Category: Union Territory

Qazigund, Nov 15: Have a deep attachment with the nature, a newly married couple has kick-started the plantation drive in Qazigund area of South Kashmir’s Kulgam district on Tuesday.

The couple Touseef Ahmad and Afrooz Jan from Kulgam district started plantation drive under social forestry division Anantnag/Kulgam at Sailaloo Qazigund by planting trees.

Talking to news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), Touseef said they are thankful to social forestry division Anantnag who provides them the opportunity to plant trees at Sailaloo area of Qazigund. “Like us every couple should come forward and motivate others. It is responsibility of everyone to plant trees as they provide oxygen and keep environment clean”, he said.

Altaf Ahmad Hakeem, Range officer, Qazigund said this year they have discussed to plant trees through innovative idea and this step is among them. “We are doing plantation in schools, colleges and other places but today the step taken by the couple is unique and we encourage it”, he said.

Divisional forest officer, social forestry division Anantnag/Kulgam , Shama Roohi said: “The department is conducting plantation drives but to do something new today a couple kick started the drive here at Sailaloo Qazigund”.

“During the phase the department is going to plant one lakh twenty five thousand trees in Kulgam district under all schemes,” she said. “Today’s plantation drive was under strip scheme.”—(KNO)

Advocate slew of preventive measures for winter months to prevent

Srinagar, Nov 15: With Kashmir witnessing low and sub-zero night temperature, doctors have advised people to take precautions as the risk of heart attacks and strokes doubles in winters.

Kashmir’s leading medico and president Doctor’s Association Kashmir Dr Nisar ul Hassan told news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that the number of heart attacks and strokes increases in winters as frigid temperatures constrict blood vessels and increases blood pressure as blood tends to be thicker and stickier during extreme cold, increasing chances of heart attack or stroke.

He said that lack of sunlight during winters leaves people vitamin D deficient. which is associated with increased risk of dying from heart attack or stroke. Besides, winter flu also increases risk of such cases.

“People need to take precautions in order to avoid the risk of heart attack or stroke. People must keep themselves warm, avoid going out in the chilly cold for a walk and keep diabetes, blood pressure, cholesterol under control and quit smoking,” he said.

He said that people should eat a healthy diet, mainly fruits and vegetables and wear warm clothes and cover their heads.

Dr Susheel Kumar, HOD Cardiology Government Medical College Jammu said that risk of heart attacks and strokes doubles during winters as peripheral body temperature dips leading to vasoconstriction, increased viscosity of blood, increased platelet aggregation and increased tendency to succumb to viral infections purposive besides more blood pressure, less physical activity and more dieting and smoking which leads to heart attacks and strokes—(KNO)

Renowned cleric from southern Kashmir’s Shopian district Sarjan Barkati was released, late Tuesday evening, his family confirmed.

Says Commissioner SMC & Mayor is involved in scams

Srinagar, Nov 15: BJP corporator Nazir Gilkar with other corporators & leaders held press conference in Srinagar, The Corporator & BJP Leader Nazir Gilkar slams the SMC Commissioner & Mayor for using Funds without approval of Council. Gilkar said the Macdemization process has done in 2 Constituencies only & the rest Constituencies were not Macdemization in the city.

Gilkar said this scam of Crores in SMC done by Mayor & Commissioner SMC , The hoppers purchasing Scam is also a big jolt in SMC.

Gilkar appeals Administration to probe the matter through ACB.

‘Instead of ordering ban on gadgets, Govt should ensure free electricity to J&K people’

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief and former chief minister, Mehbooba Mufti on Monday said that Jammu and Kashmir is part of India because of the first prime Minister of India, Late Jawahar Lal Nehru.

Addressing media persons, Mehbooba, as per the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), said that it is because of Jawahar Lal Nehru’s secularism, democratic values and other leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, Moulana Abdul Kalam Azad, Dr B R Ambedkar and Sardar Vallabhai Patel that J&K is part of India today.

“Had there been no relation between Jawahar Lal Nehru with Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah and relation with Kashmiris then J&K would not have been part of India. If the present regime would have been in the government in 1947, Jammu and Kashmir could never have opted to integrate with India where there is no scope for secularism, democracy,” she said.

She further said that unity is the only way to fight for the rights and can help in restoring Article 370.

Mehbooba also said that it is unfortunate that despite generating the electricity, the people here are being asked not to use the heaters and boilers; rather the government should ensure free electricity to the people and give compensation to J&K for Indus-Water Treaty.

Hajis to have choice of choosing embankment point, more such points to be added, pilgrimage to be women friendly, pilgrimage likely to be Rs 1 lakh cheaper: HCoI member Er Aijaz Hussain; says Decision taken in recently held Haj conference held in Delhi on Nov 12

Srinagar, Nov 14: In a major decision taken by the Haj Committee of India after hectic deliberations in Haj Conference held in Delhi on November 12, the Haj Committee of India (HCoI) is gearing up to make Haj 2023 cheaper and pilgrim friendly with special focus on women pilgrims.

Talking exclusively to news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), HCoI member Er Aijaz Hussain said that the meeting held in New Delhi was attended by Minority Affairs Minister Simriti Irani, Chairman HCoI A P J Abdul Kuttay, chairmen of all States/UTs including Chief Executive Officer Haj Committee of J&K Safeena Baig. “A brainstorming session was held and after thorough deliberations, it was decided that Haj 2023 will be made cheaper so that poor can also undertake the sacred journey. It was also decided that more embankment points will be added and the pilgrim will be given a choice to choose the embankment point of his/her choice. Besides, a special focus will be given to women pilgrims so that they too can fulfill the dream of performing Hajj,” Er Aijaz said, who was present in the meeting.

To a query how cheaper the Haj was going to be , Er Aijaz said that there was a possibility that pilgrims will have to pay Rs one lakh less compared to the previous year’s Haj rate. “Apart from this, all facilities will be provided to Hajis including currency exchange, free hatch bags, umbrellas and guide books etc,” he said, adding that every Haji will have a facility to get adequate Zam water at the airport. He said that Haj forms will also be made available on the official websites months ahead of pilgrimage.

Er Aijaz said that the meeting also discussed reaching out to aspiring women pilgrims and it was decided to give maximum opportunity to women who want to undertake the sacred journey next year.

Er Aijaz said that the HCoI officials were in touch with the officials in Saudi Arabia and all means are being explored to fill the gaps and loopholes noticed and observed in last year’s pilgrimage. “All steps are afoot to ensure quality Haj to people who would leave for the holy cities of Makah and Madina in year 2023,” he said—(KNO)

Temperature, humidity, light play vital role in yield of indoor saffron: Scientist

Srinagar: At a time when outdoor saffron in Kashmir is facing three major challenges—lack of irrigation facilities, conversion of saffron land and shortage of saffron corns, farmers in Kashmir’s Saffron bowl, Pampore are growing saffron indoors, which according to them has of late, shown positive results.

Majid Farooq, a grower from Shaar Shali area of Pampore while talking to news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), said that his family is the first who have started indoor cultivation in the area and results have been phenomenal and most important thing has been that indoor saffron has pure quality.

Ab Majeed Wani, President of Saffron Growers Association of Kashmir told KNO that indoor saffron cultivation is a reality and it has been showing very positive results as of now and there remains zero impact of climate change, extensive rain or heat on indoor saffron.

He said that it will increase the saffron production, the demand can be easily met and even people who don’t have land can grow saffron in their homes.

Dr Bashir Ahmad Allaie, head of Advance Research Station for Saffron and Seed Spices, while talking to KNO said that as climate change has been affecting our every crop and like that it has started to put its impact on outdoor saffron and now we need irrigation for saffron which wasn’t earlier and indoor saffron under these circumstances can play vital role in meeting demand and supply.

Since 2018 we have been working on this experiment and after two years we distributed it for demonstration among farmers, he said, adding that around 12 indoor saffron units have been started in homes of farmers and they are happy with the result.

Through the new multi-tier method, the corms are put in trays and they require around 100 days of darkness before the yield is harvested. “The process is started in August, the flowering begins between October 10 and 15, followed by harvesting in the month of November,” he said.

“Our aim is to accommodate more and more corn in room and get more yield,” he said, adding that corns are being uprooted in June and temperature, humidity and light play pivotal role in the yield and if farmer will take care these things very well, yield will more—(KNO)

Srinagar, Nov 10: Imtiyaz Parray, the former Congress leader and the son of slain counter-insurgent commander, Kuka Parray on Thursday joined the Jammu Kashmir Apni Party.

As per news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), Imtiyaz’s father Kuka Parrey was founder of Ikhwan, a counter-insurgency militia formed in 1994-95 to fight militancy. In September this year, Imtiyaz resigned from basic membership of Congress. However after more than a month, Imtiyaz parray today formally joined the Apni party.

“I welcome Imtiyaz Parray and Noor Mohammad Bhat to the Jammu Kashmir Apni Party. I am confident they will play a big role in strengthening the party in Bandipora district,” Vice President of the Apni Party and former legislator Bandipora Usman Majid said in a tweet.

Kuka Parrey also formed the Jammu & Kashmir Awami League before 1996 assembly polls. It won one seat each in 1996 and 2022 state polls. Imtiyaz fought the 2008 assembly election on the ticket of Awami League but later joined Congress. This party became dysfunctional after he joined Congress and was deregistered by the Election Commission of India in June 2022—(KNO)

Al-Qaeda Operative apprehended in Ramban district of #JammuKashmir.  @RambanPolice has identified him as Amiruddin Khan S/o Mostafa Khan R/o Mashita Haora, West Bengal.  01 Chinese Grenade recovered from him

Srinagar, Nov 07: Chairperson of Waqf Board, Darakshan Andrabi on Monday said that the white paper of the past over seven decades will be made public soon. However, she said it will take time to come up with full details in black and white.

Talking to (KNO), Andrabi said that a cancer hospital will come up in the Valley. She said that the Cancer hospital will be constructed on Waqf land. “It will take time to construct the cancer hospital on Waqf land. Once the project is completed, the details will be shared accordingly,” she said.

She said that the people are aware about the works being done by the Waqf Board. “However, to come up with the white paper about 75 years will take almost 8-9 months. The white paper will be made public,” she said, adding that the people have given enough support to help the Waqf Board and it is because of their support only that the things have started changing on the ground—(KNO)