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Jammu: The Jammu and Kashmir government on Wednesday set up a 10-member council for conservation of biological diversity and sustainable use of its components in the Union territory, officials said.

As per an order issued by the General Administrative Department (GAD), sanction has been accorded to constitute the Jammu and Kashmir Biodiversity Council.

The Principal Chief Conservator of Forests will be the chairman of 10-member panel, which will include five non-official members, the order said.

The director of the Forest Research Institute, J&K, will serve as the member secretary of the council.

Other members include the chief wildlife warden, a representative of the Department of Forest and others.

Non-official members include former IFS officers Dr C M Seth, Dr Om Prakash Sharma, professor Geeta Sumbli, Dr Anzar Khuroo and Dr Sushi Verma, the order said.

The term of office of the non-official members of the council shall be for a period of three years, it said.

The council shall constitute a fund, after concurrence of the Finance Department, which shall be known as “Jammu and Kashmir Biodiversity Council Fund” and all the fees, charges and benefit sharing amount received by the council shall be credited to it, the order said.

The council shall perform the functions within the jurisdiction of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir and it shall, in consultation with the National Biodiversity Authority, notify the format and procedures for seeking approvals with regard to biodiversity issues, it added.

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Srinagar: Four overground workers of the Lashkar-e-Taiba were arrested in Jammu and Kashmir’s Budgam district, officials said on Wednesday.

As per the police records, the four were involved in providing shelter, logistics and other support to the active militants operating in the area, officials said.

“Police, along with 53 Rashtriya Rifles, have arrested four terrorist associates in Pethkoot area of Beerwah in Budgam district. They were linked to proscribed militant outfit LeT,” the officials said.

The arrested persons have been identified as Shakil Ahmad Wani, Showkat Ahmad, Aqib Maqbool Khan and Ajaz Ahmad Dar, the officials said.

“Incriminating materials and ammunition, including 24 rounds of AK-47, five detonators were recovered from their possession,” the officials said.

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Jammu: Pakistan Army personnel engaged in heavy firing and mortar shelling in two sectors along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district on Wednesday in violation of a ceasefire agreement, officials said.

“At about 1845 hours today, Pakistan Army initiated unprovoked ceasefire violation by firing with small arms and intense shelling with mortars along LoC in Kirni and Qasba sectors,” a defence spokesman said.

Indian Army personnel retaliated to the ceasefire violation befittingly, he said.

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Jammu: Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party (JKAP) on Wednesday raised the demand for a comprehensive economic package to revive the union territory’s economy amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Chairing the first executive party meeting in Jammu, JKAP President Syed Mohammed Altaf Bukhari today demanded economic package for businessmen, traders, industrialist, hoteliers, transporters, farmers and others who have suffered huge losses due to COVID-19 lockdown in the Union Territory.

The government should support the business community, traders, small shopkeepers, people associated with tourism industry, industrialist and the farmers with an economic package to revive shattered the economy and it will help in infusing new life to the sinking market and generate employment opportunities, said Bukhari.

He also said the government should frame a comprehensive policy to overcome the losses suffered by the people.

The party executive members who attended the meeting include Ghulam Hassan Mir, Aijaz Ahmed Khan, Choudhary Zulfikar Ali, Usman Majeed and former MLC Vijay Bakaya.

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Jammu: More than a hundred women leaders and workers from different political parties joined the Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party (JKAP) on Wednesday, a party spokesman said.

They joined the party at a function at its headquarters here in the presence of party president Syed Mohammed Altaf Bukhari.

Speaking on the occasion, Bukhari welcomed them into the party and hoped that they would work for the empowerment of women.

Namrta Sharma, the provincial president of the party’s women wing, demanded that the government give reservation to women in the political field in Jammu and Kashmir for their empowerment.

Many women, especially in rural areas, are unaware about various welfare schemes and it is the responsibility of the administration to make them aware about them,” she said and expressed her commitment to strengthen the women wing in Jammu division for their upliftment and empowerment.

Budgam: A non-local was detained by police at Srinagar Airport for travelling on a ‘fake’ Identity Card.

Sources told news agency KNT that a person from Bijnore, Uttar Pradesh was intending to board a ‘Go Air’ G8-204 flight from Srinagar to Delhi on a fake Identity Card.

The man, a painter by profession was identified as Muhammad Nasir son of Sabir Ahmed.

Sources said on ‘Boarding Gate’ security-men found his name doesn’t match with his ID. His ID revealed his name as Muhammad Nasir. Accordingly, he was handed over to police post Humhama for questioning. (KNT)

Srinagar: Suhail Ahmad, who is working in Bangalore, was reluctant to return home fearing he might have to go for administrative quarantine after his arrival in Kashmir. However, on Tuesday when he reached Srinagar Airport, he was allowed to go home in North Kashmir’s Baramulla’s district after collecting his samples for COVID-19 testing.

“This provided me with a big relief that I was allowed to go home. I am told that my report will reach by the evening and I should take all preventive measures at home,” Ahmad told news agency Kashmir Indepth News Service KINS.

There are hundreds of people like him who have appreciated the administration for allowing travelers to go home. “Administrative quarantine was bringing inconveniences for people as there were no adequate facilities available. But allowing people to go home after reaching Srinagar Airport is a well appreciated step,” said Mohammad Altaf, a resident of Ganderbal.

“If any traveler is found COVID-19 positive and is asymptomatic, he has to be kept in home quarantine. Only symptomatic patients have to go for administrative quarantine or to be admitted to hospital,” a doctor said.

Till Monday evening, Srinagar Airport Authorities have received 1,332 domestic flights with 1,80,367 passengers since May 25.
“The Government has made elaborate arrangements for the arrival, screening, sampling and proper transportation of the passengers to the quarantine centers taking special care of guidelines and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) prescribed by the Union Ministries of Civil Aviation and Health and Family Welfare,” an official said.

Jammu and Kashmir last month revised its guidelines and declared that all asymptomatic Covid positive cases would be in-home isolation.

As per the guidelines, Covid positive cases would be allowed home isolation with conditions free Oximeter, compulsory Arogya Setu App and proper isolation space with a poster outside the house.

Divisional Commissioner Kashmir has issued a directive which says that home isolation of positive patients has increased responsibilities of administration as it has to monitor each and every individual patient kept in home isolation on a daily basis.

“All the patients should be visited on a daily basis, in order to keep track of the positive patients, regular phone calls during mornings and evenings shall be made from the Control Room and the same shall be recorded on a register maintained for the purpose.

A WhatsApp group should be made with all the Covid positive patients put on home isolation at the block level to monitor their health status. Any patient who develops symptoms shall be immediately shifted to Covid Health Facility,” the directive reads, a copy of which lies with news agency Kashmir Indepth News Service (KINS).

The Divisional Commissioner Kashmir directed all the districts to ensure the availability of Oximeters to every Home Isolated positive patient so that they are able to monitor the essential parameters.

“After the home isolation period is over, the oximeters shall be taken back and used for subsequent patients,” he said.

In a modification in the protocol for positives of Covid- 19 infection and their contacts, Jammu and Kashmir Government had revised home isolation guidelines to permit such patients for home quarantine who are asymptomatic with no comorbidity and are not vulnerable otherwise. (KINS)

Srinagar: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has assured all possible help to businessmen of Jammu and Kashmir from the Centre.

Kashmir’s economy has witnessed heavy losses since August last year.

As per the estimates of Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industries (KCCI), the Kashmir economy has suffered losses over Rs 40,000 crore for the last one year.

On Tuesday, in a webinar with the Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, the k

Organised by the Jammu and Kashmir Peace Forum, the webinar presented a ground report of the situation in the UT.

KCCI President Sheikh Ashiq said the Union Finance Minister keenly listened to the issues raised by the business community.

“We told her that every sector in Kashmir has suffered badly for the last one year. There is no cash flow in markets. Over five lakh people have become jobless. We told her that a special package should be announced for every sector,” Ashiq told news agency Kashmir Indepth News Service KINS.

“The Finance Minister told us that she already spoke to Lieutenant Governor regarding businesses in Jammu and Kashmir. She assured us that the Centre will provide help to the business community in the best possible way,” he added.

Sitharaman has said that the Centre was keen to listen and understand the ground situation as that helped in formulating policies.

She said, “We are interacting with all the stakeholders in the industry and we have been benefitted from this. We want to keep our ears close to the ground and based on the inputs from various stakeholders, policy changes are made.”

She said that she had met the new J&K Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha who also spoke about greater support and more resources for the UT.

While commencing the interaction, the J&K Peace Forum chairman, Satish Mahaldar said, “The primary objective of the meeting was to primarily understand how we can achieve sustainable industrial development in all regions for increasing the rate of growth, value of output, employment, income and overall economic development of the UT.

The trend in the development of J&K is not encouraging; it has been lagging behind most of the states with regard to the growth of the net state domestic product at current prices. J&K UT is one of those regions in the country where both the demographic situation and level of socio-economic development remains far from satisfactory.”

“It is important to discuss how to revive potential viable sick industrial units so as to put optimum use of the capital and other resources which are already employed in such enterprises. It is important to know from the industry experts how we can strive towards balanced economic and social development in all regions of the UT by promoting industrialization,” said Mahaldar.

Sopore Industrial Association president Javaid Ahmad Bhat said, “Given the unique position of the J&K .and the situation it has been in for the last 30 years, it is necessary that J&K has a separate Industrial policy. A policy which is a ground report based in the UT.” He said that most of the policy making happens in the closed room environment with no connection with the actual situation and this is gravely affecting the industry sector in J&K. He suggested that a land bank be created in the UT for the industrial sector as a lot of land existed which can be put to good use.

Lalit Mahajan, Bari Brahmana Industrial Association president said, “J&K industry, especially the MSMEs are reeling under economic distress for the past one year. There is an urgent need for incentives. If MSMEs are helped, unemployment to some extent can be arrested.” He said that J&K borders are with Pakistan and China where no trade is possible, hence the need to help the industry by giving special attention.

Taking up the case of the sick PSUs, Wajahat Durrani, president J&K PSUs employees said, “The PSUs in the state are in a bad condition, but they have a huge potential if the right attention and help is given.” He cited the case of the J&KSRTC, which currently had only 300 buses to cater to a population of 80 lakh people. He said that if right incentives are given, J&KSRTC can be turned around into a frontier organization. He said similarly other ventures in horticulture, etc can help in generating employment and strengthening the state economy.