JAMMU: The inhabitants of village Nagander in tehsil Pampore of South Kashmir district Pulwama have expressed serious concern over the increasing pollution in the area due to setting up of cement plants in the locality.

Sarpanch of the area, Mohammed Shafi in a statement issued here today said that the increasing pollution is not only becoming a health hazard for local people but also the animals and plants have been affected by it.

Minister of State for Power, Shabir Ahmad Khan today said that the work on 37.5 MW Parnai Hydro Electric Project on Suran river is expected to start during the current year after completion of bidding process by May, 2012.

Mr Khan further said that project will be completed at an estimated cost of ` 483 crore. The project is scheduled to be completed within 4 years. A number of financial institutions like PFC, REC, HUDCO, J&K Bank

JAMMU : Pointing out that 70 to 80 percent of population is engaged in agriculture and allied sectors but 100 percent of population is dependent on agricultural produce, Minister for Agriculture, Ghulam Hassan Mir today informed the House that to make the sector more profitable a new policy for the State is on the anvil.

J&K gets bridge factory, Institute for Tunnel & Bridge Engineering, Train to reach Katra, Banihal in upcoming financial year
Udhampur-Rohila Express converted into tri-weekly

Railways Minister Dinesh Trivedi said today that prestigious rail project to Kashmir valley was likely to be delayed for want of adequate funding as he pointed out that Railways was passing through financial crunch and a very tough period.

A moderate earthquake followed by aftershock hit Kashmir valley this morning without causing any damage.

Aamir Ali, Coordinator, Divisional Disaster Management Centre, Kashmir said that earthquake hit Valley today at 11.36 AM. He said the coordinates of the epi-centre of the earthquake were Latitude 36.8N and Longitude 73.4t.

JAMMU: Minister for Revenue and Relief Raman Bhalla was cornered by the members from PDP, National Conference and even his own party (Congress) on the issue of conversion of Agriculture land for the use of industries and poor maintenance of revenue records.

This issue was first raised by PDP member and it was followed by volley of supplementaries raised by other members from NC and Congress. The PDP member Murtaza Khan pointed out that Government has notified nearly 796 kanal of prime Agricultural and irrigational category land at Rakh Amb Tali in Samba for the purpose of Industrial Growth Centre.

JAMMU: Admitting that unscrupulous elements have been making attempts to encroach upon land in and around major cities of the State, Government today said that about 19 lakh kanal State, Forest and Kahcharai land is under encroachment across the State.

In response to a question of CPM MLA, Mohd Yousaf Tarigami, Minister for Revenue, Raman Bhalla, admitted in the Lower House that unscrupulous elements have been making attempts to encroach upon the State/Kahcharai/ Forest land in and around major cities of the State.

JAMMU: Minister of State for Home and Urban Development, Nasir Aslam Wani today said that ` 219 crore was received from centre for conservation of Dal lake.

Replying to a question of Ajay Sadhotra in Upper House today Mr. Nasir said that based on the recommendations made by the experts, a comprehensive strategy and interventions are being implemented for cleaning the Dal lake, which included Point Pollution, Non Point Source of Pollution, Restoration of development works and Rehabilitation of Dal Dwellers.

DFO, Tehsildar, cops among land grabbers

JAMMU: Over 270 kanals of land worth crores, belonging to Forest department, Jammu Development Authority (JDA) and State Revenue department has allegedly been grabbed by some persons including a few influential persons with the political patronage in Sidhra and Dwada area, near Golf Course and adjacent to the Mahmaya temple in Bahu Range across river Tawi under Jammu Forest Division.

JAMMU: Minister for Industries & Commerce, S.S. Slathia today clarified that extraction of minerals from the hills located around the Katra will have no impact on Trikuta Hills.

He said the project has been started after obtaining necessary clearance from the Environment Department and there would not be any impact on the Trikuta Hills and on the sanctity of Shri Mata Vaishno Deviji shrine.