News
Complete PMGSY targets in time for smooth funding: Centre to JK
Srinagar, Sep 15: Reprimanding Jammu and Kashmir government over slow pace of works in Prime Minister’s Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), the Centre has told the state that funds for the future will only be released if the works are completed in set targets.
The state government has shown poor utilization of funds under the PMGSY scheme.
An official document reveals that pack of works under the scheme is below the national average. “For the next seven months, the state would require to construct roads at an average rate of 10 km per day,” the document reads.
The pace of works is such state is yet to construct 10,546 kilometres road length under the scheme, out of this 6,428 kilometres is unawarded road lenghth, the document reads.
The centre has told the state all these works are required to be awarded on priority basis.
Expressing concern over slow pace of works, Union Secretary for Rural Development Department has written to state government to achieve the target by March 2019.
“The state has been able to get approval under PMGSY-11, which would be possible after awarding 80 percent of old works,” the recent letter reads.
“Against annual allocation of Rs 800 crore, the state has not yet placed demand for release of 1st installment. State has not yet credited corresponding state share of Rs 151.22 crore for the year 2017-18,” it says.
“It is requested that the above funds may be released immediately to JKRRDA for smooth implementation of the programme as well as for further release from government of India,” it adds.
The state has to complete connectivity of 600 habitations by March 2019. However, only 100 habitations (16.66 percent) as per the document have been connected in the current financial year.
Similarly against the target to construct 2800 KM road length, the achievement is only 601 km (21.46 percent of the target).
The Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) and its National Rural Road Development Agency (NRRDA) had also reprimanded Jammu Kashmir Government for slow pace of progress on the pending projects and asked the state to focus on balance habitations, particularly in its nine districts, which have less than 40 percent connectivity.
Srinagar, Jan 18: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh Tuesday paid his tributes to Major Ketan Sharma in New Delhi. The Major had lost his life in an encounter with militants at Anantnag on Monday.
In a tweet, Singh said: “Major Sharma made the supreme sacrifice while fighting against the terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir. Major Sharma fought valiantly like a true soldier. My heart goes out to his bereaved family.”
Army Chief General Bipin Rawat also paid his tributes to Major Sharma by laying wreath.
Meanwhile, Army, here in Kashmir, too Tuesday paid tributes to Major Sharma and three soldiers killed during a militant attack and an encounter in south Kashmir on Monday and Tuesday respectively.
In a solemn ceremony at BB Cantt, Lt Gen KJS Dhillon, Chinar Corps Commander and all ranks, paid homage to the slain soldiers. Representatives from other security agencies also joined in paying their tributes.
Two of the slain soldiers, Havildar Amarjeet Kumar and Naik Ajit Kumar Sahoo, had sustained injuries on Monday in an IED blast in Arihal village of Pulwama. They were provided immediate first aid and evacuated to 92 Base Hospital where they succumbed to their injuries.
Amarjeet, 35, had joined the Army in 2005 and hailed from village Dighawlia in Siwan District of Bihar. He is survived by his wife and two sons. Naik Sahoo, 27, hailed from village Badasuanalo in Dhenknal District of Odisha. He had joined the Army in 2015 and is survived by his parents.
On Tuesday, Rifleman Anil Kumar Jaswal sustained a bullet injury in a counter-militancy operation conducted in Marhama village of Anantnag in which two militants were eliminated.
He was provided immediate first aid and evacuated to 92 Base Hospital but he too succumbed to his injuries. Jaswala, 26, belonged to village Saroh of Una District of Himachal Pradesh. He had joined Army in 2013 and is survived by his wife and a son.
The mortal remains of the slain were flown for the last rites to their native places, where they would be laid to rest with full military honours, Army spokesperson said.
Srinagar, Jun 18: The dream story of Real Kashmir Football Club (RKFC) is being watched and appreciated by the world as a two-minute film on the club was Tuesday shortlisted at Cannes Lions 2019.
‘TheRealKashmir’ was one of the 23 shortlists at the gala considered a global event and the largest gathering of the advertising and creative communications industry.
The international festival of creativity announced the shortlists across Direct, Media, PR, Creative Data, Creative Strategy, Social & Influencer categories on Tuesday.
‘TheRealKashmir’ was shortlisted in the PR category.
“For seven decades, the world has seen only one side of Kashmir. As ‘Sports has the power to change lives’ as its driving philosophy, Adidas partnered with Real Kashmir FC, a rising football club from the strife-torn region, and decided to change the negative perception with which the world sees Kashmir”, Cheil Worldwide India, who shot the movie, had said last month.
Cheil had also noted that they told their story across different mediums to create a brand new positive lens that would enable the world to see ‘TheRealKashmir’.
“We started with a 2 minute long film based on the true story of the club and their rise to the big leagues of India. We partnered with a leading Kashmiri newspaper to reorganize its news sections by bringing the sports page in front instead of the regular cover story of negativity. Then, we organized a photo exhibition in collaboration with the renowned street photographer, Prashant Godbole, showcasing Kashmir through the positive lens of football,” Cheil said.
In fact there are many firsts associated with the Real Kashmir FC. It became the first local football club to hire a former famous Scottish player David Robertson to coach the youngsters. David was playing for Rangers FC and Leeds United before taking up the coaching assignments. Established in 2016, the Real Kashmir FC is only club from Kashmir to have played in Scotland.
Only Tuesday, the club signed a top English striker Kallum Higginbotham for the upcoming season.
In their debut season in the highly competitive I League Real Kashmir FC finished third on the table, and on the way beating power houses such as Mohun Bagan and eventual champions Chennai City FC.
Real Kashmir FC also had huge attendance in all home games played at the TRC astro-turf with an average attendance of 25000. In last I League also saw the first ever match played in snow when RKFC took and defeated Gokulam Kerala FC.
Srinagar, Jun 18: Former J&K CM, Mehbooba Mufti, Tuesday met Governor Satya Pal Malik at the Raj Bhavan here.
Mehbooba, as per a Raj Bhavan spokesperson, shared with Governor her views relating to the present political, and socio-economic situation in the State.
The two also discussed various issues relating to the growth and development of the State.
Meanwhile, Mehbooba, during the day, also visited the residence of slain police officer Arshid Ahmad Khan to express solidarity with the bereaved family.
She expressed solidarity with the slain officer’s family and prayed for their patience at their loss.
She added that the unresolved conflict is claiming precious human lives, destroying families and orphaning children.
Mehbooba pitched for an end to the violence and bloodshed and hoped that saner voices will prevail to resolve the conflict and end peoples sufferings in Jammu and Kashmir.
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