Multiple Landslides Disrupt Srinagar-Jammu National Highway

Jaipur, Dec 21 (IANS) Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma on Friday announced the launch of a special campaign to address black spots on roads in an effort to reduce accidents across the state.

He emphasised the urgent identification and repair of accident-prone areas to minimise the loss of life and property due to vehicle collisions.

The Chief Minister instructed the Public Works Department (PWD) to prioritise quality in all repair works during the campaign and ensure their timely completion. He highlighted that the state is investing approximately Rs 2,350 crore to improve black spots and enhance road safety.

Strict action will be taken against those failing to adhere to prescribed standards in road construction and repair, the Chief Minister warned.

As per updates, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has identified 40 black spots in the state, with improvements underway at a cost of Rs 812.64 crore. Out of these, 13 spots have already been repaired, and work on the remaining spots is in progress.

NHAI is set to commence repairs on an additional 37 black spots, with an estimated cost of Rs 821.51 crore.

Collaborating with the PWD, work is ongoing to address 176 black spots across national highways at a cost of approximately Rs 650 crore.

The PWD plans to complete repairs on 117 identified black spots by March 31, 2025. The Rajasthan State Highway Authority is improving 30 black spots at a cost of Rs 21.72 crore, with completion targeted for January 2025. Additionally, safety improvements are being carried out on four key roads at a cost of Rs 20.34 crore.

This campaign underscores the state government’s commitment to enhancing road safety and reducing accidents through comprehensive and coordinated efforts, said officials.

–IANS

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Pune, Dec 23 (IANS) Union Minister of Agriculture, Farmers Welfare and Rural Development Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Monday said over 13.29 lakh houses have been approved for Maharashtra during the financial year 2024-25 under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana Gramin Plus (+).

In his address at the Kisan Samman Diwas and Farmers and Rural Development Beneficiaries Conference here, the Union Minister said the survey work has been completed, and the final list has been made for these additional houses to be allotted in Maharashtra.

“The government is working with the commitment that no person should be deprived of a pucca house,” Shivraj Chouhan said.

Speaking at the event to mark National Farmers Day 2024, the Union Minister further said that a target has been fixed to build over 19.66 lakh houses in Maharashtra during the financial year 2024-25.

“The total estimated expenditure for this will be Rs 29,501 crore. It is hoped that the newly formed state government will be able to achieve these targets within the stipulated time,” the Minister added.

Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that the government is making all-out efforts to provide the benefits of this scheme to those people who have not got the opportunity to join the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana or whose name is not on the survey list.

Earlier, people who had two-wheelers and telephones were deprived of this scheme, but now, under the Awas Plus (+) scheme, all such people will get the benefit of a house, the minister explained.

According to the new survey, people in the monthly income group of Rs 15,000 and those who own more than 5 acres of unirrigated land will also be able to get the benefit of this scheme.

Shivraj Singh Chouhan also said that the government is very sensitive towards women empowerment. A target has been set to make 3 crore Lakhpati Didis across the country. So far, 1.15 crore sisters have been made Lakhpati Didi because women’s self-help groups play a major role in India’s economy.

Talking about the development of the agriculture sector, Union Minister Chouhan said that during the UPA government, the annual budget provision for agriculture was only Rs 23,000 crore, whereas during the tenure of the Modi government, it has been increased to Rs 1.27 lakh crore.

Apart from this, the government has provided a subsidy of Rs 1.94 lakh crore for a total of 45 programmes.

The minister further stated that the government has so far spent Rs 1,166 lakh crore for various ongoing schemes under the National Food Security Programme, and the government is making continuous efforts to double the income of the country’s farmers.

He also said that recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has dedicated 109 varieties of new seeds of 65 crops to the nation which will be an important part of natural farming.

–IANS

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Srinagar, Dec 12 (IANS) Higher reaches of Jammu and Kashmir received fresh snowfall on Thursday as the minimum temperature improved with Srinagar city recording minus 0.5 degrees Celsius as the lowest temperature.

Fresh snowfall occurred in Gulmarg, Sonamarg, Zojila Pass, Doodpathri and other places as the nightlong cloud cover brought up the night temperature.

The Meteorological (MeT) department officials said that due to the cloud cover, minimum temperatures have improved in Kashmir Valley.

The MeT department has forecast that there would be no major change in weather in the union territory till December 20.

Srinagar recorded minus 0.5, Gulmarg minus 5.2 and Pahalgam minus 4.6 as the minimum temperature.

Jammu city recorded 6.8, Katra 7.4, Batote 5.3, Banihal 3.9 and Bhaderwah 2.9 as the minimum temperature.

Morning chill accompanied by frost kept most Kashmiris inside their homes in the early hours of the day as fewer pedestrians and vehicular movement were seen in Srinagar city this morning.

The Srinagar-Leh highway has been closed for general traffic due to heavy snowfall in the Zojila Pass area.

The 40-day-long period of bitter winter cold called the ‘Chillai Kalan’ will start on December 21 and end on January 30. It is during this period that the gap between the minimum and the maximum temperature narrows down adding to the chill factor.

Water bodies, including lakes, rivers and streams, also freeze partially during the Chillai Kalan hampering the movement of boats in the local water bodies.

For centuries, Kashmiris have relied on the earthen firepot woven in a willow wicker basket filled with embers to ward off the winter cold. This is called the ‘Kangri’.

Kept under the loose tweed overgarment called the ‘Pheran’, the Kangri remains the local’s best bet to bear the extreme winter cold.

As electricity remains undependable due to frequent power cuts and shutdowns, locals have to depend on age-old practices to survive the bone-chilling cold of Kashmir winter.

–IANS

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