November 2022

Ganderbal, Nov 07 : Spotting of snow leopard, an endangered animal in the upper reaches of Kashmir for the first time, will give a significant boost to the efforts aimed at the conservation of the species, Wildlife Officials said Monday.

Interestingly, the researchers from the Nature Conservation Foundation, who are partners with the J&K wildlife department, recently noticed the movement of snow leopard in the upper reaches of Baltal-Zojila area of Kashmir.

Altaf Hussain Dentoo, Wildlife Warden, Central division told news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that the snow leopard is probably in Kashmir. “Recently, we also received some photos, so there is a good chance that snow leopards may be found in Kashmir,” he said, adding that “We’re currently working on an endangered species prevention project in the Kashmir Valley, and we’re also doing some research on it.”

He said that snow leopards are not harmful to humans. “They attack only when they feel endangered. The Jammu and Kashmir department of wildlife protection has formally launched the first-ever snow leopard assessment in J&K

J&K’s Department of Wildlife Protection and Programme Manager of National Conservation Foundation (NCF) in a statement issued to KNO, said that the Department of Wildlife Protection had been conducting surveys with partner NGOs to understand the presence and abundance of snow leopards under the Snow Leopard Population Assessment of India (SPAI) project funded by the Ministry of Environment Forests and Climate Change.

It said that this iconic and culturally treasured great cat was a good indicator species as it quickly reacts to habitat disturbances and its successful conservation requires sustainable long-term systemic solutions to the threats impacting the quality of habitats.

“Various teams have been conducting surveys across the near 12,000 sq km potential snow leopard of J&K for a few years now covering Gurez, Thajwas, Baltal-Zojila, Wurwun, and Kishtwar landscapes. There is extremely limited evidence of snow leopard occurrence across J&K,” the statement said.

It said that recently in a historic revelation, partners on this project, and researchers from Nature Conservation Foundation (NCF) recorded images of the snow leopard in the upper Baltal-Zojila region of Kashmir.

The statement further reads that the team involved in the camera trapping was headed by Munib Khanyari and accompanied by Aashiq Dar of Tangmarg, Baramulla, Aijaz Raina of Sarbal, Sonamarg, Tanzin Thuktan, Rinchen Tobge, and Kesang Chunit of Kibber, Himachal Pradesh.

It said that they were supported extensively by the staff of the Department of Wildlife Protection and the research associates and supported by Suresh Kumar Gupta, IFS Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (Wildlife) and Chief Wildlife Warden and Regional Wildlife Warden – Kashmir Rashid Yahya Naqash.

Notably, India had launched Project Snow Leopard in 2009 to save the elusive and vulnerable species. Unofficial estimates put the population of snow leopards in India around 500. It is believed that about 60% of the snow leopards in the country roam the snowy wilderness of the Himalayan region of Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir at an altitude of about 3,000 metres. The rest are found in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh.

The present snow leopard population assessment in J&K covers potential areas in Kishtwar and adjoining forests in Jammu, Gurez, Thajwas and Overa Aru in Kashmir region—(KNO)

Srinagar, Nov 07 : The Jammu and Kashmir government has decided to hike the Dearness Allowance (DA) of employees and pensioners by four per cent with effect from 01 July, 2022.

An order issued by Secretary Finance Department, a copy of which lies with the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the government employees working in regular pay levels under 7th Pay Commission recommendations, will be paid Dearness Allowance at a revised rate of 38% of Basic Pay from the existing 34% of Basic Pay.

“The term ‘Basic Pay’ in the revised pay structure means the pay drawn in the prescribed level in the pay matrix as per 7th Pay Commission recommendations, but does not include any other type of pay like special pay etc,” the order reads.

It further said that the arrears on account of additional instalment of DA with effect from July, 2022 shall be paid in cash in two equal installments (one in the month of November, 2022 and other in the month of December, 2022) and shall form part of salary from November onwards.

Similar order has been issued regarding the pensioners/family pensioners. “The arrears on account of additional instalment of DA with effect from July shall be paid in cash to Government Pensioners/Family pensioners in two equal installments (one in November and other in December) and shall form part of pension /family pension from November onwards,” it said.

“Other provisions governing the grant of Dearness Allowance on pension/family pension such as the regulations of Dearness Allowance during employment Ire-employment, where more than one pension is drawn etc. and other provisions of the existing rules/orders(as are not in conflict with provisions of this order), shall continue to remain in force.”—(KNO)

Srinagar, Nov 07 : Additional director general of police Kashmir zone, Vijay Kumar on Monday said that Sopore police have cracker the recent IED blast incident in Kehnusa village of Bandipora district by arrested two hybrid militants.

In a Tweet, Kashmir Zone police, as per the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) informed that two hybrid militants involved in IED blast in Kehnusa village have been arrested.

Police said that two remote controlled IEDs with detonators have also been recovered from their possession.

“Sopore Police has cracked the recent IED blast incident at Kenusa Bandipora. 02 hybrid terrorists namely Irshad Ganaie @ Shahid & Waseem Raja of Kenusa Bandipora arrested. 02 remote controlled IEDs with detonators recovered. Case registered & investigation going on,” police tweeted—(KNO)

Jammu/Srinagar, Nov 7 : Mughal road remained closed for vehicular movement for the second consecutive day due to snowfall, officials said on Monday.

The Mughal road, connecting twin districts of Poonch and Rajouri with Shopian was closed for traffic on early Sunday after snowfall at several places enroute including Pir Ki Gali (PKG), Mansar Mohre and Posha, a police officer told.

Similarly, the officials said, traffic has been closed on Srinagar-Sonamarg-Gumari road after snowfall in areas around Sonamarg. The thoroughfare was also closed on Sunday morning but was reopened later. Fresh snowfall however has forced its fresh closure, they said.

Meanwhile, traffic authorities have urged people to confirm the status of Jammu-Srinagar highway before embarking on a journey on the thoroughfare.

“People are advised to undertake journey on (the highway) only after confirming status of the road from TCUs Jmu 0191-2459048, 0191-2740550, 9419147732), Sgr 0194-2450022, 2485396, 1800180709, Rbn 9419993745),” traffic department said.

A traffic department official told GNS that intermittent shooting stones continue to occur at Mehar Ramban due to rainy weather. (GNS)

Waris Fayaz

Sopore, Nov 05 : A day after news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) reported on “illegal” garbage dumping site at Sofi Akbar road at Ningli in Sopore town, the authorities swung into action, with Director Urban Local Bodies (ULB) visiting the area on Saturday.

Director ULB Kashmir, Mathoora Masoom visited the Ningli waste dumping site and directed the council to take immediate steps for adequate cleaning of the municipal waste of the town. She also assured that the garbage dumped at the site will be cleared within a week.

Talking to KNO, Masoom said the garbage shall no more be thrown at the site and that the solid waste material from Sopore town would be now taken to Jetty Baramulla for dumping where an integrated facility is in process, for which a detailed project report (DPR) is being prepared.

“The garbage present here will be cleared, and within a week, it will either be put in a legacy waste or taken to Jetty Baramulla site,” she said.

When asked who was behind the frequent burning of garbage, the officer said they have lodged two FIRs in this regard. “I also request the media to help us in identifying the miscreants. We will definitely take strict action against them,” she stressed. “From now onwards, we will put extra vigil in the area.”

On the losses incurred due to waste dumping which also includes damage to trees due to frequent fires, the Director ULB said nothing as such has been brought to her notice. “If there is any such case, it will definitely be looked into,” she said.

As per official sources, the high court has directed the municipal authorities to inform about the measures taken for management of municipal waste from Sopore town and directed for personal appearance of the Director Urban Local Bodies Kashmir on the next date of hearing before the court—(KNO)

Waris Fayaz

Baramulla, Nov 05 : A family in Kreeri village of Baramulla on Saturday claimed burglars looted cash and gold worth lakhs from their residential house.

Police filed a case in the incident.

Ghulam Hassan Rather, owner of the house claimed that during night hours burglars struck his house at Check-Pasnak village of Kreeri and took away cash, gold approximately worth lakhs.

“We were locked in a room, burglars had barged through a window”, he said, as per the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO).

Apart from cash and gold ornaments, the miscreants took away some household items and other valuables from the house, he claimed.

Hassan, who heads a local Auqaf Committee said that the theft incident is not the first but earlier too thieves stole a wood cutter from orchards and a cattle.

Station House Officer (SHO) Kreeri said that a case has been registered and investigation taken up.

He denied earlier incidents of burglary saying no such incident was reported before—(KNO)

Srinagar, Nov 05 : On the recommendations of Departmental Promotion Committee constituted vide ZPHQ Kashmir order No. 4203 of 2022 dated 24-09-2022 for assessing the suitability of Head Constables and Constables for their elevation to the next ranks, ADGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar Saturday approved the promotions of 206 HCs and 419 Constables to the rank of ASI and SgCt respectively having their lien and seniority with Kashmir Zone.

Subsequently, formal promotion orders of 419 Constables to the rank of SgCts have been issued. Out of 206 HCs, 50 HCs have been formally promoted to the rank of ASI. The formal promotion orders in respect of 156 HCs shall be issued after qualifying their pre-promotion course, a police spokesman said in a statement issued to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO).

ADGP Kashmir has felicitated the promoted officials and their families and has expressed hope that they will strive to work hard for the interests of general public in maintenance of peace and tranquility in the Union Territory of J&K—(KNO)

Waris Fayaz

Sopore, Nov 05 : Jammu and Kashmir Police on Saturday claimed to have arrested two active hybrid militants along with arms and ammunition in Sopore town of North Kashmir’s Baramulla district.

An official told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), that a joint team of Police, Army’s 22 RR and CRPF 179 BN during a cordon and search operation arrested an active hybrid militant from Shah Faisal market of Sopore town.

He said that during questioning, the arestee revealed his identity as Rizwan Mushtaq Wani son of Mushtaq Ahmed Wani of Hamray Pattan and accomplice of another hybrid militant, who was arrested during late night hours.

The militant was identified as Jameel Ahmed Parra son of Habibullah Parra of Tappar Pattan.

The official said that they recovered incriminating material including a Pistol, Pistol magazine, some pistol rounds and an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) from their possession.

He said that a case FIR No. 250/2022 under relevant sections of law in this regard has been registered in Police Station Sopore and further investigation was going on—(KNO)

Srinagar, Nov 04 : The weatherman here has issued yellow warning, predicting light to moderate rain and snow in middle and higher reaches of Jammu and Kashmir, saying that the light wet spell is also expected in the plains of the Union Territory from November 05-07.

“There is a possibility of light rains and snow in the plains of Kashmir while the moderate rain or snow is expected in the middle and higher reaches of the Valley from November 05-07,” Deputy Director Meteorological department (MeT), Dr Mukhtar Ahmad told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO).

He said that the yellow warning has been issued by the department as the wet spell could lead to the slippery condition of the roads and other related issues.

Ahmad further said that the weather conditions would start gradually improving from November 07 late afternoon. However, he said that as per the forecast another two-day light wet spell is expected on November 09-10, adding that there is no forecast of heavy snowfall in the coming days.

MeT Deputy Director also said that the maximum temperature would go down by some degrees while there is a possibility of a rise in the minimum temperature from tomorrow.

The advisory issued by the MeT has said that the snowfall and the low temperature may lead to the temporary disruption of the surface transport, mainly over Zojilla, Sinthan Top, Mughal Road and other areas.

Pertinently, the weatherman had predicted frequent wet spells from November 01 in Jammu and Kashmir, stating that back to back Western Disturbances are affecting the Union Territory from the first week of November—(KNO)