Srinagar, Aug 31:  Meteorological Department on Monday issued a fresh warning for flash floods, landslides and shooting stones on Srinagar-Jammu National Highway and predicted that there could be scattered light to moderate rain thundershowers in J&K during the next 24 hours.

Due to rain on Monday, the maximum temperature was about 6 degree to 9 degree below normal in the Kashmir though sun also appeared briefly behind the clouds.

A Met department spokesman said this evening that there could be isolated to heavy rain and thundershowers in the Kashmir valley and Jammu region during the next 72 hours. However, weather will remain mainly dry in Ladakh.

He said due to impact of this weather there is possibility of flash flood, landslides and shooting stone on Srinagar-Jammu National Highway, the only all weather road connecting Kashmir valley with the rest of the country, during the next 24 hours.

He said world famous ski resort of Gulmarg, where 17.2 mm rainfall was recorded from 0830 hrs to 1730 hrs, the maximum temperature was 14.5 degree lowest in the region on Monday. It was 5.8 notches below normal of 20.3 degree while the minimum temperature was 9.8 degree which was about a notch below normal.

Summer capital, Srinagar, received second highest rainfall of 11.2 mm on Monday, when the maximum temperature was 22.4 degree, 6.7 degree below normal while the minimum temperature was 17 degree, 1.3 degree above normal.

He said the sky would be mainly clear to light rain and thundershowers and the maximum and minimum temperatures would be around 29 degree and 16 degree respectively during the next 24 hours.

Famed health resort of Pahalgam in south Kashmir the maximum temperature on Monday was 19.6 degree, 5.7 degree below normal. The tourist place received 4.2 mm rainfall today.

Muzaffarabad, capital of Pakistan administered Kashmir (PaK) and Mirpur recorded 35.5 degree maximum temperature while the maximum temperature at Gilgit was 31.5 degree. The temperature of Skardu also in PaK was not available,  the Met spokesman said.

BOSE promotes students who passed two or more subjects
Riyaz Bhat
Srinagar, Aug 31: The Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education (BOSE) on Monday said it has devised a mechanism to promote the aspiring candidates of annual and bi-annual private examinations of Class 10th and 12th, who have already passed two or more subjects.
According to a notification issued by the government, the annual and bi-annual private examinations of session 2019-20 of Kashmir division, and winter zone areas of Jammu division, which were scheduled to be held in the months of March-April 2019 could not be conducted in view of COV1D-19 pandemic followed by nationwide lockdown.
The notification reads, “Candidates who have already passed two or more subjects shall be promoted to higher class as per the following formula.”
BOSE said this decision was taken to save the academic career of the students that were supposed to appear in these examinations in March-April 2020 and had submitted the permission cum admission forms for the examination. The marks in fifth subject shall be awarded by taking mean of the marks scored in the already passed four subjects.
The BOSE notification reads that the marks in the fourth subject shall be awarded by taking the mean of the marks scored in the already passed three subjects and marks in the fifth subject shall be awarded by taking the mean of four subjects.
“The marks in third subject shall be awarded by taking the mean of the marks scored in already passed two subjects. Marks in fourth and fifth subjects shall be awarded by taking the mean of the marks scored in three and four subjects respectively,” it reads.
BOSE said that all such candidates who are declared pass by applying the mechanism devised by them shall be granted admission in Class 11th for current session in relaxation of 65 per cent requirement of minimum attendance as one time exception.
“Examination of Class 10th and 12th in respect of candidates falling in the category that is fresh or fail in all subjects and re-appear in four subjects of Class 10th and 12th of Kashmir division and winter zone of Jammu division shall be conducted preferably in second quarter of September 2020,” reads the notification.
It was also stated that all such candidates of 10th and 12th who are declared successful in the examination of annual or bi-annual private of 2019-2020 session shall be allowed to appear in 11th standard. (KNO)

Precious Kashmir News
Srinagar, Aug 31: Principal Secretary Power Development Department, Rohit Kansal  chaired a meeting of the committee constituted for recommending promotion of officers of PDD at Civil Secretariat here today.

The meeting was attended by Managing Director, Jammu and Kashmir Power Transmission Corporation Limited (JKPTCL), Director Finance, PDD, Special Secretary, PDD, Special Secretary Law Department, Additional Secretary, GAD, all members of the committee besides other officials of the department.

The committee held detailed discussions and deliberations regarding regularization of officers to the ranks of Chief Engineers and Superintending Engineers.

The committee recommended the cases of 21 officers to the rank of Chief Engineers and 45 officers as Superintending Engineers to the Establishment-cum-Selection Committee of GAD for consideration.

The committee also decided that the officers who have retired shall submit the work conduct certificate from their respective HODs for consideration of promotion to higher ranks.

Later, Rohit Kansal bid farewell to P.R Angurala, MD, JKPTCL who attained superannuation today. Kansal appreciated the services rendered by Angurala to PDD and wished him good luck for the post retirement life.

New Delhi, Aug 31: The country’s gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate dropped to minus 23.9 percent in the current fiscal quarter from April to June due to a lockdown imposed to combat the corona virus infection.

”GDP in Q1 of 2020-21 is estimated at Rs 26.90 lakh crore, as against Rs 35.35 lakh crore in Q1 of 2019-20, showing a contraction of 23.9 per cent as compared to 5.2 per cent growth in Q1 2019-20,” according to data released by the government on Monday.

Quarterly GVA for Q1 of 2020-21 is estimated at Rs 25.53 lakh crore, as against Rs 33.08 lakh crore in Q1 of 2019-20, showing a contraction of 22.8 per cent, according to a National Statistical Office (NSO) statement here.

GDP at Current Prices in the year Q1 2020-21 is estimated at Rs 38.08 lakh crore, as against Rs 49.18 lakh crore in Q1 2019-20, showing a contraction of 22.6 per cent as compared to 8.1 per cent growth in Q1 2019-20.

GVA at Basic Price at Current Prices in Q1 2020-21, is estimated at Rs 35.66 lakh crore, as against Rs 44.89 lakh crore in Q1 2019-20, showing a contraction of 20.6 per cent.

Jammu, Aug 31:  At least eight persons are feared drowned after a passenger taxi plunged into river Chenab on Monday in Ramban district of Jammu and Kashmir.

Police here said that a tempo traveller on way to Ramban from Udhampur skidded off the road and plunged into Chenab river near Ramban.

They said that around eight or nine persons went missing after the mishap, adding, “a rescue operation was immediately launched by the police and volunteers of Quick Reaction Team, but so far there has been no clue of the ill-fated vehicle.”

Police said that one passenger was rescued in an injured condition identified as Mehraj-ud-Din, a resident of Chandergam Awantipora in south Kashmir.

Chief Secretary chairs 2ndmeeting of Apex Committee
Precious Kashmir News
Srinagar, Aug 31: The Chief Secretary, B V R Subrahmanyam today chaired the 2ndmeeting of Apex Committee of Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) and reviewed the progress being made under the mission.

Administrative Secretaries of Finance, School Education, Power Development, Jal Shakti and Rural Development along with representative of Jal Jeevan Mission, Government of India and concerned Heads of Departments participated in the meeting.

At the outset, the Chief Secretary reviewed the Action Taken Report on the minutes of 1st APCJJM meeting. The Chief Secretary maintained that coordinated efforts must be put in place to achieve the target of providing every rural household with Functional Household Tap Connection (FHTC) by 30th September, 2022.

It was informed that under Phase I, universal tap water coverage has been achieved in the districts of Srinagar and Ganderbal. It was also mentioned that works in district Reasi are underway and will be completed by 2nd October, 2020 and that of district Samba 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.

It was further informed that the Department has so far completed baseline survey of all 18.17 lakh rural households, besides completing district water security plans for all districts. Additionally, ‘Pani Samitis’ in 4217 Panchayats have been constituted for effective monitoring and tendering reforms undertaken to avoid infructuous expenditure.

Chief Secretary approved the Department’s proposal of revising the work schedule of Jal Jeevan Mission in the UT, by taking up 9 and 7 districts under phase II and phase III, respectively. It was also informed that to fast track execution of the projects, 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.

Secretary, Jal Shakti Department apprised the Chief Secretary that 1533 projects worth Rs 3760 crore have been identified which require retrofitting of water supply schemes by the department.  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.

Chief Secretary impressed upon the Department to initiate the process of tendering for works under subsequent phases to ensure adherence to project timelines.

Phase II will provide universal drinking water connections to 9 districts of Bandipora, Doda, Jammu, Kulgam, Kupwara, Poonch, Pulwama,ShopianandUdhampur, whereas, phase III will cover 7 districts of Anantnag, Budgam, Baramulla, Kathua, Kishtwar, Ramban, and Rajouri.

Precious Kashmir News
Srinagar, Aug 31: New excise policy 2020-21 shall come into force across Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir from 01 September 2020. The new policy focuses on transparency and objectivity in the liquor trade along with boosting revenues through rationalization of duties.

The additional excise duty levied as per old policy after onset of COVID 19 has been removed. This is expected to help the industry involved in the manufacturing and sale of liquor in the Union Territory as well as boost revenue generation.

In the new policy, due care is taken to remove the disparity between the different categories of the licensees.

Under new policy, future allotment of any sort of licences shall be exclusively done in a transparent manner. Due care is taken for the underprivileged section of the society providing reservation for them in granting the licences for sale of liquor.

As per new policy, renewal of licences shall be done as per rules only and ambiguities shall be removed to address any concerns.

‘Delhi may be talking to some people in Kashmir through various channels’

Junaid Shah

Srinagar, Aug 31:  The former chief of RAW and former special director of the intelligence bureau (IB) Amarjit Singh Dulat said that ending militancy in Kashmir would not end problem but it must be redressed politically.

“Whether it is an operation all out or half out, forces are doing a great job. They have to do their job. But the problem in Kashmir will not end up with elimination of militancy but it has to be redressed politically,” Dulat told news agency Kashmir Indepth News Service (KINS) in a telephonic interview.

He said Delhi may be talking to ‘some people’ in Kashmir through various channels.

“But Kashmiri people are very wise. If there is any dialogue going on, it must go in open and prominently,” he said.

He said he used to say that a common Kashmir wants peace and friendship between India and Pakistan.” But now, I think, Kashmiri people want to return to normalcy.”

Dulat said assembly elections in J&K are going to be held not before 2021. “There is no political process or political activity going on in Kashmir. When the political process commences, there must be involvement of Delhi and all the political parties in it,” he said.

He said coming together of six political parties in J&K is a positive development. “These political parties met. Obviously, when some people assemble (meet) something has to come out. Therefore, they came out with the statement (Gupkar Declaration),” he said adding, “Similar declaration was made on 4 August 2019.”

Dulat had held a  secret meeting with Farooq Abdullah when he was detained under Public Safety Act after abrogation of Article 370.

It is to mention here that in a joint statement six political parties in Jammu and Kashmir have reiterated that they are committed to strive for the restoration of Article 370 and 35A.  (KINS)