SRINAGAR: As the winter sets in, Hokrsar 14 kilometres north of Srinagar the capital city of Kashmir is home to migratory birds; visitors from Siberia and other regions of Central Asia, a thrilling

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.

A dead mallard was found by a team of the Wildlife Conservation Fund, an international NGO, during its one-day field trip in the Fashkoori Wetland Conservation Reserve at Tulbagh in Pampore on January 11.

Locals have been complaining about poaching incidents in the area. The NGO conducted the field trip after receiving several complaints from the locals about bird poaching in the area. The team found the dead mallard with a gunshot injury and one wing missing. It also found a net made of nylon threads, locally known as “waalwaaish”, used for catching water fowls in the wetlands.

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.

Congress legislator Ravinder Sharma opposed the acquisition of land belonging to 1965 and 1971 refugees for the third phase of the Industrial Growth Centre (IGC), Samba. The House Committee of the Legislative Council today reviewed the status of acquisition of land of the IGC, Samba.

Sources said while reviewing the cases of land acquired by the authorities for the third phase of the IGC, Samba, it emerged that the land belonging to the refugees was also acquired by the authorities.

The Valley is witnessing severe cold wave conditions with the temperature continuing to remain several degrees below the freezing point.

In Srinagar city, the mercury fell overnight to minus 5.5°C, which is nearly three degrees below the average normal and lowest temperature of the season so far, an official of the Meteorological Department said. Srinagar witnessed minus 4.9°C on Sunday night, minus 4.6°C on Saturday night and minus 5.4°C on Friday night.

JAMMU: Chief Secretary Madhav Lal today underscored the need for further groundwork on the State Action Plan on Climate Change with clearly outlined areas of focus leading to optimum utilization of the highly valued natural resources of the State in a sustainable manner to meet present and future needs of energy, food and livelihood without negatively affecting its fragile ecology.

Chairing the first Jammu and Kashmir Executive Council meeting to discuss the State Action Plan on Climate Change, Chief Secretary re-iterated Government policy of sustainable development noting that harnessing sources of clean energy whether hydro power or solar power has been on Government focus to meet energy needs along with thrust on improving energy efficiency and minimizing energy wastage.

3 flights cancelled, train traffic disrupted

JAMMU/srinagar: While the day temperature in Jammu has broken about 30 years old record by remaining nearly 11 degree Celsius below normal today, the night temperature in the winter capital has further depleted to 4.3 degree Celsius from 6 degree Celsius, just in past 24 hours whereas, the cold wave conditions and fog continued to play havoc with the people in the State and other parts of northern region for the last about one week.

Srinagar, January 6: Idrees Beigh, an electrical engineer, has given a solar avatar to the kangri.

One dies of cold; train, air traffic remain hit

JAMMU: While cold wave continued to grip entire State including Kashmir valley and plain areas of Jammu region, Drass township in Kargil district recorded the lowest temperature of -27 degree celsius whereas, night temperature in Jammu has further receded to 5.7 degree celsius as Solar radiations have depleted to nearly 80 percent in the winter capital. Dense fog and mist continued to play havoc with the normal life of the people, causing suspension of some flights and disruption in the smooth movement of trains and vehicular traffic.