In last over two decades, an amalgam of 30 trade bodies in the Valley on Wednesday said that Kashmir has witnessed 3000 days of lockdown, thus simultaneously deteriorated the situation of the business community here, which they claim are struggling to survive amid the prevalent situation in Jammu and Kashmir. However, the traders also stated that the special package of Rs 20, 000 Crore announced by the government has been announced for the people excluding the business community of Kashmir. Over 30 trade bodies including Kashmir Chamber of Commerce &…
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Business
#Lockdown: Apple industry in shamble, as millions of cartons are lying in cold storage waiting for buyers
The nationwide coronavirus lockdown has badly hit apple farmers in Jammu and Kashmir. As the farmers are not finding market for their produce, over three million cartons of apples are lying in cold storage. They are rather paying Rs 35 per box per month as storage charge, and Rs 100 as packing and grading fee to save their produce from rotting. They fear incurring more loses than the value of their produce if lockdown continues as there are no buyers due to the market conditions. The lockdown has added to…
Read MoreCivilian flights from Awantipora airfield got Defence Ministry node
In a significant development, the Union Defence Ministry has approved operation of civilian flights from Awantipora airfield, a strategically important airbase managed by Indian Air Force in southern Kashmir. “‘In-principle approval for civil flights operations from Awantipora airfield under Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) has been conveyed to Ministry of Civil Aviation in June, 2019,” reads the written reply of Union Minister of State Defence Shripad Naik’s to a question by Member of Parliament from Anantnag constituency Hasnain Masoodi about the steps being taken by the Ministry to transfer Awantipora Airport…
Read MoreIrregularities in appointments, loans at heart of J&K Bank raids
Allegations of large-scale irregularities in matters related to loans, finances and appointments are at the heart of raids by the state anti-corruption bureau (ACB) at the corporate headquarters of the Jammu and Kashmir Bank that continued in Srinagar for a second day on Sunday, according to Union home ministry and ACB officials. The home ministry and the state government also decided to split the post of chairman-cummanaging director of the bank –held by Parvez Ahmad Nengroo who was removed on Saturday – in accordance with Reserve Bank of India (RBI)…
Read MoreTourism sector on the brink of disaster
Kashmir needs no introduction as a tourism destination and its rich history is known the world over. Over the years, huge investment from the government as well as the public has played a vital role in making it a world famous tourism destination. Although it has got everything to qualify as a world-class tourism destination the prevailing political scenario and the wrong economic policies of the government, step-motherly treatment of government of India towards Kashmir and negative media publicity has turned this industry and the people associated with it on…
Read MoreCross-LoC trade to resume after plugging of loopholes: MHA
The cross-Line of Control (LoC) trade, which was suspended by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) because of its misuse for terror funneling purposes, will resume soon after the mechanisms to check the loopholes are put in place. Sources said the work had started on installing truck scanners at both the trade centres — Salamabad in the Kashmir valley and Chakan Da Bagh in Poonch in Jammu — to enable the customs department and other agencies to see what is being imported from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. A senior officer, on the…
Read MoreInfiltration of third-party goods, Channelling funds for militancy, Clandestine trade of drugs, Supply of arms and fake currency notes, reasons for suspending LoC trade: MHA
The Union Ministry of Home Affairs Friday listed alleged channeling of funds for militancy in Kashmir and supply of arms and fake currency notes to the Valley among five main reasons for suspending the cross-Line of Control trade with Pakistan via Salamabad and Chakan-da-Bagh in Jammu and Kashmir. The MHA Thursday ordered suspension of cross-Line of Control trade via Salamabad and Chakan-da-Bagh in Jammu and Kashmir, with effect from Friday, following reports of alleged misuse of the trade routes by Pakistan-based elements for illegal inflow of narcotics, weapons and currency,…
Read MoreDue to Convoy System, Highway Ban, Kashmir Apple Industry on verge of decline: Delhi AMA
The prevailing Army convoy system and highway ban has left the only surviving Apple industry in Kashmir at the verge of decline given the huge losses faced by the merchants and growers. The Apple Merchant Association Delhi president Metharam Kriplani from Delhi said that Kashmir’s apple industry is the only surviving industry in the state, but given the convoy system and highway ban in place has left this vibrant sector at the verge of decline.“The growers are facing huge losses. Every day a vehicle carrying apple reaches here with 40…
Read MoreAsia’s largest Tulip Garden thrown open to visitors
Asia’s largest tulip garden overlooking the famous Dal Lake here in the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir was Sunday thrown open to public, marking the beginning of new tourism season in the valley. The garden witnessed an impressive footfall of locals and tourists on the first day of its opening this year. “The tulip garden was thrown open for public today and we expect a very good number of visitors this year,” Director Floriculture Abdul Hafiz Shah told PTI. Formerly known as Siraj Bagh, the Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip…
Read MoreCampaign on to remove tourist’s fears about J&K
Ahead of the tourism season, the J&K Government has launched a major media and promotional blitz across India to dispel ‘fears’ among tourists about Kashmir, post the Pulwama suicide attack of February 14. Some of leading Bollywood personalities will also be involved in promotional activities to project the peaceful face of J&K. After the terror attack in which more than 40 CRPF personnel were killed, the tourism sector received a major setback, with large scale cancellations and travel agencies receiving requests to divert tours to other states, a blow to…
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