After witnessing decades of violence, the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir has witnessed tremendous changes in economic activities after the abrogation of Article 370.
After Article 370 was repealed, Jammu and Kashmir became subject to 890 central laws, while 250 unfair state legislation were eliminated. Additional 130 state legislation have undergone changes. The elimination of certain hurdles has led to a conducive business atmosphere. Due to the country’s strong leadership and increased stability in the region, foreign businesses are considering investment opportunities here.
The Lulu Group, Apollo, EMAAR, and Jindal are among the few commercial organizations that have investments in Jammu and Kashmir. The UT has inked five more Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) with Al Maya Group, MATU Investments LLC, GL Employment Brokerage LLC, Century Financial, and Noon E-commerce, respectively. Magna Waves Pvt. Ltd. and Emaar Group, and Lulu International have also signed a single Letter of Intent.
In 2021, the Union Territory attracted investments of USD 2.5 billion, showcasing the region’s vast opportunities and business potential.
Even Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with delegates from the United Arab Emirates seeking business opportunities in Jammu and Kashmir, noting that private investment bids in the Union Territory have topped Rs 38,000 crore.
The government is fully aware that investments play a crucial role in economic development because they lead to the accumulation of public wealth as well as advancements in science and technology. As a result, a framework for increasing the region’s manufacturing viability and economic growth is established.
The Jammu and Kashmir government established a five-person committee on June 23 to communicate with the Minister of External Affairs regarding the G20 meetings. India is starting to get ready for the big event.
In order to promote fresh investment and bring industrial development to the block level, the J&K administration introduced a new industrial development scheme with an outlay of Rs 28,400 crore in January of last year. The new regulation, valid until 2037, also made it possible for more prominent investors to invest in J-K.
Before the repealing of Article 370, there were not many investments in Jammu and Kashmir.
The Indian government is aware that investments play a key role in the economic development of any region. Hence, it is no letting stone unturned to establish a framework for increasing the region’s manufacturing viability and economic growth.
Infrastructure development in the Union Territory got a big push after the abrogation of Article 370.
After the abrogation of Article 370, the execution of new roads, tunnels and other basic Infrastructure has gained momentum to ensure the overall development of J&K.
Noting that roads are now being built at twice the speed as before, the Lt Governor of the Union Territory Manoj Sinha had said there has been a radical change in its progress under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana.
“Last year, 2,402 km of roads were constructed under PMGSY in the Jammu division. Since August 2019, taking into account the figures of October 2021, 3,885 km of roads were built under PMGSY in Jammu division alone,” he said earlier.
These projects will enhance tourism in the region by multifold.
Underscoring that a robust road network and modern transportation are key to economic growth, the prosperity of the region and transformation in every sphere of life, Sinha had said the foundations of Rs 11,721 crore National Highways projects, besides seven new projects, will pave the way for sustainable development in Jammu and Kashmir, reported Business Standard earlier.
The new mega road projects will open up new livelihood avenues for the local population and enhance tourism and business activities, besides strengthening the strategic grid by ensuring all-weather connectivity.
J-K attracting lots of foreign investments post Article 370 abrogation
Traffic awareness programme held at BEI
Srinagar, Sep 14: In its effort to create awareness about traffic safety in wake of increase in road accidents, Bilaliya Educational Institute (BEI) in collaboration with Traffic Police City Srinagar organised a Traffic Awareness camp today at its Lal Bazar Campus under the theme “EK EHSAAS”.
Senior Superintendent Police City Traffic, Srinagar Muzaffar Ahmad Shah, was the Guest-in-chief on the occasion. He was accompanied by Dy SP Imtiyaz Ahmad of the City Traffic police department. Addressing the young students, the officers explained about the need of awareness among the students and role they can play in reducing the number of accidents caused on roads.
“The programme concentrated on the errors which the vehicle driver and pillion riders make highlighting the reasons to avoid risky driving,” the organisers said. Muzaffar A. Shah stressed that charity begins from home and that the parents who often come to pick up their wards in two-wheeler or four wheelers should follow the road safety rules.
An interactive session was held in which students got the opportunity to learn many set of rules that are mandatory for driving including a question answer session by Dy SP Imitiaz Ahmad.
“I thank Traffic Police Department for the collaboration and creating awareness among the students and hope that the similar programmes will be held in other institutions for a greater impact. It was overwhelming to know that city traffic department is working fast to streamline the traffic movement near bottlenecks especially Boulevard and Nishat. My special thanks to the beloved students for participating in the program and kudos to the staff of the excellent management,” said Manzoor Ahmad Wangnoo, chairman Bilaliya Educational Institute.
Ashok Gehlot questions BJP for their remarks on ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’
Ashok Gehlot, the Chief Minister of Rajasthan, responded to recent statements made by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) opposing the “Bharat Jodo Yatra.”
Taking on the BJP, Ashok Gehlot said, “Why does BJP have a problem with Bharat Jodo movement, Rahul Gandhi had said that BJP is the politics of hatred and we are working to unite the country, what is the issue with BJP.”
Rajyavardhan Rathod, a former BJP Union Minister, and National Spokesperson took a swipe at the Congress by claiming that their journey is “Bharat Jodo Nahi Bharat Todo.”
He further said, “Gandhi family is famous for breaking India, they have done this for years. If we take the example of Jawaharlal Nehru and the situation he created in Kashmir, Indira Gandhi who imposed an emergency, who gave birth to terror inside Punjab, and Rajiv Gandhi whose work caused the Sikh riots, their way of doing work is to break the society and spreading hatred in the society.”
The Chief Minister further added, “the BJP leaders themselves wear glasses worth 2.5 lakhs and the Home Minister wears a muffler worth 80 thousand rupees. How can they politicize a t-shirt.”
Rajyavardhan Rathod, while taking a shot at Ashok Gehlot said that Rajasthan Congress had other responsibilities other than establishing and re-establishing a family.
The safety of women in Rajasthan has become a concern, as have lumpy diseases and other things. However, they are working to start and restart a family through the yatra.
The former MP further added, “There was a lot of uproar in the meeting of Sports Minister Ashok Chandna, who is considered to be of Gehlot camp. Slogans were raised in front of the minister in support of Sachin Pilot, while some activists threw their shoes and hooted.”
The former Deputy CM was targeted by Chandna by naming him and said, “If Sachin Pilot becomes the Chief Minister by throwing a shoe at me, then he should be made soon because today I do not feel like fighting. The day I come to fight, then only one will be left and I do not want this”
Can govt explain how territory ‘given’ to China will be retrieved, asks Rahul Gandhi
NEW DELHI, Sept 14: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has “given” 1,000 square kilometres of Indian territory to China “without a fight”, and asked the government how it will be retrieved.
He also claimed that China has refused to accept India’s demand of restoring status quo on the border as on April 2020.
Gandhi’s attack came after Indian and Chinese armies carried out a joint verification of the disengagement process at Patrolling Point 15 in the Gogra-Hotsprings area in eastern Ladakh after withdrawing their troops and dismantling temporary infrastructure from the friction point.
Both sides completed the disengagement in a phased and coordinated manner, according to people familiar with the development.
Attacking the Government, Gandhi tweeted, “China has refused to accept India’s demand of restoring status quo of April 2020. PM has given 1,000 Sq Kms of territory to China without a fight.”
Can the Government of India explain how this territory will be retrieved, he asked.
The eastern Ladakh border standoff erupted on May 5, 2020, following a violent clash in the Pangong lake areas.
Both sides gradually enhanced their deployment by rushing in tens of thousands of soldiers and heavy weaponry.
As a result of a series of military and diplomatic talks, the two sides completed the disengagement process last year on the north and south banks of the Pangong lake and in the Gogra area.
The disengagement in the Pangong Lake area took place in February last year while the withdrawal of troops and equipment in Patrolling Point 17 (A) in Gogra took place in August last year. (Agencies)
6 Pak nationals held with drugs worth Rs 200 cr off Gujarat coast
AHMEDABAD, Sept 14: The Gujarat Anti Terrorist Squad in a joint operation with the Indian Coast Guard seized 40 kg heroin worth Rs 200 crore from a Pakistani fishing boat in the Arabian Sea off the Gujarat coast on Wednesday, a senior ATS official said.
Six Pakistani crew members of the boat were also apprehended, he said.
The fishing boat carrying drugs was intercepted mid-sea by a joint team of the Coast Guard and ATS near Jakhau harbour in Kutch district, the official said.
“The heroin was meant to be transported to Punjab by road after being offloaded on the Gujarat coast. Based on a specific tip- off, we intercepted the boat which left from Pakistan, and caught six Pakistani nationals with 40 kg of heroin,” he said.
The ATS and Coast Guard officials along with the seized boat are expected to reach the Jakhau coast later in the day, he said.
The state ATS and the Coast Guard had foiled similar attempts of drug smuggling in the past also and caught foreign nationals with huge quantities of narcotics which they planned to smuggle into India via the Gujarat coast. (Agencies)
Indian Railways To Run Special Trains To Vaishno Devi On Navratri
NEW DELHI, Sept 14: Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) is set to run special trains for the devotees planning to visit the holy shrine of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi in Jammu and Kashmir. It has announced the launch of ‘Navratri Special Tourist Train’ for Katra Mata Vaishno Devi. Two special AC trains will run under the Bharat Gaurav initiative which will be operated by IRCTC with effective from September 30. According to reports, Indian Railways has also made arrangements for the stay, food, and travel of devotees in this special tour package. (Agencies)
President Murmu’s condolences on Poonch minibus accident
New Delhi, September 14: President Droupadi Murmu on Wednesday said that the tragic road accident in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch was ‘deeply distressing’ and wished for the speedy recovery of the injured.
“The loss of lives in a tragic road accident in Sawjian, Poonch is deeply distressing. My thoughts and prayers are with the bereaved families. I wish speedy recovery of the injured,” a tweet from Rashtrapati Bhavan stated
Man using Fake Twitter Handle of SSP Shopian arrested in UP: J&K Police
SRINAGAR, Sept 14: Police on Wednesday said that a notorious criminal was arrested with the assistance of UP police from UP, who was operating fake account in the name of IPS officer Tanu Shree.
Shopian Police on twitter wrote “Notorious criminal involved in operating fake Twitter handle in the name of Tanu Shree IPS SSP Shopian and demanding money and sharing objectionable updates on Twitter has been arrested from District Pratapgarh UP with the assistance of UP Police”.(Agencies)
Kashmir to get its first electric train on Gandhi Jayanti
On October 2, electric train will start moving on the 137 kms long Banihal-Baramulla corridor of Jammu and Kashmir rail link.
Indian Railway officials said that work on the project was going on since August 2019.
The mandatory principal chief electrical engineer (PCEE) inspection of the electric rail link will take place on September 26 and on Gandhi Jayanti, the project will be inaugurated, the railway officials said.
“Trials on Baramulla-Budgam part of the 137-Kms long electric train link have already been completed while the trial on the remaining Budgam-Banihal portion will be carried out on September 20”, sources said, adding that the project cost of the electric train link from Banihal to Baramulla is Rs 324 crore.
The electrification of the Banihal-Baramulla rail link will reduce air pollution and is expected to bring down the operational cost by 60 per cent.
Coastal clean-up campaign gets huge boost by public, celebrities: Jitendra Singh
The 75-day-long ongoing Coastal Clean Up Campaign received a huge boost as a number of Chief Ministers, Governors, Film and Sports personalities pledged their full support to the longest and largest beach cleaning campaign in the world titled “Swachh Sagar, Surakshit Sagar”.
The information was given by Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Earth Sciences Jitendra Singh today while addressing a press conference to brief the progress of the ongoing 75-day Coastal Clean-Up campaign launched on 5th July, 2022. Three days ahead of “International Coastal Clean-up Day” on 17th September 2022, massive people’s support is also pouring in for the campaign spearheaded by the Ministry of Earth Sciences and supported by other Ministries and Civil Society Groups in the country.
Minister informed that the campaign has entered the mode of the whole of Government approach plus the whole of country participation. A cleanathon, which was organised at Juhu Beach n Mumbai, saw a large number of participants.
Yesterday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi stressed keeping India’s coasts clean as he praised the efforts of volunteers to remove garbage from the Juhu beach in Mumbai. Responding to a video posted by Dr Singh about the clean-up at the beach, PM Modi tweeted, “Commendable… I appreciate all those involved in this effort. India is blessed with a long and beautiful coastline and it is important we focus on keeping our coasts clean”.
Dr. Singh said that apart from the active cooperation of Ministries of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Jal Shakti, Health and Family Welfare, Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, External Affairs, Information and Broadcasting, organisations and associations like National Service Scheme (NSS), Indian Coast Guard, National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), Seema Jagran Manch, SFD, Paryavaran Sanrakshan Gatividhi (PSG), along with other social organizations and educational institutions are participating in the clean-up campaign.
The MPs of coastal states also pledged full support to the first-of-its-kind and longest-running coastal clean-up campaign in the world and they also advised the Ministry of Earth Sciences to undertake a variety of activities by involving local NGOs, he added.
The Minister told the media persons to support this noble mission of achieving the target to remove 1,500 tonnes of garbage, mainly single-use plastic from the sea coasts on “International Coastal Clean-up Day” on 17th September 2022, which incidentally is also the birthday of Prime Minister Narendra Modi celebrated as “Sewa Divas” in the country. He called upon all to join the massive clean-up drive on 17th September to be carried out at 75 beaches across the country with 75 volunteers for every kilometre of the coastline. He also added that this year’s event also coincides with the celebrations of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav in the 75th year of the country’s independence.
Dr Singh reiterated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken a lead in the cleanliness campaign and has motivated the entire nation to keep the 7,500 Kilometres long coastal line of India clean, safe and healthy for mankind.
It is notable that last month, Dr Jitendra Singh interacted with 46 Deputy Commissioners/District Magistrates from 9 Coastal States and reviewed the ongoing countrywide 75-day Coastal CleanUp campaign and asked them to assist in this mass campaign. He is also going to write to each of them to make the event on 17th September a memorable one. The Minister said, the District Collectors can create a sustainable campaign and truly build a crescendo by involving all sections of society as the “Swachh Sagar, Surakshit Sagar” campaign is the longest and largest beach cleaning campaign in the world, which has already caught the imagination of the masses and nation.