Srinagar, Jul 09 : PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry Kashmir Chairman and President J&K Hotelier’s Club Mushtaq Ahmed Chaya has congratulated and extended his best wishes to Navin Kumar Choudhary for holding the Charge as Administrative Secretary for Tourism Department.

While welcoming Government’s decision, Chaya in his statement issued to Kashmir Despatch said the decision is highly appreciative. “We are very hopeful that under the guidance of Navin Kumar Choudhary, potential of State’s tourism would fully be explored and exploited to make it a huge revenue-generating sector for the government and the local populace as well.”

He said that Hospitality and Tourism Industry of J&K have been greatly encouraged by this decision. “Though J&K Tourism is facing a major hit right now, yet we invest out full faith in Navin Kumar Choudhary and his pragmatic leadership that will definitely bring in positives reforms and promotion vibes for ailing tourism sector of J&K. We extend our full support and stand by the government for revival of tourism sector in J&K,” he added.

Chaya said that everything that I have seen coming out of the Governor Administration in terms of its commitment to the reform agenda and governance like Back to village Programme, Efficient and Speedy Disposal of Files and ensuring availability of Heads of Departments at their Headquarters is very encouraging and We as business associations ensure and extend full support to the Governor administration for speedy implementation of reforms in overall administration systems to deliver better public services at Grassroot level.

Baramulla, July 09 : A fire broke out in the laundry room of a District hospital Baramulla in north Kashmir.

Reports reaching Kashmir Despatch said fire broke out in the laundry room at Baramulla hospital on Tuesday morning. However timely efforts of fire service department fire was put under control.

In the mishap no injury or casualty was reported, reports added.

Meanwhile police has taken cognizance of this fire mishap.

Srinagar, July 8 : A 45-year old man was injured after shot at by unknown gunmen in Chandhara area of Pampore in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district on Monday evening.

Reports reaching said that some unknown gunmen barged inside the house of Mohd Rafiq Rather (45) and fired upon him.

In the incident, Rather sustained serious bullet wounds in his neck and was taken to nearby hospital from where he was referred to SMHS Srinagar for specialized treatment.

A police officer also confirmed the incident and said that police has taken cognizance of the incident and further investigations taken up.

Soon after the incident government forces rushed to the site and started searches in the area. (GNS)

Srinagar, July 8: J&K Bank, the state’s premier financial institution, alone has disbursed 85.38 percent of total credit amounting to Rs 463.38 Cr among all the banks in district Bandipora for the financial year 2018-19.

Lead District Manager J&K Bank, G M Ahanger stated thisduring the meeting of District Consultative Committee (DCC)cum District Level Review Committee (DLRC) held at DC office Bandipora.

District Development Commissioner Bandipora, Shahbaz Ahmad Mirzachaired the meeting attended by district coordinators of all the Banks, government departments and other development agencies.

Giving a complete break-up of the credit disbursed by various banks operating in the district Ahanger said, “All the banks operating in the district have extended a credit of Rs 334.56 Cr under Priority Sector and Rs 208.12 Cr under Non- Priority Sector upto March 31st 2019, aggregating to a total credit of Rs 542.69 Cr thereby registering an achievement of 78.73 % in Priority sector, 409.45 % in Non Priority sector and 114.06 % in the total credit plan.”

Taking review of the performance of the banks and the government departments under various schemes, chairman DCC/DLRC stressed on the need to maintain cooperation, coordination and cohesion between the banks and the sponsoring agencies to achieve the set targets for development, progress and eradication of unemployment. He also directed the concerned departments to dispose of pending cases expeditiously.  

Jammu, Jul 08 : Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has demanded that Election Commission of India should hold assembly elections in the state by the end of this year.

Talking to reporters, BJP General Secretary Ram Madhav,said that the party demands and hopes that Election Commission of India will conduct assembly elections by this year in Jammu and Kashmir.

“We demand, hope and wish that assembly elections should be held in Jammu and Kashmir by this year. BJP is ready for contesting the elections in the state,” Madhav said.

“We believe that people in all the three regions, Jammu, Kashmir and Ladkah, will fully support BJP in the assembly elections,” he said.

To a question about BJP’s stand on abrogation of Article 370 and Article 35 A, Madhav said that BJP core ideological position is that article 370 should be abrogated.

“Article 370 has been illegally incorporated into the constitution of the country. BJP will remove the article and we will think over it how this article will be removed,” he said. (KNS)