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| Kashmir’s cement factories under scanner as cancer cases climb | | | | Early Times Report
Jammu, Mar 18: Investigating agencies in Jammu and Kashmir have launched a probe to determine whether escalating dust pollution and emissions from cement factories could be contributing to the alarming rise in cancer cases, particularly lung cancer, across the Kashmir Valley. The Union Territory recorded 8,355 lung cancer cases in 2024 alone, pushing the total over the past five years to a staggering 50,551, according to official figures.
The surge in lung cancer has sparked growing concern among health experts, who have long pointed to air pollution, smoking, and environmental hazards as key drivers. In a written reply to the Legislative Assembly, the Jammu and Kashmir Government confirmed that the potential link between dust pollution from cement factories and the cancer uptick is now under active investigation. The move comes amid mounting pressure to address environmental factors that may be fueling the public health crisis.
Medical professionals have highlighted the challenge of early diagnosis, noting that many lung cancer cases are detected only in adv... | |
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FRONT PAGE STORIES |
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| ‘No data available to suggest whether cement factories pose cancer threat or not’ | | | | Early Times Report
Srinagar, Mar 18: The government on Tuesday said that there is no data available to suggest whether the cement factories in Khrew pose any cancer threat or not.
Replying to a query of MLA (Retired) Justice Hasnain Masoodi, whether the increasing levels of dust pollution and emission from cement factories in Khrew, Khanmoh area are suspected to be cause for lung cancer incidence, Health Minister Sakina Itoo, said, “This issue needs to be investigated, however, at present no such research has been conducted and therefore no such data is available.”
She informed the legislative assembly that there is no steep rise in incidence of lung cancers in J&K as its percentage ha... | |
| | | | Distribution of assets, liabilities between J&K and Ladakh based on mutual understanding: CM Omar | | Budget Session 2025 | | | Early Times Report
Jammu, Mar 18: Asserting that the distribution of assets and liabilities between the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh is being carried out through mutual understanding, J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday said the process is based on the recommendations of an advisory committee.
Omar also acknowledged that there has been relatively less distribution of assets to Jammu and Kashmir in terms of the apportionment from the assets of the erstwhile state.
“The apportionment of assets of the erstwhile state of J-K was done according to the recommendations of the advisory committee constituted under the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019, and ... | |
| | | | CM moves 25 demands in Assembly | | | | Early Times Report
JAMMU, Mar 18: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today moved 13 Demands and 12 supplementary Demands in the Legislative Assembly which was subsequently presented before the House for discussion by Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather.
“I move that a sum not exceeding the aggregate amount mentioned in Demand Nos. 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 10, 14, 19, 20, 24, 31 and 33 be granted to Government to defray the charges which will come in course of payment during the year ending 31st March, 2026 in respect of Heads indicated in the List of Business against each demand,” Chief Minister said.
These Demands for Grants pertain to General Administration Department, Finance, Housing, Power Development... | |
| | | | “Don’t teach me”: Speaker Rather snubs NC MLA | | |  Early Times Report
Jammu, Mar 18: The Speaker of J&K Legislative Assembly Abdul Rahim Rather on Tuesday snubbed MLA Pahalgam Altaf Kaloo when he objected to raising of supplementary questions by a legislator.
As BJP’s Balwant Mankotia tried to raise supplementary questions, Kaloo objected to it, evoking a sharp retort from Rather.“Don’t teach me,” the Speaker told the NC lawmaker.
The Speaker snubbed Kaloo when the Minister for Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Javaid Dar was responding ... | |
| | | | ‘Contractors served notices for repairing Udhampur roads’ | | | | Early Times Report
Jammu, Mar 18: Minister for Rural Development Department, Javed Ahmad Dar, today informed the House that the roads being constructed by PMGSY in Udhampur West constituency are under Defect Liability Period (DLP) for a period of 5 years. If any damage is found after construction or during the maintenance period then it is being rectified by the Contractor, he added.
The Minister was replying on behalf of the Deputy Chief Minister to a question raised by Pawan Kumar Gupta in the Legislative Assembly.
He said that the roads being executed in Udhampur West Assembly Constituency under NABARD are in good condition and no substandard material has been used in PMGSY/NABARD r... | |
| | | | Alleging bias, BJP MLA stages walkout | | | | Early Times Report
Jammu, Mar 18: Alleging bias in denying him time to speak and not including his questions in the business of the House during the Budget Session, BJP MLA R S Pathania staged a walkout from the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly on Tuesday Pathania attempted to raise his question, which was listed in the day’s business during the Question Hour.
Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather, however, did not allow him to raise his question, stating that he had called Pathania’s name earlier, but he was absent from the House.
The MLA explained that he was late due to a traffic jam, citing poor traffic management as the reason.
He alleged bias on the part of the Speaker and the Assembly Secretari... | |
| | | | In 4 years, J&K Govt spends Rs 14 crore on chartered flights | | | | Early Times Report
Jammu, Mar 18: The Jammu & Kashmir Government on Tuesday said Rs 14. 85 crore expenditure has been incurred on chartered flights over the last four years.
In its reply to the cut motion of MLA Shopian, Shabir Ahmad Kullay, the government said that an expenditure of Rs 14,85,94,471 has been incurred over the last four years on chartered flights after observing codal formalities.
“Moreover there was no chartered flight before 2021,” the government disclosed.
The government also disclosed that an expenditure of Rs 12312245 has been incurred on VIPs visits to Jammu & Kashmir during 2024-25.
“The total expenditure of Rs 1,23,12,245 during the financial year 2024-25, i... | |
| | | | ‘New media policy being framed’ | | | | Early Times Report
Jammu, Mar 18: The Jammu & Kashmir Government on Tuesday said that it is in the process of formulating a new media policy to encompass emerging platforms including social media platforms, news web portals and websites, for empanelment.
In its reply to cut motion of MLA Pulwama Waheed-ur-Rehman Para, the government disclosed that the department is in the process of formulating a new media policy to encompass emerging platforms including social media platforms, news web portals and websites, for empanelment.
“The formulation of new media policy aims to align with the evolving media landscape and adhere to the standards set by the Directorate of Advertising and Visual ... | |
| | | | No stipend for unemployed youth | | 3.70 lakh aspirants registered with Employment Department | |  Early Times Report
Jammu, Mar 17: The Jammu & Kashmir Government on Tuesday informed the Legislative Assembly that it has no plans to provide stipend to unemployed youth in the Union Territory.
In a written response to a question of MLA Samba Devinder Kumar Manyal Minister in-charge Labour & Employment Surinder Choudhary informed the House that there is no plan to provide stipend to unemployed youth in the Union Territory.
“Currently there is no such plan to provide a stipend to the unempl... | |
| | | | ‘Centre governs NHM employees’ | | | | Early Times Report
Srinagar, Mar 18: Health Minister Sakina Itoo on Tuesday informed the Legislative Assembly that National Health Mission employees are hired for one year and their contracts are renewed on the basis of their performance.
Replying to a question of MLA Daleep Singh Parihar the Health Minister said, “The National Health Mission (NHM) is a centrally sponsored flagship scheme, and as such, the overall policy regarding service matters for NHM employees falls under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India (GoI).” “Further, NHM employees are hired on a contractual basis for one year, with their contracts renewed annually based on their... | |
| | | | BJP prepares for Nagrota by-election | | Likely to announce candidate after consultations | | | Early Times Report
Jammu, Mar 18: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has kicked off preparations for the upcoming by-election in the Nagrota assembly segment, expected to take place in April.
This seat fell vacant following the untimely demise of its political stalwart and BJP leader Devender Singh Rana.
While the party has yet to officially name its candidate, sources indicate that Divyani Rana, daughter of the late Devender Singh Rana, is set to contest this prestigious seat, widely regarded as a Rana family stronghold.
According to party insiders, the BJP’s strategy for the by-election was hammered out during a Core Group meeting held two days ago. The meeting focused on consolidatin... | |
| | | | X-stone pelter arrested for glorifying terrorism | | | | Early Times Report
Jammu, Mar 18: Police arrested a former stone-pelter, identified as Showkat Ahmad Dar, on Tuesday for allegedly using social media to spread radical content aimed at glorifying terrorism, inciting anti-national sentiments, and disturbing peace in the Kashmir Valley. The arrest took place in the Shalimar area of Srinagar district, following a swift operation by the Counter-Intelligence Wing Kashmir (CIK) of J&K Police.
According to a CIK statement, the arrest stemmed from credible intelligence and ongoing social media surveillance, which pinpointed Dar as the operator of a radical Facebook handle, ‘Shaddy Kashmir Dryfruits.’ The account was being used to disseminate ex... | |
| | | | Nai Basti shopkeepers begin hunger strike | | | | Early Times Report
Jammu, Mar 18: Demanding proper rehabilitation, around 30 shopkeepers of Jammu’s Nai Basti, who got eviction notices from Highway Authorities for expansion of Satwari-Bikram-Chowk stretch of Jammu-Pathankot highway, on Tuesday began a hunger strike after series of futile meetings with administration.
The families of shopkeepers led by local BJP leaders, accused the administration of deliberately delaying the relocation despite the commitment by LG Manoj Sinha in July last year.
“LG’s commitment has been ignored by the administration. In the last meeting three month ago, JMC commissioner gave verbal assurance that all shopkeepers will be relocated at under constructio... | |
| | | | Woman pilgrim held with pistol at Vaishno Devi Shrine | | | | Early Times Report
Jammu, Mar 18: A woman pilgrim from Delhi was arrested after a loaded pistol was recovered from her possession at the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine atop Trikuta hills in Jammu and Kashmir’s Reasi district, officials said on Tuesday.
Jyoti Gupta, who claimed to be a retired police constable, was intercepted with the weapon and six rounds at a checkpoint near the ‘Bhawan’ (sanctum sanctorum) on the intervening night of March 14-15, they said.
The licence for the gun found in the possession of Gupta was found to have expired a couple of years ago, the officials said.
Police have launched a probe after registering an FIR, they said.
In a similar incident, Sanjay Singh, a pi... | |
| | | | IED detected in Shopian | | | | Early Times Report
SRINAGAR, Mar 18: Security forces on Tuesday averted a tragedy with the timely detection of an improvised explosive device (IED) in Jammu and Kashmir’s Shopian district, officials said A patrol party noticed a suspicious object by the roadside at Habdipora in Shopian district, which turned out to be an IED. A bomb disposal squad has been rushed to the spot to defuse the explosive, the officials said.
This was second instance where an IED has been detected by the security forces in as many days after security forces defused a similar device in Kulgam district on Monday. ... | |
| | | | IAF airlifts 576 passengers | | | | Early Times Report
Srinagar, Mar 18: Amid closure of the strategic Srinagar-Ladakh highway amid snowfall, the authorities airlifted 576 passengers in Indian Air Force Planes from Srinagar, Jammu and Leh on Tuesday, officials said.
The IL-76 airlifted 455 passengers from Srinagar and Jammu to Leh in two sorties on Tuesday, Director Disaster Management Jammu and Kashmir Amir Ali said.
He said AN-32 Kargil Courier airlifted 71 passengers, which included 53 passengers from Srinagar to Kargil and 18 passengers from Kargil to Srinagar.
The passengers who availed of the service expressed their gratitude to CEC LAHDC Kargil, Member of Parliament Ladakh, Deputy Commissioner Kargil, Ministry ... | |
| | | | Fire breaks out in Rajouri hospital | | | | Early Times Report
Rajouri/Jammu, Mar 18: A fire broke out at the Government Medical College (GMC) in Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri district on Tuesday, prompting the evacuation of more than 150 patients from the hospital, officials said The fire was noticed in the basement of the hospital in Rajouri town on Tuesday morning. It was controlled within one hour without reports of any casualty, assistant director of Fire and Emergency Services, Himanshu Gupta, said.
The patients and their attendants were taken out of the hospital building as smoke filled the wards, he said.
Three fire tenders were pressed into service to put off the blaze, the official said, adding that a probe is on to asc... | |
| | | | Senior officers get additional charges | | | | Early Times Report
JAMMU, Mar 18: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has assigned additional responsibilities to senior IAS officer Sanjeev Verma and JKAS officer Mohammad Shahid Saleem Da... | |
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