Manohar Lal Khattar announces cash incentives for reporting stubble-burning as Delhi’s AQI enters ‘emergency’ category
Chandigarh: Amid calls for stopping stubble-burning in states adjoining Delhi, which is facing severe dip in air quality, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Friday announced cash incentives for those reporting such incidents and directed officials to encourage farmers to opt alternatives.
His announcement came on a day a Supreme Court panel on pollution control declared a public health emergency in the national capital, and according to the Centre's air quality monitor SAFAR, the share of stubble burning in Delhi's pollution stood at 46 per cent, the highest so far. An official release issued here said Khattar met officials to review the crop residue management (CRM) scheme in his state.
He directed officers of the Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare Department to visit 10 villages where maximum incidents crop residue burning has been reported and ascertain the reason behind it, the release said. He said a cash award of Rs 1,000 would be given to those informing about such incidents in their area and their identity would be kept secret, it added. He said that the Deputy Commissioners (DCs) of the concerned districts would also organize meeting of 'Gram Sabha' in these villages so that detailed deliberations could be held with the farmers on the issue.
Directions were also issued for exploring various options for the purchase of crop residue from farmers. He directed to explore the possibilities of utilization of crop residue in sugars mills for power generation, the release said, adding he sought a report in this regard at the earliest. Khattar's Delhi counterpart Arvind Kejriwal has often blamed the Delhi's pollution on stubble-burning in Punjab and Haryana and requested the respective state governments to stop it.
Khattar also said discussions should be held on providing latest instruments to farmers and benefits of various schemes for encouraging them to sell their crop residue and adopt the crop residue management. He also directed the Deputy Commissioners to take stringent measures to prohibit the burning of crop residue in their respective districts. He was informed that a 34 per cent reduction was recorded in stubble burning in the state up to October 22 as compared to the corresponding period of the previous year, the release said.
Last year, crop residue burning was reported on 57,000 hectares of land area as compared to only about 38,000 hectares this year. It is also mentioned that there was a reduction of 6.5 per cent incidents as compared to last year as on date. The Chief Minister expressed satisfaction on the crop residue management in the state and asked the department to make it a mass movement, according to the release.
Delhi recorded its worst air quality of the season on Friday as the pollution level touched the 'severe plus' category, prompting authorities to shut schools till November 5, ban all construction activities and declare a "public heath emergency". The city's overall air quality index (AQI) was 504 at 3:30 am, but by 4 pm it was recorded at 484 in the 'severe' category, according to official data.
In the National Capital Region (NCR), Ghaziabad and Greater Noida had an AQI of 496 at 4 pm, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) said. The Supreme Court-mandated Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority declared the "public health emergency", following which the Delhi government decided to shut all schools. The EPCA has also banned all construction activities in Delhi-NCR till November 5.
The share of stubble burning in Delhi's pollution stood at 46 per cent on Friday, the highest so far, according to the Ministry of Earth Sciences' air quality monitor SAFAR. The AQI entered the "severe plus" or "emergency" category late Thursday night in Delhi, the first time since January this year, a CPCB official said.
Will see whether interests fully being accommodated in RCEP: PM Modi
New Delhi: As he left for his visit to Bangkok, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said India will consider whether its concerns and interests in trade in goods, services, and investments are being fully accommodated when he attends the meeting of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership there.
Modi is travelling to Bangkok to participate in the 16th ASEAN-India Summit on November 3. He will also attend the 14th East Asia Summit and the 3rd Summit meeting of nations negotiating a Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement on November 4.
In a statement before his departure, the prime minister said during the visit, he will also hold bilateral meetings with a number of other world leaders present at Bangkok for related summit meetings.
"The ASEAN-related summits are an integral part of our diplomatic calendar, and an important element in our Act East Policy. Our partnership with ASEAN is built around the key pillars of connectivity, capacity-building, commerce and culture," he said.
In January 2018, India had celebrated the 25th anniversary of its Dialogue Partnership with ASEAN in a special commemorative Summit in New Delhi where leaders of all 10 ASEAN states were chief guests at the Republic Day parade, he pointed out.
The prime minister said he will be reviewing with ASEAN partners, India cooperative activities, and examining plans for strengthening ASEAN and ASEAN-led mechanisms, enhancing connectivity (sea, land, air, digital and people-to-people), deepening economic partnerships, and expanding maritime cooperation.
The East Asia Summit (EAS) is today the leading element in the regional cooperative architecture, as a singular, leaders-led structure that is centered around ASEAN, and includes as members major countries in the region or with important interests in it, he said.
"We will be reviewing significant regional and global issues on the Agenda of the EAS, and examining the state of our current programmes and projects. I will also focus on our Indo-Pacific strategy, on which I am happy to note strong convergences with ASEAN partners and others at the EAS," Modi said.
At the RCEP Summit, India will take stock of the progress in RCEP negotiations, he said.
"We will consider all issues including whether India's concerns and interests in trade in goods, services, and investments are being fully accommodated, during this summit," the prime minister asserted.
Other elements of his visit include participating in a special leaders luncheon event on November 4, organised by the prime minister of Thailand, as chair of ASEAN on sustainability.
"I will also attend a reception organised by the Indian community in Thailand on November 2 (Saturday evening). People of Indian Origin, and non-resident Indians have made significant contributions to Thailand and to the important relationship India shares with the Kingdom of Thailand," Modi said.
Maharashtra: President’s rule if Mahayuti fails to form Govt
Mumbai: Since BJP-Shiv Sena alliance seems to be trailing, with no government formation even a week after the Maharashtra Assembly results were announced, the State may probably have President’s rule in case Mahayuti fails to form a government by November 7.
Finance Minister and BJP leader Sudhir Mungantiwar have confirmed the news today as the tenure of the existing Legislative Assembly ends on November 8, DC reports.
Speaking to a news channel, the BJP leader asserted that “People of Maharashtra have given mandate not to any party but to the Mahayuti (alliance comprising BJP, Shiv Sena and other parties).”
“Our alliance is stronger than Fevicol or Ambuja Cement,” he said.
“A new government will have to be in place within the stipulated time, or else the President will have to intervene.
Related Stories:
Maharashtra: 40 % elected MLAs declare serious criminal cases
BJP – Shiv Sena suspends talks, fight on for CM’s post
Barring Cabinet colleagues, Khattar, Dushyant take oath
President’s rule will be imposed if the government formation doesn’t happen in the given time,” he added.
When asked whether BJP will accept Shiv Sena’s demand for equal power sharing and CM post for 2.5 years, he said, the party has already chosen Devendra Fadnavis as the next CM, indicating of no such possibility of saffron party agreeing to such demand.
However, he did admit there is a deadlock. He said, “We, at the state level will sit together to find a way to resolve the deadlock. If necessary, the central leadership of BJP will intervene.”
Reacting to Sena leader Sanjay Raut’s comments on government formation, Mungantiwar said, “Just like the BJP, the Sena also wants the government to be formed at the earliest. We fought the election as an alliance. The issue here is not of Sena or BJP, but the people of Maharashtra.”
3 killed in crude bomb explosion at Bengal’s Murshidabad
A crude bomb explosion at Bengal’s Murshidabad claimed the lives of 3 persons and injured one on Tuesday. The incident occurred in an abandoned house in Jalangi district, Taltali village where the victims had kept crude bombs and were arranging them to be used in a fight on Monday night, reports News18.com.
The police said that they had found more live bombs at the scene and therefore had cordoned off the area for security reasons. Subsequently, the bomb disposal squad was called in to defuse the bombs.
A Trinamool Congress leader said that the incident took place between two rival groups who wanted to control the boat service on the river bank.
Love you Rahul, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra wishes brother on Bhai Dooj
New Delhi: In a loving gesture, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Tuesday took to Twitter to wish brother Rahul Gandhi on the occasion of Bhai Dooj.
Priyanka posted an adorable collage and tweeted: "Love you @RahulGandhi." In the collage, there are several pictures of brother and sister from their childhood.
In one picture, mother Sonia Gandhi and late father Rajiv Gandhi were also seen holding the two in their hands.
The festival of 'Bhai Dooj' falls on the second day of Diwali. It marks the bond between brothers and sisters.
Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri and several foreign country heads visit the Golden Temple on Guru Nanak's 550th birthday
Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri, along with the 84 other heads of foreign missions from New Delhi visited the Golden Temple on the 550th birthday of Sikhism founder, Guru Nanak Dev. The foreign heads were a part of the celebrations held at the Golden temple.
The country heads of Afghanistan, Australia, Bhutan, Cambodia, Georgia, Greece, Iceland, Israel, Kuwait, Malaysia, Mexico, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, New Zealand, USA and Nepal were present at the Golden temple.
The visit was organised by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) in collaboration with the Punjab government and the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC). Puri and ICCR President Vinay Sahasrabuddhe accompanied the heads of missions.
Puri said, “Envoys of all the countries were invited for the visit. Busy schedule may be reason behind their absence”. The envoys of Pakistan, China and the United Kingdom (UK) couldn’t make it for the visit.
In a brief address, Puri said, “Motive of the bringing the envoys to the shrine was to disseminate Guru’s message of brotherhood and world peace in the world.”
Following the Union Cabinet’s decision to celebrate the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev across the globe, the ICCR had invited the envoys in New Delhi to visit the Golden Temple.
With inputs from Agencies.
Delhi: Highest crime rate against girl child victims in 2017
Among 19 metro cities in India, Dekhi reported the highest crime rate against girl child victims in 2017. Sexual offences in this category are dealt with under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The capital recorded 19.2 such cases per lakh population – ahead of Pune (17.4) and Nagpur (17.1), the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data of 2017, released Monday night, shows.
As per data, Delhi recorded 6,844 crimes against children in 2017. The other 19 metros also included Bengaluru, Mumbai and Kochi, recorded a total of 19,544 cases — which means 35% of crimes against children were recorded in Delhi alone. The previous years, however, saw more crimes against children — 8,035 in 2015 and 7,392 in 2016.
In 2017, one in four murder cases revolved around disputes of property to money to family, while 29 were over illicit relationships and 14 over love affairs. The bulk of victims were men in the age group of 18-30.
“Delhi Police files each FIR that comes its way; that reflects in the numbers. It’s a sign of a robust police force. Overall, numbers indicate high registration of cases due to systems such as e-FIRs. It’s a revolutionary idea,” said DCP (PRO) Mandeep Singh Randhawa.
Sex CD case: SC stays criminal trial against Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday stayed the ongoing criminal trial in the alleged sex CD case involving Chhattisgarh Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Bhupesh Baghel as an accused.
A bench comprising Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and justices S A Bobde and S A Nazeer also issued a notice to Baghel on a plea of probe agency CBI seeking transfer of the criminal case out of Chhattisgarh on grounds including that the chief minister has been allegedly threatening the witnesses in the case.
The CBI had registered a case against Baghel in September 2018, then Chhattisgarh Congress president on a complaint that he had allegedly tried to frame the then state PWD minister and BJP leader Rajesh Munat in the fake sex CD case.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the CBI said that two prosecution witnesses have lodged complaints with the probe agency that they have been threatened at the behest of accused for giving statement against the chief minister in the case.
Kamlesh Tiwari murder: Kamlesh Tiwari's mother fumes at Yogi after meeting him
Lucknow: UP CM meets kin of Hindutva leader, assures them of all help but his mother remains 'dissatisfied'
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday assured the family members of slain Hindutva leader Kamlesh Tiwari of all help after they demanded speedy trial and capital punishment for the culprits during a meeting with him at his official residence here.
Immediately after the 30-minute meeting with the chief minister, the family members, including Tiwari's mother Kusum, told reporters that they were satisfied with his assurances but later she said Adityanath's response was not up to expectations and expressed unhappiness that she was "forced" to to venture out of their house for the meeting against the Hindu customs during the mourning period.
She also said that they asked Adityanath why Tiwari's "security cover was withdrawn" but did not get a proper response.
"It was at his (CM) direction that policemen forced us to meet him. So we were compelled to come (to Lucknow)," she said.
"Had I been satisfied (with the chief minister's assurance), my blood would not have boiled," she told mediapersons later when asked if she was satisfied with the meeting.
"If we do not get justice, I myself will take up the sword," Tiwari's distraught mother Kusum told reporters some time after meeting Adityanath.
"We asked the CM as to why the security cover of Kamlesh was withdrawn, why was he so brutally killed," she said.
The chief minister's expressions were "not as per our desire", added Kusum, who had on Saturday accused a local BJP leader of killing Tiwari over a temple dispute.
#KamleshTiwari mother after meeting CM Yogi.
“In our society, kins (after any death) don’t go out for 13 days. But many cops came & forced us to go meet CM at his residence...CM’s body language was not what we expected.
Will pick up sword if justice not done”
VC:@sengarlive
_copy.jpg)
