February 2023

Jammu, Feb 24: Jammu and Kashmir’s Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha Friday said that in the UT, people use internet data, buy I-phones and pay to play videos he wonders why there was a hue and cry over imposition of nominal property tax. He was quick to add that the money collected from property tax will be used to development and welfare of the people.

Addressing a function at Jammu where LG extended Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana ( PMFBY) to the farmers of all 20 districts of J&K, the LG as per news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), said that the administration hardly gets the power tariff and water bills paid by the people. “In J&K, people pay to use internet data, buy I-phones and play videos, I wonder why there is hue and cry over imposition of property tax,” the LG said, adding that there will be a push to the GDP in J&K once property tax will be collected.

The LG said that SAKUST-Kashmir and Jammu will be made of international standards while food security will comprise proteins as well. On February 22, Jammu and Kashmir administration ordered the imposition of property tax from April 1. In exercise of the power conferred by section 71A of the Jammu and Kashmir Municipal Act, 2000, the government hereby notifies the rules for levy, assessment and collection of property tax in the municipalities and municipal councils of the UT, housing and urban development department principal secretary H Rajesh Prasad had said in a notification. The tax rates will be 5% of taxable annual value (TAV) for residential properties and 6% for commercial properties, it stated. In another announcement, the government said that small houses were exempted from the tax and the amount fixed for commercial buildings was nominal. The government announcement, however, evoked sharp criticism from almost all the political parties who termed the move as unjustified—(KNO)

Waris Fayaz

Sopore, Feb 24 : A massive fire broke out in the forest area of Rampura, Rajpora in Sopore area of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district on Friday while as the teams have been deputed to douse off the flames.

An official told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that a fire broke out in Wastung compartment of Rampura Rajpora, upper belt of Sopore.

He said that soon after the fire broke out in the area, the teams from Fire and Emergency department, Forest department including Forest Protection Force are on the job to douse the flames.

The officer said that the cause of the fire will be ascertained after the flames are brought under control—(KNO)

Waris Fayaz

Sopore, Feb 24 : A 56-year-old man allegedly committed suicide by hanging himself in Noorbagh locality of Sopore town in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district on Friday.

Officials told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that the man hanged himself to death at his residence in Noorbagh.

They said that he was rushed to SDH Sopore where doctors pronounced him dead on arrival.

They said police have taken cognizance of the incident and started the further investigations—(KNO)

Hajin: In a first of its kind in Kashmir valley a self help group consisting of  eleven members has started manufacturing and marketing of sanitary napkins for enhancing their incomes and ensuring better health and hygiene of women in the  village.

The intiative has been started by a group of women from Shahgund village of Bandipora district falls with the support of the JKRLM UMEED.

In a span just of few months, the women have manufactured and marketed a large number of sanitary napkins under the brand name of ‘Rahat Health and Wellbeing.

The unit was formally inaugurated by BDC Chairman Hajin Nazir Ahmad.
During the inauguration, District Program Manager livelihoods Owais Ahamd, IBCB Shreen Shafi , Block Programme Manager Hajin Mehmooda Ji ,PRI’s , team of JKRLM, SHG members were also present.

Owner of this sanitary napkin unit said its cost is also low as compared to the other brands.
Raziya owner of this unit said they are thankful to JKRLM for providing them the opportunity to not only scripting their success story but also earn a livelihood.
“This activity would help in improving the health of rural women and also generate revenue for us.” She said.
Adding that the women have faced tremendous challenges while choosing this business, however they never turned back and carried on the mission in manufucturing Sanitary Napkins.
“We hope we will overcome from this and will perform even better in future.” She said.
“We have recieved training and equipments for making sanitary napkin in Mumbai with the help of JKRLM UMEED.” Raziya said
She further said that her family supported the idea and that JKRLM provided them financial help for setting up a production unit which they run under the name of Rahat health and wellbeing cooperative limited .
Adding that a pad can not only save a woman but it can also save her family.
“We want our brand gets much attention not only in Kashmir but at national and international level as well. We have tested our brand on our selves first then we are selling it in the market.We assure women folk to make full use of our brand which is fully verified and certified by the department.” Raziya said.

She said they are thankfull to the umeed scheme which has given them platform.
“We are grateful to JKRLM block Hajin as without their support it was not possible to achieve this feat. This was dream come true for us.” She said
We have recieved training from Mumbai based company with help of JKRLM department and we have setup our own unit which is being financially supported by JKRLM.

The SHG members said that although these are still early days, the group was able to make 1000 to 1200 napkins per day.
All 11 members of the SHG are engaged in this activity.

“We are ready to market our products as we were waiting of it’s offical launching ceremony of our products which was done today.” They said.
Adding, “Our dream is that product gets worldwide market.”

An official from livelihood department Shreen Shafi said that this project will simultaneously help in spreading awareness on the benefits of adopting hygienic practices and overcoming problems of availability and affordability of sanitary napkins to women in the area.
She further said that this is a much needed initiative that will help serve a key area of women’s health, and therefore will be of immense benefit to the overall community.
The product will be affordable to rural women and it will help them discard their traditional method of using unhygienic cloth.
She hoped more such units would be set up to make available affordable sanitary pads and ensure better menstrual hygiene among women.
She praised them for overcoming odds and starting this project at a time when women are being restricted to four walls of the house .
Making women economically independent is necessary to empower them and State Rural Livelihood Mission is actively working to achieve this, Shreen said.
She further said that people shy away on talking about menstrual hygiene but these girls are working boldly .
Usually, after taking loan, girl is usually seen opening botique but this is something brave and bold decision of these young entreprenuers for which the deserve much applause and appreciation.

Waris Fayaz

Baramulla, Feb 22 : With Mund Daji – a picturesque village in the Rafiabad area of Sopore in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district hosting the first-of-its-kind snow sports event, Deputy Commissioner Baramulla Dr Syed Sehrish Asgar on Wednesday said all efforts will be made to bring the virgin destination on J&K’s tourism map.

Talking to the reporters on the sidelines of the event, the DC, as per the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) said that the administration is putting all efforts into bringing the untapped places on the tourism map. She said Mund Daji will be made a tourism village soon.

“Mund Daji would not only promote tourism but would also help local people to earn livelihoods,” Dr Sehrish said, adding that the facilities and mobile connectivity would be improved soon so that the people would not face any inconvenience. The people would rather enjoy the unseen beauty of this Rafiabad village, she added.

More efforts would be pressed in to make such hidden places full-fledged tourist destinations, the DC Baramulla said.

On the occasion, different winter games like Skiing, Snow Cricket, ATV, Horse Riding, and Snow Trekking attracted the people. The students from various schools across the Rafiabad belt performed activities including cultural programmes which enthralled the audience.

Apart from the Deputy Commissioner, the event was attended by officials from the district administration as well as police including the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Sopore, Shabir Nawab, SDPO Rafiabad, Zubaib and others—(KNO)

Srinagar, Feb 22 : Stating that the notified property tax rates in Jammu & Kashmir are lower than other States and Union Territories, the Jammu & Kashmir government on Wednesday said the tax implications are progressive in nature with minimum implication to small businesses and households.

In an informal interaction with journalists in Jammu, Principal Secretary, Housing & Urban Development Department, Rajesh Prasad said the Government of Jammu and Kashmir has notified the property tax with the aim to improve financial health of municipal bodies to enable them to provide better municipal services.

“Tax rates in UT of J&K are notified in such a way that tax implications are progressive in nature with minimum implication to small businesses and households,” he said, as per news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO).

He further said J&K has notified lower property tax rates as compared to neighboring states/UT.

“Jammu & Kashmir is one of the last State/UT in India where property Tax was not imposed till date,” he said.

The bureaucrat said that property tax is linked with the stamp duty tax of an area, so property valuation of the different areas is captured differently. “A property in the old city area or Sarwal will be subjected to lower property tax compared to an upscale area like Gandhi Nagar,” he said.

He further said weightage to age of the property, use type and construction type, etc. is used to arrive at annual taxable value in a more comprehensive manner.

Under the new tax formula, residential houses with an area of up to 1000 sqft will be exempt from property taxes, he said.

“Residential property with built up area upto 1500 sqft are also discounted ensuring relief from Lower Income Group and Middle Income Group category residential houses,” he said .

He said the tax rates for other kind of residential properties have also been kept on the lower side vis-à-vis neighboring states/UT.

He said small commercial establishments especially shops upto size of 100sqft and 200 sqft are also provided relief with very minimal tax implications.

He said that most of the shops especially in neighbourhood areas and old markets fall in this category.

He said the property tax will not be burdening common citizen, as it is to be levied annually and can be paid in two equal installments,

“Further, as per Act 10% rebate can be availed by early submission of property tax,” he said.

He said the new property tax policy will help municipal bodies to generate avenue for better municipal services with minimum tax implications to residents.

“Better municipal services are expected to attract more investment and encourage more people to set up businesses in the J&K. Revenue generated from property taxes will be used to improve infrastructure, build new parks and playgrounds, and maintain existing as well,” he said—(KNO)

Waris Fayaz

Baramulla, Feb 21 : In a first, Mund Daji – a picturesque village in Rafiabad hills in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district – is all set to go for the Gala sporting event of the snow festival tomorrow, even as the officials said the arrangements are well intact.

The authorities said they are exploring and developing hidden tourist destinations to provide tourists with more options for recreation.

Mund Daji – a main attraction for the locals as well as non-locals – is located in the lap of mountains surrounded by green forests. The place is the last village of Baramulla’s Rafiabad belt and is geographically accessible from Kupwara, however, due to bad roads, people prefer the Dangiwacha route to reach the destination.

Officials told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that in a bid to promote tourism, especially winter sports games, the extravaganza snow festival is being organized by the district administration Baramulla.

“The initiative for exploring the tourism potential of the unexplored areas and decentralisation of tourism, Skiing, Snow Cricket, ATV, Horse Riding, and Snow Trekking will be the hallmark attractions of the event,” an official from the district administration told KNO.

He said the snow festival will include sports competitions like snow cricket, snow volleyball and tug of war.

“All the necessary arrangements including parking, health facilities, transportation and other facilities are well intact and the locally famous tourist/picnic destination is all set to host the snow festival event tomorrow, he said, adding that elaborate security arrangements have been made and security forces would be deployed along the road stretch leading towards the venue.

Locals while thanking the administration for conducting such an event told KNO that they have “never seen it before”.

“It is a very happy moment for us as the area would witness a snow festival,” the locals said.

“Rafiabad belt, especially the areas like Kiter Daji, Mund Daji, Ladoo Ladura, Vijtop, etc have massive potential and can emerge as another tourist place after famous Gulmarg and other destinations, they added—(KNO)

Ramban, Feb 21: The 294-km-long Jammu-Srinagar National Highway remained closed since last night due to landslides and shooting stones in Ramban district, leaving thousands of vehicles stranded on the highway, officials said on Tuesday.

An official told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that the landslides and shooting stones incident between Ramban to Banihal has shut the highway since last night. “The major landslide and shooting stone activity took place at Shalgadi, near Banihal,” he said.

He said the road clearance agencies have been pressed into the service to clear the debris but the continuous landslide and shooting stone activity have been hampering the road clearance operation. The official said almost 2,000 vehicles are stranded on both sides of the highway.

Moreover, the district administration Ramban and Himalayan QRT Ramsoo has made accommodation and dinner arrangements for stranded passengers on the highway.

“Around 80 stranded passengers have been accommodated at Ramsoo. More coming in. NH-44 remains closed,” Deputy Commissioner Ramban tweeted.

Meanwhile, the authorities have advised the commuters to undertake the journey on the National Highway only after confirming the status of the road from Traffic Control Units of Ramban, Srinagar and Jammu—(KNO)

Waris Fayaz

Baramulla, Feb 21 : As the Jammu and Kashmir Board exams for classes 10 to 12 are scheduled to commence from March 3, the students of Khaipora, Tangmarg in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district are concerned about the examination centres which, as per them, have been set up 12 kilometres away from the village.

Talking to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the students while demanding the examination centres for the upcoming board exams at Higher Secondary School Khaipora said the already proposed centres are at a distance of 12 km from the tehsil headquarters Tangmarg. They said the area is inaccessible due to a lack of transportation services.

“The centres for the exams have been set up at Katipora which is inaccessible as the area lacks proper transport facilities. In addition, Katipora is an isolated forest zone. Students who are going to appear in the exams will have to walk on foot and there lies every apprehension of wild animals attack,” they said.

Manzoor Ahmed, a local resident said, “For just a few students, the board has neglected the roll of 300 students at Higher Secondary Khaipora and proposed the examination centres at the far-off places which would cause great inconvenience to the students who have to be there from snow-bound areas.”

We fail to understand why the authorities have set up the centres so far even though the Higher Secondary School Khaipora qualified all the parameters of the examination centre, Ahmed said, adding that the majority of the students belong to the poor community and can’t afford the huge convenience fare to reach the Katipora examination centre.

The students and well as parents said that they had taken up the matter with the SDM Gulmarg, CEO Baramulla and others concerned, but to no avail. “If authorities fail to establish a centre at Khaipora, none of the students would appear in the upcoming exams as we can’t risk the lives of the children,” they added.

They have appealed to the Lieutenant Governor, board authorities, district administration and other concerned authorities to look into the matter as soon as possible, so as to avoid the losses of the precious year of the candidates who have to appear in the exams.

Meanwhile, despite repeated attempts, the Chief Education Officer (CEO) Baramulla, CL Sharma could not be reached for comments.

Notably, the Jammu and Kashmir Board of State Education announced the date sheets for annual/regular examinations for classes 10th, 11th and 12th. The exams for Class 10 and 12 are scheduled to begin from March 03, while for Class 11 from March 06, 2023—(KNO)

Srinagar, Feb 21: The administration of Jammu & Kashmir Union Territory on Tuesday unveiled Rules for levying, assessment and collection of property tax in the limits of municipal councils and committees of the UT.

The Housing & Urban Development Department today notified “The Jammu and Kashmir Property Tax (Other Municipalities) Rules, 2023 “.

According to the notification, a copy of which is in possession of news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), these rules, which would be applicable within the limits of municipal councils and municipal committees, shall come into force from April 01, 2023.

The Rules define the procedure for calculation of property tax.

According to the Rules, the Taxable Annual Value (TAV) of a property under the Municipal Act-2000 and the property tax due thereon for a financial year shall be calculated in accordance with a formula given in schedule-I to these rules.

The Rules state that the property tax on residential property would be 5% of Taxable Annual Value (TAV) while that of non-residential property be 6 % of Taxable Annual Value (TAV).

The property tax calculated in respect of a building shall hold for a block of three years unless any change to such calculation is necessitated on account of the circumstances envisaged in the Act for allowing revision in such calculation, the Rules state.

“The first block shall commence from 1ST April 2023, and shall continue to remain in force till 3 1 March 2026. The blocks shall be similarly calculated thereafter, “read the Rules.

According to the Rules, new buildings coming up after the commencement of the block shall have their property tax liability calculated with reference to the 1st day of the relevant block, and irrespective of their having completed three years, their liability to tax shall be calculated anew from the date of commencement of the new block of three years for the Corporation as a whole.

“Where a building is liable to property tax for only a part of the year, the tax due shall be proportional to the number of completed months and parts of month not completed shall be ignored,” the Rules state.

According to the Rules, vacant lands, not appurtenant to a structure/building shall be exempt from property tax if there is a Master Plan in force in the area, under which any construction/development on such vacant land is disallowed or if they have been put to agricultural use

“Similarly, all the properties of the municipality and all places of worship, including temples, masjids, Gurdwaras, Churches, Ziarats, etc. and cremation and burial grounds shall be exempt from payment of property tax,” the Rules state.

The Rules state that all properties owned by the Government of India / UT government shall be exempted from payment of property tax.

“However, service charge at the rate 3% of the taxable annual value shall be payable to the Municipality in respect of such properties,” the Rules state—(KNO)