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Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- General
- Hindustan Times
Catch the Rain: GB Nagar departments told to submit progress and plans
Gautam Budh Nagar dstrict magistrate Manish Kumar Verma on Monday directed all departments to submit geo-tagged reports of their ongoing and completed works under the Jal Shakti Abhiyan, in a decisive push for rainwater conservation ahead of the monsoon season, officials said. He also ordered the preparation and submission of department-specific water conservation plans. The directives were issued during a high-level review meeting chaired by the DM to assess the implementation of the 'Catch the Rain' campaign in the district. The campaign, focused on increasing groundwater recharge and rainwater harvesting, is being implemented as a joint initiative by the central and state governments. 'This is a priority initiative at both the state and national levels. All departments must ensure their activities are monitored, geo-tagged, and updated regularly on the Jal Shakti Abhiyan (JSA) portal. Officers must personally ensure that the data uploaded is accurate and timely,' DM Verma said. The DM directed that rooftop rainwater harvesting systems (RWHS) be made operational and functional in all government and semi-government buildings, including office complexes, primary schools, anganwadi centres, community health centres, panchayat bhawans, and high-rise residential societies. Additionally, parks and public places in urban areas must adopt effective rainwater collection mechanisms. As of May 2025, approximately 100 high-rise buildings across Gautam Budh Nagar have functional rainwater harvesting systems, according to groundwater department records. Among government establishments, around 60% have operational systems in place. 'Of nearly 1,900 government buildings in the district, 1,380 are currently equipped with functional rainwater harvesting systems. We are planning to conduct fresh audits by the end of June to reassess the status,' said Ankita Rai, hydrologist at the groundwater department. 'While there is no formal deadline for completing installations, our department is focused on raising awareness among residents and institutions. We encourage proactive adoption of rainwater harvesting and regular maintenance of existing systems to ensure long-term functionality,' she added. The DM also said that traditional water bodies must be revived. He instructed officials to carry out de-silting, cleaning, and restoration of ponds and rivers, including clearing obstructions from Amrit Sarovars. 'Renovation of traditional water sources, borewell recharge, watershed development, and plantation along rivers and ponds should be key areas of focus under the campaign,' he said. Officials said that a special afforestation drive will be conducted along the banks of the Hindon in coordination with the forest department. The irrigation department was told to coordinate with forest officials to undertake plantation on a large scale near ponds and riverbanks. 'Other departments carrying out plantation must also ensure their data is uploaded to the Jal Shakti portal,' the DM added. He also instructed development authorities and municipal bodies to install water treatment plants at locations where untreated sewage water is being discharged into ponds, to prevent groundwater contamination. He also called on the education department and groundwater department to run widespread awareness campaigns and ensure that water conservation becomes a mass movement. The progress of such outreach must also be recorded and updated on the JSA portal, he said.
Time of India
3 days ago
- General
- Time of India
How Noida plans to catch the rain
1 2 3 Noida: District magistrate Manish Kumar Verma held a meeting with stakeholders on Monday and directed officials to ensure maximum rainwater conservation during the coming monsoon and to prioritise the Catch the Rain campaign under the Jal Shakti Mission. The DM directed officials to install rooftop rainwater harvesting systems on all govt and semi-govt buildings. He also emphasised the need to renovate and reuse traditional waterbodies, recharge borewells, develop watersheds, intensify tree plantation, rejuvenate small rivers, and other water conservation-related activities relevant to the district. Verma further asked the officials to ensure that all obstructions in the path of water flow to Amrit Sarovars are removed. Emphasising the need for effective rainwater harvesting in all parks and public places in urban areas, he added, "Office buildings, primary schools, Anganwadi centres, community health centres, panchayat buildings, and high-rise societies should check if the installed water harvest structures are working properly, and those not yet fitted should complete it. " Minor irrigation department officials were also instructed to coordinate with forest department officials to conduct extensive tree plantation campaigns along ponds and the Hindon river. The DM also stressed the importance of ensuring that information on tree plantations conducted by other departments is fed into the Jal Shakti Abhiyan portal. "Install water treatment plants to purify the dirty water from drains that flow into ponds, to prevent groundwater pollution," Verma told officials at the meeting. Additionally, officials from the education department, groundwater department, and Nehru Yuva Kendra were instructed to promote the 'Catch the Rain' campaign across the district through public awareness programmes, so that water conservation becomes a people's movement. He also said that the related progress should be fed into the Jal Shakti Abhiyan (JSA) portal. Officials were directed to ensure that the progress of completed tasks on the JSA portal is uploaded with personal attention.
Hindustan Times
7 days ago
- General
- Hindustan Times
Gautam Budh Nagar to host weeklong events to gear up for Int'l Yoga Day
GREATER NOIDA Gautam Budh Nagar will observe 11th International Day of Yoga on June 21 and a district-wide Yoga Week between June 15 and 20 in compliance with the ministry of AYUSH guidelines, district officials said. District magistrate Manish Kumar Verma on Thursday chaired a preparatory meeting at the collectorate, instructing concerned officials to ensure all arrangements are in place through inter-departmental coordination. Students, NCC and NSS cadets, and NGO and yoga institute volunteers, entrepreneurs, and residents will participate in daily morning yoga sessions, officials said. 'We should aim for mass participation and a spirit of teamwork. Yoga sessions will be organised in schools, colleges, panchayats, block and tehsil headquarters, and public parks. Daily sessions during Yoga Week should follow the common yoga protocol under trained instructors,' the DM said. The main International Yoga Day celebration on June 21 will be held from 6am to 8am at various locations including parks and public grounds across the district—right from panchayat levels to block, tehsil, and district headquarters. Trained yoga instructors will supervise the sessions, officials said. Special emphasis has been laid on organising yoga activities at culturally significant locations and scenic sites near rivers like Yamuna and Hindon, as well as lakes, ponds, and Amrit Sarovars. The DM also encouraged incorporating a 'Harit Yoga' initiative, wherein participants will plant a tree alongside performing yoga to promote environmental consciousness. 'Special sites like the Yamuna and Hindon riverbanks, historical locations, and scenic ponds and lakes must be prioritised for hosting sessions, keeping tourism promotion in mind. The concept of Harit Yoga should be highlighted—alongside yoga practice, every participant must plant at least one sapling, combining wellness with environmental responsibility,' the DM added. The DM also proposed identifying two parks in the district to be developed as dedicated 'Yoga Parks' for year-round activities. He suggested building lasting infrastructure to carry forward the legacy of the International Day of Yoga. Besides, to engage youth, officials have been asked to organise national and international social media-based yoga competitions and encourage participants to share their progress online. The participants in the meeting included officials from ayurvedic and unani department, education department, senior yoga instructors, among others.
Hindustan Times
24-05-2025
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Gautam Budh Nagar ties up with Govt Mint to vaccinate 2,500 women
GREATER NOIDA In a proactive step to safeguard adolescent girls from cervical cancer, the Gautam Budh Nagar district administration on Friday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) worth ₹89 lakh with the Government of India Mint, Noida, officials informed. The initiative aims to provide free HPV (Human Papillomavirus) vaccination to 2,500 girls between the ages of 9 and 20. The campaign will be jointly supervised by the district administration and the health department and executed in two phases. The second dose of the vaccine will be administered six months after the first, as per standard medical guidelines. To be sure, the India Government Mint, Noida is one of four official mints in India responsible for producing coins and related items. Established on July 1, 1988, it is the only mint set up in the country after independence and operates under the Security Printing and Minting Corporation of India Limited (SPMCIL), a public sector undertaking under the Ministry of Finance. Beyond its core functions, the Noida Mint actively engages in community development and corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities. These include organizing health camps, cleanliness drives, educational workshops, and awareness programs on topics like cybercrime and integrity. The MoU was signed in the presence of district magistrate Manish Kumar Verma at the Collectorate office in Greater Noida. 'Cervical cancer is both preventable and treatable if addressed early. Through this MoU, we aim to ensure that girls in the 9 to 20 age group, especially those from vulnerable sections, receive timely vaccination and protection. This is not just a public health step but a preventive investment in the future of our daughters,' said DM Verma. To streamline the rollout, additional district magistrate (administration) Manglesh Dubey has been appointed the nodal officer, and district employment officer Manisha Atri will serve as the assistant nodal officer for coordination, officials said. 'The partnership marks a significant step towards enhancing women's health by focusing on the prevention and early detection of cervical cancer. Through collaborative efforts, we aim to raise awareness, ultimately reducing the disease's impact on our communities', said ADM, Dubey. To ensure a smooth rollout, groundwork is being laid in coordination with schools and health officials. 'In the first phase, we will focus on vaccinating girls from government schools. The campaign, led jointly by the CMO office and a local NGO, is likely to begin in July once schools reopen. However, we are still working on finalising the timeline, as we need to create awareness among students and parents and gather school-wise data. The Quadrivalent HPV vaccine will be used for immunisation', said district employment officer, who is also assistant nodal officer for the campaign, Manisha Atri. Also present during the signing were social welfare officer Satish Kumar, joint general manager Prakash Kumar, deputy general manager Renu Bhasin, and other officials from the Mint. 'We are proud to support this cause as part of our corporate social responsibility. Awareness and access to the HPV vaccine is a major step in preventing cancer-related mortality among women', said DP Tiwari, chief general manager of the Government of India Mint, Noida. In April this year, an event was held at Panchsheel Balak Inter College, Sector 91, under the aegis of the Akanksha Samiti, a registered NGO and the development arm of the Indian Administrative Officers' Wives Association of UP, which works to empower underprivileged women and children through initiatives in education, health, and skill development, wherein, a large-scale HPV vaccination campaign for school going girls in Gautam Budh Nagar was organised. As many as 506 students, aged nine years or more, received the vaccine along with health kits.
Time of India
21-05-2025
- Climate
- Time of India
Mango mayhem: Farmers at DM door after storm ravages orchards in Greater Noida
Noida: Nearly 80% of their harvest-ready crop damaged in last week's storm, mango growers from Dankaur, Bilaspur, Jewar, Rabupura and adjacent villages Wednesday sought compensation from UP govt. A delegation of farmers met DM Manish Kumar Verma and submitted a memorandum, addressed to the CM, urging immediate assessment and relief for affected farmers. As thunderstorms battered the district on Friday evening and again on Saturday afternoon, the fruits, which were weeks away from harvest, were knocked down prematurely. In many villages, several trees were uprooted. Praveen Bhartiya, a local farmers' leader, said the storm was one of the worst in recent years, hitting just when the crop was ready to bring in much-needed income. For many farmers, the storm wiped out months of hard work. Mange Pradhan, a farmer from Bilaspur village, said his 20 beegha mango orchard was almost ready for harvest in June. "Over 80% of mangoes were destroyed in the storm. I have leased the land for Rs 3.5 lakh annually, and this harvest is one of my prime sources of income. I hope the govt can help us recover from this loss," Pradhan said. The DM has promised a comprehensive survey and assured appropriate compensation measures. "We understand the gravity of the situation and will ensure that a damage assessment is conducted swiftly," Verma told TOI.
