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Financial assistance for Assam movement victims: Sonowal

Financial assistance for Assam movement victims: Sonowal

Sarbananda Sonowal

Sarbananda Sonowal

Guwahati : Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Monday said the government will provide one-time financial assistance of Rs 2 lakh to everyone who suffered bullet injuries during the Assam movement.

Addressing a gathering on the occasion of “Shahid Diwas” (martyr’s day) here, Sonowal said the government will also publish a book on the historical Assam movement that led to the signing of Assam Accord between the then Congress government at the Centre and the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) leadership.

Sonowal also reiterated his government’s commitment to implement every clause of the Assam Accord in letter and spirit and to safeguard the interests of the people of the state.

“The Assam movement was a strong manifestation of people’s power and a great example of non-violent means of protest. This was one of the most significant parts of India’s history as the movement aimed at safeguarding unity and sovereignty of the country,” he said.

—IANS

World Bank approves Rs 929.89 crore for Shimla’s water supply project

World Bank approves Rs 929.89 crore for Shimla’s water supply project

World BankShimla : The World Bank has approved in principle a financial assistance of Rs 929.89 crore for a water supply and sewerage project for the state capital, Himachal Pradesh Urban Development and Country Planning Minister Sarween Chaudhary said on Thursday.

The final negotiation meeting for loan sanction will be held on October 24. The assistance will be made as a development policy loan, she said in a written reply in the Assembly.

There are six sources of drinking water supply to Shimla town with a total water supply capacity of 54 million litres per day (MLD). These included Gumma and Giri.

Officials told IANS that Shimla faced one of its worst water crises for weeks in June, sending locals on the warpath and forcing tourists to cut short their stay.

Replying to a question of Congress’ first-time legislator Vikramaditya Singh, the minister said that to ensure regular supply of drinking water, particularly during summer, there is need to augment the Gumma water source from the Sutlej river and construct storage dams on the Giri river.

Another step to meet the water requirement would be to instal filter units in 13 ‘bouries’ or natural water bodies here to ensure water for non-potable uses.

Civic body officials blame Shimla’s water shortage to leaks in the distribution network, a significant portion of which was laid during the British rule, and diminishing water resources due to over-exploitation.

Facing flak from the high court, which had monitored the water situation on a day-to-day basis, the Municipal Corporation had disconnected the water connections of over 40 hotels for their failure to clear the pending arrears.

Planned by the British for a maximum population of 16,000, Shimla — now with a population of nearly 2,00,000 — requires 42 MLD of water.

According to officials, the city is getting 30-32 MLD on an average every day and the residents are getting water once in three-four days in summer.

—IANS

Kejriwal doubles financial assistance for parks maintenance

Kejriwal doubles financial assistance for parks maintenance

Arvind KejriwalNew Delhi : Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday announced that financial assistance for Resident Welfare Assocations (RWAs) and NGOs registered with the Delhi Parks and Gardens Society (DPGS) for maintenance of parks and gardens would be doubled from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 2 lakh.

“The financial assistance provided by the DPGS will now be uniform 90 per cent by the government and balance 10 per cent to be borne by the RWAs/NGOs,” he said.

Addressing 261 RWAs and NGOs from across Delhi, Kejriwal also announced that the grant of financial assistance will now not be linked with the categorization of colonies, and also requested the participants to get their damaged borewells or motors repaired with government support in the next 10 days.

“Thereafter, a uniform policy will be adopted so that no problem is faced on this ground by RWAs and NGOs,” he added.

Kejriwal also assured that the documentation for release of financial assistance will also be reduced to the minimum.

In 2017-18, 261 RWAs received financial assistance of approximate Rs 1.63 crore for maintaining 1,164 parks covering around 370 acres.

—IANS