Dealers harassed, says Mehbooba Mufti to Punjab CM in a letter

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Friday wrote to her Punjab counterpart Parkash Singh Badal, saying mutton traders and importers of the state are being harassed in Punjab and sought his intervention to stop it. Mehbooba said certain persons near Madhopur in Punjab realize substantial amount of money from mutton dealers as special tax for transportation of livestock (sheep/goat), notwithstanding the fact that livestock are procured from neighbouring state of Rajasthan, an official spokesman said. She requested Badal that since the mutton dealers are not getting support from…

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Govt urged to expedite framing of tourism policy

The Domestic Tour Operators Association of Kashmir today urged the Tourism Department to expedite framing of the tourism policy and said the Tourism Advisory Committee framed by the government should have representation of experienced stakeholders. President of the association Hamid Wangnoo said the policy should focus on promotion of tourism, infrastructure development and address the problems faced by the tourism industry. “Infrastructure should not come up at the cost of environment. Proper road connectivity, electricity, clean drinking water, washrooms at tourism destinations, especially in Srinagar, should be the priority. Construction…

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PDC apathy limits Lower Jhelum’s power generating capacity

Despite provision for installation of fourth unit at the state-owned Lower Jhelum Hydro-power Project (LJHP) at Gantmulla here, the State Power Development Corporation (PDC) has failed to enhance its electricity generation capacity, resulting in loss of around 1500 lakh units of energy annually. Commissioned in 1977-78, with a generation capacity of 105 MW, the LJHP, according to reports, was designed in such a way that a fourth unit could be added to it to increase its capacity by 35 MW. However, despite passing of nearly four decades, the PDC has…

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Flower growers turn to Mehbooba for support

Expressing concern over failure of successive state government to help farmers associated with floriculture, the Flower Growers Association today demanded that the state should extend support to cultivators as it could create employment avenues for youth. Association president Tajinder Singh, while welcoming the announcement by Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti of expanding the commercial floriculture in the state, said it could create employment for thousands of youth and generate revenue worth crores of rupees. Tajinder Singh said the exploring potential of international market should be the aim of the government and…

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Kupwara killings dealt body blow to tourism

‘Over 1000 bookings cancelled’ Over thousand bookings were cancelled in the wake of the five civilian killings in Kupwara district earlier this month with the tourism industry witnessing 40 percent decline in tourist arrivals, according to the local tour operators. President Travel Agents Society of Kashmir (TASK), Mohammad Ibrahim Siah told Kashmir POST that the civilian killings in Handwara and Kupwara hit the tourism sector badly “as 30 to 40 percent of tourism related businesses was lost due to the cancellation of advanced bookings by the tourists”. “Though the season…

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Cross-LoC trade to get banking back-up

Government gets RBI nod, takes first step towards ending barter practice The Cabinet today decided to give banking back-up to trade across the Line of Control (LoC) so that the barter system could be abolished. The Department of Industries and Commerce was given the task of preparing a project and submitting it to the Cabinet. The Cabinet meeting was chaired by Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti at the Civil Secretariat. Addressing a press conference after the Cabinet meeting, Minister for Education Nayeem Akhter said the Government of India had told the…

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JK purchases power for Rs 4600 cr in 2015-16

The Jammu and Kashmir government has spent a whopping Rs 4600 crore on power purchases from outside in 2015-16 to meet the state’s energy requirements, officials data has revealed. It has also revealed the state has spent Rs 32000 crore on power purchases from outside in the past 12 years (from 2004 to 2016). Officials said the genesis of bulging expenditure on power purchases in Jammu and Kashmir, which has a potential to generate 20,000 MW hydropower, lies in ‘illegal occupation’ of power projects by the National Hydro Power Corporation…

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Valley beckons tourists with carnivals

The government is planning a host of tourism-related activities in the coming months to increase footfalls as the tourist season is about to peak in the Kashmir valley. While tourists enjoyed free pony and anti-terrain vehicle (ATV) rides at Gulmarg yesterday, the government is focusing on keeping tourists engaged in recreational activities so that they leave with good memories. Through such activities, the government is hopeful that the tourists would share pleasant experiences once they go back to their respective places and thus encourage more people to visit Kashmir. “We…

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Kashmir tourism traders to participate in Arab Travel Mart

The members of Tourist Trade Interest Guild (TTIG) left for Dubai to attend Arab Travel Mart from April 25 – 28 at Dubai International Trade Centre, SZR – Dubai. The TTIG shall also hold a road show on April 26 at Crown Plaza Hotel to showcase the Cultural, Heritage and Adventure Potential of Kashmir and Ladakh, a statement here said. The delegation headed by Akram Khan Siah, chairman TTIG comprises Bashir Karnai, ZahoorKarnai and other members of TTIG. The delegation is also joined by Nasir Shah, chairman Piltof, Ali Muhammad…

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Entrepreneurs to shell out more money for industrial land

• Land under sick units to go under hammer • Entrepreneur’s performance to determine lease time period • Allotted land with only a chowkidar shed and boundary wall to be treated as vacant The recently released new Industrial Policy – 2016 will ensure budding entrepreneurs get the land allotted for their ventures on first come first serve basis. However, if they don’t show any progress in 2 years time, the land allotted will be revoked. Moreover, the handloom sector which employs more than 3.5 lakh people in the State, will…

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