Jammu, Nov 25: The Geological Survey of India (GSI) has estimated that Jammu and Kashmir holds nearly one billion tonnes of limestone reserves, a senior central government official has said.

Additional Secretary in the Union Ministry of Mines Sanjay Lohiya noted that the Union Territory also has significant potential for other key minerals, which the J&K government intends to explore and utilize for the benefit of the people of the region.

Expressing satisfaction over Jammu and Kashmir becoming part of India’s mineral block auction map with the launch of the first limestone block auction and roadshow here, the official said the Centre would extend full support to accelerate exploration, development and investments in the sector.

Union minister G Kishan Reddy, J&K chief minister Omar Abdullah and his deputy Surinder Choudhary jointly launched the e-auction of seven limestone mineral blocks, covering about 314 hectares, across the districts of Anantnag, Rajouri, and Poonch here on Monday.

“All other states had adopted the auction process which was brought under the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act in 2015 and have successfully auctioned almost 600 blocks till now, J&K was left behind and we got in touch with the J&K Government.

“After some deliberations, it was decided that because the J&K Government has no past experience of auctioning, we will assist in the auction of these first seven limestone blocks in consultation with the officials in the J&K Government,” the official said.

Asserting that J&K is on one end of the country and transporting cement becomes very costly, Lohiya said, “it will be very good if we are able to meet the increasing demand of cement in this area through local production of cement.”

“The GSI has estimated almost one billion tonnes of limestone reserves in J&K. More blocks will be auctioned in the second round which will lead to a drastic change in the mining scenario in J&K,” he said, adding mining not only leads to employment in the sector, it also leads to industrial growth and a significant increase in revenue for the government.

He said the challenge before the ministry and the mining and geology department of the J&K government is how “we should, in a planned manner and in a time-bound manner, explore all potential areas and put those blocks on auction as early as possible”.

The official said some other deposits which have been discovered by GSI in J&K include lithium, copper, titanium and iron and coal besides gold, but how much of those minerals are economically viable is yet to to be assessed.

Asking the J&K government to ensure hand-holding of the successful bidders for the seven limestone blocks, he said the ministry will extend support to the UT.

Anil Kumar Singh, Additional Chief Secretary, J&K Mining Department, said the pioneering initiative of e-auction of seven limestone blocks is expected to bring in approximately Rs 500 crore revenue for the Union Territory.

“The transparent electronic bidding process will boost investor confidence, open new opportunities for entrepreneurship, ensure setting up of cement and other mineral-based industries and generate substantial employment opportunities for the local population,” he said.

He said they are also in the process of processing 24 new landform blocks which will be brought to e-auction by March next year with an estimated revenue of around Rs 1,500 crore for the UT, further accelerating economic growth and development.

Singh said J&K has embarked on a new horizon in mining by introduction of Integrated Mining Surveillance System (IMSS) which employs satellite imaging monitors to keep a watch on illegal mining activities.

The department is also conducting a trial run of various advanced technology within a fortnight to make mining operations fully transparent and accountable, he said, adding the system would become fully operational by early January 2026.

He said citizens would soon be able to register complaints directly through mobile applications, further strengthening public participation.

For future roadmap and mineral explorations beyond the edge zone, the department is driving exploration of other critical minerals, including lithium and sapphire, which are under dedicated study and set to be pre-auctioned in the coming financial year.

Active consideration is being given to scientific exploration and extraction of graphite, granite, copper, metal and shallow gas in identified zones, he said.

He said detailed geological mapping, relay and feasibility assessments are going on to ensure responsible and sustainable mineral development in J&K.

He thanked the Ministry of Mines for recommending J&K mining department for financial assistance of Rs 100 crore for development of command and control centres, rapid response infrastructure to curb illegal mining and for ensuring scientific and sustainable mining.

The operationalisation of district mineral foundation trust ensures that mining revenues directly benefit local area development and welfare initiatives, he said.

Singh said his department is in the final stages of establishing the Mineral Exploration Trust, which will promote viable and scientific and environmentally safe mineral exploration in J&K.

Srinagar, Nov 25: Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria, who is currently on a visit to Kashmir, on Tuesday praised the Valley’s natural beauty and cold weather, saying both factors continue to draw tourists in large numbers and contribute significantly to the region’s tourism revival.

Speaking to reporters, Governor Kataria said the weather in Kashmir at this time of the year remained a major attraction for visitors. He said the Valley had always been the crown of India and one of the most beautiful places in the country. According to him, the sharp drop in temperatures was not a deterrent but instead enhanced Kashmir’s charm for travellers seeking winter experiences.

Without making a direct reference to the recent Pahalgam attack, the Governor as per the news agency Kashmir News Trust, said such incidents should not be allowed to harm the tourism sector. He added that border states, including Jammu and Kashmir, continued to face challenges that had existed since the partition of 1947, yet the spirit of the locals and the resilience of the region had always ensured continuity of normal life.

Governor Kataria said the country recognised Kashmir’s importance and that sustained efforts were needed to further strengthen peace, security and tourism in the region. [KNT]

Srinagar, Nov 25: The cold wave in Kashmir intensified as the minimum temperature across the valley stayed several degrees below the freezing point, officials said here on Tuesday.

Srinagar city recorded a low of minus 3.1 degrees Celsius, which was the second coldest night of this winter season, MET officials said.

The city on Monday recorded the coldest night as the minimum had settled at minus 3.2 degrees Celsius the previous night.

Shopian town in south Kashmir was the coldest recorded place in the valley as the minimum dipped to minus 5.4 degrees Celsius followed closely by Pulwama where the minimum temperature stayed five degrees below the freezing point.

Pahalgam tourist resort in Anantnag district, which serves as one of the two base camps for Amarnath Yatra in the valley recorded a low of minus 4.4 degrees Celsius, while Gulmarg resort in North Kashmir recorded minimum temperature of minus 1.2 degrees Celsius.

Zojila, the pass connecting Kashmir valley to Ladakh union territory, recorded a low of minus 16 degrees Celsius.

Kashmir valley has been going through a prolonged dry spell since October as MET office here has forecast dry weather over the next week.

Baramulla, Nov 25: Baramulla Police have initiated a preliminary inquiry into the financial and operational conduct of Al Huda Educational Institute in Tangmarg after reports surfaced alleging violations of regulatory and land use norms. The inquiry has been registered under DDR number 9 dated 24 November 2025 at Police Station Tangmarg.

According to officials, the action follows information indicating possible breaches of financial compliance standards, including suspected irregularities linked to the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act. The inquiry will also examine claims of incomplete financial documentation, potential tax related discrepancies, and questions over the institute’s accreditation status.

Police sources said another key aspect under scrutiny is the allegation that the institute’s building has been established on state land without completing the required legal and administrative procedures. Authorities are presently gathering records and statements to verify the nature of the land ownership and permissions obtained for construction.

Officials said the inquiry is in its initial phase and further action will depend on the findings of the ongoing verification process. [KNT]

Shopian, Nov 24: In the quaint embrace of Boharihalan village, located along the historic Mughal Road in south Kashmir’s Shopian district, Danish Resorts opened its doors on Sunday to a different kind of gathering—one shaped not by ceremony alone, but by the gentle rise and fall of Kashmiri verses.

The conference hall, warmed by crisp autumn sunlight, echoed with the melodic lines of Loleh Bawath, the newly released poetic collection of Shopian’s veteran poet Abdul Kareem Paravana.
This latest work, Paravana’s fourth contribution to Kashmiri literature, was unveiled during a one-day literary conference organised by the Koshur Adabi Forum Shupyan.

The moment of release brought together an eminent panel: Assistant Commissioner Development Muzaffar Ahmad Sheikh; noted poets Mohammad Yaqoob Naseem Hashmi and Bashir Ahmad Parwana; Advocate Mushtaq Ahmad Gatoo; and Forum president Jan Nisar Ahmad. As they held the book aloft, its pages seemed to shimmer with the promise of poems waiting to breathe.

The book release was followed by a mahfil-e-mushaira, presided over by Hashmi. More than a dozen poets from the district stepped onto the stage, their compositions carrying threads of longing, devotion, loss and pain. With each recitation, the hall filled with applause.

During the programme, a dedicated segment on the Nasha Mukt Bharat campaign turned the attention of the audience toward a grave and growing concern: drug abuse among the youth. Speaking with conviction, ACD Shopian Muzaffar Ahmad described the menace as a collective challenge requiring collective resolve. He underscored the importance of community engagement, stronger awareness campaigns, and coordinated initiatives by the administration, educational institutions and civil society.

Urging writers and poets to lend their voices to the cause, Jan Nisar called literature “a lantern that can chase away the shadows.”

He appealed for works that inspire responsibility, resilience and a drug-free future for young people.
As the event drew to a close, the hall returned to its stillness—but the verses made in their presence lingered like a soft afterglow over sleepy Boharihalan.