Precious Kashmir News
Srinagar, Sept 28: Advisor to Lieutenant Governor, Farooq Khan Monday visited the under-construction Bibi Haleema Nursing College at Kathi Darwaza and took stock of ongoing works there.
The Advisor was accompanied by CEO Wakf Board, Mufti Fareed; ADC Srinagar, Khursheed Ahmad Shah concerned engineers and members of Wakf board.
On the occasion, he was informed that the project is coming at an estimated cost of Rs 10 crore with modern training being imparted at the college with highly ventilated and spacious class rooms, library and parking facilities. Besides the college will have hostel facility for students and office accommodation for the college staff.
The college is being run by Wakf Board J&K.
Speaking on the occasion, Advisor Khan observed there is a huge demand of B.Sc Nursing course which is being offered by the college and the course is considered one of the prestigious medical courses.
He said that college is being developed on modern lines with State‐Of‐Art infrastructure keeping in view of the modern needs with primary focus on training for nurses.
The Advisor was also informed that the college’s one storey has been completed while the work on second storey is in full swing and the rest work is in progress to near completion.
Advisor Khan directed the concerned executing agency to expedite the process on remaining works so that the building would be dedicated to aspiring students for modern nursing training courses.
He also directed the concerned to make the building differently abled friendly with provisions of lifts, ramps and railing facilities among other things to take concrete steps to enforce accessibility standards and guidelines for specially abled persons.
Advisor Khan takes stock of ongoing works at Bibi Haleema Nursing College
Advisor Khan reviews Urs arrangements at Makhdoom Sahib (RA) shrine
Pays obeisance at Dastgeer Sahib (RA) shrine; assesses facilities for devotees
Precious Kashmir News
Srinagar, Sept 28: Advisor to Lieutenant Governor, Farooq Khan, Monday paid obeisance at the shrine of Sheikh Hamza Makhdoom Kashmiri, popularly known as Makhdoom Sahib (RA) and also reviewed the arrangements being made for the Urs Mubarak commencing from Tuesday.
On the occasion, Advisor Khan prayed for peace, progress and prosperity of Jammu and Kashmir and wellbeing of the people.
The Advisor toured the Shrine premises and took a briefing from the officers and Shrine administrators about the arrangements being made for the Urs during which the devotees throng the premises from all parts of J&K for prayers.
He was also briefed about the ongoing developmental works in the Shrine aimed at improving the facilities for the devotees including construction of washrooms and lavatories.
Advisor Khan directed the officers to strictly follow the Standard Operating Protocols (SOP) during all activities in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic.
Meanwhile, Advisor inspected the newly constructed ablution centre (Wazu Khana) for women and also took stock of ongoing developmental works at the Shrine.
Speaking on the occasion, Advisor Khan stressed upon the officers to complete the infrastructure-related works in a time-bound manner. He also issued on the spot directions for beautification, landscaping and repairing of retaining wall (Kalai) of the Shrine surroundings.
He asked the concerned to ensure uninterrupted power and water supply during the Urs days besides directing them to ensure regular cleanliness drives to keep the premises clean.
The Advisor also inspected the Makhdoom Sahib (RA) Ropeway and directed the Cable Car Corporation Officials to accord priority to devotees and ensure hassle-free services.
Later, Advisor Khan visited the shrine of Peer Dastgeer Sahab (RA) at Khanyar and paid obeisance at the Ziyarat. He interacted with the devotees at the shrine and enquired about the amenities and arrangements.
B2V Phase-III
Jammu and Kashmir government is restarting back to the village programme from October 2 for a period of 10 days. As per the government, 4,000 gazetted officers visited “every panchayat” in the J&K in Phase-I and Phase-II of the B2V. The former was an introductory and interactive programme to understand the people’s grievances and demands, the latter, as per the government, focused on the devolution of powers to panchayats and tried to understand how these panchayats are functioning and what are the grievances and demands. Both the phases were started when Jammu and Kashmir existed as J&K was still a state.
The Phase-III has been designed on the format for “grievance redressal.” The phase comes amid upheaval caused by the novel coronavirus and the pandemic is as strong as it was in the beginning. It also comes as first exercise to reach people in villages in more than a year after Article 370 and Article 35A revocation and consequential lockdown.
The B2V is undoubtedly an innovative measure and a most important in the sense that it aims to access, assess and address basic issues facing the people in villages. The phase-III also comes as J&K faces a gap between the ruled and the rulers in absence of democratically elected government, or one could say amid democratic vacuum.
In erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir State, there has always been administrative and governance deficit despite several good experiments like Single Line Administration and posting of additional Development Commissioner in districts for development. There are arguments that these experiments were bureaucratic without delivering good governance at the doorstep of people as villagers continue to suffer due to administrative and bureaucratic apathy.
Through the B2V, the government is embarking on what is actually the real meaning of democracy –listening to the people at their doorsteps, understanding the circumstances in which they are living and find a way out of it. While Phases I and II are over, the latest phase is very important in the sense it would test official machinery in delivering governance at the doorsteps and whether the administration follows it up in letter and spirit. The government has found a way but there is need to carry it forward with sincerity. It is important to understand that all Government employees, whether locals or from outside J&K, are engaged to serve the people and not rule them. The public is under distress and there is nothing better than understanding their grievances and redressing them within a reasonable dispatch.
CAG pulls up J&K’s R&B department for inflated UCs, executing works without DPRs
Points out inordinate delay in execution of works
Ibni Maqbool
Srinagar, Sep 27: The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India has castigated J&K’s Roads & Buildings Department for inflated utilisation certificates, executing works without Detailed Project Reports(DPRs) and inordinate delay in completion of works.
The audit report for the year ended March 31, 2017 reveals that test-check of records of 10 divisions revealed that without incurring expenditure in full, inflated UCs were submitted to the higher authorities.
“Against an expenditure of Rs 83.39 crore under NABARD and Rs 3.59 crore under CRF incurred during December 2016 to February 2017, t he divisions had furnished UCs for Rs 135 crore and Rs 5.95 crore respectively,” reads the report.
The report lays bare that audit test-check of 442 road works of State Plan revealed that 244 of them were executed without DPR on which expenditure of Rs 284.33 crore was been incurred.
“It was also observed that all the 442 road works were not administratively approved by the competent authorities. As such, execution of road works without AA and DPRs was not only irregular, but also ran the risk of time and cost overruns and even abandonment of works midway due to inadequate/ incorrect estimation,” it states.
The auditor has also slammed the authorities for delay in completion of works under different schemes in R&B sector.
“Road works sanctioned under NABARD during 2005-06 to 2012-13 were not completed even after a time overrun of one to eight years. In test-check it was seen that 173 road works could not be completed due to land disputes/ forest clearance/ diversion of funds/ non/ less release of state share,” reads the report.
The auditor has also pointed out that State Plan projects suffered completion adversely due to inadequate availability of funds as well as due to not resolving land disputes, not obtaining forest clearance etc. by the Department/ State Government.
“Out of the 707 incomplete road works as of March 2017, audit test-checked 435 road works in Jammu Division and noticed that these road works which were taken up for execution upto 2015-16 at an estimated cost of Rs 945.59 crore could not be completed within the stipulated period due to inadequate funding/ land disputes/ compensation, forest clearances, etc. Even after delay of one to three years and incurring an expenditure of Rs 341.49 crore, these road works/ schemes could not be completed as of March 2017,” reads the report.
The CAG has also questioned the department for failing to maintain asset registers and absence of policy of maintenance and repair of roads.
“No asset registers of roads and buildings were maintained by the test-checked divisions and no policy of maintenance and repair of roads and buildings was found on records. The basis of formulation of estimates and schedule of periodical maintenance and repair of roads and buildings was not intimated. However, huge expenditure was incurred by the Department on maintenance and repair on account of Annual Repair, Special Repair, Normal Repair and Renewal coating of roads and buildings. An expenditure of Rs 15 crore was incurred by the Department on maintenance and repair against allotted amount of Rs 19.54 crore for the year 2016-17,” the report states.
“Many BJP leaders were alive in the party in Kashmir due to Madhav. Now these leaders will have to look for other mentors to survive as not many BJP leaders in the Valley have been able to make their presence felt on the ground.”
Ram Madhav’s exclusion from list of party bearers surprises J&K BJP leaders
Afaq Bhat
Srinagar, Sep 27: Ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the latest rejig has dropped its point man for J&K, Ram Madhav, from the list of the office bearers of the party.
After the rejig Madhav tweeted: “Congratulations to the newly appointed office-bearers of the BJP. Grateful to the party leadership for providing me the opportunity to serve for one term as General Secretary.”
A BJP leader from J&K while talking to Precious Kashmir said, “We were surprised after Madhav was dropped. During his tenure as national general secretary of the party, Madhav worked closely with the leaders in Kashmir. He knew in and out of Kashmir. I can’t say who would replace Madhav in the party and who will handle J&K in the times to come but one thing is for sure BJP leaders in J&K will miss Madhav.”
The BJP leader said, “Madhav played a significant role in building the base of the party in J&K and he used to consider everyone equal.”
A political analyst said, “Many BJP leaders were alive in the party in Kashmir due to Madhav. Now these leaders will have to look for other mentors to survive as not many BJP leaders in the Valley have been able to make their presence felt on the ground.”
He said, “Madhav is a seasoned politician and BJP leadership is aware of the fact that he is well versed with J&K affairs it may consider him for some other important assignment. It’s too early to write off Madhav. BJP leadership may spring a surprise.”
It’s in place to mention here that BJP on Saturday dropped old horses including Ram Madhav, Uma Bharti and P Murlaidhar from the list of national office bearers.
Media reports claimed that these leaders were dropped for their “ poor performance and for speaking out of turn.”
The media reports stated that RSS may have a “different” role in mind for Madhav whose high profile and proclivity to speak to the media on a variety of topics, including those not seen to fall in his domain, may not have gone down well with a section of the party. “Madhav’s strong defense of the Modi government and the party’s policies in the media and other forums, including think tanks, are seen as his strength,” the reports added.
A senior BJP leader from J&K said that Madhav and others being dropped from the list of national party bearers is a “routine exercise.” “BJP believes in giving chance to everyone. All leaders are party workers and our party believes in promoting everyone. Who knows Madhav may get a bigger role in coming days,” the BJP leader said.
COVID-19: 5 more die, 1141 test positive in J&K
Death toll mounts to toll 1133, total cases 72190; 52859 recover
Nadeem Nadu/Precious Kashmir News
Srinagar, Sep 27: Jammu and Kashmir reported five more COVID-19 deaths on Sunday, while 1141 more people tested positive for the virus across the Union Territory, officials said.
They said that with five more fatalities death toll in J&K has risen to 1133 and the number people who have tested positive till date has mounted to 72190.
Among the deceased, they said, three were residents of Jammu and two were from Kashmir. Those who died in Jammu include a 60-year-old man from Jewel Chowk Jammu who died at Government Medical College Hospital Jammu, two days after he was admitted there.
The other victims include an 85-year-old from Talab Tillo Jammu who died at the same hospital at 10:20 p.m. last night and a 40-year-old woman from Kullion R S Pura.
Regarding deaths from Valley, they said one of them was a 55-year-old resident of Dalgate and an 84-year-old from Rajouri Kadal Srinagar.
Regarding the man from Dalgate, they said, he was admitted to SKIMS Soura on September 24 and died at around 1 am today.
“He was diagnosed with severe Pneumonia with respiratory failure with T2DM, CKD and Encephalopathy,” a doctor at SKIMS Soura told GNS. “He had cardiopulmonary arrest.”
Regarding the octogenarian man, the doctor said he was admitted on September 17 and died at 2 am on September 27.
“He was also diagnosed with severe pneumonia with respiratory failure with T2DM, CKD.”
JK reports 1141 new cases
Meanwhile, 1141 more people tested positive for COVID-19 in Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday, an official spokesman said.
He said among the fresh cases 689 were from Jammu and 452 from Kashmir. The total number of positive cases in J&K has reached to 72190 out of which 52859 have recovered.
The spokesman said that 1365 more COVID-19 patients have recovered and were discharged from various hospitals, 797 from Jammu Division and 568 from Kashmir Division.
According to the daily Media Bulletin on novel Corona virus (Covid-19), out of 72190 positive cases, 18199 are Active Positive, 52859 have recovered and 1132 have died; 309 in Jammu division and 823 in Kashmir division.
The bulletin further said that out of 1563309 test results available, 1491119 samples have been tested as negative till September 27, 2020.
Till date 568416 persons have been enlisted for observation which included 15230 persons in home quarantine including facilities operated by government, 18199 in isolation and 51081 under home surveillance. Besides, 482774 persons have completed their surveillance period.
Providing district-wise breakup, the bulletin said that Srinagar has 14385 positive cases (including 181 cases reported today) with 2175 Active Positive, 11923 recovered (including 162 cases recovered today), 287 deaths; Baramulla has 4249 positive cases (including 34 cases reported today) with 1241 Active Positive, 2886 recovered (including 35 cases recovered today), 122 deaths; Pulwama reported 3852 positive cases (including 35 cases reported today) with 461 active positive cases, 3324 recovered (including 56 cases recovered today), 67 deaths; Kulgam has 2252 positive cases (including 08 cases reported today) with 137 Active Positive, 2072 recoveries (including 06 cases recovered today), 43 deaths; Shopian has 2013 positive cases (including 13 cases reported today) with 193 Active Positive, 1789 recovered (including 04 cases reported today), 31 deaths; Anantnag district has 3474 positive cases (including 30 cases reported today) with 451 Active Positive, 2961 recovered (including 07 cases recovered today), 62 deaths; Budgam has 4764 positive cases (including 61 cases reported today) with 1116 Active Positive and 3567 recovered (including 119 cases recovered today), 81 deaths; Kupwara has 3495 positive cases (including 45 cases reported today) with 796 Active Positive, 2633 recovered (including 56 cases recovered today), 66 deaths; Bandipora has 3352 positive cases (including 33 cases reported today) with 671 Active Positive, 2645 recovered (including 40 cases recovered today), 36 deaths and Ganderbal has 2831 positive cases (including 12 cases reported today) with 495 active positive cases, 2308 recoveries (including 83 cases recovered today) and 28 deaths.
Similarly, Jammu has 12012 positive cases (including 324 cases reported today) with 3778 active positive cases, 8067 recoveries (including 411 cases recovered today), 167 deaths; Rajouri has 2513 positive cases (including 49 cases reported today) with 1256 active positive cases, 1227 recovered (including 132 cases recovered today), 30 deaths; Ramban has 1294 positive cases (including 21 cases reported today) with 459 active positive, 827 recoveries (including 13 cases recovered today), 08 deaths; Kathua has 1985 positive cases (including 51 cases reported today) with 577 Active positive, 1387 recovered (including 53 cases recovered today), 21 deaths; Udhampur has 2125 positive cases (including 36 cases reported today) with 454 active positive cases, 1657 recovered (including 74 cases recovered today), 14 deaths; Samba has 1665 positive cases (including 38 cases reported today) with 777 Active Positive, 869 recoveries (including 35 cases recovered today), 19 deaths; Doda has 2148 positive cases (including 41 cases reported today) with 1188 active positive cases, 934 recoveries (including 64 cases recovered today), 26 deaths; Poonch has 1716 positive cases (including 46 cases reported today) with 1012 active positive, 692 recoveries (including 09 cases reported today), 12 deaths; Reasi has 916 positive cases (including 39 cases reported today) with 379 active positive, 532 recoveries (including 02 cases reported today), and 05 deaths while Kishtwar has 1149 positive cases (including 44 cases reported today) with 583 active positive cases and 559 recoveries (including 04 cases reported today) and 07 deaths.
According to the bulletin, of the total 72190 positive cases in J&K 8598 have been reported as travelers while 63592 as others.
The Bulletin said that the breakup represents districts from which the patients have been traced or are ordinarily residing.
The bulletin added that there are 1306 COVID dedicated beds, 1170 Isolation beds with 859 vacant beds and 136 ICU beds where 67 beds are vacant in Jammu division while there are 2358 COVID dedicated beds, 2214 Isolation beds where 1640 beds are vacant and 144 ICU beds where 119 are vacant beds in Kashmir division. There are a total of 3664 COVID dedicated beds, 3384 Isolation beds with 2499 beds are vacant and 280 ICU beds with 186 vacant beds in the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
The Central Government is continuously monitoring the evolving situation of Covid-19 in the Union Territory and is providing all necessary support towards effective containment of the spread of Covid-19 and better clinical management of positive cases.
The government has also started free Tele-consultation general OPD services by Specialists/MBBS Doctors for the residents of J&K under National Tele-consultation Service. People can avail these services from Home by registering online on web portal https://esanjeevaniopd.in/. The services are available on Monday to Saturday from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. People can also download and install esanjeevani OPD app from google playstore.
Besides, 24×7 Rapid Antigen Testing facility for COVID-19 has been started outside the emergency of GMC Hospital Jammu .The facility will be very useful for the segregation of patients in emergency wing of GMC Jammu.
Meanwhile, a 24×7 COVID Control Room have been set up for redressal of the grievances related to COVID-19 positive patients admitted in the Associated Hospitals of Government Medical College, Jammu and Government Hospital, Gandhi Nagar, Jammu. Patients or attendants can call on 0191– 258 5444 (Control Room), Exchange: 0191-258 2626 / 258 5542 / 258 4290 /258 4291 / 258 4292 / 258 4293/ 258 4294 for assistance.
The bulletin has informed the people that, the best way to protect themselves from COVID-19 is by maintaining physical distance of at least 2 meter from others, frequently cleaning hands with an alcohol based hand sanitizer or washing them with soap and water and following good respiratory etiquette and hygiene.
As a measure for social distancing in public places and workplaces wearing a face cover is compulsory.
The bulletin again explained that early detection of COVID-19 can prevent the spread of disease so we need to be responsible for the well-being of ourselves and everyone around us. “Not disclosing symptoms could put life of individuals and their families at risk. In case of symptoms like fever, cough and difficulty in breathing report early. Do not fear, call COVID-19 helpline numbers and seek medical advice”.
Advisory has further exhorted upon the people not to step out of home, unless absolutely necessary. “If you have to move out for unavoidable reasons, ensure that you wear a mask and practice social distancing, personal hygiene and frequent hand washing with soap and water.”
In case of any emergency people can avail free ambulance services 24×7 at their doorsteps by calling on toll-free number 108 while as pregnant women and sick infants can avail free ambulance services by dialing toll-free number 102.
People can also call on toll-free national helpline number 1075; J&K COVID-19 Helpline Numbers 0191- 2549676 (UT level Cell), 0191-2520982, 0191-2674444, 0191-2674115 (For Jammu Division), 0194-2440283 & 0194-2430581 (For Kashmir Division) for support, guidance, and response to health-related queries on Novel Corona virus Disease (COVID-19).
The bulletin has informed that the Directorate of Indian Systems of Medicine, J&K is distributing AYUSH Medicines having immunity boosting, immuno-modulator, anti-oxidant, rejuvenator, anti-stress, metabolism regulator, anti-allergic, anti-pyretic, anti-tussive, bronchodilator, etc properties during the COVID-19 pandemic. The department so far has provided medicine to 9.61 lakh people that include various frontline workers, senior citizens, PRIs, police/paramilitary personals and general masses. Moreover, preventive measures and Yoga therapies are also being advised to the people to take care of lifestyle/mental disorders so that physical and mental health is ensured during this pandemic.
Public is advised to strictly follow the advisories issued by the government from time to time and rely only on the information released by the government through the daily media bulletin to print and electronic media.
People are also advised to refrain from spreading rumours and pay no heed to them at the same time.
India’s tally nears 60-lakh mark
New Delhi, Sep 27: With a single-day spike of 88,600 new COVID-19 cases, India’s COVID-19 case count neared 60-lakh mark, according to the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Sunday.
Uttarakhand reported 764 COVID-19 cases and 813 discharges today, taking the total cases in the state to 47,045, including 35,462 recoveries and 574 deaths. Active cases stand at 10,799: Uttarakhand State Control Room, COVID-19.
As many as 1,124 deaths were reported in India in the last 24 hours taking the total count to 94,503, said the Union Health Ministry.
As per the Ministry, the total number of coronavirus cases stands at 59,92,533 including 9,56,402 active cases, 49,41,628 cured, discharged or migrated cases.
India far from achieving herd immunity: Vardhan
‘ICMR examining COVID-19 reinfection’
New Delhi, Sep 27: Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare Harsh Vardhan on Sunday said that the Indian population is still far from achieving the herd immunity and stated that the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) is analysing the reports of COVID-19 reinfection.
Harsh Vardhan while talking on the third episode of the ‘Sunday Samvaad’ cautioned that ICMR’s Sero survey report should not create a sense of complacency in people.
“Even the soon to be released second sero survey indications are that we are far from having achieved any kind of herd immunity which necessitates that all of us should continue following COVID appropriate behaviour,” expressed the Union Health Minister.
He stated that the first sero survey of May 2020 revealed that the nationwide prevalence of novel coronavirus infection was only 0.73%.
On the emerging evidence that the disease not only impacts our lungs but other organ systems too, especially cardiovascular and renal, Harsh Vardhan said that the Ministry of Health has already set up committees of experts to look into these facets of COVID-19.
He said, “ICMR is also studying this subject. ICMR is also actively investigating and researching reports of reinfection and although the number of reinfection cases is negligible at this moment, the government is fully seized of the importance of the matter.”
The Union Health Minister dispelled fears regarding the phased opening of schools and advised on proper protocol to be followed while visiting salons and hair-spa. He asked everyone to always raise awareness regarding COVID appropriate behaviors which he himself does by stopping his car and asking non-compliant people to wear their masks.
He re-emphasized on the need for wearing masks even in places of worship and said that the pandemic can only be fought when the Government and society work together in tandem.
Regarding wide usage of investigational therapies such as remdesivir and plasma therapies, the Union Health Minister stated that the Government has issued regular advisories regarding their rational usage.
“The private hospitals have also been advised against routine use of these investigational therapies,” said Harsh Vardhan.
He said that the States and UTs have been advised to lower the prices of coronavirus tests and said that he has spoken personally to several State health ministers regarding the reduction of prices of testing in their respective states.
“In the early days of the pandemic, as the kits were imported, the price tended to be high. But now, supplies of testing kits have also stabilized and domestic production of these kits have also commenced,” opined Harsh Vardhan.
He added that the Ministry of Health has written to States and Union Territories to engage private laboratories at mutually agreeable lower rates.
2 militants Killed in Pulwama gunfight
Pulwama, Sep 27: Two Lashker-e-Toiba militants were killed and an army soldier injured in a gunfight with a joint team of police, army, and CRPF in Samboora area of Awantipora in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district on Sunday.
Officials said, a joint team of Police, Army’s 50RR and CRPF launched a joint cordon-and-search operation in Samboora amid specific information about the presence of militants there.
As the joint team approached towards the suspected spot, they said, the hiding militants fired upon the party, triggering an encounter.
“Two LeT militants have been killed and an army soldier injured. The Operation is going on. Further details shall follow,” they said.
Regarding the injury to the soldier, they said, he received a minor injury in his foot and was subsequently shifted to army’s 92 Base hospital here for treatment.
A police officer while confirming the killing of the two militants told GNS that operation has been suspended for night due to darkness. However, he said, a tight cordon has been kept around the encounter site. “The operation shall resume on Monday morning, “the officer added. With the two fresh casualties, 170 militants have been killed in Jammu and Kashmir so far this year. (GNS)
Infiltration bid foiled in Samba: BSF
M S Nazki
Jammu, Sep 27: BSF on Sunday claimed to have thwarted a major infiltration bid by pushing back five militants in Samba sector.
“During night hours, taking advantage of darkness , the group of heavily armed five (militants) tried to enter but were engaged by alert BSF troops. They reached taking advantage of thick sarkanda growth,” BSF said, adding, “The BSF troops challenged them to stop on which they started firing on BSF party with Pak Ranger posts also giving fire support to these (militants). BSF alert troops fired on the infiltrating ANEs (anti-national elements) with coordinated effective fire.
However they managed to flee back to Pakistan territory.” With this, BSF foiled another possible infiltration bid of armed militants from Pakistan side well supported by Pakistan Rangers, it said. This was the second attempt of infiltration thorough the Samba sector by the militants after 14/15 September. (GNS)
