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: 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.

As part of its efforts to restore the pristine glory of Dal Lake, the Jammu and Kashmir Government has restored 51 blocked springs that feed the water body.

JAMMU: National Panthers Party MLA, Harsh Dev Singh has strongly condemned the neglect of Mansar and Surinsar lakes in the matter of funds allocation by the Govenrment of India and sanction of an additional package of ` 356 crore exclusively for Dal lake. Describing the decision as the most blatant act of regional discrimination, Mr. Singh further lambasted the State Government for its apathy and neglect of the tourist resorts of Jammu region and intentional non-projection of demands with respect to their development.

The Housing and Urban Development Department which administers Lakes and Waterways Development Authority, had taken up with Union Ministry of Environment and Forests the project for funding the compensation to be paid to the Dal dwellers for acquisition of their land and structures within the Dal lake. The project has now been cleared after its techno-financial justification.

The CAG’s report on “Water Pollution in India” warns against the “drastic change in water quality” of Jammu and Kashmir’s Dal Lake, which is being destroyed by untreated sewage and fertilisers bein

Omar for direct international flights to Valley
SRINAGAR: The Union Tourism Ministry has decided to identify 20 new tourist destinations in the State and set a huge amount for development of three mega circuits.

The Planning Commission today approved a Rs 6,600 crore Annual Plan for Jammu and Kashmir for 2011-12, Rs 600 crore higher than the last year

Blocked roads and sub-zero temperatures in Himachal affect normal life
Winter chill returned on Sunday in most of the northern States as the cold wave pushed mercury to record lows in Shimla and Pahalgam and claimed two more lives in Uttar Pradesh.

Two more persons died -one each from Hardoi and Deoria - in Uttar Pradesh, taking the death toll in the State this winter to 132, officials said.