Ram Darbar Pran Pratishtha in Ayodhya's Ram temple today: Time, guests and other details
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India Gazette
2 days ago
- India Gazette
Bihar cabinet approves Rs 888 cr plan to develop Sitamarhi's Maa Janaki Temple: CM Nitish Kumar
Patna (Bihar) [India], July 1 (ANI): Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Tuesday announced that the state cabinet has approved a comprehensive development plan for Punaura Dham, the revered birthplace of Goddess Sita in Sitamarhi district. The plan includes the construction of a grand temple and other structures, modeled after the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra in Ayodhya. The cabinet has approved a budget of Rs 882.78 crore for the construction of the temple at Punaura Dham, which is considered to be the birthplace of Goddess Sita, the wife of Ram. 'I am extremely delighted to inform that the birthplace of Mother Janaki, Punaura Dham, Sitamarhi, has received approval from the cabinet today for a comprehensive development plan, including the construction of a grand temple and other structures,' the Bihar CM wrote in a post on X in Hindi. Mentioning plans to lay the foundation stone by August, just a month away, the post added, 'The cabinet has approved a budget of 882 crore 87 lakh rupees for the comprehensive development plan prepared for Punaura Dham. The implementation of this plan will commence soon. I have instructed that its foundation stone be laid by the month of August. We are determined to complete the construction of the grand temple in Punaura Dham, Sitamarhi, at the earliest.' 'Its comprehensive development will be carried out on the lines of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Tirth Kshetra, Ayodhya. The construction of the grand temple of Mother Janaki in Punaura Dham is a matter of fortune and pride for all the people of the country and especially for all of us in Bihar,' his post said. Earlier on June 22, the Chief Minister had revealed that the designs for the 'holistic development' of the temple have been finalized a dedicated trust has also been formed to expedite the construction. The new design plans include a 151-foot-tall structure, wide walkways, and ample green cover, making it ideal for devotees to visit and pay homage to Goddess Sita. Punaura Dham, also known as Maa Janaki Janmabhoomi Temple, is widely considered to be the birthplace of Goddess Sita, the wife of Ram. After the construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, multiple people associated with the Janaki temple brought gifts for Lord Ram during the Pran Pratishtha ceremony held on January 22, 2024. According to Bihar tourism, Punaura Dham also contains other attractions, like a lake which is believed to help with her pregnancy, and Panth Pakar, which is associated with Sita's marriage. Work is also ongoing to establish a road connection between Ayodhya's Ram Mandir and Maa Janaki temple, known as 'Ram-Janaki Marg. ' In September last year, Bihar CM Nitish Kumar urged PM Modi to expedite the construction of the connection. The CM also asked for a Vande Bharat connection to be started between the two cities. (ANI)
Time of India
24-06-2025
- Time of India
Where light begins: Inside the lives of underground coal warriors
Ranchi: Before the first school bell rings or the first office login clicks across India, a different kind of workforce begins its shift—deep underground, beneath the forests of Jharkhand. There's no morning sun, no coffee, no desk. Just hard hats, headlamps, and a narrow path into the dark. In the sleepy mining township of Churi, 45-year-old Ram Vilas wraps a red cloth around his face, picks up his boots, and walks towards the black tunnel mouth of the Churi Underground Coal Mine—a path he has taken nearly every day for over two decades. He doesn't speak much. Underground miners rarely do. 'Hum roshni ke liye andhere mein jaate hain (We walk into darkness so the rest of you can live in light.),' he says simply. Churi is one of India's oldest operating underground coal mines, managed by Central Coalfields Limited (CCL) . Every year, it produces nearly a million tonnes of coal—a volume that feeds the furnaces of thermal power plants and keeps the electricity flowing to cities that have long forgotten where their power comes from. But inside the tunnels of Churi, where temperatures soar to 45°C, the air is thick with coal dust, and every shift carries the risk of a roof collapse or gas leak, the truth is raw and rarely told. This is the world of India's invisible energy soldiers—whose labour lights the nation but leaves them in the dark. A mine unlike most Unlike the more visible open-cast mines, where gigantic excavators scrape coal from the earth under the open sky, Churi's operations take place deep below ground. It is a labyrinth of narrow corridors, hand-built supports, dim light, and deafening silence. Inside, miners like Ram bend, crawl, and drill through coal seams, navigating through rocks and unpredictable strata. They carry out roof-bolting, handle explosives, and shift coal onto trolleys—all with little more than helmets and handheld tools. Despite the mechanisation wave sweeping through Coal India, underground mining remains one of the most dangerous and manually intensive professions in the country. 'Yahan koi backup team nahi hoti. Galti ka matlab maut ho sakta hai (There's no backup underground. A single mistake can mean death.),' says Suresh Paswan, an 18-year coal miner. Suresh recalls a minor roof fall from last year when one of his colleagues was injured. 'He survived, but he never came back,' he says. 'Some wounds don't heal.' Change, one machine at a time In recent years, Churi has seen a quiet revolution. To reduce manual burden and enhance safety, CCL has introduced Continuous Miner machines—state-of-the-art equipment that can slice through coal without the need for blasting. It increases productivity and, more importantly, keeps fewer humans in harm's way. Another game-changer has been the deployment of battery-operated dumpers—electrically powered vehicles that replace diesel carts. These machines transport coal from deep inside the tunnels to the surface, significantly improving air quality underground and reducing physical stress on workers who earlier pushed heavy trolleys manually. 'Jab battery dumper aaya, laga zindagi thodi aasaan ho gayi (When the battery dumper came, it felt like life had become a little easier),' Ram admits. But these technologies, while promising, are still limited in number. Most of Churi continues to run on sweat, experience, and hope. The miners, for the most part, still trust their instincts more than any sensor. Women step into the mine Perhaps the most historic shift at Churi has been the entry of women into underground operations—a first for this mine and one of the rare few in India. Among them is Anjali Atrey, an Assistant Manager who oversees underground operations and regularly steps into the tunnels alongside her team. Clad in the same safety gear as her male colleagues, Anjali moves through the mine shafts with composed authority, blending technical command with lived grit. 'Pehle log haste the—'aurat mine mein?' Ab wohi log bolte hain, 'madam ji aa gayi',' she laughs. For Anjali, this is more than a professional role—it's a statement of what leadership in mining can look like in today's India. In a space long deemed too rugged and risky for women, her presence signals a deeper shift in mindset across Coal India's operations. Yet, challenges persist—lack of gender-sensitive infrastructure, safety gear designed for men, and the inherent risks of underground work. Still, she leads. And she inspires. What life underground really looks like Life inside the Churi underground mine is tough, but not without resilience and routine. Miners work in tightly scheduled shifts, navigating narrow tunnels where heat, humidity, and coal dust are part of the daily environment. Ventilation systems are in place, though maintaining consistent air quality remains a challenge in deeper sections of the mine. Physical fatigue is common, especially during peak summer months. Long hours in confined spaces can lead to back strain and respiratory discomfort over time. While chronic ailments like pneumoconiosis and silicosis have been reported in older miners, increased health awareness and periodic check-ups are gradually making a difference. Mental health is still a lesser-talked-about subject. Many workers deal with the stress and solitude of underground work in silence. 'Log sochte hain ki hum sirf mazdoor hain. Lekin yeh kaam asaan nahi hota,' says Suresh. Wages and benefits vary. Permanent staff receive standard perks and health coverage, but contractual workers often seek better security and post-retirement support. Despite the challenges, a sense of pride and camaraderie keeps the workforce going—day after day, shift after shift. What the workers are asking for Their demands aren't extravagant: 1. Expand the use of Continuous Miner and battery dumper technology 2. Improve ventilation, air quality, and underground communication 3. Conduct regular health check-ups, X-rays, and mental health screenings 4. Convert long-term contract workers to permanent roles 5. Establish emergency rescue teams and underground ambulance units CCL's response: Change is coming A spokesperson from CCL responded to these challenges, saying: 'Churi is a flagship mine for us. We're committed to modernising underground operations while ensuring the well-being of every worker. Continuous Miners and battery dumpers are part of a larger roadmap to make mining safer, more efficient, and inclusive. Women miners in Churi represent a historic step, and we plan to expand their participation further.' According to CCL, training, digitised safety monitoring, and new health partnerships are in the pipeline for the next phase of underground operations. Beneath the surface, the soul of India The coal that powers your train, your air conditioner, or your hospital ward doesn't come from machines alone. It comes from hands—hands that dig, lift, cut, and carry. Hands that get bruised but don't break. It comes from men like Ram and Suresh, whose days begin before ours and end long after. 'Hum sirf koila nahi nikaalte. Hum desh ke liye jaan lagate hain,' Suresh says. In the age of automation and clean energy dreams, their story deserves to be remembered—not as a footnote, but as the foundation. Because if we live in light today, it's only because someone, somewhere, still chooses to walk into the dark.
Time of India
22-06-2025
- Time of India
Nitish shares final design of 'Janki Mandir' to be constructed at birthplace of Sita
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Sunday shared the final design of the "Janki Mandir" which will be constructed at Punauradham, a Hindu pilgrimage site in Sitamarhi district that is considered the birthplace of goddess Sita . The government has also constituted a trust to expedite the ongoing redevelopment works of the ' Punaura Dham Janki Mandir'. In a post on X on Sunday, the CM said, "I am very happy to inform you that the design of the grand temple and other structures for the redevelopment of Jagat Janani Maa Janaki's birthplace Punauradham, Sitamarhi is now ready. A trust has also been formed for this so that the construction work can be expedited." by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Treatment That Might Help You Against Knee Pain Knee pain | search ads Find Now Undo The chief minister posted several images of the proposed temple. "We are determined to complete the construction of the grand temple in Punauradham, Sitamarhi soon," he said adding that it would be a matter of pride for all. Live Events The state Cabinet recently approved the appointment of a Noida-based private firm as the design consultant for the development of "Punaura Dham Janki Mandir". It is the same organisation which was the consultant for Master Planning & Architectural Services of the Ram temple at Ayodhya. A large number of pilgrims including those from abroad visit the Punaura Dham. Earlier also, the state cabinet had approved Rs 120 crore for the overall development of the temple. Nitish Kumar on December 13, 2023 had laid the foundation stone for the overall development of Punaura Dham Janki Mandir. Under the new development plan, the state government will develop 'Sita-Vatika', 'Luv-Kush Vatilka', construct a parikrama path, display kiosks, cafeteria, children's zones etc. All connecting roads to the pilgrim site are also being developed. Besides, thematic gates and parking areas are being constructed around the pilgrim site.
