India

Patna, Aug 31 (IANS) Four people have died in Bihar's Barh area of Patna district after they allegedly fell ill following the consumption of suspected spurious liquor, triggering a police investigation.

Police informed the media on Sunday.

However, police is waiting for post-mortem report to confirm whether spurious liquor is the actual cause of death.

According to preliminary information, the incident was reported from Bedhna village, where the four victims were reportedly present before their health condition deteriorated after allegedly consuming liquor.

They were subsequently taken for medical treatment as their condition worsened.

Despite efforts to save them, all four reportedly died during treatment.

Following their deaths, the bodies were sent for post-mortem examination to ascertain the exact cause of death.

Police have launched an investigation into the incident and are trying to establish whether the victims had consumed illicit or contaminated liquor.

Officials are also expected to gather information about the circumstances in which the liquor was allegedly procured and consumed.

The deaths have raised concerns over the possible sale and consumption of spurious liquor in the area.

However, authorities have not yet officially confirmed that poisonous or illicit liquor was responsible for the deaths.

Police officials said the exact cause of death would be established only after the post-mortem examinations and medical reports are received.

Investigators are also likely to question people who were present with the victims and examine other evidence related to the incident.

The incident comes amid continuing concerns over illegal liquor trade in Bihar, where prohibition remains in force.

The state government and police have repeatedly warned against the manufacture, sale and consumption of illicit liquor, which can contain toxic substances and pose serious health risks.

Authorities are currently awaiting the post-mortem findings before drawing any conclusion regarding the deaths.

Further details are expected as the investigation progresses.

--IANS

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Kolkata, Aug 31 (IANS) Operations at one of India's busiest railway stations got safer and more reliable through a seven-hour-long exercise on the intervening night of August 29/30, 2026. A major infrastructure upgrade was carried out by various departments of Eastern Railway (ER) within the Sealdah station limits between midnight and 7 a.m., while most of the city and suburbs were asleep.

"The core engineering work focused on converting Diamond Switch Point No 208B/219A from 52 kg to 60 kg rail with complete fittings, incorporating 34.71 meters of 60 kg rail and seven 60 kg prefabricated glued joints (6.5 m each). Despite space constraints at the site, old-age point machines were replaced alongside associated ground fittings to complete a full track-structure upgrade," a senior ER official said.

According to him, exemplary inter-departmental synergy was demonstrated during the work, with the Signal and Telecommunication (S&T) and Traction Distribution (TRD) wings utilising the engineering traffic block effectively to execute critical shadow works without requiring separate traffic interruptions.

"Under the direct leadership of Sealdah divisional railway manager Rajeev Saxena, the S&T team converted point number 208B from a Siemens to an IRS point machine, replaced two old-age point machines (including ground fittings), laid a new JP-to-point-machine tail cable, changed nine glued joints, replaced 20 track and cross jumpers, and renewed 44 bond wires prior to full S&T testing and commissioning," the official said.

At the same time, the TRD team liquidated 2–3 years of overdue maintenance in Power Block Section E/S = X–17/Dum Dum (DDJ) Yard Line 5 and 6, conducting Annual Overhaul (AOH) between location numbers 5/29E and 5/23E (attending 4 cantilevers and cleaning 8 insulators), and plumbing two displaced cantilevers at location numbers 5/23E and 5/25E. It even removed two bird nests (not in use) from the portal upright at location number 5/25E.

"The seamless execution of all engineering, S&T, and TRD works and the right-time cancellation of the traffic block at 07:00 hrs reflect high operational efficiency and teamwork across departments," the official added.

The Sealdah station is used by nearly 1.6 - 1.8 million passengers daily; apart from hundreds of suburban trains, the terminal handles important long-distance ones.

According to officials, this upgrade will not only add to safety but also improve operational efficiency in the yard and beyond. The work was executed ahead of Durga Puja, when the station will witness a spike in footfall, with thousands arriving at the station from the districts for pandal hopping in Kolkata.

ER general manager Gitika Pandey spoke to senior officials of the division and took stock of the progress of the work.

"This successful mega block exemplifies perfect inter-departmental coordination, seamlessly upgrading critical Sealdah yard infrastructure to heavier 60 kg standards while ensuring zero unnecessary disruption to overall train operations," ER CPRO Shibram Majhi said.

--IANS

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Agartala, Aug 30 (IANS) Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha and former Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb on Sunday separately said that the people of the state would not allow the CPI (M) to make a “lateral entry” to power, accusing the Left party of having “ruined” the state during its 35 years of governance.

Saha was speaking at an event organised by the BJP to felicitate Lok Sabha member Biplab Kumar Deb on his appointment as the party’s National General Secretary.

The Chief Minister said that the Communists were waiting for an opportunity to make a “lateral entry” to power, anticipating the collapse of the BJP-led government, but asserted that such a possibility would never arise. “We want a constructive Opposition in the state, but it seems they have failed to deliver,” Saha said. He said it was a matter of great pride for the people of Tripura that a BJP leader from the state had been appointed the party’s national General Secretary, a position that people in the state could hardly have imagined in the past.

“Prime Minister Narendra Modi has done a lot for our state. Former Deputy Chief Minister Jishnu Dev Varma was made the Governor of Telangana for the first time from Tripura, and now he is serving as the Governor of Maharashtra. Now, Biplab Kumar Deb has been appointed the BJP’s National General Secretary,” the Chief Minister said.

Lauding Deb’s leadership, Saha said that he had successfully led the BJP to a historic victory in the 2018 Assembly elections, which was once considered “impossible” by many political observers. The Chief Minister said that the BJP is essentially a party of its workers and cadres, with its primary objective being to serve the people.

“The main goal of this party is to work for the people. In this direction, all workers function while adhering to the party’s policies, ideals and discipline. “Alongside strengthening our organisational base down to the grassroots level, our united efforts continue unabated to ensure that the benefits of various government initiatives reach the last person,” said Saha, former state BJP president.

Deb, in his speech, expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah for elevating him from an ordinary party worker to the Chief Minister of Tripura and subsequently appointing him as the BJP’s National General Secretary. He said that the major political change in Tripura would not have been possible without the guidance and support of PM Modi and HM Shah.

Deb also emphasised the need for BJP leaders and workers to maintain regular and close contact with the people at the grassroots level. “Ensure that a leader visits at least five households a day alongside his or her day-to-day work. It will help the party win and retain the confidence of the people,” he said.

The former Chief Minister also asserted that there is currently no internal feud or factionalism within the BJP in Tripura. “Earlier, disunity among political parties helped the Left parties remain in power for 35 years. There is no reason for the CPI (M) to come back to power again,” Deb said.

He said that the people of Tripura had witnessed a major political transformation after the BJP came to power in 2018 and would not allow any attempt to reverse the development process initiated by the party-led government. “So long as Narendra Modi is the Prime Minister, there will be no problem in ensuring development and creating employment opportunities in Tripura as well as in the country,” Deb said.

The BJP leaders said that the party would continue to strengthen its organisational structure at all levels and work to take various government welfare and development initiatives to the people across the state.

--IANS

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Ahmedabad, Aug 30 (IANS) The Ahmedabad City Police have collected 263 sharp and lethal weapons abandoned by citizens across 22 police station areas of Sector-2 after launching an awareness campaign urging people to voluntarily give up knives, swords, daggers and other prohibited weapons.

The initiative, titled 'Samarpan Se Suraksha' (Security Through Surrender), was launched under the supervision of Ahmedabad City Police Commissioner Anupam Singh Gahlaut to prevent bodily offences and assaults involving sharp weapons.

Police used public address systems fitted to vehicles to appeal to residents in identified pockets to surrender such weapons rather than keep them in their possession.

The Sector-2 area covers Zones 4, 5, 6 and 8, comprising 22 police stations.

Police said their assessment of previous bodily offences showed that sharp and lethal weapons, including knives, daggers and swords, were frequently used in such crimes.

Joint Commissioner of Police (Sector-2) Jaipal Singh Rathore said the campaign has started after identifying pockets where such weapon-related crimes had occurred in the past or where there was a possibility of such offences.

"Under the 'Security Through Surrender' campaign, the police stations in the Sector-2 area where crimes involving such weapons have occurred in the past or where there is a possibility of such crimes have been identified. For the last two days, an awareness campaign has been conducted in these pockets using public address systems fitted to different city police vehicles," Rathore added.

He said that citizens had been asked to surrender such weapons voluntarily so that the areas could be made safer.

"I am pleased to inform that so far, across the 22 police stations of Ahmedabad City's Sector-2 area, the police have collected and taken possession of around 263 sharp weapons. Most of these are weapons such as swords, knives and daggers," he added.

According to the police, the weapons are not generally handed over directly at police stations. Instead, people placed them at public locations, including outside their neighbourhoods and near dustbins, following the appeal.

"So far, the police have collected 263 weapons from different locations across the 22 police station areas. Most people have placed these weapons outside their neighbourhoods at public places or near dustbins," Rathore said.

The police said more than 250 weapons had initially been recovered during patrolling, checking and investigation, while the total collected under the campaign had subsequently reached 263 as of August 29.

The police station-wise figures include 11 weapons from Ramol, 27 from Bapunagar, 18 from Narol, 17 each from Gomtipur and Amraiwadi, 19 from Danilimda, 15 from Maninagar, 14 from Khokhra and 13 from Nikol.

Other recoveries were reported from Shahibaug, Airport, Sardarnagar, Naroda, Rakhial, Krishnanagar, Isanpur, Kagadapith, Vatva, Odhav, Dariyapur, Meghaninagar and Vatva GIDC police stations.

The police said a notification under Section 135 of the Gujarat Police Act is currently in force in Ahmedabad City.

Possession and carrying of prohibited weapons covered by the notification, as well as their use in crimes, can attract legal action.

Rathore said the police would now conduct deeper combing operations in the identified pockets.

"Ahmedabad City Police, particularly in the Sector-2 area, will carry out very deep combing operations in all the identified pockets in the coming days. If prohibited weapons are found in anyone's possession, legal action will be taken against them," he added.

He also appealed to people who may still possess such weapons to surrender them before the proposed operations.

"If anyone still has such weapons which are prohibited and fall under the category of an offence under the notification, they should immediately surrender them to the police," he said.

Asked whether people who surrender weapons could face cases, Rathore said the weapons collected so far had been abandoned in public places following the police appeal.

"The campaign was intended to prevent the use of sharp weapons in bodily offences and strengthen law and order, rather than to harass citizens. Similar awareness campaigns would continue and further combing operations would be carried out in the identified areas," he added.

--IANS

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Vijayawada, Aug 30 (IANS) YSR Congress Party chief YS Jagan Mohan Reddy on Sunday expressed satisfaction over the Veligonda Project becoming a reality, calling it the fulfilment of his father YS Rajasekhara Reddy’s dream, while sharply criticising Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu for allegedly attempting to “rewrite” the project’s history and “steal” credit.

In a detailed post on X, Jagan said the project serves as a lifeline for lakhs of families suffering from fluorosis due to lack of safe drinking water and for farmers’ long-awaited irrigation. He said his government had completed the most challenging twin tunnels and dedicated them to the nation, enabling Krishna waters to flow through them.

Jagan accused Naidu and “yellow media” of running a publicity campaign to steal credit for work done by others. He claimed the foundation stone alone was laid by Naidu, while the vision and comprehensive development belonged to YSR. The crucial twin tunnels, he said, were completed during the YSRCP government’s tenure.

According to Jagan, Naidu hurriedly laid the foundation stone in 1996 just before elections and then abandoned the project. Despite remaining in power for eight years until 2004, Naidu’s government spent only Rs 10 lakh, mostly on the foundation stone ceremony, he alleged. After becoming Chief Minister, YSR gave the project a comprehensive shape under Jalayagnam, initiating construction of the twin tunnels, Nallamala Sagar reservoir, three dams, feeder channel and main canals. Of the total 37.587-km twin tunnel length, 20.333 km was completed under YSR’s initiatives.

During Naidu’s 2014-2019 term, only 6.686 km was completed without a breakthrough in either tunnel. The remaining and most difficult 10.568 km was finished by the YSRCP government despite the COVID-19 pandemic and financial constraints—Tunnel-1 in January 2021 and Tunnel-2 in January 2024. The tunnels were dedicated on March 6, 2024, along with head regulators and canal-linking works, he said.

Jagan questioned how Naidu could claim to have built the entire project. He further accused the present government of neglecting the region by failing to complete the 131-bed super speciality hospital at Peddadornala and the government medical college at Markapuram, both initiated by the previous regime, and of allegedly attempting to privatise the medical college. He also criticised delays in rehabilitating displaced families, incomplete payment of resettlement and rehabilitation packages, and failure to convey water to Nallamala Sagar for over two years.

Jagan urged Naidu to set aside publicity, fill the reservoir, supply irrigation and drinking water, and complete the hospital and medical college in the government sector, stating that the people of the backward region needed these benefits rather than credit-stealing politics.

--IANS

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Kolkata, Aug 30 (IANS) The Minister of State (MoS) for Education, Sukanta Majumdar, said on Sunday that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will give municipal corporation election tickets to those who have the ability to win the polls.

This was clearly said by Sukanta Majumdar, City BJP In-charge for upcoming Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) election.

Speaking to reporters on Sunday, the MoS said, "Only those who can win the polls will get tickets. In that case, their popularity, identity and activities will be examined."

The elections in KMC and Howrah Municipal Corporations (HMC) will be held after Durga Puja (October).

The BJP has appointed election in-charges for the two places.

In Kolkata, Sukanta Majumdar has been made the party's in-charge and in Howrah, Rajya Sabha MP and another former State BJP President Rahul Sinha is the party's in-charge.

They have geared up for the election preparations and frequent meetings, gatherings, and public relations are going on in this regard.

Kolkata BJP In-charge Sukanta Majumdar spoke to reporters about this on Sunday and said, "How long someone has been associated with the party, who is organisationally skilled, those are not considered here. That is considered in the case of any position in the organisation. The only thing that will be considered for the election is who can win. That person will get the ticket. What is the chance of those people winning at all, how popular they are -- all these things will be carefully examined and then the right candidate will be selected."

Responding to queries whether those who are new to the BJP will become candidates, the Union Minister said, "Those decisions have not been taken. And who are new to the BJP? The BJP has not made anyone join them. If someone considers himself a BJP leader now, then there is nothing to be done."

Calculations indicate that the Kolkata Municipal Corporation will have 209 wards following the delimitation process. Consequently, the BJP would need to secure 105 seats to come to power in the civic body.

--IANS

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Kolkata, Aug 30 (IANS) Kolkata Police on Sunday issued a summons to Sumit Roy, the personal assistant of Trinamool Congress’s general secretary and the party’s Diamond Harbour Lok Sabha member, Abhishek Banerjee, for interrogation in connection with FIRs filed over the removal of an illegal billboard from the roof of Banerjee's party office on Camac Street in Central Kolkata.

A team of police from the Shakespeare Sarani Police Station, on Sunday evening, served him the interrogation notice at Roy’s house in New Alipore, South Kolkata.

He had been asked to be present at the Shakespeare Sarani Police Station by 12 noon on September 2. The police will question Sumit to find out his role in the disturbance at Abhishek's Camac Street party office on Thursday afternoon, while the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) staff, accompanied by the Kolkata Police personnel, reached the spot to remove that illegal billboard.

Sumit is the third person to be served with an interrogation notice by the Shakespeare Sarani Police Station in the matter.

Earlier, on Sunday, a similar interrogation notice was delivered at the residence of the Rajya Sabha member Derek O’Brien at Prince Anwar Shah Road in South Kolkata. O’Brien has been asked to appear at the Shakespeare Sarani Police Station by 12 noon on Monday, August 31.

Prior to that, on Saturday night, the police from the Shakespeare Sarani Police Station reached the residence of Abhishek at Kalighat Road in South Kolkata and served him the interrogation notice. Abhishek, also the nephew of the former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, has been asked to appear at the Shakespeare Sarani Police Station by 12 noon on September 1.

Tension broke out on Camac Street on Thursday afternoon after Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) staff, accompanied by police personnel, reached Abhishek Banerjee’s Camac Street office to remove the illegal billboard.

However, KMC staff and police personnel faced stiff resistance from the party activists led by Abhishek Banerjee, O’Brien and other Trinamool Congress leaders. Scuffles broke out between the police and the party activists.

In the three FIRs filed at Shakespeare Sarani Police Station in the matter, the city police have accused the Trinamool Congress activists of not only assaulting the on-duty cops but also attempting to outrage the modesty of a female police officer.

In two of the three FIRs filed in the matter, Banerjee, O’Brien and other Trinamool Congress leaders, such as Humayun Kabir and Baishwanar Chatterjee, have been named. The police have arrested 14 people in this connection so far.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Aug 30 (IANS) The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) has disbursed Rs 5.68 crore to State Boards under the Access and Benefit-Sharing (ABS) mechanism arising from the utilisation of biological resources related Okra, Cucumber and Watermelon, an official said on Sunday.

The major ABS recipients among the State Biodiversity Boards and Union Territory Biodiversity Councils are: Gujarat with Rs 88.79 lakh, West Bengal with Rs 78.08 lakh and Madya Pradesh with Rs 64.90 lakh, the official said in a statement.

"The funds have been channelled to State Biodiversity Boards (SBBs), Union Territory Biodiversity Councils (UTBCs) and a national research institution, primarily in relation to Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus), Cucumber (Cucumis sativus) and Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus), besides specified microbial and agricultural biological resources," it said.

The largest ABS component relates to Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus), covering 139 varieties and 28 hybrids, for which the NBA has released Rs 3.51 crore to 32 State Biodiversity Boards and Union Territory Biodiversity Councils.

The ABS amount was received from Nunhems India Private Limited in connection with its access to Okra.

The other major ABS components relate to Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus), covering 662 varieties and 15 hybrids and Cucumber (Cucumis sativus), covering 1,009 varieties and 14 hybrids.

These biological resources were accessed through markets/traders by Nunhems India Private Limited, East West Seeds India Private Limited and Bayer Science and Innovation Private Limited.

In these cases, the biological resources were accessed from markets and traders, making it not feasible to trace them to specific individual farmers, communities or a single identifiable geographic source.

Accordingly, the modality recommended by the Expert Committee and approved by the Authority provides for distribution of the beneficiary share among the states and Union Territories where the concerned biological resource is cultivated.

In addition, the NBA has disbursed benefit-sharing funds to CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory (NCL) – National Culture of Industrial Microorganisms at Pune, from an ABS amount received from Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd at Mumbai.

With this disbursement, the total ABS amount disbursed by the NBA so far has crossed Rs 191 crore, the statement said.

The disbursements reaffirm the NBA's commitment to ensuring that benefits arising from the utilisation of India's biological resources are directed towards biodiversity conservation, sustainable use, strengthening of institutional capacities and activities benefiting communities and other stakeholders associated with the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity.

--IANS

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Agartala, Aug 30 (IANS) Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha said on Sunday that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 137th episode of 'Mann Ki Baat' left a deep impression on him, particularly the Prime Minister's call for building a drug-free India, adding that the state government is also working towards the goal of making Tripura drug-free.

The Chief Minister also said that Prime Minister Modi's reference to legendary Bengali actor Mahanayak Uttam Kumar in Sunday's episode evoked a sense of nostalgia among the people.

Chief Minister Saha after listening to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Mann Ki Baat' programme at Muktadhara Theatre in Agartala on Sunday, said that knowledge of history offers valuable lessons and noted that many people still do not know much about the rich history of Tripura.

The Chief Minister said: "Today (Sunday), we listened to the 137th episode of 'Mann Ki Baat'. We eagerly wait for the last Sunday of every month to hear what Prime Minister Narendra Modi will bring before the people through this programme. Some of the issues that the Prime Minister talked about today have left a deep impression on me."

"If someone comes forward to study and conduct research on the history of Tripura, the state government will definitely extend all possible assistance," he added.

The Chief Minister said that in Sunday's 'Mann Ki Baat' episode, the Prime Minister also spoke about the need to build a drug-free India, particularly to protect the younger generation from the menace of narcotics.

"We are also working towards building a drug-free Tripura. Various security agencies, including the police, are conducting sustained anti-drug campaigns across the state. With time, people are gradually becoming more aware and alert about the harmful effects of drugs," CM Saha added.

People have now started raising their voices and protesting against drug addiction and the illegal drug trade, he noted, and said that this is necessary because the menace cannot be eliminated by the police or security agencies alone.

The Prime Minister has called for building a drug-free India for the sake of the youth and future generations, he added.

The Chief Minister also said that Prime Minister Modi spoke about the 150th anniversary of the national song 'Vande Mataram' and highlighted several other important issues during the programme.

"He (PM Modi) also talked about the 'Har Ghar Tiranga' campaign. The Prime Minister has introduced an important scheme like the PM SVANidhi Yojana to provide financial assistance and support to street vendors," CM Saha added.

He said that there has been considerable discussion about this issue in the Tripura Assembly as well and the state government has taken the initiative to set up vendor zones at appropriate places.

The state government also has a clear vision about how to further strengthen and streamline this system for the benefit of street vendors, CM Saha added.

The Chief Minister said that Prime Minister Modi has also given considerable importance to the 'Vocal for Local' initiative, aimed at promoting locally produced goods and strengthening self-reliance.

CM Saha added that the present state government is working consistently towards improving the socio-economic condition of the people of Tripura and ensuring that the benefits of development reach all sections of society.

"Initiatives have also been taken to make self-help groups self-reliant and economically empowered. The government is making efforts to create more opportunities for people to become financially independent," he said.

Referring to the Prime Minister's mention of Mahanayak Uttam Kumar in the latest 'Mann Ki Baat' episode, the Chief Minister said that the legendary actor continues to hold a special place in the hearts of Bengali-speaking people.

Industries and Commerce Minister Santana Chakma, Baradowali Mandal President Shyamal Kumar Deb and other leaders were also present at the event.

--IANS

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Bhubaneswar, Aug 30 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi's mention of Maithili Bhue from Odisha's Debrigarh in his monthly 'Mann Ki Baat' programme on Sunday, in recognition of her work in forest conservation and efforts to empower local women through eco-tourism, has brought cheer among members of the local community and employees of Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary.

Speaking to IANS, Divisional Forest officer (DFO) Hirakud Wildlife Division (Debrigarh Sanctuary) Anshu Pragyan Das said that the residents across the villages in the Debrigarh region in Sundaragada district watched the programme and said the Prime Minister's mention has motivated them to work harder for wildlife and forest conservation.

"All our community members and all the staff of Debrigarh are very grateful. Prime Minister Sir spoke about our area, and the community members here were extremely happy," DFO Das added.

The local community also believes that the Prime Minister's mention will help generate greater public support for forest conservation efforts.

Das said Maithili joined Debrigarh eco-tourism in 2023 and has been actively involved in conservation initiatives, including homestays and making villages plastic-free.

The DFO also added that Maithili has played a key role in mobilising local people to keep Debrigarh clean and promote forest and wildlife protection.

"Before that, she had played a role in making Dhodrokusum a Green Village, including ensuring the availability of toilets, dustbins in every house, and gradually stopping the use of plastic. She used to motivate every woman in the village to be pro-conservation, pro-forest and to maintain cleanliness," Das said.

She added that the PM Modi's mention of Maithili and her efforts would also benefit the institution, strengthen protection of the sanctuary, and encourage greater community support for forest conservation and related efforts.

While praising the leadership qualities of Maithili, Das revealed that at present, around 40 per cent of the people working in Debrigarh eco-tourism initiative are women.

--IANS

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