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Waris Fayaz

Sopore, Jan 19 : Sopore town of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district – once known as the ‘Chotta London’ plunges into darkness soon after the sun sets, as the local municipality has failed to repair the defunct streetlights for years.

The locals said despite tall claims of the authorities of developing the town, it is still without streetlights. Many areas including that of the old town and colonies have either no lights or defunct lights, they said.

The people of the town while talking to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) said they are facing immense hardships in the absence of lights. “As soon as dusk sets in, the entire area plunges into darkness,” said Mohammed Azhar, a local.

Azhar said most of the streetlights became defunct soon after installation and have not been repaired since then. “We can’t walk in darkness, especially during winter, as the road is full of potholes,” he said.

“We have been continuously requesting before the officials of the Municipal Council, Sopore to repair these streetlights but our pleas fall on deaf ears,” a resident of Krankshivan Colony, said.

Similarly, the residents of several other areas said the streetlights in their localities are lying defunct for the last many months.

The people of Sopore town have requested the Lieutenant Governor-led administration and the concerned department to repair the defunct streetlights and install in the areas where these are required.

President Municipal Council Sopore, Musarrat Kar told KNO that they have taken up the matter with higher-ups. “We have a provision for repairing the installed lights and we are working on it,” she said. Musarrat, however, added that there is currently no provision for installation of the streetlights—(KNO)

Srinagar, Jan 19 : The parts of Kashmir Valley including Srinagar received light snowfall in the intervening night of Wednesday-Thursday while the weatherman here has predicted cloudy weather conditions till January 22 and light to moderate snowfall across the Valley from January 23.

People in Srinagar and elsewhere woke to a thin layer of snow this morning. The officials in the Meteorological department told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) said that the weather conditions would remain generally cloudy with chances of light to moderate snow or rains in plains of Jammu over scattered to fairly widespread places till January 22nd.

The officials further informed that with 60 per cent chances, the middle and higher reaches of Jammu would receive widespread moderate or moderate to heavy snowfall in between January 23-January 25.

On January 26, there is a possibility of rainfall in Jammu region and cloudy weather conditions in Kashmir.

Moreover, the MeT has appealed to people living in snowbound areas to remain alert and cautious while venturing in areas which are vulnerable to snow avalanches.

Meanwhile, the night temperature has increased across Kashmir. Srinagar, the summer capital of J&K has recorded a minimum temperature of minus 1.4 degree Celsius while the mercury in Gulmarg and Pahalgam settled at minus 7.6 and minus 4.3 degree Celsius respectively.

In Qazigund, the mercury settled at minus 3.4 degree Celsius—(KNO)

Srinagar, Jan 19 : J&K’s Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Thursday said that common masses and poor people wouldn’t be touched during the ongoing drive launched by his administration to retrieve state land from encroachers.

Talking to reporters, as per news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), Sinha said common masses and poor people wouldn’t be touched during the ongoing drive against land encroachers in Jammu & Kashmir.

“Common man and poor people wouldn’t be touched by the administration. The government is concerned to safeguard the interests of poor people,” he said.

He said that the influential people misused their positions and encroached on state land in violation of the laws.

Sinha said there were directions from the High Court to retrieve state land from encroachers.

On January 9, the J&K government directed all deputy commissioners to ensure 100% removal of encroachments from State land by January 31, 2023.

To a question about holding assembly polls in Jammu & Kashmir, Sinha said the Election Commission of India has made a statement on the issue.

On Wednesday, Chief Election Commissioner said that polls in Jammu and Kashmir are due and would be held after taking into account weather conditions, security scenario and other factors into consideration—(KNO)

Waris Fayaz

Sopore, Jan 19 : Municipal Council Sopore in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district on Thursday sealed three shops over non-payment of rent.

President MC Sopore, Musarrat Kar told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that shops were sealed over non-payment of rent for the last three years.

She said the shops situated at PHE complex and bus stand have been sealed

“In coming days more shops will be sealed as MC is going to act against those who are not paying rent on time”, she said.

She also said legal action would be taken against those shopkeepers who fail to pay rent in time—(KNO)

Waris Fayaz

Sopore, Jan 19 : BharatiyaJanta Party constituency incharge of Sopore in North Kashmir’s Baramulla district on Thursday resigned from the basic membership of the party,.

Talking to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), Farooq Ahmed Rather, who was affiliated with BJP said he resigned as he failed to address the grievances and fulfill the demands of the people of his constituency who have always supported him.

He said that the party failed to address the grievances and his moral conscience doesn’t allow him to continue with the membership of the party.

Farooq has submitted his resignation letter to J&K BJP president—(KNO)

Waris Fayaz

Sopore, Jan 19 : Locals on Thursday prevented a woman from committing suicide in Sopore area of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district.

An official told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that the woman was spotted by locals attempting to jump into the river Jhelum at Jamai bridge in Sopore.

“After noticing her doubtful movement, locals rushed towards her and foiled her suicide attempt”, he said.

He said the woman is a resident of Bandipora AP Sher Colony in Sopore and will be handed over to her family after proper counselling—(KNO)

Srinagar, Jan 18 : Chief Election Commissioner of (CEC) India Rajiv Kumar Wednesday said that elections in J&K are due and the same will be held after taking the weather, security concerns and the schedule of other state polls into account.

Replying to a query in a press conference held in New Delhi, CEC Kumar said that process of delimitation has been completed in J&K. “Fixing, re-arranging polling stations, appointing ROs, AEROs and rest of the formalities have been completed. We are of the view that wherever these things are completed, elections become due and they must be held,” he said as per news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO).

The CEC said that elections in J&K will be held after taking weather, security concerns, and schedule of elections in other states into account. He, however, didn’t specify any date or month when J&K would go to polls.

The delimitation process in J&K was completed last year. The Delimitation Commission headed by Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai, (a retired Judge of the Supreme Court of India),and Sh. Sushil Chandra, (Chief Election Commissioner) and Sh. K. K. Sharma, (State Election Commissioner, Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir), as Ex-Officio members of the Delimitation Commission finalised the Delimitation Order for the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir.

As per the final Delimitation Order, the following things came into effect from the date to be notified by the Central Government: Out of the 90 Assembly Constituencies in the region, 43 will be part of Jammu region and 47 for Kashmir region keeping in view the provisions of Section 9(1)(a) of the Delimitation Act, 2002 and Section 60(2)(b) of Jammu & Kashmir Reorganization Act, 2019.

After consultation with Associate Members, representatives of political parties, citizens, civil society groups, 9ACs have been reserved for STs, out of which,6 are in Jammu region and 3 ACs in the Valley.

There are five Parliamentary Constituencies in the region. The Delimitation Commission has seen the Jammu & Kashmir region as one single Union Territory. Therefore, one of the Parliamentary Constituency has been carved out combining Anantnag region in the Valley and Rajouri & Poonch of Jammu region. By this reorganization each Parliamentary Constituency will have an equal number of 18 Assembly Constituencies each.

Names of some ACs have also been changed keeping in view the demand of local representatives.

It may be recalled that the Delimitation Commission was constituted by the Govt. of India, in exercise of powers conferred by Section 3 of Delimitation Act, 2002 (33 of 2002), for the purpose of delimitation of Assembly and Parliamentary Constituencies in the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir. The Commission associated in its work, five members of Lok Sabha elected from the UT of Jammu and Kashmir. These Associate Members were nominated by the Hon’ble Speaker of Lok Sabha

The Delimitation Commission was entrusted with the work of delimiting the Assembly and Parliamentary Constituencies in the UT of Jammu and Kashmir on the basis of 2011 Census and in accordance with the provisions of Part-V of the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019 (34 of 2019) and the provisions of Delimitation Act, 2002(33 of 2002)—(KNO)

Waris Fayaz

Srinagar, Jan 18 : The Jammu and Kashmir government on Wednesday issued separate notices across the Union Territory, asking the people to vacate the ‘state land’ on their own, failing which strict action will be initiated against the illegal encroachers.

The news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) has learnt that the Executive Magistrates 1st Class across J&K have issued notices for the general public with regard to the encroachment of the ‘state land’.

The notices warned the people, who have allegedly encroached upon state land, to remove encroachments on their own within two days.

“If any person fails to remove the encroachment, the department would swing into action and people have to pay the charges of the same,” the notices issued by Executive Magistrate 1st Class in north Kashmir’s Baramulla and Boniyar areas, reads.

Similar notices have been issued in other areas across J&K, reports said.

However, the move has been opposed by the political parties in Jammu and Kashmir, who want the government to reconsider its decision for the sake of the poor people.

National Conference (NC) Vice President, Omar Abdullah said that retrieving the land from people, which has been provided to them under the Roshni scheme, amounts to betrayal.

The order issued by the government has also sparked protests in different parts of the UT, especially in Jammu where people have also been served notices by revenue authorities, asking them to vacate the state land or face demolition.

However, Commissioner Secretary to the Government, Department of Revenue, Vijay Kumar Bidhuri couldn’t be contacted for the comments as repeated calls to reach him didn’t fructify.

Pertinently, Bidhuri has instructed all Deputy Commissioners to ensure that all encroachments on state land, including Roshni and Kahcharai land, are removed to the extent of 100 per cent by January 31, 2023.

The Commissioner Secretary of Revenue has also instructed the Deputy Commissioners to develop a daily anti-encroachment drive strategy and designate Additional Deputy Commissioners as District Nodal Officers for coordination and efficient drive implementation—(KNO)

JK Revolution, Baramulla: January 18, 2023:- After assuming charge today SSP Baramulla Amod Ashok Nagpure-IPS hosts first public interaction at Uri which was attended by various stakeholders of Uri sector.

A warm welcome was given to SSP Baramulla by the public of Uri, Boniyar & Bijhama.The public interaction was also attended by SDPO Uri Shokat Ali-JKPS, SHO PS Uri Inspector Imtiyaz Ahmad, SHO PS Boniyar Inspr Amardeep Parihar, SHO PS Bijhama Inspector Mudasir Nazir and staff of sub division Uri. Public from all corners of Uri, Boniyar, Bijhama including respectable citizens, social/ sports/ cultural activists, Moulvis & Imams, traders & transporters attended the public interaction.

On the occasion, participants highlighted various issues of public importance, and they were assured that their genuine grievances pertaining to Police will be resolved on priority and that of civil administration will be taken up with the concerned departments for their early redressal. While speaking on the occasion, it was reiterated that policing at grassroot level in the district would be revamped to enhance proficiencies of the cops and to develop confidence among the people.

Chairing officer while speaking on the occasion, said that Public Interaction is a bridge between Police and Public and also to hear and redress the grievances of common masses and further added that Community policing is mandatory to boost public confidence which would help in fighting against crime and social evils. During the speech SSP Baramulla assured resolution of problems on traffic violations like speedy and rash driving, holistic tackling of drugs problems.

Referring to the criminal activities in the area, it was stressed upon the officers/ general public to brace up with a missionary spirit to fight against drug abuse and eradicate other social evils from the society and to take a pledge to serve the society with missionary spirit and maintain the dignity of force.

The participants were stressed to co-operate with Baramulla Police in maintaining Law and order in the area and identifying anti national and anti social elements who always try to disrupt the peaceful environment.

The event was concluded with the vote of thanks from both sides.

Meanwhile, SSP Baramulla also visited PS Sheeri, Boniyar, Uri and PP Uroosa and interacted with jawans.

SSP Baramulla while interacting with SHOs/ DO and other staff emphasized upon them to put best possible efforts & ensure maximum services to the department.

During inspection, he stressed upon the supervisory officers and technical staff to work with more dedication in providing necessary services to the personnel and the department continuously. He directed the officers to further improve the efficiency and monitor the working personally. He also impressed upon the officers to solve the problems and genuine demands/ grievances of the subordinates particularly of SPOs and constabulary.

Referring to the different welfare measures the SSP Baramulla said that benefits of the welfare programmes must reach to subordinates. He exhorted upon the officers to seek feedback from the subordinate personnel and take the necessary steps to upgrade the working conditions for achieving better results.

Moreover, security review meeting was conducted with counter parts and SDPO/ SHOs/ DOs of sub division Uri for strengthening anti-infiltration grid in forward areas of Uri sector. JK Revolution

Kulgam, Jan 18 : An assistant executive engineer of Power Development Department (PDD) died of a cardiac arrest on Wednesday, officials said here

An official told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that AEE Mohammad Ayoub of Bon Dailgam area of Anantnag died when he was on way to attend to his duty in Yaripora.

He said Ayoub was posted as AEE at sub division Yaripora in Kulgam district.

“He was rushed to a nearby hospital where he was declared dead on arrival,” the official said.-(KNO)