Month: November 2018

Keen on forming govt, will stake claim when numbers come our way: BJP Leader Ashok Koul

Editor

The Bharatiya Janata Party, which has the second highest number of lawmakers in an Assembly of 89, has said it is ready to form the government in J&K. The BJP has 26 MLAs while the Peoples Democratic Party has 28 MLAs in the Lower House. The party is looking for 19 other lawmakers to touch the magic figure of 45, according to a senior functionary of the party in J&K who has been involved in government-formation efforts. Ashok Koul, organising secretary of the state BJP, told Kashmir Post on Tuesday:…

Read More

Wetlands across Kashmir valley shrinking at alarming pace

Editor

Wetlands in Kashmir are shrinking at an alarming pace due to unplanned urbanisation, siltation and lack of conservation measures by the state government, experts have said. Wetlands act as flood absorption basins by retaining excess waters and are also referred as the Earth’s kidneys for helping absorb wastes like nitrogen and phosphorous. Citing Kashmir “geomorphic setup”, an expert said in view of its flat topography, the Valley is highly vulnerable to flooding, but most wetlands, which acted as reservoirs of floodwaters, have lost their carrying capacity due to “haphazard urbanisation…

Read More

#PowerCrisis – Dark days ahead as PDD frames power curtailment schedule

Editor

Metered areas to witness daily 4 hrs power cuts, Non-metered areas to 8 hr Adding to woes of people who are already facing unscheduled long power cuts, the Power Development Department (PDD) has framed power curtailment schedule and decided to resort to daily power cuts of eight hours in metered areas and four hours in non metered areas. Sources told Kashmir Post that even though the curtailment of electricity would vary from one grid station to another, however, on an average there would be seven to eight hours power cuts in non-metered…

Read More

After tiff with Mattu and other spate of controversies Basant Rath removed as IGP

Editor

The government on Tuesday transferred outspoken Inspector General of Police (IGP), Traffic, Basant Kumar Rath after his tiff with newly elected Srinagar Mayor Junaid Mattu, who was backed by BJP and its ally Peoples Conference. An order issued by Home Department read, “Basant Kumar Rath, IGP Traffic J&K is transferred and attached in the office of Commandant General, Home Guards/Civil Defence/SDRF till further orders.” As per the order, Alok Kumar IGP Security J&K has replaced Rath. Rath’s tenure comes after his last week’s verbal duel with Mattu on Twitter. Terming…

Read More

MeT predicts Rains, Snow from today, Caught off guard, Valley braces up for harsh winter

Editor

The weatherman has predicted light to moderate rainfall in plains and snowfall in upper reaches of Kashmir on Tuesday and Wednesday. Director Meteorological (MeT) department, Sonum Lotus said that there is possibility of light to moderate rainfall in the plains including Srinagar on Tuesday and Wednesday. “The plains will not experience snowfall,” he said adding there is a forecast of light snowfall in higher reaches. Lotus said weather would remain wet till November 14 and weather conditions would improve from November 15 morning. He said the snowfall in upper reaches…

Read More

Kargil Highway, Mughal Road shut after fresh Snowfall

Editor

Kashmir’s higher reaches received fresh snowfall on Monday while light rains lashed the plains including the summer capital Srinagar, even as the Mughal Road continued to remain closed for the second consecutive day. The Srinagar-Jammu highway was however open for one-way traffic. An official source told Kashmir Post that light snowfall was reported in high-altitude areas in Jammu and Kashmir, including Pir-ki-Gali on the Mughal Road, which connects Kashmir with Poonch via southern Shopian district. Snowfall was also reported at Sadhna Pass in Kupwara, Gurez Valley in Bandipora, Keran, Minamarg…

Read More

So far 52 times Cyber curfew imposed in Jammu & Kashmir

Editor

The militancy-hit Jammu and Kashmir has earned the dubious distinction of witnessing the highest number of internet shutdowns in the country. Under the standard operating procedures, the area-specific internet shutdowns in Kashmir are usually ordered by the authorities to avoid a law and order problem following encounters. Locals, however, consider these measures as an infringement of their rights. A website internetshutdowns.in which keeps track of internet shutdowns across India, claims the internet services were shut down for a total 112 times in J&K from 2012 to 2018. As per the…

Read More

Provocative speeches by prominent Right Wing Hindu leaders at Jammu seminar evoke sharp criticism

Editor

Condemning the provocative speeches delivered by many prominent Right-Wing Hindu leaders at a seminar on November 11, political parties and Muslim Organizations on Monday said that it was an attempt to harm the harmony in the Jammu region. Prominent right-wing leaders including academician, Madhu Kishwar, activist, Sushil Pandit, MLA Udhmapur and others on Sunday had termed the Muslim colonies in Jammu as “threat”. The seminar was organised by a little-known organization, IKKJUTH. Jammu Muslim Front (JMF), a prominent Muslim organization, strongly denounced the speeches delivered at the and said that…

Read More

Defying terror threat and poll boycott over 20000 candidates joining electoral race

Editor

Defying terror threat and poll boycott call made by the separatists and some political groups, the state is heading for the restoration of grassroots democracy in an impressive way with over 20,000 candidates joining the electoral race in the first three phases of the nine-phased panchayat elections starting from November 17. According to the official statistics of the state election department, over 20,000 candidates have filed nominations for sarpanch halqas and panch constituencies in the first three phases. In all, 165 blocks of the total 316 in J&K are going…

Read More

After Governor’s rule, JK likely to have President’s rule

Editor

Jammu and Kashmir is unlikely to have a popular government anytime soon as the Government of India (GoI) may recommend a spell of President’s rule at the expiry of Governor’s rule on December 19, official sources said. Under the constitution of Jammu and Kashmir, there is no provision for extension of Governor’s rule. The state is under central rule since June 19 after the BJP withdrew support from the then Mehbooba Mufti-led coalition government. The six-month term of Governor’s rule comes to an end on December 19. Therefore, for the…

Read More