menu_open Columnists
Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat

Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat

Greater Kashmir

We use cookies to provide some features and experiences in QOSHE

More information  .  Close

Mining in Sukhnag: Heavy Loss to State Exchequer

24.01.2025 7

Greater Kashmir

Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat

RTI Goes Digital In J&K But With Flaws

RTI Goes Digital In J&K But With Flaws

Finally, the RTI has gone online in Jammu & Kashmir. As campaigners for the Right to Information Act (RTI), it has been our long-pending demand. My...

18.01.2025 7

Kashmir Observer

Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat

Will JKPCC, ULBs take CS’s direction seriously?

17.01.2025 9

Greater Kashmir

Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat

123 Acre Landfill Site & 11 Lakh MTs of Legacy Waste?

10.01.2025 3

Greater Kashmir

Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat

Snow Clearance Under MG-NREGA

Snow Clearance Under MG-NREGA

For more than eight years, I have been trying my best to make our government understand the importance of including snow clearance work under the...

09.01.2025 20

Kashmir Observer

Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat

Finally NGT’s enquiry team visits Sukhnag!

On the early morning of December 26th 2024 the huge JCB and L&T Cranes were taken out all of a sudden from Sukhnag river. The operators started...

03.01.2025 7

Greater Kashmir

Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat

Can SMC Clear 11 Lakh MTs of Legacy Waste?

The Commissioner of Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC), in response to the National Green Tribunal’s (NGT) notice, submitted a report recently...

02.01.2025 8

Kashmir Observer

Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat

New NIT Srinagar campus in Pulwama?

Pulwama and Budgam Kareawas were famous for growing almonds, saffron and apples in the past. These kareawas were bulldozed during laying of...

27.12.2024 2

Greater Kashmir

Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat

District Magistrates’ Role in Environmental Degradation of J&K

On November 2nd 2022, the Deputy Commissioner Budgam vide his official communication number DDCB/ Permission / 11140 -41 gave his endorsement for...

22.12.2024 50

Kashmir Observer

Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat

DC Shopian did what the law tells him to do!

The Deputy Commissioner Shopian Mohammad Shahid Saleem, who is also the District Magistrate of the district, with an aim of safeguarding Rambiara...

20.12.2024 3

Greater Kashmir

Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat

Online RTI Error: Government Fails on its Promise Yet Again 

The residents of Jammu & Kashmir were eagerly waiting for December 10th 2024 to see RTI go online. Once again the Government couldn’t fulfil...

14.12.2024 3

Kashmir Observer

Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat

How can our elected govt allow a highway via Yusmarg & Doodhpathri?

The Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways -MoRTH is planning to build a highway from Rajouri to Baramulla that will pass through Poonch,...

13.12.2024 7

Greater Kashmir

Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat

File Your RTI Application From Your Cell Phone Now

The residents of Jammu & Kashmir will finally be able to seek information under the Right to Information Act (RTI) in Online mode. For the...

06.12.2024 2

Greater Kashmir

Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat

In the Name of Development: Kashmir’s Biodiversity Under Threat 

The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Govt of India has categorized farmers into different groups like large, medium, semi medium, small...

05.12.2024 8

Kashmir Observer

Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat

Regulate Sale & Purchase of Hydraulic Excavators

Last year a news report was published in the Financial Express which said that it took 15 years for JCB India to sell 50,000 excavators in the...

29.11.2024 5

Greater Kashmir

Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat

Finally, RTI To Go Online In J&K!

After several years of waiting, citizens can now avail the benefits of seeking information under the Right to Information Act (RTI) through a...

28.11.2024 7

Kashmir Observer

Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat

Restoring old springs of Shaher e Khas

I have been following the water bodies’ restoration work taken up by Manzoor Ahmad Wangnoo and his team Nigeen Lake Conservation...

22.11.2024 2

Greater Kashmir

Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat

GDC Shopian: Can the Real Chief Guest Please Stand Up?

A recently organised event in the Government Degree College, Shopian is being severely criticized in social circles of Kashmir. The social media...

19.11.2024 3

Kashmir Observer

Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat

Fulfilling the promise

It is almost a month now since Omar Abdullah took oath as Chief Minister of the Union Territory of J&K. In the first cabinet meeting headed by...

15.11.2024 2

Greater Kashmir

Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat

Creating awareness on Central Laws

The J&K Legislative Assembly a few days back passed a resolution seeking the restoration of the special status amid ruckus created by the Bharatiya...

08.11.2024 2

Greater Kashmir

Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat

Repeat Offender: SMC Continues to Pollute and Pay Penalties 

Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) has yet again been penalised on the direction of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) for flushing out untreated...

06.11.2024 3

Kashmir Observer

Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat

Govt-Civil Society Dialogue!

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah took a resourceful initiative by holding a Civil Society roundtable in Srinagar recently. Such meetings are held by...

01.11.2024 2

Greater Kashmir

Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat

No to Corruption!

He was serious and the message seemed clear “No to Corruption”. The Chief Minister of J&K, Omar Abdullah, while administering the integrity pledge...

29.10.2024 9

Kashmir Observer

Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat

Dy CM’s direction appreciable, violated the very first day!

On Thursday October 24th 2024 the newly appointed Deputy Chief Minister of J&K Mr Surinder Choudhary emphasised the need for a complete ban on...

25.10.2024 1

Greater Kashmir

Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat

Impose Moratorium on Buying Excavators, JCBs and L&T Cranes  

According to a report  published by Financial Express last year, it took 15 years for JCB India to sell 50,000 excavators in the country but more...

22.10.2024 20

Kashmir Observer

Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat

A free & fair election in J&K!

The elections are over in J&K and the Government elected through people’s mandate has been finally formed after a long wait of 6 years. Omar...

18.10.2024 1

Greater Kashmir

Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat

Struggle For Statehood Has Begun

When the Chief Election Commissioner of India, Rajiv Kumar, made an announcement on August 16th 2024 regarding holding of J&K Assembly elections,...

15.10.2024 5

Kashmir Observer

Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat

Flushing out Poisonous Waste !

J&K Small Scale Industries Development Corporation (SICOP) and State Industrial Development Corporation (SIDCO) are two Public Sector undertakings...

05.10.2024 6

Greater Kashmir

Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat

Beyond Voting: Hold Your Representatives Accountable Through Right to Information

The J&K Assembly elections concluded on October 1st. These elections were held in three phases. As per the official statement of Chief Electoral...

04.10.2024 3

Kashmir Observer

Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat

On Unexpected Low Voter Turnout 

As there was no election boycott call from Hurriyat or any other militant groups, it was expected that voter turnout would go up in the second...

29.09.2024 7

Kashmir Observer

Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat

Need for Interest Free NBFCs in J&K 

The election fever is on rise in Jammu & Kashmir. Polling for the first phase has just concluded on September 18th. Second phase of elections would...

19.09.2024 10

Kashmir Observer

Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat

Zadibal Assembly Constituency: Trends and Turnouts

Zadibal assembly constituency has been a traditional stronghold of the National Conference. In 1983 assembly elections, the polling percentage was...

11.09.2024 10

Kashmir Observer

Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat

Hazardous Waste Not Being Treated At Industrial Estates 

J&K Small Scale Industries Development Corporation (SICOP) , a Public Sector undertaking under the command and control of J&K Government, manages...

29.08.2024 3

Kashmir Observer

Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat

National Conference Should’ve Made Its Draft Election Manifesto Public For Comments

On July 1st , the J&K National Conference constituted a committee headed by its senior leader and former Finance Minister Abdul Rahim Rather to...

21.08.2024 4

Kashmir Observer

Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat

21st Pastoral- Livestock Census: A Historic Exercise !

Pastoralism refers to a society that depends primarily upon herding animals for sustenance. This is one of the oldest professions in the world...

17.08.2024 3

Greater Kashmir

Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat

Technological Advancements Causing Communication Breakdown

By Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat and Rehana Bhat Information Technology enabled people to connect socially, even though they live thousands of miles away....

13.08.2024 3

Kashmir Observer

Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat

J&K Without Elected Panchayats 

As debate on holding of assembly elections in J&K is gaining momentum, nobody is talking about the Panchayat elections. The panchayat elections...

06.08.2024 6

Kashmir Observer

Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat

Havoc on Ecology and Economy: Small Hydro-power Project Branwar and Broken Vows 

We all know that in order to gain something, one has to lose something. Even happiness is built on someone else’s misfortune and for every loss...

30.07.2024 3

Kashmir Observer

Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat

Why Isn’t Technology Used To Curb Riverbed Mining?

Prohibition of riverbed mining (RBM)  in monsoon has been reiterated by the environment ministry through its guidelines, and also courts. As per...

27.07.2024 20

Kashmir Observer

Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat

Imaam Hussain: An Inspiration to Leaders and Activists 

Hussain Ibn Ali (RA) is considered to be one of the greatest revolutionary leaders of all times, who not only inspired Muslims but also impacted...

16.07.2024 3

Kashmir Observer

Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat

Employees Should Have the Right to Disconnect

Technological advancements have a great impact on official work culture in both Govt and Private sectors. This started with the 19th century...

12.07.2024 2

Kashmir Observer

Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat