MARHATGAM (HANDWARA):The farmers of this village, 11 kilometers from Handwara town, and many other villages on Nowgam road that leads to the Line of Control have been asked by army not to cultivate maize crop on grounds that militants are hiding in the crop and attacking the convoys. However, army said the farmers can cultivate alternate crop in which militants can not hide. It termed it a step to save the convoy from militant attacks.

The October 8, 2005 earthquake wrecked havoc on life and property in the bordering area of Karnah. Three years after the natural disaster hit Karnah villages, at least 99 children rendered orphans are still awaiting cash relief compensation announced by the union government under National Calamity Scheme for Victims (NCSV) scheme. To rehabilitate the victimised children and enable them to continue with their education, the union government under the scheme had announced a cash relief of Rs five lakh each in favour of the children whose parents died in the quake and

POWERGRID, the Central Transmission Utility (CTU) of the country, is engaged in Construction and Operation & Maintenance of inter-State transmission system and operation of National & Regional Power Grids. Over a period of 16 years, POWERGRID has emerged as one of the largest and best managed transmission utilities in the world and is playing a strategic role in Indian Power Sector.

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has asked the Government of India to workout a compensatory mechanism for the huge recurring losses being suffered by Jammu & Kashmir because of the discriminatory Indus Water Treaty (IWT) and arbitrary exploitation of the State's water resources by the National Hydro Power Corporation (NHPC) for power generation.

The Central government is scrutinising the steep escalation costs of 330-MW Kishenganga power project. The project proposed on a tributary of river Jhelum in Gurez Valley is proving to be a non-starter due to 68 per cent cost escalation. While modifying the design of the project by reducing storage, Union Cabinet had approved the project at the cost of Rs. 2238 crore in July 2007. But, even after eight months since the Cabinet approval the major works could not be awarded due to high price bids.

: The October 8, 2005 earthquake wrecked havoc on life and property in the bordering area of Karnah. Three years after the natural disaster hit Karnah villages, at least 99 children rendered orphans are still awaiting cash relief compensation announced by the union government under National Calamity Scheme for Victims (NCSV) scheme.

KISHTWAR: Public Social Welfare Association of district Kistwar has demanded the start of work at Pakal-Dul, Bursar, Kiru, Kawar Retle, Shomno Kartho Padder Hydroelectric Power Projects (NHPC) immediately. As per a press release, the meeting was held under the leadership of its district president Ajeet Bhagat, urged the Union Power Minster to start the work at the said side because this project would also not only provide needed power besides it would also generate employment for the local youth.

KISHTWAR: Residents of Kishtwar have demanded naming the Dul Hasti power project after Om Mehta, prominent congress leader. Terming Mehta involvement in the project right from the beginning and was instrumental in getting the power project of 390 MW capacity sanctioned by the cabinet. The hydel project was to cost Rs 3400 crores. Due to the interruptions its present cost is estimated to be Rs 4500 crores. The plant will generate 390 MW of electricity and provide employment to a large number of local people. It has been constructed by the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation.

Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad has asked construction agencies and officers associated with infrastructure development projects to take the fullest advantage of the existing coordination between the central and the State governments leading to liberal funding and implement schemes in the shortest possible time for the benefit of people in all areas of the State.

Postponement of meeting of cabinet committee on prices on account of ministerial row is a pointer towards the laid-back approach of the government towards a critical problem which is potentially calamitous. As the food prices explode across the country setting off a chain of violent mass protests, the ruling clique seems to have started feeling the heat in the election year for the reason too obvious. Surging prices have threatened its political stability and have also the potential to faint its prospects to return to power.