Latest news with #Bardhan
Time of India
11-07-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
Uttarakhand reviews draft EV policy 2025, focus on incentives and ecosystem development
The Uttarakhand Transport Department , in coordination with other key state departments, held a high-level meeting on Thursday to deliberate on the draft Electric Vehicle (Manufacturing and Purchase) Policy 2025, PTI reports. The meeting, chaired by Chief Secretary Anand Bardhan, focused on shaping a robust framework aimed at accelerating the state's transition to green mobility. During the session, the draft policy was formally presented, outlining proposed incentives and infrastructure goals to boost electric vehicle (EV) adoption across Uttarakhand. Chief Secretary Bardhan emphasised the need for the policy to provide strong and clear incentives for EV manufacturers, consumers, and fleet operators. 'To build a viable and sustainable EV ecosystem in Uttarakhand, the policy must include compelling benefits for all stakeholders,' Bardhan said. He also called for the inclusion of a swift and effective monitoring mechanism to ensure timely resolution of implementation challenges. 'We must have systems in place to address issues as they arise so the transition is smooth and investor confidence remains high,' he added. EV growth in Uttarakhand Transport Secretary Vinay Shankar Pandey shared data underscoring the state's progress in EV adoption. Of the over 42 lakh registered vehicles in Uttarakhand, 84,614 are electric — a number expected to grow significantly with the implementation of a dedicated EV policy. The draft policy is part of the state's broader mission to support clean transportation and reduce vehicular emissions, aligning with national sustainability goals. Once finalised, the policy is expected to unlock investment in EV manufacturing, battery production, and charging infrastructure, positioning Uttarakhand as a key player in India's electric mobility revolution.
India Gazette
27-06-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
Uttarakhand Chief Secretary holds meeting ahead of Kanwar Yatra
Dehradun (Uttarakhand) [India], June 27 (ANI): Uttarakhand Chief Secretary Anand Bardhan held a meeting of the Interstate Coordination Committee in Haridwar's CCR Auditorium to ensure smooth, pleasant and safe conduct of the upcoming Kanwar Mela. Senior officials from Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Delhi, and Rajasthan participated in the meeting through both offline and online mediums. On this occasion, Chief Secretary Bardhan stated that the Kanwar Mela is a significant festival of faith and devotion. He said that the district administration, police and other related departments should ensure tight arrangements to ensure the safe nd successful completion of the Kanwar Yatra. He also discussed sharing real-time coordination and data with all the states. All necessary inputs should be shared from a security point of view. The Chief Secretary emphasised the maximum use of modern technology in the arrangements of the Kanwar Mela. He said that all preparations should be made with the upcoming Kumbh Mela in mind so that the experiences of the fair are also beneficial during Kumbh. The Chief Secretary said that tight arrangements should be ensured for law and order and traffic management during the Kanwar fair. He also instructed the district administration to use BHEL parking if required. Safety standards should be followed in the dhabas and hotels located on the Yatra route, and rate lists should be mandatorily displayed. DGP Deepam Seth said that every event presents new challenges. He said that to ensure this fair of faith and devotion is conducted in a safe manner, real-time information should be shared, and any kind of rumour should be uniformly denied. Only those workers who are proficient in their work should be sent to each other state. He said that information about 'what to do and what not to do' for Kanwariyas and devotees should be mandatorily displayed on the Yatra routes. The expectations of inter-state coordination should be fulfilled, and the fair should be conducted peacefully. In the meeting, Home Secretary Shailesh Bagauli stated that devotees participating in the yatra should not encounter any problems, the traffic system should be simple, easy, and safe, and all preparations should be made with the devotees' convenience in mind. District Magistrate Mayur Dixit and SSP Pramod Singh Dobal gave detailed information about the preparations being made for the Kanwar Yatra, including the duration of the Kanwar Yatra, the percentage of devotees coming from different states, traffic management plan, social media monitoring through a PowerPoint presentation. On behalf of Uttar Pradesh, DIG Abhishek gave detailed information about the ongoing preparations, including the travel plan. It was decided in the meeting that all the necessary information and inputs should be shared in real-time from a security point of view, social media should be monitored, and links for strict action against those spreading rumours should also be shared. The Kanwars should not be more than 10 feet in height. The SOP related to liquor and meat should be strictly followed. All identified DJ operators should be bound off by giving notice as per the rules. Uttarakhand should inform Uttar Pradesh about the parking situation in Haridwar from time to time. ADJ Bhanu Bhaskar from Uttar Pradesh, Home Secretary Mohit Gupta, Commissioner Meerut Division Rishikesh Bhaskar Yashod, Commissioner Bareilly Saumya Aggarwal, Commissioner Saharanpur AK Rai, DIG Saharanpur Abhishek Singh, IG RPF Pankaj Gangwar, IG Nilesh Anand Bharane from Uttarakhand, NS Napalchal, DIG Dhirendra Gunjyal, SSP Dehradun Ajay Singh, Mela Adhikari Sonika, and senior officials of the five states were present in the meeting. (ANI)
Time of India
19-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Use, promote products made by SHGs: CS to state officials
Dehradun: Chief secretary Anand Bardhan has directed all principal secretaries, secretaries, heads of departments, and district magistrates to actively promote self-help groups (SHGs) by using their products and services. In a letter issued on Thursday to officials, Bardhan noted that under the Uttarakhand State Rural Livelihood Mission, SHGs are engaged in various entrepreneurial and livelihood activities in rural areas. Women's groups are particularly involved in food processing and running canteens, providing quality services while maintaining food safety and hygiene standards. He instructed that govt, semi-govt meetings, and other events at the state, district, and development block levels should, as far as possible, engage women's self-help groups for catering services. "For this, contact can be made with the project director or assistant project director of rural development," Bardhan said. The chief secretary further emphasized using locally made SHG products or items from the House of Himalayas brand as mementos and gifts for distinguished guests during official programs. Bardhan also directed that millet-based and other local nutritious products made by SHGs be prominently used during refreshments in official programs, workshops, training sessions, and meetings. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Kardiolog: Tento trik čistí játra a zajišťuje ploché břicho Dozvědět se víc Undo He added that SHGs should be given priority in operating canteens and outlets on govt premises. All transactions with SHGs are to be carried out as per the procurement rules of the finance department. Meanwhile, chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami held a high-level meeting on Thursday at the CM residence to review preparations for the 25th Central Zonal Council meeting, chaired by Union home minister Amit Shah, scheduled for June 24 in Varanasi. Dhami asked officials to develop innovative and concrete proposals that balance ecological and economic needs to ensure sustainable and inclusive development of the state. During the meeting, he emphasised the importance of focusing on children's nutrition, physical and mental development. "The future of children is the future of the state and the country. An integrated and goal-oriented plan should be developed for their comprehensive development," Dhami said, asking the Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS), food security, health, and sports departments to work in coordination to provide nutrition, sports, healthcare, and mental wellness support to children. He also directed officials to ensure mandatory Ayushman scheme registration in all govt hospitals and asked the women and child development department to regularly review malnutrition and anemia cases and launch corrective campaigns.
Hindustan Times
16-06-2025
- Climate
- Hindustan Times
Mean summer temp in state rose 1.2°C in 70 yrs: Study
Mumbai: A long-term assessment on heat trends and vulnerabilities in Maharashtra shows that despite advances in the arrival of the monsoon in recent years, instances of extreme heat are on the rise. Maximum temperatures during summers as well as prolonged stretches with temperatures above 40° Celsius have risen substantially over the past seven decades, the assessment shows. This signals a shift from episodic to chronic heat exposure, with profound public health consequences for vulnerable groups including infants, elderly people, those with chronic illnesses, and millions of informal sector workers, said experts. As per the report compiled by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and public health experts using 72 years of data (1951–2022), the mean summer maximum temperature in the state has risen by over 1.2°C – from 36.3°C in 1951 to 37.5°C in 2022. The number of days with temperatures exceeding 45°C have also spiked, especially in May – the state's hottest month. While such temperatures were virtually absent between 1951 and 1970, the trend escalated dramatically in the 1980s, and peaked in 2010 and 2015, when the number of extreme heat days were 65. The spike was especially pronounced in the Vidarbha region, in districts like Wardha and Yavatmal, marking them as persistent high-heat hotspots. 'We compiled this dataset from IMD and conducted a detailed region-wise analysis to understand the steady rise in temperatures and localised impacts,' said a senior official from the Maharashtra Disaster Management Department who was involved in the assessment. 'This dataset will now form the foundation for targeted climate-health policies. Since temperature patterns evolve over decades, this data will remain valid for years.' Soaring mercury According to the assessment, the mean maximum temperature in the state for May has increased from 40.17°C in 1951 to 41.19°C in 2019. Prolonged heat spells, defined by temperatures exceeding 40°C for more than two days, have also increased sharply during this period – while there were only 223 such instances in 1951, by 2022, the number had more than doubled to 451, with districts like Buldhana, Jalgaon, Hingoli, and Washim among the worst affected. Such long exposures to heat lead to electrolyte imbalances, acute kidney injury, cardiovascular events, and even heat stroke-related delirium, said experts. 'A one-degree rise in average temperature may mean an actual micro-level temperature increase of 5-6°C,' said Ronita Bardhan, professor of sustainable built environment at the University of Cambridge. 'In densely populated cities like Mumbai, indoor temperatures may soar even higher, especially in slum tenements made of metal sheets, turning homes into death traps.' Rise in the mercury raises skin temperatures and increases vulnerability, particularly for women who spend significantly more time indoors, said Bardhan. 'Biological and social factors compound risks,' she said. 'For instance, women sweat less than men and often avoid drinking water to limit bathroom visits due to lack of access, which accelerates dehydration.' Ilan Kelman, professor of disasters and health at University College, London, echoed Bardhan on gendered disparity with regards to impact of heat. 'In India, it is often socially acceptable for men to urinate in public. But women can't,' said Kelman. 'So women working away from home tend to drink less to avoid using the toilet. That puts them at higher risk of dehydration and heatstroke.' The combination of high heat and humidity was particularly dangerous, said Kelman. 'Fans blowing hot, humid air can actually accelerate dehydration, especially when nights remain hot and people don't cool down,' he said. 'Cognitive impairment is often the first sign – people stop recognising they need to rest, hydrate, or find shade. Without intervention, it progresses to multi-organ failure and death.' Urban centres with increasing asphalt sprawl, reflective rooftops and declining tree cover comprise a separate but equally urgent crisis, said experts. 'For many poor communities, artificial cooling isn't even an option,' Kelman said. 'Informal settlements lack the infrastructure to support air conditioning. Even indoor garment workers are vulnerable in poorly ventilated buildings that heat up rapidly and offer no relief.' Climatic shift Dr Dileep Mavalankar, former director of the Indian Institute of Public Health in Gandhinagar and a key architect of India's first heat action plan for Ahmedabad, said India was no longer dealing with seasonal extremes but confronting a fundamental climatic shift. 'There's no denying the intensity of Indian summers,' he said. 'Yet today's heatwaves are not seasonal fluctuations—they are the clearest signals of a changing climate. Heatwaves are arriving earlier, lasting longer, and pushing beyond previously recorded limits.' Many heat-related deaths, especially those related to cardiovascular collapse or worsening of chronic respiratory conditions, don't show up in official records, said Dr Mavalankar. 'Heat doesn't only kill through heatstroke,' he noted. 'It first impairs cognition and by the time people seek care, it's often too late.' The under-reporting of heat-related ailments and deaths is a major barrier in both preparedness and accountability, he noted. Anticipatory intervention 'Currently, we're in a reactive mode, but there's an opportunity in this urgency,' Bardhan said. 'We must integrate thermal resilience into housing schemes like 'Housing for All'. These can become invisible infrastructure, especially for women who are disproportionately exposed to indoor heat.' Though Maharashtra has introduced a state-level heat action plan, execution remains patchy and key interventions – such as public hydration booths, early warnings, shaded workspaces, and awareness campaigns – often fail to reach remote villages and urban slums. Rural health centres also often report shortages of oral rehydration salts (ORS) and cool intravenous fluids during peak summer. 'Maharashtra must urgently shift from crisis response to anticipatory governance,' said Dr Malvankar. He cited the example of implementing the heat action plan in Ahmedabad, which showed that timely early warnings, public awareness, and access to hydration could save lives. 'Unless we scale these interventions to both rural and urban districts, we will continue to grossly underestimate the toll,' he warned.
Time of India
04-06-2025
- General
- Time of India
Lucknow buildings high & dry, bereft of rainwater harvesting benefits
LUCKNOW : Despite being legally bound under UP Building Bylaws 2016 for plots larger than 300 square metres, many high-rise apartment buildings in the city have either no rainwater harvesting system or a non-functional one. Ahead of monsoon's arrival, reality check by TOI in various areas of the city revealed gaps in implementation, raising concerns about falling groundwater levels. Lucknow Development Authority includes rainwater harvesting provisions while approving building plans. The ground reality, however, paints a different picture. A recent survey by TOI and feedback from residents in areas like Gomtinagar, Jankipuram Extension and a private apartment in Gomtinagar found this important water-saving system missing or non-functional. At Parijat Apartments in Gomtinagar, society's secretary Harsh Bardhan confirmed that the RWH system was functional in only two of five towers — Tower 2 and Tower 3. The remaining three towers (B1, B2, and Tower 1) lack the necessary infrastructure. "Total built-up area of our society is over 17,000 square metres, which makes RWH mandatory for every tower. We have raised the issue multiple times with LDA, but there has been no response," Bardhan said. In Sunrise Apartments, in Jankipuram Extension, situation is even more alarming. Vikas Chandra Agrawal, recently elected president of the residents welfare association, said, "RWH was part of the original plan, but was never implemented. The apartment project faced major delays due to interference from farmers' unions. Although process of taking possession began in 2015, even amenities that were promised, like swimming pool and gym, were never constructed. We want RWH and other promised facilities to be delivered." At Panchsheel Apartments in Indiranagar, resident S P Singh said there was no rainwater harvesting system. "No rainwater is collected from rooftops or surface and there is no system to recharge groundwater. The project was supposed to have been complete by 2014, but residents moved in only by 2020. With 216 flats in two towers and a large area, there should have been a rainwater system. But the builder didn't even mention it in the advertisement. We have been busy dealing with other broken promises, like community centre that was never built. There is no official residents' association yet, so we are still waiting for LDA to help," he said. It's a mixed situation in other parts of the city. At Srishti Apartments in Vrindavan Yojna, RWH system is functional, but in nearby Smriti Apartments, it exists only on paper. "We have the setup, but it doesn't work," said Sujit Sahu, a resident. In a private builder's apartment in Gomtinagar, RWA president Mohan Lal Sahu, said the promised RWH tanks were never constructed despite signboards being installed years ago. "They marked locations for tanks in parks and put up boards saying 'Rainwater Harvesting,' but no tanks were built. Some of us moved in as early as in 2013, and since then, in every society meeting, we've been told 'We will build it,' but nothing has been done. Now, even boards have faded or disappeared." When asked to comment, LDA vice chairman Prathamesh Kumar said, "Since Sunrise Apartments has been handed over to its RWA, it is their responsibility. For other apartments under our authority, like Panchsheel and Parijat, we will look into the matter and take steps to fix it." (Input from Varun Bhatt)
