Owais Gul
Srinagar, Dec 3: Amid complaints of inadequate electricity, the Power Development Department (PDD) in a first has started installing the smart meters on trial basis in Srinagar area, which according to the authorities will help the consumers to get aware of their regular consumption.
Talking to KNO Chief Engineer of Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation (KPDC), Aijaz Ahmad Dar said that around 200 smart meters have been installed on trial basis in Cooperative Colony in Humhama area of Srinagar outskirts since yesterday.
He added that the meters would remain there on trial basis for a month till the meters would arrive here for the installation. “Around 57000 smart meters will have to be installed soon, which will arrive here on a trial basis,” Dar said.
Dar further added that he is not sure about the accurate date of the delivery of meters, but stated that these meters would arrive soon here.
About smart meters, the KPDC Chief Engineer told KNO that the consumer would not have to wait for billing now after the installation of smart meters and it would help the consumers to get aware about his everyday consumption.
Besides helping the consumers, the installation of smart meters would also help the department in identifying the consumers who are not using the electricity judiciously. “The department will be able to identify the people who are not cooperating with it,” he said.

Pertinently, the government had stated that it will begin installing smart meters in twin cities of Jammu and Srinagar from November 15.

Sanctioned under Prime Minister Development Programme (PMDP) the government had announced that 20,000 meters would be installed in the twin cities in the first phase and the process would continue in a phased manner until all two lakh meters are installed. (KNO)

Sub-Committee constituted to devise strategy for fast-tracked FRA implementation
Precious Kashmir News
Jammu, Dec 3: Chief Secretary, B V R Subrahmanyam today chaired the maiden meeting of the UT Level Monitoring Committee, constituted under the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 which was recently made applicable to Jammu and Kashmir.
Administrative Secretaries of the departments of Revenue, Forest, Ecology & Environment, Rural Development, and Tribal Affairs, besides Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) participated in the meeting.
It was informed that under the Act, the forest-dwelling scheduled tribes and other traditional forest dwellers will be provided with the rights over forest land for the purpose of habitation or self-cultivation/livelihood; ownership, access to collect, use, and dispose of minor forest produce, and entitlement to seasonal resources among others. However, the rights conferred under this Act shall be heritable but not alienable or transferrable.
The Chief Secretary impressed upon the Forest Department to kick start the initial survey of claimants by the Forest Rights Committees and assess the nature and extent of rights to be recognized and protected.
A sub-committee under the chairpersonship of Commissioner Secretary, Forest, Ecology & Environment was constituted to devise a suitable review mechanism, criteria and indicators for monitoring the process of recognition and vesting of forest rights along with appropriate monitoring formats.
The said sub-committee will have PCCF, Secretary and Director of Tribal Affairs Department as members and will additionally prepare a schedule to impart training to the members of District, Sub-Division, and Village level committees.

Jammu, Dec 3: Jammu & Kashmir government has constituted Tree Committees to save trees.
As per the order lying with KNS issued by General Administration Department (GAD), ‘Tree Authorities for the Municipal Corporations of Jammu and Srinagar’ will be constituted which will be headed by Mayors of respective corporation.
“Sanction, in terms of Section 342 of Municipal Corporation Act, 2000, for the constitution of Tree Authorities for the Municipal Corporations of Jammu and Srinagar”, says the order.
Tree Authority for Municipal Corporation, Jammu, will be headed by Mayor, Municipal Corporation who will be Chairman.
Deputy Mayor, Municipal Corporation, Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, Divisional Forest Officer, Urban Forestry Division, District Horticulture Officer will be members.
Similarly, Tree Authority for Municipal Corporation, Srinagar will comprised of Mayor, Municipal Corporation, as Chairman, Deputy Mayor, Municipal Corporation, Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, Divisional Forest Officer, Urban forestry Division, and District Horticulture Officer as Member.
As per the order with KNS, the committees will ensure preservation of all trees within its jurisdiction; obtaining declaration from all owners or occupants about the number of trees in their lands.
“To specify the standards regarding the number and kind of tress in each locality, type of land and premises and to assist private and public institutions connected with planting and preservation of trees and to undertake such schemes or measures as may be directed from time to time for achieving the objectives of these provisions”, says the order issued by GAD.

New Delhi, Dec 3: The Supreme Court Thursday expressed concern over the violations of the COVID-19 guidelines on wearing of face masks at public places, non-adherence of social distancing norms and sought suggestions for their strict implementation.
A bench headed by Justice Ashok Bhushan also asked Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre and other stakeholders to give suggestions on how to strictly implement the guidelines on face masks and social distancing.
The bench, also comprising Justices R Subhash Reddy and M R Shah, asked the Himachal Pradesh government to file a status report regarding facilities for treatment of the COVID-19 patients in the state and the infrastructure available for it.
In a hearing conducted via video-conferencing, the top court was told about the lack of facilities for treatment of COVID-19 patients in Himachal Pradesh.
Earlier also, the Apex Court had expressed concern over the spurt in number of COVID-19 cases across the country especially in the national capital and had said that while the pandemic situation in Delhi has “worsened”, it has gone “out of control” in Gujarat.
It was hearing a suo motu case related to proper treatment of COVID-19 patients and dignified handling of Dead Bodies in hospitals.

Precious Kashmir News
Srinagar, Dec 4: Though authorities have announced that social distancing and wearing masks are mandatory in all public places, people in general are flouting the Covid-19 SOPs and not following social distancing norms and not wearing the masks.
“This is pathetic to see such a large number of people shopping. Some are even not wearing masks. I came out to purchase medicines for my ailing father but no social distance norms are being followed,” Shabir Ahmad, a resident of Bemina said.
The shoppers in Srinagar move from one shop to another without following social distancing norms. Most of the shops remain over-crowded with social distancing norms not followed.
“It is scary to walk through markets,” said Rafiya Bano, a resident of Khaniyar.
“People are thronging markets without following norms which is a matter of grave concern,” said a shopkeeper at Lalchowk.
He said it was important to underline the importance of strictly following the COVID protocols.
Some shopkeepers have arranged sanitisers so that customers could use it before entering their hops.
People on roads in Srinagar and other parts of the Valley move without wearing masks or following maintaining social distance.
This is despite the fact authorities having announced that wearing masks was mandatory in all public places.
“I do wear a mask to protect myself but it won’t make any difference as less than 10 percent of people are wearing masks,” Imran Ahmad, a resident of Nishat said.
He said the government should take strict measures to ensure people wear masks. “If wearing a mask has been made mandatory then why are law enforcing agencies not implementing these guidelines. Why don’t they fine those who are not following COVID guidelines,” he asked.(KINS)

Bhat Imran
Srinagar, Dec 3: The School Education Department is all set to announce annual results of 8th standard on Saturday.
Officials of the department said that the results would be declared on December-05.
Meanwhile, the Jammu and Kashmir State Institute of Educational Research and Trainings (SCERT) in a notification said it had successfully completed the exams of 8th standard.
“After the successful completion of examination of 8th standard, SCERT had ordered that the results shall be declared on December-05 in all districts,” it reads.
SCERT also directed all District Institute of Educational Trainings (DIET’s) to maintain the proper record and database of the students and prepare the result gazettes at earliest.
Meanwhile, the official at SCERT said it will immediately start holding classes after the result declaration.
“There were no new guidelines from the government and thus we will continue to hold the online classes soon after the declaration of 8th standard results,” the official said.
Pertinently, this was the first time SCERT was conducting the 8th standard exams in Jammu and Kashmir.
Earlier, conducting the exams was the mandate of erstwhile State Institute of Education (SIE) through DIET’s under the overall control and supervision of School Education Department—(KNO)