Er. Fayaz Ahmad from Rambagh first beneficiary, turns prosumer To get subsidy of Rs.85,800

#SRINAGAR: In a significant development, Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited (KPDCL) today formally kickstarted the flagship PM Surya Ghar Yojana in Kashmir Division with the installation of first rooftop solar panels.

Er. Fayaz Ahmad Yatoo, became the first beneficiary of a 6 kWp rooftop solar plant at his residence at Rambagh, in Electric Subdivision Chanapora. He is entitled to a Central subsidy of Rs.85,800/- which shall be credited directly into his account.

Managing Director, KPDCL, Mussarat Islam, Chief Engineer Distribution, Er. Sandeep Seth, SE O&M Circle II, Er. Shurjeel Ghani Lala, senior engineering staff besides REC officials and empanelled solar vendor M/S Kashmir Renewable Energy Pvt. Ltd. were present on the occasion.

In a press statement issued here today, a KPDCL spokesperson said that with onboarding of solar vendors on the National Portal, more beneficiaries shall be covered under the flagship scheme which is set to become a trendsetter in the power sector.

Urging the consumers to come forward and apply for the solar scheme through National Surya Ghar Portal, the spokesperson further stated that no Technical Feasibility Report (TFR) is now required for a solar plant up to 10 kWp, adding the panels shall be installed on rooftops only.

Dwelling upon the details of the subsidy available to the consumers under the scheme, the spokesman said that J&K UT has been categorised as a special category UT with subsidy for residential rooftop solar ranging from 60% of the system cost up to 2 kW & 40% of additional system cost for systems between 2-3 kW capacity. At current benchmark prices, it adds up to Rs.33,000/- subsidy for 1 kWp, Rs.66,000/- for 2 kWp and Rs. 85,800/- for 3 kWp solar rooftop system or higher.

In order to facilitate the beneficiaries and popularize the solar rooftop scheme, KPDCL has a hyperlink available for PM Surya Ghar Yojana on www.kpdcl.jkpdd.net.

The spokesman further added that Kashmir DISCOM is continuously holding awareness camps and IEC campaigns so that the scheme is popularized amongst the general public.

#SRINAGAR: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha today unveiled the Logo, Website and Teaser of the inaugural edition of the Kashmir Marathon, to be held on 20th October in Srinagar.

In his address, the Lt Governor congratulated the J&K Tourism department and all the stakeholders associated with the international running event. He invited the runners from all corners of the globe to participate in Kashmir Marathon and experience the unique charm of J&K.

“We aspire to make this event a beacon of peace and harmony. I am confident the Kashmir Marathon will place J&K firmly on the global running map and it will enhance global recognition of the UT, highlighting our potential as a premier tourist destination,” the Lt Governor said.

He said the Kashmir marathon is the next addition to the series of world class events being organized in J&K following the successful F4 racing event in Srinagar, Sunburn Music Festival in Jammu and J&K Tourism Development Conclave held recently in Srinagar. “We are exploring possibilities to organise the annual ‘Jammu Marathon’,” he said.

Highlighting the socio-economic impact of the Kashmir marathon, the Lt Governor said the event will boost local businesses, including hotels, restaurants, and souvenir shops, thereby contributing to the prosperity of our region.

For centuries, Sports has remained the most powerful bridge to connect people of different cultures and languages.  The Kashmir Marathon will integrate cultural events, performances, and exhibitions to showcase Kashmir’s rich heritage, enhance the experience for all participants, the Lt Governor said.

“Kashmir Marathon is not just a race but a celebration of resilience, beauty, and the unbreakable human spirit. It will also celebrate our breathtaking scenery and promote eco-friendly tourism that benefits local communities,” he said.

On the occasion, the Lt Governor highlighted the efforts of the UT Administration, under the leadership of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, to revolutionise the sports sector of J&K.

He called upon the youth of J&K to make the best of the opportunities being provided by the government in sports and other sectors and become the brand ambassadors of J&K.

#SRINAGAR: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha laid wreath and paid homage to Naik Dilwar Khan, who laid down his life during anti-terror operation in Kupwara.

“I salute the indomitable courage of our braveheart, who made supreme sacrifice for the nation. His valour and sacrifice will never be forgotten. The entire nation stands firmly with the family of the martyr in this hour of grief,” the Lt Governor said.

SRINAGAR: Union Finance Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman, introduced the Budget of Jammu & Kashmir for 2024-25 in Parliament on 23^rd July, 2024. The Appropriation Bill on the Regular Budget for 2024-25 will be considered by the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha in this regard.

Finance Department of the UT Government had drafted the Regular Budget for the current year. For this, the Department had assessed the revenue receipts of the UT Government from GST, motor spirit tax, excise, and stamp duty. Further, the non-tax revenue from electricity and water supply, mining royalty, timber sales, annual rent from industrial lands, etc were also examined. The own revenue of the UT Government has been estimated at Rs. 21,860crore.

A detailed analysis of the fiscal situation of Jammu and Kashmir was carried out by the Finance Department to address the legacy challenges which include high staff strength, low revenue base, and high debt load. The high fiscal stress caused by the committed nature of the major expenditures has increased the UT’s dependence on central grants. To address these challenges, the UT government has increased tax and non-tax revenues through improved GST return compliance, improved billing and collection efficiency, increased dealer registration, and transparent excise auctions.

All administrative departments also intensified efforts to harness central funds by enhancing execution speed. This led to a sharp increase in receipts of funds under centrally sponsored schemes. During the last financial year, the UT government also stringently enforced borrowing limits and curtailed the culture of overdraft. With close monitoring of public debt, the UT government was successful in tapering down the off-Budget borrowings. The government has restrained revenue expenditure through austerity measures and biometric verification of beneficiaries. The UT Government also pursued Government of India for increasing central financial assistance.

Lieutenant Governor Shri Manoj Sinha, Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo and Principal Secretary Finance, Santosh Vaidya led the UT’s efforts in this direction. Crucial meetings were held in June and July 2024 in Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of Finance to review these demands of the UT Government. Union Home Minister and Union Finance Minister personally reviewed the fiscal management of the UT Government in recent months.

Considering the challenges faced and the strenuous efforts made by the UT government, Government of India has agreed to provide special financial support to Jammu and Kashmir coupled with reforms to come out of the fiscal stress. Accordingly, the Union Budget which was also laid before the Parliament provides for a special central assistance of Rs.17,000 crore for Jammu and Kashmir. The Union Government has agreed to provide for the salary, pension and other costs of Jammu and Kashmir Police for which an allocation of Rs 12,000 crore has been made in the annual budget. In addition, a lump sum special grant of Rs 5,000 crore as additional central assistance is being provided in the current financial year.

As a result of this Rs. 17,000 crore of special package, the fiscal deficit to GDP ratio of Jammu and Kashmir will reduce to 3.0% in the financial year 2024-25. This special package will be part of the overall central assistance which is estimated at Rs. 67,133 crore during 2024-25. This unprecedented assistance would lead to complete improvement in fiscal position enabling the Government of Jammu & Kashmir to work towards fulfilling the developmental needs and aspirations of the people, while maintaining stable fiscal health.

The budget of Jammu and Kashmir for 2024-25makes provisions for the ongoing initiatives for infrastructure development, sustainable agriculture, new industrial estate, PRI level works, employment generation, developing tourism, and social inclusion.During preparation of the interim budget proposals, consultations were held with all the Departments and various stakeholders to provide for ongoing initiatives and arrive at realistic budgetary numbers. For finalizing expenditure proposals, assessment of financing needs of infrastructure projects, social and economic measures undertaken by Departments was undertaken.

The budgetary exercise focused on the imperative of advancing the cause of the greater collective good within the realistically realizable resources.The budgetary estimate for this financial year 2024-25 is about Rs. 1,18,390crore, includingrevenue expenditure of Rs. 81,486 crore and capital expenditure of Rs. 36,904crore. The major outlays under the budget of Jammu and Kashmir for 2024-25 are as below –

Major Outlays under Budget 2024-25

1. Rs. 9400 crore for subsidy and budgetary support for purchase of power from the National grid and the Power purchase agreements with power generation companies.
2. Rs. 3983 crore for Construction of roads & bridges under PMGSY, CRIF, NABARD loan schemes& Bridge scheme.
3. Rs. 1875 crore for rejuvenating school education infrastructure and services through funding of Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), career counselling services, and setting up of modern schools for quality education with PM SHRI funding
4. Rs. 1808 crore for strengthening decentralized governance by providing for local area development works of PRIs, ULBs, BDCs and DDCs.
5. Rs. 1714 crore provisioned for tap-water connectivity for rural areas under Jal Jeevan Mission.
6. Rs. 1484 crore for completion of Smart City projects in Srinagar and Jammu cities, construction of infrastructure projects under Jhelum Tawi Flood Recovery Project (JTFRP), construction of sewerage treatment plants in urban areas, and development of new townships for housing.
7. Rs. 1430 crore for comprehensive social security coverage under assistance schemes for Old Age, Widow, and Disabled, and for the women empowerment interventions of Ladli Beti and Marriage Assistance schemes.
8. Rs. 1317 crore for strengthening infrastructure and services in the health sector under National Health Mission mechanism.
9. Rs. 1104 crore for construction of own houses of houseless poor families in rural areaswith PM Awas Yojana- Grameen support
10. Rs. 1068 crore for Provision for salaries, food grains, cash assistance for Kashmiri migrants  and construction of transit accommodation for Kashmiri migrant employees.
11. Rs. 1021 crore for transforming agriculture and allied sectors of the UT through the Holistic Agriculture Development Programme (HADP), with the five-year outlay of Rs 5013 crore, including provisions for IFAD funded J&K Comprehensive Investment Plan (JKCIP) and development ofcold storage and high density plantation.
12. Rs. 923 crore for development and upgradation of Industrial Estates, for providing GST refund incentive and incentives as per the Industrial Policy for industrial units, promotion of trade through JKTPO’s events for boosting investment and employment
13. Rs. 776 crore for equity support for the hydro electric projects at Ratle, Kwar, and Kiru, which would provide stable revenue source and cheaper power.
14. Rs. 586 crore for Universal health insurance coverage for all families of Jammu & Kashmir.
15. Rs. 500 crore for providing of drugs, machinery and equipments for health institutions.
16. Rs. 475 crore for upgradation infrastructure of colleges and universitiesand for rollout of the National Education Policy.
17. Rs. 518 crore for promotion of Tourism, development of new tourism destinations and new circuits, construction of ropeways, conduct of Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra and film festival and promotion policy.
18. Rs. 445 crore for improving sanitation and waste disposal facilities, IHHLs, CSCs & achieving ODF+ status in the rural areas.
19. Rs. 390 crore for flood management projects of river Jhelum.
20. Rs. 405 crore for  schemes for self-employment, Start-ups, Seed Capital Fund, implementation of Mission Youth schemes, and support to self help groups for generation livelihoods.
21. Rs. 179 crore for construction of security related infrastructure, police housing colonies, bunkers in border areas and installation of CCTVs in police stations.
22. Rs. 150 crore for installation of solar rooftops and solar pumps.
23. Rs. 335 crore for creation of sports infrastructure, heritage preservation, promotion of festivals and theatre and development of Infrastructure and initiatives for welfare of Tribals, like tribal hostels, milk villages, nomad shelters, etc.
24. Rs. 100 crore for Capital support for revitalization of Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) and Cooperative Banks.
25. Rs. 500 crore for MGNREGA works at Gram Panchayat level.
26. Rs. 401 crore for development of Dal lake, afforestation, wildlife management, and preservation of protected areas.

Budget Highlights 2024-25

v Competitiveness Improvement of Agriculture and Allied Sectors project in Jammu and Kashmir (JKCIP) at an estimated value of USD 100 million loan from International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD to be implemented.

v Implementation of all 29 projects approved under Holistic Agriculture Development Programme for Rs 5013 crore over five years.

v 25,000 MTs of Controlled Atmosphere (CA) storage capacity to be added.

v Development of Chrysanthemum theme Park at Cheshmashahi, Srinagar.

v 60,000 backyard poultry units in rural areas.

v Establishment of Micro Food Processing Units for creating employment opportunities, especially in rural areas.

v Construction of 6 Grain storage units in 6 districts which are deficit in grain storage facility under the Scheme “World’s Largest Grain Storage”.

v 12,000 additional Self Help Groups (SHGs) to be formed.

v 80,000 houses to be constructed under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana Gramin (PMAY-G).

v 26,000 hectare area to be covered under Integrated Watershed Management Programme (IWMP)

v New 12 off-beat tourist destinations, 6 each in Jammu and Kashmir divisions, to be developed. Keran as border tourist village, Tosamaidan and Sitharan as circuits.

v Revival and restoration of 75 identified heritage sites/cultural sites. Establishment of 8 cultural centers.

v 46 estates to be developed to fulfill the goal of ‘Made in Jammu and Kashmir’.

v Under Jammu and Kashmir Rural Employment Generation Programme (J&K REGP), 1,372 units are targeted to be setup during 2024-25.

v New Start-up Policy to be introduced for creating entrepreneurship ecosystem.

v Two Cancer Institutes’ at Jammu and Srinagar to be made fully operational during 2024-25.

v Enhancing DNB Seats to 400 and creation of ABHA IDs for 1.35 crore population.

v 100% screening of 30+ age population for hypertension and diabetes.

v AIIMS, Awantipora to be made functional by March, 2025.

v New Nursing College at Handwara to be set-up.

v Attainment of TB free status in all the remaining districts.

v 2,176 new Kindergartens to be established.

v 18,499 Schools to be provided sports equipments’, 2,584 Schools to be provided ICT labs and Smart Classrooms, 43 Robotic Labs and 30 Virtual Reality Labs to be established.

v Establishment of Science Centres in 100 Schools and vocational Education to be introduced in new 554 Schools.

v 20 national sports events to be organized in 2024-25.

v Placement drives for 1,000 pass outs to be organized in collaboration with big business and industrial establishments.

v New initiative to create ecosystem for promotion of enterprises and self-employment, generate over 5 lakh opportunities for self-employment and expand investments through credit support.

v New age courses to be introduced in 10 Industrial Training Institutes.

v Outreach and counselling activities to be conducted for aspiring job seekers through Model Career Centers (MCCs).

v All persons with disability to be covered under Nirmaya Health Insurance Scheme.

v 11 Shakti Sadan and 04 Sakhi Niwas to be established.

v 7,708 women beneficiaries with establishment of 1,502 units to be targeted under self-employment scheme

v 80 schools to be transformed into smart schools in tribal areas.

v An addition of 3,014 MW installed capacity in phased manner till year 2026-27 with cumulative increase of design energy of 10,714.50 Million units per annum.

v Creation/Augmentation of 38,150 KVA Distribution Transformer, Replacement of 14,000 Ckm of dilapidated LT bare conductor.

v Providing of reliable power supply to the far-flung and remote areas of Gurez.

v 5,000 Kilometres of road length to be black-topped during 2024-25

v 194 new projects sanctioned at an estimated cost of Rs 1023.42 crore under NABARD to be taken for execution during 2024-25.

v Rs 1000 crore new road and bridge projects to be taken up under NABARD loan assistance under RIDF Tranche XXX during 2024-25.

v Completion of 60 ongoing bridges is targeted during 2024-25.

v 4.26 lakh households to be provided Functional Household Tap Connections (FHTCs) to achieve 100% coverage under tap water connections.

v Shahpur Kandi Dam project likely to be commissioned which will benefit Jammu and Kashmir with 1,150 cusecs of irrigation water facilities to 32,186 hectare of land in Kathua and Samba.

v Balance work of Tawi Barrage to be completed. 197 minor irrigation schemes to be completed during 2024-25, which envisages creation of irrigation potential of 38,723 hectare.

v All projects to be completed under Smart city mission.

v Western Foreshore Road along Dal Lake, Srinagar to be constructed.

v Introduction of 200 e-buses under PM e-Bus Sewa scheme.

v Inter Model Station (IMS) in collaboration with NHAI to be developed at Katra.

v Finalization of Master Plan of all 78 Cities/Towns.

v Development of Sewerage network of Houseboats in Dal-Nigeen Lake, including sewerage network of hamlets inside lake.

v Implement of Van se Jal, Jal se Jeevan, an innovative water conservation techniques through water shed management approach, promote sustainable agricultural practices and revitalize traditional water bodies, including wetlands.

v Conservation and rejuvenation of Wular Lake to enhance the livelihood of the local people, through ecotourism.

v Completion of construction of 1,500 flats as transit accommodation for Kashmiri Migrant employees during 2024-25.

v Remaining 276 posts out of 6,000 posts under PM-Package for Kashmiri Migrants to be filled in 2024-25.

v e-KYC of all beneficiaries under Public Distribution System to be completed.

v Roll out of Smart PDS in Jammu and Kashmir.

v 4,000 AC agriculture pumps to be replaced by Solar Pumps in phased manner under PM-KUSUM

v Around 04 MW rooftop solar power plants to be installed on the government buildings. 22,494 Government buildings to be 100% solarised in phased manner.

v 5,000 improved biomass cook-stoves to be provided in the tribal areas to reduce indoor air pollution and fuel use.

v Solarization of all routes and camps of Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra.

v Operationalization of Bio-Technology Park at Kathua.

v Young Scientist Awards/Fellowships among the outstanding researchers.

v IDTR at KotBhalwal, Jammu to be completed and operationalized in 2024-25.

v Institute of Inspection and Certification Centre (ICC) at Samba, Jammu to be completed in 2024-25.

v Implementation of Vehicle Location Tracking Platform (VLTP) for safety of women in public transport vehicles.

v Automated Testing Stations (ATSs) to be established for testing fitness of motor vehicles in private sector.

v Construction of Modern Bus Terminal at TRC, Srinagar.

#JAMMU: Tightening its noose on the traffic violators of district Jammu, RTO Jammu, Pankaj Bhagotra, suspended 153 driving licenses and issued notices to around 403 violators during the last 02 days.

The 153 Driving Licenses have been suspended as per the recommendations of different enforcement agencies/ teams and 250 more Driving Licenses are under process for suspension and will be suspended after completion of notice period.

Meanwhile, the enforcement teams of RTO Jammu laid Nakas regularly at different locations in Jammu district viz. Bhagwati Nagar, Tawi 4th Bridge, Near Railway Station Jammu and Jammu-Akhnoor Road to monitor complaints of overcharging during ongoing Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra. The main focus of the last two day’s drive was overloading and overcharging by Passenger Vehicles particularly e-Autos and e-rikshaws carrying Amarnath Pilgrims and vehicles plying with expired documents.

During the last 02 day’s enforcement drive nearly 265 vehicles, which includes 2-Wheelers, Taxi/ Maxi Cabs, e-Rikshaws, e-Autos and Three Wheeler (Passenger) etc. were checked for various offenses viz. Route Permit violations, RC violations, Overloading, without Seat Belt, Without Helmet, without SLD etc. out of which 90 vehicles e-challaned.

A fine of Rs. 1,10000 (Rupees one lakh ten thousand) was imposed on violators during these drives. In addition to issuing Challans, the overloaded Passenger Vehicles were offloaded on spot and vehicles were arranged for the extra passengers for their respective destinations.

The drives are being widely appreciated by the pilgrims and have shown RTO’s commitment to fair practices and regulatory standards. The public/commuters were encouraged to report any malpractice with the Motor Vehicle Department during the drives.

The enforcement teams comprised of Rehana Tabassam, ARTO (HQr), Motor Vehicles Inspectors, Vikas Srivats, Jasbir Singh, Jagandeep Singh, SMVI, Amanish Sharma.

JAMMU: Under the supervision of District Social Welfare Officer Mamta Rajput, Mission Shakti SANKALP HEW Jammu installed sanitary napkin vending machines at Government Girls Higher Secondary School RS Pura and Government Girls High School Rangpur Maulani.

An awareness seminar on menstrual hygiene and women-centric schemes was organised at GGHSS RS Pura. Dr. Eera Suri delivered a lecture on menstrual hygiene, stressing the importance of proper hygiene practices during menstruation. The session was attended by students and staff, who were also informed about various government schemes designed for women’s education, health, safety and empowerment. These schemes include Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP), health-related schemes of the National Health Mission (NHM), Sukanya Samridhi Yojana, Ladli Beti, scholarship schemes and various skill and business startup programs.

A similar session was held at Government Girls High School Rangpur Maulani, where Dr. Suri again emphasised menstrual hygiene. Officials from SANKALP HEW Jammu highlighted the range of government initiatives aimed at empowering women, including educational and health schemes, skill development programs and support for starting businesses.

In both schools, the installation of sanitary napkin vending machines aims to improve menstrual hygiene management among students. At the end of each session, sanitary napkins and refreshments were distributed to the students.

#RAMBAN: District Social Welfare Department, Ramban orchestrated a Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) programme featuring an impressive sand art installation at banks of the River Chenab.

This initiative aimed to champion the empowerment and education of girls while promoting environmental stewardship.

 A cohort of enthusiastic young volunteers assembled to support the dual cause of gender equality and ecological sustainability.

The event’s centerpiece was an intricate sand art, meticulously crafted to convey the compelling message of BBBP.

In conjunction with the sand art, the programme incorporated a beach cleanup drive, with volunteers diligently cleansing the riverbank of debris.

District Social Welfare Officer, Rahul Gupta  lauded the volunteers’ commitment, remarking, “The Beti Bachao Beti Padhao sand art installation eloquently epitomizes our dedication to empowering girls. By intertwining this message with environmental conservation, we inspire our youth to embrace responsible citizenship and advocacy”, he added.

#SRINAGAR: The UIDAI has advised all the residents who have got their Adhaar 10 years before to revalidate their address.

In this connection, all the Deputy Commissioners of Jammu and Kashmir have been asked to make the residents of J&K aware about the updation of addresses with the help of any supporting documents. They have also been asked to aware residents about updation of mobile number in Aadhaar to avail benefits of various online services.

Pertinently, UIDAI has already distributed pamphlets and posters for awareness regarding document update in all blocks of UT of Jammu and Kashmir.

SRINAGAR: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha today inaugurated the Kashmir College of Engineering and Technology, at Ranbirgarh, Srinagar.

The Lt Governor, in his address, congratulated the Chairman,  Kashmir College of Engineering & Technology Sh Raja Aijaz Ali, and the entire team for their endeavour to strengthen the technological excellence in academia, innovation and nurturing a future-ready skilled workforce.

Speaking on the rapid transformation taking place in the Industry sector, the Lt Governor said the speed and scale of change in 4th  Industrial Revolution calls for strengthening the Industry-Academia collaborations.

He emphasised on fostering innovation culture in Engineering Colleges and realigning the curriculum to fulfill the evolving industry requirements.

“Skills and not the degree will shape the destiny of our industries. The future workforce must have critical skills such as cognitive skills, logical reasoning, technical skills etc to build future-proof careers,” the Lt Governor said.

On the occasion, the Lt Governor highlighted reforms in the education sector under the guidance of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, to promote startups, innovation and entrepreneurship in Jammu Kashmir.

He also made some valuable suggestions to explore the vast opportunities in the engineering and technology sector.

The demand for professionals in engineering and technology companies has increased. Today, industry is looking for workforce with specific skill set. Our focus should be on building capacities in accordance with the skills required for existing and future job positions, he said.

The inaugural ceremony was attended by Sh Rajeev Rai Bhatnagar, Advisor to Lt Governor; Prof. Nilofer Khan, Vice Chancellor Kashmir University; Sh Vikramjit Singh, Commissioner Secretary Industries & Commerce department; Sh Vidhi Kumar Birdi, IGP Kashmir and other senior officials.

Sh Raja Aijaz Ali, Chairman, Kashmir College of Engineering & Technology; Dr Syed Jalal Ahmad, Principal along with faculty members and staff of the college were present on the occasion.