Page 5 - Jammu And Kashmir

3 more houses damaged due to 'sinking' of land in Jammu-Kashmir's Ramban

Three more residential houses and a 33-kV power transmission line were damaged due to "sinking" of land in the hilly Duksar Dalwa village in Jammu and Kashmir's Ramban district, officials said on Monday. A team of Geological Survey of India (GSI) is visiting the village on Tuesday to ascertain the reasons for the sudden "sinking" of land, which has so far rendered 16 families homeless besides damaging a 500-metre stretch of now closed Sangaldan-Gool road, the officials said. Ramban Deputy Commissioner Mussarat Islam visited the village and interacted with the affected families, assuring them of every possible help from the administration in their rehabilitation. He directed the Gool Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Tanveer-ul-Majeed Wani, to process relief cases of damaged houses on war-footing under SDRF to provide assistance to victims in the shortest possible time. Islam said a total of 16 affected families have been shifted to safer places, besides providing tents, blankets and utens

Ladakh's winter of discontent

From cheering its UT status, the region is now mired in protest

Gap between civilians, security forces reducing in Kashmir: SSB official

The general atmosphere in Kashmir has undergone a positive change as the gap between civilians and security forces has reduced over the past few years, a Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) official said on Monday. There is a change in the atmosphere of the valley. Earlier, kids used to be scared of the security forces but now they have started to come closer. We will take them along and this bonding will be strengthened, SSB 10 Battalion Commandant R S Rawat told reporters here. Rawat was talking to reporters after flagging off 23 students from Government Boys Higher Secondary School Batamaloo on 'Bharat Darshan' tour, sponsored by the Ministry of Home Affairs, to Uttar Pradesh and Delhi. This tour to Lucknow, Agra and Delhi will widen the vision of these students. Besides visiting places of historical importance, they are also scheduled to meet the Governor of Uttar Pradesh. This will be a new experience for these students as it will help them in personality development, which will, in tur

NPP office sealed in J-K, leader Harsh Dev Singh seek court intervention

Authorities on Monday sealed the office of Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party (NPP) here, drawing strong criticism from its former chairman Harsh Dev Singh who recently rejoined the party after resigning from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). Director of Estates department A K Sharma refused to comment on the sealing of the NPP office in Gandhi Nagar. Singh requested the high court to take a suo moto notice of the sealing before the NPP formally lodges a petition against the action. "Lt Governor (Manoj Sinha) is working at the behest of BJP which is very unfortunatethe high court should take suo moto cognisance of the development as NPP is a recognised party," Singh said. He alleged that the sealing is followed by his return to the NPP. Singh said he joined back the party to revive it and mobilise public support against the Bharatiya Janata Party which is enjoying the support of the lieutenant governor, alleging that even BJP's ordinary workers and those affiliated with it have be

Reducing Army presence in J-K prerogative of government: Farooq Abdullah

National Conference president Farooq Abdullah on Monday said reducing the Army footprint in Jammu and Kashmir was a prerogative of the government. "That is a matter for the government. How much they will reduce or increase is their prerogative. I have no say in it," he told reporters at the National Conference headquarters here. The Lok Sabha member from Srinagar was responding to questions about a media report which claimed that the government is considering withdrawing the Army from the hinterland in Kashmir in a phased manner. Reacting to the government's reported decision to "halt" demolition drive in the union territory, the former chief minister said "It was due to the opposition of the people". "This has happened because of the noise made by the people. If people had not made noise, they would have intensified the drive. People should remember that they have the power to shake the government," he added.

Assam Rifles assists in relief, rescue operations in avalanche-hit Sonamarg

The Army on Monday assisted the civil administration in carrying out rescue and relief operations in Sonamarg area of Jammu and Kashmir after an avalanche left nine houses damaged, officials said. The avalanche hit Rezan village in Sonamarg area of Ganderbal district on Sunday night. Besides damaging the houses, 14 domestic animals perished in the avalanche, they said. No human casualties have been reported in the incident. Troops of the 34 Assam Rifles assisted the district administration in rescue operation which was launched this morning. The residents were moved to safer places on Sunday evening soon after the avalanche struck.

Judgement reserved

Too early to celebrate the lithium find

Employees making bad comments on govt policies to face action: JK Officials

The Jammu and Kashmir administration has directed all administrative secretaries to monitor the social media networks to identify employees who are making unfavourable comments on government policies and issue notices to them, official sources said. The direction was passed by Chief Secretary A K Mehta at a meeting here on Friday with instructions to the General Administrative Department (GAD) to issue a necessary circular in this regard, the sources said. During the meeting, it was observed that some government employees have been critical of the government policies and achievements and are making unfavourable comments on social media platforms, they said. They said Mehta directed all administrative secretaries to monitor the social media networks regularly and issue notices to these employees under intimation to the GAD. As a follow-up to the directions of the chief secretary, the sources said the concerned district magistrates flashed urgent messages to all district and sectoral

Landslide damages five houses in Jammu and Kashmir's Ramban district

At least five residential houses were damaged due to a landslide in a remote hilly village in Jammu and Kashmir's Ramban district, officials said on Sunday. The affected families were shifted to safer locations, they said. The incident that took place in Duksar Dal village of Sangaldan in Gool Subdivision, 45 km from Ramban district headquarters, comes barely a fortnight after 19 residential houses, a mosque, and a religious school for girls developed cracks due to land sinking at Nai Basti village of Doda district. "A total of five houses were damaged and rendered uninhabitable due to a landslide at Duksar Dal. The affected families were shifted and provided tents, ration, utensils and blankets as an immediate relief," Sub-Divisional Magistrate Gool Tanveer-ul-Majeed Wani told PTI. He said the land started sliding on Friday, also affecting a local graveyard following which the mortal remains of a local were exhumed and later buried at another place. "Five more houses are likely t

Two dead, 19 injured as bus plunges into gorge in J&K's Reasi district

Two people were killed and 19 others injured when a bus carrying pilgrims to Shiv Khori temple skidded off the road and plunged into a gorge in Reasi district here on Sunday, officials said. The accident took place at Taryath in the Ransu area around 12.30 pm when the driver of the vehicle lost control while maneuvering a curve, they said. The bus carrying pilgrims was on the way to the famous cave shrine of Shiv Khori from Rajouri on the occasion of Maha Shivratri festival, officials said. A rescue operation was launched immediately and the injured were rushed to a nearby health centre, where two of them were declared brought dead, they said, adding that 12 injured were referred to Government Medical College (GMC) hospital Jammu for specialised treatment.

J&K govt approves Rs 30.40 cr 'Sensor-based Smart Agriculture' project

The project is aimed at establishing a 'sensor-based smart agriculture ecosystem' would prove to be helpful for the agri-economy of the region

J-K govt to procure 200 e-buses for environment-friendly public transport

The Jammu and Kashmir government is procuring a fleet of 200 electric buses to establish environment-friendly and socially sustainable network of public transport in the Union Territory's twin capital cities of Jammu and Srinagar, officials said on Friday. For this, Tata Motors has been given land to build the depot whose construction has started, they said. The Jammu and Kashmir government is procuring 100 e-buses each for both the capital cities, the officials said. The electric buses will establish an environmentally, socially and financially sustainable network of public transport in the city, said Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Jammu Smart City Limited (JSCL) Rahul Yadav who reviewed the project. He said that the electric buses will play a vital role in facilitating tourists as well as people.

Home Minister Amit Shah to visit Maharashtra for two days

Union Home Minister Amit Shah will be in Maharashtra over the weekend for a two-day visit during which will pay tribute to B R Ambedkar in Nagpur, interact with children of soldiers martyred in Jammu and Kashmir and address a rally in Kolhapur, officials said. On the first day of his tour beginning Saturday, Shah will pay tribute to Ambedkar at Deeksha Bhoomi, where Ambedkar embraced Buddhism with his followers, and lay a wreath at the memorial of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh's founding 'sarsanghachalak' Keshav Baliram Hedgewar at Reshim Bagh in Nagpur. The RSS headquarters is also located at Reshim Bagh. The home minister will also attend the celebration on the completion of 50 years of the Lokmat Group of newspapers in the city, officials said. The same afternoon, Shah will attend a cooperation conference organised by the Dainik Sakal newspaper in Pune before interacting with the children of soldiers, policemen and civilians who were martyred in Jammu and Kashmir. He will als

Issue of alleged non-functional statutory panels in J-K under consideration

The Centre on Friday told the Supreme Court that the issue of allegedly non-functional statutory panels in Jammu and Kashmir, including the human rights commission, is under consideration and sought three weeks to apprise it of developments. A bench comprising Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justices P S Narasimha and J B Pardiwala took note of Solicitor General Tushar Mehta's submissions that the issue raised in the PIL is being considered at an appropriate level. The top court also directed petitioner, Pune-based lawyer Asim Suhas Sarode, to also make the union territories of Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh parties to the PIL. List after three weeks, the CJI said. He added that the Centre will apprise the bench about developments in the matter on the next date of hearing. On November 28 last year, the top court had taken note of Sarode's PIL, which alleged the statutory panels were not functional in the union territory after the abrogation of Article 370 in the then state, and

Supreme Court to take call on listing of pleas challenging Article 370

'I will take a call on it,' said a bench headed by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud as senior advocate Raju Ramachandran mentioned the matter for urgent listing of the case

3.6 magnitude earthquake hits J-K's Katra belt; no damage reported

An earthquake of 3.6 magnitude hit the Katra belt of Jammu and Kashmir's Reasi district on Friday, officials said. There was no casualty or damage to property reported from anywhere, they said. The quake struck at 5.01 am at a depth of 10 km, the National Centre for Seismology said. The epicentre was 97 kilometers east of Katra. The latitude and longitude of the earthquake were found to be 33.10 degrees and 75.97 degrees respectively. The location of quake was 97 kilometers east of Katra.

Mine over matter: Who will dig up India's new-found Lithium reserve?

The absence of an integrated mining policy for strategic metals and minerals and poor domestic capabilities could hinder exploitation of the recently discovered reserves

Will intensify agitation if govt doesn't meet demands, say Ladakh groups

A day after they held a protest at Delhi's Jantar Mantar, groups from Ladakh on Thursday reiterated their demands for statehood and sixth schedule status for the Union Territory, threatening to intensify their agitation if the government does not listen to them. At a press conference here, environmental activist and educator Sonam Wangchuk said democracy has been compromised in Ladakh and the local people have no say in decision-making. Speaking on behalf of Leh Apex Body and Kargil Democratic Alliance, an amalgam of social, religious, and political groups from the two districts of Ladakh, Wangchuk stressed on the need to provide safeguards for the environmentally sensitive area, and involve locals in decision-making. "We wanted to become a Union Territory, but we never imagined it would be without a legislature. There is no participation of people anymore in how the budget allocated to us is spent. The Autonomous Hill Council has also been weakened, and the issue of statehood is of

Infiltration bid foiled along LoC; army kills terrorist in Jammu-Kashmir

The Army on Thursday foiled an infiltration bid along the Line of Control (LoC) in Tangdhar sector of Jammu and Kashmir, killing one terrorist. Indian Army eliminated an infiltration attempt in forward areas of Tangdhar sector on the night of 15/16 February 2023, thereby preventing efforts of Pakistan to destabilise peace and tranquillity in Kashmir valley and successfully maintaining higher moral ascendancy over the enemy along the Line of Control, a defence spokesman said here. Giving details, the spokesman said troops deployed in an anti-infiltration grid detected movement of three terrorists across the LoC while they were approaching the LoC fence. On being challenged at close proximity to the post, an intense firefight ensued between the terrorists and alert troops, resulting in successful elimination of one terrorist, while grievously injuring the other. The injured terrorist managed to flee to PoJK, along with the third terrorist, taking advantage of darkness, he added. The

Project worth Rs 176 crore approved to boost fish production across J-K

The Jammu and Kashmir government has approved a Rs 176 crore project to boost fish production in the Union Territory having abundant water resources and great potential for fisheries development, an official said on Tuesday. Additional Chief Secretary, Agriculture Production Department (APD), Atal Dulloo said the programme seeks to increase annual trout production by 2.5 times, from 1,663 to 4,000 tonnes, and add an additional 1,200 tonnes of carps every year. "By doing so, the programme intends to convert the current import of around 5,000 tonnes of fish from other regions into local commerce, generating 6,050 jobs and 150 enterprises," he said, adding that it also aims to boost the growth rate of the fish sector from 3.28 per cent to 40 per cent, and increase revenue from Rs 105.55 crore to Rs 589 crore per year. Dulloo said the project aims to increase fish production, productivity, and growth rate, as well as strengthen social security and welfare measures for the fishing ...