UTTAR PRADESH: LG Manoj Sinha Cast his vote in Mohanpura village, Mohammadabad Assembly Constituency, Ballia PC. LG urge all voting today to turnout in record numbers and strengthen our democracy by exercising their franchise.
#JAMMU: In Jammu and Kashmir, the Government today suspended six officials including Motor Vehicle Inspector posted at Regional Transport Officer, Kathua and attached them to the office of Transport Commissioner, J&K Jammu with immediate effect.
As per reports that the move comes after twenty-two pilgrims mainly from Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, on way to Shivkhori Shrine in Reasi district were killed and sixty-nine others were injured when the bus, they were travelling in, fell into a deep gorge near Tanda in Akhnoor sub district of Jammu district yesterday. The dead included six children and eight women while the injured also included seventeen children and twenty-nine women.
The Government has initiated an enquiry, and the appointed IO has been directed to conduct in-depth enquiry and submit the report along with recommendations for the conduct/dereliction and non-performance of duties on part of officers/officials within one week’s time positively.
Additional Secretary (Technical), Secretariat of Road Safety Council, J&K, Parmvir Singh is appointed as Inquiry Officer who will conduct in-depth enquiry for non performance of their legitimate duties.
#KATHUA: The election authorities have put in place adequate arrangements for counting of votes for the 4-Udhampur Parliamentary Constituency. There are 12 candidates in fray for the Udhampur Parliamentary Constituency.
The counting will be held at Government Degree College Kathua, secured with multi-tier security and round-the-clock CCTV surveillance to ensure a free and fair election process.
Votes from all 18 assembly segments, including Kathua, Udhampur, Doda, Ramban, and Kishtwar, will be counted in dedicated halls assigned to each Assembly Constituency. Additionally, three halls have been designated for the counting of Electronically Transmitted Postal Ballot System (ETPBS) votes.
A total of 225 tables have been set up for the counting process, with three personnel assigned to each table. For ETPBS votes, 60 tables have been designated, also with three persons per table.
Nearly 10,000 staff members will be involved in the counting process, including the transfer of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) from the Strong Room to the counting halls. Each table will be supervised by a counting agent, a micro observer, and a supervisor, along with each Assistant Returning Officer (ARO).
CCTV surveillance of the EVM Strong Rooms has been shared with political party representatives since the safe deposit of EVMs after polling.
A Counting Control Room has been equipped with the necessary logistics to compile and update hourly trends throughout the day. The entire process will be executed and monitored under the supervision of Dr. Rakesh Minhas, Returning Officer for the 4-Udhampur Parliamentary Constituency, who is also the District Election Officer and Deputy Commissioner of Kathua.
A fully functional and well-equipped Election Media Centre has been established to facilitate media personnel. The centre features LED screens with DTH connections for continuous news access and WiFi to ensure internet connectivity. Provisions for displaying hourly trends have been made to keep everyone updated with the latest results. Media personnel will have controlled access to the counting process as per the Election Commission of India (ECI) guidelines.
Meanwhile, the training of all stakeholders to be involved in Counting in votes has been successfully completed on Thursday.
Returning Officer Dr Rakesh Minhas said that adequate logistics and security arrangements have been made to undertake the Counting of Votes for Parliamentary Constituency. “Besides catering to the necessary human resource and other logistics Food, water, and refreshments will be provided to all individuals involved in the counting process on June 4, ensuring their well-being throughout the day” he added.
#SRINAGAR: Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo, today set deadline of June 10 for streamlining of riding surface and ensuring two way traffic movement on Jammu-Srinagar National Highway in view of upcoming Shri Amarnathji pilgrimage and fruit season in the Union Territory.
The Chief Secretary was addressing a meeting held with all the concerned to take stock of road condition and the current traffic scenario on Jammu-Srinagar National Highway.
Principal Secretary, Agriculture Production Department, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir/Jammu, IG, Traffic, Secretary Transport, Secretary PWD, RO, NHAI besides Deputy Commissioners of Ramban, Udhampur, Kathua and Samba attended the meeting while outstation officers participated virtually.
The Chief Secretary took cognizance of the time being taken, at present, by both the Light Motor Vehicles (LMVs) and Heavy Motor Vehicles (HMVs) to reach from one capital city to another. He enquired about the condition of the road and the bottlenecks impeding smooth movement of traffic.
Dulloo took detailed appraisal of nearly two dozen spots on this road where commuters are facing inconvenience in their journey. He impressed upon the NHAI, Regional Officer, Jammu, to take all possible measures to improve the riding surface of the road and ensure simultaneous two way traffic on it by 10th of June this year.
He asked for taking swift steps like enhancing width of the carriage way besides black topping all the stretches where traffic snarls are occurring due to rough surface of the road. He enjoined upon the concerned divisional and district administration to identify all such spots which needs immediate improvement so that no adversity is faced during the upcoming yatra and fruit season when thousands of fruit laden trucks are bound to cross this Highway on daily basis.
The Chief Secretary asked about the causes behind worsening condition of roads on the highway including Dalwas, Old Passi, Mehard, Marog (Ramban), Pratap Nallah (Digdol), Khooni Nallah, Panthyal, Magarkote, Higni, Lower Nachlana and Kishtwari Pather. He also sought feedback from the Traffic, DCs and NHAI about the measures to be taken in this regard and fixed deadline for ironing out these difficulties in coordination with all stakeholders.
Dulloo asked the executing agencies to improve the Kathua-Katra stretch of the Highway besides ensuring its blacktopping before 20th of June without any further delay. He asked the Div Com Jammu to personally monitor this work and submit report daily on this account.
He also took stock of the physical progress achieved on construction of grade separators at Bemina, Sanat Nagar and Nowgam crossings in Srinagar. He also reviewed the work done, so far, on the overhead Railway crossing Bridge near Bijbehara. He asked for expediting work on all these projects for timely completion.
In a presentation given by IG Traffic, Bhim Sen Tuti, a detailed analysis of the previous traffic halts along with their durations was highlighted. The reasons for each such disruption was spotlighted and the cause of suspensions experienced this month were particularly brought to fore.
It was informed that the incessant rains on 29th and 30th of April had eroded the loop of the old road at Magerkote which was used to pass traffic in one direction. It was added that the construction work on fly-overs, via-ducts and tunnels at several locations is sometimes causing difficulty in smooth passage of traffic.
It was also revealed that the traffic Department in collaboration with the district administration Ramban have identified 19 spots for taking certain corrective measures there. The steps like road widening, compacting and blacktopping at these stretches would be finished in next couple of weeks by taking a dry day in between, the meeting was apprised
The meeting was informed that the road condition would be substantially upgraded by NHAI before the onset of fruit, vegetable season and commencement of Shri AmarnathJi yatra this year for convenience of all the travellers going to and fro from Srinagar to Jammu and vice-versa.
#JAMMU: In Jammu and Kashmir the mercury continued its upward trend in Jammu on Monday with the maximum temperature settling at 43 degrees Celsius. As per the weathermen, the day’s temperature in Jammu was recorded at 42.8 degrees Celsius while minimum temperature remained at 24.7 degrees Celsius.
The current weather condition remains from the past 10 days and the maximum temperature in the temple city crossed the 40 degree Celsius mark for the first time this season on May 16. The upward trend in the temperatures has prompted the local residents to stay indoors during day time and seek early summer vacation in the schools of their wards.
The prevailing heat wave conditions also intensified power and water woes in many parts of the region. Meanwhile, in view of the prevailing weather forecast and the observation of sustained high temperatures, the MeT department issued an advisory and urged people to take necessary measures and implement the heat wave advisories and follow the “do’s and don’ts to address the challenges posed by the heat wave.”
The weathermen advised the general population to stay hydrated, drink sufficient water, carry drinking water, use oral rehydration solution,(ORS), fruit juice some added salt, stay covered, wear loose clothes garments, cover their head, and traditional headgear during exposure to direct heat, stay indoors as much as possible.
#REASI: District Development Commissioner Reasi, Vishesh Mahajan today convened a meeting to review the operational effectiveness of the Katra and Reasi municipalities.
Executive Officers from both municipalities presented detailed reports covering administrative and operational issues. Discussions focused on staffing adequacy, income generation strategies, and the progress of ongoing projects. Plans for the upcoming fiscal year were also deliberated.
DDC issued specific directives emphasizing the identification and initiation of projects in public interest, maintenance and enhancement of sanitation standards, strict enforcement of building regulations and proactive removal of encroachments.
ADDC Sukhdev Singh Samyal, Joint Director Chief Planning officer Narinder Kumar, EO KDA Gopal Singh, EO Municipal Committees Reasi and Katra were present.
#JAMMU: In Jammu and Kashmir, approximately 27 thousand displaced Kashmiri Pandits are set to cast their votes for the Anantnag-Rajouri Parliamentary seat, the polls on which are scheduled to be held on May 25.
This seat boasts the highest number of voters among the 18 assembly constituencies in the region, with a total of 18, 30, 294 eligible voters, comprising 9, 30, 379 males, 8, 99, 888 females, and 27 third gender individuals. Preparations are in full swing for the final phase of the elections.
To accommodate the significant number of displaced voters, 21 polling stations and eight auxiliary centers are established in Jammu to facilitate quicker and more efficient voting for displaced individuals. Many of these voters have opted for postal ballots through the Vote for Home initiative.
These include special provisions for voters residing in locations like Jagti township. Previously, three auxiliary polling stations were arranged for the Srinagar and Baramulla parliamentary seats, but the large displaced voter population in Anantnag-Rajouri seat has necessitated additional facilities.
#GANDERBAL: The District Animal Husbandry Officer (DAHO) Ganderbal has set 10th of June as the last date for registration of ponies for the Shri Amarnathji Yatra (SANJY) 2024 via Baltal route.
In this connection, all Ponywallas have been asked to register their ponies before the 10th of June 2024, as no registration shall be done after the cut-off date
The DAHO Ganderbal has requested all Ponywallas to register their ponies at an earliest for a smooth registration process.
#JAMMU: Deputy Commissioner Sachin Kumar Vaishya today chaired a meeting to discuss formulation of an action plan for rehabilitation of children in distress or those forced to beg on the streets.
Emphasising the urgent need for rehabilitation of the targeted lot, the DC urged stakeholders to start the exercise and come up with a meticulously drafted plan. He stressed the importance of motivating these children and their families to seek shelter and education as an alternative to street life. “The parents of such children will also be given counselling to encourage them to send their children for education” he added.
A comprehensive, step-by-step strategy involving multiple departments was outlined. The plan includes health checkups, necessary registrations and verifications as part of the rehabilitation mission.
The meeting was attended by ADDC Sher Singh, SDMs, SP North Shivam Siddharth, Chief Planning Officer Uttam Singh, Chief Medical Officer Dr. Harbaksh Singh, District Social Welfare Officer Mamta Rajput and representatives from CWC and Childline among others.
#SRINAGAR: To ensure the smooth conduct of Shri #AmarnathJi Yatra (SANJY) 2024 via the Baltal route, the Deputy Commissioner (DC) Ganderbal, Shyambir today held a joint meeting with concerned officers and representatives of various service providers to fix rates for services at Sonamarg.
This initiative aims to prevent overcharging and enhance the quality of services for pilgrims.
During the meeting, a detailed discussion was held regarding the services provided by ponywalas, pithuwalas, palkiwalas, laborers and other service providers. The stakeholders shared their valuable suggestions and assured the DC of their cooperation to ensure a successful and smooth yatra.
After thorough deliberation, the committee, in consultation with the service provider’s representatives, fixed the rates for various services including ponies, pithus, dandies, palkies, and laborers for SANJY-2024.
The DC emphasized the importance of adhering to these fixed rates to maintain fairness and quality of service.
The meeting was attended by ADDC Ganderbal, Mushtaq Ahmad Simnani; CEO SDA, Farooq Ahmad Baba, ASP, SDM Kangan, CPO, CAHO, Assistant Labour Commissioner, ARTO, and other district and sectoral officers.
Following the meeting, the DC, along with other officers, visited Baltal to inspect the ongoing preparations for the yatra.
He stressed the timely completion of essential services such as the repair of damaged water pipelines, power cabling, toilet facilities, repair of huts, fencing of the pony stand, development of the pony tract, parking areas, railing along the yatra track, and snow clearance.
The DC issued necessary instructions to ensure that all preparations are completed within the fixed timelines, guaranteeing the provision of the best possible services to the pilgrims.
