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On Armed Forces Flag Day PM Modi salutes the courage of Indian forces

New Delhi (NVI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi today saluted the courage of the soldiers of the Indian forces and their families on the occasion of the Armed Forces Flag Day. On the micro-blogging site PM tweeted a video featuring Indian armed forces personnel in action.

“On Armed Forces Flag Day we salute the indomitable courage of our forces and their families…,” PM Modi tweeted.

Since 1949 December 7 is celebrated as the Armed Forces Flag Day in the honour of soldiers, airmen and sailors who keep the country safe.

On this day the Armed Forces Flag Day Fund (AFFDF) are collected for the welfare of war widows, children of those killed in action, war-disabled soldiers and ex-servicemen.

In his tweet message PM urged the citizens to contribute to the armed forces welfare funds. “I also urge you to contribute towards the welfare of our forces,” PM tweeted.

The AFFDF is used for the welfare of serving personnel and ex-servicemen and also to rehabilitate battle causalties.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also tweeted on the occasion and requested for the contribution for AFFDF. “You may contribute to Armed Forces Flag Day Fund through online transaction or by writing a cheque. Contributions to Armed Forces Flag Day Fund are exempted from Income Tax. Let us express our gratitude to Armed Forces who have fought for the honour of this country,” tweeted Singh.

J&K LG directs filling of posts vacant for Kashmiri migrants by January-end

Jammu (NVI): Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor G C Murmu has issued directions for handing over of the land identified for transit accommodation of Kashmiri migrant employees in the Valley by December 15.

He has also directed that more land be identified within a month for accommodation of such employees in the Kashmir Valley.

At a meeting, the LG further instructed the recruiting agencies to complete the pending recruitment for all posts notified for Kashmiri migrants by January 31, according to an official statement.

During the meeting, a detailed discussion was held on relief and rehabilitation benefits extended to the Kashmiri migrants as also the displaced persons of 1947, 1965 and 1971 and West Pakistan Refugees.

Murmu directed for the early clearance of all pending relief cases of displaced persons and completion and submission of all eligible cases by end of January, the statement said.

He also directed the concerned officers to examine the issues with regard to the relief to West Pakistan Refugees and address them on priority.

While reviewing the present status of construction of border bunkers, the Lt. Governor observed that all requisite measures should be taken for expediting the work on construction of border bunkers for providing the necessary shelter to the border dwellers during the shelling. He further directed the officers to examine the proposal of construction of new bunkers.

Delhi air quality remains “very poor”

New Delhi (NVI): The overall air quality in Delhi remained in the “very poor” category.

According to System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR), the Air Quality Index (AQI) in the national capital stood at 365.

It has predicted that the AQI will remain at  very poor category till December 8 due to low ventilation condition.

The SAFAR forecast suggests calm surface winds and a decrease in ventilation coefficient for the next three days.

The AQI in Chandini Chowk was in the “very poor” category with PM2.5 of 302, at Mathura Road the PM2.5 was 369 while the neighbouring Noida recorded a PM2.5 of 377 which also falls in the “very poor” category.

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India in touch with Pak on consular access to Kulbhushan Jadhav

Kulbhushan Jadhav
Kulbhushan Jadhav. (File photo)

New Delhi (NVI): India is in “serious communication” with Pakistan to grant “immediate, effective and unhindered” consular access of Kulbhushan Jadhav in light of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the External Affairs Ministry said.

Addressing the weekly media briefing here today, Ministry Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said, “India is in touch with Pakistan on Kulbhushan Jadhav through diplomatic channels”.

“There is serious communication going on between India and Pakistan on Kulbhushan Jadhav and I don’t want to disclose what we are discussing,” the official added.

Regarding Mumbai terror attacks, the official said that India had shared evidences of the perpetrators and now it is the responsibility of Pakistan to take action on them.

“We all know who the perpetrators were, we all know who the mastermind is and we are also aware the mastermind of this attack is roaming freely and enjoying Pakistan’s hospitality and we are also aware about the link which this attack had to the Pakistan elements within the Pakistani establishment,” he said.

He said Pakistan has a certain obligation and responsibility and it was the responsibility of Pakistan to take action, he added.

The official said that, Pakistan had shied away from the past, citing different excuses which was not working among the global community and there was a feeling that Pakistan was not serious in taking action against those who were involved in the Mumbai terror attacks.

No Indian study has shown pollution shortens life: Prakash Javadekar

Union Minister Prakash Javadekar

New Delhi (NVI): Speaking at the Parliament during the Question Hour Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Prakash Javadekar said that that no Indian study has shown pollution shortens life.

Reiterating that the Union Government is taking proactive steps to deal with pollution and related problems Prakash Javadekar, in response to a query, told the Lok Sabha that no India study has shown any correlation between pollution and shortening lifespan.

“Let us not create a fear psychosis among people,” Javadekar told the Parliament during the Question Hour.

He informed the Parliament that the government has launched the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) to curb pollution throughout the country. Similar programmes have been prepared and approved for implementation in 102 cities.

“Under NCAP, 102 non-attainment cities have been identified based on ambient air quality data for the period 2011-2015 and WHO (World Health Organisation) report 2014/18,” he added.

Working with Sudanese govt to bring bodies of 6 Indians: MEA

Raveesh Kumar
External Affairs Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar while addressing media briefing. File photo

New Delhi (NVI): India is closely working with the Sudanese Government to bring back the bodies of six Indian workers, who lost their live in a tragic ceramic factory fire in the capital Khartoum on December 3, the External Affairs Ministry said.

Addressing a weekly press briefing here today, Ministry Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said that six Indians have lost their lives while 11 are missing and eight were being treated in hospitals.

“As per our knowledge, there were 58 Indian workers in the factory. And the update that we have is, six Indians have lost their lives in this incident, while 33 are safe. Besides, eight people are in hospitals and 11 are missing and we can say that they are either missing or unidentified,” the official said.

He said that the families of the deceased have been contacted and the Indian Embassy in Sudan was closely working with the local government to bring back the bodies as soon as possible.

He said, “Our Ambassador had also visited the injured in the hospital”.

Notably, a major blast took place in a ceramic factory in the Bahri area of the Sudanese capital of Khartoum which claimed more than 20 lives.

Replying to a question on Indians abducted in Nigeria, Raveesh Kumar said that 18 Indian national crew members on board MT Nave Constellation, were abducted from the high seas off Bonny Island on December 3.

The official said, “We are working with the Nigerian authorities and we cannot give more information as the lives of the abducted crew is involved”.

Ganga quality improved: Shekhawat

gajendra singh shekhawat
Gajendra Singh Shekhawat at the 4th India Water Impact Summit, 2019

New Delhi (NVI): Speaking at the 4th India Water Impact Summit, 2019 here today Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Jal Shakti Minister, said that the water quality of Ganga has improved tremendously during the last five years under the Clean Ganga Mission.

At the event in the national capital Shekhawat said that under the Namami Gange programme around 305 projects have been taken up for sewage, industrial effluents and others. This has further been strengthened and accorded due priority under Jal Shakti Abhiyan and an integrated approach to water sector through creation of Ministry for Jal Shakti.

The Jal Shakti Minister said the approach in Namami Gange for ensuring Aviral Dhara or improving flows is comprehensive.

“The best parameter of assessing the quality improvement of water is the growth in aquatic wildlife,” Shekhawat said.

The Minister said that five years ago the Gangetic dolphins were spotted in tens but now more than 2,000 dolphins have been sighted. He added, “Not only dolphins but all other aquatic life has improved. The massive improvement in floating trash was also observed.”

“NamamiGange mission also understands the crucial role people can play in conservation of river Ganga and has been taking up several innovative steps for bringing people closer to river Ganga and its tributaries which contribute in one way or the other for their rejuvenation”, he added.

“Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given its approval for establishment of the Clean Ganga Fund (CGF). Appealing for liberal contributions the CGF will have the objective of contributing to the national effort of improving the cleanliness of the river Ganga with the contributions received from the residents and non-residents of the country,” he said.

“The Fund will define specific and measurable objectives to form the basis for planning, funding, and evaluation,” he added.

Shekhawat also lauded the role of academic institutions including IITs, NITs, NEERI etc from India and the European Union, Germany, Denmark,Israel, Japanand Canada for Technology Collaboration Agreements with c-Ganga (Centre for Ganga River Basin Management and Studies).

Stressing on Environment Flow and Urban River Management Plan, Shekhawat said that under the first draft of the Ganga River Basin Management Plan (GRBMP) submitted by a consortium of IITs in 2015, projects for liquid pollution abatement in Ganga river basin have already been sanctioned and are at various stages of implementation and more of such projects will come for the tributaries for the Ganga rivers as well.

“Government notified minimum environmental flows to be maintained in river Ganga from its origin to Unnao in Uttar Pradesh. We have recently started a pilot project to develop the Urban River Management Plan with NIUA,” Shekhawat said.

“These are probably the two areas where in there is a scope of experience sharing with the global experts. We are working to have integrated water management wherein mainstream health of the rivers and water bodies should become important part of urban planning,” he further added.

Pointing out that the cleaning of rivers including Ganga is a perpetual process and it will always require dedicated service of the people to maintain its healthy state, Shekhawat advocated integrated water management, preventing degradation and pollution of rivers, lakes and aquifers, promoting recycle and reuse of treated wastewater and where necessary, restore and maintain acceptable environmental conditions and water quality.

On the occasion Shekhawat also released the Report on Ambassadors’ Meet held on August 22, 2019, Report on River Restoration and Conservation – A Concise Manual and Guide, and Documents on “Ganga Hubs”.

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Mathura Elephant hospital to treat Ramu for osteoarthritis

New Delhi (NVI): Ramu, a young elephant suffering from severe osteoarthritis, has travelled all the way from Ranchi to Wildlife SOS Elephant Hospital, country’s first elephant hospital, in Mathura for specialised medical treatment.

Unable to walk because of osteoarthritis related pain and inflammation the young elephant needed urgent medical care.

At the Wildlife SOS Elephant Hospital in Mathura Ramu will undergo specialised treatments like laser therapy, hydrotherapy, digital radiology, thermal imaging, etc under the care of four veterinarians and elephant care team.

The Jharkhand Forest Department contacted the Wildlife SOS regarding the deteriorating medical condition of Ramu. The Forrest Department officials requested the Elephant Hospital in Mathura for urgent admission of the ailing elephant at the country’s first elephant hospital for medical care.

“The Jharkhand Forest department had requested to send Ramu for medical care to the Wildlife SOS Elephant Hospital and we issued a written permission for the same so that he could receive good medical care,” said Sunil Pandey, Chief Wildlife Warden of Uttar Pradesh.

After the Chief Wildlife Warden of Uttar Pradesh issued a written permission for the elephant to be brought to the Elephant Hospital from Ranchi an elephant care team from Wildlife SOS reached Ranchi to bond with the ailing young elephant and to help facilitate his medical care.

According to the elephant hospital officials a veterinary team was dispatched to Ranchi with medical equipment for providing immediate relief to the 19-year-old elephant. The medical team also conducted assessments if Ramu was fit to be transported to the Elephant Hospital in Mathura.

Only after the approval from veterinary team Ramu was allowed to travel in a special elephant ambulance along with a team of expert veterinarians and elephant care givers from an NGO.

“We transferred Ramu to the Mathura’s elephant hospital where he can get the best medical care. His recovery is of our utmost concern,” said PK Verma, Chief Wildlife Warden, Jharkhand.

According to Dr Yaduraj Khadpekar, Senior Veterinarian, Wildlife SOS  the laser therapy treatment has already started to ease his pain and give relief to Ramu’s stiff joints.

 

COP25: Role of youth in fight against climate change hailed

New Delhi (NVI): Executive Secretary of UN Climate Change, Patricia Espinosa has hailed the role of youths for raising awareness in fight against climate change.

Participating in a panel discussion during the Youth Day at the ongoing COP25 in Madrid, Espinosa said, “The youth have played an enormous and fantastic role throughout this year in order to raise awareness and to impress the need to take action urgently”.

She said, “I want to recognise all of your voices and also individual voice in making this possible”.

The two-week UN Climate Change Conference COP25, began on December 2 at Madrid in Spain, with urgent calls to make serious progress on climate action.

The conference is taking place under the Presidency of the Government of Chile with logistical support from the Government of Spain.

The key objective of COP25 is to raise overall ambition also by completing several key aspects with respect to the full operationalisation of the Paris Climate Change Agreement.

Yesterday, two publications, which were a part of the work of UN Climate Change with experts and civil society groups, were presented at the conference.

These publications throw light on current climate action and lay down pathways to climate neutrality by mid-century, required to meet the temperature goals of the Paris Agreement.

Markets open in green

BSE

Mumbai (NVI): The Indian markets opened at a higher note today,tracking gains in the major Asian markets.

The 30-share BSE Sensex rose about 114.01 points to 40,893.60.

Similarly, the 50-scrip NSE Nifty traded higher at 24.25 points near 12,042.65 in the morning trade session.

Meanwhile, Indian rupee opened on a steady note at 71.30 against the US dollar.

Among the Sensex stocks, ICICI Bank rose 1% while RIL gained 0.7%

Asian markets were mostly higher today after US President Donald Trump said that trade talks with China were “moving right along”.

On Thursday, the BSE Sensex closed at 40,779.59 points and Nifty closed at 12,018.40.

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