Taking a step forward in rooting out polythene from the Kashmir valley, Green Dream, a group of young professionals and students, visited the Jamia Masjid area and appealed to traders there to avoid polythene in their daily operations.

Green Dream members Khurram Wani, Kaunsar Bhat, Mehboob Jeelani and others asked traders to make alternative arrangements instead of using polythene.

Srinagar: As the tulip garden by the banks of the Dal Lake is thrown open to the public, the authorities are skeptic about how long the breathtaking view of the flowers in full glory would last.

Srinagar: With the state being vulnerable to natural disasters like earthquakes, floods and fire incidents, the authorities have started framing plans to tackle these problems.

The valedictory function of the four-day workshop on preparation of disaster management plans was organised today. Additional Commissioner, Kashmir, Mohammad Amin was the chief guest on the occasion.

Moderate to heavy rains for the past two days have cast a shadow on the better prospect of rabi crop in the region while the exact degree of impact would come to the fore in the near future only.

Besides affecting the quantum of the produce, untimely rains may also affect the eatable quality of the produce.

Farmers in various areas of the Jammu region have expressed concern over the failure of the Irrigation Department to get the Ranbir Canal properly cleaned and desilted. They alleged that filthy water from the canal was damaging their standing vegetable crops and the quality of soil.

Jammu: People today thronged Tata Motor

Nabard has sanctioned a Rs 342.43-crore loan to the state government in the current financial year for the construction of rural roads, bridges, drinking water schemes, flood protection and irrigation projects.

Nabard chief general manager AK Mathur said Rs 410.64 crores was released during 2008-09 to the government for the development of rural infrastructure.

The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has prepared the structural designs of Kashmir Highway and Khayaban-e-Margalla and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani will inaugurate these two projects next month.

The sources said Kashmir Highway

A week-long plantation drive was launched at Kashmir University today. The plantation drive is being organised by the NSS and Landscape Development wings of the varsity.