CS holds deliberations with stakeholders to reduce travel time of HMVs on NH-44

Fruit trucks to be marked with special stickers for giving them unhindered access

Srinagar, Aug 25 (GNS): Chief Secretary, Dr Arun Kumar Mehta today held detailed deliberations with all the stakeholders including the Highway authorities for finding ways and means to further reduce the travel time on Sgr-Jmu National Highway for the Heavy Motor Vehicles (HMVs) ahead of the fruit season this year.

The meeting was attended by Additional Chief Secretary, Home; Principal Secretary, PWD; Divisional Commissioner Jammu; ADGP Kashmir/Jammu; IG Traffic; RO NHAI; concerned Deputy Commissioners and others.

During the meeting, the traffic authorities presented empirical data regarding the actual movement of LMVs and HMVs on the highway and their driving patterns on this road. For the purpose of understanding the traffic between 70 Kms stretch of Navyug and Chenani-Nashri Tunnels for a period of 15 days was considered.

While making his observations regarding remedial measures for smooth flow of traffic on the road, the Chief Secretary said that HMVs lower than 3-axles should not be halted anywhere during its travel on the road. He asked for keeping an eye on chronically slow moving vehicles and enquire from each of them about the reasons behind the same. He also advised for penalizing those erratically moving vehicles under law causing inconvenience to others traveling on this road.

Dr Mehta impressed upon the concerned highway authorities along with the Deputy Commissioners to designate no halt zones in their respective jurisdictions and strictly adhere to same under all circumstances. He asked them to take measures for improvement of the road surface near the slide-prone stretches at Dalwas, Mehad, Cafeteria Morh and Sher-Bibi. He further instructed for designating the halting areas for trucks especially in the Ramban District where the widening of road is still in progress.

The Chief Secretary insisted on having better coordination between the traffic and District police. He told them to provide the best gear to the traffic personnel manning the traffic on these stretches where work is going on. He asked for putting extra men into service for effective monitoring and management of the traffic plying on the highway.

Regarding the movement of fruit trucks from valley the Chief Secretary stressed on taking onboard the Fruit Associations while devising the traffic plan. He asked for marking the fruit laden trucks with specially designed stickers for their identification and giving unhindered access to reach the Mandis outside. He directed the Deputy Commissioners of valley to establish District Control Rooms in their offices for giving real time updates to the fruit growers about the road and other issues.

While making his remarks the ACS, Home, RK Goyal stressed on finding out ground realities which are hindering the movement of HMVs in certain portions. He also told them to utilize the alternate assets like Mughal Road and Jawahar tunnel optimally to reduce congestion of traffic on NH-44. He also asked for enhancing the level of enforcement especially on the critical stretches of the road.

The Principal Secretary, PWD, Shailendra Kumar observed that efforts should be made by the concerned to reduce the gap between minimum and maximum time taken by the vehicles to cross the Chenani-Banihal stretch. He also advised for making vehicles to move continuously without any halts and use of lean window (between 1:00 am to 5:00 am) optimally by diverting most of the heavy vehicles to cross the 2-lane stretch during the underutilized time period.

In his presentation the IG Traffic, Bhim Sen Tuti highlighted the pattern of traffic on the highway through various studies and algorithms. He presented the day wise and seasonal behavior of traffic along with the analysis of time taken by each class and size of vehicle. He also dwelt upon the causal analysis of each aspect of this traffic behavior and put forth certain remedial measures also.

The meeting discussed about Passenger Car Unit (PCU) analysis of traffic on this road besides hourly and daily rush of traffic using google data of previous years also. The meeting also took note of the data of vehicles traversing the Navyug and Chenani-Nashri Tunnels besides examining speed of vehicles throughout their journey between them.

It was inferred that by taking measures like enhancing the time window for plying of heavy vehicles (above 4-axle) during night and letting the rest of the traffic to move continuously would greatly reduce their travel time. It was also enjoined that by dedicating the infrastructure projects like 2nd tubes of Kunfer tunnel, Chanderkot tunnel and Ramban flyover by the month of September would bring huge respite to all the travelers in the days to come.(GNS)

NHM J&K Releases Ranking of Public Health Facilities on Hospital Management Information System (JK e-Sahaj) for July Month

Srinagar, Aug 25 (GNS): National Health Mission J&K on Friday released ranking of Public Health facilities on Hospital Management Information System (JK e Sahaj) for the month of July 2023.

In the category of Associated Hospitals of Govt. Medical Colleges the first rank has been clinched by Jammu Psychiatric Disease Hospital, followed by Chest Disease Hospital Jammu, Govt. Lal Ded Hospital, Srinagar, GMC Rajouri and SMGS Hospital, Jammu. Bottom five in this category includes Govt. Dental College, Jammu, Srinagar Psychiatric Disease Hospital, Govt. Dental College, Srinagar, GMC Handwara and Jammu Super speciality Hospital.

In the category of District Hospitals first rank has been clinched by DH Budgam followed by DH Shopian, DH Samba, DH Ganderbal, DH Pulwama, DH JLNM, Srinagar. Bottom five in this category include MCCH Anantnag , DH Budgam, DH Bandipora, DH Kulgam and Govt Hospital, GandhiNagar, Jammu.

In the category of Community Health Centres (CHCs), first rank has been clinched by CHC Seer followed by CHC Sohanjana, CHC Kralgund , CHC Chowki Chowra and CHC Basholi. Bottom five in this category includes CHC Darhal, CHC Thanamandi, CHC Kalakote, CHC Taryath, & CHC Rohama.

JK e-sahaj (Electronic System for Automation of Hospital Administration J&K) inititive was formally launched on 4th November 2022 as part of Jashn-e-Sehat, by the Honourable Lt Governor, J&K for different types of facilities i.e. Tertiary care, District Hospitals, Community Health Centres, Primary Health Centres and some New Type PHCs. JK E -Sahaj has been integrated with Rapid Assessment System (RAS), 104 Centralised Health Helpline for outbound calling and RCH portal of MoHFW, Govt. of India.

Hospital Ranking has been assigned for different categories of facilities i.e. Associated Hospitals of Govt. Medical Colleges, District Hospitals and CHCs The ranking has been done on the basis of registration, conversion of EMR (Electronic Medical Record), registration of IPD patients and Patient feedback uploaded on the portal of JK e Sahaj for the month of July 2023, on real time basis. The detailed list of facilities is shared on NHM website. (GNS)

Only J&K domiciles eligible for Govt’s land for landless scheme

Land to be allotted on lease basis for PMAY beneficiaries, Rs 100 per Marla to be paid as one-time premium and Rs 1 per Marla rent, subletting prohibited

Srinagar, Aug 24 (KNO): In a significant development, the Lieutenant Governor-led administration on Thursday unveiled guidelines for allotment/ lease of land to landless beneficiaries of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Gramin).

The Revenue Department, as per news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), today said that five Marlas of state land will be allotted on lease basis to landless PMAY (G)/Awas plus beneficiaries out of Rural Development Department’s permanent waiting list 2018-19.

Those eligible for allotment are people residing on state land; people residing on forest land; people residing in Rakhs and Farms; people in possession of custodian land; people residing on land already allotted by the Government near Dachigam Park for agricultural purposes, where construction is not permitted and any other category of cases who are otherwise eligible for Housing under PMAY-G, but don’t have any land available for construction.

According to the guidelines, the deputy commissioner concerned shall allot 05 Marlas of state land to those who are domiciles of J&K.

“A person shall be considered landless if he is a domicile of J&K having a separate family and doesn’t have land in his own name or in the name of any of his family members or is not entitled to inherit five Marlas or more land,” reads the order.

It further states that the deputy commissioner concerned shall lease out five Marlas of state land to the landless PMAY (G) beneficiaries who are figuring in the permanent waiting list 2018-19, surveyed by the Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India, and are otherwise eligible for housing assistance under PMAY(G)/Awas plus.

As per scheme guidelines, the land shall be granted on lease basis in terms of the Jammu and Kashmir Land Grants Act of 1960 and the Rules made thereunder.

“The land shall be granted on lease on payment of a token amount of Rs 100/- per Marla as a one-time premium and a nominal amount of Rs 01/- per Marla per annum as ground rent, in relaxation of Jammu and Kashmir Land Grant Rules, 2022,” reads the order.

The lease shall be for a period of 40 years, extendable further for a period of another 40 years, subject to the fulfillment of all codal formalities/norms.

“However, if a person fails to build house on allotted land within a period of two years, such lease shall be cancelled forthwith,” reads the order.

As per scheme guidelines, the Assistant Commissioner (Development) of the Rural Development Department of the district concerned shall verify the case(s) and place an indent before the deputy commissioner along with the complete particulars of the beneficiaries, including AADHAAR. “Deputy Commissioner shall forward the case(s) to Tehsildar concerned for inquiry, who shall identify the state land and verify the particulars of the beneficiaries, including their status of being landless,” the order states.

The grant of land on lease shall not be construed as permission for construction, and the lessee shall seek permission from the competent authority for the construction of the house.

“The lessee shall use the land only for the purpose for which it is granted and shall start construction of the house within three months (03) from the date of the lease, failing which land shall stand resumed to the government without any compensation,” it reads.

The government said that the lessee shall not sub-let/sub-lease/alienate/transfer the leased land, and any contravention shall terminate the lease, and the land shall stand resumed to the government without any compensation—(KNO)

J&K Govt mulls to start over 19000 business enterprises, livelihood to over 3 Lakh youth: LG Manoj Sinha

Riyaz Bhat

Srinagar, Aug 24 (KNO): Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, Manoj Sinha Thursday said that the government was targeting to start over 19,000 business enterprises besides providing livelihood to over three lakh youth.

Speaking during ‘Gen Next Democracy Network Program’ at SKUAST-K wherein 19 delegates of nine countries are on visit under Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), Sinha said, “Through this program, we are targeting to start over 19,000 business enterprises and we are also targeting to provide livelihood to over three lakh youth of Jammu and Kashmir.”

According to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the LG said, “The world is aware of the fact that for almost more than three decades, this land of peaceful coexistence of almost all sects has suffered state sponsored terrorism by our neighboring country.”

“However, through different schemes of Prime Minister Narendra Modi that empower the masses and the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, the terror ecosystem has been isolated,” he said.

Sinha further said that in the past four years, we have travelled a long distance to reach where we have reached today. “Our economy is growing and the tourism influx has increased manifold.”

He added that Industrial investment including Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) is pouring in. “There is quite a transformation and development is taking place.”

“Cities are transforming into smarter solutions for living and districts are becoming a production base,” Sinha said.

He said, “In past few years, we have reached a level and have figured at number five in India wherein the income of farmers is much better than other places.”—(KNO)