It’s turning point for J&K, Ladakh: LG
Precious Kashmir News
Srinagar, Oct 15: Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha termed the ceremonial blasting of Zoji-la Tunnel as a ‘Turning point’ for the Union Territories of Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh, which will not only make the emotional connections of regions to a new level but will also provide physical connectivity throughout the year.
The Lt Governor was speaking on the occasion of the first ceremonial blast at Zoji-la Tunnel- the longest tunnel road in Asia. The ceremonial blast was initiated by Union Minister for Road Transport, Highways and MSMEs Shri Nitin Gadkari through virtual mode.
The Lt Governor expressed his heartfelt gratitude to Hon’ble Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, and Union Minister for Road Transport, Highways and MSMEs Shri Nitin Gadkari for the beginning of work on the ambitious project.
The Lt Governor hoped that after completion of the project in December 2023, Sonamarg in Ganderbal district would receive and attract more winter tourism. It was informed that the project has been planned on the European Model.
The Lt Governor said that work on the approach road to the tunnel is expected to be completed within 30 months while the tunnel itself will take around 72 months to complete. With a length of 14.83 km, the tunnel would be the longest bi-directional tunnel in Asia. ‘The tunnel will add to the socio-economic and cultural growth of the region and will address our strategic needs’, observed the Lt Governor.
‘The tunnel will not only provide all-weather connectivity between Srinagar and Leh but will also reduce travel time from three and a half hours to only 15 minutes’, claimed the Lt Governor.
In connection with the project, 5 brides, 6 catch dams, 13 deflector dams, 8 cut and covers, 2 snow galleries, and 8 blast walls will also be constructed to provide avalanche protection between Sonamarg and Baltal. Exhaustive research and planning have been done while designing the project which includes manual fire alarm, portable fire extinguisher, automatic fire detection system, etc.
Works are also underway by NHILDCL on Z-Morh and Zojila Tunnel along with the work on the approach road and Avalanche Protection Works. While the Z-Morh tunnel is 6.5 km long, the Nilgrar Twin Tunnel is 2.4 km and the Zojila Tunnel is 14.15 km.
The tunnel will ensure year-round logistic support to the region and supply of essential commodities, Lt Governor added.
‘I always believe transport infrastructure is the most important element for holistic development and overall growth of a region and it brings territorial integrity. I am confident, Zoji-la Tunnel, will ensure enhanced business activities and will transform the areas where so far we have seen less development activities’, said the Lt Governor. ‘It will facilitate the trade and movement of the workforce throughout the year between the two Union territories’, the Lt Governor concluded.
Union Minister of State (Independent Charge), Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region; MoS PMO; Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions; Department of Atomic Energy; and Department of Spac, Dr Jitendra Singh; MoS, Road Transport, and Highways, Gen (Retd) Dr. V K Singh; Lt Governor, Ladakh, RK Mathur; Sh. BVR Subrahmanyam, Chief Secretary, J&K; Secretary, Road Transport and Highways, Giridhar Aramane; and other senior officers participated in the ceremony through virtual mode.

Precious Kashmir News
Srinagar, Oct 15: Dr Asgar Hassan Samoon (IAS) was among nine officers transferred by the government in Jammu and Kashmir in the interest of administration.
As per separate orders, the 1993-batch IAS officer Dr Asgar Hassan Samoon, Principal Secretary to the Government, School Education Department, holding additional charge of Principal Secretary to the Government, Skill Development Department, has been transferred and posted as Principal Secretary to the Government, Skill Development Department.
Abdul Majid Bhat, Chairman, J&K Special Tribunal, has been transferred and posted as Administrative Secretary, ARI and Trainings Department, relieving Ms. Rukhsana Gani, KAS, Administrative Secretary, Hospitality and Protocol Department of the additional charge of the post.
Sarita Chauhan (IAS), Commissioner/ Secretary to the Government, Department of Forest, Ecology and Environment, shall hold the charge of Chairman, J&K Special Tribunal, in addition to her own duties, till further orders, the order said.
B.K. Singh (IFS), awaiting orders of adjustment in the Department of Forest, Ecology and Environment, is posted as Administrative Secretary, School Education Department.
Ms. Rukhsana Gani (KAS), Administrative Secretary, Hospitality and Protocol Department, shall hold the additional charge of Administrative Secretary, Civil Aviation Department, relieving M. Raju (IAS), Secretary to the Government, Jal ShaMi Department of the additional charge of the post.
Sheikh Arshad Ayub (KAS), Director, Libraries, J&K, has been transferred and posted as Special Secretary to the Government, Housing and Urban Development Department.
Mohammad Rafi (KAS), Director, Panchayati Raj, J&K, holding additional charge of Chief Executive Officer, Integrated Water-shed Management Programme, has been transferred and posted as Director, Libraries, J&K. “He shall continue to hold the charge of Chief Executive Officer, Integrated Water-shed Management Programme, in addition to his own duties, till further orders”.
Rakesh Kumar Srangal (KAS), Additional Commissioner in the office of Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, is transferred and posted as Director, Panchayati Raj, J&K.
Ravinder Sharma (KAS), Custodian, Evacuee Property, Jammu, has been transferred and shall await further orders of adjustment in the General Administration Department.
Suraj Parkash Rukwal (KAS), Additional Secretary to the Government, Department of Disaster Management, Relief Rehabilitation and Reconstruction, shall hold the charge of Custodian, Evacuee Property, Jammu, in addition to his own duties, till further orders. He shall continue to be the ex-officio Provincial Rehabilitation Officer, Jammu. 2. Ms. Kashyp Neeha Pandita, Jr. KAS, Tehsildar in the Relief Organization (Migrants), Jammu, has been transferred and posted as Deputy PRO, Jammu, vice Ms. Akshi Gupta, Jr. KAS, who shall report to the Revenue Department for further posting.

Precious Kashmir News
Srinagar, Oct 15: In an important step towards the promotion of rural economy and to boost the sale of genuine exotic products of Handicrafts & Handloom sector and find new destinations for niche handmade products from Jammu & Kashmir which hold sway in the international market, the Government today signed a historic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with one of the county’s prominent online retailer Flipkart to provide an online platform for showcasing and facilitating the local artisans/craftsmen/weavers to reach customers across the globe.
The special webportal “Samarth” of e-commerce giant Flipkart will now cater to hitherto uncovered products of Handicrafts and Handloom of J&K. The endeavour is seen as a game changer for on-boarding, sale and cataloguing of Handicrafts and Handloom products of J&K. The step by the Government at the time when the entire Country is reeling under the pressures of COVID-19 Pandemic shall provide much-needed succour to the artisans, craftsperson and weavers in J&K. The move by the Government shall expose artisans, craftspersons and weavers to millions of customers shopping online thereby ensuring efficient marketing that too when virtual marketing has overtaken the physical marketing of goods and services across the globe.
The MoU was signed in presence of Shri. Manoj Sinha, Lieutenant Governor, UT of J&K between Sh. Hashmat Ali, Managing Director, J&K Handloom and Handicrafts Corporation and Sh. Rajneesh Kumar, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, Flipkart Group.
Speaking on the occasion, the Lt Governor appreciated the art of artisans and weavers of J&K. He emphasized that the initiative by the Government is more beneficial to the Flipkart than to the artists of J&K given the kind of unmatched, unique, world-class and nowhere-else to be seen artistry and dexterity of the artisans of J&K. “Partnership with the e-commerce marketplace like Flipkart will enable the local artisans, craftsmen and weavers to reach the global market. It will also provide an appropriate opportunity for the momentous growth and development of the respective sectors”, he added.
The Lt Governor also underscored the various steps that the Government of J&K has taken in the recent past for improving the financial conditions of artisans and weavers associated with Handicrafts and Handloom sector like enhancement in loan to Rs 2 lacs under Artisans Credit card scheme.
During the virtual signing of the MoU, few artisans also showcased their products and thanked the Government for facilitating e-commerce facility for sale and marketing of their products and appreciated the timing of this move when their unsold inventories have piled up due to Pandemic.
This meaningful initiative will eliminate the role of the middleman to a larger extent and will benefit the artisans in a way that the proceeds of the sale of their products shall go directly into their accounts. Initially this tie-up is supposed to cover dozens of products of lower and middle range segments like Paper-mache, Walnut craft gift items, Shawls and Stoles, Embroidery made-ups and Namda Rugs, Chain Stitch wall hangings, Willow wicker, Gabba, etc. Many more craft items shall be added subsequently.
This e-marketing channel shall involve and benefit artisans and weavers both in organized and unorganized sector and for the first six months, Flipkart will not charge any fee from the artisans and weavers. Subsequently, very nominal charges shall be levied as per the mutual agreement. The product profiles will be created with the help of resource persons made available by Flipkart.
Rajneesh Kumar, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, Flipkart Group further added, “We are excited to join hands with the J&K Handloom and Handicrafts Corporation to bring the local heritage of Jammu & Kashmir on our platform. This MoU will enable thousands of artisans to reap the benefits of e-commerce and scale up their business.”
Kewal Kumar Sharma, Advisor to the Lieutenant Governor; B.V.R. Subrahmanyam, Chief Secretary; Manoj Kumar Dwivedi, Commissioner/Secretary, Industries and Commerce Department; Masarat-Ul-Islam, Director, Handicrafts & Handloom, Kashmir, besides other senior officers attended the brief ceremony.

Sikander Gulzar
Srinagar, Oct 15: Gunmen on Thursday evening fired upon a former militant at Kakapora area of South Kashmir’s Pulwama district.
Official sources told GNS that the unknown gunmen fired upon former militant namely Tanveer Sofi at Kakapora near J&K Bank, resulting in serious injury to him. He was immediately removed to Srinagar hospital for treatment. Soon after the attack whole area has been cordoned off, they said.

Precious Kashmir News
Srinagar, Oct 15: Chief Secretary, B V R Subrahmanyam today chaired a meeting to review preparations for the upcoming ‘My Town, My Pride’ programme to be organized across the Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) on 19th- 20th October, 2020.
Administrative Secretaries of departments of Home, and Housing & Urban Development, besides Divisional Commissioners of Jammu and Kashmir along with Commissioners SMC/JMC, all the Deputy Commissioners, and concerned HoDs participated in the meeting.

Aimed at further empowering and strengthening the framework of the Urban Local Bodies, the 2-day programme will include closer review of their functioning, besides taking up mobilisation of funds toward developmental activities in addition to the public outreach.
On the lines of recently concluded ‘Back to Village’ programme, the ‘My Town, My Pride’ programme also envisages time-bound delivery of documents like domicile, SC/ST/RBA/ALC/OBC certificates; revenue services besides ensuring benefits under various welfare schemes including pensions, scholarships, PMAY, KCC, Health Golden Cards, Ladli Beti, among others.

It has been decided that for the purpose of providing a mega push to the developmental activities Rs 50 lakh, Rs 1 crore and Rs 5 crore will be released to each Municipality, Municipal Council, and Municipal Corporation, respectively.

 Tasaduq Hussain

Kupwara, Oct 15 : In a humanitarian gesture, the  army Thursday resuscitated a damaged grave of a  Pakistani major killed way back in 1972 close to the fence in an action at Nowgam sector in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district.

Defence sources told news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), that a grave of slain army major belonging to Pakistan was resuscitated in Nowgam sector in Handwara killed in an action close to the line of control (LoC) over four decades back.

They identified the slain Pakistani major as Mohd Shabir Khan, “Sitara-e-jurat was killed in an action along the fence in Nowgam sector on May 05, 1972  and was buried there since then.

Meanwhile, Indian army in a tweet also informed about the resuscitation of the slain major’s grave in Nowgam sector with respect and honour. 

Army said that “keeping with the tradition and ethos of the Indian army resuscitated a damaged grave of major Mohd Shabir Khan, Sitara-e-jurat, Pakistan army, who was killed in action (KIA) at a forward location along LC in Nowgam sector on 05 may 1972.”

It said that “A fallen soldier, irrespective to the country he belongs to, deserves respect and honour in death. Indian army stands with this belief.” “This is #Indianarmy for the world”, it said.

Baseer says policy put in place for revival, survival of tourism in JK
Precious Kashmir News
Srinagar, Oct 15: Union Minister of State for Culture and Tourism (IC) Prahlad Singh Patel Thursday held a virtual meeting with the State Tourism Ministers and Administrators of Union Territories for revival of tourism activities across the country.
Advisor to Lieutenant Governor, Baseer Ahmad Khan and Secretary Tourism, Youth Services and Sports, Sarmad Hafeez participated in the meeting on behalf of J&K Government.
In his address, the Union minister said that COVID-19 pandemic has affected the tourism activities across the world and with the easing of restrictions through Unlock 5.0, the tourism activities will be revived in India. He added that effective coordination between centre, states and UTs is mandatory for successful revival of the tourism industry.
The Minister further asked the participants to facilitate ease of travel between states and UTs for promotion of domestic tourism. He impressed upon them to explore possibilities of providing incentives to Tourism and Hospitality sectors of their respective places as they have been worst affected due to COVID-19 pandemic.
Prahlad impressed upon the ministers and representatives of states/UTs to maintain all public utilities, hotels and other places along their respective National Highways under proper COVID protocols so that tourists feel at ease while travelling and staying along these places.
Speaking during the meeting, Advisor to Lieutenant Governor, Baseer Ahmad Khan informed the minister that J&K is a potential tourist place receiving tourists from all across the world in large numbers.
He informed the minister that the J&K Administration has already put in place a proper policy for revival and survival of tourism sector besides a mechanism for facilitation of tourists intending to visit J&K. He added that the policy of System for Assessment, Awareness and Training for Hospitality Industry (SAATHI) has been effectively rolled out here for hassle free facilitation of tourists.
Khan informed the minister that the pilgrimage tourism is also going on smoothly in J&K and a circuit from Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine to Kashmir will be made operational soon for increasing the tourist influx.

Class XI students protest in Sopore, demand mass promotion
Precious Kashmir News
Srinagar, Oct 15: The government is likely to conduct the class 10th and class 12th examinations in the first week of November.
The decision to this effect has been taken in view of the panchayat and urban local body elections, which is likely to be held in the last week of November.
Highly placed sources said it was decided in a meeting called by the administrative secretary School Education to review the conduct of annual examinations in Kashmir Division and winter zone of Jammu Division.
The meeting was attended by officials of JKBOSE, Deputy Commissioners, joint director school education Kashmir and CEOs participated through video conferencing.
Chairperson JKBOSE, secretary JKBOSE and Director school education Jammu also participated from Jammu through video conferencing.
Meanwhile, scores of Class 11th students from Boys Higher Secondary School and Girls Higher Secondary School Sopore on Monday staged a protest at Iqbal Market in north Kashmir’s Sopore town and demanded their promotion to the next class.
The protesting students said that the Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education (JKBOSE) must consider their mass promotion demand at an earliest or else it will have a huge impact on their academics.
The protesting students marched from their institutions to Bus Stand and raised slogans. They said they are not ready for the examinations. “It has been almost a year now and are now asked to appear in the annual exams without having proper preparation for it,” said a student.
The students said that JKBOSE is playing with the career of students by forcing them to appear in the examinations without attending a single lecture for so many months now.
“There is no proper internet and many of the students failed to attend the online classes due to unavailability of high speed internet,” protesting students said and appealed to the concerned JKBOSE to fulfill their demands.
Meanwhile, the traffic was also disrupted due to the protest by the students. (Inputs from KNS/KNO)

New Delhi, Oct 15: The Supreme Court on Thursday closed the case filed by Iltija Mufti against the detention of her mother and former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti after taking note of her release two days ago.
“Okay. Good,” a bench headed by Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul said when the counsel of Union Territory administration and Iltija informed it about the release of Mufti, who is the president of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
She was released on Tuesday night as the Union Territory administration revoked the Public Safety Act charges against her, more than a year after she was detained following the abrogation of special status of the erstwhile state.