UT Sectt, Police Hqrs, Raj Niwas to come up at Kurbathang

Excelsior Correspondent

KARGIL, Oct 24: Lieutenant Governor of Union Territory of Ladakh Radha Krishna Mathur today said that Kargil and Leh have been selected for Smart City assistance.
Addressing a press conference here, the Lieutenant Governor said that on the directions of Prime Minister and efforts of UT administration Kargil and Leh have been selected for Smart City assistance in addition to 100 Smart Cities selected earlier on competition basis.
“A team from the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) is presently on visit to Ladakh and has held various consultative meetings with different stakeholders including the CEC, LAHDC, Kargil”, he said, adding “Smart City would be approved on the basis of the team’s report”.
Reiterating the commitment of the UT Administration towards the equitable development of Ladakh, the LG said that all efforts are being made to expend the additional funds from the Central Government in a judicious and comprehensive manner. “Meetings have also been held with the LAHDC, Kargil in this regard and all due consideration has been given towards solving its problems and issues”, he added.
He further said that collective efforts will be made by the UT Administration and the Hill Councils to expend the allotted budget to the maximum possible despite limitations due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He also said that preparations will be made this winter to execute maximum number of works during the next season.
The LG further informed that a UT Level Planning Board has also been constituted with experts from different fields whose suggestions would be sought and effort will be made to promulgate the Vision 2050 within the next 2 months with support and opinions from all stakeholders.
The emphasis of the Vision 2050 would be on more practical and workable projects, the LG stated and said that equitable and area specific development of both districts have been accorded top priority.
Regarding the status of expansion of Kargil Airport, the LG informed that the airport expansion is subject to the technical parameters and approval of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and Airports Authority of India (AAI). “On their advice the UT Administration has approached the International Civil Aviation Organization, Montreal for consultancy”, he said, adding “matter is being seriously pursued with the agency to come up with their technical opinion”.
“UT Administration is fully committed to establish an airport suitable enough for landing of wide bodied airplanes in Kargil and in case of such planes not found to be technically suitable to operate on the existing airstrip, an alternate airport will be constructed at an appropriate location in the district”, he informed.
Regarding the promotion and other related issues of the employees of Ladakh UT, the LG said that the first step towards resolution of all such matters is the formal division of staff between J&K and Ladakh. “A final meeting in this regard has been held recently. Appropriate decisions to address all such issues pertaining to employees would be taken after the formal transfer of all staff to Ladakh UT and issuance of orders from MHA and J&K Government in this regard”, he added.
Regarding the establishment of UT Headquarters in Kargil, the LG informed that the UT Administration intends to establish a UT Secretariat, Police Headquarters and Raj Niwas at Kurbathang after an agreement with the Army pertaining to land, for which discussions have already begun.
Chairman and Chief Executive Councillor LAHDC Kargil Feroz Ahmad Khan, Deputy Commissioner and CEO, LAHDC, Kargil Baseer ul Haq Choudhary, SSP Kargil Dr Vinod Kumar besides other concerned officers were present on the occasion.

Navratra festival culminates

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 24: Though the nine -day long Navratra festival remained a low key affair this time due to COVID Pandemic, thousands of devotees however visited the various shrines and temples across the Jammu region on the last day of festival today to pay their obeisance to Goddess Durga.

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As per reports 6800 pilgrims visited the holy shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi Katra on the culminating day of Navratra festival today from different parts of the country.
But the rush was considerably very low in comparison to previous Navratras. The authorities had made elaborate arrangements in view of the pandemic for the pilgrims and all SOPs including social distancing were fully observed.
Reports reaching here said that 10,000 pilgrims performed darshan at Bawe Wali Mata temple at Bahu Fort near here on the last day of Navratra festival today. The people were seen in queues waiting for the darshan. Reports said that during last nine days of festival 69,720 pilgrims visited the holy shrine.
Likewise over one lakh pilgrims paid obeisance in Jodawali and Dolawali shrines at Bani in Kathua district during the Navratra festival and maximum of the pilgrims visiting these shrines were from neighboring States of Himachal Pradesh and Punjab. In addition to it 20,000 pilgrims paid obeisance at Chechi Wali Mata shrine in Samba during the festival days while 2000 pilgrims visited the holy shrine today.
Reports said that about 25,000 pilgrims paid obeisance in the shrines of Sukhrala Mata Sundri Kot and Jasrota Fort in Kathua district during the festival days.
The nine -day long Prabhat Pheri came to culmination in holy township of Katra today which was jointly organized by JK Association of Prabhat Pheri, public of Katra and Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB).
Earlier Shiv Kumar Sharma former joint secretary J&K Sports Council and president of Senior Citizens Forum Katra and Kushal Sanmotra who were chief guest and guest of honour respectively cut the ribbon. A large number of locals and devotees participated in the Prabhat Pheri. Today’s attraction was dance performance God Shiva and Nandhigans showcased by Baldev and party.
The CRPF personnel ladies group led by Municipal councilor, Bindu Sharma were honoured for making arrangements necessary coordination during Prabhat Pheri. The Prabhat Pheri was coordinated by Raj Kumar Padha its chairman.
Shamsher Singh Bhandari a social activist has demanded that the number of pilgrims visiting the holy shrines including the Mata Vaishno Devi be increased. He made an appeal to Lt Governor Manoj Sinha in this regard.
Meanwhile, on the culmination on the Navratra festival the devotees immersed Saakh in various rivers and canals in Jammu region. The rush of devotees was seen at river Tawi near Bikram Chowk and the Bank of Ranbir Canal at various places where a large number of devotees were seen immersing Saakh which was son and worshiped by them in their houses during the last nine days.
Rush of devotees was also seen at the banks of river Chenab at Akhnoor where large number of devotees thronged to immerse the Saakh.

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 24: Birth anniversary of tallest Dogra leader and Sher Duggar, Pt. Prem Nath Dogra was celebrated with great enthusiasm by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) throughout Jammu region.

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At Pt. Prem Nath Dogra Chowk, a Hawan and Yagya was performed followed by garlanding of the statue of Pandit Ji which was followed by addresses of J&K BJP president, Ravinder Raina, former BJP president & MP Jugal Kishore Sharma, former BJP president and MP, Shamsher Singh Manhas, former BJP president and former Minister, Sat Sharma, general secretary (Org.) Ashok Kaul and other senior party leaders.
Former BJP president and former MLC Ashok Khajuria, vice-president, Yudhvir Sethi, JMC, Mayor Chander Mohan Gupta, former Minister, Priya Sethi, former MLC Ch. Vikram Randhawa, former MLC, Charanjit Singh Khalsa, secretary Veenu Khanna, Pramod Kapahi, Dr. Pardeep Mahotra, Sanjita Dogra, Arun Dev Singh Jamwal, Vinay Gupta, Munish Khajuria, Ayodhya Gupta, Sanjay Baru, Mohan Singh Rana, Jeet Angral, Praduman Singh, Surinder Sharma, Neeraj (Lucky) Puri and others also paid tributes on the occasion.
BJP president Ravinder Raina paid glowing tributes to Pt Prem Nath Dogra and described him as a tallest leader of the country. Raina also warned the secessionist forces who are hell bent to destroy the peace and the fabric of our brotherhood and said that we will spend our last breath in the service of Bharat Mata but will never let forces inimical to national cause to derail the ongoing peace and development process. He said that Modi Government at the Centre is the strong Government that has not only given befitting reply at the borders to the enemies but has also put the nation on the path of progress on most modern lines.
Jugal while remembering the services of Pandit Ji said that he dedicated his whole life for the upliftment of downtrodden and spent every movement for unity of the J&K with the rest of the country.
Sat Sharma said that Pt. Ji was a great soul who was instrumental in leading agitation for the pride of common people.
Ashok Kaul appealed the party workers to work dedicatedly for the welfare of the people. He said Pandit Ji as a mature personality, was equally respected by his opponents as well.
Similar programmes were conducted across the regions under the guidance of senior leaders.

Tiranga Yatras will be taken out

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 24: Lashing out at Gupkar Gang, Ravinder Raina, BJP president said that J&K is not a personal property of any leader but a property of 135 crore of Indians including the residents of J&K.

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Talking to reporters here, today Raina said that Accession Day of J&K will be celebrated as a red letter day in a grand fashion as ‘Jashn-e-Azadi’across the length and breadth of J&K.
Former Minister, Dr. Devinder Kumar Manyal and BJP spokesperson and former MLA, R. S. Pathania were present in the press conference.
While Ravinder Raina stressed that people of erstwhile Jammu & Kashmir State will be celebrating this occasion with full enthusiasm and various Tiranga Yatras will also be taken out in various areas by the BJP activists to mark the occasion.
Raina called upon all the residents of J&K to hoist the Tiranga on their roof tops on the pious occasion of the Accession Day. He said that this day is very important to people of UT and numerous programmes will be ensured by party activists and others in every area of the region. “Tiranga is in our blood and we are ready to sacrifice our last drop of blood for its protection and esteem”, he said.
Raina said that during 1947 the communal and fundamentalist forces were active in J&K and trying to play spoil sport with peace and harmony, but the visionary Maharaja Sahib took a landmark step by Acceding J&K to the dominion of India – a secular socialist, sovereign Republic. The party will also hold a grand function, coupled with small programmes in the various areas of the J&K as well as in the UT of Ladakh.
While responding to a query of a news reporter, Raina dismissed the yesterday’s outburst of Mehbooba Mufti as ‘Act of frustration’. He said that Mufti wants to indulge in a competitive politics of secessionism by making such misplaced, misdirected and out-of-sync statements.
Raina also cleared that Article 370 will never be back till the doom’s day and shrewd gang should stop inciting common masses as talking of State Flag and State Constitution is as good as ‘Day Dreaming’.
While responding to another query regarding invoking of legal action against Mehbooba Mufti, Raina was quite emphatic in saying ‘law will take its own course’. He further said that it looks that ‘an unsuccessful Chief Minister and a failed PDP president is giving vent to her frustration and immature thinking’.

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 24: Furious over the alleged atrocious attitude of State Commercial Taxes Department (CTD) officials, business community under the banner of Traders Federation Ware House-Nehru Market (TFWHNM) here has warned the Government of serious consequences if the CTD not mend ways.
A meeting of representatives of different trade bodies of Jammu was held here today under the chairmanship of Rattan Lal Mahajan, TFWHNM President to discuss the prevailing business situation in Jammu.
Speaking in the meeting TFWHNM General Secretary, Deepak Gupta alleged that CTD officials are creating hurdles for traders during peak hours of festive season least caring about losses suffered by the business community due to COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown.
He alleged that CTD officials are hell bent to damage the business interests of traders by putting Nakas at various places en-route Lakhanpur-Jammu where undue checking of vehicles carrying goods is done.
Gupta termed this whole process useless and said whatsoever material they are bringing from Lakhanpur is already checked by CTD itself at Lakhanpur and all the formalities are also fulfilled there only by the submission of GST through e-way bills.
“Hence there is no need to further check the vehicles by the authorities,” he said expressing concern over the behaviour of CTD officials who instead of providing a feasible atmosphere during the festive season has started undue interference in the working of traders posing serious blow to their business which is already in crisis due to instability in national and international markets due to the pandemic.
“Now when we are expecting good business turnover the way CTD officials are treating members of trading community has left no doubt that this festival season too will undergo the same fate as was in the first six months of this financial year,” he maintained.
“There are many technical flaws in the creation of e-way bills due to which problems are being faced,” Gupta said adding: “Presently we are working on 2G internet speed which creates problems and many times the portal is also overloaded. Apart from this the electricity too remains off for five-six hours a day and the CTD should also see all these problems.”
He further said that during the lockdown traders provided all possible help to the administration and distributed ration among the poor but now when the trade is coming on track the CTD is creating hurdles instead of helping the traders.
Gupta urged upon J&K Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha to intervene so that the traders of Jammu may heave a sigh of relief.
The meeting was attended by Yashpal Gupta, President Retailers Federation; Surinder Mahajan, President Raghunath Bazaar Businessmen Association; Anoop Mittal, President Kanak Mandi Traders Association; Prithvi Gupta, Ex-General Secretary CCI Jammu; Vinay Gupta, President Wholesale Cloth Merchants Association; Atul Rajpal, President Rajinder Bazaar Association; Kartar Chand, President Lakhdata Bazaar Association; Jainder Jain, President General Merchants Association; Amit Jandial, President Apsara Road Traders Association; Ravi Kant Gupta, President Wholesale Readymade Garments Association; Rajinder Gupta, President Link Road Association; Ramesh Tak, President Bus Stand Traders Welfare Association; Pooja Kapoor, President Residency Road Traders Association; Kirti Gupta, President Dal Merchant Association; Om Parkash Gupta, President Karyana Association; Bishan Dass Gupta, President Rice Merchant Association; Rajesh Bagotra, President Sugar Merchant Association; Pawan Gupta, President Arti Association; Sham Langer, Ex-General Secretary Ware House Association; Ajay Gupta, President Potato-Onion Traders Association; Dheeraj Mahajan, Sr. Vice President, Munish Mahajan, Jr. Vice President, Abhimanyu Gupta, Secretary and Vishal Gupta, Cashier of TFWHNM.

Excelsior Correspondent

SAMBA Oct 24: The anti encroachment drive started by the district administration, Samba at Vijaypur Main Bazaar, continued for second consecutive day, today razing multiple concrete structures and buildings.
Deputy Commissioner, Samba Rohit Khajuria led anti encroachment team which demolished several concrete structures raised over the water body at Vijaypur adjoining Petrol Pump on National Highway. The structures razed included shops, concrete slabs, boundary walls, tin shed, multiple residential rooms, and other RCC concrete structures.
The encroached area caused blockade to the water body at Main Bazar besides it also created hurdles in the free movement of general public.
The encroachment drive was carried out by tehsildar Vijaypur, Pardeep Singh, executive officer Municipality, Vijaypur, Ravi Saini, DySP Lov Karan, SHO Sudhir Sadhotra besides other field officers of revenue and JK police.

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 24: The BJP JKUT State president, Kisan Morcha, Omi Khjauria highlighted the advantages of farmers’ reform bills during “Choupal” with farmers at villages Nagrota, Prya, Plassi, Pooondi, Khadrod, Madrakh and Plai held under the chairmanship of Kisan Morcha district president, Ajit Singh (Sarpanch) in Nagrota of Parehta Pyt district Basoli.
Khajuria also listened all the problems of farmers and briefed them over the MSP exactly where some political parties are still misguiding and misleading the people.
He further said that the idea behind Minimum Support Price is to give guaranteed price and assured market to the farmers and protect them from the price fluctuations and market imperfections. The guaranteed price and assured market are expected to encourage higher investment and in adoption of modern farming practices.
The farmers commended Prime Minister, Narendra Modi and the Union Minister of State, Dr Jitendra Singh for this decision and said that it was their very old demand which has now been fulfilled.
On the occasion district president, Colonel Mahan Singh , BDC Chairman Basoli, Sushma Jamwal BJP Kisan Morcha Jammu and Kashmir general secretary, Raman Singh Chib , State secretary, Kisan Morcha Ravinder Singh Dudariya, State media secretary, Vijay Sharma , Kisan Morcha Jammu Kashmir State treasurer, Balbir Singh Manhas Ji, Executive Member Vicky Mehra, district vice president, Ram Chand, Naresh Thakur, Cap Krishan Singh vice president, KM, district general secretary, Naresh Basotra, Mandal Pradhan Balwinder Singh , Ravinder Singh, Balwan Singh, Mandal pradhan Kisan Morcha Ramesh Singh , general secretary, Inder Singh, senior leader, Jagdev Rajwal, Raman Sharma, Sarpanch-Panch and prominent farmers were present.

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 24: Apni Party general secretary Vikram Malhotra today expressed his concern over the negligence of one of the oldest Mohalla in Ward number 1 of Jammu district which lacks basic amenities even as the ward belongs to Deputy Mayor of Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC).
“The BJP Corporators, especially Deputy Mayor of Jammu has failed to provide basic facilities for the livelihood of people of Old City which is a heritage for Dogra Society,” said Apni Party’s general secretary Vikram Malhotra.
Malhotra said that the residential areas in the surrounding areas of the Mubarak Mandi Palace/Complex are being ignored as if it does not come under the Municipal Corporation Jammu.
“The roads, lanes and drains are in worst condition and there is a lack of cleanliness. The nallah at Mohalla Chowgan Salathia in Panjtirthi is one of the examples where people suffer because of official apathy even as ward number 1 belongs to the Deputy Mayor,” said Malhotra.
“I am told that a child has fallen into a nallah. The nallah has not been covered by the Municipality despite repeated reminders given to them by the locals and the Deputy Mayor herself has not paid any heed towards the concerns of the people she represents,” he said.
The Apni Party’s general secretary said that if this is the condition of one of the Oldest Mohalla of Jammu district, the condition of rural areas can be imagined under BJP rule. The resentment among the people against the BJP for taking Jammu for granted will cost them heavily in coming assembly polls, he added.

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 24: Lord Hanuman’s idol was today installed at Vishwanath temple at Old Court Road Panjtirthi in Jammu City.
The idol was installed by one of the disciples who had started Hanuman Ji Jayanti celebrations in Jammu.
It was installed in the presence of Mahant Narsingh Dass Ji Maharaj.
The Ramayan path at the temple will conclude tomorrow by strictly observing the COVID guidelines.

Excelsior Correspondent

GANDERBAL, Oct 24: Department of Economics, Central University of Kashmir (CUK) Saturday organized one-day workshop on “Making use of Economic Outlook Database for Research Scholars” at varsity here.
Welcoming the resource person, Rajeev Ranjan, Assistant Vice-President, Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE) Private Limited, Director, Research and Development, Prof GM Bhat, highlighted the importance of workshops for scholars especially for those using secondary data in their research work.
Rajiv Ranjan began his lecture with a broad overview of the Economic Outlook database and said that the database is a useful resource as far as reliable data and independent analysis is concerned. Ranjan said the Economic Outlook is an information service with the main aim of keeping the users abreast with the changes in the macro-economic environment of the country through copious reliable data, independent analysis, forecasts and regular alerts. He said the database is comprehensive and thoroughly monitored which is especially dedicated to Indian Economy and has reliable data on over half a million indicators from many official sources. Ranjan said the economic outlook database provides a complete picture of the past, the present and the future of the Indian economy. He gave a detailed explanation of the data being covered, their sources and frequencies.
The database covers data on macro-economic, sectoral, business and socio-economic indicators. He also gave a practical demonstration on how to use the database and gave detailed description of the statistics covered by the Economic outlook database.
The session was followed by an interactive session wherein the resource person answered the questions of the participants.