Category: Business

Business

Kashmir’s image unscathed post two years of demonetisation, but economy badly hit

Editor

Two years ago, when Narendra Modi-led government at the Centre demonetised 86 percent of currency in one go, acrimonious debates riled the country, except Kashmir. The move was immediately dismissed as a failure. Kashmir remained largely unaffected. When several people died in queues outside banks, where they had been asked to deposit Rs 1000 and 500 notes, there was no such rush in Kashmir. The mooted reaction in Kashmir also deflated the propaganda that the Valley was the hub of hawala and black money. Economist Prof Nisar Ali said empirical…

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Khurshid Ganai inspects damaged orchards in Anantnag, Govt to declare last week’s snowfall as ‘Calamity’

Editor

Khurshid Ganai, Adviser to the Governor, on Thursday inspected orchards damaged in the recent snowfall in Cheniwadder and Khiram areas of Anantnag district of south Kashmir. Many orchardists urged Ganai to order the revenue and horticulture departments to assess losses suffered by them. They also demanded exemption of interest on Kisan Credit Card loans. The Adviser assured them that he would seek all possible help from the higher authorities for early compensation to the affected growers. Ganai was accompanied by Vice Chancellor, SKUAST, Nazir Ahmad Malik; Director, Horticulture, Manzoor Ahmad…

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Kashmir safe for tourists, time for advisories to go: Garry Weare

Editor

Travel advisors against Kashmir by various countries must be revoked in a phased manner because the Valley is one of the safest tourist destinations, internationally-acclaimed adventurer and author Garry Weare has said. Many countries including the United Kingdom, Australia, and the United States have issued travel advisories to its citizens against visiting Kashmir. Most of these countries have barred their nationals from visiting the Valley, particularly Srinagar, and tourists destinations including Gulmarg, Sonamarg, and Pahalgam. However, these advisories have excluded travel to Ladakh by air. “The travel advisories paint Kashmir…

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Apple production may fall in coming years

Editor

Apple production in Kashmir may be adversely hit in coming years in the wake of damage to fruit-bearing trees following recent snowfall in the Valley, officials said on Wednesday. Director horticulture department Kashmir Manzoor Ahmad Qadri said orchards across the Valley have suffered damage due to last week’s snowfall. “It will take us a week’s time to come up with exact quantum of damage and losses,” Qadri told Kashmir Post. But, he said, it is for sure that our production of apples will be “adversely hit” in coming years “due…

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Srinagar Downtown; Once a commercial hub now a victim of frequent restrictions

Editor

An eerie calm, spools of concertina wire, forces personnel in riot-gear dotting the deserted streets and traumatised faces of young and old: This is the most simplified description of Srinagar’s Downtown—once a bustling commercial hub—by its residents braving the brunt of frequent restrictions imposed by the forces there. According to residents of Downtown areas, the frequent imposition of curfews and disallowing of congregational Friday prayers at Jamia Masjid have taken a serious toll on people of all ages and professions. The worst-hit, the residents say, are once-bustling markets of Mahraj…

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Despite test run, night flights yet to take off at Srinagar airport

Editor

It has been over 40 days, but the Srinagar International Airport has failed to launch the night flight operations even after a successful test run on August 10. The airport authorities say everything is ready on the ground to start the night flights but the airlines concerned are yet to submit their proposals for starting the flights. “The Airports Authority of India is ready with the infrastructure needed to start the operations. The state government is also ready. The night flight operations have been delayed only because the airlines concerned…

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Bollywood’s comeback a boost to Kashmir Tourism

Editor

Bollywood is slowly returning to the Valley after staying away from it for quite a long time. A few film crews have shot in Kashmir this year, including at Srinagar Airport after more than three and a half decades. To attract more film crews, tourism department officials will soon visit Mumbai to extend a fresh invite to actors and filmmakers. “This year, Salman Khan and John Abraham shot here. Filmmakers Bunty Walia and Vidhu Vinod Chopra also shot here and we are getting more queries. We are planning to go…

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Fuel prices continue northward march, Soaring prices set commuters pockets on fire

Editor

The soaring prices of diesel and petrol is proving to be a burden for commuters and transporters in Kashmir, many of whom say their monthly expenses have shot up due to the fuel price hike. Several commuters who spoke to Kashmir Post said they are spending almost double of what they used to shell out for petrol and diesel and are now looking for ways to save some money. Petrol which was priced at around Rs 75 per litre last month in Srinagar has witnessed a spike and is now…

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Kashmir Tourism goes in for fresh marketing

Editor

As Kashmir tourism sector is on a revival path, the government and private stakeholders on Thursday embarked on a fresh countrywide promotional campaign. The tourism department will focus on wooing south Indian tourists in the first phase. “We will be making a presentation and have also set up a stall at the three-day 34th Indian Association of Tour Operators’ (IATO) Convention that started at Vishakapatnam on Thursday. We have started a fresh promotional campaign and we will go to all major cities across the country. However, we will concentrate on…

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Spike in fuel price continues, Petrol price goes up 30 paise, Diesel rises 40 paise

Editor

Petrol prices in Delhi breached Rs 79 a litre on Monday, continuing a rising streak in prices across metros. At Rs 79.15 a litre in the national capital, the price of petrol hit a fresh record high on Monday, more than 31 paise over Sunday’s price of Rs 78.84. Under the dynamic pricing system for transport fuels, the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) revises fuel prices based on global crude oil prices every day at 6 am. In Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai, petrol prices went up by in the range of…

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