Community Archives | Kashmir POST

Kashmir’s Tourism Crisis: Littering, Loud Parties and “Zero Civic Sense” Are Threatening India’s Paradise

March 5, 2026 Editor

Paradise at Risk: Kashmir’s Tourism Boom Meets a Civic Sense Crisis By: Javid Amin | 05 March 2026 The early morning mist rises slowly over Dal Lake as the first shikaras begin to glide across the water. For centuries, travellers have come to Kashmir to witness scenes like this — the quiet beauty of mountains reflected in lakes, the calm of pine forests, the soft silence of snow-covered meadows. Poets once described the valley as “heaven on earth.” Today, millions of tourists arrive each year hoping to experience that same…

J&K Liquor Sales Cross 5.63 Crore Bottles Till January 2026; ₹435 Crore Excise Revenue Earned

February 27, 2026February 27, 2026 Editor

Over 5.63 Crore Liquor Bottles Sold in J&K Till January 2026; Excise Revenue Touches ₹435 Crore By: Javid Amin | 26 February 2026 Official excise data reveals that more than 5.63 crore liquor bottles were sold across Jammu & Kashmir up to January 2026, generating approximately ₹435 crore in excise revenue for the Union Territory. The bulk of sales came from Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) and beer, reaffirming alcohol taxation as one of the most consistent non-GST revenue streams for J&K’s administration. While volumes have shown a marginal dip…

J&K Reopens 14 Tourist Spots After Security Review; 26 Destinations Now Operational Post-Pahalgam Attack

February 16, 2026February 16, 2026 Editor

J&K Reopens 14 Tourist Spots After Security Review; Tourism Revival Gains Momentum By: Javid Amin | 16 February 2026 In a significant move aimed at restoring confidence among travellers, Manoj Sinha, Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, has ordered the reopening of 14 tourist destinations that were closed following the Pahalgam terror attack in April 2025. The attack, which claimed 26 lives—mostly tourists—led to heightened security measures and the temporary closure of nearly 50 tourist sites across the Union Territory. Officials confirmed that the latest decision follows a comprehensive security…

Saving Handicrafts: Beyond Slogans and Selective Concern

January 27, 2026January 28, 2026 Umar Khan Amiri

Challenges: Exploitation, Decline, and Market Saturation The renewed concern expressed by the Copper Handmade Utensils Union, echoed by sections of the administration, about saving handmade copperware has reopened a larger and more uncomfortable debate about the future of traditional crafts in Kashmir. While the intention to protect any indigenous craft is welcome, the selective urgency surrounding copperware raises critical questions about policy consistency, cultural priorities, and economic realism. Kashmir has historically been a global centre of handicrafts. From carpet and shawl weaving to handmade paper, kitabat (calligraphy), wood carving, papier-mâché,…

Mohra Hydroelectric Project: How Asia’s First Powerhouse in Kashmir Became a Forgotten Ruin

January 26, 2026 Editor

Mohra Hydroelectric Power Project: How Asia’s Earliest Power Station in Kashmir Slipped Into Silence By: Javid Amin | 25 January 2026 More than a century ago, when large parts of Asia still relied on oil lamps and fireplaces, electric bulbs glowed in Srinagar—powered not by coal or diesel, but by the flowing waters of the Jhelum River. At the heart of this quiet revolution stood the Mohra Hydroelectric Power Project, commissioned in 1905 during the reign of Maharaja Pratap Singh. It was not merely a power station; it was a…

Kashmiri Students Return from Iran, Slam Media for ‘Distorted’ Portrayal of Ground Reality

January 18, 2026 Editor

Kashmiri Students Back from Iran Reject Panic, Criticise Media Coverage By: Javid Amin | 17 January 2025 Returned students say panic was manufactured by exaggerated coverage, insist life and studies continued normally in Iranian cities Relief at Home, Anger Over Narratives When more than three dozen Kashmiri students arrived home from Iran this week, their return was met with relief, tears, and tight embraces from anxious families. But alongside gratitude for safety, another emotion dominated their voices: anger. Anger not at Iran.Anger not at their universities.But at mainstream television channels…

Kashmir at the Crossroads: New Year Revelry or Cultural Ruin?

January 1, 2026January 1, 2026 Editor

Kashmir New Year 2026: Celebration or Cultural Erosion? | Tourism vs. Tradition By: Javid Amin | 01 January 2025 A Valley Illuminated, A Question Unanswered As the final seconds of 2025 bled into the dawn of 2026, the Himalayan skies above Kashmir did not just witness the gentle fall of winter snow. They were set ablaze—streaked with the incandescent trails of fireworks launched from the historic Lal Chowk in Srinagar, reflected in the pristine snowy bowls of Gulmarg, and shimmering over the icy silence of Dal Lake. The air, crisp…

Seizure of Outside-Registered Vehicles in J&K: A Crisis That Demands Compassionate Governance

December 28, 2025December 28, 2025 Editor

Seizure of Outside-Registered Vehicles in J&K: When Enforcement Overrides Empathy By: Javid Amin | 27 December 2025 A Crisis That Demands Compassionate Governance Across the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir (J&K), enforcement drives targeting vehicles with outside registration numbers have escalated from routine checks to mass seizures — leaving thousands of vehicle owners bewildered, out of pocket, and stuck in administrative labyrinths with little clarity or support. What started as a legitimate regulatory intent—ensuring that all motor vehicles comply with the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 and related rules—has in…

Survival Under Strain: How Kashmir’s Families Navigate Unemployment, Drug Crisis, and Rising Costs in 2025

December 26, 2025 Editor

A comprehensive look at the layered challenges facing Kashmir Valley residents—from record joblessness among educated youth to a massive anti-drug campaign, reservation policy protests, and the daily struggle with inflation and unreliable services By: Javid Amin | 26 December 2025 When Multiple Crises Converge The morning air in Srinagar carries more than the winter chill this December. It carries the weight of uncertainty that has settled over Kashmir Valley like an unwelcome fog. Across districts from Anantnag to Baramulla, families wake each day to navigate an intricate web of challenges…

25 Winter Blazes Reported Across Kashmir in 4 Days: Causes, Risks, and Safety Lessons for Households

December 26, 2025 Editor

25 Winter Blazes Reported Across Kashmir in 4 Days — A Stark Warning on Heating Safety and Fragile Housing By: Javid Amin | December 25, 2025 Residential houses, livestock sheds, and temporary structures damaged across multiple districts as winter heating practices and aging infrastructure combine to create a silent seasonal hazard. Winter in Kashmir is not just about snow-covered rooftops, frost-lined roads, and breathtaking alpine views. It is also the season when households rely heavily on heating systems — some modern, many traditional, and many more dangerously improvised. In just…