Doongas and shikaras once formed a thriving river transport network along the Jhelum, connecting villages, markets, and towns.  As traffic congestion, pollution, and road accidents increasingly plague the Valley, the idea of reviving river transportation on the Jehlum is gaining renewed relevance.  Muhammad Shaban, an octogenarian from Baramulla town, recalled one such journey from Baramulla to Srinagar undertaken decades ago.  He said he was part of a group of people who travelled by shikara to the Makhdoom Sahib shrine in Srinagar, long back.

“It was a remarkable journey. Women recited Durood-e-Sharief while men manually ferried the shikara upstream towards Srinagar,” Shaban said. “The journey would take a few days, but the excitement and energy levels among the group members were very high,” he added.

Introducing river transport between Baramulla and Srinagar is believed to be a game-changing initiative, blending heritage revival with sustainable tourism. “If introduced, electric or solar-powered boats could minimise carbon emissions, reduce fuel consumption, and protect the fragile Himalayan ecosystem,” said Muhammad Ashraf, a local resident.

“At the same time, such an initiative would require cleaning and dredging parts of the Jhelum, which would improve overall river health,” he added. According to several elderly residents of Baramulla town, the River Jhelum was once the lifeline of Kashmir.  They said the river carried not just water, but people, goods, culture, and memories. “As traffic congestion, pollution, and road accidents continue to affect Valley roads, reviving river transportation on the Jhelum has become more relevant than ever,” said Bilal Ahmad, another local resident.

“Such a project would not only reconnect Kashmiris with their past but also offer tourists a slow, scenic, and immersive travel experience through orchards, wetlands, old settlements, and historic riverbanks,” he added. In Baramulla town, remnants of this past glory can still be seen in parts of Urdu Bazaar, where old structures once used for storing goods arriving from across the border still stand.

These structures serve as reminders of how vibrant river transportation once was. “These structures remind us of how active and lively river transport used to be. We wish it will be restored one day so that we can reconnect with our past memories,” said Khurshid Ahmad, a town resident.

From a tourism perspective, reviving water transport between Baramulla and Srinagar could open up a new niche. Heritage cruises, eco-friendly ferries, and cultural boat journeys featuring local cuisine, handicrafts, and folklore could significantly enhance the tourist footprint beyond Gulmarg and Srinagar.

The post Baramulla residents urge revival of water transport to Srinagar appeared first on Greater Kashmir.

Eyewitnesses said that several tourists were seen indulging in dangerous practices, including stunt driving on snow-covered roads, leaning out of windows of moving vehicles, dancing on roads and taking selfies in the middle of traffic. Such actions, officials said, not only endangered the lives of those involved but also posed a grave risk to other commuters and locals navigating the narrow and icy stretches.

A team of traffic police rural led by DySP Traffic Ganderbal Gulzar Ahmad swiftly acted and counselled the tourists and educated tourists about safe driving practices. The traffic police officials counselled tourists who were taking selfies and videos while riding in moving vehicles.  Besides counselling some vehicles were fined for violation of traffic rules. The DySP Traffic advised the visitors that Sonamarg is meant for enjoying its natural beauty in a safe and responsible manner, not for stunt driving or risky activities that could result in loss of life.

Earlier, the tourists were found to be engaging in risky behavior, such as taking selfies while on the move, which can distract the driver and lead to accidents. The traffic police officials explained the importance of road safety and the potential consequences of such actions. Tourists were advised to prioritise their safety and the safety of others on the road. The officer also directed drivers to strictly use anti-skid chains on their vehicles to cope with icy road conditions and avoid mishaps. He warned that failure to follow traffic advisories during winter conditions could lead to strict action under the law.  Traffic police reiterated their appeal to tourists to cooperate with enforcement agencies, follow road safety norms and respect local conditions to ensure a safe and pleasant experience for everyone.

The post Visitors fined for violating traffic norms in Sonamarg appeared first on Greater Kashmir.

Residents of Kumar Mohalla, Waderpora, Khach Mohalla, Labo Mohalla complained that these villages were reeling under acute shortage of water from past several years but authorities have failed to take any tangible measure despite repeated pleas. Residents said that due to non availability of tap water they are forced to use contaminated water from the local streams which always pose threat to their life and in recent past several persons have fallen ill due to water borne diseases. They said that even the wells and ponds have dried up in the area thereby multiplying hardships for locals.

“We have been moving from pillar to post to get this genuine demand redressed but to no avail,” a local from Kumar Mohalla told Greater Kashmir.

An official told Greater Kashmir that two new schemes under Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) are being carried out for Kandi area to cope up with the water crisis. He said that the earlier scheme was damaged following which two bore wells were sanctioned worth Rs 7 crore for Kandi A and Kandi B. “I am sure that the problem would get redressed after the schemes would be made functional,” he added.

He acknowledged the hardships being faced by the people. He said that two bore wells have been constructed in the area. “Unfortunately one of the bore well is providing bad quality of water which is being monitored by Mechanical Department and hopefully the problem would be sorted out soon following which water would be supplied to entire area,” he added.

The post Over 150 households without drinking water in Kupwara’s Kandi Khass appeared first on Greater Kashmir.

These ancient mills, powered by fast-flowing streams and rivers, have been grinding grains into flour for centuries. Due to uneven flow of water owing to climate change, modernisation, and neglect, many are struggling to survive.

The once-thriving mills, which were the heartbeat of community life, now stand idle, their wooden structures worn out, and their wheels motionless. The changing climate has altered the water patterns, causing streams to dry up or become unpredictable, making it challenging for the mills to operate. However, despite the challenges, some mill owners and locals are determined to preserve this traditional practice. They highlight the benefits of Aab-e-Gratta, including the production of chemical-free and healthier flour.

However, with the current state of affairs, it remains uncertain whether these traditional mills can be saved.  The mechanism that utilizes running water to grind wheat, rice, and maize are environment friendly.  People living around the foothills of the valley live in a fresh and peaceful environment, which may in part have motivated them to keep centuries old traditional watermills (Gratta) operational. They use the traditional method of grinding grain into flour because, in their opinion, the flour produced is of better quality and taste compared to mass produced flour.

The environment-friendly watermills are scattered across villages on the outskirts of Ganderbal district dotted with streams and canals.

The traditional water mills are the living proof of how energy can be harnessed without any environmental degradation, and these iconic water mills need a new lease of life. Prospering our traditional water mills will be an integral part of our authentic agricultural elements and cultural heritage, say local residents in Kangan.

One such watermill is operated by Mohammad Iqbal Kasana , 60, in Surfraw vialleg of Kangan in central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district. He has been operating the watermill since his childhood and is determined to continue his forefathers’ business. ” These mills had a great significance to the village in the old times. A gratta owner had a better social status in the village, for the family could afford both food grains and money, as a service charge on grinding” Kasana said.

He said, “Water mills are environment friendly but they are largely forgotten. With the outset of industrialisation, a gratta is  rapidly losing the demand. The modern have outshined the good old gratta to an extent that we have been dragged out of business and water mills have attained a grinding break as the majority of them have been discontinued for the lack of demand of consumers.”

He explains how the water mill operates. ” These mills are powered by fast-flowing water channeled from streams, which turn the heavy grindstones, producing flour. Traditional watermills do not directly pollute the atmosphere, nor do they require electricity or fossil fuels” he said. Residents of surrounding villages visit Kasana’s ‘ water mill. He charges in kind rather than cash, taking a share of the flour from his customers.

Kasana said, “I wish to keep my family’s traditional business alive and after me, through my children.” He claimed that his family was attached with the business for the past many generations. Before him, his father, grandfather was attached with the business, he said. “The watermill is a symbol of our centuries-old culture, which is gradually disappearing due to the introduction of new technology,” he said.

“There is a need to keep this alive in order to introduce future generations to these environment-friendly mills,” he added.

How a watermill functions:

The water mill uses eco-friendly energy i.e water to function. The water from a nearby stream, water tributary is diverted towards the watermill through a wooden tunnel, a canal that then pushes the turbine fixed in the lower section of the water mill. The turbine is made of wood while the shaft is made of iron. The water mill also contains two grinding stones that remain in a small room of the mill.

The shaft is connected to the turbine that runs and turns the upper section of stone. The lower section is stationary, and grain stored in a wooden case above the stone drops the grain at a slow speed through a hole in the upper stone to lower stone via a feeder mechanism. The grain then is ground in between the two massive round shaped stones. The rotating of stone crushes the cereal to fine powder- the flour, which is later on collected and stored in gunny bags.

The post Kashmir’s traditional water mills on brink, few functional in far-flung areas appeared first on Greater Kashmir.

Garbage disposal at the Zalwan site, on lake banks, has been taking place since 1962 and with the increase in population, it now receives tonnes of waste daily. At present, the Municipal Council collects garbage from 17 wards of the town area and dumps it at the site with minimal post-dumping treatment. Although the site had been slightly moved in 2020 and later fenced, it has still continued contributing to irreparable damage to the ecology of the lake and its nearby areas.  It has also consumed a nearby stream, suffocating it under garbage, and is now encroaching upon farmers’ paddy fields.  Furthermore, the site has become an eyesore for the local population and acts as a spoilsport for children playing in the nearby ground.

Even though the administration had promised over the years to shift the site, it had failed miserably thus far, even inviting the wrath of the National Green Tribunal (NGT), which had also raised objections to installing a segregation plant worth Rs 6 crore at the site. On Monday, officials informed Greater Kashmir that they have achieved a breakthrough in shifting the site. The project has received approval and is out for tendering, worth Rs 1.98 crore.

When asked if this facility too would impact Wular Lake, officials assured that the garbage will be treated scientifically to minimise environmental impact. The new location, spanning 10 kanals, will treat garbage using scientific waste management methods, according to officials. The facility will include a plastic recycler for plastic waste and waste composting machines to treat dry and wet waste separately. It will also house an Animal Birth Control (ABC) facility to keep a check on the stray dog population. Officials also informed that bioremediation of biological waste will be conducted at the Wular bank to clear it out. “The scientific intervention will help us get rid of all the garbage which has accumulated there over the years,” Bandipora Municipal Council Executive Engineer Aijaz Ahmad told Greater Kashmir.

The 30 kanals of land owned by the department at the present site will be utilised to create a Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) worth Rs 20 crore, for which officials said no permission was required. However, the STP is intended to treat domestic sewage reaching the facility via the town’s drainage network, for which the UEED will formulate a new DPR in consultation with the ULB department.

“Till the time the project is completed, which seems to take longer, the STP will treat water from Gader Kaul,” the officer said. The officials predicted the dumping site will move in the next fiscal or by ending 2026.

The post Garbage dumping site on Wular lake’s banks set to be relocated appeared first on Greater Kashmir.

As per Letter No. F. No. 220025/9/2020-NCAHP, NEET has been prescribed as a compulsory eligibility requirement—an approach FSFTI believes could adversely affect access to paramedical education, especially for students from rural, semi-urban, and economically weaker sections.

Dr Anshu Kataria, President, Federation of Self Financing Technical Institutions and Chairman, Aryans Group of Colleges, Rajpura (near Chandigarh) mentioned that despite having over 7,000–8,000 paramedical and allied health institutions across government and private sectors, India faces a severe shortage of trained healthcare support staff. Based on national workforce assessments and WHO-aligned projections, the country is short of 6–7 million allied and healthcare professionals—impacting hospital efficiency, diagnostic capacity, and patient outcomes.

Dr Kataria emphasised that paramedical programmes are skill-oriented and employment-focused, forming the backbone of India’s healthcare delivery system. These courses are designed to produce trained healthcare support professionals who directly contribute to patient care, diagnostics, and emergency services.

Dr KVK Rao, General  Secretary, FSFTI said: “With the rapid expansion of government medical colleges, Ayushman Bharat hospitals, private healthcare facilities, diagnostic centres, and emergency services, India is projected to need an additional 8–10 million paramedical and allied healthcare professionals over the next 10–15 years. Dr Rao questioned the rationale of tightening admission norms amid acute manpower shortages, warning that restrictive policies could reduce enrolments, increase dropouts, and further strain healthcare institutions.”

The post FSFTI urges Govt to reconsider mandatory NEET for paramedical courses appeared first on Greater Kashmir.

The initiative aims to empower women in ornithology, ethical birdwatching, and biodiversity conservation, strengthening inclusive, community-led conservation across the region. The launch coincided with a 1-Day Certificate Course titled “Basic Ornithology: From Birdwatching to Bird Science”, attended by students, teachers, professionals, conservation volunteers, and nature enthusiasts, said a press release.

Sessions focused on wetland birds of Kashmir, bird identification, behaviour, ethical practices, and hands-on field learning. Launching the J&K’s first women birding club from Pampore, Kashmir’s Saffron Town, symbolises the integration of cultural heritage with ecological stewardship. The session led by the national bird experts Parvish Pandya, from Sanctuary Nature Foundation, Mumbai, Parvaiz Yousuf, from James Cook University,  Australia, Ghulam Mohd Dar, a local resident with an abundance of knowledge about birds in Kashmiri parlance, and the team of the Department of Wildlife Protection, who shared the valuable information, insights and indepth knowledge throughout the session. The participants also got an opportunity for a field visit and birding to connect the classroom with nature and convert the knowledge and information sought during the session into applied knowledge in order to get more clarity and hands-on learning.

The post Birding club launched to empower women’s presence in Ornithology appeared first on Greater Kashmir.

According to officials and eyewitnesses, the accident occurred due to icy road conditions following fresh snowfall in the area. The cab skidded off the road and rolled into a nallah, triggering panic among the passengers.

Local residents immediately rushed to the spot and launched a rescue effort. All the passengers were safely pulled out of the vehicle with the help of locals before the arrival of emergency teams. Officials said the tourists sustained only minor injuries and no casualty was reported in the incident. The injured were provided first aid on the spot.

The post Locals rescue tourists after cab meets accident in Gulmarg, no casualties appeared first on Greater Kashmir.

In this regard, the DSEK has earlier issued instructions to all the Chief Education Officers (CEOs) to finalise the list of the schools and teachers to be engaged for this initiative. The move comes in backdrop of the proposals submitted by the Chief Education Officers (CEOs) to the Directorate to start the winter tutorials for the students during the winter vacation.

An official said that this year the list of teachers will be finalised prior to the start of the winter tutorials to ensure that no other teachers are included in the list of teachers who are entitled for leave salary.

“As per the verbal directions of the Director School Education Kashmir, all the Principals and Zonal Education Officers (ZEOs) are hereby directed to commence the winter tutorials strictly in accordance with the proposals already submitted to this office for classes 9th to 12th,” reads an official message circulated to the zones and schools in one of the districts of north Kashmir. “Furthermore, due care must be taken to ensure adequate heating arrangements and a conducive learning environment for the students during the tutorial period,” it reads. The concerned teachers and school heads have been directed to apprise the office positively within two days regarding the student enrollment and the arrangements made in this regard. Earlier, the Director School Education Kashmir (DSEK) Naseer Ahmad Wani directed the CEOs to start the winter tutorial in accordance with the proposal. “All Chief Education Officers of Kashmir Division are hereby directed to start the Winter Tutorials strictly as per the proposal submitted to this Directorate, with immediate effect,” a communication reads.

The move comes weeks after the private schools were allowed to start the remedial classes in their respective institutions for the students during the winter vacation. The private schools were asked to ensure proper arrangements for the students and not to charge any additional costs from the students for the purpose. While the winter tutorial for secondary and senior secondary classes of government schools will be managed by the DSEK, the initiative for the students of the elementary level classes is likely to be managed by the Project Directorate of Samagra Shiksha.

The post Winter tutorials for government schools to commence soon appeared first on Greater Kashmir.

Also, the CBSE has relaxed the rules for the private schools to seek affiliation from the Board. The development comes amid the complaints against the JK Board of School Education (JKBOSE) affiliated private schools for prescribing textbooks of the private publishers in violation of the government orders to adopt JKBOSE textbooks for students of all classes. Amid this the academicians and stakeholders have sought government intervention to safeguard the existence of JKBOSE.

A former Chief Education Officer (CEO) who also served in JKBOSE at different positions said the proposals for switching JKBOSE affiliated schools to CBSE was going on during previous years but the move was opposed by the Board. “CBSE curriculum has its advantage but de-affiliating schools from JKBOSE has its own implications as well. Any move aimed at making JKBOSE irrelevant will have its own implications,” the former CEO told Greater Kashmir wishing not to be named.

He said adopting CBSE helps students to develop national level competence but there were other implications as well. “JKBOSE should not become irrelevant at all. Government must pay proper attention to the issue and avoid any such move which is aimed at weakening this institution,” he said

President Private Schools Association J&K (PSAJK), Nazrul Islam Baba when contacted said the JKBOSE needs to be strengthened financially by the government. “As of now, JKBOSE is in losses on account of printing of textbooks for free supply to the government schools,” Baba told Greater Kashmir. He said there are around 30 to 40 percent of the private schools which can never be in a position to qualify for affiliation from CBSE. “JKBOSE is not catering to only high-end schools but budget schools as well. We must understand the Board is not any printing house, it needs financial support to bring reforms,” he said. He said that Education was a welfare not any commercial activity and private schools have no issues if the government adopts NCERT textbooks directly.

“Besides NCERT textbooks, schools can be allowed to prescribe other books as per the consent of the parents,” he said. He however said that the government must not let the JKBOSE lose its relevance but instead should help it to come out of losses. “Board supplies free textbooks to 14 lakh children almost free of cost which results in losses for it. Then the students have to bear the brunt of it as their registration fees and examination fee is increased,” President PSAJK told Greater Kashmir. Over the years, scores of private schools across Kashmir have been preparing for shifting their affiliation to the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE). Various schools have submitted their files to switch their affiliation amid the relaxation in rules by CBSE.

As already reported by this newspaper, the Ministry of Education (MoE) in June 2023 reached out to the J&K School Education Department, seeking a timeline for the affiliation of BOSE-affiliated schools with the CBSE. The official communication from the MoE was issued to the SED and asked to furnish the updated data regarding the affiliation status of schools in the Union Territories in a prescribed format.

“You are also requested to intimate the timeline for affiliation of government schools with CBSE, which are currently affiliated to state Board,” the official communication reads. The discussion on the matter (affiliation) was held by the Secretary Department of School Education and Literacy (DSEL) in a meeting chaired on May 4, 2023. Following this, the SED dispatched a letter to the Director of School Education Kashmir and Jammu divisions besides the Project Director of Samagra Shiksha J&K and Secretary BOSE. The officers were asked to furnish the updated data regarding the affiliation status of schools in the J&K. An official said that following the communication from MoE, the data regarding the affiliation of government and private schools was submitted to the Administrative Department on time.

The post Amid relaxation in rules: Stakeholders concerned over existence of JKBOSE as schools switch affiliation to CBSE appeared first on Greater Kashmir.