Mumbai local trains to be fully AC soon, says Devendra Fadnavis
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Business Standard
15 minutes ago
- Business Standard
Ensured minimum disturbance while building Chenab, Anji bridges: LS told
To ensure minimum disturbance to Himalayan ecology, due care was taken for slope stabilisation and the best institutes were roped in for execution of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link, including Chenab and Anji Bridge, the Lok Sabha was informed on Wednesday. On questions whether the government has conducted any environmental impact assessments of the Chenab and Anji Khad bridges in fragile Himalayan zones, the Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw provided an elaborate response on Environmental Impact Assessments of the project. Vaishnaw said that Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project having a total length of 272 km has been recently commissioned and it covers Jammu and Kashmir's Udhampur, Reasi, Ramban, Srinagar, Anantnag, Pulwama, Budgam and Baramulla districts. The USBRL project is one of the most difficult new railway line projects undertaken in the country post-independence. The terrain passes through young Himalayas, which are full of geological surprises and numerous problems, he said. The minister added that in this project, the Indian Railways have made the world's highest Rail Bridge over Chenab river in Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir. The iconic Chenab Bridge is 1,315 meters long having an arch span of 467 meters and height of 359 meters above river bed. Indian Railway's first cable-stayed bridge has been constructed over Anji Khad in this project. Its bridge deck is 331 meters above the river bed level and height of its Main pylon is 193 meters, he informed the Lok Sabha. Talking about its social significance, Vaishnaw stated that the USBRL project has made substantial socio-economic contributions to the region, with employment generation being a significant aspect of its impact as the project has generated more than 5 crore man-days of employment. To ensure minimum disturbance to Himalayan ecology, due care has been taken for slope stabilisation and the best institutes of the world were roped in for execution of this project. Comprehensive schemes for slope stabilisation have been adopted as per NEERI guidelines and Detailed Design Consultants' suggestions to prevent erosion and damage to natural terrains, Vaishnaw said. He added, Slope stability at Chenab Bridge was designed by Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore & IIT/Delhi. Other global firms having experience of such works were also engaged for independent check for slope stability for Chenab Bridge. Slope stability at Anji Bridge was also designed and proof checked by experienced global firms, the Railway minister said. Outlining the project's environmental measures, he said, Further, Environmental Impact Assessments due to construction of Katra-Qazigund new rail line, including Chenab and Anji Khad bridges have also been conducted through National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), Nagpur. Extensive safeguards and mitigation measures have been implemented based on the Environmental Management Plan (EMP) prepared by NEERI, he said. Sedimentation tanks have been constructed at tunnel outlets before discharging into natural nallas to manage tunnel excavated material. Alternative water sources were provided to villages where natural sources were disrupted by resorting to reverse pumping, Vaishnaw said. Proper lined drains and stepped chutes were constructed at required locations to ensure smooth flow of surface water and prevent erosion at muck yards, he added. According to the Railway Minister, advanced techniques of controlled blasting were adopted during tunnelling to minimize vibrations and environmental damage. Sensors have been installed in all tunnels in the Katra-Banihal section to monitor the Air Quality during the operational phase also, he said. The entire rail project is electrified using an overhead conductor system in tunnels and in open stretches. Rail transportation is the most environment friendly transportation mode, significantly reducing carbon footprint compared to diesel traction, he added. He also highlighted that the specific measures for biodiversity conservation are delineated in the EMP, the overall environmental mitigation efforts contribute to protecting local ecology. Guidelines for site preparation for plantation activity on dumping sites include planting native species and turfing with grass for eco-restoration, Vaishnaw said. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Hindustan Times
Vantara to set up elephant rehab facility in Kolhapur
Mumbai: Days after the court-ordered relocation of a 36-year-old arthritic elephant from a Jain shrine in Kolhapur to Vantara in Gujarat ignited a public outcry and protests, the Jamnagar-based animal rescue and conservation centre on Wednesday expressed regret over the matter and proposed to set up a satellite rehabilitation centre for the pachyderm at Nandani in Kolhapur district. Vantara to set up elephant rehab facility in Kolhapur Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, who held a meeting with Vantara's chief executive officer, Vivaan Karani, on Wednesday, said the organisation has assured him that it would cooperate with the state government in the legal process to get the elephant, Mahadevi, back to Kolhapur. 'I had a detailed discussion in Mumbai with senior officials of the Vantara management. They have assured me that Vantara has decided to be a part of the petition that the Maharashtra government has resolved to file, seeking the safe return of the elephant Mahadevi to the Nandani Math. During the discussion, they informed me that they were only complying with the orders of the Supreme Court and had no intention of taking custody of Mahadevi on their own,' said Fadnavis on Wednesday. Later in the day, Vantara issued a statement saying it would extend full support to any application filed by the Jain shrine and the Maharashtra government before the court requesting Mahadevi's return to Kolhapur. 'Subject to the court's approval, Vantara will provide complete technical and veterinary assistance for her safe and dignified return,' the statement said. The centre managed by the Reliance Foundation also stressed that at no stage did it initiate or recommend the elephant's relocation, nor was there any intent to interfere with religious practice or sentiment. 'If our involvement, despite being carried out solely under court directions, has caused any distress to the Jain community or the people of Kolhapur, we express our sincere regret. Michhami Dukkadam—if any hurt was caused through thought, word, or deed, knowingly or unknowingly, we seek your forgiveness,' the statement added. Vantara also proposed to set up a satellite rehabilitation centre for Mahadevi, also known as Madhuri, in the Nandani area of Kolhapur, where the Jain shrine is located. The proposed facility will be developed in accordance with established animal welfare guidelines after consulting with experts and the consensus of the shrine, while aligned to international best practices in elephant care, the statement said. According to Vantara, the proposed elephant rehab centre at Nandani will include a specialised hydrotherapy pond for joint and muscular relief, a larger water body for swimming and natural movement, a laser therapy and treatment room for physical rehabilitation, a covered night shelter for rest and protection, a lush open-space habitat for unrestricted movement without chains, a sand pit for environmental enrichment and natural behaviours, a fully equipped veterinary clinic for 24x7 medical care, a rubberised flooring platform for safe and comfortable resting, carefully formed mounds of soft sand to support sloped resting positions, which would aide Mahadevi's recovery from foot rot and relieve pressure from arthritis. The land for the proposed facility will be identified in consultation with the Jain shrine and the Maharashtra government. Upon receiving the necessary grants and permissions, Vantara's team will begin the implementation in close coordination with relevant authorities, the organisation said. 'This proposal is not intended for any credit or recognition of Vantara. We remain fully open and respectful to any alternative proposal the Jain Matha may wish to put forward, in accordance with the final directions of the honourable court,' the statement said. After the meeting with Fadnavis, Vanatara's Karani went to Kolhapur to meet the chief of the Jain shrine, Jinsen Bhattarak Mahaswami, who expressed his satisfaction with the proposal. 'I welcome the approach of [Reliance Foundation director] Anant Ambani and give my blessing to him for returning Mahadevi and providing rehabilitation services at Nandani with the support of Vantara. After a legal process with the help of the Maharashtra government, Vantara and the forest department, Mahadevi will come back to Nandani,' he said. Congress MLC Satej Patil, who participated in the protest demanding Mahadevi's return to Nandani, welcomed the outcome of the meeting between the chief minister and Vantara, saying it was a victory of the unity of Kolhapur's people. 'I wholeheartedly welcome the decision of the Vantara management to rehabilitate Mahadevi, the elephant, in Kolhapur after the due legal process. Heartfelt thanks for everyone's support and to team Vantara,' he said. Mahadevi was with the Swastishri Jinsen Bhattarak Pattacharya Mahaswamy Sanstha at Nandani for over three decades. On July 16, the Bombay high court ordered her relocation to the Radhe Krishna Temple Elephant Welfare Trust in Jamnagar, managed by Vantara, after animal welfare organisations such as the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) underlined her poor health and argued that she was not getting proper care at the shrine. The shrine challenged the order, but the Supreme Court on July 25 upheld it, after which the elephant was moved from Nandani to the Jamnagar facility. Following Mahadevi's relocation, thousands of people in Kolhapur participated in protests demanding her return to the shrine.
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
CM meets Shah & Patil, talks infra development, Mahanadi
1 2 3 4 5 Bhubaneswar: CM Mohan Charan Majhi held separate discussions with Union home minister Amit Shah and Jal Shakti minister C R Patil on Wednesday focusing on expediting development initiatives and resolving Odisha's long-standing concerns regarding the Mahanadi river water dispute. During his meeting with Shah, which Majhi described as a courtesy call, the dialogue revolved around infrastructure development, internal security, and the effective implementation of Centre-assisted welfare schemes. A key topic was Odisha's stance on achieving a peaceful resolution to the Mahanadi dispute with Chhattisgarh. Shah had earlier highlighted the importance of dialogue between Odisha and Chhattisgarh to resolve the issue at the Eastern Zonal Council meeting on July 10. "Discussed Centre-State coordination and various developmental initiatives of the state," Majhi shared on social media platform X. In a separate meeting with C R Patil, Majhi emphasised Odisha's concerns over the ongoing Mahanadi river water dispute. He advocated for a fair, just, and time-bound resolution to ensure Odisha's rightful share of water resources, which are vital for the state's agriculture, ecology, and livelihoods. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like The Secret Lives of the Romanovs — the Last Rulers of Imperial Russia! Learn More Undo Odisha has requested the Jal Shakti ministry to establish a joint panel led by the Central Water Commission, comprising members from both Odisha and Chhattisgarh, to find a mutual solution to the inter-state dispute. The CM also met Union minister of consumer affairs, food and public distribution Pralhad Joshi and requested enhancement of the rice procurement target for the upcoming season in view of the anticipated surplus in the state. Majhi urged for increased monthly lifting of rice by FCI to ensure timely evacuation. Majhi along with deputy CM Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo, Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Odisha BJP MPs also had a joint discussion with Joshi and discussed various issues relating to Odisha. In a separate development, deputy CM Singh Deo met Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "A moment of profound gratitude, reflection, and shared commitment to building a Viksit Bharat with Odisha's unique spirit and contributions at its heart. Presented sacred Mahaprasad from Shri Jagannath Dham—a symbol of unity, humility, and divine grace. It carries the blessings of millions of devotees and the timeless legacy of our land. May Mahaprabhu Jagannath continue to guide our collective journey towards an empowered, inclusive, and culturally enriched India," SinghDeo shared on X. Singh Deo and his wife and MP Sangeeta Singh Deo also met Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
