Page 108 - Jammu And Kashmir

LG assures no harm to common man in ongoing anti-encroachment drive in J-K

Amid growing concerns over the ongoing anti-encroachment drive, Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor Manoj Sinha has assured people that the administration will safeguard the habitants and the livelihood of the common man. He dismissed as "misinformation" the claim that the common man will be impacted in the anti-encroachment drive launched last month across Jammu and Kashmir. The drive has drawn severe criticism from almost all major political parties and also triggered protests in certain pockets. "I want to assure the people that the administration will safeguard the habitations and livelihoods of the common man. Only influential and powerful people who misused their position and violated the law to encroach upon the state land would face the law of the land," Sinha said after inaugurating Civil Services Officers Institute (CSOI) here on Friday. "Only those people who have grabbed land illegally are facing eviction. I have personally directed the deputy commissioners and senior ...

J&K admin sanctions Rs 62 cr project for conservation of herbal riches

The Jammu and Kashmir administration on Friday announced a pioneering project envisaging total transformation in the landscape of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (MAPs) cultivation in the Union Territory. With a budget of Rs 62 crore, the five-year project aims to cultivate MAPs on 5,000 kanal of land spread across 28 clusters, with a potential to create more than 3,000 jobs and 28 enterprises, an official spokesman said. He said the MAP sector is estimated to contribute about Rs 75 crore every year after five years and the amount is expected to exceed Rs 783 crore by the year 2037. "This ambitious project marks a significant transition from traditional, wild extraction based practices to a more sustainable, modern approach to MAP cultivation, conservation and entrepreneurship. "The mission of this project is to achieve commercial production of MAPs outside the forests, promote organic farming, develop local and international markets besides boosting advanced scientific knowledge ...

Houses develop cracks in J&K's Doda, 19 families to shift temporarily

Nineteen families were evacuated after their homes developed cracks at a village in Jammu and Kashmir's Doda district, officials said on Friday. The authorities also declared unsafe a mosque and a religious school for girls at Nai Basti village in Thathri, 35 kilometres from Doda town along the Kishtwar-Batote National Highway. A few structures in the village started developing cracks a couple of days ago but the situation was exacerbated by a landslide on Thursday with the number of buildings damaged reaching 21. "We have shifted 19 affected families to a safer location after their houses were rendered unsafe. We are observing the situation and taking steps as per need to ensure their safety," Sub-Divisional Magistrate (Thathri) Athar Amin Zargar told PTI. The deputy commissioner and the senior superintendent of police visited the spot and assured all help to the affected families, he said. Zargar, however, refused to compare the situation to that in Uttarakhand's Joshimath -- th

Encroached state land being retrieved to benefit public: J-K administration

The Jammu and Kashmir administration on Thursday said the encroached state land is being retrieved from the big "vested interests" only with the purpose of reverting it back for public use. Chief Secretary Arun Kumar Mehta directed the Deputy Commissioners to safeguard the habitations and livelihoods of the poor and downtrodden. He was speaking in a meeting of Union Territory Divisional and District administration to take stock of measures being taken to streamline the anti-encroachment drive. Mehta maintained that these measures are aimed at helping common people. "This land belongs collectively to the masses and retrieved land shall be used for the benefit of all of them," he said. He said no person has any legal right to usurp the rights of commoners. The Chief Secretary pointed out that such measures should be supported by the public as the retrieved land shall be used for public utility such as hospitals, schools, play grounds, bus stands, Industries and parking spaces. "It

Union Budget 2023: Govt allocates Rs 35,581 crore to Jammu and Kashmir

The Union Budget 2023-24 on Wednesday allocated Rs 35,581.44 crore to Jammu and Kashmir, the majority of it being central assistance for the union territory. Other union territories -- Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Chandigarh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, Ladakh, Lakshadweep, Puducherry and Delhi -- too got their share. According to the Budget papers, Rs 35,581.44 crore has been allocated to Jammu and Kashmir, of which Rs 33,923 crore is central assistance. This allocation is substantially lower than the current fiscal's revised estimate of Rs 44,538.13 crore The central assistance given to the union territory is to meet the resource gap and a special fiscal support of Rs 9,486.13 crore. The Jammu and Kashmir administration will have to spend the amount for mitigation of natural disasters, to meet the expenditure incurred on account of permanent restoration of infrastructure which was damaged due to the 2014 floods, rehabilitation, preservation and restoration of ...

336,000 quintal paddy procured from 6,500 farmers in J-K: Official

The agriculture department has procured 3.36 lakh quintal paddy from more than 6,500 farmers in Jammu and Kashmir last year, an official said on Wednesday. At a meeting of northern states on the price policy for kharif crops 2023-24 here, Director of Agriculture Jammu K K Sharma said, "The department has established 23 procurement mandis to maintain a reasonable price for agriculture products." "During the year, 3.36 lakh quintal paddy was procured covering 6,549 farmers and crediting Rs 68.88 crore in their accounts within 48 hours through direct benefit transfer," he said. He said the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir stands at the third position in terms of farmers' income as the department worked tirelessly even during the COVID-19 pandemic to protect the interests of farmers and holistic development of the agriculture sector. The objective of the department is to provide quality seeds, protecting farmers' interests, maintaining a reasonable price for agricultural products a

Major slide hampers movement of vehicles on Jammu-Srinagar national highway

The local people on Monday also claimed that the air traffic has also been impacted due to heavy snowfall in Srinagar

65,000 people benefited from Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana in J&K's Rajouri

Millions of people in the border districts of Rajouri and Poonch of Jammu and Kashmir still live below the poverty line

J-K highway closed for 2nd consecutive day due to landslide in Ramban

The Jammu-Srinagar National Highway was closed for traffic for the second consecutive on Tuesday due to a landslide in Ramban district, leaving more than 600 vehicles stranded on the road. The 270-kilometre-long highway, the only all-weather road linking Kashmir with the rest of the country, was blocked by mudslides and shooting stones between Chanderkote and Banihal in the district in Monday. Traffic officials issued an advisory asking people not to travel on the highway. According to them, more than 600 vehicles are stranded at different points of the highway. Men and machines have been deployed to clear the highway, they said. The mughal road, which connects Shopian district of Kashmir with Poonch district of Jammu, was also blocked for traffic due to heavy snowfall, they said. Efforts are on to clear the road of the snow and restore traffic on it, they said.

J&K Lt Guv launches QR code-based labels of 13 GI, non-GI registered crafts

Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor Manoj Sinha on Sunday launched QR code-based labels of 13 GI and non-GI registered crafts here, terming the move as a landmark in preserving and promoting priceless artistic and cultural heritage of the Union Territory. Congratulating the artisan community, handicraft department and other stakeholders, the Lt Governor said the QR code labels will help to authenticate the origin and quality of the crafts, improve the quality assurance in both national and international markets and benefit craftsmen, traders and exporters. "This is an important landmark in preserving and promoting priceless artistic and cultural heritage of J&K UT. QR code-based mechanism would help in ensuring product quality, genuineness and boost global demand for J&K handmade products," the Lt Governor said at a function at Raj Bhavan here. A GI (geographical indication) tag is officially assigned to certain products or crafts that are linked to a particular region to ...

Jammu and Kashmir govt approves Rs 146-cr project for promoting niche crops

The Jammu and Kashmir government has approved a project worth Rs 146 crore to promote niche crops as unique heritage of the Union Territory, which will be implemented in the next five years, officials said on Sunday. "The project aims at diversifying and expanding the area of niche crops over an area of 11,100 hectare, thus ensuring livelihood security for 1,11,000 targeted beneficiaries with a revenue realisation of Rs 2,238 crore," Additional Chief Secretary (ACS), Agriculture Production Department (APD), Atal Dulloo said. He said the initiative will focus on increasing production, improving livelihoods and enhancing market accessibility. "This will be achieved through establishment of nurseries and seed villages, infrastructure development, and collaboration with various partners and stakeholders," he added. An official spokesman said Jammu and Kashmir is home to a diverse range of niche crops, including saffron, kalazeera, kashmiri lal mirch, peanut, anardhana, bhaderwah rajmas

Mehbooba Mufti joins Bharat Jodo Yatra as it resumes from Awantipora in J-K

PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti on Saturday joined the Congress leader Rahul Gandhi led Bharat Jodo Yatra that resumed from the Chersoo village in Awantipora after being cancelled on Friday.

Bharti Airtel rolls out 5G services in seven cities of Jammu and Kashmir

Telecom operator Bharti Airtel on Friday announced the launch of its 5G services in Samba, Kathua, Udhampur, Akhnoor, Kupwara, Lakhanpur and Khour. In a statement, Airtel said its 5G services will be available to customers in a phased manner as the company continues to construct its network and complete the rollout. "Samba, Kathua, Udhampur, Akhnoor, Kupwara, Lakhanpur and Khour get ultrafast Airtel 5G Plus services in addition to Jammu and Srinagar cities," the company said in a statement. Adarsh Verma, Chief Operating Officer of Bharti Airtel, Jammu, Kashmir & Ladakh said: "Connectivity to our customers in the Valley is in line with our commitment to bridge the digital divide and connect communities who need it the most". "We are in the process of lighting up the entire Union territory which will allow customers to enjoy superfast access to high-definition video streaming, gaming, multiple chatting, instant uploading of photos and more," Verma added.

Bharat Jodo Yatra suspended temporarily in Kashmir due to security concerns

The Bharat Jodo march led by Rahul Gandhi was stopped on Friday near Qazigund, the gateway to the valley, after Congress alleged breach of security and mismanagement of crowd by Jammu and Kashmir administration. AICC incharge Rajni Patil tweeted that JK administration "failed to provide security to Bharat Jodo Yatra led by Shri Rahul Gandhi. "Security lapses indicate unfair and unprepared attitude of the UT administration," Patil said. Gandhi, after reaching Qazigund, started to walk towards Vessu in South Kashmir as per the plan but the Congress workers suddenly found that the outer cordon, which was to be managed by Jammu and Kashmir police, had disappeared, Congress leaders alleged. Gandhi was scheduled to walk 11 kms on Friday but had to call off after he barely walked 500 metres, they said. "Due to security reasons, we had to stop the yatra temporarily as there was crowd mismanagement along the yatra route approved by the security apparatus," a senior congress leader said. H

Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra resumes today from J-K's Banihal

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi resumed his Bharat Jodo Yatra from Jammu and Kashmir's Banihal on Friday en route to the Valley. Enthusiastic Congress workers and supporters carrying the tricolour turned up in large numbers to receive the Gandhi family scion. Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister and National Conference vice president Omar Abdullah also joined Gandhi at Banihal. Donning a white T-shirt like Gandhi, Abdullah started walking with the Congress leader, along with hundreds of Congress party supporters. "The Bharat Jodo Yatra is not aimed at improving the image of Rahul Gandhi but for improving the situation in the country," the NC leader told reporters upon his arrival in this highway town of Banihal, 120 km from Srinagar. Abdullah said he joined the yatra as he was more concerned about the image of the country. "We have not joined this for the image of an individual but for the image of the county," he said. The NC leader further said Gandhi did not start the yatra f

NC leader Omar Abdullah joins Congress' Bharat Jodo Yatra from Banihal

NC leader Omar Abdullah Friday joined the Bharat Jodo Yatra here, saying that the Rahul Gandhi-led march is not being carried out for the image makeover of the Congress leader, but rather to change the situation and atmosphere of the country. The former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir said he does not want to delve into Congress' stand on the revocation of the special status of Jammu and Kashmir. "The Bharat Jodo Yatra is not aimed at improving the image of Rahul Gandhi but for improving the situation in the country," the National Conference (NC) leader told reporters upon his arrival in this highway town, 120 kilometres from Srinagar. Abdullah said he joined the yatra as he was more concerned about the image of the country. "We have not joined this for the image of an individual but for the image of the county," he said. The NC leader further said Gandhi did not start the yatra for personal reasons but due to his concern over the attempts to create communal tensions and targe

Grenade found near house of former MLA in J-K's Poonch, search underway

A grenade was found near the home of a former legislator in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district on Thursday evening, his son said. Last Friday night, an explosion was reported at his house in Lasana village of Surankote tehsil. His family had a narrow escape as splinters pierced the ceiling of several rooms. "I had gone for a condolence meet when I received a call from home that a grenade was found near the house. It was close to our boundary wall," Showkat, the son of former Surankote MLA and prominent Gujjar leader Choudhary Mohammad Akram, told reporters. Police and Army personnel have cordoned off the area and a search is underway, he said. Expressing fear, Showkat also questioned the security measures being enforced in the area. "Why is this happening to us? This is the second such incident," he said while expressing faith in the security forces. Security guards have been increased at our house and floodlights installed, Showkat added.

G-20 meet in J-K 'message to enemies of humanity': LG Manoj Sinha

Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Thursday said the upcoming G-20 meeting in Jammu and Kashmir is a "message to the enemies of humanity" and urged people of the Union territory to come forward and make it an "inclusive" event. "The G-20 meeting being held in Jammu and Kashmir in May this year is a message to the enemies of humanity who were attacking the interests of our citizens through cowardly acts of terrorism for decades," Sinha said while addressing a Republic Day function here. He said that Jammu and Kashmir, which is an integral part of India, is the "life blood" of the country. Sinha said it is the guiding lamp of the civilization and "eternal sound of our social consciousness". "Jammu and Kashmir today stands tall with self-confidence, encompassing the great heritage and cultural values of the world's largest republic. Today, J&K is marching forward on the path to progress," he said. "I urge every section of the society to come forward and make the G-20 an inclusive ...

Republic Day celebrated across Kashmir, relaxed atmosphere in Srinagar

Republic Day was celebrated across Kashmir on Thursday with functions held at all district headquarters of the valley amidst tight security arrangements, officials said here. The main Republic Day function in the valley was held at the Sher-e-Kashmir Cricket Stadium at Sonawar here. Advisor to Lieutenant Governor Rajesh Rai Bhatnagar was the chief guest and presided over the function. Braving bone-chilling cold, contingents of the police, CRPF, NCC and school children took part in the march past where Bhatnagar took the salute. After the parade, artistes from various parts of the union territory performed at the cultural event. In his address, Bhatnagar highlighted the steps taken by the LG administration and the central government to improve the development scenario and security situation in Kashmir. BJP workers led by the party's state general secretary Ashok Koul unfurled the national flag at Lal Chowk's clock tower. While security force personnel were deployed in numbers to en

Relaxed security situation in Srinagar on India's 74th Republic Day

Security arrangements were eased in Srinagar city on Republic Day with fewer check posts set up in the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, while in a rare break from practice, internet services were not suspended on Thursday. Security forces were deployed in adequate numbers on the roads leading to the Sher-e-Kashmir Cricket Stadium , the venue of main function in the valley, but the concertina wires that used to block the intersections in the city were missing, officials said. Check posts were set up at very few places in the city, allowing for free movement of people and vehicles. Suspension of mobile phone and internet services on Republic Day and Independence Day have been part of the security drill in the Valley since 2005 when terrorists used a mobile phone to trigger an IED blast near the venue of Independence Day celebrations.