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Will intensify drive in enforcing the guidelines in public vehicles: RTO Kashmir; ADC Sgr issues warning to passengers, drivers

Before being getting penalised follow the Appropriate Covid Behaviour appeals Dr. Balkhi, Additional Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, says won’t hesitate in slapping fine

Srinagar: Public transport in Srinagar and elsewhere in Kashmir is posing a serious threat to passengers as Covid-19 SoPs are going for a toss forcing the authorities to issue a serious warning for passengers and drivers. The Srinagar administration has also warned of slapping a fine on the passengers and drivers, who are found violating the Covid-19 guidelines.

Kashmir News Observer (KNO) spoke to a number of passengers who frequently travel in public vehicles including Sumos and Traveras, and came to know that one among 10 passengers use face mask during travel while others prefer not to use the face masks.

“Simply, Covid guidelines are going for a big toss in Kashmir. People are least bothered about Covid resurgence in Valley, especially Srinagar which is worst hit. This is strange. People are travelling without face masks and there is no monitoring at all,” said Shazia Bashir, who travels regularly to her office in Srinagar from Pampore area. Other frequent travelers echoed similar views and demanded a monitoring mechanism by the transport department or the district administration.

Regional Transport Officer (RTO) Kashmir, Ikram-Ullah Tak, while speaking with the KNO said, “we have already deputed our squads to check the Covid -19 Sops violation and fines have also been imposed on the violators.”

He further said the District Administration Srinagar has already constituted the teams in which “our teams are also part of it and jointly with the magistrates we are doing routine checks to make sure the Covid-19 sops are adhered while using the public Transport.”

He said that in coming days, the drive for the strict enforcement of the Covid-19 SoPs in public transport will be intensified and those found violating will be dealt with strictly.

Interestingly, Covid guidelines read: “Individuals must maintain a base distance of six feet (2 Gaz ki Dori) in public places”. However, this is hardly seen on ground.

Additional Deputy Commissioner Srinagar Dr. Syed Haneef Balkhi said that the Covid-19 SoPs and guidelines are already in place and they have been repeatedly asking people associated with trade or transport, to adhere to the guidelines, and before that people are being penalized for violating the Covid-19 guidelines.

“I appeal people to show a responsible approach and follow Covid-19 guidelines in spirit,” he said. “We conduct random sampling and inspection also in and around the city. People found violating the Covid-19 guidelines are being fined, wearing of masks and maintaining of physical distance at public places is what is need of the hour,” he said—(KNO)

PTI

Jammu: The National Commission for Women has created a separate cell to deal with issues in the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.

In a statement, it said the special cell will deal with complaints received from the two Union territories and will also look into the development activities related to women of these regions.

The panel decided to set up a separate cell for these regions after NCW Chairperson Rekha Sharma visited Jammu and Kashmir in February where she had held interactive sessions with NGOs, one-stop centres for women and other officials in the union territory to take stock of problems faced by women there.

Kashmir: Houseboats which are part of Kashmir’s rich culture and often referred as jewel of valley’s tourism are dying fast.
Houseboats made of wood are also called floating palaces on various water bodies of Kashmir including Dal Lake, Nigeen Lake and River Jehlum.

However, over the years, their number has reduced to 910 from 1600 in 1990 as their owners could not do their repairs in time. In the last eight months, more than 10 houseboats sank in waters of Dal Lake.

Mohammad Sharif, a houseboat owner said there is a ban on repairing of houseboats or building new ones. “These houseboats have been built more than 50 years ago and are decaying with each passing day. But we are not allowed to repair them resulting in their number having gone down to 910. If this continues, then you won’t find any houseboat after a decade as most houseboats are in bad shape and need immediate repairing,” Sharif told news agency Kashmir Indepth News Service (KINS).

In 2009, Jammu and Kashmir High Court banned repairs and renovation of houseboats after the government told the court that houseboats were the main source for pollutants of water bodies in Srinagar.

Since then, more than 250 cases seeking permission for houseboat repair are pending with the Tourism Department Jammu and Kashmir, sources say.

Bashir Ahmad, another houseboat owner, said the government was blaming inhabitants of Dal Lake for its deteriorating conditions. “There are lakhs of people living around the Dal Lake besides hundreds of hotels. All the sewage emanating from hotels and houses directly flows into the lake. They why only blame houseboat owners who are just in a small number,” Ahmad said.

“Our houseboats need immediate repair otherwise they all will sink. We are losing our identity,” Ahmad said.
He said it was the responsibility of everyone to keep the lake clean.

“At least 44.2 million litres of sewage goes into Dal Lake every day from its peripheries. Less than one percent sewage is generated from houseboats. Why are only houseboat owners blamed for deteriorating the lake?” he asked.
Houseboat interiors are designed with wood-carved walls, with Kashmiri woven carpets giving a cultural touch to the whole ambience.

The houseboats are of different sizes, some having up to four bedrooms apart from a living room and kitchen. Each room costs between Rs 2000 to Rs 8000 to tourists depending upon the facilities in the room. The value of a houseboat is between Rs 2 to Rs 3 crore.

An official of Lakes and Waterways Development Authority, said more than Rs 1000 crore have been spent for preservation of Dal Lake in the last 15 years.

He said government recently approved a policy for sustainable operation of houseboats in Dal and Nigeen Lakes.

According to the policy recently approved by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha-led administration, the houseboats are required to be registered online subject to the fulfilment of various conservation parameters; within 30 days from the date notification of the policy.

The policy includes provisions for undertaking repairs on damaged, dilapidated and abandoned houseboats.

“The houseboats and associated structures are required to be fitted with bio-digesters for scientific treatment of solid/liquid waste as per the approved design of the Lakes and Waterways Development Authority, besides ensuring availability of adequate fire safety equipment along with trained staff to be verified by Fire & Emergency Services Department,” the policy says.

Further, the policy lays down regulations for ancillary facilities like kitchen, lodging, furniture, first-aid, electricity, power back-up, sanitary fittings and shikara for navigation. (KINS)

PTI

Srinagar: Security forces arrested a militant associate of The Resistance Front (TRF) in Jammu and Kashmir’s Baramulla district, police said on Monday.

A checkpoint was established by the security forces at Model Town crossing of Sopore in the north Kashmir district following specific information, a police official said.

Ihsaan-ul-Haq Khanday, linked with the TRF, was arrested. Khanday is a resident of Sopore, but presently living in Nowpora Kalan. Incriminating material, including a letter pad of the banned outfit, was recovered from his possession, according to the official.

A case has been registered and an investigation is in progress, the official said, adding that more arrests were expected.

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.

Upto 9th Class for 02 weeks & 10 to 12th for one week.

Classes 10, 11 & 12 will also be closed for one week in all schools from Monday, 5 April 2021 till 11 April 2021 in entire J&K.
Further, all gatherings for social and customary functions will be restricted to 200 only and after following due COVID SOPs.

— Office of LG J&K (@OfficeOfLGJandK) April 4, 2021

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.”

Intizamia Committee urges Administration to look into the matter and stop bringing, dumping Dogs in the area

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.