SRINAGAR, Sep 11: As many as, 415 Poultry Cooperatives involving the membership of more than 8500 individuals have been established in the state to help creation of self employment with the government assistance. This would also give boost to local production of poultry birds.

UDHAMPUR, Sep 10: Rs.27.53 lakh Special Central Assistance (SCA) to Scheduled Caste Plan (SCP) for the year 2008-09 was approved at a meeting of District Officers of various departments held under the chairmanship of District Development Commissioner, Udhampur, Ajay Khajuria, here today.

Out of the total allocation, 70 per cent amount would be utilized for setting up income generating units and the remaining 30 per cent for raising infrastructure, the meeting was apprised.

SRINAGAR, Sep 8: The 24th meeting of Apex Clearance Committee (APCC) was held today under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary S. S. Kapur to clear various investment proposals in medium and large sector.
The committee approved a proposal of Steel Authority of India, a Government of India enterprise for setting up of a steel processing unit at Lassipora, Pulwama in Kashmir division.

A mild earthquake that rocked the entire Kashmir valley early morning caused panic among the people. The earthquake was followed by heavy torrential rains during the day.

According to Director Metrological (DM) department Kashmir, Sonam Lotus, the magnitude of the quake was 5.5 on the Richter scale and its epicenter was stated to be Afghanistan and Pakistan border with a longitude of 36.1 degrees North and latitude 70.5 Degrees. The tremor occurred at 10.28 ISD.

The 450-MW Baglihar hydro electric power project on the Chenab river has commenced its test trials today, following the clean chit received from Pakistan.

"The project is likely to be commissioned by end of this month. But before that we have started test trials of its three turbines and first turbine was switched on," Power Development department Secretary Sandeep Naik told agencies.
The Baglihar project, which has three turbines of 150 MW each was started in 1999.

12000 families registered under NREGA in Udhampur

KT NEWS SERVICE
UDHAMPUR, Sep 4: Over 12,000 families have been registered in the seven blocks of Udhampur district for ensuring 100 days of guarantee wage employment till August, 2008 under National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA).
This was revealed during a meeting of officers of Rural Development Department held to review the physical and financial achievements registered during the current financial year under the chairmanship of District Development Commissioner, Udhampur, Ajay Khajuria, here on Thursday.

SUNDERBANI, Sep 4: Refugee Welfare Society today organised an awareness camp which was sponsored by the WWF, Jammu on the 'bio-diversity conservation' at the Government Boys High School, Siot in Sunderbani tehsil.

DFO Nowshera A K Mangotra was the chief guest on the occasion. In his address, Caption (Retired) S D Sharma demanded a timber and firewood depot in the village.

Meanwhile, various speakers highlighted the importance of bio-diversity conservation in the present scenario. They also expressed concern over flood situation in Bihar.

Farmers in Kashmir valley are all set to reap a bumper rice crop this year, following timely rains and with no outbreak of disease this year.

The agriculture department is expecting a yield of 500,000 metric tones of paddy crop this year, compared to 495,000 metric tones achieved last year. Out of a total 160,000 hectare of land cultivated in Kashmir valley, the department has achieved a production of 495,000 metric tones of rice previous year.

REASI, Sep 2 : To assess the pace of development works initiated under forest sector in Reasi district during the current year, a meeting was convened here at Reasi today.

The District Development Commissioner, Reasi, Sanjeev Verma chaired the meeting while Divisional Forest Officer, Reasi and Mahore and DFO Social Forestry Reasi participated in the meeting.

*800 kanals of land set aside for SASB during yatra period

Shri Amarnath Yatra Sangharsh Samiti (SAYSS) today suspended its more than two-month-long agitation over Amarnath land transfer row after it reached an agreement with the four-member panel appointed by Governor N N Vohra in the wee hours of this morning.