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J&K delegation optimistic for more investment

Jammu: With one of the leading business houses of Middle East Lulu group plans to setup food processing centre and procure apples and other fruit from Kashmir, the J&K delegation is optimistic to bring more investment in horticulture sector from middle east.

Lulu group chairman Yusuffali MA announced the plans during a meeting with a delegation from Jammu and Kashmir headed by its Principal Secretary Agriculture Production and Horticulture Navin Kumar Choudhary on the sidelines of the UAE India Food Security Summit 2020.

“The centre would sourcing a wide range of agri products from J&K,” Yusuffali MA said.
Currently, Lulu imports apples and saffron from Kashmir and imports will significantly increase in the coming years. The group imported more than 400 tons of Kashmiri apples till date, despite several challenges in the recent past due to the coronavirus pandemic, according to an official.

Yusuffali said Lulu group is one of the leading importers of food and non-food products from India and setting up of a new food processing and logistics centre will further boost export of Kashmiri products to the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and other countries.

Principal Secretary Choudhary called the meeting as “very productive”.

“A large number of decisions were taken to promote the export of agriculture and horticulture products from the union territory to the entire Gulf region using stores of Lulu group. I assured all help to Lulu group for setting up logistic facilities and offices at identified facilities in J&K,” he said.

Meanwhile Lulu group would host a J&K special fortnight at all super markets at its group across the Gulf region on the occasion of Republic Day-2021 as part of Incredible India.
This fortnight celebration will begin on January 24 next year and will showcase J&K’s famous products like cuisine and cultural heritage, the statement said.

The discussions also focused on exploring the possibility of direct passenger as well as regular cargo flights between Srinagar and Dubai, officials said.

An MoU was also signed between Lulu group and Fruit Master Agro Fresh J&K for supply of apple and other fruits for the super markets of Lulu group across the Gulf countries, officials added.

Indian Consul General Aman Puri congratulated Lulu group for announcing a host of initiatives and the long-standing commitment and partnership in achieving the target of doubling J&K’s exports and expressed his gratitude to the company chairman for his initiatives in the union territory which would generate employment opportunities for local youths and contribute to the economic development of the region.(KNS)

Srinagar: With Covid-19 vaccine roll out just around the corner, Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) on Saturday called for mandatory Covid-19 vaccination.

“Mandatory Covid-19 vaccination would increase vaccine uptake and save lives,” said DAK President and influenza expert Dr Nisar ul Hassan.

“Covid-19 continues to pose grave threat to public health. It causes serious disease in individuals and is killing people. Infected persons have the potential to spread it to others endangering lives of people,” he said in a statement to news agency Kashmir Indepth News Service (KINS).

“That makes mandatory vaccination ethically justified,” he added.

DAK President said mandatory immunization is an efficient method of perpetuating herd immunity which protects not only those who have been vaccinated but also those who cannot be vaccinated.

“Covid-19 vaccine can’t be given to people with history of allergies and those with seriously compromised immune system. It is not recommended for children and pregnant women as the vaccine has not been tested on them,” he said.

“Letting people to achieve herd immunity naturally is dangerous as lot of people could die.”

Dr Nisar said vaccine is a safer and more effective path. It will protect you by creating an antibody response without having to experience sickness.

“Merely giving people information on the importance of vaccine does not always result in willingness to take the vaccine,” he said.

“There are always people who would resist vaccination as they don’t trust the safety and efficacy of vaccine. They typically deny the existence or validity of the science supporting its use in the general population. They don’t trust experts either.”

“We may not be able to achieve herd immunity because of these vaccine hesitant people,” Dr Nisar said.

“Mandatory vaccination will act as a tool to combat these anti-vaxxers.”

He said vaccine will protect people from getting the disease and prevent transmission in the community.

When enough people get vaccinated, the virus cannot find any host to survive and replicate.

“This is how pandemic would subside and even become eradicated.”

“Compulsory vaccination is vitally important for healthcare workers including doctors, nurses and paramedical staff.

That would provide safe environment in hospitals for patient care.

Covid-19 vaccine would also protect healthcare workers themselves from getting sick and prevent disruption of healthcare delivery system,” said Dr Nisar. (KINS)

Srinagar: The Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) on Saturday successfully cleared snow off the  roads on all important stretches running through the city and connecting important  destinations, with special focus on the roads leading to hospitals, religious places and the government offices, a spokesperson of SMC in a statement to news agency KINS said.

The statement said that services of 3000 sanitation workers were utilised for  clearance of snow from lanes, bylanes , pavements, hospitals,  Ration Ghats, electric water supply stations, religious  places, government departments  and other vital places on priority.

“Commissioner SMC Gazanfar Ali  along with SMC officers  toured several areas in the uptown and the old city and took on-the-spot inspection of the ongoing clearance drive. Snow was cleared from religious places  including Hazratbal, Khanyar, Naqshband Sahib, Makhdoom Sahib , ChatiPadshai, other Gurudwara’s , mosques , Imambaras and shrines,” it says.

The statement says that Commissioner expressed satisfaction over the swift removal of snow from the main  stretches in a drive that started early morning  from all the areas including LalChowk, Habba Kadal,MA Road,  Hassanabad, SafaKadal,  Harisingh High Street, Zero Bridge,DC office,   Secretariat road ,Naalimar road, Qamarwari,  Noorbagh etc.
“Snow was cleared from all the hospitals as well  including LD hospital, Gousia Hospital, SMHS ,  SKIMS, Bone and Joints Hospital, Psychiatric hospital etc,” it reads.

“Ali said most of the city lanes have been  cleared by the SMC staff and many machines are on the job to ensure no resident  faces any inconvenience due to snow accumulation.  He said the immediate priority was to ensure all roads leading to hospitals and religious places, including shrines and gurdwaras, are cleared for movement of people and traffic. The important Lal Chowk-Airport Road was also attended to early in the morning. Meanwhile Ali also took stock of dewatering stations and passed orders to  address waterlogging issues in the city,” the statement reads.

PDD signs MoU with PFC

Srinagar: A loan assistance of 11024.47 crores has been approved for Jammu & Kashmir under the Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan (liquidity infusion scheme in DISCOMs.)

This will enable J&K to clear its outstanding payments under Power purchases made by it. An MoU for availing of the of the second tranche of this loan for Rs. 5444.47 crores was signed between JK Power Development Department, J&K Power Corporation Ltd. and Power Finance Corporation in the presence of the Principal Secretary Power Development Department, Sh Rohit Kansal at Srinagar today.

The MoU was signed by the Director Finance PDD, Mr M. H Malik and Chief Engineer JKPCL, Mr. Mohammad  Yousuf Baba and Mr. Madhu Chakraborty GM, L&D PFC. The MDs of the DISCOMS, Chief engineers of PDD and other senior officers were present on the occasion. The ED of the PFC Mr. Manoj Sharma joined the ceremony through video conferencing.

The agreement for availing of the first tranche of the loan for Rs 5580 crores had already been signed by the department with REC and PFC in October this year.

It may be recalled that under the Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan the Government of India had announced a special package of Rs 90000 crore for liquidity infusion in DISCOMs for clearing of their power purchase liabilities to tide over financial crises owing to low power recoveries.

In pursuance, Jammu and Kashmir immediately started fulfillment of pre-loan requisites and signed the MoU for the first tranche of the loan of Rs. 5580 crores through identified financial organizations i.e Power Finance Corporation Ltd. (PFC) and Rural Electrification Corporation Ltd (REC) in October 2020. With the signing of today’s MoU J&K would be able to lift the full quantum of loan of Rs 11024.47 crores allotted to it enabling it to fully liquidate its power purchase liabilities as accumulated on June 30, 2020.

J&K has an annual power purchase bill of Rs. 6000 to 6500 crores against which the power recoveries are just 2200 crore to 2300 crore making for an annual deficit of Rs. more than 4000 crores. The power purchase liability of J&K towards various CPUs  ending June 2020 had swollen to Rs. 11500 crores which were being charged at a late payment surcharge (interest rate) of 18% per annum (late payment surcharge).

The loan assistance will enable savings of nearly Rs. 1000 crore to J&K on account of difference in rate of interest (late payment surcharge) that was otherwise being charged by the creditors against these power purchase liabilities.(KINS)

Jammu: Darbar Move Employees Federation, J&K has claimed harassment by members of secretariat employees.

“Darbar Move Employees Federation is in receipt of several complaints from employees that some union members of secretariat employees are harassing them and are trying to evict them from their allotted official accommodations forcefully by locking their alloted residential places. 

This act of aggression is  equivocally condemned by DMEF and such elements are advised to refrain from such behavior against employees in future or DMEF shall be constrained to take appropriate action,” a spokesperson of Darbar Move Employees Federation, J&K told news agency Kashmir Indepth News Service (KINS).

“In a step-motherly treatment the secretariat employee unions had managed to take loins share of quarters and bestow to their favourites, while as non-secretariat employees were left to mercy of God in dilapidated hotel rooms. But fortunately, the DMEF with its constant efforts has been able to get allotment of quarters in favour of non-secretariat move employees as well on ratio basis as specified in the relevant orders,” the spokesperson said.

The spokesperson said that DMEF doesn’t believe in hostilities and has always worked for cooperation and equality of employee irrespective of their place of positing but at the same time has courage and determination to fight for the rights and demands of employees. (KINS)

Srinagar: Bharatiya Janata Party senior leader and Party Spokesperson, Dr Darakhshan Andrabi Saturday attacked the political stand of National Conference, Congress and PDP of destroying J&K for seventy years.

She was reacting to the statements of leaders of these political parties about their so-called immense contribution to the state of Jammu & Kashmir.

As per the statement issued to news agency Kashmir Indepth News Service (KINS), Dr Andrabi said that from 1947, NC and Congress played every ‘hide and seek’ with the people of J&K for their power game.

“All the problems of J&K are created by them and nurtured by them for their personal gains,” said Dr Andrabi.

She said that PDP was the extension of congress and National Conference. “Agitations, agreements, resolutions, hand-shakes and then again agitations, this all have been their contribution for decades. Their dwindling stands have created uncertain situations for seventy years and people have suffered beyond measure because of this political approach,” she said.

She said that this myopic-politics has forced us to face the long spell of bloodbath in J&K. “All profit-making bodies were turned into defunct entities. They destroyed our mineral production, we have thousands of sick industries, they failed SRTC, they ruined J&K Bank and the list is long.”

Dr Darakhshan said that PDP Chief’s statement about BJP’s entry into J&K was unfortunate and speaks volumes about the mindset of the shocked leader.

“It is shameful to say that entry of BJP into Kashmir is a religious issue. In democratic set up such a statement is not tolerable at all. This statement is bizarre, divisive and hateful. It indicates her autocratic mindset. She should tender her apology for such an irresponsible statement. BJP in J&K is a democratic reality,” said Dr Darakhshan.

She also slammed NC Chief for his autonomy rhetoric. “They played an autonomy card for their family-enterprises and it all got support from India’s biggest political family enterprise congress. People of J&K only got deceit, destruction and drama from these family enterprises,” said Dr Andrabi. (KINS)

Encroachers will have to face law: DC Bla; hoteliers say hopeful that Govt will extend lease

Gulmarg: After hoteliers expressed anguish over the non-extension of lease of hotels in Gulmarg, the district administration Baramulla on Saturday stated that all the genuine concerns of hoteliers at world famous ski-resort Gulmarg will be addressed at shortest possible time. However, it added that the hoteliers who have encroached the hotels illegally will have to face the law.

According to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), Deputy Commissioner Baramulla, G N Itoo said that all the hoteliers will be taken on board before taking any decision. “All the issues and concerns raised by the hoteliers today in a meeting will be raised with the government soon. I assure you that the government will listen to every single hotelier here,” he said.

Itoo further added that everything will be done as per the directions given by the High Court. “The committee established to look into the issues of hoteliers here will be visiting Gulmarg again for two days on Wednesday and Thursday during which the committee members will meet all the 69 hoteliers. The hoteliers should meet the committee in two days,” he said.

However, he said there will be no compromise on the illegal encroachers, adding that anyone found encroached land in Gulmarg will have to face the law. “If there would be errors in the documents, the committee is open to rectify the errors only if the authentic document will be available with the concerned hotelier and would produce the documents later before the High Court,” he said.

Soon after the meeting culminated, Hotelier and Chairperson of PHD Chamber of Commerce in Kashmir, Mushtaq Ahmad Chaya as per KNO said that they are hopeful that the lease will be extended. “I have been assured by the Government of India, Lieutenant Governor, Chief Secretary and others that the lease of hotels will be extended,” he said.

He said that the hoteliers here too are against the illegal encroachments and ‘Those who have illegally encroached the hotels should face the law.”

“We have got the land on lease, which has ended. The lease is being extended everywhere, so we are hopeful that our issues too will be resolved. Our meeting with the district administration was aimed to convey the authorities that there should be no harassment to the hoteliers,” Chaya said.

“We have been assured that the lease will be extended and thus are hopeful that the government will not take any decision which would be adverse to the hoteliers,” Chaya said—(KNO)