Power System Collapsing Due to Underreported Load, Not Smart Meters: Omar Abdullah

‘Blames Misuse, Revenue Loss for Power Crisis, Defends Metering Push’

Srinagar, Dec 13: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday expressed strong displeasure over persistent criticism surrounding electricity bills, smart meters and power supply, asserting that the real cause of system failures lies in underreporting of actual power consumption and widespread misuse of electricity.

Addressing a press conference at the ski resort Gulmarg, where he inaugurated several development projects, the Chief Minister said the power infrastructure was being overstretched due to dishonest disclosure of electricity load by consumers.

“When agreements are made, people show a requirement of four bulbs, but after that, they start using ten heaters. Naturally, the system will collapse,” Omar Abdullah said, visibly angry while responding to questions on the power situation.

He stressed that the government was not opposed to supplying electricity according to demand, but said transparency was essential. “Reveal your load honestly. Based on that, we will install transformers, and those transformers will not get damaged,” he said.

The Chief Minister pointed out that transformer failures and frequent outages were largely absent in areas where smart meters had been installed. “Overloading on transformers is not happening where meters are in place. System failure is clearly visible in areas where agreements are made on false load declarations,” he added.

Omar Abdullah also flagged serious financial implications, stating that the power department was operating under heavy losses. “We are unable to supply as much electricity as people need because we do not get the revenue for the electricity that is actually being consumed. We are running at a loss,” he said.

He maintained that smart metering was aimed at stabilising the power system, ensuring fair billing, and improving supply rather than harassing consumers. The Chief Minister reiterated that without realistic load assessment and revenue recovery, sustaining an uninterrupted power supply during harsh winters would remain a challenge. [KNT]

FDA J&K Orders Safe Disposal of Seized and Expired Food Items

Srinagar, Dec 12: The Jammu and Kashmir Food & Drugs Administration (FDA) has issued a directive prescribing stringent procedures and safeguards for the environmentally compliant disposal of seized, rejected, and expired food items across the Union Territory.

The order, issued by the Commissioner, Food & Drugs Administration, J&K, Smita Sethi, as per GNS, emphasises that improper disposal of food products poses serious risks to public health, food safety, and the environment. It said that such disposal must be carried out strictly in accordance with the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and the guidelines issued by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).

As per the directive, disposal of seized, rejected, or expired food items, including their packaging, into rivers, lakes, natural water bodies, or open land is strictly prohibited under all circumstances. The order mandates that disposal shall be carried out only through approved, environmentally safe methods. These include incineration at CPCB-compliant authorised facilities, disposal at designated sanitary landfills with leachate control mechanisms, and composting or anaerobic digestion of biodegradable waste through certified facilities, in coordination with municipal bodies, panchayats, and other statutory authorities.

The directive further stipulates that all disposal activities must be conducted under the supervision of the concerned Food Safety Officer, with mandatory video documentation and in the presence of two independent witnesses. A disposal certificate is required to be submitted to the Designated Officer, with copies forwarded to the Commissioner of Food Safety and the concerned Food Business Operator.

Designated Officers have been instructed to identify suitable disposal facilities within their respective jurisdictions and to coordinate with the State Pollution Control Board, particularly in cases involving large volumes of waste. They are also required to submit monthly compliance reports to the Commissioner by the 3rd of the succeeding month, clearly highlighting any deviations from the prescribed procedures.

Firdous Ahmad, State Nodal Officer, J&K Food & Drugs Administration, in the meantime said that the order aims to ensure transparency, accountability, and strict adherence to food safety and environmental norms. He cautioned that any deviation from the prescribed disposal procedures would be viewed seriously. (GNS)

Silent Killer in the Air: Srinagar Residents Inhaling Pollution Equal to 109 Cigarettes a Month

Srinagar: Even without lighting a cigarette, residents of Srinagar may be exposing themselves to the equivalent of heavy smoking, as the city’s deteriorating air quality poses serious health risks.

Recent pollution data shared by independent weather forecaster Faizan Arif Running Kashmir Weather, as per news agency Kashmir News Corner — KNC, indicates that breathing Srinagar’s air on high-pollution days can be comparable to smoking several cigarettes daily.

According to data available from AQI monitoring platforms, Srinagar’s average PM2.5 concentration has remained close to 80 µg/m³, with the average Air Quality Index (AQI) hovering around 168, placing it in the “unhealthy” category. During the last 24 hours, AQI levels peaked at 180, while PM2.5 concentrations touched 96 µg/m³, reflecting significantly polluted conditions.

As per a widely cited rule of thumb by Berkeley Earth, exposure to PM2.5 levels of 22 µg/m³ for 24 hours is roughly equivalent to smoking one cigarette per day. Applying this measure, breathing Srinagar’s air for a full day at average pollution levels translates to inhaling the equivalent of about 3.6 cigarettes daily amounting to nearly 25 cigarettes a week or around 109 cigarettes in a month.

Experts caution that while this estimate is based on short-term high-pollution data and not long-term annual averages, the health impact remains serious.

“Cleaner days do not negate the damage caused by exposure during highly polluted days,” environmental analysts note. The calculation follows the formula: Cigarettes = (PM2.5 concentration ÷ 22) × (hours of exposure ÷ 24).

The findings, underline the urgent need for stronger measures to curb air pollution and protect public health, as prolonged exposure to such conditions increases the risk of respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, even among non-smokers. (KNC)

J&K Government Notifies Official Holiday List for Calendar Year 2026

The Government of Jammu and Kashmir has officially released the list of holidays for the calendar year 2026 for all government offices and educational institutions across the Union Territory. The notification was issued by the General Administration Department (GAD) through Government Order No. 1894-JK(GAD) of 2025, dated December 12, 2025 .

The order, issued with the approval of the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, outlines gazetted holidays, provincial holidays, local holidays, and restricted holidays applicable during 2026. These holidays will be observed by all government departments, public sector undertakings, autonomous bodies, and educational institutions within the UT.

Holidays Applicable Across Jammu and Kashmir (Annexure-A)

As per the official notification, the following holidays will be observed throughout the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir in 2026:

• Guru Gobind Singh Ji’s Birthday – January 5
• Shab-i-Miraj* – January 17
• Republic Day – January 26
• Mahashivratri – February 15
• Shab-i-Qadr* – March 17
• Navratra – March 19
• Jumat-ul-Vida* – March 20
• Nauroz* – March 21
• Eid-ul-Fitr* – March 21
• Ram Navami – March 26
• Baisakhi – April 14
• Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s Birthday – April 14
• Buddha Purnima – May 1
• Eid-ul-Azha* – May 27 & 28
• Ashoora* – July 5
• Independence Day – August 15
• Eid-i-Milad-un-Nabi* – August 26
• Friday following Eid-i-Milad-un-Nabi* – August 28
• Janmashtami – September 4
• Maharaja Hari Singh Ji’s Birthday – September 23
• Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti – October 2
• Mahanavami – October 20
• Dussehra – October 20
• Accession Day – October 26
• Diwali – November 8
• Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s Birthday – November 24
• Christmas Day – December 25

*All Muslim holidays are subject to the appearance of the moon.

Provincial Holidays (Annexure-B)

Kashmir Province

The following holidays will be observed only in Kashmir Province:

• Friday following Shab-i-Miraj*
• Urs Shah-i-Hamdan Sahib*
• Mela Khir Bhawani
• Urs Sheikh Noor-ud-Din Sahib*

Jammu Province

The following holidays are applicable only in Jammu Province:

• Lohri – January 13
• Shri Guru Ravi Das Ji’s Birthday – February 1
• Holi – March 4

Local Holidays

Certain district-specific local holidays have also been notified, including:

• Mela Bahu Fort – Jammu District only
• Urs Shah Farid-ud-Din Sahib* – Kishtwar District
• Sarthal Devi Ji Yatra – Kishtwar District
• Kailash Yatra – Bhaderwah and Bhalla Tehsils
• Mela Pat – Bhaderwah and Bhalla Tehsils
• Urs Shah Asrar-ud-Din Sahib* – Kishtwar, Doda, and Ramban districts

Restricted Holidays for 2026

The government has also listed several restricted holidays, including:

• Mahavir Jayanti (Jammu District only)
• Good Friday (Jammu District only)
• Parshuram Jayanti (Jammu Province only)
• Martyr’s Day of Guru Arjun Dev Ji
• Kabir Jayanti (Jammu Province only)
• Raksha Bandhan

Employees may avail these restricted holidays as per existing service rules.

Official Instructions

The General Administration Department has directed all departments, deputy commissioners, heads of institutions, and concerned authorities to strictly adhere to the notified holiday schedule for 2026. Hindi and Urdu versions of the order will be issued separately.

Download Calender PDF

The holiday list aims to ensure uniform observance, facilitate administrative planning, and provide clarity to government employees, students, and the general public across Jammu and Kashmir .

Stay connected for more official notifications and government updates from Jammu and Kashmir.