>Jawahar Navodiya Vidyalaya to come up at Pulwama
> Fast track special court shifted to Ramban
> Budgam to get Model Rural Health Research Unit
Precious Kashmir News
Srinagar, Aug 17: The Administrative Council (AC) which met here today under the chairmanship of Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha, approved up-gradation, improvement and resurfacing of Mughal Road at an estimated cost of Rs 47.41 Crore for a total length of 84.11 Kms.
The decision of the Administrative Council is aimed at proper upkeep /maintenance of the road to check avoidable loss of human life in various road accidents and ensuring smooth vehicular movement.
In recent years, Mughal Road being the alternate link between Jammu and Srinagar has gained significance by reducing the distance and travel time between Poonch- Rajouri districts of Jammu province and Srinagar and other districts of Kashmir province.
It has also brought to the fore, vast tourism to Shopian-Dubjan-Pir Ki Gali-Buflaiz-Surankote-Poonch-Rajouri sector. Besides the twin districts of Poonch and Rajouri through Mughal road link have received access to medical and educational facilities available in Kashmir valley.
Fast Track Special Court shifted to Ramban
The Administrative Council (AC) accorded sanction to the proposal of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Department to shift one of the four Fast Track Special Courts for POCSO to Ramban.
Earlier, it was decided that to exclusively deal with the cases of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, two courts shall be established one each at Srinagar and Jammu. Further, two more courts at Kulgam and Reasi were approved to be established exclusively for women related offences. However, taking into consideration the number of respective cases, it was decided to shift the seat of one of the Fast Track Special Court from Reasi to Ramban.
These Courts, once functional, will speed up the trial of cases registered under POCSO Act and ensure timely delivery of justice to victims.
Jawahar Navodiya Vidyalaya to come up at Pulwama

The Administrative Council (AC)also approved allotment and transfer of land up to 99 kanals 16 marlas to the School Education Department at village Nownagri, Tehsil and District Pulwama, for construction of Jawahar Navodiya Vidyalaya (JNV).
Till the construction of school infrastructure gets completed, alternate arrangements for housing the JNV are being carried out. Once operational, the school will cater to the educational needs of the children of far flung areas of district Pulwama and adjacent areas by providing quality education as envisaged under the constitutional right of education.
Budgam to get Model Rural Health Research Unit
The Administrative Council (AC) approved allotment and transfer of land measuring 2 Kanal and 10 Marla to the Health & Medical Education Department, for establishing Model Rural Health Research Unit (MRHRU) at Primary Healthcare Centre, Khag, Budgam.
The decision is aimed at transferring modern technologies /research to the rural areas and providing better healthcare to the people. It will also upgrade the rural health infrastructure in the selected Primary Healthcare Centre. The Model Rural Health Research Unit will be established with the help of Department of Health Research, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India.

Precious Kashmir News
Srinagar, Aug 27: The Administrative Council (AC) which met here today under the chairmanship of Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha, accorded sanction to the submission of draft J&K Agricultural Produce and Livestock Marketing (Promotion and facilitation) Bill, 2020 to the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India for its promulgation.
The passage of Bill will pave way for deeper integration of electronic markets network throughout the country through e-NAM (National Agriculture Market). Consequently, it will prevent leakages at intermediary level by eliminating brokers and distributors, thus enabling farmers to directly sell their produce in open market.

For managing the assets and regulating activities of various fruit Mandis in J&K, the proposed Bill provides for establishment of Agriculture Produce Marketing Committees (APMCs). It further includes several provisions for welfare of farmers ranging from contract farming, direct marketing, special commodity market, setting up of markets in private and co-operative sector, to e-trading, single point of levy of market fee, single registration of market functionaries, unified single trading license and alike.

Nasir Azam
Srinagar, Aug 27: After collecting data from Jammu & Kashmir, the Delimitation Commission constituted by the Government of India would soon hold deliberations with associate members from the UT.
Highly placed sources told news agency KNO that the three-member panel headed by former Supreme Court Judge Justice(retd) Ranjana Desai would soon start the process of deliberations with associate members to expedite the process.
“The commission is expected to hold meeting with associate members from Jammu and Kashmir,” they said, adding that National Conference has already decided to boycott the process.
“This Delimitation Commission is a product of the J&K Re-organisation Act 2019, which NC is challenging both in and outside the Supreme Court. Participating in this Commission will be tantamount to accepting the events of August 5, 2019, which the NC is unwilling to do,” the party had said.
The Lok Sabha Speaker had nominated five MPs— Dr Farooq Abdullah, Justice(retd) Hasnain Masoodi and Muhammad Akbar Lone, Jitendra Singh and Jugal Kishore Sharma — as associate members of the panel.
The Delimitation Commission is mandated to fix boundaries of 90 Assembly seats and reserve seats for Schedule Castes and Schedule Tribes.
Sources said that office of J&K’s Chief Electoral Officer has submitted all data sought by the delimitation panel.
“We have submitted details like population data, administrative units, maps of constituencies to the panel,” an official disclosed.
The Delimitation Commission, which was constituted on March 6, 2020, has time till March 5, 2021.
“The appointment of Justice (Retd.) Ranjana Prakash Desai shall be for a period of one year from the date of the publication of this notification in the Official Gazette or till further orders, whichever is earlier,” read the notification issued by Union Law Ministry.

Precious Kashmir News
Srinagar, Aug 27: The divisional administration on Thursday reiterated that strict restrictions will continue on all religious processions and gatherings in all districts of the Kashmir.
Divisional Commissioner (Div Com) Kashmir, Pandurang K Pole today said that restrictions shall continue on all religious processions and gatherings in all districts.
The Div Com said this while chairing a meeting regarding arrangements for Muharram here today.
During the meeting, the Shia Anjumans extended their full support to the administration with assurance that no procession or any other outside gathering shall be conducted during these days.
Pole sought support from these religious bodies and urged them to sensitize people about avoiding all religious processions/ gatherings in wake of Covid-19.
He urged the heads of these bodies to use their influence and aware people about importance of following Covid-19 related SOPs including social distancing protocol and use of face masks while commemorating martyrdom of Imam Hussain A.S and other martyrs of Karbala during these days.
The Div Com said that in last few instances some anti-national elements tried to give different direction to a purely religious matter, which has been viewed seriously and all such elements shall be dealt strictly under the law.
He appealed people to show their cooperation at this juncture as Covid-19 cases were on rise in Kashmir and any carelessness can prove disastrous for the entire society.
During the meeting, the representatives raised various issues with the Div Com and demanded prompt resolution.
The Div Com instructed all DCs and SSPs to cooperate and extend their support to people for hassle-free holding of majalis.
He also directed to developmental departments to carry out necessary works and ensure uninterrupted power and potable water supply besides speedy completion of lane and drain works in all Shia dominated areas.
The meeting among others was attended by Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, Dr. Shahid Iqbal Choudhary, DC Budgam, Shahbaz Mirza, SSP Srinagar, Haseeb Mughal, Joint Commissioner SMC, while as Abid Hussain Ansari, Secretary All J&K Shia Association, Aga Syed Muntazir, Secretary All J&K Anjumane Sharie Shiaan and representatives from All J&K Itehaadul Muslimeen and other Shia Anjumans also attended the meeting.

Suhail Khan
Srinagar, Aug 27: On Thursday when river Jehlum swelled at several places, government asked people to be vigilant in various parts of Kashmir.
Amid continuous rains, lot of people in flood prone areas ferried their families to safer areas as the water level in the Jhelum kept rising.
The rains have been going on since Wednesday and causing water logging in various parts of the Valley.
Executive Engineer Irrigation and Flood Control Sopore issued a circular today, which reads, “It is continuously raining from last 24 hours and there is every apprehension of heavy discharge in the adjacent Nallahs and tributaries as such all the sectoral officer/ beat officers are asked to remain vigilant and have an advance inspection of their jurisdiction especially vulnerable.”
Mohammad Ashraf, a resident of Rajbagh said the incessant rain reminds them of the horrors they underwent when the floods hit their area in 2014.
Similar apprehensions were aired by residents of Shivpora, Batpora and Sonawar.
“Those moments of flood are still haunting us when we spent three nights on the terrace of our neighbouring house and the entire area was inundated in water. I always pray to God that we should not face such times again in our lives,” said Bilal Ahmad, a local resident of Sonawar.
The residents Mehjoor Nagar said the rain water has got stagnant in the lanes and bylanes of their area due to lack of drainage system.
“Water has not been drained out completely from our area. The rains since Wednesday have become a source of miseries for us due to lack of drainage system,” said Mohammad Amin, a resident of Mehjoor Nagar.
An official of the Irrigation and Flood Control department said they are monitoring the situation and have not issued flood threat yet.
“We have already deputed the staff on ground. They are continuously monitoring the water levels at different places,” the official said.
Meanwhile, the gauge reading of Jhelum River has been consistently rising since Wednesday.
A study titled ‘A satellite-based rapid assessment on floods in Jammu & Kashmir–September, 2014’ conducted jointly by the Department of Environment & Remote Sensing (DERS) and ISRO has warned that intensity of rainfall and frequency of rainy days in the Himalayan region may increase in 2030s, leading to another flood in Kashmir if immediate steps are not taken to restore the drainage system of Jhelum.
A senior official of the Irrigation and Flood Control department said the Wular Lake, which is the largest flood absorption basin has lost the water carrying capacity due to a host of factors.
“Several surveys have found that gross human interference, deforestation, encroachments, chocking of waterways and reduction in capacity of wet lands due to heavy siltation posing an imminent threat of floods even by average downpour,” the official said.
After the 2014 floods, the government announced construction of an alternate flood channel to Jehlum in Kashmir.
Despite passing over five years, the government has failed to frame a detailed project report (DPR) for the mega project.
In July 2015, the first-ever disaster management plan was approved by the cabinet headed by the then chief minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed. However, officials said there has been no implementation of the disaster management plan. (KINS)

Srinagar, Aug 27: Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party (JKAP) on Thursday said that it will press for an early hearing in a petition challenging abrogation of Article 370 and Article 35 A in the Supreme Court, besides pledged to strive for restoration of statehood, early elections, 4G internet and package for economic revival in Jammu and Kashmir.
These resolutions were made during a two-day long meeting of senior JKAP leaders that was presided by the party president Altaf Bukhari at party office in Srinagar.
Addressing the meeting, Bukhari said the JKAP was launched with a motive to put all its efforts to reduce the burden of miseries on a common man on the ground. He observed that the bedrock of the party is based on realism and pragmatic politics.
He said for the last over 70 years of J&K’s history, the political discourse has witnessed commotion and politics of deceit wherein people were subjugated, browbeaten and exploited on one or the other pretexts.
A spokesperson of JKAP said the meeting resolved to file an application before the Supreme Court seeking the listing and an early hearing in a petition filed by one of the JKAP leaders challenging abrogation of Article 370 and Article 35-A.
“This task was assigned to party senior leader Jagmohan Singh Raina, one of the first few petitioners who had approached the Supreme Court on the subject,” he said.
He said the meeting resolved that any further delay in restoration of Statehood by the Government of India will add to the already existing hopelessness and alienation among the people of J&K. “The meeting resolved that it is incumbent upon the Government of India to rise to the occasion and address the political aspirations of people, sooner the better. The party leadership also resolved that the party will further strengthen and speed up its efforts in pursuit of this goal”.
The spokesman said the meeting also resolved that no arbitrary increase in assembly or parliamentary segments by the Delimitation Commission will be acceptable and the party will put forth its viewpoint based on suggestions and objections, if any, before the Commission at an appropriate time.
“It was resolved that there should be no justification for further delay in elections in J&K which has no substitute in a democratic set up,” he said, adding the meeting resolved for an immediate restoration of 4G mobile internet services in J&K and solicited the personal intervention of the union home minister into the matter.
The spokesperson said it was resolved that the Government of India should formulate a special package for the revival of tourism and allied industrial sectors including hotels, handicrafts, tour operators, houseboat owners and Shikara owners which is critical to the revival of the distressed economy of Jammu and Kashmir.
“The meeting resolved that it will pursue formulation of a comprehensive job policy to address the mounting unemployment problem in J&K and ensure a dignified livelihood for the educated unemployed youth in government and private sectors,” he said.
“The meeting resolved to continue its struggle for a separate bench of the Central Administrative Tribunal at Srinagar. It was resolved that the party will continue to press for complete revocation of SRO 202 as the draconian provisions of this SRO are highly detrimental to the interest of employees and unemployed educated youth of J&K. The meeting resolved for a comprehensive policy for quarrying and mining activities in J&K in view of the legal rights of locals on the natural resources,” he said.
“The meeting resolved that the J&K government should take immediate measures to prevent repetition of 2014 devastating deluge and go for immediate relief and rehabilitation of flood affected families in Jammu province,” he added.

Srinagar, Aug 27: Police on Thursday foiled Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) protest rally in the summer capital, Srinagar — demanding release of its leadership, including President Mehbooba Mufti — and took several leaders into preventive custody.
Reacting to the detention of the PDP leaders who tried to take out the protest rally, Iltija Mufti, daughter of former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti, alleged that ‘enforced normalcy through institutionalized repression stands exposed’.
Scores of PDP workers and leaders, including party spokesperson Harbaksh Singh, Hamid Kohsheen and Rouf Bhat, assembled at the party headquarters in Srinagar on Thursday.
Holding banners, which read, ‘We want to live with peace and dignity’, ‘Stop human rights violation, besides other slogans’, the PDP leaders tried to take out a protest rally, demanding release of its leadership and other Kashmiris detained in and outside J&K since August last year.
However, as the PDP leaders and workers tried to move out of the party office, security forces deployed in the area swung into action and tried to stop the protestors from moving ahead.
As the protestors didn’t back down, security forces took several leaders, including Harbaksh Singh, Hamid Kohsheen and Rouf Bhat, into preventive custody.
The attempted protest rally comes days after National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah, who was released from detention in March this year, held a series of meetings with his party leaders.
Mehbooba Mufti alongwith two former CMs Omar Abdullah and Farooq Abdullah, besides dozens of mainstream leaders, including ex-ministers, were detained on August 5, 2019, when centre abrogated Article 370 and Article 35 A, besides bifurcated the state into two Union Territories.
The PDP president was later booked under PSA and stayed in solitary confinement for over eight months. She is still under detention while others have been released.

Jahangeer Ganaie
Pulwama, Aug 27: The authorities in Shikargah area of Tral in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district have failed to make Hangul breeding centre functional even as the wildlife department has claimed the presence of Hanguls in Shikargah wildlife Sanctuary.
An official of the wildlife department said after several locals said that they have seen a group of Hanguls in the area, the department installed cameras there and after sometime around 10 Hanguls were spotted.
He said that pictures of around 10 Hanguls were clicked by sensor based cameras installed on top locations of Shikargah.
However, locals said that the authorities should not taken their presence for granted as Hangul population is vulnerable and authorities must bring them to breeding centre so that the purpose of the breeding centre will be also fulfilled.
“In year 2011, a Hangul breeding centre was established in Shikargah wildlife sanctuary on which crores of rupees were spent, however, after it’s completion a Hangul was placed in it but according to officials hangul became victim of leopard.”
As per locals since 2012 they never saw leopard in the area, however, from the last six months, dozens of people in the area have said that they have been witnessing movement of Hangul population.
They said that hangul population has damaged their apple orchards and vegetable fields and their presence in populated area is making them more vulnerable.
“This area is very beautiful and presence of Hangul at the breeding centre can attract tourists to the area,” said Irshad Ahmad, a resident of Pinglish, adding that what is fun of spending crores of rupees on breeding centre when there is no hangul.
When contacted wildlife warden for Pulwama and Shopian, Suhail Ahmed said that the work on the breeding centre was defunct for many years and they will be repairing it wherever need arises.
“Centre will become functional in next two or three months again,” he said, adding that hangul is a sensitive species and their direct capturing may be intolerable to them.
“We are trying to habituate them naturally without letting them know that they have been kept in breeding centre,” he said.
Pertinently, poached for its meat, antlers and skin, the Hangul numbers have been on the decline for the past many decades.
From around 3,000, the figure dropped to 900 in 1989 which dwindled to near about 200 a few years back.
Conservation of Hangul assumes great significance as the species is placed under Schedule-I in the Jammu and Kashmir Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1978 (amended up to 2002) and the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972.
It is also listed in Appendix-I of the convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna. (KNO)