Andhra Pradesh capital Amaravati to have piped gas supply

Srinagar, Dec 18 (IANS) Security forces said on Wednesday that a large cache of arms, ammunition and narcotics was recovered during searches in Jammu and Kashmir’s (J&K) Kupwara district.

Officials said on Wednesday, “Security forces, including the Army and the police recovered four pistols, six pistol magazines, four kilograms of narcotics, and other incriminating materials during a search operation in the general area of Amrohi, Tangdhar in Kupwara District.”

Security forces have started an aggressive campaign against terrorists, their Over Ground Workers (OGWs) and sympathisers in order to dismantle the terror ecosystem in J&K.

Properties worth multiples of crores belonging to drug smugglers and peddlers have been attached in Kashmir Valley after obtaining requisite orders from the competent authority.

Lieutenant Governor (LG) Manoj Sinha has been chairing top-level security meetings.

During these meetings the LG has given clear orders to the security forces to go all-out against the terror ecosystem.

Union Home Minister, Amit Shah is chairing a top level security review meeting regarding J&K on Thursday in Delhi.

Chiefs of Intelligence agencies, police, CAPFs and others connected with the anti-terrorist grid in J&K will attend the meeting.

Security forces revised their strategy after terrorists carried out some dastardly attacks in the aftermath of peaceful people participative Lok Sabha and legislative Assembly elections in J&K.

These elections were witnessed by diplomats of many countries and this, according to Intelligence agencies, has frustrated the terror handlers sitting across the border in Pakistan.

Intelligence inputs indicate that the terror handlers have given directions to terrorists in J&K to give dying terrorism its last push.

Heightened vigilance is also being maintained at the border in J&K following reports that terrorists are waiting at the launching pads to sneak into the Indian side of the border before the mountain passes are closed by this season’s snow.

–IANS

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Agartala, Dec 20 (IANS) The 72nd Plenary session of the North Eastern Council (NEC) will be held here on Saturday to review the ongoing infrastructure projects and to discuss the roadmap of the development of the eight northeastern states, including Sikkim.

Officials said that Union Home Minister Amit Shah will preside over the plenary session of the NEC while Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, his deputy Sukanta Majumdar, Governors, Chief Ministers and Deputy Chief Ministers of all eight northeastern states will attend the daylong meeting.

The Home Minister, who besides presiding over the NEC meeting, would also attend a series of other events in Tripura during the three-day visit to the state, arrived here on Friday evening.

Shah will visit the Reang tribal settlement camps in the Dhalai district on Sunday and will also attend the National Cooperative Conference on the same day at Rabindra Satabarshiki Bhavan in Agartala.

Ahead of Saturday’s plenary session, a pre-plenary technical session of the NEC was held on Friday and MoS Majumdar presided over the meeting, where Chief Secretaries of all eight northeastern states, senior officials of DoNER Ministry and the NEC, and officials from all the states of the region took part.

Tripura’s capital city Agartala is hosting the NEC plenary meet for only the second time since 2008.

An official of the NEC said that the choice of Agartala for this important meeting underscores its evolving role in regional development.

Historically, plenary sessions have predominantly been held in Shillong and Guwahati. However, Agartala’s selection highlights the dynamic nature of the NEC’s engagements and its commitment to fostering growth across all corners of the region, he said.

NEC Secretary Angshuman Dey reflected on the significance of this plenary and the NEC’s role in regional development.

He underscores the Prime Minister’s vision, where the NER is celebrated as ‘Ashta Lakshmi’, a symbol of immense potential and cultural richness.

The NEC’s role has evolved significantly since its inception, transforming from an advisory body to a key regional planning agency, an official release quoted Dey.

“Yet, its core mission remains unchanged to accelerate socio-economic development and ensure parity with the rest of the country through enhanced connectivity, capacity building, and investment in various sectors,” the release said.

The NEC was established in 1971 and subsequently inaugurated in Shillong in 1972 by then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

This milestone marked a pivotal moment in the region’s planned and coordinated development.

The official release said that the council’s transformation, including the incorporation of Sikkim in 2002 and its designation as a Regional Planning Body, reflects its expanding mandate and growing importance.

The NEC’s remarkable achievements over the decades are from constructing over 11,500 km of roads to boosting power generation and improving airport infrastructure.

The council’s legacy includes foundational institutions such as the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) and the North Eastern Electrical Power Corporation (NEEPCO), among many others, the release added.

The ongoing initiatives and the introduction of the PM-devINE scheme further underscore the NEC’s pivotal role in realising Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision for the northeastern region.

At the 72nd plenary session to be held on Saturday, the spotlight is firmly on the NEC’s continued efforts to harness the region’s vast potential and propel it toward unprecedented growth and development.

“With the stage set and expectations high, the plenary session of the NEC promises to be a defining moment in the region’s journey toward a prosperous future,” the release added.

Besides the NEC meeting, a review meeting of the works and planning of the North Eastern Space Application Centre (NESAC) will be held on December 22.

According to officials, the Union Home Minister and ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) Chairman S. Somanath would attend the NESAC meeting.

The Union Home Minister, in the previous NEC meeting in Shillong, had said that in the 50 years of its establishment, the NEC has increased the pace of development of the region by providing a policy-related platform to all the states and simplifying the solutions to their problems.

–IANS

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Ahilya Nagar (Maharashtra), Dec 22 (IANS) After assuming office as the Chief Minister, Devendra Fadnavis visited Maharashtra’s Ahilya Nagar for the first time and met social activist Anna Hazare on Sunday.

During the meeting, social activist Anna Hazare congratulated Fadnavis and also invited him to visit Ralegan Siddhi.

In a post on X, CM Devendra Fadnavis wrote, “Today, I met senior social worker, Padma Bhushan Anna Hazare ji in Ahilyanagar, during which I took his blessings and thanked him for his good wishes. Minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil was also present at this time.”

Maharashtra Chief Minister’s Office shared pictures of the two on its X account. The CMO wrote, “Social worker Anna Hazare congratulated Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and invited him to visit Ralegan Siddhi. On this occasion, the Chief Minister greeted Mr Hazare and thanked him for the wishes.”

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis arrived at the helipad of Padma Shri Dr. Vitthalrao Vikhe Patil Foundation Medical College. He was accompanied by Legislative Council Chairman Prof. Ram Shinde. Water Resources Minister (Godavari and Krishna Basin Development Corporation) Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil welcomed the Chief Minister.

MLAs Sangram Jagtap, Shivajirao Kardile, Kashinath Date, former minister Babanrao Pachpute, Divisional Commissioner Dr. Praveen Gedam, District Collector Siddharam Salimath, Special Inspector General of Police, Nashik area Dattatray Karale; Superintendent of Police Rakesh Ola; Chief Executive Officer, Zilla Parishad Ashish Yerekar; Municipal Commissioner Yashwant Dange and others were present on the occasion.

Earlier, the Chief Minister arrived at Shirdi Airport. He was welcomed by Sub-Divisional Officer Manik Aher.

On Saturday, the Maharashtra government had allocated departments to the ministers. Governor CP Radhakrishnan on Saturday approved the allocation of departments to the ministers, as per the recommendation of Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has kept the Home, Energy and Law departments with himself. Ajit Pawar has been given the responsibility of the Finance Department. Meanwhile, Eknath Shinde has been given the Urban Development and Public Works Department.

It may be noted that 39 ministers of Mahayuti took oath on December 15. These included 19 ministers from the BJP, 11 from the Shiv Sena Shinde faction and nine from the NCP Ajit Pawar faction.

–IANS

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