SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference Chief Spokesperson and In Charge Constituency Zadibal Tanvir Sadiq on Sunday chaired a convention of party functionaries in Dug Mohalla, Rainawari in Zadibal Constituency. On the occasion he welcomed prominent businessman and social activist Irshad Ahmad into the party.
Addressing the workers Tanvir said that the government was busy swelling its coffers, but when it comes to passing on the benefits to the poor, it sidesteps its responsibility. “Despite charging hefty amounts from consumers, the rampant erratic power supply and unscheduled cuts is taking a toll on people during the ongoing winter season. The administration is further deepening the troubles of people by providing inferior quality of rice at FCSCA ration stores. There is no accountability on the ground,” he said.
“We have long been identified with J&K’s identity, dignity and historical uniqueness. The march of gradually increasing space for democratic forces in Kashmir is a result of NC’s historical efforts, people know this. This is why NC is the first and last choice of people. People of J&K have seen political parties surface and vanish. On our part we will continue to guard our people’s trust in us with our lives,” Tanvir said.
“There is no end to government apathy. Unemployment, development deficit, and administrative apathy have become the bywords of Jammu & Kashmir. Today’s J&K is defined by anxiety, fear and insecurity and there is no end to it.”
On the occasion, Tanvir welcomed number of socio political activists into the party fold, hoping that the party will benefit from their wide ranging experience in public life. The new entrants too vowed to strengthen the party at grassroot level.
JAMMU: Jammu and Kashmir is all set to revolutionize its fruit industry with introduction of High-Density Plantation (HDP) system and production of quality planting material.
The Department of Horticulture, in collaboration with Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST) and Indian Council of Agricultural Research-Central Institute of Temperate Horticulture (ICAR-CITH), have ventured together to provide technological intervention for this new project. The goal is to make Jammu and Kashmir a self-reliant bio-economy by harnessing the economic potential of its diversified fruit crops.
The project aims to enhance the production capacity of planting material to 111 lakh in the first five years, develop 390 hectare of nurseries in public and private sectors, rejuvenate 2,000 hectare of orchard areas and produce planting material to cover 5,500 hectare under HDP of 12 fruit crops. Additionally, the project aims to strengthen plant testing and quality control, tissue culture and virus indexing labs besides building capacity by training 5,000 farmers and 150 technical manpower from SKUAST and the Department of Horticulture. The project shall create 200 new enterprises in the form of HD nurseries and provide potential jobs to 25000 persons.
technological intervention for planting material production, the project will generate inputs for apple, pear, olive, walnut, mango, citrus, guava, litchi, stone fruits, kiwi fruit, almond, and dragon fruit plantations. The promotion of these fruit crops on a large scale will not only increase productivity and returns for farmers, but also raise the income of nursery growers by around Rs. 1.0 lakh per kanal per year.
This project is a game changer for the horticulture industry in Jammu and Kashmir and will help to improve the lives of farmers and increase the overall income of the region. By focusing on HDP systems and quality planting material, the region can achieve its goal of becoming a self-reliant bio-economy.
SRINAGAR: Under the revolutionary citizen centric ‘Aapki Zameen Aapki Nigrani’ initiative, about twenty eight lakh passbooks have been distributed among the beneficiaries of Jammu and Kashmir which is aimed to demystify land records for eliminating possibility of manipulation.
Pertinently, Aapki Zameen Aapki Nigrani initiative is one of the flagship programmes launched by the J&K government to bring ease, transparency and convenience for citizens about land records.
Under this initiative, public users can search and view copies of scanned data online on CIS Portal- http://landrecords.jk.gov.in/. The initiative facilitates easy online access to the Land Records System thereby reducing manipulation of revenue records besides improving the efficiency of Revenue offices substantially. This endeavor is part of Digital India Land Records Modernization Programme (DILRMP) and Jammu and Kashmir has achieved an important milestone in providing the most transparent and accountable services to the common people under this initiative.
As per the official records, lakh of citizens have viewed their land records till date and the feedback of citizens has resulted in purification, updation of land records on constant basis.
Earlier, there was no mechanism to view or monitor the status of land records by the citizens who were dependent on the officials to check their land records manually.
An official said that through Aapki Zameen, Aapki Nigrani, land records have been made readily available to citizens, and the online revenue service delivery is preventing human intervention and mischief.
Similarly, the new land-use laws have ensured that people get a reasonable and fair price for their land and the interest of farmers is protected.
The programme aims to modernize management of land records, enhance transparency in the land records maintenance system, thus reducing scope of land/property disputes and facilitate conclusive titles to immovable properties in the country. The major components of the programme included computerization and digitization of land records, survey/resurvey and updation of all survey and settlement records, integration of property registration with land records and cadastral maps for enhancing authenticity and security of data, bringing utmost transparency in the system, Capacity building, and development of Land Records Information System.
After 5th, August 2019, Jammu & Kashmir has embarked on an unprecedented development trajectory wherein transformational initiatives in all sectors have been launched. Transparency in maintenance and upkeep of Land records was an area which required an urgent intervention and “Aapki Zameen Aapki Nigrani” (AZAN) is a landmark intervention in this direction.
SRINAGAR: Weather department on Sunday forecast fairly widespread light snow on February 6 in Jammu and Kashmir.
Quoting a meteorological department official news agency GNS reported that partly cloudy weather was expected on February 7-8. “Light to moderate snow/rain was expected at many places during February 9 (night) -11th,” the official said.
Meanwhile amid cloud cover, the minimum temperature saw further increase except at a few places with Srinagar recording a low of 1.8°C against minus 0.4°C on the previous night. Today’s minimum temperature, he said, was above normal by 2.2°C for the summer capital.
Qazigund, he said, recorded a low of minus o.4°C against minus 3.0°C on the previous night and it was 1.1°C above normal for the gateway town of Kashmir.
Pahalgam, he said, recorded a low of 5.4°C against minus 0.9°C on the previous night and it was 0.8°C above normal for the famous tourist resort in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district.
Kokernag recorded a low of minus 0.0°C against minus 1.8°C on the previous night and it was 2.0°C above normal for the place, the officials said.
Gulmarg recorded a low of minus 6.4°C against minus 5.5°C on the previous night and it was 0.3°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 2.9°C against minus 1.8°C on the previous night and it was 4.9°C above normal for the north Kashmir area.
Jammu recorded a low of 8.3°C against 8.9°C °C on the previous night. It was 1.2°C below normal for J&K’s winter capital, he said.
Banihal, he said, recorded a low of 2.2°C (above normal by 1.2°C), Batote 3.8°C (above normal by 1.6°C), Katra 9.1°C (1.7°C above normal) and Bhadarwah 2.2°C (2.5°C above normal).
Ladakh’s Leh and Kargil recorded a low of minus 10.8°C and minus 15.4°C respectively, the official said. 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.
JAMMU: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha Saturday flagged off a batch of nine undergraduate students from SKUAST-Jammu on an exposure-cum-training programme to Kansas State University, USA.
An official spokesman in a statement issued here said that the 60-day long capacity-building fellowship would expose the students to global learning ecosystem and industry establishment.
The LG interacted with the students and congratulated them upon their selection to the fellowship.
The students would be visiting the Kansas State University under the Student Overseas Fellowship Programme of National Agricultural Higher Education Project (NAHEP) funded by Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and World Bank.
The group includes undergraduate students of Faculty of Agriculture, School of Biotechnology and Faculty of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry from the Agriculture University.
Vice Chancellor SKUAST Jammu Prof Nazir A Ganai and other associated faculty members were also present at Raj Bhavan.
SRINAGAR: A Special Judge (Designated) under NIA Act here has sentenced a militant, arrested in 2020, to five years in jail.
The court passed the verdict in a case FIR (No. 07/2020) under section 16, 18, 19, 20, 39, UA (P) Act and 7/25 I.A Act of police station Saddar Srinagar.
The convicted militant, Nisar Ahmad Dar alias Usman of Wahabpora Hajin Bandipora, was held along with one AK-47 Rifle with two Magazines, 60 live rounds and two Chinese-made hand grenades with one pouch, police said. “The Court while pronouncing judgement has awarded 05 years of simple imprisonment for each offence U/S 18, 19, 20, 39, UA (P) Act and 7/25 I.A Act to the accused. The punishment shall run concurrently,” news agency GNS quoted police as having said.
Similarly, on February 2, he said, the Court of Special Judge (Designated) under NIA Act, Anantnag convicted one LeT affiliate Dawood Ahmad Dar son of Mushtaq Ahmad Dar of Ashmuji Kulgam and sentenced to undergo simple imprisonment for a period of four (04) years and eight (08) months U/S 5 of Explosive Substance Act in a case (FIR No. 42/18) filed with police station Devsar. “The accused has been guilty of having illegally one grenade in his possession”.
SRINAGAR: Nazar Nasir, a Sher-e-Khaas boy left his chosen academic path to follow his dream of crocheting stereotyped as an art pursued by women folk in the subcontinent.
Crocheting is a handicraft in which yarn is made up into a textured fabric by means of a hooked needle known as a crochet hook.
In 2016, Nazar, a self-taught artist, who has a degree in literature decided to break the gender stereotype associated with crocheting. He informed his parents that he was going to pursue this handicraft as a full-time career. Nazar’s parents became his biggest supporters.
“It all started during 2016’s Kashmir unrest. I was at my aunt’s house where she was making a sweater. I asked her to teach me and then when the internet was restored, I learned that this handicraft is called crocheting,” Nazar said.
However, knowing the art was the first step because Nazar went on to start a part-time business employing his skills.
Nazar Nasir
Like every stereotype, this also wasn’t easy to break. Nazar faced criticism initially for mastering something perceived as feminine in the sub-continent.
“It was quite challenging for me to perform something that women typically do here in Kashmir. Knitting and crocheting are seen as too feminine a vocation to be taken up by men,” he said.
He says that crocheting is also a lucrative business that the unemployed youth in Kashmir can pursue. “When I first started, I would just do crocheting for fun or when my relatives asked for something. However, after properly learning the craft, I sell my products.”
He received significant commercial growth from social media platforms including Facebook and Instagram. Also, word-of-mouth publicity has helped his business expand.
He says it makes him happy when people call him the “male crocheter of Kashmir.”
SRINAGAR: The demolition drive has picked its pace in Srinagar and Jammu. There were scores of spots where the revenue officials, cops and bulldozers remained active for part of the two.
For different reasons, the two spots proved to be very distinct.
Malik Market
In Jammu’s Malik Market where the MG Hactor showroom is built on a piece of state land, at least four bulldozers came and started demolishing it. They damaged the frontal facade and part of the basement as hundreds of people were watching.
All of a sudden, the people of the area got furious and they reacted. They resorted to stone pelting as a result of which the demolition squad left the machinery behind and fled. It was a brief spell, however.
The showroom owner, Ghulam Mohammad Baig, a resident of Srinagar, has said that he has purchased the land in 1990 and he has papers. One report said he is willing to offer land in exchange so that his more than Rs 2.5 crore investment survives unscathed.
The demolition came against the background of continued protests by the inhabitants of the Sunjwan and Bathindi area of Jammu where at least six residents have received notices that they have constructed their homes on state land. A protest was also reported from the Sidhra area.
Reports reaching from Jammu said that the twin localities shut down normal life for almost four days. Though the government has been conveying that the drive is against the influentials only, the residents seemingly are unwilling to believe. Those who have got notices include at least three individuals having some political connection.
In Jammu, the authorities have already retrieved land from BJPs Kavinder Gupta, DDC Chairman from Kathua, and a former minister – all from BJP, and lot many have received notices including a few from Apani Party.
Padshahi Bagh
There were very disturbing visuals coming from Padshahi Bagh where an old woman was pleading that her relative’s property may not be damaged because he is a very poor man. Some people even said the property that was damaged is owned and there are documents to prove that. Residents claimed they received no notice and the bulldozer’s arrival was a shocking surprise.
A group of women attempting to block the bulldozer from demolition the space, they call ‘home’. The area witnessed an early morning demolition drive on February 4, 2023. KL Image: Special Arrangement
Besides, there was a man – apparently, a non-native, who was crying claiming he has been living on the spot for 20 years and had never been touched. He claimed he received no notice so that he could have arranged some alternative. It was not immediately known to which place he belonged.
There was a very disturbing visual showing two small girls crying near the bulldozers in a tight embrace. It was not immediately known whether they belonged to the native or the non-native.
Other Spots
The demolitions are taking place at such a scale that is impossible to report every single act. It is happening in all the districts.
Near Srinagar’s RTO office, authorities sealed a 4-storey complex but the owner; a lawyer briefed the media and showed his ownership details and the amount that SMC has already received more than 15 years ago. He also talked about the division bench’s direction that the property should not be touched at all. Besides, he claimed he has building permission as well. Barring the construction costs, he gave details of payments worth Rs 60 lakhs that different government agencies have already received.
The bulldozers remained active in Humhama where the outer compound wall of a former DC Budgam was demolished. This is the most prized housing settlement in Srinagar, perhaps the only one that is not served by any public transport service. Today’s demolition in the area was a follow-up to an earlier operation in which a police officer’s encroachments were retrieved.
Bulldozer was also found operating in the Nishat area where a lawyer – a relative of a politician, lives and her compound wall was destroyed. Authorities later raised a board saying it is state land.
Ghulam Nabi Azad had a meeting with Home Minister, Amit Shah in which the issue was raised. A day later, LG Manoj Sinha flew to Delhi and returned to Jammu the same day. Later that evening he told a gathering that the operation of retrieving the state land will continue.
The government has earlier said that they have retrieved more than 600 thousand kanals of land that was encroached upon across Jammu and Kashmir. The operation is likely to continue and intensify in the coming days.
JAMMU: Under the effervescent patronage and guidance of Acting Chief Justice, High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, Tashi Rabstan, the High Court today rolled out an initiative of taking up the Judicial matters of UT of Ladakh through virtual mode by allowing the parties and lawyers to appear and plead their cases from Ladakh itself.
In its first kind of initiative, the Court of Justice Tashi Rabstan today heard the matters of UT of Ladakh virtually, in which the lawyers and government representatives who were petitioners and the respondents in the listed cases appeared on virtual mode from Leh and pleaded their cases.
As many as, six (6) matters of the UT of Ladakh were listed today before the Bench, in which the virtual proceedings were conducted.
In the today’s era of technology, conducting the proceedings of a case virtually by connecting different locations on one platform is going to be a big boon in the judicial dispensation. Rolling out such a facility for the people of Ladakh by the High Court is aimed at easing out the sufferings of the litigants and the lawyers who earlier had to physically travel to Jammu and Srinagar for appearing in their respective matters. This will save time besides being financially viable for both parties of the case.
“In future, hearing of the matters of Ladakh willl be done virtually by allowing the parties to appear and plead their cases from the UT itself and it will be a regular feature”, stated Anoop Kumar Sharma, Registrar Computers (IT), High Court of J&K and Ladakh.
JAMMU: Under the effervescent patronage and guidance of Acting Chief Justice, High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, Tashi Rabstan, the High Court today rolled out an initiative of taking up the Judicial matters of UT of Ladakh through virtual mode by allowing the parties and lawyers to appear and plead their cases from Ladakh itself.
In its first kind of initiative, the Court of Justice Tashi Rabstan today heard the matters of UT of Ladakh virtually, in which the lawyers and government representatives who were petitioners and the respondents in the listed cases appeared on virtual mode from Leh and pleaded their cases.
As many as, six (6) matters of the UT of Ladakh were listed today before the Bench, in which the virtual proceedings were conducted.
In the today’s era of technology, conducting the proceedings of a case virtually by connecting different locations on one platform is going to be a big boon in the judicial dispensation. Rolling out such a facility for the people of Ladakh by the High Court is aimed at easing out the sufferings of the litigants and the lawyers who earlier had to physically travel to Jammu and Srinagar for appearing in their respective matters. This will save time besides being financially viable for both parties of the case.
“In future, hearing of the matters of Ladakh willl be done virtually by allowing the parties to appear and plead their cases from the UT itself and it will be a regular feature”, stated Anoop Kumar Sharma, Registrar Computers (IT), High Court of J&K and Ladakh.
