logo
ADB support for Viksit Bharat 2047

ADB support for Viksit Bharat 2047

Hans India2 days ago

New Delhi: Asian Development Bank (ADB) President Masato Kanda has committed up to USD 10 billion for India's urban transformation, including metro extensions, new regional rapid transit system (RRTS) corridors, and urban infrastructure and services.
This is a five-year initiative, ADB said in a statement on Sunday. While sharing the pictures of his meeting with the ADB President, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that he and the ADB president shared a perspective on a wide range of issues, including India's rapid transformation over the past decade, which saw the empowerment and upliftment of countless people. "India's rapid transformation over the last decade has empowered countless people and we are working to add further momentum in this journey!" Modi wrote.
Masato Kando, who arrived in India last week, marking his official state visit after becoming the ADB President, said, "By scaling up public and private sector finance, deepening knowledge collaboration, and mobilising capital, we stand ready to support India's drive to become a developed nation by 2047 and to deliver inclusive, resilient, and sustainable growth for its 1.4 billion people.'
ADB has reportedly collaborated with over 110 cities across 22 states on projects related to water supply, sanitation, housing, and solid waste management, with an active urban portfolio comprising 27 loans amounting to $5.15 billion.
Earlier, the ADB president also met Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, where the two discussed plans to bring rural prosperity, scaling rooftop solar capacities and operationalising the UCF. He also met Urban Development Minister Manohar Lal Khattar to outline the next steps for channelling private capital into urban projects.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

PM Modi To Launch 'Aravalli Green Wall' To Revive India's Oldest Mountain Range
PM Modi To Launch 'Aravalli Green Wall' To Revive India's Oldest Mountain Range

NDTV

time37 minutes ago

  • NDTV

PM Modi To Launch 'Aravalli Green Wall' To Revive India's Oldest Mountain Range

New Delhi: On World Environment Day this year, the Union government is set to relaunch the Aravalli Green Wall Project. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch the renewed initiative on June 5 from South Delhi, one of the 29 districts in four states where the scheme will be executed, as per sources in the Ministry. This corridor will cover the 29 districts in the Aravalli range, including those in Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana, and Delhi. On June 5, Chief Ministers from the Aravalli range states will also join in the launch of green corridor project, with Delhi Chief minister Rekha Gupta accompanying the Prime Minister in Delhi, Haryana Chief minister Nayab Singh Saini from Dadri, Gujarat Chief minister Bhupendra Patel from Kheda and Rajasthan Chief minister Bhajan Lal Sharma from Ramgarh. Stretching across 700 kilometres, the Aravalli range has faced severe environmental degradation in recent decades. The new push aims to create a continuous green belt from Delhi to Gujarat, "acting as a natural barrier against desertification and aiding in groundwater recharge across the Indo-Gangetic plains," said an official. The action plan laid out by the government focuses on restoring degraded forest lands, improving water retention through soil and moisture conservation, and encouraging the planting of indigenous species. One thousand permanent nurseries will be set up to revive India's oldest mountain range. Advanced tools like satellite mapping and remote sensing will be used to monitor progress and ensure transparency. The budget and funding for the project will be through the already existing and functioning schemes of MNREGA, CAMPA and Green India Mission. The original phase of the Aravalli Green Wall was launched in March 2023, covering a 5-kilometre buffer zone around the range. The upcoming phase broadens the scope significantly, incorporating new initiatives and partnerships with local communities. Divisional forest officers to ensure that local bodies, NGOs, and panchayats are roped in to take up eco-restoration of Aravalli,and implementation of the Green Credit Programme for eco-restoration work in the Aravalli landscape. The range is home to 22 wildlife sanctuaries and four tiger reserves- Ranthambore, Sariska, Ramgarh-Vishdhari, and Mukunda Hills. It also houses the bird sanctuary, Keoladeo National Park and nearly 50 historic forts that date back centuries. Of the 1.25 lakh hectares within the Aravalli landscape, approximately 42,000 hectares are designated reserve forests. The terrain varies from rolling ridges to steep hillocks, with the highest elevation being Guru Shikhar in Mount Abu, Rajasthan, which stands at 1,732 metres above sea level. Several rivers, including the Chambal and Luni, originate in these hills, which are also rich in minerals and diverse flora and fauna. Further, developing Aravalli landscapes and biodiversity for safari, nature parks and trekking, removal of invasive species and re-plantation with native species and bamboo, roping in Eco-clubs and Eco-Task Force in raising plantations and awareness, linking Amrit Sarovars and waterbodies in Aravali restoration programme, creating a research and monitoring vertical under the NIRANTAR institutions, such as BSI and ZSI in taxonomy and organising annual workshops, could also prove to be effective measures in this direction. After the success of the 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' campaign, achieving the target of planting 80 crore saplings last year, the Prime Minister will also relaunch the campaign on June 5. It encourages people to plant a tree as a symbol of love, respect, and honour for their mothers, while also pledging to protect trees and the Earth. The initiative aims to combat land degradation and restore degraded land areas.

Lift borrowing limit cuts after launching GRF, Kerala urges Centre
Lift borrowing limit cuts after launching GRF, Kerala urges Centre

The Hindu

timean hour ago

  • The Hindu

Lift borrowing limit cuts after launching GRF, Kerala urges Centre

The Kerala government on Tuesday urged the Union Finance Ministry to reverse a ₹3,323-crore cut in its market borrowing limit. The government informed the Centre that it had taken steps to establish a Guarantee Redemption Fund (GRF) — a new requirement under the Union government's borrowing rules for States. After submitting a memorandum to Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in New Delhi, Finance Minister K.N. Balagopal said the State had begun the process of constituting the GRF and would start contributing to it within the current financial year. Under revised guidelines issued by the Department of Expenditure for 2025–26, States must set aside either 0.25% of their Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) or 5% of their outstanding guarantees — whichever is higher — in a GRF. If they fail to do so, the shortfall is deducted from their annual borrowing limit. For Kerala, this has resulted in a reduction of ₹3,323 crore from its approved borrowing ceiling for the first three quarters of the fiscal year. This deduction be reversed once the State formally notifies the GRF, Mr. Balagopal said. 'The government is in the process of establishing the fund. Contributions will begin this year,' he assured in the memorandum, calling the move essential to 'safeguard the financial stability and development trajectory of the State.' Kerala, a revenue-deficit State with high public welfare spending, has faced growing pressure on its finances. The borrowing limit — or net borrowing ceiling — is a critical tool for the State to raise funds through open market operations and meet development needs, Mr. Balagopal said. In addition to the GRF issue, the State has also sought the Centre's reconsideration on an earlier ₹1,877.57-crore deduction. This amount was permitted as additional borrowing in 2023-24 due to changes in GSDP estimates but was later adjusted against the 2024–25 borrowing limit — even though final GSDP figures for that year have not been released. Mr. Balagopal has requested that the adjustment be shifted to 2025–26 in light of more recent, upward GSDP revisions for 2022–23 and 2023–24. The Finance Minister called for 'kind and expeditious intervention' from the Union government to address these matters and help ensure the State's fiscal balance.

Congress fact-finding team to visit Dakshina Kannada tomorrow
Congress fact-finding team to visit Dakshina Kannada tomorrow

Time of India

timean hour ago

  • Time of India

Congress fact-finding team to visit Dakshina Kannada tomorrow

Mangaluru: A fact-finding team appointed by the KPCC will visit Dakshina Kannada district on Thursday to gather information on the recent communal crimes that led to a breach of peace. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The seven-member team will meet senior Congress leaders, deputy commissioner, city police commissioner, superintendent of police and religious leaders. The team will also hold a meeting with organisations, labour leaders, thinkers, writers, artists and social activists. Vijay Mulgund, general secretary (administration), KPCC, said the team includes MP Syed Naseer Hussain, MLC Manjunath Bhandary, MLA NA Haris, AICC secretary Roji M John, KPCC vice-president VR Sudarshan, former minister Kimmane Ratnakar and former MP K Jayaprakash Hegde. "The KPCC is sending the team to find facts regarding the murders, communal violence and other untoward incidents reported in Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Uttar Kannada districts. The team will visit places, meet families of the victims and members of organisations before submitting a report to the KPCC," he said. Chairperson slams Karandlaje Karnataka Cashew Development Corporation chairperson Mamatha Gatti slammed Union minister Shobha Karandlaje for accusing the state govt of targeting the Hindutva leaders in Dakshina Kannada. Gatti said on Tuesday that the Union minister, instead of supporting the efforts of the state govt to establish peace and law and order in the district, has allegedly instigated the people. Despite hailing from the district and rising to powerful positions like state and Union ministers, Karandlaje did not make any efforts to put an end to communal tensions in the district, said Gatti, and sought an apology from Karandlaje. Reacting to Karandlaje's criticisms of the guarantee schemes of the Congress govt, Gatti said the schemes have helped women with empowerment.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store