Precious Kashmir

Police prevents youth from joining militancy in Ganderbal

Jammu & Kashmir

02/10/2020

Precious Kashmir News

Ganderbal, Oct 1: Police in Ganderbal have apprehended a youth who has been misled to join militant ranks.

“Based on credible input from various security agencies, police apprehended a youth identified as Umar Nazir resident of Ganderbal,” a police spokesman said.

He said preliminary investigation reveals that the subject was in constant touch over social media with some suspects in Bandipora & Pulwama and had developed tendency to join militant ranks.

“The arrested youth was properly counselled by police in presence of his parents and later handed over to his parents,” the spokesman said.

Div Com reviews implementation of centrally sponsored schemes in Cantonment area

City

Precious Kashmir

02/10/2020

Precious Kashmir News

Srinagar, Oct 1: Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir Pandurang K Pole Thursday chaired a meeting of officers to review the implementation of centrally sponsored schemes in Cantonment area Badami Bagh.

Stressing on the speedy implementation of all schemes, the Div Com directed that the Cantonment board should be intimated by the concerned officers before execution of any developmental work in the area.

In order to ensure better health care facilities, the Div Com emphasized on establishment of health sub- centre in the area. In this regard the Director Health Services was directed to submit a proposal to the government and hire a rented accommodation for operation of health centre.

Commissioner, SMC Srinagar was instructed to ensure construction of community toilets under the Swachh Bharat Mission at all places, identified by the CEO Cantonment board.

While taking detailed review implementation of schemes, the Div Com instructed that ADDC Srinagar and CEO shall jointly be holding monthly meeting of all concerned officers for the smooth implementation of all schemes.

He said since the information of schemes is available on web portals, the officers shall provide excess of portals to CEO so that bottlenecks, lacunas or any impediments hampering implementation of schemes is addressed accordingly.

Among others the meeting was attended by Commissioner SMC, CEO, Cantonment, CMO Srinagar and other concerned.

10-days research methodology workshop in Social Sciences begins at CUK

Jammu & Kashmir

Precious Kashmir

02/10/2020

Precious Kashmir News

Ganderbal, Oct 1: The 10-day research methodology workshop for Research Scholars in Social Sciences’ organised by the School of Social Sciences, Central University of Kashmir (CUK) began from Thursday at Green Campus here.

Faculty members and research scholars from the three departments, Economics, Politics and Governance and Religious Studies were present during the function, which was chaired by Vice Chancellor Prof. Mehraj ud Din Mir.

Prof. Pulin Nayak from Delhi School of Economics joined online from New Delhi to deliver the special lecture.

Addressing the participants, Vice Chancellor, Prof. Mehraj ud Din, said the present world has found itself in a new reality which has changed the way of operations at all levels and the same is true for Research Methodology.

He stressed the need for adopting the interdisciplinary approach and said that there is no fun in simply getting a degree if the research is not used for the benefit of the society.

Prof. Pulin Nayak’s lecture focused mainly on inequality.

He said inequality is not only an economic phenomenon, but is a socio-political phenomenon as well and it must be understood in a holistic manner.

LAWDA demolished illegal structures

City

Precious Kashmir

02/10/2020

Precious Kashmir News

Srinagar, Oct 1: The Enforcement Wing of Lakes and Waterways Development Authority (LAWDA) continue demolition drive of illegal structures built by encroachers at several locations.

During the drive, several structures were demolished in the area of Baghi-Roop Singh Nowpora, Saderbal & Karpora which were raised by some violators taking the undue advantage of Covid-19.

On the occasion the Enforcement Officer said strict action shall be taken against those found indulging in any sort of illegal constructions/encroachments in LDA jurisdiction.

He said it is also impressed that no construction activity within 200 meters from the lake and the other restrictions imposed under Master Plan should come up and the violators shall be dealt-with strictly under the law. He further added that the public residing within the LDA jurisdiction are hereby directed not to go for any sort of illegal constructions.

Moreover, all the Tipper/Load carrier owners are directed not to carry construction material in the territorial jurisdiction of J&K LDA without seeking permission from the competent authorities and should desist while carrying it to the prohibited area.

The officer warned the unscrupulous elements creating hurdles during demolition of illegal constructions that action will be taken against them under law.

CAG And Official Slackness

Edit

Precious Kashmir

01/10/2020

The latest audit of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) as regards the Government’s performance on various accounts does not present a picture worth appreciation but merits consideration beyond doubt. In fact, there have been many shortcomings pointed out in the administration’s performances and lack of seriousness, leading to delay in various projects of immense importance.

One such example has been the administration’s failure to set up International Trade Centre at Pampore. As pointed out by the CAG, Rs 3.94 crore was blocked for more than a decade while there has been an “unfruitful” expenditure of Rs 1.06 crore.

As per it, the Government of India released had Rs five crore as the first installment of the project to the SIDCO for setting up the the facility in December 2008.

The funds were retained by the Corporation for around two years and transferred to the bank account of Managing Director, Handicrafts Department in January 2011 after the GoI sought utilization certificates.

Out of the funds released, the CAG revealed that an amount of Rs 1.01 crore was advanced to R&B department between September 2012 to January 2016 for construction of fencing around the land identified for the project and an expenditure Rs 0.05 crore incurred for obtaining license under the Companies Act 2013.

The work on the project couldn’t be taken up due to multiple reasons, although the land measuring 371 kanals was transferred in favour of Director Handicrafts for establishment of ITC way back in 2004, it revealed.

The DPR was prepared in January 2014 but the project works could not be taken up as the decision with regard to identification of executing agency between SICOP and JKPCC and finalisation of the DPRs was not taken, it added. This is not one of the cases where the administration’s performance has been point out in the CAG report in a bad light. There are plethoras of cases and such state of affairs cannot be approved of. As should be the purpose of the CAG reports, the concerned officers should be held accountable for slackness.

The Executive is answerable to the legislature and to the people for all its decisions. The answerability is enforced through the CAG where it involves finance and accounts. The CAG of India has, not for the first time, pointed out the inadequacies but there seems to be a lack in fixing the responsibility.

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Schools reopening experiment fails in Kashmir

Anchor stories

Afaq Bhat

01/10/2020

Schools reopening experiment fails in Kashmir

Students stay away; parents want normal schooling after COVID-19 vaccine
Afaq Bhat
Srinagar, Sep 30: Experiment of the School Education Department (SED) to reopen the schools from class 9th to 12th on voluntary basis amidst pandemic has not worked as the students have stayed away.
It may be recalled that SED officials had to cut a sorry figure after circular asking the parents to send their children to schools on their “own risk and responsibility” had gone viral on the social networking sites.
A parent while talking to Precious Kashmir said, “No parent will ever put the life of his/her ward at risk. All of us are aware of the fact that the COVID-19 virus is very much active and it is infecting the people daily. Sending children to schools at this point of time could have proved disastrous.”
The parent said that soon after the schools were reopened in the United States of America and Israel number of COVID-19 cases had witnessed a massive spike.
The educational institutions in Kashmir have remained closed since August 5, 2019. The schools had opened briefly in the month of March but after the outbreak of the COVID-19 these were closed again. “Students have suffered immensely during the past one year and the SED by making an attempt to bring them back to schools was a bold move, but the medicos and experts had opposed it due to many reasons,” said an analyst.
He said, “The winter is coming near and none of us knows how the virus will behave. So reopening schools at this point of time was not a good idea. Parents have listened to the advice of the experts and have prevented their children from becoming a part of a dangerous experiment.”
The analyst said that people will have to wait till the vaccine comes. “We have waited for more than a year, so it’s no point hurrying up. The COVID-19 has to go. It’s just a matter of time before the vaccine comes and people get a protective shield,” he added.
An official of the School Education Department said, “J&K is not the only place where schools have been reopened. The educational institutions have been thrown open in many states and union territories. We are not forcing the parents to send their children to schools. Whosoever wants to come is welcome. There is no compulsion from our side.”
The official said that terming the reopening of schools as a “failed experiment” was being unfair.

KPDCL formulates plan to improve power scenario in winter

Anchor stories

Gul Owais

01/10/2020

KPDCL formulates plan to improve power scenario in winter

Curtailment schedule to be finalized next week
Gul Owais

Srinagar, Sep 30: The Jammu and Kashmir administration is mulling to improve power supply this winter and the curtailment schedule will be finalized this week, officials told Precious Kashmir on Wednesday.
They said that the Kashmir Power Development Corporation Limited has formulated an action plan to improve the power scenario this winter. The plan will be finalized by October 31st.

Following the directions by the Lieutenant Governor, the department has come up with a fresh action plan in which 12 processes have been mentioned, which as per the documents available will be completed till October 31.

The documents of action plan available with ‘Precious Kashmir’ reveal that the officers have been tasked with different works and the department has also fixed deadlines for the works allotted to them.

It added that the process of branch cutting will be completed till October 15 by CE (D)/SE (Xens) while inspection of all transformer repair workshops (Divisional/Central workshop) will be completed by October 10 by Superintending Engineers.

The document reads that feeder inspection will be completed by October 30 by SEs, Xens and AEEs while as the repair of reclaimable transformers, all Xens to maintain sufficient stock of transformers by repairing the reclaimable stocks [as per number conveyed to CE (D)] office till October 30 Xens concerned and Xen central workshop.

The process of maintaining buffer stock of poles and conductor for restoration works shall be completed till October 30 by CE (P&P) as per requisition placed by CE (D), the document said, adding that identification of most vulnerable habitations and submission of lists thereof to be completed till October 7 by Xens concerned.

It added that finalization of curtailment schedule to be prepared till October 5 by the CE (D). “Advance duping of HSD for Gurez, Keran and Machil will be done till October 20 by Xen Bandippora and Xen Kupwara,” the document added.

“Nomination of feeder in-charges and providing name, designation and contact number to be done till October 7 by Xens. The social media outreach will be started immediately by MD KPDCL,” the document said.

It added that strengthening of call centre infrastructure and DC Bemina will be completed till October 30 by the CEO IT. The last plan in the document is setting up of divisional control rooms, which will be completed till October 31 by Xens concerned.

The action plan was formulated soon after the Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha in a meeting held on September 29, issued strict directions to the department for ensuring smooth power supply during winter. The document added that laxity on part of any official or officer shall attract disciplinary action.

Meanwhile, Principal Secretary Power Development Department (PDD), Rohit Kansal appreciated the Kashmir Power Development Corporation Limited (KPDCL) for preparing the action plan before the onset of winter and said that Kashmir will witness best ever power situation in the upcoming winter.

COVID-19 claims 18 more lives, 975 test positive in J&K

Front

Nadeem Nadu

01/10/2020

COVID-19 claims 18 more lives, 975 test positive in J&K

Death toll at 1184; total cases cross 75000 mark
Nadeem Nadu

Srinagar, Sep 30: Eighteen more people died of COVID-19 in Jammu and Kashmir during the past 24 hours, while 975 fresh cases were reported across the Union Territory, officials said on Wednesday.
They said that till date COVID-19 has claimed 1184 lives in J&K, while 75070 people have tested positive for the virus since the outbreak of pandemic in March this year.

Quoting officials, a local news agency GNS, said that of the 18 people who died today 12 belonged to Jammu region and six others to Kashmir.

Among others who died in Jammu include a 79-year-old man from Poonch, a 65-year-old man from Nagrota, a 24-year-old from UP, at present Rajeev Nagar Jammu, a 30-year-old man from Sawan Chak Kathua, a 60-year-old from Deha Basti and an 82-year-old Talab Tillo, a 45-year-old man from Rajouri besides a 60-year-old man from Kishtwar who succumbed at SKIMS Soura, 11 days after admitted to the tertiary care hospital.
“He was diagnosed with bilateral Community Acquired Pneumonia, and died due to cardiopulmonary arrest,” a doctor at SKIMS Soura told GNS.

Among the six deaths from the valley include a 60-year-old man from Gulbagh Srinagar who died six days after admission to SKIMS Soura, a 57-year-old man from Hajin Bandipora, a 64-year-old woman from Ahmed Nagar Srinagar and a 65-year-old from Rainawari Srinagar.
With these deaths, officials said, 1184 people have succumbed to the virus in Jammu and Kashmir so far—841 from the Valley and 342 from Jammu division.

Srinagar district with 292 deaths tops the list followed by Jammu (184), Baramulla (124), Budgam (82), Pulwama (69), Kupwara (67), Anantnag (65), Kulgam (43), Bandipora(37), Shopian (32), Rajouri (32), Ganderbal (28), Doda (27), Kathua (21), Samba (20), Udhampur (18), Poonch (12), Ramban (10), Kishtwar(7) and Reasi (5).

975 more people test positive for Covid-19, tally at 75070

Meanwhile, forty-two travelers and 28 soldiers were among 975 new novel coronavirus cases reported in last 24 hours, taking the total tally to 75070.

Among the cases, official sources told GNS that 568 cases were from Jammu division and 407 from Kashmir valley.

Giving district-wise details, they said, Srinagar reported 173, Budgam 48, Baramulla 53, Pulwama 33,

Anantnag 16, Bandipora 15, Kupwara 38, Ganderbal 23, Kulgam 6, Shopian 2, Jammu 353, Rajouri 27,

Udhampur 41, Kathua 12, Doda 18, Samba 24, Poonch 27, Ramban 12, Reasi 19 and Kishtwar 35.

A number of these cases were confirmed at diagnostic laboratory of CD hospital including 28 from army’s BB Cantt Srinagar, three minors and two from police department.

The CD cases include female (55) from Awantipora, male (52) and four females (47, 28, 26, 20) from Nahar, male (40) and female (37) from Draklaran Abhama, five males (30, 30, 30, 30, 30) from RR Panzgam (Red Zone), male (24) from SMHS Srg, twenty eight males (28, 22, 35, 34, 27, 40, 24, 22, 22, 22, 24, 29, 36, NA, NA, 41, 23, 24, 34, 22, 29, 20, 35, 28, 23, 28, 24, 41) from BB Cantt Srg, male (06) from Sanatnagar, female (57) from Karan Nagar, two females (29, 55) from Chanapora, male (40) from Ganderbal, female (55) from Anantnag, male (48) from Rawalpora, male (55) from MM Bagh Srg, male (35) from Tengpora, male (59) from Shalakadal, male (53) from Natipora, male (44) from Rawalpora, male (45) from Brain Nishat, two males (22, 51) from NA, male (61) from Hyderpora, male (66) from Nawakadal, female (36) from Bemina, female (26) from Kak Sarai, male (62) from Kupwara, male (68) from Rajbagh, female (70) from Zakura, NA (NA) from NA, two males (NA, 48) and two females (NA, NA) from NA, two males (50, 45) from Lal Nagar, male (65) from Pampore, male (35) from Bemina, female (10) from Khankah Mohalla, female (46) from Taibal, male (62) from Kangan, female (31) from Chanapora, male (65) from Soura, female (28) from Bemina, male (58) from Solina, male (20) from Qamarwari Srg, male (08) and female (42) from Dalgate, female (42) and male (21) from Chattabal, male (30) from Noorbagh, female (40) from Safakadal, female (47) from Khayam, male (65) from Khag Budgam, male (30) from Nowshera, male (NA) from Anantnag, male (03) from Habak, male (30) from Ahmadnagar, male (39) from Parraypora, male (34) from Bemina, male (28) from Jawahar Nagar, male (45) from Kupwara, male (35) from HMT Srg, female (45) from Barbarshah, female (45) and male (40) from Bemina, male (30) from Khrew, female (32) from Hawal, male (38) from Srinagar, female (27) from Khanyar, male (30) from Soura, male (40) from Mirgund Pattan, male (32) from Buchpora, female (40) and male (28) from Bemina, female (34) from Padshah Bagh, male (45) from Lal Bazar, male (60) and female (55) from A Masjid, male (75) from Bemina, male (60) from Gulab Bagh Srg, male (35) and two females (27, 60) from Chanapora, male (52) from Saidakadal, male (70) from Eidgah, two males (30, 50) from Soura, two males (60, 35) from Pulwama, male (60) from Pattan, female (65) from Nambilnar, male (19) from Devbugh Kunzer, male (35) from Lal Pora Kunzer, male (28) from Pattan Baramulla, male (25) from Noorbagh Baramulla, two males (33, 32) from DPL Baramulla, male (17) from Rawalpora, female (57) from Natipora, female (15) from Alochibagh, female (70) from Nowgam, male (62) from Sumbal, male (27) from Chattabal, female (45) from Natipora, male (35) from Tral, male (26) from Bemina, female (60) from Kanipora, female (NA) from Bemina Srinagar.

Moreover, they said, 1355 more COVID-19 patients have recovered and were discharged from various hospitals 790 from Jammu Division and 565 from Kashmir Valley.

September records 500 deaths, over 37000 positive cases

Front

Jahangeer Ganaie

01/10/2020

September records 500 deaths, over 37000 positive cases

Jahangeer Ganaie
Srinagar, Sep 30: The month of September has proved to be the deadliest month in terms of Covid-19 in J&K Union Territory as the month alone saw 37,000 positive cases and around 500 deaths.
As per the data available with the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), among 37,373 positive cases reported in J&K, 16,882 are from Kashmir division while as 20,490 are from Jammu division.

Moreover, the data reveals that 478 deaths were reported in September month alone which includes 202 from Kashmir division and 276 from Jammu division.

Notably, September is the first month since Covid-19 pandemic outbreak Jammu division has reported more positive cases and deaths than Kashmir division.

Pertinently, as per the data, 17,339 positive cases and 326 deaths were reported in J&K in month of August.

As per the official data available, in the first 115 days (from March 08-June 30) 101 Covid-19 related deaths were witnessed in Jammu and Kashmir including 89 from Kashmir division and 12 from Jammu division.

While as from 1st July to 31st of July 276 deaths related to Covid-19 were witnessed in J&K which is around 73.20 percent of the total deaths and till 31st July 20,359 positive cases including 15,915 from Kashmir division and 4,444 from Jammu division were reported.

Notably, the first case of the COVID-19 pandemic in India was reported on 30 January 2020, originating from China.

Slowly, the pandemic spread to various states and union territories including the union territory of Jammu & Kashmir.

02 suspected cases with high virus load were detected and isolated on 4 March in Government Medical College, Jammu. One of them became the first confirmed positive case on 9 March 2020. Both individuals had a travel history.

SC refuses to postpone civil services exam

Front

Precious Kashmir

01/10/2020

New Delhi, Sep 30: The Supreme Court Wednesday refused to postpone UPSC civil services preliminary exam, to be held on October 4, because of COVID-19 pandemic and floods in several parts of the country.

A bench of Justices A M Khanwilkar, B R Gavai and Krishna Murari asked the Centre to consider granting one more chance to those aspirants who may not appear in their last attempt allowed for the exam due to the pandemic.
Secretary led officers visit model tribal cluster villages in Samba
It also refused to consider the plea for clubbing of this year’s exam with that of 2021 saying this will have a cascading effect .
The bench was hearing a plea seeking postponement of the Civil Services Exam for two to three months, so that the flood/ incessant rains recede and the COVID-19 curve flattens.
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) opposed the plea saying all necessary precautions have been taken and adequate arrangements have been made for holding the exam.
The bench said that as some public exams have recently been conducted successfully by the authorities by observing proper protocols, it is possible to conduct the UPSC preliminary examinations.
It added that the grievance of lack of transport facility at 72 examination centres and sub-centres have not been substantiated by the petitioners.
Dealing with the grievances of the aspirants that due to the COVID-19 situation students could not take the coaching and other facilities, the bench referred to the availability of facility of online study material to them.
The top court said that it has impressed upon ASG SV Raju, appearing for the Centre, to explore the possibility of giving one more opportunity to such students who fail to take up the exam in their last attempt.
It said that a formal decision can be taken by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) expeditiously.
On allowing suspected COVID-19 aspirants to take up their exams, the bench said that it is not possible to enter into this arena as a matter of fact medical SoP required that a patient is needed to be quarantined as it may result in exposure of other candidates.
It noted that UPSC has made separate arrangements for students suffering from cough and cold.
On September 28, the top court had asked the UPSC to apprise it about the “logistical arrangements” made for conducting civil services preliminary exams on October 4 in view of alarming spurt of COVID-19 cases as also floods in various parts of the country.

The top court had earlier said that it would take up for hearing the plea seeking postponement of civil services 2020 examinations in view of alarming spurt of COVID-19 pandemic and floods.
It had granted the liberty to the petitioner to serve advance copy of the petition on the Standing Counsel for the UPSC as well as on the Standing Counsel for the Central Agency representing Union of India through email/online.
The petitioners have sought postponement of the Civil Services Exam for two to three months, so that the flood/ incessant rains recede and the COVID-19 curve flattens.
The plea submitted that the UPSC decision to conduct the exam in accordance with the impugned Revised Calendar, violates the rights of the petitioners and those similarly situated, under Article 19 (1) (g) of the Constitution to practice their chosen profession/ occupation of serving the public.
According to the plea this 7-hour offline exam, will be taken by approximately six lakh aspirants at test centres in 72 cities.
Conducting the aforesaid examination across India at such perilous time, is nothing else but putting lives of lakhs of young students (including Petitioners herein) at utmost risk and danger of disease and death. Also, the natural calamities like flood, incessant rain, landslides etc. are likely to directly affect the life and health of the Petitioners and many similarly situated students , it said.
Hence, the impugned Revised Calendar is utterly arbitrary, unreasonable, whimsical and patently violative of the Right to Health and Right to Life of the Petitioners herein and lakhs of similarly situated students, under Article 21, the petition stated.
The plea said the Civil Services Exam, being a recruitment examination, is altogether different from an academic examination and in the event of its postponement; there would not be any question of delay or loss of any academic session.
It said that due to non-availability of exam centres in their home towns, many aspirants are facing unimaginable hardship due to non-availability of or unsafe health conditions in, the PG accommodation/ hostels/ hotels etc., where they are forced to stay with their family members, once they are travelling to an outstation Examination Centre.
It is pertinent to mention here that despite alarming spurt in COVID-19 pandemic, UPSC did not increase the number of Examination Centres, resulting into a situation where many candidates from rural areas will be forced to travel for around 300-400 Kilometres, in order to reach to their Examination Centres and there will be high probability of such aspirants, getting affected while using public transportation for such travel, the plea said.

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