Kashmir Despatch News

Sopore, May 18 : Government forces on early Saturday launched a cordon and search operation in Hathlangoo area of Sopore in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district.

Reports reaching Kashmir Despatch said a joint team of Army’s 22 RR, 179 bn CRPF and SOG Sopore sealed Hathlangoo area of Sopore this morning.

Reports said forces have sealed all entry and exit points and launched house to house searches in the area.

A police officer also confirmed the incident to Kashmir Despatch and said following suspecious movement searches were launched.

The searches were going on when filed this report.

Pertinently, on Friday evening forces conducted search operation in Nowpora village which was later ended on peaceful note.

Pulwama, May 18 : One militant has been killed in an ongoing gunfight at Panzgam area of Pulwama in south Kashmir.

A local news agency quoted official said that one militant has been killed and operation is on in the area.

In intial exchange of fire one militant has been killed and operation is on , he said.

Earlier a joint team of army’s 55 RR and SOG Pulwama launched search operation at Panzgam following inputs about presence of some militants in the area which later turned into gunfight when a searching party was fired upon by hiding militants.

More to Come

Inputs from KNO

Committee yet to submit its recommendations

KD NEWS SERVICE

SRINAGAR, May 17: Even after six months, the Governor Administration has remained indecisive about the conversion of the under graduate erstwhile SSA teachers into Grade II cadre teachers as was ordered by the Governor himself recently. The inordinate delay has left such teachers in a state of distress and great despair.

The graduate SSA teachers were converted into teacher Grade II cadre on the basis of the recommendation of an official panel. Later, the same panel was given an extension of one month on December 25 last year and was entrusted to examine the issue of undergraduate SSA teachers for their similar conversion into Grade II teachers.

The same committee had earlier given recommendation to regularise erstwhile SSA teachers possessing graduation as their minimum qualification.

However, the aggrieved under-graduate teachers who are working in the department for past more than 13 years said the  government has remained indecisive about their conversion into Grade II, creating uncertainty among the left out lot.

“The committee was supposed to complete the process by one month, but till date there has been communication between the government and the committee,” Hilal Ahmad a teacher from Kupwara district said. He accused the government of putting the issue at the back burner.

They said over 7000 undergraduate teachers have been left out by the governor administration after it issued State Administrative Council (SAC) decision for regularisation of graduate SSA teachers, RMSA masters and head-teachers.

 “We fail to understand why government is delaying the process. Government has disowned us despite utilising our services in schools and by deputing for other non-teaching jobs at time of election or census,” Adil Hamid, an aggrieved teacher from Anantnag observed.

They said a major chunk of under graduate teachers are at the verge of retirement and can’t go for graduation course at the present stage. “It is not only SSA teachers but in past department has recruited under graduate teachers through SSRB selection.

They are working without any stress and there is no condition set for them to enhance qualification as graduate. Government has victimised only SSA teachers,” the teachers said.

In 2018, the governor administration accorded sanction for creation of teacher grade-II cadre with effect from September 2018 in school education department for filling these posts by regularised Rehbar-e-Taleem (ReT) teachers with a graduate degree from a recognised university. Under-graduate teachers were not considered for the same and their issue is still lingering with the department.

Secretary school education department, Sarita Chauhan said the department is working on the conversion of undergraduate teachers into Grade II cadre. “The issue has not been shelved but we are at it. Committee has already convened a meeting and second meeting is likely to be convened in coming week,” she said. (KNO)

KD NEWS SERVICE

SRINAGAR, May 17: Amid tall claims of encouraging entrepreneurship in the valley, the Government has left all important State Level Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) dysfunctional since January this year halting the registration of all new industrial units requiring permission from the Pollution Control Board.

The Previous SEIAA notified by the Union ministry of Environment, Forest and Ecology on 28th January 2016, which is responsible for recommending the cases of establishment of industrial units for PCB permission finished its three year term January 28th, 2019 after which its powers were withdrawn resulting in stalling of the establishment of industrial units which require Pollution Control Board permissions for the operation. The Non- Existence of the committee has adversely affected the small scale industries in the state particularly in the valley.

“In exercise of the Powers conferred by Sub-Section( 3) of section 3 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 ( 29 of 1986) and in pursuance of the Notification of the Government of India in the erstwhile Ministry of Environment and Forests number S.O 1533 ( E), dated 14th September ,2006 (herein referred to as the said notification), the Central Government hereby constitutes the State Level Environment impact Assessment Authority ( SEIAA), Jammu and Kashmir.” reads the order issued by the ministry, a copy of which is with RNA. The committee was to hold office for three years which expired on 28th of this year.

“The Chairman and the members of the Authority for Jammu and Kashmir shall hold office for a term of three years from the date of publication of this notification in the Official Gazaette.”

Interestingly the ten member State Level Expert Appraisal Committee, was also notified in the same notification for a term of three years. The committee which includes members from Forest, Environment, Geology and Minining and other such departments besides Environmentalists and Scientists is mandatory for studying the Project report and recommend the case to SEIAA if it deems fit for the referral. This committee too ceases to exist as of now and the Government of India is yet to notify another committee which has caused distress among the new entrepreneurs.

Meanwhile a senior officer in the State Government said that they had written to the Government of India for the fresh constitution of SEIAA and Appraisal Committee but there has been no word from the Environment ministry in New Delhi.

When asked what was the fate of the cases that need to be routed through these bodies, the Officer said that all cases seeking permission for establishment of units stand pending from January. He however, did not provide details regarding the number and nature of the cases.

Meanwhile, various unit holders particularly those associated with mining said that their cases were Pending for Pollution Control Board Permission due to non- existence of the SEIAA. They alleged that Government at Center was reluctant to re- constitute the essential body. They however, lashed out at Governor Administration for not taking up the matter seriously with the Central Environment ministry. (RNA)

Suhail Khan

Sopore, May 17 : Government forces on Friday evening laid concertina wires and installed generator sets for lighting purpose in Nowpora village of Sopore in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district where earlier a search and cordon operation was launched.

Sources told Kashmir Despatch additional reinforcements of army and Special Operation Group of police have been rushed to Nowpora village in Sopore town.

SSP Sopore Javeed Iqbal when contacted told Kashmir Despatc that search operation in the area is on, he said as of now no contact with militants has been established.

Earlier, army’s 22 RR and SOG have launched a cordon-and-search operation at Naik Mohalla Nowpora village following specific information about the presence of militants inside a residential house.

Jehangir Lolabi

Srinagar, May 17 : The wildlife authorities have urged people to remain cautious against a female bear till it was caged, a day after it attacked a girl at Badi Marg area of Tang Check Sogam in Lolab of north Kashmir’s Kupwara district.

Reports said that yesterday the female bear attacked a teenage girl and later she was rescued by locals of the area. The girl has been hospitalized. The wildlife authorities have already rescued two bear cubs and there is every likelihood that that the female bear may venture in search of the cubs.

“People should be guarded till the female bear is captured and we are laying a cage tomorrow in a bid to capture it,” a wildlife official said. (GNS)

Suhail Khan

Sopore, May 17 : Government forces on Friday evening laid concertina wires and installed generator sets for lighting purpose in Nowpora village of Sopore in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district where earlier a search and cordon operation was launched.

Sources told Kashmir Despatch additional reinforcements of army and Special Operation Group of police have been rushed to Nowpora village in Sopore town.

SSP Sopore Javeed Iqbal when contacted told Kashmir Despatch that search operation in the area is on, he said as of now no contact with militants has been established.

Earlier, army’s 22 RR and SOG have launched a cordon-and-search operation at Naik Mohalla Nowpora village following specific information about the presence of militants inside a residential house.