Stresses on speedy work completion, timely commissioning of all projects
Precious Kashmir News
Anantnag, Dec 30: Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir Pandurang K Pole today took on spot assessment of pace and progress of work execution on various major developmental projects during an extensive tour to Pulwama and Anantnag districts.
He visited Industrial Estate Wuyan, Industrial Estate Khrew and Grid Station Khrew in Pulwama district.
The Div Com was accompanied by Deputy Commissioner Pulwama, Raghav Lankar, DC Anantnag KK Sidha, Director Industries, MD JKPCC, GM SICOP, CE PHE, GM SIDCO, GM Sports Council, DD Planning, representatives from various departments and agencies.
Stressing on making all facilities including power and water supply available to the units at Wuyan Industrial Estate, the Div Com directed concerned to identify nearby available structures or land for the relocation of army from the estate land and vacate structures presently occupied by the forces.
Stressing on early widening of approach road length upto 40 feet at Industrial Estate Khrew, the Div Com instructed concerned to start land acquisition and removal of encroachments if any at the earliest for the proposed road construction. He said that work on road widening and other two patches should be complete by January ending. Div Com also stressed on speedy work completion of under construction administrative block.
Instructions for work completion on Grid Station Khrew were also issued to ensure the project is completed by March to facilitate better power supply to the local industrial estate and adjoining areas.
During visit to Anantnag district, the Div Com inspected and assessed ongoing work process on multipurpose Indoor and Outdoor Sports Stadiums, Emergency Landing Facility Bijbehra, Fruit and Vegetable Mandi Jablipora, Industrial Estate and Transit Accommodation Vessu, GMC Anantnag, Water Supply Schemes Brenty Batapora and Shangus.
Taking stock of the works, the Div Com emphasized on pace of work is expedited to ensure completion of all projects in time.
Calling upon providing better sports facilities to the youth in Anantnag, he directed concerned to construct a cycle and walking track adjacent to the inner road at Bijbehara stadium.
He said that land of Bijbehara has been always fertile in bringing up various sports personalities and special focus is being given on making all sports facilities available to the local youth.

Emphasizing on expanding the parking space, he said that construction work on Fruit and Vegetable Mandi shall be completed by next apple harvest season. Instruction on early completion of work on land facility at Bijbehra and other highway projects were also given to the concerned.
Inspecting the construction of residential structure at Transit Accommodation at Vessu, the Div Com stressed on speedy work completion on all underconstruction quarters for their early commissioning to the deserving. He also instructed concerned to ensure early vacation of an building occupied by Panchs and Sarpanchs.
Div Com, who took assessment of civil and road constructions at Industrial Estate Vessu, laid emphasized on work completion on Common Facility Centre.
At GMC Anantnag, Div Com inspected various blocks including Administration block and gave strict instructions that the work is completed within the deadline set as June- 2021. He also instructed concerned to constitute a joint team of officers for DPR preparations for the furnishing of the GMC Anantnag.
Later Div Com visited the Water Supply Schemes at Brenty Batapora and Shangus and emphasized on both projects are completed in time to supply potable water to all unconnected area.
During tour, various public delegations called upon the Div Com and raised their issues with him. After listening to their issues, the Div Com assured them that all their genuine demands shall be looked into and addressed on priority.

One more dies, , 217 test positive
Precious Kashmir News
Jammu, Dec 30: One person died due to Novel Coronavirus, taking the toll up to 1,880 while the official statement of government Wednesday informed that 217 new positive cases of novel Corona virus (COVID-19), 116 from Jammu division and 101 from Kashmir division, have been reported, thus taking the total number of positive cases in Jammu and Kashmir to 120,744.
“One COVID-19 death has been reported from Jammu Division,” the government said in a statement
Moreover, 270 more COVID-19 patients have recovered and discharged from various hospitals including 128 from Jammu Division and 142 from Kashmir Division.
According to the daily Media Bulletin on novel Corona virus (Covid-19), out of 120744 positive cases, 3034 are Active Positive, 115830 have recovered and 1880 have died; 695 in Jammu division and 1185 in Kashmir division.
The Bulletin further said that out of 3792251test results available, 3671507 samples have been tested as negative till December 30, 2020.
Till date 881601 persons have been enlisted for observation which included 12885persons in home quarantine including facilities operated by government, 3034 in isolation and 30845 in home surveillance. Besides, 832957 persons have completed their surveillance period.

Providing district-wise breakup, the Bulletin said that Srinagar has 25264 positive cases (including 48 cases reported today) with 565 Active Positive, 24250 recovered (including 37 cases recovered today), 449 deaths; Baramulla has 7950 positive cases (including 19 cases reported today) with 114Active Positive, 7664 recovered (including29 cases recovered today), 172 deaths; Budgam reported 7593 positive cases (including 11 cases reported today) with 153active positive cases, 7332 recovered (including 24cases recovered today), 108 deaths; Kupwara has 5519 positive cases (including 02 cases reported today) with 124 Active Positive, 5304 recoveries (including 10 cases recovered today), 91 deaths; Pulwama has 5535 positive cases (including 04 cases reported today) with 184Active Positive, 5263 recovered and 88 deaths; Anantnag district has 4782 positive cases (including 08 cases reported today) with 101 Active Positive, 4598 recovered (including 07 cases recovered today), 83 deaths; Bandipora has 4643 positive cases (including 03 cases reported today) with 53 Active Positive and 4530 recoveries(including 04 cases recovered today), 60 deaths; Ganderbal has 4462positive cases (including 03 cases reported today) with 77 Active Positive, 4342 recoveries (including 26 cases recovered today) and 43deaths; Kulgam has 2658 positive cases (including 01 case reported today) with 64 Active Positive, 2541 recoveries (including 05 cases recovered today) and 53 deaths while as Shopian has 2495 positive cases (including 02 case reported today) with 93 active positive cases, 2364 recoveries and 38 deaths.
Similarly, Jammu has 23726 positive cases (including 77 cases reported today) with 846 active positive cases, 22525 recoveries (including 80 cases recovered today), 355 deaths; Udhampur has 4079 positive cases (including 03 cases reported today) with 69 active positive cases, 3953 recovered (including 08 cases recovered today) and 57 deaths; Rajouri has 3835 positive cases with 177active positive, 3604 recoveries (including 13 cases recovered today) and 54 deaths; Doda has 3385 positive cases with 56 Active positive, 3266 recovered (including 06 cases recovered today) and 63 deaths; Kathua has 3186 positive cases (including 04 cases reported today) with 60 active positive cases, 3078 recovered (including 09 cases recovered today) and 48 deaths; Kishtwar has 2717 positive cases with 21 Active Positive, 2675 recoveries and 21 deaths; Samba has 2744 positive cases (including 19 cases reported today) with 172 active positive cases, 2534 recoveries and 38 deaths; Poonch has 2444 positive cases (including 02 cases reported today) with 24active positive, 2397recoveries (including 04 cases recovered today) and 23 deaths; Ramban has 2103 positive cases (including 02 cases reported today) with 31 active positive, 2051recoveries (including 08 cases recovered today) and 21 deaths while Reasi has 1624 positive cases (including 01 case reported today) with 50 active positive cases, 1559 recoveries and 15 deaths.
According to the bulletin, among the total 120744 positive cases in J&K, 11265 have been reported as travellers while 109479 as others.
The Bulletin said that the breakup represents districts from which the patients have been traced or are ordinarily residing.

New Delhi, Dec 30 : As many as twenty persons have been found with the mutant variant of SARS- CoV-2 virus reported from UK. These include the six persons reported earlier (3 in NIMHANS, Bengaluru, 2 in CCMB, Hyderabad and 1 in NIV, Pune). 107 samples were tested in the 10 labs as indicated in the table below.
Government of India has constituted the INSACOG (Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium) comprising 10 labs (NIBMG Kolkata, ILS Bhubaneswar, NIV Pune, CCS Pune, CCMB Hyderabad, CDFD Hyderabad, InSTEM Bengaluru, NIMHANS Bengaluru, IGIB Delhi, NCDC Delhi) for genome sequencing. The situation is under careful watch and regular advice is being provided to the States for enhanced surveillance, containment, testing and dispatch of samples to the INSACOG labs.
Daily recoveries have outnumbered the daily new cases since last 33 days successively. In the last 24 hours, 20,549 persons were found to be COVID positive in the country. During the same period, 26,572 new recoveries were registered ensuring drop in the Active Caseload.
India’s cumulative recoveries stand at 98,34,141 today. This is the highest globally. The Recovery Rate has also reached nearly 96% (95.99%). The gap between recoveries and active cases is consistently widening (95,71,869).
India’s total Active Caseload of 2,62,272 consists of just 2.56% of India’s Total Positive Cases. The new recoveries have led to a net decline of 6,309 in the Total Active cases.
When compared globally, India’s Cases per million population are amongst the lowest in the world (7,423). Countries such as Russia, Italy UK, Brazil, France and USA have much higher cases per million population.
78.44% of the new recovered cases are observed to be concentrated in 10 States/UTs. Maharashtra has reported the maximum number of single day recoveries with 5,572 newly recovered cases. 5,029 people recovered in Kerala followed by 1,607 in Chhattisgarh. 79.24% of the new cases are from 10 States and UTs.
Kerala reported the highest daily new cases at 5,887. It is followed by Maharashtra with 3,018 new cases. West Bengal recorded 1,244 new cases. 286case fatalities have been reported in the past 24 hours. Ten States/UTs account for 79.37% of the new deaths. Maharashtra saw the maximum casualties (68). West Bengal and Delhi follow with 30 and 28 daily deaths, respectively.
Focussed measures including aggressive and targeted testing, early identification of the positive cases, timely isolation & prompt hospitalization of the severe cases (and supervised home isolation of the mild cases) & Standard Treatment Protocol have collectively ensured that the daily fatalities are under 300.
Daily deaths in India are on a sustained decline. Deaths per million population in India (107) are amongst the lowest in the world.

Precious Kashmir Desk
Srinagar, Dec 30: A nursing home resident in Switzerland who was among the first in the country to be vaccinated against COVID-19 later died — but officials did not indicate whether the death was related to the jab, according to reports.
“We are aware of the case,” an official in the canton of Lucerne told Reuters, adding that the matter has been referred to Swiss drugs regulator Swissmedic.
Lucerne was the site of the first shot by Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech being administered in Switzerland primarily to the elderly.
A doctor at the nursing home had not been contacted by the vaccination team, according to local news outlet zeitpunkt.ch.
The resident, who received the coronavirus vaccine on Christmas Eve, had previously reacted negatively to the flu shot, according to the report.
The person, who had dementia, complained of urethral and abdominal pain on Saturday, the Swiss outlet reported. Later, the resident’s blood pressure dropped and their pulse spiked.
On Monday, the facility did not report the patient’s worsening condition, zeitpunkt.ch reported.
The following day, the doctor was informed but the patient died soon after, according to the outlet.

Switzerland has so far received 107,000 vaccine doses, and expects to get 250,000 per month starting next year, according to Reuters.
The country has documented five cases of a coronavirus variant from the UK and two cases of a South African variant, a Swiss health ministry official said, adding that he anticipates more cases of these faster-spreading mutations will emerge.
In Israel, a 75-year-old man also died after receiving a COVID-19 vaccination — but his death was said to be from a heart attack believed to be unrelated to the jab.
The unidentified man got the Pfizer shot at 8:30 a.m. Monday, and within hours had lost consciousness and died at home in Beit She’an, the Jerusalem Post said.

Agencies
New Delhi, Dec 30: On a day when the UK regulator gave an emergency authorisation to AstraZeneca’s covid-19 vaccine, an subject expert committee in India on Wednesday sought more time to analyse the additional data given by Serum Institute of India and Bharat Biotech International while seeking emergency licensure for their covid-19 vaccines, the health ministry said in a statement on Wednesday.
The SEC, an independent panel of experts set up by the Drug Controller General of India V.G. Somani to vet these proposals, will next meet in Friday, and may also take up the proposal by Pfizer, which had sough more time, the government said. Pfizer had sought an emergency licensure for import of the vaccine into India, as well as a waiver on clinical trials in India.
The first doses are being released Wednesday and vaccination will start Monday. AstraZeneca says it aims to supply millions of doses in the first quarter.
The vaccine should be capable of fighting the new variant of the coronavirus responsible for a surge of cases in the UK, according to AstraZeneca CEO Pascal Soriot
“The analysis of the additional data and information is going on. SEC will convene again on 1st January 2021 (Friday),” the health ministry said.
Usually, the DCGI clears a proposal for approval or emergency licensure only when it is recommended by the SEC.
The deferment of decision on the two companies’ porposals to Friday is especially significant for Serum Institute, whose proposal was taken after the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) had given an emergency authorisation to AstraZeneca’s covid-19 vaccine for immunising people that are 18 years or older. The authorisation recommends two full doses administered with an interval of between four and 12 weeks, the Anglo-Swedish firm said.
Covishield is Serum Institute’s version of the vaccine originally co-developed by AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford.
Serum Institute had submitted its proposal for emergency licensure for the vaccine earlier this month, but an independent expert committee set up by the DCGI to vet the submissions had asked the company to return with updated data and after an approval was given by the UK MHRA to AstraZeneca for the original version. The original version was co-developed by AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford, with AstraZeneca having the commercial rights.
“This is a great and encouraging news. We will wait for the final approval from Indian regulators,” Serum Institute chief executive officer Adar Poonawalla said after the UK MHRA authorisation to AstraZeneca.
AstraZeneca had signed a pact with Serum Institute earlier this year, where the Indian firm would contract manufacture and supply 1 billion doses of the vaccine for low-and-middle-income countries, with a commitment to provide 400 million before the end of 2020.
AstraZeneca’s clinical trials for its vaccine in the UK and Brazil included two separate dosing regimens. A lower dosage gave a greater efficacy of 90% while two full doses a month apart gave a 62% efficacy.

Precious Kashmir News
Srinagar Dec 30: Jammu and Kashmir government on Wednesday extended lockdown restrictions in the region till January 31. Earlier on Monday, the Ministry of Home Affairs had announced the extension of the previous COVID-related guidelines while asking people to remain vigilant against the new variant of the virus in the United Kingdom.
All existing protocols and instructions will continue to remain valid till 31.01.2021, the Jammu and Kashmir government said in a press note.
Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday recorded 234 fresh COVID-19 cases, while four more people died due to the disease in the last 24 hours, officials said. The union territory’s COVID-19 tally mounted to 1,20,527 and the death toll stood at 1,879.
Out of the fresh cases, 131 were from Kashmir and 103 from Jammu division. The officials said Srinagar recorded the highest of 69 cases, followed by 65 in Jammu district. The number of active cases has dropped to 3,088, while 11,556 patients have recovered so far, the officials said. Jammu division and Kashmir Valley reported two deaths each.
On Monday, the home ministry had acknowledged that there was a continuous decline in the active and new COVID-19 cases. At the same time, it said that there was a need to maintain surveillance, containment and caution, keeping in view the surge in cases globally, and emergence of the new variant of the virus in the United Kingdom.

Srinagar, Dec 30: The Counter Intelligence Kashmir (CIK), a wing of J&K police, raided different areas in south Kashmir, including the residence of youth president of the PDP Waheed-ur-Rehman Para in Pulwama on Wednesday in a militant funding case.

Official sources said that CIK sleuths raided the residence of Parra at Naira in Pulwama on Wednesday morning. “The sleuths also raided other areas in south Kashmir in connection with the alleged militant funding case,” they said.

Parra was arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) about five days after he filed his nomination paper for the District Development Council (DDC) DDC seat from Pulwama. However, he won after his family members and other PDP leaders campaigned in his favour.

He has remained under the detention of NIA since November 25 for his alleged links with Hizbul Mujahideen (HM).

Parra, who was instrumental in the revival of the PDP in south Kashmir, especially in militancy-hit Pulwama, allegedly surfaced during the probe into the suspended Deputy Superintendent of Police Davinder Singh case. Singh was arrested while ferrying two Hizb militants out of Kashmir in a vehicle on the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway earlier this year.

Kupwara, Dec 30: The armies of India and Pakistan Wednesday evening exchanged gunfire close to the fence at Karnah (Tangdhar) sector in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district.
Official sources told KNO that this evening Pakistani rangers restored to unprovoked ceasefire violation and targeted forward posts of the Indian army in the Karnah sector.
They said that forward areas include Hajitara, Sadhpora, Tadd, and Dhani while the fire was heavily retaliated by their own troops. “People have been asked to move to safer places to ensure no human loss,” they said.
The officials said that there are no immediate reports about any loss to the property or injury to any. Meanwhile, a top police official said that “We have received reports about the ceasefire violation, and more details regarding the same are awaited.”