Jammu, Jan 7: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha Thursday said that J&K is a very sensitive Union Territory and that he will come up with facts about the Lawaypora encounter at an “appropriate time.”
“Let me tell you that J&K is a very sensitive UT. I have noted all versions including that of forces’ and the families of the (slain trio). I will come up with facts before you at an appropriate time,” he said, while replying to a query that families of slain trio have alleged that their sons were killed in a “stage managed encounter” and that the bodies should be handed over to them while a probe should be initiated at the highest level. (KNO)
Lawaypora encounter: Will come up with facts at an appropriate time
LG launches ‘Satark Nagrik,’ ACB portal
Precious Kashmir News
Jammu, Jan 7: Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha today launched Mobile Application ‘Satark Nagrik’ and Departmental Vigilance Officers Portal of J&K Anti Corruption Bureau here at the Civil Secretariat.
Speaking on the occasion, the Lt Governor observed that the UT Government is taking comprehensive measures for ensuring transparent, accountable, and responsive governance.
Taking a yet another step in this direction, the mobile application launched today has been developed with a purpose to facilitate seamless flow of information about corruption and enable citizens to submit their grievances with ease and mobility. Any citizen having an android based device can download the application from play store. A unique ID number will be allotted at the time of registration of grievance which later can be used to track the status of grievance.
The Lt Governor remarked that the most effective antidote to corruption is an active, involved, and empowered citizenry. “Each one of us must set new benchmark by adopting zero tolerance for corrupt practices. It must be understood that all the malpractices, nepotism and other such practices, be it governmental or other organizational, hurt the common citizen and the governance. Therefore, we must all join hands and pledge to root it out of the system”, the Lt Governor observed.
Terming effective use of Information Technology and dissemination of information to all stakeholders through web portals / mobile applications as a key player in curbing malpractices, the Lt Governor said such interventions will help us to create efficient, transparent and accountable systems with no scope for arbitrariness and discretion while enabling better quality and efficient delivery of services.
The Departmental Vigilance Officers (DVO) Portal has been designed to enable an online communication channel with the DVOs of various departments. In certain cases, the complaints are related to ongoing works, current recruitments, and payments yet to be made against contracts etc. By referring these matters to DVOs, violations/ shortcomings can immediately be rectified and loss to the state exchequer can be prevented.
Manoj Kumar Dwivedi, Commissioner/Secretary to the Government, GAD informed the Lt Governor that a huge number of pending complaints at the level of DVO’s and other levels necessitated the need for use of technology to ensure real time monitoring mechanism of these complaints.
The DVO portal will go a long way in streamlining the disposal of corruption complaints, besides helping the DVOs to submit fact finding reports. It will help to redress grievances in a systematic manner by enabling monitoring of the status of DVO matters and Citizens Grievances assigned to DVOs at ACB Central Office. Through this portal, periodical reports can be generated on the basis of pendency and disposal of each DVO, he added.
During the program, the Lt Governor instructed the officers for exploring possibility for developing a similar application for keeping track of various pending court cases department-wise and real time information about the status of those cases for generating reports and enabling their disposal in a much more systematic manner.
A detailed briefing was given by Anand Jain, Director ACB on the recent Performance of Anti Corruption Bureau. It was outlined that during the Lt Governor’s administration, the crusade against corruption has taken a new leap and ACB has tightened the noose on the corrupts with Recovery/ Seizure of funds to tune of Rs.202 crore in one of the cases, increase in trap cases, attachment of assets worth crores and arrest of high profile officials/ persons.
It was also informed that up to 31st December, 2020, 71 cases were registered. 48 cases were charge-sheeted during the period. Out of total registration of 2020, 10 cases were registered as trap cases in which the government officials were caught red handed while demanding and accepting bribe from the public in the course of their duty, whereas 08 Disproportionate Assets (DA) cases were registered.
Investigation of some of the cases was completed in record time and a good number of cases have resulted in conviction, wherein some high ranking public servants have been found guilty of criminal misconduct.
BVR Subrahmanyam, Chief Secretary; Manoj Kumar Dwivedi, Commissioner/Secretary to the Government, General Administration Department (GAD); Anand Jain, Director ACB and other senior officers were present on the occasion.
Amit Shah hails CCEA approval for J&K’s development
New Delhi, Jan 7: Union Home Minister Amit Shah has hailed the CCEA approval to the Central Sector Scheme for Industrial Development of Jammu & Kashmir.
In a series of tweets, Shri Amit Shah said, “The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has started development in Jammu and Kashmir by ridding it of terrorism and separatism. The approval of the Rs. 28,400 crore central Sector Scheme for the industrial development of Jammu and Kashmir by the Cabinet illustrates the special place that Jammu and Kashmir hold in the heart of Modi ji.”
The Union Home Minister said, “It is Modiji’s visionary leadership as a result of which, for the first time, a scheme is taking industrial development to the block level. This will give a boost to domestic manufacturing and open up the path of employment generation up to the block level.
For this, I congratulate Shri Narendra Modi ji.”
Amit Shah said, “This scheme will prove to be a boon for cottage industry, handicrafts, micro, small and medium industries of Jammu and Kashmir. It will spur the setting up of new MSME units in the manufacturing and services sector, as well as encourage the expansion of existing units.”
He also said, “this scheme will usher in a new dawn of prosperity in Jammu and Kashmir. It will attract unprecedented investment and will provide employment to about 4.5 lakh people.
This will lead to the skill development of youth and strengthen existing industries so that Jammu and Kashmir will become as capable as other regions of the country.”
Kashmir: Weather improves, minimum temperature plummets
‘Majority of roads in Srinagar still snow bound’
Owais Gul
Srinagar, Jan 7: After improvement in the weather conditions across Kashmir, the night temperature has plummeted across the Valley on Thursday while people across the Valley had to face tremendous hardship as most of the roads were not cleared despite the passage of two days.
The minimum temperature has plummeted across the Valley and the weatherman here has predicted further dip in the night temperature from Jan 9.
Deputy Director Meteorological department, Mukhtar Ahmad said that the minimum temperature has gone down as compared to previous night while there is a possibility of further dip by one to two degree Celsius from the intervening night of Thursday-Friday.
He added that the temperature would go further down after January 09. Earlier on Wednesday, he had told KNO that the plains would receive light snowfall on January 09 and higher reaches would experience moderate snowfall on the particular day, adding that the weather would remain mainly dry till January 15.
MeT spokesman while divulging the details said that the night temperature in Srinagar, the summer capital of J&K settled at minus 0.8 degree Celsius, adding that Gulmarg, a famous ski-resort recorded minus 8.5 degree Celsius temperature last night. Pahalgam recorded minus 2.5 degree Celsius, he said.
Pertinently, Valley received a three-day snow spell from January 3, which brought the life to stand still.
Meanwhile, the people across the Valley including in Old City areas here continued to face tremendous hardships as the situation on maximum of the roads remained unchanged.
Locals said that most of the link roads and other interiors have not been cleared in the last two days, thus adding to the miseries of people especially the patients.
Eyewitnesses said that people at many places were seen pushing the vehicles carrying patients on roads. The locals were also seen clearing the roads in their respective areas amid the lackadaisical approach of the authorities. (KNO)
Air traffic resumes at Srinagar Airport
Srinagar, Jan 7: Air traffic resumed on Thursday after remaining suspended at Srinagar International Airport for four days due to snowfall and poor visibility.
The first flight from Delhi has landed here, officials said adding that another flight from Jammu also arrived.
Fresh snowfall on Sunday forced cancellation of all incoming and outgoing flights at Srinagar airport. This was followed by heavy snowfall on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, they said, adding that all flights were cancelled. However, following improvement in the weather after Wednesday afternoon after fresh morning snowfall, snow clearance at run was completed last night.
Today the visibility has improved and run was fit for landing and taking off, they said.
Meanwhile, passengers said there was a heavy rush of travelers today due to cancellation of all flights for the past four days. ‘We were reaching airport in the morning only to return home in the afternoon daily for the past four days’, they said, adding that there was also confusion as the Airport authorities remained silent about the status of flights during all these days. ‘We had to return to our homes in the evening since Sunday after all flights were being cancelled. Tourists also had face the similar situation and had to return to their hotels. However, tourism department and house boat owners besides a student organisation have offered free accommodation to stranded tourists in the Valley. There was a sharp increase in the air fare after the highway closure and cancellation of air traffic, passengers alleged.
People associated with tourism industry also expressed concern over the steep increase in airfare. ‘We were expecting a good winter season but unjustified increase in airfare will force tourists to travel to other places in the country because of low air fare’, they said and demanded immediate intervention by Union Territory (UT) and central governments.
Kashmir highway remains shut, thousands stranded
Srinagar, Jan 7: The 270-km-long Srinagar-Jammu national highway, the only all weather road connecting Kashmir valley with the rest of the country, remained closed for the fifth day on Thursday due to accumulation of snow, land and mudslides and shooting stones.
The historic 86-km-long Mughal Road, which was being used as alternative to Srinagar-Jammu national highway in summer, also remained closed for the past over three weeks due to heavy to very heavy snowfall. There is no chance to reopen the road before next summer.
Meanwhile, the government has already announced the closure of the national highway, the only road linking Union Territory (UT) of Ladakh with Kashmir valley, for winter months due to accumulation of eight to ten feet of snow since January 1.
The highway was closed on Sunday following fresh snowfall on both sides of the Jawahar tunnel, Shaitan Nallah and Banihal. However, next three days witnessed heavy to very heavy snowfall and landslides, mudslides and shooting stones.
A traffic police official told UNI that the highway is still closed due to landslides and mudslides besides shooting stones triggered by rain at Samroli, Nashree, Cafteria Morh, Seri, Marog and accumulation of snow on both sides of the tunnel.
He said the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) and Border Roads Organisation (BRO) have already put into service sophisticated machines to put through the highway. He said a group of commuters had a narrow escape when their car came under a huge mudslide. Locals and officials immediately launched a rescue operation and rescued them safely alongwith their vehicle.
Meanwhile, several thousand vehicles are stranded on the highway for the past five days. Once the highway is put through, only stranded vehicles will be allowed to move towards their respective destinations, officials said.
The driver and conductors alleged that they are stranded at some places where there is no water or urinal or any other facility. ‘We have been staying in our vehicles in sub zero temperature, they said alleged the administration has totally failed to provide them any assistance. We are without food and water as whatever food they had has been consumed’, they said.
Traffic police official said today no vehicular movement shall be allowed on Srinagar-Jammu national highway in view of the accumulation of snow around the tunnel and landslides, mudslides and shooting stone between Ramban and Ramsu.
He said Mughal road, connecting Shopian in south Kashmir with Rajouri and Poonch in Jammu region also remained closed due to accumulation of snow.
KU postpones UG, LLM, LLB exams
Srinagar, Jan 7: Kashmir University’s Controller of Examinations Prof Irshad A Nawchoo said on Thursday that Undergraduate 2nd year examination scheduled on 8th January 2021 (Friday) and UG 6th Semester examination scheduled on 9th January 2021 (Saturday) are postponed in view of heavy snowfall.
Fresh dates for the deferred UG examinations will be notified later on, he said.
Meanwhile, the LLM 2nd semester examination papers which were scheduled to be held on January 8, 2021 (Friday) have been rescheduled.
“The examination of LM17216DCE and LM17217DCE papers shall now be held on 14 January 2021. The time and venue shall remain unchanged,” Head and Dean School of Law, Prof M Ayub said.
Prof Ayub said the examination of BALLB 7th semester paper (Property Law), scheduled on January 9, 2021 is rescheduled and will now be held on January 11, 2021.
Second countrywide mock drill on COVID-19 vaccination today
New Delhi, Jan 7: Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan will visit Tamil Nadu on Friday, to personally review the dry run drill for administering the COVID-19 vaccine.
The second nationwide mock drill on COVID-19 vaccination will be held at three session sites of 736 districts across 33 States/Union Territories (UTs) on Friday.
‘As the country prepares for the COVID-19 vaccine roll out, Dr Vardhan will be visiting the State of Tamil Nadu tomorrow. During his visit, Dr Vardhan will personally review the preparedness and oversee the Dry Run operations at the scheduled sites, ‘ the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said here on Thursday.
‘A massive countrywide Mock Drill to prepare for COVID-19 vaccination is being conducted on Friday at 736 districts across 33 States/UTs,’ the Ministry said.
The Union Health Minister will visit the sessions site at Government General Hospital, Chennai, followed by the one at Government Omandurar Hospital, Chennai.
In the afternoon, Dr Vardhan will visit the private vaccination centre in Apollo Hospital, Chennai, after a brief visit to the General Medical Store Depot (GMSD) in Periamedu.
This is one of the four national vaccine storage facilities, the other three at Mumbai, Kolkata and Karnal.
Thereafter, Dr Vardhan will visit the vaccination Centre at Chengalpattu. He will be visiting the Hindustan Bio-Tech Ltd Campus at Chengalpattu, after concluding his supervision at these sites.
In a massive country-wide exercise on January 2, an end-to-end mock drill on COVID-19 vaccine
administration was held in all States and UTs at 286 session sites, spread across 125 districts.
COVID-19: 3 more die, 127 test positive in J&K
Jahangeer Ganaie
Srinagar, Jan 7: Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday recorded three deaths due to COVID-19 taking the death toll to 1,903 in the Union Territory while 127 positive cases were reported taking the tally of positive cases to 122,176 in J&K.
Of the exact number of 122,176 cases, 71,614 are from Kashmir and 50,562 from Jammu division. Officials told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that among 127 new cases, 21 belong to Kashmir division while as 106 are from Jammu division, adding that the total number of positive cases in Kashmir division have reached to 71,614 including 69,141 recoveries and 1,196 deaths while as total number of positive cases in Jammu division have reached to 50,562 including 48,736 recoveries and 707 deaths.
The officials said that total number of active cases in Jammu and Kashmir are 2,396 including 1,276 from Kashmir division and 1,119 from Jammu division.
With 187 more recoveries, the tally of total recoveries in Jammu and Kashmir has reached to 117,877 which is 96.48 percent of the total cases.
“Cases tested positive in J&K include 05 from Srinagar, 03 from Baramulla, 00 from Budgam, 05 from Kupwara, 02 from Pulwama, 00 from Anantnag, 00 from Bandipora, 04 from Ganderbal, 00 from Kulgam and 02 from Shopian in Kashmir division while as 106 from Jammu division include 47 from Jammu, 44 from Udhampur, 05 from Rajouri, 03 from Doda, 01 from Kathua, 00 from Kishtwar, 06 from Samba, 00 from Poonch, 00 from Ramban and 00 from Reasi,” officials disclosed.
Notably, in the last 24 hours three persons who were tested positive for COVID-19 have died, among them two belong to Kashmir division and one to Jammu division.
As per media bulletin, patients who have died include one each from Srinagar and Ganderbal in kashmir division and one from Jammu district in Jammu division.
As per officials figures, 25,532 positive cases including 451 deaths and 24,650 recoveries are from Srinagar, 8,014 including 172 deaths and 7,744 recoveries are from Baramulla, 7,649 including 7,453 recoveries and 110 deaths are from Budgam, 5,581 including 5,384 recoveries and 93 deaths are from Kupwara, 5,623 including 88 deaths and 5,381 recoveries are from Pulwama, 4,828 including 4,651 recoveries and 84 deaths are from Anantnag, 4,665 cases including 4,557 and 60 deaths are from Bandipora, 4,528 including 4,383 recoveries and 46 deaths are from Ganderbal, 2,666 including 2,560 recoveries and 53 deaths are from Kulgam and 2,528 including 2,378 recoveries and 39 deaths are from Shopian.
In Jammu division, 24,202 including 23,275 recoveries and 362 deaths are from Jammu district, 4,150 including 4,001 recoveries and 57 deaths are from Udhampur, 3,852 including 3,699 recoveries and 54 deaths are from Rajouri, 3,409 including 3,307 recoveries and 64 deaths are from Doda, 3,226 including 3,139 recoveries and 49 deaths are from Kathua, 2,726 including 2,688 recoveries and 22 deaths are from Kishtwar, 2,789 including 2,552 recoveries and 39 deaths are from Samba, 2,464 including 2,404 recoveries and 24 deaths are from Poonch, 2,116 including 2,070 recoveries and 21 deaths are from Ramban and 1,628 including 1,601 recoveries and 15 deaths are from Reasi.
As per the daily information bulletin, 931,185 persons in Jammu and Kashmir are under observation while 28,062 persons have been kept under home quarantine besides that 2,396 persons are in isolation.
According to the bulletin, 865,194 persons have completed surveillance period and 33,630 persons are under home surveillance besides that so far results of 4,011,893 samples are available.
Out of 4,011,893 the number of samples tested negative stands at 3,889,717 while as 122,176 have tested positive, among them 2,396 persons are active, 117,877 persons have recovered and 1,903 persons have died—(KNO)
Plea in Delhi HC to remove Covid awareness caller tune in Amitabh’s voice
New Delhi, Jan 7: A plea was filed in the Delhi High Court on Thursday, seeking removal of Bollywood actor Amitabh Bachchan’s recorded message on precautions to be taken against COVID-19, before a phone call is put through.
Petitioner Rakesh, a social worker from Delhi, through counsels AK Dubey and Pawan Kumar, said the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been filed on behalf of all taxpayers, who are ‘disturbed’ by such caller tune.
The plea said the government engaged the superstar for making people aware of preventive measures to fight the pandemic and also paid him a hefty amount for the same, while some famous Corona warriors were willing to give their services for free.
The actor himself and his family members could not escape from the contagion, it read.
A Division Bench, comprising Chief Justice DN Patel and Justice Jyoti Singh, listed it for hearing on January 18, since the bench was undertaking a physical hearing.
The petition contended that Bachchan neither has a “clean history” nor has “served” the country through “social work”, adding that some famous Corona warriors are still ready to give their services, without any payment and were ready to serve the country.
The petitioner said he made representation to the authorities in November, 2020, but no reply was given to him, after which he approached the court with his grievance.
