January 2016 | Page 2 of 33

Daily wagers threaten to snap water supply to VIP zones after Feb 15

January 30, 2016 Editor

Water supply to VIP zones in both capital cities may be snapped by the daily wagers, CP workers and casual labourers’ association after February 15 if their issue of regularisation of service is not taken up seriously by the state government. They want people at the helm of affairs to feel the pain of families of these workers who have given everything to the government, but in return are not even getting monthly remuneration on time. This was decided in a meeting held under the chairmanship of the All J&K…

State to get World Bank fund to prepare for natural calamities

January 30, 2016 Editor

$250 million loan assistance for infra reconstruction to be spent by 2020 Following the agreement between India and World Bank to provide $250 million loan for flood recovery plan in Jammu and Kashmir, the state will be entitled for special funds till 2020 to prepare itself to deal with natural calamities. As per the agreement, the bank will maintain a “contingent emergency response component”, under which funds will immediately be made available to the state to respond to the crisis situation, should they occur during the implementation of the reconstruction…

Road contractors want three-year maintenance clause changed

January 30, 2016 Editor

Contractors involved in blacktopping and construction of roads in Jammu are making renewed efforts to change the three-year maintenance-guarantee rider included by the Roads and Building (R&B) Department during the PDP-BJP government. The clause was included to end the use of substandard material while laying road network. Feeling the pinch as they are now accountable for works undertaken by them, majority of the contractors want the deficit liability clause lowered to one year as was the norm earlier to repair or reconstruct any newly laid road if its condition deteriorates…

In absence of civic bodies, state loses Rs 169cr funds

January 30, 2016 Editor

Centre also refuses to release Rs 125 cr allocated to JK this fiscal The cash-starved Jammu and Kashmir has lost over Rs 169 crore under the 13th Finance Commission allocation due to the non-conduct of urban local bodies elections which have been pending in the state for the last six years. Apart from this, the Union Government has refused to release grants to the state against the allocation of Rs 125.30 crore during the current fiscal year in the absence of duly constituted municipalities. The information about the allocations was…

Snowfall likely in Kashmir Region; Traffic restrictions imposed on Jammu-Srinagar highway

January 30, 2016 Editor

Traffic will continue to ply from both sides of the 300 km Jammu-Srinagar highway on Saturday, although weatherman has predicted snowfall in Kashmir. Under the influence of a western disturbance, according to Met department, heavy snowfall may take place at few places in the valley while plains may receive a smaller shares, compared to upper reaches. “The prediction is till Saturday and the situation may change later,” Director Meteorological department Sonam Lotus told. A day earlier weatherman had also urged the state administration to be prepared and maintain vigil. Traffic…

Three pharmaceutical companies in dock

January 30, 2016 Editor

‘Criminal complaint filed for supplying spurious drugs’ Drug Department Friday filed a criminal complaint against 7 accused including three big pharmaceutical companies of India in the court of law after drug laboratory analysis report confirmed that drugs produced and supplied by these companies in Kashmir are not of standard quality and are spurious. Standing Council for Drug Department Baramulla Advocate Saleem Yousuf told CNS that Drug Inspector Sopore and Baramulla after receiving multiple complaints from attendants and medicos had lifted the samples of three injections namely, Dicoliv, Phenegram B, and…

PDP toughens stand, wants concrete assurances from BJP

January 30, 2016 Editor

They did not say why government formation was taking time. PDP insiders told that the only way to end the logjam is to reopen a channel of communication, which was snapped after Union Minister and BJP leader Nitin Gadkari’s visit to Ms. Mufti’s residence on January 10. The shift stoked speculation that government formation would take longer than expected, though senior PDP leader Nayeem Akhtar sought to play down any link. “Following Mufti Sahab’s demise, the family took his personal belongings out and vacated the CM’s designated official residence”. Mehbooba intends…

‘Mehbooba Mufti unlikely to take over in Kashmir in current situation’

January 30, 2016 Editor

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) President Mehbooba Mufti is unlikely to stake claim to power in Jammu and Kashmir in absence of concrete assurances from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on the agenda of alliance between the two parties and her misgivings over their relationship, party sources said on Friday. “It is not the question of whether she gets sworn in as the new chief minister of the state or not. She believes the terms of the alliance agenda have not been implemented during the 10-month period of her father’s rule…

Avalanche warning issued for Kashmir Region

January 30, 2016 Editor

An avalanche warning for Jammu and Kashmir has been issued by the Centre and people in several districts of the state have been asked not to venture out tonight and tomorrow. The avalanche warning has been issued for 24 hours beginning 1700 hours of January 29 to 1700 hours of January 30, a Home Ministry spokesperson said. Medium danger avalanche warning exists for Chokibal-Tangdhar, Keran sector, Gurez sector, Naugam-Kaiyan and Machhal sector. The avalanche warning has also been issued for Kupwara, Baramulla and Bandipur districts and Dras sector in Ladakh…