Month: November 2015

Srinagar’s Tulip Garden bags prestigious World Tulip Award

Editor

In a significant development which could boost tourism in Kashmir, Srinagar’s lone Tulip Garden has bagged prestigious World Tulip Award. Situated on the foothills of Zabarwan mountain, the Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden has featured among ‘Top 5 tulip gardens’ to be visited across the globe by the World Tulip Summit Society. The World Tulip Summit Society (WTSS), a network of tulip lovers (tulipists) from 17 countries, is promoting the tulip as a symbol of world friendship. Each World Tulip Summit is held biannually to celebrate the special history of…

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Consultancy suggests metro to overcome Srinagar traffic mess

Editor

At a time when Srinagar is grappling with huge traffic mess triggering chaos all around, development consultancy RITES has come up with Rs 24000 crore comprehensive mobility plan suggesting a metro system. The proposal, according to the officials of RITES, stands submitted to the J&K government, however there is no headway so far. According to the detailed proposal, RITES has proposed setting up of light metro from Galander to Narbal comprising 33.1 kms to be constructed at a cost of Rs 10,000 crore. The proposal also calls for similar light…

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Power ‘moves’ with Durbar!

Editor

Power scenario across Kashmir is worsening with each passing day, with the Power Development Department coming under fire for “violating” its own curtailment schedule. For the past few weeks, consumers have been hitting roads to protest against the long and unscheduled power cuts across the Valley, including the summer capital Srinagar. The arbitrary cuts have gone up after the Durbar (the seat of governance) shifted to Jammu earlier this month and the situation has worsened equally in rural Kashmir as well as townships and cities. Both metered and non-metered consumers…

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NC hints at PDP-Cong alliance

Editor

National Conference (NC) spokesman Junaid Mattu today said there were “strong rumours” that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was planning an alliance with the Congress and some Independent legislators. “Strong rumours about the PDP’s imminent realignment with the Congress and some independent legislators. Would you be surprised?” Mattu wrote on Twitter. NC working president Omar Abdullah responded to Mattu’s tweet, saying “nothing would surprise me”. “After the Modi-Mufti accord where Mufti Sahib and his party are concerned nothing would surprise me,” Omar further wrote on Twitter.

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Strike at Z-morh tunnel, labour’s demand permanent jobs

Editor

Dozens of laborers working on Z-morh tunnel being constructed near Sonamarg on Srinagar-Leh highway have stopped the construction work on the tunnel demanding permanent jobs in Construction Company. They also expressed resentment over “disparity in wages”. According to reports, the local laborers have stopped the construction work on the tunnel and are not allowing the any work on the tunnel to commence for the last four days hampering work on the project that has already been marred by many delays. “We are protesting against the construction company who at the…

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‘Shabby affairs’ of City’s Govt schools

Editor

The commencement of new academic session and prevailing winters in Valley has put the spotlight on dilapidated educational institutions in Srinagar city, which are either unsafe or running from shabby rented buildings. Even if the state government is making tall claims of taking education sector to new heights, much needs to be done to strengthen the sector on grassroots level. Around 332 Government educational Institutions including 184 Primary Schools (PS), 121 Upgraded Primary Schools (UPS), 25 High Schools (HS) and two Higher Secondary Schools are operating from rented buildings which…

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Mehbooba Mufti prepares long-term agenda of PDP

Editor

For once ruling PDP president Mehbooba Mufti was not wearing her green abaya (traditional cloak). This Sunday it was a designer off-white coat with a matching embroidered suit and scarf when she outlined the long-term plan of her party that she, in all probability, has tasked herself to fulfil in the long term. This was a transformed Mehbooba Mufti, who has long walked in the shadow of her father and Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed – the 79-year-old veteran who wants to see his daughter in his chair through a…

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Attack on Kashmiri driver communal frenzy: Hurriyat (M)

Editor

Condemning the assault on another Kashmiri trucker, Farooq Ahmad at Nadani on the Srinagar-Jammu highway by communal elements, the Hurriyat Conference (M) on Monday said the government is maintaining criminal silence over this communal frenzy. A Hurriyat (M) spokesman in a statement issued to GNS said the government is irresponsible by maintaining silence over the repeated attacks on Kashmiri truckers and expressed concern over such attacks becoming a norm in Jammu region. He said with the government remaining silent over these attacks, the communal elements and fanatics are getting encouraged…

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Mushrooming of gymnasiums irksome for Jammu residents

Editor

Parking of vehicles on road by members adds to traffic chaos in residential localities Though gymnasiums enhance health of people, but their mushrooming in the city in recent years also has another dimension, ie nuisance in residential localities. Furthermore, it may sound strange, but the Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) has not maintained any official record of such gyms in the winter capital, which by and large sans basic infrastructure, ventilated halls and parking space to mention a few. One could easily find these gyms in lanes and bylanes of the…

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Policemen to man traffic

Editor

100 personnel to help Traffic Dept ease Srinagar’s congestion With lack of traffic police personnel on roads worsening congestion problems in Srinagar, the Traffic Department has roped in 100 personnel from the Jammu and Kashmir Police to help in streamlining traffic in the summer capital. The traffic congestion problems have increased in Srinagar ahead of the harsh winter, giving a tough time to commuters, particularly students. The Traffic Police have sought help from the Jammu and Kashmir Police to manage the growing traffic on roads. “We wrote to the higher-ups…

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