Category: JAMMU

Emphasis on strengthening media coordination, improving public engagement through digital platforms

JAMMU, FEBRUARY 14: Director Information J&K, Nitish Rajora, emphasized enhanced public outreach, efficient communication strategies, timely dissemination of government initiatives as well as strengthening media coordination and improving public engagement through digital platforms.
The Director made these remarks while chairing a meeting to review the performance and functioning of the Department of Information and Public Relations at Media Complex here today.
Joint Director Information (Hqrs), Viveik Puri; Joint Director Information Jammu, Atul Gupta; Joint Director Information Kashmir, Shahnawaz Bhukhari; Deputy Director Information (PR) Deepak Dubey; Deputy Director Information (Central) Sunil Kumar; Deputy Director PR Kashmir Ahsan Ul Haq Chisti; Deputy Director PR Jammu Ankush Hans; Cultural Officers, Field Publicity Officers, Information Officers and other concerned officers attended the meeting, either in person or through video conferencing.

During the meeting, the Director underscored the importance of proactive communication for the public good. He urged the officers to adopt innovative approaches to highlight developmental programs, welfare schemes and policy decisions of the government.
The Director laid special emphasis on leveraging social media and digital platforms for real-time updates and public feedback, ensuring transparency and accountability. He called upon the officers to adopt timely strategies for debunking fake news.
While reviewing manpower position and other issues of the department, he called upon the officers to speed up the process for filling of vacant posts. He also called upon the officers to organise regular training courses for staff of the department to abreast them with latest trends of public relations.
The Director, on the occasion, called upon the officers to commit themselves towards strengthening the government-public interface and enhancing public trust through efficient and responsible information dissemination.

JAMMU, JANUARY 06: A group of IAS Officer Trainees of the 2024 Batch, called on Lieutenant Governor Shri Manoj Sinha at Raj Bhawan, today.

During the interaction, the Lieutenant Governor extended his best wishes to the Officer Trainees. He advised them to work with sensitivity, honesty, and dedication and make their valuable contribution to achieve the goal of Viksit Bharat.

“Civil Servants are backbone of the administration. You must follow the values of integrity and merit for nation building process. Your aim should be to reach out to the last man in the queue and focus on people-centric inclusive development. Your professional and personal conduct must reflect the core values and high morals of this prestigious service,” the Lieutenant Governor said.

The Officer Trainees also shared the experience from their visit to Jammu Kashmir, as a part of the Winter Study Tour programme.

Jammu: Former Deputy Secretary J&K Legislative Council Shri Maharaj Krishan Koul son of Late Shri Sri Kant Koul of Khan Kahi Sokhta Nawa Kadal in Shaher-i-Khaas at present H.No.303 Nikki Mohalla Sidhra Bypass Jammu passed away on 18th April, 2024 at Government Medical College Bakshi Nagar Jammu.
The deceased was happened to be a father of Shri Pankaj Koul, Delhi Bureau Chief Valley Observer.
He is survived by his children Punam Koul Razdan (daughter) and Pankaj Koul (Son).
The Valley Observer family has expressed grief over the demise and expressed sympathy with the bereaved family in general and Shri Pankaj Koul in particular.
The residents of Khan Kahi Sokhta Nawa Kadal native place of the Shri Maharaj Krishan Koul also expressed grief over the demise and expressed sympathy with the bereaved family.
As per family sources Shri Maharaj Krishan Koul’s 10th day Kriya will be held on 27th April 2024 at Muthi Ghat Jammu.

JAMMU, JANUARY 25: Lieutenant Governor Shri Manoj Sinha has extended his heartiest greetings and felicitations to the people on the occasion of 75th Republic Day.

In a message, the Lt Governor said: “On the occasion of 75th Republic Day, I extend my heartiest greetings to all the citizens. On this day, I pay my tributes to the Bravehearts of Jammu Kashmir Police, Armed Forces, CAPFs and our freedom fighters who made supreme sacrifices for the unity and integrity of our great nation.

On this auspicious Amrit Kaal of our Republic, we must resolve to convert the challenges of the next 25 years into opportunities and move together with self-confidence on the path to progress”.

JAMMU, AUGUST 21: Sachin Kumar Vaishy assumed the charge as Deputy Commissioner Jammu from the incumbent Avny Lavasa here today.
The outgoing Deputy Commissioner was accorded a warm farewell at a function attended by officers and staff of the DC office and Revenue Department including Additional District Development Commissioner, Ramesh Chander; Additional Deputy Commissioner, Harvinder Singh; Additional Commissioner General and Assistant Commissioner Revenue.
Speaking on the occasion, Avny Lavasa talked about the challenges, and lessons learnt during her tenure as the DC Jammu. She remarked that Jammu serves as the foundation for pivotal activities at the Union Territory level, contributing a major portion to its revenue generation. “Alongside this, the district also receives its share of grievances, which requires coordination and teamwork for effective administration” she added.
Avny Lavasa expressed her deep appreciation for the dedicated officers and staff of the district, emphasising their relentless efforts in handling a substantial workload. She extended her heartfelt gratitude to her personal staff, which also includes drivers and security personnel, for their unwavering support throughout her tenure.
Avny Lavasa warmly welcomed her successor, Sachin Vaishy and conveyed her optimism for his leadership.
In response, Sachin Vaishya, the incoming DC, expressed his commitment to build upon the foundations laid by his predecessor. “We will work together, following in the footsteps of the former administrator to address the challenges and harness the strengths of Jammu for its collective betterment,” he stated.
The event concluded with expressions of goodwill from the district staff, including Patwaris and Girdwars, who extended their thanks to Avny Lavasa and wished her the best of luck for her future endeavours.

Jammu: The Tehsil Legal Services Committee, Kishtwar organised “Awareness Programme, on the occasion of International Drug Day” at SDM Higher Secondary School, Kishtwar.

The function was presided over by Chief Judicial Magistrate Kishtwar, Mahmud Anwar Alnasir, who was Chief Guest on this occasion.

And handout said “The Resource persons in the said function were Mr. Naveed DyLADC and Ms. Anjali Gulati as well as Mr. Suman Advocate.”

“About two hundred boys and girl students participated in the awareness campaign. The students actively took part in the deliberations. Staff of the school was also present,” the handout added.

The speakers on this occasion highlighted the role of being cautious and vigilante about the drug peddlers around the school campuses. The Chairman TLSC Alnasir impressed upon the students not to fall prey the lucrative propositions made to students to be couriers for some easy money.

“They must guard themselves from the bad influences and be their own role models. The takeaway lesson from Aryan Khan’s case is that at time being in wrong company at the wrong place could lead you to serious trouble,” Al Nasir said.

“Kishtwar has more than 27cases of Narcotics (NDPS) which involve youngsters and this does not include, cases which involve commercial quantities before this Sessions Court.”

“It’s high time youngsters which are more vulnerable and prone to being the victims of such drug peddlers, who might lure them into trafficking. They must be careful about their company and peer groups and if any such person comes to their notice, they must report it to concerned authorities or teachers about such happenings,” the handout added.

NASIR YOUSUFI

JAMMU: As soon as a news bulletin from a local radio station ends, a sexagenarian farmer rushes down the slope towards a rocky field near his house. Rolling his fingers over a surface of a moonlit rock, 63- year-old Puran Singh from Salalkot village in Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir is surprised to learn that a mound of rocks lying for ages in his village is in fact treasured in the modern world.
“Having spent all my life among these rocks, I never knew that these greyish brown things would prove so precious. Our village has been sitting on treasure and finally we have come to know it,” said an excited Singh.
The elderly farmer was talking about the lithium deposits recently found in Salal-Haimana region of the district in this northern Indian state in the Himalayas.
According to Geological Survey of India (GSI), a stretch of land near Salal is a storehouse of huge lithium reserves. The Ministry of Mines pegs the perceived reserves at 9.3 million tonnes, making it the world’s largest deposit. https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetailm.aspx?PRID=1897799#:~:text=Geological%20Survey%20of%20India%20has,Jammu%20%26%20Kashmir%20(UT). Lithium is the key metal in new generation batteries expected to play a key role in moving India and the world towards renewable energy sources.
“GSI carried out G3 mineral exploration in Salal-Haimana areas of Reasi district, Jammu and Kashmir, during 2021 and 2022 and estimated an inferred resource (G3) of 5.9 million tonnes of lithium ore and the report has been handed over to the Government of Union Territory of J&K,” Pralhad Joshi, India’s minister for coal and mines, stated in a written reply in Parliament’s upper house Rajya Sabha on Martch 13, 2023.
According to Vivek Bharadwaj, secretary in the ministry of mines, auction of the lithium reserves will be started by the end of 2023.
Experts believe if the recent findings of GSI translates into extraction, the metal will provide the Indian economy a shot in the arm.

Timely catch
The finding has already enthused many lithium dependent industries. Manufacturers of lithium-based batteries, electric vehicles and other lithium-based industries are looking at easier availability of the metal in the Indian market soon. There is high global demand for lithium. India now imports raw lithium from Argentina and Australia, while most of the lithium ion batteries are imported from China. These batteries are used in electric vehicles (EV) and to store solar and wind energy for use at night or when the wind is not blowing. Significant domestic lithium mining in India is bound to bring down the cost of these batteries in the country and give a boost to the EV market.
“The cost of a battery can come down and the country can get a stable supply of the precious metal. The domestic raw material reserves will help India to have energy security and protect industries from price spikes like the ones we witnessed post COVID,” said Rahul Walawalkar, Lithium ion battery expert and president of India Energy Storage Alliance & Customized Energy Solutions. Supply chain issues can also be dealt with once there is domestic production of the metal, he added.

EV penetration
India, the world’s most populous country, as per NITI AYOUG plans 80% penetration in two- and three-wheeler, 70% in commercial vehicles and 30% in private cars by 2030.https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1570107. The government’s own think tank NITI Aayog has partnered with industry in an effort to reach its 2030 goals through its ACC PLI mission aimed at achieving deeper EV penetration in the country. ACC PLI is Production Linked Incentive for Advanced Chemistry Cell Battery Storage. Under this scheme the government provides incentives to eligible companies to boost local battery production.
A study, Unlocking India’s electric potential, says EV sales will cross 10 million vehicles by 2030. That will make India the world’s third largest EV market, up from its current fifth position. https://www.adlittle.com/en/insights/report/unlocking-india%E2%80%99s-electric-mobility-potential
Domestically available lithium means increase in the number of domestically manufactured lithium batteries. Since these batteries form an important component of electric vehicles, the country can see an exponential growth in EV ecosystem ,” added Walawalkar.
According to India’s ministry of road transport and highways, there were 1,392,265 EVs on the roads by August 2022. The ministry expects the number will cross the 50 million mark by 2030. https://pib.gov.in/Pressreleaseshare.aspx?PRID=1848751
As per INVST INDIA- a National Investment Promotion & Facilitation Agency , from 2000-2021, the EV sector in the country has attracted 6% FDI equivalent to $ 32.84 Billion which shows the gradual surge in Foreign Direct Investment in the sector. https://www.investindia.gov.in/team-india-blogs/electric-vehicle-ev-sector-india-boost-both-economy-and-environment
Bashir Ahmad, professor of economics at Kashmir University, said that presence of large lithium deposits has a potential to boost economic activity in the country, in particular in Jammu’s Chenab valley. If extracted and refined, Chenab valley will see huge lithium-based investments, Ahmad added.

Net Zero push
Expansion in EV ecosystem can be a big contributor to reaching India’s pledged goal to have Net Zero carbon emissions by 2070. Emissions of greenhouse gases, mainly carbon dioxide, is causing climate change, which is already having devastating impacts, including through more frequent and more severe clouds, floods and avalanches in Jammu and Kashmir.
Net zero is a situation where the amount of carbon emitted to the atmosphere is balanced by the amount of carbon absorbed.
The transportation industry accounts for 23% of all carbon dioxide emissions worldwide as per OECD. CEEW says India is about 93% emissions are CO2 which makes the country 4th largest emitter of greenhouse gas in the world as per the study carried out by Carbon Brief. https://www.carbonbrief.org/the-carbon-brief-profile-india/
According to CEEW-CEF study “Investment Sizing India’s 2070 Net-Zero Target”by 2030, India is expected to attract USD 20 billion investments in EV and lithium-based sectors. But it is estimated that the country needs USD 10.1 trillion dollar investment in the sector to further its push for net zero ambition. https://www.ceew.in/cef/solutions-factory/publications/CEEW-WEF-Mobilizing-Investment-for-Clean-Energy-in-India.pdf
“More and more electric vehicles in the country will surely help in cutting carbon emissions as the conventional means of transport is a major contributor of carbon emissions. Electric vehicles powered by lithium have lower lifecycle GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions, which makes these vehicles eco-friendly means of transportation,” said Dr. Rakesh kumar, an environmental scientist from the University of Jammu.
Experts say , on average, a conventional car consumes petrol worth Rs 6 per kilometre, compared to the Rs 0.5 per kilometre cost of running an electric vehicle. https://m.economictimes.com/wealth/spend/should-you-buy-an-electric-car-comparison-with-other-fuel-cars-pros-and-cons/articleshow/88088750.cms

A long way to go
The recent findings in Reasi have raised hopes, but experts say there is a long way ahead before the lithium becomes commercially available.
As per the report prepared by GSI in 1999 by GSI scientists KK Sharma and S.C Uppal,The presence of Lithium deposits in the area was originally mapped and reported by GSI almost two decades ago. https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/indian-geologists-in-1999-had-pointed-out-the-possibility-of-lithiums-presence-in-jammus-reasi-district/cid/1915957
After the reconnaissance (G4) stage, the potential deposits have gone through the G3 stage in which quantities are inferred. The deposits need to undergo two more stages G2 (general exploration) and G1 (detailed exploration) before the metal is extracted. Questions mailed to the ministry of mines regarding the economic viability of extracting the lithium deposits in the region have not led to any response yet.
The cost of extraction and the technology used plays a crucial role in mining. Since India presently imports all its lithium, initially it will rely heavily on other countries for extraction technology.
“Countries like Chile and Argentina extract lithium from brine which is not the case in J&K (Jammu and Kashmir). Here the metal has to be extracted from hard rock. The cost of extraction would heavily depend upon the use of technology,” said Khursheed Ahmad Parray, a geologist from the University of Kashmir.
China, which produces the majority of lithium batteries in the world, leaches the metal through a technology that the country has kept secret.
The location of deposits in a fragile Himalayan belt also poses a challenge. Mining activity affects the surrounding environment. There is a every likelihood that flora and fauna will get affected in the area, Parray added. If the metal is leached in the area, a considerable amount of lithium can seep into both surface and underground water, a potent threat to water bodies. Use of state of the art technology can minimise damage to the environment, he added.
Scientists at Massachusetts Institute of Technology say that approximately 2 million litres of water are used and 15 tonnes of carbon dioxide released in the atmosphere to produce one ton of lithium. https://meche.mit.edu/news-media/how-much-co2-emitted-manufacturing-batteries.

Mixed reactions among residents
Most Reasi residents are cautiously happy about the lithium find.
“Our village is already known for the Salal hydropower project. Now these lithium-laden rocks found everywhere in our village have brough more laurels to our village. We are happy that the lithium reserves found in our village will help the country in fostering prosperity and development. But it is also the responsibility of the government to take proper care of the welfare of villagers who will be affected by the proposed mining in the area,” said Raj Kumari, a district development committee member from Arnas in Salal. She wanted the authorities to “properly rehabilitate” the villagers at a suitable place.
Pritam Singh and Mahinder Singh, panchayat heads from Salal and Arnas villages in the region respectively, say the government should ensure the sustainable livelihood for the people in the area, in particular the villagers effected by the proposed project. “ It is estimated that the mining will affect 326 families,” said Krishan Lal, Naib Tehsildar Salal.
Balwan Singh, a 49-year-old farmer from Haimana wants to get shifted to a place where he can have a farm.
The hilly nature of the area where the lithium deposits have been found will make extraction costlier. Bashir Ahmad, an eminent economist from the University of Kashmir, says mining at high altitude involves additional costs. For one, heavy machinery will have to be transported through difficult terrain.
The story has been produced with the support from Internews ’Earth Journalism Network’.