Jammu & Kashmir

Baramulla, January 14: To review the functioning of Revenue Department and progress made in adopting of online services, anti encroachment drives and other revenue related matters, a meeting of all Revenue Officers of the District was today held under the chairmanship of Deputy Commissioner Baramulla, Dr Syed Sehrish Asgar at DC Office here.

Additional Deputy Commissioner Baramulla, Zahoor Ahmad Raina, Assistant Commissioner Revenue, peerzada Mumtaz Ahmad, Sub Divisional Megistrates of Pattan and Uri, all Tehsildars besides officials of the concerned departments were present in the meeting.

At the outset, the DC took a detailed review of all vital matters including removal of encroachments on Kahcharai and State Land, status of Grievances redressal mechanism, status of pending Court cases through RCCMS, implementation of e-Office, etc.

On the occasion, the DC directed all the Tehsildars to launch anti-encroachment drives on a massive scale in all the Tehsils of the district to retrieve encroached State and Kahcharie land.

She also asked them to activate their field staff to keep proper check and vigil on any kind of encroachments in respective jurisdiction.

The DC directed them to work with added zeal and missionary approach to safeguard State/Kahcharie land from land grabbers, besides ensuring hassle free public delivery system in the district.

With regard to online services, the DC directed all the concerned officers to adopt online services in their respective Offices so that it becomes easy for the people to get every information in a digital form.

Earlier, in a seperate meeting, the Deputy Commissioner took a detailed review regarding progress of Change of Land Use in the district during which

she enquired about the status of NOCs being issued in favour of applicants and applications received till date besides their reporting and follow up status by the concerned departments.

An official told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that an accident took place at Singhpora area of Baramulla, leading to on spot death of a pedestrian.

The deceased was identified as Mushtaq Ahmed Wani, a resident of Singhpora.

However, the official said that after hitting the pedestrian, the vehicle also plunged into a gorge in the area.

The body of deceased will be handed over to the family after completion of legal medical formalities, the official said, adding that a case has been registered in this regard—(KNO)

JK Revolution, 13, Jan:- The Associated Chamber of Commerce and Industries Kashmir hails MD and CEO JK Bank , Mr. Baldev Prakash for reducing commitment charges after appeal made by various trade bodies, hoteliers and industrialists bringing respite to the traders. The authorities of Jammu and Kashmir Bank have decided to reduce the commitment charges substantially.

CCIK highly appreciated the decision made by J&K Bank authorities as the economy of Kashmir is still fragile and the borrowers are not in a position to pay commitment charges. The CCIK said that it is a good sign and relief for business community. CCIK said that J&K business community have high hopes with JK Bank and requested bank authorities to implement new schemes and policies related to young entrepreneurs. CCIK members expressed gratitude towards Mr. Baldev Prakash CMD J&K Bank for revaluating and amending the decision of imposing Commitment charges to account holders of J&K Bank as business community always feels safe in the hands of J&K Bank.

Srinagar, Jan 13: A train on the Baramulla-Banihal section derailed from the railway track in Mazhama aarea of central Kashmir’s Budgam district on Friday, however, no casualties were reported in the incident.

An official told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) the derailment took place at Mazhama after the train left the railway station today morning.

He said all the passengers were safe, while railway officials have reached the spot.

The official said the derailment was accidental and further details were being ascertained—(KNO)

Waris Fayaz

Srinagar, Jan 12 : Fuel stations along Srinagar-Jammu highway are shutting their establishments in evenings, causing inconvenience to commuters.

Commuters told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that they are facing a lot of inconveniences due to the non-availability of the petrol/diesel at the fuel stations along the national highway.

“We were short of fuel a few days ago on way to Jammu from Kashmir. On reaching Banihal, we had to stop our vehicle for hours for want of fuel as not a single station was open,” said Tameem of Baramulla.

Another commuter Bilal Ahmed said that some staffers at fuel stations refused to fill the tank while many misbehaved.

“I was in a situation where I could not go back or move beyond the point in search of the fuel station as I had already left the 3 stations past, who refused to fill the tank. Staffers at the fuel stations resorted to the foul language and misbehaved on request to fill fuel,” he added.

A staffer at fuel station in Banihal said there is a constant fear of dacoits and robbery during the night hours which is why they shut their outlets during night.

Meanwhile, similar reports have been poured in from the other areas across the Kashmir valley.

Divisional commissioner P K Pole when contacted told KNO he will look into the issue—(KNO)

Waris Fayaz

Baramulla, Jan 12 : Jammu and Kashmir Police on Thursday arrested a man for allegedly pasting the threat posters to create the atmosphere of fear and hatred against the country, from Pattan village of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district.

An official told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that a man identified as Altaf Ahmad Rather, son of Ghulam Mohammed Rather of Tantraypora Palhallan was arrested for pasting the threat posters in the village.

“Lone was working with a lesser known militant outfit ‘Lone Wolf Warriors’ and had given threat to the outsiders and condemned the opening of a wine shop at Pahalgam through the posters,” he said.

The arrested person was held and during the interrogation, he confessed the crime and further revealed that he got in touch with Pak based militant handlers on social media and was working with them, who instructed him to paste posters in order to create an atmosphere of fear among the public and hatred against India.

Subsequently, a raid was conducted at his house wherefrom the posters and mobile phone were seized, the official added.

Meanwhile, a case in this regard is already registered at Police Station Pattan while further investigation in this regard has been taken up—(KNO)

Srinagar, Jan 12 : As the weather improved in Srinagar and other parts of the Valley, the weatherman here on Thursday said that another Western Disturbance would affect Jammu & Kashmir on January 19 and predicted dry weather conditions from January 14-18 in the Union Territory.

Deputy Director of Meteorological department (MeT), Dr Mukhtar Ahmad while sharing the details of forecast, said that there is a possibility of light snowfall and rains at many places across Jammu & Kashmir on January 13 (tomorrow).

He, however, said that the weather would remain mainly dry between January 14-January 18.

Furthermore, he said that a fresh Western disturbance would affect J&K on January 19-20 and predicted a fall in the night temperature from January 14 again.

Pertinently, several areas of Kashmir continued to receive fresh snowfall today. The areas include Machil, Sadhna Top and other places—(KNO)

Waris Fayaz

Sopore, Jan 12 : The street vendors continue to hamper the pedestrian and vehicular movement here in North Kashmir’s Sopore town of Baramulla district, even as the local administration has directed them from time to time not to occupy the roads.

The repeated directions from the administration are being thrown to walls and orders are proving hoax as town gets chocked due to huge traffic mess during peak hours, making pedestrian movement very difficult.

Locals comprising commuters, employees and students told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that they have to face immense hardships due to the presence of vendors on roadsides and footpaths. “There is no room for pedestrians as most of the space on footpaths is taken by vendors and shopkeepers and are forced to walk on the roads increasing the risk of accidents”, they said.

Ghulam Nabi, a local resident said: “Despite the fact that people are facing hardships, authorities seem non-serious about the plan of removing the street vendors”, said Ghulam Nabi, a local resident. “It seems there’s something fishy about the issue of accommodating the vendors as one day the vendors are removed but the next day they again occupy their spaces.”

Locals allege that “Removal of street vendors is mere an eye wash. It seems both the authorities as well as the vendors are hand-in-glove.”

Junaid Peer, another local said: “Traffic jams can prove detrimental for patients in case of any medical emergency. Ironically, the concerned authorities are acting as mute spectators. The main market is fully occupied by the street vendors and even pedestrians do not find it safe to walk from here when traffic gets stuck.”

Locals appealed to the concerned authorities and the district administration to look into the matter at an earliest so that they could have a sigh of relief.

Meanwhile, executive officer Municipal Council Sopore, Tariq Ahmed Reshi told KNO, that they are on it and the issue would be redressed soon. “We have identified the spots where the vendors would be accommodated, it may take a week to streamline the things”, official added—(KNO)