logo
Now, UP cities to be monitored on basis of green initiatives

Now, UP cities to be monitored on basis of green initiatives

Hindustan Times21-06-2025
LUCKNOW The Uttar Pradesh cabinet on Friday approved the urban green policy aimed at driving sustainable, eco-friendly growth in urban local bodies. Under this, a green city monitoring system will be developed to evaluate and award green star ratings to cities based on their environmental efforts and green infrastructure. The policy will give new shape to cities with development of vertical and rooftop gardens besides Miyawaki forests. (Pic for representation)
The policy will give new shape to cities with development of vertical and rooftop gardens besides Miyawaki forests.
The state cabinet by circulation approved the proposal, which was a revolutionary step for environment conservation in accordance with the vision of chief minister Yogi Adityanath. The urban green policy was an important step in the direction of environment conservation and help reduce the impact of climate change, said an official spokesman.
The objective of the policy is to boost green initiatives and efforts for sustainable and inclusive development. 'This policy will be a game changer and targeted intervention for urban greening,' said principal secretary Amrit Abhijat.
Under the provisions of the policy, a three-tier strategy would be adopted to boost green initiatives at the level of cities, localities and buildings. Mini dense forests would be developed expeditiously in urban areas through the Miyawaki forest concept. At the same time, green fairs would be organised in cities to boost green initiatives and develop green belts, sponge parks and low emission zones.
At the locality level, schemes would be worked out for development of community gardens, pocket parks and adoption of parks. Green building standards would be made mandatory for construction of new buildings with use of environment friendly material, energy saving technology and green roofs would be encouraged.
The policy provides for financial assistance with coordination between the centre and the state government. The financial assistance may be procured from Amrut 2.0, national clean air programme, central and state finance commissions. Besides, urban local bodies may mobilise their own resources and also get funds from CSR and other sources.
The policy paves way for setting up of green city monitoring framework and the state's cities will be ranked as green +, green ++ and green +++ on the basis of green initiatives, and cities with high rankings will get awards.
The policy will be implemented in three phases. In the first phase (2025-2027), it will focus on smart cities and main metropolitan towns. In the second phase (2027-2030), cities with a population of 1 lakh and above will be covered. The policy will be implemented in nagar palikas and nagar panchayats in the third phase after 2030.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Caste At The Core? BJP Weighs Brahmin, OBC Faces For Party's UP Chief Post
Caste At The Core? BJP Weighs Brahmin, OBC Faces For Party's UP Chief Post

News18

timean hour ago

  • News18

Caste At The Core? BJP Weighs Brahmin, OBC Faces For Party's UP Chief Post

The Uttar Pradesh BJP unit has formally submitted a shortlist of six contenders to the central leadership — two Brahmins, two OBCs, and two Dalits. Who will steer the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in India's most decisive political battlefield? As the BJP prepares to appoint a new Uttar Pradesh chief from a shortlist of six names, Brahmins and OBCs have emerged frontrunners in the decision that could define the party's strategy for the 2027 assembly polls. The Uttar Pradesh BJP unit has formally submitted a shortlist of six contenders to the central leadership — two Brahmins, two OBCs, and two Dalits. Sources say the high command is actively evaluating the names, with a decision likely in the next two weeks, possibly earlier. The new state chief will replace Bhupendra Singh Chaudhary, a Jat leader from western UP, who has been in office since 2022. Chaudhary's tenure, while focused on consolidating Jat and non-Yadav OBC support, saw the BJP suffer unexpected losses in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, prompting an urgent rethink at the organisational level. Why Caste Math Matters Caste arithmetic is at the heart of the BJP's deliberations. While explaining the importance of caste equations in UP, Shashikant Pandey, head department of political science, Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Lucknow, and a political expert said Uttar Pradesh has always been a political chessboard where social equations can make or break electoral fortunes. 'The BJP's setback in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, where the Samajwadi Party surged to the forefront, has heightened the need for a new strategy. Discontent among Brahmins, combined with a shifting OBC vote bank, is forcing the BJP to carefully weigh its next move," points out Pandey. The leaders close to the decision-making process admit that the new president must bridge both gaps while ensuring cohesion with Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's leadership. A Decade-Long Trend Since 2014, the BJP has alternated between Brahmin and OBC leaders to maintain balance among its support bases. In 2014, Laxmikant Bajpai, a Brahmin, headed the state unit as the BJP swept the Lok Sabha elections. Keshav Prasad Maurya, a Maurya OBC, was appointed in 2016 and led the party into its massive 2017 assembly win. Mahendra Nath Pandey, a Brahmin, guided the 2019 general election campaign, while Swatantra Dev Singh, a Kurmi OBC, took the reins for the 2022 assembly elections. Bhupendra Singh Chaudhary, a Jat, followed, but his tenure coincided with the party's disappointing 2024 Lok Sabha performance. The Brahmin Option Harish Dwivedi, a two-term MP from Basti, is emerging as the strongest Brahmin contender. Though he lost his seat in 2024, Dwivedi remains well-regarded for his organisational skills and close ties with the BJP's central leadership. Having earlier led the state's youth wing and held responsibilities as in-charge of Assam, Dwivedi is also considered close to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. His elevation would aim to address murmurs of discontent among Brahmins while injecting youth and energy into the state leadership. The OBC Contenders Among OBC aspirants, Union Minister of State BL Verma is being seen as a safe and steady choice. A long-time associate of the late Kalyan Singh, Verma is praised for his low-profile style and RSS roots. His appointment would strengthen the BJP's hold on non-Yadav OBCs, a crucial bloc to counter the SP's growing influence. Also in contention is Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya, a prominent Maurya OBC leader who earlier served as UP BJP president during the 2017 landslide. Maurya is known for his connect with party workers and for asserting that the 'organisation is bigger than the government." While speculation persists about his dissatisfaction with his current role, his caste base and proven record make him a formidable candidate. Other Names in Circulation The shortlist also includes Dinesh Sharma, a Brahmin leader and former Deputy Chief Minister with strong RSS backing; Ram Shankar Katheria, a Dalit leader and former Union minister known for his Hindutva credentials; and Vidya Sagar Sonkar, a Dalit MLC recognised for his loyalty and quiet organisational work. However, party insiders suggest the real contest lies between the Brahmin and OBC candidates, with Dalit contenders unlikely to be favoured this time. A Crucial Call for the BJP The senior BJP political analysts in UP said that for the BJP, the choice of its new UP chief is about more than balancing caste equations. The leader will need to energise the cadre, reconnect with communities drifting away, and complement Yogi Adityanath's leadership without overshadowing him. 'We are looking for someone who is acceptable to both the organisation and the communities that form our backbone," a senior BJP leader said. 'This decision will set the stage for 2027." First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

CM Yogi announces Rs 2 Lakh aid for UP victims of Haridwar stampede
CM Yogi announces Rs 2 Lakh aid for UP victims of Haridwar stampede

Time of India

time3 hours ago

  • Time of India

CM Yogi announces Rs 2 Lakh aid for UP victims of Haridwar stampede

CM Yogi announces Rs 2 Lakh aid for UP victims of Haridwar stampede LUCKNOW: Uttar Pradesh chief miinister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday expressed grief over the loss of lives in the stampede incident near Mansa Devi Temple in Uttarakhand's Haridwar and announced Rs 2 lakh financial aid for families of the deceased from Uttar Pradesh. At least six people were killed and several others injured in the incident that occurred during a heavy rush of devotees. Four of the people killed in the incident are from Uttar Pradesh, according to officials. In a post on X, CM Yogi said, "The news of the tragic accident on the Shri Mansa Devi Temple road in Haridwar, resulting in the demise of devotees, is extremely painful and heart-wrenching. My condolences are with the grief-stricken families. " He said officials have been directed to work with the Uttarakhand government to ensure the mortal remains are brought back to the victims' home districts. "Instructions have been given to officials to coordinate with the Uttarakhand government to ensure that the mortal remains of the citizens of UP who lost their lives in the accident are transported to their home districts and handed over to their families. Each family of the deceased from Uttar Pradesh in this accident will be provided financial assistance of Rs 2 lakh by UP Govt," the post read. Uttarakhand chief minister has ordered a magisterial inquiry and announced ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each for the families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for the injured in the stampede. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 3BHK Transformation Possible for ₹4.5 Lakh? HomeLane Get Quote Undo Addressing reporters, CM Dhami said, "The injured are being treated. Some have been referred to AIIMS Rishikesh. Our priority is that they get good treatment and recover soon. A toll-free number has also been issued. Magisterial inquiry has been ordered and ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each for the families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for the injured, also announced." He said, "Six people have died in this accident..." President Droupadi Murmu also expressed her condolences at the loss of lives in the stampede. In a post on X, president Murmu wrote, "The news of the death of many devotees in the stampede accident on the way to the Mansa Devi Temple in Haridwar is deeply painful." "I express my heartfelt condolences to all the grieving families. I pray that all the injured devotees recover quickly," the post read.

Yogi Adityanath Becomes Longest-Serving UP CM, Overtaking Govind Ballabh Pant
Yogi Adityanath Becomes Longest-Serving UP CM, Overtaking Govind Ballabh Pant

News18

time5 hours ago

  • News18

Yogi Adityanath Becomes Longest-Serving UP CM, Overtaking Govind Ballabh Pant

Last Updated: CM Yogi Adityanath is known for his strong Hindutva ideology and emphasis on law and order. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has become the longest-serving CM of the state, having completed eight years and 132 days in office, surpassing the tenure of Govind Ballabh Pant. CM Yogi assumed the office as the CM of the state for the first time on March 19, 2017, by becoming the 21st Chief Minister. He was re-elected for a second term in March 2022, becoming the first CM in Uttar Pradesh's history to return to power after completing a full five-year term. Besides being the CM of the state, he is also the Mahant (head priest) of the Gorakhnath Math, a prominent Hindu temple in Gorakhpur, which plays a key role in eastern UP's religious and political landscape. He has been holding the Mahant's position since September 2014, after the demise of Mahant Avaidyanath, his spiritual Guru. UP CM Yogi Adityanath became one of the youngest Indian parliamentarians in 1998 at the age of 26. Known for his strong Hindutva ideology, firm administrative style, and emphasis on law and order, Adityanath's tenure has focused on infrastructure development, religious tourism, industrial investment, and anti-crime operations. Under his leadership, initiatives like One District One Product (ODOP), Purvanchal and Bundelkhand Expressways, and a push for women's safety and empowerment have gained visibility. view comments First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store