NEWS

Former chief minister of Maharashtra, Devendra Fadnavis, on Thursday, instructed his BJP party, in power in the city, to submit the second phase of the Metro project to the state government for approval.

Fadnavis said, “If the state government approves the second phase of the metro project, I will ensure that like the Nagpur metro, the Central government makes budgetary provisions for Pune metro in the next union budget.”

Fadnavis visited the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) and took a review of the various development projects.

This January has been the warmest-ever recorded over the South Peninsular India in 121 years with the average monthly minimum temperature reaching 22.33 degrees.

Meanwhile, South India recorded a prolonged wet spell for 17 days, resulting in a significantly wet month. Such rainfall added to the overall monthly rainfall in the country, which was in excess by 17 per cent with respect to the Long Period Average (LPA), the India Meteorological Department (IMD) stated in its latest monthly weather report.

Heavy and frequent rainfall events, lasting 8 to 10 days, kept the temperatures along South India above normal for most days. For three consecutive weeks, between December 31 and January 20, surplus rainfall -- 807 per cent, 1036 per cent and 727 per cent -- were reported mainly over Tamil Nadu, Karaikal and Puducherry.

The unfortunate flash flood in Uttarakhand – caused by unprecedented snowfall that triggered an avalanche – has led serious devastation in Uttarakhand. While rescue operation is on by teams of ITBP, Indian Army and Navy, NDRF and SDRF, situation is being monitored continuously with the help of district administration and police.

Tapovan barrage bore the brunt of this natural calamity, by withstanding the tremendous onslaught of the flood, the barrage reduced the surging water’s pressure, thereby saving several villages downstream from being washed away. 

But for the barrage at Tapovan Project, the loss of life and property would have been enormous. Despite the avalanche and deluge in the Alaknanda river, NTPC barrage absorbed the pressure, preventing much of the slush from flooding the area.

Senior BJP leader and Union Home Minister Amit Shah will visit poll-bound West Bengal on Thursday where the elections for the West Bengal Assembly are scheduled to be held in April and May this year.

Anil Baluni, BJP Rajya Sabha member and media in-charge said in a press statement that during his one-day stay, Shah will flag-off the fourth phase of ‘Poribortan Yatra’ from Cooch Behar and participate in various programmes.

“Tomorrow Shah will visit the historic Shri Madan Mohan Temple and offer prayers. After the temple visit he will flag-off the fourth phase of ‘Poribortan Yatra’ from Rash Mela ground in Cooch Behar,” Baluni said.