The 75-day-long ongoing Coastal Clean Up Campaign received a huge boost as a number of Chief Ministers, Governors, Film and Sports personalities pledged their full support to the longest and largest beach cleaning campaign in the world titled “Swachh Sagar, Surakshit Sagar”.
The information was given by Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Earth Sciences Jitendra Singh today while addressing a press conference to brief the progress of the ongoing 75-day Coastal Clean-Up campaign launched on 5th July, 2022. Three days ahead of “International Coastal Clean-up Day” on 17th September 2022, massive people’s support is also pouring in for the campaign spearheaded by the Ministry of Earth Sciences and supported by other Ministries and Civil Society Groups in the country.
Minister informed that the campaign has entered the mode of the whole of Government approach plus the whole of country participation. A cleanathon, which was organised at Juhu Beach n Mumbai, saw a large number of participants.
Yesterday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi stressed keeping India’s coasts clean as he praised the efforts of volunteers to remove garbage from the Juhu beach in Mumbai. Responding to a video posted by Dr Singh about the clean-up at the beach, PM Modi tweeted, “Commendable… I appreciate all those involved in this effort. India is blessed with a long and beautiful coastline and it is important we focus on keeping our coasts clean”.
Dr. Singh said that apart from the active cooperation of Ministries of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Jal Shakti, Health and Family Welfare, Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, External Affairs, Information and Broadcasting, organisations and associations like National Service Scheme (NSS), Indian Coast Guard, National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), Seema Jagran Manch, SFD, Paryavaran Sanrakshan Gatividhi (PSG), along with other social organizations and educational institutions are participating in the clean-up campaign.
The MPs of coastal states also pledged full support to the first-of-its-kind and longest-running coastal clean-up campaign in the world and they also advised the Ministry of Earth Sciences to undertake a variety of activities by involving local NGOs, he added.
The Minister told the media persons to support this noble mission of achieving the target to remove 1,500 tonnes of garbage, mainly single-use plastic from the sea coasts on “International Coastal Clean-up Day” on 17th September 2022, which incidentally is also the birthday of Prime Minister Narendra Modi celebrated as “Sewa Divas” in the country. He called upon all to join the massive clean-up drive on 17th September to be carried out at 75 beaches across the country with 75 volunteers for every kilometre of the coastline. He also added that this year’s event also coincides with the celebrations of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav in the 75th year of the country’s independence.
Dr Singh reiterated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken a lead in the cleanliness campaign and has motivated the entire nation to keep the 7,500 Kilometres long coastal line of India clean, safe and healthy for mankind.
It is notable that last month, Dr Jitendra Singh interacted with 46 Deputy Commissioners/District Magistrates from 9 Coastal States and reviewed the ongoing countrywide 75-day Coastal CleanUp campaign and asked them to assist in this mass campaign. He is also going to write to each of them to make the event on 17th September a memorable one. The Minister said, the District Collectors can create a sustainable campaign and truly build a crescendo by involving all sections of society as the “Swachh Sagar, Surakshit Sagar” campaign is the longest and largest beach cleaning campaign in the world, which has already caught the imagination of the masses and nation.
Coastal clean-up campaign gets huge boost by public, celebrities: Jitendra Singh
All departments must address peoples’ grievances promptly: LG
Poonch: Chairing a high-level meeting to review the development projects and overall functioning of the district administration of Poonch district, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on his visit to Poonch on Tuesday directed the officials for speedy implementation of the schemes and execution of the projects.
An official spokesman in a statement issued here said that while taking stock of the implementation and progress of the development works and saturation of welfare schemes in the Poonch district, the LG instructed the authorities to work cohesively for ensuring the prompt delivery of public services, especially to the underprivileged, tribals, and those living in villages and border areas.
“People’s grievances should be addressed promptly by all the departments,” he directed the officials.
The LG reviewed the status of digitisation of land records, Amrit Sarovars, Jal Jeevan Mission, e-services, One District One Product, PM Kisan, power scenario, Mission Youth, entrepreneurship and employment generation programmes, and Block and Thana Diwas.
The LG directed the officials to lay a special emphasis on the education sector and dedicated efforts to increase enrolment in schools.
He stressed ensuring effective implementation of youth-oriented schemes and programmes and directed doubling the efforts for engaging youth in sports-related activities.
The LG also passed directions to organise debates, essay writing, and painting competitions on the theme of ‘truth and non-violence’ in educational institutions across the district in commemoration of the birth anniversaries of Mahatma Gandhi and Lal Bahadur Shastri.
Stressing on developing agriculture and allied sectors, he called for giving special focus on improving farmers’ income and strengthening Farmer Producer Organisations in the district.
Enquiring about the impact of lumpy skin disease in the district, the LG directed an extensive vaccination campaign.
Deputy Commissioner Poonch Inder Jeet gave a detailed PowerPoint presentation on the overall developmental scenario in the district.
He said that the district had taken up 1412 works under district capex and 80 percent of projects were expected to be completed by October 31.
DDC Chairperson Poonch Tazeem Akther; Chief Secretary Arun Kumar Mehta; Principal Secretary to LG Nitishwar Kumar; ADGP Jammu Mukesh Singh; Divisional Commissioner Jammu Ramesh Kumar and Secretary to the Government, Tribal Affairs Department Shahid Iqbal Choudhary also attended the meeting.
Nine dead after bus plunges into gorge in J&K’s Poonch
Jammu & Kashmir | A mini-bus accident occurred in the Sawjian area of Poonch. Army’s rescue operation is underway; 9 deaths reported, many injured shifted to a hospital in Mandi. Further details awaited: Mandi Tehsildar Shehzad Latif
Clear sky in J&K, pleasant autumnal sunshine likely in Valley: MeT
Jammu, Sep 14: The Meteorological (MeT) department on Wednesday said that sky in Jammu amd Kashmir would be clear, while pleasant, autumnal sunshine in the Valley will continue for the next 24 hours.
“Weather is likely to remain dry in Jammu and Kashmir during the next 24 hours. Pleasant autumn sunshine will continue in the Valley”, an official of the MeT department said.
Meanwhile, Srinagar recorded 14 degres Celsius, Pahalgam 9.2 and Gulmarg 7.5 degrees as the minimum temperature this morning.
Drass town in Ladakh had 4.8 degrees, Leh 7.2 and Kargil 15, while Jammu registered 24.5 degrees, Katra 22.8, Batote 17.2, Banihal 13.8 and Bhaderwah 15.8.
Active Covid cases in country decline to 45,749
New Delhi, Sep 14: (India logged 5,108 new coronavirus infections taking the total tally of COVID-19 cases to 4,45,10,057, while the active cases dipped to 45,749, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Wednesday.
The death toll climbed to 52,82,16 with 19 fatalities, which includes 12 deaths reconciled by Kerala, the data updated at 8 am stated.
The active cases comprise 0.10 per cent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate increased to 98.71 per cent, the ministry said.
The daily positivity rate stood at 1.44 per cent while the weekly positivity rate was recorded at 1.70 per cent.
A total of 89.02 crore COVID-19 tests have been conducted so far and 3,55,231 tests were conducted in the last 24 hours.
As many as 215.67 crore total vaccine doses, including 94.57 crore second dose and 18.70 crore precaution doses have been administered so far under the nationwide vaccination drive. A total of 19,25,881 doses were administered in the last 24 hours, the ministry said.
India’s COVID-19 tally had crossed the 20-lakh mark on August 7, 2020, 30 lakh on August 23, 40 lakh on September 5 and 50 lakh on September 16. It went past 60 lakh on September 28, 70 lakh on October 11, crossed 80 lakh on October 29, 90 lakh on November 20 and surpassed the one-crore mark on December 19.
The country crossed the grim milestone of two crore on May 4 and three crore on June 23 last year. It crossed the four-crore mark on January 25 this year. (Agencies)
“Court’s ruling supports BJP narrative”, says Mehbooba Mufti on Gyanvapi verdict
Former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Mehbooba Mufti accused the BJP of trying to divert people’s minds from unemployment and inflation to communally sensitive issues.
“The courts had ruled that 1947 status quo of religious places should be maintained. BJP has failed to eliminate unemployment, poverty and inflation. So, they want to distract people’s attention. Court’s ruling support this BJP narrative,” Mufti told ANI. Varanasi Court on Monday dismissed a plea of the Anjuman Islamia Masjid committee challenging the maintainability of the suit filed by five Hindu women seeking worshipping rights in the Gyanvapi mosque compound.
District Judge AK Vishvesh delivered the verdict in the Gyanvapi Shrinagar Gauri dispute case and posted the matter for further hearing on September 22. “The court rejected the Muslim side’s petition and said the suit is maintainable. The next hearing of the case is on September 22,” said Advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain, representing the Hindu side in the Gyanvapi mosque case.
“It’s a win for the Hindu community. The next hearing is on September 22. It’s a foundation stone for the Gyanvapi temple. Appeal to people to maintain peace,” said Sohan Lal Arya, petitioner in the Gyanvapi case.
The petition was filed by five women seeking permission for daily worship of Hindu deities whose idols are said to be located on an outer wall of the Gyanvapi mosque, which is located close to Kashi Vishwanath temple. Following this, a Varanasi court ordered the survey of the mosque complex.
Following this, a local Varanasi court ordered a videography survey of the complex in May. The survey work was completed on May 16 and the report was presented in the court on May 19. After the videography survey claims were made by the Hindu side that a structure, resembling a Shivling was found in the mosque complex but the Masjid committee contested that it was a fountain and not a Shivling.
The court rejected the Muslim party’s petition and said the suit is maintainable. The next hearing of the case is on September 22.
₹ 9.60 lakh cash recovered from possession of 4 in J&K’s Ramban
JAMMU, Sept 13: Four people from Rajasthan were arrested on Tuesday and ₹ 9.60 lakh cash was recovered from their possession in Jammu and Kashmir’s Ramban district, officials said.
A police party intercepted a Srinagar-bound vehicle on Jammu-Srinagar national highway during checking around 5 pm, they said.
Upon inspecting the vehicle, ₹ 9.60 cash was recovered from a bag that belonged to Radhe Syam who hailed from Rajasthan’s Alwar, they said.
On questioning, Syam failed to explain the source of the cash and it was seized on the spot, police said, adding that the recovered cash is suspected to be stolen.
A complaint has been filed with the Income Tax department and they have been asked to ascertain the source of the cash and corresponding tax liability. (Agencies)
3 children injured in shell explosion in J&K’s Shopian
SRINAGAR, Sep 13: Three children were injured in an explosion near an encounter site in Shopian district of Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday, officials said here.
A leftover shell exploded at an encounter site at Heff Shirmal in Shopian, injuring three children who were playing nearby, the officials said.
The children have been rushed to a hospital.
An encounter took place at Heff Shirmal on Monday in which one local militant was killed and a soldier was injured. (Agencies)
Indian Army, PLA resolve last friction point created post-2020, India not in a hurry for de-escalation
New Delhi, September 13: India and China on Tuesday resolved the last remaining friction point on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) created post-May 2020 as troops from both countries pulled back from their respective positions in the Gogra Heights-Hot Springs area.
“Armies of India and China today completed the disengagement process in Gogra Heights-Hot Springs area near Patrolling Point-15 in eastern Ladakh sector. The two sides have also completed verification of each other’s positions after pulling back troops from friction point,” government sources said.
The friction point near the Patrolling Point 15 of the Indian Army near the LAC in eastern Ladakh was the final one to be resolved by both sides. The two sides had resolved the friction points in Galwan valley and on both the north and south banks of the Pangong lake.
The friction points were created in May 2020 when the Chinese army showed aggression and tried to unilaterally change the status quo on the LAC but the Indian security establishment retaliated strongly and thwarted the Chinese attempts.
Senior government sources said the Chinese side wanted de-escalation too, along with the disengagement from the PP-15 area but India is not in a hurry to de-escalate the situation in the eastern Ladakh sector where the two sides have continued to maintain over 50,000 troops facing each other.
“Complete de-escalation at the moment would not be possible as India would want to address the issues in the Daulat Beg Oldie sector and the Demchok area where Indian patrols are still being objected to by the Chinese military,” the sources said.
The Indian security establishment driven by National Security Council Secretariat are of the view that the present situation should be used for addressing the legacy issues also, including the ones created long ago.
The Indian Army matched the Chinese aggression strongly and even 24 months after face-offs and skirmishes, the formations dealing with the issue kept pressuring the Chinese military as per Army Chief Manoj Pande’s instructions.
The Northern Command had been very proactive all along and upped the ante especially in recent times as it held three major wargames in the eastern Ladakh sector including Exercise Blitzkrieg in June, Exercise Red Hunt in August and the latest one Exercise Parvat Prahar in August-September.
The Indian Army is also of the view that if the troops have been deployed in such large numbers along the LAC in eastern Ladakh, they should ease out only after securing a solution of the long pending issues. (Agencies)
AAP guarantees corruption-free govt if voted to power in Gujarat
Aam Aadmi Party founder and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday promised
corruption free government if his party is voted to power in Gujarat.
Addressing mediapersons here, the AAP chief said, “Anyone in the government indulging in corrupt practices, be it of AAP or other parties, will be sent to jail.
Kejriwal cited a move of the AAP-led Punjab government when it sacked a minister for corrupt practices.
He even assured that public funds will be cent per cent used for public development, it will neither be distributed to corporate friends, nor allowed to make way to tax havens.
Kejriwal alleged that in the BJP ruled-states, citizens have to pay bribes for getting their work done in government departments.
When asked about Congress leader Ajoy Kumar’s remark that Punjab government is wasting money on advertisements when it does not have funds to pay salaries of college professors, Kejriwal said, “Congress is finished, stop taking Congress party’s question.”
On BJP’s claims that Narmada Bachao Andolan leader and activist Medha Patkar will be projected as AAP’s Chief Minister candidate in Gujarat Assembly polls, Kejriwal said: Saying that AAP is fielding Medha Patkar as chief ministerial candidate in Gujarat is just like saying that BJP is going to project Sonia Gandhi as Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s successor.”