MP, Maharashtra, Chattisgarh, Jharkhand, Haryana reach ODF milestone

Five more States viz., Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Chattisgarh, Jharkhand and Haryana have reached the milestone of making all cities and towns ‘Open Defecation Free(ODF)’ as the Swacch Bharat Mission completed three years today. This was announced by the Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs Shri Hardeep Singh Puri while speaking at a programme here today on the occasion of the third anniversary of the mission.  Giving an account of the progress towards Swacchata in urban areas of the country, Shri Puri informed that as against the target of building about 66 lakh individual household toilets in urban areas, 38 lakh toilets have already been built and construction of another 14 lakh toilets is in progress. Over two lakh community and public toilet seats have been built as against the mission target of five lakh toilet seats. 

Stating that focus in now being laid on Solid Waste Management, Shri Puri said that efforts are on to generate over 500 MW of electricity and over 50 lakh tons of compost from municipal solid waste to enable processing of the entire solid waste being generated in urban areas.  Shri Puri said that sanitation is a birth right and individual responsibility as well. He informed that the fortnight long ‘Swacchata Hi Sewa’ campaign concluding today has witnessed participation of over 80 lakh people spread over 3.50 lakh activities in urban areas.  The Minister stressed on the need for ‘life style change’ to realise the objective of Swacch Bharat as envisioned by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. 

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PM Modi dedicates Sardar Sarovar Dam to the nation

Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicated to the nation the Sardar Sarovar Dam at Kevadia in Narmada district of Gujarat on 17th September 2017. Later, addressing a public meeting at Dabhoi in Vadodara district, the Prime Minister said lack of water resources has been a major factor in slowing the pace of development. He said the Project will be help full to bring prosperity among the people in new India. Mr Modi said through this project the Narmada water will not only benefit the farmers Gujarat but also those from Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Rajashan.  Mr Modi said, Sardar Sarovar Dam faced so many obstacles, but they were determined that the project will go on.

It has been a wait of 56 years for the project to be completed since 1961 when its foundation was laid. The project is expected to be a lifeline to the farmers of Gujarat in terms of irrigation. In 1996, the Supreme Court placed a stay on the dam's construction over the issue of displacement of people from affected areas but granted permission for construction in 2000. The height of the dam was recently raised to over 138 meters increasing its usable storage capacity to over 4.7 million acre-feet. The dam will benefit 15 districts and 19 lakh hectares of Gujarat. It will benefit up to 4 crore people by supplying drinking water to villages and towns through an elaborate canal and pipeline network. The dam, being constructed on the Narmada river, will be the second largest dam in the world.

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Environment minister Anil Madhav Dave passes away

Union environment minister Anil Madhav Dave passed away this morning. He was 60. Dave had not been keeping well for the last few months. He complained of uneasiness at his home this morning and was rushed to AIIMS where he passed away, official sources told PTI. Dave was a Member of Parliament, representing Madhya Pradesh in the Rajya Sabha since 2009. 

Anil Madhav Dave was born on July 6, 1956 at Barnagar in Ujjain district of Madhya Pradesh. He did his M. Com at Gujarati College in Indore. Dave, was sworn-in as Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change (Independent Charge) on July 6, 2016 in the NDA government. Dave was also a recognised nature conservationist and has extensively worked for river conservation. He was also very passionate on projects including conservation of the Narmada river through an organisation 'Narmada Samagra' that he founded. 

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PM Modi launches Narmada Sewa Mission in Amarkantak, Madhya Pradesh

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said that public participation is the biggest strength of the democracy and success of Narmada Seva Yatra in Madhya Pradesh is an example of it. He was speaking at the concluding ceremony of the Narmada Seva Yatra at Amarkantak in Anooppur district of Madhya Pradesh. Mr Modi said, the Narmada Seva Yatra is a unique mass movement in Indian history and saluted all those who took part in it. Mr Modi emphasized the need to save rivers like Narmada which have been people's lifeline for so many years. On this occasion, the Prime Minister also launched the Narmada Sewa Mission, a roadmap to conserve the river.

Mr. Modi said, the cleanliness drive has now gotten infrastructural system in the country. He said, Madhya Pradesh has also set an example in the area of cleanliness camping. Mr Modi said, 22 cities of the state got place in top 100 cities of the country. He said, nothing can succeed without public support. The Prime Minister called upon the people to take resolution to do something for country till 2022, when the country will celebrate the 75th anniversary of Independence.

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India’s first post office Passport Seva Kendra at Vidisha

India’s First Post Office Passport Seva Kendra has started functioning in Vidisha district headquarters of Madhya Pradesh. State’s Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan inaugurated it last evening. Now residents of Vidisha and adjoining districts Raisen, Guna, Ashoknagar, Sagar and Damoh will not need to go Bhopal to get a passport. 

The Vidisha’s Post Office Passport Seva Kendra will work as Laghu Passport Seva Kandra. Officials said that efforts will be made to examine applications and approve them in a single day itself. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj represents Vidisha in Lok Sabha. A Passport Laghu Seva Kendra was inaugurated in Indore a few days ago. Laghu passport kendras will also be opened in Jabalpur, Gwalior and Satna of the state.

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PM launches 'Azadi 70 Saal-Yaad Karo Qurbani' campaign

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 9th August kicked off 'Azadi 70 Saal-Yaad Karo Qurbani', programme from Bhabra, Alirajpur in Madhya Pradesh. PM paid homage to the great freedom fighter Chandrashekhar Azad at his birthplace at Bhabra in Alirajpur District of Madhya Pradesh. The Prime Minister garlanded the statue of Shahid Chandrashekhar Azad and visited the memorial at his birthplace.  Addressing a public meeting, the Prime Minister recalled that Mahatma Gandhi had given the call for the British to Quit India – this very day. He urged to people to remember those who gave their lives so that we could breathe the air of freedom. 

The Prime Minister said it is his privilege to have come to the birthplace of Chandrashekhar Azad. People like him inspire us to work for the nation, he added.  The Prime Minister said that all of us, who may not have got a chance to lay down our lives for the nation, should take the opportunity to live for the nation. The Prime Minister emphasized that a nation moves forward on the strength of its people, their aspirations, and their hard work. 

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PM formally unveiles 'Fasal Bima Yojana'

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is addressing farmers and highlight Government initiatives for the development of the agriculture sector and welfare of farmers, at the Kisan Kalyan Mela in Sherpur village in Sehore district in Madhya Pradesh on Thursday.  He will also release the guidelines for operationalization of the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, the pathbreaking scheme for crop insurance that was approved by the Union Cabinet last month.

Sherpur village of Sehore district is all ready for the event. Lakhs of farmers are expected to attend this function. Elaborate security arrangements have been made with regard to the PM's arrival at this event. Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh said that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken initiatives to provide benefits to the farmers of the country.

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