Category: Union Territory

Srinagar: The farmers are worried as rainfall deficit and scab infection have damaged crops in Kashmir.

Kashmir produces over 18 lakh metric tones of apples every year.

Farmers however said they fear over 50 percent damage to apples due to dry weather and scab disease.

Kashmir Valley Fruit Growers cum Dealers Union president, Bashir Ahmad Bashir said they fear heavy losses due to scab infection and rainfall deficit.

“The scab infection has damaged our apple. We fear heavy losses to apples this season. Kashmir produces 22 crore boxes of apples annually. But this season there will be a huge decrease in production due to rainfall deficit and scab infection,” Bashir told news agency Kashmir Indepth News Service (KINS). “Reason for scab infection is substandard pesticides. There is no check on pesticides by the authorities,” he added.

Kashmir has two harvesting seasons for apples, one is April-May and another from ending September to November.

Farmers also suffered heavy losses last year when Kashmir remained shut post abrogation of Article 370 on August 5.

Abdul Majeed Wani, a Saffron grower from Pampore said the Saffron fields have turned dry due to rainfall deficit. “We are not able to dig our fields. The production of Saffron will depend upon the weather conditions in the next few weeks. If the dry continues, then there will be heavy damage to Saffron production. I can only pray that there is sufficient rainfall,” Wani said, who is also President of the Saffron Growers Association.

Saffron flowers are sensitive to vagaries of the weather. Its production depends on the weather conditions and the irrigation facilities.

The harvest season of Saffron begins from ending October. More than 16,000 families are associated with this crop production in the valley.

Kashmiri saffron is of superior quality because of the higher concentration of crocin, a carotenoid pigment that gives saffron its colour and medicinal value.

Each year, Kashmir produces 16 tonnes of Saffron. Saffron is cultivated in three districts: Pulwama, Srinagar and Budgam of the valley. Pampore, the township in Pulwama district produces the most.

Kashmir has recorded the highest temperature of over 36 degrees celcius in August, the first time in 40 years, which is believed to be due to global warming.

As per the Meteorological Department, in the last two months, Valley received deficit rainfall to the tune of 50 percent.

An official of Agriculture Department said if dry weather continues for the next few weeks, there will be huge damage to crops. (KINS)

This tunnel road is also convenient to Amaranth Yatra pilgrims

PTI | PRNewswire

Z-Morh Tunnel – File Pic

Hyderabad: Megha Engineering and Infrastructures Ltd. (MEIL) has become an L-1 in the most prestigious Zojilla pass tunnel in Jammu Kashmir-Ladakh in Himalayan region. National Highways and Industrial Development Corporation (NHIDCL) has opened the bids on Friday, and MEIL topped the list by quoting less than other companies. The project is to be constructed in 2 divisions in two sections of about 33 kilometres. The first section is to be developed by constructing the 18.50-kilometre road.

In the second section, the Zojilla Tunnel is to be built in the shape of a horseshoe shape of 14.15 km as a two-road lane of 9.5 meters wide and 7.57 meters high. This project will have to be carried out innovatively in the most critical conditions. The Government of India finally called for tenders to complete this long-pending road tunnel. The tenders called for the construction of 14.15 km of road for the Zojilla tunnel. MEIL has come forward to execute this work for Rs. 4509.50 crores, whereas other companies quoted at a higher amount. MEIL topped as L-1 by quoting for a less amount than the other two companies. On 30th July, three companies submitted the bids to NHIDCL, and the finance bids opened on 21st August.

The road from Srinagar to Leh in Ladakh is not suitable for vehicular traffic throughout the year. The Srinagar-Ladakh highway is completely closed for six months, especially during the winter season. Even the military vehicles are unable to move under these conditions. Travelling long distances on alternate routes has become a costly affair and a waste of time. Under these circumstances, the road tunnel was proposed between Sonamarg to Leh and Ladakh via Kargil long back. Finally, the project initiated. The project, for which MEIL has become L-1, will be constructed from the Z-Morh tunnel to Zojilla tunnel between Sonamarg-Kargil on National Highway-1 in the Zojilla pass area. This EPC project is the most complex one. The construction of this tunnel is going to face unprecedented difficulties. The tunnel has to be built at 700 meters below the surface on average. The project is also in the most complex hill terrain and snowstorms often occurring. As the dense snow lasts for at least eight months in a year, the execution work will not be an easy task. At the same time, a river flows adjacent to the proposed project site. These conditions are going to create severe problems with water and ice pouring during the construction.

The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has decided to improve the road travel facilities to all commuters between Kashmir to Ladakh. As part of this plan, a highway tunnel will also be constructed from Srinagar to Baltal. This tunnel road is also convenient to Amaranth Yatra pilgrims. Baltal base camp near Kargil will be used for Amarnath yatra.

Mr Ch. Subbaiah, Director, MEIL said, “A two-lane road with bi-directional traffic would have to be constructed on the Zojilla route, which is called a Single Tube tunnel. The road consists mainly of shafts as well as portal structures and excavated areas. This complex project would have to be completed in just 72 months.” This whole project has to executed in two parts. The first part is 18.50 kilometre of road, and the second part is 14.15 kilometres as a tunnel. The first part is to widen the existing road form Judd-Morha to Zojilla tunnel for about 3. 018 kilometres. A 13.842 kilometres new road is to be constructed. Of this, one of the twin tour tunnels, one is 2.36 kilometres and the other one is 2.39 kilometres and consists of five bridges. Two snow galleries are to be built with 300 meters and 150 meters each. The total length of these works is 18.475 kilometres. In the same way, the Zojilla tunnel in Part-2 is to be built. It includes a 0.16 km long cut and cover tunnel along with the above details regarding the tunnel. Ventilation cavern and three shafts are also to be constructed. Two other shafts known as Longitudinal Ventilation System will also be constructed. This includes a special transport ventilation system. It is expected that critical conditions would be encountered during the construction of this tunnel.

Mr Ch. Subbaiah, Director, MEIL said , “In addition to these, retaining walls, breast walls, gabion structures and mud wall will have to be constructed by MEIL for a total of about 10 kilometres. Catch dams, air blast, protection walls and deflector dams are constructed over a distance of about 6 kilometres without any risk of snowstorms.” About MEIL Megha Engineering and Infrastructures Ltd. (MEIL) established in 1989, is one of the fastest growing infra companies in India. Over the years, MEIL has constructed numerous structures like large civil constructions, oil and gas pipelines, pump houses, large water treatment plants, dams, reservoirs, power transmission lines, power generation units, tunnels – and all of them have an important role to play in improving the quality of life of the common man for many years into the foreseeable future.

For more information, please visit:

http://meil.in/

PTI

Jammu: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Friday inaugurated the first phase of the Jammu ring road project on Friday, two years after its foundation stone was laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The foundation stone for the 58.25 km-long Jammu ring road, the estimated cost of which was Rs 1,339 crore, was laid by Modi on May 19, 2018.

Sinha flanked by Union minister Jitendra Singh inaugurated an 8 km stretch of road from Akhnoor to Kot Bhalwal in the outskirts of Jammu city.

“It is a moment of great pride for me to inaugurate the first phase of the Jammu Ring Road project, the foundation stone of which was laid by the prime minister in 2018,” he said, adding that it was a matter of happiness for the people of Jammu.

Sinha said that in the last six years not only the country’s political situation has changed but the work culture has changed as well. He told the officials that if the project gets completed before time, a provision to give incentives can be formulated.

Meanwhile, an official said the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) was constructing the Jammu Ring Road from Raya Morh.

The road is being constructed by EPC Contractors Gayatri-KMB JV appointed by NHAI and the work started in 2018.

“This section is the first phase of the ring road to be opened for public. It will significantly reduce the time for people travelling between the northern parts of Jammu to Akhnoor, Rajouri, Poonch and Kashmir,” the NHAI officer said.

He said that the Jammu Ring Road will decongest Jammu city and added that it is a project of national importance under the Bharat Mala Parriyojna.

The ring road bypass around Jammu city has six phases which includes the first phase from Bhalwal connecting to Kangrail (Akhnoor road-Bhalwal road). The second phase is from Mandal to Nikki Tawi-Sohanjana-Brahmili-Waddi Tawi and the third phase is from Bari Brahmana which connects to Raya Morh, Sarore, Bishnah and Kunjwani.

The fourth phase is from Bishnah and R S Pura, and it connects Muralia, R S Pura, Miran Sahib and Lalyal. The fifth phase is from Jammu North and Nagrota and it connects Bhalwal, Kheri, Jagti and Nagrota, and the sixth phase is from Marh and it connects Waddi Tawi, Ghomanashah, Galwaday Chak, Channu Chak, Jheri Road, Kangrail-Akhnoo Road.

PTI

Jammu: The Pakistan army on Friday resorted to heavy firing and mortar shelling in forward areas along the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district violating the ceasefire, officials said.

“At about 1830 hours today, Pak army initiated unprovoked ceasefire violation by firing with small arms and resorting to intense shelling with mortars along the LoC in Mankote sector,” Defence spokesperson said.

The Indian Army retaliated befittingly to the ceasefire violation by Pakistan, he added.

A 65-year-old man was killed as the Pakistan army resorted to mortar shelling in Poonch district.

One jawan too was killed in the Pak firing in Rajouri sector along the LoC in another ceasefire violation this month.

On July 11, two women were killed in the shelling by the Pakistani army on forward posts and villages along the Line of Control (LoC) in different sectors in Poonch district.

On July 10 too, an Army jawan was killed in a ceasefire violation by the Pakistani army along the LoC in Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir.

Srinagar: A poor family from Pahnoo area of south Kashmir’s Shopian district has lost one lac rupee after cheated by an online fraudster.

According to reports reached to KNS, Ghulam Ahmad Dar of Pahnoo village of Shopian district has recived a call on August 10 from an unknown number who introduced himself as banker.

“An unknown caller approached me on August 10 and asked me to share his OTP, with the result I instantly lost one lac rupee”, said Ghulam Ahmad.

Dar, who is father of five daughters, said that he has sold few animals to assemble money for his daughter’s wedding but unfortunately I was destined for something else.

He appealed authorities for assistance as there is no earning hand in his family.

“I appeal to J&K Government to help in troubled times as I have no male earner in my family”, he said.

Dar’s case is not new one that has come to fore but several cases have surfaced in recent past where fraudulent elements duped innocent people and took away millions of rupees from their bank accounts.

Earlier J&K Cyber Police Unit had appealed general public to not share their personal bank details to unknown persons, after several frauds reported in Valley. (KNS)

As the pandemic progresses, we’re growing increasingly aware COVID-19 affects multiple parts of the body beyond the lungs. That includes the skin.

Here are some of these symptoms, from the most common to the least:

1. Widespread small red bumps and multiple flat red patches
2. Redness of the whites of the eyes
3. Chilblain-like symptoms, commonly called ‘COVID toes’
4. Hies
5. Water blisters
6. ‘Fishing net-like’ red-blue pattern on the skin
7. Rash associated with multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children
8. Hair loss

If you’re concerned about any skin symptoms, you can consult dermatologist via a telehealth appointment for further advice.

Gaps remain but both sides agreed to resolve outstanding issues, says Centre

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited’s indigenously developed Light Combat Helicopter deployed for operations in Leh. File | Photo Credit: ANI

India and China on Thursday held another round of border talks aimed at breaking the impasse along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), with complete disengagement still remaining a far-off prospect and both sides appearing prepared for the long haul.

Thursday’s talks marked the fourth meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC) since tensions began this summer. More than 10 rounds of high-level talks have since been held, including five rounds between the Corps Commanders in addition to the conversations between the Special Representatives and the Foreign Ministers.

There still remained gaps between the two sides, acknowledged a statement from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Thursday, saying both “will continue to sincerely work towards complete disengagement of the troops” and “agreed to resolve the outstanding issues in an expeditious manner and in accordance with the existing agreements and protocols”.

Both were “in agreement that restoration of peace and tranquillity in the border areas would be essential for the overall development of bilateral relations”, it said.

China has not accepted India’s demand for a return to status quo ante before early May’s tensions. The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) remains on India’s side of the LAC on the north bank of Pangong Lake, where most of the new fortifications it had built remain in place. Tensions also remain in the Depsang plains, where the PLA has obstructed India’s patrols from reaching the LAC, and in the Gogra-Hot Springs area, one of several spots where there remains a build-up in the depth areas.

The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) said on Thursday both sides had, at the talks held between Naveen Srivastava, Joint Secretary (East Asia) in the MEA and Hong Liang, Director-General of the Department of Boundary and Ocean Affairs of the MFA, “positively evaluated the progress made in the disengagement of the front-line forces of the two countries” and “agreed to conscientiously implement the consensus reached between the two Foreign Ministers and the Special Representatives on China-India boundary question, continue to maintain dialogue and communication through military and diplomatic channels, further cool down the border situation, properly handle the remaining issues on the ground, and jointly maintain peace and tranquillity in the border areas”.

Pakistan FM in China

China and Pakistan began their annual two-day strategic dialogue on Thursday in the southern Chinese island province of Hainan. Chinese officials said Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, who met Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, was only the second top foreign official to visit China following the pandemic, with the Indonesian Foreign Minister also beginning a visit earlier this week.

“As the regional and international landscape is going through complex changes, in particular with the profound global impact of COVID-19, China and Pakistan, as all-weather strategic cooperative partners, need to further strengthen communication and cooperation to deal with external challenges, achieve greater development and bring more benefits to the people,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said, describing the strategic dialogue, which was launched in March 2019, as “highly relevant and significant”.

Both would discuss “bilateral relations and regional and international issues of common concern”, he said, with issues expected to include the China Pakistan Economic Corridor, as well as both sides’ cooperation in South Asia and their respective recent tensions with India.

With inputs from The Hindu

(This story has not been edited by Kashmir Today staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Kupwara: A border security force (BSF) trooper commits suicide by firing himself from his own service rifle in kupwara district .

Official sources told GNS said that the trooper posted at Brinwari shoot himself with his own service rifle and died on spot.

He identified him as head constable of Kundan ram of 169bn he added.

A police officer told GNS said that it was not immediately known as to why the trooper took the extreme step. He said investigation are underway in this regard.(GNS)

Srinagar: A paramilitary CRPF trooper was among nine more persons who lost battle to covid-19 in Kashmir Valley since overnight, official sources said on Thursday.

With these deaths—three from Srinagar, two from Baramulla and one each from Budgam, Kupwara, Anantnag and Pulwama districts—the fatality count due to the virus in Jammu and Kashmir has mounted to 590.

A 70-year-old man from Sopore Baramulla who was diagnosed with Chronic Kidney Disease and bilateral Community Acquired Pneumonia (CAP) died due to cardiac arrest at 12:50 a.m. at SKIMS Soura where he was admitted since August 9, the official sources said.

They said an 87-year-old from Tral Pulwama, admit on August 11 as a case of bilateral CAP died at SMHS hospital, they said.

Another covid-19 positive patient— a woman from Khanda Budgam, admitted to the hospital on August 17 and diagnosed with bilateral CAP, also succumbed today.

Also, a 50-year-old covid-19 positive trooper from 61 battalion CRPF, Shivpora Srinagar, died few hours after being brought to the hospital in wee hours today, they said. He was resident of Haryana, they added.

An elderly woman from Yunsu Handwara in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district having being diagnosed with bilateral community acquired pneumonia died two days after being admitted to the hospital, they said.

A resident of Jawahar Nagar Srinagar, suffering from bilateral CAP, also died at SMHS hospital, the sources said.

A 56-year-old woman from Lal Bazar Srinagar, died three days after she was admitted to CD hospital, one of the exclusive facilities for the management of the covid-19 in the Valley.

“She was a case of severe Covid19 with HTN, T2DM and hypothyroid. She was not maintaining saturation and was shifted to ICU on August 18 and was on NIV since,” a doctor at the hospital told GNS. She suffered cardiac arrest and was declared dead at 2:45p.m, the doctor added.

A 62-year-old man from Gantmulla Baramulla who was diagnosed with “T2DM HTN, CAD besides Pneumonia” died at 8p.m on Thursday evening at SMHS hospital, the sources said.

A 70-year-old woman of Dialgam Anantnag died at SKIMS Soura, three days she was admitted to the tertiary care hospital, they added.

With these deaths, officials said, 590 people have succumbed to the virus in Jammu and Kashmir so far—549 from the Valley and 41 from Jammu division. (GNS)

PTI

Over 200 vehicles are stranded.

Vehicles lie buried in landslide rubble after a portion of a road caved-in following heavy rainfall, in Jammu, on Aug. 17, 2020.   | Photo Credit: PTI

Multiple landslides triggered by heavy rains blocked the Jammu-Srinagar national highway in Ramban district on Thursday, leaving over 200 vehicles stranded, officials said.

The 270-km highway, the only all-weather road linking Kashmir with rest of the country, was blocked by landslides at Trishul Morh, Battery Cheshma and Pantiyal areas, officials said.

As a result, over 200 vehicles are stranded at different points of the highway, they said.

Men and machinery have been deployed to clear the area.

The highway was closed for two days last week due to a massive landslide triggered by heavy rains in Ramban district.