JAMMU: A blanket of snow covered Kashmir on Sunday as most areas received moderate snowfall, cutting the valley’s surface as well as air connection with the rest of the country, officials said.
The snowfall started during the night at most places and early in the morning at few places, the officials said.
They said while some areas in north Kashmir received light snowfall, most areas in central and south Kashmir experienced moderate snowfall.
The higher reaches of the valley experienced moderate to heavy snowfall, the officials said.
As of now, snowfall of same intensity is likely to continue till afternoon and there will be a temporary break till evening, the officials said.
Srinagar received about three to four inches of fresh snowfall, while Qazigund the gateway town to the valley in south Kashmir recorded around nine inches of snowfall, they said.
The officials said Pahalgam tourist resort recorded five to six inches of snow, while Kokernag about nine inches.
The famous ski-resort of Gulmarg in north Kashmir received four inches of fresh snowfall, while the areas around Jawahar Tunnel on the Srinagar-Jammu national highway recorded about ten inches of snowfall, they said.
The fresh snowfall led to the suspension of traffic on the highway.
A Traffic Control Room official said the highway was closed for traffic movement due to heavy snowfall around Jawahar Tunnel.
The snowfall also disrupted the air traffic to and fro Srinagar airport here.
No flight operations have taken place at the airport so far this morning due to accumulation of snow on the runway, an official at the Srinagar Airport told PTI.
He said a decision to operate flights would be taken after the runway is cleared.
The minimum temperature improved across the valley due to the snowfall but still stayed below the freezing point, the officials said.
Srinagar city — the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir — recorded a low of minus 1.5 degrees Celsius — up from the previous night’s minus 5.9 degrees Celsius, they said.
The mercury at Gulmarg improved from the previous night’s low of minus 7.5 degrees Celsius to settle at a low of minus 5.0 degrees Celsius on Saturday night.
Pahalgam tourist resort, which also serves as a base camp for the annual Amarnath yatra in south Kashmir, recorded a low of minus 1.5 degrees Celsius up from minus 8.4 degrees Celsius on the previous night, the officials said.
Qazigund recorded a minimum of minus 0.2 degrees Celsius, Kupwara, in the north, minus 3.3 degrees Celsius and Kokernag, minus 1.4 degrees Celsius.
The MET Office said moderate to heavy snowfall, with isolated very heavy snowfall, was most likely to take place, especially in south Kashmir, Gulmarg, Banihal-Ramban, Poonch, Rajouri, Kistawar and Zanskar, Drass as well as on the higher reaches of Ladakh UT, over two days from Monday.
Overall, the snowfall will continue from Sunday to Tuesday forenoon with the occasional break.This may lead to the disruption of surface and air transportation, water-logging in plains of Jammu and Srinagar cities, the MET Office said.
Kashmir is currently under the grip of ‘Chillai-Kalan’ — the 40-day harshest winter period when a cold wave grips the region and the temperature drops considerably leading to the freezing of water bodies including the famous Dal Lake here as well as the water supply lines in several parts of the valley.
The chances of snowfall are the most frequent and maximum during this period and most areas, especially in the higher reaches, receive heavy snowfall.
While ‘Chillai-Kalan’ which began on December 21 — will end on January 31, the cold wave continues even after that in Kashmir with a 20-day-long ‘Chillai-Khurd’ (small cold) and a 10-day-long ‘Chillai-Bachha’ (baby cold).
Snowfall in Kashmir Valley, road, air links snapped
India reports 18,177 new COVID-19 cases
NEW DELHI: India reported 18,177 new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, taking the total number of coronavirus cases in the country to 1,03,23,965, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) informed on Sunday.
With this, the total number of active cases now stands at 2,47,220.
As many as 217 lives were claimed by the coronavirus in the last 24 hours, taking the death toll to 1,49,435.
So far 99,27,310 recoveries have been reported in the country.
Maharashtra reported 3,218 new cases and 51 deaths in the last 24 hours. There are now 53,137 active cases in the state, the health department informed.
So far, 18,34,935 people have recovered, while the death toll stands at 49,631.
Kerala reported 5,328 new cases, 4,985 recoveries, and 21 deaths on Friday. With this, the total number of active cases in the state now stands at 65,374.
As many as 494 new coronavirus cases and 496 recoveries were reported in the national capital on Friday, as per the Delhi Health Department. The total number of positive cases now stands at 6,26,448, while the death toll stands at 10,571, including 14 on Thursday. There are currently 5,342 active cases in the national capital.
With 9,58,125 samples tested for the coronavirus on Thursday, the total number of samples tested so far stands at 17,48,99,783, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) informed. (AGENCY)
NC, Cong join hands, get majority in Ramban; Kishtwar to be next
Talks in advanced stage in Rajouri, Poonch
*BJP high command for analyzing Rajouri, Poonch, Valley results
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Jan 2: In a big political development, the National Conference and Congress today joined hands to get majority in the District Development Council (DDC) Ramban thwarting the BJP attempt to cobble up an alliance with three Independents of ‘Azaad Itehaad’ while the NC was poised to claim majority in Kishtwar DDC in next couple of days and was in touch with like-minded parties and Independents in twin border districts of Poonch and Rajouri.
On the other, the Central leadership of the BJP has asked its Jammu and Kashmir unit to analyze the results in Rajouri and Poonch besides the Kashmir Valley where its performance though good wasn’t completely on the expected lines.
The National Conference and Congress paraded eight DDC winners of Ramban district at the NC headquarters today-six belonging to NC and two to Congress-thus attaining majority in the Council which has 14 members. With this, Ramban has become first district which has gone to the `Opposition’ in the Jammu region and has boosted morale of the two parties to go ahead in three remaining districts which have thrown hung verdict.
With NC and Congress coming together, the BJP bid to secure majority in Ramban with the help of `Azaad Itehaad’ has been foiled. The BJP and `Azaad Itehaad’ of former bureaucrat BA Runiyal had three members each in Ramban and were two seats short of majority. Eight DDC winners were paraded before media at the NC headquarters this evening by party provincial president Devender Singh Rana, who was instrumental in cobbling up the alliance.
“The Chairperson at the Ramban DDC will be from National Conference and Vice Chairperson from the Congress,” sources said.
“And, Kishtwar DDC will be next where we will get the numbers soon,” sources in the National Conference said.
They added that NC has won six seats out of 14 in Kishtwar while one Independent has won with the party support as mandate couldn’t be delivered to him on time. The party is short of one candidate and has the support of one out of two Independents. BJP and Congress have three seats each in Kishtwar.
However, according to sources, the National Conference might not go with the Congress in Kishtwar and prefer support of one Independent to claim majority in the DDC.
in Rajouri and Poonch districts, local leadership of the National Conference is in touch with Congress as well as Independent candidates. Sources said since Congress has four seats in Poonch and NC two, the former wants major role in the district. In Rajouri district, however, National Conference has five and Congress three seats though one former Minister of the latter has also won a seat.
Independent candidates were, however, calling shots in Poonch district, according to political leaders of various parties. The Independents were in no mood to give major role to National Conference and Congress in Poonch. PDP has also one seat in Rajouri besides there is one Independent. Apni Party too has one seat while the BJP has three.
The BJP, it may be mentioned, has clear majority in Jammu, Samba, Kathua, Udhampur, Doda and Reasi districts of the Jammu region. It has 13 seats each in Samba and Kathua, 11 each in Jammu and Udhampur, eight in Doda and seven in Reasi and was waiting for issuance of reservation roster by the Rural Development Department before staking claim for the posts of Chairperson and Vice Chairperson.
National Conference provincial president Devender Singh Rana said: “mandate of the people is in our favour in Ramban, Kishtwar and Rajouri districts and we will form the Councils there and honour the people’s mandate. We have achieved majority in Ramban and will shortly get in Kishtwar. We are in advanced stage of discussions in Rajouri and Poonch districts”.
Sources said the Central leadership of the BJP has also spoken to Jammu and Kashmir unit leaders and asked them to analyze results of the DDC elections which though were good but not completely as per expectations as the party could have done better in Rajouri-Poonch districts.
The BJP won 47 DDC seats on Udhampur-Doda Lok Sabha seat and 25 in Rajouri-Poonch Parliamentary seat besides three in the Kashmir valley where it opened its account for the first time.
The Central leadership was of the view that though the BJP has done reasonably well and emerged as single largest party in Jammu and Kashmir, it could have done better in Rajouri and Poonch districts and Kashmir going by the massive campaigning by several Union Ministers and senior national leaders of the party.
Though the BJP won 11 out of 14 seats in Jammu district and lost two others by slender margin, it couldn’t even open its account in Poonch district while in Rajouri district it won just three seats though it represented two out of four Assembly constituencies in the last Assembly (Kalakote and Nowshera). Nowshera was represented by the BJP president Ravinder Raina and Kalakote by former Cabinet Minister Abdul Ghani Kohli. In Kashmir, the BJP won three out of 140 seats despite high profile campaign by Union Ministers and national leaders including `Shikara and Tonga rallies’.
Sources said the J&K BJP leaders have given their view point to the Central leadership.
ACB charge sheets Addl Secy Shafiq
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 2: Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) presented charge sheet against the then ACR Poonch, now Addl Secretary, Science and Technology Department, Shafiq Ahmed and others in illegal mutation of land records, in the court of Special Judge Anti- Corruption, Rajouri today.
Official sources said that Shafiq Ahmed, son of Late Hajji Mohd Karim hailing from Dudasan Bala in Tehsil Thanamandi, district Rajouri, then ACR Poonch at present Addl. Secretary Science & Technology Deptt. Civil Secretariat J&K; Zaffar Iqbal Jagil, son of Mohd Aslam, resident of Nakka, Manjhari, Tehsil Mendhar in Poonch and at present W.No.2, Mohalla Sukka Katha district Poonch, the then Patwari Halqa Degwar Maldialian Tehsil Haveli in Poonch, at present Patwari Halqa Khanetar Tehsil Haveli and beneficiary Masood Ahmed alias Maqsood Ahmed, son of Mohd Shafi, resident of village Chandak in Poonch were under trial in the Court of Special Judge Anti-Corruption Rajouri in case FIR No.45/2018 registered in P/S VOJ (now ACBJ), under Section 5(1) (d) r/w Section 5(2) of J&K PC Act, Samvat 2006 and Section 120-B, 201 RPC.
The instant case was registered on the outcome of a verification conducted by the Vigilance Organization (Now ACB) into the allegations that Zaffer Iqbal, then Patwari, Halqa Degwar/Ajote, Poonch issued Fard Intikhab in respect of forest/state land to villagers who further sold the land to land grabber from Degwar to Ajote, in Haveli. During verification relevant Revenue record of Degwar, Maldialian and Ajote village of Tehsil Haveli were scrutinized.
It was found that then Patwari Halqa Degwar/Ajote, Zaffer Iqbal illegally prepared mutation No.1013 in violation of provisions enshrined in orders Nos.LB-6/C of 1958 for the land measuring 05 Kanals falling under Khasra No.430, land measuring 09 Kanals 10 Marlas in Khasra No. 454/1, land measuring 02 kanls 10 marlas in Khasra No.1387/455 of village Degwar Maldialian in favour of private beneficiary Nazir Hussain, son of Fazla, resident of Degwar Maldalian Tehsil Haveli (now expired) and further attested by Shafiq Ahmed, then ACR Poonch.
It was also surfaced that mutation No. 882 under LB-6/C of 1958 and mutation No.971 under S-432 of 1966 for the land measuring 05 Kanals 15 marlas, falling under Khasra No.474 of village Ajote were also recorded illegally by Zaffer Iqbal, then Patwari and further attested by Shafiq Ahmed, the then ACR Poonch in favour of private beneficiary- Maqsood Ahmed alias Masood Ahmed of Chandak in Poonch.
During investigation, FSL expert who examined specimen/ admitted/questioned documents has further authenticated the entry and attestation of the said mutations by the said accused public servants (revenue officers/officials). Moreover, Parat Sarkar of the said mutations could not be traced and the daily dairy (Roznamcha) of then Patwar Halqa Ajote and Degwar Maldialian has also not been maintained for the period of posting of accused Patwari.
Illegal possession of beneficiaries on the land has also been established.
Anti Corruption Bureau presented the charge sheet after obtaining sanction for prosecution of `in-service’ public servant from the competent authority.
Several IAS officers flouting DoPT, GAD instructions on filing of IPRs
Further non-compliance may lead to disciplinary proceedings
Vigilance clearance to be denied for late submission
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Jan 2: Several IAS officers of Jammu and Kashmir cadre are openly flouting the instructions of Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) of Government of India and General Administration Department (GAD) of Union Territory on online filing of Immovable Property Returns (IPRs) despite being aware of the fact that non-compliance may lead to disciplinary proceedings and denial of vigilance clearance.
The Department of Personnel and Training of Union Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions vide D.O No.6 (1)2014-EO (PR) dated December 22, 2016 intimated that because of submission of hard copies of Immovable Property Returns certain problems like IPR getting lost in transition, IPR though submitted but not up-loaded by the State Government, IPR without date uploaded in the system, ante-dating of IPR etc are being faced.
In order to avoid such problems, it was decided to introduce online filing of IPRs for which a module was designed and made operational with effect from January 1, 2017 to enable the IAS officers to file the returns online.
Accordingly, All India Service officers working in connection with the affairs of Jammu and Kashmir Government were informed by the General Administration Department vide circular dated January 27, 2017 to take note of these instructions and act accordingly.
It is pertinent to mention here that as per Rule 16 (2) of All India Service (Conduct) Rules, 1968, the IAS officers are required to submit their Immovable Property Returns every year as on January 1 and latest by January 31.
As there was no compliance from several IAS officers of J&K cadre, the General Administration Department vide Circular No.25 dated April 23, 2019 observed, “many officers have not submitted their IPRs for the year 2018 electronically but have submitted hard copy manually. In terms of the extant rules, the IAS officers have to necessarily file IPRs electronically as there is no provision for submission of IPRs manually”.
Accordingly, the IAS officers working in connection with the affairs of J&K were advised to observe the instructions in letter and spirit. These instructions were reiterated vide Circular No.9 dated December 12, 2019 with the hope that there would not be any further non-compliance.
Much to the disappointment of Department of Personnel and Training and General Administration Department, several IAS officers have not started acting on the repeated instructions issued since 2017.
This can be gauged from the latest circular issued by Manoj Kumar Dwivedi, Commissioner Secretary to the Government, General Administration Department, which states: “It has been observed that many IAS officers have not submitted their IPRs for the year 2018 and 2019 electronically despite being aware of the fact that there is no provision for submission of IPRs manually”, adding “this department has issued various circulars from time to time but there is no strict compliance”.
“The non-compliance to repeated instructions is notwithstanding the fact that failure whereof constitutes good and sufficient reason for institution of disciplinary proceedings”, the Commissioner Secretary said, adding “an online manual which has been introduced with effect from January 1, 2017 closes automatically after the prescribed timeline of January 31 every year in respect of filing of IPR of proceeding year electronically”.
Through the latest circular it has also been brought to the notice of non-complying IAS officers that timely submission of IPRs has assumed significance as in terms of Department of Personnel and Training instructions late submission of IPR results in denial of vigilance clearance.
All these IAS officers have been asked to follow the instructions in letter and spirit as the possibility of DoPT taking serious view in case of further non-compliance cannot be ruled out, sources said, adding “the All India Service officers should be role model for Jammu and Kashmir Administrative Service officers as similar mechanism has also been devised for KAS officers by the General Administration Department recently”.
It is pertinent to mention here that after filing the returns online, the officers would have to authenticate the same by using the digital signature certificates already issued to them under SPARROW.
It is hoped that all the defaulting IAS officers would ensure compliance and won’t compel either the DoPT or the General Administration Department to issue more circular instructions on the subject.
Govt identifies PHCs, SDHs, DHs as vaccination sites
Healthcare workers in Phase-I
Irfan Tramboo
SRINAGAR, Jan 2: As the dry run for the COVID-19 vaccine was carried out today, Government has identified Sub Centres, Primary Health Centres (PHC), Sub District Hospitals (SDH) and District Hospitals (DH) across J&K to function as vaccination sites post the rollout of the vaccine in the country.
Click here to watch video
The vaccinators who will be administering the vaccine have also been identified and trained thoroughly across J&K.
The dry run that was carried out was aimed at training the identified manpower regarding how to set up vaccination sites, waiting room and vaccination room and how to carry out other related activities during the process of vaccination.
While giving details about the preparedness of the vaccination which is expected to start this month, Financial Commissioner, Health & Medical Education Atal Dulloo told Excelsior that the people who will be dealing with the vaccination process have been identified and trained as well.
Regarding the cold chains for the storage of the vaccine, he said that as of now, the requirements are up to the mark and the vaccination will hopefully start this month.
“The logistics for the cold chain is mostly available with us because that will depend on how early the vaccine is made available to us, on what speed and quantity the vaccine is made available to us-on these bases, we have enough of cold storage equipment with us,” he said.
He said that after the vaccination, the patients will be observed for half an hour in the observations rooms-for the handling of which the people have been trained and equipped-and only after that, if there are no complications, the patient will be discharged.
Pertinent to mention here, the Government has also formed Adverse Event Following Immunization (AEFI) committee which has been tasked to deal with the adverse effects of the vaccine, if any.
Giving details about the phases of vaccination that will be carried in J&K, Dulloo said that the vaccination will be carried out in 4 major phases and it will be started with the vaccination of healthcare workers in phase 1.
“We are expecting it (vaccination) to start in January and in phase-1, healthcare workers which are around 1.6 lakh in number will be vaccinated, followed by frontline workers which include police personnel, paramilitary personnel and the municipality workers and some from the Revenue Department who were associated with the COVID-19 activities,” he said.
In Phase 3, the population above 50 will be vaccinated and those less than 50 years of age will be vaccinated if they are living with comorbid conditions and in the last phase, phase 4, the rest of the population will be vaccinated.
Notably, ‘Covishield’, the vaccine candidate from Pune-based Serum Institute of India was on Friday approved by a Subject Expert Committee (SEC) of the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI).
Meanwhile, a mock drill for Covid-19 vaccination was also conducted at Ladakh Heart Foundation Leh.
The mock drill was conducted in the presence of Commissioner Secretary Rigzin Samphel and Deputy Commissioner Leh Sachin Kumar Vaishya. Medical Superintendent SNM Hospital Leh Dr. Norzin Angmo, Chief Medical Officer Leh Dr. Motup Dorjey, District Immunization Officer Dr. Tashi Namgyal, Dy. Chief Medical Officer Leh Dr. Manzoor Ahmed, concerned doctors, and medical staff were also present.
8 injured in grenade blast
Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Jan 2: Eight persons were injured in a grenade blast at Bus Stand Tral in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district today.
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A police official said that militants hurled a grenade towards security forces at around 11.20 am on Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) party resulting in injuries to eight civilians.
“The grenade missed the target and exploded in the busy market resulting in injuries to eight civilians,” he said, adding that injured civilians were shifted to nearby hospital, where their condition is said to be stable.
The injured have been identified as Javid Ahmad Ganai, 35, son of Abdul Rashid of Tral, Wali Muhammad Rather, 45, son of Gulla Rather of Paneer, Abdullha, 70, son of Sadiq Gojjir of Hakim, Tabish, 25, daughter of Bashir Ahmad of Pastuna, Shazada, 26, daughter of Ghulam Qadir Bhat of Pastuna, Taja, 65, wife of Ghulam Rasool Sheikh of Amirabad, Shahina, 24, wife of Nazir Dar of Pastuna and Bilal Naik, 30, son of Muhammad Akram of Tralipayeen Tral.
The area was cordoned off and a massive search operation launched to track down the attackers.
Police have registered a case in this regard under relevant Sections of law. “Investigation is in progress and officers continue to work to establish the full circumstances of this case,” police said.
The police official said that security forces arrested a militant associate in Kulgam district of South Kashmir today.
The militant associate was arrested by joint team of security forces at Hattipora village in Kulgam. He has been identified as Zahoor Ahmad Bhat son of Mohammad Yusuf Bhat of Hatipora Yaripora Kulgam.
One pistol, one grenade, one pistol magazine, pistol ammunition, two AK-magazines and AK ammunition was recovered from his possession.
Innovation, integrity, inclusion will help build “Atmanirbhar Bharat: Modi
SAMBALPUR (Odisha), Jan 2:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said innovation, integrity and inclusion have emerged as the key mantras in the field of management which can help the country achieve the goal of ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’.
Laying the foundation stone for the permanent campus of IIM-Sambalpur through video conference, the prime minister said the goal of a self-reliant India will be achieved with the help of collaborative, innovative and transformative concepts in management.
Noting that technology is reducing distances between regions, Modi said India has brought speedy reforms in the digital connectivity sector in order to cope with changes taking places all over the world.
“Technologly management is as important as human management,” he said, adding the country has been able to build substantial capacity over the last decade which was evident during the COVID-19 crisis.
Emphasising that the young generation should take along those lagging behind to ensure inclusive growth, Modi said local products will have global reach with the help of new management concepts and technology.
“Today’s start-ups in India are tomorrow’s Multi- national Corporations,” he said, and asked young managers to align their career goals to the aspirations of the country.
The prime minister said IIM Sambalpur will go a long way in giving Odisha a new identity in the field of management education apart from creating tremendous opportunities for the handloom and other sectors in the region. (PTI)
Labour Min seeks feedback on draft model standing orders
NEW DELHI, Jan 2:
The labour ministry has sought stakeholders’ feedback on the draft model standing orders for the manufacturing, mining and service sectors to set standards for service conditions and employees’ conduct.
“Pursuant to section 29 of the Industrial Relations Code, 2020; the Central Government has published the draft Model Standing Orders for the Manufacturing Sector, Mining Sector and Service Sector in the official gazette, inviting suggestions/objections from the stakeholders within a period of thirty days,” the Ministry of Labour and Employment said in a statement on Saturday.
The draft orders were notified on December 31, 2020.
Keeping in view the needs of the services sector, a separate model standing orders for the services sector has been prepared the first time, the statement said.
“These Model Standing Orders will pave the way for the industry harmony in the country as it aim to formalize the service-related matters in an amicable manner,” Labour Minister Santosh Kumar Gangwar said in the statement.
All three model standing orders encourage employers to use information technology in the dissemination of information to the workers through electronic mode.
To provide safeguard to the IT industry, “involvement in unauthorised access of any IT system, the computer network of the employer/ customer/client has been prescribed as misconduct, according to the draft orders.
The concept of “Work from home” has been formalised in the model standing orders for the service sector.
The draft order for the services sector provides that in the case of the IT Sector, the working hour shall be as per agreement or conditions of appointment between employer and workers.
“Habitual (offender) with respect to indiscipline has been defined if the worker found guilty of any misconduct three or more times in preceding twelve months,” as per the draft order.
Rail travel facility has been extended to the workers in the (entire) mining sector. Presently, it is being availed by the workers in coal mines only.
Uniformity has been maintained in all the three Model Standing Orders while providing some flexibility considering the sector-specific requirement, the ministry said.
The model standing orders adopted in respect of an industrial establishment will also be applicable to all other units of the industrial establishment irrespective of location.
As per the orders, where an employer adopts Model Standing Orders of the central government with respect to matters relevant to industrial establishment or undertaking, then, such model standing order shall be deemed to have been certified. (PTI)