SRINAGAR: Bollywood Superstar Shah Rukh Khan and his crew have prepared to begin filming his upcoming movie, Dunki, in Kashmir starting Monday, “Reported News 18.
Director Rajkumar Hirani and his team scouted locations in Sonamarg the previous week before heading to Kashmir. The crew has arrived in the region, and it is expected that Khan will shoot a song with choreographer Ganesh Acharya.
Hotelier Mushtaq Chayya expressed enthusiasm for Bollywood’s arrival, stating, “We are eagerly waiting for Bollywood to come here. We are ready with all facilities and will develop infrastructure further.”
After the success of Pathaan, Khan’s supporters are eagerly anticipating his next two big projects, Jawaan and Dunki. In April of last year, Khan announced his collaboration with Hirani on Dunki, which stars Taapsee Pannu in the lead role, marking the first time the two actors will appear on screen together.”
SRINAGAR: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has attached the property of Hizb Chief Syed Salahuddin’s son in the Kashmiri capital of Srinagar.
In this regard, the NIA has issued a notice stating that the immovable property located at Survey No. 1917/1566, 1567, and 1568 in Revenue Estate, Nursing Garh, Mohalla Ram Bagh, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, and under the ownership of Syed Ahmad Shakeel (son of Syed Yousuf Shah, also known as Syed Salahuddin, a ‘listed militant’ under UA(P) Act, 1967), is now attached under sub-section 33 (1) of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, 1967 by the Order of the Special NIA Court in New Delhi.
According to the notice issued by the NIA, Syed Ahmed Shakeel is an accused in NIA Case RC-06/2011/NIA/DLI.
SRINAGAR: Ministry of Jal Shakti released the first ever census of Water Bodies in convergence with the 6th Minor Irrigation (MI) Census under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme “Irrigation Census.”
The census highlighted disparities between rural and urban areas, encroachments and also revealed crucial insights into the country’s water resources. Census also offers a thorough inventory of India’s water resources, including both natural and artificial water bodies including ponds, tanks, lakes and more.
According to the census, 24,24,540 water bodies have been enumerated in the country, of which 97.1% (23,55,055) are in rural areas and only 2.9% (69,485) are in urban areas.
According to the maiden census report there are over 24 lakh water bodies across the country, and over 9,700 water bodies in the Union Territory of J&K, of which over 76 per cent are ‘in use’ while over 23 per cent have been categorized as ‘not in use’, defining them as ‘dried up beyond repair’.
As per the census, a total of 9,765 water bodies have been enumerated in J&K, out of which 99.2% (9,687) are in rural areas and the remaining 0.8% (78), are in urban areas, noting that the majority of the water bodies are ponds.
The census further reveals that over 2272 not-in-use water bodies in J&K and Ladakh, including 2026 ponds, 29 tanks, 6 Lakes, 26 reservoirs, 6 water conservation schemes/percolation tanks/ check dams, and 169 others. Further, out of 9765 water bodies, 5016 are public owned, and 4749 are private owned.
As per the census, 7431 water bodies are in use in rural areas, out of which 718 are used for irrigation, 12 for industrial, 97 for pisciculture, 5935 are for domestic/ drinking, 19 are recreation, 49 are for religious, 129 are for groundwater recharge, 472 are others.
As per the major results, 48.6% (4,749) are privately owned water bodies across J&K, whereas the remaining 51.4% (5,016) are under public ownership. By location, 27 water bodies are located in flood-prone areas and 1,144 water bodies are located in tribal areas.
Out of all water bodies, the census noted, 76.7% (7,493) water bodies are ‘in use’ whereas the rest 23.3% (2,272) are not ‘in use,’ “on account of drying up, destroyed beyond repair and other reasons.”
Out of ‘in use’ water bodies, the census highlighted, a major proportion of water bodies are used for domestic/ drinking purposes followed by irrigation purposes.
The census also noted that J&K has reported encroachment in 103 water bodies out of all the enumerated water bodies, of which 95, it stated, are ponds. Out of 9,765 water bodies, the information on the ‘water spread area’ was reported in 9,759 water bodies.
Out of these 9,759 water bodies, the results note, 98.4% (9,602) of the water bodies have a water spread area of fewer than 0.5 hectares, whereas, 1.1% (104) water bodies have a water spread area between 0.5 hectares to 1.0 hectares and the remaining 0.5% (53) water bodies have more than one-hectare water spread area; in terms of storage capacity while 74.1% (7,238) water bodies have storage capacity between 0 to 100 Cubic Meters.
According to the census, 9209 water bodies in Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh have never been repaired. Only 115 water bodies were repaired before 2009. In 2009, 11 water bodies were repaired; 51 in 2010; 20 in 2011; 34 in 2012; 71 in 2013; 38 in 2014; 59 in 2015; 24 in 2016; 54 in 2017; 34 in 2018, and 45 were repaired after 2018.
SRINAGAR: The authorities in Srinagar have decided to teach four fundamental operations of Mathematics with “BODMAS” to students upto class 10th in order to enhance the quality of education and create equal interest in learning among students.
The decision was taken after the authorities found that non-teaching of four fundamental operations of Maths, along with “BODMAS” was impeding students’ understanding of Mathematics and making studies difficult for them.
Chief Education Officer Srinagar in a circular has said a discussion was held with education experts and experienced officers in Srinagar district to identify reasons for the lack of interest in studies among some students.
“It was concluded that students lacking a full command of Maths cannot become extraordinary intelligent, efficient, and all-rounder citizens,” the circular reads.
It reads that it has been decided that all schools in Srinagar district must teach these basic concepts to all students from Primary to Higher Secondary levels.
CEO has directed all the heads of institutions to impart impart full knowledge of the four fundamental operations and “BODMAS” to all students up to class 10th.
“The heads of schools are given a 15-day window, from April 24 to May 8 to impart full knowledge of the four fundamental operations and BODMAS to all students up to class 10th,” the circular reads.
CEO also warned schools of action if any student, after May 9 is found to be weak in these basic concepts.
“The concerned teachers will face action as warranted under the rules, and the concerned HOI will be held responsible,” the circular reads.
As per the circular chairman of cluster level committees have been asked to monitor this process under the guidance and supervision of respective cluster heads to ensure proper implementation of this circular in letter and spirit—(KNO)
SRINAGAR: Amid forecast for mainly “warmer days” till April 25, night temperature continued to hover below normal.
Quoting a meteorological department official, GNS reported that generally cloudy weather was expected from April 26 to 28.
He said there was possibility of rain and snow over upper reaches at some places duringthe time.
Regarding temperature, he said, Srinagar recorded a low of 5.1°C and it was 3.8°C below normal for the summer capital.
Qazigund, he said, recorded a low of 3.6°C and it was 3.9°C below normal for the gateway town of Kashmir.
Pahalgam, he said, recorded a low of 0.5°C and it was 3.5°C below normal for the famous tourist resort in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district.
Kokernag recorded a low of 6.2°C and it was 1.2°C below normal for the place, the officials said.
Gulmarg recorded a low of 3.2°C and it was 0.1°C below normal for the world famous skiing resort in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, he said.
In Kupwara town, he said, the mercury settled at 3.7°C and it was 3.9°C below normal for the north Kashmir area.
Jammu recorded a low of 17.6°C. It was 3.4°C below normal for J&K’s winter capital, he said.
Banihal, he said, recorded a low of 5.4°C (below normal by 4.0°C), Batote 9.0°C (below normal by 3.0°C), Katra 14.2°C (3.9°C below normal) and Bhadarwah 6.6°C (1.8°C below normal). Ladakh’s Leh and Kargil recorded a low of minus 0.4°C and 1.6°C respectively, the officials added.
SRINAGAR: Srinagar police have seized three jeeps, while juveniles driving them are being counselling after they were found to be indulged in hooliganism on foreshore road in Srinagar.
Police said the juveniles will be counseled and adults will be presented in front of magistrates.
Srinagar police in a tweet said, “3 Thar jeeps JK01AK-5001, JK01AQ-7183, and JK01AQ-3132 in which 7 young boys including juveniles were doing hooliganism on Dal axis, late in night were seized on Foreshore road. The juveniles will be counselled with families & adults will be bound down in front of magistrate,” the police said.
SRINAGAR: A conductor died and a driver was injured when two vehicles crashed into each other on Jammu-Srinagar national highway in Udhampur district last night, officials said.
Quoting officials, KNO reported that a dumper crashed into a truck inside Chanani-Nashri tunnel in Udhampur last night.
He said in the incident conductor of the dumper died on spot while its driver was injured.
The deceased was identified as Balbir Chand of Samba.
Meanwhile, police have taken cognizance of the accident.
Remains of the ill-fated army truck that went up in flames after suspected militants attacked it in Bhata Dhurian area in Mendhar (Poonch) on April 20, 2023. Six soldiers were killed and one survived injured.
In anticipation of preparations for the G20 meeting in Kashmir, suspected militants targeted an army vehicle killing five of the six soldiers. The surviving soldier is battling for his life in the hospital. The attack occurred at Bhatta Durrian (Mendhar), where four soldiers were killed in a gun battle with the militants in October 2021. Army statement said militants hiding behind bushes and a cluster of trees opened firing on the Army truck moving between Bhimber Gali and Poonch at Bhatta Durrian on April 20, 2023, at 3 pm taking advantage of rains and thunderstorms. While one militant used grenades to stop the truck, another opened calibrated fire towards its fuel tank, triggering a massive blaze as yet another militant opened fire at onboard soldiers. Four of five Rashtriya Rifles soldiers are from Punjab.
In order to hunt down the assailants, authorities have suspended civil traffic in the Bata-Doriya area. An NIA team is visiting the area for investigations.
How will the attack impact the cold relations between India and Pakistan remains to be seen. Interestingly, Pakistan foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari is expected to lead a delegation to India for a Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit on May 5 that Goa hosts. It would be the first visit by any Pakistani Foreign Minister since Hina Rabbani Khar’s in 2011.
LG Manoj Sinha says Kashmir will produce Mustard oil worth Rs 800 crore in 2023.
PUNJAB
State Investigation Agency
In a first of its kind, Jammu and Kashmir Police’s State Investigation Agency (SIA) has attached a Punjab resident’s property for “his links with militants”. Identified as Amarbhir Singh of Baba Darshan Singh Enclave at Ram Tirath Mahal in Amritsar, he is living in Dubai but is wanted in many cases in Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir. The SIA seizure with the help of Punjab Police was in a case of recovery of Rs 15 lakh hawala money at Nagrota from two alleged JeM associates Parvez and Farooq, who were arrested in 2021. This is the first action taken by the SIA outside Jammu and Kashmir.
Formally opened on November 4, 2022, the Tele Mental Health Assistance and Networking Across States (Tele-MANAS) has received 10000 calls from people in distress. Women callers constitute 70 per cent.
SRINAGAR
High Court of Jammu and Kashmir
The High Court has quashed a series of detention orders under the Public Safety Act, including the one against journalist Fahad Shah. In the case of Srinagar resident Peerzada Mohammed Waseem, the court said the prosecution accused him of rioting and stone pelting in 2020 when the person was in jail since 2017. “How can a detenue already in jail and facing trial participate in rioting and stone pelting during that intervening period?” Judge Justice Wasim Sadiq Nargal asked.
Wildlife officials said the direct sightings during the biennial census reveal improved numbers of Hangul within Dachigam National Park. In 2021, 261 Hangul were counted.
KASHMIR
Ramzan 2023 was the most peaceful month of fasting in the last more than three decades. In Kashmir, there were no killings of militants or by militants. There was one encounter but the militants managed to flee. In Ramzan 2022, 19 militants, two civilians and two security personnel forces also lost their lives in militant violence. More than 20 militants were killed in Ramzan 2021.
Peace, however, did not help markets that remained struggling to earn. The inclement weather added to their crisis. Even though the month of fasting was extended to 30 days, the last days did not help the market revive. Lal Chowk remained deserted unlike in the past and part of the credit goes to the ongoing smart city works.
However, Ramzan 2023 would be remembered for the mess that Kashmir’s so-called grand Mufti, Nasirul Islam landed in. He was in a controversy at the beginning of the month when he declared that his “moon-sighting committee” could not locate the Ramzan crescent. People defied his claim and started fasting as Shia ulema had moon-sighting evidence. On April 19, a brief recording came on social media in which he was saying that his committee could not locate the crescent of Shawaal month on April 20, so Eid is being celebrated on Saturday, This triggered a serious controversy leading Nasir to send a formal request to Jammu and Kashmir Police to investigate the issue. He said he had been recorded for Doordarshan in advance. DD insider confirmed it saying this is the tradition. “We keep two versions recorded and then run the one that he permits at the appropriate time,” an insider said. The question, however, remains – how can anybody record something in advance when he or she lacks knowledge of it? On the flip side of it, police have investigated the issue and have answers. Will they ever reveal? Wait.
Against Rs 217.43 crore, the Government generated Rs 260.94 crore with the e-auction of 257 retail liquor vends for the year 2023-24. Some more vends are auctioned soon.
KISHTWAR
A youth was killed and his brother survived injured in a mysterious blast in their own kitchen at Chitran village in Kishtwar’s Simbol area. The dead young man was identified as Shabir Ahmad, 20, and the one struggling to survive as Mohammad Yaseen, 18. Gucchi mushroom hunters, the two brothers had located something in the hospital and were heating it when it exploded. In another interesting incident, Ghulam Hassan, an ex-serviceman, from Angloe area opened fire on his wife, Rubeena, and Yasmeena, his minor daughter and rendered them injured. He used a 12-bore rifle. He lost his cool when his wife and daughter pleaded with the drunkard not to have liquor. Now, he is being tried for an attempt to murder.
Kashmir’s mutton requirements are expected to go up post-Eid from the prevailing 35 truckloads of sheep a day to 160.
DELHI
Jammu and Kashmir’s erstwhile foot-in-mouth governor, Satya Pal Malik has landed in yet another controversy for accusing Prime Minister, Narendra Modi and NSA, Ajit Doval, of making him silent on February 2019 Pulwama attack. The tragedy pushed India and Pakistan to the brink of a war in which the US had to intervene.
“CRPF personnel had requested aircraft to transport their personnel because such a large convoy does not normally travel by road. They had made the request to the Home Ministry, then held by Rajnath Singh, who refused. If they had asked me, I would have provided the aircraft. They had requested five aircraft,” Malik told Karan Thapar. “I told the Prime Minister the same evening (after the incident) that it happened due to our mistake. If we had provided them with aircraft, it could have been averted. He (PM) told me, ‘You keep quiet for the time being.’ I had already told one or two TV channels about it. He (PM) said, ‘Don’t talk about it. This is something else…’. Ajit Doval (NSA) also told me the same thing, ‘Satpalbhai (brother), you don’t talk about it. Please stay silent on this’.” Malik said, it took him a bit of time to realize “that the blame will now be shifted towards Pakistan, so I better keep quiet.”
Though Malik made several claims and told some very interesting stories about the politics in Delhi, it was the Pulwama attack that people have focused on. Congress is seeking a white paper on the Pulwama attack that killed nearly 40 CRPF personnel, days ahead of the national election. “Satya Pal Malik has brought out the explosive satya (‘truth’) which is more explosive than the Pulwama explosion itself…but this is nothing new. People were aware at the time that some Indo-Pakistan incident would be manufactured for political gain. Was the terror attack staged with the aim of winning elections?” Shiv Sena leader and Rajya Sabha MP, Sanhjay Rauat has said. “Was there a plot to get 40 jawans killed for political gain? We [Opposition] had repeatedly tried to ask such questions at the time but were silenced by the ruling party and branded as ‘traitors’.”
The anti-climax of the controversy is that even Pakistan is using Malik’s statement. “His [Malik’s] disclosures demonstrate how the Indian leadership has habitually used the bogey of terrorism from Pakistan to advance its sham victimhood narrative and the Hindutva agenda, clearly for domestic political gains,” a statement from Pakistan’s foreign ministry said.
Nearly four lakh people have visited Tulip Garden in the last month.
KATHUA
Kathua
An embarrassed Jammu and Kashmir government had no option but to admit that little Seerat Naaz’s video clip about the condition of the government high school in Lohai-Malhar is “not far from truth”. Naaz addressed the Prime Minister in the 5-minute video that she shot and commented on. After introducing herself as a student of the particular school, she goes on a virtual tour of her school. “Modi-ji, mujhe na aap se ek baat kehni hain (Modi-ji, there is something I need to tell you.)” Seerat then pans the phone camera towards an uncovered concrete surface, right in front of two closed doors which she identifies as the “principal’s office and the staff room” and comments: “Dekho humara farsh kitna ganda ho chuka hain. Humein yahan niche bithate hain (Look how dirty the floor is. They make us sit here).”
“Chalo mein aap ko bari si building dikhati hoon aapne school ki (let me show you the big building where our school is),” she goes on, “Yeh dekho, pichle 5 saalon se, dekho kitni gandi building hain yahan pe. Chalo mein aap ko andar se dikhati hoon (Look how unclean the building has been for the last 5 years. Let me take you on a tour of the inside of the building)”.
It was againt this backdrop, she makes a reqiest: “Please, aap se na request karti hoon, aap na achha sa school bana do. Humein niche baithna parta hain aur hamari uniform gandi ho jati hain aur phir humein Mamma marti hain. Humare pas bench bhi nahin hain (I request you to build us a nice school. We have to sit on the floor because of which our uniforms get dirty. My mother often scolds me for this. We don’t even have benches to sit on).” She adds: “Please Modi-ji, mein aap se request karti hoon ki achha sa bana de yeh school. Meri bhi baat sun lo (Please Modi-ji, I am requesting you to make my school better. Please grant my wish)”. She even films the toilet: “Dekho, humara kitna ganda toilet aur tut gaya hain (Look how filthy and broken our toilet is).” She then directs her lens towards a pit where the students go to relieve themselves. “Humein iss naali mein jana parta hain (We need to head to this pit to relieve ourselves.)”
The Government will now offer an ex-gratia relief of Rs 25 lakh (Rs 20 lakh out of UT Budget and Rs 5 lakh out of SRE) to the families of personnel who die in the line of duty and are from Jammu and Kashmir.
SRINAGAR: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha addressed ‘North Zone MSME Conclave & Investors Meet’ organised by Laghu Udyog Bharati, on Sunday.
The Lt Governor shared the key initiatives of JK administration to facilitate the MSMEs in the UT and to harness its unlimited potential.
“Under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Government has taken a number of steps to promote growth and development of MSMEs in the country. Today, MSMEs account for more than 30% of India’s GDP and 49.5% of exports, thus contributing significantly to economic growth,” said the Lt Governor.
“The future economic growth will be driven by the MSMEs. We have taken several steps in the UT such as investment in innovation skills, MSME-centric industrial estates, access to financing, incentives and adequate infrastructure to boost the growth of MSMEs,” the Lt Governor added.
Underscoring the important role of private sector in the UT’s growth, the Lt Governor asked the potential investors to take advantage of the business-friendly environment developed for the industries.
“J&K is emerging as a vibrant, fastest growing and most attractive investment destination. Today, the world is recognizing the all round transformation taking place in Jammu Kashmir. Renowned companies from across the country and abroad are looking forward to invest here. I welcome Industry leaders to be part of this journey”, said the Lt Governor.
Industrial development in J&K aims to create more inclusive, creative and sustainable society. The UT will play an important role as new engine of India’s growth in the future. New Industrial Scheme focuses on enabling environment to create jobs and increase productivity, he added.
Speaking on the effective measures taken in order to promote MSMEs, the Lt Governor said, 25% procurements from MSMEs have been made mandatory for Government departments & Public sector undertakings and local filter has also been made operational on GeM platform.
Since the launch of Udyam Registration portal in 2020, two lakh MSME units have been registered in J&K. As many as 38,000 micro and small enterprises are run by women. In the last financial year, 18,000 women-owned enterprises were provided assistance of more than Rs 500 Crore under credit guarantee scheme, said the Lt Governor.
On the progress registered to boost the MSME sector, the Lt Governor said, under PMEGP, an unprecedented 21,640 manufacturing and service units were established in 2021-22. As many as 42 industrial estates will be set up in Jammu Kashmir in the next few years and out of these 34 industrial estates will be focused on MSMEs, noted the Lt Governor.
All 20 districts are being developed as export hubs and emphasis has been laid on the promotion of products which will boost MSMEs’ growth, he added.
There is immense potential for MSMEs in the field of Integrated Processing Facility, Mega Food Park and Cold Chain Logistics. The Holistic Agriculture & Allied Sector Development Plan worth Rs 5013 crores will boost the growth of MSMEs in J&K UT, observed the Lt Governor.
The Lt Governor highlighted the efforts for reforms and strengthening of industrial ecosystem.
Massive reforms in terms of basic amenities, infrastructure and banking facilities have ensured stability and made the UT’s growth more inclusive, said the Lt Governor.
The work done for industrial development of J&K is clearly visible. In the last two years, Jammu Kashmir has received 5,372 investment proposals worth Rs 70,000 crore. Proposals worth Rs 24,000 crore from more than 1,800 companies have been approved, he added.
The Lt Governor said the UT Government is making dedicated efforts for GI tagging of niche & premium local products while the export in carpet and pashmina is witnessing an upward trend. We are promoting village industrial units and self-help groups and also developing human resources for Industries 4.0, he added.
The Lt Governor also spoke on the ongoing road infrastructural and other projects to strengthen the connectivity. He further highlighted the land reforms introduced in the last three years and the measures taken to ensure land availability for industries.
SRINAGAR: A man was injured after he was attacked by a bear in Boniyar area of North Kashmir’s Baramulla district on Sunday evening.
An official said that a man was injured after he was attacked by a bear in Hundi Nowhera area of Baramulla district.
He said that the man was identified as Habibullah Awan son of Mohammad Usman Awan, resident of Hundi Noweshra. He also stated that the injurer was taken to GMC Baramulla by his legal heirs from where he was refered to SKIMS Soura Srinagar for specialized treatment. (KS)
