Latest news with #IIT-Roorkee
Economic Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- Economic Times
Bengal minister to BJP: Release funds, stop dreaming about winning 2026 polls
Synopsis West Bengal Irrigation Minister Manas Ranjan Bhuiyan criticized the central government for allegedly withholding funds for the Tilpara Barrage restoration in Birbhum. Bhuiyan claimed the Centre's non-cooperation is destabilizing Bengal's economy, urging BJP leaders to advocate for the release of Rs 1.77 lakh-crore. Agencies Kolkata, West Bengal Irrigation Minister Manas Ranjan Bhuiyan on Friday accused the central government of not helping the state government in the restoration of the Tilpara Barrage in Birbhum district, even as the state undertakes urgent repairs to protect lives and infrastructure amidst heavy on BJP leaders to stop "daydreaming" about winning power in 2026, Bhuiyan urged the opposition leadership in the state to demonstrate their commitment to the people of Bengal by helping expedite the release of withheld central funds "if they are truly sympathetic to the state's needs." Talking to reporters, Bhuiyan claimed that the Centre was attempting to "choke Mamata Banerjee" and "destabilise" Bengal's economy by stalling the release of Rs 1.77 lakh-crore due to the state."Go in a procession and tell the prime minister and the Jal Shakti Minister - give Bengal's money, give Bengal's money!" he said, directly addressing BJP MPs and MLAs from West reiterated the state government's commitment to safeguarding the structurally compromised Tilpara barrage, constructed in 1950-51, which he claimed was now facing "cracks" and "sections that have sat down", creating an asymmetrical flow that struggles to withstand high water pressure. "We are committed to the people of the state, irrespective of the Centre's non-cooperation. We have ordered urgent restoration work with Mackintosh Burn Ltd, a state-owned engineering company, from Saturday," he said."We will also consult the director of the Central Water Commission, who is arriving on Saturday, and continue liaising with IIT-Roorkee expert Prof J Ahmad," he to safety risks, the state has restricted traffic over the barrage to only motorcycles and ambulances, he minister clarified that the ongoing repair work, tendered at Rs 21 crore, is being entirely funded by the state government after the Centre failed to approve a World Bank-supported model, which could have provided 70 per cent of the the project suffered major setbacks after heavy rains began in mid-June."A large portion of the completed work has been damaged by the rains," he said, while appealing to the public for added that despite the "misinterpretation" and "panic propaganda" being spread, the state administration, led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, remains vigilant. "We are squeezing every mechanical and engineering resource we have," he also referred to Maithon and Panchet dams, alleging that indiscriminate release of water from the reservoirs is linked to long-standing silt accumulation in the DVC system, which has significantly reduced its water-holding capacity."If a pond's depth reduces, it simply cannot hold the same volume of rain anymore," he explained, stressing the need for urgent dredging. Bhuiyan also highlighted the state's commitment to the Ghatal Master Plan, detailing the progress made and allocation of funds, despite the Centre abandoning the project over the years after initially promising support.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Bengal minister to BJP: Release funds, stop dreaming about winning 2026 polls
West Bengal Irrigation Minister Manas Ranjan Bhuiyan criticized the central government for allegedly withholding funds for the Tilpara Barrage restoration in Birbhum. Bhuiyan claimed the Centre's non-cooperation is destabilizing Bengal's economy, urging BJP leaders to advocate for the release of Rs 1.77 lakh-crore. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Kolkata, West Bengal Irrigation Minister Manas Ranjan Bhuiyan on Friday accused the central government of not helping the state government in the restoration of the Tilpara Barrage in Birbhum district, even as the state undertakes urgent repairs to protect lives and infrastructure amidst heavy on BJP leaders to stop "daydreaming" about winning power in 2026, Bhuiyan urged the opposition leadership in the state to demonstrate their commitment to the people of Bengal by helping expedite the release of withheld central funds "if they are truly sympathetic to the state's needs."Talking to reporters, Bhuiyan claimed that the Centre was attempting to "choke Mamata Banerjee " and "destabilise" Bengal's economy by stalling the release of Rs 1.77 lakh-crore due to the state."Go in a procession and tell the prime minister and the Jal Shakti Minister - give Bengal's money, give Bengal's money!" he said, directly addressing BJP MPs and MLAs from West reiterated the state government's commitment to safeguarding the structurally compromised Tilpara barrage, constructed in 1950-51, which he claimed was now facing "cracks" and "sections that have sat down", creating an asymmetrical flow that struggles to withstand high water pressure."We are committed to the people of the state, irrespective of the Centre's non-cooperation. We have ordered urgent restoration work with Mackintosh Burn Ltd, a state-owned engineering company, from Saturday," he said."We will also consult the director of the Central Water Commission, who is arriving on Saturday, and continue liaising with IIT-Roorkee expert Prof J Ahmad," he to safety risks, the state has restricted traffic over the barrage to only motorcycles and ambulances, he minister clarified that the ongoing repair work, tendered at Rs 21 crore, is being entirely funded by the state government after the Centre failed to approve a World Bank-supported model, which could have provided 70 per cent of the the project suffered major setbacks after heavy rains began in mid-June."A large portion of the completed work has been damaged by the rains," he said, while appealing to the public for added that despite the "misinterpretation" and "panic propaganda" being spread, the state administration, led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, remains vigilant. "We are squeezing every mechanical and engineering resource we have," he also referred to Maithon and Panchet dams, alleging that indiscriminate release of water from the reservoirs is linked to long-standing silt accumulation in the DVC system, which has significantly reduced its water-holding capacity."If a pond's depth reduces, it simply cannot hold the same volume of rain anymore," he explained, stressing the need for urgent also highlighted the state's commitment to the Ghatal Master Plan, detailing the progress made and allocation of funds, despite the Centre abandoning the project over the years after initially promising support.
Hans India
3 days ago
- Business
- Hans India
Nabard, IIT-R charting ‘Handloom Roadmap'
Guwahati: The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) on Thursday said it is preparing a 'Handloom Roadmap' for Assam in association with IIT-Roorkee. Speaking at a function on National Handloom Day, NABARD Chief General Manager (Assam Region) Loken Das highlighted the bank's major contributions to the state's handloom sector and said over 8,000 weavers have benefitted from various initiatives undertaken by the lender over the last few years. 'NABARD, in collaboration with IIT Roorkee, is preparing a comprehensive Handloom Roadmap for Assam. This roadmap aims to provide strategic guidance and ensure sustainable, long-term development of the state's vibrant handloom sector,' he added. Das, however, did not share further details, such as a possible timeline to complete the draft of the document.
Hans India
4 days ago
- Business
- Hans India
NABARD, IIT-Roorkee drafting 'Handloom Roadmap' for Assam
Guwahati: The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) on Thursday said it is preparing a 'Handloom Roadmap' for Assam in association with IIT-Roorkee. Speaking at a function on National Handloom Day, NABARD Chief General Manager (Assam Region) Loken Das highlighted the bank's major contributions to the state's handloom sector and said over 8,000 weavers have benefitted from various initiatives undertaken by the lender over the last few years. "NABARD, in collaboration with IIT Roorkee, is preparing a comprehensive Handloom Roadmap for Assam. This roadmap aims to provide strategic guidance and ensure sustainable, long-term development of the state's vibrant handloom sector," he added. Das, however, did not share further details, such as a possible timeline to complete the draft of the document. Talking about its various initiatives, the CGM said: "During the last few years, over 8,000 weavers have benefitted from NABARD's initiatives such as skilling, rural enterprise promotion, marketing infrastructure and forming Weavers Producer Organisation (OFPO) with grant support of more than Rs 5.28 crore." Additional support extended by NABARD is assistance for GI registration of handloom products and authorised user facilitation, he added. Speaking on the occasion, Assam Finance Secretary Dilip Kumar Borah lauded the efforts of NABARD for empowering weavers and promoting handloom development. Citing the Handloom Census 2019–20, he noted that Assam has 12.83 lakh weavers, of whom over 90 per cent are women, and 12.54 lakh handlooms. Borah emphasised government support through raw materials, MSP, developing an integrated handloom park in Kaziranga, and silk tourism in Sualkuchi and other areas for promotion of the sector.
News18
01-08-2025
- Science
- News18
Ganga sustained in summer by groundwater discharge, not glacial melt: IIT study
Dehradun, Aug 1 (PTI) A study carried out by IIT-Roorkee researchers has found that the Ganga is primarily sustained by groundwater discharge during the hot and dry summer months, not glacial melt as widely believed. The pioneering study published in the journal Hydrological Processes based on a full-scale isotopic analysis of the Ganga from its Himalayan origins to its deltaic end, including its major tributaries, offers a paradigm shift in understanding how the mighty river is sustained during the hot and dry summer months. The study challenges long-held assumptions by establishing that up to Patna in Bihar, the Ganga is primarily sustained by groundwater discharge and not glacial melt. This natural underground contribution boosts the river's volume by nearly 120 per cent along the middle stretch. Meanwhile, more than 58 per cent of the river's water is lost to evaporation during summer—an alarming yet overlooked component of the river's water budget. 'Our analysis shows that the Ganga is not drying because groundwater is depleting, but due to over-extraction, excessive diversion, and neglect of tributaries. Groundwater is still the hidden lifeline of the Ganga," said Prof Abhayanand Singh Maurya, lead author and faculty at the Department of Earth Sciences, IIT Roorkee. 'This research redefines how we can understand the Ganga's summer flow. It should prove a sustainable future river rejuvenation strategy, not just for the Ganga but for all major Indian rivers," he said. The study concludes with the message: 'If India wants a sustainable Ganga, it must protect and recharge its aquifers, release adequate water into the main river channel, and revive the lost tributary networks." Contrary to prior satellite-based studies warning of severe groundwater depletion across north India, the new findings based on two decades of in-situ data indicate largely stable groundwater levels across the central Ganga Plain, Maurya said. Consistent flows from shallow hand pumps across decades reinforce the evidence of a resilient aquifer system that continues to feed the Ganga during non-monsoon periods, he said. Another revelation made by the study is the negligible role of glacial melt in maintaining the Ganga's flow in the Indo-Gangetic plains during summer. The study quantifies that beyond the Himalayan foothills, the glacier-fed input is virtually absent and does not influence the summer discharge up to Patna. Post-Patna, tributaries like Ghaghara and Gandak become the dominant contributors. The research adds valuable scientific weight to several ongoing national missions such as Namami Gange, Atal Bhujal Yojana, and Jal Shakti Abhiyan, which aim to rejuvenate rivers and improve groundwater management. PTI ALM VN VN view comments First Published: August 01, 2025, 20:00 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
