March 2016 | Page 4 of 36

Ladakh to get world’s largest telescope?

March 26, 2016 Editor

India may be home to the world’s largest telescope project – the $1.47-billion Thirty Metre Telescope (TMT) International Observatory. Hanle in Ladakh has been short-listed as a prospective site by the TMT board following major hurdles in Mauna Kea, Hawaii – the first choice for the project. An international team is expected to visit Ladakh in a couple of months. The Hawaii Supreme Court had in December 2015 cancelled the permit issued to TMT for constructing the observatory following claims that the plot in Mauna Kea was sacred. While Hawaiian…

Govt mulls handing over Tragbal to Army to set up firing range

March 26, 2016 Editor

The Jammu and Kashmir Government is mulling over giving Tragbal meadows in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district to the Army for setting up an artillery firing range in lieu of the Tosa Maidan field firing range. Taking into consideration the damage which could be caused to flora and fauna, the government has dropped the plan to hand over land at Tulail in the Gurez area of the district to the Army and is instead thinking over giving the higher reaches of Tragbal, adjacent to Razdan Pass, for a field firing range.…

Hurriyat (G) demands release of 10-year-old Downtown boy

March 26, 2016 Editor

Appeals AI, UNICEF to take notice of Ismail’s detention Terming the continuous detention of 10-year-old Nowhatta boy Muhammad Ismail Khan and registration of FIRs against him as the “worst face of the tyranny” Hurriyat Conference (G) Friday demanded his immediate release. Hurriyat (G) appealed the Amnesty International, international child rights organization UNICEF and the other human rights organizations to take strong notice of the detention of minor child and use their influence for his immediate release. In a statement Hurriyat (G) spokesman Ayaz Akbar said such an example of lodging…

RSS stitches alliance back into shape

March 26, 2016 Editor

With Mehbooba Mufti set to head the PDP-BJP government in the state, it has become clear that the Sangh Parivar has played a very crucial role in restitching the alliance, which virtually looked impossible at one point of time. The presence of RSS ‘prant karyawah’ (state general secretary) Parshotam Dedechi in today’s crucial meeting of BJP legislators to elect the Legislature Party leader was an indication that the Sangh Parivar had stepped in to give its seal on the PDP-BJP coalition in the only Muslim-majority state of the country. Dedechi…

Govt school students fail to write basic Math

March 26, 2016 Editor

25/4 embarrassment 18 teachers suspended after found absent from class rooms and gossiping in staff room The educational standards hit a new low on Friday as the students of 4th and 5th standard of Girls High School Bemina couldn’t write 25 divided by four while all the 18 teachers of the school were suspended after found gossiping in the staff room. Director School Education Kashmir, Shah Faesal, said he conducted surprise inspection of the Girls High School Bemina and suspended 18 teachers after they were found absent from their classrooms.…

For Kashmir fans, Pakistan first and India next on support list

March 26, 2016 Editor

Awaiting an awful lot of emotions on return amid announcement of a press conference most possibly to declare his innings closed, he ended the India trip the way it had started. On what looked like his last match in Pakistan colours, Shahid Afridi thanked fans in India. There was no reason for him to feel different. Almost full to the capacity of 26,000, the stands sported all colours. Unmistakable for sight and sound were scores with Pakistan flags and placards. Most of them had Boom Boom on them. Chants of…

HC disappointed, says 14 years on, desired results yet to be realised for preservation of Dal Lake

March 26, 2016 Editor

Demonstrating its disappointment, the J&K High Court on Thursday observed that despite issuing directions aimed at preservation of the Dal Lake and other water bodies for the last 14 years, “desired results” had not been “concretised till date”. The court, in an effort to put in place a “permanent mechanism” for the preservation of water bodies, including the Dal, and “settle the matter”, sought the presence of Chief Secretary and Commissioner Secretaries of Tourism, Housing, Urban Development, Finance and Planning Departments on the next hearing. The directions were issued by…

Steep airfares hit tourism, Kashmir economy: KCCI

March 26, 2016 Editor

Expressing serious concern over steep hike in airfares, Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry today lashed out at the central and state governments for “failing to prevent loot by airlines.” In a statement, president, KCCI, Mushtaq Ahmad Wani said the steep hike in airfares is a serious concern as it hits Kashmir tourism industry and its economy badly. “The Valley does not have the direct railway connectivity with rest of the country. Jammu-Kashmir highway remains blocked most of the time due to inclement weather during winters. This makes air travel…

Avalanche hits Turtuk in Leh, Jawan goes missing

March 25, 2016 Editor

A soldier is missing and another is in critical condition after an Army patrol party was hit by an avalanche in Leh’s Turtuk on Friday morning. The Army has launched a search operation for the missing soldier. A ‘medium danger’ avalanche warning was issued for the higher areas of Jammu and Kashmir on Friday morning and people were advised to not venture into these areas. The advisory, issued by the Chandigarh-based Snow and Avalanche Study Establishment that comes under the ministry of defence, will remain effective for 24 hours beginning…