Srinagar, October 31
Even as the MeT office has forecast improvement in weather conditions from tomorrow, another round of wet spell is likely from November 6. However, weather is expected to remain dry in the meantime.

After light showers in the morning here, sun came out in the afternoon even as the conditions remained overcast most of the time amid a drizzle late in the afternoon. The MeT had earlier forecast rain in the plains and light snowfall in the upper reaches for yesterday and today.

The Director, MeT office, Sonum Lotus, said dry weather conditions were likely to prevail till November 5 while rain was expected on Wednesday and Thursday next week.

Qazigund, the gateway town to Kashmir, received 16.8 mm rainfall from last night till the morning as per an official of the MeT Department. Similarly, Srinagar city and south Kashmir tourist resort Pahalgam received 3.8 mm and 28.6 mm rainfall, respectively, till today morning.

While the plains received a rainfall, the higher reaches along the LoC in the Valley received the first snowfall of the season on Wednesday. The higher reaches of the Pir Panjal range also received light snowfall.

A snowfall was also witnessed in Gulmarg in north Kashmir yesterday. Reports said the snowfall, though light, brought cheers to the tourists, who especially visit Kashmir in winters with a hope of seeing the snow fall.

“I am seeing a snowfall for the first time. My family and I will never forget this lovely experience,” a tourist from Ajmer said.

After the snowfall, Gulmarg, as per an official of the MeT office, recorded -0.2 degree Celsius last night. Pahalgam and Srinagar recorded minimum 1.4 and 4.8 degree Celsius, respectively.

Srinagar, October 31
Demand for woollen and winter wears has picked up in the Valley markets with winters making an early arrival.

Of lately, the Valley markets were abuzz with summer clearance sales but now the winter wears have flooded the showrooms.

Various flea markets, high-end shops and shopping malls have the latest winter collection on display and the sales have also gone high abruptly.

“We were expecting winter shopping by the mid-November. But with cold weather approaching, the demand for these garments has already shot high. People are buying winter school uniformsfor their children,” Maqsood Ahmad, owner of a store in Lal Chowk in Srinagar, said.

The temperature has plunged several notches below normal.

“Jackets, sweaters and pullovers are much in demand during the winter season. As it gets colder, the demand for long Kashmiri cloak (pheran) and shawls will also rise,” Muhammad Ali, an owner of a garments shop, said.

Srinagar, October 31
According to the Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, the working hours in all government offices and institutions in the Valley, except educational institutions, in the Srinagar municipal limits, will be from 10.30 am to 4.30 pm with effect from November 1. These timings will remain operational till October 31, 2014. Meanwhile, the Director, School Education, Kashmir, also issued orders pertaining to the school timings.

Schools within the municipal limits of Srinagar city will be functional from 10 am to 3 pm while the timings outside the Srinagar municipal limits will be from 11 am to 4 pm with effect from November 1, 2013. — TNS

Srinagar, October 31
The first-ever old age home is likely to come up in the Eidgah area of the downtown Srinagar. Although the construction work on the old age home started four years ago, it suffered various setbacks mainly because of the delays in tendering process.

After many hiccups, the construction work of the old age home building was expedited earlier this month and it is nearing completion.

The Tribune had carried a news story on October 10 on the eve of World Health Mental Day highlighting the need for establishing an old age home in the Valley.

Sources said Eidgah constituency MLA and Speaker of the state Legislative Assembly Mubarak Gul had ordered the authorities to expedite work of the multi-storeyed building.

Dr Arif Maghribi, a clinical psychologist, who had led an awareness rally on World Mental Health Day, said the establishment of the old age home was much needed as the isolation of old people in the Valley had become a societal concern.

“We have to come to terms with the fact that young people have been moving out of their homes for better career opportunities for decades now. Their parents obviously cannot go along. What has been observed is that these young people rarely return to their homes and their parents feel lonely. The old age home will try to eliminate the isolation of these people and form a cooperative atmosphere for their development,” Dr Maghribi said.

Anantnag, October 31
While people across the Valley continue to be troubled due to pesky power supply, some villages in the Kokernag area of Anantnag district are yet to be electrified properly. Besides, trees and residential houses are being used as electric poles.

Reports said villages in the far-flung areas of the Kokernag belt of the district, which were recently electrified, are devoid of electric poles and in many cases transformers as well.

The villages ironically consist of some model villages also which were supposed to be the most developed of all.

The list includes Dramdalaw, Ahlan Bala, Kathanpora Gadole, Chree, Gujjar Basti, Achu, Gugnar, Gorankhal, Darun,

Urnarar, Razikang, Bessu, Matigabran and Arinar villages.

Some of these villages have recently had the privilege of power supply after almost two decades of remaining in complete darkness.

“The callousness of the department has become a nightmare for the people with high voltage power supply lines running low through the village,” said Sartaj Ahmad, a resident of Achu village.

He said the residents of the village had been pleading the authorities to take cognisance of the matter but to no avail.

“We were better off without power supply. The scarce power supply that we get has become a major cause of concern for the villagers,” said Ghulam Mohiuddin of Gujjar Basti.

The residents of these villages allege the government has been indifferent to their woes even as plans are in the pipeline to develop the area into a major tourist destination.

Moreover, the rundown transformers installed in the area develop snags every now and then, following which they remain defunct for months.

Officials of the Power Development Department (PDD) said erecting electric poles was at the top of their priority list.

“The areas have been brought on the power supply map. That having been done, we are working on the second phase of the process,” said a PDD official said.

He further said there had been some delay in the funding process. However, he hoped the projects would be completed soon.

Srinagar, October 31
The Chief Minister’s private office has received 412 deputations and 2,329 individuals from different parts of the Valley in the month of October projecting their demands about ensuring the availability of essentials in their respective areas.

The demands were subsequently forwarded to the departments concerned for their redressal, an official spokesperson said. He said the major problems and issues were concerned with the completion of development works across the state, especially in the valley before the onset of winter, adequate supply of essential commodities in the Valley, adequate advance arrangements in place by the civil as well as the police administration for the smooth culmination of the forthcoming month of Muharram, extreme poverty cases and other day-to-day issues and problems.

The CM’s Private Office also provided counselling to the people seeking financial assistance for setting up of their income generating units, besides poverty alleviation, welfare and rehabilitation programmes launched by the government for the benefit of the people.

Major issues Completion of development work across the state before the onset of winter Adequate supply of essential commodities in the Valley Advance arrangements in place by the civil as well as the police administration for the smooth culmination of the forthcoming month of Muharram

Srinagar, October 31
Kashmir University’s annual cultural festival ‘Sonzal-2013’, being organised by the Department of Students Welfare, started here today at the varsity campus.

As many as 1000 students from 40 different colleges will be participating in about 20 different events during the festival.

The week-long festival was inaugurated by Minister for Higher Education Mohammad Akbar Lone.

Kashmir University Vice Chancellor Talat Ahmad, Registrar Zaffar Ahmad Reshi, Dean Student’s welfare Neelofar Khan, heads of various departments and professors, besides large number of students and participants from various colleges were present on the occasion.

The Minister appreciated the organisers for holding the mega event and said: “These programmes enable the presentation of culture and heritage.”

He stressed upon students to ensure maximum participation in literary and cultural activities, which are necessary for nourishing and developing leadership qualities among students and make them better citizens. He also assured the organisers that government will provide every possible help and support for promotion of cultural activities in the state.

The Vice Chancellor in his address said: “Organising youth festivals in the universities provide an opportunity of utilising the young minds in constructive and fruitful activities.”

“Such event is aimed at transcending new levels of glory represented by the youth of the state, who posses diverse talent and potential, and extends to bring them together on a common platform,” he said.

Reshi, meanwhile, said ‘Sonzal’ is a synonymous to colours and like every year university organises a week-long festival of different hues of the valley‘s youth.

He said ‘Sonzal’ involves the spirit of participation and competition mixed with entertainment.

Srinagar, October 31
The National Conference today claimed that the party will emerge as the single largest party in the forthcoming Assembly elections in the state.

“We have all along been the single largest party and will emerge as a strong force in 2014 under the leadership of Omar Abdullah,” a senior NC leader said during a function here. “PDP’s disintegration has begun and everyone shall see how this anti people party will be wiped out from the minds and hearts of the people,” he added.

Meanwhile, the NC today inducted Kashmiri Pandit leader Shiban Dudha into the party fold.

National Conference additional general secretary Mustafa Kamal, provincial president Kashmir Nasir Aslam Wani, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s political secretary Tanvir Sadiq and district president Srinagar Peer Afaq were present on the occasion.

Duddha expressed gratitude to the party leadership for providing him a chance to serve the people and pledged for strengthening the National Conference. — TNS

Srinagar, October 31
Accusing the current dispensation of National Conference and Congress of “victimizing” the people of the state, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) today said the state needs a more “responsible” and “responsive” government.

“J&K has to have a responsible and responsive government that can cater to the needs of the people and also address the political issues that have impeded its progress,” former minister and PDP General Secretary Mohammad Dilawar Mir said while addressing a gathering of political workers from Tangmarg who joined the party.

“The increasing popularity of the party is because of the clear and progressive agenda of the PDP and the track record of its performance in government and in the opposition,” he added.

Party president, Mehbooba Mufti welcomed the group of political workers and activists led by Abdul Hamid Wani into the party fold.

“Haji Ghulam Mohammad Wani of Wusan, Mohiudin Kutho and Aasha Pandit among others have joined the PDP,” party spokesperson said.

Meanwhile, Mir said the PDP has set new standards in the state politics, whether it was in the government or in opposition.

“The party brought the state out of repression and darkness in 2002,” Mir said.

He alleged that under the present NC-Congress regime the state has virtually retained pre-2002 situation.

“The instruments of repression have been revived, youth are being victimised and new weapons like pellet guns and chili grenades have been introduced,” he said.

On the ceasefire violation by Pakistani troops along the international border and the LoC, Mir said, “The ceasefire is severely threatened and the Chief Minister has returned to the traditional role of his National Conference predecessors to advocate war with Pakistan.”

Calling upon the new entrants to lend their voice to the party’s plea for peace and strong disapproval of war, Mir said: “The November 4 rally will help in convening to the national leadership that people of J&K are not in favour of tension and hostility between India and Pakistan.”

“The PDP’s road map for resolution of Kashmir issue is anchored in Indo-Pak friendship and it would make the voice of people of the sate heard in New Delhi and Islamabad,” he said.

Srinagar, October 31
Days after the restrictions on his movement have been lifted by the government, hardline Hurriyat chairman Syed Ali Geelani is scheduled to address a public meeting after the Friday prayers at his native town of Sopore in north Kashmir.

“After his address, he would pay a visit to the residence of parliament attack convict Muhammad Afzal Guru at Doabgah near Sopore,” All Party Hurriyat Conference spokesperson Ayaz Akbar said here.

He added that the Hurriyat Conference Chairman would also lead a procession to the Main Chowk of the town after the prayers.

“Geelani would also visit the families of those killed in Gool, Kishtwar, Shopian, Tral and Markundal this year,” he added.

Restrictions had been imposed on Geelani’s movement since March this year, following the execution of Guru.

Srinagar, October 31
As the Civil Secretariat re-opens in Jammu on Monday, Minister for Public Enterprises, Hajj, Auqaf and Floriculture, Peerzada Mohammad Sayeed, would be available at the winter secretariat here for next week to address the issues of the people.

“To redress the grievances of general public the Minister would be available at the winter secretariat from November 4 to 8,” an official spokesperson said here today.

“All the interested persons are informed to avail the opportunity to interact with the concerned Minister and get their grievances redressed,” he said.

The move is a part of the arrangement made during winter months wherein a minister remains available for the people every week, while the government functions from Jammu.

Similarly, a minister remains available for the public in the summer secretariat at Jammu during the summer months when the government functions from the city.