Author: snskashmir

Gulmarg hoteliers seek extension in lease agreements; India’s business tycoon Anil Ambani arrives at tourist destination; hoteliers likely to meet top icon, meetings to remain informal

SNS KASHMIR

Jahangir Sofi/KNO

SRINAGAR, JANUARY 22 :

The 31- member Parliamentary delegation Thursday visited the world famous ski-resort Gulmarg in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district to take stock of the tourism activities and to meet hoteliers, tour operators and the picturesque tourist destination.

The Parliamentary Standing Committee along with the top officials of Tourism Department including the Principal Secretary Tourism Sarmad Hafeez met the Hoteliers in Gulmarg to have an on the spot assessment of the Tourism facilities, infrastructure and problems being faced by the tour operators.

Secretary General Hoteliers Club Gulmarg, Tariq Gani while speaking to news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) said, “We have presented a five-point memorandum to the delegation. We expressed our concerns and put forth demands before the delegation which included the extension of lease agreements to the hotelier whose leases have expired.”

While raising the issue of Srinagar-Jammu National Highway Hoteliers club Kashmir apprised the delegation about the frequent closure of the highway and the toll it is taking on the tourism.

” Frequent closure of Highway leads to the problems for Tourism Industry, as most of the domestic Tourists prefer to come by road, we also demanded the night landing at Srinagar International Airport”, Gani told KNO. “Post Abrogation of Article 370 & 35A and then Covid-19 lockdown hit the Tourism industry badly, we have demanded the relaxation in GST for next five years, financial assistance so that we can review our business which has suffered a lot.”

Gani said: “We have also demanded the enhancement in the budget for Tourism promotions along with that we should also be allowed for necessary renovations and repairs for our properties.” A presentation was also given by Tourism Department where in they exhibited the potential of Tourism in Gulmarg.

Pertinent to mention the visiting Parliamentary standing committee which is headed by Rajya Sabha MP from Madhya Pradesh T G Venkatesh met with various stakeholders on issues related to Road, Travel, Tourism and Hospitality sectors in valley. Meanwhile, India’s top business icon, Anil Ambhani took many tour operators by a surprise after he reached the Gulmarg ski-resort this evening.

Reliable sources told KNO that Anil is likely to meet tourism officials, tour operators and hoteliers at Gulmarg but all his meetings will remain informal and not open to the media. “It is not clear whether the Anil’s visit to Gulmarg is personal or related to business vis-à-vis investment at the picturesque tourist resort. Things will be clear in a few days,” sources said—(KNO)

Project Appraisal and Evaluation Committees, Land Allotment Committees to be constituted to scrutinize and finalize industrial land allotment within 30, 45 days respectively

SNS KASHMIR

JAMMU, JANUARY 22 :

The Administrative Council (AC), which met here under the chairmanship of Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha, approved the adoption of Jammu & Kashmir Industrial Land Allotment Policy, 2021-30 to evolve a highly structured industrial land bank for promoting equitable industrial growth in Jammu and Kashmir.

The new policy attempts to address various land-related issues impeding industrial development in J&K by laying down a framework to regulate zoning of industrial areas, project appraisal and evaluation, and the subsequent process flow.

The new policy proposes zoning of industrial areas at block/ municipality level after taking into consideration various factors including the existing level of industrial development, location of the proposed zone, and level of urbanization. The Jammu and Kashmir Industrial Land Allotment Policy, 2021-30 will also cover land allotment for health institutions/medi-cities and educational institutions/edu-cities.

The policy provides for constitution of Divisional Level Project Appraisal and Evaluation Committees to scrutinize applications received for allotment of industrial land within 30 days; Apex Level Land Allotment Committee, High Level Land Allotment Committee and Divisional Level Land Allotment Committee to decide and allot industrial land to the applicant within 45 days in cases of projects worth Rs. 200 crore, Rs. 50-200 crore and up to Rs. 50 crore, respectively.

Under the policy, land will be allotted to the investors on lease for an initial period of 40 years, extendable to 99 years. The allotted land will be liable to be cancelled in case of failure of the investor to take effective steps within the stipulated time of 2 years, failure of the industrial unit to come into production within 3 years, violation of provisions under the lease deed, and non-cooperation of an enterprise for a period of 5 years.

Further, the policy also provides renting out of 60% of the built-up area of a business enterprise for setting up an ancillary industrial enterprise through a tripartite agreement.

The policy aims at achieving inclusive growth through sustainable industrialization and employment generation, and includes provisions for evolving a fair and transparent mechanism for land allotment for industrial use.(KNT)

SNS KASHMIR

SRINAGAR/JAMMU, JANUARY 22 :

Lieutenant Governer-led dispensation has in a Circular impressed upon all the relevant officers to ensure that ‘National Flag is flown on all Government offices and buildings across the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir on Republic Day, 2021.’

“It is impressed upon all the Administrative Secretaries, Divisional Commissioners, Deputy Commissioners, Heads of Departments and Managing Directors of all PSUs/Corporations to ensure that National Flag is flown on all Government offices and buildings across the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir on Republic Day, 2021”, the Circular reads. (GNS)

SNS KASHMIR

SYEED IMTIYAZ

HANDWARA, JANUARY 22 :

Today an emergency meeting was held on behalf of Ex-trade body Handwara meet which was held before 3days,hundreds of shopkeepers from Handwara town held a separate emergency meeting aganist Ex-plateform of traders body.

As per the meeting inputs are concern,they nominated two contesting candidates for the trade election aganist Ex-Trade body of Handwara,They Nominated Manzoor Ahmad Bhat for president chair and Mushtaq Ahmad Tantray for General Secretary.

After Friday prayers both candidates held a road march from district hospital to main Chowk Handwara in which hundreds of trade body members and other respectable people participated and shared their love.

While talking to a member of trade body he said, that all the members including the respectable who were present echoed similar concerns and vowed to bring change to the trade body.he said

“Time of dynasty rule is over when one family rules a country or a region over a long period of time.Today is online world each and every one knows what is right and wrong,what is dark and what is bright and what is history and what is future.he added.

SNS KASHMIR

SONAMARAG JANUARY 22 :

A day after the report that Agency constructing Zojila Tunnel has chopped down over 300 ‘trees’ without seeking permission from Forest Department, the Department attached Forest Officer Sonmarg to DFO’s office Ganderbal for not informing the higher-ups in time.

Sources told News Agency Kashmir News Trust that Forest Officer Sonmarg, Abdul Gani was attached to the office of Divisional Forest Officer Ganderbal while additional charge was given to Forest Officer Gund Habibullah.

As reported earlier by KNT that Megha Engineering and Infrastructure Ltd which is responsible for the construction of 14.5 kilometer Zojila Tuneel has chopped off 338 trees without seeking permission from the Forest Department.

Sources said that attachment order was issued after Department felt that the said officer resorted to dilly dally tactics in sending the report to higher-ups.

Sources added that DFO Ganderbal Mir Owais along with Deputy Director Forest Protection Forces visited Nilgrath and Baltal areas to assess the situation. The DFO has already constituted a committee comprising of Range Officer Sindh Forest Range and Assistant Director Forest Protection Force to ascertain the facts. They have been asked to submit the report within 3 days.

Yesterday, DFO Ganderbal, Mir Owais had said that he has constituted a committee to ascertain facts. “If some violation has taken place, we will charge bill from the Agency. I don’t think they have cut trees. What I have learnt is that the Agency has cut some saplings,” Mir Owais had told KNT.

The attached Forest Officer Sonmarg Abdul Gani in its report has already sought action against the Agency under law. He admitted that Megha Engineering and Infrastructure Limited has cut down 338 trees.

Pertinently, Megha Engineering and Infrastructure Ltd got the contract to construct the Zojila Tunnel after it emerged as the lowest bidder for the project.

Zojila tunnel aims to provide all-year connectivity between Kashmir and Ladakh region. The estimated cost of the project is Rs4,509 crore.

SNS KASHMIR

SRINAGAR JANUARY 22 :

On 16-01-2021, Police Station Nowgam received a written complaint by one Abdul Hamid Bhat R/o Nowgam regarding theft of Sanitary Hardware items from his store M/S Kashmir Valley Trading Company Nowgam Bypass.

On the basic of this information case FIR No. 04/2021 U/S 380, 457 IPC was registered in Police Station Nowgam and an investigating Team was constituted under the supervision of SHO PS Nowgam and investigation was set into motion.

In this case, on the basis of human intelligence and technical analysis/inputs, the investigating team was able to arrest threepersons namely:

1. Ab Razaq
   S/O Mohd Sulieman.
2. Sadam Syed
   S/O Mohd Sulieman.
3. Mohd Shahid Sheikh S/O Mohd Jaseem Sheikh
   All residents of Narella Delhi At present residing in a rented accomodation at Humhama, Budgam. On the basis of their disclosure, Sanitary items worth around 7 lakhs were recovered from their possession. Investigation of the case is underway.

SRINAGAR, JANUARY 22 :

Eighteen travelers were among 88 new covid-19 cases reported in Jammu and Kashmir in the last 24 hours, taking the total tally to 123852, officials told GNS on Friday. Also, four deaths were reported due to the virus and the victims, two each, belonged to Jammu and Kahsmir Valley.

Among the cases, they said, 42 are from Jammu Division and 46 from Kashmir Valley.

Giving district-wise details, Srinagar reported 18 cases, Baramulla 4, Budgam 5, Pulwama 4, Kupwara 3, Anantnag 4, Bandipora 2, Ganderbal 4, Kulgam 2, Shopian 0, Jammu 32, Udhampur 2, Rajouri 3, Doda 1, Kathua 0, Samba 0, Kishtwar 0, Poonch 4, Ramban 0 and Reasi 0.

Moreover, they said, 97 more Covid-19 patients have recovered and were discharged from various hospitals— 30 from Jammu Division and 67 from Kashmir Valley. (GNS)

KISHTWAR, JANUARY 22 :

Unidentified men hurled a grenade on a police party in Kishtwar region of Chenab Valley here in Jammu.

The grenade exploded with a bang, resulting into the injuries to two cops.

Police sources said that unknown persons lobbed a grenade at Ded Peth area of Kishtwar.

SSP, Kishtwar Harmeet Singh said that no damage was done in the grenade attack. He said a cordon and search operation was launched after the attack.

The search operation was underway till the filing of this report. (KNT)

Duo had gone to ATM to loot cash, Says SSP Jammu

SNS KASHMIR

JAMMU, JANUARY 22 :

The Jammu police Friday said that they have arrested two youth who were involved in the murder of a bank ATM guard, who was found dead inside guard chamber in Nanak Nagar area of Jammu last night.

An official told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that a swift investigation by Jammu Police has revealed that the last night’s sensational murder of the ATM guard was executed by two youth belonging to north Kashmir’s Bandipora district.

Notably, Raju Sharma, son of Gullu Ram hailing from New Plot area of Jammu, was found dead inside guard chamber of the bank ATM at sector 13 in Nanak Nagar at around 10 pm last night.

Addressing a press conference this afternoon, SSP Jammu Shridhar Patil said that the murder was executed by two youth identified as Mohammad Kaif Lone and Waqas Bashir Lone—both residents of Bandipora

He said that the Lone duo had gone to the ATM with the purpose of looting cash.

“On being resisted by the guard, they attacked him inside the rest room by initially smothering his face with a blanket.”

He said Kaif and Waqas had recently taken a place on rent in Nanak Nagar area where they lived as paying guests.

The SSP said that the accused have been taken into custody and further investigation is on.

Earlier, family members and neighbours of a bank ATM guard, who was allegedly murdered in Nanak Nagar area of Jammu last night held a protest demonstration this morning, demanding arrest of his ‘killers’ and financial aid to the victim’s family—(KNO)

SRINAGAR:

About 21 prisoners from Jammu and Kashmir, presently lodged in various jails of Uttar Pradesh, have been shifted to the high-security Agra jail.

This is being done on the orders of the Union Home Ministry (MHA). The prisoners being shifted now are believed to be separatists, of which 10 are associated with Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani.

These inmates were booked under Public Safety Act (PSA) and were arrested in the wake of the revocation of special status to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370 of the Constitution in August 2019.

According to Senior Superintendent of Agra central jail, V.K. Singh, “While eight prisoners were already lodged in Agra Central Jail, 17 more have been shifted from Naini, Bareilly and Ambedkar Nagar jails. Four more are scheduled to be transferred from Varanasi Central Jail. All of them will be kept in a high-security cell, away from the other prisoners.”

The entire cell is soundproof and under constant CCTV surveillance. Sources said that the jail staff on duty at the special cell have been strictly directed not to speak to any prisoner. Only senior officials would communicate with them, if needed.

They would be taken out of the lock-up one by one at a fixed time every day and allowed to walk for a few minutes.

Visitors and staffers would be thoroughly checked at the main gate. The entire premises is being monitored by police and provincial armed constabulary (PAC) round-the-clock.

In 2019, over 200 prisoners booked under the PSA were transferred to the Agra Central Jail. A year later, most of them were ‘temporarily’ released on the directives of the MHA.

The high-security cell at Agra central jail was constructed 23 years ago and has a capacity to lodge 30 prisoners. (IANS)