SRINAGAR: The Central Bureau of Investigation has arrested a Junior Assistant, for demanding & accepting bribe of Rs.15,000 in Samba district.
Quoting a statement the news agency KNO reported that a case was registered on complaint against the accused, wherein it was alleged that the complainant had taken loan of Rs.10 lakh from SBI, Samba under PMEGP Scheme, which was sponsored by District Industries Centre (DIC), Samba.
The statement reads it was further alleged that to avail the subsidy in respect of the loan, the complainant needed NOC from DIC, Samba.
“It was also alleged that the Junior Assistant, District Industries Centre, demanded bribe of Rs. 20,000/- from the complainant for issuing NOC. Later, the bribe was negotiated at Rs.15,000/-. CBI laid a trap and caught the accused red-handed while demanding & accepting bribe of Rs. 15,000/,” it reads.
It also reads searches were conducted at the premises of the accused. “The accused Gopal Raj Sharma will be produced before the Special Judge, CBI Cases, Jammu tomorrow,” it reads.
SRINAGAR: New Digital Cath Lab in SKIMS was inaugurated by Chief Secretary, Dr Arun Kumar Mehta, on Saturday.
Chief Secretary E-Inaugurates Digital Cath Lab At SKIMS Soura
The Cath lab was procured at a cost of 8.5 crores and has led to a significant enhancement of the capacity of SKIMS in handling interventional cardiology procedures at SKIMS.
Established in 1982, the cardiology department is the flagship department in SKIMS and is one of the highest volume centres in the country for coronary interventions.
The centre does interventional procedures from the ages of 1 day to 90 years and is the only centre in the UT doing Pediatric cardiac interventions as also removal of infected pacemakers. The centre is the second leading centre for pacemaker placement in the country.
Dr Mehta dedicated the Cath Lab to the people of UT and emphasised that healthcare in J&K should should evolve to such a level that no patient should ever be required to go out of the UT for medical treatment.
SRINAGAR: The Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) on Saturday warned people to remove the illegal structures built over the Dhood Ganga Nallah.
In a notice, Srinagar Municipal Corporation Commissioner Athar Aamir Khan said that Dhood Ganga Nallah from Alochi Bagh to Chatabal is an important channel for the management of storm water and for preventing of urban flooding in the Srinagar City.
The rejuvenation and restoration of Dhood Ganga Nallah from Alochi Bagh to Chatabal has been taken up under Srinagar Smart City Limited with Drainage Circle (Civil), SMC as the executing Agency, it reads.
“Whereas, it has been found that a number of encroachments and illegal structures have come up on the site of Nallah; Whereas, removal of these encroachments and illegal structures and restoration of Nallah is important for flood and storm water management in the City,” reads the notice.
“Now, therefore, through this Public Notice, all such individuals/encroachers are given 07 days’ time from the issuance of this notice to remove all encroachments/illegal structures erected on and along the Nallah, failing which Srinagar Municipal Corporation shall initiate action including removal of these encroachments at the risk and cost of the offenders/encroachers,” reads the notice issued by Srinagar Municipal Corporation Commissioner Athar Aamir Khan.
SRINAGAR: Amid Prevailing Inclement Weather Conditions, Jammu And Kashmir Disaster Management Authority (JKDMA) Saturday issued avalanche warning for twelve districts in upcoming 24 hours.
The DMA, as per GNS, issued a ‘Medium Level’ warning above 2000 to 2500 metres over Anantnag, Bandipora, Baramulla, Ganderbal, Kupwara, Kulgam, Doda, Kishtwar, Poonch Rajouri and Reasi districts.
The authority also expressed apprehension of ‘Low Level’ avalanche occurrence above 2200 metres over Anantnag, Kulgam and Ramban district.
People living in the specified areas have been advised to take precautions and avoid venturing in the avalanche prone areas.
SRINAGAR: The flight operations at Srinagar international Airport resumed on Saturday after remaining temporarily suspended due to the snowfall and low visibility, officials said.
Quoting Director Srinagar Airport, Kuldeep Singh news agency KNO reported that the flight operations have resumed at Srinagar airport.
“The flight operations have resumed at Srinagar airport and no flight has been cancelled,” the official said.
Earlier in the morning, the flight operations were suspended temporarily at Srinagar airport due to the snowfall and poor visibility.
SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Government has unveiled a scheme to give Rs. 2.5 lakh to inter-caste marriages involving a dalit.
The scheme has been unveiled after the Administrative Council gave a go-ahead for the same. The scheme has been framed for implementation of the Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1995 and the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities), Act 1989.
To avail benefits of the scheme, one of the spouses in the inter-marriage caste should belong to Schedule Caste community as mentioned under Scheduled Caste List (out of 13 Castes) specified in the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950 for J&K and the other is a non-Scheduled Caste Hindu.
As per guidelines of the scheme, the marriage should be valid as per the law and duly registered under the Hindu Marriage Act 1955 and a registration certificate to this effect issued by the competent authority must be furnished by the beneficiaries.
The case for assistance shall only be valid if submitted strictly within six months from the date of marriage, as indicated on the marriage registration certificate produced at the time of submission of application.
The total amount of incentive will be released to the eligible couple in a single installment through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mode to the joint account of the couple in any government/nationalized bank in the form of fixed deposit (FD) with a lock-in period of three years.
SRINAGAR: The 3rd edition of Khelo India National Winter Games began at Gulmarg with the message by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the participating players.
The mega sports event was declared open in the presence of Lieutenant Governor of J&K, Manoj Sinha and Union Minister for Youth Affairs & Sports and I&B, Anurag Thakur.
I invite all our guests, who have come from every corner of the country to enjoy our hospitality, to enjoy the games and to enjoy the incredible sights and sounds of Jammu Kashmir. pic.twitter.com/xqurQyHH5h
During the biggest winter sports tournament, more than 1500 Athletes from all over the country will compete in 11 different winter-sports disciplines.
Union Sports Minister, Anurag Thakur lauded the J&K Government for developing sports facilities at grassroot level and achieving unprecedented progress in the sports sector in a short span of time.
What Jammu and Kashmir has done in the world of sports in just three years is a matter of great pride. Indoor stadiums have been built in every district and every village has a playground. Where once there used to be incidents of stone pelting, today football, wushu and various sports are played there. This is the picture of new Jammu Kashmir, he added.
The Union Minister assured full support and cooperation in developing Center of Excellence for Winter Games in the UT.
Sharing my speech at the inauguration of 3rd edition of Khelo India National Winter Games at Gulmarg.https://t.co/82eTBlJiLf pic.twitter.com/uoiFLzCypC
It is the vision of PM Narendra Modi ji to create sporting infrastructure across India. The setting up of a National Centre of Excellence in the valley will support the athletes of J&K, he said.
In his address, Lt Governor Manoj Sinha said, Narendra Modi’s message and blessings to the players participating in 3rd Khelo India National Winter Games will encourage & inspire them.
Khelo India Winter Games will celebrate & honour sporting excellence and witness the contests of skill and endurance of athletes. It is a great occasion to strive for the greatest victory, to uphold the spirit of sportsmanship, peace, equality, friendship & respect for the competitors. The spirit of oneness, Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat will make us stronger, the Lt Governor said.
“The entire country at the moment is united by the 3rd Winter Games dream. Each player participating will become the best ambassador of J&K. With the spirit of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’, this sporting spectacle will strengthen the bond of goodwill & unite all the players as one family,” the Lt Governor said.
On behalf of the people of J&K, the Lt Governor welcomed the players, officials and sports enthusiasts and invited all the guests, who have come from every corner of the country to enjoy J&K’s hospitality, to enjoy the games and to enjoy the incredible sights and sounds of Jammu Kashmir.
The Lt Governor also highlighted the transformation in J&K’s sporting culture under the leadership of Prime Minister.
In the past few years, J&K has given many sporting heroes to the country. Continuous efforts of the UT Government in developing world-class sports infrastructure and facilities in every nook & corner of UT, vibrant sports culture & sports budget at par with bigger states have added a new dimension to J&K’s Sports sector, said the Lt Governor.
Welfare of sportspersons is our priority. Special efforts are being made to ensure dignified life for our sportspersons and to encourage youth to choose sports as a career. The participation of more than 50 lakh youth in various sporting events last year is a testimony to this commitment, he added.
With the help of Union Sports Ministry we will work for establishing Center of Excellence for Winter Games. The location has already been identified. All efforts are being made to provide opportunities to sportspersons to excel in their career, the Lt Governor noted.
On the occasion, Lt Governor and Union Sports Minister e-launched 40 Khelo India Centres across Jammu Kashmir. The Centres have been dedicated to all the budding sportspersons of J&K UT.
It is a great occasion to strive for the greatest victory, to uphold the spirit of sportsmanship, peace, equality, friendship & respect for the competitors. The spirit of oneness, Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat will make us stronger. pic.twitter.com/CidADlaMFY
Sarmad Hafeez, Secretary, Youth Affairs & Sports J&K and Nuzhat Gul, Secretary, J&K Sports Council shared the achievements of the J&K UT in national & international sports arena.
Rajeev Rai Bhatnagar, Advisor to Lt Governor; Dr Arun Kumar Mehta, Chief Secretary; Lt Gen Amardeep Singh Aujla, GOC, 15 Corps; representatives of various sports organizations, prominent sports personalities and sports-lovers witnessed the inaugural ceremony.
SRINAGAR: A Government teacher, posted in Middle School Dhargaloon in Balakote zone of Mendhar sub division of Poonch district, has been arrested by police for allegedly molesting and misbehaving with two girl students of his school.
Pertinently, the teacher has also been placed under suspension by the education department.
The teacher identified as Mohammad Taj Nayazi has been booked in a case under FIR number 10/2023 under sections 354, 8/10 POCSO Act in Police Station Gursai.
Quoting police officials the news agency KNO reported that a complaint was registered in Gursai police station in which it was submitted that the teacher had molested and misbehaved with two minor girl students of the school after which a case was registered against him and was subsequently arrested.
They said that further investigation into the matter is going on.
The teacher has already been suspended by Zonal Education Officer Balakote, who also visited the school after the incident.
SRINAGAR: Ministry of Mines announced the discovery of 5.9 million tonnes of Lithium by the geological survey of India on Thursday. Lithium is discovered for the first time in Jammu and Kashmir, in the Salal Haimana area of the Reasi district. Mines are at the preliminary stage of exploration known as G3.
Lithium is a non-ferrous metal used in batteries, mobile phones, watches, solar panels, and electric vehicles. Lithium has low density, a high energy-to-weight ratio, and stores large amounts of energy. Lithium is found in a crystalline form alongside rocks and other mineral deposits in the Earth’s crust. It makes up 0.002 per cent of the Earth’s crust. It is then refined to transform into metal form. It is commercially sold in metal form.
Union Minister of Coal, Mines, and Parliamentary Affairs Pralhad Joshi addressed the 62nd Central Geological Programming Board (CGPB) meeting on February 9, 2023. The Geological Survey of India (GSI) organised the meeting under the Ministry of Mines. During the meeting, Vivek Bharadwaj, secretary of the Ministry of Mines handed 51 mining block reports and memorandums to State Governments which included two geological reports of the lithium blocks to Jammu and Kashmir Mining Secretary, Amit Sharma. “Out of these 51 mineral blocks, 5 blocks pertain to gold and other blocks pertain to commodities like potash, molybdenum, base metals, etc. spread across 11 states of Jammu and Kashmir (UT), Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, and Telangana,” the ministry said.
A news report quoted Sharma saying, “Jammu and Kashmir has made history in the mining sector with the discovery of critical mineral lithium.” “Lithium blocks which are a rare thing and much demanded global manor mineral for electric batteries which is the future, shall be explored and eAuctioned so that J&K figures on the global map so far as availability of Lithium reserves in the world are concerned,” he added.
India imports Lithium from Australia and Argentina. India imports the second highest quantity of lithium at 198 thousand shipments through 4,509 importers from 7283 suppliers. Chile reserves the highest quantity of lithium at 9.2 million tonnes followed by Australia and Argentina at 5.7 million tonnes and 2.2 million tonnes respectively. China refines almost 75 per cent of the world’s total lithium.
At the 62nd CGPB meeting, Bharadwaj said that critical minerals are needed everywhere, whether it be for a solar panel or a cell phone and it is crucial for the nation to identify key minerals and then process them in order to become self-sufficient.
The discovery of lithium in such high quantities is believed to fulfil India’s plan to expand EV penetration by 30 per cent by 2030 as it is a key component of electric vehicles. Currently, less than 1 per cent of the new cars sold in India are electric. Lithium can boost the manufacture of electric vehicles, hence leading to a decrease in carbon emissions.
