India

While cooperative societies and other groups can avail subsidy of 80 per cent, individual farmers will get 50 per cent subsidy.

Khuddian said the department has submitted the plan of Rs 350 crore to the Centre to provide funds and over 20,000 machines would be made available on subsidy to individuals for crop residue management and 1,000 Custom Hiring Centers would be established.

He said the department has invited applications from farmers, cooperative societies, FPOs and panchayats interested in availing subsidy on various crop residues management (CRM) machinery during the Kharif season.

Under the scheme, Super SMS, Super Seeder, Smart Seeder, Happy Seeder, Paddy Straw Chopper, Shredder and Mulcher, Hydraulic Reversible Mould Board Plough and Zero Till Drill for in-situ management and baler and rake in ex-situ machines are being made available on subsidy.

The rate of subsidy on the machines for the individual farmers is 50 per cent of the cost of equipment and 80 per cent for cooperative societies, FPOs and panchayats.

Also, the department would also launch an Information Education and Communication campaign to educate and train farmers about the technologies for management of crop residues.

--IANS

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The official said that a total of five locations, one in Darbhanga and two in Bihar, one in Surat (Gujarat), and one in Bareilly (Uttar Pradesh), were raided.

The official said that they have recovered incriminating materials, including digital devices (mobile phones, memory cards), SIM cards and documents, during the raids.

"The case came to light after the arrest of Marghoob Ahmad Danish alias Tahir, of Phulwari Sharif by the Bihar Police, which registered a case on July 14, 2022. The NIA took over the case on July 22, 2022. Marghoob was charge-sheeted on January 6, under various sections of IPC and UA(P) Act," the official said.

The official said that the accused was found to be a member of the module, which was operated by Pakistan-based operatives, with the objective of radicalizing impressionable youth for the establishment of Ghazwa-e-Hind over Indian territory.

Investigations revealed that Marghoob was the admin of a WhatsApp Group 'Ghazwa-e-Hind, created by a Pakistani national named Zain. He had added many Indians, Pakistanis, Bangladeshis and Yemeni nationals to the group with the aim of establishing sleeper cells in the country for carrying out terrorist activities.

The accused had created various social media groups of the 'Ghazwa-e-Hind' on WhatsApp, Telegram and BiP Messenger.

He had also created another WhatsApp group in the name of 'BDGhazwa E HindBD' and had added Bangladeshi nationals to it.

Investigations further revealed that various suspects involved in the case were in contact with Pakistan-based handlers and were involved in propagating the idea of Ghazwa-e-Hind.

The NIA’s raids on Sunday were conducted at the premises of these suspects across three states. Further investigation into the matter is ongoing, said the officials.

--IANS

atk/dpb

Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who was the chief guest at the event, said that the BJP would contest the 2024 elections with its allies, the Apna Dal (S) and Nishad Party and ensure victory on all 80 seats.

"With Apna Dal, we have contested and won two Lok Sabha and two Vidhan Sabha elections and we will repeat the same in 2024," he said.

He further said, "Prime Minister Modi, in the past nine years, has worked for the OBCs, Dalits, Adivasis and weaker sections. He set up the Backward commission, ensured reservation for backwards in NEET and other educational institutions. We have greater representation of OBCs in the government and also maximum jobs to weaker sections."

He said that nearly 60 crore poor had benefitted in the Modi regime.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said that the battle for social justice, initiated by Dr Sonelal Patel, has found a manifestation in Modi's 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas'.

Union Minister Ramdas Athawale and Uttar Pradesh Minister Sanjay Nishad also lauded the BJP's contribution in uplift of marginalised sections of society and vowed to ensure the return of the Modi government for a third term.

--IANS

amita/svn

Although, Manipur has another road connection via Dimapur in Nagaland, this highway is the lone road connecting Tripura, Mizoram, and Southern Assam with other parts of the country.

The Northeastern region is prone to landslides for the most part. One of the significant landslides occurring site lies at Sonapur, which is situated in Meghalaya. The landslip zone is located on National Highway 6 in the Jaintia Hills district of the state, 141.8 kilometers from Shillong, following the path of a perennial stream that descends on the left bank of the Lubha River.

It is an old, ongoing slide of rock and debris. It becomes active during the rainy season and seriously impairs communication on the roads. In the slide zone, the Oligocene-aged Barail Group sandstone, siltstone, and shale sequence is revealed, according to a study.

The study revealed the poor rock quality, unfavourable orientation of joints, and triggering effect of water during the rainy season leading to sliding activity in the area.

In 2008, the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) built a tunnel of 123-meter length to deal with the frequent landslides. It proved beneficial for first few years to combat the landslip. However, in the last three to four years, the landslides have increased their stretch and recurrently block the mouth of the tunnel on two sides.

Following the onset of monsoon rains in June this year, the landslides at Sonapur disrupted road connectivity on almost every alternate day. Traffic often comes to a standstill for more than 12 hours.

Abhilash Baranwal, the Deputy Commissioner of East Jaintia Hills district in Meghalaya told IANS: “As soon as it starts raining in the hills, the landslides begin to occur. In the previous year, only heavy rain was triggering the landslide. However, this time, even light rains cause the landslip.”

As it is an extremely important highway connecting four states, a long queue of vehicles is witnessed on both sides after every disruption happens following the landslide.

The district administration along with the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) remains busy to clear the mudslide and debris but these practices are temporary as the road connectivity is set to be hit badly during the whole monsoon season this year.

“We keep machines prepared all the time to clear the debris but it is not a permanent solution. The commuters will continue to suffer till some permanent solution,” said Baranwal.

Anand Singh Chauhan, the Project Director of NHAI at Shillong who has been camping for the last few days in the landslide zone said: “Earlier, the landslides were occurring on 20-25 meter stretch and the tunnel was competent enough to hold the mudslides but now the landslide has been extended and mud along with rocks is blocking the two sides of the tunnel.”

According to Chauhan, the NHAI has begun to look for a permanent alternative but things are very complex.

There are two alternatives – either the tunnel should be extended up to a certain distance on both sides or some elevated portions are built to stop the debris coming on the highway. However, both alternatives require a substantial amount of time and funds.

The National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) has been planning to build a four-lane highway through this route. The agency also has started to prepare a Detailed Project Report (DPR).

Talking to IANS, the Regional Officer in the Northeast for NHAI, C.M. Dwivedi said: “NHIDCL will bypass the portion of the tunnel and they may build an alternate route. At present, the speed limit on the current highway is around 40 km and the NHIDCL is looking to make it double and for that, they may go for a diversion.”

However, the project undertaken by the NIDCL is a long-term one and may require at least four to five years to complete. In the meantime, NHAI must look for a solution to the issue of the landslide at Sonapur.

“We are exploring every possible alternative. We have talked with the higher officials for a semi-permanent remedy at the site of the tunnel,” Dwivedi said.

Any new construction either an extension of the tunnel or building an elevated portion would require at least a year. Meanwhile, the repeated disruption in the singular route connecting several northeastern states would remain a major concern during the entire rainy season.

--IANS

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She demanded that power should be transferred to the Delhi government.

In the first incident, on June 29 a driver lost his life after his auto-rickshaw fell into a water-filled pothole in Harsh Nagar. In the other incident, a man was electrocuted at a construction site at LNJP Hospital.

"In first case, the Public Works Department (PWD) officials are responsible. The second incident took place at LNJP Hospital, where a worker died due to an electric shock during construction work today. Despite these accidents, you have remained silent and inactive.

"Two days have passed since the death of the auto-rickshaw driver due to the officials' negligence, but you have neither taken any action nor spoken about it," read her letter.

She said that the L-G had the power to take action against the officials but despite it, he wasn't taking any action.

"You are sitting silently, and no action is being taken against the officials responsible for the loss of people's lives," she accused the L-G.

She further stated in the letter that for the past eight years the power over services in Delhi had been in the hands of the Lieutenant Governor, but no action has been taken against any official for doing wrong or being negligent.

"Therefore, the power to suspend officials, take action against them, and transfer them should rest with the elected government of the state. That is why we have approached the court against this black law ordinance," her letter read.

Earlier in the day, she wrote a letter to the L-G on the demolition of two religious structures.

--IANS

atk/dpb

Addressing an economic forum in Moscow organised by the Agency for Strategic Initiatives (ASI), the President said on Thursday: “Our friends in India and our big friend, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, launched the ‘Make in India’ initiative several years ago. It has had a truly impressive effect on the Indian economy. It would do no harm to emulate what is working well, even if it was not us but our friends who created it,” RT News reported.

Putin made a case for India as he discussed the opportunities for Russian companies due to the West’s sanctions policies, and the need for the Moscow to “offer support tools to help our companies market their products more efficiently".

Crediting Indian leadership for creating an effective model to develop local manufacturing capabilities and woo foreign investors, Putin emphasized the need to think about “making our products more convenient and functional, with a modern look and properties”.

Industrial and product design should become an important resource for the development of domestic business, RT News quoted the President as saying.

The 'Make in India' initiative was launched by Prime Minister Modi in 2014 aimed to to create and encourage companies to develop, manufacture and assemble products made in the country and incentivise dedicated investments into manufacturing.

Putin and Modi last met on the sidelines of a regional security bloc summit in Uzbekistan in September 2022.

--IANS

ksk

Sharad Sharma, VHP spokesperson said on Thursday, "The decision was taken at a meeting of 237 representatives of the parishad. It was a unanimous view that there was an all-round attack on the Hindu family structure."

The VHP has also decided to urge the government to keep the above factors in mind while formulating the education policy and the Uniform Civil Code.

The yatra will be organised by the Bajrang Dal, with a special focus on connecting with the youth.

According to the proposal agreed upon at the above-mentioned meeting which took place in Raipur, Chhattisgarh on June 25, a lack of values in children and a growing distance between the old and the new generation were the main reasons for the breakdown in the family structure.

An important part of the campaign will be to organise such activities which shall enable the participation of all family members and bring them together.

The VHP's call for action reads, "The greatest attack on the family structure seems to be happening from the entertainment industry...films, web series, various serials...are glorifying self-centered liberty and mocking the family system."

It also blames advertisements which show disrespect to culture, values and traditions and blames it on an 'international conspiracy'. It also contains an appeal to the entertainment industry to produce such content which strengthens society and families. An appeal is also made to the judiciary to keep in mind such values in its judgments and observations. ''

--IANS

amita/dpb

The first batch comprising around 3,300 pilgrims left the Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas in 159 escorted vehicles for the Baltal and Pahalgam base camps in the Kashmir Valley.

The 62-day long Amarnath Yatra will begin on Saturday and will end on August 31 coinciding with the Shravan Purnima festival.

There are two routes to approach the cave shrine, the shorter 13 km-long Baltal route in Ganderbal district and the longer 43 km Pahalgam route in Anantnag.

Those using the Baltal route return to the base camp the same day, while those taking the traditional Pahalgam route take three to five days to just reach the shrine.

Situated at an elevation of 3,888 metres above sea level, the cave shrine houses an ice stalagmite structure called the holy ‘Lingam’ which symbolises mythical powers of Lord Shiva, according to the devotees.

The ice stalagmite structure wanes and waxes with the phases of the moon.

Foolproof three-tier security is being managed by the army, paramilitary forces and the local police to ensure that the Yatra passes off peacefully.

To prevent deaths due to high altitude sickness, authorities have declared the Amarnath Yatra 2023 tobacco free and also advised various community kitchens called ‘Langars’ run along the two routes not to serve any junk food or halwai items to the pilgrims.

Bottled cold drinks have also been banned.

--IANS

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The photo, which is now making rounds on social media, shows the police officer's wife and two children sitting on a bed with a huge pile of cash worth Rs 14 lakh.

As soon as the photo of the officer with bundles of notes went viral, a senior police officer immediately ordered an investigation into the matter.

The officer who was the Station-In-Charge, Ramesh Chandra Sahani, has been transferred to the police lines.

However, Sahani has defended himself and said that the photo was taken on November 14, 2021, when he sold a family property.

Giving details of the incident, a senior police officer said, “A photograph of a Station House Officer is going viral on social media. It shows the cop's wife and his children with bundles of currency notes. We have taken cognisance of the matter and the cop has been transferred to the police line. An investigation has been launched.”

--IANS

amita/khz

"After overtaking our car, a group of around six men got down from the car and thrashed us with sticks arguing why we were not giving them side and later left the spot after threatening to kill us," the victim told the police.

After the incident, the victim duo went to a nearby hospital for treatment and reported the matter to the police.

Based on the student's complaint, an FIR was registered against six unidentified youth under sections 148 (riots), 149 (unlawful assembly), 341 (wrongful confinement), 323 (causing hurt), and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the IPC at the DLF Phase-1 police station.

"A case has been registered related to the matter and we are searching the suspects and scanning the CCTV footage of the incident spot to develop the identity of the suspects," Inspector Dinesh Kumar, Station House Officer, DLF Phase-1 police station, said.

--IANSstr/khz