Month: March 2016

MLA Rashid slams entry of non-state subjects in valley

Editor

Awami Itehad Party chief and MLA Langate, Abdul Rashid Sheikh has demanded an end to flow of non-state subjects into Kashmir valley, arguing that their credentials and whereabouts are not known. Addressing public meetings at Malaknag Anantnag, Kelam Kulgam and Hawal Srinagar today Rashid said from Qazigund to Karnah thousands of non-state subject and homeless families have occupied thousands of kanals of land and started constructing temporary huts. “While Kashmiris need to prove their identity not only in other states but in their own hamlets to security agencies, this uninvited…

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‘World Theatre Day’ Be Kus Chus?

Editor

At Tagore Hall, Sohal Lal Kaul’s play on tortures, enforced disappearances, fake encounters takes you inside Army’s crammed detention centres To mark ‘World Theatre Day’, a powerful drama narrating the painful story inside Army’s detention center that became a symbol of torture and disappearances in Kashmir, was performed at Tagore Hall on Sunday. ‘Be Kus Chus’ (Who Am I) written by Sohan Lal Kaul pays a tribute to those disappeared and killed in fake encounters after being dubbed as militants and their sympathizers by government forces. The play was the…

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Kashmir civil society opposes proposed power tariff hike

Editor

Strongly opposing the Power Development Department’s proposed power tariff hike, a Kashmir-based civil society group has petitioned the State Electricity Regulatory Commission (SERC) and advocated increase in power tariffs for army and other forces’ establishments, also stating that general consumers cannot be burdened for “failure” of the State to reduce the Transmission and Distribution losses. The Kashmir Centre for Social and Development Studies (KCSDS)— in its petition—has expressed concern over the “failure of authorities” to curb and control the “perpetuating and ever-growing T&D losses incurred in power sector which is…

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Teachers under scanner, told to give results or face action

Editor

Two days after the Directorate School Education, Kashmir, suspended the entire teaching staff of a school in Srinagar for “callousness”, the officials today issued a circular to all the institutions directing teachers to perform or face action. The circular has been issued after the officials of the Education Department paid a surprise visit to Government Girls High School in Bemina on March 25 and found all the teachers resting in the staff room even as more than hundred students were sitting idle. Director, School Education, Kashmir, Shah Faesal today said…

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Doctors will be trained in latest diagnostic techniques : Health dept

Editor

With a rise in the heart disease cases in Kashmir valley, the health department has decided to train doctors in both rural and urban areas in latest diagnostic techniques and treatment procedures to save precious lives. A health official said that 5-10 per cent of patients with chest symptoms visit Out Patient Departments (OPDs) every year and there is a bright chance to properly diagnose and treat them at the initial stage. The timely intervention by doctors has already saved dozens of patients at health centres in Ganderbal, Bijbehara and…

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Mehbooba stakes claim, defends delay

Editor

Mehbooba was accompanied by senior PDP leaders Muzaffar Hussain Baig and Tariq Hamid Karra; Singh came alone to represent the BJP.  Expressing gratitude to the BJP for extending unconditional support to the PDP in forming the government in Jammu and Kashmir, Mehbooba Mufti, who is set to take over as the state’s first woman chief minister sometime next month, says that peace, reconciliation and development will be the main focus of her government. “I would like to repeat that Mufti-sahib (her father, late Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, whose death in January…

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Hectic lobbying in BJP as buzz about changes in Cabinet

Editor

Ministerial aspirants head for Delhi, throng RSS office in Jammu After PDP president Mehbooba Mufti staked claim to form a coalition government with the BJP in Jammu and Kashmir, hectic lobbying has begun among the “disciplined” leaders of the saffron party to get ministerial berths. While some leaders have rushed to New Delhi to seek the blessings of their political mentors, a good number of ministerial aspirants have thronged the state RSS headquarters “Vir Bhawan” here with their performance reports to convince the Sangh Parivar leadership of their competence. Although…

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Under fire, DFCO asks food outlet owners to ‘follow standards’

Editor

Under fire for its mass failure to address food adulteration and sale of substandard drugs, the Drugs and Food Control Organisation (DFCO) on Friday impressed upon all the food business operators dealing in processed, partially-processed or unprocessed food substances—intended for human consumption—to strictly adhere to the provisions laid down under Food Product Standards & Food Additives (FSSA) Rules & Regulations. A DFCO spokesperson said it has come to the notice of the State Government that some vendors dealing in preparations/marketing of Food Articles particularly including traditional “Wazwan” items are using…

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MeT predicts rains for next 24 hours

Editor

• Weather will improve from Sunday morning: Lotus • SASE issues avalanche alert for upper reaches Most parts of the Valley experienced light to moderate rainfall on Friday and weather department predicted more rains for next 24 hours. Srinagar and other parts of the Valley experienced light to moderate rainfall since last evening. The rainfall brought drop in the temperature. A Meteorological department official told that Srinagar received 13 mm rainfall from 8: 30 am to 5: 30 pm today. “Qazigund recorded 9 mm rains and Pahalgam received 14 mm…

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Govt puts restoration of flood-hit schools on back burner

Editor

Two years on, the restoration of flood-hit schools has remained the least priority with government as only Rs 5 crores have been released against estimated Rs 90 crores projected by the school education department. Around 1096 buildings of Primary, Middle, High and Higher Secondary schools were damaged during the September 2014 floods that created havoc across valley, however least has been done to renovate the damaged buildings. “The restoration has been put at the back burner as government didn’t release funds for past two years,” officials said. They said of…

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