Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti on Thursday said that Pakistan played an important role in the Iran–Israel–US ceasefire, helping bring the conflict to a halt in a short time. Speaking at a party convention at Kulgam Mini Stadium, Mehbooba, said the ceasefire remains fragile. “The ceasefire is like ice, it can break at any moment. It is difficult for many of us to even mention Pakistan, but it played a crucial role in securing a ceasefire between Iran and the US, helping prevent large-scale devastation. However, I am uncertain how long this ceasefire will hold, as Israel may…
Author: KNO
The number of houseboats operating in the Jhelum river and its connected channels has dropped drastically over the years from over 200 earlier to just around 60–70 at present, raising concerns over the survival of the traditional sector. Chairman of the Houseboat Owners Association (HBOA), Manzoor Ahmad Pakhtoon said that the decline translates into a loss of more than 130 houseboats over time. This data, he said, excludes Dal Lake and includes Jhelum, Tschooni Koul and areas near Dal Gate. Providing further details, Pakhtoon said the Tschooni Koul stretch alone once had around 100–150 houseboats, but the number has now…
The Comptroller and Auditor General’s (CAG) Compliance Audit of revenue receipts and Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) in Jammu and Kashmir has flagged deep-rooted systemic failures in financial oversight, exposing significant revenue leakages, weak enforcement under GST, and serious irregularities in public sector operations. The report, points to a doubtful recovery of ₹104.51 crore, wrongful disbursal of ₹59.21 crore, and blocking of ₹85.75 crore in funds. It also highlights a five-year delay in the implementation of GST scrutiny mechanisms and extremely low compliance in the submission of PSU accounts, raising serious concerns over transparency and fiscal accountability in the Union Territory.…
The Comptroller and Auditor General of India has reported that 315 lakes in Jammu and Kashmir have disappeared since 1967, indicating a decline in water bodies across the region. According to the CAG report, 697 lakes were recorded in 1967, of which 315 are no longer traceable. These covered over 1,500 hectares. The report, which reviewed lake management between 2017-18 and 2021-22, also noted that 203 lakes have reduced in size, losing more than 1,300 hectares of area. In total, 518 lakes have recorded a decline in water spread, affecting the extent of these water bodies and associated systems. The…
The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment said that funds under the Post-Matric Scholarship Scheme for Scheduled Castes (SC) are being disbursed through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), with release of central share linked to data submission by States and Union Territories on the National Scholarship Portal. As per official figures accessed, Jammu and Kashmir has witnessed a decline in central assistance and the number of beneficiaries under the SC Post-Matric Scholarship scheme over the past three financial years. The UT received ₹5.43 crore in 2022-23, benefiting 10,097 students, ₹4.68 crore in 2023-24, benefiting 7,370 students, and ₹4.09 crore in 2024-25,…
Cancer cases continue to rise in Kashmir, reveals the data. It states that as many as 50,551 cancer cases were reported in Kashmir between 2018 and 2024, underscoring the urgent need for early detection, timely treatment, and preventive healthcare measures. According to the data, cancer incidence in Kashmir has shown a steady increase over the years: 2018: 6,649 cases, 2019: 6,374 cases, 2020: 6,113 cases, 2021: 7,090 cases, 2022: 7,846 cases, 2023: 8,124 cases and 2024: 8,355 cases. A Right to Information (RTI) application filed by activist, reveals that 22,130 cancer cases were recorded at Government Medical College Jammu between…
The Legislative Assembly on Saturday witnessed a heated exchange of arguments between National Conference Minister Sakina Masood Ittoo and PDP legislator Waheed-ur-Rehman Para, with the former repeatedly mentioning Mehbooba Mufti’s “milk and toffee” remarks as many as five times. During a tense argument with PDP legislator Para, Sakina Masood Itoo, accused Para of tearing papers in the House for mere show-off. “If we are without power and grappling with challenges today, it is because of PDP. If we are without state, it is due to you. If we are without 370, it is due to you,” the minister shouted at…
With tourist footfall rising and pressure on civic infrastructure mounting, the Traders Association Lal Chowk on Saturday pitched for a comprehensive revamp of the city’s commercial hub during a meeting with the Divisional Commissioner, Srinagar, securing an assurance of phased, time-bound action. The delegation, led by President Mohammad Iqbal Khan and comprising members Jatinder Singh, Naresh Kumar Mehra and Nisar Ahmad Bhat, as per details available, raised a series of issues ranging from urban planning gaps and traffic congestion to sanitation, pedestrian access and overall aesthetics. “Lal Chowk is the face of Srinagar’s economy and culture. But without planned development…
Around 1,436 kilometres of National Highways have been constructed in Jammu and Kashmir since 2018–19, the Centre informed the Lok Sabha. According to official data accessed, the Union Territory witnessed fluctuating highway construction over the years, with 95 km built in 2018–19, 46 km in 2019–20, 234 km in 2020–21, 263 km in 2021–22, 217 km in 2022–23, 243 km in 2023–24, 214 km in 2024–25 and 124 km during 2025–26 till February. The Centre also informed that expenditure on development and maintenance of National Highways in Jammu and Kashmir has seen a steady rise in recent years. The spending…
The Government of India said that over 3.07 lakh drinking water samples were tested in laboratories across Jammu and Kashmir during the current financial year 2025-26 (till March 31). Replying to an unstarred question in Lok Sabha, the Ministry of Jal Shakti said that under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), water quality testing is being carried out regularly to ensure safe drinking water supply to rural households. As per official data accessed, Jammu & Kashmir recorded testing of 2,53,364 samples in laboratories and 34,793 through Field Testing Kits (FTKs) in 2023-24. In 2024-25, 2,66,547 samples were tested in labs and…