Mohd Saleem Wani

DELHI, DEC 10: Mian Altaf has made major allegations against construction companies, stating that construction firms and industrialists are misusing their influence over the government.

Speaking in the Lok Sabha, Member of Parliament Mian Altaf Larvi said that we cannot expect good work from such companies. He added that a tunnel is being constructed in Jammu and Kashmir, but the company involved is so influential that, in the name of the tunnel, not only has the environment been severely damaged, but these companies are also failing to provide employment to local people.

Srinagar,
A delegation of the Jammu & Kashmir Welfare Transport Association on Tuesday called on PDP President Mehbooba Mufti at the party headquarters in Srinagar and held a detailed discussion on the growing challenges confronting the transport sector in the Union Territory.
During the meeting, the transporters highlighted issues related to operational viability, policy bottlenecks, rising costs, and the need for government intervention to safeguard thousands of livelihoods dependent on the sector. They stressed that the transport industry, being the backbone of connectivity and public mobility in J&K, requires immediate and practical solutions.
Mehbooba Mufti gave a patient hearing to the members and assured that their concerns would be taken up at the appropriate forums. She emphasised that policies must protect both public convenience and the economic stability of transport operators, and called for a balanced approach that supports workers while ensuring uninterrupted services for the people of Jammu & Kashmir.
The association expressed hope that their long-pending demands would receive timely attention from the authorities.

Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences & Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-K) today officially launched the Student Rural Exploration Programme (SREP) at the Shalimar Convention Centre, Main Campus, SKUAST-K.

The programme, marked a significant step by the university toward exposing students to the real-life challenges of rural communities and familiarizing them with grassroots-level innovations. Designed as a flagship initiative of SKUAST-K, SREP aimed to empower students through Science and Technology interventions and was implemented across all faculties and colleges of the university with full student participation.

The event was graced by Javid Ahmad Dar, Minister for Agriculture Production, Rural Development & Panchayati Raj, Cooperative & Election Departments, UT of J&K, who attended as the Chief Guest.

During the ceremony, dignitaries highlighted the importance of rural engagement for young scholars and emphasized the role of experiential learning in shaping future innovators and agricultural professionals.

Jammu, Dec 10:
The J&K High Court Bar Association, Jammu, has formally expressed strong support for the concerns and demands raised by the transporters of Jammu and Kashmir, urging the administration to address the issues on priority. The development comes after transporter bodies submitted a detailed representation to the Transport Commissioner, highlighting the growing challenges faced by the transport sector across the Union Territory.

In an official communication issued by the Bar Association, Senior Advocate and President K. Nirmal Kishore Kotwal stated that the Association has “carefully reviewed” the representation submitted by the transporters and found their demands “genuine and valid.” The Bar Association acknowledged the seriousness of the situation and emphasised that the transport sector forms a vital backbone for economic activity, mobility, and livelihood in the region.

The Association noted that the transporters are facing a series of pressing issues that require immediate government attention. While the letter does not list each demand in detail, it highlights that the problems raised by the transporter community are critical and affect not only their operations but also the broader public that relies on uninterrupted transport services.

Reaffirming its commitment, the Bar Association stated it stands “in full support of the Transport Association” and will continue to extend its unwavering backing should the situation escalate in the future. The leadership also assured that the Bar Association is prepared to assist the Transport Association in tackling any legal or administrative challenges that may arise.

Significantly, the Bar Association appealed to the relevant authorities to treat the matter with urgency. The communication stresses the need for “prompt action” to resolve the issues at the earliest possible opportunity, highlighting that delays could further complicate an already strained sector.

The letter was signed by Senior Advocate K. Nirmal Kishore Kotwal, representing the J&K High Court Bar Association, Jammu. The statement underscores the organisation’s role as a prominent legal body advocating for fairness, transparency, and timely intervention wherever public-interest issues arise.

The support from the Bar Association is likely to strengthen the ongoing negotiations between the transporters and the Transport Department, as transport bodies have been voicing concerns over long-pending issues for several months.

Further developments are expected as the matter progresses.