also confirmed the incident and injury to an Army porter. (KNO)

New Delhi, Jan 8: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will on Monday chair a meeting with the chief ministers of all states regarding vaccination against the coronavirus that is expected to start later this month. The meeting will be held at 4 PM, sources said.
The meeting to discuss vaccine rollout comes days after the country’s drug regulator approved restricted emergency use of two vaccines against Covid – Serum Institute’s Covishield and Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin.
Covishield – developed by Oxford University and being manufactured by Serum Institute – is over 70 percent effective. Covaxin is currently on phase 3 trials but is “safe and provides a robust immune response,” the drug regulator had said last week.
Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan today said that the vaccines could be made available as early as the “next few days”.

The government has ensured that every detail of the vaccination programme is conveyed to the people, he added.
The minister today reviewed the second national dry run to test the country’s vaccine delivery system before rollout.

“We can’t expect the administration to clear every lane and bye-lane. If we want to come out from our homes we will have to put in some effort and we are doing it.”

Srinagar, Jan 8: The government on Friday extended ban on high-speed 3G and 4G internet services in Jammu and Kashmir, barring Ganderbal and Udhampur districts, till January 22.
The Home Department in an order issued here said that “certain restrictions” have been placed on access to high speed mobile data connectivity to “curb uploading/downloading/circulation of provocative videos and defeat the nefarious designs of the forces within and from across the border to create a narrative by running a disinformation campaign.”
“The apprehensions of the law enforcement agencies regarding misuse of high speed mobile data services for infiltration and for coordinating (militant) activities gets credence from investigation of ongoing cases and recent incident of interception of (militants) and recoveries of arms/ammunition, with increased activity on the IB/LoC,” reads the order, a copy of which lies with GNS.
“Now, therefore, on consideration of the overall security scenario and the reports of the law enforcement agencies inter-alia bringing out the necessity for continuation of speed related restrictions on mobile data services to prevent misuse of social media as also taking note of the (militant) activities during the last fortnight, I, Principal Secretary to the Government, Home Department, being satisfied that it is absolutely necessary so to do, in the interest of the sovereignty and integrity of India, the Security of the State and for maintaining public order, ….hereby order that the directions/restrictions contained in Government Order No. 143(TSTS) of 2020 dated 25.12.2020 shall continue to remain operative till 22nd January, 2021, unless modified earlier.”
The IGsP, Kashmir and Jammu shall communicate these directions to the service providers forthwith and ensure their implementation in letter and spirit, the order adds. (GNS)