Jammu: Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha today spoke to Former Deputy CM of J&K, Sh. Muzaffar Hussain Baig and his wife Ms. Safina Baig, DDC Chairperson, Baramulla, on phone and enquired about their health & well-being.
He prayed for their speedy recovery, and healthy & long life.
Both Sh. Muzaffar Baig and his wife are under home quarantine after being tested positive for Covid-19, where doctors are regularly monitoring their health.
Srinagar, April 04: As the administration ordered temporary closure of schools in Jammu and Kashmir amid rise in covid-19, the education department has asked the teachers to attend the duties till a decision is taken by the government.
The announcement brings to question the rationale of the education department when there are no students to teach. Also, it brings to question if the teachers are safe from covid-19 and cannot contract the pathogen while commuting when same can be avoided.
Secretary School Education Department (SED) B K Singh told GNS that no decision has been taken as regards the attending of the duties.
“As of now they have to attend the duties as schools have been closed for students only. They have to take online classes from schools,” he said.
Asked if same cannot be done from their residences and what is the need for unnecessarily calling them to attend the schools. “I will request them (higher authorities) to inform what to do,” he added.
In an statement here, officials said that in order to contain the recent spike in number of COVID-19 cases, the government has decided to close all schools upto 9th class for two weeks while as from10th to 12th classes, schools will be closed for a week starting Monday.
An order issued in this regard today stated that the decision was taken after overall assessment of the situation pertaining to the spread of COVID-19 in Jammu and Kashmir and the trend in new cases particularly the recent spike in the number of daily reported cases of infection and the likelihood of young children getting infected and transmitting infection in large numbers was conducted.
“On the basis of the above assessment, the State Executive Committee, in exercise of the powers conferred up on it under section 24 of the Disaster Management Act. 2005, hereby orders that:
All schools in the UT of Jammu and Kashmir up to and including class 9 shall compulsorily remain closed till 18.04. 2021″, the order read.
It added that the classes 10 to 12 in all schools shall remain closed till 11. 04.2021while as exams for classes 10 and 12 shall be held as per ther schedule.
The order also read that there shall be a ceiling of 200 persons on all kinds of social and customary gatherings, functions, subject to strict adherence of COVID protocol already prevalent in this connections.
The order further reads that COVID SOPs, already issued on 30.03.2021, shall continue to apply in all cases. (GNS)
Srinagar, April 4: Former Chief Minister of erstwhile J&K state Omar Abdullah today urged the authorties to formulate a uniform strategy to deal with second wave of Covid.
Speaking to KNS, Omar Abdullah clarified that he is not opposed to opening of the tulip garden, ” I only want Govt to ensure crowd management, social distancing & mask use,” he said “COVID protocol has to be implemented.”
Authorities told Kashmir Today that the purported Governement Order (GO) which claimed that a lockdown was going to be implemented in the state is fake.
The fake order had been widely shared on social media triggering off speculation and confusion.
“It has come to the notice of the government that an unsigned document claiming to be a GO issued ordering for closure of shops, educational institutions and commercial establishments etc. is circulating on social media. It is hereby clarified that the above said document is fake. No such order has been issued by the Government.
The Officials also clarified the same, saying, “It is clarified that the document is FAKE and that a lockdown is not under consideration.”
Srinagar: Many times it has been brought into the notice for authorities that there’s a severe menace face by the devotees visiting shrine due to huge number of street dogs present in the area.
It is shocking that Authorities are releasing Street Dogs captured from various areas at Dargah, Hazratbal amid the fact that devotees consider the area holy and visit the shrine in vast numbers but still to our shock they release dogs in the area and being a devotee at Dargah, Hazratbal this is highly unacceptable to us and we totally oppose it, a devotee at Dargah, Hazratbal told Kashmir Today.
A person from of Intizamia Committee, Dargah, Hazratbal said many times we appealed the authorities to look and resolve this menace created by Street Dogs in Hazratbal but all in vain. Last week even an elderly person after Isha salah was attacked and injured by these street dogs.
Speaking with Kashmir Today we again appealed higher authorities to immediately look and resolve this problem faced by the devotees at Dargah, Hazratbal.
Pulwama, Apr 02: Two civilians including a girl were injured during the clashes near encounter site in Kakapora area of South Kashmir’s Pulwama district on Friday.
Official sources told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that two civilians including a girl were injured in clashes near encounter site in Kakapora area.
Block Medical Officer (BMO) Pampore, Dr. Gulzar Ahmad said that they received two injured persons both from Samboora at Sub District Hospital (SDH) Pampore, who were shifted to SMHS hospital in Srinagar for treatment
He identified them as Ishrat Jan (25), daughter of Abdul Aziz Dar of Samboora Pulwama who has bullet injury in right buttock and Ghulam Nabi Dar (42), son of Ali Muhammad Dar of Samboora Pulwama, who has multiple pellet injuries.
Pertinently, encounter is underway in Ghat Mohalla Kakapora—(KNO)
More details awaited
Pulwama, Apr 02: Three militants have been killed in an encounter in Ghat Mohalla Kakapora in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district on Friday.
A senior police officer told news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that three unidentified militants have been killed in the gunfight.
“The militants refused to surrender despite repeated appeals by forces,” he said.
He added that slain militants were involved in attack on BJP leader’s residence in Nowgam area of Srinagar on Thursday, in which one cop from Anantnag was killed.
Earlier, an official said that a joint team of Police, Army’s 50 RR and CRPF launched a Cordon and Search Operation (CASO) in the area on specific information about the presence of militants there.
“As soon as the joint team of forces approached towards the suspected spot, the hiding militants fired upon them, which was retaliated, triggering an encounter,” the police said.
Meanwhile, as a precautionary measure, internet services have been snapped in Pulwama district—(KNO)
Srinagar, Apr 01: Amid surge in COVID-19 cases among students, the government is mulling to issue directions to the Deputy Commissioners (DCs) of Jammu and Kashmir on the functioning of schools.
Top officials in the General Administration Department (GAD) of told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), “We are contemplating to issue the directions to all DCs of Jammu and Kashmir to take a call regarding the functioning of the educational establishments.”
“We have already issued the general guidelines regarding the functioning of schools during COVID-19 crisis and according to the guidelines, it is very clear that the respective schools can take the call as to whether they are prepared for online or offline classes,” the official said.
He said that the schools have been given alternative to choose the mode of education as per the feasibility and safety of the staff and students.
“The administration is planning to issue directions to all DCs to take a call as per the rising COVID-19 cases and they will accordingly decide the mechanism to be followed besides the already issued guidelines,” the official said—(KNO)
JAMMU, MARCH 31: Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha today released renowned singer Jubin Nautiyal’s music album ‘Tujhe Bhoolna Toh Chaha’ at General Zorawar Singh Auditorium, University of Jammu.
Made under the banner of T-Series and filmed in the picturesque settings of Kashmir valley, the song also features Abhishek Singh, an IAS & actor, and daughter of the soil, Samreen Kaur.
Speaking on the occasion, the Lt Governor termed the occasion as yet another milestone in the direction of making J&K- a preferred shooting destination for the film-makers.
The aesthetic beauty of J&K has been beautifully captured through the song. It also marks the revival of J&K’s halcyon days of being a cinematographer’s delight, he added.
The Lt Governor observed that J&K has always been a famous film-shooting destination. The golden era is back and many filmmakers are ready to shoot their movies, web series and music albums in the UT.
J&K Government is all set to welcome the film-makers from all over the world again. We want to bring back the 1980s era to the film industry in J&K, and make Union Territory the most favourite destination of filmmakers worldwide, said the Lt Governor.
The coming of number of famous film personalities like Imtiaz Ali, Irshad Kamil, Madhur Bhandarkar, Siddharth Roy Kapur and other big names and production houses to the UT in the last few months has once again deepened the connect between J&K and the film industry, added the Lt Governor.
Highlighting the reformative measures being taken by the UT Government for making J&K a hub for filmmaking, the Lt Governor observed that the UT Government has developed one of the finest Film Policies which will revive J&K’s incredible glory in Indian Cinema. For facilitating the film-makers, and encouraging the local talent, besides providing more livelihood opportunities to the youth, the J&K Administration has recognized Film as an industry, he added.
Government has assured Single Window Clearance, security and world-class facilities to the film-makers coming to the UT, the Lt Governor maintained.
The Lt Governor observed that Betaab valley in Pahalgam gained prominence worldwide due to the shooting of a film there. Film-shooting will not only develop the tourism sector, but will also give fillip to the socio economic development of the region, besides opening up more avenues and opportunities for the local youth, artists and technicians, he maintained.
Recalling his interaction with prominent film personalities during his visit to Mumbai, the Lt Governor observed that the film industry is ready to capture the pristine beauty, breath-taking natural settings & serene valleys of J&K, and showcase it on the silver screen.
Once again, the natural beauty and untapped potential of J&K will be put up in the canvas of cinema worldwide. Work is underway to develop Film city, Film Training Institute, production house and National School of Drama’s regional campus in the UT in coming days, the Lt Governor maintained.
The Lt Governor expressed his gratitude towards the Hon’ble Prime Minister for encouraging the film-makers from across the country to shoot their films in J&K. He also thanked the Prime Minister for allocation of Rs 786 cr for promotion of Tourism in J&K, which is Rs 509 cr more as compared to the previous year.
To unlock J&K’s vast tourism potential, the Government is laying special focus on developing Tourism infrastructure, besides promoting unexplored tourist places of the UT and tourists locations of Jammu including Patnitop, Mansar, Surinsar, Rajouri, Poonch and Kishtwar. Tourist circuit is being prepared to connect the potential Tourist places in and around Jammu to attract film-makers and tourists, said the Lt Governor.