Category: Business

Business

Kashmir civil society opposes proposed power tariff hike

Editor

Strongly opposing the Power Development Department’s proposed power tariff hike, a Kashmir-based civil society group has petitioned the State Electricity Regulatory Commission (SERC) and advocated increase in power tariffs for army and other forces’ establishments, also stating that general consumers cannot be burdened for “failure” of the State to reduce the Transmission and Distribution losses. The Kashmir Centre for Social and Development Studies (KCSDS)— in its petition—has expressed concern over the “failure of authorities” to curb and control the “perpetuating and ever-growing T&D losses incurred in power sector which is…

Read More

Steep airfares hit tourism, Kashmir economy: KCCI

Editor

Expressing serious concern over steep hike in airfares, Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry today lashed out at the central and state governments for “failing to prevent loot by airlines.” In a statement, president, KCCI, Mushtaq Ahmad Wani said the steep hike in airfares is a serious concern as it hits Kashmir tourism industry and its economy badly. “The Valley does not have the direct railway connectivity with rest of the country. Jammu-Kashmir highway remains blocked most of the time due to inclement weather during winters. This makes air travel…

Read More

CAPD dept fixes food rates in dhabas

Editor

In a bid to tighten noose around the dhabas which continue to fleece customers by charging exorbitant rates for food items, the Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution (CAPD) Department, Jammu, has revised and fixed the sale rate of both vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes. The dhaba owners have also been instructed to display the rate list of food items at their business establishments within the municipal limits. Sources said the rates were fixed by the department after reports poured in about alleged fleecing of customers by dhaba owners by charging rates…

Read More

Seasonal mushroom Shajkun sells like hotcakes in north Kashmir

Editor

Shajkun, a seasonal mushroom found in the coniferous forests of Kupwara, Baramulla and Bandipora in March and April months, is selling like hot cakes in north Kashmir. As the weather has improved here, the women folk venture out in the nearby thick forests of Deodar in Kupwara, Lolab, Handwara, Kralpora and Kandi to collect the rare mushroom locally known as Shajkun. According to the locals this mushroom generally grows in the shape of an ear and is rich in protein, iron and calcium. The locals believe this golden colour mushroom…

Read More

Jewellers’ strike enters 19th day

Editor

Strike by jewellers against government’s proposal to levy 1 per cent excise duty on gold, entered 19th day on Monday. Despite repeated pleas by the jewellers for rollback of the union budget proposal, the central government has paid no heed to “our pleas,” the jewellers here said. The jewellers carried out a protest rally from the retail gold market here to press for their demand. Bashir Ahmad Rather, president All Kashmir Gold Dealers and Workers Association said the national media wrongly reported that the strike was called off across India.…

Read More

‘Tulip garden conversion will deprive Kashmir of its USP’

Editor

Taking strong exception to the government proposal to turn Tulip garden into a ‘round-the-year tourist spot’, the Valley-based tourism traders today said it will deprive Kashmir of its USP. The tourism players said the move would prove counter-productive for the Tulip garden which is known for its serene locales and variety of tulip bulbs attracting hordes of backpackers during spring to Kashmir. On the foothills of Zabarwan, the Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden has been ranked among ‘Top 5 tulip gardens’ to be visited across the globe, by the World…

Read More

On Navroz eve, Dal Nadroo missing from Kashmir markets

Editor

Nadroo—lotus stems or upper root—figuring most prominent in Kashmiri cuisines kept the date with all the big festivals ranging from Eid to Navroz. But since the great floods of 2014, it has disappeared from the markets. Ahead of this Navroz, the local Nadroo was again off-the-shelf in Srinagar markets for the second consecutive year after 2014 floods. Nadroo—lotus stems or upper root—figuring most prominent in Kashmiri cuisines kept the date with all the big festivals ranging from Eid to Navroz. But since the great floods of 2014, it has disappeared…

Read More

Srinagar to get wholesale fish market, retail sales centres: Div Com

Editor

Dr Asgar Hassan Samoon, Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, said on Sunday that the Central Government had given its nod for a wholesale fish market here. “Srinagar will soon get a wholesale fish market and retail hygienic fish sales centres, which have been approved by the National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB) at an estimated cost of Rs 2.50 core on 90:10 Centre-state sharing pattern,” Samoon said. He said the government had identified four places for establishing retail sale outlets of fish with modern facilities in Srinagar — Chattabal, Karan Nagar, Parimpora and…

Read More

‘Tour operators should promote archaeological sites, artifacts’

Editor

We also need to tap media for tourism promotion: TASK Director Tourism Kashmir Mahmood A Shah urged travel agents and hoteliers to promote State’s rich art, culture, heritage and archeological sites along with the natural landscape which the place is bestowed with. Mahmood Shah was interacting with the travel trade and hospitality sector at a dinner party here at Hotel Royal Batoo on Thursday evening. The dinner was hosted by Travel Agents Society of Kashmir (TASK) for the media fraternity from Indore. The journalists from Indore who are here on…

Read More

Flower cultivators suffer losses due to dry winter

Editor

The dry winter season in Jammu has affected the flower growers as the yield has been low this year with farmers suffering huge losses. Most of the cultivators, especially involved in marigold crop, used mainly in religious and marriage functions, has faced maximum burnt as the flower size is very small. This has pushed the prices down forcing cultivators to sell their produce at cheaper rates. Around 1,000 hectors of land is under the cultivation of different varieties of flowers, particularly marigold, jasmine, aster, rose, chrysanthemum and tuberose in J&K.…

Read More