National Archives - Page 634 of 744

Breaking News header Jammu and Kashmir National Political

LG reviews power scenario in J&K

editor October 11, 2023

SRINAGAR: A meeting to assess the functioning of the Power Development Department and assess the current state of the power situation in the UT was presided over by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha. The Lt. Governor talked about the department's comprehensive plan for meeting peak electricity demand. He also gave the go-ahead to improve sustainability and efficiency in order to guarantee a sufficient and trustworthy supply of power during the winter. In order to reduce AT&C losses in certain locations to single digits and assure maximum power supply to smart metre saturation feeders, the Lt. Governor instructed the administration to take concrete action.Jammu, Srinagar, and district headquarters should all have smart metres installed as soon as possible. He continued that PDD should make sure metered regions receive dependable services and high-quality electricity. It was disclosed that the UT has almost 4 lakh smart metres installed. To prevent causing the consumers any difficulty, the Lt. Governor ordered that the curtailment plans be followed and that the damaged transformers be promptly replaced. In preparation for the impending winter season, he noted, a buffer supply of transformers should be preserved for border and remote districts. He argued that strong local enforcement is the best way to combat power theft. The LG also gave instructions for the proper implementation of the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS) in the UT and for utilising the potential of new and renewable energy. The chair was updated by H. Rajesh Prasad, Principal Secretary, Power Development Department, on the department's initiatives to close the demand and supply gap. He claimed that following the previous winter, a sizable capacity augmentation was completed to allow the system to handle increased peak demand. In order to meet the rising demand throughout the winter, the Lt. Governor emphasised the importance of ensuring resource adequacy in terms of the availability of additional electricity capacity. According to information provided, the peak demand increased by more than 28% during Financial Years 2020–21 and 2023–24, while the peak shortfall shrank from 22% to 12%.The meeting was attended in person and virtually by Dr. Arun Kumar Mehta, Chief Secretary, Dr. RP Singh, Chairman of the JKPCL, Dr. Mandeep Kumar Bhandari, Principal Secretary to the Lt Governor, Divisional Commissioners, Deputy Commissioners, Heads of Departments and Power Corporations, Chief Engineers and senior officers. [caption id="attachment_3827" align="alignnone" width="300"] LG reviews power scenario in J&K[/caption]

header Jammu and Kashmir National Political

Dr Jitendra : ‘Gaganyaan’ Test Space Flight scheduled for October 21

editor October 10, 2023

NEW DELHI:On the 21st of this month, the "Gaganyaan" Test Vehicle Space mission (TV-D1), also known as the "Gaganyaan" Test Vehicle Development flight, is slated to launch. Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy, and Space, made this announcement in front of the audience today during a programme honouring ISRO scientists who worked on the Chandrayaan Mission. By 2024, ISRO hopes to launch both manned and unmanned spacecraft thanks to the Crew Escape System, a critical component of the "Gaganyaan" mission, which will also be put to the test. The test will be carried out at Sriharikota's Satish Dhawan Space Centre. The astronauts will travel to orbit on the Gaganyaan expedition in the Crew Module. A crew module will be sent into space for the test, returned to Earth, and then recovered after touching down in the Bay of Bengal. Personnel from the Indian Navy have already begun practise operations to recover the module. The Minister was informed that if this test is successful, it will pave the way for the first unmanned "Gaganyaan" mission and ultimately a manned journey to low Earth orbit. The female robot astronaut "Vyommitra" will go on a test flight next year before the final manned "Gaganyaan" mission, he claimed. The Gaganyaan project aims to launch a human crew into a 400 km orbit and return them safely to land in Indian sea waters as a demonstration of human spaceflight capability. The development of numerous essential technologies, such as human rated launch vehicles for carrying crew safely into space, life support systems to provide crew with an environment similar to that on Earth while they are in space, crew emergency escape provisions, and evolving crew management aspects for crew training, recovery, and rehabilitation, are prerequisites for the Gaganyaan mission. India is one of the top five countries in the world when it comes to space exploration, according to Dr. Jitendra Singh. "India just made history by becoming the first country to land on the virgin south pole section of the lunar surface. India's ambitious space exploration plan has left a clear message that we are one of the most scientifically sophisticated nations in the field of Space Science and Technology with the launch of Aditya -1, which is the first space-based Indian mission to study the Sun, he added. Dr. Jitendra Singh gave full credit to Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi for "unlocking" India's space sector and creating an enabling environment so that India's enormous potential and talent could find an outlet and prove itself to the rest of the world, allowing India's space scientists to validate the dream of their founding father Vikram Sarabhai. "After the opening up of the Space sector by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi in June 2020, the number of Space Startups sky-rocketed from merely 4 to 150 Startups," he stated. India's space missions, he claimed, are made to be economical. Dr. Jitendra Singh stated that virtually every household in India has been impacted by space technology. He was referring to applications of space technology to various sectors like railways, highways, agriculture, water mapping, smart cities, telemedicine, and robotic surgery, which brought "Ease of Living" for the average person. "During PM Modi's tenure of nine years, India's disaster capabilities have become world class and we are providing Disaster Forecasts for neighbouring countries as well," he stated. According to Dr. Jitendra Singh, ISRO is the perfect example of India's Naarishakti, with women scientists spearheading many of the different activities in space research missions. The Union Minister presented awards to ISRO scientists Dr. Veeramuthuvel, Project Director of Chandrayaan-3, Ms. K. Kalpana, Associate Project Director of Chandrayaan-3, M. Shrikanth, Mission Director of Chandrayaan-3 and Aditya L1, and Ms. Nigar Shaji, Project Director of Aditya L1. [caption id="attachment_3824" align="alignnone" width="300"] Dr Jitendra : 'Gaganyaan' Test Space Flight scheduled for October…

header Jammu and Kashmir National

Army commander compliments troops for ‘successful’ Shopian operation

editor October 10, 2023

SHOPIAN: The commander of the Chinar Corps paid a visit to South Kashmir on Tuesday to congratulate the troops on a successful Shopian operation. Spokesperson Chinar Corps on X remarked, " Today, a commander from #ChinarCorps visited Rashtriya Rifles soldiers stationed in South Kashmir's counterterrorism grid. He praised them for their meticulous preparation and exact execution of Op Alishahpur, #Shopian on the nights of October 9 and 10, where two terrorists were killed and warlike stores were confiscated. [caption id="attachment_3821" align="alignnone" width="300"] Army commander compliments troops for 'successful' Shopian operation[/caption]

header Jammu and Kashmir National Political

Rescind order on tourist guides in Gulmarg: Mehbooba Mufti to LG

editor October 10, 2023

SRINAGAR: Mehbooba Mufti, the leader of the PDP, requested Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha on Tuesday to reverse a decision made by the Jammu and Kashmir Cable Car Corporation that instructed tour operators and service providers to pay regular fares on the second phase of the Gulmarg Gondola Project. You are unable to comprehend why the local administration keeps giving directives that only serve to harm the interests of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.Mehbooba was responding to a Jammu and Kashmir Cable Car Corporation order that directed guides and service providers be charged as normal passengers if they accompany tourists to Affarwat on the second phase of the Gulmarg Gondola Project. This latest directive from the authorities in Gulmarg mandates that tourist guides and other service providers pay for the second phase of the gondola cable car.This wasn't the case in the past because they could join tourists with the use of a special pass. As it stands, they help tourists to make a meagre wage that barely supports their families. The former chief minister of the old Jammu and Kashmir state remarked, "Request Manoj Sinhaji to withdraw this order, which will otherwise have a disastrous impact on them. [caption id="attachment_3817" align="alignnone" width="300"] Rescind order on tourist guides in Gulmarg: Mehbooba Mufti to LG[/caption]

Business header International National

India and Italy strengthen defence ties with bilateral talks and agreements

editor October 10, 2023

NEW DELHI: India's Defence Minister, Rajnath Singh, engaged in talks with his Italian counterpart Defence Minister, Guido Crosetto, in Rome during the first leg of his official visit to Italy and France. These discussions laid…

Breaking News header International National

Choppers evacuate stranded tourists from North Sikkim for 2nd day

editor October 10, 2023

GANGTOK: Armed troops continued to evacuate visitors from Lachen and Lachung in North Sikkim on Tuesday as the weather remained clear for a second day, according to officials. Choppers transported about 95 trapped individuals from Lachung and Lachen. The first group from Lachung consisted of two Lachung village residents and 17 tourists. In the morning, the choppers made two sorties to the region. People from Lachung were transported to Pakyong Airport, which is close to Gangtok. Three helicopter sorties were used to remove the first group of 76 stranded individuals from Lachen, including two children.They were taken to the Ringhim Helipad in Mangan. Hem Kumar Chettri, the District Magistrate of Mangan, reported that the IAF has dispatched three helicopters, with two of them heading to Lachen and one to Lachung. According to Chettri, the district administration's top concern at the moment is the evacuation of visitors and sick people. According to officials, more airlifts of stranded tourists from Lachung and Lachen towns in the worst-affected Mangan area will be conducted by the choppers. To assist the tourists in getting to Siliguri and Gangtok, they said that the state government had set up SNT buses. After the cloudburst in Lhonak lake created flash floods in the Teesta river, which devastated Chungthang valley and flooded the river basin area in four districts downstream on October 4, around 3,000 visitors from various parts of the nation became stuck in North Sikkim cities. Lachen and Lachung were evacuated of more than 360 tourists on Monday. The DM stated that as of right now, more than 700 individuals had been safely transported from flood-affected areas, including tourists, locals, and labourers who were trapped in places like Chungthang where a Bailey Bridge was created for emergency evacuation. The DM added that teams for rescue and recovery have already arrived and are operating on the ground in the impacted areas.According to him, BSNL phone lines in Lachung have been repaired, and by this evening, phone connectivity will also be restored in Lachen and Chungthang. He claimed that by this evening, power would also be restored to Chungthang, Lachen, and Lachung. In North Sikkim, the floods severely destroyed the road system and the communications network, leaving some 3,000 tourists trapped for five days. [caption id="attachment_3811" align="alignnone" width="289"] Choppers evacuate stranded tourists from North Sikkim for 2nd day[/caption]

Breaking News header Jammu and Kashmir National

After widespread rains, Met predicts dry weather till 13 Oct in J&K

editor October 10, 2023

SRINAGAR: The weather was clear in the majority of Jammu and Kashmir following overnight rainfall in the plains and snowfall in the upper reaches. The meteorological agency forecast primarily clear sky until October 13 on Tuesday. An official from the meteorological service stated that while there may be a brief period of rain or snowfall over higher elevations, "chances are less." From October 11 to October 13, he predicted that the weather would primarily be dry. He said that between October 14 and 17, numerous locations in Jammu and Kashmir could expect intermittent light to moderate rain and snowfall over higher levels, with possibilities ranging from 60 to 70%. According to him, Srinagar received 16.7mm of rain, Qazigund 17.2mm, Pahalgam 16.6mm, Kupwara 3.6mm, Kokernbag 21.0mm, Gulmarg 26.6mm, Jammu 27.5mm, Banihal 30mm, Batote 35.2mm, Katra 32.4mm, and Bhaderwah 18.4mm during the same period. [caption id="attachment_3808" align="alignnone" width="300"] After widespread rains, Met predicts dry weather till 13 Oct in J&K[/caption]

Breaking News header Jammu and Kashmir National

Fresh snowfall stopped traffic on Sonamarg-Zojila highway for some time

editor October 10, 2023

GANDERBAL: On Tuesday morning, the Sonamarg-Zojila route was temporarily closed due to new snowfall in the high-altitude regions of Zojila Pass in Ganderbal district, Central Kashmir, leaving travellers delayed for approximately an hour. According to the Kargil Police, the recent snowfall and slick road conditions at Zojila Pass caused traffic on this important road to be stopped in both directions for almost an hour. According to officials, the recent snowfall in the upper reaches of Zojila in the Ganderbal district of Central Kashmir necessitated the closure of the Sonamarg-Zojila route.The Kargil Police stated earlier in the day in a post on X that "traffic has been stopped at Minamarg & Sonamarg until weather improves due to fresh snowfall & slippery road conditions at Zojilla Pass of NH-1D." About an hour after the suspension, vehicular movement was resumed as the weather in the Zojila region started to become better. The police stated in another post that "traffic has now been released from Minamarg towards Srinagar due to improvement in weather conditions across Zojila." [caption id="attachment_3803" align="alignnone" width="300"] Fresh snowfall stopped traffic on Sonamarg-Zojila highway for some time[/caption]

Breaking News header International National

Pak Presenter Zainab Abbas leaves India amid social media controversy

editor October 10, 2023

NEW DELHI: Presenter Zainab Abbas, a Pakistani, left India on Monday. She was a member of the ICC digital team covering the ODI World Cup. This choice was made in response to a reaction on social media regarding her purported anti-Indian posts in the past. However, according to the International Cricket Council (ICC), Zainab left the nation for private reasons. In order to cover Pakistan's three World Cup games in Hyderabad, Zainab Abbas travelled there from India. The 35-year-old presenter was notably present on October 6 during Pakistan's World Cup debut versus the Netherlands at Hyderabad's Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium. Posts from Zainab Abbas' unverified X account, which was once her Twitter account, went viral, sparking the controversy surrounding her. Soon after she revealed that she will be covering the ICC big event in India, these posts began to attract notice. Although there have been discussions and…

Breaking News header Jammu and Kashmir National Political

CBI files 6 charge sheets in Patnitop land grabbing case

editor October 10, 2023

JAMMU: According to sources, the CBI has filed six charge sheets in connection with claims that hotels and guesthouses in Jammu and Kashmir colluded with past CEOs of the Patnitop Development Authority (PDA) to seize forest and agricultural land. The agency has listed eight hotel owners in its charge sheets submitted to a special court in Jammu, along with two former PDA CEOs, Rajinder Krishan Verma and Kamal Kishore Gupta, two Khilafwarzi inspectors, Avesh Jasrotia and Zaheer Abbas. On Monday, the agency submitted five charge sheets, and on Saturday, one. The agency has also identified Syed Mushtaq Shah, Nazir Shah, Samina Shah, Zubeida Begum, Shakeel Shah, Koushal Magotra, and Virender Kesar as the alleged owners of the hotels Mount View, Dream Land, Broadway, and Hollywood. "Investigation revealed that accused public servants did not take steps to remove illegal constructions, etc. in conspiracy with other accused," a spokesperson for the CBI stated. According to the Jammu and Kashmir High Court's instructions, the CBI took up the probe in 2020 after the president of the Hotel and Restaurant Association of Patnitop filed a public interest lawsuit citing flagrant violations of the Patnitop area's master plan.He said that 70% of hotels and restaurants had been built without authorization. The construction of numerous hotels and guest houses without authorization and without registration with the PDA was further accused. Additionally, it was claimed that officials knew about these encroachments but did nothing about them. The hotels allegedly failed to submit a compounding charge in some instances, according to the CBI's statement following the filing of the FIR. The CBI said that government employees who had control over property in Patnitop conspired with the owners and operators of hotels, guest homes, resorts, etc. failed to uphold the interests of the state and, in contravention of the PDA master plan, permitted illegal development on the aforementioned land that was intended for agriculture, parking, and residential use. [caption id="attachment_3797" align="alignnone" width="300"] CBI files 6 charge sheets in Patnitop land grabbing case[/caption]

Breaking News

Jammu and Kashmir

Sports

Health

Advertisement

Latest News

Business

Corona