June 2023

Srinagar, Jun 05 : Among top 100 universities of India, the University of Kashmir (KU) has figured at 33rd rank in National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) 2023.

In the top 100 overall educational institutes of India, KU has secured 58th rank, a result of which was released by the Union Ministry of Education on Monday.

According to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), among the top 100 in engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Jammu has secured 67th rank and National Institute of Technology Srinagar has figured at 82nd rank.

Similarly, among the top 100 in management, Indian Institute of Management Jammu (IIMJ) have secured 41st rank.

Likewise, among the top 30 in Architecture and Planning, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University Katra have secured 26th rank and among the top 40 in Agriculture and Allied Sectors, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Science and Technology of Kashmir Srinagar have figured at 9th rank.

Ironically, among the top 100 in colleges and medical colleges or institutes from India, no college from Jammu and Kashmir have figured in the list.

The NIRF-2023 results further state that among the top 50 in Research Institutions, no research institution from Jammu and Kashmir was in the list.

Similarly, no pharmaceutical institutions, dental college, law college or department from Jammu and Kashmir have figured in the list.

Pertinently, KU has jumped up by 20 notches in the 2023 NIRFs ranking in comparison to previous year’s ranking. In 2022, KU will be ranked at 53rd rank—(KNO)

Waris Fayaz

Sopore, Jun 05: Director ULB Mathoora Masoom on Monday called for adopting the 3Rs – Reduce, Reuse, Recycle – approach to minimize waste in a scientific manner. She said the government is giving focused attention towards waste management for a sustainable urban future in the Union Territory.

“By adopting the 3Rs approach – Reduce, Reuse and Recycle, we are minimizing the waste in a scientific manner so that our areas become more sustainable and clean”, she said while addressing a rally on the occasion of World Environment Day.

As per the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), Municipal Council Sopore in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district on Monday celebrated World Environment Day with fervor and enthusiasm, with the Director Urban Local Bodies leading the awareness rally.

The rally, in which students from various educational institutions participated, passed through the busiest Iqbal Market in the town and culminated at Government Degree College (GDC) auditorium where a pledge was taken to eradicate plastic from our lives and to say no to plastic for better tomorrow.

She complimented the Municipal Council Sopore for “carrying out developmental works across the town”. She sought the active cooperation of all the stakeholders to play a proactive role in keeping the environment clean and making people aware in this regard.

“If the 3Rs are strictly followed, we can get rid of a huge problem in our urban and rural areas,” the Director added. She, however, asked the municipal council to ensure extra cleanliness measures across Sopore town stating that the Sopore is the only council having 21 hoopers for 21 wards.

Meanwhile, the students from government higher secondary schools presented skits on the occasion, through which awareness was spread among the participants regarding the environmental protection, and the same was quite applauded by the participants.

Moreover, a felicitation program was also held during which students were felicitated with certificates and award money.

The awareness rallies were also held across the sub-division including Najmu Sehr Higher Secondary Duroo, and Amzet Public School Warpura besides a cycle rally by the BDC chairperson from Dal Bungalow to GDC Sopore—(KNO)

Srinagar, Jun 05: In an unexpected turn of developments, Jammu and Kashmir has recorded a 25 per cent sudden cut in the power supply from outside, a move that has triggered a “temporary power deficit in the UT.”

Officials’ privy to the development told news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that the J&K’s power supply has been cut by 25 per cent without “any clear reasons.”

Kashmir region, as per official sources will face the brunt of the power shortage given the soaring temperatures in Jammu, where the power department is resorting to minimum possible cuts.

Sources while divulging the details said that presently, there is a deficit of nearly 25 per cent electricity supply from the centre. “This has triggered a temporary power crisis in J&K,” they said, adding that there was no clarity as to what led to the power availability issue, but it seems that such a situation would continue for some time.

“The deficit of 20-25 % electricity has forced the KPDCL as well as the JPDCL to go for the power cuts,” sources said, adding that power cuts are less in Jammu compared to Kashmir. “Kashmir can bear given the low temperatures. In Jammu, there is a heat wave, so cuts are less there,” an official source, disclosed.

Pertinently, the consumers from different areas of Kashmir here have complained of power cuts again, stating that the erratic power supply has once again led to their sufferings here.

Mushtaq Ahmad, a local from Chattabal area of Srinagar, said that the KPDCL has once again resorted to the power cuts from last Saturday. “The department had changed the winter power curtailment schedule, but the power cuts have once again led to the hardships to the people,” he said. The KPDCL officials, however, said they were not aware as to how long the crisis would continue. An official said that things would be clear in a week’s time as to what led to the sudden cut in the power supply to J&K—(KNO)

Srinagar, Jun 05 : Lieutenant Governor (LG) of Jammu and Kashmir, Manoj Sinha Monday said that the Union Territory is among top green forest areas of India with over 55 percent forest and green cover areas.

Speaking in an event at SKICC on the banks of Dal Lake here,, Sinha said, “We cannot bring changes in the environment in one day but we have to work regularly and daily to overcome the issues we are facing in the environment.”

According to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), Sinha said, “We have to make a habit of having a good environment and only then, we can achieve our goal in keeping the environment good and healthy.”

He said that if there is a change in each and every individual, only then we can bring reforms in our society.

“In the recent G20 meet in Srinagar, several delegates spoke about sustainable tourism and eco-tourism,” the LG said.

Sinha further said, “This is the fact that Jammu and Kashmir is among the top green forest areas of India with 55 percent forest and green cover including 82 types of species.”

The LG said that Jammu and Kashmir was growing rapidly in terms of development and progress and the tourism industry is touching new heights.

“In this regard, development and reforms are a must and the forest department is working hard in keeping the balance,” he said.

Sinha further added that the people of the society also need to come forward to keep our environment green and clean. “I believe we will continue to work hard on climate change.”

Referring to some recent research, the LG said that it has been shown that in order to bring the change in climate, there is a need to stop use of plastic.

“We have to make sure to evict every place from plastic, be it our forests, rivers, ponds, brooks, Greenland’s, agricultural fields,” he said.

Sinha also said that the people have to make sure that the heritage of the environment is preserved and growing better.

“There is a need to give new shape of product packaging in order to minimise the growing plastic pollution in our societies,” the LG said.

He said that in 2016, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced Plastic Waste Management Rules and many other initiatives were taken to overcome the plastic pollution. “These rules with amendments were implemented in 2022.”

Sinha said that Jammu and Kashmir administration was the first UT to ban usage of plastic carry bags. “We have also made plastic pollution laws.”

The LG further said that he believes that one sided development will never be successful until and unless we will fight the pollution.

“By only recycling, we can minimize 20 percent of plastic pollution by 2040,” he said—(KNO)

Waris Fayaz

Srinagar, Jun 05 : Director Urban Local Bodies (ULB) Kashmir Mathoora Masoom on Monday said they have given clear directions to municipal councils and committees to utilize their own funds for the installation and repairing of streetlights.

Talking to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) Mathoora said, “We have already repaired and renovated such defunct lights, but wherever needed, the municipal council and committees are authorized to purchase and install the lights.”

We have set up a plan for streetlights in the upcoming plan, the Director said.

The complaints regarding unavailability or defunct streetlights have been pouring in for the last many months, with people accusing the authorities of not paying any heed to the issue. The people said they have been facing immense hardships in the absence of streetlights and that most of these became defunct soon after installation.

Several municipal bodies had been saying that they don’t have any provision or direction from the higher ups on installing or repairing streetlights.

This prompted the Director ULB to authorize the municipal council and committees to carry out the work on their own—(KNO)