Foiling a smuggling bid, Forest Protection Force (FPF) have seized 86 Deodar scants (sleepers) in Doda district last evening.

Iftikhar Gilani

NEW DELHI, Jan 27: The Centre is planning to go ahead with constructing another mega power project on river Chenab in Doda district after the completion of Baglihar.

JAMMU : Pradesh Janta Dal (Secular) expressed concern over the pending work of Bhadarwah-Chamba road despite the release of Rs 80 crores by the central government. As per a press release, its acting president Mast Nath Yogi alleged that since the announcement of the start of work on the said road, nothing so far has been done on the projects including the work on the Basholi road which is almost complete.

India's largest engineering and construction conglomerate L&T and state-owned National Hydro Power Corporation are working on forming a joint venture, even as the public sector firm received

The new National Mineral Policy (NMP) which seeks to ensure assured right in mineral concessions, envisages foreign direct investment of $2.5 billion annually. "FDI of about $2.5 billion per annum is expected in the mining sector from the fifth year of implementation of the new NMP,' mines minister Sis Ram Ola said.

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.

A contingent of farmers from Doda, Ramban Kishtwar and Poonch districts was flaged off today by the Director of Agriculture, Jammu Vinod Bala Sharma to visit outside the state under 'Technology Missio

RAMBAN: J&K Khadi and Village Industries Board (KVIB) secretary R C Sharma reviewed progress under Rural Employment Generation Scheme (REGS) of the backward districts of Ramban and Doda today. It was informed that KVIB so far have set up 99 units with the bank loans of Rs. 196.99 lakhs and provided margin money grant of Rs. 61.07 lakhs. Sharma said that some of the BPL villages should be included in the J&K Bank's programme of village adoption to uplift the people living below poverty. He said that in order to improve the quality of the blankets being woven in these backward districts and generate sustainable employment the KVIB is addressing the problems of traditional industries in these districts. He disclosed that improved looms on modern technology should be provided to the one new units sanctioned in the current year under blanket weaving for the better quality of the blanket weaving in the area. Similarly, 22 units under ready-made garments have also been got sanctioned to cater the need within the area. A special team for looking in to the needs of unreached and unbankable areas has been constituted which will facilitate the entrepreneurs artisans working in the traditional industries or to start small tiny industrial units. He said that the other units producing articles under KVI sector in these districts for local consumption and specialized units like jackets, caps, tracksuits, mufflers socks etc manufacturing are also being promoted to meet the requirements of the people. A common facility centre is being established for beekeepers producing honey to facility the processing testing and packaging of the honey produced in the area. This will also be used to impart training to the beekeepers, The board its starting four training centres in Doda and Kishtwar districts to train 200 women. One such training centre has already been commenced at Sangaldan in Ramban district to train 40 beneficiaries under craft training.

Although weather remained clear through out the day, reports of deaths due to avalanches and snow storms continued to pour in from remotest areas of Doda and adjoining mountainous belt. Five more persons have lost their lives due to severe cold and snowstorms during the last 24 hours in different areas of Doda and Reasi districts. Authorities have decided to drop ration and other essential commodities as many parts of Doda, Kishtwar and Bhaderwah still inaccessible as huge snow, ranges from 6 to 10 feet, has accumulated in these hilly areas.