Month: February 2016

PDP, BJP meeting governor to work on govt formation

Editor

Governor, N N Vohra Monday asked PDP and BJP to clarify their stand over government formation following the differences between coalition partners over implementing the commitments in the Agenda of Alliance in a time-bound manner. Sources said the Governor has written to the two parties asking them to clarify their stand on government formation to end the political uncertainty prevailing in the state since the death of former Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed on January 7. The state has been under Governor’s rule since January 9 when the proclamation was…

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JKSC, DYSS lock horns over water sports facilities

Editor

Two vital departments of the state are involved in a tussle over two sports facilities, Water Sports Centre Nehru Park and Gindun Multi Sports facility. The departments which include Sports Council, Youth Services want the Gindum and the Nehru park Sports Centre under their control. The Commissioner Secretary to Government, Technical Education and YSS department in November, issued an order in November last year directing the facilities to be handed over to the DYSS. However, the facilities continue to be controlled by the Sports Council. While the sports council officials…

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Mehbooba meeting Nirmal Singh before Guv

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Peoples Democratic Party President, Mehbooba Mufti is meeting the former deputy chief minister and senior Bharatiya Janta Party leader Nirmal Singh in Jammu on Tuesday before meeting Governor Narendra Nath Vohra at the Rajbhavan. According to sources, Mehbooba would meet the senior leader of the rightwing party before meeting Governor Vohra, who gave a deadline to the two parties to make their positions clear about the government formation in the State. The sources said the PDP President is likely to reiterate her stand to the BJP leader that it would…

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Kashmir valley witnesses sunny day

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A bright winter sun greeted people of Kashmir and Ladakh today though the night temperature in the two regions dipped because of the recent snowfall. Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, recorded a low of 0°C which is normal for this part of the season but was almost three degrees below from the previous night’s 2.8°C, an official of the Meteorological Department said. Sun shone in the morning providing relief to the people of the city, which witnessed incessant rain in the past few days. The maximum in…

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Will not come under any pressure: BJP on govt formation

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After tough talk by PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti, BJP on Monday made it clear that it will not come under “any pressure” over government formation in Jammu and Kashmir even as it is committed to the common minimum programme chalked out last year. On the eve of meeting Governor NN Vohra to convey its stand, BJP put the onus of carrying forward the alliance on PDP, saying Mehbooba has to take a call on continuing the roadmap laid by her late father Mufti Mohammad Sayeed. Party leaders made the stand…

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Wullar’s voyage from wetland to woodland

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World Wetlands Day Approximately 13 tons of solid waste is dumped per day on Wullar banks  Wetlands play an important role in keeping the ecological processes healthy. They support industries such as agriculture, fisheries and tourism by supplying valuable source of water for irrigation and domestic use, fodder for domestic livestock, maintaining water quality, providing habitat for commercial species and having cultural and recreational values. Wetlands host a huge variety of life, protect the coastlines, and provide natural defences (sponges) against river flooding or storm surges and store carbon dioxide…

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We prefer elections to siding with PDP or BJP; Omer

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The NC is firm on its stand that it will neither form a government with the BJP nor rescue the PDP by offering a secular alliance. “Although it is an unpleasant choice, we will prefer to go back to the people,” said NC working president and former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah from Delhi. “Neither the PDP nor BJP has broken the partnership. Since they have the numbers, they should form the government. Even if they want to renegotiate the ‘Agenda of Alliance’, it means there is no change in the…

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Kashmir Inc calls Rs 800 cr interest subvention a ‘cruel joke’

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The Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry Monday termed the announcement of Rs 800 crore for interest subvention to traders by the government as a “cruel joke”. The KCCI stated that the Rs 44,000 crore flood relief package which the then NC-led government in Jammu and Kashmir had sought from the central government, included Rs 19,241 crore for trade and business rehabilitation and revival. In this amount (Rs 19,241 crore), there was a provision of Rs 8741 crore for interest subvention including Rs 2880 crore for existing loans, Rs 5760…

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Kashmir willow set to cross LoC, boost trade with Pak

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The cross-LoC trade, which began in October 2008, takes place mainly through the Uri-Muzaffarabad and Poonch-Rawalakote routes Despite the Pathankot terror attack destabilising the normalisation of ties with Pakistan, India may soon begin a different kind of “cricket diplomacy” to boost the bilateral trade across the Line of Control (LoC) and as a major confidence-building measure (CBM). The list of tradable items is likely to be substantially expanded from the current 21 (of mainly garments, handicrafts, carpets, agricultural items), by allowing, among others, Kashmir willow used to make cricket bats,…

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Congress has no role in govt formation: Azad

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Defying rumours of the Congress holding talks with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to form next government in Jammu and Kashmir, Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad on Monday said his party has no role to play in government formation. He added that they can only wait and watch. Azad stated that it is up to Mehbooba Mufti and his party leaders to decide what step should be taken. He further said that people are not suffering due to Governor’s rule in Jammu and Kashmir, as the situation is not new…

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