Month: May 2016

Budget 2016-17 Highlights

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This budget, the first of this new PDP-BJP Government, has been formulated as a tribute to Jenab Mufti Mohammed Sayeed, said Drabu. Finance minister Haseeb Drabu on Monday presented the budget for 2016-17 in the Jammu and Kashmir legislative assembly. This budget, the first of this new PDP-BJP Government, has been formulated as a tribute to Jenab Mufti Mohammed Sayeed, said Drabu. “Having had the privilege of being his Finance Minister, I have, in this budget, attempted to put into a framework the “Mufti Model of Governance”,” he said. Here…

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Kashmir University initiates process to axe Russian poplars

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Officials said the process to put all Russian poplars in the campus to auction for their felling has been started and a committee in this regard has already been constituted on directions of Vice-Chancellor, Prof Khurshid Iqbal Andrabi. Realizing the hazardous effects of Russian poplars on public health, the Kashmir University has initiated the process to axe such trees in the campus. Officials said the process to put all Russian poplars in the campus to auction for their felling has been started and a committee in this regard has already…

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Supreme Court issues notice on High Court order on Food Safety Act

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The Supreme Court today issued notices to the respondents, including Registrar General, J&K High Court, in a petition challenging High Court orders asking all food manufacturing/ processing units operating in the region to file an affidavit indicating as to how and in which manner the food manufacturing/ processing units are following the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India Act, 2006. The apex court issued the notices after admitting a special leave petition (SLP) filed by the J&K Traders and Manufacturers Federation, who have challenged the High…

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Govt has given clearance for AIIMS at Awantipora: Bali Bhagat

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Minister for Health and Medical Education Bali Bhagat Monday said New Delhi has given clearance to Jammu and Kashmir government to establish All India Institute Medical Sciences (AIIMS) at Awantipora in Pulwama district. Replying to the query raised by the legislator Surinder Mohan in the Legislative Council over the budget allocation for the twin AIIMS in Jammu and Kashmir, the minister said the government has identified land in Jammu’s Samba district and at Awantipora in Pulwama district. “The State government had identified the land for AIIMS hospital at Awantipora in…

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Working on return of power projects from NHPC : Drabu

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Finance Minister Haseeb Drabu today said the government was working out modalities to enable the return of projects being run by the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) to J&K. “It is in the Agenda of Alliance. I have had extensive discussions with people in Delhi. Modalities are being worked out. We have worked out three or four modalities and will see which one suits best,” Drabu said while addressing a press conference soon after tabling the Budget in the Assembly. He said he could not give the exact date as…

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Some Hits, Some Misses, feels Kashmir Inc

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The state Budget 2016-17 drew mixed reactions from Kashmir Inc and stakeholders in the Valley’s tourism sector. Even as sops for development of industry and handicraft sectors were welcomed, leaders of business bodies said they were expecting more incentives for the tourism sector and immediate relief for traders. “Announcements for the handicraft sector, industry and initiatives for women are welcome. During pre-Budget deliberations, we had pointed out that the handicraft sector was suffering. However, we were expecting more sops for the tourism sector,” said Kashmir Chamber of Commerce & Industry…

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PDP led govt biggest enemy of Kashmiris : Geelani

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  The delegation, according to the Hurriyat spokesman, said they are living in Panderathen area from last 150 years and the “government is forcing them to leave the area now without arranging any alternate accommodation.” Terming the BJP-PDP coalition government as “biggest enemy of Kashmiris”, the Chairman of Hurriyat Conference (G) Syed Ali Geelani on Monday said these people want to settle non-state subjects in the state and render state-subjects homeless. Hitting out at PDP, he said for remaining in power this party has started “a long-term process of eliminating Kashmiri people.” Meanwhile,…

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Er Rashid marshalled out, NC stages walkout from assembly

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Independent legislator Sheikh Abdul Rashid was marshalled out while opposition National Conference members today boycotted the Budget presentation in Jammu and Kashmir Assembly demanding a statement from the government over the status of magisterial probe into Handwara killings. As soon as Finance Minister Haseeb Drabu rose to present the Budget for 2016-17, Mr Rashid demanded that the government make a statement on the killings in Handwara town which took place during protests against alleged molestation of a girl by an armyman last month. The Independent legislator from Langate, adjoining Handwara…

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Sonamarg ‘Meadow of gold’ turning into concrete jungle?

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“Where is Sonamarg? All I see is a concrete jungle of bricks and iron.” The remarks by a local visitor summed up the destruction brought by human greed to one of the most sought after tourist destinations of Kashmir called the “meadow of gold”. Situated some 85 km north of the summer capital on the Srinagar-Leh highway, Sonamarg is also home to the Thajiwas glacier — just a half-day but a difficult trek from here. But that is also shrinking. In fact, “fast vanishing”, according to Shakil Romshoo, a noted…

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Will step down if chair becomes my weakness: CM

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‘Sainik colonies only for state subjects, not for outsiders’ ‘Committed to bring back Kashmiri Pandits to Valley’ ‘Will set up transit accommodations for Pandits till they feel safe to return to their native places’ ‘Self rule can set example for conflict resolution around the world’ CM cites controversial past of NC to counter Omar’s tirade Invoking her father’s vision for peaceful and prosperous Jammu and Kashmir, Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti Saturday said she won’t hesitate to step down if the chair becomes her weakness in this pursuit. In her first…

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