Precious Kashmir News
Srinagar, Nov 17: Former chief ministers Farooq Abdullah and his son Omar Abdullah would remain in self-isolation for a week as one of their contacts had stayed with a COVID-19 positive patient.
This was announced by Omar Abdullah, who is vice-president of National Conference (NC), on his official twitter handle.
Omar said he and his father have been in contact with a person who was in turn staying with a relative who tested positive for the virus.
“Based on medical advice, we will be self-isolating for a week before getting a precautionary COVID test,” Omar wrote on twitter.

Srinagar, Nov 17: A COVID patient, who is also suffering from acute shortage of oxygen saturation, was allegedly manhandled by a doctor at Chest Diseases Hospital here, local news agency CNS reported on Tuesday.

Family members of the patient alleged: “The patient went to the bathroom for urination but she found all the urinals overflowing and she tried to enter the next bathroom but the concerned doctor locked the bathroom. Despite the multiple requests by the patient to open the bathroom, the doctor refused and pushed away the patient due to which she fell down. When the male attendant of the patient tried to intervene, the concerned doctor dragged him.”

“After manhandling and humiliating the attendant the accused doctor has asked the concerned police station to file a FIR against the patient otherwise the doctor has threatened that medicos will go on a strike in the hospital,” the family members said.

The family members of the patient said that the concerned doctor has put the patient’s life at risk as she can’t remain without oxygen and questioned how they can refrain the patient from using the hospital facility. “The patient is without an attendant while her husband was summoned by the police and kept in the premises of the police station,” they added.

Meanwhile, the family mentioned that the CCTV footage is witness to the incident.

They demanded strict action against the erring doctor doctor.
Despite repeated attempts, Head of Department (HoD) CD Hospital Dr Naveed could not be contacted.

Agencies
Moscow, Nov 17: President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday called for a joint effort by the BRICS countries on the development of the coronavirus vaccines as he suggested that Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine against COVID-19 could be produced in China and India, which are members of the five-nation bloc.
“We believe it is important to speed up the establishment of the centre for development and research of BRICS vaccines, which we agreed to do two years ago, upon the initiative of our South African friends,” Putin said while addressing the 12th BRICS summit via videoconferencing.
The summit, hosted by President Putin, was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.
Putin said that Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine that was registered in August could be produced in China and India, both members of the BRICS, Sputniknews reported.
“The Russian Direct Investment Fund has reached agreements with its Brazilian and Indian partners on conducting clinical trials of the Sputnik V vaccine, it has also reached an agreement with pharmaceutical companies in China and India to launch production of the vaccine in these countries not just to cover their needs, but for third countries as well,” Putin said.
On August 11, Russia became the world’s first country to register a coronavirus vaccine, dubbed Sputnik V. The vaccine was developed by the Gamaleya Research Institute, while the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) is investing in the production and promotion of the vaccine abroad. Another Russian vaccine, EpiCoronaVac, produced by Vector Research Centre, was registered in October.
President Putin at the time said that the Sputnik V works “quite effectively” and forms a “stable immunity” against the deadly disease. He had disclosed that one of his daughters had tested a Russian COVID-19 vaccine on herself and that she is feeling well.
Sputnik V vaccine has shown 92 per cent efficacy in preventing COVID-19, according to interim trial results announced by the country’s health ministry last week.
The vaccine has been named Sputnik-V. The name is a reference to the surprise 1957 launch of the world’s first satellite by the Soviet Union.
The 12th BRICS summit was originally scheduled to be held in Saint Petersburg in July but had to be postponed due to the outbreak of the global COVID-19 pandemic.
So far the coronavirus has infected more than 54 million people around the world and killed more than 1.3 million people even as governments implemented strict lockdowns and restrictions to slow the spread of the virus that originated in the Chinese city of Wuhan.
A second wave of infections is threatening to derail economies and impact lives again as countries have gradually begun to ease restrictions and open up.
The BRICS (Brazil-Russia-India-China-South Africa) is known as an influential bloc that represents over 3.6 billion people, or half of the world’s population. The BRICS countries have a combined GDP of USD 16.6 trillion.

Want to improve learning outcomeof public schools, bring them at par with private schools: DC Srinagar

Precious Kashmir News

Srinagar, Nov 17: The Srinagar administration has embarked on an ambitious project to transform all government schools with owned buildings in the district on modern lines equipping them with smart facilities and modern infrastructure.

Under the project a total of 180 schools including 120 in urban areas and 60 in rural areas of the district are being upgraded in terms of facilities. These schools will be equipped with modern facilities hrough interventions at infrastructural and operational levels.

The project follows successful completion of the pilot project of modernising 25 selected government schools taken up and completed during the last fiscal.

This was informed in a meeting convened here at Banquet Hall under the chairmanship of the Deputy Commissioner Srinagar Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary.

The meeting with heads of schools to be upgraded as part of this project was informed that an amount of 6 crore rupees has been earmarked for upgrading of 120 schools located in urban areas of the district under special plan.

It was informed that funding has in fact been released in favour of 25 schools located in urban Srinagar. It was informed that another 70 schools – which have already been partly equipped with modern facilities under the GoI’sSamagraShiksha scheme – will receive the required funding in due course.

During the meeting extensive discussions and interactions were held on components and the aim of the smart school project envisaging modernising of public schools to bring them at par with private schools in the district. Headmasters of 25 model schools upgraded last fiscal were also present in the meeting sharing experiences and feedback.

In addition to 120 schools in urban Srinagar at least 60 schools are also being modernised in rural Srinagar. These schools are being upgraded to smart schools under the J&K government’s Back to Village programme.

In each rural block of the district 15 schools have been identified for upgrading and modernising under the ambitious smart schools project. These schools include primary and middle schools and have been selected through the Gram Sabha. It was informed that the project targeted for completion in four to five months will include upgrading of entire infrastructure and and improvement of learning outcomes through a rang of interventions including capacity building of teachers.

The meeting was informed that as part of this ambitious project a host of interventions are being made aimed at enhancing the learning outcomes of public schools in the capital district.

Giving details it was informed that some of interventions being made include refurbishing of buildings where required, upgrading of furniture and equipment, round-the-clock power and water supplies, establishment of libraries, science laboratories, IT labs and smart classes, HR Management and development of teachers, concurrent evaluation and society involvement, additional classrooms where required, separate toilets, sporting infrastructure and games, skills labs, pure drinking water availability, innovation grant for development of models, capacity building and training of teachers.

Speaking on the occasion the DC said that work is being started in around 100 of these schools located in both urban and rural areas of the district adding that the entire project is targeted for completion in six months.

He said the project is the closest to his heart adding that all that will be required to upgrade public schools in the district will be done adding that the district administration is keen on equipping them with the latest facilities and transforming them on modern lines the aim being to improve the learning outcomes in the public school domain.

It was informed that the 25 smart schools established earlier last fiscal will be provided additional facilities to further equip them. Teachers from these schools shared their experience with newly selected schools. A dedicated team has been constituted for planning , implementing and monitoring the project.

Day temperature settles below normal

Srinagar, Nov 17: The weather remained pleasant though the minimum temperature on Tuesday was one degree to five degree below normal in the valley, where dry weather is predicted during the next 24 hours.
Sun was out though the intensity of heat was low due to cold winds in the valley on Tuesday, when people, including students, were seen basking in the parks and other open places in summer capital, Srinagar.
A Met department spokesman said this evening that weather will remain dry in the region, including Srinagar, during the next 24 hours. “However, dry weather to isolated and scattered light rain and snow is predicted during subsequent two days,” he said.
Leh and border town of Kargil in Union Territory (UT) of Ladakh continued to shiver due to below freezing minimum temperature.
The Met spokesman said Kargil on Srinagar-Leh national highway, which remained closed for the past four days due to snowfall, recorded minus 6.6 degree. “At Leh, the night temperature was minus 6.5 degree,” he said.
Majority water bodies remained frozen in the region, where water is being supplied through tankers to residents. However, in some remote and far flung areas people use spring water which remains cold during summer and warm in winter.
The day temperature improved slightly though it settled 5 degree below normal at world famed ski resort of Gulmarg, which had turned white due to intermittent snowfall from Saturday. The night temperature at the ski resort, about 55 km from here in north Kashmir, settled at minus 5 degree, which is 3.5 degree below normal. The upper reaches, including Seven Springs, Khilanmarg and Affarwat, the highest skiing point connected by Cable Car from base camp, was also covered under a thick blanket of snow.
However, the famed ski resort still awaits tourists, skiers and adventure lovers though authorities are making all out efforts to revive the tourist industry badly affected first after August 5 last year, when the Centre abrogated special status of Jammu and Kashmir, and this year due to COVID-19 pandemic.
Sun also played hide and seek in world famous health resort of Pahalgam, about 100 km from here in south Kashmir, though icy cold winds continued. The night temperature at Pahalgam, which received snowfall on Saturday and Sunday, settled at minus 4.3 degree, about 2 degree below normal.
Bright sunshine greeted people in the summer capital, Srinagar though the mercury during the day remained over 3 degree below normal due to ice cold winds. The night temperature in the city settled at 1.8 degree, which is about a degree above normal.
The day temperature at Qazigund, gateway to the valley, Kupwara in North Kashmir and tourist resort of Kokernag settled about 4 degree, 0.5 degree and 2.6 degree below normal, respectively.

Srinagar, Nov 17: The 434-km-long Srinagar-Leh National Highway, connecting Ladakh with Kashmir remained closed for the fourth successive day on Tuesday due to slippery road conditions and accumulation of snow.

Meanwhile, traffic resumed this afternoon on historic 86-km-long Mughal road after remaining suspended for the past three days due to snow.

“Traffic remained suspended for the fourth successive day on Tuesday on the 434-km-long Srinagar-Leh national highway following accumulation of snow at Sonamarg, Zojila pass, Meenmarg and Drass, the second coldest place in the world after Siberia,” a traffic police official told UNI.

He said the Border Roads Organistion (BRO), responsible for the maintenance of the highway, has pressed into service sophisticated machines to clear the snow. However, traffic will resume once snow is cleared from the highway.

Meanwhile, he said, “Today, traffic will ply from Srinagar to Jammu and no vehicle, including security force convoy, would be allowed from opposite direction.”

He said Jammu-bound Light Motor Vehicles (LMVs) will have to cross Zig in Qazigund between 0700 hrs to 1200 hrs. “No vehicle will be allowed after cut off timing,” he said, adding Heavy Motor Vehicles (HMVs) will be allowed from Udhampur to Srinagar. The traffic on the 270-km-long Srinagar-Jammu national highway was resumed on Monday afternoon after remaining closed for morning hours due to snowfall and landslides.

The traffic spokesman said traffic on Mughal Road, which is seen as alternative to Srinagar-Jammu National Highway, was resumed this afternoon after remaining suspended for three days following accumulation of snow. However, vehicles had to ply till 1600 hrs only as the road is becoming slippery due to drop in the temperature in the morning and evening hours.

He said only trucks carrying fresh fruits would be allowed to ply on the road, connecting Shopian in south Kashmir with Rajouri and Poonch in Jammu region.

Jammu, Nov 17: The Industrial Policy 2016 envisaged creation of land bank of 20000 Kanals over a period of ten years across J&K, with emphasis on locations outside urban areas. To give a boost to economic activities like manufacturing & service, the Government of J&K in line with the industrial policy of 2016, has transferred 25000 Kanals of State land to Industries & Commerce Department. Out of the total land transferred, 17000 Kanals is in Jammu Division whereas 8000 Kanals is in Kashmir Division. This land bank consists of non forest, non agricultural primarily barren state land parcels. It has been identified by revenue authorities in consultation with the industry department and shall be put to use for development of Industrial Estates over next few years.

The creation of Industrial land bank and developing new Industrial Estates is an ongoing process since 1960`s when the first Industrial Estate was established at Digiana in Jammu. Subsequently in early 2000 and thereafter after a gap of 8-10 years this exercise is carried out for expansion/ extension of industrial estates to accommodate new entrepreneurs with an objective of generating employment opportunities. With the announcement of Industrial friendly packages by the Government of India the region witnessed a spur in industrial activity across J&K which resulted in creation and expansion of new Industrial Estates at Samba, Udhampur, Rangreth, Khunmoh and Lassipora etc. Prior to 2018, the Department of Industries & Commerce has already established 49 Industrial Estates across J&K with total area of 31448 Kanals. This new land bank of approximately 25,000 kanals shall add to these existing industrial estates.

The land in the Industrial Estates is allotted on lease basis to the units through a proper process laid down in the Industrial Policy to carry out the industrial activity. Out of the new land bank, no land patch has yet been allotted to any entrepreneur as the same is yet to be developed which shall take some time.

During the last two of years only 453 No of units have been set up on Government land in J&K. These units have been allotted a total of 1371 Kanals of land on lease basis in the Industrial Areas across J&K after following procedure and guidelines as prescribed in the Industrial Policy.

The department of Industries and Commerce is working on creation of employment opportunities in private sector by encouraging such Industrial Investments in manufacturing and services sector and working towards creation of a conducive business eco-system.

Srinagar, Nov 17: Srinagar Administration Tuesday ordered the exhumation and conduct of post mortem of a Srinagar lady who died on this month a day before her wedding.
The would-be-husband of 29 year oldShahnaza Sultan of Sultan Mohallah area of Saidakadal Srinagar outskirts alleged that Shahnaza died without exhibiting any complications and he has strong reason to believe that she was ‘murdered’.
The deceased lady was set to get married with one Nasir Hussain Kawa of Kawpora, Trigam village of North Kashmir’s Bandipora district.
The complainant Nasir Hussain has claimed that her would-be wife was healthy and he was in touch with her. He has alleged that Shahnaza has been murdered.
Official sources told KNT that taking cognizance of the complaint, Additional District Magistrate Srinagar Dr Syed HaneefBalkhi ordered the exhumation and post mortem of the body, and has further directed the Executive Magistrate 1st Class and SHO Police Station Nageen to supervise the entire proceedings.

It’s inconceivable how permission granted, authorities should explain: High Court
Srinagar, Nov 17: Jammu and Kashmir High Court has sought an explanation from authorities over the construction of a multi-storeyed commercial building at Rajbagh area of Srinagar which is barely 10 to 15 feet from the banks of the River Jhelum.

“This Court is CustodiaLegis and in seisen of the subject matter including the River Jhelum, it is not conceivable as to how the permissions have been granted by authorities without even intimation to this Court,” a bench of Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice Puneet Gupta said in an order, a copy of which lies with GNS.

“In this view of the matter, all the authorities including the owner of the building in question owe an explanation to this Court under what circumstances the permissions have been granted,” the court said and directed the Divisional Commissioner Kashmir to file an affidavit, detailing therein the ownership of the land on which the construction is coming up with effect from 1947; the status of this land after the flooding of River Jhelum in September 2014, the constructions which have been permitted to come up on the land with effect from 1947 and the complete details of permissions granted in chronological order.

“In case the Divisional Commissioner Kashmir requires any assistance or information from any other authority, he shall seek the same from the concerned departments who shall cooperate with him and forthwith make available relevant information,” the court said and asked him to “positively” file the affidavit before November 18.

The Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, the court directed shall also conduct an inquiry and place before it the permission sought to Inland Waterway Authority of India.

The court also directed the J&K State Pollution Control Board to file an affidavit with regard to the permission granted by it to owner of the structure in question regarding discharge of sewage, treated effluents from any STP into the River Jhelum.

“The Inspector General of Police, Traffic, shall inform this Court as to the permission granted by it to raise a commercial structure at the spot in question and the plan in place for management of the burden on the traffic which will result due to coming up and operationalisation of this commercial structure at the site in question.”

The division bench, as per Global News Service, also directed the Srinagar Municipal Corporation, the Revenue Department and the Irrigation and Flood Control Department to file affidavits before the Court with regard to the permission(s) granted to it for construction of a multi-storeyed commercial building “which is barely about between 10 to 15 feet from the banks of the River Jhelum. “

The court also directed that no construction, renovation or completion etc. at all of any kind shall be carried out on the building in question till it passes an appropriate order. “We direct Mr. B. A. Dar, learned Sr. AAG, to visit the spot in question and inform this Court as to how the pressure on the infrastructure / sewage, garbage, solid waste shall be managed by the authorities, if the commercial activity on the spot in question is permitted,” the court added. (GNS)