Srinagar, October 26
The Expert Committee of the State Council on Climate Change has proposed to set up a Climate Change Cell to carry forward the agenda of implementation of the recommendations of the council on climate change.

The recommendations of the Expert Committee, which met here on Friday, would be discussed at the Executive Council meeting of the State Council on Climate Change. The State Action Plan on Climate Change (SAPCC) would be sent to the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests for final approval and funding under various missions.

This was decided at the fifth meeting of the Expert Committee of State Council on Climate Change held under the chairmanship of Director Environment and Remote Sensing, J&K, Suresh Chugh in Srinagar yesterday.

The meeting was held to finalise the J&K State Action Plan on climate change, said an official spokesman.

As part of the National Action Plan on Climate Change, every state is required to prepare its own action plan for climate change, taking into consideration the local requirements of the state, added the spokesman.

The state action plan has been prepared by the GIZ, a German consultancy, and CTRAN Consultants Ltd Orissa, in consultation with the stakeholders of the state. The main objective of the SAPCC is to strategise mitigation and adaptation of initiative towards emission stabilisation and enhancement of ecosystem resilience, climate proofing of the livelihood sector and diversification of dependency on natural resources.

Kupwara, October 26
Residents of some villages in Kupwara district have demanded stern action against timber smugglers involved in vandalisation of forests. The affected villages include Kalaroose in Hayhama, Awoora, Kalaroose, Mir Muqam, Warnow, Mughulpora and Deedikote.

Residents of Rajwar in Handwara tehsil also voiced their concern over deforestation in their villages. Delegations from these villages said in absence of effective monitoring of forests by the department, timber smugglers were having a field day.

“The smugglers have unleashed loot in forests of Kalaroose. They use ponies during night hours for transportation of illicit timber. They also use vehicles to transport timber to other areas,” said Bashir Ahmad, who was leading a delegation of local residents.

Rajwar residents said groups of timber smugglers were active in forests for the past two weeks. They said despite repeated representations to officials concerned, the department has not taken any steps to curb the illegal practice. “We made several representations to the local forest office about the large-scale deforestation in our village, but the department has done nothing to curb the smuggling,” said Shabir Ahmad, a senior citizen.

The locals said the smugglers had taken full advantage of easy-going approach of field staff and were looting the forests. “The field staff seldom visits the forests, providing ample opportunity to smugglers to unleash loot in forests. They carry out smuggling mostly in the night hours and make an easy buck out of this illegal practice,” said Faizan Ahmad of Rajwar.

Some residents said the shortage of LPG and kerosene oil had forced many villagers to resort to smuggling of firewood.

They appealed to forest officials to intensify crackdown against the smugglers to put a check on illicit trade of timber.

A forest official said, “We will intensify patrolling in affected areas and also activate the control room staff. With the help of forest protection force, the field staff will intensify crackdown against smugglers.”

Srinagar, October 26
The area under saffron cultivation in Kashmir valley has decreased considerably over the years and the production level of premium spice saffron has gone down.

This was revealed today during ‘Ist Inception Workshop of All India Network Programme on Saffron”, which is being organised by Department of Biotechnology, Kashmir University and sponsored by Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Ministry of Science & Technology, New Delhi.

Speaking during the workshop, Director, Department of Biotechnology (DBT), New Delhi, Dr Meenakshi Munshi said the purpose of conducting the first inception workshop on saffron and bringing all principal investigators together is to make sure that all networks are in place and evolve a joint strategy to move forward by taking all stakeholders on board.

She added that DBT has initiated the project after observing that there has been a considerable decrease in the area of land under saffron cultivation over the years in the Valley and the production level has gone down.

Speaking during the inaugural session of the workshop, J&K Rural Development Minister Ali Mohammad Sagar said scientific interventions are a must to increase the production without compromising on the quality of the yield.

“Saffron is a priority sector for the government and we all know that saffron grows only in a few parts of the world; in India, it grows only in Kashmir. Therefore, realising its importance, the state government launched the Saffron Mission Project to provide irrigation facilities, fertilisers, manure and other support to the cultivators.”

Srinagar, October 26
One person was killed in the city here and nine others were injured in different road accidents across the Valley, the police said today.

A car hit a motorcycle at Rajbagh in the city here resulting in critical injuries to a motorcyclist, identified as Haziq Hussain Bhat, a resident of Sanat Nagar locality on city outskirts, said a police spokesman.

The youth was admitted in SKIMS Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.

An unknown vehicle hit and injured a pedestrian Feroz Ahmad Wani, a resident of Khanmoo, at Semthan in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district. The injured was admitted to a hospital for treatment, said the spokesman.

A tanker hit an auto-rickshaw at Sanat Nagar, resulting in injuries to three persons, including the driver of the rickshaw, said the spokesman. All the injured were admitted in a hospital for treatment.

A cab and a motorcycle collided at Hardu-Surush in central Kashmir’s Budgam district, resulting in injuries to a motorcyclist and the pillion-rider. Both the injured were admitted in a hospital for treatment, said the spokesman.

Two trucks and a tipper collided near Nepora in south Kashmir’s Qazigund town, resulting in injuries to the conductor of the truck Parshotam Singh, a resident of Ferozpora area of Punjab, said the spokesman. The injured was admitted in a hospital for treatment.

An auto-rickshaw collided with a motorcycle near Amarpora in north Kashmir’s Sopore town, resulting in injuries to a motorcyclist Manzoor Ahmad and a pillion-rider Shahzad Ahmad Dar, residents of Boniyar. Both of them were admitted in a hospital, said the spokesman. — TNS

Srinagar, October 26
A young woman consumed poison to end her life in south Kashmir's Shopian district, the police said today.

Srinagar, October 26
The Jammu and Kashmir unit of Congress today claimed that the ruling coalition has agreed to incorporate certain provisions of the 73rd Amendment of Constitution into the state Panchayat Act, ending more than two years of stalemate with its partner National Conference.

The coalition coordination committee agreed on the provisions that would be included in the state Panchayat Act.

"The provisions include institution of a separate finance commission and a separate election commission for the panchayats in the state," said Saifuddin Soz, president, Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC).

He said the provisions included to have elections throughout the panchayat system without any nominations. "The consensus was also arrived at the reservation for the SCs, STs and women," he said.

The coalition partners have been at loggerheads over the implementation of the 73rd Amendment of the constitution in the state. While the Congress was in the favour of extending the constitutional amendment to the state, the NC had shown willingness to incorporate certain provisions in the state Panchayat Act, sources said.

The coordination committee also agreed that the Land Acquisition Act and Food Security Act would be adopted in the state in the due course of time, Soz said.

He, however, said, "The acts would be minutely studied and anomalies, if any, would be removed in the interest of the people of the state. This exercise would be made at the earliest."

The Congress leader said the coordination committee also agreed on the procedure for removing an "erring" sarpanch and provision for auditing of panchayats in the state.

The issue of reducing the voting age from 25 to 21 years in the panchayat elections was also agreed upon in the meeting, he said. — PTI

Srinagar, October 26
Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed today said his Peoples' Democratic Party (PDP) will contest the 2014 elections with a positive agenda.

“We have to leave behind the political bickering and blame-games of the past and respond to the problems with unity and wisdom,” Mufti, PDP’s patron, told a gathering of political workers who joined the party today.

The new entrants from central Kashmir's Beerwah area were led by Sonaullah Dar Rathsuna. Senior PDP leader Tariq Hameed Karra, party’s chief spokesperson Naeem Akhtar and MLC Mohammad Ashraf Mir were also present on the occasion and addressed the gathering.

Mufti said the state was poised for “change for better” and the next year Lok Sabha elections would be a trend setter for a positive turn of events in the state.

Mufti said any isolated effort at development would not succeed unless the political aspect is also addressed and concrete steps taken for the resolution of the Kashmir problem.

“The PDP had entered the political arena of the state with an agenda for peaceful resolution and dismantlement of the instruments of repression that had taken away basic rights of people,” he said.

He said the 2002 elections, which led the party’s rise to power in coalition with the state Congress party, had resulted in a new process of reconciliation, resolution and reconstruction.

Srinagar, October 26
A group of 20 progressive fish farmers of Srinagar district was flagged off for a training-cum-tour programme under the Agriculture Technology Management Agency (ATMA) scheme here yesterday.

The farmers would be visiting trout fish farms, hatcheries, fish seed farms and carp fish farms of the state and get acquainted with the latest scientific techniques being adopted for fish rearing during the tour.

The main objective of the tour is to improve the professional skills of the fish farmers regarding fish production.

An official spokesman said 41 fish farmers of the Srinagar district had been provided financial assistance by the Department.

Under the scheme, the National Mission for Protein Supplements, a trout beneficiary, is being provided Rs 3 lakh, out of which Rs 2.40 lakh is being provided by the Department and Rs 0.60 lakh is a beneficiary share while for carp culture under the said scheme, a beneficiary is being provided Rs 2 lakh.

Kupwara, October 26
Residents of the remote Chaipati village on Saturday apprised the Deputy Commissioner (DC), Kupwara, Itrat Hussian Rafique, of their problems.

The DC assured the locals of addressing all their genuine problems, including road, healthcare, power and water supply in a stipulated time.

The district administration had held an awami durbar in the village. He directed the district officials to take measures and address problems of the people on priority. “We are thankful to the district civil chief, who listened to our problems patiently. He directed the officials concerned to take measures and address the problems. We are hopeful that our problems would be addressed in a due course of time,” said Sonaullah Mir, a local resident.

Sarpanches and ward members were also present on the occasion. The DC directed the sarpanches to ensure smooth functioning of Anganwadi centres, health centers and effectively monitor the attendance of teachers in schools.

During the past three months, the district administration had held the awami durbars in villages, including Drugmulla, Tanhdar Kandi, Kalroose, Chandigam Lolab, Machil, Kralpora, Trehgam Villgam and Tartahpora.

The objective of such durbars is to address basic problems of people, including road, power, health care, water supply and ration.

Srinagar, October 26
Afadul Mujtaba, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police for central Kashmir, today inaugurated a T-20 cricket tournament in the city here.

The tournament is being organised by the police and was inaugurated at Delhi Public School at Panthachowk on the city outskirts.

Mujtaba, while speaking at the inaugural function, said the state police was providing a platform to the youth to harness their capabilities in the field of sports and explore their talent.

A police spokesman said 18 teams from Srinagar were participating in the tournament. The inaugural match was played between Nowgam Cricket Club and FCC Hawal.

SSP Srinagar Ashiq Hussain Bukhari, SP South Imtiyaz Ismail, SP West Tejander Singh, SDPO West Rajiv Panday and SDPO Kothibagh Peerzada Naveed were present at the inaugural event of the tournament.

Srinagar, October 26
The Chief Justice of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court, Justice MM Kumar, in presence of Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, Mir Saifullah, inaugurated the double-storeyed administrative block of the Advocate General on the High Court premises.

The judges of the High Court and Advocate General MI Qadiri were also present on the occasion. The construction work was executed by the JKPCC at an estimated cost of Rs 1.50 crore.

Offices of the administrative officer, accounts officer, reception and clerical sections shall be accommodated on the ground floor, while the first floor comprised of a spacious room for the Advocate General, retiring room, pantry, waiting hall and meeting hall.

Those who attended the function included senior High Court Judge Justice Mansoor Ahmad Mir, Justice Ali Mohammad Magray, Deputy Advocate General, Alau-ud-Din Ganai, Law Secretary, Mohammad Ashraf, Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, Farooq Ahmad Shah, Managing Director JKPCC, Additional Advocate Generals and senior lawyers.