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Prayagraj crowned Cleanest Ganga Town
Prayagraj crowned Cleanest Ganga Town

Time of India

time17-07-2025

  • Politics
  • Time of India

Prayagraj crowned Cleanest Ganga Town

1 2 3 Prayagraj: The Sangam City has earned special recognition as the Cleanest Ganga Town, securing first place in the country after defeating Varanasi in this important category for its outstanding performance in the Swachh Survekshan 2024-25 survey. Prayagraj has made a significant jump in the Swachh Survekshan rankings, securing the 12th position in the all-India ranking for 2024-25, up from 71st position in 2023-24. Prayagraj has indeed made significant strides in waste management, earning a 5-star rating in the Garbage Free City category. Varanasi slipped to second position in the Swachh Survekshan 2024-25 rankings, having held the top spot in 2023-24 as the cleanest Ganga town. The honour was formally bestowed upon Prayagraj mayor Umesh Chandra Ganesh Keserwani by Union urban development minister Manohar Lal Khattar at a grand ceremony held in New Delhi. The award was given in recognition of Prayagraj's exceptional sanitation efforts in the Ganga Town region and the enormous success of the world's largest religious event, the Maha Kumbh Mela 2025. This accolade highlights Prayagraj's rising stature as a model of cleanliness and sanitation on both a national and international stage. Mayor Keserwani dedicated the honour to the people of Prayagraj, saying, "This award is a tribute to the relentless hardwork and dedication of Prayagraj's citizens, whose efforts have propelled the city to the pinnacle of cleanliness." He also credited the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in driving the Swachh Bharat mission, noting that Prayagraj emerged as a shining example by turning this vision into reality. The event was also attended by several dignitaries, including Uttar Pradesh's urban development minister AK Sharma, special secretary of the urban development department Anuj Jha, Prayagraj municipal commissioner Seelam Sai Teja, and additional municipal commissioner Deependra Yadav. The delegation from Prayagraj included prominent figures such as Girijesh Mishra, Pramod Jaiswal Modi, Rajan Shukla, Shyam Prakash Pandey, Abhishek Singh, and Rishi Yadav. Following the award ceremony, councillors, officers, staff, and sanitation workers of the Prayagraj Municipal Corporation congratulated the residents of Prayagraj for this prestigious achievement, celebrating the city's commitment to maintaining cleanliness and hygiene. Uttar Pradesh's cities performed impressively in the overall Swachh Survekshan 2024/25 rankings. Among the Million Plus Cities category, Lucknow Municipal Corporation secured the third place nationally with a score of 12,001. Agra stood at 10th place with 11,532 points, Ghaziabad at 11th slot with 11,514 points and Prayagraj at 12th with a commendable total score of 11,292.

Dakota Johnson, Chris Martin Part Ways After Dating For 8 Years: Report
Dakota Johnson, Chris Martin Part Ways After Dating For 8 Years: Report

NDTV

time05-06-2025

  • Entertainment
  • NDTV

Dakota Johnson, Chris Martin Part Ways After Dating For 8 Years: Report

Looks like there's trouble in 'paradise' for Fifty Shades star Dakota Johnson and Coldplay frontman Chris Martin, yet again. The couple, who have been in an on-again, off-again relationship for the last eight years, finally have parted ways, reported People magazine. "It feels final this time," an insider told the publication. Representatives for neither Johnson (35) nor Martin (48) have commented on the alleged split. The report comes weeks after they were photographed together in Malibu on May 16. In January, Johnson and Martin made headlines when they arrived in Mumbai for Coldplay's two concerts as part of the Music of the Spheres World Tour. They were also spotted visiting local landmarks like the Siddhivinayak Temple, Shri Babulnath Temple and Marine Drive. After the concerts concluded, the two also went to the Maha Kumbh Mela 2025 in Prayagraj. Several images of Martin and Johnson taking the holy dip at the Triveni Sangam went viral on social media at the time. The images are out. Chris Martin & Dakota Johnson taking a dip at holy Sangam at Maha Kumbh, Prayagraj. — Lucknow Development Index (@lucknow_updates) February 1, 2025 According to the photos, Martin kept his look simple in black shorts, while Johnson embraced Indian tradition by wearing an ethnic outfit. In a heartwarming moment, Martin was also seen folding his hands and praying. Johnson and Martin were first romantically linked back in 2017, when they were spotted enjoying a sushi date in Los Angeles. The couple has since been seen together at various public events. Last March, an insider told People magazine Johnson and Martin got engaged "years" ago after they sparked engagement rumours in 2020. They were, however, "in no rush to get married" at the time. Before dating Johnson, Martin was married to Oscar winning-actor Gwyneth Paltrow. They exchanged vows in 2003 and officially parted ways in 2015. They are parents to two children - a daughter, Apple Martin, and a son, Moses Martin. On the work front, Johnson will next be seen in Materialists, directed by Celine Song of Past Lives fame. In the upcoming romantic comedy, the actor essaye the role of a young matchmaker based in New York City, who unexpectedly finds herself torn between the charm of her seemingly perfect match (Pedro Pascal) and lingering feelings for an imperfect ex boyfriend (Chris Evans). Zoe Winters, Marin Ireland, Dasha Nekrasova, Louisa Jacobson, and Sawyer Spielberg also round out the cast of the film. Sony Pictures Entertainment India will release Materialists in Indian cinemas on June 13. Martin is currently busy with Music of the Spheres World Tour. The band is next scheduled to perform in Las Vegas on June 6 and 7.

Maha Kumbh resources to enhance pilgrim facilities across state
Maha Kumbh resources to enhance pilgrim facilities across state

Time of India

time21-05-2025

  • Business
  • Time of India

Maha Kumbh resources to enhance pilgrim facilities across state

1 2 Prayagraj: A steamer and changing room used during Maha Kumbh will be sent to Ayodhya . The aim is to enhance the spiritual experience of pilgrims visiting the sacred Sarayu river, allowing them to enjoy river rides with better amenities. This decision stands out as a major highlight in the state's effort to repurpose resources used during the Maha Kumbh Mela 2025 . Simultaneously, tipper and compactor vehicles will be transferred to the Prayagraj Municipal Corporation. Following CM Yogi Adityanath's visit to Prayagraj on Feb 27, instructions were issued to draft a comprehensive report identifying reusable materials from the Maha Kumbh. The goal was to ensure their optimal use in other districts across Uttar Pradesh. Based on the findings, a detailed plan is now approved for inter-district redistribution. Recently, the Divisional Commissioner Vijay Vishwas Pant chaired an online meeting with officials to finalise the detailed logistics of relocating various equipment and infrastructure. It was decided that a steamer will be sent specifically to Ayodhya for Sarayu river tours, while another is designated for Chandauli. Likewise, the water ATMs installed at different locations of the 25 sectors of the vast Maha Kumbh area will be sent to Ayodhya, Vindhyachal, Mathura and Panki in Kanpur. Public Works Department's chequered plates and pontoons are being dispatched to Mirzapur, Gorakhpur, Lakhimpur, and Kanpur for various infrastructure needs. A proposal regarding further allocation of chequered plates is to be reviewed by the commissioner shortly. Along with this, equipment procured for the fair worth approximately Rs 1,550 crore, which includes vehicles, compactors, street lights, steel pontoons, transformers, and power poles will be redistributed among several districts. Special attention is being given to critical regions such as Varanasi, Gorakhpur, Lucknow and Chandauli, which will receive generators, waste management vehicles, water ATMs, and more. All 17 municipal corporations in the state will receive supplies based on need, including 71,000 street lights, 150 waste collection vehicles, and extensive water supply infrastructure. Pipes and water connections will be routed through the state's Jal Nigam. Health department equipment such as pathology lab machines and X-ray devices will remain within Prayagraj, distributed among SRN, Beli, and Colvin hospitals. Meanwhile, sanitation vehicles are being assigned to the Prayagraj Municipal Corporation, with a few retained by the Kumbh Mela Authority for future use. This strategic redistribution not only ensures resource optimisation but also allows the spiritual legacy of Maha Kumbh to extend its impact far beyond Prayagraj, benefiting millions across the state.

Discovery Channel to Premiere Documentary on Coca-Cola India's ‘Maidaan Saaf' Campaign at Kumbh Mela
Discovery Channel to Premiere Documentary on Coca-Cola India's ‘Maidaan Saaf' Campaign at Kumbh Mela

Hans India

time19-05-2025

  • Entertainment
  • Hans India

Discovery Channel to Premiere Documentary on Coca-Cola India's ‘Maidaan Saaf' Campaign at Kumbh Mela

Coca-Cola India's landmark 'Maidaan Saaf' campaign, which helped reimagine waste management and recycling at one of the world's most significant events, the Maha Kumbh 2025, is set to be featured in an upcoming documentary premiering on the Discovery Channel on 19th May 2025 at 7 PM and on discovery+ on 20th May 2025. Filmed on location at the Kumbh Mela grounds in Prayagraj, the documentary captures Coca-Cola India's on-ground efforts to transform one of the most significant events in the world into a cleaner, safer, and more inclusive space by leveraging technology, partnerships, and purpose. 'Maidaan Saaf reflects our commitment to translating intent into impact,' said Devyani RL Rana, Vice President – Public Affairs, Communications, and Sustainability for Coca-Cola India and Southwest Asia. 'As we work towards our goals of designing more recyclable packaging, increasing the use of recycled materials, and supporting collection at scale, initiatives like Maidaan Saaf help raise awareness about how this is coming to life in deeply local and culturally resonant ways. The Maha Kumbh offered a unique opportunity to showcase how responsible design and collective action can create meaningful change, anchored in community, collaboration, and environmental care.' 'We believe in the power of storytelling to inspire change', said Tanaz Mehta, Head of Advertising Revenues, South Asia, Warner Bros. Discovery. 'The Maidaan Saaf campaign is a compelling testament to what can be achieved when cultural legacy, community participation, and modern sustainability practices come together. This documentary highlights the collective will that helped make one of the world's largest gatherings more environmentally responsible.' The documentary features Akanksha Rana, IAS Officer on Special Duty at Maha Kumbh 2025, who was critical in managing on-ground sanitation efforts. 'Every day, nearly 1 to 2 crore people visited the Kumbh, generating over 500 to 600 metric tonnes of waste. Maintaining sanitation is a major challenge in such dense crowds, where road access is limited and deploying machinery becomes difficult. It is encouraging to see private companies like Coca-Cola India come forward and support such a massive event. Their contributions toward promoting responsible behavioural change, and the reuse of materials have significantly helped make this Kumbh more sustainable.' From deploying reverse vending machines and using recycled PET materials in public utilities to engaging local communities in waste segregation and raising awareness of recycling, Maidaan Saaf showcases how public-private partnerships can enable large-scale behavioural change. Coca-Cola's extensive engagement at the Maha Kumbh Mela 2025 was also spotlighted in the company's recent earnings report, which recognised the event as a significant brand activation milestone. The report detailed the deployment of hundreds of refreshment zones, approximately 1,400 mobile stations, and a world-record-long 100-door cooler wall, culminating in over 180 million servings during the festival. This acknowledgement underscores the company's commitment to integrating cultural relevance with community engagement on a global scale.

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