Vyapam scam: UN body calls for probe into death of journalist Akshay Singh
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UNITED NATIONS: The head of a UN agency mandated to defend freedom of expression has called on Indian authorities to investigate the mysterious death of TV reporter Akshay Singh while covering the Vyapam scam in Madhya Pradesh, saying crimes against journalists must not go unpunished.
Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) Irina Bokova expressed condolences to Singh's family, friends and colleagues and urged the authorities to investigate his death.
"It is essential for rule of law and for society's right to be kept informed, that the authorities do all they can to clarify the cause of Singh's death. Reporters must be able to carry out their professional duties in a safe environment and crimes against them must not go unpunished," Bokova said.
Singh, 38, an investigative journalist with a private Hindi news channel, was investigating the Vyapam scandal in Madhya Pradesh when he died mysteriously earlier this month.
Doubts have been raised over the circumstances in which he died.
The Vyapam scam, simmering for nearly a decade, exploded before the public after Singh's death.
With more than two dozen people connected in some way with the scam mysteriously dying, the Supreme Court has ordered that the corruption scandal be investigate by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
The Vyapam scam is an admission and recruitment scandal allegedly involving politicians and senior officials in Madhya Pradesh.
The scam involves students who paid bribes to officials to get high marks in entrance tests to get government jobs and coveted slots in medical schools.
UNITED NATIONS: The head of a UN agency mandated to defend freedom of expression has called on Indian authorities to investigate the mysterious death of TV reporter Akshay Singh while covering the Vyapam scam in Madhya Pradesh, saying crimes against journalists must not go unpunished.Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) Irina Bokova expressed condolences to Singh's family, friends and colleagues and urged the authorities to investigate his death.
"It is essential for rule of law and for society's right to be kept informed, that the authorities do all they can to clarify the cause of Singh's death. Reporters must be able to carry out their professional duties in a safe environment and crimes against them must not go unpunished," Bokova said.
Singh, 38, an investigative journalist with a private Hindi news channel, was investigating the Vyapam scandal in Madhya Pradesh when he died mysteriously earlier this month.
Doubts have been raised over the circumstances in which he died.
The Vyapam scam, simmering for nearly a decade, exploded before the public after Singh's death.
With more than two dozen people connected in some way with the scam mysteriously dying, the Supreme Court has ordered that the corruption scandal be investigate by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
The Vyapam scam is an admission and recruitment scandal allegedly involving politicians and senior officials in Madhya Pradesh.
The scam involves students who paid bribes to officials to get high marks in entrance tests to get government jobs and coveted slots in medical schools.
Pakistan refuses Eid sweets from Indian solidiers at Wagah
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CHANDIGARH: Amid the prevailing tension between India and Pakistan over ceasefire violations along their border, Pakistani Rangers on Saturday refused to accept the sweets offered by the BSF on the occasion of Eid.
Border guarding forces of the two countries have been following a tradition of exchanging sweets on festivals at the International Border in Jammu and along the Attari-Wagah border in Amritsar in Punjab.
Border Security Force (BSF) Deputy Inspector General in Amritsar, M F Farooqui, told reporters that their gesture of giving sweets on the occasion of Eid was not reciprocated from the other side along the Attari-Wagah border.
"We give sweets on Eid every time. The Rangers have not accepted it today. We always want to maintain peace and tranquillity on the border," he said.
However, the BSF did not offer any sweets to their counterparts along the IB.
A senior BSF commander at its headquarters in Delhi told PTI that the force did not "offer" Eid sweets along the IB to Rangers as a mark of protest against the ongoing spate of ceasefire violations along this frontier and also the LoC which have claimed few lives and injured many in the last few days.
In the wake of repeated ceasefire violations by Pakistani Rangers, India has warned Pakistan of "effective and forceful" response to unprovoked firing and cross-border terrorism.
Border guarding forces of the two countries have been following a tradition of exchanging sweets on festivals at the International Border in Jammu and along the Attari-Wagah border in Amritsar in Punjab.
Border Security Force (BSF) Deputy Inspector General in Amritsar, M F Farooqui, told reporters that their gesture of giving sweets on the occasion of Eid was not reciprocated from the other side along the Attari-Wagah border.
"We give sweets on Eid every time. The Rangers have not accepted it today. We always want to maintain peace and tranquillity on the border," he said.
However, the BSF did not offer any sweets to their counterparts along the IB.
A senior BSF commander at its headquarters in Delhi told PTI that the force did not "offer" Eid sweets along the IB to Rangers as a mark of protest against the ongoing spate of ceasefire violations along this frontier and also the LoC which have claimed few lives and injured many in the last few days.
In the wake of repeated ceasefire violations by Pakistani Rangers, India has warned Pakistan of "effective and forceful" response to unprovoked firing and cross-border terrorism.
Priyanka tries to block RTI on property again
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NEW DELHI: Priyanka Gandhi objected to sharing information on her property details on the argument that the RTI applicant seeking the disclosure was not a resident of Himachal Pradesh. Questioning the locus standi of RTI applicant Dev Ashish Bhattacharya, Gandhi moved the Himachal high court in yet another move to prevent the information from being made public.
Earlier Priyanka, daughter of Congress president Sonia Gandhi, had argued that information disclosed would be a threat to her life.
In a writ petition filed in HP high court Priyanka Gandhi claimed that Bhattacharya is not a resident of Himachal Pradesh and is not a Himachali and therefore has no locus standi to even question the correctness or otherwise of the order granting any relaxation in favour of Priyanka Gandhi permitting her to purchase property in the state.
She also said that Bhattacharya was complete stranger to HP and lives in NOIDA, therefore, could not be aggrieved of an order passed by the state urging that the petition be dismissed.
"Priyanka Gandhi is the daughter of the Congress chief Sonia Gandhi who credits Congress for giving RTI Act to the nation. And see the callous reasoning being provided by Priyanka Gandhi for the non disclosure of the asked for information,'' Bhattacharya said.
Bhattacharya had sought copies of land records and other property details owned by Priyanka Gandhi in a RTI query in June 2014. The HP state information commission had ruled that the information should be disclosed. However Gandhi approached high court to block disclosure.
NEW DELHI: Priyanka Gandhi objected to sharing information on her property details on the argument that the RTI applicant seeking the disclosure was not a resident of Himachal Pradesh. Questioning the locus standi of RTI applicant Dev Ashish Bhattacharya, Gandhi moved the Himachal high court in yet another move to prevent the information from being made public. Earlier Priyanka, daughter of Congress president Sonia Gandhi, had argued that information disclosed would be a threat to her life.
In a writ petition filed in HP high court Priyanka Gandhi claimed that Bhattacharya is not a resident of Himachal Pradesh and is not a Himachali and therefore has no locus standi to even question the correctness or otherwise of the order granting any relaxation in favour of Priyanka Gandhi permitting her to purchase property in the state.
She also said that Bhattacharya was complete stranger to HP and lives in NOIDA, therefore, could not be aggrieved of an order passed by the state urging that the petition be dismissed.
"Priyanka Gandhi is the daughter of the Congress chief Sonia Gandhi who credits Congress for giving RTI Act to the nation. And see the callous reasoning being provided by Priyanka Gandhi for the non disclosure of the asked for information,'' Bhattacharya said.
Bhattacharya had sought copies of land records and other property details owned by Priyanka Gandhi in a RTI query in June 2014. The HP state information commission had ruled that the information should be disclosed. However Gandhi approached high court to block disclosure.
How an encounter with RBI guv made Std VIII boy a viral sensation
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MUMBAI: Five days ago, Rajas Mehendale stepped out to buy vegetables when the grocer asked him, "Are you the boy in the video?" On the streets of Dombivli, this cherubic SSC student has become a sudden, albeit reluctant celebrity. After all, not only is he the boy who mentioned Dombivli in his introduction to RBI governor Raghuram Rajan but also the one who asked him a question involving the words "federal stimulus". "It feels a bit awkward," says Mehendale, about the attention garnered by the video of this event that has got over 7 lakh hits on Youtube in the last few days.
Though the event--the Times NIE Newsmakers' Meet where Raghuram Rajan, Governor of The Reserve Bank of India, was invited as the chief guest-- happened last year, the video became a viral sensation recently, nearly 16 months after the actual event. The event was telecast on ET NOW last year and its video is freely available on the internet. During this meet, the Governor of RBI addressed students, after which the floor was opened up for a direct question and answer session. Mehendale's was the first question. "The mere rumour of US cutting down on the Federal stimulus saw the rupee crash in value. When will we see an Indian policy affecting other countries so intensively?" asked the nervous student of Sister Nivedita School, surprised by the applause it garnered.
"I thought I will ask the question and maybe he will answer. That will be it," says Mehendale, who chose this question from a list of nine others he had prepared because it wasn't as common as his other questions: "Why did you want to become governor" and "Who are your idols?" But how did an eighth standard student know about federal stimulus? "I had read that they (the US) were pumping money into the economy at low rates, and that just this rumour had affected our graph very badly," says Mehendale, a voracious newspaper reader who likes to start with the sports page and move on to business.
Even as a kid, he had always nurtured an interest in currency exchange rates thanks to his well-travelled father's tendency to bring back coins from various countries. "I would track down the exchange rates of these coins and was interested in the dollar and pound in particular," says Rajas. Though Rajas's father Milind, a chemical engineer, does not understand the technicality of his son's question, he feels it contains "attitude" because "it conveyed his son's angst." He feels why should things affect us all the time? Why should we take things lying down?" says Milind. "He has always been a thinker, a slightly serious kid," attests Rajas's mother, Sonia.
At some level, Mehendale admits he feels jealous of the US because "whatever they say becomes the law suddenly. I wish they could consult other countries on financial decisions instead of focusing on making their economy stronger. Even the RBI governor smilingly admitted this in his answer to what he called "a great question". "I have been saying that the US should worry about the effect of its policy on the rest of the world," said Rajan. "If I stood by that, we should not be very happy down the line when Indian policies affect rest of the world adversely. We would like to live in a world, where countries take into account the effect of their policies on other countries and do what is right broadly, rather than what is just right, given the circumstances of the country. My guess is that by the time you are old enough to get a job, we will be a significant force in the world economy."
Though he may be uncomfortable under the spotlight, Mehendale says he was happy he got a chance through Times NIE to ask the question about his country. "I am not a nationalist," says Mehendale, "but I like my country."
MUMBAI: Five days ago, Rajas Mehendale stepped out to buy vegetables when the grocer asked him, "Are you the boy in the video?" On the streets of Dombivli, this cherubic SSC student has become a sudden, albeit reluctant celebrity. After all, not only is he the boy who mentioned Dombivli in his introduction to RBI governor Raghuram Rajan but also the one who asked him a question involving the words "federal stimulus". "It feels a bit awkward," says Mehendale, about the attention garnered by the video of this event that has got over 7 lakh hits on Youtube in the last few days.Though the event--the Times NIE Newsmakers' Meet where Raghuram Rajan, Governor of The Reserve Bank of India, was invited as the chief guest-- happened last year, the video became a viral sensation recently, nearly 16 months after the actual event. The event was telecast on ET NOW last year and its video is freely available on the internet. During this meet, the Governor of RBI addressed students, after which the floor was opened up for a direct question and answer session. Mehendale's was the first question. "The mere rumour of US cutting down on the Federal stimulus saw the rupee crash in value. When will we see an Indian policy affecting other countries so intensively?" asked the nervous student of Sister Nivedita School, surprised by the applause it garnered.
"I thought I will ask the question and maybe he will answer. That will be it," says Mehendale, who chose this question from a list of nine others he had prepared because it wasn't as common as his other questions: "Why did you want to become governor" and "Who are your idols?" But how did an eighth standard student know about federal stimulus? "I had read that they (the US) were pumping money into the economy at low rates, and that just this rumour had affected our graph very badly," says Mehendale, a voracious newspaper reader who likes to start with the sports page and move on to business.
Even as a kid, he had always nurtured an interest in currency exchange rates thanks to his well-travelled father's tendency to bring back coins from various countries. "I would track down the exchange rates of these coins and was interested in the dollar and pound in particular," says Rajas. Though Rajas's father Milind, a chemical engineer, does not understand the technicality of his son's question, he feels it contains "attitude" because "it conveyed his son's angst." He feels why should things affect us all the time? Why should we take things lying down?" says Milind. "He has always been a thinker, a slightly serious kid," attests Rajas's mother, Sonia.
At some level, Mehendale admits he feels jealous of the US because "whatever they say becomes the law suddenly. I wish they could consult other countries on financial decisions instead of focusing on making their economy stronger. Even the RBI governor smilingly admitted this in his answer to what he called "a great question". "I have been saying that the US should worry about the effect of its policy on the rest of the world," said Rajan. "If I stood by that, we should not be very happy down the line when Indian policies affect rest of the world adversely. We would like to live in a world, where countries take into account the effect of their policies on other countries and do what is right broadly, rather than what is just right, given the circumstances of the country. My guess is that by the time you are old enough to get a job, we will be a significant force in the world economy."
Though he may be uncomfortable under the spotlight, Mehendale says he was happy he got a chance through Times NIE to ask the question about his country. "I am not a nationalist," says Mehendale, "but I like my country."
Indian held for suspected terror links by China released, deported
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NEW DELHI: A 46-year-old Indian national, who was held in China for alleged terror links, was released and deported back today, Indian officials said.
Rajiv Mohan Kulshrestha, who travelled along with 19 other foreigners from Gift of the Givers, a South African charity, was taken into custody at Ordos's in China's Inner Mongolia province on July 10 for allegedly watching videos of a banned terror group in their hotel rooms.
Kulshrestha, stated to be a businessman from Delhi, was brought to Beijing last evening before being allowed to leave for India.
His release was facilitated by the Indian embassy which kept in close touch with the Chinese officials in Beijing and Mongolia, a statement from Indian embassy said.
Indian officials were given consular access to Kulshrestha before his release.
The Indian officials were at the airport at the time of the departure, the statement said.
Kulshrestha repatriation came after China had earlier released 11 British and South African nationals.
Kulshrestha, who was kept in custody along with eight others, had come to China on a 47 day tour.
China also released other eight people, five South African and three British nationals, according to reports in South African media.
With this all the 20 who were held have been released.
Earlier, official reports said that nine were detained for watching terror-related videos and the case became more intriguing after a local Chinese official at Inner Mongolia told the media that they also tried to propagate terrorism.
"No charges have been put to the group but the Chinese have been very vague saying that someone in the group has some links to a suspected terror group and that someone has some links to a banned group and that the real reason for the incarceration is that someone was watching propaganda videos in the hotel," Gift of the Givers foundation had said.
NEW DELHI: A 46-year-old Indian national, who was held in China for alleged terror links, was released and deported back today, Indian officials said. Rajiv Mohan Kulshrestha, who travelled along with 19 other foreigners from Gift of the Givers, a South African charity, was taken into custody at Ordos's in China's Inner Mongolia province on July 10 for allegedly watching videos of a banned terror group in their hotel rooms.
Kulshrestha, stated to be a businessman from Delhi, was brought to Beijing last evening before being allowed to leave for India.
His release was facilitated by the Indian embassy which kept in close touch with the Chinese officials in Beijing and Mongolia, a statement from Indian embassy said.
Indian officials were given consular access to Kulshrestha before his release.
The Indian officials were at the airport at the time of the departure, the statement said.
Kulshrestha repatriation came after China had earlier released 11 British and South African nationals.
Kulshrestha, who was kept in custody along with eight others, had come to China on a 47 day tour.
China also released other eight people, five South African and three British nationals, according to reports in South African media.
With this all the 20 who were held have been released.
Earlier, official reports said that nine were detained for watching terror-related videos and the case became more intriguing after a local Chinese official at Inner Mongolia told the media that they also tried to propagate terrorism.
"No charges have been put to the group but the Chinese have been very vague saying that someone in the group has some links to a suspected terror group and that someone has some links to a banned group and that the real reason for the incarceration is that someone was watching propaganda videos in the hotel," Gift of the Givers foundation had said.
Chinese firm had made drone shot down in Pakistan
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BEIJING: A drone shot down in Pakistan has been identified as having been made in China, a state-run daily said on Saturday.
The drone was "recognized in Beijing as the Chinese-made DJI phantom 3", the People's Daily reported, citing the Shanghai-based Observer website.
The Phantom 3 Advanced represents the most intelligent, most powerful, and most accessible drone to date, the report said.
The drone sells for $1,200.
DJI is a Chinese technology company founded in 2006 by Frank Wang and headquartered in Shenzhen, Guangdong. It manufactures commercial and recreational unmanned aerial vehicles for aerial photography and videography.
Pakistan claimed that it shot down an "Indian spy drone". However, India denied the claim and maintained that the craft had been made in China.
BEIJING: A drone shot down in Pakistan has been identified as having been made in China, a state-run daily said on Saturday.The drone was "recognized in Beijing as the Chinese-made DJI phantom 3", the People's Daily reported, citing the Shanghai-based Observer website.
The Phantom 3 Advanced represents the most intelligent, most powerful, and most accessible drone to date, the report said.
The drone sells for $1,200.
DJI is a Chinese technology company founded in 2006 by Frank Wang and headquartered in Shenzhen, Guangdong. It manufactures commercial and recreational unmanned aerial vehicles for aerial photography and videography.
Pakistan claimed that it shot down an "Indian spy drone". However, India denied the claim and maintained that the craft had been made in China.
IS used chemical weapons against Syria: Experts
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BEIRUT: The Islamic State group fired chemical weapons against Kurdish forces in Syria and Iraq last month, Kurdish fighters and weapons experts have said.
The Conflict Armament Research (CAR) group and Sahan Research said in a statement Friday that IS targeted Iraqi Kurdish peshmerga with a projectile filled with a chemical agent on June 21 or 22.
The organisations also documented two such attacks against Kurdish fighters from the People's Protection Units (YPG) in Syria's northeastern Hasakeh province on June 28.
The YPG said the attacks targeted the Kurdish-held Salhiya district of Hasakeh city and Kurdish positions south of the town of Tel Brak.
"Upon impact, the projectiles released a yellow gas with a strong smell of rotten onions," the YPG said in a statement on Friday.
It added that the ground around the impact sites was stained with a liquid that was green at first but turned yellow on contact with sunlight.
"Our troops exposed to the gas experienced burning of the throat, eyes and nose, combined with severe headaches, muscle pain and impaired concentration and mobility. Prolonged exposure to the chemicals also caused vomiting."
The YPG reported no deaths in the attacks and said that exposed forces subsequently recovered from their symptoms.
They added that YPG fighters had captured industrial-grade gas masks from IS forces in recent weeks "confirming that they are prepared and equipped for chemical warfare along this sector of the front."
CAR and Sahan Research, who conducted research in coordination with Kurdish forces, said in a joint statement that seven projectiles were fired in the Hasakeh city attack, and 17 in the attack near Tal Brak.
They said urine samples taken from those affected in the Tal Brak attack tested positive for a compound that is commonly found in agricultural pesticides.
But they had no definitive answer yet on the precise chemical composition of the agents that had been used in the two attacks in Syria.
The chemical used in the Iraq attack had characteristics and clinical effects "consistent with a chlorine chemical agent," the groups said.
They said the three attacks in the two countries were "the first documented use by IS forces of projectile-delivered chemical agents against Kurdish forces and civilian targets."
"Although these chemical attacks appear to be test cases, we expect IS construction skills to advance rapidly as they have for other IEDS (improvised explosive devices)," said Emmanuel Deisser, managing director at Sahan Research.
IS has been accused of using chlorine against Kurdish forces in Iraq before.
In March, the autonomous Kurdish government in northern Iraq said it had evidence that the jihadist group used chlorine in a car bomb attack on January 23.
Chemical weapons have also been deployed in the Syrian conflict on multiple occasions.
By far the deadliest incident, in August 2013, involved the use of sarin gas and killed up to 1,400 people in a rebel-held Damascus suburb.
The Syrian opposition and much of the international community blamed the attack on the Damascus government.
Syria denied responsibility but subsequently surrendered its arsenal of chemical weapons under a UN-backed agreement.
There have since been a number of reported attacks using chlorine.
Some have been confirmed by the international chemical weapons watchdog but it did not say who carried them out.
Syria was not required to surrender any stocks of chlorine under the 2013 agreement because it is widely used for commercial and domestic purposes.
But use of the gas for military purposes would be a breach of its undertakings under the deal.
More than 230,000 people have been killed in Syria since the conflict began in March 2011 with anti-government protests before spiralling into a complex multi-front war.
BEIRUT: The Islamic State group fired chemical weapons against Kurdish forces in Syria and Iraq last month, Kurdish fighters and weapons experts have said. The Conflict Armament Research (CAR) group and Sahan Research said in a statement Friday that IS targeted Iraqi Kurdish peshmerga with a projectile filled with a chemical agent on June 21 or 22.
The organisations also documented two such attacks against Kurdish fighters from the People's Protection Units (YPG) in Syria's northeastern Hasakeh province on June 28.
The YPG said the attacks targeted the Kurdish-held Salhiya district of Hasakeh city and Kurdish positions south of the town of Tel Brak.
"Upon impact, the projectiles released a yellow gas with a strong smell of rotten onions," the YPG said in a statement on Friday.
It added that the ground around the impact sites was stained with a liquid that was green at first but turned yellow on contact with sunlight.
"Our troops exposed to the gas experienced burning of the throat, eyes and nose, combined with severe headaches, muscle pain and impaired concentration and mobility. Prolonged exposure to the chemicals also caused vomiting."
The YPG reported no deaths in the attacks and said that exposed forces subsequently recovered from their symptoms.
They added that YPG fighters had captured industrial-grade gas masks from IS forces in recent weeks "confirming that they are prepared and equipped for chemical warfare along this sector of the front."
CAR and Sahan Research, who conducted research in coordination with Kurdish forces, said in a joint statement that seven projectiles were fired in the Hasakeh city attack, and 17 in the attack near Tal Brak.
They said urine samples taken from those affected in the Tal Brak attack tested positive for a compound that is commonly found in agricultural pesticides.
But they had no definitive answer yet on the precise chemical composition of the agents that had been used in the two attacks in Syria.
The chemical used in the Iraq attack had characteristics and clinical effects "consistent with a chlorine chemical agent," the groups said.
They said the three attacks in the two countries were "the first documented use by IS forces of projectile-delivered chemical agents against Kurdish forces and civilian targets."
"Although these chemical attacks appear to be test cases, we expect IS construction skills to advance rapidly as they have for other IEDS (improvised explosive devices)," said Emmanuel Deisser, managing director at Sahan Research.
IS has been accused of using chlorine against Kurdish forces in Iraq before.
In March, the autonomous Kurdish government in northern Iraq said it had evidence that the jihadist group used chlorine in a car bomb attack on January 23.
Chemical weapons have also been deployed in the Syrian conflict on multiple occasions.
By far the deadliest incident, in August 2013, involved the use of sarin gas and killed up to 1,400 people in a rebel-held Damascus suburb.
The Syrian opposition and much of the international community blamed the attack on the Damascus government.
Syria denied responsibility but subsequently surrendered its arsenal of chemical weapons under a UN-backed agreement.
There have since been a number of reported attacks using chlorine.
Some have been confirmed by the international chemical weapons watchdog but it did not say who carried them out.
Syria was not required to surrender any stocks of chlorine under the 2013 agreement because it is widely used for commercial and domestic purposes.
But use of the gas for military purposes would be a breach of its undertakings under the deal.
More than 230,000 people have been killed in Syria since the conflict began in March 2011 with anti-government protests before spiralling into a complex multi-front war.
US firm paid $976,000 bribe to win Indian water project
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WASHINGTON: A New Jersey-based construction management firm has been charged with bribing Indian officials several crores of rupees to win two major water developmental projects in Goa and in Guwahati.
The bribery of $976,630 for a Goa project by Louis Berger included that to a minister, the details of which have not been disclosed by the Department of Justice.
On Friday, the company agreed to pay $17.1 million criminal fine to resolve charges that it bribed officials in India, Indonesia, Vietnam and Kuwait to secure government construction management contracts.
Two of its former executives - Richard Hirsch (61) of Philippines, and James McClung (59) of the UAE - pleaded guilty to the bribery charges.
McClung previously served as senior vice president responsible for the firm's operations in India and in Vietnam.
Sentencing hearings for Hirsch and McClung are scheduled for November 5, 2015.
The Indian government, assisted by Japanese government, initiated the five-year Goa Water Supply and Sewerage Project to expand, rehabilitate and build water and sewerage facilities.
Louis Berger was part of a consortium for the project in Goa. The consortium included two Japanese firms and an Indian partner.
The team developed a project management information system and plan, evaluated bids, reviewed design and construction plans, and ensured quality work was done on time and within budget, the company says on its website.
Federal prosecutors, in their 11-page chargesheet, alleged that Louis Berger maintained a detailed diary and account of bribery made to Indian officials.
The bribery of $976,630 for a Goa project by Louis Berger included that to a minister, the details of which have not been disclosed by the Department of Justice.
On Friday, the company agreed to pay $17.1 million criminal fine to resolve charges that it bribed officials in India, Indonesia, Vietnam and Kuwait to secure government construction management contracts.
Two of its former executives - Richard Hirsch (61) of Philippines, and James McClung (59) of the UAE - pleaded guilty to the bribery charges.
McClung previously served as senior vice president responsible for the firm's operations in India and in Vietnam.
Sentencing hearings for Hirsch and McClung are scheduled for November 5, 2015.
The Indian government, assisted by Japanese government, initiated the five-year Goa Water Supply and Sewerage Project to expand, rehabilitate and build water and sewerage facilities.
Louis Berger was part of a consortium for the project in Goa. The consortium included two Japanese firms and an Indian partner.
The team developed a project management information system and plan, evaluated bids, reviewed design and construction plans, and ensured quality work was done on time and within budget, the company says on its website.
Federal prosecutors, in their 11-page chargesheet, alleged that Louis Berger maintained a detailed diary and account of bribery made to Indian officials.
Modi Schemes: Environmental and Health Part 4
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Dear Readers & Aspirants, We collected Modi Schemes in Environmental and Health and make it in PDF format. We Hope it will definitely help you for your SBI PO,IBPS,RBI assistant and many more upcoming Exams. All the Best My Dear Aspirants & Readers.
- Modi Schemes: Banking & Insurance Part 1
- Modi Schemes: Agriculture & Irrigation – Part 2
- Modi Schemes: Technology Part 3
1 Swachh bharat abhiyan
Introduction
Swachh Bharat Abhiyan is started by the government to make India a completely clean India. Clean India was a dream seen by the Mahatma Gandhi regarding which he said that, “Sanitation is more important than Independence”. During his time he was well aware of the poor and dirty condition of the country that’s why he made various efforts to complete his dream however could not be successful. As he dreamt of clean India a day, he said that both cleanliness and sanitation are integral parts of healthy and peaceful living. Unfortunately, India became lack of cleanliness and sanitation even after 67 years of independence. According to the statistics, it has seen that only few percentage of total population have access to the toilets. It is a programme run by the government to seriously work to fulfill the vision of Father of Nation (Bapu) by calling the people from all walks of life to make it successful globally.
This mission has to be completed by 150th birth anniversary of Bapu (2nd October of 2019) in next five years (from the launch date). It is urged by the government to people to spend their only 100 hours of the year towards cleanliness in their surrounding areas or other places of India to really make it a successful campaign. There are various implementation policies and mechanisms for the programme including three important phases such as planning phase, implementation phase and sustainability phase.
What is Swachh Bharat Abhiyan
Swachh Bharat Abhiyan is a national cleanliness campaign established by the Government of India. This campaign is covering 4041 statutory towns in order to clean roads, streets, and infrastructure of the India. It is a mass movement has run to create a Clean India by 2019. It is a step ahead to the Mahatma Gandhi’s dream of swachh Bharat for healthy and prosperous life. This mission was launched on 2nd of October 2014 (145th birth anniversary of Bapu) by targeting its completeness in 2019 on 150th birth anniversary of Bapu. The mission has been implemented to cover all the rural and urban areas of the India under the Ministry of Urban Development and the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation accordingly.
The first cleanliness drive (on 25th of September 2014) of this mission was started by the Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi earlier to its launch. This mission has targeted to solve the sanitation problems as well as better waste management all over the India by creating sanitation facilities to all.
Need of Swachh Bharat Abhiyan
- It is really very essential to eliminate the open defecation in India as well as making available toilets facility to everyone.
- It is needed in India to convert the insanitary toilets into flushing toilets.
- It is necessary in order to eradicate the manual scavenging system.
- It is to implement the proper waste management through the scientific processes, hygienic disposal, reuse, and recycling of the municipal solid wastes.
- It is to bring behavioral changes among Indian people regarding maintenance of personal hygiene and practice of healthy sanitation methods.
- It is to create global awareness among common public living in rural areas and link it to the public health.
- It is to support working bodies to design, execute and operate the waste disposal systems locally.
- It is to bring private-sector participation to develop sanitary facilities all through the India.
- It is to make India a clean and green India.
- It is necessary to improve the quality of life of people in rural areas.
- It is to bring sustainable sanitation practices by motivating communities and Panchayati Raj Institutions through the awareness programmes like health education.
- It is to bring the dream of Bapu to really come true.
Swachh Bharat Mission in Urban Areas
The swachh bharat mission of urban areas aims to cover almost 1.04 crore households in order to provide them 2.6 lakhs of public toilets, 2.5 lakhs of community toilets together with the solid wastes management in every town. Community toilets have been planned to be built in the residential areas where availability of individual household toilets is difficult and public toilets at designated locations including bus stations, tourist places, railway stations, markets, etc. Cleanliness programme in the urban areas (around 4,401 towns) have been planned to be completed over five years till 2019. The costs of programmes are set like Rs 7,366 crore on solid waste management, Rs 1,828 crore on public awareness, Rs 655 crore on community toilets, Rs 4,165 crore on individual household toilets, etc. Programmes which have been targeted to be completed are complete removal of open defecation, converting unsanitary toilets into flush toilets, eradicating manual scavenging, bring behavioral changes among public, and solid waste management.
Gramin Swachh Bharat Mission
Gramin swachh bharat mission is a mission implementing cleanliness programmes in the rural areas. Earlier the Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan (also called Total Sanitation campaign, TSC) was established by the Government of India in 1999 to make rural areas clean however now it has been restructured into the Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin). This campaign is aimed to make rural areas free of open defecation till 2019 for which the cost has been estimated is one lakh thirty four thousand crore rupees for constructing approximately 11 crore 11 lakh toilets in the country. There is a big plan of converting waste into bio-fertilizer and useful energy forms. This mission involves the participation of gram panchayat, panchayat samiti and Zila Parishad.
Following are the objectives of Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin)_
- To improve quality of life of people living in the rural areas.
- Motivate people to maintain sanitation in rural areas to complete the vision of Swachh Bharat by 2019.
- To motivate local working bodies (such as communities, Panchayati Raj Institutions, etc) to make available the required sustainable sanitation facilities.
- Develop advance environmental sanitation systems manageable by the community especially to focus on solid and liquid waste management in the rural areas.
- To promote ecologically safe and sustainable sanitation in the rural areas.
Swachh Bharat-Swachh Vidyalaya Campaign
The swachh bharat swachh vidyalaya campaign runs by the Union Ministry of Human Resource Development having same objectives of cleanliness in the schools. A big programme was organized under it from 25th of September 2014 to 31st of October 2014 in the Kendriya Vidyalays and Navodaya Vidyalya Sangathans where lots of cleanliness activities were held such as discussion over various cleanliness aspects in the school assembly by the students, teachings of Mahatma Gandhi related to cleanliness, cleanliness and hygiene topics, cleaning activities (in the class rooms, libraries, laboratories, kitchen sheds stores, playgrounds, gardens, toilets, pantry areas, etc), cleaning of statue in the school area, speech over the contribution of great people, essay writing competition, debates, art, painting, film, shows, role plays related to hygiene including other many activities on cleanliness and hygiene. It has also been planned to held half an hour cleaning campaign in the schools twice a week involving the cleanliness activities by the teachers, students, parents and community members.
Conclusion
We can say swachh bharat abhiyan, a nice welcome step to the clean and green India till 2019. As we all heard about the most famous proverb that “Cleanliness is Next to Godliness”, we can say surely that clean India campaign (swachh bharat abhiyan) will really bring godliness all over the country in few years if it is followed by the people of India in effective manner. So, the cleanliness activities to warm welcome the godliness have been started but do not need to be ended if we really want godliness in our lives forever. A healthy country and a healthy society need its citizens to be healthy and clean in every walk of life.
2 Bal Swachhta Abhiyan
Bal Swachhta Abhiyan or Mission was especially launched on the birth anniversary of the first Indian Prime Minister, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru (also called as Chacha Nehru) because of his love and devotion towards children. Chacha Nehru was a great person who loved children so much that’s why children’s day event and Bal Swachhta Abhiyan has been launched on the 14th of November, his birth anniversary. The celebration of this mission takes place from 14th of November to 19th of November means from birthday of first Indian prime minister to birthday of first woman Indian prime minister (Indira Gandhi).
This mission was launched by the Indian Union Minister of Women and Child Development, Smt. Maneka Sanjay Gandhi in New Delhi at Maidangarhi anganwadi on 14th of November, 2014. This abhiyan is started as an initiative programme of nationwide sanitation. The objectives of this mission are more likely matches with the purposes of Swachh Bharat Mission launched by Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi. Both of the missions have purpose of achieving a Swachh Bharat or clean India in near future. Children are the best medium of initiating cleanliness and sanitation all through the India as well as motivate others in maintaining the cleanliness of homes, surroundings, environment, schools, etc.
Children from all schools actively take part in the ongoing cleanliness drive to make India a clean India as well as make cleanliness a vital part of daily life. Cleanliness is a campaign, the purpose of which can be fulfilled only when every Indian citizen takes part and do their best to maintain the cleanliness in daily routine. This five days long mission has following themes according to the date of celebration in 2014:
The theme of 14th November was “Clean Schools, Surroundings and Play areas”.
The theme of 15th November was “Clean Food”.
The theme of 17th November was “Clean Self”.
The theme of 18th November was “Clean Drinking Water”.
The theme of 19th November was “Clean Toilet”.
Different themes of particular dates were decided by the government to make the celebration more enthusiastic, effective, targetable and purposeful. All the students took part actively in the cleanliness drive and followed strict instructions to undertake activities of garbage removal from the surrounding areas. Students are motivated, directed and inspected by their teachers and principals to perform the many activities related to event.
3 Namami Ganga Yojana- Integrated Ganga Conservation Mission
National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA) has started the Mission Clean Ganga with a changed and comprehensive approach to champion the challenges posed to Ganga through four different sectors, namely, of wastewater management, solid waste management, industrial pollution and river front development.
NGRBA has been established through the Gazette notification of the Government of India (Extraordinary) No. 328 dated February 20, 2009 issued at New Delhi with the objectives of
(a) ensuring effective abatement of pollution and conservation of the river Ganga by adopting a river basin approach to promote inter-sectoral co-ordination for comprehensive planning and management.
(b) maintaining environmental flows in the river Ganga with the aim of ensuring water quality and environmentally sustainable development.
NGRBA is mandated to take up regulatory and developmental functions with sustainability needs for effective abatement of pollution and conservation of the river Ganga by adopting a river basin approach for comprehensive planning and management. The Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation(MoWR, RD & GR) is the nodal Ministry for the NGRBA. The authority is chaired by the Prime Minister and has as its members the Union Ministers concerned, the Chief Ministers of the States through which Ganga flows, viz., Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal, among others. This initiative is expected to rejuvenate the collective efforts of the Centre and the States for cleaning the river.
NGRBA functions include development of a Ganga River Basin Management Plan, regulation of activities aimed at prevention, control and abatement of pollution, to maintain water quality and to take measures relevant to the river ecology in the Ganga basin states. It is mandated to ensure the maintenance of minimum ecological flows in the river Ganga and abate pollution through planning, financing and execution of programmes including that of –
- Augmentation of Sewerage Infrastructure
- Catchment Area Treatment
- Protection of Flood Plains
- Creating Public Awareness
NGRBA has been mandated as a planning, financing, monitoring and coordinating authority for strengthening the collective efforts of the Central and State governments for effective abatement of pollution and conservation of river Ganga so as to ensure that by the year 2020 no untreated municipal sewage or industrial effluent will flow into the river Ganga.
The NGRBA is fully operational and is also supported by the state level State Ganga River Conservation Authorities (SGRCAs) in five Ganga basin States which are chaired by the Chief Ministers of the respective States. Under NGRBA programme, projects worth Rs. 4607.82 crore have been sanctioned up to 31st March 2014.
Powers & Functions
NGRBA has the power, combined with regulatory and developmental functions, to take all such measures and discharge functions as it deems necessary or expedient for effective abatement of pollution and conservation of the river Ganga in keeping with sustainable development needs. Such measures include following matters, namely:-
a)Development of river basin management plan and regulation of activities aimed at prevention, control and abatement of pollution in the river Ganga to maintain its water quality, and to take such other measures relevant to river ecology and management in the Ganga Basin States.
b)Maintenance of minimum ecological flows in the river Ganga with the aim of ensuring water quality and environmentally sustainable development.
c) Measures necessary for planning, financing and execution of programmes for abatement of pollution in the river Ganga including augmentation of sewerage infrastructure, catchment area treatment, protection of flood plains, creating public awareness and such other measures for promoting environmentally sustainable river conservation.
d)Collection, analysis and dissemination of information relating to environmental pollution in the river Ganga.
e)Investigations and research regarding problems of environmental pollution and conservation of the river Ganga.
f)Creation of special purpose vehicles, as appropriate, for implementation of works vested with the Authority.
g)Promotion of water conservation practices including recycling and reuse, rain water harvesting, and decentralised sewage treatment systems.
h)Monitoring and review of the implementation of various programmes or activities taken up for prevention, control and abatement of pollution in the river Ganga, and
i) Issuance of directions under section 5 of the Environment (Protection) Act 1986 (29 of 1986) for the purpose of exercising and performing all or any of the above functions and to take such other measures as the Authority deems necessary or expedient for achievement of its objectives.
f) The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 for the purpose of exercising and performing these functions and for achievement of its objectives.
National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG)
It is the implementation wing of National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA). It is a registered society originally formed by Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change(MoEFCC) on 12th August 2011 under the Societies Registration Act, 1860. As per the 306th amendment in the Government of India (Allocation of Business) Rules, 1961, both NGRBA and NMCG are allocated to the Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation(MoWR,RD &GR). Accordingly the General Body of NMCG is being re constituted. The Secretary to the Government of India, MoWR, RD & GR is the current chairman of the Governing Council of NMCG. As per the approval of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), the mandate of NGRBA is being implemented by, the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG). At national level NMCG is the coordinating body and is being supported by States Level Program Management Groups (SPMGs) of UP, Uttarakhand, Bihar and West Bengal which, are also registered as societies under Societies Registration Act, 1860 and a dedicated Nodal Cell in Jharkhand.
The area of operation of NMCG shall be the Ganga River Basin, including the states through which Ganga flows, as well as the National Capital Territory of Delhi. The area of operation may be extended, varied or altered in future, by the Governing Council to such other states through which major tributaries of the river Ganga flow, and as the National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA) may decide for the purpose of effective abatement of pollution and conservation of the river Ganga.
The Mission Director of NMCG is a Joint Secretary (JS) in Government of India. For effective implementation of the projects under the overall supervision of NMCG, the State Level Program Management Groups (SPMGs) are, also headed by senior officers of the concerned States.
This ISRO-backed India specific GIS tool will ensure real-time and public monitoring of river surface pollution on ground situations. The government will invite global tenders this week for river surface cleaning at ten chosen cities — Haridwar, Varanasi, Allahabad, Kanpur, Mathura & Vrindavan, Garhmukteshwar, Patna, Kolkata, Sahibgunj and Nabadwip.
FACT FILE – CLEAN-GANGA * STATISTICS
*PROJECT MODEL -“THAMES RIVER “
- Ganga action plan (GAP)sarted in -1986
- Stated by rajiv gandhi PM in 1985 with $ 226 million aid
2.FUND ALLOCATION
- From 1985 -2014 — 4500 crores by govt of india
- Ganga conservation mission –2000 cr
- Budget -2014-15 — 2037 cr
- Recent — 20000 crores for “NAMAMI GANGA PROJECT “
3.GANGA covers
- 5- states uttarkhand , jharkahand , uttarpradesh, westbengal , bihar
- 10 -piligrim places , HARIDWAR , VARANASI, ALLAHBAD, KANPUR , VRIRDAM, GORIMUKESHU, PATNA, KOLKATTA, SAHIBANGJ, NABODWIP
- 18 – years project duration
- 23- Small cities
- 26% — Ganga covers india land mass
- 29 – Big cities
- 37% – gnaga covers india
- 48-towns
- 118- GHATS
- 2500 km- project coverage
4.MINISTRY
- Ministry involved –Union ministery of water resources river development
- Authority –NGRBA — National Ganga River Basin Authourity
- Mission — NMCG — National Mission for Clean Ganga
5.ASSISTANCE FROM OTHER COUNTRIES_
- JAPAN – External aided project
- Australia — cleaning project
- germany — water management & rejvuation
- Netherlands — flood control assistance
6.POLLUTED LEVELS
- BOD- biochemical oxygen demand –100mg per litre
- 250 industries along the ganga zone
- total pollution per day — 50,500 million litres per day
Dialogue has been organized by National Mission for Clean Ganga
which is being attended by large number of delegates from different parts of the country and abroad.
The dialogue will have four different sessions on
- “Ganga & Sanskriti” (for Spiritual Leaders)
- “Public Participation for Ganga” (for Public Representatives & Administrators)
- “Aviral & Nirmal Ganga” (for NGOs & Environmentalists)
- “Comprehensive & Sustainable Solutions” (for Academicians & Technocrats)
Dear Readers & Aspirants, We collected Modi Schemes in Environmental and Health and make it in PDF format. We Hope it will definitely help you for your SBI PO,IBPS,RBI assistant and many more upcoming Exams. All the Best My Dear Aspirants & Readers.
- Modi Schemes: Banking & Insurance Part 1
- Modi Schemes: Agriculture & Irrigation – Part 2
- Modi Schemes: Technology Part 3
1 Swachh bharat abhiyan
Introduction
Swachh Bharat Abhiyan is started by the government to make India a completely clean India. Clean India was a dream seen by the Mahatma Gandhi regarding which he said that, “Sanitation is more important than Independence”. During his time he was well aware of the poor and dirty condition of the country that’s why he made various efforts to complete his dream however could not be successful. As he dreamt of clean India a day, he said that both cleanliness and sanitation are integral parts of healthy and peaceful living. Unfortunately, India became lack of cleanliness and sanitation even after 67 years of independence. According to the statistics, it has seen that only few percentage of total population have access to the toilets. It is a programme run by the government to seriously work to fulfill the vision of Father of Nation (Bapu) by calling the people from all walks of life to make it successful globally.
This mission has to be completed by 150th birth anniversary of Bapu (2nd October of 2019) in next five years (from the launch date). It is urged by the government to people to spend their only 100 hours of the year towards cleanliness in their surrounding areas or other places of India to really make it a successful campaign. There are various implementation policies and mechanisms for the programme including three important phases such as planning phase, implementation phase and sustainability phase.
What is Swachh Bharat Abhiyan
Swachh Bharat Abhiyan is a national cleanliness campaign established by the Government of India. This campaign is covering 4041 statutory towns in order to clean roads, streets, and infrastructure of the India. It is a mass movement has run to create a Clean India by 2019. It is a step ahead to the Mahatma Gandhi’s dream of swachh Bharat for healthy and prosperous life. This mission was launched on 2nd of October 2014 (145th birth anniversary of Bapu) by targeting its completeness in 2019 on 150th birth anniversary of Bapu. The mission has been implemented to cover all the rural and urban areas of the India under the Ministry of Urban Development and the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation accordingly.
The first cleanliness drive (on 25th of September 2014) of this mission was started by the Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi earlier to its launch. This mission has targeted to solve the sanitation problems as well as better waste management all over the India by creating sanitation facilities to all.
Need of Swachh Bharat Abhiyan
- It is really very essential to eliminate the open defecation in India as well as making available toilets facility to everyone.
- It is needed in India to convert the insanitary toilets into flushing toilets.
- It is necessary in order to eradicate the manual scavenging system.
- It is to implement the proper waste management through the scientific processes, hygienic disposal, reuse, and recycling of the municipal solid wastes.
- It is to bring behavioral changes among Indian people regarding maintenance of personal hygiene and practice of healthy sanitation methods.
- It is to create global awareness among common public living in rural areas and link it to the public health.
- It is to support working bodies to design, execute and operate the waste disposal systems locally.
- It is to bring private-sector participation to develop sanitary facilities all through the India.
- It is to make India a clean and green India.
- It is necessary to improve the quality of life of people in rural areas.
- It is to bring sustainable sanitation practices by motivating communities and Panchayati Raj Institutions through the awareness programmes like health education.
- It is to bring the dream of Bapu to really come true.
Swachh Bharat Mission in Urban Areas
The swachh bharat mission of urban areas aims to cover almost 1.04 crore households in order to provide them 2.6 lakhs of public toilets, 2.5 lakhs of community toilets together with the solid wastes management in every town. Community toilets have been planned to be built in the residential areas where availability of individual household toilets is difficult and public toilets at designated locations including bus stations, tourist places, railway stations, markets, etc. Cleanliness programme in the urban areas (around 4,401 towns) have been planned to be completed over five years till 2019. The costs of programmes are set like Rs 7,366 crore on solid waste management, Rs 1,828 crore on public awareness, Rs 655 crore on community toilets, Rs 4,165 crore on individual household toilets, etc. Programmes which have been targeted to be completed are complete removal of open defecation, converting unsanitary toilets into flush toilets, eradicating manual scavenging, bring behavioral changes among public, and solid waste management.
Gramin Swachh Bharat Mission
Gramin swachh bharat mission is a mission implementing cleanliness programmes in the rural areas. Earlier the Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan (also called Total Sanitation campaign, TSC) was established by the Government of India in 1999 to make rural areas clean however now it has been restructured into the Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin). This campaign is aimed to make rural areas free of open defecation till 2019 for which the cost has been estimated is one lakh thirty four thousand crore rupees for constructing approximately 11 crore 11 lakh toilets in the country. There is a big plan of converting waste into bio-fertilizer and useful energy forms. This mission involves the participation of gram panchayat, panchayat samiti and Zila Parishad.
Following are the objectives of Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin)_
- To improve quality of life of people living in the rural areas.
- Motivate people to maintain sanitation in rural areas to complete the vision of Swachh Bharat by 2019.
- To motivate local working bodies (such as communities, Panchayati Raj Institutions, etc) to make available the required sustainable sanitation facilities.
- Develop advance environmental sanitation systems manageable by the community especially to focus on solid and liquid waste management in the rural areas.
- To promote ecologically safe and sustainable sanitation in the rural areas.
Swachh Bharat-Swachh Vidyalaya Campaign
The swachh bharat swachh vidyalaya campaign runs by the Union Ministry of Human Resource Development having same objectives of cleanliness in the schools. A big programme was organized under it from 25th of September 2014 to 31st of October 2014 in the Kendriya Vidyalays and Navodaya Vidyalya Sangathans where lots of cleanliness activities were held such as discussion over various cleanliness aspects in the school assembly by the students, teachings of Mahatma Gandhi related to cleanliness, cleanliness and hygiene topics, cleaning activities (in the class rooms, libraries, laboratories, kitchen sheds stores, playgrounds, gardens, toilets, pantry areas, etc), cleaning of statue in the school area, speech over the contribution of great people, essay writing competition, debates, art, painting, film, shows, role plays related to hygiene including other many activities on cleanliness and hygiene. It has also been planned to held half an hour cleaning campaign in the schools twice a week involving the cleanliness activities by the teachers, students, parents and community members.
Conclusion
We can say swachh bharat abhiyan, a nice welcome step to the clean and green India till 2019. As we all heard about the most famous proverb that “Cleanliness is Next to Godliness”, we can say surely that clean India campaign (swachh bharat abhiyan) will really bring godliness all over the country in few years if it is followed by the people of India in effective manner. So, the cleanliness activities to warm welcome the godliness have been started but do not need to be ended if we really want godliness in our lives forever. A healthy country and a healthy society need its citizens to be healthy and clean in every walk of life.
2 Bal Swachhta Abhiyan
Bal Swachhta Abhiyan or Mission was especially launched on the birth anniversary of the first Indian Prime Minister, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru (also called as Chacha Nehru) because of his love and devotion towards children. Chacha Nehru was a great person who loved children so much that’s why children’s day event and Bal Swachhta Abhiyan has been launched on the 14th of November, his birth anniversary. The celebration of this mission takes place from 14th of November to 19th of November means from birthday of first Indian prime minister to birthday of first woman Indian prime minister (Indira Gandhi).
This mission was launched by the Indian Union Minister of Women and Child Development, Smt. Maneka Sanjay Gandhi in New Delhi at Maidangarhi anganwadi on 14th of November, 2014. This abhiyan is started as an initiative programme of nationwide sanitation. The objectives of this mission are more likely matches with the purposes of Swachh Bharat Mission launched by Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi. Both of the missions have purpose of achieving a Swachh Bharat or clean India in near future. Children are the best medium of initiating cleanliness and sanitation all through the India as well as motivate others in maintaining the cleanliness of homes, surroundings, environment, schools, etc.
Children from all schools actively take part in the ongoing cleanliness drive to make India a clean India as well as make cleanliness a vital part of daily life. Cleanliness is a campaign, the purpose of which can be fulfilled only when every Indian citizen takes part and do their best to maintain the cleanliness in daily routine. This five days long mission has following themes according to the date of celebration in 2014:
The theme of 14th November was “Clean Schools, Surroundings and Play areas”.
The theme of 15th November was “Clean Food”.
The theme of 17th November was “Clean Self”.
The theme of 18th November was “Clean Drinking Water”.
The theme of 19th November was “Clean Toilet”.
Different themes of particular dates were decided by the government to make the celebration more enthusiastic, effective, targetable and purposeful. All the students took part actively in the cleanliness drive and followed strict instructions to undertake activities of garbage removal from the surrounding areas. Students are motivated, directed and inspected by their teachers and principals to perform the many activities related to event.
3 Namami Ganga Yojana- Integrated Ganga Conservation Mission
National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA) has started the Mission Clean Ganga with a changed and comprehensive approach to champion the challenges posed to Ganga through four different sectors, namely, of wastewater management, solid waste management, industrial pollution and river front development.
NGRBA has been established through the Gazette notification of the Government of India (Extraordinary) No. 328 dated February 20, 2009 issued at New Delhi with the objectives of
(a) ensuring effective abatement of pollution and conservation of the river Ganga by adopting a river basin approach to promote inter-sectoral co-ordination for comprehensive planning and management.
(b) maintaining environmental flows in the river Ganga with the aim of ensuring water quality and environmentally sustainable development.
NGRBA is mandated to take up regulatory and developmental functions with sustainability needs for effective abatement of pollution and conservation of the river Ganga by adopting a river basin approach for comprehensive planning and management. The Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation(MoWR, RD & GR) is the nodal Ministry for the NGRBA. The authority is chaired by the Prime Minister and has as its members the Union Ministers concerned, the Chief Ministers of the States through which Ganga flows, viz., Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal, among others. This initiative is expected to rejuvenate the collective efforts of the Centre and the States for cleaning the river.
NGRBA functions include development of a Ganga River Basin Management Plan, regulation of activities aimed at prevention, control and abatement of pollution, to maintain water quality and to take measures relevant to the river ecology in the Ganga basin states. It is mandated to ensure the maintenance of minimum ecological flows in the river Ganga and abate pollution through planning, financing and execution of programmes including that of –
- Augmentation of Sewerage Infrastructure
- Catchment Area Treatment
- Protection of Flood Plains
- Creating Public Awareness
NGRBA has been mandated as a planning, financing, monitoring and coordinating authority for strengthening the collective efforts of the Central and State governments for effective abatement of pollution and conservation of river Ganga so as to ensure that by the year 2020 no untreated municipal sewage or industrial effluent will flow into the river Ganga.
The NGRBA is fully operational and is also supported by the state level State Ganga River Conservation Authorities (SGRCAs) in five Ganga basin States which are chaired by the Chief Ministers of the respective States. Under NGRBA programme, projects worth Rs. 4607.82 crore have been sanctioned up to 31st March 2014.
Powers & Functions
NGRBA has the power, combined with regulatory and developmental functions, to take all such measures and discharge functions as it deems necessary or expedient for effective abatement of pollution and conservation of the river Ganga in keeping with sustainable development needs. Such measures include following matters, namely:-
a)Development of river basin management plan and regulation of activities aimed at prevention, control and abatement of pollution in the river Ganga to maintain its water quality, and to take such other measures relevant to river ecology and management in the Ganga Basin States.
b)Maintenance of minimum ecological flows in the river Ganga with the aim of ensuring water quality and environmentally sustainable development.
c) Measures necessary for planning, financing and execution of programmes for abatement of pollution in the river Ganga including augmentation of sewerage infrastructure, catchment area treatment, protection of flood plains, creating public awareness and such other measures for promoting environmentally sustainable river conservation.
d)Collection, analysis and dissemination of information relating to environmental pollution in the river Ganga.
e)Investigations and research regarding problems of environmental pollution and conservation of the river Ganga.
f)Creation of special purpose vehicles, as appropriate, for implementation of works vested with the Authority.
g)Promotion of water conservation practices including recycling and reuse, rain water harvesting, and decentralised sewage treatment systems.
h)Monitoring and review of the implementation of various programmes or activities taken up for prevention, control and abatement of pollution in the river Ganga, and
i) Issuance of directions under section 5 of the Environment (Protection) Act 1986 (29 of 1986) for the purpose of exercising and performing all or any of the above functions and to take such other measures as the Authority deems necessary or expedient for achievement of its objectives.
f) The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 for the purpose of exercising and performing these functions and for achievement of its objectives.
National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG)
It is the implementation wing of National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA). It is a registered society originally formed by Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change(MoEFCC) on 12th August 2011 under the Societies Registration Act, 1860. As per the 306th amendment in the Government of India (Allocation of Business) Rules, 1961, both NGRBA and NMCG are allocated to the Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation(MoWR,RD &GR). Accordingly the General Body of NMCG is being re constituted. The Secretary to the Government of India, MoWR, RD & GR is the current chairman of the Governing Council of NMCG. As per the approval of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), the mandate of NGRBA is being implemented by, the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG). At national level NMCG is the coordinating body and is being supported by States Level Program Management Groups (SPMGs) of UP, Uttarakhand, Bihar and West Bengal which, are also registered as societies under Societies Registration Act, 1860 and a dedicated Nodal Cell in Jharkhand.
The area of operation of NMCG shall be the Ganga River Basin, including the states through which Ganga flows, as well as the National Capital Territory of Delhi. The area of operation may be extended, varied or altered in future, by the Governing Council to such other states through which major tributaries of the river Ganga flow, and as the National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA) may decide for the purpose of effective abatement of pollution and conservation of the river Ganga.
The Mission Director of NMCG is a Joint Secretary (JS) in Government of India. For effective implementation of the projects under the overall supervision of NMCG, the State Level Program Management Groups (SPMGs) are, also headed by senior officers of the concerned States.
This ISRO-backed India specific GIS tool will ensure real-time and public monitoring of river surface pollution on ground situations. The government will invite global tenders this week for river surface cleaning at ten chosen cities — Haridwar, Varanasi, Allahabad, Kanpur, Mathura & Vrindavan, Garhmukteshwar, Patna, Kolkata, Sahibgunj and Nabadwip.
FACT FILE – CLEAN-GANGA * STATISTICS
*PROJECT MODEL -“THAMES RIVER “
- Ganga action plan (GAP)sarted in -1986
- Stated by rajiv gandhi PM in 1985 with $ 226 million aid
2.FUND ALLOCATION
- From 1985 -2014 — 4500 crores by govt of india
- Ganga conservation mission –2000 cr
- Budget -2014-15 — 2037 cr
- Recent — 20000 crores for “NAMAMI GANGA PROJECT “
3.GANGA covers
- 5- states uttarkhand , jharkahand , uttarpradesh, westbengal , bihar
- 10 -piligrim places , HARIDWAR , VARANASI, ALLAHBAD, KANPUR , VRIRDAM, GORIMUKESHU, PATNA, KOLKATTA, SAHIBANGJ, NABODWIP
- 18 – years project duration
- 23- Small cities
- 26% — Ganga covers india land mass
- 29 – Big cities
- 37% – gnaga covers india
- 48-towns
- 118- GHATS
- 2500 km- project coverage
4.MINISTRY
- Ministry involved –Union ministery of water resources river development
- Authority –NGRBA — National Ganga River Basin Authourity
- Mission — NMCG — National Mission for Clean Ganga
5.ASSISTANCE FROM OTHER COUNTRIES_
- JAPAN – External aided project
- Australia — cleaning project
- germany — water management & rejvuation
- Netherlands — flood control assistance
6.POLLUTED LEVELS
- BOD- biochemical oxygen demand –100mg per litre
- 250 industries along the ganga zone
- total pollution per day — 50,500 million litres per day
Dialogue has been organized by National Mission for Clean Ganga
which is being attended by large number of delegates from different parts of the country and abroad.
The dialogue will have four different sessions on
- “Ganga & Sanskriti” (for Spiritual Leaders)
- “Public Participation for Ganga” (for Public Representatives & Administrators)
- “Aviral & Nirmal Ganga” (for NGOs & Environmentalists)
- “Comprehensive & Sustainable Solutions” (for Academicians & Technocrats)
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