NEW DELHI, Oct 21: Delhi’s vehicular pollution can be reduced by 15-20 per cent if commuters turn off their vehicle engines while waiting at traffic signals, city Environment Minister Gopal Rai said today.
Kickstarting the 26-day “Red Light On, Gaadi Off” campaign in the national capital from the ITO traffic signal, Rai appealed to the people of Delhi to act responsibly and stop burning fuel at traffic signals.
“The campaign is an attempt to reduce vehicular pollution. Delhi has around one crore registered vehicles. Altogether, vehicles burn fuel at traffic signals for around 15-20 minutes every day. This campaign aims to stop fuel-burning at signals.
“If the city’s two crore population joins this campaign and does its bit, then we can reduce around 15-20 per cent pollution from vehicles. This campaign is voluntary. I appeal to the people of Delhi to make it a success,” he said.
The Aam Admi Party (AAP) government’s campaign, which will go on till November 15, aims to spread ground-level awareness at 100 traffic signals in the capital. A total of 2,500 civil defence volunteers will be standing with placards, asking commuters to switch off the engines of their vehicles, at these signals.
Launching the initiative at the ITO intersection, Rai gave a flower to a commuter while requesting him to turn off the engine of his car.
He said Delhi can become pollution-free only if the government and the public work together.
“We have started the ‘Red Light On, Gaadi Off’ campaign today in Delhi. So far, the Delhi government and other agencies have been working to control pollution. But now, Delhi’s population of two crore people is being made a part of it to fulfil their responsibility in the fight against pollution. To make Delhi pollution-free, the government and the public must come together to fight it,” Rai told reporters.
Civil defence volunteer Geeta, a resident of Sadar Bazar, said she received a good response from the commuters, who are turning their vehicle engines off when asked to do so.
“The response is very good till now. People are switching off their engines when we are asking them. No one argued or refused to do so,” she said.
Another volunteer, Himanshu Wadhwa, a resident of Burari, said people were acting responsibly.
“We have noticed that people are aware about the deteriorating situation of pollution in the national capital. Many of them are already switching off their engines. They understand their responsibility,” he said.
The civil defence volunteers will spread awareness among people at the traffic signals from 8 am to 8 pm, Rai said.
The initiative is only an awareness drive and nobody will be issued a “challan”, the minister had said on Tuesday. (PTI)
Minister appeals to Delhiites to switch off vehicle engines at traffic signals to fight pollution
USA Wrestling won’t attend world championships
WASHINGTON, Oct 21:The United States won’t send a team to the world wrestling championships because of health and safety concerns caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The executive committee of USA Wrestling, the national governing body for wrestling, unanimously approved the proposal not to send a team to Belgrade, Serbia, for the Dec. 12-20 event.
“My heart breaks for our athletes, as nobody is more affected by this decision than they are,” said Veronica Carlson, executive committee member and chair of the USA Wrestling Athlete Advisory Committee.
“In the same breath, abstaining from the 2020 World Championships is the right decision. I am proud that the athlete voice was solicited and considered through every step of this process.
“In choosing to make this decision now, versus delaying it, the athletes have time to recover and refocus on what is most important — the 2021 Olympic Games.”
United World Wrestling, the international federation for wrestling, announced Monday that its executive committee approved existing plans to host the event. (AP)
Bonus for 30.67 lakh employees
NEW DELHI, Oct 21:
The Government today decided to give Rs 3,737 crore bonus to 30.67 lakh Central Government employees to encourage spending during the festival season and add to demand in the economy.
The decision to give a productivity-linked bonus and non-productivity-linked bonus for 2019-2020 was taken at the Union Cabinet meeting.
The bonus ahead of Vijayadashami and Diwali will encourage the middle-class to go out and spend and thus add to the demand in the economy, he said.
The bonus will be disbursed in a week’s time.
“Payment of Bonus to non-gazetted employees for their performance in the preceding year is usually made before Durga Puja/Dussehra season. The Government is announcing the Productivity Linked Bonus (PLB) and adhoc bonus for its non-gazetted employees to be disbursed immediately,” a press release said.
The Productivity Linked Bonus (PLB) for the year 2019-2020, having financial implications of Rs 2,791 crore, will benefit 16.97 lakh non-gazetted employees of commercial establishments like Railways, Posts, Defence, EPFO, ESIC, among others.
Non-PLB or ad-hoc Bonus, which is given to non-gazetted Central Government employees, will benefit 13.70 lakh staff. It will cost the exchequer Rs 946 crore.
A total of 30.67 lakh employees would be benefited from the bonus announcement and the total financial implication will be Rs 3,737 crore, the release said. (PTI)
Siraj’s double wicket-maiden effort sinks KKR
ABU DHABI, Oct 21: Pacer Mohammed Siraj’s fiery opening spell, accentuated by two rare wicket-maiden overs, set up Royal Challengers Bangalore’s dominant eight-wicket victory over Kolkata Knight Riders, here today.
Siraj virtually killed the contest, running through the KKR top order in a stunning display of swing bowling.
He ended with enviable figures of 4-2-8-3 and in the process emerged as the first bowler in the history of IPL to bowl two wicket- maiden overs.
After Siraj’s furious display, leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal (2/15) stymied KKR’s revival hopes as RCB restricted them to their second lowest total of 84 for eight.
In reply, RCB completed the formalities in 13.3 overs, securing their seventh win from 10 matches and moved up a place to second in the table with 14 points.
RCB lost their opener Aaron Finch (16) after the Powerplay overs with Lockie Ferguson striking in his first over.
Devdutt Padikkal (25) was run out as RCB lost two wickets in the same over.
But skipper Virat Kohli (18 not out) and Gurkeerat Singh (21 not out) ensured that there were no more hiccups. They sealed the win with 39 balls to spare.
RCB had secured a massive 82-run over KKR win in the first match between the two sides.
It was a forgettable day for KKR who capped a slew of dubious records that included registering the lowest score in a 20-over IPL innings without a team getting bowled out.
It was for the first time a team played four maiden overs in a T20 innings. They also scored their lowest Powerplay score of 17/4.
It was KKR’s second-lowest total after their 67 all-out against Mumbai Indians in 2008.
Playing without Windies star players Sunil Narine and Andre Russell, KKR struggled to get going after electing to bat and it was all over for them after skipper Eoin Morgan was dismissed by Washington Sundar for 30.
It was a masterstroke from skipper Virat Kohli to include Siraj in place of spinner Shahbaz Nadeem keeping in mind a fresh strip.
Siraj began with a double wicket maiden over in which he dismissed opener Rahul Tripahi (1) and Nitish Rana (0) off successive deliveries.
He followed it up with another wicket-maiden over, getting rid of Tom Banton (10) in the process. His figures read an astonishing 2-1-0-3 at that time.
Tripathi nicked one straight back to AB de Villiers behind the stumps and in the next ball Siraj ran through the gates of Rana for a golden duck.
In his next over, he accounted for hard-hitting English batsman Tom Banton (10) with a scrambled seam delivery to cap the best ever opening two overs in the IPL.(PTI)
Today’s Fixture
Rajasthan Royals V/s SRH (Dubai) 7:30 PM
Scoreboard
Kolkata Knight Riders:
S Gill c Morris b N Saini 1
R Tripathi c de Villiers b M Siraj 1
N Rana b M Siraj 0
T Banton c de Villiers b M Siraj 10
D Karthik lbw b Y Chahal 4
E Morgan c Gurkeerat b Sundar 30
P Cummins c Padiklal b Y Chahal 4
K Yadav run out 12
L Ferguson not out 19
Extras (LB-2, WD-1) 3
Total (For 8 wickets in 20 overs) 84
Fall of wickets: 1-3, 2-3, 3-3, 4-14, 5-32, 6-40, 7-57, 8-84
Bowling: C Morris 4-1-16-1, M Siraj 4-2-8-3, N Saini 3-0-23-1, I Udana 1-0-6-0, Y Chahal 4-0-15-2, W Sundar 4-1-14-1.
Royal Challengers Bangalore:
Devdutt Padikkal run out 25
Aaron Finch c Karthik b Ferguson 16
Gurkeerat Singh not out 21
Virat Kohli not out 18
Extras (LB-2, WD-3) 5
Total: (For 2 wickets in 13.3 overs) 85
Fall of wickets: 1/46 2/46
Bowling: Pat Cummins 3-0-18-0, Prasidh Krishna 2.3-0-20-0, Varun Chakravarthy 4-0-28-0, Lockie Ferguson 4-0-17-1.
LIC launches New Jeevan Shanti Plan
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Oct 21: Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) of India has introduced LIC’s New Jeevan Shanti plan which is a non-linked, non-participating, individual, single premium, deferred Annuity Plan.
The annuity rates are guaranteed at the inception of the policy and annuities are payable post deferment period throughout the life time of Annuitant(s). This plan can be purchased offline as well as online from October 21, 2020.
Giving details, an official spokesman of the LIC said that two annuity options are available under the plan, option 1, deferred annuity for Single life. He said after deferment period, the annuity payments, as per the chosen mode, shall be made in arrears for as long as the Annuitant is alive. In case of unfortunate death, during or after deferment period, death benefit will be payable to nominee of the annuitant.
Referring to option 2, deferred annuity for Joint life, he said after deferment period, the annuity payments, as per the chosen mode, shall be made in arrears for as long as the primary annuitant and/or secondary annuitant is alive. On death of the last survivor, during or after deferment period, the death benefit will be payable to the nominee.
The joint life annuity can be taken between any two lineal descendant/ascendant of a family (i.e. Grandparent, parent, children, grandchildren) or spouse or siblings.
He further disclosed that minimum purchase price is Rs 1,50,000 (subject to minimum annuity criterion.). The modes of annuity available are yearly, half-yearly, quarterly, and monthly. The minimum annuity is Rs.12,000 per annum. There is no ceiling on maximum purchase price. An incentive for Purchase price of Rs 5,00,000 and above is available by way of increase in the annuity rate.The plan is available for ages from 30 yrs to 79 yrs. The minimum deferment period is one year and maximum 12 years subject to maximum vesting age (80 yrs), he added.
The plan can also be purchased for the benefit of Divyangjan (Handicapped Dependant) with minimum purchase price of Rs 50,000. Loan facility is also available under this plan. There is also a provision for immediate liquidity in case of dire need as the policy can be surrendered at any time during the policy term.
O-Lab to offer variety of health care packages opened in Jammu
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Oct 21: O-Lab, the New Generation Pathology Lab which will offer variety of health care packages was opened at Sector -3 Channi Himmat near here, today. The Lab has been set up with the purpose to ensure that health of people remains in top shape with its accurate results.
As the pandemic continues, more and more people are worried about their health and well being. To cater to this need, O-Lab comes with the latest and advanced pathological equipment to serve its patients said its General Manager, Ave Kachroo while talking to reporters at the sidelines of the inaugural function.
O-Lab is a part of Ojas Life Sciences Pvt Ltd which was started in 2016 to provide superlative systems by combining integrated doctor consultation and pharmaceutical services, he said..
He said with the advent of O-Lab, the company scales its services to pathology lab that are not only fully automated with state-of-art machines but are also highly efficient with trained and experienced staff.
O-Lab offers a variety of preventive healthcare packages which are ideal for all ages at the most economical rates. It also becomes the only path lab in India to give dietary recommendation on the report according to the test done, he added.
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, sanitization and safety have become of utmost importance. O-Lab has ensured that every sanitization and safety measure is strictly adhered to, he said.
It was inaugurated by Senior Dentist, Dr Gautam Mengi along with Senior Pathologist, Dr A.K. Bhardwaj. O-Lab is now open to serve the public.
Among the test packages the Lab offers Complete Blood Count, Liver Function Test (LFT) Lipid Profile Test, Electrolytes Test, Kidney Functioning Test (KFT), Thyroid Profile Test, Free Thyroid Profile, Diabetes Screen Test, Urine Tests, Serology tests, Pathology examinations etc said Kachroo.
He said the lab is equipped with best, automatic and accurate machinery. It is very economic and packages for old, women and children are innovative. The tests made in the lab are economical also, he added.
Kachroo said the technicians deployed in the lab are fully trained a having a lot of experience in the field. To avert the threat of COVID the sanitization has been given main thrust and collection of samples will be safe.
PCB Chairman inaugurates RVM at Wave Mall
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU Oct 21: Jammu and Kashmir Pollution Control Board (PCB), Chairman, Suresh Chugh today inaugurated Plastic Bottles disposal Machines also called Reverse Vending Machine (RVM), at Wave Mall.
The machines have been installed by Pollution Control Board in collaboration with Wave Mall Management and Bio Crux Ltd. of Mumbai.
This is an initiative of PCB for scientific disposal of the pet bottles, which otherwise is a great source of plastic waste pollution and difficult to dispose of. The bottle will be crushed in the machine and plastic thread will be made from the crushed material, which will be used for weaving clothes. The machine is also linked to Paytm and for each bottle crushed an amount of Rs 2 is credited in the wallet of that person who puts the bottle for crushing. A representative of Bio Crux will remove the trash from the machine on regular basis and send it for manufacture of textile.
Speaking on the occasion, the Chairman, PCB said that these machines are good for the area where there is large foot fall and plastic bottles are thrown in garbage. This will help in recycling of plastic and their scientific disposal. He asked the private entrepreneurs to come forward and install these machines in their premises.
Customers at Wave Mall appreciated the initiative taken by the J&K PCB. Earlier similar machine was installed at the Airport Jammu. The function was attended by, Member Secretary, J&K PCB, B.M Sharma; Divisional Officer Jammu PCB, Syed Nadeem Hussain; Regional Director PCB Jammu , A B Jandial; Divisional Officer Jammu, PCB Managers from Jammu Wave Mall, Arshdeep Singh DFO and others, at Jammu.
Maharaja Gulab Singh remembered on birth anniversary
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Oct 21: Different organizations today remembered Maharaja Gulab Singh on his 228th birth anniversary.
Dharmarth Trust paid glorious tributes to the first Dogra Ruler of J&K, Maharaja Gulab Singh on his 228th birth anniversary.
On this occasion, Mubarak Singh, Trust president accompanied by Goverdhan Singh Jamwal, DySP (Retd) and member of J&K Dharmarth Trust Council and Secretary, Dr Gopal Parthasarthi Sharma performed Puja and Hawan-Yagya at Shri Raghunath Ji Temple Jammu amidst maintaining social distancing and other norms of COVID pandemic.
Paying rich tributes to Maharaja Gulab Singh, the Trust president termed his rule as a glorious period of J&K kingdom.
He recalled the achievements of Maharaja Gulab Singh and said that the Maharaja extended boundaries of India to areas ruled by Afghans, Tibetans and Chinese.
“Maharaja Ranjit Singh rewarded Gulab Singh by the conferment of Jammu Raj on him on June 17, 1822, at Jia Pota, Akhnoor. Thereafter by his statesmanship he was able to carve out an independent state. It was Maharaja Gulab Singh who created the State of J&K with an area of 84,000 Sq. miles,” he said.
The Trust President described the Maharaja as a great visionary, brave and enterprising ruler who did justice to all and treated his subjects as his own family.
He asserted that Maharaja Gulab Singh also founded Dharmarth Trust to provide better facilities to the pilgrims and to maintain various temples and shrines.
Meanwhile, Shri Amar Kshatriya Rajput Sabha Channi Himmat organized a function to celebrate 228th birthday anniversary of Maharaja Gulab Singh.
The function was graced by Neena Gupta, JMC Councilor Ward-50; Raj Kumar, Councilor Ward-51; B.S Billawaria, Chairman Sanitation Committee of JMC and Th. Jai Singh, Ex-Councilor and senior Congress leader.
Neena Gupta in her address said entire J&K owe gratitude to Maharaja Gulab Singh who was an outstanding ruler.
Raj Kumar exhorted the organizers to involve all communities and organizations so that the younger generation is made aware about contributions of Maharaja for extending boundaries of J&K.
Th. Govinder Singh Jamwal, Shakha Sabha president dwelt in details on the military achievements of Maharaja Gulab Singh and his contributions for ameliorating the economic condition of his subjects.
Zorawar Singh Jamwal, Chairman, Team Jammu explained in length the false narrative which was unleashed by the ruling class after independence to project Dogra rulers in bad light.
Th. Jai Singh asked all Dogras to get united and fight for restoring the pride of Dogras.
Th. Kalyan Singh Jamwal, General Secretary of Shakha Sabha Jammu in his welcome address touched the multifaceted personality of Maharaja.
Vote of thanks was presented by Th. Dhian Singh, Chief Organizer.
Also the function was graced by Th. Himachal Singh Salathia, Col Amar Singh Jamwal (Retd.), Th. Naraian Singh Jasrotia, Kr. Pushpender Singh Charak, Th. Romesh Singh Jamwal, Th. Jaipaul Singh Jamwal, Er. Dighpaul Singh Jamwal and other prominent citizens of Jammu.
The birth anniversary of Maharaja Gulab Singh Ji was observed at a function under leadership of Anil Rakwal, political activist and chairman of MGSB.
Participants on the occasion paid floral tributes to Maharaja Gulab Singh for consolidation of the geographically vast state and restoring peace and development in the area.
Speaking on the occasion Anil Rakwal said that it was Maharaja Gulab Singh, who laid foundation of Dogra rule which ruled for about 200 years.
BJP weakens elected BDCs, goes for arbitrary delimitation: PCC
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Oct 21: The Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) has taken strong exception to the arbitrary decisions, regarding the creation of District Development Council seats ignoring the population and topography of districts besides disempowering the elected BDCs mid-way, since the BJP had failed to win the majority of seats in the elections to the Pachayat bodies, even in the absence of any major opposition parties in the fray.
Addressing press conference here today, PCC chief spokesperson Ravinder Sharma along with general secretary PCC Incharge Jammu District and former Minister Yogesh Sawhney and Secretary Incharge Media Neeraj Gupta, questioned the sudden introduction for the change of Panchayat Raj system during the current term of the elected Panchayat bodies, thereby, disempowering them besides adopting an arbitrary creation of DDC seats neglecting the criteria of population in bigger districts besides ignoring the topography etc. which has caused total confusion and chaos in the PRIs.
“On one hand the ruling BJP was instrumental in weakening the important provisions of 73rd and 74th incorporated in the state Panchayat Raj laws besides not implementing the most important provisions of independent “Election Commission”, “Finance Commission” and apex anti-corruption body “Ombudsman” which shows the real intention of the ruling BJP, he added.
Sharma reminded the BJP in coalition with PDP was instrumental in the weakening of 73rd when it amended the Panchayat Raj Act to avoid direct elections to Sarpanchs. Then Governor NN Vohra had later undone the said amendment, after the Congress and other opposition groups as well general public opposed the BJP attempt to weaken the Panchayat Raj system. When elections to the BDCs were held, the BJP was badly defeated and could not win majority of seats in the various districts, as a result the BJP Govt came out with new structure for the District Boards without adopting a fair criteria of delimitation of council seats.
“What is the justification for the equal number of seats for larger districts like Jammu, Rajouri, Kathua as compared to smaller districts with two or three assembly segments. The number of BDC seats should have been proportional to the population of the respective districts with more seats to bigger districts and this task of delimitation was to be done by Independent Election Commission for fairness and transparency,” Sharma said.
The job of delimitation was assigned to the Election Commission in the state also, as provided by the 73rd in the act where a retired High Court judge or a person of the level of High Court judge had to head the state election commission, but it was diluted by ruling BJP-PDP Govt to keep control over the system and now see the result where only three days have been given for filing objections, whereas the basic formula of the creation of equal number of DDC seats is arbitrary and unjustified.
The Finance Commission Act was enacted by Congress-NC besides apex anti-corruption body “ombudsman” Act in 2010 but the Govt failed to set up these important institutions for the financial viability and accountability of the Panchayat Raj System, Sharma said.
Favouring full empowerment of the PRIs in terms of 73rd & 74th and implementation of already incorporated provisions in the state act, the JKPCC demanded due share to each district depending upon its population.
Daily rated workers’ ‘Raj Bhavan Gherao’ foiled
Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Oct 21: The scheduled ‘Raj Bhavan Gherao’ program of daily rated workers was today foiled by the police by lathi charging the workers.
The workers who are demanding regularization of their services along with the resolution of the other issues for quite a time now assembled at the Sher-e-Kashmir Park under the banner of J&K Casual Daily Wagers Forum which is an amalgam of various daily-rated workers associations
The workers were demanding implementation of the Minimum Wages Act and regularization of their services-which happens to be their long-pending demand. However, the march was foiled by the police soon after it started and the workers who were adamant of heading towards the Raj Bhawan were not allowed to proceed further.
Police used water cannons and later lathi-charged the protesting workers to disperse them. During the police action, various workers were detained by the police on the spot and were bundled into police vehicles.
The protesters were led by President of Daily Wagers, Sajad Ahmad Parray.
“Scores of families are suffering because of the callous attitude of the administration. The Government must implement the Minimum Wages Act and should also regularize the temporary workers,” he said before being taken into preventive custody.
He said that the workers were disheartened by the non-serious attitude of the Government. “So far, all we have got are the hallow promises and till date, nothing has been done for us,” he said.