Even as vultures in India are reeling under the threat of extinction, sighting of rare Central Asian vultures in the Jammu region have brought cheer to wildlife experts and environmentalists. Dr CM Seth, chairperson of the Jammu and Kashmir chapter of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), has claimed to have spotted the vultures called Stepee Eagle.

JAMMU, Feb 8: Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah on Wednesday sought the support of Council of Scientific Industrial Research (CSIR) in the promotion of aroma, herbal and leather industry in Jammu and Kashmir. "We are also looking forward for technological intervention of CSIR to enable the State utilize huge quantity of weeds produced in Dal and other lakes", Chief Minister told the visiting team of CSIR led by Secretary Department of Scientific and Industrial Research and Director General, Prof. Samir K. Brahmachari, who called on the Chief Minister here.

SRINAGAR : There was still no respite from the cold during night as the minimum remained below normal in the Kashmir valley and Ladakh region, where Pahalgam, Gulmarg, Leh and Kargil recorded below minus 10 degree Celsius temperature this morning. However, the 300-km-long Srinagar-Jammu National Highway was through while the Ladakh region remained cut off from the rest of the country as the Zojila pass on the highway remained closed since December 1 last year.

After Budgam district of central Kashmir was declared as tobacco-free, Srinagar district is to follow the suit by imposing similar restrictions in all the educational institutions to make the summer capital tobacco-free.

SRINAGAR: The Government has installed solar water heating devices in 69 hospitals of the State and is contemplating to bring more Government buildings under the project.

Minister for Animal Husbandry, Sheep Husbandry, Science and Technology and Information Technology, Aga Syed Ruhullah, told a delegation of Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry that Government is doing this as there is power crisis in State and solar energy is cheaper energy source.

JAMMU: National Panthers Party MLA, Harsh Dev Singh has strongly condemned the neglect of Mansar and Surinsar lakes in the matter of funds allocation by the Govenrment of India and sanction of an additional package of ` 356 crore exclusively for Dal lake. Describing the decision as the most blatant act of regional discrimination, Mr. Singh further lambasted the State Government for its apathy and neglect of the tourist resorts of Jammu region and intentional non-projection of demands with respect to their development.

In the last five years, only 60% of MGNREGA work completed y Authorities fail to utilise funds allotted under the scheme. The state government has asked the Centre to increase the wages of the labourers engaged under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) scheme, but the authorities in the state have failed to achieve the target fixed under this programme. Hardly 60 per cent of the work taken under this national flagship scheme have been completed during the last five years.

JAMMU: Highlighting the State's rich bio-diversity and uniqueness of being land of rich fauna and flora, Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah on Friday emphasized the need for protection and preservation of this individuality of Jammu and Kashmir.

Chairing the 2nd meeting of State Board for Wildlife (SBW), the Chief Minister, who is also its Chairman, said that measures should be in place to minimize wild animal-human conflict.

The Housing and Urban Development Department which administers Lakes and Waterways Development Authority, had taken up with Union Ministry of Environment and Forests the project for funding the compensation to be paid to the Dal dwellers for acquisition of their land and structures within the Dal lake. The project has now been cleared after its techno-financial justification.

Srinagar: Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Farooq Abdullah has sanctioned over Rs 30 crore to the state police to install over 500 solar photovoltaic power plants at training centres, police stations and border police posts.

This is the fifth major solar energy initiative supported by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy in the state in the current year, an official spokesman from New Delhi said yesterday.