JAMMU : Equating dependable road communication with economic prosperity, Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah on Thursday emphasized the need for dovetailing various road development schemes to obtain holistic results and expand benefit orbit.

Taking stock of the progress and status of flagship programme PMGSY here, the Chief Minister said that linking rural and remote areas with highways is all the more important in a State like Jammu and Kashmir with a hilly and difficult terrain.

JAMMU: Underscoring the significance of agriculture in socio-economic emancification of the society, the Minister for Finance and Ladakh Affairs, Abdul Rahim Rather today said that agriculture in the state has been made almost tax free sector.

Speaking at a function organized by the Jammu and Kashmir State Advisory Board for Development of Kissans at Vikas Bhawan, Jammu to extend gratitude to Mr. Rather for presenting a farmer-friendly budget for the 2nd consecutive year,

SRINAGAR: The Union Minister of State for Urban Development, Dr. Saugata Roy today conducted an extensive tour of the Dal Lake and also visited golden Lake Dole Demb area to review the ongoing works.

The Union Minister was briefed about the progress achieved on the conversation measures like Sewerage Treatment, laying of trunk, lateral/secondary sewer network, working of existing STPs and progress in respect of new STPs coming up at Brari Numbal and Nallah Amir Khan.

Govt not taking traffic problem of Jammu seriously: Gupta

JAMMU: Minister for Transport, Qamar Ali Akhoon today admitted that there has been no significant increase in the road infrastructure despite sharp rise in the number of vehicles in Jammu district during the past couple of years.

Flowing of city drains, nallahs into Tawi

JAMMU: Having remained inactive over the issue of preparing a comprehensive plan to preserve river Tawi and making it free from pollution, for which a resolution was passed in the Upper House last year, majority of the members in the House of Elders cornered the Minister of State in charge Housing and Urban Development, Nasir Aslam Wani, today.

BILLAWAR: Despite blanket ban by the Supreme Court of India on green felling, nearly 200 green Deodar trees have been felled in Machhedi area of Billawar Forest Division.

Sources said this felling in a particular Compartment of Billawar Range at Kun Nallah on Billawar-Machhedi road, has been done in last 4-5 days. The village Panchayat members, taking serious note of the illegal felling brought the matter to the notice of concerned Block Forest Officer, Bhupinder Singh and Range Officer, Billawar Mohinder Raina.

JAMMU: Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Ghulam Nabi Azad said today that his Ministry would undertake an extensive review of Central Government’s flagship programme, National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) all over the country including Jammu and Kashmir very soon as the scheme has completed seven years. ``We are going to have a countrywide review of NRHM as the scheme aimed at providing healthcare to the rural people was completing seven years.

JAMMU: Increasing man-animal conflict was the serious concern of almost all members in State Assembly today during the discussion of grants on Forest and allied departments during second sitting today.

Right from Ch Zulfkar to Engineer Rashid all members showed concern over growing man animal conflict and demanded that efforts should be made to arrest the same.

The Minister for Forest and Environment Mian Altaf today said that forest smuggling in the State has been curbed to a great extent by strict implementation of relevant laws including PSA.

Replying to the debate on demands for grants for the forest and allied departments in Legislative Assembly today Mian Altaf said forest smuggling dens in Shopian and Rafiabad area have been cleared from the timber smugglers, adding that concerned forest officers and field agencies deserve appreciation for this great achievement.

JAMMU: Keeping in view the welfare of general public, the State Government will soon bring the Land Acquisition and Rehabilitation Bills in the Assembly by amending the present Act to bring it at par with Central Act likely to be passed by Parliament in the ongoing session.

This was stated by Minister of Revenue, Relief and Rehabilitation, Raman Bhalla, while replying to annual grants of his Ministry in Legislative Assembly during second sitting this afternoon.