Kashmir
19 more telephone exchanges restored in Kashmir
Authorities in Kashmir have restored 19 more telephone exchanges, a month after telephone services were snapped following abrogation of provisions of Article 370, officials said on Thursday.
Landline telephone connections started working in commercial hub of Lal Chowk and press colony in the early hours of Thursday, the officials said.
They said 19 telephone exchanges have been restored. There are around 100 telephone exchanges in Kashmir Valley.
The officials said no decision has been yet taken on restoration of mobile telephone and Internet services on all platforms.
Meanwhile, there was more movement of private vehicles on city roads but the shutdown in the valley continued for the 32nd day on Thursday.
Markets and other business establishments remained closed while public transport was off the roads across the valley today, officials said. A large number of private vehicles could be seen plying in many parts of the city while some vendors also plied their trade.
The efforts of the state government to open schools have not borne any fruit as parents continued to keep children at home due to apprehensions about their safety.
Government offices are open but attendance in many offices was thin due to lack of public transport, the officials said adding offices at district headquarters registered normal attendance.
Restrictions under section 144 CrPC, which were imposed last month, have been eased in most parts of Kashmir but there were no signs of end to the deadlock. Restrictions continued in old city areas where security personnel have been deployed in strength to maintain law and order in view of a youth succumbing to injuries at a hospital here on Wednesday.
The youth was injured during clashes between protestors and security personnel on 6 August and succumbed after battling for life for one month.
SRINAGAR, SEPTEMBER 19: Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Baseer Ahmad Khan, today said that government is committed to revive the pristine glory of water bodies in Kashmir valley.
The Divisional Commissioner said this while taking stock of revival measures for Wular Lake, Hokersar and Kreentchoo-Chandhara wet lands at a meeting here.
He directed WUCMA to conduct a survey with Wildlife and Revenue authorities in peripheral areas of the Wular Lake for identification of encroached spots.
For Hokersar and Kreentchoo-Chandhara wet lands, Deputy Commissioners of Srinagar, Budgam and Pulwama districts were directed to prepare a complete demarcation and encroachment report of the wetlands within 20 days.
It was said that concerned Deputy Commissioners will conduct an outer tour of the water bodies along with officers, Panchayats and Municipal Committees and propose a separate land fill site for dumping solid waste on scientific lines.
The Divisional Commissioner directed Deputy Commissioners to involve local Panchayats for safeguarding and conservation of water bodies.
Additional Commissioner Kashmir, Chief Wildlife Warden, Additional Deputy Commissioner Srinagar and other concerned officers were present in the meeting where as Deputy Commissioners of Bandipora, Budgam and Pulwama participated in the meeting through video conferencing.
Union Power Minister RK Singh and Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik have jointly inaugurated 15 power projects and laid the foundation stone for 20 others worth 10,000 crore rupees in the state. Addressing a function in Srinagar, Power Minister said, the government is working to ensure 24 hours electricity supply to all the citizens of the country, including in Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh. He said, the power supply in this winter will be much better than in the past.
Speaking on the occasion, Governor Satya Pal Malik said development works in Jammu and Kashmir will prompt People of Pakistan Occupied Kashmir to revolt against Islamabad and join India.
Meanwhile, Union Minister Jitendra Singh has said that the transition of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh to Union Territories will be smooth. He said, any arrangement or mechanism which evolves will be in the best interest of all the stakeholders. Dr Jitendra Singh was addressing the Annual Conference of Chief Secretaries and Principal Secretaries of all States in New Delhi yesterday.
How can PSA or Public Safety Act be slapped against National Conference patron Farooq Abdullah who has been in public life for 50 years, someone who has been an MP, and a three time Chief Minister, asks National Conference MP Justice Hasnain Masoodi in an interview with IANS.
“Dr Abdullah has put forth the Kashmir case for India before the international fora. Can he be a risk to the public order and security of the state? Nobody will agree to this,” Justice Masoodi said.
Justice Hasnain Masoodi and his fellow National Conference MP Akbar Lone, who held a meeting with Dr Abdullah and his son Omar Abdullah last week said that Farooq Abdullah is not keeping good health, while Omar Abdullah is in good spirits.
“Dr Farooq Abdullah has some health issues. On August 3, there were some concerns about his health. His health may not be worse as compared to the first week of August, but he is not keeping good health. Omar Abdullah is in good spirits,” Justice Hasnain Masoodi said.
Justice Hasnain Masoodi said that the revocation of Article 370 is neither in favour of the state nor the country.
“The scrapping of this Article will widen the gulf between Kashmir and the rest of the country,” Masoodi said.
He said there has been no significant improvement in the situation in Kashmir since August 5, when the article was scrapped and this is drawing international attention.
“Things are the same in Kashmir, though some public transport is plying, mobile phone service continue to remain blocked. There is an information blockade. Landlines have been opened up, but because of the shift to the digital world, most people have disconnected their landlines,” Justice Masoodi said.