Srinagar, Oct 6: Special Director General of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) Zulfikar Hassan Tuesday said that appropriate measures are being taken to prevent attacks on CRPF on highways.

“CRPF being the primary force responsible for highway security are being targeted. Appropriate measures are being taken to prevent attacks on highways,” Zulfikar told news agency KINS.

Meanwhile, concerned over the increasing attacks on security forces on the Kashmir highways, top security officials  said that new Standard Operating Procedure (SoPs) are being framed to prevent highway attacks and it won’t be feasible to share what measures are in the pipeline given the security issues.

The officials while speaking to news agency Kashmir Indepth News Service (KINS), said that a security review meeting was on cards soon to discuss highway attacks and to frame a SoP to prevent loss of security personnel.

“New SoPs are being framed and it won’t be feasible to divulge them at this juncture due to security reasons,” said, IGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar. He, however, said the situation was well under control and there was no need to worry.

IG CRPF for operations, Deepak Rattan said that focus of the SoPs will ensure militants don’t succeed in killing CRPF men deployed on highways as part of the Road Opening Parties (ROPs). “CRPF is primarily responsible for the RoPs and clearance of highways in Kashmir. So there will be a level of extra alertness to foil militants’ designs on highways,” he said, adding that “any retaliation by forces on highways can lead to civilian casualties, which our men are avoiding.”

Sources in the security grid said that in the next two days, a high level security review will take place in Srinagar to discuss threadbare the attacks by militants on highways and other busy areas of the region while strategy will be devised to prevent killing of security forces’ personnel if militants try to target forces.

Pertinently, yesterday, two CRPF men were killed and three others sustained bullet injuries when two-bike borne militants fired at them at Kandizaal area of Pampore in Srinagar outskirts. Before that militants had attacked a police party on August 14 at Nowgam byepass in Srinagar killing two policemen while their rifles were also snatched. In the Pampore attack, IG CRPF said no weapon was snatched and only two “CRPF men were killed.”

According to IGP Kashmir, any retaliation to militant attacks on highways, will invite trouble for the civilians. “We don’t retaliate to militant attacks on highways as that would lead to civilian casualties. Every day, thousands of vehicles ply on highways and any retaliation from outside will lead to chaos and trouble for civilians, which we avoid. But yes, we will ensure there is no loss of security forces personnel if militants target them on highways,” the IGP said.(KINS)

Chairs weekly Covid-19 review meeting
Srinagar, Oct 6: Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Pandurang K Pole today called for establishment of proper COVID-19 related facilities at Machil, Keran and Tanghdar areas in Kupwara district and at Gurez area of Bandipora, which remain cut off from rest of the Kashmir, due to snowfall, during winter season.
The Div Com made these remarks while chairing a weekly Covid- 19 review meeting here.
He directed Deputy Commissioners of Kupwara and Bandipora districts to stock sufficient Covid-19 related material including oxygen cylinders, oximeters, testing kits, drugs and other covid related material in all such heavy snow bound area for the smooth functioning of Covid-19 health centers during the winter season.
He said that all the material should be stocked before October- 15 at all identified places. Similar directions were given to the DC Anantnag and Shopian to stock put up all covid related facilities and stock related material in all snow bound areas.
He emphasized on facilitating proper heating arrangements and other logistical support should be put in place at all Covid-19 health centers during the winter season.
The Div Com emphasized on improvement in sample collection, testing and contact tracing in all districts and directed concerned to ensure that all symptomatic persons tested negative under RAT shall be subjected to RTPCR testing as well as mandatory for containment of the virus.
The Div Com impressed upon on maintaining the proper home isolation of positive patients for their recovery.
At the outset, the Div Com took detailed district wise latest trend of positive cases, deaths, persons in home isolation, distribution of medicines, oximeters, referrals, containment zones and contact tracing.
Stressing on proper management of red zone areas in all districts, the Div Com directed all DCs to ensure timely notification and de-notification of all containment zones.
The meeting was attended by all DCs , SSPs, Health Officers and other concerned.

Precious Kashmir News
Srinagar, Oct 6: As part of bi-annual Darbar move, the Civil Secretariat, seat of Jammu and Kashmir government, along with other offices will close here on October 30 and reopen in the winter capital Jammu on November 09.
According to an order issued by General Administration Department, the Government offices observing five days week shall close at Srinagar on October 30, 2020 (Friday) after the office hours and the offices observing six days week shall close at Srinagar on 31 October 2020 (Saturday) after the office hours and reopen at Jammu on November 09 (Monday), 2020. All the departments shall ensure that records are packed in boxes after working hours on last working day in Srinagar.
It has been ordered that the offices moving in camp shall carry only 33% of the strength of staff in that particular office or with 10 officials whichever is minimum.
All Departments have been asked to send their advance parties on 23 October 2020 (Friday) consisting of one Gazetted Officer and four to five Non-Gazetted Employees who will receive the records at Jammu. The departments shall ensure that boxes are properly locked and their keys reach the advance parties at Jammu well in time. The S.S.P. Security, Civil Secretariat will furnish a list of defaulting departments in this regard to the General Administration Department.
J&K RTC has been asked to make available sufficient number of buses in good condition for transportation of Jammu based employees on 31 October and 1st November and Kashmir based employees on 7th and 8th November 2020. The booking of buses shall be for the destination of the employees wherever feasible. Tickets shall be issued by RTC in advance i.e. from October 20th, 2020 both from Civil Secretariat as well as from the main booking counters of RTC.
J&K RTC will also make available trucks for shifting the records from Srinagar to Jammu. The trucks shall be requisitioned by the departments from J&K RTC and the departments shall draw advance for meeting carriage and package charges. The trucks shall be allowed to enter the Secretariat premises after 5.30 P.M on the last working day. Loading of records in the offices located outside the Secretariat premises, observing six days week, shall take place after working hours on the last working day. The loaded trucks shall leave for Jammu on 1st November, 2020 in a convoy. J&K RTC will also ensure that one Crane, two empty Buses and two empty Trucks accompany the convoy on the respective days so that the employees do not face inconvenience due to any break down of buses/trucks on the way. Mobile workshop shall also accompany the convoy.
It has been ordered that the S.S.P Security, Srinagar will supervise packing/ loading of records of the officials located outside the Secretariat from Security point of view and issue clearance certificates to the drivers who in turn will show them to S.S.P. Security Civil Secretariat to allow them to be included in the convoy. The S.S.P Security, Civil Secretariat will ensure entrance of trucks/records in the Civil Secretariat, Jammu/Srinagar after proper scrutiny.
It has been ordered that Police shall escort the ‘employees’ and the ‘records convoy’ all along the route up to their respective destinations. They will also make sure that the move convoy is given precedence in crossing the Jawahar Tunnel. The Director General of Police, J&K will issue necessary guidelines to the field agencies accordingly.
Health & Medical Education Department shall make arrangements for COVID-19 Rapid Antigen Test of all the employees of Civil Secretariat Srinagar who are shifting to Jammu in connection with the Annual Darbar Move (Winter Season). Further, any employee testing positive in the Rapid Antigen Test shall resume duties at Jammu only after testing negative.
The Health and Medical Education Department shall plan for medical aid facilities at various places including Qazigund, Banihal, Ramsu, Ramban, Udhampur and Jajarkotli, on the days when the employees travel from Srinagar to Jammu. Financial Commissioner Health and Medical Education will issue necessary instruction in this behalf to the Directorates of Kashmir and Jammu Divisions accordingly.
It has been ordered that no moving employee shall occupy any Government/EP/Municipal residential accommodation except under proper allotment order. Moreover, the move employees can retain the Government accommodation allotted to them at Srinagar for bona-fide use of their families under intimation to the Estates department on applicable terms and conditions.
The moving employees having Ration Cards at Srinagar shall surrender the same to the Director, Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution Department, Srinagar and obtain a surrender certificate. The Director, Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution Department, Jammu shall issue Ration Cards to move employees at Jammu on the opening of the Offices. The employees who desire to move without families may retain the Ration Cards at Srinagar for the Winter Season.
Special Move T.A shall be paid at the uniform rate of Rs. 25,000/-per employee. This shall be drawn and disbursed in advance. Special move T.A shall not, however, be payable to such of the employees who do not move within the prescribed time. Advance pay is also authorized in terms of Rule 14.26 of the J&K Financial code (vol-1) in favour of such of the Non-Gazetted moving employees who may apply for the same which shall be recoverable in installments as per rules.
The Salary for the month of October, 2020 in respect of all the employees working in moving offices shall be drawn on 23rd of October, 2020.
No leave shall be admissible in combination/continuation of move days except in very exceptional circumstances. The concerned Administrative Secretaries shall sanction leave whatever due to the employees on very exceptional circumstances. It has been also ordered that all the Administrative Departments shall detach the staff if any, attached by them from subordinate offices of Kashmir division.
The office timing on the reopening of the offices at Jammu shall be 9.30 am to 5.30 pm in respect of Civil Secretariat and heads of department located within the Civil Secretariat premises and 10 am to 4.30 pm in respect of all moving Departments located outside the Civil Secretariat and observing six days a week.

Srinagar, Oct 6: The government on Tuesday ordered that that 58 departments shall move ‘in camp’ and 38 others ‘in full’ as part of the bi-annual Darbar Move this year.
“The offices moving in camp shall carry only 33% of the staff strength in that particular office or 10 officials, whichever is minimum or otherwise, as specifically indicated,” reads an order issued by the government, a copy of which lies with GNS .
All the departments shall depute their advance parties on October 23 (Friday), consisting of one Gazetted Officer and four to five Non-Gazetted Employees who shall receive the records at Jammu, it said.
The offices observing five days week shall close at Srinagar on October 30 Friday) after the office hours and the offices observing six days week shall close on 31st October. All the offices shall reopen at Jammu on 9th November, 2020 (Monday). All the departments shall ensure that records are packed in boxes after the working hours on the last working day.
“The departments shall ensure that records are properly packed in boxes/trunks and their keys should reach the advance parties at Jammu, well in time,” the government said and directed The SSP, Security, Civil Secretariat to furnish a list of defaulting departments in this regard to the General Administration Department at Jammu.
“JKRTC shall make available sufficient number of buses in good condition for transportation of Jammu based employees on 31st October & 1st November, 2020 and Srinagar based employees on 7th & 8th November, 2020. The booking of buses shall be for destinations of the employees, wherever feasible. Tickets shall be issued by the JKRTC in advance i.e. from 20th October, 2020, both from the Civil Secretariat as well as from the main booking counters of JKRTC”.

Precious Kashmir News
Srinagar, Oct 6: The Administrative Council (AC), which met here under the chairmanship of Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha, approved the proposal of the Jal Shakti Department to modify the road map for ensuring 100% piped water supply in rural areas under Jal Jeevan Mission by December, 2022 owing to the COVID- 19 pandemic induced delays.
It was informed that under Phase I, universal tap water coverage has been achieved in the districts of Srinagar and Ganderbal and the Department after observing all the codal formalities, has taken up works in Reasi, and Samba districts which will be completed by 31st March, 2021. Completion of 1st phase of the mission will benefit 2,32,431 households in 1,087 Gram Panchayats across 99 blocks by providing them with functional household tap connections. Consecutively, the Department will also be taking up works in the districts of Poonch, Shopian, Pulwama, and Bandipora (phase II) which will be completed by August 2021.
Further, the Department has identified 1533 projects worth Rs 3760 crore which require retrofitting of water supply schemes. As such, efforts are underway to utilize the existing skill sets of departmental experts to achieve faster execution under these projects through fast-tracked e-tendering, 3rd party monitoring and concurrent auditing.
The Administrative Council was also informed that to fast track execution of projects in the remaining 12 districts under phase II and III, the Department is appointing ‘Project Development and Management Consultant’ (PDMC), one each for Kashmir and Jammu province, which will supervise project execution, contract & project management, and bill verification; after creating a mechanism for checks and balances at every stage of execution through Paani Samitis and experts/professionals as prescribed in the JJM guidelines.
Phase II will provide universal drinking water connections to 9 districts of Bandipora, Doda, Jammu, Kulgam, Kupwara, Poonch, Pulwama, Shopian, and Udhampur, whereas, phase III will cover 7 districts of Anantnag, Budgam, Baramulla, Kathua, Kishtwar, Ramban, and Rajouri.
The Jal Jeevan Mission will be completed in Jammu and Kashmir by December, 2022 ahead of 2024 timeline provided by the Government of India.

Precious Kashmir News
Srinagar, Sep 6: The Central Government on Tuesday issued second notification after Abrogation of special status to extend the two orders specifying that 11 central laws will immediately come into effect in the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir and nomenclature of 10 state laws will be changed in view of the change of status of the erstwhile state.
The 136-page notification issued by the Home Ministry is called as the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Adaptation of Central Laws) Second and Third Order, 2020.
Before the bifurcation of state of Jammu and Kashmir and abrogation of special status, it was mandatory for the central laws to be ratified by the state assembly before implementation in Jammu and Kashmir. There were many state laws also which were exclusively applicable only in Jammu and Kashmir.
The central laws which will now come into effect in Jammu and Kashmir are: The Banning of Unregulated Deposit Schemes Act, 2019, The Building and Other Construction Workers (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 1996, The Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Act, 1970, The Factories Act, 1948, The Industrial disputes act 1947 and The Industrial Employment (Standing Orders) Act, 194, The Motor Transport Workers Act, 1961, The Pharmacy Act, 1948, The Sales Promotion Employees Act, 1976, The Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014 and The Trade Unions Act, 1926.
The notification reads that an order has been issued for the change of names and certain words in some of the state laws enacted by the assembly of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir.
The changes in the state laws were made in the form of – “State” and “Government” substituting respectively “Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir” and “Government of the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir” and for “whole of the State of Jammu and Kashmir” substituting “whole of the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir” and a few others issues.
The other state laws where the changes were made include: The Jammu and Kashmir Municipal Act, 2000, The Jammu and Kashmir Municipal Corporation Act, 2000, The Jammu and Kashmir School Education Act, 2002, The Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education Act, 1975, The Jammu and Kashmir Cooperative Societies Act, 1989, The Jammu and Kashmir Self-Reliant Cooperatives Act, 1999 and The Salaries and Allowances of Members of Jammu and Kashmir state legislature Salary Act, 1960.
Other state laws where the changes were made are: The Salary and Allowances of Leaders of Opposition in the State Legislature Act, 1985, The Jammu and Kashmir Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017 and The Jammu and Kashmir Metropolitan Region Development Authorities Act, 2018.(KNS)

Srinagar, Oct 5: The government of Jammu and Kashmir has accorded sanction to promotion of officers to various scales of Indian Administrative Service (IAS).

According to an order issued here today, Mandeep Kaur and Pandurang Kondbarao Pole have been promoted to the Super Time Scale of IAS (Level 14 of pay matrix) with effect from 01.01.2020. These officers shall undergo Mid Career Phase-IV training as and when deputed by Government of India and shall pass the departmental probationer examination within one year.

Meanwhile, Shrikant Balasaheb Suse has been promoted to the Senior Time Scale of IAS (Level 11 of pay matrix) with effect from 01.01.2020. The officer shall pass the departmental examination within one year.

Srinagar, Oct 6: Home Department of J&K on Tuesday ordered several transfers and postings in the interest of administration with immediate effect.

Order No. 203- Home of 2020 dated 06.10.2020 reads Amit Kumar, IPS (JK:2006) I/c DIG Armed Jammu, is transferred and posted as I/c DIG Central Kashmir Range, against an available vacancy while Sandeep Gupta, IPS (JK:2015), awaiting orders of posting is posted as SP North Srinagar, against an available vacancy.

Shiv Kumar Sharma, CO JKAP 8th Bn, is transferred and posted as SSP, Trafic City, Jammu, against an available vacancy; while Sohail Munawar Mir, Principal PS Manigam, is transferred and posted as SSP CID SB Kashmir, vice Shokat Hussain Shah.

Zahid Nasim Manhas, SSP, SSG, is transferred and posted as CO Ist Border BN Jammu, against an available vacancy; while Zubair Ahmed Khan, SSP, awaiting orders of posting, is posted as CO, IRP 6th BN, vice Yougal Kumar Manhas.

Randeep Kumar, SSP, CID, SB Jammu, is transferred and posted as SSP, SSG, vice Zahid Nasim Manhas; while Shokat Hussain Shah, SSP, CID, SB, Kashmir, is transferred and posted as Principal PTS, Manigam, vice Sohail Munawar Mir.

Yougal Kumar Manhas, CO, IRP 6th BN, is transferred and posted as SSP (Tech), CID Hqrs, vice Paramvir Singh; while Rohit Baskotra, SP, SSG, is transferred and posted as SSP, CID SB Jammu, vice Randeep Kumar.

Amit Gupta, SP, awaiting orders of posting, is posted as CO, IRP 16h Bn, against an available vacancy; while Suram Singh, Addl. SP Rural Jammu, is transferred and posted as CO, JKAP 6th Bn, against an available vacancy.

Paramvir Singh, SP (Tech) CID Hqrs shall report to Home Department for further posting; while Prabh Dayal Sharma, Addl. SP CID SB Jammu, is transferred and posted as Dy. Co, IRP 15th Bn, against an available vacancy.
Sanjay Sharma, Dy. Co JKAP 8th Bn, is transferred and posted as Addl. SP Rural, Jammu, vice Suram Singh; whereas Sheikh Faisal Qayoom, SP, awaiting orders of posting, is posted as SP, SSG, vice Rohit Baskotra.

Sanjay Parihar, Addl. SP Ramban, is transferred and posted as Addl. SP CID SB, Jammu, vice Prabh Dayal Sharma; whereas Rajni Sharma, Dy. CO IRP 15th Bn, is transferred and posted as Addl. SP Ramban, vice Sanjay Parihar.

Shabir Ahmad, SP, awaiting orders of posting. is posted as Dy. CO JKAP 5th Bn against an available vacancy; whereas Surinder Kumar, SP, awaiting orders of posting, is posted as Dy. CO IRP 24th Bn against an available vacancy.

Ravail Singh, SP, awaiting orders of posting, is posted as Dy. CO JKAP 8th Bn, vice Sanjay Sharma; while as Pran Nath Pandita, SP, awaiting orders of posting, is posted as Staff Officer to Addl. DGP CID, J8K. One post of SP from over all reserves is attached with CID Hqrs for the purpose of drawl of his salary.