Agra to get Rs 126 crore for better management of sewerage system
Lucknow: Sewerage management project worth Rs 126 crore was approved for Agra in the executive committee meeting of the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG), chaired by director general Rajeev Kumar Mital on Thursday.
Under this project, 40 interception and diversion structures will be constructed to enhance the efficiency of the city's sewer network.
In addition to this, 21.20 km of interception and diversion sewer lines will be laid to ensure proper management of sewage in different areas.
"The project includes the installation of eight state-of-the-art pumping stations to control and ensure swift transportation of sewage water.
Trash screens will also be installed in five major drains to block pollutants and waste, thus safeguarding water bodies," said a UP govt official. He added that it will follow the Design-Build-Operate-Transfer (DBOT) model.
The mission also approved a project to assess the environmental flow in the Ghagra and Gomti river basins, with a budget of approximately Rs 8 crore. This project will create a detailed database of river ecosystems using drones and on-site monitoring across different weather conditions.
The database will cover water quality, flow, biodiversity of flora and fauna, and local social aspects, offering a comprehensive understanding of the environmental conditions of these rivers and their surroundings.
"The data will help in developing conservation strategies while factoring in climate change, land use, and cover changes, along with human water demand. Various models will be used to identify suitable management options, which will be reviewed and improved regularly," the official added. The data will also enable an accurate assessment of required environmental flows and the development of best management practices for sustainable conservation of the Ghagra and Gomti river basins.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Renovated information centre opened at Chamundi Vana
Mysuru: The renovated Environmental Information Centre at Chamundi Vana was inaugurated by district minister HC Mahadevappa on Wednesday. On the occasion, a sapling planting programme was organised as part of the celebrations. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The information centre has been developed to raise awareness about forestry, environment, and wildlife conservation, incorporating various schemes and programmes of the forest department, such as agroforestry promotion, distribution of saplings at subsidised rates, human-wildlife conflict management, sandalwood cultivation, and providing cooking gas connections to reduce forest pressure. It also includes information about forest martyrs, e-services, and e-initiatives. A proposal of Rs 100 lakh has been submitted to develop Chamundi Vana as a model park, enhancing it into a prime tourist destination for the millions of devotees visiting Chamundi Hills temple to enjoy its natural beauty. In the current financial year, other works like a children's park, Pavithra Vana, Nakshatra Vana, Rashi Vana, and pergola will be undertaken. MLA GT Devegowda, Nagamma, president, Chamundi Hill gram panchayat; M Malathipriya, conservation officer, Mysuru Circle, and Basavaraj KN, deputy forest conservation officer, Mysuru Territorial Division, were present. Chamundi Vana is being taken care of by Mysuru Forest Division's Urban Greening Zone. The information centre was started in 2003, but due to legal hurdles, it was temporarily shut in 2011. Then the forest department appealed in the high court in 2011, and the state archives provided documentation of govt orders in the 1940s for 2 acres and 28 guntas, and in 1947, for 18 acres, totalling 20 acres acquired by the forest department. In 2024, these records were submitted to the high court, which ruled in favour of the forest department in July 2024, stating that "Once a forest, always a forest. " Now, the department has started a renovated information centre.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
From fruit chaat seller to assistant professor: Tej Kushwaha's inspiring journey
Indore: In a testament to perseverance and determination, 31-year-old Tej Prakash Kushwaha, a native of a small village in Rewa district, achieved his dream of becoming an assistant professor in geography. His name figures among the successful candidates in the recently announced interview results of the MPPSC Assistant Professor Recruitment Exam 2022. Kushwaha hails from Bausadwa village in Jawa tehsil where his parents are engaged in farming. He completed his early education at a govt school in his village that went up only to Class 5, after which he moved to another town to continue his studies. Despite facing academic setbacks — he once failed Class 8—Tej went on to earn a BA and MA in geography from Allahabad University. His journey into competitive exams began with the UPSC, for which he prepared while living in Delhi for three years. After multiple attempts, he shifted his focus to the Madhya Pradesh Public Service Commission (MPPSC) and moved to Indore in 2019. Though he cleared the prelims four times and appeared for mains, the interview round remained elusive. Faced with financial difficulties while preparing, Tej and three friends—Shubham Thakur, Suraj, and Pradeep—started a small venture named PSC Falahaar, selling fruit chaat near Bhola Ram Ustad Marg in Indore. "Expenses in Indore were rising, so we decided to serve fresh fruits to students and residents for just Rs.20," Tej told TOI. The group would visit the fruit mandi at 5am, prepare the servings, and take turns running the stall to balance work and studies. While their aim was to make Rs 200 each per day for their expenses, the venture became a success and expanded to multiple locations in Indore, eventually being replicated in 14 other states by students. In early 2025, Tej and his friends handed over the initiative to another group in need. Meanwhile, he cleared the UGC-NET and qualified for a Junior Research Fellowship in 2023, which allowed him to pursue a PhD at Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya with financial support from the central govt. Determined to crack the MPPSC interview, he joined a coaching group for mock interviews and personality development. "We critiqued each other's communication and body language, which boosted my confidence," he said. His interview panel asked questions about his startup, the Rewa region, and Prayagraj—his place of higher education. "For questions I didn't know, I admitted it honestly and promised to learn." Tej scored 80 in the interview and was selected. "I come from a humble background. My father once worked as a labourer in Pune while my mother managed the farm. Today, I'm happy to make them proud." Now being in the field of education, Tej aims to attain the top positions. "I want to grow in academia and one day serve as a vice-chancellor," he said.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Public Action Committee cracks whip over green norms violations on Ludhiana-Kharar stretch of National Highway-5.
Ludhiana: The Public Action Committee (PAC) on Wednesday served notice to National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), the forest department, and others for "blatant violation" of National Green Tribunal (NGT) norms regarding development of green areas along the national highway from Ludhiana to Kharar (NH-5). Besides NHAI and the state forest department, PAC also served a legal notice to the ministry of road transport and highways (MORTH) and the chief town planner of the department of country and town planning, Punjab, against such violations of NGT directions, the Green Highway Policy of 2015, and the IRC Code for the development of green areas along the same national highway, also known as Chandigarh Road. Engineer Kapil Arora and Dr Amandeep Singh Bains of PAC said the development of the 4-6 lane Chandigarh Road started in 2016-17, and a major portion was completed by 2021-22 with a capital cost of more than Rs 2000 crore. They added that there was no construction zone of 30 metres along the national highway outside MC limits and five metres within MC limits in Punjab since 1995, and such areas were to be developed as greenbelts by planting saplings. "However, many commercial outlets near Kohara, Morinda, and Khamano have come up in the recent past without leaving adequate space for plantation, and the NHAI as well as the forest department, both allowed 100% wide access to such commercial and industrial buildings. Further, many buildings have come up within 30 metres in active connivance with NHAI and the forest department," they alleged. Kuldeep Singh Khaira and Engineer Jaskirat Singh said the NGT had already directed the NHAI to plant trees within 30 metres from the end of the right of way along all national highways, and the forest department had been made the nodal agency to maintain green areas. "It was mandatory for the NHAI to acquire land for necessary plantation, but failed to do so, resulting in a gross violation of green norms. Though the NHAI planted saplings in some stretches, the width of the strip is also much less than 30 metres," they added. They also alleged that new projects were being developed on this national highway, and a 5.50-metre-wide service lane was to be developed along the national highway, for which a large number of old trees and newly planted saplings by the NHAI had been felled. The PAC members further alleged that the entire front width of such projects had been cleared of existing trees, and the areas were being developed as lawns, which is also against the directions of the National Green Tribunal. Preet Dhanoa and Colonel Jasjit Singh Gill alleged that despite knowing about the directions by the NGT, the Green Highway Policy, and the provisions of the IRC Code, the town planning department of Punjab was deliberately approving plans with service lanes within 30 metres, whereas there was ample space available outside the change of land use (CLU) boundary of these projects, which could have been used for the development of the service road. They claimed that with more projects in the future, saplings planted by the NHAI and the forest department would be axed too for the service road. "Thus, the NHAI and the forest departments are giving permission for the construction of service lanes by going against the NGT directions and green norms," they alleged. The PAC members added that as per Clause 1.4 of IRC-SP-21:2009, to ensure the availability of sufficient width for avenue plantation, the requirement of land for tree plantation should be assessed and included in the land acquisition plans prepared for a highway widening project. They added that the NHAI failed to acquire the land for plantation, which was mandatory as per IRC norms. "Accordingly, we have served notice upon all authorities to act within the next 15 days to clear the encroachments done by commercial outlets/eatery points within a 30-metre distance from the NH and start planting saplings of native trees thereafter. Further, as a precautionary principle, the town planning department must act and redesign the service lane to protect the remaining trees as well as the saplings planted by the NHAI," PAC said, adding that in case no action was initiated in the next 15 days, it would move the NGT with a plea to impose environment compensation on the NHAI as well as for sustainable development.
