JAMMU, Nov 12: The minimum temperatures dropped across Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh on Saturday with Drass town recording bone chilling minus 10.7 degrees Celsius.
Weather remained dry in Jammu and Kashmir in the last 24 hours and the same condition will continue for the next 24 hours, the Met Office said in its Saturday forecast.
Srinagar recorded 1.2, Pahalgam minus 3.7 and Gulmarg minus 4 degrees Celsius as the minimum temperature on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Kargil had minus 6.2 and Leh minus 8.8 degrees Celsius.
Jammu had 10.2, Katra 10.4, Batote 5, Banihal 4.6 and Bhaderwah 1.6 as the minimum temperature. (Agencies)
Minimum temperatures drop across J&K, Ladakh; Drass freezes at minus 10.7
Indoor saffron cultivation now a reality in Kashmir; result has been phenomenal say growers
SRINAGAR: Indoor saffron cultivation is yielding positive results for growers in Kashmir.
Majid Farooq, a grower from Shaar Shali area of Pampore said that his family is the first who have started indoor cultivation in the area and the results have been phenomenal and most important thing has been that indoor saffron has pure quality.
Ab Majeed Wani, President of the Saffron Growers Association of Kashmir told that indoor saffron cultivation is a reality and it has been showing very positive results as of now and there remains zero impact of climate change, extensive rain or heat on indoor saffron.
He said that it will increase saffron production, the demand can be easily met and even people who don’t have land can grow saffron in their homes.
Dr Bashir Ahmad Allaie, head of Advance Research Station for Saffron and Seed Spices said that as climate change has been affecting our every crop and like that it has started to put its impact on outdoor saffron and now we need irrigation for saffron which wasn’t earlier and indoor saffron under these circumstances can play vital role in meeting demand and supply.
Since 2018 we have been working on this experiment and after two years we distributed it for demonstration among farmers, he said, adding that around 12 indoor saffron units have been started in homes of farmers and they are happy with the result.
Through the new multi-tier method, the corms are put in trays and they require around 100 days of darkness before the yield is harvested. “The process is started in August, the flowering begins between October 10 and 15, followed by harvesting in the month of November,” he said.
“Our aim is to accommodate more and more corn in room and get more yield,” he said, adding that corns are being uprooted in June and temperature, humidity and light play pivotal role in the yield and if farmer will take care these things very well, yield will more.
In a first, ISRO supplies rocket system to support private launch vehicle
Bengaluru: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has for the first time supplied a rocket system to support a private launch vehicle built in India.
Chennai-based space technology startup Agnikul Cosmos received its first flight termination system (FTS) on November 7 from ISRO, with the support of IN-SPACe (Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre), a single-window autonomous government agency to promote, permit, and oversee private sector space-based activities.
“The official handing over event happened marking the culmination of multiple rounds of interactions about interfacing, handling and using these systems on Agnikul’s launch vehicle ‘Agnibaan’, the national space agency headquartered here said in a statement on Friday.
“This also marks the first time that a system that has been used for ISRO’s vehicles is being supplied for supporting a private launch vehicle built in India. The package will be used for their fully controlled sub-orbital launcher, scheduled to launch from SDSC SHAR, Sriharikota,” it said.
According to Agnikul, Agnibaan is a highly customisable, 2-stage launch vehicle.
On November 4, Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), the lead Centre of ISRO for the development of launch vehicles, facilitated the hot testing of a rocket engine developed by Agnikul Cosmos.
VSSC successfully conducted the 15 seconds hot test of Agnilet Engine at its Vertical Test Facility, Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station (TERLS), Thiruvananthapuram.
The test was carried out as part of an MoU signed between ISRO and Agnikul Cosmos to provide opportunity for Indian space start-ups to use facilities of ISRO through IN-SPACe. (Agencies)
Demanding release of wages, anganwari workers protest
Jammu, November
Hundreds of anganwari workers on Thursday held massive protests and courted arrests here in support of their demand for regularisation of their services and release of salaries pending for the past 11 months.
They sought a hike in honorarium to Rs 18,000 for anganwari workers and Rs 9,000 for helpers, regularisation of their services and formulation of promotion policy in their favour.
Under the banner of the Anganwari Workers and Helpers Association, they raised slogans against the Jammu and Kashmir administration for failure to provide them salaries pending for release since January.
The workers, supported by the Bhartiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS), began the march from the Jammu Press Club, but the police did not allow them to move ahead. Consequently, they held a ‘dharna’ at the Jewel Chowk.
After brief pulls and pushes with the police, they courted arrests and some of them were forcibly taken away in the vehicles.
“The protests are being held against the government. Anganwari workers are angry. They have not being paid their honorarium from January to November this year. Our demand is that honorarium should be released immediately,” BMS General Secretary Neelam Sharma said.
Death of infants due to spurious cough syrup : SC dismisses J-K’s plea against NHRC order on compensation
New Delhi, Nov 11 (PTI) The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed an appeal filed by the Jammu and Kashmir administration against an order of the National Human Rights Commission to pay compensation of Rs 3 lakh each to kin of 10 children who died in Udhampur district due to consumption of spurious cough syrup.
A bench of Justices M R Shah and M M Sundresh said officers were found to be negligent and it does not find any reason to interfere in the matter.
“Your officers are found to be negligent. They ought to have been vigilant. Don’t compel us to say things about food and industry department.The health of citizens is in their hands. They don’t perform duties at all. They can’t play with the lives of citizens. It is their duty to check and verify things,” the bench observed.
The top court was hearing a plea filed by the Jammu and Kashmir administration challenging the March 3, 2021, order of the high court which had dismissed its plea against the NHRC order.
Ten children died in Ramnagar tehsil of Udhampur in December 2019 and January 2020 due to consumption of spurious cough syrup.
The NHRC found procedural lapses on the part of the Drugs Department.
The Commission held Jammu and Kashmir vicariously liable for the lapses on part of the department and recommended compensation of Rs 3 lakh each to the next of kin of the deceased.PTI
Rain threat looms large for T20 World Cup final
Threat of thunder storm spoiling the show at Sunday’s ICC Men’s T20 World Cup final loomed large with the sky being heavily overcast here today, two days before the summit clash between Pakistan and England, at the huge Melbourne Cricket Ground.
A light drizzle was soaking the MCG turf today evening. The weather forecast for Sunday is that there is a 100 percent chance of rain.
There is a chance of 8 to 20 mm rainfall to occur on the day of the final with the chance of a severe thunderstorm emerging, according to the weather forecasters.
There is a reserve day for the final, on Monday, but even on that day rains have been forecast.
As per the playing conditions for the tournament a result is obtained if a minimum of ten overs per side can be gone through.
“Weather here in Melbourne is not the same as in January-February. It is variable and we have to put up with that. On the day, I am sure, Melbourne is going to open up enough and we will have a ten-over match,” a confident Matthew Hayden, the Pakistan team’s batting mentor, told reporters at the MCG today.
Pakistan got the better of New Zealand in the first semi-final held at the Sydney Cricket Ground on November 9.
England drubbed India in the second semi-final played last night at the Adelaide Oval.
Both Pakistan and England have won the World T20 Cup crown once each in the tournament’s history, Pakistan winning it in 2009 and England following suit in 2011-12.
Only the West Indies have won it more than once.
FT Kamran Bhai killed in Shopian gunfight: police
Srinagar, Nov 11: A foreign terrorist of Jaish-e-Muhammad outfit was killed in a gunfight with the police and security forces in south Kashmir’s Shopian district on Friday, officials said.
A police official said that a gunfight broke out early morning in the Kapren area of the district.
He said the firefight broke out after the police and security forces launched a search operation in the area.
PM Modi inaugurates Terminal 2 of Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday inaugurated the Terminal 2 of Kempegowda International Airport at Bengaluru.
With the inauguration of T2, passenger handling capacity as well as counters for check-in and immigration will double, helping the people immensely. Built at a cost of around Rs 5,000 crore, Terminal 2 will be able to handle around 5-6 crore passengers from the current capacity of 2.5 crore annually.
Terminal 2 is designed as a tribute to the Garden city of Bengaluru and the passenger experience is meant to be a “walk in the garden”.
Passengers will travel through 10,000+ sq mts of green walls, hanging gardens and outdoor gardens and these gardens have been made in India using indigenous technology.
This Airport has already established a benchmark in sustainability with 100 per cent usage of renewable energy across the campus. Terminal 2 has been created with sustainability principles woven into the design.
“The Airport has already established a benchmark in sustainability with 100 per cent usage of renewable energy across the campus. Terminal 2 has been created with sustainability principles woven into the design. Based on the sustainability initiatives, Terminal 2 will be the largest terminal in the world to be pre-certified platinum rating by US GBC (green building council) prior to commencing operations. The theme of ‘Naurasa’ unites all the commissioned artworks for Terminal 2. The artworks reflect the heritage and culture of Karnataka as well as the broader Indian ethos,” the PMO said.
PM @narendramodi inaugurated the Terminal 2 of Bengaluru Kempegowda International Airport, in the august presence of the Governor of Karnataka Dr. @TCGEHLOT and CM of Karnataka @BSBommai
— PIB India (@PIB_India) November 11, 2022
Overall, the design and architecture of Terminal 2 have been influenced by four guiding principles: Terminal in a garden, sustainability, technology and art and culture.
Earlier, PM Modi flagged off Chennai-Mysuru Vande Bharat Express at Kranthiveera Sangolli Rayanna (KSR) Railway Station in Bengaluru.
This is the fifth Vande Bharat Express train in the country and the first such train in South India.
He also flagged Bharat Gaurav Kashi Darshan Train at KSR railway station in Bengaluru.
Karnataka is the first state to take up this train under the Bharat Gaurav scheme in which the Government of Karnataka and the Ministry of Railways are working together to send pilgrims from Karnataka to Kashi.
The Prime Minister paid floral tributes to the statues of saint poet Kanakadasa and Maharshi Valmiki at Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru.
Later at around 12 noon, the Prime Minister also will unveil a 108-meter-long bronze statue of Sri Nadaprabhu Kempegowda. It is being built to commemorate the contribution of Nadaprabhu Kempegowda, the founder of the city, towards the growth of Bengaluru.
“Conceptualized and sculpted by Ram V Sutar of Statue of Unity fame, 98 tonnes of bronze and 120 tonnes of steel have gone into making this statue,” PMO said.
Imtiaz Ali, Sara Khan, Umesh Shukla to be in Udhampur on Nov 12. Know why
JAMMU: Renowned Bollywood celebrities like Imtiaz Ali, Rahul Mittra, Umesh Shukla, Sara Khan, Rahat Kazmi and Tariq Khan will be in Jammu for the ‘Dil Maange More Short Film Festival’ being organised by the Indian Army from November 12-16.
Organised with the objective of empowering the Youth of J&K and Ladakh, curtain raiser event for the five day film festival will be organised on Sunday, at Chinar Complex, Udhampur.
The festival is organised by the Northern Command of Indian Army in association with Innovations India and will be dedicated to the independent, talented and discerning film makers from J&K and Ladakh, who crave to showcase their deftness and craft of film making to the world via short films, said an official spokesman.
“Masterclasses by award winning and renowned filmmakers of India like Imtiaz Ali, Rahul Mittra & Umesh Shukla would be organised in Udhampur on November 12 in the offline mode for the benefit of participants,” the spokesman said, adding that same would also be telecasted online across J&K and Ladakh for the benefit of those who are unable to attend offline.
Besides, model and actress Sara Khan, internationally acclaimed film director and writer Rahat Kazmi, and filmmaker, producer & actor Tariq Khan will also be a part of the festival.
The festival will have three themes- Nation Building: Rashtra Nirmaan; Change: Badlav; and Distinguished India: Shreshth Bharat, under which the participants can submit their short films.
The top 3 winners would be awarded with Cash prizes, Trophies and Merit certificates by the Indian Army, besides will be given a golden opportunity to be a part of renowned film production houses in Mumbai under the mentorship of acclaimed film makers of India.“The winning Short Films would also be screened at International Indian Film Festivals across the globe that would catapult the talented young filmmakers into international limelight,” the spokesman said.
Meritorious Students Award: Govt making effective interventions to achieve ‘education for all’ goal: LG Sinha
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha today attended the ‘Meritorious Students’ Award’ function organized by Amar Ujala Group at Baba Jitto Auditorium of SKUAST-Jammu.
The Lt Governor congratulated all the students and wished them very best for their future endeavours.
The Lt Governor said, “The biggest power for a student is critical thinking, and curiosity is the only real identity. Critical thinking and curiosity helps a student to earn the values of courage, caring and cooperation”.
Both knowledge and values in the education system is need of the hour. At this impressionable age, classroom must stimulate students’ intellectual capacity and enrich their personality, he added.
Observing that the National Education Policy prepared under the guidance of Hon’ble Prime Minister has redefined the entire education eco-system, the Lt Governor stressed upon schools to promote innovation, creativity, flexibility and experiments. The culture of innovation and invention will enable the students to confidently tackle the challenges of the future and contribute to nation building in various capacities, he further added.
Any region, any nation will prosper only when the younger generation gets the right environment to nurture critical thinking and curiosity. Focus on your independent thinking, individual growth and never stop looking for answers for your queries to unlock the vast potential of knowledge, the Lt Governor told the students.
The Lt Governor highlighted the reforms introduced in the education sector and significant decisions taken in line with the National Education Policy to transform the education sector in Jammu and Kashmir in the last two years.
In our effort to achieve the goal of education for all, we have made effective interventions to offset the dropout rate. Last year enrollment drive registered a 14.5% increase, said the Lt Governor.
We are developing necessary infrastructure for girls’ education, bridging gender gaps, developing Atal Tinkering Labs & Computer-Aided Learning centres, providing scholarships, extending handholding for individual growth and ensuring quality education for all sections of society, the Lt Governor added.
Leading educationists of the country have been invited to be a part of the Higher Education Council of J&K. We are preparing a pragmatic road map to enhance the potential of human resources, re-aligning the Higher Education ecosystem to meet the needs of present-day challenges and strengthening the academia-industry relationship, observed the Lt Governor.
Initiatives like Aao School Chalen Campaign, Talaash Survey, Teachers-Students mentorship programs are yielding favorable results. Today 70,000 boys and girls are taking vocational training in 14 different trades and 1420 Computer Aided Learning Centers in Upper Primary School are promoting Curiosity, Critical Thinking in children, he further added.
Uday Kumar, Group Editor Amar Ujala in his welcome address gave a detailed briefing about the endeavour. On the occasion, the meritorious students of 10th and 12th standards were felicitated.
Rajinder Sharma, Mayor JMC; Bharat Bhushan, Chairman DDC Jammu; Rajeev Rai Bhatnagar, Advisor to Lt Governor; Mukesh Singh, ADGP Jammu; Alok Kumar, Principal Secretary to Government, School Education Department; Ramesh Kumar, Divisional Commissioner Jammu, besides senior officials, teachers, parents and students in large numbers were present.
Prof. JP Sharma, Vice-Chancellor, SKUAST-Jammu; Prof. Umesh Rai, VC Jammu University; Prof Bechan Lal, VC Cluster University Jammu and members of Amar Ujala group were also present on the occasion.