TOP STORY OF THE DAY |
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| ULB’s Engineering Wing abolished | | Payments due to hundreds of contractors get delayed | | | AVINASH AZAD
EARLY TIMES REPORT
JAMMU, Feb 17: The process of releasing payment in favor of contractors engaged in civil works for Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) has been stalled, as the government has abolished its Engineering Wing and future civil works of civic bodies will be done through respective Divisions/ Sub-Divisions of the Public Works (R&B) Department.
Now, the remaining payments of contractors will be released after March 15, 2020. “We fear that the Public Works Department, which has been entitled to look after the engineering of the department, may further linger on the process of releasing our dues. Already understaffed, PWD, certainly cross-check all the works and the bill made by engineering wing of ULBs”, said a contractor, adding that government can shift responsibility from one department to another, but not at the cost of our suffering.
“At least payment for completed works should not be stalled, blockage of payment for months without any reason disrupt our other ongoing works. We have to meet the material, labor and other expenses of ongoing works”, the cont... | |
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FRONT PAGE STORIES |
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| Forget Jammu, Kashmir continues to be priority for foreign delegates | | | | AB SHARMA
EARLY TIMES REPORT
JAMMU, Feb 17: Even as over six months have passed since the discriminatory special status was revoked, Kashmir continues to be the priority for the international delegations, who find little or no time for Jammu during their trips to the newly created Union Territory.
Since August 5, at least three foreign delegations visited the UT. But during all the visits, the foreign delegates not only kept Kashmir on their “first priority” but even spent most of their time in the valley alone.
As about the recent 2-day visit of the European delegation on February 13-14, the diplomats from various countries spend one full day and night in Kashmir whereas a mere few... | |
| | | | Refers complain to GAD Secretary retired in 2015 | | PM Grievance Cell not updated about JK Admin | | | Early Times Report
Jammu, Feb 17: Although Prime Minister Narender Modi vociferously advocate early disposal of public grievances received from its web portal but shockingly the Cell seems not to be updated about as Jammu and Kashmir Administration and referred a complaint to GAD Secretary who was retired in 2015 and was wrongly addressed.
Interestingly, the center government had asked Jammu and Kashmir Administration to send status report of grievances send to it after every 15 days but PM Grievance Cell itself appear not to be well informed about the JK administration and sent a complain to retired officer on Srinagar Civil Secretariat address, which is actually closed.
A woman, pref... | |
| | | | Four months on, minutes of KU's syndicate meeting yet to be finalized | | Commissioner Secretary Higher Education plays ‘truant’ | | | Jehangir Rashid
Early Times Report
SRINAGAR, Feb 17: More than four months have passed ever since the syndicate meeting of University of Kashmir was held, but till date the minutes of meeting have not been compiled and the same are yet to be made public.
Sources told Early Times that due to the delay in compilation of minutes of meeting the important decisions that were on agenda have not been taken to the logical conclusion. They said the decisions taken in syndicate meeting are forwarded and they are implemented in letter and spirit later on.
“The syndicate meeting that took place on October 10, 2019 was chaired by Vice-Chancellor University of Kashmir, Professor Talat Ahmad and s... | |
| | | | Time running out for Kashmir centric parties | | Panchayat by-elections | | |
EARLY TIMES REPORT
JAMMU, Feb 17: The Chief Election Officer of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir sounding the bugle for panchayat by-polls is an indication that political activities on other levels will also begin soon.
The CEO’s announcement has put the Kashmir centric parties in a quandary as the by-polls for nearly 12000 halqas across J&K UT are going to be held on party basis. National Conference and Peoples Democratic Party have said that they cannot contest the polls till their top leaders are released.
Three former chief ministers—Farooq Abdullah, his son Omar Abdullah and PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti—of erstwhile J&K State have been under detention since August 5 last year,... | |
| | | | NC looks for escape-route to contest Panchayat elections | | | |
Early Times Report
Jammu, Feb 17: Fearing that party would lose its cadre at grass-root level for repeatedly boycotting Panchayats and Urban Local Bodies elections, National Conference is looking for “escape route” to participating in ongoing Panchayat by-elections. NC leadership, sources said, is facing pressure from the grass-root level workers to join electoral battle otherwise they would shift loyalty to some other main stream party.
Credible sources said that it was all due to pressure of local level workers that party had written a letter to the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Ladakh and J&K in which party leadership dropped hinted to participate in the ongoing polls. Letter wr... | |
| | | | With no ban, doctors openly run private health centres in J&K | | | |
EARLY TIMES REPORT
JAMMU, Feb 17: In the absence of a ban on government doctors’ private practices in Jammu and Kashmir, the various private health institutes across the Union Territory (UT) are being allegedly run by the government doctors which is affecting the services at the government hospitals for the last so many years.
Recently, as per police, a government doctor was arrested for carrying out an illegal abortion and running clinic without proper permission from the health department. Of course, it was not a single incident where a government doctor was found running his own clinic or health centre as there were several instances where government doctors are operating their ow... | |
| | | | KPs caution people against touts, warn Govt of playing with its future survival | | | |
Early Times Report
JAMMU, Feb 16: Kashmiri Pandits have made it clear that no return and rehabilitation formula will be acceptable to them which fails to redress the Geo political aspirations of the community leading an exiled life for over last 31 years outside Valley.
Taking serious exception to the exercise being launched by Government by roping in some displaced Pandit organisations in this regard, various KP leaders including representatives of Panun Kashmir, All State Kashmiri Pandit Conference (ASKPC), Kashmiri Pandit Conference (KPC), Kashmir Samiti Delhi (KSD) All India Migrant Camp Coordination Committee(AIMCCC), Overaged Youth and Relief holders organisation etc have taken... | |
| | | | e-services of Transport Department proves to be eyewash | | Agents run show, online slot-booking tough than driving test | | | RAJESH TANDON
EARLY TIMES REPORT
JAMMU, Feb 17: Online services provided by Transport Department for issuance of new or renewal driving licence and other purposes have turned to be an eyewash for common man as there is no fix timing for booking slots for driving tests, but the agents who run the show behind the veil have no such barriers.
It discourages the commoners, who have to sit for hours to get the slot booked for driving test. “At the time when internet service is no accessible for everyone, it is difficult to book a slot, as there is no fixed time table for the same”, said one user trying to book slot for test.
“The active agents in RTO and ARTOs office offer hassle free ser... | |
| | | | Govt for pacing up of central schemes | | | | ISHTIYAQ AHMAD
EARLY TIMES REPORT
SRINAGAR, Feb 17: Aimed to pace up developmental works, Jammu and Kashmir administration has set up a target of doubling to increase enrollment in various schemes for financial inclusion in the new Union Territory.
There are various centrally sponsored schemes including PMJDY, PMJJBY, PMSBY, SUPI, Mudra Loan and APY for poor people.
As per official documents, government has set up a target to double enrollment in these schemes.
“Under PMJDY, PMSBY and PMJJBY targets have also been assigned to the banks to reach milestones of 22 lakh accounts in PMJDY and eight lakh and four lakh enrollments under PMSBY and PMJJBY respectively,” the document reads.
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| | | | Munish urges admin to come for rescue of Bhour Pind residents | | Area faces multiple problems, officials not responsive, allege locals | |  Early Times Report
Jammu, Feb 17: Editor -in-Chief Early Times, Munish Gupta, who would be contesting the forthcoming assembly elections as an independent candidate from Gandhi Nagar constituency, has urged the Jammu and Kashmir administration to address the grievances of the residents of Bhour Pind area.
The Bhour Pind area falls in the Ward 73 of Jammu Municipal Corporation. “Problems being faced by the residents are genuine and authorities need to address their issues without any delay. ... | |
| | | | Despite promises; Govt yet to revoke SRO-202, employees seek LG’s intervention | | | | Asif Iqbal Naik
Early Times Report
Jammu, Feb 17: Despite assurances and promises made by the successive governments from time to time with regard to abrogation of SRO-202 introduced by Omar Abdullah led Congress - NC government around five years ago, All J&K Anti SRO- 202 Employees including over 150 employees from Kishtwar District seeks immediate intervention of Lt. Governor G C Murmu and Financial Commissioner, department of Finance and JK GAD for bringing an end to this disparity with the employees engaged under this draconian law.
As per the details available with “Early Times”, the representation forwarded to government and various officials from time to time titled as “Reques... | |
| | | | Is Doctors Association Kashmir trying to create fear psychosis among people? | | Director Health assures action, asks people not to pay heed to anything not coming from health department | | | Early Times Report
Jammu, Feb 17: The so called ‘Doctors Association of Kashmir’ is these days at the centre of the peoples wrath due to its controversial and self contradictory statements which it often issues the already fear stricken people of Kashmir.
The association without any authorisation from the government is posing itself as peoples’ health expert, often sending health advisories to the newspapers. Sometimes, the association issues blood pressure warnings to people, advising them to measure the blood pressure readings at home several times a week, and at times it makes the ‘normal’ blood pressure readings pubic. “This DAK is some kind of a mysterious organisation which seems... | |
| | | | Citing losses post Article 370 abrogation, industrial units ask workers to quit | | | | ASHWANI SHARMA
EARLY TIMES REPORT
UDHAMPUR, Feb 17: While the government on one hand is planning more and more help to the industries in J&K, the latter are not allowing local employment and are harassing the locals on one pretext or the other. Some cement manufacturing units like Shri Ram Industry and others at Udhampur is ousting the local boys working in there for the last 3-5 years on the pretext of falling profits after the abrogation of Article 370.
They also said that our provident funds and insurance premium continue being deducted for the last two or three years but last month their provident funds, health insurance and other welfare funds are also not being deducted and the... | |
| | | | 15 years on, GDC Mendhar lacks hostel facility | | |  M S NAZKI
EARLY TIMES REPORT
POONCH, Feb 17: Established in year 2005, the Government Degree College (GDC) Mendhar which is situated near the Line of Control (LoC) lacks hostel facility even after fifteen years owing to which students are facing hardships.
Expressing their plights, the students of GDC Mendhar said that the college is situated near the LoC and during the cross-border firing and shelling they face lot of problems in reaching college. They said, “Had there been a hostel fac... | |
| | | | Bukhari to float new regional party in J&K | | | | Early Times Report
Jammu, Feb 17: As the political stalemate continues in Jammu and Kashmir for more than six months after the abrogation of Article 370, a group of political leaders, led by former finance minister Altaf Bukhari, are set to float a new regional party.
Bukhari, who was expelled from the regional People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for "anti-party activities", is likely to make an announcement about the formation of the new group by the end of this month in Srinagar, sources told .
Most of the leaders, who are likely to join the new formation are former legislators and ministers of the PDP while a few leaders from Congress, National Conference and other smaller groups are al... | |
| | | | Police takes strong note of misuse of social media in Kashmir, registers FIR at Cyber Police Station | | | | Jehangir Rashid
Early Times Report
SRINAGAR, Feb 17: Taking serious note of misuse of social media, the Cyber Police Station Kashmir Zone Srinagar has registered a Case First Information Report (FIR) against various social media users who defied the government orders and misused the social media platforms.
A police spokesman said that there have been continuous reports of misuse of social media sites by the miscreants to propagate the secessionist ideology and to promote unlawful activities. Social media has remained a favorite tool which largely provides anonymity to the user and also gives wide reach.
“The FIR has been registered while taking cognizance of the social media posts b... | |
| | | | Incharge Supervisors of ICDS Rajouri demand release of 2 years pending salary | | | |
AB Sharma
Early Times Report
Rajouri, Feb 17: Around 21 Incharge Supervisors of ICDS of Social Welfare Department Rajouri District demanded immediate release of their two years pending salary.
These incharge supervisors were promoted nearly two years ago by the then Mission Director ICDS Veerji Hangloo, who didn’t pay their salary and was transferred. After that GS Sofi took over the charge, who also spent over one year and got transferred, after that Nitu Gupta joined.
Workers appealed to Mission Director to release their pending salary along with incharge allowance. They also appealed to advisors to LG to take note of the matter. Despite repeated calls, Mission Director didn’... | |
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