New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday launched the second phase of the Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban and Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation.

In line with the vision of the prime minister, SBM-U 2.0 and AMRUT 2.0 have been designed to realise the aspiration to make all cities garbage free and water secure, according to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO)

At an event at the Ambedkar International Centre here, the prime minister launched the flagship missions

These missions signify a step forward in the march towards effectively addressing the challenges of rapidly urbanising India and will also help contribute towards achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals 2030, the PMO said

SBM-U 2.0 envisions to make all cities ‘garbage free’ and ensure grey and black water management in all cities other than those covered under AMRUT, make all urban local bodies open defecation free+ and those with a population of less than one lakh as open defecation free++, thereby achieving the vision of safe sanitation in urban areas.?

The mission will focus on source segregation of solid waste, utilising the principles of 3Rs (reduce, reuse, recycle), scientific processing of all types of municipal solid waste and remediation of legacy dumpsites for effective solid waste management, the PMO said.?

The outlay of SBM-U 2.0 is around Rs 1.41 lakh crore, it said

AMRUT 2.0 aims at providing 100 per cent coverage of water supply to all households in around 4,700 urban local bodies by providing about 2.68 crore tap connections and 100 per cent coverage of sewerage and septage in 500 AMRUT cities by providing around 2.64 crore sewer or septage connections, which will benefit more than 10.5 crore people in urban areas, the PMO said.?

AMRUT 2.0 will adopt the principles of a circular economy and promote conservation and rejuvenation of surface and groundwater bodies, it said

The mission will promote data-led governance in water management and technology sub-mission to leverage the latest global technologies and skills, it said

The outlay of AMRUT 2.0 is around Rs 2.87 lakh crore, the PMO statement said.?

SBM-U and AMRUT have contributed significantly to improve the urban landscape during the last seven years, PMO has said.?

The two flagship missions have augmented the capacity to deliver basic services of water supply and sanitation to the citizens,it said

‘Swachhta’ has become a jan andolan today, all urban local bodies have been declared open defecation free and 70 per cent solid waste is being scientifically processed now, the PMO said

AMRUT has been ensuring water security by adding 1.

New Delhi Petrol and diesel price soared to an all-time high across the country on Friday after rates were hiked again by 25 paise and 30 paise a litre, respectively.

The price of petrol in Delhi rose it its highest ever level of Rs 101.89 a litre and to Rs 107.95 in Mumbai, according to a price notification of state-owned fuel retailers.

Diesel rates too touched a record high of Rs 90.17 in Delhi and Rs 97.84 in Mumbai.

Prices differ from state to state depending on the incidence of local taxes.

The third increase in its rates this week has sent petrol prices above Rs 100 in most major cities of the country.

Similarly, sixth increase prices eight days has shot up diesel rates above Rs 100 mark in several cities in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

Sri Ganganagar in Rajasthan – which has the costliest fuel in the country because of local taxes and additional freight because of it being right on the border – saw petrol price rise to Rs 113.73 a litre and diesel to Rs 103.9 per litre.

State-owned Indian Oil Corp (IOC), Bharat Petroleum Corp Ltd (BPCL) and Hindustan Petroleum Corp Ltd (HPCL) resumed daily price revisions on September 24 after international oil prices neared a three-year high. Global benchmark Brent crude is trading above USD 78 per barrel.

In six price increases since September 24, diesel rates have gone up by 1.55 paise per litre. Petrol price has increased by 75 paise per litre in three instalments this week.

International crude oil prices have reached a nearly three-year high as global output disruptions have forced energy companies to draw more crude oil out of their stockpiles.

When international oil rates fell in July and August, retail prices of petrol and diesel in the Delhi market were reduced by Rs 0.65 and Rs 1.25 per litre.

Prior to that, the petrol price was increased by Rs 11.44 a litre between May 4 and July 17. Diesel rate had gone up by Rs 9.14 during this period.

India is dependent on imports to meet nearly 85 per cent of its oil needs and so benchmarks local fuel rates to international oil prices.

New Delhi: You have strangulated the entire city and now you want to come within the city and start protest again here, the Supreme Court on Friday told a farmers’ body protesting against the three farm laws and seeking directions to authorities to allow it to stage satyagrah at Jantar Mantar here.

A bench of justices A M Khanwilkar and C T Ravikumar told the counsel appearing for petitioners Kisan Mahapanchayat’, a body of farmers and agriculturists, and its president that once they have approached the court against the three farm laws, they should have trust in the judicial system and let the matter be decided.

The apex court said citizens have equal rights to move freely and without fear and their properties are being damaged in the protest.

The court said There has to be some balanced approach.

The bench, which posted the matter for hearing on October 4, asked the petitioners to file an affidavit declaring that they are not part of the protest, which is being carried out, and blocking of the national highways at the borders of the city.

Several farmer organisations are protesting against the passage of three laws — The Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020, The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020 and Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020.

Initially, the protests started from Punjab in November last year and later spread mainly to Delhi, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh.

NEW DELHI: President Ram Nath Kovind turned 76 on Friday.

Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi wished him good health and many more years in the service of the nation on his birthday.

Kovind was born on October 1, 1945, at Paraunkh village in Kanpur district of Uttar Pradesh.

He was sworn in as the 14th President of India on July 25, 2017.

“My Heartiest greetings to Hon’ble President of India, Ram Nath Kovind Ji on his birthday today. He is known for his simplicity, high ethics and remarkable vision. May he be blessed with good health, happiness and many more years in the service of the nation,” Naidu tweeted.

Prime Minister Modi also wished the president on his birthday saying his focus on empowering the poor and marginalised sections of society is exemplary.

“Birthday greetings to Rashtrapati Ji. Due to his humble personality, he has endeared himself to the entire nation. His focus on empowering the poor and marginalised sections of society is exemplary. May he lead a long and healthy life,” Modi tweeted.

MAHOBA: A man has been arrested for allegedly raping a 20-year old Dalit woman six months ago while his father, uncle and a doctor have also been held after she died during an abortion at a private hospital in Uttar Pradesh’s Hamirpur, police said on Friday.

The woman was allegedly raped six months ago while she was working in a field but police were not informed about it.

On September 25, she was taken to a hospital due to bleeding and that is when her family members came to know that she was pregnant, a police officer said.

She died the next day at the hospital.

An FIR was registered on Wednesday against Shailendra Singh for allegedly raping her, his father Ram Narain and uncle Shiv Narain for forcing her to undergo the abortion and the doctor for performing the procedure due to which she died, the police officer said.

All the accused were arrested on Thursday evening, police said.