SRINAGAR: An unidentified body was found on Friday in Gole Market area of Karan Nagar here, officials said.
Quoting officials the news agency KNO reported that an unidentified body that was found today at Gole market area Karan Nagar has been taken to SMHS hospital here.
An official at SMHS said that the body of a person aged 20-22 years has been brought to the hospital. He said that the identification of the body is being ascertained by police.
SRINAGAR: The mercury continued to show an upward trend with all places in Kashmir Valley barring Pahalgam recording above sub-zero level minimum temperature on Friday.
Quoting a meteorological department official news agency GNS reported that Srinagar recorded a low of 2.8°C against the previous night’s 1.3°C . Today’s minimum temperature, he said, was above normal by 2.7°C for the summer capital.
Qazigund, he said, recorded a low of 1.8°C against 0.5°C on the previous night and it was 1.9°C above normal for the gateway town of Kashmir.
Pahalgam, he said, recorded a low of minus 0.9°C against minus 1.9°C on the previous night and it was 3.5°C above normal for the famous tourist resort in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district.
Kokernag recorded a low of 0.6°C against minus 0.8°C on the previous night and it was 1.5°C above normal for the place, the officials said.
Gulmarg recorded a low of 0.2°C against minus 2.0°C on the previous night and it was 7.0°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 0.6°C against minus 0.8°C on the previous night and it was 0.8°C above normal for the north Kashmir area.
Jammu recorded a low of 12.9°C against 11.2°C on the previous night. It was 2.4°C above normal for J&K’s winter capital, he said.
Banihal, he said, recorded a low of 5.2°C (above normal by 3.9°C), Batote 5.8°C (above normal by 5.8°C), Katra 12.2°C (4.1°C above normal) and Bhadarwah 6.4°C (6.1°C above normal).
Ladakh’s Leh and Kargil recorded a low of minus 2.1°C and minus 6.6°C respectively, the official said.
The MeT department has predicted occasional cloudy but mainly dry weather till February 18 and possibility of light rain and snow in plains and light to moderate snow in middle and higher reaches during late night of 19th to 20th afternoon.
While Chillai-Kalan, the 40-day long harsh winter period that started on December 21 has ended, Kashmir is under the grip of a 20-day-long period called ‘Chillai-Khurd’. It will be followed by a 10-day-long period ‘Chillai-Bachha’ (baby cold) which is from February 20 to March 1.
SRINAGAR: In a major recognition, the Srinagar District has attained First Rank among 156 Districts in the Country under Swach Sarvekshan Grameen with score of 137.70.
The Srinagar District has topped the rank by scoring better than Khargone District of Madhya Pradesh which has achieved 2nd rank by achieving score of 133.02 points followed by Badaun District of Uttar Pradesh with score of 115.38.
The Swachh Survekshan Grameen is a ranking exercise taken up by the Government of India to assess rural areas for their levels of cleanliness and active implementation of Swachhata mission initiatives in a timely and innovative manner. It was launched as part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, which is aimed to make India clean and free of open defecation.
Under this competition District Srinagar has done some remarkable work during the last few months and has been able to climb to the top rank.
Speaking about the achievement, the Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, Mohammad Aijaz Asad has said that this it is a pride moment for Srinagar District which has been achieved through collective efforts of the Team.
SRINAGAR: Tremors were felt in Katra early morning on Friday, according to National Centre for Seismology.
An earthquake with a magnitude of 3.6 on the Richter Scale was recorded at 5.01 am today. The depth of the earthquake was recorded at 10 km.
“Earthquake of Magnitude:3.6, Occurred on 17-02-2023, 05:01:49 IST, Lat: 33.10 & Long: 75.97, Depth: 10 Km, Location: 97km E of Katra, Jammu and Kashmir,” National Centre for Seismology said in a tweet.
A teacher, researcher and innovator, Dr Jameel A Khan’s expertise in developing drought-tolerant varieties has helped address climate change challenges. Currently serving as Programme Manager at C-CAMP, one of the respected addresses for cutting-edge research and innovation, the young scientist reveals his learning curve and the contributions he made to the agricultural science
TheNewsCaravan (KL):What are the new goals in agricultural sciences for increasing production?
DR JAMEEL A KHAN (JAK): During the green revolution of the 1960s, there was a growing demand for increased food production due to a rapidly growing population. MS Swaminathan employed genetics knowledge to meet this demand and address the issue of food scarcity. One of the strategies employed was to cultivate short-stature crop varieties instead of tall ones, as the tall ones had a tendency to fall over, causing crop loss. This strategy successfully addressed the issue of lodging and increased food production. As the population continues to grow, biotechnology will become a key area of intervention in agriculture, aimed at meeting the demands of the next green revolution.
KL:So what is the status right now?
JAK: While current agricultural yields are stable, there are still major challenges such as droughts, pests and diseases, and post-harvest losses. Improving storage technologies and addressing these issues will help meet the food needs of both current and future populations. Approximately 40-50 per cent of food production is lost due to factors such as drought, heat, salinity, and floods. To address these issues, biotechnology has a significant role to play in finding solutions for these challenges and reducing post-harvest losses.
KL:Before we go into your accomplishments and research can you offer us details about your learning curves and challenges faced during your career journey?
JAK: I started my educational journey at New Convent, Gogji Bagh, Srinagar where my teachers instilled in me the importance of thinking big and pursuing my dreams. After completing the 10th standard, I decided to study BSc in Agriculture at SKUAST, Jammu. I then went on to secure a seat for a Master’s in Plant Biotechnology at the University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore by qualifying for the national level exam JNU-DBT. Initially, I had intended to follow in my brother’s (Er. Muneer Khan) footsteps and pursue a career in engineering, as he had studied at SSM. However, I decided to forge my own path when I went to a counselling session and ended up being selected for BSc Agriculture, my parents were astonished but happy.
Eventually, I did a PhD in the same field. I was the sole individual from Kashmir to secure a PhD in UAS-Bangalore at that time.
I was determined to do something innovative in my research and this led to the start of my journey in innovation. Throughout my academic journey, I faced challenges but my determination and hard work helped me secure my place in the field of Plant Biotechnology.
KL:What were the key takeaways from your PhD?
JAK: Research can be as brief as a one-page publication, as evidenced by Watson and Crick’s research on the structure and model of DNA, which won a Noble Prize. This just goes to show that the length of scientific research can range from being short to extensive, like discussions on black holes. The human genome, which can be measured in megabytes and terabytes, contains vast amounts of information that we are now able to comprehend. Similarly, research on genes related to human traits such as appearance (eye colour and height) and behaviour (intelligence, addiction, and even depression) etc., are influenced by gene expression. Researchers are understanding which genes are responsible for these traits. For example, if I wanted to select intelligence, I would look for someone with genes that express high intelligence.
In the realm of plant research, we divide the phenotype into visual and performance aspects, as we observe how plants perform under biotic and abiotic stress, such as water scarcity in agriculture, particularly in rice cultivation. It takes about 2500 litres of water to produce one kilogram of rice, from growth to consumption. By reducing water consumption in rice cultivation by just 10-20 per cent, we could make a significant impact on humanity. Rice can now be grown without stagnant water in a field, thanks to the research I have been a part of.
During my PhD, I worked on exploring the phenotypic and genotypic factors affecting plant growth and productivity, specifically focusing on rice cultivation. I developed a technology for root phenotyping and utilized German technology at the ICAR-National Institute of Abiotic Stress Management. This was a major milestone as it was the first platform of its kind developed in India and I made it available to other scientists by not patenting it. My aim was to make advanced technology accessible to farmers at an affordable cost.
My research also involved studying the genes that express high levels of root growth and analysing the correlation between gene expression and phenotype. By combining both phenotypic and genotypic information, I was able to gain a better understanding of the factors affecting plant growth and productivity.
I also looked at the impact of abiotic stress, such as water scarcity, on agriculture and specifically rice cultivation. I found that a significant amount of water is required for rice growth and that reducing water consumption by just 20-25 per cent can lead to a big step towards sustainable agriculture. Our laboratory developed a rice variety called aerobic rice that utilizes deep roots to absorb water from deep soil, thereby saving 20-25 per cent of water compared to traditional rice varieties.
Overall, my PhD research aimed to improve our understanding of the factors affecting plant growth and productivity and to develop practical solutions to reduce water usage in agriculture.
KL:Is this rice variety being grown anywhere?
JAK: At present, the government of Katakana has already approved the growing of this rice cultivation. Our technology is ready for any future water scarcity and is proven to be effective. We have taken a thorough approach to this technology, even down to the genetic level, to ensure that farmers can access the aerobic rice variety ARB6 (BI 33) whenever they may need it in the future.
KL:Does aerobic rice BI 33 require specific ecology for growing?
JAK: ICAR has a policy of multi-location trials, which must be completed before any new variety of rice can be approved. Recently, Tamil Nadu scientists conducted research on drought-resistant varieties, with BI 33 outperforming all other varieties in the trials. This variety has now been approved, after having passed all tests.
KL:How does it work on a yield?
JAK: Despite a 5% drop in yield, the comparison between aerobic rice and rice grown in water is not applicable here. We are instead comparing how rice will be grown using technology in the future when water scarcity becomes more severe.
KL:Will this technology ever suit growing rice in Kashmir?
JAK: Kashmiri people rely heavily on rice as their main source of food, and the agricultural sector is always looking ahead to anticipate potential needs and address potential issues. In the case of a water scarcity crisis in Kashmir, science and technology are prepared to mitigate any potential losses in yield. Scientists are always looking forward, anticipating the needs of the future, and this is what drives the research and development of new technologies–even if it may seem out of reach at the present moment. For instance, Elon Musk’s ambitious plans to take humans to Mars or the Moon demonstrate the potential for future technology to make the seemingly impossible a reality. In this way, my own work falls in line with this outlook, searching for solutions that may open up new possibilities.
Dr Jameel A Khan (Agriculture)
KL:With immense success in your field of research, why you changed your career path?
JAK: I have always been passionate about technology and its potential to innovate and create a bigger, brighter future. With a background in agriculture, I wanted to be part of the Agrotechnology revolution that is currently taking place in India. My experience has enabled me to understand how technology can be used in the most effective ways, and I am eager to use my knowledge to contribute to the industry.
Also, the recent initiatives in Agritech and the focus on agriculture accelerators in the budget proposed by the Government of India indicate that research must be effectively adapted and implemented for real-world applications. This emphasis on agriculture accelerators in the budget is a clear sign that the government is actively pursuing work that can have tangible impacts on the agricultural sector, which could have a significant ripple effect throughout the country. We at C-CAMP have been forefront runners in such research and innovations.
KL:What are the present projects you are working on?
JAK: At the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Platforms (C-CAMP) in Bangalore, we are part of the Bangalore Life Science Cluster (BLiSC) and have three major institutions and top bio incubators. C-CAMP has been awarded the best incubator of India across all sectors, owing to our expertise in life sciences, be it biotechnology, agro technology, health technology, or any other industrial biotechnology. We also received an award during National Startup Day as the best Ecosystem Enabler in India. We feel proud to contribute to bioeconomy in India. We provide the handholding for the latest technologies that a startup or an individual innovator is working on.
I handle multiple programs, the basic objective is to assess the proposal, considering its scientific acumen, financial theme, and future innovation in technology. We provide a grant of Rs 50 lakhs for eighteen months to help develop a product and mentor the startup with proper guidance for early-stage innovators.
I work on a programme where we train innovators to find a relevant problem and make a venture out of it. In this programme along with a monthly fellowship of Rs 50,000, a kick-start grant is given. Young innovators in Kashmir should consider applying for this programme.
At C-CAMP, I also work with the Centre of Excellence in Agriculture with the objective to identify gaps in agriculture. We were successful in handholding startups that are making a national impact, for example, Krishitantra.
KL:What are the innovations taking place in agriculture? Is there any contribution from Jammu and Kashmir in Agrotechnology?
JAK: Agriculture is undergoing a transformation due to the introduction of innovative technologies. Indoor vertical farming is one of the most popular advancements, as it increases crop yields and reduces the negative impact on the environment. Farm automation technology is also becoming increasingly popular, as it automates the crop or livestock production cycle. In addition, livestock technology is being used to monitor health and increase productivity through wearable sensors. Other innovations that are expected to hit the market include agricultural robotics, artificial intelligence in agriculture, and the use of drones. All of these technologies are helping to make agricultural processes more efficient and effective.
The Vice Chancellor of SKAUST-K has been a great mentor to me and has taken a number of new and innovative initiatives at the university. In Kashmir, it can be difficult to get acceptance for new ideas and advancements, but many universities like SKUAST have taken steps to bring about change. I also met the VC of Kashmir University and the DIQA Director, I could see the enthusiasm to work on innovations.
There are many innovators who have applied for these projects, and I have taken on the role of mentor, as I feel that it gives me a chance to give back to the community. We also have the JK Scientist programme, which helps students to get accepted for doctorates and PhDs.
I take this platform for productive collaboration with C-CAMP for making impactful innovations in life sciences.
SRINAGAR: Notwithstanding the public resentment against the hike in monthly electricity bills, the authorities at the Power Development Department (PDD) on Thursday said the charges will increase further as the installation of LT cables and smart meters will display consumer’s actual electricity consumption.
Alleging that many consumers use four to five times more electricity beyond their sanctioned load, news agency KNO quoted the PDD Chief Engineer (Distribution), Javid Ahmad as having said.
“With the installation of LT cables and smart meters, the people will come to know about their actual electricity consumption as many people are sanctioned with 0.5 KV load but are using 5 KV. So, it is still way below what they are paying against the consumption,” he explained.
Stating that the billing tariff will not remain the same indefinitely, he said power is a commodity that needs to be purchased by the government.
Rejecting the people’s demands of switching back to their previous monthly electricity bills, the chief engineer termed those “out of question”. “People at many places protested against the installation of smart meters and LT cables, but ultimately these were installed. We have to move ahead and treat electricity as a commercial commodity,” he stressed.
Terming the hike as “arbitrary”, the people from various localities of the Safakadal area in Srinagar on Wednesday staged a protest against the PDD.
The protestors said they are witnessing a regular increase in their monthly power bills, and urged the authorities to restore their monthly electricity billing to their earlier tariff.
SRINAGAR: Chairperson of Waqf Board, Darakshan Andrabi on Thursday said that at least 5000 notified properties are presently missing and that the process has been started to locate these possessions while the illegal occupants have also been directed to pay rent or vacate the assets within 15 days.
Quoting Andrabi news agency KNO reported that the revenue records of 5000 notified Waqf properties are available, but the possessions are missing. “The revenue records of missing properties are available and Waqf is not having the control on such properties. We have already started a process to locate the belongings,” she said.
She further stated that presently, there are 30 per cent illegal occupants in the Waqf properties. “We have asked the illegal occupants to either pay the rent as per the revised rates or vacate the properties within 15 days,” she said.
Chairperson, Waqf Board also said that people are quite cooperative and it is expected that they will positively come forward to resolve the issue. “We also don’t want to go tough against anyone. We don’t want to affect anyone’s livelihood, but the people must cooperate,” she said.
Furthermore, she said that the process has been going on for the geo-tagging of the Waqf properties.
SRINAGAR: The air quality in Kashmir has been consistently deteriorating for the past three years, reveals the data compiled by the Jammu and Kashmir Pollution Control Board (PCB).
Quoting Pollution Control Board (PCB) data news agency KNO reported that the air quality has been deteriorating more in winters and Lasjan area has the most polluted air.
The Respirable Suspended Particulate Matter (RSPM or PM 10) levels at all four stations in Srinagar have shown a steep rise in the last three years.
At the Raj Bagh station, the yearly average of PM-10 level for year 2021-22 was 139.26 µg/m³ against the permissible limit of 60 µg/m³ while at the same station it was 73.88 µg/m³) in year 2019-20 and 89.61 µg/m³ in year 2020-21.
At the Khonmoh station, the yearly average of PM-10 level for year 2021-22 was 162.86 µg/m³ against the permissible limit of 60 µg/m³ while at the same station it was 120.03 µg/m³) in year 2019-20 and 163.97 µg/m³ in year 2020-21.
At the Khrew station, the yearly average of PM-10 level for year 2021-22 was 132.65 µg/m³ against the permissible limit of 60 µg/m³ while at the same station it was 119.48 µg/m³) in year 2019-20 and 127.98 µg/m³ in year 2020-21.
At the Lasjan station, the yearly average of PM-10 level for year 2021-22 was 227.80 µg/m³ against the permissible limit of 60 µg/m³ while at the same station it was 197.74 µg/m³) in year 2019-20 and 235.29 µg/m³ in year 2020-21.
As per the data, the highest RSPM levels have been reported in winter months as the RSPM level in year 2021at Rajbagh and Khonmoh were 237.41 µg/m³ and 255.43 µg/m³ respectively in month of December while at Khrew and Lasjan the levels were highest in month of November with 176.6 µg/m³ at Khrew and 330.08 µg/m³ at Lasjan.
However, as per data the Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and sulfur dioxide (SO2) levels in Srinagar have been found below the permissible mark as average NO2 levels at Rajbagh, Khonmoh, Khrew and Lasjan were 20.27 , 20.09, 22.10, 20.84 respectively in year 2021 as compared to the yearly permissible level of 40 µg/m³ for NO2 while SO2 levels were below 11 at all stations.
Notably, Director SKIMS Dr Parvaiz Koul had recently said that yearly around 10 thousand deaths are attributed to particulate matter 2.5 (PM 2.5) exposure and there is need to control it by countering it.
He said that air pollution is the main issue of J&K due to the increasing number of vehicles, construction, brick kilns, cement factories which emit pollutants and significantly pollute our air and affect “our health which makes air pollution a health issue.”
He said the measures, which can contribute to decreasing air pollution include using fewer vehicles, decreasing the use of unleaded petrol, decreasing use of biomass fuels, less use of Kangri, and using vented heaters.
He said air pollution is affecting every single organ of the body and ”we have work to reduce the pollution.”
JAMMU: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Thursday attended the 3-day long Mahashivratri Mahotsav at Jagti Colony and Migrant Camp Buta Nagar.
Lt Governor Manoj Sinha attended 3-day long Mahashivratri Mahotsav at Jagti Colony & Buta Nagar
In order to facilitate Kashmiri Pandit Community in Camps & Non-Camp Areas, Relief Organisation has brought together 20 Line Departments for the Mahashivratri Mahotsav.
Extending the greetings of Mahashivratri in advance, the Lt Governor said the festival is the celebration of Kashmiri culture & the spiritual-cultural heritage of the country.
It is the symbol of our ancient values and ethos. Kashmiri Pandit brothers & sisters living in different parts of the country & the world have kept this tradition alive, he added.
“Mahashivratri or Herath is the most important festival of Kashmiri Pandits & festivity has been aptly named ‘Waliv Samav- Let’s Come Together’ to celebrate & seek divine blessings of Lord Shiva. This is a welcome step by the Relief and Rehabilitation department,” said the Lt Governor.
Our festivals are also the source of self-awakening. I pray to Lord Shiva for the happiness, prosperity, good health and well-being of all, said the Lt Governor.
The Lt Governor said, keeping in view Mahashivratri festival, full salaries of all PM package & other minority community employees who have resumed their duties in Kashmir have been released.
He also highlighted the initiatives of the administration for extension of seamless public service delivery to Kashmiri Pandit community at their doorsteps.
All the issues of the Migrant Kashmiri Pandit community are being taken up for their resolution with utmost sensitivity, said the Lt Governor.
Special Governance Camp is a testimony to our commitment for welfare of Kashmiri Pandit Community. The Department of Relief and Rehabilitation and other line departments are ensuring 100% saturation of the benefits of all social security schemes, entrepreneurship development schemes and skilling programs, added the Lt Governor.
The Lt Governor urged all the members of the Kashmiri Pandit community to avail the benefits of the special camps. Administration is always ready to resolve all the genuine issues. Continuous efforts are being made to ensure that your problems & grievances are resolved promptly and effectively, he further added.
Jammu Kashmir Government always stands by you. Your safety is our top priority and we are taking all possible measures to ensure that. This is the commitment of the Government of India and Prime Minister, the Lt Governor said.
You have suffered a lot for three long decades. I pray that the day will come when you return to your homes with honour. I hope with your return Kashmir will find its lost glory, added the Lt Governor.
The Lt Governor also shared the progress of construction of housing units for PM Package employees in Kashmir.
Earlier, it was difficult to get Land for construction of 6000 dwellings but now land has been identified and except for two sites, the work is in full swing. 1200 dwellings will be handed over by April and by December more than 2500 dwellings would be handed over, he informed.
Beneficiaries identified for various schemes during Special Governance Camp on 4th February were also handed over aids and authority letters on the occasion.
Mukesh Singh, ADGP Jammu; Ramesh Kumar, Divisional Commissioner, Jammu; KK Sidha, Commissioner, Relief & Rehabilitation and other senior officers were also present.
JAMMU: Secretary Culture, Dr Syed Abid Rasheed Shah today took an extensive tour of Shri Ranbir Singh Library here and took stock of facilities being provided to the public there.
He held an extensive tour of the library and visited different sections of the public library viz reading room section, children section, Raja Ram Mohan Roy Section, automation, reference section etc.
On the occasion, he also interacted with the students who visit the library regularly, and enquired about the facilities being provided there.
He also asked the students for suggestions and the requirements, if any, to make the library better and smooth access for them.
During his visit, he was informed that last year 2.26 lakh people visited the 131 public libraries of Jammu and Kashmir.
During the tour, he was accompanied by Special Secretary, Trishala Kumari; Director Libraries & Research, M Rafi; Deputy Secretary Culture, Abdul Qyume and other officers.
The secretary highlighted the need for certain transformative changes in the department to better serve the public in this digital age and to diversify these public libraries to address the needs of today’s library members.
He also suggested exposure visits and trainings to the staff and officials of Libraries Department in order to enhance the personal and professional level skills for effective delivery of library and information services.
The secretary underlined the adoption of new technology in the Department of Libraries & Research which would eventually increase the efficiency and effectiveness of day-to-day library work and services and added that information technology interventions in public libraries would help the readers’ services also.
Shah urged the officers to make the public libraries attractive to youngsters by focusing on youngsters and youth engagement by drawing them towards libraries of Jammu and Kashmir.
He said that youngsters can be attracted to these libraries by employing several steps like by offering diverse lineup programmes, organizing public library trips for school students by and providing cutting-edge technology.
He also suggested increased public participation by opening invitations to all stakeholders for sharing ideas which can be implemented and asked people to post their suggestions on [email protected] in order to make library experience better and beautiful for all age groups.
