Tag: kashmir latest news

Govt Sanctions Rs 62 Cr Project For Commercial Cultivation, Conservation Of JK’s Herbal Riches

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JAMMU: The Jammu and Kashmir government, achieving yet another milestone, has 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, this five year project aims at to cultivate MAPs on 5000 kanal of land spread across 28 clusters, creating over 3000 jobs and 28 enterprises. The MAP sector is estimated to contribute about Rs 75 crore every year after 5 years which is expected to rise to over 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 advance scientific knowledge through insightful research.
The initiative also aims to promote cultivation and conservation of MAPs, promote organic farming and standardization, provide special facilities for primary processing, preserve intellectual property rights, educate cultivators on the best practices and undertake research to develop new herbal formulations and drugs.
“There are a number of MAPs that are unique to our agro-climate and offer immense potential for employment and exports. The demand for herbal drugs and cosmetics is growing both domestically and internationally while MAPs extracted from forests put pressure on biodiversity besides pushing many plant species on the verge of extinction” said Atal Dulloo, Additional Chief Secretary APD. “J&K has 129 hectare of cultivatable wasteland, of which, only 2 per cent shall be used for MAP cultivation. Additionally, farmers who adopt MAP cultivation can expect to see a 30-40 per cent increase in their agricultural income”, he added.
“Promotion of commercial cultivation of medicinal and aromatic plants” is one among the 29 projects, which were approved by the Jammu and Kashmir administration after being recommended by the UT Level Apex Committee for holistic development of Agriculture and allied sectors in J&K. The prestigious committee is being headed by Dr Mangala Rai, Former DG ICAR and has other luminaries in the field of Agriculture, Planning, Statistics & Administration like Ashok Dalwai, CEO NRAA, Dr. P. K Joshi, Secretary, NAAS, Dr. Prabhat Kumar, Horticulture Commissioner MOA & FW, Dr. H. S Gupta, Former Director, IARI, Atal Dulloo, Additional Chief Secretary, APD besides the Vice Chancellors of twin Agriculture Universities of the UT.
Upon identification of potential areas for MAP cultivation, the project shall undertake establishment of MAP germ plasm banks. Harvesting and post-harvest management will be facilitated through the formation of farmer cluster groups and the creation of common facilitation centers (CFCs) for primary processing. The branding and marketing aspect of the project will involve product diversification, certification of produce besides branding, labeling and packaging. Besides, Capacity building and training will be provided in good agricultural and harvesting practices, primary processing and marketing as well.
Under the research and development component of the project, there shall be establishment of a “Centre of Excellence on Herbal Technology” for focused research and development on bio-prospecting, crop improvement, organic farming and more.

The MAP sector involves a wide range of stakeholders including industry, entrepreneurs, farmers, collectors and traditional healers. To implement the interventions, the project will prioritize species-specific zones, form farmer cluster groups, establish model nurseries and demonstration units, provide capacity building programs and link farmer groups with industries for product development and digital marketing.
Lastly, this project represents a major step forward towards promotion of medicinal and aromatic plant sector in Jammu and Kashmir besides offering tremendous potential for employment, income generation and sustainable development. With a focus on cultivation, conservation and entrepreneurship, this project promises to bring the MAP sector into the 21st century and secure its place as a key player in the national and international markets for herbal drugs and cosmetics.

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#Govt #Sanctions #Project #Commercial #Cultivation #Conservation #JKs #Herbal #Riches
( With inputs from : kashmirlife.net )

February 3, 2023
Kashmir’s Pominent Businessman Jan Muhammad Koul Passes Away

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SRINAGAR: Prominent businessman of Kashmir Jan Muhammad Koul is no more.
In a statement Kashmir Traders Alliance has condoled the demise of prominent businessman and trader of Kashmir, Jan Muhammad Koul.
Expressing sympathy with bereaved family, President KTA, Ajaz Shahdhar expressed shock over the demise of Koul.J
“Jan Sahab was our mentor who was respected by all in the business fraternity for his behavior and conduct. He was Kashmir’s veteran trader who had served and led prominent trader bodies in the Valley,” reads the statement.
KTA prayed for the departed soul and expressed sympathies with the bereaved family.
His death has left has a big void in business fraternity of Kashmir.

Previous articleJeM Module Busted, 6 Arrested: Police

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#Kashmirs #Pominent #Businessman #Jan #Muhammad #Koul #Passes

( With inputs from : kashmirlife.net )

February 3, 2023
JeM Module Busted, 6 Among 2 Juveniles Arrested: Police

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SRINAGAR: Police on Friday claimed to have busted Jaish-i-Muhammad module by arresting 6 of its members with huge Arms and ammunition in South Kashmir’s Kulgam district.
Quoting official sources news agency GNS reported that a joint team of Police and army busted a Jaish Module by arresting 6 JeM militant associates including two Juveniles.
He further said that during searches one pistol with 23 rounds, Cordtex explosive, 11 magazines, 446 rounds of Insas/M-4 Rifle, 30 AK rounds, one Chinese grenades, 4 UBGL grenades, 2 Rocket Shells, 4 Walkie-talkie, 1 wireless set, 2 chargers and a Magazine pouch was recovered.

Previous articleFAA Recruitment Fraud: CBI Searches 37 Locations In J&K

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#JeM #Module #Busted #Among #Juveniles #Arrested #Police
( With inputs from : kashmirlife.net )

February 3, 2023
JeM Module Busted, 6 Arrested: Police

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SRINAGAR: Police and Army in a joint operation recovered a huge cache of arms and ammunition from the possession of six militant associates, now arrested, belonging to militant outfit Jaish-e-Muhammad, in south Kashmir’s Kulgam district, a police spokesperson said.
“On the basis of specific information regarding carrying out of subversive activities in Mirhama and Damhal hanjipora area of district Kulgam a major breakthrough was achieved by the arrest of six militant associates in joint operation of Kulgam police and 9RR and huge cache of arms and ammunitions were recovered on the instance of the accused,” news agency GNS quoted police spokesperson as having said.
The apprehended person have been identified as; Shahid Ahmad Padder alias Jeela, son of Ghulam Ahmad Padder resident of Mirhama, Ubaid Ahmad Itoo son of Mushtaq Ahmad Itoo, resident of Mirhama, Danish Ahmad Dar son of Azad Ahmad Dar resident of DH Pora, Nawaz Ahmad Ganie son of Mohd Abdullah Ganie resident of Dangerpora, Aabid Mushtaq alias Raju son of Mushtaq Ahmad Naik resident of Mirhama and Kifayat Ahmad Lone alias Rinku son of Mohd Maqbool Lone resident of Mohammad Pora.
The details of the recovered arms and ammunition on the instance of accused, as per the statement include: Pistol 01, Pistol Magazine 01, Pistol Rounds 18, Hand Grenade 01, UBGL Shell 04, Mortar shell 02, AK 47 Rounds 30 Rounds, M4 Rounds 446 Rounds, M4 magazines 08, AK 47 Magazines 01, Insas Magazine 01, Wireless Set 01, Walky Talky 04 and other incriminating materials.
“During preliminary investigation it surfaced that the militants were affiliated with the militant outfit JeM and were in touch with militant handlers via various social media platforms. The arrested accused were hell bent to vitiate the peaceful atmosphere in district Kulgam by way of carrying grenade attacks, intimidating innocent civilians, standoff fire attacks on PRI members, minority communities etc.”, reads the statement.
“In this connection Case with FIR No. 01/2023 under relevant sections of law has been registered in Police Station DH Pora. Further investigation of the case is in progress to expose the broader conspiracy”, the statement further read.
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#JeM #Module #Busted #Arrested #Police
( With inputs from : kashmirlife.net )

February 3, 2023
FAA Recruitment Fraud: CBI Searches 37 Locations In J&K

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SRINAGAR: The Central Bureau of Investigation on Friday conducted searches at 37 locations in 6 districts of Jammu and Kashmir in a case related to irregularities in the examination of Accounts Assistant of Finance Department.
Quoting a statement the news agency KNO reported that the searches were conducted in Jammu, Doda, Reasi, Rajouri, Samba & Udhampur at the premises of accused and others including touts, personnel of J&K Forest Department, CRPF, Indian Air Force.
The examination was conducted by J&K Service Selection Boar.
The statement reads CBI registered a case on 28.11.2022 on the request of J&K Government to investigate the allegations of irregularities in written examination conducted by J&K Services Selection Board (JKSSB) on 06.03.2022 for recruitment of FAA).
“The results were declared on 21.04.2022. Earlier, the Govt. of J&K had constituted an Inquiry Committee to look into allegations of malpractices in the examination. It was alleged in report of the Committee that a conspiracy was hatched amongst officials of JKSSB; a private company based at Bengaluru; beneficiary candidates & others which caused gross irregularities in conduct of written examination,” it reads.
It reads it was further alleged that there were abnormally high percentage of selected candidates from the districts of Jammu, Kathua & Reasi.
“It also found the alleged violation of rules by JKSSB in as much as task of setting question paper was assigned to a private company of Bengaluru. Further investigation is continuing,” it reads.

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#FAA #Recruitment #Fraud #CBI #Searches #Locations
( With inputs from : kashmirlife.net )

February 3, 2023
India Post Is Hiring: Check Details Here

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SRINAGAR: India Post is inviting applications for the engagement of Gramin Dak Sevak (GDS)/ Branch Postmaster (BPM)/ Assistant Branch Postmaster (ABPM) for the year 2023, across India.
Candidates of the age 18-40 years as on the last date of submission of application and have passed the secondary school examination from any recognized board are eligible to apply.
Selected candidates will receive an emolument in the form of Time Related Continuity Allowance (TRCA), which is 12,000-29,380 INR per month for BPM and 10,000-24,470 INR per month for ABPM/Dak sevak. Candidates will also be provided with a Dearness allowance.
40,889 candidates will be selected on basis of system generated merit list.
The last date for application is February 16, 2023. However, the corrections in the application will be permissible from 17 to 19 February 2023.
Eligible candidates need to apply online through the online portal of India Post.
For further information and to apply, click HEREHERE

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#India #Post #Hiring #Check #Details

( With inputs from : kashmirlife.net )

February 3, 2023
Chenab Valley Village Sinking: 21 Families Evacuated

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SRINAGAR: A locality in Chenab valley is sinking and the people have been evacuated to a safe place, reports reaching from Doda said. So far 21 families comprising 111 persons have been shifted to a nearby Jammu Kashmir Tourism Development Corporation (JKTDC) facility.
The abandoned homes in Thathri’s Nai Basti. More than 20 houses were declared unsafe as the area witnessed sinking.
The sinking spot is part of Thathri’s Nai Basti village where the road and a cluster of homes are sinking. It is located not far away from the road to Kishtwar, the arterial highway. The village has more than 50 households but only a cluster is facing the sinking crisis.
“Authorities are also there and the factors responsible for the sinking are being ascertained,” Syed Imran, a volunteer of the NGO Ababeel said. “Our volunteers rushed to the area and helped in quick evacuations.”
Imran said the village is slightly bigger but the impacted area is a huge steep patch that has the 16 houses which developed cracks. The link road, he said, is also sinking.
The affected people have been shifted to the PDC facility at water point Tipri and a JKTDC facility nearby. The damaged constructions included the local mosque.
Officials said experts have been sent to the village to ascertain the cause of the soil shifting which has led to cracks. The entire mountainous region is highly fragile and massive biotic interventions have impacted the area’s geology. Chenab valley is Jammu and Kashmir’s main powerhouse and almost ninety percent of all hydro electric dams are in the region.
The fast-flowing Chenab is also triggering massive land slides impacting all the roads and the highway.
Two years back, the region would witness tremors for most of the summer forcing people to spend their days and nights under open sky. However, the reasons behind the massive sinking in a spot not more than hector are to be investigated.

Sinking was reported in Jammu as well. In Narwal a 3-storey building collapsed a day earlier. Authorities have declared a huge locality unsafe in the temple town, already.

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#Chenab #Valley #Village #Sinking #Families #Evacuated
( With inputs from : kashmirlife.net )

February 3, 2023
HC Dismisses Plea Against Withdrawal Of Selection Of 12 ReKs In Kupwara’s Drugmulla Zone

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SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir High Court has dismissed a petition, challenging withdrawal of provisional selection list regarding engagement of Rehbar-e-Khel for zone Drugmulla in Kupwara district of north Kashmir.
12 candidates had been selected, in pursuance to an advertisement notice issued by the Youth Services and Sports Department on 13 January 2018, as Rehbar-e-Khael in Drugmulla zone.
In all, 223 vacancies were filled up across 13 zones in Kupwara but authorities withdrew the provisional selection list of 12 candidates as regards zone Drugmulla in May 2019 amid complaints of nepotism and favoritism by a selection committee.
The authorities had also ordered a fresh process for engagement against these positions. The action had followed report by a committee constituted by the authorities that, among others, did not dispute the allegations that six out of the 12 selected candidates were close relatives of the officers and officials working the Youth Services and Sports Department Kupwara and that some of the selected candidates were awarded exceptionally high marks in the interview though they were figuring at the bottom of the list as per the points calculated on the basis of their academic qualification.
“A look at the document (placed on record by officials) would reveal that all these 06 candidates, who are stated to be relatives of the officials of the Department, have secured very high marks as compared to the other selected candidates and the candidates who have been rejected,” a bench of Justice Sanjay Dhar said as per the order, a copy of which lies with GNS, adding, “This clearly gives an impression that the interview committee has been influenced by the officers/officials of the Department as a result of which they have awarded higher marks to these six candidates in the interview. Thus, a genuine doubt is cast on the fairness of the selection process.”
Apart from it, the court said, the record shows that the interview of the candidates pertaining to Drugmulla Zone, was not conducted by a duly constituted Selection Committee.
“It is an admitted case of the parties that the interview was conducted by the Additional Deputy Commissioner in place of the Deputy Commissioner, Kupwara,” the court said.
As per Rehbar-e-Khel Scheme, the Selection Committee comprises District Development Commissioner concerned as its Chairman, District Youth Services & Sports Officer as its Member Secretary and District Employment & Counselling Officer and Zonal Physical Education Officer as its members.

“Thus, the interview of the candidates has not been conducted by a duly constituted Selection Committee because it was not headed by the Deputy Commissioner,” the court said and rejected the contention by the counsel for the petitioners that Additional Deputy Commissioner Kupwara had the approval of the Deputy Commissioner to act on his behalf and that selection committee cannot be stated to be incompetent one.
“Without presence of the Deputy Commissioner, the Committee of the selection members is rendered defective. The authorization issued by the Deputy Commissioner that has been relied upon by the petitioners, would not clothe the Committee with the power to make the selection,” the court said, “Even if it is assumed that the Deputy Commissioner, Kupwara, had issued any such authorization, still then it would not make any difference, as it was not within his competence to delegate his powers to any other officer.”
The court also held that the petitioners do not have any vested right to seek a direction upon authorities concerned to take forward the selection process on the basis of provisional select list.
“It is a settled law that mere selection of a candidate does not entitle him to seek appointment to a particular post nor is a candidate, who finds his name in the select list entitled to seek a direction upon an authority to conclude the selection process so that the appointment orders are issued in his favour,” the court
“In the instant case, even the selection of the petitioners was yet to be finalized as their selection was provisional in nature subject to the objections. Once the official respondents considered the objections, they withdrew the provisional select list. The same was well within their competence and jurisdiction particularly in view of the fact that the selection was made by an incompetent Selection Committee and there were a large number of misdemeanors observed in the selection process,” the court said and dismissed the petition.

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#Dismisses #Plea #Withdrawal #Selection #ReKs #Kupwaras #Drugmulla #Zone
( With inputs from : kashmirlife.net )

February 3, 2023
MeT Predicts Snowfall In Kashmir

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SRINAGAR: The weather department here on Friday said that there was a possibility of light snowfall at scattered places of Kashmir in the next 24 hours.
Quoting a meteorological department official news agency GNS reported that mainly dry weather was expected thereafter for two weeks.
Meanwhile, he said, the mercury witnessed a slight drop at most places as sub-zero temperature was also recorded in Srinagar that saw a low of minus 0.6 against 0.4°C on the previous night. Today’s minimum temperature, he said, was above normal by 0.1°C for the summer capital.
Qazigund, he said, recorded a low of minus 2.6°C against 2.0°C on the previous night and it was 0.5°C above normal for the gateway town of Kashmir.
Pahalgam, he said, recorded a low of 1.5°C against minus 2.9°C on the previous night and it was 4.6°C above normal for the famous tourist resort in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district.
Kokernag recorded a low of minus 2.7°C against minus 1.9°C on the previous night and it was 0.3°C below normal for the place, the officials said.
Gulmarg recorded a low of minus 7.0°C against minus 7.6°C on the previous night and it was 0.6°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 minus 0.8°C against minus 2.3°C on the previous night and it was 1.5°C above normal for the north Kashmir area.

Jammu recorded a low of 7.2°C against 7.5°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 2.0°C (above normal by 1.2°C), Batote 4.2°C (above normal by 2.1°C), Katra 7.8°C (0.8°C above normal) and Bhadarwah minus 1.8°C (1.2°C below normal).
Ladakh’s Leh and Kargil recorded a low of minus 11.0°C and minus 15.1°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.

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#MeT #Predicts #Snowfall #Kashmir
( With inputs from : kashmirlife.net )

February 3, 2023
SIA Raids Multiple Locations In Srinagar

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SRINAGAR: State Investigation Agency (SIA) is carrying out raids at multiple locations in summer capital Srinagar on Friday morning as part of its investigation of a militancy related case registered at SIA.
Quoting reliable sources news agency KDC reported that the sleuths of the investigating agency with the assistance of the local police and the CRPF carried out raids in summer capital Srinagar in almost five locations.
The searches are being carried out at the residences of Fareeda Begum w/o Late Fayaz Ahmad Sheikh at Bulbul-Bagh Barzulla, Zubair Ahmad and Zuhaib Ahmad S/O Mohammad Ramzan Bhat at Jawaharnagar, Waseem Ahmad Magray and his brother Anwar Bashir S/o Bashir Ahmad Magray R/o Tawheed colony Natipora.
They said that the raids are being carried out at other locations also.
An official said raids are being conducted in connection with a militancy case already registered at the SIA. The details of the case will be shared later, he said.

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#SIA #Raids #Multiple #Locations #Srinagar
( With inputs from : kashmirlife.net )

February 3, 2023