Category: Community

DGCA takes cognizance of rising airfares to Kashmir

Editor

Taking cognizance of skyrocketing airfares to Kashmir, civil aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has sought details from airlines on their pricing policies, especially about fares being charged by them on the Jammu and Kashmir sector. The DGCA move comes in the backdrop of concerns expressed by the J&K government before it over unregulated airfares to the Valley, particularly during the peak tourism season or whenever the Srinagar-Jammu highway remains cut off due to inclement weather. “The DGCA has sought details of ticket prices from the airlines, especially…

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Muslims will have to solve their own problems : Sheikh Hussain Yee

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Prominent Islamic scholar Sheikh Hussain Yee today said the Muslims across the globe would themselves have to find solutions to their problems. “To come out of problems and issues which the Muslim community is besieged with, the only way out is that we rely on Allah and fear him only. The Muslims will have to find out the solutions of their problems themselves,” Yee said while addressing the Friday congregation at Jamia Masjid in old Srinagar city. “…if Muslims practice the commandments of the Koran and obey Allah in real…

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Travel firm owner held for duping Hajj aspirants

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The J&K Police has arrested the owner of Al-Hajeej Tour and Travels – the main accused of swindling crore of rupees by duping Haj aspirants in 2011 and 2012. Fabiyan Wahid Gilkar, the owner of Al-Hajeej Tour and Travels, was arrested by the J&K Police from Delhi. He was at large and was not attending the court upon which warrants were issued against the accused persons. A police spokesman said they got an information that the accused was trying to flee to Dubai. “Acting on this information, a police party…

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Shopping complexes, flats replace heritage buildings

Editor

Govt fails to protect ‘havelis’ raised during reign of Dogra dynasty As the construction sector is booming in Jammu with several shopping complexes and residential flats coming up in the past two decades, in the process it is contributing to destruction of historical buildings and “havelis” constructed during the pre-independence era. Some of the dilapidated buildings, especially in the old city area, raised during the reign of the Dogra dynasty are still surviving “demolition”. They are a witness to a glorious bygone era of the history of Jammu city, which…

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MGNREGA scheme in a mess in JK

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State owes Rs 413-crore liabilities; violates norms for wage payment The Centre’s flagship programme, Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), continues to work on crutches in Jammu and Kashmir as the state owes a whopping liability of Rs 413 crore in terms of wages to labourers and the cost of material used for executing development works. The state government has also violated the guidelines of MGNREGA regarding the payment of wages to labourers in the stipulated time as labourers have not been paid wages for the development works…

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‘Biased journalism biggest impediment to its freedom’

Editor

Women College observe ‘World Press Freedom Day’ A day-long seminar to observe ‘World Press Freedom Day’ was held at Government College for Women, M.A Road, Srinagar on Wednesday. The seminar was organized by the department of Mass Communication and Multimedia Production (MCMP) and was attended by prominent journalists and academics of the valley. Special Correspondent with The Week, Tariq Bhat, talked in detail about various issues of press freedom in Kashmir. He said that pressures from different quarters curtail the freedom of press. “More than the pressures by the outside…

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Male passengers in Ladies Special Bus!

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Many male passengers were spotted travelling in Ladies Special Bus on Tuesday here, raising questions about monitoring of the exclusive facility for the females. “I was shocked to see only men on board a Ladies bus bearing registration no JK01Y-0631 bound from Haztrabal to Lal Chowk via Rainawari. I followed the bus and intercepted it near Nowhatta,” said Faiz Wangnoo, a youth from Nigeen locality. Following the complaints, police offloaded the male passengers from the bus. SP north city Sajjad Khaliq Bhat said “I directed cops to take up the…

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Renovated ‘Diwan-i-Khas’ at Shalimar thrown open to public

Editor

Renovated “Diwan-i-Khas” dating back to the Mughal era at the Shalimar Garden was thrown open to the residents here today. It is located on the fourth terrace in the erstwhile “zenana” quarter of the garden. Ambassador of Germany Martin Ney inaugurated the first phase of Diwan-i-Khas. He unveiled a plaque commemorating the project and also inaugurated the restored papier mâché ceilings inside the hall. The restoration works were undertaken by the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH), Kashmir Chapter, after it had received financial assistance from Germany.…

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Guv reviews Amarnath yatra arrangements

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Governor NN Vohra, who is chairman of the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB), visited Yatri Niwas at Bhagwati Nagar here today to meet all officers concerned and review arrangements being made for this year’s Amarnath yatra. The yatra will commence on July 2 along Baltal and Chandanwari routes. Addressing a meeting of officers held at Yatri Niwas, the Governor reviewed various arrangements for the yatra from Lakhanpur check post onwards, including reception of yatris at the railway station and bus stand and requirements of accommodation, water, power, food, hygiene and…

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Potholed highway turns a nightmare for commuters

Editor

The potholed stretch of National Highway (NH) 44 between Patnitop and Banihal has put the lives of passengers at risk. The health of local residents, especially shopkeepers, is being affected and the vehicles being plied on it are getting damaged. The district administration is ensuring smooth traffic during the ensuing Darbar move and Amarnath yatra. A one-km stretch from the north portal of the Chenani-Nashri tunnel had become a nightmare for commuters since construction of the tunnel began. Their misery compounded with transfer of maintenance from Beacon todifferent contractor companies…

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