Says doors of party open for all those who want to protect state’s interests

Srinagar, June 13 : Jammu and Kashmir National Conference president Dr. Farooq Abdullah on Thursday said the state is facing unprecedented challenge saying that the need of the hour calls for keeping personal interests aside for the greater interests of the party and the state.

Party president while addressing a provincial committee meet of Kashmir province said that the state was facing a grim situation which necessitated for a united response from all of us. “We are faced with a tough struggle; the forces as are inimical to the state’s interests are trying their level best to influence the elections. They can go to any extent to create divisions between the regions and communities and eventually milk the situation to its hilt to grind their axe.  It is not concealed as to what is the agenda of our detractors, they have explicitly made it clear time and again that they want to obliterate the special status and the territorial integrity of the state. The need of the hour is to maintain unity among our rank and file and fight with a resolute mind,” he said adding, “Sher e Kashmir always held that people are the real source of power. During the recently concluded elections people have overwhelming came out in support of us. People have considerately reposed their faith in our party to carry forward the mission of protecting the integrity and special character of the state.”

Party president while exuding confidence into the workers and party functionaries said, “The need of the hour calls for increasing greater contact with the people across the state. It is for our workers and party functionaries to take the agenda and program of the party to every household.  The need of the hour is acquaint the people about the party’s spectacular past and the future programme by undertaking a door to door campaign. There is no scope of complacency. Our mission is explicit and clear, it is to protect   the special status of the state and put the state back on the track of development and prosperity.”

Party president while extolling the role of party functionaries and workers for making spectacular win of the party possible in the parliamentary elections said, “We have to maintain the momentum of the parliament elections until assembly elections. The party rank and file has to proactively engage with party leadership in Pir Panjal regions, Chenab regions and Ladakh region.”

Party president while underlining the importance of health and education sector in the development of state said, “I shall be using my MP LAD fund effectively in health and education sector of the Srinagar parliamentary constituency. I believe health and education sector form the back bone of any society. I will try my level best to rise up to the expectations of the people.”

He further added that the doors of the party were open for all those who want to work for the protection of the special status of the state. “Anybody who wants to put in his or her efforts for the protection of the pluralistic visage and the distinctiveness of the state is welcome to join us,” he said. (GNS)

24×7 joint control rooms established in all districts

Srinagar, Jun 13 : In order to combat flood situation arising due to recent rainfall across the valley, the Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Baseer Ahmad Khan today directed all Deputy Commissioners of the valley to conduct beat patrolling of Jhelum embankments, other rivers and streams on regular basis which are flowing in their respective districts.

He directed the officials to ensure that vulnerable spots are plugged immediately to avert any flood threat. For effective flood mitigation plan, Divisional Commissioner also directed to conduct Mock Drills of Flood management in every tehsil of Kashmir Division immediately

The Divisional Commissioner issued the directions while reviewing the preparedness and arrangements in view of flood situation.

All Deputy Commissioners which are also the Chairman of District Disaster Management Authority informed the meeting through video conferencing regarding the preparations and arrangements to combat flood situation in their respective districts.

It was further informed that 24×7 Joint control rooms were established in every Deputy Commissioners office across the valley where officers of concerned departments provide information regarding Flood like situation. The meeting was informed that Emergency Operating Centre at Humhama is fully functional to meet any exigency. Irrigation and Flood Control (I&FC) has kept 12.5 lakh sand bags in ready mode.

The Divisional Commissioner directed Disaster Management department to open Divisional Flood Joint Control Room at Hari-Niwas immediately to monitor the daily progress of district control rooms. All police stations will be linked up with the district Flood Joint Control rooms for immediate help to the people living in low lying areas. SMC was directed to make available dewatering pumps at all low lying areas.

For effective flood mitigation plan, the Divisional Commissioner directed all Deputy Commissioners and concerned officers to prepare an inventory of resources, including men, low lying areas, establishment of relief centres, Satellite Phones, availability of Geo quality of sand bags, JCBs, Ambulances, De-watering pumps, evacuation plan, storage of food items, List of Nodal Officers, water tankers, water supply schemes, SDRF & NDRF teams, Lifesaving Jackets, NGOs working for disaster management, database of volunteers machinery and boats available from every department in their respective districts with location of control room and number of village level committees, identify locations for helipads, where helicopters can land in case of any eventuality and procurement of necessary items like bailey bridges and other items immediately to curb flood situation immediately. Also send the complete information to Divisional Commissioner’s office, the officials were directed.

The Divisional Commissioner called all officers for close coordination between various departments to deal with flood situation effectively at the time of emergency so that fool proof mechanism will be made and better services delivery to the people could be ensured.

Deputy Commissioner Srinagar Dr Shahid Iqbal, SSP Srinagar, Additional Commissioner  Kashmir Tasaduq Hussain Mir, Director Disaster Management Aamir Ali, Chief Engineers of I&FC, PDD, PHE, UEED, Joint Commissioner SMC, Joint Director Information & Public Relations Abid Hussain, SP telecom, Deputy Director Fire & Emergency Services, SP Control room, Dy. Commandant SDRF & NDRF, Assistant Directors of Health Services & MET, officers of SMHS, SKIMS hospitals and other concerned officers were present in the meeting, whereas all Deputy Commissioners of the valley participated the meeting through video conferencing. (GNS)

Srinagar, June 13 : Governor Satya Pal Malik has expressed deep anguish over the loss of CRPF men in yesterday’s militant attack in Anantnag district.

Governor has conveyed that his heart goes out to the departed soldiers and their families.

Condemning this cowardly attack, Governor has observed that whenever  successful attempts are made by the Security Forces to either conduct peaceful elections or continuous elimination of terrorists, the masterminds of militants from across the border order them to carry out fidayeen attacks on Forces and yesterday’s attack in Anantnag district was also a fidayeen attack.

Governor noted that militants and their handlers should know that our resolve to eliminate this menace is unshakable. (GNS)

Srinagar, Jun 13 : The Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Baseer Ahmad Khan today directed Deputy Commissioners of Anantnag and Ganderbal districts besides concerned officers to ensure smooth and hassle-free conduct of Shri Amarnathji Yatra-2019.

The Divisional Commissioner made these directions while reviewing the arrangements put in place for the forthcoming Shri Amarnathji Yatra-2019 through Pahalgam and Baltal routes which will commence from July 01 to August 15, 2019.

The meeting was informed that the tracks towards holy cave have already been cleared from Pahalgam and Baltal, as of now some locations due to recent snowfall incidents need to be cleared.

The Divisional Commissioner directed that the tracks be cleared within three days. R&B department was directed to ensure improvement of roads en-route both sides by way of macadamization and erecting of poles on shooting-stone prone areas. The Department shall also ensure completion of installation of the signages from Banihal en-route holy cave on both sides before the commencement of Yatra.

Power Department was directed that requisitioned DG sets are installed at all the locations before 16th June 2019 on both sides. The department shall also ensure providing of power supply to BSNL authorities. The concerned Deputy Commissioners shall ensure availability and storage of essential commodities including Sugar, K-oil and LPG at respective storage centres besides requisite firewood.

Toilet facilities at the identified transit camps are increased pursuant to the decision taken in the previous meeting besides face-lifting, water connections, improvements, electricity and drainage to be ensured at the identified locations, he said. (GNS)

Srinagar, Jun 13 : Kashmir Press Club convened a meeting on Thursday to pay tributes to late Shujaat Bukhari, who was the editor of Rising Kashmir, and his two security personnel who were killed on June 14, 2018 at Srinagar’s Press Enclave.

The management committee panel and representatives from various media associations of the valley expressed condolences in the meeting, the KPC said in a statement issued.

It said that special prayers were offered for the departed souls in the meeting.

The participants remembered Shujaat Bukhari as “a brilliant journalist and a kind soul”. “The slain journalist rose from a reporter to an editor of a newspaper by his sheer hard work,” they said.

In the meeting, the Club reiterated its demand for legal closure of the case. It demanded the police should file chargesheet so that it doesn’t pass like other mysterious killings of Kashmir journalists.

Bukhari was the eighteenth journalist who fell to bullets in the last three decades of armed conflict.

It was also highlighted that the journalists in Kashmir continue to deliver their professional duties in very difficult circumstances, the statement said. (GNS)

Srinagar, Jun 13 : Kashmir Editors Guild (KEG) has paid rich tributes to senior journalist Syed Shujaat Bukhari on his first death anniversary.

A meeting of KEG was held on Thursday to commemorate the anniversary of Bukhari who along with two security guards was murdered last year on June 14 outside his Rising Kashmir office in Press Enclave Srinagar, a KEG statement issued .

KEG members remembered the contributions of late Bukhari that he made to the institution of media in Kashmir.

While paying rich tributes, Fateh was offered to the departed soul. (GNS)