Srinagar, Feb 28 : The tourist arrivals here in Kashmir have fallen to a trickle amid an escalating crisis between the two countries India and Pakistan. The stakeholders however said that all the efforts were on to reverse the negative impact of continued cycle of violence.

Hundreds of taxis stood idle at the Srinagar, the summer capital of the state, after both the countries have carried out air strikes. At the TRC taxi stand, taxi drivers said that February and March were usually the busiest season but this year prospects were looking grim.

One of the taxi drivers Imran Ahmad told  that taxi business was down by more than 80 percent compared with previous weeks as very few people were in town to visit the famous tourist spots like Phalgam, Gulmarag, Dal lake.
“The situation is very bad for us taxi operators,” he said. “I think the time has come to settle this India-Pakistan conflict for good.”

He said that the main reason for the sudden dip in the tourist flow and the cancellation of the books is the recent escalation between the two nuclear powers and the face-off between India and Pakistan’s air-force.
One of the top hoteliers in Kashmir wished not to be named opine that since tensions escalated between India and Pakistan, the tourism industry has bore the brunt. “After 2016 agitation triggered by the killing of Burhan Wani’s killing, tourism industry is gasping for breath,” the hotelier said.

Kashmir is surrounded by beautiful lakes and stunning snowcapped valleys and adorned with beautiful houseboats and floating markets. This beautiful valley is situated on the banks of the river Jhelum river and known as the ‘Paradise on Earth’. Kashmir is a dream destination for people of Kerala and Kashmir tour package from Kerala is a hot selling tour itinerary. The Must visit places in Kashmir are Sonmarg, Gulmarg,Pahalgam and Dal Lake. A relaxing Shikara ride in Dal Lake is the most interesting activity in Srinagar.

Despite of being a highly militarized area, Kashmir especially tourist places like Srinagar, Gulmarg, Pahalgam and Sonamarg are completely safe. The Kashmir is as it best and considered safe as any other tourist places in India.
“For many years there has been not even a single instance when a tourist visiting the valley hurt or ill-treated by locals or militants. As the tourism is the main source of income locals treat the tourists as their guests and take the responsibility towards safeguard of tourists visiting the valley,” said Mushtaq Chaya, owner of Reddison chain of hotels in Kashmir.

However, ever since the situation has worsened between India and Pakistan, Kashmir’s tourism industry has received shocker after shocker in the form of cancellation of bookings and flights.
“Somehow, we were hoping for a good tourism season this year, but the war like situation between India and Pakistan has cast shadow on everything. Almost 70 per cent tourist bookings stand cancelled while there are hardly five per cent tourists present in Kashmir at present,” said Mudasir, a tour operator. “The war threat has plunged entire tourism into a deep crisis. Industry is on clutches and the only way to lift it is if India and Pakistan would start a meaningful dialogue on Kashmir, which is the main reason of rift between them.”
The house boat and shikara owners too are disappointed these days owing to the deepening crisis due to the prevailing war like situation between India and Pakistan. (KNS) 

Srinagar, Feb 28 : Peoples Conference Chairman and former minister Sajad Gani Lone on Thursday said that the decision of Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan to release captive wing commander of Indian Air Force is a welcome move saying that leadership make conflicts resolvable or irresolvable.

Taking to micro blogging social networking site twitter Sajad Lone wrote, “Welcome decision by Pakistan PM @ImranKhanPTI to release the captive indian pilot as a peace gesture. Hope better sense prevails the war clouds scatter and the #Kashmir dispute moves towards a peaceful resolution.” (KNS)

SAC approves delegation of powers to Div Coms, DCs for transfer of State land to State Government Departments

JAMMU, FEBRUARY 28: With a view to ensuring timely completion of developmental projects in the State and cut down procedural delays, the State Administrative Council (SAC) which met here today under the chairmanship of Governor, Satya Pal Malik decided to delegate the powers regarding transfer of state/departmental land to the Government Departments in favour of Divisional Commissioners and Deputy Commissioners to the extent of 100 Kanals and 10 Kanals respectively. This would speed up development projects.

SAC decided that the Divisional Commissioner concerned shall be authorised to decide the cases relating to transfer of state/departmental land exceeding 10 Kanals and upto 100 Kanals (free from encumbrances) to the state government department (s) for public purposes/ developmental programmes, within his territorial jurisdiction.

Similarly, the Deputy Commissioner concerned shall be authorized to decide the cases relating to transfer of state land upto 10 Kanals (free from encumbrances) to the state government department (s) for public purposes/developmental programmes, within his territorial jurisdiction.

Revenue Department shall decide cases relating to transfer of state/departmental land exceeding 100 Kanals and upto 500 Kanals (free from encumbrances) to the state government department (s) for public purposes/developmental programmes.

SAC approved that cases relating to transfer/lease of state/departmental land to state government department(s) exceeding 500 Kanals and transfer of any quantum of land, transfer/lease of state/departmental land, to government owned corporations, autonomous bodies, agencies, PSUs etc. for public purposes/developmental programmes, irrespective of the quantum of land involved and transfer of land in terms of Article 256 (2) of the Constitution of India as applicable to the State of Jammu and Kashmir, shall be submitted to the State Cabinet/State Administrative Council for consideration/approval.

SAC further directed that the transfer of land in terms of delegation shall be subject to the condition that prior approval to the execution of the project is obtained by the indenting Department from its competent authority and conveyed to the appropriate revenue authorities in the first instance.

The decision will obviate delay in completion of the projects of public importance like schools, colleges, health centers and in particular where the requirement is minimal. In the current scenario, it takes the department’s considerable time to process these cases for seeking approval of the State Cabinet/ SAC.

The decision will not only help to fast track the execution of the development projects of public importance but also their completion on time without any cost overruns. This will also ease the job of departments in processing and clearing cases relating to land transfer from one Government department to another Government Department.

Degree Colleges at 10 more far flung, backward approved

Governors Administration approves a total of 50 Colleges So far

JAMMU, FEBRUARY 28: The State Administrative Council (SAC) which met here today under the chairmanship of Governor, Satya Pal Malik accorded sanction to the establishment of 10 new Government Degree Colleges at various locations during the years 2019-2020-2021.

The Colleges will be established at Tulail (Bandipora) Boniyar (Baramulla) Soibugh (Budgam) Kastigarh (Doda) Jourian (Jammu) Women College, Bhagwati Nagar (Jammu) Kralpora (Kupwara), Dharhal (Rajouri), Ghagwal (Samba) and Mongri-Panchari at Kainth Gali (Udhampur).

Pertinent to mention here Government has constituted a Committee headed by Principal Secretary Finance with Administrative Secretaries of Planning, Higher Education and School Education Departments as its Members to examine the requirements of new degree colleges in the state as per the feasibility of each location.

Based on the recommendations of the said Committee, the SAC in an earlier meeting held on 14.01.2019 approved locations for establishment of 40 new Degree Colleges in the State.

Continuing with its mandate, the Committee after considering requests for new colleges received by the Higher Education Department made recommendations for opening new degree colleges in locations that include far flung, underserved and backward areas of the state like Tulail, Kralpora, Dharhal and Mongri besides a Women Degree College in Bhagwati Nagar Jammu.

With the establishment of 10 new colleges in the State, students will have easy access to higher education within their areas. In all Governors Administration has approved 50 Degree Colleges so far.

Greater Access to Quality Education

Upgradation of 228 Middle/High Schools to High/Higher Secondary Schools approved

JAMMU, FEBRUARY 28: The State Administrative Council (SAC) which met here today under the chairmanship of Governor, Satya Pal Malik approved upgradation of 228 schools spread across various districts.

Out of 210 schools, 87 High Schools have been upgraded to the level of Higher Secondary Schools including 42 in Jammu Division and 45 in Kashmir Division. Similarly, 123 Middle Schools have been upgraded to the level of High Schools including 58 in Jammu Division and 65 in Kashmir Division.

SAC approved up-gradation of 18 schools under centrally sponsored scheme of Samagra Shiksha. These include 12 Middle Schools upgraded to High Schools including 8 in Jammu Division and 4 in Kashmir Division and 06 High Schools to Higher Secondary Schools including 3 in Jammu Division and 3 in Kashmir Division.

SAC also approved up-gradation of Government Lower High School, Mallan Dessa Tehsil Bhagwah District Doda to High School.

Besides, the SAC also directed the School Education Department to conduct a detailed exercise for consolidation of schools and rationalization of the staff in respect of such schools in the State particularly in the cities and big towns where the enrolment is low and PTR is imbalanced with respect to the average State PTR.

The decision of the SAC today will fulfil the long standing demand of the people of these rural and inaccessible areas. The decision will have a discernible impact in bridging gaps and will result in decline in the school dropout rate in these areas. Further, this will result in a paradigm improvement in quality of education and benefit girl students and disadvantaged sections of the society.