REGIONAL

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti on Wednesday expressed grave concern over the environmental consequences of several developmental projects in Kashmir, urging that progress should not come at the expense of natural resources and agricultural land. Addressing a press conference, Mufti highlighted three specific projects — the Rajouri-Baramulla highway, the ring road from Galander to Ganderbal, and the expansion of the railway line — as major threats to Kashmir's fragile ecosystem. “Our land, forests, and resources are in danger. Lakhs of kanals of agricultural land and countless trees in our forests are being affected by these projects,” Mufti said, adding that agricultural land in most districts of the Kashmir valley is under threat. She raised apprehensions...

The Government of India has confirmed the discovery of significant lithium and titanium deposits in the Salal-Haimana area of Jammu Kashmir’s Reasi district. These findings emerged during preliminary bauxite explorations conducted by the Geological Survey of India (GSI). The mineral samples have been submitted to the Indian Bureau of Mines and the Institute of Minerals and Materials Technology for further studies to evaluate their potential. In a response during Parliament's question hour, the government revealed plans to intensify exploration in Reasi district. Two new preliminary lithium exploration projects are scheduled for the Salal East and Panasa areas in the 2024-25 field season. Recognizing the growing global demand for lithium, essential for electric vehicle batteries...

Jammu Kashmir Police in Pulwama district achieved significant results in 2024, arresting over 200 individuals involved in drug peddling. The crackdown also led to the seizure of contraband, vehicles, and properties linked to drug trafficking, Police said. In Pulwama district alone, the Police registered 64 cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, leading to the arrest of 105 people. Six habitual offenders were detained under the preventive provisions of the PIT NDPS Act, as per Police. Additionally, three residential properties worth over ₹59 lakh and 15 vehicles used in trafficking were seized during operations. The quantum of narcotics recovered highlights the scale of the problem. Confiscated items included 186.30 kg of poppy straw, 78.57 kg ...

The Government of India has cancelled over 1,27,872 fake and duplicate Public Distribution System (PDS) ration cards in Jammu Kashmir as part of a nationwide drive to eliminate ineligible beneficiaries. In Ladakh, 702 such ration cards have been removed since 2013. This effort is aimed at improving the efficiency of food subsidy programs through digitisation, Aadhaar linking, and e-KYC verification. In response to a query in the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food, and Public Distribution, Nimuben Jayantibhai Bambhaniya, disclosed that 5.87 crore ration cards have been cancelled across India between 2013 and 2024. Uttar Pradesh recorded the highest number of cancellations with over 1.93 crore, while Mizoram had the lowest at 12,578. Among Union Territories...

A former deputy superintendent of police and his three-year-old grandson were among six people who suffocated to death when their rented accommodation caught fire in Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua district early on Wednesday, an official said. Four other people injured in the incident were undergoing treatment in a hospital. According to police, locals noticed the house on fire around 2:30 am and rushed to rescue its occupants. The house was filled with thick smoke, suffocating its occupants in their sleep, they said. The victims were shifted to the Government Medical College (GMC) Hospital in Kathua where six of them, including two minors, were declared 'brought dead', officials said. The deceased have been identified as 81-year-old former deputy SP Avtar Krishen Raina, his daught...

Srinagar’s eco-friendly city bus service, launched in November 2023, has seen substantial growth, with 61.33 lakh passengers transported between January and November 2024. The service operates across 16 routes, with an average of 30,000 daily riders. September recorded the highest passenger count, over 7.2 lakh, while August saw more than 6.8 lakh passengers. In its inaugural month, November 2023, the service had 1.3 lakh passengers, rising to over 3.25 lakh by December 2023. The fleet includes 100 electric buses, consisting of 75 nine-metre and 25 twelve-metre variants, with two additional buses on standby. The buses feature advanced amenities such as air conditioning, air curtains, inbuilt CCTV surveillance for enhanced safety, and elevators and ramps for passengers with limi...

Jammu Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah is expected to meet Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday to discuss a range of key issues, including the early restoration of statehood, official sources said.Jammu local businesses. This will be Omar’s second meeting with the Home Minister since assuming office as the Chief Minister of the Union Territory. Sources indicate that Omar, who received “positive assurances” during his first meeting, remains optimistic that the Union Government will fulfill its promise of restoring statehood at the earliest. However, while the Union Government has repeatedly assured its commitment to the restoration of statehood, it has yet to provide a concrete timeline for the same. In addition to statehood, Omar is likely to raise concerns regarding...

Eight river stretches in Jammu Kashmir have been identified as polluted, according to data presented in the Lok Sabha by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. The information, revealed in response to a starred question by Sanjna Jatav, underscores the growing environmental pressure on rivers across the country, particularly in regions near urban centers and industrial zones. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has marked 311 polluted river stretches across 279 rivers in India. Maharashtra leads with 55 polluted stretches, followed by Madhya Pradesh (19), Bihar and Kerala (18 each), and Karnataka (17). These findings highlight the widespread contamination of rivers, which serve as critical lifelines for drinking water, agriculture, and biodiversity. In Jamm...

A day after reports emerged about the destruction of Karewas in the Parigam Newa area of South Kashmir’s Pulwama, authorities have canceled all related permits. Locals had raised concerns, alleging that the Karewas, which are unique elevated plateaus, were being disfigured under the guise of development work. District Mineral Officer, Er Manzoor, clarified that the permits for clay extraction were initially issued for government projects of an emergent nature, following the necessary approvals and No Objection Certificates (NOCs). He told the news agency Kashmir News Trust that after reports surfaced indicating violations of regulations, the permits were promptly revoked, and the access ramps to the site were dismantled. Locals earlier had expressed concern over the environment...

Jammu Kashmir's caesarean delivery (CD) rate stands at 41%, significantly higher than the national average of 21.5 per cent, as per data from the National Family Health Survey-5 (2019–2021), analyzed by The Lancet Journal. The report highlights disparities in CD rates across India, with J&K showing patterns closer to southern states like Telangana and Tamil Nadu, where over-medicalization and reliance on private healthcare are major contributors. Dr. Masuma Rizvi, HOD of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at LD Hospital, attributes the rising trend in J&K to late pregnancies, often in women over 35. Conditions like hypertension and diabetes, coupled with inadequate round-the-clock maternity services, leave many opting for cesareans over riskier vaginal deliveries. "The global C...