OTHERS

Over 576 hectares of forest land in Jammu Kashmir have been approved for diversion for non-forestry purposes, including infrastructure and commercial projects, between 2021-22 and 2023-24, according to government data. The figures were released by the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) in response to a query in the Lok Sabha. The Ministry said that the diversion of forest land is carried out under the Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam, 1980, which permits such approvals with specific mitigation measures, including Compensatory Afforestation (CA), payment of Net Present Value (NPV), and other conservation efforts. It also said that the diversion of forest land is allowed only with strict environmental safeguards, including soil and moisture c...

Jammu Kashmir has long sought to reclaim control over its hydropower resources, with successive governments making repeated efforts to secure the return of key projects operated by the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC). The issue remains at the forefront of the region’s energy policy, with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah now intensifying efforts to fast-track ongoing projects and explore ways to reduce reliance on externally controlled hydropower generation. During a recent high-level review meeting of the Jammu Kashmir State Power Development Corporation Limited (JKSPDC) at the Civil Secretariat, Abdullah emphasized the need to expedite the completion of major projects to achieve energy self-sufficiency. He called for resolving obstacles that have delayed several hydropow...

 Three civilians who went missing from the upper reaches of Billawar in Kathua district have been found dead. Security forces discovered the bodies using drone surveillance. Authorities have yet to officially confirm the militant link, but tensions remain high in Billawar. Notably, MLA Billawar, Satish Kumar had rasied the issue of missing persons yesterday in the legislative assembly. A police official said that it will be premature to say the reason behind the deaths of the trio. He confirmed that all the bodies were found near a nallah in the upper reaches of Billawar.

The Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB) has officially announced that the Amarnath Yatra for 2025 will commence on July 3 and conclude on August 19. This annual pilgrimage to the sacred Amarnath Cave, located in the Kashmir Himalayas, attracts thousands of devotees who come to pay homage to Lord Shiva. An official told news agency JKNS that registration for the Yatra is mandatory for all pilgrims and is conducted on a first-come, first-served basis. " Each applicant must submit a duly filled application form along with a Compulsory Health Certificate (CHC) issued by authorized medical institutions. The registration fee is ₹150 per person." He said. "Specific dates for the commencement of the registration process will be announced by the SASB in due course." He said. For pilg...

Meer Irfan Residents of Shopian town are growing increasingly frustrated over worsening traffic congestion and frequent power cuts, particularly during the holy month of Ramadan. Despite repeated complaints, locals say the administration has failed to provide relief, leaving people to fend for themselves. The town’s main concern remains the chronic traffic mess, particularly on Hospital Road and near the busy roundabout. Illegal roadside parking and careless parking practices have turned daily commuting into a nightmare. “Every time I visit Shopian, the hospital road and surrounding streets are completely blocked. It’s chaos,” a local resident told The Kashmiriyat. He said that te Municipal Committee (MCP) has towing vehicles, but they hardly use them. "And what’s worse is t...

Srinagar, Feb 22 (PTI) People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Saturday launched a signature campaign here to garner support for a complete ban on liquor in Jammu and Kashmir. The signature campaign, aimed to garner support for a bill proposed by the party MLA Mir Mohammad Fayaz that seeks a complete ban on liquor in the union territory, was launched by party leader Iltija Mufti at the PDP head office here. Mufti was scheduled to kick-start the party’s campaign at Sher-e-Kashmir Park, however, the police did not allow them to reach the venue and the campaign was launched at the party office instead. “We are here for a serious issue. Drugs and alcohol are spreading like wildfire. PDP MLA from Kupwara has introduced a bill in the J-K assembly seeking a ban on alcohol. We have started the si...

The Supreme Court on Tuesday pulled up several states and union territories for not filing status reports over the implementation of the domestic violence law while allowing them four more weeks subject to the payment of Rs 5,000 as costs. A bench of Justices B V Nagarathna and Prasanna B Varale took note when the petitioner’s counsel said several states and UTs did not file their status reports despite the top court’s direction. “The counsel for the respective states have sought for some more time to file status reports. Hence, four more weeks are granted to file status reports subject to payment of cost of Rs 5,000 to the Supreme Court mediation centre,” the bench said. The bench noted Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Meghalaya, O...