Latest news with #Jal-Jeevan-Hariyali
Time of India
5 days ago
- General
- Time of India
State has target to raise green cover by 17% by 2028: Minister
Patna: On World Environment Day, Sunil Kumar, minister for environment, forest and climate change, launched the song 'Harit Bihar banayenge-naya Bihar banayenge' at the Patna zoo on Thursday. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now He also provided assistance of Rs 25,000 to Rajesh Kumar, known as 'Oxygen Man', for his contribution towards environmental conservation. During the event, the minister highlighted the state's progress in increasing its forest cover from 7.62% in 2004 to 15.05% at present, with a target to reach 17% by 2028. He said efforts made by the govt for the promotion of eco-tourism in the state, such as the development of sites like Rajgir, Valmiki Nagar, and Bodh Gaya, are yielding results. "Bihar is not only a land of historical heritage but also environmentally rich. Animal parks like Patna zoo serve as major centres of awareness," he said, adding that initiatives like the Hariyali Mission, Jal-Jeevan-Hariyali and 'Ek ghanta paryavaran ke naam' have engaged all sections of society. He recalled the PM's 'Ek ped maa ke naam' initiative and appealed to people to participate in the environment's protection by planting saplings in the name of their kin. On this occasion, the department's additional chief secretary, Harjot Kaur Bamhrah, stated that environment's protection is possible not only through govt's efforts but also through people's cooperation.
Time of India
7 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
‘Isotopic study of dust particles undertaken to understand their impact on environment'
With several cities in the state being hotspots of air pollution, Bihar State Pollution Control Board (BSPCB) has initiated some necessary steps to reduce the load and ensure a safe environment for people. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now In an exclusive interview by B K Mishra, BSPCB chairman Devendra Kumar Shukla has said the board has recently launched an isotopic study of dust particles in collaboration with National Institute of Oceanography, Goa, for identifying their source. Excerpts: Bihar is ranked among one of the most polluted regions in the world. Why? Some pockets of Bihar are certainly considered hotspots of air pollution mainly due to the large concentration of dust particles in atmosphere, but due to the recent initiatives of the BSPCB, the position has improved considerably. Recently released World Air Quality Report, 2025, by Swiss firm IQAir has shown signs of improvement in several towns. Notably, Patna's position has improved significantly, dropping from 20th place in 2023 to 37th this year. What initiatives have been taken by the board to combat air pollution? Most recently, the board, in collaboration with National Institute of Oceanography (NIO), has undertaken an isotopic study of dust particles in the air to understand their sources, transport and impact on the environment. The NIO has already started collecting samples of dust particles from Patna region in the first phase. After collecting samples from different parts of the state, the work will focus on using isotopic ratios, particularly Sr and Nd isotopes, to trace the origins of the dust particles, especially those transported from river Ganga. Q. You are also making some studies in collaboration with the IITs? A. Earlier, last year, the board started the study of dust particles in three most polluted cities of the state, namely, Patna, Muzaffarpur and Gaya, in collaboration with the IITs. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The study will identify the "seasonal mass concentration level of PM2.5 and PM10 in ambient air" of the extended urban areas of the thee cities. PM 2.5 and PM 10 are minute particles present in the air, and exposure to these is harmful to health. Real-time source apportionment studies help identify factors, such as vehicles, dust, biomass burning, and emissions from industries, responsible for an increase in air pollution in an area. The study on dust particles of Patna region is likely to be completed this year. What about water pollution in the state? Jal-Jeevan-Hariyali scheme of the state has not only provided the people with drinking water supply but also enhanced the rate of groundwater recharge. About 1.85 lakh hectare area has benefited under eco-restoration scheme with focus on watershed development. Further, more than 3,500 ahar pynes (a traditional water management and irrigation system) will be restored under the fourth agricultural road map of the state. All these will result in the total groundwater reserve of 34.15 BCM, of which 30.95 BCM can be extracted. At present, only 14.1 BCM of groundwater is being extracted. Hence, there is no problem of groundwater pollution in 473 blocks of the state. Do you think groundwater is being misused in urban areas? As many areas of the state are water-surplus, people are in habit of misutilising this resource. But, its overexploitation can be checked by introducing water meter in the supply system. People will try to save water, if they have to pay for it.
Time of India
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Nitish skips NITI Aayog meeting again
Patna: CM Nitish Kumar , whose party JD(U) is a key ally of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), on Saturday skipped the 10th governing council meeting of the NITI Aayog, chaired by Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi in New Delhi. His absence has triggered fresh speculation in the state's political circles. Senior leaders of the opposition Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and Congress described the chief minister's absence as "unfortunate" and suggested it carried "a deeper political message". This is not the first time Kumar has missed a NITI Aayog meeting. He also skipped the 2023 governing council session. In 2024, the trend continued with Bihar being represented instead by deputy chief ministers Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha – both from the BJP. The high-level meeting, held at Bharat Mandapam in the national capital, was themed 'Viksit Rajya for Viksit Bharat @2047'. It brought together chief ministers, lieutenant governors and Union ministers to discuss long-term development strategies. However, Kumar's absence stood out, particularly as he leads a govt backed by the BJP. "The states which skipped the meeting were Karnataka, Kerala, West Bengal, Bihar and Puducherry," NITI Aayog CEO BVR Subrahmanyam told reporters in Delhi. A senior NDA leader said the CM, accompanied by senior officials, arrived in Delhi on Saturday afternoon, by which time the meeting was nearly over. Despite the political curiosity his absence sparked, neither the chief minister's office nor the Bihar govt offered any explanation on Saturday as to why the CM or the state refrained from attending. Senior Congress leader Tariq Anwar described Kumar's decision as "significant. "His decision to skip it sends a major political message especially given that the meeting was chaired by the PM," Anwar said. RJD Rajya Sabha MP Manoj Jha said the CM's absence suggested a shift in decision-making. "The NITI Aayog meeting is happening at a critical juncture. We heard that the CM is not attending. His priorities are set by other people these days," Jha told reporters. NDA sources, however, confirmed that Kumar is expected to attend the meeting of chief ministers and deputy chief ministers of NDA-ruled states on May 25 to be chaired by PM Modi at the Ashoka Hotel in New Delhi. The NDA gathering precedes the PM's two-day visit to Bihar on May 29 and May 30, ahead of the upcoming state assembly elections. It is seen as politically significant for both Bihar and the NDA allies in the state. Speaking about the NDA meeting, deputy CM Samrat Choudhary said, "The Centre is extending all possible assistance to Bihar and Nitish Kumar will thank the PM for it. Several people-friendly projects like Jal-Jeevan-Hariyali are ongoing in Bihar under the leadership of the CM and these will be discussed in the meeting. The state will also make a presentation at the meeting."
Time of India
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
JD(U) takes credit for caste census, says nation adopts Nitish's vision
Patna: Amid the political scramble to claim credit for the caste census, the JD(U) has released a new poster virtually crediting itself entirely for the initiative, following the Narendra Modi govt's announcement on Wednesday to conduct caste enumeration alongside the national census. The JD(U) posters, now visible across the state capital, read, "Nitish ne dikhaya, ab desh ne apnaya" (What was envisioned by Nitish has now been adopted by the country). While expressing gratitude to the PM for making a "historic decision" to carry out the caste count, the poster highlights that the enumeration of every caste will help formulate a national policy. Political analyst Ajay Kumar Jha said with caste remaining a central issue in Indian politics, every party is eager to claim ownership. "Well, Nitish may have been advocating for the caste census, but no party objected when the former Grand Alliance govt in Bihar decided to conduct a caste survey. Even the BJP, then in opposition, supported it," Jha told TOI on Friday. "In fact, caste continues to be a major factor in Bihar's political landscape and with assembly elections approaching, no party wants to be left behind," he added, denying any internal rivalry within the NDA over credit for the initiative. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Mana Cresta Premium 2.5 & 3 BHK @ ₹1.27 Cr* onwards | Off Sarjapur Road Mana Group Get Quote Undo Interestingly, several of the Modi govt's schemes over the past 11 years appear to have been inspired by initiatives introduced in Bihar under Nitish. Notably, the Rashtriya Gramin Aajivika Mission (National Rural Livelihood Mission) is said to have been modelled after Bihar's widely acclaimed JEEViKA programme, aimed at empowering the rural poor. During his Pragati Yatra, Nitish repeatedly told crowds that the Centre's Aajivika initiative drew its framework from JEEViKA. Analysts further pointed out that other central schemes, such as the Jal Jeevan Mission and the SAUBHAGYA (Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana), were inspired by Bihar's Har Ghar Nal Ka Jal and Har Ghar Bijli Yojana. Likewise, the Centre's Amrit Sarovar Yojana echoes the state government's Jal-Jeevan-Hariyali programme. "Well, several projects initiated by the Bihar govt, such as JEEViKA and the Nal-Jal Yojana, have been adopted not only by the Centre but also by other states," said political analyst Vidyarthi Vikas on Friday. "Nitish is right in saying that what Bihar does is often later embraced by the Centre," he said. However, Vikas added, "As far as the caste census is concerned, RJD chief Lalu Prasad also campaigned extensively for it, alongside Nitish. More recently, it became a core campaign issue for RJD leader Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, which led to Bihar's caste survey. So, credit must be shared between Nitish Kumar and Lalu/Tejashwi for the caste census."
