National
NGT clears hurdles for construction of new Andhra capital
Amaravati, Nov 17 (IANS) Clearing the hurdles in the construction of Andhra Pradesh’s new state capital Amaravati, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Friday refused to set aside the environmental clearance.
It permitted the state government to go ahead with the work on the new capital, while complying with the stipulations laid down by the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests.
The new capital of Andhra Pradesh is coming up on the southern banks of the Krishna river in Guntur district.
Several persons had filed petitions in the NGT against the environmental clearance given to the project on the grounds that it would cause damage to environment.
The green panel, however, said that the project falls under the Category B of the Environmental Impact Assessment Notification of 2006 and imposition of additional conditions in the environmental clearance were necessary.
It formed two committees to have requisite regulatory control over the performance of the project proponent.
A bench, headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar, asked the project proponent to conduct a comprehensive study on hydro-geomorphology of the area with a view to effectively plan water retention ponds and reservoirs, storm water drains and their interconnectivity.
The tribunal also directed the project proponent to furnish a bank guarantee of Rs 5 crore and said it would be liable to be encashed if any conditions of the clearance was violated.
The judgement came on a plea filed by activist P. Srimannarayan, E.A.S. Sarma and others which claimed Amravati was a flood-prone area and the state government had not considered the ecological and environmental aspects of the project.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu hailed the judgement, saying it removed all obstacles in the construction of Amaravati. He reiterated that his government is committed to build the new state capital which every citizen will be proud of.
Naidu attended the second meeting of the Joint Implementation Steering Committee with with Singapore’s Minister of Trade and Industry S. Iswaran here on Friday.
They discussed Singapore’s involvement in the development of Amaravati, solid waste management projects, district cooling systems and skill development programmes.
Naidu told the meeting that the capital city will not become a concrete jungle, which exploits natural resources. He said that Amaravati will be a dynamic city, equipped with modern technology.
“1,500 electric vehicles will be introduced soon, and will be promoted extensively. The city will be planned in such a way that it should not take more than 30 minutes to travel to any part. The public transport system will also be a primary backbone, making it the most liveable city,” he said.
–IANS
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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.