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CM Omar Abdullah reviews housing, infrastructure projects in J&K

Srinagar, Jun 4 (NVI): Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday held meetings with legislators, senior Army officers and civil officials, and reviewed key development and public welfare issues across the Union Territory.

According to an official statement, MLAs Dr Rameshwar Singh from Bani and Sajad Shaheen from Banihal called on the chief minister and highlighted various constituency-related developmental and public welfare concerns.

Abdullah gave a patient hearing to the issues raised by the legislators and assured them of appropriate consideration and follow-up action, the statement said.

The chief minister also met Housing and Urban Development Corporation (HUDCO) Chairman and Managing Director Sanjay Kulshrestha. During the meeting, they discussed a range of housing and urban infrastructure projects, including the Urban Challenge Fund (UCF), water supply, sewerage, drainage, road connectivity and power infrastructure.

Later, Director General of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), Lieutenant General Harpal Singh, called on Abdullah and briefed him on various ongoing Beacon projects and infrastructure works being executed across Jammu and Kashmir.

The chief minister reviewed the progress of the ongoing infrastructure initiatives and reiterated his government’s commitment to strengthening development delivery and addressing public issues across all regions of Jammu and Kashmir, the statement added. (NVI)

LG Sinha says respect for all faiths rooted in India’s ancient philosophy

Srinagar, Jun 4 (NVI): Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Thursday said the idea of honouring all faiths equally has been an integral part of India’s philosophy for centuries and has helped the country uphold unity amid diversity.

Addressing the ‘Rishiwar’ Inter-Faith Conference 2026 in Srinagar, Sinha said that while many nations continue to grapple with the challenge of coexistence, diversity has always been a natural way of life in India.

He said the tradition of respecting different ideas and beliefs has long been embedded in Sanatan Dharma and that India has consistently upheld the principle of unity in diversity while extending respect to all faiths.

Referring to ancient scriptures, the Lieutenant Governor said the Rigveda advocates harmony of thoughts, feelings and objectives, underscoring the importance of collective progress and social cohesion.

Sinha said scholars across the world acknowledge that the concept of equal respect for all religions has its philosophical roots in India’s ancient traditions. He added that the country’s Vedas, Upanishads, saints and seers have shown a path towards lasting peace and harmony.

He stressed that every section of society must move forward together with a shared commitment to the welfare of humanity and said the ethos of equal respect for all religions remains India’s valuable contribution to the world.

The Lieutenant Governor also highlighted Jammu and Kashmir’s performance in the Vande Mataram initiative, describing it as a reflection of the people’s patriotic spirit.

He praised the public response to the Nasha Mukt Jammu Kashmir Abhiyaan and urged citizens, institutions and community leaders to turn the campaign into a mass movement aimed at creating a drug-free society.

Among those present at the conference were Justice Sanjay Dhar, Syed Darakhshan Andrabi and Nilofer Khan, besides senior officers, academics, students and members of the public.(NVI)

Army Soldier Injured in Accidental Firing in Poonch

Representational Picture

Poonch, June 4 (NVI): An Army soldier sustained injuries after his service rifle accidentally discharged while he was on duty in a forward area of Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district, officials said on Thursday.

Officials that the incident took place during the intervening night of Wednesday and Thursday in the Bolnoi sector of Mendhar area.

The injured soldier was immediately evacuated by Army authorities and shifted to a hospital in Rajouri for treatment, they said.

Meanwhile, further details regarding the incident are awaited. (NVI)

Rain, Thunderstorms Likely Across J&K in Next 3 Hours; Hailstorm Warning for Several Kashmir Districts

Rainfall
Representational image

Srinagar, Jun 4 (NVI): The Meteorological Centre Srinagar on Thursday issued a nowcast warning predicting rain and thundershowers across many parts of Kashmir division and a few places in Jammu division during the next three hours.

According to the MeT Centre, some areas may experience intense showers accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning, hailstorms and gusty winds.

The weather office said there is a possibility of hailstorms in parts of Shopian, Kulgam, Kupwara, Handwara, Baramulla and in isolated areas of Ganderbal, Anantnag and Budgam districts during the next two to three hours.

It also warned that brief spells of intense rainfall in parts of north, central and south Kashmir, besides Poonch, the Banihal-Ramban sector and isolated areas of western Kishtwar, could trigger flash floods and mudslides.

The MeT Centre advised people to remain indoors during thunderstorms and lightning activity and avoid taking shelter near loose structures, electric poles, overhead wires and old trees.

Authorities have also advised suspension of boating and shikara operations in Dal Lake and other water bodies during the next few hours as a precautionary measure.(NVI)

Amit Shah to Chair J&K Security Review Meeting on June 8 Ahead of Amarnath Yatra

Amit Shah meets farmer leaders
File Photo: Union Home Minister Amit Shah

Srinagar, June 04 (NVI): Union Home Minister Amit Shah will chair a high-level meeting on June 8 to review the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir and assess preparedness for the upcoming annual Amarnath Yatra, sources said.

The meeting, to be held in New Delhi, comes ahead of the commencement of the pilgrimage and is expected to focus on security arrangements for the yatra, which attracts thousands of devotees every year.

Sources said the review will cover the overall security scenario in Jammu and Kashmir, with discussions likely on the deployment of security forces, intelligence coordination, surveillance measures and contingency plans to address potential threats.

Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, senior officials of the Union Territory administration, top police officers and representatives of the security establishment are expected to attend the meeting.

Among those likely to be present are the Director General of Police, the Chief Secretary and senior officers from the Army, police and central security agencies.

Shah is expected to take stock of the prevailing security situation and review measures put in place for the smooth and peaceful conduct of the pilgrimage. Intelligence inputs and ground-level assessments are also likely to be discussed during the meeting, sources said.

The annual Amarnath Yatra, one of the country’s major religious pilgrimages, is scheduled to begin on July 3 and conclude on August 28. Pilgrims undertake the journey to the holy cave shrine through the traditional Pahalgam route in Anantnag district and the shorter Baltal route in Ganderbal district.

Authorities have been making extensive security and logistical arrangements, including route sanitisation, area domination exercises, convoy protection and deployment of surveillance systems, to ensure the safe conduct of the pilgrimage.

The June 8 meeting is expected to serve as a final review of preparedness ahead of the yatra, sources added.(NVI)

Indian dies in attack on Kuwait Airport as West Asia fighting erupts again
This is the 10th Indian to be killed in the war that has been going on since February 28

Explosions in Kuwait
Scene in Kuwait due to attacks

New Delhi, June 3: The ongoing war in West Asia has claimed the life of 10th Indian national as one more was killed when a missile struck the Kuwait International Airport on Wednesday.

At least 63 people, including airport workers and passengers, were injured in the hit, according to Kuwait’s Health Ministry.

The death of an Indian national at the airport was confirmed by the Indian Embassy in a statement, which did not reveal the identity of the deceased.

This is the 10th Indian to be killed in the conflict in the West Asian region which has been going on since February 28 when the US and Israel launched joint air strikes on Iran.

Kuwaiti authorities said the airport, which also houses diplomatic facilities, was hit in Iranian strike, involving drones and missile.,

Hours later, Iranian military denied that the airport was hit by its missile or drone.

It said the damage to the passenger terminal at Kuwait International Airport was caused due to “an American Patriot system error”, referring to the air defence system used in Kuwait.

 

“Our investigations regarding the impact on Kuwait’s passenger terminal show that the IRGC Aerospace Force did not fire at this target,” IRGC spokesman Hossein Mohebbi said.

 

US Central Command (CENTCOM) dismissed the claim in a post on X, calling it “totally false” and stating that Iran had struck the civilian airport with drones in what the command characterized as a “deliberate, calculated, and unjustified attack.”

 

Earlier, the IRGC said it had carried out strikes on a US military base in Kuwait and on the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet headquarters in Bahrain.

 

It said those attacks were in retaliation for an overnight American strike on an IRGC communications tower on Qeshm Island in southern Iran.

 

The latest violence has further strained a fragile ceasefire agreed to in early April.

Oil prices rose more than 2% as uncertainty persisted around the Strait of Hormuz, which had handled roughly one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments before the conflict disrupted traffic through the strategic waterway.

Bahrain’s army said it intercepted three missiles and several drones after Iran claimed it had targeted the headquarters of the US Fifth Fleet in Bahrain, along with an airbase and helicopters in another regional state.

The US military said two Iranian missiles aimed at Kuwait either fell short or broke apart in flight, while several other ballistic missiles failed to hit their intended targets.

As part of any potential agreement, Tehran is seeking an end to fighting in Lebanon, access to billions of dollars in oil revenues, waivers on crude exports, the lifting of a US blockade on its ports and continued leverage over the Strait of Hormuz.

The war has killed thousands, primarily in Iran and Lebanon, while causing major disruption to global energy supplies and shipping. The conflict has also intensified tensions between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah group in Lebanon.

Lebanese security sources said Israel continued strikes on several southern Lebanese towns on Tuesday despite a US-mediated partial ceasefire announced a day earlier.

On Wednesday, the Israeli military said it intercepted a hostile aircraft that crossed into northern Israel.

UK Foreign Secy arrives in India, to discuss collaboration on energy, freedom of navigation

British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper
British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper

New Delhi, June 3: Amidst the ongoing crisis in West Asia and disruption in energy flows, India and the United Kingdom (UK) are set to discuss ways to have closer collaboration to minimise the economic shocks from ongoing conflicts, preserve global stability, and ensure freedom of navigation.

The two countries will also discuss ways to take forward the bilateral ‘Vision 2035’ when visiting British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper holds talks with External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar here tomorrow on her first official visit to India.

‘Vision 2035’, a shared ambition for how the UK and India partner together to unlock the huge potential of this partnership, was unveiled last year jointly by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

Cooper’s trip “sets an ambitious path for engagement with India, a top priority partner for the UK. It builds on the visit by Business and Trade Secretary Peter Kyle earlier this week to bring the landmark UK-India Free Trade Agreement into force as soon as possible,” said a statement issued by the British High Commission here.

“Together with Dr Jaishankar, the Foreign Secretary will undertake a formal review of delivery under the UK-India Vision 2035 to date, highlighting the UK’s priorities for the year ahead across economic growth, technology and innovation, defence and security, climate and education,” it said.

“The annual review ensures our partnership remains dynamic, aligned, and responsive to rapid global change,” the statement said.

Ahead of the visit, British High Commissioner to India Lindy Cameron said: “The UK-India partnership is a bulwark against rising global uncertainty. Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper’s visit this week, her first visit in the role, is another important opportunity to build on that partnership.

“Since our Prime Ministers unveiled their shared vision for a modern UK-India partnership last year, the UK has been driving forward collaboration with India as a priority.

“From the Technology Security Initiative where we are shaping the technologies of tomorrow to our landmark trade deal that will help make trade cheaper, quicker and easier – the UK-India partnership is delivering where it matters most to people in both countries.”

In New Delhi, the British Foreign Secretary will welcome new Indian investment into the Technology Security Initiative throughout her programme.

She will interact with AI health tech entrepreneurs and join a special programme at the British Council to hear how UK-India partnerships on education and growth are delivering real results on shared priorities.

India-UK Relations

The UK and India signed a landmark Free Trade Agreement (FTA) in July 2025, marking a new era of growth for two of the world’s largest and most innovative economies.

The deal could increase yearly bilateral trade by £25.5 billion, and boost GDP by nearly £5 billion each in the long run for both countries.

The UK and India have deepened our defence cooperation through a new 10-year Defence Industrial Partnership, high-level military engagements, and enhanced coordination on counterterrorism, serious organised crime, and emerging threats.

Two UK universities have opened international branch campuses in India – the University of Southampton (Delhi National Capital Region) and Queens University Belfast (GIFT City in Gujarat) and seven more UK universities have approval to open in 2026-27, boosting the UK’s soft power and driving growth into the UK economy.

These are: University of York, University of Aberdeen, University of Bristol, University of Liverpool, University of Lancaster, University of Surrey, and Birkbeck – University of London. These new campuses complement wider higher education collaboration on UK-India joint and dual degrees and joint research and innovation.

International opportunities for Haryana’s Farming community to sell products

aryana CM Nayab Singh Saini at MoU signing event today

New Delhi, June 3: In a good development for agriculturists of Haryana, its Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) can now explore farming and agri-business opportunities in Tanzania, Kenya and other African countries.

This may be possible under an agreement signed today between MDH private company and six Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) of Haryana as per an initiative being implemented by the Department of Foreign Cooperation and the Horticulture Department.

The initiative aims to connect farmers with global markets, enhance their income and create new opportunities in the agriculture sector.

On the occasion, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini said the agreement is a major step towards integrating the state’s farmers with global agricultural trade.

He said it would help develop agricultural and business opportunities in Tanzania, Kenya and other African nations.

In future, if Haryana’s FPOs acquire land in these countries and cultivate ginger, turmeric, chilli and other spice crops, MDH would also be interested in procuring the produce grown there, Saini said.

This will enable Haryana farmers, for the first time, to venture beyond India’s borders and participate directly in farming and agribusiness activities in African countries, he said.

He further stated that the state government’s objective is not to limit Haryana’s farmers to local markets but to make them part of global supply chains and international markets.

Addressing a dialogue programme, the Chief Minister said that in this year’s Budget, the government had announced the development of the Morni region.

In line with that announcement, the MoU has been signed today to promote natural farming in the area.

He assured that farmers adopting natural farming would be compensated in case of any losses.

In addition, the company will offer farmers practising natural farming a price that is 10 percent higher than the prevailing market rate.

He said the government’s target is to initiate natural farming on approximately 4,000 acres in the first phase.

The Chief Minister said that the Haryana Government does not want farmers to remain confined to traditional farming practices.

Instead, it seeks to connect them with agricultural entrepreneurship, value addition and international trade, thereby making them self-reliant and prosperous.

Keeping this objective in mind, continuous efforts are being made to ensure farmers gain access to global markets.

Under the agreement, commercial cultivation of various spice crops, including ginger, turmeric and chilli, will be promoted in the Morni region of Panchkula district.

MDH will provide farmers with technical guidance, support for quality production, marketing assistance and procurement support.

The initiative will also strengthen direct procurement from farmers while promoting pesticide-free and sustainable farming practices in Haryana.

MDH owner Rajeev Gulati said the long-term objective extends beyond industrial development and focuses on creating a strong agricultural ecosystem where the government, farmers and industry work together as partners.

NC to hold protest in Delhi on first day of Monsoon Session over statehood demand

Tanvir Sadiq, MLA & Chief Spokesperson National Conference. (File Pic)

Srinagar, Jun 3 (NVI): The ruling Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (NC) on Wednesday said it will hold a protest in New Delhi on the opening day of Parliament’s Monsoon Session to press for the restoration of statehood to the Union Territory and seek constitutional guarantees.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the party’s leadership, ministers and legislators chaired by Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah at Dachigam on the outskirts of Srinagar.

Addressing reporters after the meeting, NC chief spokesperson and MLA Tanvir Sadiq said the party’s legislature wing discussed a range of political and developmental issues concerning Jammu and Kashmir.

Sadiq said the party had decided to stage a protest in the national capital, either at Jantar Mantar or another designated venue, on the first day of the Monsoon Session of Parliament.

“The National Conference has decided that on the first day of Parliament’s Monsoon Session, we will hold a protest in Delhi over the demand for restoration of statehood and constitutional guarantees,” he said.

Reiterating the party’s stand, Sadiq said restoration of statehood remained the NC’s primary demand and was linked to the constitutional rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

“The time has now come to seek back what has been taken away from us,” he said.

The NC has consistently been seeking restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, which was reorganised into two Union Territories in August 2019 following the abrogation of Article 370.(NVI)

UP aims to cut pollution in NCR, will implement ‘No PUCC, No Fuel’ system

UP Chief Secretary holds meeting on pollution
UP Chief Secretary holds meeting on pollution

Lucknow, June 3: From October 1 this year, the Uttar Pradesh Government will implement “No PUCC, No Fuel” system in National Capital Region (NCR) as part of efforts to reduce air pollution levels this year by 30 to 35 percent in these areas, including Ghaziabad, Noida and Meerut which border Delhi.

Decisions in this regard, among several others, were taken at a meeting chaired by Chief Secretary S.P. Goyal regarding air pollution control and air quality improvement in NCR.

The meeting included a detailed review of the work being done by various departments to control pollution and the upcoming action plan, an official spokesman said.

At the meeting, the Chief Secretary urged all concerned departments to ensure coordinated and effective action to control air pollution and significantly improve air quality in the Delhi-NCR region. He urged citizens to be aware of this to ensure their participation.

The Chief Secretary informed that the State Government aims to reduce air pollution levels in the NCR region by 30 to 35 percent by the year 2026, an official spokesman said.

To achieve this objective, targeted interventions are being made in key areas such as vehicular pollution, industrial emissions, road dust, construction and demolition waste (C&D waste), green cover expansion and stubble management.

He directed that an integrated network of various portals, mobile applications, GPS tracking systems, and dashboards be developed in the future to digitally monitor all key activities.

This will enable real-time monitoring of road cleaning, road redevelopment, greening, construction waste management, and other pollution control measures.

He directed all departments to ensure timely achievement of set targets and maintain quality of work through regular reviews.

The meeting was informed that in the automobile sector, through the ‘Naya Safar’ scheme, old and polluting vehicles are being phased out and BS-6, CNG and electric vehicles are being promoted.

Approximately 26.19 lakh ‘end-of-life’ (EOL) vehicles have been identified in the NCR districts and between January and April 2026, 37,156 vehicles were scrapped and 460 vehicles were seized.

Additionally, a “No PUCC, No Fuel” system will be implemented from October 1, 2026, under which ANPR cameras will be installed at 1,041 petrol pumps in the NCR.

PUCC is Pollution-Under Control Certificate issued for vehicles which not have emission levels beyond a certain level.

To make public transport clean and environmentally friendly, a target has been set to operate a total of 975 electric buses in Ghaziabad, Noida, Greater Noida, and Meerut. Currently, 100 e-buses operate in these cities.

To strengthen air quality monitoring, 43 Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations (CAAQMS) are to be installed in the NCR-Uttar Pradesh region.

Of these, 25 stations are operational, while the remaining 18 new stations will be installed by October 2026.

Under industrial pollution control, 725 air polluting industries have been identified. Of these, Online Continuous Emission Monitoring System (OCEMS) has been installed in 613 industries and connected to the server of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

The need for Air Pollution Control Devices (APCDs) has been identified in 665 industries, of which this system has been installed in 179 units, and installation and retrofitting is underway in 100 units, and installation is being done in other units in a phased manner.

To control road dust, a target has been set to redevelop a total of 1,792 kilometers of roads in Ghaziabad, Noida, Greater Noida, and Meerut, with an estimated expenditure of approximately ₹3,666 crore. To date, 143.8 kilometers of road redevelopment work has been completed.

To further enhance the effectiveness of the mechanical road cleaning system, a requirement for 108 mechanized road sweeping machines has been estimated. Currently, 45 machines are available, and the procurement process for 50 more is underway.

A total of 37 secondary collection centers are to be established under Construction and Demolition Waste (C&D Waste) Management, of which 29 centers are operational, and the remaining centers are under construction.

A system based on GPS tracking, geo-tagging, and an Integrated Command and Control Center (ICCC) is being developed to monitor all construction sites.

Under Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) management, systems for scientific collection and processing of daily waste are being strengthened in Noida, Greater Noida, Ghaziabad, and Meerut.

A 600 TPD torrefied charcoal project and a 300 TPD biogas project are being developed in Noida. Effective monitoring of biomass and garbage burning incidents is also being ensured.

Apart from this, plantation, stubble management, establishment of CBG plants, biomass utilization, EV charging stations, battery swapping stations, metro and RRTS expansion, last mile connectivity and public awareness programs have also been made important parts of the action plan.

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