Despite spending, flood-prone areas growing in state: RJD MP
Addressing a press conference here on Tuesday, the MP claimed that during Rabri Devi govt in 2005, 12.5 lakh hectares of land had irrigation facilities, but this has now decreased to 9.5 lakh hectares. Despite an annual expenditure of over Rs 4,000 crore on flood control, the area affected by floods has increased, he said.
He alleged that change in the tradition of releasing water in canals before May 15 during the 'Rohini Nakshatra' by the govt would delay sowing of paddy.
"The new schedule, extending canal operations until June 15, is expected to delay sowing, reduce crop yields and threaten food security," he said.
He said the Sone canal system, which is crucial for several districts, is not performing well. While Indrapuri Barrage used to release 9,000 cusecs of water, it now releases only 3,000 cusecs. Additionally, 1,158 million cubic meters of water in the Van Sagar agreement with Uttar Pradesh remain untapped.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Giao dịch vàng CFDs với mức chênh lệch giá thấp nhất
IC Markets
Đăng ký
Undo
The MP demanded an independent high-level inquiry into the Rs 80,000 crore expenditure, restoration of the previous canal water release schedule, prioritisation of farmers' challenges, and accountability for officials and leaders involved in 'mismanagement'.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
35 minutes ago
- Time of India
'Certainly possible': Zelenskyy may attend US-Russia Alaska Summit, says US ambassador to Nato; no decision made yet
US ambassador to Nato Matthew Whitaker (Image credits: AP) Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky may attend this week's US-Russia summit in Alaska, the US ambassador to Nato Matthew Whitaker said Sunday, as the White House considers inviting him to the August 15 meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin . When asked on CNN if Zelenskyy might join Trump and Putin on Friday, ambassador Matthew Whitaker responded, "Yes, I definitely think it's possible.' 'Any deal must have the agreement of all involved parties. Ending this war is clearly a top priority,' he added, as quoted by AFP. The summit, currently scheduled without Zelensky's attendance, has raised concerns that any agreement might require Ukraine to cede large parts of its territory — a demand firmly rejected by the European Union . In recent days, Zelensky has been actively engaging in diplomacy, holding phone calls with 13 world leaders, including key allies Germany, Britain, and France. German chancellor Friedrich Merz expressed hope on Sunday that Zelenskyy would attend the summit, saying he 'hoped and assumed' the Ukrainian president would be present. Whitaker emphasised that the final decision rests with Trump. 'If he thinks that that is the best scenario to invite Zelenskyy, then he will do that,' Whitaker said, while noting that 'no decision has been made to this point.' by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Buenos Aires: Unsold Sofas Prices May Surprise You (Prices May Surprise You) Sofas | Search Ads Search Now Undo It remains unclear whether Putin and Zelensky would meet face-to-face if Zelenskyy does attend the Alaska summit, according to a source familiar with the discussions. The White House initially insisted that a meeting between Putin and Zelenskyy be a condition for Trump's talks with the Russian leader, but Trump later stated that such a meeting was not essential. Since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022, tens of thousands have died and millions have been forced to flee their homes. The urgency to end the conflict remains a high priority for all involved parties.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Calcutta HC has highest backlog of cases pending for 50+ years
NEW DELHI: In a ranking that it can do without, Calcutta high court (HC) has topped the list of HCs having huge backlogs of cases pending for disposal for over five decades. The HC, one of the three first set up by the British, has 2,185 such cases yet to be disposed of, which is 94% of the total 2,329 cases pending for over 50 years across all HCs. And since last year, Calcutta HC has added 140 more to its docket. According to the pendency statistics released by Union law ministry on Thursday, there are 22,829 cases pending for 40-50 years at 25 HCs across country, another 63,239 for 30-40 years, over 3.4 lakh for 20-30 years and 11.5 lakh for 10-20 years. The oldest case in a high court is pending for 74 years, since 1951. Only eight HCs besides Calcutta have pendency of cases for over five decades - 56 in Madras HC, 46 in Patna HC, 17 in Allahabad HC, nine in Telangana HC, eight in Orissa HC, four in Madhya Pradesh HC, and two each in Bombay and Punjab & Haryana HCs. In comparison, the district judiciary has done better with only 1,113 cases pending for five decades, of which 39% are only from Bengal. The data was released by law minister Arjun Ram Meghwal in response to a question in Rajya Sabha on Thursday. The total pendency of cases which are more than 10 years old is at 15,77,191. In response to another question on pendency of cases, Meghwal said several factors lead to long pendency, including "complexity of the facts involved, nature of evidence, cooperation of stakeholders, viz. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like If you have a mouse, play this game for 1 minute Navy Quest Undo bar, investigation agencies, witnesses and litigants, besides the availability of physical infrastructure, supporting court staff and proper application of rules and procedures to monitor, track and bunch hearing of cases". He highlighted that pendency of cases and vacancy for judges in HCs are not necessarily directly related - as of Aug 1, against the sanctioned strength of 1,122 judges in HCs, the working strength was at 778, with 344 vacancies. "Against these vacancies, 138 proposals for appointment of judges are at various stages of processing between govt and SC Collegium," Meghwal said. Govt has not yet received any recommendation against 206 vacancies, he added. This seems to have escaped the attention of the higher judiciary, notwithstanding SC issuing from time to time directives to all HCs to ensure that pendency of all cases over 10 years old is cleared on priority basis. As reported by TOI, govt had set up National Mission for Justice Delivery and Legal Reforms in Aug 2011 with the objective of improving legal access by reducing delays and arrears in the system and enhancing accountability through structural changes and by setting performance standards and capacities. Separate arrears committees have also been set up at all 25 HCs to clear cases pending for more than five years. Similar committees are functional at district courts.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Senior AAP functionaries in attendance, Sanatan Seva Samiti launches Punjab chapter
Jalandhar: The Sanatan Seva Samiti, whose formation was announced amid much fanfare by the Aam Aadmi Party ahead of the Delhi assembly elections earlier this year, last week launched its Punjab chapter at an event attended by AAP state president Aman Arora and Punjab minister Barinder Goyal. Representatives of Hindu organisations from across Punjab were present at the event organised in Mohali on Aug 6. During the event, the representatives also discussed issues of the community. Other AAP functionaries at the event included Hoshiarpur MLA Bram Shankar Jimpa, and Punjab tourism and cultural affairs adviser Deepak Bali. Sanatan Seva Samiti president Vijay Sharma chaired the event, a video of which was shared by AAP state spokesperson Pranav Dhawan. When the samiti was formed in Delhi on Jan 8 this year, AAP had in a statement at the time said it was a "major political shift". It added in the statement: "Numerous priests and saints from the pujari community abandoned the BJP's 'Mandir Prakoshth' (temple cell) to join AAP's 'Sanatan Seva Samiti'." AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal, and top functionaries Manish Sisodia, Sanjay Singh, and Saurabh Bharadwaj attended that event. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Stylish New Mobility Scooters Available for Seniors (Prices May Surprise You) Mobility Scooter | Search Ads Search Now Undo On Jan 10, AAP Delhi convener Gopal Rai announced the office-bearers of the samiti. Party spokesperson Ghanendra Bhardwaj was appointed its state in-charge, while Vijay Sharma was named the state president. However, when contacted on Sunday, samiti president Vijay Sharma claimed that they were not affiliated to AAP and were an independent body of Sanatanis. Asked about AAP announcing its formation and Gopal Rai announcing the appointment of its office-bearers in Jan, he said they had clarified to the AAP leadership that they were not a wing of any party. Regarding the presence of only AAP functionaries on the stage at its inaugural function in Mohali, he said they were there to discuss issues faced by the community. He said they raised four demands: banning the transport of cows from 6pm to 6am, including all Hindu texts and idols in the anti-sacrilege bill, promoting major Hindu shrines in Punjab, and state govt support to major Hindu occasions. MSID:: 123218381 413 | Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
