Category: Union Territory

Srinagar: Chief Engineer Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited (KPDCL) on Monday said they would announce the new power curtailment schedule for the coming winter in a week.

“We did not curtail power this year till now. However the load has increased. We are framing a power curtailment schedule which will be issued within one week,” Chief Engineer Ajaz Ahmad told news agency KINS over the phone.

On chances of any improvement in power supply this year, he said the department will ensure sufficient power supply to the people.

He however said that it also depends on the people. “If they use electricity judiciously, then there will be improvement in power supply. We have to optimize things from available resources.”

The chief engineer believed that this year’s curtailment schedule will have a lot of respite for the Valley consumers. “Various reformatory measures have been taken by the power department in this regard,” he maintained.

However people believe that the curtailment in metered areas is against the norms where the department is bound to provide round-the-clock power supply. “ Over the years the Department has been violating its own schedule by resorting to unscheduled power cuts in metered areas,” said one of the residents of Bemina Srinagar.

He said that the extended power cuts surface soon after the Durbar (seat of governance) shifts to Jammu as a bi-annual practice.
It is to mention here that from the last two weeks KINS has received many complaints from almost all the districts of the valley including Srinagar city about the power curtailment.

One of the officials of the power development department said that they provide on an average 1300 MWs of electricity to consumers in Kashmir.

“During winters the demand reaches 1800 MWs.,” the official said.

Another senior official said that if the consumers make judicious use of electricity, there is no need for long power curtailment in the coming months.

“We have seen that power thefts and use of heaters and boilers by the consumers cause the overloading. People should use electricity judiciously so there will be less curtailment,” the official said.

The Centre has been allotting additional 700 MWs of power to Jammu and Kashmir in view of higher demand in winters. But there has been no improvement in Union Territory as authorities have failed to augment the existing infrastructure to receive additional electricity from the central grids.

“Additional allocation of power will overcome power crisis only when required infrastructure is in place. How will we handle additional power when there is no infrastructure available? There will be improvement in power supply only when new girds are commissioned,” the official said.(KINS)

Srinagar: Government of J&K Monday refuted the rumors of outsourcing Pahalgam Club and Convention Centre to some private party.

Taking to micro-blogging site twitter, DIPR tweets “The Govt. refutes the social media posts on giving Pahalgam Club and Convention Centre at Pahalgam to a private party as no such action has been taken. It is clarified that the social media post should be ignored as being baseless, bereft of any fact and somebody’s imagination”.

Earlier Deputy Commissioner Anantnag Kuldeep Krishan Sidha in a presser in his office chamber clarified about the Pahalgam club that it is the property of tourism department and will be so in future too.

He said some elements have tweeted wrongly about this and Govt. is going to take serious action about these elements who want to disturb peace here. He also requested people not to pay heed to this wrong information. (KNS)

Srinagar: Chairperson Central Waqf Development Committee and senior BJP leader Dr Darkhshan Andrabi Monday admitted “massive” misuse of donations that devotees contributing to holy Shrines in Kashmir valley.

Talking exclusively to Kashmir News Service (KNS), Andrabi said that reports about the brazen misappropriation of donations in Waqf led Shrines is not ‘unfounded’. “Those who have taken the reins of Waqf in Kashmir valley have looted this sacred institution for personal benefits”, she said.

“In Jammu region there are less number of Muslim Shrines as compare to Kashmir but unfortunately there is a massive misuse of donations that devotees contributing to holy Shrines in valley”, she added.

She told KNS that “since I took the charge of Waqf in J&K, I visited several Shrines and inspected affairs related to it but what I observed the elements who have occupied chairs got frustrated from my visit and inspection. I found no accountability there. They afraid of my visits and questions I raked up”.

She added they are somehow managing to hoodwink people in this world but what about hereafter where these people have to stick before Almighty Allah.

When asked why Waqf has failed to raise a structure like hospital or university from its countless donations?, Dr Andrabi said that properties like VaishnoDevi Trust and others are directly under the control of J&K Government where there are least chances of corruption and loot, however when it comes to Waqf there are elements who have burgled this institution for personal benefits.

“We are getting countless donations from devotees. Where these are going? We didn’t raise any structure, neither hospital nor university. We are not marrying orphan girls from these donations. People of Kashmir should awaken at this juncture to stop this loot”, Andrabi said.

Taking a dig to those who cheat people on the name of faith, Dr Andrabi said those taken windows in sacred Shrines are endeavoring to snatch even clothes of devotees if not argued boldly.

“Not only donations these people are taken away, they are also trying to snatch clothes of devotees. If not argued boldly at the occasion, one has to come outside naked”, she added.
Terming “accountability” and “transparency” imperative to clean the system within the Waqf, Dr Andrabi said Waqf employees are first target who have to explain how they got employment into the Waqf.

“These people have no faith on ‘Awliyaye-e-Deen’ as they are just earning their livelihood in these sacred Shrines. Their appointments into the Waqf need to be investigated”, Dr Andrabi said. (KNS)

Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education (BOSE) Sunday rescheduled the first paper of 12th standard annual examinations following the clash with Service Selection Recruitment Board (SSRB) exams.

Earlier, the first examination paper for the 12th standard was scheduled to be held on November 10, however, the examinations would commence from November-12 now.

BOSE Joint secretary examination Aijaz Ahmad Hakak told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that the examination was postponed because it clashed with the SSRB exams that are scheduled on the same date (November-10).

He said that there was no change in the examination venue, “However, the first paper that was slated on November-10 will be held on November-12.”—(KNO)

Srinagar: Every one of us is responsible to make this world beautiful. This was stated by the Director General of Police J&K Shri Dilbag Singh who was Chief Guest at a cultural programme titled “Tawazun-2020” organized by Lehar Foundation an NGO of Jammu and Kashmir in Pahalgam today.

Speaking on the occasion, the DGP Complemented the organizers for organizing such a wonderful event. The DGP said that the most valuable humans in this world are the children and more the opportunities we provide for the children especially the children of Kashmir,the more we need. He said that children of Kashmir have seen very difficult times and added that together we can provide them with a better place and better future. He thanked the Lehar Foundation team and other partners involved in the conduct of the programme.

The DGP said that every life is precious and we have to take care of it by working in the right direction. He said that besides ones own life, the lives of others are precious too and taking care of each other’s lives is very important. He said that every one of us is responsible to make this world beautiful. Right thinking, right approach and working with positive thoughts are the basic things to make our life meaningful, he added. He said that the world is when we are,and when we are good the world is good.

The DGP advised the participating children to take little steps to reach goals and keep a good balance of day to day activities. He said positive thinking and positive approach in life is the key to a successful life. He said that no one can do miracles alone but together we can.(GNS)

Srinagar: Director General of Police Dr Dilbagh Singh on Sunday claimed that Chief Commander of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen Dr Saifullah, killed in gunfight with joint team of Police and CRPF at Rangreth, was involved in the killing of three BJP militants earlier this week.

“Congratulations. Chief HM commander Saifullah who took over after Riyaz Naikoo’s killing is eliminated in police operation in Srinagar city on a hard intelligence generated by police,” the top police officer of J&K said.

“He was the person behind the killing of three BJP workers two days back. A very big success,” he added. (PTK)

Hizb-ul-Mujahideen Chief Dr Saifullah has been killed, while as 1 militant associate was arrested in a gunfight at Rangreth area of Central Kashmir’s Srinagar district.

Big achievement for forces, he had taken over control outfit after killing of Reyaz Naikoo in May this year, a suspect also arrested at encounter site’

Srinagar, Nov 01: Inspector General of Police Kashmir range Vijay Kumar said that Hizbul Mujahideen’s chief operational commander for the valley Dr Saifullah has been killed in an encounter at Rangreth area of Srinagar outskirts while a suspect has also been arrested, who is being questioned.

Talking to reporters at the encounter site, the Kashmir police chief said that on the basis of a specific lead, joint teams of police and CRPF laid a cordon at Rangreth area and later army also joined in the operation. “I am 95 per cent sure that the militant killed in the gunfight is Hizb chief operational commander Dr Saifullah who had taken over the reins of Hizb after the killing of its chief Reyaz Naikoo in an encounter in May this year,” the IGP said as per news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO).

The IGP said a suspect and not the militant has been arrested at the encounter site who is being questioned. “The encounter is almost over. We are sanitizing the area and clearing it as there may be some leftover grenades etc,” he said. Asked how big an achievement is the killing of Dr Saifullah for the security forces, he said: “It’s a big success as he was the chief of Hizbul Mujahideen outfit. He had taken over the control of the outfit after the killing of Reyaz Naikoo. So it’s really a very big achievement.”—(KNO)

Two to three militants are believed to be trapped: Sources

Further details awaited…

Jammu: Bhartiya Janta Party claimed that new land law would help to create 12 lakh job opportunities for youth of Jammu and Kashmir.

The Jammu and Kashmir land law was revised by the Centre last week as the Ministry of Home Affairs said no domicile or permanent resident certificate is required for purchasing non-agricultural land in the erstwhile state.

Political parties have resisted the move and have started taking onto streets against this order.

However, senior BJP leader Sofi Yusuf claimed that some political parties were playing politics on this issue for their vested interests.

“Some politicians are lying with people that new law will change demography of Kashmir. People are angry with regional parties who were playing politics over Article 370. Nobody will be forced to sell his land to outsiders. If any person wants he can sell on his will,” Yusuf told news agency Kashmir Indepth News Service (KINS).

“This law will help industrial sector to grow. If industries are set up, 13 lakh job opportunities will be created for youth of Jammu and Kashmir. We welcome this decision by the Centre,” he said.

In replying to People’s Democratic Party chief Mehbooba Mufti statement that India should fight with China not with Kashmir, he said, “She is already confused after many leaders resigned from her party. We want to end dynastic rule in J&K. India is a powerful nation and can fight against any nation.”

“You are using suppressive measures on people of J&K. But why don’t you fight with China who killed our 20 soldiers. You can try to suppress us but we will foil your plans for which we can go to any extent,” Mehbooba has said.
Authorities on Thursday morning foiled PDP’s protest against the new land law in Jammu and Kashmir. 

“Anyone can differ on certain issues but we won’t tolerate anti-national statements. We request government to put these leaders into jail who give anti-national statements,” Yusuf said.

In her tweet, PDP president Mehbooba Mufti said, “PDP office in Srinagar sealed by J&K admin & workers arrested for organising a peaceful protest. A similar protest was allowed in Jammu  so why was it thwarted here? Is this your definition of ‘normalcy’ thats being showcased in the world?”

Mehbooba, who recently formed the People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration with National Conference president Farooq Abdullah and others for restoration of the special status, has been unapproving of the recently passed law that delimits sale of non-agricultural land in Jammu and Kashmir. (KINS)

‘Figures reveal 19,715 test positive, 297 die in J&K in past 31 days

Srinagar: After witnessing a huge surge in month of September, the intensity of Covid-19 pandemic in J&K has decrease as positive cases reported in October month are around half of the cases reported in month of September.

Moreover, the deaths reported in October month also showed a significant dip as compared to the deaths reported in month of September.

As per official data available with the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), 19,715 positive cases and 297 deaths were reported in Jammu and Kashmir in month of October.

“Out of 19,715 positive cases, 11,197 cases are from Kashmir division while as 8,518 are from Jammu division and out of 297 deaths, 144 are from Kashmir division and 297 are from Jammu division,” the data states.

Pertinently, 37,373 positive cases and 478 deaths were reported in J&K in month of September alone, highest since the pandemic outbreak.

“17,339 positive cases and 326 deaths were reported in J&K in month of August,” the figures suggest. Moreover, 12,862 positive cases and 276 deaths were reported in J&K in month of July.

As per the official data available, in the first 115 days (from March 08-June 30) 7,497 positive cases and 101 Covid-19 related deaths were witnessed in Jammu and Kashmir

Interestingly, the first case of the COVID-19 pandemic in India was reported on 30 January 2020, originating from China.

Slowly, the pandemic spread to various states and union territories including the union territory of Jammu & Kashmir. Two suspected cases with high virus load were detected and isolated on March 4 in Government Medical College, Jammu. One of them became the first confirmed positive case on 9 March 2020. Both individuals had a travel history of outside J&K—(KNO)