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EPCA to meet states for ‘by default’ GRAP enforcement if air quality falls

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New Delhi, Nov 23 (IANS) The Supreme Court-appointed environment body has on Friday called a meeting with governments of Delhi’s neighbouring states to ensure that necessary measures and restrictions are imposed “by default” without wait if air quality drops, officials said on Thursday.

The Environment Pollution Control Authority (EPCA) will hold the meeting with the governments of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan in this regard.

Earlier this month, as air pollution reached its threshold around Delhi and NCR, the EPCA had to impose emergency steps thereby ordering restrictions proposed under Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) as immediate remedies to control the pollution.

However, while the National Green Tribunal (NGT) earlier this month ordered for by default imposition of required restrictions under GRAP depending on the severity of air pollution, the EPCA is mulling to make the system more spontaneous.

“The meeting will include all the stakeholders including the state governments and the pollution control boards. The purpose is to ensure the quick GRAP enforcement,” Polash Mukherjee, researcher at Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) and member EPCA told IANS.

Earlier in November, as a thick yellow smog blanket engulfed Delhi, EPCA for the first time imposed the “severe plus or emergency” category under GRAP.

The GRAP under EPCA, includes several restrictions in Delhi-NCR including — closing schools, banning diesel generator sets, hike in parking fee, augmentation of public transportation, implementation of odd-even road rationing scheme, stopping construction activities, water sprinkling to avoid dust-pollution, closing down the brick kilns and ban on the entry of trucks in the national capital including others.

This year, EPCA imposed “severe-plus or emergency” category of GRAP from November 7 to 15, under which all measures and restrictions were imposed except the odd-even scheme, due to the disagreements between the Delhi government and the NGT.

–IANS
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Foodman Vishal Singh Honored for Hunger Free World Mission in Bangkok

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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.

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