Category: Union Territory

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir has been losing forests as government has failed to take concrete steps on the ground for the preservation.

Kashmir was one of the richest regions across India with regard to flora and fauna. However, the number of plants is shrinking. Despite government’s claims about planting trees along the roads but not much is visible on the roads.

Take instance in Srinagar city, you won’t find greenery along the roads which could help in reducing growing pollution.

The Government has been spending a huge amount of money on planting trees and saplings to beautify the streets of Srinagar. However, the saplings dry or are stolen.

The three nodal agencies are responsible for the maintenance of the saplings, the Forest Department, Urban Forest Department and the Roads and Buildings Department (landscape division) seem not doing much on the ground.

An official of Forest Department told news agency Kashmir Indepth News Service (KINS) said government has been spending crores on plantation every year but fails to keep its maintenance. “These departments also face shortage of staff to keep the maintenance,” the official said.

The National Green Tribunal has also rapped the National Highways Authority of India for not maintaining the mandatory green cover along national and state highways.

The Forest Policy also stresses plantation of trees alongside roads, railway lines, and rivers.
However, not many plants are along roads in the Valley. Even the government has failed to plant trees along the highways, which is mandatory as per National Green Tribunal directives.

In Srinagar, major roads are without greenery.
Bashir Ahmad, a school teacher said planting saplings would be of no use unless government makes efforts for their maintenance.

“We have lost our green forests to a great extent. If immediate measures are not taken for preservation of trees, it will have serious consequences in the future,” he said.

Similarly, J&K’s progress in declaring several national parks and sanctuaries as Eco-sensitive zones (ESZ) has been far from satisfactory.

The Eco-sensitive zones are formed to serve as “shock absorber” for protected areas. The basic aim is to regulate certain activities around national parks and wildlife sanctuaries to minimise negative impact on the fragile ecosystem around.

In 2006, the Supreme Court had directed all the states to safeguard protected areas by surrounding them with a buffer of ecologically fragile areas or Eco-sensitive zones (ESZs).

On December 11, 2018, the apex court ordered, “Under the circumstances, we direct that an area of 10 kilometre around 21 national parks and wildlife sanctuaries be declared as ESZs by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC). The declaration be made by the ministry at the earliest.”

Jammu and Kashmir has its forest cover stretching over 23,241 square kilometers, which is 10.46 per cent of its total geographical area of 222336 square kilometers.

An official of Forest Department said they have been facing stiff opposition for clearing forest from encroachers.

“Thousands of kanals have been encroached by bureaucrats, politicians and forces over the years. There are some powerful people who have been creating hurdles in eviction process,” the official said.

The official said that forest land has been encroached over the years as majority of forest area is without demarcation.

“The government has failed to implement the Forest Policy properly, which could have saved our green gold from encroachers. Artificial boundaries are demarcated around forestland at several places in J&K. Half of the forest land is open without any demarcation and civilian population is residing in its area at several places, posing a serious threat to its species,” the official said.

While J&K Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Mohit Gera said many measures have been taken for preservation of forests. (KINS)

Srinagar: The sealing of Kashmir Times office in Srinagar’s press colony has evoked sharp criticism with politicians, journalists and people from other walks of life extending their solidarity with its Executive Editor Anuradha Bhasin.

On Monday, officials of Estates Department sealed the Kashmir Times office.

“We have not received any notice from the Estates Department. Our office has been sealed without serving us any notice,” Bhasin told news agency Kashmir Indepth News Service (KINS).

In one of her tweets she said, “Estates Deptt locked our office without any due process of cancellation & eviction, same way as I was evicted from a flat in Jammu, where my belongings including valuables were handed over to new allottee.

Vendetta for speaking out! No due process followed. How peevish! A govt policy to reserve 5 percent quota of govt accommodation for certain categories including journalists is a matter of right.

It would be favour if the journalist chooses to become silent to enjoy the benefits. They can lock the building, not our voice.”

The Kashmir Times is one of the oldest newspapers in Jammu and Kashmir. Two weeks ago, she was also evicted from her official residence in Jammu.

She had earlier filed a petition in Supreme Court against the communication blackout after abrogation of J&K’s special status last August, seeking direction to the Centre for immediate relaxation on communication blackout in the Valley.

The National Conference (NC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have also condemned the move.

“This explains why some of our esteemed publications have decided to become Government mouthpieces, printing only government press handouts. The price of independent reportage is to be evicted without due process,” former chief minister Omar Abdullah tweeted.

PDP president Mehbboba Mufti said Bhasin was one of the few local newspaper editors in J&K “who stood up to the Government of India’s illegal and disruptive actions in the state”.

“Shutting down her office in Srinagar is straight out of the BJPs vendetta play book to settle scores with those who dare to disagree,” she said.

Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party also condemned the sealing of Kashmir Times newspaper’s office.

In a statement, spokesman of the Party said that the action taken by the estates department as elucidated by the Kashmir Times is unjustified. “Not following the procedural formalities the estate department’s action is totally unwarranted and illegal,” the spokesman said.

Apni Party spokesman urged the Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha to intervene into the matter and inquire into the circumstances which have led to shutting down of a prestigious newspaper institution in Srinagar.

CPI(M) leader Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami alleged that it is nothing but vendetta politics and an attempt to suppress the dissenting voices in the region.

Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee Vice President and former MLC G N Monga said the BJP government was leaving no stone unturned to muzzle the freedom of press.

Awami National Conference leader Muzaffar Shah said, “Kashmir stands behind Kashmir Times. We are with you Anuradha & Prabodh.”
Journalists in Kashmir have expressed their solidarity with Bhasin.

“There are renewed attempts by the state agencies to throttle Kashmir Times, a respected newspaper in both Jammu and Kashmir regions with a rich history of practicing independent journalism. In its latest move, the government agencies have sealed the paper’s Kashmir office, which would further curtail its publication and distribution in Kashmir.

Recently, editor Anuradha Bhasin’s government allotted accommodation in Jammu was also ransacked. We are aware that Kashmir Times, and its editor, has been at the forefront of fighting against government curbs on communications and press freedom in Kashmir, especially post August 5 clampdown last year, when the majority of the local press was found wanting in reportage, choosing silence over speaking truth to power.

In view of these government-sponsored intimidation attempts to silence an independent newspaper, we express our solidarity and support to its editors and our colleagues there,” a group of journalists in a statement said.

Estates officials said they only “took possession” of a house allotted to the newspaper’s late founder Ved Bhasin.

“They have been allotted two buildings — one is office and the other was allotted as a residence to Ved Bhasin sahib,” Deputy Director, Estates, Mohammad Aslam has been quoted by a national daily as said. “Since Bhasin-sahib died some years ago, we issued them notices to vacate the house. They themselves handed over the building to us and today our officials went to take possession.” (KINS)

Srinagar: A 38-year-old woman was among eight more people who succumbed to covid-19 in the last 24 hours in Jammu and Kashmir, taking the fatality count to 1399.

Among the victims, official sources told GNS that five were from Kashmir Valley and three from the Jammu region.

They said that the 38-year-old woman from Rainawari Srinagar died at SKIMS Soura, thirteen days after she was admitted to the hospital.

A 90-year-old woman from Moomin Abad Batmaloo died at SMHS hospital where she was admitted and diagnosed with bilateral community acquired pneumonia.

A 65-year-old from Chelan Kulgam also died at SMHS hospital here where she was admitted with bilateral CAP on October 14.

A 75-year-old man from Sopore Baramulla died at SKIMS Bemina, one among the exclusive facilities for the management of the covid-19 in Valley, four days after he was admitted there. One more victim, they said, was from Shopian.

Regarding the deaths from the Jammu division, officials said that two were reported from the winter capital of the J&K and another from Udhampur district.

With these deaths, the fatality count has reached 935 in Valley and 463 in the Jammu region.

Srinagar district with 335 deaths tops the list followed by Jammu (239), Baramulla (136), Budgam (90), Pulwama (78), Kupwara (71), Anantnag (71), Kulgam (46), Bandipora(43), Rajouri (45), Doda (42), Shopian (35), Ganderbal (30), Kathua (30), Udhampur (27), Samba (25), Poonch (22), Kishtwar(14), Ramban (12), and Reasi (7). (GNS)

Srinagar: Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that he development that Kashmir has not witnessed for the past 70 years, we will be able to show in the next year. He said, “Due to the outbreak of coronavirus, the government was naturally busy fighting the fight against it. The pace of work has increased again there for four-five months”.

When asked about the law and order situation in Kashmir, he said that everything is under control. As far as the Abdullah and Mufti families are concerned, it is natural for them to protest because they have ruled there for so many years under the garb of 370.

They deliberately tried to keep the poor remain poor and they patronised corruption. The mines of corruption have now been closed, he added. Amit Shah said that the detention of Farooq Abdullah, Omar Abdullah, and Mehbooba Mufti has been fulfilled, Amit Shah said the objective has been met with to a large extent, but due to the COVID situation it was slowed down a bit.

He also responded to the question of Mehbooba approaching the Supreme Court to know why was she kept under house arrest? Amit Shah said earlier she was not under house arrest but was under arrest so that she could not provoke the sentiments of people.

Because of the kind of statements that used to come at that time, the move to arrest her and then put her under house arrest was appropriate. As soon as the situation became normal, everyone has been allowed to come out. He also made it clear that they should run their party. There are many parties in this country, and they should also be followed in Jammu and Kashmir. (PTK)

PTI

Srinagar: Virtual SIM cards pose a new headache for security agencies fighting militancy in Jammu and Kashmir as their use in the valley has seen an increase among militant groups to connect with their handlers in Pakistan, officials said here.

The penetration of this new technology was found in 2019 when a request was sent to the United States to seek details from a service provider of “virtual SIMs” used by suicide bomber of Jaish-e-Mohammed militant group involved in the Pulwama attack that left 40 CRPF personnel dead.

However, a detailed investigation done by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and other security agencies indicated that over 40 virtual SIM cards were used in the Pulwama attack alone, and there are probably more of them floating in the cyberspace of the valley, the officials said.

It is a fairly new modus operandi wherein militants across the border are using “virtual SIM” cards, generated by a service provider from a foreign country. In this technology, the computer generates a telephone number and the user downloads an application of the service provider on their smartphone.

The number is linked to social networking sites like WhatsApp, Facebook, Telegram or Twitter. The verification code for activating the service is generated by these networking sites and received on the smartphone.

The officials said the numbers used were pre-fixed with a country code or Mobile Station International Subscriber Directory Number (MSISDN) number.

They said that, besides telecom companies in the US, Canada, the UK, Israel, numbers of Puerto Rico, a Caribbean island being controlled by the US, are doing the rounds in the market.

Every mobile phone instrument is sent for a detailed forensic analysis to have a thorough check to look for any telltale signs of use of virtual SIM cards, the officials said.

Technology has its pros and cons, and while fighting militancy, the security agencies have to not only keep up the pace but also move a step ahead of those planning to misuse it, says an official.

The risk of forging identities during purchase of virtual SIM cards also runs high.

During investigation of the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, it was found that an amount of USD 229 was wired to Callphonex, via Western Union Money Transfer receipt number 8364307716-0, for activating the Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) used during the strikes.

The money was received from ‘Madina Trading’ located in Brescia in Italy and sender was claimed to be Javed Iqbal, a resident of Pakistan-administered Kashmir (PaK).

However, after Italian police arrested two Pakistani nationals in 2009, it was alleged that the firm had made nearly 300 transfers in the name of Iqbal, who probably had never set his foot in Italy.

The Italian police, while concluding the probe, had said the Brescia-based company made several transfers using the identity of innocent, unsuspecting persons, whose identity cards or passports might have been stolen.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Kashmir Today staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Says ED Sleuths Doing Their Job But Court Will Decide Truth, Regrets Missing Launch

Srinagar: National Conference president Farooq Abdullah was on Monday quizzed by enforcement directorate for several hours following which he asserted that resolve for restoration of Article 370 and 35A “has never died or will never die even if he was hanged.”

“They have their job to do. I have my job to do. There is nothing else to say. It is not for me to decide. The court will decide what the truth is,” Farooq Abdullah told reporters soon after he was allowed to go by Enforcement Directorate in connection with a case related to alleged JKCA scam.

“There is nothing to be worried. I am not worried. I only regret I could not take lunch as it could bring the lunch with me as there was no time,” Farooq said as per GNS correspondent.

“Please remember we have a long way to go. We have a long political battle and that battle is going to continue whether Farooq Abdullah is alive or Farooq Abdullah is dead,” he said, adding, “Our fight is for restoration of Article 370 and A 35 (read 35A). Therefore the fight will continue whether Farooq Abdullah in on stage or not on stage.”

Responding to a related question by a reporter, the visibly angry Farooq said: “Our resolved has never changed and it will not change even if I am hanged. It is struggle of people and not Farooq alone.”

Asked about how the ED people behaved with him, he said: “They were nice. They were very good. They will were doing their job.”

Meanwhile, National Conference vehemently condemned ED summons to Party President and Member of Parliament, saying the measure exudes witch-hunt and vengeance.

In a joint statement Party General Secretary Haji Ali Muhammad Sagar, Provincial Presidents Nasir Aslam Wani, Devender Singh Rana and other senior leaders condemned the “undue witch hunt and intimidation of party president Dr Farooq Abdullah.”

“The motive behind the recent ED summon to Party President is to deter him from representing the aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.”

The leaders said the incumbent ruling dispensation in New Delhi was employing government machinery and malevolent tactics to subdue Farooq’s effort in forging unity among different mainstream political parties, reads a statement by NC to GNS.

“This government is doing everything it can to silence the combined voice of the people of J&K, which Dr Sahib has been able to forge. The tactics are being employed across the board in the country to stifle the voices of dissent by using all spiteful measures, the party will not duck due to such tactics. We condemn the treatment that is being meted out to Dr Sahab, an octogenarian, senior most politician of J&K, and sitting Member of Parliament from Srinagar,” they said, adding, “Such tactics will only make us more resolute towards achieving our goal peacefully and constitutionally. The measure also reveals the jittery the present ruling dispensation is going through in wake of the growing consensus among all mainstream political parties on People’s Alliance for Gupkar declaration headed by Dr Farooq Abdullah.” (GNS)

Srinagar: The proprietors of private hospitals are not following rules in Jammu and Kashmir as they apparently do not submit the list of non-local doctors to the government to check whether they hold genuine degrees.

As per the rules, it is mandatory for every doctor to obtain counsel registration before doing the practice in the state or UT.

The registration is only being issued once the Directorate of Health Services verifies the degrees from the Medical Counsel of India and the concerned institutions.

However, nothing such as per the officials is being followed by non-local doctors, who do practice in private hospitals in J&K, officials said.

“There is no accountability whether the non-local doctors serving in private hospitals are holding genuine degrees in Kashmir,” a senior official of the Health Department said. “We don’t know the credentials of the outside medicos serving in private hospitals and clinics.

There must be accountability from where these doctors have received the degrees,” the senior official of the Health Department told news agency Kashmir Indepth News Service (KINS).

The official said that Health Department has issued directives to private hospitals several times to provide the details of medicos serving there. “They only provide the details of local doctors but not the outsiders who come from different parts of the country and treat patients in these hospitals,” the official said.

If there is any negligence on part of non-local doctors, the official said they could be charged with “murder charges” as they practicing “illegally”.

It has been found many times that many doctors pretending doctors were holding fake degrees.

“In 2018, there was a female who claimed of having obtained MBBS degree 15-years-ago from Russia. When the verification was conducted, her degree turned out to be a fake,” the official said.

Those who go outside for studies shall make proper verification whether the institutions are registered, the official said.

The official believes that if credentials of non-locals are verified, many could turn having fake degrees.

Director Health Services Kashmir could not be contacted for comments. Once we get the comments from authorities, the story will be updated accordingly.

There are over 40 private hospitals and nursing homes registered with the DHSK. There is also no regulation of rates and patients are being charged as per the will of proprietors of these hospitals. There are also variations in tests in privately run medical labs. (KINS).

Srinagar: To keep youth attached with sports, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has stressed for development of playfields in every block of Jammu and Kashmir.

Sources told news agency Kashmir Indepth News Service (KINS) that Sinha has taken a serious note that poor sports infrastructure was creating hurdles in the performance of players as Jammu and Kashmir has only 137 play fields against the requirement of 2500.

“Lieutenant Governor has issued strict restrictions for promotion of sports. It has been decided that a playfield should be developed in every block of Jammu and Kashmir. The step is being taken to keep children attached to sports and away from drugs,” the official said.

The official said that lack of play fields have been affecting the performance of players. “The existing play fields are also in bad shape. Only a few grounds have drainage systems in place,” the official said.

“There is also a dearth of trained coaches almost in every sport. Our youth are well talented but are not getting proper training due to lack of play fields, coaches and other requirements,” the official said.

Jammu and Kashmir has produced some of the sports persons, who represent national teams in cricket, football, water sports, and chess. “While comparing to other Indian states or UTs, the number is very less. This is because we don’t have infrastructure available here,” the official added.

Jammu and Kashmir has a population of over Rs 1.2 crore and there is a requirement of 2500 play fields as per the figures of JK Sports Council.

JK has only 137 playing fields available to its huge number of talented sportsmen.
As per the population (71,62,764) in Kashmir, the requirement of playing fields is 1196. And in Jammu (53,78,538), 1302 playing fields are required.

Srinagar district has only 29 play fields and estimated play fields required as per its population (1236829) are 150. Budgam district has only four play fields and its population of 753745 requires 100 playgrounds. Anantnag district in south Kashmir has 17 play fields and as per its population of 1078692, it needs 270 playgrounds. Pulwama district has only four play fields for its population of 560440 while its requirement is 80. (KINS)

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha Monday put speculations aside and said the Union Territory administration is not going to levy any property tax from people in J&K.

According to Kashmir News Service (KNS), Sinha was speaking in a function “My Town My Pride” in north Kashmir’s Baramulla.

“Speculations are rife that property tax will be levied from people of Jammu and Kashmir. I am assuring you in clear terms that no such tax would be levied in J&K by the UT administration”.

LG Sinha was on day-long visit to Baramulla where he took stock of developmental works. Besides meeting with officials from civil administration, he listened several delegations who apprised Sinha about their problems. (KNS)

Pakistan’s grand communications plan is designed to help infiltrating militants, carry Islamabad’s message across the LoC and neutralise communication lockdowns in Kashmir valley

Prime Minister Imran Khan’s government has readied a plan to expand coverage of its mobile coverage in Jammu and Kashmir that is not only designed to help Pakistan-trained militants infiltrating into the valley but also neutralise the impact of a future communication blockade imposed by the government, people familiar with the matter said.

The plan, according to a top security official in New Delhi, to tweak existing telecom towers and build new ones has been in the works for about a year. It was initially conceived to strength the existing phone network to help militants who have infiltrated into Kashmir. But the Pakistani foreign ministry pushed hard to scale up the exercise to give it the ability to sabotage the communications blockade ordered in Kashmir after last year’s Aug 5 decision to end its special status. It wants Kashmiris to use Pakistani telecom services that cannot be blocked by Indian security forces.

New Delhi had last year pulled the plug on Jammu and Kashmir’s communication network before it went public with the decision to abrogate Article 370 to be able to ensure that trouble-makers do not spread rumours on and off social media.

The restrictions have since then been lifted but local security officials do routinely snap phone links for some time in localities to prevent rumour mongering. If Pakistan is able to see its plan through, this would provide Kashmiris with an alternative to Indian phone companies.

A top national security planner told Hindustan Times that Pakistan’s Special Communications Organisation (SCO) – the state-run firm mandated to provide telecom services in Pakistan-administered Kashmir and the Gilgit-Baltistan region – had analysed signals from 38 sites along the Line of Control and the International Border with India. It has told the army that Pakistan could get a spillover effect via 28 existing phone towers. According to its analysis, the GSM antenna would need to be reoriented in 18 locations to achieve this objective though it would reduce the coverage on its side of the LoC.

The blueprint also includes setting up the new base transceiver station in Pak-administered Kashmir as well as use of Wireless local loop phones in Indian territory.

“This plan has been accepted and is being implemented,” the senior official said.

Pakistan’s ISI is also pushing for increasing the signal strength of SCO mobile towers in PaK nearest to Indian sites such as in Cham opposite Baramulla, Leepa opposite Sopore, Upper Neelam Valley and Athmuqam opposite Kupwara and Hillan Meera opposite Srinagar to provide coverage across the LoC

A parallel exercise by the SCO, which is maintained by the Pak army, is looking at increasing transmission power of TV towers located at Lawat near Muzaffarabad, Upper Neelam and at Khuiratta to provide extended TV coverage in J&K.

These efforts are in continuation of the SCO’s previous attempts to install a small cellular system with Internet based backhaul that could cover Kashmir towns at some distance from the LoC, a counter-terror official said.

With inputs from the Hindustan Times

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Kashmir Today staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)