Kashmir’s timeless beauty has always been celebrated through its changing seasons, from the vibrant tulips of spring and the lush greenery of summer to the golden Chinar leaves of autumn and the snow-covered landscapes of winter. Now, a magnificent new attraction in Srinagar is adding another dimension to this seasonal charm. Bagh-e-Gul-e-Dawood, the theme-based chrysanthemum garden featuring an impressive 12 million blooms, promises to transform autumn into an even more colourful and memorable experience for residents and tourists alike. Located at the Nehru Memorial Botanical Garden in Srinagar, the garden represents a welcome initiative by the Department of Floriculture to expand Kashmir’s tourism calendar and showcase the Valley’s natural beauty beyond its established spring and summer attractions. With its vibrant floral displays, carefully designed landscapes and visitor-friendly facilities, the garden has the potential to emerge as a major destination during autumn and early winter. The expansion and upgradation of Bagh-e-Gul-e-Dawood this year reflect a commendable vision. The plantation area has been increased, larger flower beds have been developed, and landscaped spaces, a decorative plaza, a water feature and designated selfie points have been added to enhance the visitor experience. With 3.5 lakh chrysanthemum plants expected to produce more than 12 million flowers, the garden offers a spectacular visual treat that can rival many established floral attractions. The initiative also reflects the Department of Floriculture’s commitment to innovation and the promotion of Kashmir’s horticultural heritage. Director of Floriculture Mathoora Masoom has expressed the department’s ambition to make the chrysanthemum garden as popular as Srinagar’s famous Tulip Garden. This is a worthy objective, as Kashmir possesses the natural beauty, climatic diversity and horticultural expertise needed to develop distinctive attractions throughout the year. For decades, the Tulip Garden has been synonymous with the arrival of spring, attracting visitors from across the country and abroad. Bagh-e-Gul-e-Dawood offers an opportunity to create a similar identity for autumn. Just as tulips herald the season of renewal, chrysanthemums can become the defining floral symbol of autumn in Kashmir. Such seasonal branding would strengthen the Valley’s tourism appeal and encourage travellers to plan visits at different times of the year. Another encouraging feature is the garden’s thoughtful integration with the surrounding autumn landscape.

“The launch of Srinagar’s chrysanthemum garden, Bagh-e-Gul-e-Dawood, establishes autumn as a viable floral tourism season, extending economic benefits for local businesses beyond summer. Its long-term viability requires multi-agency collaboration, sustained maintenance, publicity, and eco-friendly infrastructure.”

The changing colours of Chinar, maple and ginkgo trees complement the chrysanthemums, creating a distinctive combination of floral vibrancy and seasonal foliage. Unlike attractions that depend on a variety of unrelated blooms, this theme-based garden offers a coherent visual experience centred on one flower. Its design can appeal to families, nature enthusiasts, photographers and visitors seeking peaceful outdoor experiences. The garden’s expected blooming period until early December is particularly significant. Chrysanthemums are hardy flowers capable of withstanding some adverse weather, allowing the attraction to remain accessible beyond the traditional autumn tourism window. By bridging the gap between the summer travel season and winter tourism, the garden could generate additional opportunities for hotels, transport operators, local guides, restaurants, handicraft sellers and other businesses dependent on tourism. The growing interest in the displays even before their opening is an encouraging sign. However, the garden’s long-term success will depend on sustained maintenance, effective publicity, convenient visitor facilities, environmental responsibility and the development of attractive tourism packages. Collaboration among the Floriculture Department, tourism authorities and local stakeholders can help maximise its economic and cultural benefits. Bagh-e-Gul-e-Dawood is more than a garden filled with millions of flowers; it represents a fresh vision for Kashmir’s tourism future. By celebrating the beauty of autumn, the initiative challenges the notion that the Valley’s floral attractions belong exclusively to spring. With continued investment and thoughtful management, Srinagar’s chrysanthemum garden can become a cherished seasonal landmark, bringing colour, visitors and new economic opportunities to the Valley. Kashmir deserves to be experienced in every season. If spring belongs to tulips, autumn can proudly belong to chrysanthemums, adding another beautiful chapter to the enduring story of the Valley’s natural splendour.

Srinagar’s growing traffic congestion demands urgent and practical infrastructure solutions, but the city cannot afford to pursue road expansion at the cost of its fragile ecology, essential public services and long-term urban interests. The proposed realignments of Srinagar Ring Road Phase-III, connecting Lasjan with Pandach, and the Parimpora–Dalgate Flyover have brought these competing priorities into focus. The administration’s decision to examine alternative alignments is welcome, but the exercise must go beyond technical adjustments and become an opportunity to rethink how infrastructure is planned in Kashmir’s capital. The proposed Ring Road phase and the flyover are intended to improve connectivity and ease the pressure on Srinagar’s already congested roads. However, the benefits of such projects will depend not merely on their completion but on how carefully they are designed and executed. Roads that reduce travel time while damaging water bodies, disrupting neighbourhoods or obstructing access to hospitals may ultimately create new problems instead of solving existing ones. The direction to examine possible modifications to the Ring Road alignment to prevent encroachment upon a major urban water body deserves particular attention. Srinagar’s water bodies are not vacant spaces available for infrastructure expansion. They are essential ecological assets that contribute to drainage, flood management, biodiversity and the city’s environmental stability. Their protection is directly linked to the safety and well-being of the population. The experience of repeated waterlogging and floods has demonstrated the consequences of weakening natural drainage systems and allowing unplanned construction to alter the urban landscape. Any project that threatens a water body, directly or indirectly, must therefore undergo rigorous scrutiny before construction begins. Avoiding encroachment should be treated as a fundamental planning requirement rather than an administrative formality. Authorities must also ensure that the exercise of identifying alternative alignments is based on reliable technical assessments. A comprehensive inventory of buildings, religious structures, public utilities and other infrastructure falling within the proposed routes is necessary. Such an assessment can help determine the financial implications, identify potential disputes and prevent avoidable delays after work begins. The cost of a project should not be measured only by construction expenditure; environmental damage, displacement, utility relocation and disruption to daily life must also be considered. The proposed Parimpora–Dalgate Flyover presents a different but equally important challenge. Srinagar needs better traffic management, particularly along corridors that experience heavy movement throughout the day.

“To minimize public disruption, authorities managing Srinagar’s infrastructure must coordinate across agencies, establish clear alternative routes, and consult local communities before construction begins. True progress requires balancing traffic and road improvements with environmental protection, functional drainage, and transparent decision-making that serves the public interest without compromising the city’s unique social and ecological identity.”

Yet, a flyover cannot be considered successful merely because it allows vehicles to move faster on one stretch. Its design must account for the traffic it may divert to adjoining roads, the availability of access points and the impact on surrounding residential and commercial areas. The suggestion to explore an alternative route from Qamarwari towards Nalamar and Karanagar is therefore worth examining. However, any alternative must be evaluated against clear criteria, including feasibility, cost, traffic flow, land requirements and its impact on existing infrastructure. Connectivity to essential facilities, especially SMHS Hospital, must remain a priority. Patients, ambulances and emergency services cannot be made to bear the consequences of poorly planned construction or prolonged traffic diversions. Equally important is the need to minimise inconvenience during the execution of the projects. Construction-related traffic disruptions can impose a considerable burden on commuters, traders, students and residents. Authorities should prepare a practical traffic management plan before work begins, ensure that alternative routes remain usable and communicate changes to the public in advance. Coordination among the Roads and Buildings Department, traffic police, municipal authorities and other agencies must continue throughout the construction period. Srinagar’s infrastructure planning has to respond to the realities of a rapidly expanding city while protecting the features that make it environmentally and socially distinct. Public consultation should form part of this process, particularly where proposed alignments affect communities, religious structures or established neighbourhoods. Residents often possess valuable knowledge about local traffic patterns, drainage problems and access requirements that may not be fully reflected in technical reports. The administration must resist the temptation to judge development by the number of kilometres of road built or the scale of a flyover. Genuine progress lies in creating infrastructure that is efficient, environmentally responsible and accessible to all. Srinagar needs better roads, smoother traffic and improved connectivity. But it also needs protected water bodies, functioning drainage systems and uninterrupted access to essential services. The proposed realignment reviews offer an opportunity to balance these priorities. The final decisions must be guided by transparent assessments, sound engineering and the public interest. Development should make Srinagar more liveable, not leave the city paying an environmental and social price for projects intended to improve it.

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The reported attack on a passenger bus travelling from Delhi to Srinagar near Kurukshetra in Haryana is deeply concerning and deserves a prompt, impartial investigation. If stones and bricks were indeed hurled at the vehicle because it bore a Jammu and Kashmir registration number or carried passengers from the region, the incident would reflect a disturbing form of hostility that has no place in a democratic society. At the same time, the facts must be established through a proper investigation before conclusions are drawn about the motive or those responsible. The reported incident has drawn condemnation from Jammu and Kashmir’s political leadership, with a demand that the Haryana government and police identify the perpetrators and take appropriate action. A video purportedly showing the bus has also circulated on social media, bringing the matter into public attention. While such reactions are understandable, the immediate priority must be to establish what happened, ensure the safety of the passengers and hold those responsible accountable under the law. For people travelling between Jammu and Kashmir and other parts of the country, road journeys are often a necessity rather than a choice. Students, traders, workers, patients and families regularly travel long distances for education, employment, medical treatment and personal commitments. They should be able to undertake these journeys without fear of intimidation, harassment or violence. A vehicle’s registration number or the geographical origin of its passengers must never become a reason for hostility. If the attack was motivated by prejudice against Kashmiris, it would raise serious questions about the safety and dignity of people from the region outside their home territory. Such conduct cannot be dismissed as an ordinary dispute or a minor law-and-order problem. Violence or intimidation directed at people because of their regional identity undermines the constitutional promise of equality and freedom of movement. Every citizen has the right to travel, work and live in any part of the country without being subjected to discrimination or threats. However, responsible public discourse also requires caution. An allegation, even one supported by a widely circulated video, is not a substitute for a verified account of the incident. Authorities should examine the footage, record statements from the driver and passengers, identify witnesses and determine whether the vehicle was deliberately targeted. The investigation must establish the sequence of events, the motive, if any, and the identities of those involved. A transparent account would help distinguish verified facts from speculation and prevent misinformation from aggravating tensions. The Haryana Government and police have a responsibility to respond seriously to the allegation. If an attack occurred, the response should not end with a routine inquiry or a statement of condemnation. Those found responsible must face action in accordance with the law.

“Regional discrimination and violence violate constitutional rights to free movement and equality. Following alleged violence against travelers from Jammu and Kashmir in Haryana, authorities must conduct a prompt, verified investigation, prosecute any perpetrators, and protect witnesses without prejudging findings or stoking regional divisions. Ensuring safe travel across state borders is a national obligation essential to national unity and the rule of law.”

Equally important is ensuring that passengers who may have witnessed the incident can report their experiences without intimidation. Effective policing should provide reassurance not only to those directly affected but also to other travellers who may fear similar incidents. Political leaders, too, must exercise their influence responsibly. Condemning alleged violence and demanding accountability are legitimate responses, but public statements should reinforce the need for a fair investigation rather than prejudge its findings. Social media can help bring incidents to light, yet unverified claims and inflammatory commentary can also deepen mistrust. The objective should be justice and prevention, not the escalation of regional or communal divisions. The incident also underlines the importance of building an environment in which regional identity does not determine how people are treated. Jammu and Kashmir has endured prolonged political uncertainty and conflict, making the security and dignity of its residents especially important concerns. Their protection, however, should not be framed as a regional demand alone. It is a national responsibility grounded in the rights of every citizen. Ultimately, the test of the authorities will be the credibility of their response. A prompt investigation, clear communication and lawful action against those found guilty would send an important message that intimidation will not be tolerated. If the allegation is substantiated, the perpetrators must be held accountable; if the facts differ from the initial reports, those findings should also be made public. No passenger should have to worry that a journey across state boundaries could expose them to hostility because of where they come from. Ensuring safe travel is a basic obligation of the state, and protecting that right is essential to preserving public trust, national unity and the rule of law.

Kashmir’s electricity consumers are once again preparing for long hours of scheduled power cuts as the Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited (KPDCL) rolls out its revised load curtailment plan. Rural areas facing up to eight hours of daily outages and urban areas experiencing cuts of up to three hours raise an uncomfortable question: what tangible improvement have smart meters brought to the lives of ordinary consumers if the power supply schedule remains largely unchanged? The installation of smart meters was projected as a major step towards reforming the power sector. Consumers were told that improved monitoring, accurate billing, better revenue collection and the reduction of electricity losses would help strengthen the system. Yet, as winter approaches, households across the Valley continue to worry about electricity availability, heating requirements and the rising cost of living. If the introduction of smart meters has not translated into a more reliable supply, the government and the power distribution authorities owe the public a convincing explanation. Smart meters, in themselves, do not generate electricity or increase the availability of power. Their purpose is to measure consumption more accurately, facilitate timely billing, improve monitoring and help distribution companies identify losses and unauthorised use. These are important objectives. However, their success cannot be judged merely by counting the number of meters installed. The real test lies in whether the investment has improved the overall quality of electricity services. Under KPDCL’s revised plan, areas with aggregate technical and commercial (AT&C) losses exceeding 65 per cent will face eight hours of daily curtailment. Those with losses between 40.5 and 65 per cent will experience six hours of cuts, while areas with lower losses will receive relatively better supply. Consumers in Srinagar city will face scheduled outages ranging from half an hour to three hours, depending on the feeder. The differentiation based on losses may have an administrative rationale, but it also raises questions of fairness and accountability. Why should residents of an area continue to endure prolonged outages because the distribution network records high losses? Many consumers pay their bills regularly but remain dependent on the same unreliable supply. They should not be made to bear a disproportionate burden for inefficiencies that may also arise from inadequate infrastructure, poor enforcement, faulty distribution systems and weaknesses in revenue collection. If electricity losses are high, the department must identify their causes and address them. Theft, unauthorised connections, defective infrastructure and poor billing practices require targeted action. Merely imposing longer power cuts on entire localities does not resolve these problems. Nor should consumers who comply with billing requirements be left wondering why their cooperation has not brought a visible improvement in service. The expansion of round-the-clock supply to 214 feeders, from 129 under the previous plan, is a welcome development. However, the number alone does not establish whether consumers are actually receiving uninterrupted electricity. The department must disclose how consistently these feeders maintain supply and whether the promised service is being delivered on the ground. A designation of 24×7 supply should represent a measurable commitment, not merely a category in an official document. The same principle applies to smart metering. If consumers are expected to accept digital monitoring, more transparent billing and stricter enforcement, they are entitled to demand corresponding accountability from the utility. The department should publish clear data on the number of smart meters installed, changes in AT&C losses, improvements in billing and collection efficiency, and the actual hours of electricity supplied before and after installation. Without such information, it is difficult for the public to assess whether the investment is delivering the promised benefits. There is also a broader question about the relationship between billing reforms and electricity availability. Better revenue collection can improve the financial position of distribution companies, but it does not automatically guarantee adequate power procurement, stronger transmission infrastructure or a more resilient distribution network. These require coordinated planning, investment and management. The government must explain how the gains from metering and improved collections are being translated into better services.

“While smart meters and strict billing improve the power sector’s financial health, reforms are ultimately judged by service quality. Consumers complying with new metering expectations deserve reliable power, transparent outage updates, and better infrastructure rather than endless power cuts. Would you like me to tailor this summary into specific bullet points, an executive briefing format, or adapt it for a presentation deck?”

Winter makes this question particularly urgent in Kashmir. Electricity is not merely a convenience in a region where temperatures can fall sharply and households depend on heating appliances to remain comfortable. Students preparing for examinations, patients requiring essential care, small businesses and people working from home are all affected by prolonged outages. Rural households, in particular, may face greater difficulties when long power cuts coincide with harsh weather and limited alternatives. The Government must therefore move beyond treating the publication of a curtailment schedule as an adequate response to the electricity crisis. Consumers need predictable supply, timely information about outages and effective grievance redressal. The authorities should also review whether areas with high losses can be provided relief through targeted enforcement, infrastructure upgrades and time-bound reduction plans rather than relying indefinitely on prolonged curtailment. There is no argument against smart meters or efforts to improve the financial health of the power sector. A system in which electricity is accurately measured, honestly billed and properly paid for benefits everyone. But reforms must be judged by their outcomes, not by the technology deployed or the administrative orders issued. Ultimately, the question is simple: if consumers are paying for electricity, accepting smart meters and complying with billing requirements, what meaningful improvement are they receiving in return? The government cannot expect public cooperation to remain unquestioned while long power cuts continue to define everyday life. Smart meters may help the department count every unit consumed. The public, however, has the right to ask a different question: when will these reforms begin to count in terms of reliable electricity supply? Until that question is answered with measurable improvements, the promise of power-sector reform will remain incomplete.

The recent controversy surrounding the alleged use of derogatory language by a senior government official towards a woman officer has brought an important question into public debate: where does administrative authority end and personal dignity begin? A video of the exchange has triggered widespread criticism, political reactions and demands for accountability. Beyond the immediate controversy, the episode highlights the need for professional conduct, mutual respect and fairness within government institutions. The reported language and tone of the exchange have raised concerns about the relationship between senior officials and their subordinates, particularly when disagreements arise over official responsibilities and the implementation of government programmes. Government officers occupy positions of considerable responsibility, and their conduct influences the working environment of entire departments. Administrative authority is necessary to ensure discipline, accountability and the effective delivery of public services. However, authority must be exercised with restraint. Professional disagreements should not become occasions for personal remarks, humiliation or intimidation. The issue assumes added significance when viewed through the broader question of women’s dignity in public service. Equal opportunity in government employment must extend beyond recruitment, promotions and formal rules. It must also ensure that women officers can express professional opinions, defend their work and raise legitimate concerns without fear of humiliation or unfair consequences. If an officer faces the threat of disciplinary action simply for questioning a superior’s language or decision, the circumstances warrant careful examination. At the same time, allegations must be assessed through established procedures, with all concerned parties given a fair opportunity to present their accounts. Neither public outrage nor an officer’s seniority should determine the outcome before the facts are established. A balanced assessment must also recognise the responsibilities attached to administrative hierarchy. Senior officers are expected to review performance, identify shortcomings, demand explanations and ensure that government schemes achieve their intended objectives. They must have the freedom to question decisions and hold officials accountable for delays or failures. Such scrutiny is an essential part of governance and should not automatically be interpreted as intimidation. Equally, all government employees, regardless of rank, are expected to maintain professional decorum. Differences of opinion should be expressed constructively, and disagreements should be resolved through established administrative channels. However, respect for hierarchy cannot mean unquestioning obedience. A competent administration must allow its officers to offer alternative views, identify implementation challenges and disagree on professional grounds without compromising their dignity. The political reaction to the controversy has introduced another dimension. A regional political leader criticised the reported conduct and framed the issue in terms of an officer from outside Jammu and Kashmir and a local officer. Such remarks reflect concerns about the treatment and standing of local officials within the administration. These concerns deserve consideration, but the issue should not be reduced to regional identity.

“Public institutions must function with impartiality, transparency, and mutual respect, free from personal arrogance or regional bias. Any allegations of misconduct should be addressed through established procedures, examining all context and evidence before reaching conclusions. Ultimately, administrative credibility depends on enforcing standards of conduct equally, exercising authority with restraint, and serving the public with fairness and dignity.”

An officer’s conduct must be judged by the same standards irrespective of domicile, cadre or place of posting. Turning the controversy into a regional confrontation risks diverting attention from the central questions of professional behaviour, institutional accountability and equal treatment under service rules. Public institutions must remain free from both personal arrogance and regional prejudice. The Government should respond through a transparent and impartial process. The available evidence and relevant context should be examined, the officers concerned should be heard, and any disciplinary decision should follow established rules. If misconduct is established, appropriate action should follow. If the available footage does not provide the complete picture, conclusions should not precede a fair assessment. The controversy also offers an opportunity to reinforce standards of workplace communication, grievance redressal and administrative accountability. Clear procedures can help prevent disagreements from escalating and ensure that complaints are addressed without fear or favour. Ultimately, effective governance depends on more than official designations and administrative hierarchy. It requires professionalism, mutual respect and the confidence that rules apply equally to everyone. Seniority cannot place anyone above standards of conduct, just as disagreement cannot exempt anyone from professional responsibility. The credibility of Jammu and Kashmir’s administration will be strengthened when authority is exercised with restraint, dissent is handled with maturity, and accountability is pursued without political or regional prejudice. Public office is a responsibility entrusted to individuals for the service of citizens. Its legitimacy rests not merely on the power it confers, but on the fairness and dignity with which that power is exercised.

The decision to revise school timings across Kashmir from October 15 is a necessary adjustment to changing seasonal conditions. As temperatures fall and daylight hours shorten, the functioning of educational institutions must reflect the realities of winter in the Valley. However, changing the clock alone is not enough. The administration must ensure that the revised schedule genuinely eases the difficulties faced by students, teachers and parents during the colder months. Under the revised schedule, schools within Srinagar’s municipal limits will function from 10 am to 3:30 pm, while institutions outside the municipal limits and in other areas of Kashmir will operate from 10:30 am to 4 pm. The changes apply to both government and recognised private schools. Although the delayed start offers students some relief from early-morning cold, the later closing time in areas outside Srinagar’s municipal limits raises questions about the practical challenges of returning home during winter afternoons. Winter in Kashmir is not merely a seasonal inconvenience. For many students, particularly those in rural and far-flung areas, attending school involves walking considerable distances, waiting for public transport and travelling through poorly lit or foggy roads. As daylight hours shrink, an afternoon departure can expose children to additional difficulties, especially when temperatures drop rapidly towards evening. The decision to begin classes later in the morning is welcome, but the administration must also consider the timing of dispersal. An adjustment that delays the start of the school day should not unnecessarily push students’ journeys home into colder and darker conditions. The Directorate of School Education Kashmir should therefore assess whether school closing times need to be advanced further as winter progresses. A uniform schedule may be administratively convenient, but geographical differences, road conditions and variations in daylight across the Valley deserve consideration. Schools in remote areas may face challenges that institutions within Srinagar city do not encounter to the same extent. The impact of school timings extends beyond classrooms. Parents must arrange transport, teachers must commute, and school buses must complete their routes safely. Private schools, in particular, should not interpret the revised schedule as an opportunity to extend classes, conduct additional activities or delay dispersal beyond the prescribed time.

“To ensure students are not forced to choose between education and safe winter travel, authorities must align school timings with harsh weather conditions like snowfall and icy roads. Adjustments need to address the entire journey—both arriving and returning—while maintaining instructional standards, communicating changes early, and keeping student welfare at the core of all administrative decisions.”

The authorities must ensure strict implementation of the order and establish a mechanism for addressing complaints about non-compliance. Schools should communicate their schedules clearly to parents and ensure that transport arrangements remain aligned with the revised timings. At the same time, the administration must recognise that many students depend on shared transport or walk home. Their safety should carry greater weight than administrative convenience or the desire to complete a rigid timetable. Adjusting school hours should not mean compromising the quality of education. Schools must organise classroom activities efficiently and ensure that students continue to receive adequate instructional time. Any further changes should be communicated well in advance so that parents, teachers and school managements can plan accordingly. The Government should also remain prepared to review the schedule in response to severe cold waves, snowfall, icy roads or other weather-related disruptions. Seasonal adjustments must be accompanied by timely decisions when conditions become unsafe. Ultimately, the purpose of changing school timings is to make education more accessible and safer during winter. A policy that delays the morning start but overlooks the difficulties of the return journey would address only part of the problem. Children should not have to choose between attending school and travelling safely in winter conditions. The administration must keep their welfare at the centre of every decision, ensure that schools adhere to the prescribed schedule and make further adjustments wherever necessary. In Kashmir’s harsh winter, protecting students must be as important as keeping classrooms open.

Kashmir’s power crisis has once again become a source of growing frustration for the people, with frequent and unscheduled electricity cuts disrupting daily life across the Valley. Despite the existence of an announced power curtailment schedule, consumers in several areas complain that the prescribed timings are not being followed, leaving households, businesses, students and essential service providers struggling to cope with an increasingly unreliable electricity supply. The issue is no longer limited to the availability of electricity during peak winter months. It has become a question of accountability, planning and the administration’s ability to ensure that the public receives the services for which it pays. When a power schedule is announced, people naturally expect it to be followed. Repeated deviations from the announced timings undermine public confidence and make it difficult for families to organise their daily routines. Electricity is not a luxury in modern life. It is an essential service that supports education, healthcare, communication, commerce and household activities. In a region where winter temperatures can fall sharply and heating requirements increase significantly, reliable electricity becomes even more important. Unscheduled cuts during the colder months can create serious difficulties, particularly for children, elderly people, patients and families who depend on electrical appliances for their basic needs. The impact of the crisis extends well beyond residential areas. Small businesses, shopkeepers, workshops and other commercial establishments depend on a steady power supply to keep their operations running. Frequent interruptions affect productivity, increase operating costs and cause financial losses. Business owners are often forced to rely on generators or other backup arrangements, adding to their expenses at a time when the cost of living and doing business is already placing considerable pressure on ordinary people. Students preparing for examinations are among those most affected by erratic electricity supply. For many families, particularly those without reliable backup facilities, prolonged and unexpected power cuts mean disrupted study hours and additional stress. In an increasingly competitive academic environment, uninterrupted access to lighting, internet connectivity and electronic learning resources is essential. Authorities must recognise that unreliable electricity can have consequences for educational opportunities and students’ performance. The most immediate public demand, however, is straightforward: if a curtailment schedule has been issued, why is it not being followed? People may understand that electricity generation, transmission constraints, increased demand and other technical factors can create genuine challenges. What they find difficult to accept is the absence of predictability. A clearly communicated schedule allows consumers to prepare for interruptions, manage essential activities and plan their day accordingly. Unannounced cuts take away that basic certainty. The authorities responsible for power distribution must therefore explain the gap between announced schedules and the actual supply situation. If prevailing circumstances make the existing schedule impossible to implement, the public deserves a revised timetable supported by transparent information. Keeping people informed is not merely a public-relations exercise; it is an essential part of responsible administration. The Government and the concerned power department must also examine whether the present infrastructure is adequately equipped to meet demand.

“To restore public trust, Kashmir’s power authorities must move beyond paper schedules and demonstrate real accountability by providing a reliable electricity supply, realistic curtailment schedules, and transparent communication”.

Overloaded distribution transformers, ageing transmission lines, technical faults, poor maintenance and inefficient demand management can contribute to disruptions. These issues require sustained investment, timely repairs and long-term planning rather than temporary measures introduced only when public complaints intensify. At the same time, consumers must be encouraged to use electricity responsibly. Avoiding unnecessary consumption, using energy-efficient appliances and reducing wastage can help ease pressure on the system. However, public cooperation cannot become an excuse for administrative shortcomings. Conservation and responsible consumption must go hand in hand with efficient distribution, infrastructure improvement and accountability. The Government must adopt a time-bound approach to addressing the crisis. Regular monitoring of power supply, prompt repair of damaged infrastructure, effective management of peak demand and public disclosure of actual supply conditions should form part of a comprehensive strategy. Authorities should also establish an effective grievance-redressal mechanism so that consumers can report persistent violations of the announced schedule and receive timely responses. Most importantly, the concerned departments must communicate honestly with the public. If there is a shortage, explain its extent. If technical failures are responsible, identify the problems and announce corrective measures. If additional restrictions become unavoidable, issue a revised schedule and adhere to it as far as operational circumstances permit. Silence and uncertainty only deepen public resentment. Kashmir’s electricity problems cannot be resolved through announcements alone. They require practical action, transparent administration and a clear commitment to improving the reliability of supply. The public has repeatedly adjusted its expectations to accommodate the challenges faced by the power sector. It is now time for the authorities to demonstrate that they are equally committed to meeting their responsibilities. Ultimately, the issue is about more than electricity. It is about public trust. A government that announces a schedule must make every reasonable effort to honour it, and a department entrusted with an essential service must remain answerable when that service repeatedly falls short. The people of Kashmir are not demanding the impossible. They are asking for a reliable electricity supply, a realistic power curtailment schedule and transparency when circumstances change. These are reasonable expectations, not unreasonable demands. The question that remains is simple: if the announced power schedule cannot be followed, what purpose does it serve? Kashmir needs solutions, not merely schedules on paper.

The language of reform is persuasive. Simplifying procedures, attracting investment and reducing bureaucratic delays are legitimate objectives of governance. But when “ease of doing business” becomes a justification for diluting planning safeguards, the promise of economic growth can turn into a public liability. Jammu and Kashmir, with its fragile ecology, congested towns and painful experience of devastating floods, cannot afford to treat urban planning as an obstacle to investment. The Government’s latest changes to building permissions and land-use regulations raise an important question: is the administration making business easier, or making it easier to bypass the safeguards that protect communities? The distinction matters. A business-friendly government should eliminate unnecessary paperwork, curb corruption and establish predictable approval timelines. It should not weaken the checks that prevent unplanned construction, incompatible land use and environmental degradation. Residential neighbourhoods are not merely collections of plots waiting to be monetised. They are living spaces designed around particular infrastructure capacities, road widths, parking arrangements, drainage systems and public amenities. Allowing commercial activity to expand without adequate scrutiny can fundamentally alter their character. Shops, offices and other establishments may generate employment and economic activity, but they can also bring traffic congestion, noise, waste, parking disputes and pressure on water and drainage networks. The issue is not whether commercial activity should be permitted in residential areas under any circumstances. Mixed-use development, when properly planned, can make neighbourhoods more vibrant and convenient. The real concern is whether permissions are being granted according to transparent planning standards or through a relaxation of meaningful oversight. Without clear zoning rules, carrying-capacity assessments and effective enforcement, flexibility can quickly become disorder. Equally troubling are concerns surrounding building permissions and the proposed reliance on certifications by government-approved consultants. Professional certification can improve efficiency and reduce delays, but it cannot become a substitute for public accountability. If the system allows large buildings to proceed with limited scrutiny, the administration must explain precisely who verifies compliance, how violations are detected and what consequences follow when certificates prove incorrect. The credibility of any regulatory reform rests on its safeguards. A consultant’s signature may establish professional responsibility, but it cannot independently guarantee that a project is compatible with the surrounding infrastructure or that its cumulative environmental impact is acceptable. Nor should the government be able to transfer responsibility to private professionals while retaining inadequate mechanisms for inspection and enforcement. Accountability must remain clear, enforceable and visible to the public. Jammu and Kashmir’s vulnerability to flooding makes these questions particularly urgent. The devastating floods of 2014 exposed the consequences of ecological damage, inadequate drainage and development pressures on sensitive landscapes. Floodplains, wetlands, natural drainage channels and water-retention areas perform functions that cannot be replicated simply by constructing concrete drains. Encroachment and indiscriminate construction can reduce the land’s ability to absorb and channel excess water, increasing risks for entire communities.

“Jammu and Kashmir’s regulatory reforms require objective scrutiny to balance economic growth with environmental and public safety safeguards. Genuine reform must streamline approvals and penalize administrative delay while strictly enforcing zoning, building codes, and ecological protections. Accelerating development without regulatory accountability risks long-term environmental degradation and public cost; true progress lies in fostering business efficiency without sacrificing public safety, dignity, and environmental security.”

Climate change adds another dimension to the challenge. More intense rainfall events can place additional pressure on already vulnerable urban infrastructure. Planning decisions made today will determine how safely towns and cities respond to tomorrow’s environmental stresses. Treating ecological restrictions as procedural inconveniences would be short-sighted, particularly in a region where natural systems are integral to public safety. The Government’s responsibility is therefore not simply to facilitate investment but to ensure that development serves the public interest. Before implementing consequential relaxations, it should publish clear explanations of the changes, disclose the safeguards retained, consult urban planners and environmental experts, and assess the implications for flood-prone and densely populated areas. The notified provisions must be examined transparently, rather than allowing either official assurances or political allegations to substitute for scrutiny. A credible reform agenda would digitise applications, impose time-bound decisions, standardise requirements and penalise arbitrary delays. At the same time, it would strengthen building inspections, protect environmentally sensitive areas, enforce zoning restrictions and make officials and certifying professionals answerable for violations. Faster approvals and stronger safeguards are not contradictory goals; a competent administration must deliver both. Jammu and Kashmir needs jobs, entrepreneurship and private investment. But growth that overwhelms neighbourhoods, degrades wetlands or increases flood exposure is not sustainable development. Its costs are eventually borne by residents, taxpayers and future generations. Ease of doing business should mean freedom from bureaucratic harassment, not freedom from responsibility. When regulatory efficiency is measured only by how quickly construction and commercial projects receive approval, the government risks confusing speed with progress. The true measure of reform is whether it creates an environment where businesses can prosper without compromising the safety, dignity and environmental security of the people who live around them.