REGIONAL

Danishwar Hameed/ Meer Irfan As the chill intensifies in Kashmir with temperatures plunging below freezing, the valley continues to grapple with power shortages, although recent steps have been taken to address the issue. Despite frequent and unscheduled power cuts, which have frustrated residents in both urban and rural areas, the Power Development Department (PDD) has made efforts to improve the situation this winter. According to official reports, the power supply to the valley has increased by 100 MW compared to the same period last year. Between November 16 and November 30, the average power supply stood at 1489 MW, a 101 MW increase from 1388 MW last year. From December 1 to December 4, the supply rose to 1525 MW, marking a 60 MW increase from 1465 MW last year. Between Dece...

Jammu Kashmir has faced a significant challenge this year with a 72 percent deficiency in rainfall wreaking havoc on its water bodies and aquatic life. The lack of precipitation has led to diminished water levels in rivers and lakes, which has directly affected the habitat and survival of local fish species and aquatic animals. While this situation impacts the livelihood of fishermen, the ecological consequences are even more profound. Experts note that the scarcity of rainfall has compounded existing threats to the Kashmir's freshwater ecosystems. "The ongoing drought conditions have resulted in significantly lower water levels in Kashmir's rivers and lakes," said Dr. Masood Balkhi, a specialist in fisheries and biodiversity. "This has disrupted the breeding grounds of nati...

The Anantnag Municipal Council has announced the commencement of enrolment for the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) 2.0, a government initiative aimed at providing housing for all. The scheme is designed to assist landless and homeless individuals by offering financial support to help them build homes and improve their living conditions. According to the public notice, eligible individuals can register for the scheme on December 11, 2024, at 11:00 AM at Town Hall, Anantnag. Applicants are required to carry basic identification documents for the enrolment process. For those facing challenges with document availability, assistance will be provided on-site to facilitate the application. The initiative seeks to ensure affordable housing for underprivileged families and empower the...

A 37-year-old man, Abdul Hameed Sofi, a resident of Arampora, Kupwara, tragically passed away at Government Medical College (GMC) Handwara on Tuesday morning while as the family has alleged medical negligence. Sofi, a father of three, was admitted to the hospital earlier in the day, complaining of arm pain and discomfort. Family members, according to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), said that doctors initially described his condition as stable after conducting preliminary tests. However, the patient later died at the hospital. Relatives alleged that a staff member, who they claimed was a compounder rather than a doctor, dismissed the patient’s condition as a mere act of drama. They also accused the hospital staff of withholding an ECG report that could shed light o...

Danishwar Hameed An auto driver who was critically injured in a road accident in the Khudwani Bypass area of Kulgam district succumbed to his injuries at SKIMS Soura on Tuesday morning. Sources informed The Kashmiriyat that the victim, Sareer Ahmad Khanday, son of Mohd Akram Khanday, a resident of Bongam, Kulgam, was involved in a collision with an I-10 vehicle on Monday evening. He was severely injured in the accident and was immediately rushed to SKIMS Soura for treatment. Despite the best efforts of the medical team, Sareer Ahmad Khanday succumbed to his injuries at around 2:50 AM on Tuesday. Following the incident, the police have registered a case, and an investigation into the accident is currently underway to determine the circumstances surrounding the collision. O...

The ongoing cold wave has intensified across Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh, with temperatures plummeting to freezing levels, disrupting normal life in many areas. In the Kashmir region, Srinagar recorded a minimum temperature of -5.4°C, while Qazigund saw a sharper drop to -6.4°C. Pahalgam experienced one of the coldest nights at -8.4°C. Other areas, including Anantnag and Pulwama, recorded frigid lows of -7.9°C and -8.3°C, respectively. Ganderbal, Bandipora, and Baramulla registered minimum temperatures of -5.2°C, -5.5°C, and -5.1°C. Shopian reported the coldest temperature in the region at -8.5°C, followed closely by Larnoo at -8.1°C. Kupwara and Kokernag were slightly warmer compared to other parts of the Valley, recording -4.5°C and -4.0°C, respectively. Sonamarg emerged as o...

Jammu Kashmir has contributed Rs 35,273 crore in Goods and Services Tax (GST) from July 2017 to November 2024, as per data shared by the Ministry of Finance in response to questions in the Lok Sabha. The collections rose steadily over the years: Rs 2,320 crore (July 2017–March 2018), Rs 3,792 crore (2018–19), Rs 4,010 crore (2019–20), and Rs 4,692 crore (2021–22). After a dip to Rs 3,648 crore in 2020–21 due to the pandemic, collections rebounded to Rs 5,246 crore (2022–23) and Rs 6,704 crore (2023–24). For the current fiscal year, Rs 4,861 crore has been collected till November 2024. At the national level, GST collections have risen significantly, from Rs 7.40 lakh crore in 2017–18 to Rs 20.18 lakh crore in 2023–24, reflecting improved compliance and tax administration....

The Jammu Kashmir government has announced plans to establish 30 satellite townships along the Semi-Ring Road encircling Srinagar, triggering concerns among farmers and residents. The proposed townships will cover an average of 200 hectares each, requiring approximately 6,000 hectares (1,18,000 kanals) of mostly agricultural land between Pampore’s Galander and Ganderbal, Daily Excelsior reported. Revenue authorities have already begun identifying land within 500 meters of the road, with construction and land sales in the designated areas prohibited since May 2022 under the Jammu and Kashmir Town Planning Act, 1963. This move has prompted farmers to voice concerns about losing their livelihoods, as their agricultural and horticultural lands are earmarked for urbanization. The to...

Over 3.79 lakh cases are currently pending in courts across Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh, including the High Court. This was revealed by Arjun Ram Meghwal, the Minister of State for Law and Justice, in response to a question in the Lok Sabha on December 6, 2024. According to data from the National Judicial Data Grid (NJDG) as of November 30, 2024, 3,32,802 cases are pending in District and Subordinate Courts in Jammu Kashmir, while 1,456 cases remain unresolved in Ladakh. The High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh is dealing with a backlog of 45,464 cases. The Minister emphasized that the judiciary is solely responsible for the timely disposal of cases but stated that the government is committed to fostering an ecosystem that supports swift case resolution, as mandated by Article 21 ...

In a bid to curb the menace of underage driving, the Srinagar Traffic Police conducted a surprise operation in the Mehjoor Nagar area of Srinagar uptown on Monday morning, seizing scores of two-wheelers driven by minors without licenses or documents. A police official told the news agency Kashmir News Trust tht a special checkpoint was established on the Mehjoor Nagar-Jawahar Nagar Bridge, where traffic personnel intercepted and seized vehicles driven by underage boys. He said that action was also taken against licensed drivers who lacked necessary documents, and their vehicles were also impounded. The official added that the operation was launched following complaints from the public about underage driving in Srinagar's interiors. "We received complaints that minors were driving ...