Precious Kashmir News
Srinagar, Aug 13: Deputy Commissioner (DC) Srinagar Dr Shahid Iqbal Chowdhary Thursday said that there is no need to implement or extend lockdown restrictions in the district if people follow SOPs properly.

Dr Chowdhary said that district administration Srinagar conducted several meetings with religious heads and traders wherein lifting of lockdown restrictions were thoroughly discussed. Besides other vital issues, resumption of trade and market was also discussed with stakeholders.

The DC said that if administration will open 50 percent markets from August 16, SOPs have to be adhered in letter and spirit. “If we abide SOPs properly, I don’t think any need for enforcing or extending lockdown may arise”, he said.

While talking to reports here, the DC said that in wake of surge in COVID-19 caseloads in the district authorities were compelled to impose lockdown restrictions for the wellbeing of the community. “Experts are saying that more COVID-19 cases may arise in Srinagar and there are less chances of seeing a decline in figures in coming days. So in a situation like this, it is our responsibility to follow SOPs, use masks, maintain required social distance and take all other precautionary measures to keep the virus away”, he said.

Chowdhary said that district administration in pandemic days interacted with over 3000 religious leaders who were apprised of the lethal consequences of the pandemic. “We are hopeful religious leaders will play a pivotal role in persuading masses to follow SOPs when religious places will be thrown open for people”, DC said.

He maintained that further required information and awareness about lockdown will be made public in a separate notification.

When asked about the recovery rate, he said people are getting infected and recuperated simultaneously and the process is going on. “Recovered Covid-19 cases in Srinagar district are still more than the active cases at present which is itself a good sign”.

Everything will have to be investigated, says IGP Kumar

Srinagar, Aug 13: A police team headed by a senior officer has rushed to Rajouri for investigation after families alleged that three militants killed by security forces in an encounter in south Kashmir’s Shopian district on July 18 were their missing relatives and actually innocent labourers.

Meanwhile, Army has also taken notice of the family and social media claims regarding the operation and initiated investigations.

However, the family members of three missing youths alleged that they are not being provided travel permit by police to visit Kashmir , where their relatives had gone missing since July 18.

A team headed by Deputy Superintendent of Police  (Dy SP) has been sent to Rajouri to collect information and complete legal formalities in connection with three persons who had gone missing in Kulgam on July 17, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Vijay Kumar told reporters on the sideline of full dress rehearsal for Independence Day (ID) here on Wednesday.

He said since the missing report was filed in Rajouri, police are trying to evaluate the case and collect all technical evidence about their disappearance.

IGP Kumar said as per set procedure we have collected DNA samples of all three militants after nobody came forward to claim their bodies after the encounter on July 18 at Kulgam. Now we are working on two aspects—to match DNA of relatives wit the DNA of these militants and second to investigate if the (missing persons) were in contact with local militants in Shopian, he said adding everything will have to be investigated.

Three youths identified as 18- year-old Abrar Ahmed Khan, Son of Bagha Khan,  Imtiyaz Hussain (26) Son of Sabir Hussain, both residents of Dhar Sakri of Tehsil Qotranka of Rajouri and 21-year-old Abrar Ahmed son of Muhammad Yousuf of Tarkasi village of same Tehsil had arrived in Shopian district on July 16.

The family members claimed that last contact on mobile phone with them was on July 17, a day before they went missing after security forces claimed to have killed three unidentified militants in an encounter at Kulgam.

A police spokesman has said here that  District Police Rajouri have been approached by some families claiming that their kins had gone to Shopian for labour work and contacted on phone on  July 17. As per families when they did not contact them after last call on July 17 they lodged missing report at Police Post Peeru on August 10, 2020. Meanwhile Social media reported that the militants killed in an operation at Shopian on July 18, 2020 are reportedly their kins, spokesman said.

He said Police had provided sufficient time for identification of dead bodies at Police Control Room (PCR) Kashmir Srinagar. However, the dead bodies could not be identified and they were buried in presence of Magistrate after conducting post-mortem and lifting DNA samples.

Taking cognisance of the claim by the families and media reports, Shopian Police will examine the claimants and carry out DNA sampling for matching purpose. Besides identification, Police will also investigate all other aspects as per the law in due course of time.

Meanwhile, Army has also taken notice of the family and social media claims regarding the said operation and initiated investigations.

Almost all mainstream political parties have demanded a judicial probe into the killing.

Precious Kashmir News
Srinagar, Aug 13: Urging people to register their grievances and complaints regarding departments under his charge, Advisor to Lt Governor Rajeev Rai Bhatnagar on Thursday said that the mechanism for solving their genuine issues and problems in a time bound manner has been strengthened.

An official spokesman said that it is being informed to general public that the office of Advisor to  Bhatnagar has strengthened the grievance redressal mechanism for solving their genuine issues and problems in a time bound manner.

The public is being intimated that they can register their grievances and complaints regarding departments under his charge -Health and Medical Education, Public Works (R&B), Jal Shakti (PHE, I&FC), Transport, Animal/Sheep Husbandry and Security related matters on Phone nos. 01942506499 for Kashmir division and 01912542363 for Jammu Division, Monday to Friday from 1000 hrs to 1700 hrs.

It is also informed that the people can also send their grievances through social media on Whatsapp number +919419670631 and Twitter on the twitter handle @AdvisorBJKGovt. Further the public can also send their grievances and complaints on email address [email protected].

Spokesman said it has been done to facilitate public as they can send their grievances electronically without having physically travel to office and minimise the risk due to pandemic COVID-19.

Further, the deputations, delegations, individuals or other people who want to meet the Advisor Bhatnagar have to seek a prior appointment from his office on phone numbers: 01942506466 for Kashmir and 01912542014 for Jammu.

All such people are requested to follow all health guidelines and other COVID related advisories strictly while visiting the Secretariat to contain the spread of pandemic COVID-19.

New Delhi, Aug 13: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday launched a taxation platform through video-conferencing to honour honest tax payers and bring more transparency in the tax collection.

Speaking after launching a platform ‘Transparent Taxation – Honoring The Honest’ to honour the honest taxpayers of the country, the Prime Minister said the new tax reforms will instill a sense of fearlessness among the honest taxpayers who play an important role in national development.

“The honest taxpayer has an important role in nation building and when the life of an honest taxpayer becomes easier and he progresses, then the country also moves on path of development and progress,’ he said.

PM Modi said the ongoing process of structural reforms has reached a new stage today.

“There was a time when we used to talk a lot about reforms. Sometimes, decisions were taken in desperation or under pressure. Because of this, the intended results were not achieved. Now, this thinking as well as approach have changed,’ he said.

The Prime Minister said that in the last six years, focus has been on banking the unbanked and securing the unsecured.

‘Earlier, our focus has been on banking the unbanked, securing the unsecured, funding the unfunded. Today, we are launching honouring the honest,’ PM Modi said.

Talking about the new platform, the Prime Minister said, “It will bring in faceless assessment, faceless appeal, and taxpayers’ charter. Faceless assessment and taxpayers charter come in force from today, whereas faceless appeal service will be available from September 25.”

PM Modi said the platform will be a new milestone in the structural reforms initiated by the government.

“It strengthens our resolve of minimum government, maximum governance. The emphasis is on making every rule-law, policy people-centric and public friendly. This is the use of the new governance model and the country is getting its results,” the PM said.

‘In the past six years, India has witnessed the evolution of a new governance model in tax administration. We have decreased – complexity, taxes, litigation, and increased – transparency, tax compliance, and trust on the taxpayer,’he said.

This is a big step towards reducing the government’s interference in the lives of the countrymen, he added.

Precious Kashmir News

Srinagar, Aug 13: Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Pandurang K Pole Thursday chaired a meeting of concerned officers on conservation of Hokarsar, Wular and Kreentcho-Chandhara wetlands.

During the meeting, the Div Com reviewed the progress made viz a viz to demarcation, land transfer, installation of boundary walls, pillars, removal of encroachments,  and non- dumping of solid waste.

Concerned DCs were directed to ensure removal of all encroachments within 45 days period and prevent people from using wetlands for agricultural activities.

He instructed concerned to take stringent action including register FIRs against the offenders indulging in repeated illegal activities.

The Div Com directed concerned to constitute committees and activate field staff teams for close monitoring of wetlands.

He said that only organic farming on over 500 kanals of private land of Kreentcho wetland is allowed so that farming does not pose any threat to the wetland and is in consonance with the wetland rules.

Emphasizing on the timely completion of installation of boundary pillars, Div Com said that the step would prevent illegal encroachments on wetlands.

The Div Com directed concerned to ensure immediate removal of already dumped waste from Hokarsar and other wetlands and emphasized that only alternate and shifted dumping sites are in use for dumping purposes.

The Div Com said that he would chair a meeting of all concerned next month to take detailed review on action taken report and measures taken by all concerned for conservation of wetlands.

He also directed concerned to expedite beautification work on wetlands and called for massive awareness generation on importance  on wetland preservation.

Meanwhile, all DCs were given directions to start work on creation of new water bodies under MGNREGA funds and submit all formats as required along with the action taken reports in this regard.

Precious Kashmir News

Srinagar, Aug 13:  Advisor to Lieutenant Governor, Baseer Ahmad Khan, Thursday held a public outreach programme at Chadoora in Budgam district and met scores of public delegations and individuals who apprised him of their problems and demands.

He also inspected various ongoing development works being executed under MGNREGA in Chadoora block and directed the concerned officers to expedite the pace of progress on these vital works for timely completion.

During the public outreach programme, Advisor met various delegations who apprised him of their grievances and demands pertaining to development of their respective areas.

Deputy Commissioner Budgam, Shahbaz Ahmed Mirza, Director Rural Development Department, Kashmir Qazi Sarwar, district officers from various departments among other concerned functionaries were present on the occasion.

A delegation from B K Pora demanded availability of adequate irrigation facilities besides macadamisation of road in the area and other development issues.

A delegation of Fruit Growers demanded upgradation and expansion of basic infrastructure in fruit Mandi and continuation of Market Intervention Scheme (MIS). Another delegation of traders from the district demanded remission of loans to compensate the losses suffered by them due to COVID-19 lockdown.

A  delegation from Charar-i-Sharief demanded macadamisation of roads in the town and completion of pending road projects in the area besides water supply, bus stand and other issues related to education in their area.

A delegation of Municipal Committee demanded Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) kits, drinking water supply, grid station, fencing of graveyard and other issues.

Another delegation from Kanipora demanded replacement of power supply line and electric poles in the area.

A delegation from Nowgam demanded drainage facility and completion of roads under PMGSY.

Advisor Khan assured the deputations and individuals that all their issues would be addressed in a phased manner.

Advisor Khan directed the officers to synergize their efforts so that the targeted results are achieved under various development schemes being implemented in the area. He also asked them to seek public feedback about the status of works being done in their respective areas.