New Delhi: The National Green Tribunal(NGT) has dismissed applications filed by Afcons Infrastructure Limited and Larsen &amp; Toubro Limited seeking recall of its earlier order requiring them to pay environmental compensation of Rs 1 crore each.The companies were arguing that the green violation-- illegal dumping of muck near a drain in the Kishtwar district of Jammu and Kashmir--was on account of the project proponent Chenab Valley Power Projects (P) Ltd. (CVPPL), on whose behalf they were executing the work, not providing suitable place.However, the NGT said: "It is undisputed that the applicants violated the environmental norms for which fault is attributed to the Project Proponent, who is their principal. Once the applicants caused damage and violated environmental norms, they cannot escape liability for such wrong on restitution principle which is part of 'Polluter Pays' principle.""Subsequent clearance of waste cannot be a ground for waiving the compensation for damage already caused and violation already committed. Even though for such violation, on 'Polluter Pays' principle, deterrent compensation is liable to be paid having regard to the financial capacity of the polluter, the Tribunal has adopted the extremely conservative approach of requiring compensation of Rs 1 crore each only. The application now filed is utterly without any merit. We are inclined to award heavy cost for such uncalled for application but are persuaded by learned counsel for the applicant not to do so by expressing regret," read the order dated April 29.Further, recording disapproval about the conduct of the applicants, the green court dismissed the applications.On January 10, an NGT-assigned Committee headed by a former Judge of the J&amp;K High Court had found that the projects of the companies at Kishtwar of Jammu and Kashmir had illegally dumped muck on the bank of a drain obstructing its natural course.It was observed that AFCONS- JAL JV has developed an area on the right bank of Arzi Nallah for setting up of batching plant and office while L&amp;T Ltd. is also developing the area for the platform on the right bank of Arzi Nallah.&nbsp;—IANS

The National Green Tribunal(NGT) has dismissed applications filed by Afcons Infrastructure Limited and Larsen & Toubro Limited seeking recall of its earlier order requiring them to pay environmental compensation of Rs 1 crore each.

NGT Junks Pleas By Afcons Infrastructure, L&T To Recall Rs 2 Cr Fine For Green Violation

Kolkata:&nbsp;West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday said there is a need to create more districts in the state for expediting development work, but it has been constrained by lack of manpower and infrastructure.Speaking at a meeting with West Bengal Civil Service officers at the renovated Town Hall here, she said the area of the existing 23 districts in the state is vast, so there is a need to divide them and increase the number.The state needs more manpower and infrastructure for this purpose."We need to divide the districts as these are very large. The state will have more districts. This will help expedite development work, she said.The chief minister also accused the Centre of not releasing funds to the state."I came to know that the Centre has not released funds for 100-day work since December last year. Tell me, how people will work if they are not paid. The central government collects revenue from states and shares a meagre part of it, Banerjee said at the meeting.—PTI

 West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday said there is a need to create more districts in the state for expediting development work, but it has been constrained by lack of manpower and infrastructure.

Mamata bats for creation of more districts in Bengal

 West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday said there is a need to create more districts in the state for expediting development work, but it has been constrained by lack of manpower and infrastructure.



New Delhi: Scant regard for fire safety norms, buildings functioning without required clearances and illegal factories have led to loss of precious lives in fire incidents in Delhi in recent years, with the blaze in Mundka on Friday being the latest.In terms of casualties, Friday's fire at the commercial building was the largest since the blaze at a factory in the Anaj Mandi area and the second largest since the Uphaar Cinema tragedy in 1997.The Mundka factory blaze has so far claimed the lives of 27 people while 29 people are still reported to be missing, according to officials. Twelve people were injured in the fire that ravaged the four-storeyed building that had a single and narrow entry and exit route making escape difficult.Before Mundka, the national capital has been witness to several fire incidents.In March this year, seven people were killed in a fire that ravaged several shanties in Gokumpuri.In December 2019, the Anaj Mandi blaze claimed 44 lives, making it the most severe fire incident in the national capital after the Uphaar Cinema tragedy that claimed 59 lives and left over 100 injured in June, 1997.The Uphaar theatre in the posh Green Park area was screening Bollywood film&nbsp;Border&nbsp;and several families were there to catch the movie featuring Sunny Deol on its release day -- June 13, 1997.But the movie outing turned into a mayhem as a massive blaze broke out during the 3 pm show.Days after the Anaj Mandi blaze, the national capital woke up to another fire tragedy, which claimed the lives of nine people.A massive fire ripped through a three-storey residential-cum-commercial building in outer Delhi's Kirari area, killing nine people, including three children.Fourteen years after the Uphaar tragedy, a fire broke out at a meeting organised for transgenders in Nand Nagri, where almost 10,000 people had gathered, leaving 14 dead and nearly 30 injured.In July 2017, four members of a family, including two children, died due to asphyxiation and two others were injured while trying to escape the early morning blaze at a four-storey building in the Dilshad Garden area.The family had celebrated the birthday of their 12-year-old daughter a day before the tragedy.The girl was killed while she was trying to escape the fire with her father, grandfather and younger brother.Another massive fire ripped through a firecracker storage unit in Bawana next year that left 17 persons, including 10 women, dead.Two separate fires in northwest Delhi's Kohat Enclave and Shahdara's Mansarovar Park the same year claimed five lives, including that of three minors.In April 2018, a fire broke out at a building in Kohat Enclave, killing a couple and their two children. A few days later, a major fire gutted 300 shanties in Shahdara and killed a girl.In November 2018, four persons were killed and one was injured after a fire broke out at a factory in central Delhi's Karol Bagh.In February 2019, a massive fire swept through a four-floor hotel in Karol Bagh in the early hours, killing at least 17 guests, including two persons who jumped off the building in a desperate bid to save themselves.In August the same year, six persons, including three children, died and 13 were injured in a massive fire at a building in southeast Delhi's Zakir Nagar area due to a short circuit early in the morning.In November 2019, a massive fire gutted a footwear factory at Narela, killing a security guard and a labourer. The body of the security guard was found after the fire was brought under control, but the charred body of the second victim was recovered four days after the blaze.—PTI

Scant regard for fire safety norms, buildings functioning without required clearances and illegal factories have led to loss of precious lives in fire incidents in Delhi in recent years, with the blaze in Mundka on Friday being the latest.

Illegal structures, lack of safety norms led to loss of lives in Delhi fires

New Delhi: Infrastructure investment trust IndiGrid has posted over 45 per cent rise in its consolidated net profit at Rs 99.80 crore in the March quarter, mainly on the back of higher revenues. The consolidated net profit of India Grid Trust (IndiGrid) was Rs 68.69 crore in the quarter ended March 31, 2021, a regulatory filing showed. Total income in the quarter under review rose to Rs 568.50 crore, from Rs 514.09 crore a year ago. The consolidated net profit in the fiscal 2021-22 also rose to Rs 343.27 crore, from Rs 334.40 crore in 2020-21. Total income in the fiscal surged to Rs 2,274.44 crore, from Rs 1,714.15 crore in the 2020-21.In a separate statement, the company stated that for the full year FY 2021-22, the consolidated net distributable cash flow was up 3 per cent at Rs 944.2 crore. The Board of the Investment Manager (of IndiGrid) also approved a Distribution Per Unit (DPU) of Rs 3.19 for Q4 FY22 ( January-March quarter) to unitholders in line with the distribution guidance. The record date for the distribution is May 26, 2022 and shall be paid as Rs 2.55 per unit in the form of interest and Rs 0.64 per unit as capital repayment. With this, IndiGrid has distributed Rs 58.5 per unit to its investors over the last five years since its listing, a total return of 108 per cent on the issue price. Total return is the sum of all distributions since listing till Q3 FY22 and change in price till March 31, 2022.The consolidated net debt/AUM (asset under management) stood at 56 per cent as of March 31, 2022, leaving significant debt headroom for future growth, it stated. The board of IIML (IndiGrid Investment Managers Ltd) also noted and approved proposal of raising of debt up to Rs 700 crore through various sources including term loans, non-convertible debentures and/or any other mode as may be permitted under applicable law. The board also approved the appointment of Divya Bedi Verma as the Chief Financial Officer of IIML with effect from July 1, 2022 in place of Jyoti Kumar Agarwal. Further, as per the stock exchange filing dated May 7, 2022, Jyoti Kumar Agarwal will take over as the new Chief Executive Officer and whole-time director of Investment Manager of India Grid Trust from Harsh Shah effective July 1, 2022. Agarwal has been with IndiGrid since September 2020 as the CFO. IndiGrid has assets under management (AUM) of over Rs 21,100 crore (USD 2.72 billion). The investment manager of IndiGrid is wholly-owned by KKR—PTI

Infrastructure investment trust IndiGrid has posted over 45 per cent rise in its consolidated net profit at Rs 99.80 crore in the March quarter, mainly on the back of higher revenues.

IndiGrid March qtr net jumps 45 pc to Rs 99.80 cr

Washington: The findings of a recent study coordinated by the University of Bath (UK) neuroscientists with international partners, has revealed key differences in brain structure between people with and without anorexia nervosa.Anorexia – which is a severe eating disorder and mental health condition – affects over a quarter of a million people aged 16 and over in the UK. Symptoms are characterised by people trying to keep their weight as low as possible by not eating enough.Understanding why some people develop anorexia whilst others do not is still largely unknown, although biological factors are widely recognised. These new findings, which draw on extensive analyses of brain scans taken from patients around the world and are published in the journal Biological Psychiatry, go some way to answering the question.They reveal that people with anorexia demonstrate ‘sizeable reductions’ in three critical measures of the brain: cortical thickness, subcortical volumes and cortical surface area. Reductions in brain size are significant because they are thought to imply the loss of brain cells or the connections between them.The results are some of the clearest yet to show links between structural changes in the brain and eating disorders. The team says that the effect sizes in their study for anorexia are in fact the largest of any psychiatric disorder investigated to date.This means that people with anorexia showed reductions in brain size and shape between two and four times larger than people with conditions such as depression, ADHD, or OCD. The changes observed in brain size for anorexia might be attributed to reductions in people’s body mass index (BMI).Based on the results, the team stress the importance of early treatment to help people with anorexia avoid long-term, structural brain changes. Existing treatment typically involves forms of cognitive behavioural therapy and crucially weight gain. Many people with anorexia are successfully treated and these results show the positive impact such treatment has on brain structure.Their study pooled nearly 2,000 pre-existing brain scans for people with anorexia, including people in recovery and ‘healthy controls’ (people neither with anorexia nor in recovery). For people in recovery from anorexia, the study found that reductions in brain structure were less severe, implying that, with appropriate early treatment and support, the brain might be able to repair itself.Lead researcher, Dr Esther Walton of the Department of Psychology at the University of Bath explained: “For this study, we worked intensively over several years with research teams across the world. Being able to combine thousands of brain scans from people with anorexia allowed us to study the brain changes that might characterise this disorder in much greater detail.“We found that the large reductions in brain structure, which we observed in patients, were less noticeable in patients already on the path to recovery. This is a good sign, because it indicates that these changes might not be permanent. With the right treatment, the brain might be able to bounce back.”The research team also involved academics working at The Technical University in Dresden, Germany; the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York; and King’s College London.The team worked together as part of the ENIGMA Eating Disorders Working Group, run by the University of Southern California. The ENIGMA Consortium is an international effort to bring together researchers in imaging genomics, neurology and psychiatry, to understand the link between brain structure, function and mental health.“The international scale of this work is extraordinary”, said Paul Thompson, a professor of neurology and lead scientist for the ENIGMA Consortium. “Scientists from 22 centres worldwide pooled their brain scans to create the most detailed picture to date of how anorexia affects the brain. The brain changes in anorexia were more severe than in other any psychiatric condition we have studied. Effects of treatments and interventions can now be evaluated, using these new brain maps as a reference.”He added: “This study is novel in term of the thousands of brain scans analysed, revealing that anorexia affects the brain more profoundly than any other psychiatric condition. This really is a wake-up call, showing the need for early interventions for people with eating disorders.”—ANI

The findings of a recent study coordinated by the University of Bath (UK) neuroscientists with international partners, has revealed key differences in brain structure between people with and without anorexia nervosa.

Research reveals changes in brain structure of anorexic people

New Delhi (The Hawk): Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Shri Nitin Gadkari has proposed setting up of Innovation Bank for new ideas, research findings and technologies to focus on ‘Quality’ in infrastructure development. Virtually addressing the inaugural function of the 222nd Mid-Term Council Meeting of the Indian Roads Congress (IRC) he said new initiatives are expected from IRC, Innovation should be the focus area for all Engineers. He said IRC should develop a World-class state-of-art laboratory with the help of IITs and global institutions in the world.Shri Gadkari said infrastructure development has an important role in fulfilling the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi&nbsp;to make India a 5 trillion-dollar economy andRoad infrastructure is directly linked to the prosperity of that region. He said Road infrastructure connects people, culture and society and brings prosperity through socio-economic development.The Minister said in the last 8 years, the length of National Highways has gone up by more than 50% from 91,000 km in 2014 to about 1.47 Lakh km now. He said our government is dedicatedly working towards expanding the National Highway network to 2 lakh kilometers by 2025. In last 8 years, our team has created multiple world records, he added.Shri Gadkari said Government is very committed to the development of the North East region. He said NHIDCL is playing a vital role in developing infrastructure in this region. The National Highway share of the region stands at 10%. He said till date, 2344 km highway is constructed at the cost of Rs. 45,000 crore.&nbsp;The Minister said&nbsp;we are ready to adopt World's best and most successful technology and new materials for construction. He said use of Proven Technology and Reduction in Construction Cost are the two most important driving forces for us. We need to reduce the cost of construction while maintaining quality, he added.Shri Gadkari said there should be minimum carbon footprints and exploitation of limited natural resources during the construction and operation phase. He said development at the cost of degradation of ecology and environment is not acceptable to us. He said a sustainable alternative for steel and cement should be found .The Minister said Road safety is a high-priority area for the Government. We need to incorporate effective global practices and guidelines related to road engineering into the specification ,he added.

 Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Shri Nitin Gadkari has proposed setting up of Innovation Bank for new ideas, research findings and technologies to focus on ‘Quality’ in infrastructure development. Virtually addressing the inaugural function of the 222nd Mid-Term Council Meeting of the Indian Roads Congress (IRC) he said new initiatives are expected from IRC, Innovation should be the focus area for all Engineers. He said IRC should develop a World-class state-of-art laboratory with the help of IITs and global institutions in the world.

Gadkari Proposes Setting Up Of Innovation Bank For New Ideas, Research Findings & Technologies To Focus On ‘Quality’ In Infrastructure Development  

New Delhi: Growing up in a boarding school in the Himalayan foothills, Nachiket Chanchani, an art historian and associate professor at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, learnt a great deal about world history but precious little about the variegated past of the locale that he lived in, fuelling a hunger for more."Hikes and pilgrimages to peaks and temples, and my parents' memories of nearly two years they spent in a montane (a biogeographic zone of relatively moist cool upland slopes) hamlet in the early 1980s only increased his desire to learn more about the sacred structures and steles (stone markers)," Chanchani told IANS in an interview.Eventually, he returned to the Uttarakhand region to undertake his doctoral dissertation research and to write 'Mountain Temples &amp; Temple Mountains: Architecture, Religion, and Nature in the Central Himalayas' (Niyogi Books).Noting that the careful documenting and interpreting of stone temples and the sculptures enshrined therein "can give us a means of investigating the construction of sacrality", he said: "As part of my research, I created plans showing the orientation, scale, and disposition of parts of a selection of temples erected in the Central Himalayas as a basis for recognizing their morphologies.""Recognising the limitations of using an architectural terminology based on classical Graeco-Roman forms in describing Indian temples, I used a Sanskritic terminology where appropriate," he added. "Consideration of precise relationships between plans and elevations, external structures and internal systems, and original temple fabrics and later additions was also essential to my research."In writing a history of sacred centers, I also drew on texts in multiple genres and various Indian languages: architectural treatises, autobiographies, ballads, courtly poetry, land grants, liturgical manuals, praises of places, pilgrim records and hagiographies of sovereigns, saints, and traders, among others," Chanchani elaborated.He took care to record geographical features that influenced the locations of sacred centers and movements of peoples, also factoring into his analysis questions of access, tracing traditional bridle paths connecting settlements to another as well as roads leading in and out of the mountain ranges. This "diachronic (study over time) dimension" of his work led him to consider the complex and layered pasts of medieval sites "and to try and gauge the way in which cultural expression and political movements of subsequent centuries" had evolved.For instance, "the manner in which the story of the Bhima Sila boulder has been used to enhance the sacrality of Kedarnath - which it tumbled toward but spared the Kedarnath temple (during the devastating 2013 floods) - shows the close linkage between temple architecture and landscape," Chanchani said.The outcome is a seminal work that explores the historical process of the emergence of the Central Himalayas as a 'deva bhumi' as involving dynamic interactions among varied communities living in the northern mountains and on the plains that lie to their south. These developments, which occurred approximately between the 3rd century BCE and the 12th century CE "were crucial in transforming this frontier into a major locus of Hindu pilgrimage", Chanchani explained. The author demonstrates that through their forms, locations, interactions with the natural environment within the socio-cultural-political context, the stone complexes effectively evoked mythic worlds, embedding historical memories in the topography and thus altering the symbolic significance of these mountains. He also draws parallels between religious locations in places such as Gujarat and certain Himalayan temples, comparing the temple architecture and its related linkages.During his research, Chanchani also discovered "numerous, almost-unknown places where individual temples or clusters lie forlorn and abandoned.""Baijnath village, in the heart of Kumaon, is a case in point. Mounds await excavation. Hundreds of exquisite medieval sculptures once enshrined in shrines and around the village have been securely locked up in government storerooms for years. They need to be contextualized and displayed to help visitors understand its complex history."Temples at nearby Talihat, Bageshwar, Gadser, and Kot need to be conserved and accurate information about them needs to be elucidated in an accessible manner," Chanchani maintained.Across Uttarakhand, he said, the Directorate of Culture, the Archaeological Survey of India and other state agencies need to collaborate with diverse stakeholders to showcase the region's rich heritage."More than twenty years have passed since the state's formation and Uttarakhand still does not have a state museum, let alone a museum or cultural interpretation center in every district. There is much work to do," he added.Chanchani and his wife, Jahnabi, have also co-authored a book on the 'Amarushataka and the Lives of Indian Love Poems' that focuses on a "sumptuous" seventeenth-century manuscript from Bundelkhand in the collection of Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya (formerly Prince of Wales Museum of Western India).Redacted around the seventh century CE, the 'Amarushataka' is a collection of one hundred love poems written in Sanskrit that has been admired by South Asian literary communities for more than a millennium. The book introduces readers to the putative organizers of this anthology, the lenses through which these poems have been read, amended, and deployed, and the contexts through which they became standardized and authoritative."Our micro-study also considers visual recension and their roles in the vast transfers of cultural knowledge that transpired in the vernacular millennium. 'Amarushataka and the Lives of Indian Love Poems' proposes a new way to study South Asian literature and painting as media that jointly forged customs in their own right. In all these ways, this book provides a model for approaching the study of other beloved South Asian texts," Chanchani explained.What next? What's his next book going to be?"My next book, 'India's Composite Heritage' in a nutshell, strives to inculcate visual literacy among India's school-age children and their parents by teaching them how to interpret, recognize, appreciate and understand information presented through ensembles of buildings, objects, and symbols crafted in India over the ages," Chanchani concluded.&nbsp;—IANS &nbsp;

 Growing up in a boarding school in the Himalayan foothills, Nachiket Chanchani, an art historian and associate professor at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, learnt a great deal about world history but precious little about the variegated past of the locale that he lived in, fuelling a hunger for more.

Sacred Structures, Stone Markers Of Uttarakhand Come Alive In 'Mountain Temples And Temple Mountains' 

New Delhi: The output of eight core infrastructure sectors expanded by 12.7 per cent in June against 9.4 per cent in the year-ago period, according to official data released on Friday. The production growth of eight infrastructure sectors -- coal, crude oil, natural gas, refinery products, fertiliser, steel, cement and electricity -- was 19.3 per cent in May 2022, the data showed. In June, the output of coal, refinery products, fertiliser, cement and electricity rose by 31.1 per cent, 15.1 per cent, 8.2 per cent, 19.4 per cent, and 15.5 per cent, respectively.—PTI

The output of eight core infrastructure sectors expanded by 12.7 per cent in June against 9.4 per cent in the year-ago period, according to official data released on Friday.

Core sector output expands by 12.7 pc in June

Srinagar: For 70-years sportspersons in Jammu and Kashmir were like a rudderless ship. Despite having talent to compete at any level they were provided with limited opportunities to prove their mettle. However, the abrogation of Article 370 -- a temporary provision in the Constitution on August 5, 2019 -- opened up a new world for the sportsmen and women in the Himalayan region.The decision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi led regime to abrogate J&amp;K's so-called special status and turn it into a Union Territory has proven to be a game changer as the government during the past three years has ensured that J&amp;K youth excel in every sphere of life, including sports.Numerous steps have been taken to create world-class sports infrastructure in J&amp;K. New policies have been introduced to make J&amp;K a powerhouse of sports. All the possible support is being extended to the local sportspersons who strive hard to make UT and the nation proud in different sports disciplines. The sports activities are being conducted throughout the year while infrastructure work is going on a massive scale. The focus is not merely on activities like Cricket and Football but equal importance is being given to popular activities like Volleyball, Kho-Kho, Kabaddi, Water and Winter Sports which were ignored in the past.As the J&amp;K gears up to celebrate the third anniversary of the scrapping of Article 370, the Union Territory administration can proudly claim that it has revamped the sports infrastructure and has brought ground-breaking change to the sports arena of the Himalayan region.A talented Kashmiri skier, Arif Khan, carried India's National Flag at the opening ceremony of Winter Olympics in Beijing in February this year. The 31-year-old Arif was the lone Indian competitor at the games, having qualified in Slalom and Giant Slalom events. He was the first Indian to secure qualification in two events of the same edition of the games.A 22-year old boy from Jammu and SunrisersHyderabad pacer Umran Malik, who made a name for himself with his fast pace that often crossed the 150kmph mark, was included in the Indian team and he made his international debut against Ireland earlier this year.<h3>Union Sports Ministry provides liberal funding</h3>The Union Sports Ministry during the past three years has invested Rs 506.13 crore in 77 infrastructure projects under the Khelo India Scheme in the Himalayan region.Twenty four sports academies were accredited and 199 'Khelo India' Centres (district level) and 11 KheloIndia State Centres of Excellence were approved under the Khelo India Scheme in J&amp;K and Ladakh.In addition, under the 'Enhancement of Sports Facilities at J&amp;K' (PMDP) programme of the government, 30 sports infrastructure projects, as well as sports equipment, were sanctioned in the UTs of Jammu &amp; Kashmir and Ladakh amounting to Rs 273.85 crore.A multi-sports facility centre dedicated to former Union Minister late Arun Jaitley is coming up at Hira Nagar in Jammu region. The centre is coming up at an allocated cost of Rs 200 crore fund under the PMDP scheme for sports structure revamp.The centre of excellence for the Winter Games is being set up at a world famous ski-resort at Gulmarg in North Kashmir to promote winter sports in the Valley.In a major departure from the past, J&amp;K administration is focusing on quality sports facilities and training not only in Srinagar and Jammu cities but across all the 20 districts of Jammu and Kashmir. Every district is being equipped with top-level indoor and outdoor stadiums.The administration is also working to prepare the youth of J&amp;K for big events like Asian Games and Olympics. Earlier J&amp;K had no requisite infrastructure, training and coaches for bigger international events. During the past three years coaches have been hired to train the players so that they can develop the skills to compete at national and international levels.<h3>Revival of water sports</h3>In April this year the first-ever Open Kayaking and Canoeing Marathon Race organised by J&amp;K Sports Council was held in river Jhelum in Srinagar. Prior to August 5, 2019 -- when the Centre announced its decision to abrogate J&amp;K's special status and divided it into two Union Territories -- organising such an event was impossible as the requisite infrastructure was not in place. During the past three years sports infrastructure has been developed to hold such activities.The availability of natural water resources in J&amp;K can turn the Union Territory into the most preferred water sports destination. Last year water sports were started in Ranjit Sagar dam and this year the Jhelum, Manasbal, Nigeen and Wular are all set to host water sports events.The rowing activity reminiscent of the Shikara regattas that used to be the key feature of the water sports competitions in the halcyon days 1950s through 1980s on the Dal Lake in Srinagar is likely to be resumed.The Union Ministry of Sports has sanctioned two Water Sports Centres for J&amp;K, one in Jammu and another in Srinagar. The main aim is to build the Olympic-standard facilities and create the talent for participation in the next Olympic Games.Water sports were largely neglected by the previous ruling regimes for decades. However, there have been remarkable achievements in the past three years. The J&amp;K Government has procured equipment worth Rs 6 crore for rowing, kayaking and Canoeing and canoe slalom to provide the best available facility to the water sports enthusiasts.Kayaking canoeing happens to be the 5th largest Olympic event. In the last four years, J&amp;K has bagged as many as 84 medals from 200 participations at the National level.<h3>New Sports Policy</h3>In February this year, the Administrative Council (AC), headed by J&amp;K Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha, approved the rollout of the J&amp;K Sports Policy 2022.The New Sports Policy envisages promoting sports in the Union Territory by developing sports infrastructure and incentivizing sportspersons to excel in their respective games/sport. The policy strives to achieve excellence by involving all the stakeholders and establishing inter-departmental synergies for composite development of sports.The basic canons of the Sports Policy are to 'Scout' - identify talent and catch them young; 'Engage' - ensure grassroots inclusive engagement in sports &amp; games (Sports for All &amp; Fitness for All); 'Facilitate' - provide sports infrastructure, facilities, know-how, and training; and 'Recognize' - acknowledge the achievements and contributions through awards and further employment.The policy incorporates various annual awards like Award for Excellence in Sports for 10 sportsperson, J&amp;K Khel Protsahana Award for Sports Association, and two veterans/ experienced sportspersons/ organisers or referees, Parshuram Award for 5 best Coaches in different disciplines.To further motivate the UT's sporting talent special cash awards will be given to the winners in Olympics, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, Asian Championship, World Cups, Youth Olympic Games, South Asian Games, and World University Games/ Championships.Further, the winners in all recognised national competitions and national school games in various sports disciplines will be granted specified scholarships from the Directorate of Youth Service &amp; Sports.Moreover, special emphasis has been laid to meet the sporting needs of the specially-abled sportspersons through sufficient infrastructure and training facilities to ensure their full participation in various events. Furthermore, the Policy provides for the annual recruitment of outstanding sportspersons achieving podium finish/ participation in recognized international and national competitions.The expertise of outstanding players will also be utilised to impart specialised training/ coaching to budding players and athletes across the UT. Through inter-departmental convergences, new vistas of employment will be opened for youth in the fields of tourism, education, and adventure/winter sports.<h3>17 lakh youth participate in sports activities</h3>In 2021, 17 lakh youth from J&amp;K participated in different sports activities which in itself is a record. This year the government is expecting a huge increase in the numbers and around 35 lakh youth are likely to be roped in for participating in different sports activities. In the year 2020-21, J&amp;K bagged 72 Gold, 90 Silver and 145 Bronze medals in 14 sports disciplines.The J&amp;K government has embarked on the mission to inculcate sports culture amongst the youth. The abrogation of Article 370 has led to J&amp;K people believe that all the activities that were suspended due to the outbreak of Pakistan sponsored insurgency in 1989-90 will be revived and the pristine glory of the Himalayan region will be restored.—IANS

For 70-years sportspersons in Jammu and Kashmir were like a rudderless ship. Despite having talent to compete at any level they were provided with limited opportunities to prove their mettle. However, the abrogation of Article 370 -- a temporary provision in the Constitution on August 5, 2019 -- opened up a new world for the sportsmen and women in the Himalayan region.

Article 370 abrogation revamped J&K sports infrastructure, provided sportsmen with chance to excel

New Delhi:&nbsp;&nbsp;Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari on Wednesday told the Rajya Sabha that by 2024, road infrastructure in India will be similar to that of the United States.Before 2024, as many as 26 green express highways will be constructed which will bring down travel time considerably.Once the highways are in place, travel time from Delhi to Dehradun, Delhi to Haridwar, Delhi to Jaipur would only take around two hours. While Delhi to Chandigarh will take 2.30 hrs, Delhi to Amritsar will be done in 4 hours and Delhi to Mumbai in 12 hours.The Minister was replying to Congress MP Rajeev Shukla’s query during Question Hour on the fund availability of NHAI. “The Government is constructing 26 green highways. Road infrastructure in India will be similar to that of the U.S by 2024. There is no dearth of funds. We are committed to changing the face of road infrastructure in the country,” Gadkari said in his reply.On the fund availability, he said that NHAI can construct roads worth five lakh crore every year.During a discussion over Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), RLD’s Jayant Chaudhary stated that in Uttar Pradesh during the period 2018-20, as many as 1,338 cases were registered under UAPA, according to the government’s data. However, only 83 saw a conviction that accounts for a 6 per cent conviction rate.“This proves that the application of the law is somewhat wrong. How will you sensitise the UP police towards the law?” Chaudhary asked MoS Home Nityanand Rai.This is the data of states and this is not like that judgement have come on the all matters. And, state Governments also file cases under UAPA,” the minister replied.—IANS

Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari on Wednesday told the Rajya Sabha that by 2024, road infrastructure in India will be similar to that of the United States. Before 2024, as many as 26 green express highways will be constructed which will bring down travel time considerably.

By 2024, Road Infrastructure In India Will Be Similar To That Of US: Nitin Gadkari

Mumbai:&nbsp;Bank of Baroda, the second largest state-owned bank, is planning to raise Rs 1,000 crore through issuance of infrastructure and affordable housing bonds on August 12, a source close to the development told IANS.“The likely tenure for the bonds is seven years and have Rs 250 crore as base issue and Rs 750 crore as greenshoe,” the source said.The auction for the infrastructure and affordable housing bonds is expected to be held on August 12 on the BSE’s bidding platform.During the bidding, better coupon is expected to set on the bonds considering the higher demand for PSU bonds.The bonds have got ‘AAA’ ratings with ‘Stable’ outlook from ICRA and India Ratings and Research.On June 27, the board of directors of the bank has approved raising Rs 5,000 crore through Long term Bonds for financing of infrastructure and affordable housing.The source said Rs 5,000 crore is expected to raise by the bank in tranches.Whereas, on July 16, the investment committee of the bank approved raising Rs 1,000 crore through this bonds—IANS

Bank of Baroda, the second largest state-owned bank, is planning to raise Rs 1,000 crore through issuance of infrastructure and affordable housing bonds on August 12.

 Bank of Baroda to raise Rs 1,000 cr via infrastructure & affordable housing bonds

New Delhi: As the country prepares to experience the first-ever 5G services from October this year, the real test for the telecom industry lies in creating a robust 5G infrastructure -- from towers to radio access networks -- and ensuring an uninterrupted, seamless experience.IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw expects telcos to invest Rs 2-3 lakh crore on 5G and 4G in the next two years for better voice quality and high-speed data. The task is mammoth and requires timely participation from all stakeholders, so that people in every part of the country can enjoy the same level of 5G services.The stark truth is that even today, several places in the country do not have access to a true 4G experience amid frequent signal losses.5G radio access networks, based on the New Radio (NR) standard, provides new levels of capacity, peak data rates and low latency -- with the ability to offer data rates of many tens of megabits per second to tens of thousands of users at the same time. According to an Ericsson 5G paper, these networks help operators demonstrate technology and performance leadership, but also meet growing mobile traffic demands profitably by delivering new levels of cost-efficiency (including spectrum efficiency and sharing current assets).T.R. Dua, Director General, Digital Infrastructure Providers Association (DIPA), told IANS that the current capacity per tower site is about 1 Gbps for 2G/3G/4G services."Once 5G kicks in, the capacity needed for each site will increase to 10-20 Gbps, which will require a fundamental change in the technology deployed at these tower sites," Dua told IANS.Since 5G infrastructure warrants a dense network, it is important to consider the infrastructure needs and prerequisites before any kind of pilots and rollouts are performed."5G network densification will involve deployment of small cell infrastructure on residential and public infrastructure. To serve a highly populated or densely populated area, it is important to leverage any available infrastructure space where the 5G small cell or low power base transceiver station (LPBTS), which is touted to serve as a 'gNodeB', can be installed," he informed.The 'gNodeB' is a third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP)-compliant implementation of the 5G-NR base station. The 3GPP is an umbrella term for standards organisations which develop protocols for mobile telecommunications globally.5G will enable enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB) services, and create huge potential for new value-added wireless services through a wide range of new use cases, like fibre-equivalent Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) services, massive Internet of Things (IoT) services, and critical IoT -- enabling new applications in the automotive, manufacturing, energy and utilities and healthcare sectors, among others.Unlike previous generations of Radio Access Network (RAN) standards, which were deployed as stand-alone networks, 5G NR is designed from the start to interwork fully with existing 4G LTE networks.While this provides a high degree of continuity and seamless experience for users, "it also demands careful planning in order to minimise risk to existing services"."We recently demonstrated how 5G can help enterprises automate manufacturing using private 5G networks. Recently, Bharti Airtel showcased two industrial grade use cases using trial spectrum for quality improvement and operational efficiency at Bosch manufacturing facility," Nitin Bansal, MD, India Head-Networks, Market Area South East Asia, Oceania and India, Ericsson, told IANS."In both the use-cases, 5G technology such as eMBB and ultra-low latency communication supported automated operations ensuring faster scale up and reduced downtime," Bansal added.To ensure the smooth introduction of 5G, operators need to look ahead and identify the deployment approach which makes best use of existing investments and best supports their own business strategies.According to Dua, public infrastructure such as government buildings, street poles and bus stop vestibules, etc are often located in places which are easily available for public access."This coverage can only be ensured if public infrastructure is utilised and has the requisite optical fibre cable (OFC) connectivity vis-a-vis backbone network to small cell connectivity through OFC backhaul," he explained.Moreover, policy reforms like enhancement in scope for Infrastructure Providers Category-I (IP-I), rationalisation of taxes and duties (property taxes and administration fee), securitisation of telecom infrastructure, single window clearance and availability of Government land/buildings would provide tremendous impetus to the telecom sector in its pursuit of delivering a successful nationwide 5G rollout, said industry experts. —IANS

 As the country prepares to experience the first-ever 5G services from October this year, the real test for the telecom industry lies in creating a robust 5G infrastructure -- from towers to radio access networks -- and ensuring an uninterrupted, seamless experience.

India Must Ensure Robust 5G Infrastructure Before Rolling Out Services

Noida: Noida administration on Monday demolished the structure that was illegally constructed by self-proclaimed Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Shrikant Tyagi here in a residential apartment, just three days after he indulged in an abusive argument with a woman over the plantation of palm trees.As the bulldozers rolled on Tyagi's encroachment, the residents of the society expressed extreme happiness and also distributed sweets among themselves.The BJP has distanced itself from accused Tyagi, saying he was never part of their party, however, Tyagi's social media accounts tell a different tale. On his official Twitter account, Tyagi presents himself as a devoted party leader having pictures with a range of senior saffron functionaries. He has also posted multiple edited images that had BJP's logo. However, Tyagi locked his Twitter account, just hours after the incident.Tyagi had encroached the common area of the society and constructed a wooden shed that had multiple pillars below it.The matter came to light on Friday when several video clippings of the incident went viral on social media in which Tyagi could be heard hurling abuses at the woman. Social media users also shared the response of the victim woman in which she narrated the entire incident. "I live in Grand Omaxe. A man, named Shrikant Tyagi, residing on the ground floor was encroaching the society by planting small and large plants in the common area. When I asked him to remove it, he denied and when I tried to remove them, he hurled abuses at me and my husband and kids," the woman said.In the same video, the residents of the society could also be seen accusing Tyagi of encroaching the area by planting small and large plants.As per one of the videos of the incident, accessed by IANS, Tyagi could also be seen pushing and threatening the woman. "Don't you dare touch my plants otherwise I will see you..," he was heard saying.Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police, Ankita Sharma had earlier informed that soon after the said video went viral on social media, the Noida Police immediately swung into action and registered an FIR under section 354 (Assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty) of the IPC at the Panchsheel police station.The senior officer has assured that the accused would soon be arrested and a punitive legal action will be taken against him.&nbsp;—IANS

Noida administration on Monday demolished the structure that was illegally constructed by self-proclaimed Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Shrikant Tyagi here in a residential apartment, just three days after he indulged in an abusive argument with a woman over the plantation of palm trees.

Noida Admin Acts Tough On 'Abusive Politician', Demolishes Illegal Structure

Washington: With antibiotic-resistant bacteria on the rise, scientists have been searching for ways to shut down the Type IV secretion system (T4SS), a protein complex on the outer envelope of bacterial cells that helps them to exchange DNA with neighbouring bacteria and resist antibiotics.
Now a collaboration between UT Southwestern computational biologist Qian Cong, PhD, and molecular biologists at the University of London has elucidated the structure of the T4SS complex, providing a blueprint that could help researchers design drugs that slow the development of antibiotic resistance. Their findings were published in Nature.
"For the first time, we determined the 3D structure of the entire T4SS complex," said Dr. Cong, Assistant Professor of Biophysics and in the Eugene McDermott Center for Human Growth and Development at UTSW.
The team in London was led by Gabriel Waksman, Ph.D., whose lab has been working for more than two decades to understand T4SS, especially how it forms a thin, hollow structure called a pilus, which connects to nearby bacteria to share genes. For this project, his team used cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) -- a process that freezes proteins and uses beams of electrons to obtain high-resolution microscopic images -- to elucidate the structure of T4SS. This was no small feat since the T4SS complex is larger than 99.6% of all those included to date in the worldwide library of protein structures.
Dr. Cong then used her background in statistics and machine learning to analyze T4SS protein sequences from several bacteria to generate structural predictions, which were compared to the cryo-EM data. Her computational analysis supported the cryo-EM data and suggested a hypothesis about the function of T4SS. While it was already known that T4SS is involved in pilus assembly, she predicted how it occurs. With that prediction in hand, Dr. Waksman's team was able to make specific mutations within the relevant pieces of the complex and validate Dr. Cong's hypothesis in live bacteria. "In addition to the contribution we have made toward the development of drugs to slow the spread of antibiotic resistance genes, this study showcases the power of modern computational methods to validate experimental results and suggest functional insights beyond available experimental data," said Dr. Cong, a Southwestern Medical Foundation Scholar in Biomedical Research. —ANI

With antibiotic-resistant bacteria on the rise, scientists have been searching for ways to shut down the Type IV secretion system (T4SS), a protein complex on the outer envelope of bacterial cells that helps them to exchange DNA with neighbouring bacteria and resist antibiotics.

Scientists Determine Structure Of Key Player In Antibiotic Resistance

New Delhi (The Hawk): Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Shri Nitin Gadkari today said that we have to take Indian infrastructure to world standards. He said ‘I have decided to make Indian road infrastructure, even in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, up to the road infrastructure standards of USA, before end of 2024’. The Minister was addressing National Conference for Civil Engineers and Professionals from Allied Industries, being organized by Association of Consulting Civil Engineers (ACCE) in Mumbai.Exhorting the engineers and industry professionals at the conference, the Minister said India has got huge potential in infrastructure. ‘In Indian infrastructure, there is huge potential for road construction, river connectivity, solid and liquid waste management, parking plaza, irrigation, busports, ropeways and cable car projects’. Speaking about various ongoing projects of the Ministry of Road, Transport and Highways, Shri Gadkari said: "We are making 26 Green Express Highways and Logistics parks of Rs. 2 lakh crores. At the same time, we have many innovative ideas by which we can develop infrastructure further". Union Transport Minister further said that the future of Indian infrastructure sector is very bright. "We need to accept good technology, research, innovation and successful practices from across the world and from within India. We should use alternative materials to reduce cost without compromising on quality. Time is the most important aspect in construction, it is the biggest asset.’ The Minister underlined the role of civil engineers and said it is very important for job creation and for growth.Pitching his idea of using greener alternatives in road construction, Union Transport Minister said: "You should find alternatives to cement and other raw materials. Glass fibre steel can be used in place of steel. If there is competition, cost will come down and become reasonable."Propagating the idea of use of alternative fuels, Union Minister Shri Gadkari said Green hydrogen is future fuel. He said hydrogen can be made from petroleum, coal and biomass, organic waste and sewage water. He further said ‘my dream is to make green hydrogen available at $1/kg which can be used in aviation, railway, bus, truck, chemical and fertilizer industry instead of coal and petroleum’.Shri Gadkari said 1 litre of ethanol costs Rs. 62 but in terms of calorie value, 1 litre of petrol is equivalent to 1.3 litre of ethanol. He said ‘Indian Oil collaborated with Russian Scientists and worked on the idea and now Petroleum Ministry has certified the technology for making calorie value of ethanol equivalent to petrol’.Reiterating his idea of creating wealth from waste, Union Transport Minister said: ‘In Nagpur, we are recycling sewage water and selling it to state government for power projects, which is earning us Rs. 300 crore royalty per year from sewage water. In India, there is huge potential of Rs. 5 lakh crore in solid and liquid waste management."Union Minister further said: ‘Knowledge is power, conversion of knowledge into wealth is the future. It is leadership, vision and technology which enables conversion of waste into wealth; this is the need of the hour. Using knowledge, we can reduce cost and improve quality of construction".Citing examples of Mumbai Pune Expressway and Worli Bandra Sealink to illustrate leveraging capital markets for public infrastructure projects, Shri Gadkari said: "Under InvIT, our idea is to take money from poor people and give them 7%-8% monthly return on their money. We have decided to go for capital markets, we will sell shares of maximum Rs. 10 lakh to one person, they will invest and we can raise resources’, he said.He further said NHAI is AAA-rated and has good economic viability. ‘Our toll revenue at present is Rs. 40,000 crore per year, by end of 2024, it will become Rs. 1.4 lakh crore per year So, we don't have any problem of money’. He informed that 70% of Delhi-Mumbai Express Highway has already been completed. He said ‘My dream is to take citizens from Nariman Point, Mumbai to Delhi in 12 hours; we are now working to connect Nariman Point.’

 Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Shri Nitin Gadkari today said that we have to take Indian infrastructure to world standards. He said ‘I have decided to make Indian road infrastructure, even in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, up to the road infrastructure standards of USA, before end of 2024’. The Minister was addressing National Conference for Civil Engineers and Professionals from Allied Industries, being organized by Association of Consulting Civil Engineers (ACCE) in Mumbai.

We Have To Make Indian Infrastructure Up To World Standards: Gadkari

Dehradun: The Uttarakhand Waqf Board will soon demolish illegal structures on its properties across the state, said its new president Shadab Shams on Sunday.
Shams was elected unopposed as the president of the 10-member board on September 7. Shams says Waqf properties worth Rs 1.5 lakh crore across Uttarakhand are illegally occupied.
The board will move a proposal at its meeting on September 15 for buying or hiring bulldozers needed to remove the illegal encroachments on the Waqf land all over state.
"Thousands of acres of Waqf land is illegally occupied in different parts of the state. We want to free our properties from the clutches of the mafia to make them useful for people they are really meant for," Shams told PTI. Illegal occupants are being served notices and the crackdown will begin anytime next week, he said.
"The action will begin with Prem Nagar in Dehradun, where 14 bighas of Wakf land is occupied by Muslims from Aligarh, who came here years ago to work in factories in the Selaqui area and built their houses there. Around 200 families reside on such lands," he said.
"Who knows who they are. They may be people with dubious antecedents. Uttarakhand is not a dharamshala," Shams said.
The Waqf Board wants to give the land for progressive activities like developing shelter homes for the needy, coaching institutes and skill development centres for the the youth, he said.
The Waqf board has also big plans for restructuring the syllabus of its madrassas, cutting down on the hours of mugging religious texts and allocating them to the teaching of NCERT books, Shams said. "Uttarakhand Board syllabus will be introduced in about 103 madrassas being run by the Waqf Board and NCERT books will be taught there," he said.
"We want modern education to be imparted to children at the madrassas as in any other school. We will create a system in our madrassas where only two hours will be allocated for teaching the Quran and the Hadees to students. The rest of the hours will be dedicated to teaching other subjects as in any other school," he said.
"Why shouldn't students produced by Madrassas also become doctors and engineers. I want Muslims in the country to follow the example of former president APJ Abdul Kalam and become progressive nationalists rather than fanatics," he said.
The board also has plans to install CCTV cameras in madrassas to maintain a record of activities there.
"We want total transparency in our activities," Shams said. —PTI

The Uttarakhand Waqf Board will soon demolish illegal structures on its properties across the state, said its new president Shadab Shams on Sunday.

U'khand Waqf Board To Demolish Illegal Structures On Its Land

Mandi (The Hawk): Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology Mandi in collaboration with the University of Cincinnati, USA, has developed an efficient method to study the internal structure and functions of an important component of living cells. The researchers have used metal nanoclusters in a method called Structured Illumination Microscopy to observe the nanodimensional features and functions of lysosomes and their interactions with another important cell organelle, mitochondria.
The results of this work have been published in the prestigious journal – American Chemical Society Materials Letters, in a paper co-authored by Prof. Chayan K. Nandi, School of Basic Sciences, IIT Mandi and his research scholar Mr. Aditya Yadav from IIT Mandi, along with Dr. Kangqiang Qiu, Dr. Zhiqi Tian, Dr. Ziyuan Guo, Dr. Donglu Shi, and Dr. Jiajie Diao from the University of Cincinnati. USA.
A lysosome is an essential component of living cells. It is involved in various cell processes and interacts with other cell components like the mitochondria. Lysosomes destroy invading viruses and bacteria. If the cell is damaged beyond repair, lysosomes can help it self-destruct, thereby earning the moniker “suicide bag”. Lysosomal dysfunction can cause a wide range of diseases including neurodegenerative disorders, immune system disorders, cancer, etc. Therefore, the analysis and tracking of lysosomes structure and function can help predict risks for certain diseases and also guide the development of new pharmaceuticals for those diseases.
While explaining the need to develop new methods to see into these tiny structures, Prof. Chayan K. Nandi, IIT Mandi, said, “Lysosomes are about a micron in size, i.e., a thousandth of a millimetre, with its internal structure in the order of 200 nanometres (one thousandth of a micron). The regular microscope cannot pick up the details of structures of this size.”
IIT Mandi researchers have used a technique called Structured Illumination Microscopy (SIM) to discern the internal structures of lysosomes. SIM is based on the excitation of the sample with a structured pattern of light and the detection of the interference patterns by Near infrared spectroscopy. While SIM is not a new technique in itself, the novelty of this inter-institutional work is in the use of metal nanoclusters instead of lysosomal dyes that are usually used for this analytical technique, thereby improving the technique significantly.
The normal dyes that are used for lysosomal detection by SIM are sensitive to the acidity of the medium, and are also photobleached with time. The researchers have used tiny clusters of noble metals such as gold and silver, one hundred thousand times smaller than the width of a single human hair (nanoclusters), instead of lysosomal dyes to study the internal structure of this organelle by SIM.
While explaining the research, Mr Aditya Yadav, Research Scholar, IIT Mandi, said, “We modified these nanoclusters with a biocompatible protein called bovine serum albumin and used them to track the dynamics of the lysosomes in brain organoid. In particular, we studied the process by which lysosomes recycle damaged mitochondria inside cells.”
The protein-coated metal nanoclusters could be used to track lysosome activity for an extended period of time (more than 12 days), which provided ample opportunity to study the dynamics of fission, fusion, and kiss-and-run processes associated with the interactions between the ribosomes and mitochondria. Furthermore, as expected, these nanoclusters did not have any photo-bleaching problems, and also were not influenced by the acidity of the medium, unlike organic dyes used for the purpose. Since these nanoclusters were small enough to enter the cells and even enter the sub cellular structures such as the lysosome, it can be used to understand the functioning of these vital substructures of the cells.

Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology Mandi  in collaboration with the University of Cincinnati, USA, has developed an efficient method to study the internal structure and functions of an important component of living cells.  

IIT Mandi Team Develops An Efficient Method To Study The Internal Structure And Functions Of The Substructures Of Living Cells

New Delhi (The Hawk): Today in Jamnagar, Gujarat, the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, laid the foundation stone and dedicated to the nation multiple irrigation, power, water supply, and urban infrastructure projects worth approximately Rs 1,450 crore. Among these are the Kalavad Group Augmentation water supply scheme of Kalavad/Jamnagar Taluka. Morbi-Maliya-Jodiya group Augmentation water supply scheme, Lalpur Bypass junction flyover Bridge, Hapa Market Yard Railway Crossing, and Sewer Collection pipeline and pumping station refurbishment. The Prime Minister inaugurated package 7 of Saurashtra Avtaran Irrigation (SAUNI) Yojana Link 3 (from Und Dam to Sonmati Dam), package 5 of SAUNI Yojana Link 1 (from Und-1 dam to SANI Dam), and the 40 MW Solar PV project at Haripar.
In his address, the Prime Minister thanked the people for the warm reception and blessings they had bestowed upon him during his journey to the event. The Prime Minister congratulated the people on the inauguration and groundbreaking of eight water, electricity, and connectivity-related projects. He went on to say that the foundation has been laid for a community hall for the Valmiki community, which will be a great asset for organising cultural programmes and other events.
The Prime Minister recalled the devastation caused twenty years ago by the earthquake. The tragedy and destruction caused by the earthquake left the entire state in a state of despair. However, through self-assurance and perseverance, Gujarat ascended to the top of the nation, vanquishing despondency and destruction. The Prime Minister requested that the people of Jamnagar pay their respects at the Smriti Van in memory of the victims of the Kutch Earthquake. He stated that the memorial is comparable in grandeur and solemnity to the 9/11 or Hiroshima memorials.
The Prime Minister recalled Jamsaheb Maharaja Digvijay Singh and paid tribute to his kindness to the Polish people during the second world war. This established a long-lasting relationship with the Polish people, which was of great assistance during the evacuation of Indians from Ukraine during the ongoing crisis. "Somewhere behind the assistance of the Polish government, Maharaja Digvijay Singh's generosity has played a significant role," he said. He stated that it is our endeavour to bring Jamsaheb to new heights. The Prime Minister remarked that Jamnagar has also made significant contributions to cricket. In 2020, the Saurashtra Ranji cricket team brought the trophy back and made everyone proud.
The Prime Minister informed everyone that five development resolutions have provided Gujarat with a solid foundation. People's (Jan) Shakti is the first resolution, followed by Knowledge (Gyan) Shakti, Water (Jal) Shakti, Energy (Urja) Shakti, and Raksha Shakti. Shri Modi added, "Gujarat is reaching new heights based on these five solid foundations."
The Prime Minister noted that the young generation is fortunate in that they have not encountered the problems that existed in the region and state twenty to twenty-five years ago. From the days when a chief minister would come for the inauguration of a water tank to the present day, when projects worth more than the budget of the past are inaugurated in a single visit, a great deal has changed. He stated today that under the SAUNI plan, Maa Narmada is reaching every nook and cranny. In a similar manner, the Jal Jeevan Mission is bringing piped water to every home. He praised the Chief Minister for implementing the initiatives of the central government with diligence and swiftness.
The Prime Minister reaffirmed that the welfare of the poor is his government's top priority. He stated that the top priority during the pandemic was ensuring that no family went hungry. More than eighty crore people are receiving free rations to endure the pandemic without going hungry. The Prime Minister stated that the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojna has been extended until December of this year so that no poor family will have to sleep hungry during these difficult times. He also mentioned the benefits of the One Nation One Ration Card Scheme and emphasised that people from all over India who come to Jamnagar to earn a living can take advantage of it.
The Prime Minister stated, in reference to Jamnagar's oil refinery and oil-based economy, that every resident would be proud that crude oil is refined on this very land. Shri Modi stated that the dual-engine government of the Centre and the State has worked ceaselessly for the industrial and infrastructure development of the state. Shri Modi recalled a time when the city was clogged with traffic and stated that efforts are being made to increase connectivity by building planned roads, flyovers, and underpasses to improve the lives of the citizens. He added that the Amritsar-Bhatinda-Jamnagar Corridor is being constructed at a cost of Rs 26,000 crore. Jamnagar is becoming the centre of manufacturing and coast-driven growth. He stated that the Jamnagar-based WHO International Center for Traditional Medicine is a crown for Jamnagar Ayurvedic University, which has become a national university. According to the Prime Minister, Jamnagar is becoming a centre associated with auspicious objects such as bangles, sindoor, and bandhani, transforming into a "Saubhagya Nagar."
The Prime Minister also reaffirmed his dedication to facilitating business. He discussed the reduction in regulatory burden. About 33,000 compliances and rules have been eliminated. Similarly, the decriminalisation of company laws benefits the business sector. He also discussed India's rise in various economic indices, particularly the Indian economy's rise to fifth place from tenth place in 2014. India rose from 142nd to 63rd in the ease of doing business in 20120, from 142nd in 2014. He praised the state government for implementing a forward-thinking Industrial policy. The Prime Minister praised the state government's efforts to remove encroachment and clean up the state's coastline. He stated that the Jamnagar Coastline offers ecotourism opportunities. It has an abundance of species.
In addition to noting the improvement in law and order in Gujarat, the Prime Minister stated that the Narendra-Bhupendra Government is implementing the development plan with diligence and speed.
In addition to others, the Chief Minister of Gujarat, Shri Bhupendra Patel, and Members of Parliament, Shri C R Patil and Smt. Poonamben Madam, were present at the event.
In Jamnagar, the Prime Minister laid the foundation stone for projects totaling approximately Rs 1,450 billion. These projects pertain to irrigation, electricity, water distribution, and urban infrastructure.
The Prime Minister inaugurated package 7 of Saurashtra Avtaran Irrigation (SAUNI) Yojana Link 3 (from Und Dam to Sonmati Dam), package 5 of SAUNI Yojana Link 1 (from Und-1 dam to SANI Dam), and the 40 MW Solar PV project at Haripar.
The Prime Minister laid the foundation stone for the following projects: Kalavad Group Augmentation water supply scheme of Kalavad/Jamnagar Taluka Morbi-Maliya-Jodiya group Augmentation water supply scheme, Lalpur Bypass junction flyover Bridge, Hapa Market Yard Railway Crossing, and the rehabilitation of the Sewer Collection pipeline and pumping station.

Today in Jamnagar, Gujarat, the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, laid the foundation stone and dedicated to the nation multiple irrigation, power, water supply, and urban infrastructure projects worth approximately Rs 1,450 crore. 

PM lays foundation stone & dedicates to nation multiple projects worth over Rs 1450 cr in Jamnagar

New Delhi (The Hawk): The EPC and Infrastructure Undertaking of Reliance Projects and Property Management Services Limited (RPPMSL), a fully owned subsidiary of RIL, is planned to be demerged into RIL under a scheme of arrangement that was approved by the board of Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) on Friday.
According to a RIL announcement, this demerger along with the company's current EPC team creates a targeted EPC enterprise in RIL to serve the needs of the group.
Currently, the group's EPC (engineering, procurement, and construction) resources are dispersed among several operating organisations.
According to the press release, RIL has a solid staff of around 4,000 engineers with experience in engineering, purchasing, project management, and construction. A team of over 20,000 experts work for RPPMSL.
The group's engineering resources and knowledge will be gathered and combined through the focused EPC project.
According to the press announcement, the EPC Undertaking will be essential to putting RIL's significant projects for the roll-out of 5G, New Energy, and O2C into action.
"These massive projects will necessitate a huge mobilisation of EPC and global technology resources. EPC resources are anticipated to be in high demand as infrastructure spending rises globally in the oil and gas, chemical, telecom, and renewable energy sectors "The announcement stated.
By establishing EPC Centers of Excellence in key offshore locations, the new EPC Undertaking will assist internationalisation.
It will coordinate with RIL's current subsidiaries in the USA and Dubai. Additionally, it will include additional subsidiaries in Singapore and the UK. These subsidiaries will make it possible to mobilise top personnel and EPC resources more quickly in a context where global EPC is becoming more restricted.
"By utilising global resources and supply chains, the realigned EPC resources will enhance RIL's EPC delivery capabilities. Working across time zones will lower expenses and timelines while ensuring high-quality output, which will also increase productivity "The announcement stated.
There has been no change in RIL's shareholding structure as a result of this merging of a division of a wholly-owned subsidiary with a parent, according to the statement.
The release stated that "under the arrangement, no cash consideration is being given; it is a related party transaction and at arm's length."
For the fiscal year ended March 31, 2022, RIL and the EPC and Infrastructure Undertaking of RPPMSL had respective revenue of Rs. 445,375 crore and Rs. 43,071 crore.
(Inputs from Agencies)

The EPC and Infrastructure Undertaking of Reliance Projects and Property Management Services Limited (RPPMSL), a fully owned subsidiary of RIL, is planned to be demerged into RIL under a scheme of arrangement that was approved by the board of Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) on Friday.

RIL will reorganise its EPC group's resources

Roorkee (The Hawk): Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee (IIT Roorkee) is hosting the Ninth International Symposium on Hydraulic Structures from 24th to 27th October 2022 in partnership with the International Association for Hydro-Environmental Engineering and Research (IAHR).
The International Association for Hydro-Environmental Engineering and Research (IAHR) is a worldwide organization founded in 1935 that stimulates and promotes hydraulic research and its application. Besides other activities, Hydraulic Structure Committee of IAHR organizes a biennial, International Symposium on Hydraulic Structures.
The event, being organized by the Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Roorkee, provided a distinctive opportunity for engineers and researchers working in this area to present their works and share recent advancements in the field of hydraulic structures.
Prof. Z Ahmad, Conference Chair said that with the frequent floods, droughts and acute variations in the water resources, it is vital to store, divert and regulate water flow by constructing hydraulic structures. Recent advancements, in the analysis and design of hydraulic structures, have helped in constructing economical, eco-friendly and sustainable structures.
The symposium is in a series of similar earlier successful events at Aachen (ISHS2018), Portland (ISHS2016), Brisbane (ISHS2014), Porto, and Portugal (ISHS2012) to share knowledge on Hydraulic Structures. Authors from 16+ countries shall present their research article in this Symposium.
Explaining the importance of engineering for Society while addressing the Conference, Prof K. G. Ranga Raju, Former Deputy Director &amp; Chief Guest of the event, said, “Such conferences are essential for the advancement of the study of Hydraulic Structures’ and for researchers to meet and exchange knowledge about the latest advancements in the field. He highlighted the pioneer works of the Colonel Proby Cautley in the terms of upper Ganga Canal, which was constructed when much theories were not available and structures were designed on the basis of ideas obtained from other well performing structures. I am delighted to note that this edition of the International symposium is being held in India and at IIT Roorkee.”
A key component of the symposium is the technical tour to the Tehri Dam and Upper Ganga Canal. The objective was to study hydraulic structures that play a vital role in the region.
Addressing the conference, Prof. K.K. Pant, Director, IIT Roorkee, said, “IIT Roorkee is proud to host the 9th International Symposium on Hydraulic Structures first time in India. It is a great opportunity for the Institute’s students and researchers to interact with national and international experts in hydraulic structures. We hope that this conference would lead to outcomes that play a major role in the field of hydraulic studies. I am sure the present symposium will provide a distinctive opportunity for the engineers and researchers working in this area to present their works and to share the recent advancements in the field of hydraulic structures”
Prof. K.K. Part also felicitated four Former professors - Prof. K. G. Ranga Raju, Prof. P. K. Pandey, Prof. M.K. Mittal and Prof. G.L. Asawa - during the occasion for their outstanding contribution in academics as well as research.
Delivering the welcome address, Prof. Praveen Kumar, Head, Department of Civil Engineering, said, “The Department of Civil Engineering at IIT Roorkee is the oldest and the largest in the country and is considered as the best in the country for the education in Civil Engineering. It was established on October 19, 1847 as Roorkee College of Civil Engineering and renamed as the Thomason College of Civil Engineering in 1854. The department is producing several eminent engineers who are making notable contributions in the planning and execution of Civil Engineering projects in India as well as abroad.”
After a thorough peer-review process, as many 60 research papers were accepted for presentation and inclusion in the Proceedings. The Conference had Authors from a total of 16 countries.
Conference Chair Prof. Zulfequar Ahmad, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Roorkee, Prof. Sebastien Erpicum, Liege University, Belgium, and other eminent experts spoke on the occasion.
A technical tour to Upper Ganga Canal was conducted on 24th October and a workshop was organised on 25th October 2022 on sustainable design and construction of ‘non-linear weirs.’ Prof. Sebastien Erpicum, Liege University, Belgium, and Prof. Brian M. Crookston, Utah State University, USA, conducted the symposium. The workshop was followed by a hands-on experiment on the Hydraulic Laboratory of the Dept. of Civil Eng which was conducted by Prof. Z Ahmad and Research Scholars.
The organizations that participated in the Conference include:
Ø Central Water Commission
Ø Tehri Hydroelectric Power Corporation
Ø Uttarakhand Jal Vidyut Nigam Limited
Ø Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, Kolkata
Ø Inland Waterways Authority of India
Ø Assam Power Generation Corporation Limited
Ø NCC Private Limited
Ø Aquagreen Engineering Management Pvt.Ltd.
Ø Tractebel Engineering Pvt,Ltd,
Ø Eptisa India Pvt.Ltd

 Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee (IIT Roorkee) is hosting the Ninth International Symposium on Hydraulic Structures from 24th to 27th October 2022 in partnership with the International Association for Hydro-Environmental Engineering and Research (IAHR).

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