Precious Kashmir News
Jammu, Aug 22: Advisor to Lieutenant Governor Rajiv Rai Bhatnagar Saturday convened a meeting with senior officers of Jal Shakti Department to review their working and progress on various projects along with physical and financial achievements.
At the outset, the officers gave a detailed report regarding projects under Jal Shakti Department and various measures taken to provide uninterrupted water supply to the people of J&K.
Threadbare discussion was held regarding action taken report of the decisions taken in previous meeting, status of Jal Jeevan Mission projects, preparedness of flood control measures in view of monsoon season, status of work done liabilities under various projects etc.
He emphasized focus on delivery, outcome and grievances redressal system so that people donot face any kind of inconvenience.
The Advisor asked the concerned officers to complete projects in time-bound manner. He cautioned the concerned officers against any laxity towards quality and timely completion of these development projects of vital significance.
Advisor instructed the officers to complete the pending formalities, if any, and stressed that there should be no excuse in timely completion of projects.
He directed the officers to expedite their men and machinary to achieve the hundred percent piped water supply to each and every household till 2022.
Earlier, the Advisor convened a meeting of the Transport Department and JKRTC in which various issues related to fee of vehicles, traffic congestion and it’s management, revenue generation, distribution of Driving License during and post Covid-19 situation, and liabilities were took under consideration.
The Advisor asked the officers to prepare an accident data analysis of year 2018-19 and 2019-20. He also asked them to prepare a presentation to reduce accidents, fatalities rate due to road accidents and minimise the traffic congestion.
Advisor Bhatnagar reviews functioning of Jal Shakti, Transport, JKRTC Deptts
Govt to launch drive against illegal structures along water bodies
Precious Kashmir News
Srinagar, Aug 22: The government is contemplating to launch forceful drive against illegal structures along the water bodies here in Kashmir so that September 2014-like situation doesn’t recur.
One of the top officials said the government has observed that authorities have only laid focus on Jhelum River by launching Phase-I of Flood Management Programme and removal of illegal constructions.
He said similar attention needs to be paid towards other rivers and water bodies, which too had contributed in destruction during September 2014.
“Illegal residential colonies that have come up on the wetlands and river banks over the decades are aggravating the chances of floods not only in Srinagar city but in other parts of the State also. Now we have directed the concerned authorities in the state to launch forceful drive against illegal structures,” the official said.
It is to mention here that the committee on estimates in its report had said that the irrigation and flood control department should remove all illegal structures along the water bodies with the assistance of police under the directions of the Deputy Commissioner concerned and stern action should be taken against the erring persons.
The committee has also said that the Government should in view of topography and requirements/ problems of people, the Irrigation and Flood Control Department should prepare a blueprint for completion of all projects/schemes of major rivers and water bodies in the State”.
Following the September 2014 floods, the High Court had directed the government to remove encroachments along the water bodies. After which the government removed constructions on several places on the banks of Jehlum.
Meanwhile, people allege that from last one year new constructions have also been raised near the flood channel in Srinagar.
A local Srinagar resident said that SMC did not allow them even for minor repairs without proper permission. “It seems that rules are only for the common masses while the government is allowing constructions for influential people even in flood channels,” Muneer Ahmad a local here in Mehjoor Nagar said.
Meanwhile sources said that along bybpass bemina, scores of illegal constructions have been raised by some influential people.
Local residents of Bemina said that one of the doctors has raised a four story hospital in the Bemina bypass residential area. “I fail to understand why SMC is silent and is not taking action against the doctor,” said a local wishing not to be named.
Jhelum, one of the oldest rivers of the Valley, is at the receiving end of encroachments, pollution, and dumping. Illegal establishments are infringing the river embankments at various places in the city including Chattabal, Qamarwari, and its adjoining areas.(KINS)
20 private hospitals functioning without registration certificates: RTI reveals
Precious Kashmir News
Srinagar, Aug 22: At least twenty private hospitals/nursing homes across Valley including 10 from Srinagar are carrying healthcare operations without holding proper medical registrations certificates, an RTI has revealed.
The shocking revelation has surfaced that twenty private hospitals-cum-nursing homes are functioning without having valid documents across Valley.
Among un-valid health centers, ten belong to Srinagar district, said Siraj-ud-din an RTI activist who has sought information from DHSK.
The Director Health Services of Kashmir (DHSK) in its reply has informed the RTI activist that forty-five private hospitals/nursing homes are functioning across J&K including three from Ladakh Union Territory.
The information reads that there are at least twenty hospitals/nursing homes whose registration has been expired years before.
In Srinagar district there are ten hospitals/nursing homes whose registration certificates had expired years before but the administration of the concerned have not approached yet to renew the validity of their institutions.
Those functioning without valid registration in Srinagar include Care Hospital Bemina (13.11.2009), Florence Hospital Chanapora (13.01.2020), New City Hospital Tengpora (23.03.2020), Noora Hospital Zainakote (24.01.2020), Safa Marwah Medical Centre 90 Ft Road Soura (09.06.2020), Star Hospital Sanantnagar (26.10.2018), Mubarak Hospital Hyderpora (02.08.2009), Al-Ameen Charitable Trust Hyderpora (02.08.2014), Classic Hospital Hyderpora (02.08.2009) and Imam Hussain (AS) Foundation Hospital Bemina (23.01.2012).
Those belonging to other parts of Valley includes Life Long Nursing Home, Beehama, Ganderbal (26.12.2019), Zenith Nursing Home, Exchange Road, Dangerpora Pulwama (21.02.2019), Kong Posh Nursing Home Pampore (28.03.2016), Hakim Sana-ullah Special Hospital & Cancer Centre, Sopore (26.07.2015), Dr Altaf Nursing Home Baramulla (28.08.2018), Sopore Nursing Home, Sopore (16.08.2018), St Joseph’s Hospital, Baramulla (28.03.2017), Al-Hayat Maternity & Laparoscopic Hospital, Janglat Mandi Anantnag (20.02.2020), Waseem Memorial Nursing Home, Handwara, Kupwara (02.03.2020) and Quality Health Care Centre, Bramri, Kupwara (10.07.2019).
In the document provided by the Directorate of Health Services Kashmir (DHSK), it has been surfaced that Noora Hospital Srinagar is refusing to provide treatment having golden cards issued under Ayushman Bharat by Government of India. However the applicant has been asked to sought information from CMO Srinagar. (KNS)
Fake social media accounts of IGP, FIR registered: Police
Precious Kashmir News
Srinagar, Aug 22: Taking cognisance of fake Facebook profiles created in the name of Vijay Kumar Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kashmir, Cyber Police Kashmir have registered a case and started investigation, a police spokesman said this evening.
He said the fake Facebook accounts have been created by some miscreants containing pictures of IGP Kashmir Zone with the mala-fide intention to cause mischief and cheat common masses by virtue of misrepresenting the IGP.
Accordingly, a case vide FIR No. 19/2020 under relevant sections of law has been registered and further investigation going on.
PHC Boniyar without USG, dental facility for six years; locals suffer
Zaffar Iqbal
Uri, Aug 22: Patient-care continues to lie in shambles at Primary Health Centre (PHC) Boniyar of this frontier town as the concerned authorities fail to restore the Ultrasonography and dental facility services at the health facility even after six years.
A local Irfan Ahmad said the center is lacking all the basic equipment and infrastructure, more importantly, the USG machine and dental facility services. “Since these facilities are not available at the health facility, locals are forced to approach hospitals at Baramulla or Srinagar,” he said.
Another local raised the issue of corporate social responsibility (CSR) funding. “This fund (CSR) is provided by the government to NHPC and is supposed to be used for the community welfare, however it seems, unfortunately, they too have neglected this hospital,” he said.
An employee at the hospital said authorities have “failed” to restore the services damaged in the aftermath of the 2014 floods. “Though we approached the senior government officials but to no avail,” he said.
Recently BMO Boniyar wrote to the DC Baramulla about the same and a copy of the letter reads, “We are directly in contact with power projects and power project establishments of NHPC but we lacking basic machinery equipment facilities are still using outdated methods which are time-consuming and involve most human efforts”.
Doctors say the PHC caters to a population of around 85,000 families. There are 8 PHCs and 28 sub-centers in medical block Boniyar.
Dr. Parvaiz Masoodi, BMO Boniyar said he has taken up the matter with the higher authorities and something will be done soon to resolve the problem.
Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Baramulla Dr.Deeba Khan said she has received the equipment for the center.
“The USG facility and dental chairs will be installed soon there,” she said. ( GNS)
Advisor Baseer inspects PDD works in Sgr, Gbl districts
Asks officials to draw comprehensive contingency plan for winters
Precious Kashmir News
Srinagar, Aug 22: Advisor to Lieutenant Governor Baseer Ahmad Khan Saturday inspected the key works of Power Development Department (PDD) in Srinagar and Ganderbal districts.
The areas he visited included receiving station Centaur, Gulab Bagh, Alusteng. During his visit to Centaur receiving station, he directed its upgradation from 6.3 MVA to 12.6 MVA to provide adequate power supply. He was informed by the officers that the receiving station will be completed before the onset of winter.
During the inspection the Advisor also directed the officers to develop a contingency plan in order to meet the winter requirements which witnesses a heavy load. He also asked them to identify the vulnerable areas that witness power shutdown during winters so that mobile transformers would be kept at their disposal. He further directed them to complete the trimming or cutting down of trees near power lines by October to avoid any damages during winters.
He also asked them to keep buffer stock of transformers of different capacities available so that consumers are provided adequate power supply. The Advisor was briefed about the present status of the power supply and steps being taken to improve and augment the power scenario to ensure adequate power supply to the consumers especially during winters.
The Advisor said that the Lieutenant Governor of the UT wants that people should feel a real change in power supply by the onset of this winter and directed officers to work in this regard. He said that people of the UT have to be provided adequate power supply.
Regarding strengthening of the Power sector, the Advisor was informed that PDD was undergoing major reforms to address shortcomings in this sector that would augment electricity supply in Kashmir valley, especially during the winter season. He was also informed that 25 receiving stations are being upgraded that would enhance our capacity to a large extent.
During his visit, the Advisor directed the executing agencies to expedite the pace of work on various projects for their timely completion. He stressed upon the officers for constant monitoring of these projects so that tangible results are achieved on the ground.
The Advisor was informed that the PDD is working proactively by going for active metering and 40 towns have been covered under smart metering in Srinagar city. He also directed them to check power pilfirage and go for modernisation and reformation measures to check transmission and distribution losses.
The Advisor asked the officers to identify all worn-out poles, transformers and conductor in the region so that sufficient funds are made available to replace the same on a mission mode for creating better distribution infrastructure.
Shaleen visits Shopian; reviews implementation of schemes
Precious Kashmir News
Shopian, Aug 22: Principal Secretary, Home, Shaleen Kabra, Saturday visited Shopian and held a review meeting with officers and officials of various departments to assess the status of ongoing development works besides taking stock of implementation of other schemes in the district.
Principal Secretary, who is also the Administrative Secretary in charge of Shopian district, took a detailed review of functioning of RDD, Horticulture, Health, Education, Social Welfare, Labour Department, Animal & Sheep Husbandry departments. He asked the district and frontline officers of various departments to work in tandem to identify and quantify the sector specific needs and potential of the district based on natural and human resources.
He emphasized the officers to work towards empowering people through credit dissemination in priority sectors in capacity areas which will enable promotion of entrepreneurship. He observed various departmental short comings and directed officers to rectify constraints in scheme implementation and work execution and service delivery.
Principal Secretary took first hand appraisal of the economic hardships being faced by the public due to COVID lockdown period. He passed directions for giving importance to rural economy and facilitating employment of labour in rural areas under flagship employment guarantee scheme MGNREGA to provide much needed man-days to rural populace amid covid-19 pandemic to mitigate their financial crisis.
DGP sanctions Rs 2.60 Cr special relief for NoKs of personnel
Precious Kashmir News
Srinagar, Aug 22: Director General of Police (DGP) Dilbagh Singh on Saturday sanctioned Rs 2.60 crore as Special Welfare Relief (SWR) in favor of dependents and legal heirs of 13 police personnel who passed away in harness, a police spokesman said here this afternoon.
He said DGP also sanctioned ex-gratia relief of Rs 5 lakh for Next of Kin (NoK) of CRPF Jawan.
He said in its endeavor to provide financial assistance to the families of the Police personnel who have passed away in harness, Singh has sanctioned Rs 2.60 crore as SWR in favour of dependents and legal heirs of 13 such deceased Police personnel.
The DGP also sanctioned ex-gratia relief in favour of NOKs of CRPF personnel who were killed in a militant attack in Anantnag.
The SPR of Rs 20 lakh each has been sanctioned in favour of dependents and legal heirs of deceased Police personnel, ASIs Surinder Singh, Mohammad Yameen, Abdul Rashid, Mahesh Kumar, HCs Ghulam Nabi, Vinod Kumar, SgCts Mushtaq Ahmad, Ravinder Singh, Bishan Dass, Dinesh Kumar, Followers Ghulam Hussan, Sain Mohammad and Kajal Kumar who expired during service due to health related issues.
The financial assistance in favour of these families has been sanctioned out of Contributory Welfare Fund. Out of this Rs one lakh each was already paid to the deceased’s family for performing the last rites as immediate relief by the concerned units.
The DGP has also sanctioned Rs 5 lakh ex-gratia relief in favour of NOKs of deceased CT/GD Shyamal Kumar Dey No. 150042712 of 90 Bn CRPF, who were killed in a militant attack at Bijbehara in Anantnag District.
The Police Headquarters is running various scheme for welfare of its personnel and their families. There are also schemes for the wards of Police personnel and SPOs. Besides, there are schemes for the NoKs of slain policemen, their wards as also for the retired Police personnel and their spouses.
Hyderpora residents appeal admin to repair roads
Precious Kashmir News
Srinagar, Aug 22: The Hyderpora residents have appealed the administration to repair the dilapidated roads in the area.
The residents say almost the entire road stretch in Syed Hyder Colony, Masjid Muhammad and various other roads in the area are in shambles.
“The road leading to Masjid Muhammad Syed Hyder Colony from Main road Hyderpora which is considered a vital has developed potholes which makes the road unfit to use. In the event of rainfall the entire stretch becomes muddy and slippery risking the lives of commuters,” they said.
The residents appealed the administration to come to their rescue by addressing this problem and provide them a better road connectivity.
They urged the administration to undertake immediate repair of the roads in the area. (CNS)
Grim Job Scenario
Jammu and Kashmir was still struggling to come to terms before the covid-19 pandemic announced its arrival. With the coronavirus and the lockdown imposed to curb its spread, the situation became more wobbly for all shades of life and ages. While most of the businessmen accrued more losses, the situation turns out to be more challenging for the youth. Those who had started to get some kind of job lost it while those struggling to get one continue to fight in despair as employment avenues dry up not only in J&K but across India as well as globally.
New data from the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE), an independent body that measures and tracks economic indicators, has said that salaried jobs took a big hit during the COVID-19 lockdown, with the total loss estimated to be at 18.9 million during April 2020-July 2020.
The plight of salaried employees has worsened since the lockdown, with a loss of 17.7 million salaried jobs in April, additional 0.1 million jobs in May, followed by a gain of 3.9 million jobs in June and then again a loss of 5 million jobs in July, it said.
There is need to brace up for the challenge before things literally crumple. When the world is faced with the challenge of the pandemic, J&K is crushed under the weight of several troubles, mainly on account of the pandemic as well as instability in terms of politics and governance.
Given the situation when the normal processes of recruitment have come to a halt, one can only imagine the amount of hardships people are up to especially in J&K.
The creation of government jobs remains enigma, notwithstanding claims by the administration. The space for private entrepreneurship has squeezed as no meaningful investments are coming from anywhere. On top of it, the traditional sectors of tourism and handicraft are on the skids. In this backdrop, the government needs to come forward and develop human resources. True, there are limits to the creation of jobs within the government departments but the posts lying vacant can be filled up. Also, there is a need to give local businesses a boost and create an atmosphere which will help grow them.
Some kind of solace in terms of providing unemployment allowance is needed to be announced especially for those who are more badly situated. The government is a beneficiary state and it has to do all that can help citizens overcome this crisis especially the present one thrown by the pandemic.
