Will take people into confidence before approving railway line: DM Shopian

Locals express concern over impact on livelihoods, land ownership

Shopian, Mar 13 (KNO): District Magistrate of Shopian, Faz Lul Haseeb on Wednesday assured that the people’s voices will be heard and considered before any final decision is made regarding the proposed railway line in the district.

Speaking with the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the DM, who is also the Deputy Commissioner Shopian, said railway authorities had taken the marking process of the railway line in the Zainapora area of the district where some locals have objected to it. He said people have various apprehensions and misconceptions in this regard which are being looked into.

“Before granting approval for the railway line, the administration will engage with local residents to ensure their concerns are taken into account,” Haseeb said, adding that the revenue authorities have been instructed to prepare a detailed report in this regard.

The government’s recent green signal for the final survey of five rail lines in Kashmir, including the Awantipora-Shopian route via Kulgam, has sparked protests among residents of Reshipora and Pahnoo areas in south Kashmir’s Shopian district. The locals fear that the construction of the railway line will lead to the displacement of hundreds of families, depriving them of their land and livelihoods.

The residents said many families rely on their orchards for livelihood, and the proposed railway project threatens their way of life. They urged authorities to either relocate the railway line or reconsider its construction, fearing the project will leave hundreds of families landless.

The locals appealed to higher authorities to address their grievances and ensure a fair resolution to the ongoing dispute over the proposed railway line—(KNO)

JK Govt Identifies 10 Focus Sectors in New Start-Up Policy

Srinagar, Mar 13 (KNO): Jammu and Kashmir administration has identified 10 different sectors, which will be given special attention under the new start-up policy.

As per the Start-up Policy 2024-27, a copy of which lies with news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), start-ups coming up in different sectors will get assistance and funding from the government to thrive.

The policy document reveals that these 10 sectors include food processing and allied activities, agriculture and allied sectors including horticulture and floriculture, handicrafts and handloom, education, healthcare and pharmaceuticals, textile, apparel and fashion technology, renewable energy, electronics system design and manufacturing, information technology enabled services, tourism and adventure sports and environment protection and green technology.

As per the policy, the government will create a Technical Support Unit to orchestrate networking activities between various start-up ecosystem players.

“The Government of Jammu and Kashmir shall establish a Technical Support Unit in JKEDI to orchestrate networking activities between various start-up ecosystem players such as start-ups, accelerators, incubators, angel investors, corporates, venture capitalists and other necessary stakeholders. The TSU shall provide necessary support and assistance in appraising incentive cases, collaboration with VCF’s and successful implementation of this policy,” it said.

Under the policy, the government has also decided to create a feedback mechanism to get insights into challenges being faced by the start-ups.

“The Government of Jammu and Kashmir will create quarterly feedback mechanisms from start-ups, mentors, incubators and other related stakeholders on its portal. These surveys, focus groups or public consultations will gather input from start-ups and other stakeholders on the implementation of the start-up policy. The feedback will help provide valuable insights into challenged being faced by the start-ups and the support they intend to receive,” it said.

Pertinently, the union territory administration has targeted to establish Jammu and Kashmir as one of the leading start-up ecosystems in India by 2027.

Under the policy, the administration has targeted to set up at least 2000 new start-ups in Jammu and Kashmir in next five years.

Jammu and Kashmir under the policy has constituted a High-Level Empowered Committee (HLEC) to monitor the performance of Jammu and Kashmir start-up eco-system.

With Chief Secretary as the chairman of the 12-membered HLEC, the committee as per the document shall take necessary decisions for encouragement of innovations in Jammu and Kashmir and modify start-up policy, guidelines from time -to-time

The government has also constituted a start-up task force to monitor the implementation of policy and decisions of HLEC on a regular basis.

The 10-membered task force will be headed by administrative secretary Industries and Commerce department—(KNO)

Food Deptt starts sampling amid concerns over early-ripened fruits

Srinagar, Mar 13: Food and Drugs Department J&K has started sampling of fresh fruits, vegetables and other food items following social media reports about early-ripened fruits, particularly watermelons, in markets.

Commissioner of Food Safety & Controller, Drugs & Food Control Organisation, Hashmat Ali Yatoo, speaking with the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) said social media is an “uncontrolled” platform where people post whatever they like.

“We have a role in ensuring food safety, whether these are packed goods, milk, meat, chicken, fruits or vegetables. We collect samples for analysis and only make statements after conducting tests in labs. We are collecting samples from every district of the Union territory,” he said.

The Commissioner added, “Our staff has been working on this for the past few days, and we have collected samples. Mobile testing labs are also operational. We will only provide information after the results of the samples are available.”

Yatoo said teams are active in each district of Kashmir and also in Jammu. “We cannot comment on artificially ripened or mature fruits until the results come in,” he said—(KNO)

Since Article 370 revocation, JK witnesses surge of 11 lakh voters

New entrants can vote in assembly elections, enjoy decisive mandate

Ali Asad

Srinagar, Mar 13 (KNO): Since the revocation of Article 370 that granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir, a whooping increase of 11 lakh voters has been registered who can now vote during the assembly elections in the erstwhile state.

As per the official reports available with the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), in 2019, the total number of voters was approximately 76 lakh, with 39.45 lakh men and 36.38 lakh women. By January 1, 2024, in the voter revision campaign initiated in 2023, the number of voters surged to more than 86 lakh, indicating an increase of around 11 lakh voters in Jammu and Kashmir since 2019.

A senior government official divulging the details told KNO that following the removal of Article 370, there has been heightened enthusiasm among the populace regarding elections in Jammu and Kashmir.

“A significant number of people are stepping forward to participate in the electoral process. Post the removal of Article 370, for the first time, individuals from various communities such as West Pakistani Refugees, Valmiki, and Gorkha communities have attained citizenship,” says the official.

Reports inform that the completion of delimitation of Assembly and Lok Sabha seats in May 2022, due to the State Reorganization Act, halted the process of voter registration from 2019. When the voter registration campaign commenced three years later in September 2022, there was a notable surge in applicants, exceeding 11 lakh. However, 3.5 lakh applications were rejected at the same time as per the reports. Consequently, there was a significant increase of 7.72 lakh voters in Jammu and Kashmir, with the total number reaching more than 83 lakh as per the November 2022 voter list.

“The surge in voter numbers can be attributed to the newfound enthusiasm resulting from various communities acquiring citizenship rights post the abrogation of Article 370. Previously, a considerable portion of the population, including West Pakistani refugees, Valmiki, and Gorkha communities, were disenfranchised in state-related elections such as assembly, panchayat, and municipal body polls,” the official said.

Earlier, separate lists were maintained for Assembly and Lok Sabha elections. Despite having voting rights in Lok Sabha elections, a section of the population refrained from participating due to the lack of voting rights in the Legislative Assembly. To address this, a separate campaign was launched to enroll Kashmiri Pandits scattered across the country as voters. Special teams were deployed to Jammu, Mumbai, Pune, Bangalore, Ahmedabad, Delhi, and Chandigarh, visiting households to include individuals who had turned 18 and were previously excluded from the voter list.

Furthermore, the last delimitation exercise in Jammu and Kashmir took place in 1995, resulting in 12 districts and 58 tehsils. Presently, the erstwhile state comprises 20 districts and 270 tehsils, with the most recent delimitation based on the 2011 census. Under the leadership of retired Supreme Court judge Ranjana Prakash Desai, the Delimitation Commission increased the number of assembly seats from 83 to 90—(KNO)

It’s high time to give BJP a befitting reply through votes”, Mehbooba Mufti on CAA

Srinagar, Mar 13 (KNS): People’s Democratic Party President and former Chief Minister J&K Mehbooba Mufti Wednesday urged Muslims across the country to give befitting reply to BJP and their mischief through votes.

Mehbooba was speaking to media persons in Srinagar on emerging political issues including notifying of Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).

“In last 10 years, BJP government has failed to contain rising unemployment, suicide by farmers, inflation etc. Now they are trying to divert attention of people and wish to trigger communal riots in the country by harming Muslims in India,” Mehbooba who was replying on CAA implementation told reporters.

She said BJP tested every single drop of water to harm and isolate Muslims of the country. “Demolition of houses, Mosques, abusing & kicking-out Muslims during prayers (Namaz) are the tools BJP employed in their rule. They want to make Muslims ready to hit the roads and make ground ready for communal riots in the country for political gains. CAA is latest one they came up with. I appeal both Hindu’s and Muslim’s to realise the situation and don’t fall in their malicious trap,” Mehbooba held.

She said democracy and constitution are the best things of our country, and appealed Muslims dwelling in the country to step out on polling days and give right answer to the machinations of BJP. “It is the high time for Muslims across the country to give BJP a befitting reply through votes,” Mehbooba appealed.

Replying to a query, Mehbooba said that Jammu and Kashmir is a very fragile region and any intervention into wooden or agricultural lands should be taken up after proper expertise. “Fruit industry is the backbone of our economy. Railway projects are good things, but it should not be at the cost of cutting down apple trees and ruining locals livelihood. There should have been a proper mechanism. Experts opinion is must before executing up any plan. Uttrakhand is a live example before us. We shouldn’t make J&K like Uttrakhand,” Mehbooba added. (KNS)