Srinagar, March 28: The findings of “Census 2011 - Housing and Household Amenities” have revealed that nearly 50 per cent of the households across the state lack toilet facilities while less than 3

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.

Srinagar, March 25 -In order to discourage the use of tobacco products, the authorities have declared educational institutes of the summer capital of the state as “tobacco-free” zones.

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.

A cyclonic wind storm has killed at least one person in Kashmir Valley and caused extensive damage to properties and disrupting communications. Entire region has been plunged into darkness as the electricity service lines have been snapped and poles and towers uprooted.

Fear has overwhelmed the entire population and special prayer meetings are being held all over. At places, mosque loudspeakers were used to make pleas to the people to seek “forgiveness” from Allah for the sins they might have committed.

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.