The Jammu and Kashmir High Court today directed the police go ahead and investigate a case registered against sitting BJP Member Legislative Council Ajatshatru Singh, alleged to have carried out illegal construction in the protected greenbelt area around the Dal Lake in the Gupkar area of Srinagar. The High Court also directed the retired Sessions Judge, appointed to probe the complaint against Sports Minister Imran Raza Ansari, to complete his investigation in five weeks. The directions were passed today by a division bench of Justice Muzaffar Hussain Attar and Justice…
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Environment
In cold unrest, warm Autumn hues go unnoticed
The arrival of autumn in Kashmir has gone unnoticed. There are no favourite spots to click pictures. The mighty chinars in Naseem Bagh are lonely. There is no rush of people. The lovers of autumn are invisible in the unending turmoil in Kashmir. Basira Ahmad, 24, who has grown up around the western shores of the Dal Lake in the Dargah Hazratbal locality, nestled in hundreds of mighty chinar trees and known as Naseem Bagh, says the spot, which would normally be filled with visitors during autumn, is silent and…
Read MoreBaglihar HEP putting lives at risk in Doda region
Govt in slumber as threat of mountain collapse looms large over area along the banks The Jammu and Kashmir Government seems to be in deep slumber in addressing the woes of people living on the bank of the Baglihar hydroelectric project reservoir as the threat of mountain collapse looms large over the area. Stagnant water of the reservoir, after entering the loose soil, is bringing down rocks and soil slowly, which has created a situation which can lead to sinking of a huge portion of the mountains. Geological experts have…
Read More‘People taking advantage of unrest, making encroachments, doing timber smuggling’
J&K Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Tuesday said “certain people are taking advantage” of the ongoing situation in Kashmir and “making encroachments and indulging in timber smuggling.” Mehbooba said while protests were going on and processions taken out, “many people, taking advantage of the situation, are making encroachments, especially along Dal Lake and are also involved in timber smuggling thinking that the government’s focus is somewhere else .” She was addressing a gathering after inaugurating Indira Gandhi Dental College here. “Situation is so worse in Kashmir and the government is…
Read MoreTimber Smugglers, Encroachers take advantage of Kashmir Unrest
Taking undue advantage of current unrest, timber smuggling in Kashmir has reached alarming levels as reports of felling of trees is pouring in from every corner of the valley. According to officials there are reports of trees being chopped down in Doodganaga range, Rithan range, Beerwah range, Kothar range, Tangmarg, Rafiabad, Doabgah range and Kandi range, Ganderbal and in some areas of Shopian-Pulwama. The smugglers have become emboldened to the extent that they are openly attacking forest officials. On July 31 when Forester Mohammed Maqsood Rather took his small team…
Read MoreStop illegal construction around Dal Lake: Hurriyat
The reports of unauthorised and illegal constructions coming up at various places especially on the Dal and foreshore road is a cause of concern. Moderate Hurriyat Conference headed by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Tuesday warned those indulging in illegal constructions in and around Dal Lake in Srinagar under the garb of ongoing unrest to stop their activities immediately. The reports of unauthorised and illegal constructions coming up at various places especially on the Dal and foreshore road is a cause of concern. We warn such people to stop their activities…
Read MoreAmid unrest, Illegal constructions galore in Dal Lake
8 FIRs registered in 16 days: Authorities Amid unrest in Kashmir, unabated illegal structures are coming up in and around the Dal Lake. Unscrupulous persons are taking undue advantage of the situation and are constructing illegal structures during night. Reports said illegal structures are coming up at Tailbal, Saida Kadal, Harvan, Nigeen, Nishat, Shalimar, Kanitar, Rainawari and its adjoining areas. “The construction material to these places is ferried in trucks and load carriers during night. Most of the constructions are undertaken during night. The illegal structures don’t only come up…
Read MoreIllegal constructions galore in Srinagar amid unrest
SMC, SDA express ‘Helplessness’ With the government men and machinery “busy” controlling the the ongoing unrest, scores of people have again started carrying out illegal constructions and riverside encroachments in most of the parts of summer capital Srinagar. According to eyewitness illegal construction work is going on in the Sheikh-ul-Alam Colony in Ahmad Nagar Soura in City outskirts. However the SMC, SDA and Police officials have failed to report to the ground citing the ongoing unrest as one of the main reasons. Same reports of illegal encroachments were also received…
Read MoreTaking advantage of unrest, land mafia has field day in Dal
Taking undue advantage of prevailing law and order situation in Kashmir, land mafia is having a field day to encroach upon Dal lake. Reports said that from past few days some, people have encroached various portions of Dal Lake at Jogilankar, Rainawari and adjacent areas. Illegal structures are also coming up at Brein, Nishat, Shalimar and its adjacent areas. “Encroachers are also constructing houses, shops and walls on the encroached land. Land filling of the lake is also going on at various places,” they said. The ongoing encroachment and construction…
Read MoreSlow pace of Wullar conservation work irks Chief Minister
Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti today expressed unhappiness over slow pace of conservation work of Wullar, Asia’s largest freshwater lake, and asked the officials to deploy more men and machinery to finish the work within deadline. Desilting effort launched under the comprehensive Wullar Conservation and Management Plan (WCMP) needs greater impetus to increase the water holding capacity of the lake, she said during a review meeting of Wullar Conservation and Management Authority (WUCMA) here. “The ongoing conservation and protection measures for eco- restoration of Wullar Lake, its feeder channels, associated wetlands…
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