Category: General News

General News

FinMin firm on service tax on air travel to Vaishno Devi shrine

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Amid the raging controversy over the imposition of service tax on Vaishno Devi pilgrims travelling to the cave shrine in the Trikuta Hills by helicopter, the state finance ministry today made it clear that the tax would not be withdrawn as “it (tax) has been levied on all commercial chopper and cable car services operating in J&K”. The finance ministry has taken the decision despite an assurance given by the BJP — the alliance partner in the Mufti Mohammad Sayeed-led government — that the notification would be rolled back. Jammu…

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J&K has a relationship crisis with Delhi, says minister

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Kashmir’s association with New Delhi is a relationship of crisis, admits Naeem Akhter, Minister of Education and Cabinet Spokesman of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K). In a candid interview, Akhter said that the (estranged) relationship has impacted Kashmir adversely besides holding the entire region hostage. “The main priorities of this alliance (BJP-PDP) has been to link Srinagar with Delhi. It also entails connecting Kashmir with the Jammu province,” he added. The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) formed the government in J&K with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in February 2015 after last…

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Arun Kumar may opt for premature retirement post appointing B R Sharma as Chief Secretary

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The government decision to appoint B R Sharma as Chief Secretary of J&K has drawn criticism from officers senior to him with Financial Commissioner Revenue Arun Kumar, reportedly deciding to apply for premature retirement. Sharma has been appointed to the top administrative post, superseding four senior officers, Arun Kumar and his wife Sonali Kumar, both 1979 batch IAS officers, A K Angurana (1980 batch) and Khursheed Ahmad Ganai (1982 batch). Sources said Arun Kumar has made his displeasure known to the government over the appointment and is submitting papers for…

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Govt must settle post flood issues or face consequences: Tarigami

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Terming public response to the strike call on the commemoration of last year’s devastating floods as “a wake-up call”, CPI (M) leader and MLA Kulgam Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami today said New Delhi and State  government must now settle the post flood rehabilitation issues or be ready to “face the consequences”. In a statement issued today, Tarigami also regretted the “iron fist approach” adopted by the State government to curb the protests of flood hit people. “The resolve of people to show their anger through a peaceful strike was unprecedented. This…

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Govt launches state-sponsored scheme for girl child

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Jammu and Kashmir government today approved a state-sponsored social assistance scheme for girl child ‘Ladli Beti’ which will be implemented in six districts with low child sex ratio. “The state Cabinet, which met here today under the Chairmanship of Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, gave its nod to the adoption of ‘Ladli Beti’ for its implementation in six selected districts – Kathua, Jammu, Samba, Budgam, Pulwama and Anantnag – exhibiting low and declining child sex ratio,” an official spokesman said. He said the scheme has been launched to create a…

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Bravehearts felicitated for saving lives

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The bravehearts of Kashmir who showed resilience and courage during the September 7, 2014, floods were felicitated today by the Centre for Research and Development Policy (CRDP), a Srinagar-based organisation. Aiming to discuss the impact of the September 7 floods and look for a way forward, CRDP organised a two-day event at University of Kashmir. On the first day of the event, a series of discussions were held on five different themes, which include “Impact of floods on J&K’s economy: Reconstruction and revival a year after”, “Government’s response: Rescue, relief…

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Flood rehabilitation a priority, says new Chief Secy

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The Jammu and Kashmir Government today appointed Braj Raj Sharma as the state’s Chief Secretary. Sharma succeeded Mohammad Iqbal Khanday, who opted for voluntary retirement last month. Sharma is a 1984 batch IAS officer of the J&K cadre. He was currently serving as the Principal Secretary in Planning and Development Department. He assumed the office of the Chief Secretary within hours of his appointment. The newly appointed Chief Secretary said the rehabilitation of the last year’s flood victims would remain his priority. “I will be tackling the situation arising out…

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Brij Raj Sharma appointed as J&K Chief Secretary

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Jammu and Kashmir government today appointed Brij Raj Sharma, a 1984 batch IAS officer, as the Chief Secretary, superseding four senior officers. “The Cabinet which met here under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed today approved the appointment of B R Sharma as the Chief Secretary,” an official spokesperson said. Born on April 27, 1960, Sharma will have one of the longest tenures as the Chief Secretary of the state if he continues in the office till his superannuation. The appointment of a new Chief Secretary was required…

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Long road to recovery agonisingly slow

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Floods: A Year Later Long road to recovery agonisingly slow People picking up the pieces as rehab yet to gather pace In the first week of September last year, Jammu and Kashmir recorded an unusually high amount of rain, ending with a devastating deluge that submerged residential and commercial neighbourhoods and struck a damaging blow to the region’s economy. The south Kashmir districts of Kulgam, Anantnag, Shopian and Pulwama were the first to get affected by the floods in early September as heavy rain wrecked the region and swelled the…

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Time, funds must to save Srinagar from another disaster, says govt

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After a year that witnessed change of guard in the state, the Irrigation and Flood Control Department headed by Sukhnandan Choudhary is confronted with the challenge to save Srinagar from any possible disaster. In Jammu, where the Tawi, Ujj and Chenab breached its banks last year, the government has been posed with the task of strengthening flood protection works. Sukhnandan Choudhary elaborated the long-term flood management plan which includes regular dredging, removal of encroachment along the banks of the rivers and creating alternate flood channels as the only solution, which…

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