Month: January 2016

Smart City list may impact PDP-BJP ties

Editor

In a move that may have wide political ramifications, no city from the state has been included in the list of 20 names for the smart city project announced by the Centre today. This exclusion can cast its shadow over restitching the alliance between the PDP and BJP in the state as the ‘Agenda of Alliance’, which led to formation of the coalition government on March 1 last year, had recommended the two capital cities for the smart city project. Political observers see it as major snub to the PDP.…

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Keep Srinagar clean or will dump trash in Sectt – National Green Tribunal

Editor

Lambasting the Jammu and Kashmir Government for the municipal waste scattered across Srinagar, the National Green Tribunal today warned that it would order dumping of all trash in the Secretariat complex if its orders were not implemented within a week. Asserting that it would hold top officers, including the chief secretary, personally responsible for ensuring compliance of its orders passed a year ago, the green panel took the state administration to task over the delay in setting up of a waste-to-energy plant in Srinagar despite its order. The delay was…

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Letter to Anupam Kher

Editor

Don’t sell your conscience to buy an award  Dear Anupam Kher I was impelled to write you a letter the day Padma Bhushan award (third highest civilian award in India) was announced for you. But I thought you must be too jubilant. Perhaps, you would be floating in the air. When people achieve something beyond their prowess or talent, they float in the air. No, do not write me off as a troll. For, I am not. And, I will be, anyway, explaining in great detail, why the Padma Bhushan…

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Met predicts heavy snow in Kashmir Valley

Editor

Weatherman on Thursday predicted heavy snowfall in Kashmir Valley in next couple of days even as day temperatures continue to be above normal during the enduring ‘Chillai-Kalan’, the 40-day harshest winter period which ends on January 31. “Under the influence of a western disturbance, heavy snowfall will take place at few place,” an official of the Meteorological Department in a statement issued to GNS said. The weatherman has also issued warning for heavy on Friday and Saturday and urged the state government to be prepared and maintain vigil. The official…

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Land acquisition comes in way of Parimpora four laning project

Editor

Nearly six years after the work on 2.5-km Parimpora-Qamarwari road link was started, the stretch is yet to be fully upgraded to four-lane. While the authorities tasked with the upgrade of the links say the delay was due to acquisition of land and subsequent rehabilitation of nearly 80 shopkeepers, the agitated locals are annoyed with the authorities concerned for the slow pace of work. “We have been listening to one or another reason over the delay, but the fact is that for almost six years the government was unable to…

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BJP faction keen on tie-up with National Conference

Editor

Recalls alliance during Vajpayee-led NDA government Differences seem to have surfaced in the BJP over forming a government with the PDP. A faction in the BJP is opposing an alliance with the PDP after the death of Mufti Mohammad Sayeed. BJP sources said a group had suggested the idea of exploring possibilities of an alliance with the National Conference (NC) as it was a part of the previous NDA regime headed by Atal Bihari Vajpayee. This group argued that NC leaders were mature enough and it would be in the…

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Suspense grows on Govt formation as PDP calls off party meeting in Jammu

Editor

The much-awaited meeting of Peoples Democratic Party president Mehbooba Mufti scheduled with party leaders of Jammu province on February 3 has been cancelled. Instead of holding the meeting with all leaders, Mehbooba Mufti will hold a one-on-one interaction with some senior leaders during her three-day stay in Jammu to discuss the prevailing political situation in the state. Highly placed sources said the PDP president would reach Jammu on February 2 and during her stay at the winter capital she will meet only some senior leaders to seek their opinion about…

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‘Exploitation of Girl Students’ Government asks Police to probe

Editor

Taking serious note of the alleged exploitation of girl students from a school here, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir today handed over the case to police for investigation. Sources said the issue was discussed at a meeting chaired by Divisional Commissioner Asgar Samoon on Wednesday wherein the case was formally handed over to JK Police. Sources said the meeting was attended by Director School Education and several senior police officials. Two girls from Government Higher Secondary School Amira Kadal had complained to the Directorate of School Education Kashmir (DSEK) that they were…

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Tourism Dept organises food festival on Republic Day

Editor

The Tourism Department organised a food festival on the occasion of Republic Day in New Delhi yesterday. Secretary Tourism Farooq Shah said the festival was held during ‘Bharat Parvah’ organised by the Union Ministry of Tourism. He termed the food festivals as ‘important and effective medium’ to promote the state as a tourism destination. Manager of JKTDC Food Court CB Koul said the Kashmiri cuisine was liked and appreciated by all visitors and participants which was an ‘encouraging sign’. The secretary said the JKTDC would organise food festivals across the…

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Met predicts wet spell for Valley

Editor

The Meteorological Department today said a short wet spell was likely in the Kashmir region over the next four days. The department said widespread downpour was likely to take place on Friday. It further said scattered rain was expected in the region on Thursday. The wet spell would cause the first major precipitation in the region this month, which had been mostly dry even though the Kashmir valley was going through winter’s harshest phase. The department added that the rain intensity would begin to decrease on Saturday and would be…

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