Month: February 2016

29% people in JK get untreated tap water: NITI Aayog

Editor

In a shocking disclosure, around 29.2 percent populace in Jammu and Kashmir are being supplied untreated tap water, a survey by NITI Aayog reveals. According to data released by NITI Aayog, Jammu and Kashmir has around 2 million consumers registered with JK’s Public Health Engineering (PHE) department. The report mentions that of the total 20,15,088 consumers, only 63.8 percent have access to tap water. It further states that out of this only 34.7 percent get water from treated sources. The remaining 29.2 percent are provided water from the untreated sources.…

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Cancer on surge in Kashmir

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SKIMS registers 4800 patients this year so far, Lung cancer on rise among men With cancer emerging as a major health threat across the world, Kashmir is witnessing a surge in the number of cases in the past few years with lung cancer topping the list. According to official data available at Regional Cancer Centre, Sheri Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Soura, the number of registered patients has shown an alarming surge during past few years; more than 1,700 people have died due to cancer in Kashmir. It says that…

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Vohra appoints advisors, signals long central rule

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Two days after meeting the BJP and PDP, Jammu and Kashmir governor NN Vohra has appointed two advisers to help with administration in an indication of a long stint of Central rule in the state. The advisers, retired Indian Administrative Service officers Pervez Devan and Khursheed Ganai, will have powers equivalent to cabinet ministers. Besides, senior-most bureaucrats in the government — Chief Secretary BR Sharma and financial Commissioner BB Viyas — shall also exercise powers as advisors, a senior officer told . On Tuesday, Mr Vohra had met People’s Democratic…

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Gunbattle left three militants dead in Hajin

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Three unidentified militants were killed in a day-long gunbattle between ultras and security forces in Bandipora district of Jammu and Kashmir, army officials said. Three rifles and one Under Barrel Grenade Launcher (UBGL) have been recovered from them, they said. No army official has been killed or injured in the operation. The encounter started this morning after security forces launched a cordon and search operation at Khushi Mohalla in the district, about 35 kms from here, following information about presence of militants there, police said. One militant was killed in…

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Be ready for govt or polls: Mehbooba to party men

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PDP awaits Centre’s response to CBMs With no headway on government formation yet, PDP president Mehbooba Mufti today asked her party workers to be ready for either situation — a new government or fresh elections. She said this during a meeting with delegations at the party office here this afternoon which had come to express their condolences on the death of her father Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and get directions for the future course of action. “Mehboobaji asked us to express our views on government formation. We told her that whatever…

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Technical snag hits Aadhaar registration

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As many as 400 operators out of 638 have been blacklisted due to a system error in the software of the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI). Though the state government has set a deadline of March 31 to ensure that all employees as well as daily wagers, casual and seasonal labourers working in various departments under the state government enrol themselves under Aadhaar, the technical snag in the software has stopped the registration process at 200 centres in the state. On February 1, thesoftware version 3.10 of the UIDAI…

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Despite SMC drive, stray dog menace on rise

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Despite measures by the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) to curb the increasing dog-bite incidents, more than 10,000 cases have been reported in the city during the past two years. In 2015, 4,700 dog-bite cases were reported in the city, an SMC official said. The number of cases is on decline but significantly high from 2014 when 5,700 such cases were recorded, said Javed Rather, chief veterinarian officer at the SMC. Recently, a 12-year-old boy, Mudasir Ahmad Wangnoo, was mauled by canines and was hospitalised following grievous injuries in the neck,…

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State has potential to attract millions of tourists, says Tourism Secretary

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The School of Hospitality and Tourism Management (SHTM), University of Jammu, organised a day-long workshop on “Sustainable destination excellence” in collaboration with the state Tourism Department at the Golf Course, Jammu, on Wednesday. Farooq Ahmad Shah, Secretary, Tourism Department, was the chief guest, while RK Verma, Director, Tourism, Jammu, was the guest of honour. Prof Parikshat Singh Manhas, Director, School of Hospitality and Tourism Management, presided over the function. The resources persons included Prof Marta Jusztin, Budapest Business School, Hungary, and Amir Shani, Ben Gurion University of Negev. The workshop…

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BSNL mobile users irked over call dropping; authorities blame PDD

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Mobile network users of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) in the city are facing the problem of frequent call dropping adding to their miseries as well as swelling their billing amount. Many network users across the city are of a general lament that even two-three minute talk on the cell phone is disturbed with dropped calls, which leads to frustration. The users also blame such malfunctioning in the connectivity for raising their billing amount as they have to complete their important conservation while reconnecting the call several times. “This is…

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Catch-22 for PDP — lose vote bank or Delhi link

Editor

Impasse Over Government Formation Continues To be or not to be? When Mehbooba Mufti finally answers this question, it will decide the future of political arithmetic in Jammu and Kashmir and have a long-term impact on mainstream politics in the volatile state. The death of Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed has placed his daughter Mehbooba on a new pedestal, where her decision can have ramifications on the political landscape of the region. If Mehbooba decides to continue the alliance with the BJP, which she has described as “unpopular”, and agrees…

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