Srinagar, Sep 11: Jammu and Kashmir’s unemployment rate is nearly 38 per cent and the government has “hands up” in the face of the crisis, PDP president Mehbooba Mufti said on Thursday, accusing the administration of failing to address growing economic distress and frustration among the people.

“Today unemployment is so high that in Jammu and Kashmir the unemployment rate is nearly 38 per cent,” Mehbooba said while speaking at a party joining programme.

She said the government had failed to create adequate employment opportunities and was instead relying on outsourcing and temporary arrangements.

“Government has put its hands up,” she said, alleging that people were being recruited through “backdoor” arrangements and that daily-wage workers were being engaged instead of being provided permanent jobs.

Mehbooba said doctors, engineers and other sections of the workforce were facing uncertainty, while protests had become increasingly common across Jammu and Kashmir.

“People are protesting everywhere,” she said, referring to protests involving doctors, interns, veterinary staff, nursing staff and anganwadi workers.

She also linked the growing public frustration to inflation and inadequate salaries and stipends.

“On one hand, inflation has increased so much, and on the other, people’s salaries and their stipends are such that people are distressed,” she said. “Especially the youth are distressed; there is suffocation.”

Mehbooba said the overall situation had left the administrative system in disarray.

“That is why the entire system is in disarray,” she said.

She argued that the PDP needed to strengthen itself to confront what she described as the growing challenges facing Jammu and Kashmir, saying the issue was not merely about returning to power.

“It is not just about power,” Mehbooba said. “Given the situation at this time, if there is any party in Jammu and Kashmir that can confront these circumstances, if there is any party that raises its voice or can raise it to change the situation in Jammu and Kashmir, I think it is the PDP.”

Mehbooba also invoked the political legacy of PDP founder Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, recalling the party’s role in the early 2000s.

She said the changes associated with the PDP during that period extended beyond Jammu and Kashmir and influenced thinking in both New Delhi and Islamabad.

“When the PDP came, a change came here. The system changed, and that change had not only come in Jammu and Kashmir; it also came in the thinking in Delhi and Islamabad, because of which the process of dialogue began, routes opened and development took place,” she said.
Welcoming the new entrants into the party, including members who had travelled from Jammu, Mehbooba said their joining would help strengthen the PDP across the Union Territory.

“Many storms came, but we remained steadfast and continued to face the challenges,” she said.

“I hope that with today’s joining, our party will become stronger throughout Jammu and Kashmir,” she added.

Srinagar, Sep 11: A 40-year-old man was injured after being attacked by a wild bear in an apple orchard in the Sedow area of Shopian district on Friday.

An official said that the man was attacked by the wild animal in the apple orchard at Sedow, Shopian.

He said the man was shifted to Sub-District Hospital (SDH) Shopian for treatment. He was identified as Sadiq Ahmad Thokar (40), son of Abdul Rahman, a resident of Sedow.

Meanwhile, cognisance of the incident has been taken.—(KNO)

Srinagar, Sep 11: The Jammu and Kashmir Casual/Daily Wagers Forum (JKCDF) on Friday organised a peaceful protest at Sher-i-Kashmir Park in Srinagar, urging the government to address the long-pending issues of casual and daily-wage workers.

The protest led by J&K Casual/Daily Wagers Forum president Sajad Ahmed Parray, who said the demonstration is peaceful and aimed at reminding the government about the concerns and grievances of the workers.

“We want to once again remind the government that this is a peaceful protest. We want to tell the government not to force us to take the call of stopping the water supply,” Parray said.

He said the workers are being pushed towards taking a stronger step, while appealing to the government to intervene and resolve their issues.

“We are employees and our work is to serve the people. We appeal to the government not to force us to give a call for stopping the water supply. The day that happens, not even a single drop of water will flow here,” he said.

Parray said the forum would continue to raise the concerns of casual and daily-wage workers through peaceful and democratic means, urging the government to take the matter seriously and initiate steps to address their grievances.—(KNO)

Srinagar, Sep 11: The long-pending Singhpora–Vailoo twin-tube tunnel project under Sinthan Pass is set to move ahead, with the National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) inviting bids for its construction along the Kishtwar–Vailoo–Khanabal section of National Highway-244.

The project, estimated to cost Rs 3,567.51 crore, is aimed at providing an all-weather connectivity link between Kishtwar in the Chenab Valley and Anantnag in south Kashmir, offering an alternative to the treacherous Sinthan Top route that frequently remains closed during winter due to heavy snowfall.

According to a Notice Inviting Bid issued by NHIDCL, the 38.611-km highway package will be executed in Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) mode.

The package includes construction of a 10.331-km left tunnel tube and a 10.363-km right tunnel tube, along with approach roads and other associated infrastructure. The stipulated construction period is 60 months, followed by a 120-month maintenance period.

The project will connect Chhatroo in Kishtwar district with Vailoo in Anantnag district. The eastern approach from Chhatroo to the tunnel portal will cover 17.088 km, while the western approach towards Vailoo will extend for 11.160 km, including the portal section.

The eastern portal, proposed near Singhpora in Kishtwar district, will be located at an elevation of around 2,243 metres, while the western portal at Gadole will be at approximately 2,404 metres.

The tunnel will have a nine-metre carriageway, footpaths and dedicated emergency facilities. The two tubes will be interconnected through cross-passages at intervals of about 500 metres to facilitate pedestrian movement and emergency evacuation.

As per the project documents, 20 cross-passages, each 6.1 metres wide and 18.5 metres long, have been proposed.

The tunnel will be equipped with semi-transverse ventilation, fire detection and firefighting systems, CCTV surveillance, emergency communication facilities, traffic-control systems, lighting, drainage and waterproofing arrangements.

Fire hydrants will be installed at intervals of 250 metres, besides hose connections and fire extinguishers at shorter intervals.

The project package also includes construction of approach roads, bridges, viaducts, culverts, drainage systems, safety installations and other ancillary works.

A total of 21 major and minor bridges, viaducts and viaduct-cum-bridge structures have been proposed, with the longest being a 1,345-metre viaduct at design chainage 139+660.

The approach roads will be developed as two-lane highways with paved shoulders. The project also provides for roadside and catch drains extending over 26 km and 28 km, respectively.

The tunnel has been proposed to comply with relevant Indian and international standards, including applicable IRC guidelines for road tunnels, CIE standards for tunnel lighting and NFPA provisions relating to fire safety.

The Vailoo–Singhpora tunnel project, approved in 2017 and reaffirmed in 2021, has faced repeated delays over the years.

Once completed, the tunnel is expected to provide a reliable all-weather alternative to the Sinthan Top route, improve connectivity between Kashmir and the Chenab Valley, reduce travel time and facilitate greater movement of people and goods.

The project is also expected to give a boost to tourism, trade and economic activity in both regions while strengthening strategic and inter-regional connectivity along NH-244.—(KNO)