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Delhi air “severe”; cold wave conditions in north India

Delhi air quality
File Photo

New Delhi (NVI): For the second day today, the air quality of the National Capital remained in the “severe” category with the overall Air Quality Index (AQI) of 420.

According to System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR), there is a possibility of scattered rain over Delhi region today night, adding that the improvement in AQI will depend on the strength of rainfall.

It further said that slight drizzle can deteriorate air quality.

SAFAR has predicted that by tomorrow, the AQI is likely to improve December as wind speeds are likely to pick up.

The worst affected areas are Dhirpur, Delhi University, Chandni Chowk, Pusa, Lodhi Road, Mathura Road, IGI Terminal 3 and the neighbouring Noida.

Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has said that the minimum temperature in Delhi will settle around 6.4 degree Celsius today which is two degree below normal. The maximum temperature recorded yesterday was 17.5 degree Celsius which was five degree below normal.

The IMD said that cold wave conditions are likely to prevail at isolated pockets over Bihar, Odisha, Jharkhand and Gangetic West Bengal during the next 24 hours.

Dense fog is very likely during morning hours in isolated pockets over plains of northwest India and parts of central, east and northeast India during the next 2-3 days and likely to increase in intensity and spatial distribution thereafter over these regions.

J&K placed third in full immunization coverage

Jammu (NVI): The Health Department of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir has been placed in the third position in the country in full immunization coverage with 96 percent after Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

During 2019–2020, the Directorate of Family Welfare, MCH & Immunization Department has vaccinated 2,17,984 children (0-1 year age) out of the total target of 2,27,474, an official statement said.

The left out children would now be covered under the Intensified Mission Indradhanush 2.0 (IMI), for which Baramulla and Kupwara districts have been chosen by the department.

Through this programme, the Centre aims to reach each and every child up to two years of age and all pregnant women who have been left uncovered (left outs and drop outs) under the routine immunization programme.

In 2018-19, the Directorate had launched and successfully completed the vaccination campaign against measles and Congenital Rubella Syndrome (CRS), responsible for irreversible birth defects.

During the Measles-Rubella vaccination campaign, around 38 lakh children from the age group of 9 months to 15 years were vaccinated in record two and half month with 100 per cent achievement.

Mission Indradhanush, Gram Swaraj Mission Indradhanush, Mission Indradhanush for aspiration districts Baramulla and Kupwara were also held with 100 per cent achievement.

TD (Tetanus-Diphtheria) was introduced throughout the J&K in 2018-19 and is now part of UT’s UIP schedule.

Besides, Rota Virus Vaccine was also introduced by Directorate of Family Welfare, MCH & Immunization Department this year which will help to avert 40 per cent deaths due to diarrheal diseases. The Rota Virus Vaccination programme will cover over two lakh and twenty thousand children annually.

Under a new initiative by the Directorate of Family Welfare, MCH & Immunization Department, around 40,000 Government employees of health department will be vaccinated with Hepatitis B Vaccine which will be given free of cost.

The Health department has signed an MOU with United Nations Development Programme-India (UNDP) to introduce very unique software called e-VIN in the Union Territory of J&K. The Electronic Vaccine Intelligence Network- eVIN is an innovative technological solution aimed at strengthening immunization supply chain systems.

J&K to ascertain number of West Pakistan refugees

Jammu (NVI): The Jammu and Kashmir government has begun an exercise to ascertain the exact number of refugees from West Pakistan living here.
Special camps will be held for identification of such families and screening of their documents.
Jammu Divisional Commissioner Sanjeev Verma today held a meeting to discuss issues related to West Pakistan refugees and displaced persons’ cases of 1947, 1965 and 1971, an official spokesman said.
The Deputy Commissioners apprised the meeting about the number of families of West Pakistan refugees in their respective districts.
It was informed that the DCs have instructed the Tehsildars to conduct verification of the families, the spokesman said.
The Divisional Commissioner asked the authorities concerned to organise special camps and expedite the process of identification of families and properly check the documents and send the cases in his office as early as possible.
He said the DCs should monitor the process of verification and check the genuineness of families, the spokesman said.
Verma asked the DCs to submit details of exact number of West Pakistan refugee families in their respective districts.

China, Pak, Bangladesh, Afghan climbers need permission to climb Indian peaks: MHA

File photo.

New Delhi (NVI): Mountaineers from China, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan will now have to take prior permission for climbing peaks which are opened in India, according to a government order.

According to a Home Ministry gazette notification dated December 19, these mountaineers will have to follow the routes prescribed by the Indian Mountaineering Foundation.

Amending the Foreigners Order, 1948, the Home Ministry said, “Prior permission of the Central Government shall be required by nationals of China, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan or persons having their origin in the said countries even for climbing peaks which are so opened under specific orders issued by the Central Government”.

The Home Ministry order further said, “The Indian Mountaineering Foundation shall specify routes, attach liaison officer and impose such restrictions as it may deem necessary in respect of peaks which are so opened under specific orders issued by the Central Government”.

The order also said that no foreigner or group of foreigners shall climb or attempt to climb any mountain peak in India, except those peaks which are opened for mountaineering or trekking expeditions under specific orders issued by the Central Government from time to time with routes.

India, China military drill concludes

India-China Joint Training Exercise “Hand-in- Hand” concluded on December 20.

Shillong (NVI): The joint military exercise, aimed at building and promoting positive relations between the armies of India and China culminated today at the Joint Training Node, Umroi Military Station in Meghalaya.

The eight edition of India-China Joint Training Exercise “Hand-in- Hand” commenced on December 7.

The drill was aimed at practicing the participating infantry companies of India and Chinese armies in joint drills of counter-terrorism operations in semi-urban terrain under the United Nation mandate, an official statement said.

The exercise entailed firing from each others weapons, conduct of tactical lectures and demonstration by both the countries on various aspects of counter-terrorism operations. It included physical training activities ranging from endurance runs, battle obstacle courses and games.

The high joint training standards achieved by both contingents were on display during a 72 hours field training exercise which encompassed various drills requiring seamless integration of action of the part of troops involved in the facets of counter-terrorism operations in conjunction with gruelling methods to execute the assigned tasks.

The exercise culminated with a glittery closing ceremony where the participating troops displayed high standards of military drill.

The closing ceremony was reviewed by Major General JS Sandhu in the presence of other senior officers of both the participating countries. The Chinese side was represented by Major General Li Shizong.

The bonhomie achieved between the troops was at display during the campfire. The two armies have gained from each others expertise and experience in conduct of counter-terrorism and company level operations.

Tremors in north India as 6.3 magnitude quake rocks Afghanistan

New Delhi(NVI): Strong tremors were felt in several parts of north India including Delhi-NCR at around 1715 hours.

According to National Center for Seismology, an earthquake measuring 6.3 on the Richter Scale jolted Afghanistan at around 1709 hours today.

The epicentre of the quake was 244 km north northeast of Kabul in Afghanistan.

Tremors were also felt in Pakistan.

CAA stir: DMRC shuts several metro gates

New Delhi(NVI): The Delhi metro shut the entry and exits gates of several metro stations of various lines due to Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) protest in the some parts of the National capital.

According to DMRC, Metro Stations–Rajiv Chowk, Central Secretariat, Mandi House, Janpath, Pragati Maidan, Khan Market, Johri Enclave, Shiv Vihar, Dilshad Garden, Chawri Bazar, Lal Quila, Jama Masjid, Delhi Gate, Jaffrabad, Maujpur-Babarpur and Jamia Millia Islamia  have been closed but interchange facility is available.

Hundreds of protesters gathered at Delhi’s Jama Masjid located in the old city, to join a protest against the CAA.

Holy city Varanasi most sought after destination: Jitendra Singh

Minister of State in PMO Dr Jitendra Singh at the ceremonial launch of GoAir flight from Delhi to the Holy city of Varanasi.

New Delhi (NVI): The holy city of Varanasi is one of the most sought after destinations, not only for religious tourism but also for exploring tourists, Minister of State in PMO Dr Jitendra Singh said here today.

“Varanasi is the face of India’s ancient civilization and culture,” the Minister said while launching the inaugural flight of GoAir from Delhi to Varanasi, here today.

“Religious domestic tourists, of course, do come to Varanasi, but hordes of foreigners also throng to this holy city to experience and study India’s ancient civilization and culture. The visit creates a natural bonding between visitor and India’s rich heritage and culture,” Dr Singh said.

He said that in the last five years, Varanasi had been bestowed the pride of place which it was worthy of he said. Adding that “Varanasi district has undergone so much development and beautification that it is difficult to believe without seeing and experiencing it”.

Complimented the airlines for launching another flight to Varanasi from Ahmedabad, the Minister remarked, “What a lovely coincidence that the Prime Minister’s constituency and his home state are being connected today by a direct flight”.

On the occasion, Dr Singh also asked the airlines management to consider launching a late evening flight from Jammu to Delhi, the statement added.

COP25 outcome balanced with exception of climate finance issues: Javadekar

Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar addressing press conference in New Delhi on December 20.

New Delhi (NVI): With the exception of climate finance issues, India considers the outcome of COP25 a balanced one, which addresses concerns of all parties, especially developing countries and provides necessary building blocks for successful implementation of the UNFCCC and its Paris Agreement, Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar said.

“India engaged constructively in negotiations while protecting India’s key interests including consideration of principles of equity and Common but Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities (CBDR-RC), need for enhanced means of implementation including climate finance, technology transfer at affordable costs and capacity-building support, from developed to developing countries in accordance with their obligations under the UNFCCC and Paris Agreement”, Javadekar said while addressing a press conference here today.

The crucial COP25 meeting was held in Madrid, Spain under the Presidency of Chile from December 2 to 15. The conference, which was expected to conclude on December 13, was extended till 15th, to arrive at a consensus on a range of issues, particularly Article 6 of Paris Agreement, Warsaw International Mechanism for Loss and Damage associated with climate change impacts and climate finance.

He said, “Prime Minister Narendra Modi has increased the target for renewables from 175 Giga Watts to 450 Giga Watts at the recent UN Climate Action Summit. India is simultaneously progressing on solar, biomass and wind energy”.

The COP25 decision, titled Chile Madrid Time for Action, emphasises the continued challenges that developing countries face in accessing financial, technology and capacity-building support, and recognises the urgent need to enhance the provision of support to developing country parties for strengthening their national adaptation and mitigation efforts, an official statement said.

The decision also recalls the commitment made by developed country parties to a goal of mobilising jointly USD 100 billion per year by 2020 to address the needs of developing countries.

On the issue of global ambition for combating climate change, the decision adopted provides for a balanced and integrated view of ambition that includes not only efforts for climate change mitigation, but also for adaptation and means of implementation support from developed countries to developing countries.

India’s five trillion dollar economy goal is achievable: Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi

New Delhi (NVI): Stating that five trillion dollar economy is “achievable”, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said that to achieve this target the government will invest Rs 100 lakh crore in the infrastructural sector and another Rs 25 lakh crore in the rural sector.

Inaugurating the ‘Hundred Years of ASSOCHAM’ here, the Prime Minister said, “The idea of making India a five trillion dollar worth economy is not a sudden one, our country has strengthened itself so much in the last five years that we can aim to achieve such goals”.

“Five years before, the economy was heading for . Our government has brought in fundamental changes in India’s economy so that it can run with set rules in a disciplined manner,” Modi said.

He said, “We have met with the decades old demands of the Industrial Sector and we have built a strong foundation for a five trillion dollar economy ”.

He said that the government was building the Indian economy on two strong pillars of “formalisation and modernisation”.

“We are trying to bring in more and more sectors into the horizon of formal economy. Along with this we are linking our economy with latest technology so that we can speed up the process of modernisation,” he added.

He said that through automation a new company gets registered in just few hours. Adding that “Automation is helping quick trading across”.

The Prime Minister said that the country could make a significant jump in the rankings of Ease of doing business due to a sustained effort.

“Ease of doing business may sound just like four words, but in order to improve its rankings there is a lot of effort that goes into it including changing the policies and rules at the ground level, ” he said.

“Today we have a government that listens to the industry, understands its needs and which is sensitive to its suggestions.

He also emphasised the efforts being made towards a faceless tax administration in the country in order to reduce human interface between the tax payer and authorities.

“In order to bring about transparency, efficiency and accountability in the tax system, we are moving towards a faceless tax administration”, he added.

He said that the government had decriminalised several laws in the corporate sector to reduce the burden and allow the industry to function in a fearless ecosystem.

Prime Minister said that the Corporate Tax at this time in the country is the lowest ever and this would propel a boost in the economic growth.

“The Corporate Tax is the lowest at the moment, meaning if there is any government that is taking the lowest Corporate Tax from the industry, then it is ours, ” he added.

He also spoke about the efforts being made towards bringing about labour reforms, besides sweeping reforms in the Banking Sector to make it more transparent and profitable.

“Owing to the steps taken by the government, today 13 banks are on the path of profit out of which six banks are out of PCA. We have also hastened the process of unification of banks. Today banks are expanding their countrywide networks and are in the direction of achieving global recognition” he added.

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