Srinagar, Nov 18: The meteorological department has predicted light to moderate rains in plains and snowfall over higher reaches over the weekend while the mercury plunged to sub-zero levels at many places in Kashmir Valley and Ladakh on Friday.

MeT officials said that barring Banihal, all places in J&K and Ladakh recorded below than normal temperatures.

Quoting a MeT official, news agency GNS reported that Srinagar recorded a low of 0.4°C against 1.2°C on the previous night. The temperature was 0.8°C ‘below’ normal for the summer capital during this time of the year, he said.

Qazigund recorded a low of minus 0.4°C against 3.6°C on the previous night. The temperature was 1.7°C below normal for the gateway town of Kashmir, he said.

In Pahalgam, the mercury settled at minus 4.2°C against minus 3.4°C on the previous night and it was 3.0°C below normal for the south Kashmir resort, he said.

Kokernag recorded a low of 0.6°C against 3.1°C on the previous night and it was 1.7°C below normal for the place, he said.

Gulmarg recorded a low of minus 3.0°C against 3.6°C on the previous night, the official said. It was 1.7°C below normal for the world famous skiing resort in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, the official said.

In Kupwara town, the mercury settled at minus 1.4°C against minus 0.1°C on the previous night, the official said. It was 1.9°C above normal for the north Kashmir place, he said.

Jammu recorded a low of 10.0°C against 10.7°C on the previous night. It was 3.4°C below normal for J&K’s winter capital, he said. Banihal recorded a low of 6.6°C (2.5°C above normal), Batote 4.9°C (1.3°C below normal), Katra 9.4°C (2.0°C below normal) and Bhadarwah 1.7°C (1.5°C below normal).

In Ladakh, Kargil recorded a low of minus 8.1°C, Leh minus 10.1°C and mercury in Drass, the world’s second coldest place after Siberia, settled at minus 13.2°C, the official said.

While mainly dry weather has been forecast today, “cloudy with possibility of light to moderate rain in plains and snowfall at scattered places over higher reaches” has been forecast on Nov 19 and 20.

“There is no forecast of any major snow spell till the end of November,” he added.

Jammu (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], November 18 (ANI): To review the progress of “targets and goals” set for the Jammu zone in the Union Territory, the J-K police on Thursday held a review meeting on different fronts for the year 2022.

This review meeting was chaired by the Director General of Jammu and Kashmir Police Dilbag Singh at the police headquarters.

In the meeting, the DGP lauded the officials at each level for achieving the pre-set targets and goals that were set for this year (2022) and emphasised: “they need to contribute more by conducting supervisory meetings and by ensuring closer supervision of important cases, especially the cases of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances or Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act for better results for the remaining period of the year.”

The DGP further advised the officials to improve the quality of investigation and prosecution to increase convictions.

He also impressed upon officers to identify more investigating officers and train them to deal with the increasing number of cases. He said that investigators have to equip themselves with the best investigation skills and take each and every necessary measure to ensure conviction of UAPA, Narco and other sensitive cases in the courts of law.

DGP Dilbag Singh also directed the officers to augment measures for improving the capability of personnel in dealing with Narco and UAPA cases.

As per an official release from Police media centre, DGP Singh then referred to the directions of Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and flagged that the drug menace has emerged as a big threat as the ill-gotten money from the drug trade is being used for terror activities.

While pushing the officers for pacing up and improving the quality of the NDPS’ investigation for increasing the rate of conviction, DGP Singh also impressed to work on mission mode on the two fronts of NDPS and UAPA.

He directed the officials to destroy the drug-related crops and advised district officers to initiate the seizure of properties raised by drug proceeds.

Highlighting the need for establishing Pairvy cells at the district, range and zonal levels, the DGP exhorted the officers to ensure that the police witnesses are well prepared for deposing in the courts. He directed the officers to dispose of the pending cases on the basis of their sensitivity in the shortest time possible.

Referring to the bovine (cattle) smuggling, here, the DGP said, “it is an organised crime and there is a need to break the nexus further.” He directed officers to put more effort to identify the main culprits behind the nexus and take strenuous action against the ones involved.

The DGP also asserted that the Police Headquarters was ready to support with all the assistance that is needed to improve the quality of investigation and Police personnel’s work.

He also directed the officers to increase the range of activities under the Civic Action Programme, particularly in border areas to provide the youth here with various platforms. He impressed upon officers to visit border areas frequently to review the Border outposts functioning.

Singh, later, directed the officers to review records of history sheeters from time to time and open files of the persons found in illegal and anti-social activities and publicise such police work.

He also reviewed the Savera Scheme for the Next of Kin (NoKs) of the martyrs and directed the officials to update the family’s database and hold regular visits to them. He also emphasized exploring the possibilities to introduce welfare schemes for their children.

The proceeding of the meeting and the PowerPoint presentation was made by AIG (T&P) J S Johar.

This meeting was attended by ADGP Jammu Zone, Mukesh Singh; ADGP Headquarters PHQ, M. K. Sinha; ADGP Coordination PHQ, Danesh Rana; IGP Headquarters PHQ, B.S Tuti; DPT J&K Shridhar Patil; SSP Jammu Chandan Kholi; all the AIGs of PHQ and other gazetted officers of PHQ attended the meeting at the Police Headquarters.

Meanwhile, range DIGs of Jammu Zone, Sunil Gupta, Vivek Gupta, Mohammad Suleman Choudhary, Dr Mohammed Haseeb Mughal; District SSPs of Jammu Zone attended the meeting through video conferencing. (ANI)

SRINAGAR, Nov 18: Veteran politician and former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Farooq Abdullah Friday announced stepping down from the post of National Conference president, saying it is time to hand over the mantle to the new generation.
”I will not be contesting for the post of president any longer. The elections for the post will be held on December 5. It is time for the new generation to take over the responsibilities,” Abdullah said.
”Anyone from the party can contest for the post. It is a democratic exercise,” Abdullah, who is a Lok Sabha MP, said.
There is widespread speculation that 85-year-old Abdullah will assume the role of party patron and his son Omar Abdullah, currently the party’s vice-president, is likely to succeed him as the new chief. (Agencies)

JAMMU, Nov 18: While the weather department here forecast light to moderate rains in plains and snowfall over higher reaches this weekend, the mercury plunged to sub-zero level at most places in Kashmir Valley and Ladakh on Friday. In fact, barring Banihal, all places in J&K and Ladakh recorded below than normal temperatures this season.
A meteorological department official here said that Srinagar recorded a low of 0.4°C against 1.2°C on the previous night. The temperature was 0.8°C ‘below’ normal for the summer capital during this time of the year, he said.
Qazigund recorded a low of minus 0.4°C against 3.6°C on the previous night. The temperature was 1.7°C below normal for the gateway town of Kashmir, he said.
In Pahalgam, the mercury settled at minus 4.2°C against minus 3.4°C on the previous night and it was 3.0°C below normal for the south Kashmir resort, he said.
Kokernag recorded a low of 0.6°C against 3.1°C on the previous night and it was 1.7°C below normal for the place, he said.
Gulmarg recorded a low of minus 3.0°C against 3.6°C on the previous night, the official said. It was 1.7°C below normal for the world famous skiing resort in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, the official said.
In Kupwara town, the mercury settled at minus 1.4°C against minus 0.1°C on the previous night, the official said. It was 1.9°C above normal for the north Kashmir place, he said.
Jammu recorded a low of 10.0°C against 10.7°C on the previous night. It was 3.4°C below normal for J&K’s winter capital, he said. Banihal recorded a low of 6.6°C (2.5°C above normal), Batote 4.9°C (1.3°C below normal), Katra 9.4°C (2.0°C below normal) and Bhadarwah 1.7°C (1.5°C below normal).
In Ladakh, Kargil recorded a low of minus 8.1°C, Leh minus 10.1°C and mercury in Drass, the world’s second coldest place after Siberia, settled at minus 13.2°C, the official said.
While mainly dry weather has been forecast today, “cloudy with possibility of light to moderate rain in plains and snowfall at scattered places over higher reaches” has been forecast on Nov 19 and 20.
“There is no forecast of any major snow spell till the end of November,” he added. (Agencies)

JAMMU, Nov 17: Jammu and Kashmir government on Thursday issues final notices for cancellation of land allotment to 586 entities which failed to set up units under the much-touted ‘new industrial development scheme. Notices have been issued as these units failed to deposit the land premium and execute lease deed, according to a top official. The step has been taken to provide opportunity to others in the long queue.
The Jammu and Kashmir administration in January 2021 announced a new industrial development scheme (IDS) with a total outlay of Rs 28,400 crore to encourage new investment and take industrial development to the block level.
Approved by the Government of India, the new IDS for was not only meant for ushering in an era of socio-economic development of the region, but also take development to the block level and far-flung areas of Jammu and Kashmir.
The final notice was issued by Jammu & Kashmir State Industrial Development Corporation (SIDCO) Managing Director Smita Sethi on Thursday. These allotted units include 462 in Kashmir valley and 124 in Jammu region.These units were granted 500 to 600 acres of land in dozens of industrial estates set up by J&K government.
Of these 423 units were given allotment of lands by J&K Small Scale Industries Development Corporation Limited (SICOP) and 163 by SIDCO.
”As per record 586 allottees (of Industrial units) have not given any response and are liable for cancellation in terms of Jammu & Kashmir Industrial Land Allotment Policy 2021-30 despite repeated notices”, Sethi said in final and show-cause notice for cancellation of the allotment order.
The notice further said that as per the directions of administrative department of Industries and Commerce on November 4, 2022, a final notice of 15 days is being served to all the (389) allottees from the date of issuance of this notice, who did not respond to earlier notices, to deposit the payment and complete formalities.
”Failing which it shall be presumed that they have nothing to say in their defence and the allotment order shall be deemed to have been cancelled or withdrawn ab-initio, if no convincing response is received during this period”, Sethi said.
She further said that in accordance procedural guideline to the Jammu & Kashmir industrial land allotment policy, 30 days notice was served upon the unit holders, who failed to deposit the payment and complete the requisite formalities.
”Additionally a show cause notice of seven days and final notice of five days was also served through email. They again failed to deposit the due amount and complete the necessary formalities”, MD said.
”There are 4500 applications in queue for grant of allotment in setting up units in J&K. If they don’t respond, there are others in the queue”, Sethi said.
These units are bringing an investment of over Rs 3,000 crores and generating a job market of 7,000.
As per the notice SIDCO and SICOP issued land allotments or letter of intent (LOIs) in terms of Industrial Policy 2021-30 in compliance to the approval accorded by high level land allotment committee in its first meeting held on July 1, 2021 & December 30, 2021.
As per terms and conditions of allotment orders, the allottees were required to deposit the land premium, execute lease deed and complete other formalities within 60 days time frame from the date of issuance of said allotment order. However some unit holders have failed to deposit the due amount & complete the necessary formalities within the stipulated time period, Sethi said.
Jammu & Kashmir Land Allotment Policy, 2021-30 provides land allotment process and envisages that in case of non-execution of lease deed, including non-payment of payable premium, even after the expiry of notice period, the land allotment shall be cancelled by the concerned industrial development corporation immediately, she said.
As per the procedural guidelines, allotment policy provide that in case of failure on the part of allottees to make total payment towards premium within stipulated time from the date of allotment letter, violation of any condition of the lease deed, failure to come into production within stipulated time, among others, the concerned estates officer shall immediately take necessary action for determination of the lease deed and eviction of the allottees under the said act and rules made there under.
Jammu and Kashmir has received investment proposals worth Rs 31,000 crore and has notified a new central sector scheme worth Rs 28,400 crore which is likely to provide employment to over 4.5 lakh people, the Rajya Sabha was informed in December last year.
MoS Home Nityanand Rai said that the government has received investment proposals worth approximately Rs 31,000 crore. (Agencies)

New Delhi, Nov 17: Having deployed its troops near the Line of Actual Control (LAC) to prevent any misadventure from China, the Indian Army is making a large number of ponds to get fresh drinking water for the troops even in freezing winters.
India has deployed more than 50,000 troops along with a large number of new equipment to tackle possible Chinese aggression since April-May 2020 in Eastern Ladakh. A number of steps have been taken to address the logistical requirements of troops based there.
“We are making a big number of ponds to cater to the water requirements of the forces deployed there. In forward locations like the Daulat Beg Oldie (DBO), the troops used fresh water from ponds even in freezing winters this year,” Indian Army’s Engineer in Chief Lt Gen Harpal Singh said.
“The water at the surface level gets frozen in extreme winters but underneath, it remains in liquid form. Our troops used the water from these ponds to meet their requirements,” he said.
DBO is one of the coldest and most forward locations in Ladakh and witnesses extreme cold conditions in the cold desert area.
The temperatures in these areas go below minus 40 degrees also on some occasions and providing fresh water and food to troops becomes a challenge.
The Corps of Engineers has done extensive work for helping the troops to stay put in forward locations near China border and making living conditions better there.
The Army has so far built 22,000 additional habitats for the troops in eastern Ladakh and they have been built in a way that the buildings can be lifted from one place to the other and relocated as per requirement in specific sectors, Lt Gen Harpal said.
The sappers have also built a large number of habitats for the tanks, artillery guns and infantry combat vehicles to enable the armoured corps to operate them even in very cold conditions. (Agencies)

SRINAGAR: Srinagar police on Thursday urged media houses not to discuss the names of the journalists during their debate regarding the online anonymous threats to them.

“It has been noticed by our social media cell that many news portals are irresponsibly discussing names of media persons in their debates regarding the online anonymous threat to them,” Srinagar police said in a statement. A case under relevant sections has been already registered in Shergari police station about this threat, the police said.

“Media houses are requested not to fall for sensationalism in discussing names of victims in reporting and also to behave responsibly and not endanger the safety and security of their fellow journalists,” the police added.

Poonch, Nov 17: The authorities on Thursday reopened historic Mughal road connecting twin districts of Poonch and Rajouri with Shopian in South Kashmir for traffic.

Quoting officials, news agency GNS reported that the vehicles were permitted to move after snow clearance work was completed on the thoroughfare.

The road had been shut for the past nearly four days after snowfall around Pir Ki Gali on Monday.

DySP Traffic Rajouri-Poonch Range, Aftab Bukhari confirmed the opening of the road for traffic.