In a statement issued here on Wednesday Police said that during the tour, the SSP interacted with officers, jawans, Army and BSF personnel, and local residents in border villages like Chorwan, Angikoot, and Sardab, besides presiding over a Thana Diwas at Gurez Dak Bungalow to address public grievances.

Pulwama | Nov, 11: District Development Commissioner (DDC) Pulwama, Kuldeep Krishan Sidha, Wednesday  chaired a comprehensive review meeting on the implementation and progress of Mission YUVA at Circuit House, Pulwama.

The meeting was convened to review the overall progress of the scheme, assess the status of applications at different stages and address issues affecting timely processing, sanctioning and disbursement of financial assistance to aspiring entrepreneurs.

During the meeting, a detailed review was undertaken of various aspects of Mission YUVA, including district-wise applications received, application verification, DLIC approvals, bank-wise pendency, age-wise analysis of cases pending with banks, reasons for rejection of applications by banks, and the status of cases reprocessed after rejection. The meeting also examined cases pending with banks for the second time, sanctioned cases awaiting disbursement, and output tracking, including progress reports, completion reports and their verification by the concerned authorities.

Taking note of the pendency of cases at various bank branches, the DDC directed the Lead District Manager and concerned bank authorities to undertake regular monitoring and ensure expeditious disposal of all pending cases. He observed that unnecessary delays and prolonged pendency, particularly cases remaining unresolved beyond two to three months, would not be acceptable.

The DDC stressed that the scheme must be implemented in mission mode, with focused efforts to clear all pending cases and achieve substantial progress within the current month. He directed all concerned officers and bank representatives to ensure that every eligible case is processed, with particular emphasis on timely disbursement and completion of entrepreneurial units.

He further directed that the updated status of cases be furnished every Saturday, ensuring continuous monitoring and accountability at every level.

The meeting was attended by Additional District Development Commissioner, Pulwama, Additional Deputy Commissioners of Pulwama, Awantipora and Tral, Assistant Commissioner Revenue, Pulwama; Zonal Head, J&K Bank, Pulwama; Lead District Manager, Pulwama; Cluster Heads of J&K Bank; all Branch Managers of district Pulwama; SBDU Lead, Mission YUVA Pulwama; and BHD Leads of Pulwama, Tral and Awantipora.

The tour has been sponsored under the Human Resource Development (HRD) component of the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) and the Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA).

During the 5-day Training/Exposure Visit, the farmers shall be taken to SKUAST-K Shalimar Campus; Central Institute of Temperate Horticulture Rangreth; Centre of Excellence Zahoora and Grape Farm Kral Bagh Ganderbal, to gain practical exposure to advanced horticultural practices.

Additionally, the farmers would receive technical guidance on various cultural operations and nursery-raising techniques for different fruit crops. They will also be sensitised to flagship schemes and initiatives of the Department of Horticulture.

The initiative aims to enhance the technical knowledge and skills of farmers, promote the adoption of modern horticultural technologies and encourage entrepreneurship and self-reliance in the horticulture sector.

Chief Horticulture Officer Sajid Mustafa; besides other officers and officials of the Department of Horticulture Kishtwar were also present on the occasion.

Jammu | Nov, 11: District Development Commissioner Minga Sherpa Wednesday  said that the up-gradation of Jourian–Pallanwala Road has already been approved and the work would commence in March 2027, after land acquisition is completed.

The DDC was addressing a public gathering at the Block Diwas programme convened in Khour, Wednesday . He informed that the 18 KM road is set for double laning and directed the concerned officers to fill potholes in the meantime.

The DDC assured that the defence-land matters would be taken up with the Defence Estates Officer. On the demand for bunkers, he said the essential data has already been shared with the Ministry and work may be started soon.

He also took note of the staff requirements and the need for augmentation in the education, health and revenue departments. The infrastructure requirements of SDH Khour and GDC Khour were likewise noted.

Public issues related to the Kaleeth Firing Range were acknowledged by the DDC, who said the same would be taken up with the concerned authorities.

Emphasising that development of border areas is a priority for the Government, the DDC said many projects have been proposed for the further development of border villages under Vibrant Villages Programme-2.

During the public meeting, locals projected several issues, including those related to Revenue, Agriculture, Irrigation, Mining and Public Works departments.

Earlier, the DDC also visited the Chenab banks near MuthiMaira to review urgent flood protection measures. He also toured the area and inspected the development scenario in the subdivision.

Additional District Development Commissioner Sher Singh, Additional Deputy Commissioner Ishita Rathi, Sub Divisional Magistrate Satish Sharma, Chief Planning Officer, Assistant Commissioner Panchayats, Assistant Commissioner Development and district officers of various departments attended the event.

The programme aimed at sensitising employees to the legal safeguards, rights of women and institutional mechanisms available for the prevention and redressal of workplace sexual harassment.

Resource Person Advocate Ifra Nasir delivered an insightful lecture on the provisions of the POSH Act. She elaborated on the definition and forms of workplace sexual harassment, rights of aggrieved women, constitution and functioning of Internal Committees, responsibilities of employers and procedures for complaint redressal. She also emphasised the importance of preventive measures, institutional accountability and a safe working environment.

Officials from Mission Shakti Jammu also sensitised the participants to the SHe-Box Portal, an online platform of the Ministry of Women and Child Development, Government of India, designed to facilitate the registration and monitoring of workplace sexual harassment complaints. They explained the portal’s purpose, accessibility and complaint-filing mechanism, encouraging employees to make use of this digital facility to seek redressal.

The programme highlighted that creating safe workplaces is not merely a statutory obligation but a collective institutional responsibility. It also stressed the need to strengthen awareness, encourage reporting and ensure effective implementation of the provisions of the POSH Act.

The programme concluded with a reaffirmation of the commitment to uphold women’s rights and promote a workplace culture founded on equality, respect and zero tolerance towards sexual harassment.

The DC was apprised that the civil construction work of the building has been completed, with only certain finishing works remaining.

Taking stock of the progress, the DC directed the concerned executing agency to complete the pending work in a time-bound manner, ensuring adherence to prescribed quality standards and approved specifications. He stressed on quality electrical installations, internal fittings and other essential amenities to make the building fully functional and ready for use.

Assistant Commissioner Development Gulshan Kumar, Chief Planning Officer Ranjeet Thakur and Executive Engineer, Rural Engineering Wing, BDO Kathua accompanied the DC.

The meeting  was attended by Director Horticulture Jammu, Gul Syed, Director Horticulture Kashmir, Vikas Anand, Managing Director JKHPMC Mohammad Farooq and others concerned officials.

During the meeting, the Minister called for a focused, outcome-oriented and farmer-centric approach to ensure that the benefits of government initiatives reach the intended beneficiaries, particularly small and marginal farmers. He stressed that effective implementation of welfare schemes must remain a key priority of the department, with due emphasis on transparency, accountability and timely delivery of benefits.

Underscoring the importance of strengthening the department’s field-level outreach, Javid Dar directed the officers and field functionaries to undertake regular visits to horticulture areas to assess the ground realities, interact directly with the farmers and understand the challenges confronting them. He emphasised that field visits should serve as an effective mechanism for identifying the farmers’ concerns, addressing the bottlenecks and ensuring prompt resolution of grievances.

The Minister also called for intensified awareness and extension activities to educate the farmers about various government schemes, financial assistance, technological interventions and support facilities available under different departmental programmes. He emphasised that no eligible farmer should be deprived of the benefits of government initiatives due to lack of awareness or procedural difficulties.

Stressing the need for a district-specific development strategy, the Minister directed the officers to identify the horticultural potential, production patterns and specific requirements of each district and accordingly formulate and implement need-based, crop-specific interventions.

Javid Dar emphasised the need to strengthen the entire horticulture value chain, including production, productivity, post-harvest management, processing and marketing, so that the farmers receive better returns for their produce. He called for coordinated efforts among the Horticulture Department, Jammu and Kashmir Horticultural Produce Marketing and Processing Corporation (JKHPMC) and other allied agencies to ensure effective implementation of programmes and optimum utilisation of available resources.

During the meeting, the concerned officers gave a detailed presentation on the physical and financial progress of various ongoing schemes and projects being implemented by the Horticulture Department, JKHPMC and other allied sectors.

During the meeting, Divisional Commissioner reviewed the status of various heritage conservation projects, including the restoration of Darbar Hall, Raja Ram Singh Palace, Raja Amar Singh Palace, Dogra Art Museum and other historic structures. He took stock of the physical and financial progress of the ongoing works.

The meeting also discussed key developmental projects aimed at improving accessibility and visitor facilities at the heritage complex, including the proposed multi-level parking facility, construction of a connecting flyover from Jullaka Mohalla and development of heritage-related infrastructure. He also reviewed the status of the proposed vertical lift connecting the Cable Car Project with Mubarak Mandi.

Divisional Commissioner directed the concerned departments to furnish a comprehensive list of issues and bottlenecks affecting the execution of ongoing projects so that these could be addressed in a coordinated manner. He also called for a survey to assess the daily footfall of visitors at the heritage complex to facilitate better planning and improvement of visitor facilities.

He stressed the need for coordinated efforts among all concerned departments and agencies for timely completion of the ongoing projects.

The meeting was attended by Commissioner, JMC, Executive Director, MMJHS Jammu, SE PWD(R&B) and other concerned officers.

Poonch :District Development Commissioner Poonch Ashok Kumar Sharma Tuesday  chaired a review meeting to assess the progress and implementation of the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana in the district, with a focus on expediting rooftop solar installations and ensuring maximum coverage of the eligible households.

The District Development Commissioner took a detailed review of the progress achieved under the scheme and inquired about the installation of rooftop solar systems, electricity meters, pending applications and other related issues. Executive Engineer Power Development Department (PDD), along with concerned officers and officials attended the meeting.

The DDC reviewed the status of applications, installations, metering arrangements and the overall implementation of the scheme. He sought detailed feedback from the concerned officers regarding the progress made so far and the challenges, if any, affecting its execution.

Emphasising the importance of renewable energy and the benefits of the scheme for domestic consumers, Mr. Sharma directed the concerned departments to accelerate the process of rooftop solar installations and ensure timely completion of all related formalities, including meter installation and other necessary arrangements.

The DDC further called for enhanced public awareness and directed the officers to guide eligible consumers about the registration process, installation procedure and available government subsidies. He reiterated that regular monitoring, efficient service delivery and a result-oriented approach must be adopted to ensure effective implementation of the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana across District Poonch.

The meeting concluded with directions to all concerned officers to work in close coordination and expedite the implementation of the scheme for the benefit of the general public.

The Minister was accompanied by MLA Hazratbal, Salman Sagar, Managing Director JKPTCL, Managing Director KPDCL, Chief Engineers, Executive Engineers and other senior officers of the Power Development Department.

During the visit, the Minister reviewed the functioning of the existing power infrastructure and stressed the need for ensuring reliable, uninterrupted and quality power supply, particularly during the winter months when electricity demand witnesses a significant increase.

At Zainkote Grid Station, the Minister was informed about the proposed major augmentation of its capacity from the existing 450 MVA to 780 MVA at an estimated cost of Rs. 89.46 crore. The project is aimed at strengthening the transmission network and meeting the growing electricity requirements of Srinagar and its adjoining areas, including Shari-Khas.

The augmentation will also strengthen power supply to the 132/33 kV Grid Station at Waganpora and GIS Khanyar. It was informed that the Detailed Project Report (DPR) has been approved and the tendering process is scheduled to be initiated by November 10, 2026.

The Minister also inspected the 132/33 kV, 200 MVA Grid Station at Bemina, which caters to several densely populated areas of Srinagar, including Bemina, Qamarwari, Karanagar, Fatehkadal, Barbar Shah, PC Depot, JVC and adjoining localities through its associated receiving stations.

He directed the officers to ensure timely completion of all ongoing and proposed works, remove operational bottlenecks and maintain close coordination to minimise power disruptions during the winter season.

The Minister also visited the Overview Data Centre at Bemina and took stock of its functioning and related infrastructure.

Emphasising the importance of strengthening the power transmission and distribution network in view of Srinagar’s expanding urban landscape and rising electricity demand, Sagar called for a proactive and coordinated approach to winter preparedness. He directed the concerned officers to remain responsive to public grievances and ensure prompt resolution of power-related issues.