(Asian News Hub) – A delegation of Jammu and Kashmir Tourism Alliance (JKTA) led by its Chairman Manzoor Pakhtoon Thursday met the Deputy Commissioner (DC) Srinagar regarding the recent orders about keeping two rooms reserved in hotels for tourists, who may be tested positive for COVID-19.
Chairman JK Tourism Alliance Manzoor Pakhtoon told the news agency – KNO, that they held discussions with DC Srinagar regarding the recent orders of keeping two rooms reserved as quarantining facilities in case of any tourist reports COVID positive.
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“We suggested Deputy Commissioner Srinagar to ensure a separate facility is made available for those tourists who are tested positive for the COVID-19,” he said.
“Awareness program regarding the adherence of COVID-19 SOPs and guidelines should be held across the tourist destinations in Kashmir, and vaccination programs should be started for the people associated with the Tourism Industry, so that we can continue with safe and secure Tourism,” he said.
He further said they have also given the suggestion of arranging more ticket counters at Mughal Gardens, Gondola in Gulmarg and other tourist destinations, which attracts huge gatherings. “e-ticketing facilities should also be made available so as to avoid huge gatherings and tourists can book their tickets from their hotels, houseboats or wherever they are staying,” he said.
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Pertinently, Deputy Commissioner Srinagar Mohammad Aijaz Asad had directed the hoteliers to keep two rooms reserved as quarantine facility in case of any visitors is tested COVID-19 positive.
A police official told that Ramban police intercepted an Innova vehicle at the railway chowk in Banihal, apprehending two individuals associated with large-scale narcotics.
The vehicle, travelling from Kashmir towards Jammu, was found to be concealing a substantial quantity of high-valued narcotics, he said.
During a thorough search, the police made a startling discovery, saying they recovered approximately 30 kilograms of a heroin-like substance from hidden compartments within the vehicle.
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The international market value of the seized drugs is estimated to be around Rs 100 crores, according to the official.
The arrested persons are currently in police custody, and further investigations are underway to ascertain the source and destination of this illicit substance, the official said.
He added that authorities are also actively pursuing leads to identify potential links to larger drug trafficking networks. KNO
Reports reaching Asian News Hub (ANH) said that a fire broke out from a residential shed at around 04:30 am on Sunday morning which spread to other residential sheds within no time.
They said, fire tenders reached the spot on time however, upon their arrival nearly 17 sheds had suffered damages and the fire was brought into control within no time.
Meanwhile, police have taken cognizance of the incident and the cause of fire was not known immediately.
Despite the augmentation of power infrastructure and the installation of much-hyped smart meters, the electricity woes continue to torment the valley residents ahead of the winter as since past one week, consumers are facing pesky power cuts across the Valley.
The situation is equivalent in towns, cities and villages as the consumers have accused the concerned Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited (KPDCL) of supplying inadequate electricity to them.
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“Despite the installation of smart meters, which were aimed to ensure better power supply, we are getting nearly 4-5 hours of electricity supply on a regular basis, which has added to the misery of consumers here,” said Jahangir Ahmad, a local from the Natipora area.
“Crores of rupees have been spent on the power infrastructure augmentations in the last couple of years, which were giving a hope of round-the-clock electricity to the people, but all in vein as seemingly the winter power schedule has been started in the valley during the Autumn season, thus pushing the people to the wall,” the residents said.
Such unscheduled power cuts are being witnessed everywhere nowadays as the complaints are being received from several other areas also.
The consumers said that the electricity is being snatched for hours together and is being supplied for only a few hours in a day.
“The electricity supply was snatched multiple times today, which began from 6am to 8:30 am in the morning, 1 am to 2:30 pm in the afternoon and then 6pm to 8:30 pm in the evening,” one of the residents from Pampore said.
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The frequent electricity cuts have irked the people, who demand authorities to take immediate steps to ensure adequate power supply to them.
Pertinently, Kashmir’s power generation has got badly affected as according to the KPDCL Chief Engineer, Javed Yousuf Dar, the reduction in water level in river Jhelum, Chenab has lessened the power generation at the power houses of Kashmir.
“We are presently looking for an option to get the additional electricity to ensure adequate power supply to the people. We are on it and hopefully, the issue will be resolved in next few days,” Chief Engineer, KPDCL had said. KNO