JAMMU: A revenue officer in Bahu Tehsil of Jammu district was arrested by Anti-Corruption Bureau while accepting Rs 50, 000 from a complainant.

An official told that Rohit Sharma, Tehsildar Bahu had demanded a bribe of Rs 1 lakh from a person for issuing fard in his favour. He said that ACB received a complaint that a person living in R S Pura had bought land in City South and applied for a fard in respect of the land.

“Tehsildar demanded a bribe of one lakh while the deal to give Rs 50, 000 has been workout between the officer and the complainant. The complainant meanwhile approached the ACB and lodged a complaint against the officer for demanding a bribe,” he said.

He added that the ACB laid a trap and in the evening, signalled the complainant to visit his office on Monday.

“The complainant handed over Rs 50,000 to the officer. Soon as the bribe amount was given to Tehsildar, the ACB team that was already present there in civics entered the office and caught him red-handed,” he said. He further said that after apprehending Tehsildar, ACB raided his office and residence to collect evidence.

Srinagar, November :

Union Minister for Petroleum Hardeep Singh Puri on Monday said people had been investing in J&K because of the Central Government’s “farsighted decision” to remove the bottleneck of Articles 370 and 35A. He said the PM’s commitment to the development of J&K was turning into a reality and the work had been in full swing. “Central schemes directly benefit people and I am glad that the work is going on at the ground level,” he said in Srinagar.

Highlighting the development works, he said 25 new highway projects costing Rs 11,721 crore had been sanctioned, 168 MoUs amounting to Rs 13,600 crore signed, seven new medical colleges sanctioned with medical seats increasing from 500 to 955, world’s highest railway bridge being constructed in J&K, Vande Bharat Express in operation from Jammu to Delhi and the tourist footfall had also been increased in the Union Territory. He further said some 12 lakh LPG connections had been provided under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana and 50,000 houses sanctioned under the PMAY-U.

On fuel prices, he said the Central Government was ready for bringing petrol and diesel under the GST regime but it was unlikely that the states would agree. “If the states make the move, we are ready,” Puri said.

The minister, however, pointed out it was unlikely that the states would agree to such a move as liquor and energy were revenue generating items for them.

The Union minister said the Kerala High Court had suggested that the issue be placed before the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council for discussion at its last meeting in Lucknow. “The finance minister of that state did not agree…,” he said.

He said the petroleum prices had seen a sharp rise from July 2021 to August this year, recording 43% to 46% increase in the United States and Canada. India witnessed only 2% increase during that period, he said. “When many countries are witnessing fuel shortage and inflation, there is no shortage of fuel in India even in its remotest corners,” Puri said.

At a meeting, the minister said application of modern technology for solid waste management was the need of the hour and Srinagar would be among the cities where such strategies would be adopted on a priority basis.

Launching a scathing attack on the Congress, the Union minister said the decision of Jawaharlal Nehru to take the Kashmir issue to the international forum was a “monumental blunder”. (With PTI inputs)

JAMMU: A major tragedy was averted by Jammu and Kashmir Police last night after they detected and defused two Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) with timers near Phallian Mandal in Jammu district

A top police officer told that the IEDs were found inside a black-coloured backpack lying near Phallian Mandal police post under Satwari Police Station in Jammu last evening. “The IEDs were recovered during routine searches.”

Subsequently, the officer said, a Bomb Disposal Squad was summoned and the devices were defused without any damage to life or property.

He said a case (FIR No. 211/2022) under section 4/5 explosives act 18/20 UAP Act has been registered in this regard. “Investigation has been taken up and police is working to nab the accused involved in it.” Meanwhile, sources said that security has been also beefed up in the Jammu district.

SRINAGAR: The weather department on Tuesday forecasted mainly dry in Jammu and Kashmir for the next 24 hours.

“Mainly dry weather over the plains of Jammu and Kashmir with very light rain at one or two places on higher elevations,” said a meteorological department official here regarding the forecast for the next 24 hours.

He said that there was no large change expected in the weather till the evening of November 18 and it was likely to remain mainly dry. There is the possibility of light rain and snowfall on November 18 (night)-19, he said. However, he said, there was no forecast for any major snowfall till November 20.

JAMMU, Nov 15: Night temperatures dropped further across Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh on Tuesday as the Drass town froze at minus 15.
Rain and snow occurred in the two UTs during the last 24 hours as the MeT office forecast dry weather during the next 24 hours.
“Weather is expected to remain dry in J&K and Ladakh during the next 24 hours”, an official of the MeT department said.
Srinagar recorded 4.5 degrees Celsius, Pahalgam minus 3.4 and Gulmarg minus 4.6 degree Celsius as the minimum temperature this morning.
While Drass town in Ladakh region recorded minus 15 degree, Kargil minus 4.2 and Leh minus 7.5, Jammu clocked 12.3 degrees, Katra 10.4, Batote 2.3, Banihal 2.2 and Bhaderwah 1. (Agencies)

Jammu: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha Monday said that the government was determined to revive and revitalise the defunct cooperatives.

An official spokesman in a statement issued here said that inaugurating the 69th All India Cooperative Week celebrations across J&K during a function at General Zorawar Singh Auditorium, University of Jammu, the LG commended the significant role being played by all stakeholders associated with the cooperative movement in building a strong ecosystem for the growth of the cooperative sector in J&K.

He said that the Jan-Andolan for promotion of social enterprises, its values, and principles to establish equality, equity, and solidarity were pivotal for bringing socio-economic development for inclusive growth in rural J&K.

The LG said that under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah, the cooperatives were being transformed into an effective economic instrument for ensuring growth in sectors like agriculture, handicraft, sugar, dairy, textiles, fisheries, storage, food processing and upliftment of small and marginal farmers.

He said that cooperatives were perhaps the best medium to reach out to the far-flung areas of J&K and the poor and marginalised sections.

The LG said that in the era of startups and unicorns, there was a need to meet the aspiration of the youth and cooperatives need to constantly reinvent themselves.

“Cooperatives should be established as one of the pillars for economic and social development,” he said.

Highlighting the achievements made under the cooperative sector in J&K, the LG shared the government’s vision to strengthen the cooperative movement in J&K.

“This year’s theme ‘India@75: Growth of Cooperatives and Future Ahead’ is our resolve to build a resilient and viable business ecosystem of the cooperatives with the special participation of youth and women and enable the cooperative-based economic model to realise the Mantra of ‘Sahkar Se Samriddhi,’” he said.

The LG said that the cooperatives need to address the challenges that the rural economy and people were facing and should offer financial and non-financial benefits.

“Since it is driven by local members who understand the needs, it can have a greater impact on health, education, agriculture, credit, tourism, green energy, and hospitality sectors,” the LG said.

He said that the J&K administration was laying special thrust on registration of cooperatives, training and capacity building of stakeholders, modernising cooperative markets, bringing transparency in the system, creating new markets, and enabling government departments to purchase directly from these markets.

“We have registered 1006 cooperatives in the last year and 31,578 members were trained during Jan-Abhiyan. It shows that the determined efforts are being made to widen the network and ensure capacity building for the professional functioning of the cooperatives,” the LG said. “We are also determined to revive and revitalise the defunct cooperatives. Recapitalisation amount of Rs 255.71 crore in favour of three District Central Cooperative Banks was released to improve their fiscal health.”

He said that the cooperatives also need to improve business viability and capacity to create employment and income to empower people.

“The creation of new cooperatives should be people-driven, the demand for new cooperatives should come from society and their success as a commercial entity will encourage others,” the LG said.

He underscored the need to promote close coordination among the primary, district, and state-level cooperatives.

“Cross-marketing efforts among Self-Help Groups and Handicraft Cooperatives can contribute to women empowerment and various income-generating activities. Such efforts can transform cooperatives in rural areas as vibrant entities,” the LG said.

He said that the government’s focus was on the promotional drive for the formation of new multi-purpose cooperatives, reducing regional imbalance by increasing more cooperatives per person and exploring new and commercially viable sectors.

The LG also called for replicating successful models of other states and preparing a comprehensive framework, keeping in mind the viability and the vulnerable sections of the society.

“There should be a proper representation of members of deprived and marginalised sections in the cooperative sector,” he said.

The LG called for providing capital infusion and market access to FPOs through the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund and encouraging them to undertake the construction of godowns, as was being done in other states and union territories.

He also spoke on the efforts being made for establishing multipurpose and multidimensional Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) in every village.

Advisor to Lt Governor Rajeev Rai Bhatnagar said the motto of ‘Sahkar Se Samriddhi’ was dedicated to the upliftment and benefit of the common man through cooperatives.

Additional Chief Secretary of the Agriculture Production Department, Atal Dulloo said that the cooperative sector was being rejuvenated with renewed energy.

He extended his greetings on the inauguration of the 69th All India Cooperative Week.

In her address Secretary Cooperative Department, Yasha Mudgal highlighted the achievements of the department and informed about the aims and objectives of the 69th All India Cooperative Week.

She said that after three decades, J&K was witnessing the launch of the Dairy Cooperative Federation which would explore the untapped potential of milk production and processing.

On the occasion, the LG handed over registration certificates to FPOs and cooperatives, felicitated cooperative societies, and also inspected the stalls set up by the Cooperative Department.

A compendium of the Cooperative Department was also released.

ADGP Jammu Mukesh Singh was also present on the occasion.

SRINAGAR: Despite the exorbitant increase in petroleum prices up to the tune of 46% across the globe, India has seen only 2% increase in past one year, even as the remotest parts of the country have availability of fuel, said Hardeep Singh Puri, Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas and Housing and Urban Affairs.

Addressing the media persons here in Srinagar, Puri said the Prime Minister’s commitment to the development of J&K is turning into reality and work regarding the same is in full swing.

“The people are investing in the economic development in the Union Territory of J&K because of the Central Government’s farsighted decision to remove the bottleneck of Article 370 and 35A,” said Puri.

“The petroleum prices have seen a sharp rise from July 2021 to August, 2022 with 43 percent to 46 percent increase in USA and Canada while as India is the only country in the world where only 2 percent increase has been seen during that period,” Puri told the media persons.

“When many countries in the world are witnessing the shortage of fuel and exorbitant price rise, there is no shortage of fuel in India even in the remotest corners of the country,” the Minister added.

He said that the Prime Minister’s commitment to the development of J&K is turning into reality.

“The PM’s development initiatives in J&K have created an emotional bond between the people and the country. Central schemes directly benefit the people and I am glad that work is going on at the ground level,” the minister added.

Puri said that a new dawn of development is now set in the UT of Jammu and Kashmir after the abrogation of Article 370 that could be judged from the fact that 25 new National Highway Projects have been sanctioned to be built at an estimated cost of 11,721 crores, 168 MoUs have been signed amounting to 13,600 crores, seven new medical colleges have been sanctioned with medical seats increasing from 500 to 955, world’s highest railway bridge constructed in J&K, Vande Bharat Express is in operation from Jammu to Delhi and tourist footfall increased to more than one lakh.

Puri further said that under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, some 12 lakh LPG connections have been provided under PM Ujjwala, 50,000 houses have been sanctioned under PMAY (U).

Interacting with the district administration officers in Srinagar, Puri said that the centre is committed to achieving new milestones with respect to growth and development in Jammu and Kashmir.

The minister reviewed the progress of work on various development projects and work done as per government schemes like PM Awas Yojana, PM Ujwala, PM SVANidhi, SBM 2.0 and Amrut 2.0.

During the review meeting, the minister said that application of modern technology to solid waste management is the need of the hour and Srinagar will be among the cities where such strategies will be adopted on a priority basis. He said that there is a need to process the waste as per modern standards to avoid dumping it at one location, which is hazardous to the ecosystem.

Interacting with the beneficiaries of various centrally sponsored schemes, Sh. Puri said that there are many schemes and projects under Housing and Urban Affairs that people need to take advantage of. He added that we could now improve resource utilisation through the use of technology better than the earlier times.

Elaborating on the work undertaken in Srinagar under the smart city project, Sh. Puri highlighted that urban planning is essential as new settlements in cities have come up and there is a need to replace the old traditions to deal with the new challenges. He said that urban work has one litmus test that is to produce benefits for the citizens, and the voices of the people need to be heard for the same.

Commenting on the economic boost due to development in urban space, the minister said that the urban space had been neglected earlier and the government took the opportunity to reform this sector, which is evident from the fact that cities are now the largest contributors to the GDP of the country.

The minister was briefed about the redevelopment of the city by the district administration. He complimented the admin for working with dedication in order to bring about the timely completion of different projects. He advised district administrators and local bodies to take appropriate measures for dealing with solid waste management, discourage the use of single-use plastic and address the voices of people on a timely basis.

While handing over the sanction letters to the beneficiaries of various schemes, the Minister said that the benefits of development should reach the poorest at the grass-roots level and the government is ensuring that it takes care of people in terms of any adversity.

Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Sh. Pandurang K. Pole, Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, Sh. Ajaz Assad, Commissioner Srinagar Municipal Corporation, Sh. Athar Aamir and other senior officers of the district administration were present on the occasion.