Srinagar, November 8
Gulmarg resort in north Kashmir was the coldest place in the region with mercury falling three degrees below the freezing point while the summer capital received a slight respite from cold with sun shining over the city after a cloudy gap of several days.

An official of the state Meteorological department said the north Kashmir resort, which is a famous skiing destination during winter, recorded a freezing night with mercury falling to a low of minus 3.0 degrees Celsius.

Gulmarg was the only place in Kashmir where the temperature had slipped below the freezing point.

In Srinagar city, where the mercury had risen to a mere high of 11.5 degrees Celsius yesterday which was a departure of six degrees from the normal, the maximum temperature today increased to 14.2 degrees Celsius.

Sun shined over the city as sky became clear for the first time in last several days which had remained overcast. The overnight low in the city was recorded at 4.3 degrees Celsius, the official said.

In south Kashmir’s Pahalgam resort, the minimum temperature was recorded at 0.2 degrees Celsius while the maximum had increased to 9.6 degrees Celsius.

In south Kashmir’s Qazigund, the gateway town to the Valley, the minimum temperature had dropped to 5.6 degrees Celsius while the maximum was recorded at 13.9 degrees Celsius.

The frontier Kupwara town in north Kashmir recorded a low of 4.3 degrees Celsius and a maximum of 14.8 degrees Celsius, the official said.

In Leh town of remote Ladakh region, mercury overnight had fell to a low of minus 4.2 degrees Celsius while the maximum temperature there was recorded at 10.9 degrees Celsius.

Srinagar, November 8
As the winter has set in early, the unscheduled power cuts are annoying people across the Valley. The unscheduled power cuts are being reported from both the metered as well as non-metered areas across the Valley.

While the Power Development Department (PDD) blames the extra load on the power distribution system as a reason for these cuts, local residents said the government was not doing enough to ensure that at least electricity was supplied as per the schedule announced by the department.

“The PDD had announced five slots for power cuts in different areas of the Valley which are metered, but we hardly see that they stick to the schedule,” said Ali Mohammad, a resident of north Kashmir’s Baramulla town. “We have taken up the issue with the local power authorities, but there seems no improvement on the ground situation,” he added.

The situation in rural areas in north as well as south Kashmir was worse.

In some localities of Srinagar, unscheduled power cuts are also being reported.

“The PDD had installed meters on the promise that we will get round-the-clock power supply, but the promise is not being kept. The power cuts add to the problems,” said Ghulam Jeelani, a resident of Bemina. "It looks that the government is not serious to solve these problems," he said.

The PDD, however, maintained that they were ensuring that the power was supplied to the areas as per the schedule announced.

“Since beginning of this month, we are ensuring that power is supplied to various parts of the Valley as per the schedule announced,” Chief Engineer, PDD, Bashir Ahmed Khan said. “On some occasions, due to extra load on the power distribution system, some cuts are necessary,” he said.

Khans said they ensure 18- 21 hours power supply to the metered areas and 12-15 hours in unmetered areas.

The Valley this time only generates 100 MW from its own power projects while 1,100 MW is imported from the Northern Grid. The agreement load, as per the PDD, is 570 MW during evenings and the usage becomes 1,070 MW which compels the power department to go for frequent power cuts.

Srinagar, November 8
Minister for Agriculture Ghulam Hassan Mir today reviewed the status of organic farming in the Valley during a meeting of officers of Agriculture Department held here.

The minister, as per an official statement, was informed that the first organic crop of red rice, rajmah, potato, maize and rice will come in the market in 2014 while organic vegetables would be available in 2015.

He was also informed that so far, 3,409 farmers had been trained for organic farming. The farmers have also been provided organic inputs like biofertiliser and biopesticide, replacing chemical fertilisers and pesticides by the implementing agencies, the statement added.

The Agriculture Minister, while expressing satisfaction over the implementation of the scheme, urged the officers as well as implementing agencies to lay focus on marketing of organic produce after completing the process of certification so that the farmers get good prices of the organic produce.

The minister was also apprised that 1,180 hectare area had been identified for adoption for organic farming and subsequent certification of organic produce, covering 3,409 farm operating families. This includes 300 hectares covered under the vegetable initiative for urban cluster scheme, 380 hectare under Horticulture Mission for North East Himalayan States (HMNEH) and 500 hectare under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojna.

The areas where organic farming has been started are Gurez for rajmah and potato, Machil for potato and maize, Karnah for red rice, Sogam, Trehgam and Kupwara for rice, maize and rajmah, Uri, Keller, Shopian for rajmah while Narkara, Budgam in district Budgam, Noorbagh Takenwari and Guzerbal in Srinagar and Bangidhara in district Anantnag have been adopted for vegetables.

Besides Director Agriculture Kashmir Mushtaq Peerzada, senior level officers of the department and representative of various organic companies which are implementing the organic farming programmes in different districts of Kashmir attended the meeting.

Anantnag, November 8
The saffron harvesting season which normally concludes by mid of November might get extended by a week this year after a late bloom of the flower.

According to reports, the saffron blossom got delayed this year in wake of the fluctuating temperatures in the beginning of the season.

Saffron, one of the world’s costliest spices, is cultivated in abundance in Pampore area of south Kashmir’s Pulwama district and is regarded as one of the best quality saffron in the world.

“The day as well as night temperatures kept fluctuating at the commencement of the saffron season this year,” said Javaid Ahmad, chief agriculture officer (CAO) of the Pulwama district.

He said the delay in the blossom had initially put a shadow of doubt on the farmers’ minds.

“The farmers were apprehensive of a low produce this time. However, they are satisfied now as the flowers have blossomed,” said the officer.

The farmers said they had plucked more than 40 per cent of the annual produce as of now.

“There are about three blossoms of the flower in a given season,” said Tariq Ahmad, a farmer, “Most of the farmers have plucked just one blossom, while a few have plucked two,” he added.

Meanwhile, the farmers are keeping their fingers crossed and are hoping that it does not snow soon.

“If it snows now, not only the standing blossom be destroyed, but it will also affect the next bloom as well,” said Adil Kuchay, another farmer.

Srinagar, November 8
Despite the government’s offer to resolve their issues through talks, the Joint Consultative Committee (JCC), an amalgam of various government employees' bodies, is scheduled to start another round of protest from tomorrow.

While the JCC is planning a march from the CAPD office to the Divisional Commissioner’s office here tomorrow, employee leaders are planning to take their ‘fight’ to Jammu later as Darbar Move offices have already reopened in the winter capital of the state.

“Even as we will start a protest march tomorrow, we will be taking our fight to Jammu. The next protest programme will be announced in due course of time after consultations with the employee leaders,” said JCC leader Farooq Trali.

He said several employee leaders would address a gathering at the CAPD office before attempting a march towards the Divisional Commissioner’s office.

While talks between the government and the JCC had ended in a deadlock in August last, the employees have been staging frequent protests and strikes for the past more than two years. The government had also detained several employee leaders after the failed talks to prevent the JCC from issuing protest calendars.

Trali said they had decided to continue with their protests as the government was only making ‘false promises’ and that several rounds of talks in the past had 'failed' to yield any positive results.

After a series of protests and strikes by the employees last year, the government had reached an agreement with the JCC wherein the employees were assured that a decision on their demands would be announced by September 30. However, the JCC then resumed protests, saying the government had failed to fulfill the promises made to them.

Srinagar, November 8
Bollywood actors Shahid Kapoor, Shraddha Kapoor and Tabbu today arrived in Kashmir for the shooting of ‘Haider’.

The film, which is an adaptation of Shakespeare’s play Hamlet, is being directed by Vishal Bhardwaj.

The cast of the film was spotted shooting in the famous Mughal and Nishat gardens for several hours.

Khawar Jamsheed, who is assisting the ‘Haider team here, said the film crew would shoot at Gulmarg, Pahalgam and several other remote areas of the Valley.

“Tomorrow, some more shooting will take place in Srinagar, but the cast is expected to move to other places as well,” said Jamsheed.

He said besides 13-year-old south Kashmir boy Ainain, who would make his debut in ‘Haider’, some locals would also act in the film.

“Haider is involving a lot of local artistes who will act as supporting cast in the film. Ainain is yet to shoot for the movie. Today, lead actors Shahid, Sharddha and Tabbu shot,” he informed.

Bhardwaj, who is known to be very particular about locations in his films, reportedly toured rural areas of south Kashmir and Srinagar during September this year to finalise the locations for the film.

He is also known to have successfully adapted Shakespeare’s plays, Macbeth and Othello in the form of his films ‘Maqbool’ and ‘Omkara’. ‘Haider’ is expected to hit the screen next year. 

Srinagar, November 8
Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand today ordered an inquiry into the complaint of the students about the recently held class XII examination in the Kashmir division of the state.

The students had earlier complained that the mathematics paper was out of the syllabus and had sought a re-examination.

During a meeting held here today, Tara Chand discussed the issue with the officials of the education department and ordered an inquiry into the issue.

Director, School Education, Kashmir, Mir Tariq Ali, all the Chief Education Officer’s of the Valley and officials of the Board of School Education (BOSE) attended the meeting.

The Deputy Chief Minister asked the Secretary, BOSE, to do the needful in this regard and submit the report of irresponsible attitude of the concerned officials, so that justice is meted out to the student community and erring officials are taken to task appropriately.

The meeting, meanwhile, also discussed the matter related to the supply of books to various government institutions.

The minister asked the concerned officers to speed up the supply of books so that the students do not suffer for want of the same.

He also sought report about filling up of available vacancies of ReT teachers in border areas of the state.

Tara Chand asked the officers to identify the vacancies within a week and ensure filling up of the same within 20 days. He, however, told them to assure transparency and strictly adhere to merit of the candidates during the selection process.

He also directed the Chief Education Officers and the Zonal Education Officers to pay surprise visits to the government schools to check attendance and implementation of the mid-day meal scheme, besides reviewing the progress of the schools.

With regard to issue of promotion of teachers as masters, the Deputy Chief Minister asked the Director, education, and his team to speed up the process. He also called for filling up of the resultant vacancies of Class IV.

Tara Chand also asked the officers to suggest measures for framing of the Education Policy of the State.

He also directed the Chief Education Officers and Zonal Education Officers to submit tour diary to the Director on regular basis in order to ensure punctuality and accountability of the officers.

Srinagar, November 8
Vice-Chancellor, University of Kashmir, Talat Ahmad today reviewed the functioning of the Allama Iqbal Library and its allied units here.

During a meeting of the library committee various issues concerning the development of the unit, including service to users was discussed.

The VC laid emphasis on making optimum and effective use of the information technology in providing state-of-the-art services to the library users, including users from the various satellite campuses of the University of Kashmir.

The committee on the occasion also discussed evolving a weeding policy for the library, solar lighting for all the floors and renovation of the library building.

Dean Academic Affairs AM Shah, Dean College Development Council GM Shah, Registrar KU Zaffar A Reishi, Heads of the Departments of the University and other senior administrative officers of the varsity were present on the occasion.

Ramesh C Gaur, University Librarian, Jawahar Lal Nehru University, was also present in the meeting.

Earlier, University Librarian, Allama Iqbal Library, Abdul Majid Baba made a brief power point presentation about the various activities and services provided by the library to the students, scholars and faculty members. He also highlighted the future plans of the library.

Srinagar, November 8
Peoples Conference (PC) chairman Sajad Gani Lone today alleged that the ruling National Conference was exploiting and disempowering people of Kashmir on both political and economical fronts for its political gains.

While addressing a convention of the party workers at Soibug in central Kashmir’s Budgam district, Lone stressed upon the need to ‘fight for change’.

Lone said: “The people of the state undoubtedly deserve a change in the present political system to get rid of the administrative injustice and the misgovernance by the traditional political parties of the state.”

He said the need of hour was to fight against the political system of the current era for ‘a delightful future’.

Expressing dismay over the ‘pathetic condition’ of Budgam on the developmental front, Lone said it was apparent that the successive governments had adopted ‘step-motherly attitude’ towards the district.

Several PC leaders, including party vice-chairman Muhammad Kamal Malik, general secretary Rashid Mehmood and district president Budgam Firdous Ahmad Farash were among others present on the occasion.