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Srinagar: The Central Public Works Department has come under the scanner for allegedly doing faulty soil testing of the land proposed for the Central University Kashmir.

In a recently held meeting, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir was told by Central University Kashmir authorities that Central Public Works Department had done faulty soil testing on the varsity land in Ganderbal.

“Soul resting report and other works done by Central Public Works Department was faulty and they have been already reported for investigation by the bureau of CVC and CBI. The Vice Chancellor said that several executing agencies including NBCV and NPCC have also failed to adhere to the timelines for the construction of pre-engineered buildings and other works alloyed to them and the university has suffered a lot on account of their follies in terms of its finances as well as reputation,” minutes of the meeting reads, a copy of which lies with news agency Kashmir Indepth News Service (KINS).

The varsity authorities told Divisional Commissioner that encroachment of land by certain individuals needs to be vacated immediately. Following which Divisional Commissioner as per the minutes of the meeting directed DC Ganderbal to constitute a committee of Revenue, Police and CUK for demarcation and removal of encroachments from CUK land.

The CUK is presently functioning from multiple campuses in Ganderbal including green campus erstwhile college of physical education Tulmulla campus, allotted site Nunar campus DIET building, Science and Arts block, old district hospital and the older structures and buildings at these sites were renovated and refurbished besides construction of new structures was done by the campus development with of the varsity before the class work was started.

As per the documents, CUK is a mega project and important project as thousands of students from JK and other parts of the country will be pursuing their higher education through it.

“Construction Department has also constructed scores of other classrooms in the other campuses and roughly around 70,000 sq feet new structures were raised in a matter of six to nine months only and repairs works equivalent to around 50,000 sq ft were also made during this period,” the documents read.

The varsity is offering 45 postgraduate undergraduate and five year integrated research and diploma programmes “It was acknowledged that the varsity’s inability to construct the permanent structures at its alloyed site as per the already drafted and approved master plan at Tulmulla citing several technical reasons especially the low load bearing capacity of the major chunk of land transferred by the govt to the university,” the document reads.

Srinagar: Few days after Lieutenant Governor J&K Manoj Sinah offered rehabilitation policy for local militants if they come back to mainstream; BJP expressed disagreements over the offer of Sinha and said “those taking up arms must be dealt only with bullets”.

According to Kashmir News Service (KNS), BJP Jammu and Kashmir President Ravinder Raina said that “there can never be any rehabilitation offer for those who have taken up arms against the national integrity and sovereignty” and added “such elements must be dealt only with bullets”.

BJP leader reacted to Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha’s recent appeal to local militants to shun the path of violence. LG who was speaking in south Kashmir’s Shopian district promised local militants to help them with jobs and entrepreneurial opportunities if they will come back to mainstream.

“Pakistan sponsored militancy has enough bled Jammu and Kashmir for the past three decades. The militants goes to Pakistan for arms training, come back with arms and then kill innocent people and forces personnel”, Raina said and added “Those taking up arms against the national integrity and sovereignty can never be given any jobs. They can only be straighten by bullets”, BJP leader said.

“Under PM Modi government there can never be any rehabilitation for militants who are up for destabilizing peace”, Raina added. (KNS)

Rajouri: Lieutenant Governor J&K Manoj Sinha on Thursday said “justice will be assured at any cost” to families of slain trio killed in Amshipora Shopian encounter on July 18 this year.

According to Kashmir News Service (KNS), LG Sinha who was on visit to Rajouri walkined almost half-a kilometer and reached Tarkassi village where he met family members of three youth killed in a fake encounter in Amshipora village of south Kashmir’s Shopian district. LG at the occasion talked with the family members and assured parents of the slain trio that justice will be delivered at any cost.

“He visited the house of Muhammad Yousuf, the father of one of the slain trio while other two families were also present at Yousuf’s house. LG gave a patient hearing to the demands put forth by the families and assured them all possible help from the Government. He also assured family members that justice in the ongoing case will be ensured at any cost”, an official told KNS.

He said the family members of slain trio demanded justice from LG Sinha and compensation, stating that so far J&K Government and Police have been very cooperative with them.

“The LG assured all three families that justice will be delivered and there would be no laxity. He asked the families to let the probe complete first and hailed their patience”, he added. (KNS)

Srinagar: Constant contact tracing and strict home isolation of the positive persons has helped greatly containing the spread of COVID-19 infection in Reasi district.

In consonance with the guidelines issued regarding the home isolation policy, the district administration Reasi along with the health department devised a smart mechanism.

A surveillance officer has been deployed in each of the four blocks of Reasi, Pouni, Katra and Mahore who work under the supervision of Zonal Medical Officer. The area under the jurisdiction of the surveillance officer has been divided into further zones where the frontline workers like ASHA and Anganwadi workers have been deputed to deliver their vital services at ground level under the guidance of ISM Doctors.

Soon after the patients test positive, the Health team along with PRIs members counsel the patients and ask them to opt whether to stay at home in isolation or Covid Care Centre.

For a COVID patient to be kept in home isolation, the health team contacts patients through video calls to know about their health status and ensures that all the logistics arrangements have been put in place for the convenience of the patient.

The health team has also started counselling Covid-19 patients and their family members through Video Call to help them to overcome the stigma and anxiety related to the coronavirus disease (Covid-19).

For the proper screening of the home isolated patient, the doctor counsels the patients through Video Call and a routine checkup of the patient on a daily basis is conducted by the ASHA worker and FMPHW who checks BP, oxygen saturation rate, pulse rate and general symptoms of the patient.

If the patient shows symptoms of COVID19,the frontline workers immediately call at 108 for the ambulance and then the patient is shifted to the COVID Care Centres or a dedicated COVID care hospital for further treatment. The team would also make video calls to the patient from time to time to know about his/her wellbeing. The PRI members of the concerned areas have also been involved in this process to assist the health officials in ensuring the successful implementation of the home isolation policy.

Due to aggressive contact tracing and regular visits made by the FMPHW, Anganwadi and ASHA workers to the persons in home isolation for their regular health checkups, the rate of infection has reduced to a great extent. Reasi district has the lowest death doubling rate as compared to other districts.

The administration is also conducting aggressive testing of the suspected persons to contain the spread. On an average 500-600 samples are taken per day, while with best medicare facilities the cure rate is 70 percent. The district administration is also making it sure that the people follow the SOPs, guidelines in letter and spirit- the best way to counter the spread of the CoronaVirus.

With these figures, the district Reasi is in far better state than the other districts of the UT and this has become possible with the active support of panchayats /ULBs along with the vision and planning of the Medical Department, Revenue and Police Team.

The tireless endeavours of the authorities of Reasi District in countering the spread of COVID19 have received appreciations from the common masses.

The medical team comprising Chief Medical Officer, Dr.Rajeev Sharma; Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Dr.Younis; District Immunization Officer, Dr Usha Kiran; Block Medical Officer Reasi, Dr.Saleem Khan; BMO Pouni, Dr.Kamal Zadoo; BMO Katra, Dr Gopal Dutt; BMO Mahore, Ashraf Kohli; Area Surveillance Officers, Dr Kavita and Dr Sameer have delivered excellent services in the time of crisis and played a significant role in containing the spread of COVID19 in the areas of their respective jurisdiction.(KINS)

Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has evacuated about 5,62,345 JK residents, stranded in other parts of the country due to COVID lockdown, via Lakhanpur and through special trains and buses till date amid strict observance of all necessary guidelines and Standard Operating Procedures.

As per the official data received in this regard, the Jammu and Kashmir administration has received 155 special trains at Jammu and Udhampur railway stations from different states and UTs, so far, with about 1,40,292 passengers while about 4,22,053 persons from other states and UTs including 934 from abroad have been evacuated by the government through Lakhanpur till date.

As per the detailed breakup of the figures, about 6377 stranded passengers have entered through Lakhanpur from October 06 to October 07 mornings while 134 trains have reached Jammu with a total of 124,596 stranded passengers belonging to different districts so far while 15,696 passengers have reached Udhampur in 21 special trains, so far. Also, no train arrived at Jammu today.(KINS)

B2V3 golden opportunity to seek redressal of grievances: MD

Srinagar: As part of phase third of ambitious ‘Back to Village’ programme, Mission Director Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS), Shabnam Kamili today visited Chattergam in Budgam where she presided over the B2V3 proceedings and interacted with scores of public delegations.

While speaking on the occasion, MD ICPS said that B2V3 is a golden opportunity for the public to seek redressal of their issues and grievances. She interacted with the local Panchs and Sarpanchs of the Panchayat who raised the developmental issues of their respective areas. She also directed the concerned officers that the Mahila Sabhas should be held at every panchayat on regular basis.

The locals on the occasion registered their issues and grievances before the Visiting authority pertaining to several departments like RDD, PHE, PDD, CAPD and other departments. While listening to the grievances of the locals she assured that all their genuine grievances and issues will be looked into for timely redressal.

Later on the Mission Director took a detailed inspection of various developmental works taken by the executing agencies and ascertained their pace and progress.

During the visit to the villages, MD ICPS also launched awareness campaign related to Child rights and child protection schemes. She said that the aim and objective of the various schemes related to child rights is to keep children away from delinquency and in this regard Justice Jevenile Board has a significant role to play.

MD ICPS was accompanied by the District Social Welfare Officer (DSWO) Budgam, Dr. Syed Farhana Asgar who also heads DCPU, JJB and CWC of District Budgam.

MD ICPS along with DSWO visited Panchayat Block Chatergam and supervised several activities being held under this unique initiative.

On the occasion, the officers highlighted various schemes and projects being undertaken by the department for the upliftment of weaker sections of society and rural populace and listened to the grievances of the locals.

The officers also took a whirl wind tour of the village to take first hand appraisal of the ground level problems faced by the locals. They also sensitized the people about the works being conducted by JJB, DCPU and CWC.

The locals appreciated the visiting team for their keen interest in listening and resolving their issues and demands put forth by them.(KINS)

Srinagar: Advisor to Lieutenant Governor, KK Sharma will not be covenening the public hearing at banquet hall Jammu on Thursday due to certain unavoidable circumstances.

The date of the next hearing would be communicated separately.(KINS)

Srinagar: Principal Secretary Agriculture Production and Farmers Welfare Department, Navin Kumar Choudhary, today said that government has established 18 procurement centres in the current kharief marketing season to facilitate procurement of paddy at the minimum support price in districts of Jammu, Kathua and Samba respectively.

He was speaking at a meeting convened by him here at Civil Secretariat Jammu.

Deputy Commissioners of Samba and Kathua districts attended the meeting through Virtual Mode along with their Chief Agriculture Officers while ADC Jammu Gansham Singh, Deputy General Manager Food Corporation of India (FCI) Sidhart along with representatives participated in the meeting from here.

While assuring full support to Food Corporation of India, Navin said that timely operationalization of procurement centres will ensure that the farmers are not compelled to sell their produce below the minimum support price fixed during current season. He laid emphasis on FCI officials to make sure that payments are released immediately after procurement of Paddy from the farmers preferably within 72 hours through Direct Bank Transfer (DBT) mode.

The centres have been established at Bishnah/ RS Pura, Sohanjana, Gajansoo, Channu Chak, Pargwal, Gurha Manasa, Marh, Bhadrore and Jourian-1 (Jammu District), Bajwal, Jakhbar, Marheen, Sanjhi Morh-11, Chann Arorian, Palli Morh, Nagri Parole and Dungara/Mandli (Kathua District), Kesso Manasan ( Samba District) respectively. The provision of requisite infrastructure like winnowing fan, weighing machines, hand stitching machine, tarpaulins, at these locations has also been made.

Among others Joint Director Agriculture Jammu, B K Chandan, Chief Agriculture Officer Jammu, A S Reen, Agri Economist, KK Sharma and Technical Officer, Vijay Upadhay were present in the meeting.(KINS)

Visits Border Village Garkote; Inaugurates development assets worth Rs 53.08 lakh

Srinagar: Advisor to Lieutenant Governor Baseer Ahmad Khan today affirmed that various initiatives are afoot to develop rural areas adding that administration is committed to ensure holistic and equitable development of all regions.

“Present dispensation led by Lieutenant Governor is keen to create employment opportunities for all with special focus on remote and far flung areas”, Advisor maintained.

Advisor was speaking at a mega function organized in border village Garkote of Uri area in connection with the 3rd phase of ambitious ‘Back to Village’ programme.

Appreciating huge public participation in the event, Advisor said that present administration has initiated renewed measures to achieve saturation in individual beneficiary schemes. He reiterated that the ambitious campaign has been launched with an aim to reach at the people’s doorsteps to resolve their issues adding that LG himself conducted several outreach programmes and visited several remote areas of J&K to monitors all these endeavors of the government.

Highlighting the objectives of B2V, Advisor said that such an initiative provides an appropriate platform to evaluate government schemes and urged upon various stakeholders to come forward and avail benefits of schemes and programmes launched by the government. He maintained that bridging gap between people and administration has been our top most priority adding that strengthening democracy at grass root level is the best way forward to percolate the fruits of development at ground level.

Advisor also made some announcements for overall welfare of the village which included initiation of Mini-bus service, development of playfield, conducting of special recruitment drive among other minor works. These announcements were made keeping in view the persistent demands of the people. He also announced full set of musical instruments among the cultural artists who performed efficiently at the outset of the event.

Meanwhile, Advisor inaugurated several development assets worth Rs 53.08 lakh in Uri block that have been completed under 14th FC, MGNREGA and other flagship programmes.

Advisor also distributed several equipments/kits/certificates sponsored by horticulture, agriculture, education, revenue, youth services and sports departments besides presenting cheques worth Rs 10.42 lakh as financial assistance to registered labour beneficiaries.

BDC Chairperson Uri Mohammad Rafiq Balot highlighted some issues and demands meant for overall development of the area including upgradation of infrastructure in power sector, development of border tourism in the area, establishment of community as well as individual bunkers, conducting of special recruitment drive in the area among some other demands.

Advisor assured that all the genuine demands and grievances raised during the event shall be fulfilled as early as possible.(KINS)