Jhangir Shiekh

MS Nazki

Srinagar : Security forces on Saturday recovered five rusted grenades in a village of Charangal Mathwar area of Akhnoor in Jammu district.

Official sources told that a team of Police recovered 5 rusted grenades in Charangal area today.

Soon police summoned Bomb Disposal Squad to the spot.

All five grenades were successfully defused by the BDS without causing any damage, they said.

Meanwhile SDPO Akhnoor Mohan Sharma also confirmed to about the recovery of rusted grenades

JAMMU: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha today conducted on-site inspection of key projects in Jammu and reviewed ongoing construction work of Jambu Zoo, Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple by Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams and Tawi Riverfront Project.

The Lt Governor ascertained the progress of the work being carried out at all the three sites, and laid emphasis on timely completion of the projects.

Dheeraj Gupta, Principal Secretary to the Government Department of Forest, Ecology & Environment briefed the Lt Governor on the progress of Jambu Zoo. He informed that the high level team of Central Zoo Authority will be visiting for the final inspection this month and the entire process will be completed within the time frame.

During his visit at the construction site of Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple by Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams, the Lt Governor interacted with the temple officials and asked them to start construction of a Gurukul and Health Centre simultaneously.

Later, the Lt Governor made an inspectional visit to Tawi Riverfront project site, which envisages to reduce erosion & flood and to provide socio-cultural amenities for sustainable development of the city.

The vibrant riverfront will ensure urban infrastructure sustainability. Once completed, the project will provide unique business opportunities and help in overall social upliftment. With social infrastructure and recreation facilities, Tawi Riverfront will enhance the quality of life of the citizens, said the Lt Governor.

Rahul Yadav, Commissioner JMC gave a detailed presentation on the ongoing works of the project.

Interacting with media persons, the Lt Governor said the progress on all the projects visited today is satisfactory.

The aspirations of the people of Jammu would be fulfilled soon. These projects will boost the Tourism in Jammu and the footfall of tourists from outside will increase the economic activities and income of the people, the Lt Governor said.

Speaking on property tax, the Lt Governor said, “People’s interest is our ‘top priority’. The doors of administration are open for dialogue”.

Shaleen Kabra, Principal Secretary to the Government, Jal Shakti Department; Dr. Mandeep Kumar Bhandari, Principal Secretary to the Lt Governor; Ramesh Kumar, Divisional Commissioner Jammu and other senior officials accompanied the Lt Governor during his visits.

DODA: Hitting out hard at Congress and National Conference parties, Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh said here today that Doda had been brazenly neglected for nearly seven decades when these parties were ruling both at Center as well as in the State and the irony is that now when the people have voted them out of power, they are shedding crocodile tears to bemoan the neglect of the Doda region for which they were themselves responsible.

Addressing a public rally here today, Dr Jitendra Singh recalled the sequence of events and said, ever since independence, there was not a single occasion when the MLAs or the MPs from this region did not find a strong position in the State Cabinet or the Union Cabinet, but the apathy by these elected representatives is evident from the fact that they did not even attend to the development of their own native places.

Citing example, he said, the first-ever Post Office and the first ever branch of Sate Bank of India was set up at Gandoh after 2014 and the first ever national project in Bhaderwah was set up by the Modi government in the form of National Institute of High Altitude Medicine.

Strongly rebutting those opposition leaders who say that all the development projects were initiated in this region before 2014, Dr Jitendra Singh said, we live in an evidence based era when even before a leader finishes completing his speech, the common man listening to him tends to check the facts and figures on the Internet. He claimed that only several new national level development projects were initiated after 2014 but many of such projects which had been stopped by the earlier governments during the tenure of earlier MPs and MLAs have been revived now.

Enumerating examples, Dr Jitendra Singh said the Government Medical College in Doda was set up during his Parliamentary term after 2014 and so also the Khilani Sudh Mahadev National Highway was started during his term. Not only this, he recalled that the Ganpat bridge which had been abandoned unfinished by the earlier government and earlier elected representatives, was also completed during this term.

In nearby Kishtwar, Dr Jitendra Singh said not only a series of power projects were started in the last eight years including the 1000 MW Pakal Dul Project, 624 MW Kiru Project, 520 Kwar Project, 930 MW Kirthai Project, but also the 850 MW Ratle Project which had been stalled before 2014 has also been revived, as a result of which Kisthwar is going to turn into the biggest power hub of North India.

While the Congress and National Conference followed a policy of discrimination based on vote bank, Dr Jitendra Singh said, after 2014, we have tried to fulfill the requirement of every region regardless of whether they voted for us or not in the last election.

Citing example he said, while a Degree College was started in Kastigarh, it was simultaneously sanctioned for Marmat from where the non-BJP parties received the maximum vote.

Dr Jitendra Singh announced that the construction of Chhatargala tunnel will be taken up under Bharatmala Mala scheme and will be part of the new National Highway from Lakhanpur through Bani-Basohli up to Doda, Bhaderwah. This will be a game changer, he said.

Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi and as a member of his team, Dr Jitendra Singh said, we have tried to cultivate a new political culture based on objectivity and justice to all. For example, it is during this regime and his parliamentary term that a network of PMGSY roads and CRF roads funded by the Centre has been spread even to the native towns and villages of the Congress and National Conference leaders. Similarly, he said, the benefits of people centric schemes like distribution of gas cylinders through Ujjwala Yojana and construction of houses under PM Kisan Yojana has been done for anyone who was needy regardless of his caste, creed, religion or vote preference.

DDC Chairman Dhananter Singh, former Minister Shakti Raj Parihar, former MLA Dilip Singh among other also addressed the gathering. All of them hailed the fact that after 2014 under the Modi Government ever since Dr Jitendra Singh had been elected the MP the scale of development works was much more than the past 60 to 70 years.

Jammu : While reiterating stand on recently imposed property tax in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, the Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said “People’s interest is the top most priority of the government and has been duly taken care of”. He said the administration has issued a toll free number and people have been asked to put forth their suggestions if any as “doors are yet open for a dialogue”

Talking to media persons in Jammu, the Lieutenant Governor Sinha as per KNS said “I do not speak on political issues. I reiterate that people’s concern is the top most priority of present dispensation. Their concerns have been well taken care of. The rate of tax in J&K is less than Ambala, Dehradun and Shimla”.

“There are 1,01,000 commercial properties in J&K out of which less than 40,000 are those who have to pay 700 rupees annually as property tax. Further there are 36,000 properties who have to pay 2000 rupees annually, which however is much less than states like Ambala, Dehradun and Shimla,” Sinha said.

“People’s concern is our priority. We have issued a toll free number to get feedback and suggestions from people, if any. Doors are yet open for dialogue,” LG Sinha said.

About uproar on APTECH Ltd. the LG Sinha said court has intervened into the matter who gave a verdict on yesterday. (KNS)

Srinagar : Amid forecast for partly cloudy to mainly dry weather, the minimum temperature recorded a slight rise in Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday.

A meteorological department official here told that generally cloudy weather with light rain at isolated to scattered places was expected on March 13 and from 14th-17th, generally cloudy weather with dry weather was expected.
“Afternoon thunderstorms at isolated places can’t be ruled out,” the official said, adding, “generally cloudy with intermittent light rain with thunder at scattered places during March 18-21st.”

Regarding temperature, he said, Srinagar recorded a low of 3.4°C against 3.2°C on the previous night and it was 0.1°C above normal for the summer capital.

Qazigund, he said, recorded a low of 2.4°C against 2.0°C on the previous night and it was 0.2°C above normal for the gateway town of Kashmir.

Pahalgam, he said, recorded a low of minus 0.4°C against minus 1.2°C on the previous night and it was 1.0°C above normal for the famous tourist resort in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district.

Kokernag recorded a low of 5.3°C against 4.3°C on the previous night and it was 3.4°C above normal for the place, the officials said.

Gulmarg recorded a low of 2.0°C against 0.6°C on the previous night and it was 5.5°C above normal for the world famous skiing resort in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, he said.

In Kupwara town, he said, the mercury settled at 1.2°C against 0.4°C on the previous night and it was 0.6°C below normal for the north Kashmir area.

Jammu recorded a low of 15.5°C against 14.6°C on the previous night. It was 1.4°C above normal for J&K’s winter capital, he said.

Banihal, he said, recorded a low of 4.3°C (above normal by 0.2°C), Batote 9.2°C (above normal by 3.3°C), Katra 13.7°C (2.2°C above normal) and Bhadarwah 6.6°C (3.5°C above normal).

Ladakh’s Leh and Kargil, he said, recorded a low of minus 4.8°C and minus 16.7°C respectively. (GNS)

RAMBAN: Known for its unpredictability due to the sudden shooting of stones from the hillock overlooking the strategic Jammu-Srinagar national highway, the most vulnerable stretch of Panthyal in Ramban district is set to get bypassed with the inauguration of the T5 tunnel next week.

The work on the twin-tube 880-metre tunnel, part of the highway realignment project, started in 2020 and is expected to be completed within the next five days. It will put an end to the threat of shooting stones which have consumed numerous human lives.

Over the past couple of years, a temporary iron and steel tunnel at the crucial stretch provided some relief to the people travelling on the highway. But the rolling stones continued to cause frequent disruptions in the smooth movement of traffic.

“Panthyal has remained a critical stretch for decades. This treacherous stretch will be bypassed with the inauguration of T5 tunnel, which is more or less in the completion stage,” Ramban Deputy Commissioner Mussarat Islam told PTI.

Islam, who is monitoring the project and regularly updates the progress on social media, said the opening of the T5 tunnel would end the fear of shooting stones forever along with frequent traffic jams on the stretch.

In a tweet recently, he said the opening of the T5 tunnel will lay the “ghost of Panthyal to rest, forever”. In another tweet, he shared the photographs of Pavement Quality Concrete (PQC) work for top-wearing layers being laid in T5.

The four-lane project of the 270-km highway, the only all-weather road linking Kashmir with the rest of the country, started in 2011. The work, which included a number of small and major tunnels, bridges and flyovers is likely to be completed by next year after missing several deadlines over the past decade.

“We have the most critical stretch of 66 km passing through the district (Ramban) from Nashri tunnel to Banihal tunnel. The National Highway Authority of India is working on the project. We have got three tunnels in the past year and several other small tunnels and bridges are nearing completion which will bypass other critical spots on the road,” the deputy commissioner said.

He expressed hope that the travel through Ramban district will become very comfortable by July end.

“The Ramban flyover which will bypass Ramban market is expected to be thrown open by April 15, Jaishwal bridge near Karole by March 31 and 873-metre Kunfer tunnel between Peeda and Chanderkote next month as well,” he said.

The officer said the Jammu-Srinagar national highway, also known as NH44, is the only highway where a four-lane project is under progress without stopping vehicular movement.

“On an average, over 10,000 to 11,000 vehicles ply on the highway on a daily basis (between Srinagar and Jammu). It is a lifeline and the only all-weather road so the challenges being faced by the executing agencies are much more than anywhere else,” he said.

He said supplies to Kashmir, including perishable items, are carried via this road.

“The administration is giving full support to NHAI for the completion of the project in a time-bound manner and to ensure smooth flow of the traffic,” he said. Varinder Singh, an official working with CPPL construction company which is working on the T5 tunnel, said over 200 workers have been engaged to complete the tunnel on a fast-track basis.

“The engineers, supervisors and labourers are all working together in shifts round-the-clock to ensure the opening of the tunnel,” he said.

Social activist Iftiyaz Ahmad said the opening of the tunnel will be a major breakthrough as many lives have been lost due to the shooting of stones in Panthyal.

“We request the central government to sanction some more tunnels in the slide-prone areas to make the road safer,” he said.

Srinagar: Dr Darakhshan Andrabi held a long meeting with BJP leaders at Surankote to devise multi pronged strategy to expand party base in all areas.

Dr Andrabi addresses Ulema meet also later.

Jammu & Kashmir Waqf Board Chairperson, Dr. Syed Darakhshan Andrabi today held a long meeting with the Bharatiya Janata Party leaders at Surankote and reviewed party’s outreach programme. The delegation was led by BJP Vice President Poonch Azhar Manhas. Other party leaders who participated in the meeting included Mohammad Bashir, Mumtaz Bukhari, Mohammad Akram & Abdul Aziz. Dr Andrabi was briefed about the fresh membership initiative of the party in remote areas and joining of people from all sects, casts and classes of people with the party in endorsement of the welfare measures taken by Modi government as per the doctrine of ‘Sabka Sath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas & Sabka Prayas’. Speaking to the leaders, Dr Andrabi said that the Party’s multi pronged strategy to expand base for BJP needs to be implemented at the ground level effectively. She emphasized on the need to inform people about the flagship schemes and programmes of the Modi led government which has transformed lives of poor people of all sections of society. “BJP has won over the hearts and minds of people of J&K including Pirpanjal districts by the public friendly programmes and decisions. There is no scope of people falling pray to the baseless sentimental exploitation by the old rot of politicians and which is why people of J&K have decided to support and vote for BJP in the days to come”, said Dr Andrabi.
Later Waqf Board Chairperson chaired a meeting of prominent Ulema of Surankote in which she stressed on the need to inform people about the Waqf management and involving common masses in Waqf reforms so that we were able to recreate the Sufi ecosystem in whole of J&K which has been the essence of the culture of harmony and coexistence in this terrority of paradise in India.
Dr Darakhshan also met a few public delegations in the town.(KNS)

DODA: Police have arrested a government employee for allegedly posting ‘hateful’ comments on social media in Jammu and Kashmir’s Doda district, a statement from the police said.

According to the police, the accused identified as Amrik Singh, a resident of Beoli Doda, who is posted as class- IV employee in the office of Chief education officer Doda was found to have uploaded hateful posts/comments on his Facebook account and consequence of which there was every apprehension of the eruption of law and order problem in the District, a statement said.

“Sensing the sensitivity of the matter and to prevent the situation from turning into a law and order problem, Doda Police swung into action and a Police Party of Police Station Doda led by Inspector Arun Parkash Sharma, SHO Police Station Doda arrested the said person and after preparing a detailed report produced him before Executive Magistrate Class 1st Doda wherefrom he was sent to District Jail Bhaderwah under preventive detention,” the statement informed.

Doda Police, the statement claimed, “has maintained close surveillance on the activities of troubleshooters, bad characters on social media and has warned that if any is noticed indulged in spreading hate to hurt the sentiments of any individual or community, stringent action shall be taken against such trouble creators”.

M S Nazki

Poonch : Five cattle were charred alive in a midnight fire in Baila village in Mandi area in Poonch district, officials said on Friday.

They said the fire started from a residential house belonging to one Muhammad Sharif son of Wali Muhammad. While five cattle, three buffaloes and two cows, inside a shed adjacent to the house were charred alive, there was no loss of human life or injury reported in the incident, they said.

Soon after the fire, they said, locals, police and army rushed to spot and doused off the flames. Besides loss of cattle, goods and belongings in the house were burnt to ashes in the fire incident. Confirming it, a police officer told that a case has been registered. He said the cause of the fire was also being investigated.