SRINAGAR: Following the fatal road accident along the Zojila stretch, the Deputy Commissioner (DC) Ganderbal, Shyambir, conducted a thorough inspection of the Zojila pass, today.

Accompanied by SDM Kangan, Javaid Ahmad Rather, ARTO Ganderbal, Tehsildar Gund, SDPO Kangan, and OC BEACON, the DC conducted a visit to evaluate the road conditions and assess immediate safety measures to prevent future mishaps.

During the visit, the DC inspected vulnerable spots on the Zojila road stretch and issued instructions to BEACON authorities to implement necessary safety measures promptly.

The authorities briefed the DC on the immediate safety measures already taken, including erecting Hesco barriers with reflecting tapes, signages, reflecting mirrors, etc. The ongoing project for long-term measures, such as retaining walls and permanent crash barriers, is slated for completion in the next year.

Expressing grief over recent tragic road accidents on Zojila pass, the DC directed the concerned authorities to ensure effective safety measures to prevent such incidents in the future.

A discussion was held on cutoff timing from Sonamarg upward and Minimarg downward, with a decision made to restrict tourist vehicles beyond Sonamarg starting tomorrow.

To enhance road safety, the DC directed BEACON authorities to conduct thorough trail runs before allowing traffic towards Zojila pass.  He directed for displaying Speed limits prominently at key locations.

Meanwhile, The DC appealed to all commuters to strictly adhere to road safety measures, avoiding rash driving on Zojila pass.

The DC emphasized the importance of immediate action to secure Zojila road, ensuring the safety of commuters and preventing further tragic incidents.

OC BEACON assured implementing both short-term and long-term safety measures to safeguard lives on this critical stretch of road.

SRINAGAR: Members of Bar Association Budgam on Wednesday abstained from work as part of the indefinite strike  Budgam in the affairs of Judiciary and UT administration as regards setting up of the new court complex in the central Kashmir district.

“District Bar Association Budgam observed abstention from courts and this abstention call by DBAB (shall) continue indefinitely,” reads a statement issued by the lawyers’ body here to GNS.

The High Court of J&K and Ladakh, it said, had decided to shift the district court complex at Budgam to Ichgam, Budgam where an area of 117 Kanals and 18 Marlas of land were asked to be transferred to the judiciary.

In this regard an order was passed by the Registrar General High Court of J&K and Ladakh, asking the commissioner Secretary Revenue to transfer the land to Judiciary, it said. “Commissioner Secretary Revenue passed an order, in turn, directing DC Budgam to transfer stated land to the Judiciary. The DC Budgam is creating bottlenecks in implementation of the order of Commissioner Secretary Revenue,” the lawyers body said, adding, “The members of DBAB would continue to remain on strike in the court premises and demand transfer of DC Budgam immediately and take all steps necessary to transfer stated land to judiciary.”

The lawyers body said that it wants to bring it to the notice of the Authorities and General public that the court Complex Budgam is housed in a small place wherein even the accommodation for the courts is not sufficient.

“The court is not sufficient to accommodate seating of Advocates and litigants appearing in the courts”.  

Meanwhile, the lawyers body has written a protest petition Principal District & Sessions Judge,

Budgam, contending therein among others that “proposing the same land which already been proposed and approved by the Hon'ble High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh for the construction of the new District Court Complex at Itchgam, Budgam for an alternative purpose, such as the construction of

Maharastra Bhavan, is not only a blatant disregard of established legal processes and approvals but also a breach of trust and an affront to the sanctity of the judiciary's decisions.” (GNS)

SRINAGAR: Authorities in Jammu and Kashmir on Monday said that digital QR code or Quick Response Code being provided to every household will provide modern services to the citizens of Srinagar.

Talking to media persons, Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Srinagar Smart City Athar Aamir Khan said that digital QR house code aims to provide modern services in the city.

Jammu Kashmir government recently decided to provide digital QR codes to every household including streets, heritage buildings, and residential houses in Srinagar for easily tracing the address of a place.

SMC Commissioner said that QR code will complete documentation of the house, which could be possible from this system and added that better planning can be done with this method.

He said “each metropolitan city has a specific system for finding a house address”.

Khan said that “this (digital QR house code) provides complete documentation of the house and will help to know who the house is used for either for commercial purposes or is it residential, its electricity connection, water supply and other related things”.

He said that a Geographic Information Survey (GIS) mapping of the entire city has been done and house to house survey of 2.30 lakh houses have so far been completed in Srinagar city.

The SMC Commissioner said that a street number system has been generated and an address system of houses is also being created

Khan said that the aim of digital QR code is to provide modern services and better planning in the city.

The CEO said that a metal board will be installed in front of every house on which QR code and house address will be written. (UNI)

SRINAGAR: In order to assess the feasibility to establish a Sunday market in Sekidafar–Eidgah corridor in Shahr-e-Khaas area of the District, the Deputy Commissioner (DC) Srinagar, Mohammad Aijaz Asad Saturday undertook an extensive tour of the various areas of the City. 

The Deputy Commissioner was accompanied by Additional Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, Syed Ahmad Kataria, SP Traffic Tariq Ahmad, Chief Planning Officer, Mohammad Yaseen Lone, Secretary SMC, Mudasir Ahmad, Tehsildar Eidgah, Ishfaq Ahmad Khan and Officers of other concerned Departments. 

On the occasion, the members of Shahr-e-Khaas Traders Association welcomed the DC and accompanied him to the area proposed by the Trade bodies for setting up of Sunday Market near Eidgah. President Kashmir Chambers of Commerce and Industry Mr Javed Ahmed Tenga was also present during the tour and flagged various public issues of downtown area.  

The Deputy Commissioner while inspecting the proposed site for establishment of Sunday Market along Sekidafar-Eidgah corridor passed several directions to the line Departments. 

The DC asked the SMC authorities to take necessary measures for brush cutting, grill cleaning, sanitation and removal of debris from the designated site for the proposed Sunday Market. They were also asked to complete the macadamization of Ganderpora-Eidgah by-lane, besides addressing drainage related issues in the area. 

Similarly, the DC asked the Officers of R&B Department to carry out the macadamization related works along the proposed Sunday Market area. They were also asked to ensure early completion of the under construction gateway to historic Eidgah near Sekidafar Chowk. 

The DC further asked the R&B authorities to expedite the works for laying tiles on pathways along Sekidafar-Aali Masjid. 

The Tehsildar Eidgah was asked to monitor the cleanliness measures and removal of waste from footpaths along the Eidgah near Sekidafar Chowk. 

 On the occasion, the DC said the idea of opening Sunday Market in Shahr-e-Khaas is under consideration in light of generating employment opportunities to local youth and simultaneously a market to the local population at their convenience. 

 Later, the DC also visited Bohri Kadal and other adjacent areas in Shahr-e-Khaas in Srinagar District. 

On the occasion, delegations of Shahr-e-Khaas Traders Association and local citizens apprised the DC about the developmental concerns of the area. They also put forth demands with regard to establishment of a Fire Station in the locality. 

Responding to the public demands, the DC asked the Fire & Emergency officials to explore the possibility of establishing a Fire Station on a  vacant land in the densely populated area of the Shahr-e-Khaas in order to enhance safety measures to avoid any untoward fire incident. 

After giving patient hearing to the public demands, the DC issued on the spot direction to the Officers of line Departments for immediate action to fulfil the public demands.

SRINAGAR: Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) Kashmir Vijay Kumar said that the foolproof security cover was ensured for the Ashoora procession that started from Bota Kadal area and will culminate at ImamBara Zadibal, Srinagar.

Talking to reporters, ADGP Kumar as per news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), said that foolproof security cover is in place for the smooth conduct of the Ashoora in which Shia mourners are taking out a Zuljinah procession from Bota Kadal area to Imambara Zadibal. “Officers were deployed on ground from midnight to ensure deployment as per the plan,” he said, adding that “allowing the historic procession after a long gap reflects changing Kashmir.”

He said police provides security cover for such events but “ultimate credit goes to the people.” “Without peoples’ cooperation nothing is possible,” the ADGP said.

Speaking on the occasion, Deputy Commissioner Srinagar Muhammad Aijaz Asad said that the administration stands with the Shia community on the eve of Youm-e-Ashoora, the day Hazrat Imam Hussain (AS) was martyred in Karbala.

“Today, the need of the hour is to spread the message of Hazrat Imam Hussain (AS),” he said. Pertinently, the administration allowed the grand Ashoora procession from Bota Kadal to Imambara Zadibal on the occasion of Ashoora.

Earlier, on 8th Muharram, the administration had allowed the procession from Guru Bazar to M A Road to Dalgate, for the first time in 34 years. Shia leaders and mourners had thanked the LG Manoj Sinha led administration for the historic decision. (KNO)

SRINAGAR: The Hajj Committee of Jammu and Kashmir has notified for the information of selected Hajj pilgrims to collect passports and other material from their respective district offices. 

“All the Selected Pilgrims of Hajj 2023 who belong to Kashmir Division except Srinagar are hereby informed that they can collect their Passports and other material from their respective Deputy Commissioners’ office from 03/06/2023 during working hours on production of State Haj Dues Payment Slip (JK Bank Slip) and Passport receipt”, reads a notification as per GNS.

“Further, the Pilgrims of District Srinagar shall collect their Passports and other material from Haj House Bemina Srinagar from 03/06/2023 to 05/06/2023 during working hours on production of the above-mentioned documents”, reads the notification further. (GNS)

SRINAGAR: Bringing laurels for the UT of Jammu and Kashmir in general and for district Baramulla in particular, Deputy Commissioner Baramulla Dr Syed Sehrish Asgar has achieved the coveted Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence in Public Administration-2022, India’s highest award in civil services.

Dr Sehrish has been selected for this prestigious achievement in the category of Aspirational Districts programme as she has brought transformative changes in the identified parameters envisaged in the said programme.

As per reports, key aspects for Aspirational District Programme in Baramulla for which the Deputy Commissioner was awarded by the Prime Minister include establishment of Birth Waiting Wards in Primary Health Centres, Community Health Centres, Upgradation of diagnostic services at all delivery points and Poshan Tracker Tabs for all Anganwadi workers.

The Deputy Commissioner supported farmers through mechanism, plant protection, nursery strengthening, robust root stocks, quality planning material etc and organized marketing facility established at Sopore which is the second largest Fruit Mandi in Asia.

Severe Acute Malnutrition has been reduced in the district to 0.01 percent from 3 percent and Moderate Acute Malnutrition to 0.039 percent from 11.93 percent. A two-year paramedical diploma course has been introduced for 300 border area students to fill up the critical gap in the health sector.

Under financial inclusion, 56,215 PM Jan Dhan Yojana accounts have been opened in Baramulla district.

Meanwhile, various stakeholders including Lieutenant Governor have extended their warm appreciations and felicitations to Dr. Syed Sehrish for this achievement besides earning accolades from several other quarters. (UNI)