Advisor Bhatnagar reviews progress on PMDP projects for flood management

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October 25, 2020

Excelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Oct 24: Advisor to Lieutenant Governor, Rajeev Rai Bhatnagar, chaired a meeting to review progress on PMDP projects of Jal Shakti (I&FC) department for Comprehensive Flood Management works on river Jhelum here today.
The meeting was attended by Secretary Jal Shakti Department, M Raju; Chief Engineer Jal Shakti (I&FC) Kashmir, Ifthikar Ahmad Kakroo, Chief Engineer Jal Shakti (PHE) Kashmir, Iftikar Ahmad Wani and other senior officials of the department.
Chairing the meeting, the Advisor asked the concerned officers for expeditious completion of all projects with timely submission of Utilization Certificates (UCs). He also asked for taking up necessary steps to give push to completion of pending works and provision of budgetary support in respect of the works which have already been executed.
During the meeting, the Advisor was informed that the PMDP project for Comprehensive Flood Management works on river Jhelum has been divided into two phases; Phase I and Phase II at the cost of Rs. 399.29 crore and Rs. 1684.60 crore respectively.
Giving details on achievements under Phase I, the Chief Engineer I&FC informed the meeting that Rs. 313.797 crore have been spent on different works besides other critical infrastructure. He further informed the meeting that under Phase I, the discharge carrying capacity of river Jhelum has been increased from 31800 cusecs to 41000 cusecs while as the carrying capacity of Flood Spill Channel (FSC) Padshahi Bagh has been increased from 4000 to 8700 cusecs. He revealed that re-sectioning at Bemina and Shariefabad of FSC has been completed while as the construction of two bridges at NaidKhai and Shariefabad on FSC is going on and will be completed within a month.
Addressing the officers, Advisor Bhatnagar stressed on them to maintain quality of works besides taking up proactive measures to make the flood management successful. He asked them to ensure that all the ongoing works are completed within the fixed timelines.
He directed the concerned officials to raise the embankments at all vulnerable spots besides carrying out dredging works at critical points to increase the carrying capacity of the river and FSC.
He further directed the officials to evolve an effective mechanism for controlling the soil erosion around the embankments besides formulating a long term plan for management of tributaries so as to reduce the impact of floods.

Bowlers seal incredible win for KXIP against SRH to stay afloat in IPL

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Daily Excelsior

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October 25, 2020

DUBAI, Oct 24: Kings XI Punjab made an incredible comeback at the death, taking five wickets in the final two overs to beat Sunrisers Hyderabad by 12 runs in an Indian Premier League match here on Saturday.

Chasing a modest 127-run target, SRH batsmen committed ‘harakiri’ after a solid 56-run opening stand between skipper David Warner (35) and Jonny Bairstow (19) to be all out for 114 in 19.5 overs.

The win, their fourth on the trot, kept KXIP in the fray for play-offs as they jumped to fifth spot in the eight-team standings with 10 points from 11 games.

The defeat made life difficult for SRH even though they are mathematically still in with a chance of making the play-offs, but for that to happen they will need to win their remaining three games with good net run rates.

SRH made a brisk start to their chase with skipper Warner and Bairstow adding 56 runs for the opening stand in 6.2 overs before KXIP bowlers inflicted three quick blows to make a return to the contest.

Both Warner and Bairstow soon perished in quick succession before Abdul Samad (7) too failed to rise to the occasion.

After the three quick blows, the going became tough for SRH as KXIP bowlers used the slow conditions to perfection to take the match deep.

SRH’s last match heroes, Manish Pandey (15) and Vijay Shankar (26) looked in good nick but both the players struggled to up the ante and departed in the process.

From thereon, SRH batsmen made heavy weather of the chase as KXIP bowlers reduced the equation to 17 runs off the last two overs.

Bowling the penultimate over, Chris Jordan (3/17) dismissed Jason Holder and Rashid Khan in successive deliveries to tilt the match in KXIP’s favour.

With 14 runs needed from the last over, Arshdeep Singh (3/23) dismissed Priyam Garg and Sandeep Sharma, and Khaleel Ahmed was run out as KXIP recorded a memorable victory.

Earlier, SRH bowlers produced a clinical performance to restrict KXIP to a modest 126 for seven.

SRH bowlers responded impressively to their Warner’s decision to field first, picking wickets at regular intervals to control the innings.

KXIP Skipper KL Rahul (27), Chris Gayle (20) Mandeep Singh (17), who lost his father Hardev Singh earlier on Saturday, all got starts but their innings never got going as they failed to grab the momentum.

Even though Mandeep didn’t make a significant score, he and Nitish Rana, who made 81 for KKR despite the bereavement of his father-in-law Surinder Marwah, drew appreciation from batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar for their lion-hearted efforts to play the games.

“Loss of loved one hurts, but what’s more breathtaking is when one doesn’t get to say a final goodbye. Praying for @mandeeps12, @NitishRana_27 and their families to heal from this tragedy. Hats off for turning up today. Well played,” tweeted Tendulkar, who too lost his father a day before scoring an emotional unbeaten 140 against Kenya during the 1999 ODI World Cup.

SRH perfectly planned Gayle’s dismissal who came at one down. They kept the big-hitting batsman quiet for a long time, consistently bowling wide of the off stump and in the process frustrated him.

Gayle repeatedly tried to force his way out of the shackles but was dismissed by his West Indian teammate Holder (2/27), caught at long-off by Warner with a wide of the stumps delivery in the 10th over.

Rashid (2/14) then went through the defence of captain Rahul in the first ball off the next over as KXIP slumped to 66 for three. (PTI)

SCOREBOARD
Kings XI Punjab Innings:
KL Rahul b Rashid Khan 27
Mandeep Singh c Rashid Khan b Sandeep Sharma 17
Chris Gayle c Warner b Holder 20
Nicholas Pooran not out 32
Glenn Maxwell c Warner b Sandeep Sharma 12
Deepak Hooda st Bairstow b Rashid Khan 0
Chris Jordan c Ahmed b Holder 7
Murugan Ashwin run out (Shankar) 4
Ravi Bishnoi not out 0
Extras: (B-1, LB-1, W-5) 7
Total: (for 7 wickets in 20 overs) 126
Fall of wickets: 1-37, 2-66, 3-66, 4-85, 5-88, 6-105, 7-110
Bowling: Sandeep Sharma 4-0-29-2, Khaleel Ahmed 4-0-31-0, Jason Holder 4-0-27-2, Rashid Khan 4-0-14-2, T Natarajan 4-0-23-0.
Sunrisers Hyderabad Innings:
David Warner c Rahul b Bishnoi 35
Jonny Bairstow b M Ashwin 19
Manish Pandeyc (sub) Suchith b Jordan 15
Abdul Samad c Jordan b Shami 7
Vijay Shankar c Rahul b Arshdeep 26
Jason Holder c Mandeep b Jordan 5
Priyam Garg c Jordan b Arshdeep 3
Rashid Khan c Pooran b Jordan 0
Sandeep Sharma c Ashwin b Arshdeep 0
T Natarajan not out 0
Khaleel Ahmed run out (Ravi Bishnoi) 0
Extras: (w 4,) 4
Total: (10 wkts, 19.5 Ov) 114
Fall of Wickets: 1-56, 2-58, 3-67, 4-100,5-110, 6-112, 7-112,8-114, 9-114, 10-114.
Bowing: Mohd Shami 4-0-34-1, Arshdeep Singh 3.5-0-23-3, Murugan Ashwin 4-0-27-1, Ravi Bishnoi 4-0-13-1, Chris Jordan 4-0-17-3.

Settle displaced people in separate homeland in Valley: KKHMS

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Daily Excelsior

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October 25, 2020

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 24: A meeting of Kashmiri Khatri Hindu Maha Sabha (KKHMS) was held here , today under the chairmanship of its President, Ramesh Chander Mahajan. The meeting made it clear that all Kashmiri migrants will be resettled in the Valley as per geo political aspiration in separate homeland at one place.
While addressing the meeting through teleconferencing with Kashmiri migrants who are scattered all over India Mahajan said that it (Sabha) in categorical terms rejected the return formula and rehabilitation in clusters and composite township the policy adopted by Successive Governments previously as well as confusing proposal made by present administration of Union Territory of J&K Government.
He criticised those who are living in abroad have shown personal business willingness at to the same without taking the ground realities into consideration and those elements who have tried to create a wedge amongst the migrants community and misleading the Union Territory J&K administration by giving false data and have no right to decide fate of rehabilitation of seven lakh Hindus who are scattered all over the Global as they were uprooted from their mother land (Kashmir) followed by selective killings of innocent people , genocide and massacres. They were forced to live as refugee life in their own country. The future of migrants is being spoiled having no fault of there’s. They are being ignored and discriminated on the name of migrant tag and their human right were violated, he added .
Mahajan said the meeting also categorically rejected policies related to 6000 PM package jobs for Kashmiri migrants and demanded that the Government should not link return with the absorption of PM package employments with their transit accommodations. The return and rehabilitation of all Kashmiri migrants is a separate issue and by providing employment to some thousand youth can’t rehabilitate the entire community.
He reiterated the resettlement of Kashmiri migrants in a separate homeland within Kashmir Valley by restoring their geo-political aspiration with guarantee and dignified life security , grant of minority status and fundamental rights to them so that no exodus may take place in future.

KPs launch Global Business Foundation

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Daily Excelsior

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October 25, 2020

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 24: A team of volunteers unified by a dream across a few continents today announced the launch of the “Global Kashmiri Pandit Business Foundation”, dedicated to creating a platform for Kashmiri Pandit entrepreneurs anywhere in today’s connected world.
There was a need to create a platform for Kashmiri Pandits scattered all across the globe after they took a while to pick up the threads from a hopeless situation 30 years back said one of the founder and Director – DK Bakshi. The Foundation commits itself to nurture entrepreneurship among Kashmiri Pandits towards creating wealth and jobs for global community.
On October 1947 goes back in the recent history the day when evil forces, the Kabali Tribals tried to bury us and the trend continued as recent as 1990. However, 22nd Oct 2020 is the time when our seeds bloomed again, after getting scattered all around the globe. Today would be known as the historical day for Kashmiri Pandit community in the world and a legacy is being given birth today.
Three decades of struggle put in by the most peaceful, educated but resilient community of KPs with utter confidence and grit came, saw and conquered the world.
With new vistas opening in current world, the true global village, new resurgent young and not so young Kashmiri Pandits needed something different to fight their struggle and it can only happen if the community is prosperous and grow businesses around the world. With this thought in the mind of many of us for quite some time, team GKPBF – comprising of Ash Raina from Brisbane, Australia, DK Bakshi from Bangkok, Thailand, Jyotsna Fotedar from Gurugram, India, Ravi Kachroo from Bengaluru, India, Vinod K. Pandita from Gurugram, India & Vidya Bhushan Dhar from Toronto, Canada, deliberated for many months and finally the foundation was incorporated as Section 8 company in India and launched on 22nd Oct 2020 through a webinar.
The launch was graced by the presence of three KP business stalwarts Dr. Ashok Kaul from Ottawa, Canada, Moti Kaul from Mumbai, India, and Uday Challu from Gurugram, India. They not only supported this historical event by being part of the webinar but committed their support as mentors and guides in the future.

2 arrested with banned intoxicants

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Daily Excelsior

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October 25, 2020

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Oct 24: Gangyal police arrested two Haryana residents along with large quanitity of banned syrup bottles and intoxicant capsules.
As per police sources, on specific information a team from Greater Kailash Police Post led by SI Rahul Gandhi laid a naka near Purmandal Morh and intercepted a truck bearing registration number HR69B-1645.
During checking, police team recovered 1200 banned syrup bottles and 10080 intoxicant capsules from the vehicle and arrested two persons.
The arrested persons were identified as Pawan Kumar, son of Supla and Sonu, son of Naseed-ud-Din, both residents of Ghai Sarai, Sonipat, Haryana.
A case under FIR Number 122/2020 under section 8/21/22/29 NDPS Act has been registered at Police Station Gangyal and investigation started.

Govt extends ITR filing date till Dec 31

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Daily Excelsior

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October 25, 2020

NEW DELHI, Oct 24:
In a relief to taxpayers, the Government today further extended the deadline for filing returns by individual taxpayers for FY 2019-20 by a month till December 31.
Also, the due date of furnishing Income Tax Returns (ITRs) for taxpayers whose accounts require to be audited has been extended till January 31, 2021.
The Government had earlier in May extended various due dates for filing ITRs for FY 2019-20 from July 31 to November 30, to give compliance relief to taxpayers due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a statement, the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) said, “The due date for furnishing of Income Tax Returns for the other taxpayers [for whom the due date (i.e. Before the extension by the said notification) as per the Act was July 31, 2020] has been extended to December 31, 2020.”
The due date for furnishing of ITRs for “the taxpayers (including their partners) who are required to get their accounts audited [for whom the due date as per the I-T Act is October 31, 2020] has been extended to January 31, 2021”, it added.
Also the due date for furnishing of ITRs for the taxpayers who are required to furnish report in respect of international/specified domestic transactions has been extended to January 31, 2021.
“The date for furnishing of various audit reports under the Act, including tax audit report and report in respect of international/ specified domestic transaction, has been extended to December 31, 2020,” the CBDT said.
Further, in a relief to small and middle-class taxpayers in the matter of payment of self-assessment tax, the due dates for payment have been extended.
The CBDT said in view of the “constraints being faced by taxpayers due to COVID-19”, the deadlines have been extended to “provide more time to taxpayers for furnishing of Income Tax Returns”.
Nangia & Co LLP Partner Shailesh Kumar said the much awaited extension of due dates for filing tax audit report, transfer pricing certificate and ITRs has been finally announced by the Government.
“The taxpayers, who have not yet paid their complete tax liability and are required to pay self assessment tax more than Rs 1 lakh, will need to be mindful and pay taxes within original due dates, to avoid charging of interest for filing of ITR beyond original due date.
“For taxpayers who don’t have a self-assessment tax liability to pay or such amount is up to Rs 1 lakh, this is an absolute extension without any additional burden,” Kumar added.
Separately, the Government today also extended the due date for furnishing GST annual returns for FY2018-19 by two months till December 31.
Furnishing of the GST annual return is mandatory only for taxpayers with aggregate annual turnover above Rs 2 crore while reconciliation statement is to be furnished only by the registered persons having aggregate turnover above Rs 5 crore. (PTI)

4 KAS officers transferred

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Daily Excelsior

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October 25, 2020

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Oct 24: The Government today ordered transfer, posting and adjustments of four KAS officers.
Pankaj Magotra, Additional Secretary to the Government, Jal Shakti Department has been transferred and posted as Additional Secretary to the Government, Department of Agriculture Production and Farmers’ Welfare. He will also hold the additional charge of Additional Secretary to the Government, Horticulture Department, till further orders.
Mohammad Shahid Saleem Dar, awaiting orders of adjustment in the General Administration Department, was posted as Additional Secretaryto the Government, Housing and Urban Development Department.
Arun Kishore Kotwal, Additional Secretary to the Government, Power Development Department, has been transferred and posted as Additional Secretary to the Government, Jal Shakti Department.
Dr Des Raj Bhagat, Additional Secretary in the J&K Government Grievance Cell, holding additional charge of Additional Secretary to the Government, Planning, Development and Monitoring Department has been transferred and posted as Additional Secretary to the Government, Power Development Department.

Govt waives interest on interest for loans

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Daily Excelsior

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October 25, 2020

NEW DELHI, Oct 24:
In a relief to borrowers at the onset of the festive season, the Government on late Friday night announced waiver of interest on interest for loans up to Rs 2 crore irrespective of whether moratorium was availed or not.
The Department of Financial Services came out with operational guidelines in the backdrop of Supreme Court’s direction to implement the interest waiver scheme, which is likely to cost the exchequer Rs 6,500 crore.
The Apex Court on October 14 directed the Centre to implement “as soon as possible” interest waiver on loans of up to Rs 2 crore under the RBI moratorium scheme in view of the COVID-19 pandemic saying the common man’s Diwali is in the Government’s hands.
As per the guidelines, the scheme can be availed by borrowers in specified loan accounts for a period from March 1 to August 31, 2020.
“Borrowers who have loan accounts having sanctioned limits and outstanding amount of not exceeding Rs 2 crore (aggregate of all facilities with lending institutions) as on February 29 shall be eligible for the scheme,” it said.
As per the eligibility criteria mentioned in the guidelines, the accounts should be standard as on February 29 which means that it should not be Non-Performing Asset (NPA).
Housing loan, education loans, credit card dues, auto loans, MSME loans, consumer durable loans and consumption loans are covered under the scheme.
As per the scheme, the lending institutions shall credit the difference between compound interest and simple interest with regard to the eligible borrowers in respective accounts for the said period irrespective of whether the borrower fully or partially availed the moratorium on repayment of loan announced by the RBI on March 27, 2020.
The scheme is also applicable on those who have not availed the moratorium scheme and continued with the repayment of loans.
The lending institutions after crediting the amount will claim the reimbursement from the Central Government.
Hearing the matter on October 14, the Supreme Court observed that it was concerned about how the benefit of interest waiver would be given to borrowers and said the Centre has taken a “welcome decision” by taking note of plight of the common man, but authorities have not issued any order in this regard.
“Something concrete has to be done,” a bench headed by Justice Ashok Bhushan had said, adding, “Benefits of waivers to borrowers up to Rs 2 crore must be implemented as soon as possible.”
The top court, which posted the matter for hearing on November 2, told the advocates appearing for the Centre and banks that “Diwali is in your hand”.
The Centre recently told the Apex Court that going any further than the fiscal policy decisions already taken, such as waiver of compound interest charged on loans of up to Rs 2 crore for six months moratorium period, may be “detrimental” to the overall economic scenario, the national economy and banks may not take “inevitable financial constraints”.
The top court is hearing a batch of petitions which have raised issues concerning the six-month loan moratorium period announced due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The bench, also comprising Justices R S Reddy and M R Shah, said when authorities have decided something then it has to be implemented. (PTI)

Quadcopter shot down

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Daily Excelsior

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October 25, 2020

A quadcopter at the Line of Control in Keran sector on Saturday. (UNI)

Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Oct 24 : Army today shot down a Quadcopter at Keran sector along the Line of Control (LoC) in North Kashmir’s Kupwara district.
An official said that a Quadcopter was shot down at a forward area in Keran sector. He said that after the target shot, the Quadcopter was recovered from the spot in the forward area.
Army in a tweet said that a Quadcopter (DJI Mavic 2 Pro model) has been shot down today morning by Indian Army in Keran Sector, Kupwara district along the Line of Control.
The official said that it was Chinese make and they are trying to analyse the data.

Holidays changed

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Daily Excelsior

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October 25, 2020

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Oct 24: The Government today ordered that holiday on account of Eid-i-Milad-un-Nabi will be observed on October 30 instead of October 29 as notified earlier.
Similarly, the holiday on account of Friday following Eid-i-Milad-un-Nabi will be observed on November 6 instead of October 30.