National
‘Damaged NTPC plant could take over a year to become operational’
Lucknow, Nov 7 (IANS) The badly damaged sixth unit of the Unchahar power plant of NTPC, shuttered after last week’s boiler blast that killed 35 persons and injured many, could take more than a year to come back to its operational status, a senior official said.
The official, who declined to be named, said the November 1 blast in the boiler of the 500 Mega Watt NTPC plant had “completely devastated the plant”. “It could take more than a year to come back to its pre-November 1 (day of the disaster) operational status,” the official told IANS.
The damage to the plant could also hit the mega project of ‘Pradhan Mantri Saubhagya Yojna’, the official added.
More than 2.5 crore families spread across eight states were to draw electricity from this unit under the ambitious ‘Pradhan Mantri Saubhagya Yojna’ that aims at linking households with power connections. The Union Power Ministry has distributed the share of electricity produced here to eight states, with Uttar Pradesh getting the majority chunk of 40 per cent (173.74 MW).
Power generated from the sixth unit of Unchahar was also to be given to Chandigarh, Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir, Rajasthan, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh.
Of these states, after Uttar Pradesh, neighbouring Rajasthan was to get 74.09 MW, J&K (55.19 MW), Haryana (37.95 MW), Uttarakhand (30.64MW), Himachal Pradesh (22.21MW), Delhi (27.59 MW) and Chandigarh (4.19MW).
Of the power generated, 75 MW was left unalotted.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had launched the Rs 16,320 crore Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana, or Saubhagya, on September 25 this year with an objective to provide electricity connection to over 40 million families in rural and urban areas by December 2018.
The scheme funds the cost of last-mile connectivity to willing households to help achieve the goal of lighting every household by December 31, 2018.
–IANS
md/rn
National
Foodman Vishal Singh Honored for Hunger Free World Mission in Bangkok
Lucknow: Vishal Singh, a renowned social worker from Lucknow, also known as Foodman, has once again made India proud. He was honored by the Happy Hands Gloves Cooperative Limited Company in Korathai, Thailand, for his work with the Hunger Free World Mission.
The Hunger Free World Mission’s meeting was held in Korathai, Thailand, under Vishal Singh’s leadership. Representatives from several countries, including Mr. Raja Dwivedi (Managing Director of Happy Hands Gloves Limited), Thailand Coordinator Mr. Raja Mishra, and member Mr. Varun Singh, attended the event.
Under Vishal Singh’s leadership, the attendees took a pledge to work together toward creating a hunger-free world.
Speaking on the occasion, Vishal Singh explained that the main goal of the Hunger Free World Mission is social participation. He said the mission is not just about feeding people but also about meeting other basic needs of those who are struggling. The mission focuses on helping families of terminally ill patients in hospitals by providing food and shelter. It also works to fulfill essential needs like education, jobs, and care for the elderly.
For the last 16 years, the Vijay Sri Foundation has been providing free services, benefiting thousands of people. Vishal Singh highlighted that the mission aims to gain global recognition like other organizations such as WHO, WWF, and Red Cross, which work for social causes.
During this meeting, Vishal Singh was appointed as the Chairman of the Hunger Free World Mission by representatives from various countries. They also discussed holding regular meetings in different countries to push the mission forward.
Business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has also supported this humanitarian mission, vowing to promote the idea of “Seva Parmo Dharma” (Service is the highest duty) worldwide. Vishal Singh praised him, stating that people like Dr .Abhishek Verma inspire others to work for the betterment of society.
Recently, Romania’s Ambassador, Mr . Daniela Sezonov Ţane, invited Vishal Singh to the Romanian Embassy in Delhi, where they discussed the mission in detail. Impressed by his humanitarian work, she honored Vishal Singh and invited him to Romania to take the mission forward .
Food man Vishal Singh has been serving the people of India for the past 16 years. Through the Vijay Sri Foundation, he provides free meals to cancer patients & their families ,shelter, and education for women & children along with running free old-age homes in Lucknow.
In addition to his humanitarian work, Vishal Singh also addresses issues like crime and corruption through his role as Chairman of Seva Path Media and Managing Director of Vijay Sri Foundation.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Vishal Singh and his team worked tirelessly to provide food and help to the needy, including starving children, elderly citizens, and pregnant women. Despite contracting the virus himself, he continued to assist others after his recovery. He even created a life-saving oxygen regulator using household items, which was praised by doctors both in India and abroad.
In his address at the meeting, Vishal Singh spoke about his mission to create a hunger-free world. He pointed out that India’s large population, along with issues like unemployment and poverty, has caused the country to fall on the Hunger Index. He urged people to contribute just one handful of grains daily to help create a hunger-free world.
He concluded by saying that through social participation, we can empower the people around us, meet their basic needs, and work together to build a stronger, more prosperous, and developed society.