SHALIMAR
Salman Rushdie wrote Shalimar the clown. Then Zubin Mehta came to Shalimar with his orchestra. And now SKUAST says Shalimar, the microbe. Prof M Y Zargar has stated the microbes are key to conversion of the Dal weeds into manure and devouring its smell. Creation organic manure out of lake has been a cherished dream and there were many players who wanted to contribute in this, the last was deported US activist Usmaan Ahmad. On LAWDA request SKUAST is working on the project aimed at converting ten million cubic meters of weed extracted yearly into manure and the trial runs are not negative
KOT BALWAL
On basis of the findings of an enquiry that looked into the circumstances leading to the death of Pakistani inmate Sanaullah Ranjay in the jail, the government has served charge-sheet to former Superintendent of Kot Bhalwal Jail Rajni Sehgal. She is under suspension since May 3. The probe has accused her of “carelessness, negligence and lack of supervision”.
KERAN
It was a crowd of five families that was caught in Keran. They wanted to return to Muzaffarabad. It was lead by Zahoor Ahmad Bhat, brother of JKLF founder Muhammad Maqbool Bhat. Now all are back home except Bhat who stands booked under PSA. Bhat had returned from PaK under the rehabilitation policy in February 2009 after 18 years. The family wanted to go back because the state government package is not operating the way it was supposed to.
MUMBAI
Film Salaam Kashmir that has south Indian actors Jayaram and Suresh Gopi in lead roles, has finally got NOC from army. Any Bollywood movie that is shot within the garrisons needs this certificate. A routine masala film, it was shot mostly in Kashmir’s army garrisons and in various scenes a few military officers and chiefs are also featured in the film.
LONDON
Now Chief Minister Omar Abdullah is not comfortable with his ‘motherland’. Terming Omar as the “Essex boy ruling world’s most volatile state”, British newspaper Guardian reported last week that he frets over how his place of birth is seen by others. Omar was born in Rochford, Essex, where he started primary school and spent hours playing and cycling in nearby Hockley Wood. Omar’s concern is that the name Essex has led people to “bring out the worst of the place rather than the best”. There is even a TV show called The Only Way Is Essex. Omar admitted to the newspapers that even his sisters “often tease our parents as to why, of all the counties in England, they had to choose Essex.”
PALHALAN
In ordinary circumstances, opening of a police station in a locality is addition of a service but if it happens in Palhalan, it is different story. This is Kashmir’s largest village and a ‘model’ village as well but it is most restive one. It is more frequently under curfew compared to Srinagar or Sopore. Over the years, scores of people were killed in this village, both combatants and civilians. Now the government wants to have a police station permanently in the village so that an intervention is triggered within the village and the highway is permitted a smooth run.
SUNDERBANI
Army’s Northern Command plans procuring 22 latest Sakriya radio and cell phone jammer systems to check IED attacks on its convoys and personnel. Working on advanced Digital Signal Processing (ADSP) technology with frequency jamming of GSM, CDMA, DCS and 3G bands of cell phones besides, frequency modulation (FM) and pre-initiator of 136 MHz to 174 MHz frequency, these jammers weigh around 80 kg along with batteries. Meanwhile, one of its Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) crashed near LoC in Nowshera (Rajouri). Army has ordered an enquiry into the incident.
In last 100 years, the Anchar lake has reduced from 19.54 sq kms to 6.8 sq kms of which 3.6 sq kms is marsh.
Pampore is left with 3715 hectors of Saffron land.
