JAMMU: Minister for R&B Abdul Majid Wani today said that recently the Central Government has given nod for connecting 1100 habitations under PMGSY in the State.

He was replying to a question of Javid Ahmad Rana regarding road connectivity in district Poonch. The Minister said that road connectivity in hilly and remote areas has been given top priority by the Government and several schemes under NABARD, PMGSY, State Plan and bad pockets in district Poonch are under execution and many of them have been completed.

JAMMU: The Government has decided to develop six mini hydel projects in the State with a cumulative capacity of 9.95 MWs under Independent Power Producers (IPP) mode.

Minister of State for Science and Technology, Feroz Ahmad Khan approved the proposal to this effect today. These six projects have been taken up under the first phase among the 108 identified projects across the State for which the Jammu and Kashmir Energy Development Agency (JAKEDA) has already prepared the Detailed Project Reports (DPRs).

JAMMU: Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah today said that harnessing of green energy has been given considerable fillip by his Government and generation of solar, thermal and wind power is receiving due attention alongwith launch of hydro electric projects in the State.

Omar Abdullah said that the interest of investors in the sector of New and Renewable Energy (N&RE) is highly encouraging and it will get further boost by the J&K State Solar Power Policy which is in offing.

JAMMU In response to a second appeal filed by an RTI activist seeking details of the encroachment on forest land in Jammu, the State Chief Information Commissioner has directed the concerned Divisional Forest Officer to provide full information to the applicant by March 6 and also upload the information on its website.

The CIC also pulled up the DFO, who is the First Appellate Authority, for neither appearing before the Commission nor informing about his inability for the same. The RTI activist, identified as Mohd Ayub of Mahore in Reasi, has sought information

JAMMU: N N Vohra, Governor, has called for urgent utilization of eco-friendly technologies for the sustained protection of environment and ecology.

The Governor said this while receiving a detailed presentation by a team of senior scientists of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) on bio-digester based eco-friendly toilets, at Raj Bhavan, here last evening. The Governor observed that there is need for urgently utilizing the valuable technology developed by the DRDO for an eco-friendly solution to treat human wastes. He said that this technology should be adequately publicized for enlarging awareness about its utility. He observed that possibilities could be explored for installation of these bio-toilets at various important tourist spots for eco-friendly treatment of human wastes.

Panel recommends measures to avoid health hazards

JAMMU: Painting a gloomy picture vis-à-vis management and disposal of bio-medical and other wastes in the Government and private hospitals, a six member committee constituted by the Government has arrived at a conclusion that laid down rules are being thrown into winds in majority of the health institutions right from segregation of waste at source to its final disposal. The panel has recommended slew of measures to the Government so that situation is brought under control before it leads to grave health hazard.

Laying stress on conservation and protection of rich bio-diversity of Jammu and Kashmir, Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah today emphasized the need for rejuvenating the depleted forests and raising massive plantation on vacant available areas.

"Protection of forest wealth and rejuvenation of degraded forests are all the more necessary to maintain ecology, restrict climate change, save water bodies and fauna and flora of the State", he said asking for full utilization of Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) initiative in this regard.

PHE, ERA to be implementing agencies

JAMMU: Rs 600 crore ambitious water supply scheme for Jammu is on anvil and the Summary Appraisal Report (SAR) of it is under process. According to highly placed sources, under the new scheme, the piped water from river Chenab will be brought to Jammu for catering to the needs of the people of the city and its suburban areas.

CHENANI: The Environment Committee of Legislative Assembly visited Chenani to inspect the measures taken by the executing agency at the construction site of the upcoming tunnel on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway.

Led by the Committee Chairman, Mohammad Yousf Tarigami, the committee members went around the construction site and took stock of the construction activities and environment protection measures taken by the construction agency.

Minister for Industries and Commerce, S.S. Slathia today called upon the mining industries to pay royalty dues as early as possible adding that mine lease deeds of all the willful defaulters will be cancelled shortly.

Interacting with a delegation of Federation Chamber of Industries (FCI), Kashmir at Civil Secretariat, Mr. Slathia said some industrialists have become habitual of retaining royalty due with them without any reason or logic despite repeated reminders which is causing loss to the State Exchequer. He said the Government will now act tough against all such willful defaulters.