Year: 2017

Fog to thicken in coming days across state

Editor

Smog has been slowly engulfing the state and in all likelihood, the condition will get worse in the coming days due to dry weather. The current haze is due to suspended particles in air which can only get cleared with Western Disturbances (WB) which bring rain, snow and winds from Indo-Gangetic plains. As per the meteorology department, J&K is likely to witness rain or snow on November 14-15 and till then, the air quality is likely to deteriorate. Every year during autumn, the burning of agriculture waste and fossil fuel…

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H1N1 influenza death toll 5 as another patient dies at SKIMS

Editor

A 40-year-old woman has died of H1N1 influenza at Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences here, making her the fifth victim of the deadly infection this season, even as five more patients are presently being treated at the tertiary-care hospital. The woman, admitted to SKIMS with respiratory distress, was suffering from H1N1 influenza, a doctor said, quoting the patient’s investigation reports. He said that the woman, a resident of Budgam and an employee with the technical education department suffered acute respiratory distress syndrome and sepsis. “She had been put on antiviral…

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Panel suggests Single Book system for primary classes

Editor

The committee, constituted by the J&K Government to suggest ways to reduce weight of school bags, has recommended a combined book system up to the primary classes. The government had constituted a four-member committee of educational experts in the last week of August to suggest ways to help reduce the weight of schoolbags. The committee members include former Head of the Department Commerce, University of Kashmir, Prof AG Madhosh, Prof Nusrat Andrabi, former principal of the Government College for women, Prof Abdul Jabbar, ex-principal, and Veena Pandita, chairperson, J&K Board…

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NC questions Mehboob’s silence over ‘Fraudulent’ high profile appointments

Editor

‘Govt promoting mediocrity, nepotism’ National Conference on Wednesday expressed anguish and questioned the silence of Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti, over the “brazen nepotism” being allegedly promoted by the PDP BJP government. In a statement, NC provincial spokesperson, Imran Nabi Dar, said that present regime was“throwing all rules and regulations to winds”. “How come posts of director, a commissioner and other high profile appointments are being made without following the set protocol? The government is making it clear that merit has no value in the present regime,” Dar said. Citing the…

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Will do my best to meet Resistance Group: Dineshwar Sharma

Editor

On Day 3, interlocutor meets political leaders in Kashmir; to go to Jammu today Hoping for return of peace to Kashmir soon, the Centre’s interlocutor on Kashmir, Dineshwar Sharma, today said he would do his best to talk to the Hurriyat leaders in Kashmir. Speaking to the media first time since his arrival here on Monday, he said, “My meetings went well. I met a lot of people.” Sharma, who was last month appointed as New Delhi’s representative for dialogue with all stakeholders in Jammu and Kashmir, will conclude his…

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Tourism body blame media for negative publicity as tourism industry continues to suffer

Editor

“We are not how the media portrays us” is an expression common in the Valley. Kashmir’s tourism sector doesn’t just struggle in front of a disruptive militancy, there are primetime debates to counter. Chinar leaves are falling in Srinagar after long summer days, anticipation and peace. Yet the Valley’s natural and historical sites, its houseboats and shikaras, its tourism sector altogether have been missing the people they’re meant for: tourists. “Let me explain it this way, even if we offer hotel rooms for free, people won’t come,” says Wahid Malik,…

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A year after demonetisation was announced, digital transactions drop

Editor

After demonetisation, the spike in digital payments was caused by artificial constraints, and does not seem to have had a lasting impact on Indian citizens. Soon after demonetisation was announced in November last year, it was projected as part of a broader push towards a cashless economy. Several ministers and government officials claimed that this would nudge Indians to rely on non-cash or digital transactions. In the weeks and months following demonetisation, digital payments (including mobile wallets and mobile banking, credit/debit card transactions, and UPI) saw a sharp spike even…

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NEET centre in Jammu, even in Samba, none in Kashmir; Govt silent, aspirants suffer

Editor

MD/MS aspirants from Kashmir could miss postgraduate National Entrance Eligibility Test (NEET) 2017 as both the examination centres in J&K have been allocated to Jammu division, and none to Kashmir. Even though number of exam centres have been increased in four states, Kashmir candidates continue to face difficulties in arranging logistics as nearby centres have been filled to capacity. For the second consecutive year the state government has failed to ensure a NEET centre for Kashmir despite repeated assurances. While one of the centres has been allotted to Jammu, this…

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Business leaders want Dineshwar Sharma to meet resistance camp

Editor

Kashmir’s business fraternity on Tuesday advised interlocutor Dineshwar Sharma, who is on a maiden visit to Srinagar, to meet separatist leaders to achieve any forward movement on talks. Chairman, Kashmir Economic Alliance, Muhammad Yaseen Khan said that the interlocutor’s meeting with traders and businessmen won’t serve any purpose. “It is a futile exercise,” he said. The interlocutor, he said, should meet separatists to achieve a breakthrough. “Otherwise, we have seen in the past how these envoys meet people and do nothing.” Khan said that Kashmir needs a political solution and…

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Lack of professional planners leading to haphazard growth across J&K

Editor

Due to absence of professional planners, Jammu and Kashmir is bracing up for a major crisis in the implementation of developmental projects as haphazard constructions are coming up across the state. Officials said the job of planning had been entrusted to engineers, architects and draftsmen, who lacked basic knowledge of drafting plans for growing cities and towns. For a population of 12.55 million, J&K needs over 100 planners to plan development of cities and towns. “But, we have only five on the job, with two of them working in non-planning…

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