Category: Business

Business

Kashmir’s saffron growers in the red

Editor

Centre’s ambitious renewal mission, fails to click due to actions of land and soil excavation mafia. Despite the setting chill, south Kashmir’s Pampore fields, situated on rare soil dunes, wear a festive look these days with young and old, irrespective of their professions and gender, singing and plucking the famed and prized saffron crop from a carpet of purple flowers. However, the disappointment on farmers’ faces is visible as the Centre’s Rs. 413-crore Prime Minister’s National Saffron Renewal Mission has failed in its objective. Besides, the politician-backed land and soil…

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Srinagar woman runs the only bat unit in city

Editor

Close to the Alam Sahib’s shrine in Narwara, Rifat Jan lives like any other Kashmiri woman. However there is one aspect which makes her special. Rifat runs the only bat manufacturing unit in the city by the name of Masoodi Arts and Sports.  “I couldn’t have done this without my husband. He gave me all the support I needed,’’ said a beaming  Rifat. “ At first I was reluctant to start the unit as my husband cannot run it for being a government employee,  but I made up my mind…

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Pahalgam, Patnitop to be Smart Tourist Destinations: Mufti

Editor

With an objective to give travel industry a complete image makeover, Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, Friday emphasized upon exploring how smartness can improve competitiveness in the context of state’s tourism destinations. To begin with, he desired that Tourism Department conceive a plan for ‘Smart Tourist Destination’ for Pahalgam and Patnitop resorts. “Small is beautiful. Time has come for our tourist destinations to offer smart solutions in leisure, transport, hospitality and businesses for comfort of our visitors,” he stated. The Chief Minister made these observations while interacting with business heads…

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KCCI submits memo to govt

Editor

The Kashmir Chamber Of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) has submitted a memorandum to the government for the promotion of businesses in various sectors. In a statement issued here today, the KCCI secretary general Faiz Ahmad Bakshi said the memorandum was presented to Industries Minister Chander Prakash Ganga and his deputy Mohammad Ashraf Mir during a meeting held here yesterday. KCCI president Mushtaq Ahmad Wani said the memorandum pointed out that the Valley was yet to benefit from the Centre’s Cluster Development Programme. The industry body demanded setting up of clusters…

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Hydropower can raise state’s economic status: Lone

Editor

Minister for Science and Technology and Animal Husbandry Sajad Gani Lone today said the hydropower sector had the potential to raise the state’s economic status. “The hydropower sector has a huge potential. If we can apply ourselves professionally we can easily supersede the tourism sector,” the minister after inaugurating the Energy Bhawan at Bemina here. Lone said the agro-climatic conditions in J&K were so good that a lot could be gained from the sector. “Our state has the potential to fulfill the energy demand and supply gap,” he added. Terming…

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Madhur Bhandarkar meets former JK Chief Minister

Editor

Filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar on Thursday met former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah here. The National Award-winner said he was ecstatic. “It’s always a great pleasure to catch up with the witty, humorous and energetic Dr. Farooq Abdullah Sir. #Kashmir,” Bhandarkar tweeted. The director of critically acclaimed film Page 3 and Fashion also shared photographs in which he is seen engrossed in a conversation with the politician. In the images, Farooq Abdullah, clad in a red t-shirt, can also be seen enjoying the session. On the professional front, Bhandarkar’s…

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Traders want Mufti to look into their demands

Editor

The Karan Nagar Traders’ Federation (KNTF) today alleged that the government had neglected them while seeking Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed’s intervention for the resolution of their demands. “Despite the fact that Karan Nagar is a commercial hub, we have been neglected by the government. Though we have sent several reminders, the government has not addressed our genuine grievances,” said Karan Nagar Traders’ Federation president Aijaz Shahdar. He said most of the streetlights in the area were defunct that was affecting businesses in the evening hours. He said electric wires…

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Airlines ignore Kashmir for Diwali offer

Editor

SpiceJet, Indigo slash base rate to Rs 749 on major tourist destinations Kashmir, one of the most beautiful tourist destinations in India, seem to have been at receiving end due to the discrimination shown by the airlines while announcing massive discounts on air fare during festive seasons. SpiceJet which has announced a Diwali offer on Tuesday has slashed base air fare as low as Rs 749 on major sectors and to tourist destinations. However, it has ignored Srinagar in its latest Diwali offer as no ticket is on offer on…

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IRCTC charts out ‘Mesmerizing Kashmir’ package

Editor

The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation Ltd (IRCTC) has drawn up an itinerary for travellers based in Mumbai to visit landmarks of Jammu & Kashmir, including the Vaishnodevi shrine and Gulmarg. The 10-night/11-day ‘Mesmerizing Kashmir’ package is scheduled for November 14, and the tariff starts from INR 22,839 onwards, stated a release. The tour would start from Bandra station and will take patrons to Jammu, Katra, Srinagar, Gulmarg and Pahalgam, covering most of the tourist places in the state. The package tariff is INR 34,608/- per person on a…

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Australian delegation on appraisal trip to Kashmir

Editor

Need to take tangible steps for removing adverse travel advisories: CM A high-profile Australian delegation is currently visiting Jammu and Kashmir for first-hand appraisal about the situation in the State to help Australian government decide over revoking travel advisory to the conflict-hit region. Advisor to the J&K chief minister, Amitabh Mattoo, said the delegation will collect vital feedback which will help the Australian government rethink on its advisory against travelling to J&K. “The purpose of the exposure visit is to make the delegation take firsthand appraisal about J&K as a…

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