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It is an irony that the river that has always been considered the holiest for the Hindus and whose banks held the most profound form of knowledge is also one of the most polluted water bodies in India. River <keyword id="6357202" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Ganga">Ganga</keyword> is considered the ultimate cleanser of sins while her banks hold spiritual experiences for a practising Hindu. At least, people do believe it to be so. 
 
That is till they visit the river to get rid of their sins. But one look at the River Ganga is enough to understand that we would better retain our sins within ourselves. If getting rid of our sins means courting some serious skin diseases, keeping them might be a feasible solution. After all, we do commit sins now and then, and cleansing them is going to cost a lot – physically, mentally and medically! 
 
On a serious note, talks of cleaning the River Ganga are getting more serious and louder by the day. What was started by the former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, way back in 1985, has always remained in debates and discussions, without any effective action plan in place. 
 
But between then and now, much water has flown under the bridge and a huge amount of human debris has been dumped, too. The half-burnt bodies float on the surface like they always did. But then, that’s the sacrifice the river has to make to keep her worshippers off the sins they have committed. 
 
According to recent estimates by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), fecal coliform levels in mainstream Ganga have shot up much above the acceptable levels since years. And the stretch of the River Ganga that remains polluted is said to be well beyond 2,500 km. It starts from Gangotri where the religious ceremonies take place and goes up to Diamond Harbour. 
 The highly oxygenated upper stretches are not spared from pollution either. It is a surprise that the river has not dried up yet, as a result of such action. Places like <keyword id="146132" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Rudraprayag">Rudraprayag</keyword> and <keyword id="697497" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Devprayag">Devprayag</keyword> leave the river increasingly polluted, thanks to the religious tourism and the mindless urban travellers always in a hurry to cleanse themselves. 
 
Ganga absorbs as much as 3,364 litres of sewage on a daily basis apart from the regular dumping of burnt dead bodies, flowers from religious offerings and discarded clothes. Then there is a large amount of plastic in various forms, dumped by tourism-promoting hotels and mindless travellers. 
 The <keyword id="68133" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Ganga-Action-Plan">Ganga Action Plan</keyword> (GAP) has been receiving money for a long time, but the operations were not sustainable enough to keep the river clean of pollutants. 
 
The key here is not just cleaning the River Ganga. It is not a one-time operation or a permanent solution. The government is simply pumping in more and more money into Ganga cleaning operations, but environmentalists have been warning us throughout that it will not resolve the issues in the long run. They say the operation has to be a mammoth exercise only in the beginning, with effective cleaning practices being strictly imposed and followed in the subsequent phases. 
 
The focus should be on a few key areas. Once we have enough water to carry out the operations, the ‘need’ is to filter the water from this point to dilute and assimilate waste from the water. Another stage will be to implement sustainable methods of treating the waste that is currently being released into the river. Making policy-level decisions to stop industries from releasing effluents into the river is of great importance as the ‘Clean Ganga’ operations have to reach a level of participation from those who are abusing it. 
 
Although religious institutions make for a small yet considerable part of the groups that are polluting the river, it has to receive a complete buy-in from all the parties concerned – the Ganga now needs their help to stay clean. 
 
After all, changing a few practices to save the Ganga (an integral part of the Hindu psyche) for future generations is something that could go a long way in protecting the river and its tributaries. No matter how significant our beliefs are, the cost of treating a water body, polluted with dangerous waste, is simply much higher than maintaining the cleanliness. And the cleanliness can be maintained with people’s understanding and active participation. 
 
In fact, simple economy would be enough to understand this. If rivers have enough clean water for dilution, cities need to spend less on hardware and energy for water treatment. If this can be reduced over a period of time, the assimilative capacity of the river for self-cleaning the waste will surely improve, thus benefiting both humans and the nature. 
 
Moreover, instead of expecting the upper riparian states to release more water (in the absence of water-sharing agreements, as of now), states can become self-sustainable by building checkpoints to collect the rainwater, to be used for river waste dilution. This can also increase the water table in the area. 
 
Therefore, when the exercise of cleaning the Ganga is undertaken, it should also change the way we look at the river. Until then, governments can keep pumping in money without the people taking any responsibility for the project.

Cleaning River Ganga Is Not A ‘One-time’ Operation

This move by the Indian government to use sand from rivers to construct <keyword id="6373156" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="National-Highways">national highways</keyword> can be termed as an innovative step. 
 Transport Minister <keyword id="26680" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Nitin-gadkari">Nitin Gadkari</keyword> said the government will boost infrastructure by innovative solutions. 
 
"Yamuna's sand will be used for construction of National Highways. State support agreements to be signed which will allow use of sand from their rivers for construction of highways. NHAI will dredge rivers free of cost," said Gadkari. 
 
Also, going a step ahead, Gadkari said that BS-VI fuel standards will be implemented from 2020. 
 
"India will leapfrog to BS-VI from BS-IV. Roads transport ministry has asked automobile manufacturers to leapfrog from BS-IV to BS-VI to reduce vehicular pollution," the minister added. 
 
He also noted that India was not utilising water transportation efficiently and announced that 30 floating water ports and seven permanent ports will be built on the holy River Ganga. 
 
(Image: Reuters)

Modi government is putting sand from rivers to great use. Here’s what it is

In a push to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ambitious ‘Clean Ganga’ plan, the Union Government will start making efforts this week to implement <keyword id="2413594" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="Namami-Gange-project">Namami Gange project</keyword>, which it claims will bring visible change to the waters of the sacred river. 
 
The Namami Gange project is fully funded by the Indian Government for which it has okayed Rs 20,000 crore. 
 
Under this scheme, intensive river surface cleaning will be taken up in 10 identified cities along the banks of the holy river. Floating debris will be collected and cleaned off the Ganga river surface to see a visible difference in the cleanliness levels of the river waters. 
 
It will also cover ghat cleaning and drain-river confluence for ten priority locations is being prepared by the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG). 
River surface cleaning boats, trash skimmer machines and trash booms will be pressed into service to collect floating material. 
 
The Modi government will invite global tenders this week for river surface cleaning. The ten identified cities are Haridwar, Varanasi, Allahabad, Kanpur, Mathura and Vrindavan, Garhmukteshwar, Patna, Kolkata, Sahibgunj and Nabadwip. 
 
Meanwhile, officials at the Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation told Economic Times that aerators will be plied into action at river ghats to keep the gathering moss away. 
 
ET reported that the ministry wrote to the Central Pollution Control Board to install real-time monitors at 118 locations on Ganga where a nallah meets the river (drain-river confluence) to ensure that the cleaning is actually taking place and water quality is maintained. Ten of these have already been started on pilot basis. 
 
Moreover, the project will be backed by a mobile application- Bhuvan Ganga, which will enable people to see the difference at the surface of the river. 
 
This ISRO-backed India specific GIS tool will ensure real-time, public monitoring of pollution at the river bed on ground situations. The government is set to launch a Bhuvan Ganga app whereby real-time images of the Ganga can be captured by the public through smartphones and uploaded right away to check for any river surface pollution. 
 
This will bring in public participation as well as officials will be held accountable, if any laxity pointed out. 
 
Another public participation initiative- Ganga Volunteer Corps – which is yet to be launched initiative would channelise public volunteer services for cleaning of ghats and generating awareness. 
 
The Nirmal Ganga Bhagidaari project will see NGOs being involved in Ganga cleaning. 
 
(Image: Reuters)

Narendra Modi is ensuring you will get to take a dip in a visibly ‘Clean Ganga’ in the next few weeks

The June 2013 disaster in <keyword id="44522" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Uttarakhand">Uttarakhand</keyword> is unforgettable for the heavy loss of human life, as well as the economic and ecological damages it caused. However, the inadequate disaster management and delayed response from the government were even more ominous. 
 While heavy rain (more than 375% of normal rainfall) inundated Uttarakhand and the surrounding areas, it also led to the melting of the Chorabari Glacier and the <keyword id="30363" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Mandakini">Mandakini</keyword> burst its banks, resulting in the region’s worst-ever flooding in five decades. 
 
Government officials committed many errors that had a direct bearing on the tragedy: 
· Early weather warnings went unheeded. Otherwise, the loss of human life would have been lower. 
· Haphazard development with hotels near the waterways, extensive tunnelling for badly planned roads and more than 70 hydroelectric projects have created a serious environmental imbalance. 
· Private sources put it to over 5,000 deaths. As the flooding occurred during peak pilgrimage season, more than 70,000 pilgrims were stranded with little or no food for over three days. 
 
Total economic loss is estimated at Rs 20,000 crore. The damage to infrastructure such as roads, hydro projects and housing will be difficult to overcome. As tourism accounts for almost 30% of Uttarakhand’s GDP, road and other infrastructural damage means the state government has to ask tourists to stay away, leading to loss of economic activities. 
 
Disaster management While the <keyword id="107430" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="National-Disaster-Management-Authority">National Disaster Management Authority</keyword> (NDMA) and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), along with the Indian Army and Indian Air Force, did their best, it was not enough. The NDMA and the NDRF have to be better equipped, especially in terms of communications, to properly manage quick relief work. The director general of the NDRF has been changed every year for the past nine years, causing a lack of continuity in this body. Moreover, we don’t have fully trained and fully equipped disaster management personnel. The locals are not trained either or opt to work with the authorities. Early and prompt action is vital for all disaster management and this requires active involvement of the locals. 
 
Local people should be made aware of the problems likely to occur and must be taught how to respond to those. Each region or locality should have a rescue shelter and a command network in place. In other words, public awareness of ecology and environmental issues is a must. The government has to work with the people to protect the environment. Also, weather warnings should be taken seriously and government officials should focus more on prevention in order to minimise such losses. 
 
A comprehensive Himalayan environment and ecology plan covering all the Indian states concerned should be drawn up and implemented. Experts even advocate an international policy in co-operation with other countries such as China, Nepal and Bhutan. 
 
Uttarakhand today is focusing on rebuilding its infrastructure and preventing further ecological damage. The state has already reconstructed a major part of its roads, bridges and communication infrastructure. However, this should top the priority list now as transport and communication are extremely vital to keep the economy going in this mountain state. 
 
Only last month, the government reopened the Char Dham Yatra for the pilgrims, which can revive the tourism-based economy to some extent, bringing in the badly needed tourist money to the state. The government has also been criticised for the slow pace in rebuilding houses and infrastructure, and thus generating employment. 
 
The state government has come under fire for the irregular disbursal of compensation – Rs 2 lakh for every affected family and Rs 3,000 per month for two years as rental compensation to each of the 3,320 families that lost their houses. An additional compensation of Rs 5 lakh for building a house on the land owned by a family did not help either. That is because the families that lost their homes in the floods found it difficult to prove land ownership as all their belongings had been washed away. In many cases, the land itself no longer exists and it is still unclear where the new dwellings can be built. Understandably, the government will have to reassess and speed up the relief and rehabilitation process for genuine sufferers. 
 
Additionally, the government is taking steps to ensure proper development of watershed areas, water supply and sanitation. Loans to the tune of $121.20 million for a decentralised watershed development project and $24 million for rural sanitation and water supply have been obtained from the World Bank. 
 
Employment issues 
Uttarakhand is now witnessing third highest level of unemployment across the country. The state has a largely rural economy and last year’s dislocation of the tourism industry and loss of homes have increased unemployment and forced many to migrate. 
 
The failure of industrialisation also contributes to unemployment in the state. The government has to first ensure that the rural areas have access to sufficient clean water, land and clean environment. It should also actively support local agriculture and other employment-generating activities. 
 
The government is currently working towards better forest management and planned hydroelectricity management. Two of the country’s major rivers, the Ganga and the Yamuna, originate in Uttarakhand and responsible handling of these river projects is not only crucial for the state but for the entire country. 
 
However, Uttarakhand is gradually overcoming the impact of the natural disaster that struck last year and rebuilding itself. But how fast it can be back on the prosperity track is the key question now.

Uttarakhand: Dealing With The Disaster Aftermath In The Abode Of Gods

The blanket of haze over Delhi thickened on Friday morning with the national capital's pollution levels increasing overnight by around 50 points, taking the overall air quality index to 459. A Central Pollution Control Board official said the AQI entered the "severe plus" or "emergency" category late Thursday night, the first time since January this year. If the air quality persists in the "severe plus" category for more than 48 hours, emergency measures such as odd-even car rationing scheme, banning entry of trucks, construction activities and shutting down schools are taken under the Graded Response Action Plan, the official said. The hazardous pollution levels forced a number of people to miss morning walks and other activities. Shubhomoy Sikdar, a Delhi-based journalist, said the pollution levels gave him a throat infection and he had to skip his daily sports session. Amanpreet Singh, a resident of <keyword id="1775695" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Jangpura">Jangpura</keyword>, said he has been avoiding morning and evening walks and preferring to stay indoors. The number of masked faces continued to grow as the city remained shrouded in pungent haze for the fourth consecutive day. At 8.30 am, the capital's overall air quality index stood at 459. It was 410 at 8 pm on Thursday. All the 37 air quality monitoring stations across Delhi recorded the air quality in the severe category on Friday morning. Bawana was the most-polluted area with an AQI of 497, followed by Delhi Technological University (487), Wazirpur (485), Anand Vihar (484) and Vivek Vihar (482). Neighbouring Ghaziabad was the most-polluted city in the country, with the levels of PM2.5 -- tiny particulate matter less than 2.5 microns that can enter deep into the lungs -- reaching as high as 493. Greater <keyword id="18858" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Noida">Noida</keyword> (480), Noida (477), and <keyword id="47896" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Faridabad">Faridabad</keyword> (432) also breathed extremely polluted air. An AQI between 0-50 is considered good , 51-100 satisfactory , 101-200 moderate , 201-300 poor , 301-400 very poor , and 401-500 severe . Above 500 is severe-plus or emergency category. Delhi is impatiently hoping for favourable meteorological conditions to blow away the toxic air, as health experts said the hazardous air pollution has become a serious health concern for about 2 crore residents. "Intake of every 22 micrograms per <keyword id="6805104" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Cubic-metre">cubic metre</keyword> of polluted air is equivalent to smoking a cigarette. So whether the PM2.5 level is 700 or 300 units, the impact is still as bad. People need to take precautions, especially those suffering from asthma, <keyword id="55923" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Bronchitis">bronchitis</keyword> or other respiratory illness," said Dr Arvind Kumar, lung surgeon at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital here. Weather experts said increased wind speed due to a fresh western disturbance approaching the northern region would help disperse pollutants faster from Saturday. Parents are a worried lot as health experts say children breathe faster, taking in more pollutants. Many took to Twitter to demand that schools be shut till the situation ameliorates. "We, as parents, request Delhi government to keep all schools (pvt and govt) shut for the time being," Anil Atri, a Delhi resident, posted on the microblogging site. "Whole Delhi air at hazardous levels now. Pollution at its peak. Activate all emergency measures. Close down schools @msisodia (sic)," another resident tweeted. Deputy Chief Minister <keyword id="6354681" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="manish-sisodia">Manish Sisodia</keyword> had on Wednesday said the decision to shut schools would be taken "when the need arises". In November 2017, the government had shut schools for a few days due to the deteriorating air quality. The government, however, started distributing 50 lakh N95 masks, considered one of the good quality masks for tackling smog, among school students in Delhi on Friday morning. Meanwhile, the BCCI said it would carry on with the India-Bangladesh T20 at the Feroz Shah Kotla grounds on Sunday, disregarding concerns raised by environmentalists about the health of players and thousands of spectators. The AQI takes into account five chief pollutants -- particulate matter with a diameter less than 10 micrometres (PM10), PM2.5, <keyword id="36673" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="ozone">ozone</keyword> (O3), <keyword id="142405" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Nitrogen-dioxide">nitrogen dioxide</keyword> (NO2) and carbon monoxide (CO). The higher the AQI value, the greater the level of air pollution and health concerns.

A different kind of emergency engulfs Delhi as air quality drops again

Deforestation is a vicious cycle. It is not just the loss of tree cover, but a negative change in the whole ecosystem resulting in decreased growth not just in the agricultural sector but in all sectors. 
 
While deforestation is a worldwide phenomenon, how does it affect India? In the present context when India is aiming to consolidate and increase its growth, economic losses in the agriculture and industrial growth are serious issues. 
 
Causes of deforestation in India 
 
Farming, cutting of timber, mining and often indiscriminate dam building for hydro electric power projects are the foremost causes of deforestation in India. Another factor is the burgeoning population and its resultant growing urbanisation. It is sad that many forests, scrubland and even agricultural lands have been eaten up by sprawling urbanisation. 
 
In a nutshell, in India it is a sad case of overdevelopment. 
 
How it affects India? 
 
The effects of deforestation are not confined to loss of tree cover and unpredictable weather conditions along with adverse monsoon, but are linked to and result in flooding, siltation, soil leaching leading to low and poor agricultural yield. 
 Deforestation also causes the Greenhouse effect that leads to <keyword id="6366055" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="global-warming">global warming</keyword>, another contributor to climate change. Loss of tree cover also upsets the oxygen carbon dioxide balance leading to lower oxygen levels and higher levels of pollution. All these also cause attendant health problems which the population can ill afford. 
 India has experienced this when deforestation in its northern parts and its Himalayan regions resulted in soil erosion, unprecedented floods and landslides. In 2013, <keyword id="44522" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Uttarakhand">Uttarakhand</keyword> was devastated by floods. More recently, last year Jammu and Kashmir suffered from flooding. These disasters were due to deforestation in catchment areas, silting of lake and riverbeds, unplanned building construction, hydel power projects and road building. 
 
Experiments at the Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore have shown that deforestation in higher latitudes affects rainfall in tropical areas. The whole monsoon system will migrate further south of the Asian subcontinent and could lead to an 18% decrease in rainfall in India. Couple this with rising temperatures caused by deforestation, results can be devastating. 
 
India’s stand on deforestation 
 The lives of 25% of India’s population (approx. 300 million people) centers round its forests. The Joint Forest Management programme has been working with local communities to halt deforestation. It is also working in close tandem t involve them in various projects of afforestation, social <keyword id="107347" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Forestry">forestry</keyword> and farm forestry besides ensuring they can continue to collect and love forest produce. 
 
Responsible forest management in tune with the area’s geography and biodiversity is the need of the hour coupled with active participation of local populations. 
 
Likewise several projects like the National river water conservation, the Ganga project have brought rivers, waterways and water bodies under a more efficient and pro-environment management. 
 
India and Carbon emission control 
 
Although India boasts of the tenth largest forest cover in the world, spread over 20% of its territory, it is unfortunately the world’s fifth highest carbon emitter. 
 Of special importance is the encouraging fact that India has at last finalized its draft policy for implementing the <keyword id="86409" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="REDD">REDD</keyword> + program of the United Nations. Under the REDD program developing countries would be financially aided by developed countries in their efforts to reduce carbon emission. 
 
The main thrust of the REDD program is ‘Carbon sequestration is one of the ecosystem services flowing from forests, in addition to biodiversity conservation; maintaining water cycle and soil fertility; livelihood supports to local communities.’ 
 
A National REDD + Authority will be established and will be assisted by existing government and non government bodies like the Forest Survey of India, Indian Council of Forestry etc. in preparing a national database, action plans on carbon emissions as well as develop a national emission monitoring system. 
 
REDD in India will also address the need to develop and implement a ‘fair, transparent and participatory mechanism’ that will ensure funds coming out of REDD reach and benefit the affected local communities. 
 
Contrary to his ‘Growth Mantra’ PM Modi has disappointed by slashing the funds allotted to the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change by almost 18% from Rs 2,043 crores or US $ 378 million to Rs 1,681 crores (about US $ 300 million). Hopefully some of the funds from the ‘Coal Tax’ may be diverted for deforestation. 
 
Image: thinkstock

Reversing deforestation in India

New Delhi [India], July 24 (ANI): A <keyword id="4261957" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="general-discussion" source="Orion">general discussion</keyword> on the <keyword id="19908389" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Union-Budget" source="keywords">Union Budget</keyword> and the budget for the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir for the fiscal year 2024-25 will be held in the <keyword id="19895369" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Rajya-Sabha" source="keywords">Rajya Sabha</keyword> later on Wednesday. <keyword id="19956758" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="finance-minister" source="keywords">Finance Minister</keyword> <keyword id="19916618" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Nirmala-Sitharaman" source="keywords">Nirmala Sitharaman</keyword> presented both the Union Budget and the <keyword id="22525621" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Jammu-and-Kashmir-Budget" source="keywords">Jammu and Kashmir Budget</keyword> in the House on July 23. The discussion is crucial as both the budgets shape the financial direction of the country and the Union Territory, respectively. The Union Budget outlines the government's revenue and expenditure plans for the upcoming fiscal year, while the budget for the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir is a significant event considering the developmental needs. As per the list of businesses of the Rajya Sabha, the discussion on these two budgets will be convened later in the day. The discussion over these two budgets is expected to start in the second half of the day. According to the list of business of the Rajya Sabha, the ministers that are set to lay the papers on the table are Jayant Chaudhary for the Ministry of Education; Pankaj Chaudhary for the Ministry of Finance; Nityanand Rai for the Ministry of Home Affairs; and Sukanta Majumdar for the Ministry of Education. Besides, Rajya Sabha Secretary General PC Mody will lay on the table the Public Accounts Committee reports. This includes the 124th Report on Construction of Toilets in Schools by CPSEs; the 125th Report on Rejuvenation of the Ganga (Namami Gange); the 126th Report on Avoidable Payment due to Non-Charging of Service Tax/GST from the Passengers; and the 127th Report on Action Taken by the Government on the Observations and Recommendations of the Committee contained in their 46th Report (16th Lok Sabha) on Implementation of the Public-Private Partnership Project at Chhatrpati Shivaji International Airport, Mumbai, among others. The reports were presented to the Speaker on February 23 and April 29, 2024, and to the Chairman, Rajya Sabha, on February 28 and May 13, 2024, before the dissolution of the 17th Lok Sabha. The Speaker had ordered the printing, publication and circulation of the reports. As per the business list of the Rajya Sabha, Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju will move the motion for election to the committee on the welfare of other backward classes. Kiren Rijiju will also move the motion for nomination to the committee on the welfare of scheduled castes and scheduled tribes. The motion for nomination to the committee on public accounts will also be moved by Union Minister Rijiju in the House today. Moreover, Kiren Rijiju will move the motion for nomination to the committee on public undertakings. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Union Budget 2024-25 on Tuesday during the Monsoon Session of <keyword id="19895397" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Parliament" source="keywords">Parliament</keyword>. Nirmala Sitharaman became the first finance minister to present seven consecutive budget speeches, surpassing former prime minister Morarji Desai's record of six consecutive budgets as finance minister between 1959 and 1964. In her seventh budget, Nirmala Sitharaman outlined key priorities aimed at fostering economic growth and creating ample opportunities. These included productivity and resilience in agriculture, employment, and skilling and services. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday hailed the Union <keyword id="15478236" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="budget-2024" source="Orion">Budget 2024</keyword> presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. "This budget strengthens every section of society. It takes the country's poor, village and farmers on the path of prosperity," the prime minister said in a video message. The Prime Minister praised the budget, emphasising its potential for job generation by incentivizing the top 500 companies to recruit more youth and also induct interns. The PM said the budget would help India achieve its objective of becoming the third largest economy, besides laying a strong foundation for Viksit Bharat. Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday also said the Union Budget 2024-25 is game-changing and will go down in history for coupling Bharat's economic growth with the torque of its youth power. He also lauded the government's decision to provide training and internship programmes to youth. The Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, welcomed the Union Budget 2024 laid before Parliament on Tuesday. Calling the Union Budget 2024 a 'visionary document', Sonowal said, "The Union Budget, 2024 lays the roadmap for renewed and holistic growth towards Viksit Bharat. This visionary budget is aimed at empowering the 'Garib' (poor), 'Mahilayen' (women), 'Yuva' (youth), and Annadata' (farmers) so that the process of development reaches every citizen of the country." Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Tuesday that Union Budget 2024 stands out for its unprecedented push towards employment generation and powering small businesses.

You Searched For "Ganga Action Plan" and got 7 results

Cleaning River Ganga Is Not A ‘One-time’ Operation

Preetam Kaushik

Modi government is putting sand from rivers to great use. Here’s what it is

BI India Bureau

Narendra Modi is ensuring you will get to take a dip in a visibly ‘Clean Ganga’ in the next few weeks

BI India Bureau

Uttarakhand: Dealing With The Disaster Aftermath In The Abode Of Gods

Preetam Kaushik

A different kind of emergency engulfs Delhi as air quality drops again

PTI

Reversing deforestation in India

Preetam Kaushik

Rajya Sabha to hold general discussion on Union Budget, Jammu and Kashmir Budget today

ANI

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