Srinagar, Dec 20: A day ahead of Chillai-e-Kalan— the 40-day long chilliest part of the winter season—J&K and Ladakh continued to reel under intense cold conditions with Srinagar recording a low of minus 5.8°C on Monday.

A meteorological department official here told GNS that the mercury in the summer capital was two notches up from previous two night’s minus 6.0°C. However, he said, overall it was below minus 4.3°C than the normal for this time of the year.

While as the 40-day long ‘Chillai Kalan starts on December 21, it is followed by a 20-day long ‘Chillai Khurd’ and a 10-day-long ‘Chilla Bachha’.

Meanwhile, the mercury in the world famous resort of Gulmarg in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district settled at minus 5.5°C against minus 7.5°C on the previous night, the official said.
Qazigund, the gateway town of Kashmir, had a low of minus 6.0°C against minus 6.0°C on the previous night, he said.
Pahalgam, the famous resort in south Kashmir, recorded a low of minus 7.4°C against minus 8.7°C on previous night.

Kokernag, also in south Kashmir, recorded a low of minus 5.9°C against minus 6.0°C on previous night, the official said.

Kupwara town in north Kashmir recorded a minimum of minus 5.2°C against minus 6.1°C on the previous night, the official said.
Jammu, the J&K’s winter capital, saw a low of 3.2°C which is minus 5.7°C below normal, he said.

Ladakh’s Leh had a low of minus 13.9°C against last night’s minus 16.0°C while automatic Kargil station recorded minimum of minus 11.5°C. Drass in Kargil, the second coldest place in the world after Siberia, recorded a low of minus 19.0°C, the official said.

“Mostly dry and cold weather is likely to continue till December 22 forenoon in both J&K and Ladakh,” the official said, adding, “There’s a modifications in early forecast of snowfall. Now, there’s no forecast of any major snowfall in both J&K and Ladakh.”

However, he said, light to moderate snowfall is expected at many places of J&K and at scattered places of Ladakh especially along Sonmarg-Drass, Parkachik-Padum axis during evening of December 22 to 25. He said that due to mainly clear sky, night temperature Is most likely to fall further during next three days.

“Thereafter, due to the approaching Western Disturbance, we expect gradual fall in day temperature and slight rise in night temperature from December 21 to 26.” (GNS)

Jammu, Dec 19 (KNO): The divisional administration Jammu has requested the Army to assist the government in restoration of electricity after a dialogue with the agitating Power Development Department (PDD) employees has reportedly failed to break ice.

The agitation by the PDD employees has left hundreds of consumers across Jammu and Kashmir to reel under darkness as the employees have decided to suspend all the works till their demands are fulfilled.

According to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), Divisional Commissioner Jammu has shot a letter to General Officer in Commanding (GoC) of Yol based 9 Corps, which is responsible for Jammu, Samba and Kathua districts and GOC of Nagrota based 16 Corps, which have jurisdiction over rest seven districts of Jammu division including Chenab Belt and Pir Panchal region, to assist the administration to man electric installations/supplies in Jammu division.

“It is brought to your notice that due to a strike by Electricity Department personnel in the UT of Jammu and Kashmir, essential services have been severely affected in the Jammu region. We would like to hereby requisition the Indian army to assist in restoration of said essential services by provisioning manpower to man critical electricity stations and water supply sources,” the letter by Divisional Commissioner Jammu Dr Raghav Langer reads.

Later in the evening, Dr Raghav Langer addressed a press conference and clarified the government’s stand on the issues. He said that the government’s decisions regarding the power sector are progressive to bring reforms.

Divisional Commissioner claimed that the government’s intent is to ensure 24X7 quality power supply in Jammu and Kashmir. “I ensure that the government is here to work with sincerity to protect public interests. As far as the concern of agitating employees union, it has been already clarified that none of the service conditions, the pay structures, the salaries and the pensionary benefits, would be altered to the disadvantage for any employee of PDD. From the last 24 months, all employees get timely salaries and other benefits.”

Mukesh Singh, ADGP said that several rounds of talks were held and many grievances have been addressed on spot while many policy issues have been taken for discussions with higher ups.

“We appealed to the striking employees to call off strike and in the meantime we are also taking help from the army and other agencies for restoration of power. If anyone tries to hurdle the power restoration, they will not be spared,” Singh said.

MD JKPSL said that 55 percent of power has been restored in Jammu division and the department is working to restore the remaining 45 percent.

“The technical groups of our partner are working with us and also provide training to manpower of the army to restore all feeders,” the MD said.

Army Takes over

Government has now deployed specialized teams of Military Engineering Services (MES) on a number of power receiving stations across Jammu zone with both Army and Police have also been deployed on these stations to resist any kind of protest by the employees of Power Development Department of Jammu and Kashmir government.

On Divisional Commissioner Jammu’s request late evening hours, teams of the Engineering Wing of Army referred to as Military Engineering Services have been taken to power stations in protection of Army and Police. The wing of Army has started their efforts to restore electricity.

In Jammu, a number of receiving stations are presently under the control of Military Engineering services.’

Quick reaction teams of both army and police have also been deployed at power stations and grid stations.

Negotiations

Earlier in the day, the discussions with the representatives of the striking employees failed to persuade them to return to their duties.

Officials said that the employees of the department are on protest in all the districts of Jammu and Kashmir with the main protest dharna being staged at Jammu.

A team of Government headed by Divisional Commissioner Jammu Dr. Raghav Langer, ADGP Jammu zone Mukesh Singh alongwith MD JPDCL held hours long talk with protesting employees but the talks have so far remained result-less.

Fresh rounds of talks have once again started between protesting employees and Jammu and Kashmir government.

The Crisis

Over twenty thousand employees of Jammu and Kashmir Power Development Department are protesting against the government move to merge J&K Power Development Department into the Power Grid Corporation of India and the handing over of the assets to private companies.

Meanwhile, due to ongoing protest, worst ever crisis of power has hit Jammu region while the majority of urban areas including most parts of Jammu city, Rajouri-Poonch and Chenab valley remain under darkness while the rural areas are worst affected.

The striking employees refused to repair the faults and also refused to man duties until the government reverses its decision to privatise the power sector in the UT.

The Cause

The employees went on strike from Friday midnight and want a reversal of government decision to privatise assets, regularisation of daily wage power employees, and the release of salaries.

The employees say the assets built over decades by successive governments in J&K are now up for sale under Union territory administration.

“It’s a systematic transfer of assets which we are opposing. They are selling the assets of the transmission sector. They want to give 50% shareholding to the power grid which is against the interests of Jammu and Kashmir” said Sachin Tickoo, general Secretary of power employee union.

“It’s the issue of our existence. It’s the fight of the people we are fighting. we will be left with nothing if we lose the transmission sector. It’s the backbone of the power department” said Tickoo.

He said the talks with the government have been taking place at a lower level and no top government functionary has come forward to resolve the crisis and assurance that the power sector will not be sold to private companies—(KNO)

Awantipora, Dec 19: Islamic University of Science & Technology (IUST) Awantipora is scaling new heights in the field of Research & Development and has recently bagged 20 innovative research projects from the J&K Science, Technology & Innovation Council (JKSTIC), highest for any institution in JKUT.

The projects would boost innovation and entrepreneurship in areas of scientific and societal importance as the research funding has been made to the IUST keeping in view the specific objectives and requirements of the Government for overall socio-economic development of the UT. The awarded research projects are in the fields of engineering, technology, computer science, food technology, mathematical sciences and other allied disciplines.

While complimenting the faculty members, Vice Chancellor IUST Prof. Shakil A. Romshoo, noted the significance of these projects for IUST in improving the innovation, incubation and entrepreneurship ecosystem in the University in addition to other initiatives. “We have recently rolled out a strategy that envisions achieving a high standard of quality research, innovation, entrepreneurship and start-ups in the IUST. The University has established the Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development (CIED) with six verticals to promote the use of Science and Technology for providing innovative solutions to various societal problems in the UT,” VC IUST said.

He also added, “In response to the call for Expression of Interest, CIED has recently received about 100 innovative proposals and ideas related to the development of various products, processes and services from the students and individuals of the UT of Jammu and Kashmir and also beyond for the development of potential start-ups. The University intends to financially support 30 of these innovative ideas with a seed grant of about Rs. 5.00 lakhs per idea/proposal and incubate them at the University so that these can reach up to the start-up level viably.”

Additionally, considering IUST’s highly recognized innovative work during the Covid-19 pandemic, the Design Innovation Centre (DIC), one of the six verticals of the CIED has been granted another innovative project by J&K DST for the development of prototype for low-cost Frugal, Bag Valve bagged mechanical ventilator. It is pertinent to mention that during the pandemic, IUST successfully deployed a fully functional modular and low-cost negative pressure chamber for isolation of COVID-19 patients at the Chest Diseases Hospital Srinagar, and developed a frugal ventilator prototype RUHDAAR and face shields for medical practitioners as part of its continuing Institutional Social Responsibility (ISR).

Srinagar, Dec 19: A police follower was shot at and injured by militants in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district on Sunday evening.

A police officer told GNS that the follower identified as Mushtaq Ahmad Wagay son of Ghulam Mohammad was fired upon by the militants near his native village—Bandzoo. The follower with bullet injuries in legs was shifted to District Hospital Pulwama where his condition is stated to be “stable”.

A police officer confirmed to GNS the attack on the police follower and said that a case has been registered. (GNS)

Srinagar, Dec 19: The “work boycott” by Power Development Department employees in Jammu and Kashmir has left hundreds of COVID patients who need oxygen concentrators at home on death bed.

Complaints and distress calls were received across the parts of the Valley against the PDD employees for switching off the grid stations and disrupting power supply to people who are paying bills.

In Pulwama village of Ratnipora, locals told Srinagar based news agency Kashmir Dot Com (KDC) 10 COVID-19 patients are on oxygen concentrators since last week but are fighting for their life.

The locals said that the PDD employee posted at Receiving Station Narwa, which supplies power to dozens of villages, has switched off the electric supply and deprived the consumers of electricity.

Locals said they are pleading with the employees and concerned officials including Executive Engineer Nazir Malik, Junior Engineer Naveed and other concerned employees to restore the electric supply.

“Our pleas are being ignored by the Exen, JE and the employees posted at the Receiving Station Narwa. We are urging them to restore the supply for the life of the patients, but they are not listening,” Muhammad Yaqoob, a local told KDC.

He said when they talked to the Executive Engineer and JE about the patients, their replies were shocking.

“Executive Engineer told us that ‘when doctors strike work in hospitals why don’t people complaint then. We can’t help patients as we are on strike’,” the locals quoted the Executive Engineer as having said.

The residents of Pulwama have urged the District Commissioner and Divisional Commissioner to intervene.

Vinod Pandit, a resident of Jammu, said that their area is reeling under darkness from Saturday morning but no official is bothered.

Similar complaints poured in from Bandipora, Srinagar, Budgam, Anantnag, Shopian and other different parts of Kashmir and Jammu. (KDC)

Was resident of Karachi, had infiltrated in 2016, was active in Harwan area of city; 3 foreign militants killed in sgr within 33 days: IGP Kashmir

Srinagar, Dec 19: A foreign militant was killed in an encounter at Harwan area of Srinagar in the wee hours on Sunday, police said.

A police officer told news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that acting on a specific lead about the presence of a militant in Harwan area, police teams zeroed in on the suspected spot. “In a brief encounter, one unidentified militant was killed,” the official said.

SrinagarEncounterUpdate: 01 unidentified #militant killed. Search going on. Further details shall follow. @JmuKmrPolice,” tweeted Kashmir zone police.

Kashmir zone police also tweeted quouting IGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar that #SrinagarEncounterUpdate: Killed #militant identified as Saifulla alias Abu Khalid alias Shawaz, resident of Karachi (#Pakistan), affiliated with LeT. He infiltrated in 2016 & was active in general area of Harwan and involved in several crimes.”

In another tweet, IGP Kashmir said that “03 #Pakistani militants killed in #SrinagarCity within 33days. They were involved in several crimes including attacks on Police/SFs & civilian killings. It shows that Pakistan is hell-bent to disturb peace in Valley especially in Srinagar City.”—(KNO)

Jammu: PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti on Saturday called on the youth to join the struggle for restoration of their rights “snatched” by the Centre and said non-violence, not “stones or guns”, was the way ahead.
The former chief minister also said the BJP-led government had intelligence inputs about the civilian killings by terrorists, but it deliberately refrained from cracking the whip.
“You have to understand the situation and become our voice if you do not show courage today, the coming generations will raise a question as our land, jobs and even minor minerals are going to outsiders. It is imperative for us to stand up and struggle for our rights…,” Mehbooba said at the youth convention in the border district of Rajouri.
Insisting on a peaceful struggle for the cause, Mehbooba said, God forbid, I will never ask you to pick up stones or guns. I know they have a bullet ready against those treading this path. You have to raise your voice and join us in a democratic struggle for our snatched rights.
Referring to the recent killings of civilians, including those belonging to minority communities, in the valley by terrorists, she said the government had prior intelligence inputs about the attacks but did nothing .
Those who were killed were our own people, but 900 Kashmiri youth were arrested. Another 1,000 youth were picked up when the home minister visited Jammu and Kashmir (last month). Our jails are packed and hence, those arrested are now being shifted to the Agra jail, she said.
Mehbooba said the government is coining words such as like white collared militants, OGW (over ground workers) and hybrid militants to justify the arrests and killings.
She asked the youth why the Kashmir issue, with “thousands of sacrifices over 30 years”, cannot be resolved peacefully when the farmers peacefully protesting against the three farm laws could convince the government to repeal them.
PTI

Traditional reed-mats locally known as ‘Waguw are back in business in Kashmir after a gap of 20 years.

Artisans and weavers have begun to weave traditional grass mats as demand for mats have risen in the market.

Talking to news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) Zameer Ahmed a mat weaver said, “we have started our traditional craft after a gap of 20 years.”

“With the help of assistant director of Handicrafts Irshad Ahmed it was possible to restart this project. He even provided us with many orders and demand for the mats has also begun to increase,” Zameer said.

Assistant Director Handicrafts Irshad Ahmed talking to KNO said “Wagov is considered as a languishing craft and we have added it in our Karkhandar scheme.”

“We have established a training center for it, and assigned a lady to look after it. After the skill assessment test she has been assigned as a trainer in that center after proper registration”.

“We have almost identified seven more ladies from the same area who are skilled and experienced in this craft. So we enrolled them as trainees in the center. We are going to provide Rs 14000 per month to the trainees including the logistics,” he said.

The government has also issued orders for giving a fresh impetus in the handicraft sector of the Union Territory by unveiling the ‘KARKHANDAR SCHEME,’ which is a unique concept to uplift the artisans and weavers through training.

The mat is woven from the grass harvested from the lake waters and costs approximately Rs 500 per piece. The craft involves interweaving grass and rice straws together to create a piece of flooring which provides warmth in winters.

Srinagar, DEC 17: In view of the recent attacks on Jammu and Kashmir police in the Kashmir Valley, the security forces have decided to step up the security grid across the Union Territory. The Jammu and Kashmir police have been asked to remain extra alert, while the security networks are working to counter the militant organisations.
The Jammu and Kashmir police will now be given bulletproof vehicles to move from one place to another in Kashmir Valley. The Jammu Kashmir Police has also issued new guidelines for the soldiers. The Jawans are told not to go out of their places of postings or deployment alone and unarmed.
”We are taking all the preventive measures to counter these attacks, we will be providing bulletproof vehicles to the policemen traveling from one place to another. The lighting arrangements will also be put in place. Road opening parties will stay longer at the time of movement of Police Vehicles.” said Vijay Kumar, IG Kashmir.
The Jammu and Kashmir Policemen who are off duty have been asked to remain extra vigilant. They have been told to remain extra alert while attending any social gatherings such as weddings, religious places etc.
The number of security personnel on the ground has also been increased. New bunkers have been put in place, and checkpoints at various places specially roads leading to different districts of Kashmir valley have been set up. (KINS)