New Delhi, Apr 5 () Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu along with his wife Ushamma lit lamps at the Uparashtrapati Bhawan here to express solidarity with the fight against the coronavirus pandemic."Through their overwhelming response to the prime minister's call, the people of India have once again reasserted the country's steely resolve to overcome the crisis caused by the pandemic," an official statement quoted Naidu as saying. While appealing to the people to stay at home during the lockdown period, the Vice President said it was everybody's duty to stop the transmission of the virus. In a Facebook post, the Vice President expressed concern over the spread of misinformation, especially on social media, and said it is a virus that needs to be checked immediately. Millions of Indians across the country switched off lights at their homes and lit candles, diyas or turned on mobile phone torches on Sunday night, responding to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's appeal to show the nation's "collective resolve and solidarity" in its fight against coronavirus. Modi had on Friday urged people to turn off lights at their homes for nine minutes at 9pm to display the country's collective resolve and solidarity to defeat the virus.

Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu and his wife light lamps in solidarity against COVID-19

<img class="gwt-Image" src="/photo/47471040.cms" /><keyword id="2317314" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="Prime-Minister-Narendra-Modi-government">Prime Minister Narendra Modi government</keyword>’s programmes like Smarty City, Atal Mission for Urban Renewal and Transformation (AMRUT) and Housing for All are going to launch next month. 
 Union Urban Development Minister M <keyword id="74369" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Venkaiah-Naidu">Venkaiah Naidu</keyword> said that all formalities were completed for all three programmes like consultations with stakeholders, state governments and urban local bodies. 
 
He told a news agency that the ministry would like to launch the programmes on a convenient day in June. 
 
Modi had vowed to build 100 smart cities by 2022 to meet the increasing urban population, which is expected to rise by more than 400 million people to 814 million by 2050. 
 
The Finance Ministry had allocated Rs 7,060 crore for developing these smart cities. 
 
The cities would get central assistance of Rs 100 crore per year for five years and the aspirants would be selected through a 'City Challenge Competition'. 
 
The world is keen on setting up smart cities, where technology can help citizens access, in real time, infrastructure services like traffic, parking, lighting, and water. 
 
(Image: Thinkstock)

‘Smart Cities’ project will turn into a reality next month

New Delhi, On the second day of the Budget Session of Parliament, 27 Bills passed during the fourth session of <keyword id="10690651" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="seventeenth-lok-sabha">seventeenth Lok Sabha</keyword> will be tabled in the Lower House on Tuesday along with various Standing Committee reports that include steps taken by the Union Ministry of <keyword id="365819" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Home-Affairs">Home Affairs</keyword> during Covid-19 pandemic. Soon after the House will assemble at 4 p.m., <keyword id="6355187" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="lok-sabha">Lok Sabha</keyword> Secretary General Utpal Kumar Singh will table these 27 Bills that were assented to by President <keyword id="6354561" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="ram-nath-kovind">Ram Nath Kovind</keyword> after these were passed in the previous session of Parliament. Congress leader of the House Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury and BJP MP Satya Pal Singh will later present the reports of the <keyword id="81545" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="public-accounts-committee">Public Accounts Committee</keyword> that includes 21st report on the 'Implementation of Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006'; 22nd report on the action taken by the government on the recommendations of the committee contained in their 110th report (16 Lok Sabha) on Examination of Accounts of ICAR, 'Non Achievement of Stated Objective' and 'Blocking or Funds or Coconut Development Board'. The leaders will also present the 23rd Report on action taken by the government on the recommendations of the committee contained in their 114th report (16 Lok Sabha) on 'Design, Development, Manufacture and Induction of Light Combat Aircraft'. Besides, reports of the Standing Committee on Coal and Steel, <keyword id="6363870" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="home">Home</keyword> will be presented in the Lower House. These reports were virtually presented through video conferencing to the Rajya sabha Chairman M. Venkaiah Naidu on December 21 last year and were forwarded to Lok Sabha speaker <keyword id="232126" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Om-Birla">Om Birla</keyword> on the same day. Reports of the Standing Committee on Health and Family Welfare will also be laid on the table. The reports were presented to the Rajya Sabha Chairman on November 21 last year and forwarded to the Lok Sabha on November 25. Reports of the Standing Committee on Education, Women, Children, Youth and Sports will be presented in the House later. These reports were presented to the Rajya Sabha Chairman on December 24 last year when the House was not in session. These reports were also forwarded to the Lok Sabha Secretariat on the same day. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi and Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury will move a motion so that the House does agree with the Eighteenth Report of the Business Advisory Committee presented to the House on Monday. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/markets-on-fire-post-union-budget-2021-sensex-zooms-over-22000-points-nifty-reclaims-14000-mark/articleshow/80630163.cms">Markets on fire post Union Budget 2021: Sensex zooms over 2,200 points, Nifty reclaims 14,000 mark</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/fm-nirmala-sitharaman-announced-the-vehicle-scrappage-policy-to-phase-out-6-8-million-old-and-unfit-vehicles/articleshow/80632143.cms">Budget 2021 will push 6.8 million vehicles to fitness tests, possible scrappage</a>

Nearly 30 Bills passed earlier will be presented in Lok Sabha today

<img class="gwt-Image" src="/photo/56376778.cms" />You won’t be able to drive to Delhi’s <keyword id="90899" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Connaught-Place">Connaught Place</keyword> from February to April as the government is planning to de-congest the area. 
 
As part of a pilot project, middles and inner circles of Connaught Place will become pedestrian zones for three months starting February. 
Urban Development Minister M Venkaiah Naidu-led meeting cleared the pilot project. 
 
But don’t worry, you will be able to park your vehicles at Shivaji Stadium, Baba Kharak Singh Marg and Palika, from where you’ll get a free shuttle service to the market. 
 
Cycles, electric vehicles will be allowed in CP. 
 
"It would also study the experience of pedestrians and shop owners, management of reclaimed parking lots and the traffic load on the outer circle," an official said. 
 
As per reports, 3,172 cars can be accommodated at parking lots at Shivaji Stadium, Baba Kharak Singh Marg and Palika. But on an average only 1,088 vehicles are being parked. 
 
"There will also be sound and light shows, sidewalk cafes, public plazas and street festivals. The intention is to make CP a happening place," said an official who attended Thursday's meeting.

Delhi’s Connaught Place is going to be a car-free zone for three months. Here’s why

(Eds: Updating, combining related stories, adding details) New Delhi, Apr 7 () The Centre is mulling extending the nationwide lockdown beyond April 14 to contain the spread of COVID-19 following requests from several states and experts, government sources said on Tuesday, as the total number of coronavirus cases in India crossed the 5,000 mark.With only a week left for the 21-day nationwide lockdown to end, sources, however, did not indicate if a final decision has been taken on the extension, and Joint Secretary in the Union health ministry Lav Aggarwal said, "no decision on extending lockdown as yet (taken), please don't speculate."India is under the lockdown since March 25, with only essential services exempted, to contain the spread of coronavirus. While a tally based on figures reported by various states as on Tuesday showed more than 5,000 testing positive across the country and at least 145 deaths, the Union Health Ministry's evening update, however, showed 4,789 confirmed cases and 124 deaths.According to an ILO report on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the crisis has the potential to push around 40 crore informal sector workers in India deeper into poverty, with the lockdown and other containment measures affecting jobs and earnings.However, several chief ministers have favoured the extension of the lockdown as they feel that the country can recover from the adverse impact of the shutdown on its economy but it was necessary to save lives from the fast-spreading virus, which has killed more than 76,500 people globally and afflicted over 13.6 lakh across 183 countries."A lot of state governments as well as experts are requesting the Central Government to extend the lockdown. The Central government is thinking in this direction," a source said, a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked countrymen to be ready for a long battle against the COVID-19 pandemic, and exhorted people to not feel tired or defeated while expressing confidence that India will emerge victorious in the fight. Chairing a meeting of the council of ministers through video conferencing on Monday, Modi had clearly indicated that the lifting of the lockdown in one go is very unlikely while discussing the modalities of lifting it. The Prime Minister also asked the ministers whether the restrictions should be lifted sector-wise or district-wise, a source said. Also on Tuesday, a group of ministers (GoM) on COVID-19 recommended that all educational institutions should remain shut and all religious activities having public participation should be restricted till May 15 irrespective of whether the government extends the 21-day lockdown beyond April 14, official sources said after a meeting of the GoM. The meeting, chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and attended by Home Minister Amit Shah and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, also concluded that religious centres and shopping malls must not be allowed to resume normal functioning at least for four weeks from April 14. Several chief ministers have also favoured the extension of the lockdown, and pitched for lifting of restrictions in a phased manner. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said his government will extend lockdown, if a need arises, while his counterpart in Rajasthan Ashok Gehlot said the state cannot withdraw the lockdown immediately, and it has to be done in a phased manner. In a statement to mark two weeks of the lockdown, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu said the next one week is "critical" for evolving an exit strategy as the data regarding the spread of coronavirus will have a bearing on the decision to be taken by the government. He also appealed to the public to abide with whatever decision the government ultimately takes, and cooperate with the same spirit that has been evident so far, even if it meant to continue with "some degree of hardship" beyond April 14. Stating that it's too early to take a call at present whether to lift the nationwide lockdown, Karnataka Medical Education Minister Sudhakar K, who is state in-charge of all matters related to COVID-19, however, favoured the extension of the lockdown in COVID-19 hotspots in the country by at least an additional two weeks. "Where there are red alerts and zones, those zones, in my opinion, should continue to be in a lockdown situation at least for two weeks...till this month-end, I will request them (the Centre) to do this," he said. Telananga Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao on Monday appealed to Prime Minister Modi to extend the national lockdown imposed to contain COVID-19, saying it was essential to save lives. Agreeing that continuing the lockdown would adversely impact the economy, he, however, said ways can be found to recover from it once the threat of COVID-19 goes away but human lives cannot be saved. Favouring extension, Rao said ,"we can recover from economic problem. But, we cannot recover the lives of the people... So, I propose at least for another one-two weeks. Extension should be at least for one or two weeks more. Then we can review." The International Labour Organisation (ILO) report released in Geneva on Tyesday said,"in India, with a share of almost 90 per cent of people working in the informal economy, about 400 million workers in the informal economy are at risk of falling deeper into poverty during the crisis." "Current lockdown measures in India, which are at the high end of the University of Oxford's COVID-19 Government Response Stringency Index, have impacted these workers significantly, forcing many of them to return to rural areas," it said in its updated report.Since there is no vaccine to fight COVID-19, the government has stressed that social distancing is the only way to check the spread of the virus. Lockdown is considered the best way to keep people indoors.Inter-state travel by public transport, including trains and buses, is banned, and so is domestic and international air travel.Meanwhile, the Confederation of Indian Alcoholic Beverage Companies (CIABC) has urged 10 states to allow sale of alcoholic beverages saying that a blanket ban during the lockdown to contain coronavirus has resulted in sale of illicit and spurious liquor while causing burden on exchequer.It said the need to close on-shops (bars) is well understood in light of social distancing, but noted that the nationwide lockdown has resulted in the shutdown of all wholesale and retail shops selling alcoholic beverages also.The CIABC, which is the apex body of the Indian alcoholic beverage industry, has sent letters on Monday to chief ministers of 10 states -- Delhi, Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Punjab, Rajasthan, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal. NAB MPB KKS PYK PYKPYKPYK

You Searched For "M Venkaiah naidu lights lamps" and got 5 results

Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu and his wife light lamps in solidarity against COVID-19

PTI

‘Smart Cities’ project will turn into a reality next month

BI India Bureau

Nearly 30 Bills passed earlier will be presented in Lok Sabha today

IANS

Delhi’s Connaught Place is going to be a car-free zone for three months. Here’s why

BI India Bureau

COVID-19: Govt mulls extending lockdown beyond Apr 14 following requests from states, experts

PTI