February 2023

Waris Fayaz

Sopore, Feb 06 : Locals of Krankshivan Colony of Sopore town in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district are up in arms against the Roads & Buildings (R&B) department over the dilapidated condition of the Sopore-Krankshivan road, demanding its immediate restoration.

The aggrieved residents while talking to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) alleged, “Every year, lakhs of rupees are released for the construction and maintenance of the road, but the stretch from Krankshivan Colony Culvert to Alamdar Colony has always been ignored by the concerned authorities.”

The road is dotted with huge potholes and has not been repaired for long, the residents said, adding that the authorities are least bothered about the sufferings of people. “The area has been overlooked by the consecutive governments and nobody seems to be taking our issues seriously,” they added.

The locals said they apprised the R&B department several times of “such a genuine demand” but to no avail. “The road has become a nuisance for the residents as well as transporters, especially during rains as the road has been totally tattered,” said Nayeem Ahmed, a local.

“Just a few hours of rain causes water-logging. The dilapidated condition of the road itself speaks of the incompetence of the authorities,” Nayeem added.

Rayees Ahmed, another resident, said that there is no proper drainage system in the area and the R&B department has “miserably failed” to take any step in this regard. “The accumulated water due to rains directly enters our houses as the area has no proper drainage system. Our lawns turn into ponds,” he said.

The residents have appealed to the higher authorities to inspect the road and take necessary steps toward its repair.

An official at the R&B Division, Sopore told KNO that the issue will be resolved once funds are released—(KNO)

Srinagar, Feb 06 : Announcing the Haj-2023 policy for this year’s holy pilgrimage of Haj, the Haj Committee of India (HCoI) today said that this year there will be 25 Haj Embankment points while as Haj application forms will be made available after three days and there will be no fee for the same.

Talking to news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), exclusively, Member HCoI, Er Aijaz Hussain said after a crucial meeting of HCoI, it was decided that this year there will be 25 embankment points for the pilgrims across the country and Haj application forms will be made available within three days.

Er Aijaz also said that HCoI also announced to abolish the VIP quouta under which dignitaries were entitled to accomodate five to ten pilgrims under the quota. “There will be no VIP quouta henceforth,” Er Aijaz said.

Pertinently, after thorough discussions between HCoI and Saudi Government, it was decided that this year over 1,75000 pilgrims will perform the holy pilgrimage of Haj 2023.

Er Aijaz said that additional embankment points will help facilitate the pilgrims smoothly across the country. On January 10, India had signed the bilateral agreement with the Saudi Government to fix the total number of pilgrims this year. Er Aijaz said that HCoIs endeavour this year will be to make Haj2023 cheaper compared to previous years and ensure more and better facilities to pilgrims at both holy cities of Makah and Madina—(KNO)

Waris Fayaz

Baramulla, Feb 04 : Amid the ongoing anti-encroachment drive, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) senior leader Anwar Khan on Saturday said those who have settled on a small chunk of land need not to worry as the government would not touch poor people.

Addressing a press conference in Baramulla, he as per the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) said that anti-encroachment for retrieval of government land is not going to affect the poor, who have settled on 5-10 marlas of land.

But influential people won’t be spared, he added.

“Whosoever will touch the poor during the anti-encroachment drive shall have to walk over our dead bodies. BJP always supports common people,” Anwar said.

He said that the time has gone when the political parties were using Kashmiris for their benefits, now people are very much aware about what is right and what is wrong for them.

Anwar also refuted the rumours of retrieved land being given to the outsiders, saying it is baseless and far from the reality as nothing such is going to happen.

“There is a clear stand of the Modi led government that everyone is ensured to shelter. So the poor are not going to suffer in this regime,” he added—(KNO)

Waris Fayaz

Sopore, Feb 04 : Inhabitants of Naseerabad, Chinkipora area in Sopore town have appealed for repair of faulty defunct drainage system in their area.

As per the locals, light showers cause water logging in the said area because of faulty drainage.

Aggrieved residents told news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that it is a flood-like situation in Naseerabad, Chinkipora locality as drain water entered their houses. “Our lawns turned into ponds,” the locals said.

The residents said that they approached the concerned department many times to no avail.

“We have been moving from pillar to post to get our genuine demand redressed but it seems the concerned departments are hand in glove with the contractor”, they alleged.

An official at the R&B division Sopore told KNO that the drain is not yet completed. “There is a project of deep drain in Sopore at an estimated cost of over Rs 3 crore which would be taken up soon”, the official said—(KNO)

Srinagar, Feb 04 : People are questioning the assurances of Lt Governor Manoj Sinha that “only influential and powerful people who misused their position and violated the law to encroach upon the state land” would face action, saying common people are also being targeted by the anti-encroachment authorities.

Intensifying its operations to retrieve the encroached government land in Srinagar, the authorities on Saturday held multiple drives claiming that the land illegally occupied by “influential persons” was retrieved at many places.

However, during an anti-encroachment drive at Padshahibagh Mehjoor Nagar in Srinagar on Saturday, the people alleged that the authorities are targetting their “proprietary land despite genuine documents”. Many also alleged that they were not even served notice or given any information about the eviction.

“We have been doing business on this land for years. We have bank liabilities. Are we land grabbers? It is just a few marlas of land. Why is the government after the poor people,” one of the targeted families told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO).

The women present at the site said, “Other than that patch of land, we have nothing. Snatching it will push us to poverty.”

“The fencing wall of our land has been demolished. We have papers of this land registered way back in 1972, but without checking anything they demolished the wall. Why did they run away now; let them prove our property is illegal,” said another family.

Notably, various political parties have been echoing that the poor be spared in the drive, while the authorities are stating that the move is “pro-people”. In a meeting on Thursday, the Chief Secretary directed the deputy commissioners (DCs) to safeguard the habitations and livelihoods of the poor and downtrodden.

The anti-encroachment drives are being carried out by the teams established by the district magistrates of various areas of the valley.

In a claim that their properties were on state land, the authorities demolished a series of properties, boundary walls, and fencings belonging to many politicians, those in service, and retired bureaucrats.

The boundary wall and guard house of the National Conference General Secretary and former minister Ali Mohammad Sagar at Humhama near the Srinagar airport were also demolished.

Jammu and Kashmir People’s Conference (JKPC) president Sajad Lone in a letter to Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha urged him to issue a formal order for the poor and marginalised communities so they can be differentiated against those who are involved in a land grab.

The Supreme Court of India also refused to stay the move as it was hearing a petition against the order issued by the J&K administration.

Meanwhile, Democratic Azad Party (DAP) chief Ghulam Nabi Azad on Saturday demanded a formal order from the Raj Bhavan to spare the poor in the ongoing anti-encroachment drive.

The Jammu and Kashmir government faced criticism after issuing an order on January 9 ordering all district officials to remove all encroachments on public land by January 31, 2023. In the midst of growing concerns over ‘dispossession,’ there have been numerous protests.

Meanwhile, KNO tried to reach out to the concerned officials for their comments on the allegations by the people at Padshahibagh; however, there was no response to the repeated calls and messages—(KNO)

Waris Fayaz

Kupwara, Feb 04 : Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police, North Kashmir range, Vivek Gupta on Saturday said that Jammu and Kashmir police are committed to eradicate the drug menace and ensure drug free Kupwara district.

Addressing the gathering at district police lines, Kupwara, the DIG, as per news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), while paying rich tributes to the martyrs, who have laid down their lives in the service of the nation and assured the families that their grievances shall be redressed at appropriate levels as early as possible.

“We are totally committed to eradicate the drug menace from the society and enforcement as well as people have an important role to play”, the DIG said, adding that “Parents have a greater responsibility in the social development of a child as they act as the first teachers and guides of their wards.”

He said that every reasonable person must come forward to join the “war against drug abuse.” The officer also that police would be harsh against the drug peddlers and suppliers and action as per the law shall be initiated against the involved—(KNO)

Srinagar, Feb 04 : Democratic Azad Party (DAP) Chairman and former J&K chief minister, Ghulam Nabi Azad on Saturday said that those who have grabbed a huge chunk of land must not be spared in the ongoing anti-encroachment drive across the Union Territory.

Ghulam Nabi Azad, as per the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) said that in democracy, nobody can suppress the voices of people.

While welcoming the statement of Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, he asked his party workers to end their agitation as LG has assured that poor will not be touched.

“We are in favour of the government’s step against those who have grabbed a huge chunk of land illegally. We urge the government not to touch people who have set up their business units or shops on just one or two marlas of land so that they are not forced to starve,” he said.

He added such measures are certainly not aimed at getting political benefits, but would go against the incumbent government that has done a tremendous job on ground by putting an end to stone pelting, giving a boost to tourism sector and other related things—(KNO)

Waris Fayaz

Baramulla, Feb 04 : Four days after an avalanche killed two Polish nationals, another avalanche hit the Afarwat Peak at famous ski resort of Gulmarg in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district on Saturday.

An official told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that an avalanche hit the area today morning, however, no casualty has been reported in the incident.

He said the area was already declared as Red Zone and as a precautionary measure teams have been sent to the spot.

“Medical teams have been kept on standby near the avalanche area,” he said.

Notably, on February 01 two Polish Skiers were killed and 19 others were rescued after an avalanches hit the Afarwat peak—(KNO)