Archive For The “General” Category
New Delhi, Oct 10 : Chinese electric vehicle maker Li Auto denied reports that it has sourced a key auto chipset from the black market at prices 800 times higher than the normal levels, saying that it has sourced from regular channels to ensure supply amid the global shortage of auto semiconductors that has plagued the industry over recent months, Global Times reported.
In a statement sent to the Global Times on Sunday, Li Auto said it has ramped up efforts to ensure chip supply to help resolve the current crunch and it is a normal practice to source from regular channels.
The statement followed a report by a Chinese news outlet claiming that Li Auto, facing a crisis caused by the lack of auto semiconductors that has led to serious delivery delays, has recently purchased thousands of chipsets crucial for electronic parking brake system with each chipset priced at 5,000 yuan ( (Dollar) 776), far above the market's normal price of only 6 yuan.
Soaring component prices from the black market has become a last resort for many auto manufacturers facing a global semiconductor supply crunch.
China's market regulator has also tightened scrutiny on speculation to stabilize the market, the report said.
In September, the State Administration for Market Regulation imposed fines totalling 2.5 million yuan on three auto-chip dealers, including two in Shanghai and one in Shenzhen, after finding that they sold auto chips at a substantial markup, in some cases up to 40 times the regular market price.
In a market with balanced supply and demand, the markup rate of auto-chip traders is normally between 7 percent and 10 percent.
The worsening semiconductor woes have exacerbated delivery problems for auto firms like Li Auto.
It delivered 7,094 vehicles in September, up 102.5 per cent compared with the same period last year, but down 24.8 per cent compared with August.
Li Auto's major rivals -- Nio and Xpeng -- both recorded monthly deliveries exceeding 10,000 units in September.
The supplier of Li Auto's millimeter-wave radar chips and ultrasonic radar chips is German technology giant Bosch, according to industry services provider Gasgoo.
However, the supplier's factory in Malaysia, where its key system chips like ESP (Electronic Stability Program) are produced, has suffered severe production disruptions due to the Covid-19 pandemic, with the local government temporarily shutting down some production lines there, the report said.
In response, Li Auto has launched a new delivery plan to overcome its current difficulties.
As part of a temporary solution, customers can choose to have 3 radar models in advance or wait until December to receive the 5 radar models.
The company will arrange delivery in line with customers' demands.
A recent forecast by UBS showed that chip shortage in China's auto industry is expected to intensify in the fourth quarter, with the shortage crisis likely to ease in 2022.
--IANS
san/pgh.
Source: IANS
In a statement sent to the Global Times on Sunday, Li Auto said it has ramped up efforts to ensure chip supply to help resolve the current crunch and it is a normal practice to source from regular channels.
The statement followed a report by a Chinese news outlet claiming that Li Auto, facing a crisis caused by the lack of auto semiconductors that has led to serious delivery delays, has recently purchased thousands of chipsets crucial for electronic parking brake system with each chipset priced at 5,000 yuan ( (Dollar) 776), far above the market's normal price of only 6 yuan.
Soaring component prices from the black market has become a last resort for many auto manufacturers facing a global semiconductor supply crunch.
China's market regulator has also tightened scrutiny on speculation to stabilize the market, the report said.
In September, the State Administration for Market Regulation imposed fines totalling 2.5 million yuan on three auto-chip dealers, including two in Shanghai and one in Shenzhen, after finding that they sold auto chips at a substantial markup, in some cases up to 40 times the regular market price.
In a market with balanced supply and demand, the markup rate of auto-chip traders is normally between 7 percent and 10 percent.
The worsening semiconductor woes have exacerbated delivery problems for auto firms like Li Auto.
It delivered 7,094 vehicles in September, up 102.5 per cent compared with the same period last year, but down 24.8 per cent compared with August.
Li Auto's major rivals -- Nio and Xpeng -- both recorded monthly deliveries exceeding 10,000 units in September.
The supplier of Li Auto's millimeter-wave radar chips and ultrasonic radar chips is German technology giant Bosch, according to industry services provider Gasgoo.
However, the supplier's factory in Malaysia, where its key system chips like ESP (Electronic Stability Program) are produced, has suffered severe production disruptions due to the Covid-19 pandemic, with the local government temporarily shutting down some production lines there, the report said.
In response, Li Auto has launched a new delivery plan to overcome its current difficulties.
As part of a temporary solution, customers can choose to have 3 radar models in advance or wait until December to receive the 5 radar models.
The company will arrange delivery in line with customers' demands.
A recent forecast by UBS showed that chip shortage in China's auto industry is expected to intensify in the fourth quarter, with the shortage crisis likely to ease in 2022.
--IANS
san/pgh.
Source: IANS
New Delhi, Oct 10 : One day at a time should be the mantra to keep stress at bay, as people return to their in-person offices after nearly two years of working from home, said experts here on Sunday.
World Mental Health Day is observed on October 10 every year to spread awareness about the condition faced by millions globally.
During the Covid-induced lockdowns and even after that people managed to learn the art of balancing office work at home together with other household chores, many a times even without the aid of a house help.
For such people, returning to offices, getting into a new routine, and managing both family time and office can turn stressful.
This is particular in the case of women, who could spend more time being at home with family, kids as well as work.
But, significant drop in Covid cases and a successful vaccination programme has prompted many employers to reopen their offices again.
"The transition to work from office has been marked by stress and hesitation for many.
Anxiety around being infected with Covid, differential risk perception and continuing caregiving roles for children and the elderly at home have made the return to physical offices complicated, especially for women," Poonam Muttreja, Executive Director Population Foundation of India, told IANS.
"By forcing women back into the workplace, companies run the risk of losing them entirely.
Instead, employers need to put in place policies to allow women to return to physical offices in a flexible manner that promotes work-life balance and safeguards both women and men from stress and anxiety," she added.
Not all will feel stressed, experts said.
For some it may be a relief to be back to the routine and to restart their social life and activities.
The anticipation of months coupled with the promise of social gatherings and familiarity of a workplace, which is disconnected from several distractions at home, is strong.
However, employers also need to be considerate, and allow them time to settle instead of imposing tight controls, use empathetic approaches to help relieve anxieties of resuming work in offices.
This can not only protect employees' mental health but also promote productivity, the experts suggested.
"Returning to offices can be stressful or comforting.
depending on personal attitudes and office environment. A socially engaging person will be happy to return to the company of colleagues, while an introvert may feel challenged by the need to mingle and mix after a long time away," K.
Srinath Reddy is the president of the Public Health Foundation of India, New Delhi, told IANS.
At the same time "the office environment should also be made pleasant and congenial, to help people resettle rather than imposing strict routines and tight controls.
A flexible routine, of work from home for part of the week, will be ideal if the nature of work permits that.
This will help the employee to productively use time without becoming imprisoned by a restrictive routine", he added.
But can altering office spaces make any difference to mental health, especially now when people are returning from the comfort of their homes? Yes, deploying design strategies that ensure a seamless and rewarding experience may help employees, said Jayesh Ganesh, Regional Head of Edifice Consultants - a Bengaluru-based architectural design firm.
"Elevating the experience of the office from a workplace to a hospitality setting, creating quiet zones and quiet rooms to help those with anxieties or those on the spectrum cope up better with re-entry and ensuring that ano one is left behind' can all help," Ganesh told IANS.
Office spaces must now move into the realm of understanding and addressing challenges as mental and emotional needs in the workplace through care and compassion, he added.
According to Dr Samir Parikh, Director, Mental Health and Behavioural Sciences, at Fortis Healthcare, people must trust their ability to adapt.
"When we started with our Covid experience, shifted to work from home, the lockdowns, isolation and quarantine, we took time to adapt to it.
But we were able to do it. Similarly, going back to work, we have to understand that we will take a little bit of time," Parikh told IANS.
The mantea is "take one step at a time, that is one day at a time", he said.
Further, to cope with the office stresses, one must try and maintain a rhythm and routine of life, make sure to be as productive as you can be, utilise your connections, and stay in touch with your support systems.
"Keep talking to people and you'll realise we are all in theA same boat.
Maintain a sense of optimism, positivity and understand that it will take a little bit of time for us to get back on track," he suggested.
(Rachel V Thomas can be contacted at rachel.t@ians.in)
--IANS
rvt/ksk/.
Source: IANS
World Mental Health Day is observed on October 10 every year to spread awareness about the condition faced by millions globally.
During the Covid-induced lockdowns and even after that people managed to learn the art of balancing office work at home together with other household chores, many a times even without the aid of a house help.
For such people, returning to offices, getting into a new routine, and managing both family time and office can turn stressful.
This is particular in the case of women, who could spend more time being at home with family, kids as well as work.
But, significant drop in Covid cases and a successful vaccination programme has prompted many employers to reopen their offices again.
"The transition to work from office has been marked by stress and hesitation for many.
Anxiety around being infected with Covid, differential risk perception and continuing caregiving roles for children and the elderly at home have made the return to physical offices complicated, especially for women," Poonam Muttreja, Executive Director Population Foundation of India, told IANS.
"By forcing women back into the workplace, companies run the risk of losing them entirely.
Instead, employers need to put in place policies to allow women to return to physical offices in a flexible manner that promotes work-life balance and safeguards both women and men from stress and anxiety," she added.
Not all will feel stressed, experts said.
For some it may be a relief to be back to the routine and to restart their social life and activities.
The anticipation of months coupled with the promise of social gatherings and familiarity of a workplace, which is disconnected from several distractions at home, is strong.
However, employers also need to be considerate, and allow them time to settle instead of imposing tight controls, use empathetic approaches to help relieve anxieties of resuming work in offices.
This can not only protect employees' mental health but also promote productivity, the experts suggested.
"Returning to offices can be stressful or comforting.
depending on personal attitudes and office environment. A socially engaging person will be happy to return to the company of colleagues, while an introvert may feel challenged by the need to mingle and mix after a long time away," K.
Srinath Reddy is the president of the Public Health Foundation of India, New Delhi, told IANS.
At the same time "the office environment should also be made pleasant and congenial, to help people resettle rather than imposing strict routines and tight controls.
A flexible routine, of work from home for part of the week, will be ideal if the nature of work permits that.
This will help the employee to productively use time without becoming imprisoned by a restrictive routine", he added.
But can altering office spaces make any difference to mental health, especially now when people are returning from the comfort of their homes? Yes, deploying design strategies that ensure a seamless and rewarding experience may help employees, said Jayesh Ganesh, Regional Head of Edifice Consultants - a Bengaluru-based architectural design firm.
"Elevating the experience of the office from a workplace to a hospitality setting, creating quiet zones and quiet rooms to help those with anxieties or those on the spectrum cope up better with re-entry and ensuring that ano one is left behind' can all help," Ganesh told IANS.
Office spaces must now move into the realm of understanding and addressing challenges as mental and emotional needs in the workplace through care and compassion, he added.
According to Dr Samir Parikh, Director, Mental Health and Behavioural Sciences, at Fortis Healthcare, people must trust their ability to adapt.
"When we started with our Covid experience, shifted to work from home, the lockdowns, isolation and quarantine, we took time to adapt to it.
But we were able to do it. Similarly, going back to work, we have to understand that we will take a little bit of time," Parikh told IANS.
The mantea is "take one step at a time, that is one day at a time", he said.
Further, to cope with the office stresses, one must try and maintain a rhythm and routine of life, make sure to be as productive as you can be, utilise your connections, and stay in touch with your support systems.
"Keep talking to people and you'll realise we are all in theA same boat.
Maintain a sense of optimism, positivity and understand that it will take a little bit of time for us to get back on track," he suggested.
(Rachel V Thomas can be contacted at rachel.t@ians.in)
--IANS
rvt/ksk/.
Source: IANS
Modi regime in its first tenure concentrated on cleansing the systems of governance, pushing in with a number of schemes of development that directly benefited the common citizens and rebuilding the much-neglected ethos of nationalism that would consolidate India's unity and present before the world the image of a democratic country ruled by a leadership of strong political will power.
The surgical strike carried out by the Indian Air Force at Balakot across POK in Khyber Pukhtunkhwa province of Pakistan in February 2019 -- to punish the perpetrators behind the suicide bomber attack of the Pak-sponsored Jaish-e-Mohammad on a CRPF convoy at Pulwama -- marked the determination of the Modi government to uphold the defence and security of India against any external and internal threats, much to the appreciation of all patriotic Indians.
It defined the second tenure of Prime Minister Modi as a period when India would announce itself as a nation militarily strong enough to deal with any adversary and at the same time willing as the largest democracy, to play an active role in the cause of world peace and human welfare.
This policy framework of the second Modi regime has done well for India as halfway through the current tenure Prime Minister Modi put India's image as a major power with a say in global issues of war and peace, on a firm pedestal.
The Prime Minister has earned a rightful place in the minds of the people as a leader of personal integrity and devotion to the nation in whose hands they felt protected against the country's enemies and had equal opportunities of development at home.
The rise of India's importance in the comity of nations is the outcome of the successful handling by the Modi government of Indo-US relations, fallout of the developments in Afghanistan and the pace of progress of Quad -- the multilateral forum that aimed at countering the aggressive designs of China in the Indo-Pacific region.
This was quite a lot to deal with and clearly was an enormous challenge of defence and foreign policy formulation that could be negotiated only with the help of a comprehensive assessment of the global situation, direct guidance from the Prime Minister and the exercise of political will of a kind that had not been witnessed earlier.
Prime Minister Modi had the advantage of having an extremely competent National Security Advisor by his side.
The advent of the Taliban-led Afghan Emirate at Kabul a second time, made it necessary for India to adopt the right political and diplomatic approach simultaneously towards Biden presidency, Pakistan and China keeping this country's unique security vulnerabilities in view.
It was important to calibrate our responses to deal with the misplaced reliance US had placed on Pakistan in the matter of peace negotiations with the Taliban that were aimed at facilitating the American troop withdrawal from Afghanistan.
India has been able to hold its ground -- it succeeded finally in getting the US to revisit its approach to Pakistan.
It is Afghanistan that expectedly had become a point of policy discordance between India and Biden administration because, unlike President Donald Trump, Joe Biden seemed convinced that terror in the name of Islam practised by the radicals of Al Qaeda and ISIS would not be a prime threat to US once a 'give and take' was reached with the Taliban on the issue of withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan.
Also, Pentagon still carried goodwill for the Pak army as an ally of the Cold War in spite of the fact that its ambivalence was clearly seen during the course of the 'war on terror'.
The Biden administration conveniently stuck to the view that a distinction had to be made between the Pak government and the 'non-state' actors indulging in terrorist violence.
It is interesting to recall that John Kerry who is again a key figure in Biden presidency, had vociferously contended on his visit to Mumbai following 26/11 that the horrific Mumbai attack could not be blamed on Pak army as it was the doing of outfits operating independently.
US intelligence was either not able to grasp the reality of inalienable bonds of Taliban with Al Qaeda as revealed during the 'war on terror' or was influenced by the tilt policy makers showed towards Pakistan's offer of mediation with Taliban.
In any case it was strategically wrong for Zilmay Khalilzad to hold talks with the Taliban at Doha completely at the back of Ashraf Ghani government which was not too happy with Pakistan and thus give a message of 'appeasement' to the radical outfit that the latter fully exploited subsequently.
President Biden, in his total involvement with Xi Jinping's China as the principal adversary, did not take notice of the vicious Sino-Pak military alliance -- probably also because this axis worked primarily against India.
US could derive some comfort of distance in regard to the radicalisation of the Pak-Afghan belt but the democratic world at large has endorsed India's warning of the rising threat of terror for the region from the Pak-sponsored Taliban Emirate of Kabul.
During the visit of Prime Minister Modi to Washington for his first in-person meeting with the US President, Vice President Kamala Harris while highlighting the virtues of democracy, did refer to the threat of terror emanating from Pakistan and called upon the government there to take action against all the terror outfits.
President Biden facing questions about his handling of Afghanistan maintained silence on Pakistan but left no one in doubt that he considered US-India friendship as the bedrock of strength for the democratic world.
He had earlier clubbed US with India when he described democracy as 'work in progress' and his reference to diversity, tolerance and democratic rights in his welcome address for India's Prime Minister was natural for a world leader campaigning against autocracies by highlighting the merits of democracy.
India's participation in the Quad summit during this visit has put Prime Minister Modi in the frontline of democratic leaders working in unity to checkmate the ascendancy of China -- a country that was leading the world of Communist dictatorships and aspiring to become the second superpower.
Quad is a huge political alliance working for global causes like Covid vaccine, freedom of trade and rule-based use of the Indo-Pacific and challenging the Chinese aggressiveness in this maritime region -- Prime Minister Modi has been upfront about supporting it as it helped to defend the Indian Ocean as well.
The defence pact of US, UK and Australia -- AUKUS -- focusing on helping Australia to acquire nuclear powered submarines as part of the collective effort to counter China in the Indo-Pacific is a welcome development from India's point of view.
AUKUS strengthens Quad. India can concentrate on its own military build-up on the LAC to counter any Chinese aggressiveness there and further enhance its capability for dealing with any escalation of cross-border terrorism by Pakistan.
For India what perhaps remains to be done is to constantly enlighten the policy makers in the democratic world on the twin danger that Communist dictatorship and faith-based extremism represented by the Sino-Pak axis, would pose to them.
Further, the role Pak-tutored Taliban regime will play at Kabul is likely to turn Afghanistan once again into a fulcrum for the developing Cold War between US and China -- making that country relive its reputation as the 'geographical pivot of history'.
China has upheld Taliban rule in Afghanistan because of a mutual understanding between them about non-interference with the issues of Muslim minority in China.
For both Islamic radicals and Communist China US-led West is the prime enemy.
Prime Minister Modi is to be appreciated for putting India on the world map as a leading light of the democratic order working for both India's national security as well as the promotion of global peace and development.
The US visit of Prime Minister Modi has strengthened the strategic partnership between the two countries.
The American policy makers are realising the need for a course correction on a reevaluation of Pakistan's role -- that country collaborated with radical forces in general and played a dubious role in Afghanistan, in particular.
Pakistan, Malaysia and Turkey are now turning against US and upholding extremism and radicalism on grounds of faith.
India is doing well to keep up friendly relations with Russia, Iran and Central Asian republics around Afghanistan.
India under Prime Minister Modi is building closer ties with the US on the express recognition that the two countries representing the largest democracies in the world were natural allies.
At the same time, it was exercising the sovereign right of a major power of having bilateral friendships with other countries on the basis of mutuality of security and economic interests -- shedding any ideological baggage of the past.
Global commons would see Indo-US convergence getting stronger as the geopolitical divide between the free world and the cluster of dictatorships of Communism and Radical Extremism gets deeper and more confrontationist in the times ahead.
(The writer is a former Director Intelligence Bureau)
--IANS
pathak/am.
Source: IANS
The surgical strike carried out by the Indian Air Force at Balakot across POK in Khyber Pukhtunkhwa province of Pakistan in February 2019 -- to punish the perpetrators behind the suicide bomber attack of the Pak-sponsored Jaish-e-Mohammad on a CRPF convoy at Pulwama -- marked the determination of the Modi government to uphold the defence and security of India against any external and internal threats, much to the appreciation of all patriotic Indians.
It defined the second tenure of Prime Minister Modi as a period when India would announce itself as a nation militarily strong enough to deal with any adversary and at the same time willing as the largest democracy, to play an active role in the cause of world peace and human welfare.
This policy framework of the second Modi regime has done well for India as halfway through the current tenure Prime Minister Modi put India's image as a major power with a say in global issues of war and peace, on a firm pedestal.
The Prime Minister has earned a rightful place in the minds of the people as a leader of personal integrity and devotion to the nation in whose hands they felt protected against the country's enemies and had equal opportunities of development at home.
The rise of India's importance in the comity of nations is the outcome of the successful handling by the Modi government of Indo-US relations, fallout of the developments in Afghanistan and the pace of progress of Quad -- the multilateral forum that aimed at countering the aggressive designs of China in the Indo-Pacific region.
This was quite a lot to deal with and clearly was an enormous challenge of defence and foreign policy formulation that could be negotiated only with the help of a comprehensive assessment of the global situation, direct guidance from the Prime Minister and the exercise of political will of a kind that had not been witnessed earlier.
Prime Minister Modi had the advantage of having an extremely competent National Security Advisor by his side.
The advent of the Taliban-led Afghan Emirate at Kabul a second time, made it necessary for India to adopt the right political and diplomatic approach simultaneously towards Biden presidency, Pakistan and China keeping this country's unique security vulnerabilities in view.
It was important to calibrate our responses to deal with the misplaced reliance US had placed on Pakistan in the matter of peace negotiations with the Taliban that were aimed at facilitating the American troop withdrawal from Afghanistan.
India has been able to hold its ground -- it succeeded finally in getting the US to revisit its approach to Pakistan.
It is Afghanistan that expectedly had become a point of policy discordance between India and Biden administration because, unlike President Donald Trump, Joe Biden seemed convinced that terror in the name of Islam practised by the radicals of Al Qaeda and ISIS would not be a prime threat to US once a 'give and take' was reached with the Taliban on the issue of withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan.
Also, Pentagon still carried goodwill for the Pak army as an ally of the Cold War in spite of the fact that its ambivalence was clearly seen during the course of the 'war on terror'.
The Biden administration conveniently stuck to the view that a distinction had to be made between the Pak government and the 'non-state' actors indulging in terrorist violence.
It is interesting to recall that John Kerry who is again a key figure in Biden presidency, had vociferously contended on his visit to Mumbai following 26/11 that the horrific Mumbai attack could not be blamed on Pak army as it was the doing of outfits operating independently.
US intelligence was either not able to grasp the reality of inalienable bonds of Taliban with Al Qaeda as revealed during the 'war on terror' or was influenced by the tilt policy makers showed towards Pakistan's offer of mediation with Taliban.
In any case it was strategically wrong for Zilmay Khalilzad to hold talks with the Taliban at Doha completely at the back of Ashraf Ghani government which was not too happy with Pakistan and thus give a message of 'appeasement' to the radical outfit that the latter fully exploited subsequently.
President Biden, in his total involvement with Xi Jinping's China as the principal adversary, did not take notice of the vicious Sino-Pak military alliance -- probably also because this axis worked primarily against India.
US could derive some comfort of distance in regard to the radicalisation of the Pak-Afghan belt but the democratic world at large has endorsed India's warning of the rising threat of terror for the region from the Pak-sponsored Taliban Emirate of Kabul.
During the visit of Prime Minister Modi to Washington for his first in-person meeting with the US President, Vice President Kamala Harris while highlighting the virtues of democracy, did refer to the threat of terror emanating from Pakistan and called upon the government there to take action against all the terror outfits.
President Biden facing questions about his handling of Afghanistan maintained silence on Pakistan but left no one in doubt that he considered US-India friendship as the bedrock of strength for the democratic world.
He had earlier clubbed US with India when he described democracy as 'work in progress' and his reference to diversity, tolerance and democratic rights in his welcome address for India's Prime Minister was natural for a world leader campaigning against autocracies by highlighting the merits of democracy.
India's participation in the Quad summit during this visit has put Prime Minister Modi in the frontline of democratic leaders working in unity to checkmate the ascendancy of China -- a country that was leading the world of Communist dictatorships and aspiring to become the second superpower.
Quad is a huge political alliance working for global causes like Covid vaccine, freedom of trade and rule-based use of the Indo-Pacific and challenging the Chinese aggressiveness in this maritime region -- Prime Minister Modi has been upfront about supporting it as it helped to defend the Indian Ocean as well.
The defence pact of US, UK and Australia -- AUKUS -- focusing on helping Australia to acquire nuclear powered submarines as part of the collective effort to counter China in the Indo-Pacific is a welcome development from India's point of view.
AUKUS strengthens Quad. India can concentrate on its own military build-up on the LAC to counter any Chinese aggressiveness there and further enhance its capability for dealing with any escalation of cross-border terrorism by Pakistan.
For India what perhaps remains to be done is to constantly enlighten the policy makers in the democratic world on the twin danger that Communist dictatorship and faith-based extremism represented by the Sino-Pak axis, would pose to them.
Further, the role Pak-tutored Taliban regime will play at Kabul is likely to turn Afghanistan once again into a fulcrum for the developing Cold War between US and China -- making that country relive its reputation as the 'geographical pivot of history'.
China has upheld Taliban rule in Afghanistan because of a mutual understanding between them about non-interference with the issues of Muslim minority in China.
For both Islamic radicals and Communist China US-led West is the prime enemy.
Prime Minister Modi is to be appreciated for putting India on the world map as a leading light of the democratic order working for both India's national security as well as the promotion of global peace and development.
The US visit of Prime Minister Modi has strengthened the strategic partnership between the two countries.
The American policy makers are realising the need for a course correction on a reevaluation of Pakistan's role -- that country collaborated with radical forces in general and played a dubious role in Afghanistan, in particular.
Pakistan, Malaysia and Turkey are now turning against US and upholding extremism and radicalism on grounds of faith.
India is doing well to keep up friendly relations with Russia, Iran and Central Asian republics around Afghanistan.
India under Prime Minister Modi is building closer ties with the US on the express recognition that the two countries representing the largest democracies in the world were natural allies.
At the same time, it was exercising the sovereign right of a major power of having bilateral friendships with other countries on the basis of mutuality of security and economic interests -- shedding any ideological baggage of the past.
Global commons would see Indo-US convergence getting stronger as the geopolitical divide between the free world and the cluster of dictatorships of Communism and Radical Extremism gets deeper and more confrontationist in the times ahead.
(The writer is a former Director Intelligence Bureau)
--IANS
pathak/am.
Source: IANS
Panaji, Oct 10 : Potholes on Goa's rain-ravaged roads appear to have become the flavour of the journey on the road to the 2022 state Assembly polls.
With little maintenance and unusually monsoon heavy showers, potholes have also become the subject of political criticism as well as social media memes, forcing Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to dare Public Works Department (PWD) officials as well as to assure people in the poll-bound state to fix all potholes on the state's roads by November 1.
The opposition though appears unwilling to buy Sawant's promise to mend national highways, west coast roads, state highways, major district roads and other roads, which span around 3,685 km.
"I challenge the Chief Minister to fix and hotmix all rural, major district, district, internal roads, state and national highways..If he completes all these roads, even we will support him," former deputy Chief Minister and PWD Minister for nearly 15 years Sudin Dhavalikar has said.
Dhavalikar's challenge comes after Sawant at a function organised by the PWD had dared officials of the department to ensure that all potholes on the state's roads are fixed by November 1.
Sawant's assurance to do away with every pothole translated as 'khoddo' in Konkani became a subject of social media memes, drawing on the interpretation of the word 'khoddo', which also means 'bald-headed' in the local language.
Former Goa Aam Aadmi Party general secretary and former journalist Pradeep Padgaonkar, who sports a bald pate himself, uploaded a sarcastic video saying: "Hello friends, if you have any work with me from November 1 onwards, you should come home to meet me.
I will not be seen on roads from November 1."
The video has gone viral --https:www.facebook.com/pradeep.padgaonkar/videos/238848408207076
To highlight the issue of bad roads in Goa, especially potholes, Congress workers earlier this week protested by sleeping in the crater-like holes in major roads.
Congress leader Meghashyam Raut was arrested for staging the unique 'sleep-in' protest on potholed roads in Bicholim sub district in North Goa district.
The protest was a part of the Youth Congress' statewide photography event, the 'spot the pothole' contest which has invited entries in the form of photographs of potholes.
"We are offering attractive prizes for the best photo entries like power banks, mobile phones and other electronic gadgets," state Youth Congress president Varad Mardolkar said.
Videos of common citizens slathering potholes with cement in order to fix roads in their respective localities have also gone viral on social media over the last few weeks.
Goa's PWD Minister Deepak Pauskar has, however, slammed the efforts to defame the government using the condition of roads as a ruse.
He also accused the government's critics of zooming in on potholes to exaggerate the condition of roads.
"Some people have taken pictures and video and zoomed in on them to expand the size of the potholes.
It is not correct. The government is serious about fixing this issue. All the roads in the state will be carpeted afresh by December," Pauskar said.
With the state headed for polls in early 2022, potholed roads in particular and poor upkeep of infrastructure are expected to feature in the Opposition armoury.
--IANS
maya/pgh.
Source: IANS
With little maintenance and unusually monsoon heavy showers, potholes have also become the subject of political criticism as well as social media memes, forcing Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to dare Public Works Department (PWD) officials as well as to assure people in the poll-bound state to fix all potholes on the state's roads by November 1.
The opposition though appears unwilling to buy Sawant's promise to mend national highways, west coast roads, state highways, major district roads and other roads, which span around 3,685 km.
"I challenge the Chief Minister to fix and hotmix all rural, major district, district, internal roads, state and national highways..If he completes all these roads, even we will support him," former deputy Chief Minister and PWD Minister for nearly 15 years Sudin Dhavalikar has said.
Dhavalikar's challenge comes after Sawant at a function organised by the PWD had dared officials of the department to ensure that all potholes on the state's roads are fixed by November 1.
Sawant's assurance to do away with every pothole translated as 'khoddo' in Konkani became a subject of social media memes, drawing on the interpretation of the word 'khoddo', which also means 'bald-headed' in the local language.
Former Goa Aam Aadmi Party general secretary and former journalist Pradeep Padgaonkar, who sports a bald pate himself, uploaded a sarcastic video saying: "Hello friends, if you have any work with me from November 1 onwards, you should come home to meet me.
I will not be seen on roads from November 1."
The video has gone viral --https:www.facebook.com/pradeep.padgaonkar/videos/238848408207076
To highlight the issue of bad roads in Goa, especially potholes, Congress workers earlier this week protested by sleeping in the crater-like holes in major roads.
Congress leader Meghashyam Raut was arrested for staging the unique 'sleep-in' protest on potholed roads in Bicholim sub district in North Goa district.
The protest was a part of the Youth Congress' statewide photography event, the 'spot the pothole' contest which has invited entries in the form of photographs of potholes.
"We are offering attractive prizes for the best photo entries like power banks, mobile phones and other electronic gadgets," state Youth Congress president Varad Mardolkar said.
Videos of common citizens slathering potholes with cement in order to fix roads in their respective localities have also gone viral on social media over the last few weeks.
Goa's PWD Minister Deepak Pauskar has, however, slammed the efforts to defame the government using the condition of roads as a ruse.
He also accused the government's critics of zooming in on potholes to exaggerate the condition of roads.
"Some people have taken pictures and video and zoomed in on them to expand the size of the potholes.
It is not correct. The government is serious about fixing this issue. All the roads in the state will be carpeted afresh by December," Pauskar said.
With the state headed for polls in early 2022, potholed roads in particular and poor upkeep of infrastructure are expected to feature in the Opposition armoury.
--IANS
maya/pgh.
Source: IANS
Shimla, Oct 10 : The Himachal Pradesh government will be setting up a Central-funded Murrah buffalo farm with an outlay of Rs 506.45 lakh for genetic upgradation and dairy extension services, state Animal Husbandry Minister Virender Kanwar said on Sunday.
The breeding farm, which will produce the high quality fertile and disease-free bovine stock, will be set up by the Himachal Pradesh Livestock and Poultry Development Board in Burnoh in Una district.
The Murrah buffalo is the most preferred choice of many dairy farmers.
The Minister said the aim of the farm is to produce high yielding calves to enhance the overall milk production.
The native Murrah breed, nationally recognized as an indigenous by the National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources in Karnal, is of its distinct characteristics and constitutes 359,979 (55 per cent) of the total 646,565 buffalo population in the state.
The state will set up three ultra-modern sheds at an initial cost of Rs 75 lakh to rear 50 high-genetic buffaloes, comprising 30 adult and 20 heifers.
The freshly calved high pedigreed 30 adult female buffaloes in first or second lactation and 20 disease-free heifers will be purchased from government farms.
The state will high grade semen to farmers and the surplus will be supplied to neighbouring states -- Haryana, Punjab, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh -- to meet the growing demand, said Kanwar.
The Murrah buffalo farm will be equipped with scientific waste management and rainwater harvesting facilities and a fodder farm.
To reduce the operational cost of farms, own forage and silage preparation from green fodder crops will be practiced, said the minister.
The fodder production will be undertaken with a cost of Rs 15 lakh to reduce the cost of rearing the animals so as to make the project economically viable and the dung is to be used as organic fertilizer manure for green fodder cultivation.
Surplus green fodder is proposed to be utilized for silage production to be used in lean periods, he added.
--IANS
vg/ksk/.
Source: IANS
The breeding farm, which will produce the high quality fertile and disease-free bovine stock, will be set up by the Himachal Pradesh Livestock and Poultry Development Board in Burnoh in Una district.
The Murrah buffalo is the most preferred choice of many dairy farmers.
The Minister said the aim of the farm is to produce high yielding calves to enhance the overall milk production.
The native Murrah breed, nationally recognized as an indigenous by the National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources in Karnal, is of its distinct characteristics and constitutes 359,979 (55 per cent) of the total 646,565 buffalo population in the state.
The state will set up three ultra-modern sheds at an initial cost of Rs 75 lakh to rear 50 high-genetic buffaloes, comprising 30 adult and 20 heifers.
The freshly calved high pedigreed 30 adult female buffaloes in first or second lactation and 20 disease-free heifers will be purchased from government farms.
The state will high grade semen to farmers and the surplus will be supplied to neighbouring states -- Haryana, Punjab, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh -- to meet the growing demand, said Kanwar.
The Murrah buffalo farm will be equipped with scientific waste management and rainwater harvesting facilities and a fodder farm.
To reduce the operational cost of farms, own forage and silage preparation from green fodder crops will be practiced, said the minister.
The fodder production will be undertaken with a cost of Rs 15 lakh to reduce the cost of rearing the animals so as to make the project economically viable and the dung is to be used as organic fertilizer manure for green fodder cultivation.
Surplus green fodder is proposed to be utilized for silage production to be used in lean periods, he added.
--IANS
vg/ksk/.
Source: IANS
Mumbai, Oct 9 : As part of the Golden Jubilee of Liberation of Bangladesh being celebrated this year, Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari on Saturday released the Marathi translation of the memoirs of the neighbouring country's founder-father, 'Bangabandhu' Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
The volume, "The Unfinished Memoirs" (2012), penned by the Father of Bangladesh, is translated from Bengali into Marathi "Apurna Atmakatha" by writer and editor Aparna Velankar, and published by Anand Limaye.
The translation project was undertaken at the behest of the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission in Mumbai to mark the Birth Centenary of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman being celebrated along with the 50 years of the liberation of the country.
The legendary Bangabandhu's daughter, Sheikh Hasina, 74, is the current Prime Minister of Bangladesh.
On the momentous double-occasion, the Governor felicitated several Indian war veterans who had taken part in the freedom war of Bangladesh in 1971, including Admiral (retired) Vishnu M.
Bhagwat, Lt.Gen. K.S. Brar and Commander Ashok Batra.
Bangladesh Deputy High Commissioner in Mumbai M. Lutfor Rahman, Deputy High Commissioner in New Delhi M. Nural Islam, All India Association of Industries (AIAI) President Vijay Kalantri and other dignitaries were also present.
--IANS
qn/pgh.
Source: IANS
The volume, "The Unfinished Memoirs" (2012), penned by the Father of Bangladesh, is translated from Bengali into Marathi "Apurna Atmakatha" by writer and editor Aparna Velankar, and published by Anand Limaye.
The translation project was undertaken at the behest of the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission in Mumbai to mark the Birth Centenary of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman being celebrated along with the 50 years of the liberation of the country.
The legendary Bangabandhu's daughter, Sheikh Hasina, 74, is the current Prime Minister of Bangladesh.
On the momentous double-occasion, the Governor felicitated several Indian war veterans who had taken part in the freedom war of Bangladesh in 1971, including Admiral (retired) Vishnu M.
Bhagwat, Lt.Gen. K.S. Brar and Commander Ashok Batra.
Bangladesh Deputy High Commissioner in Mumbai M. Lutfor Rahman, Deputy High Commissioner in New Delhi M. Nural Islam, All India Association of Industries (AIAI) President Vijay Kalantri and other dignitaries were also present.
--IANS
qn/pgh.
Source: IANS
Dharamsala, Oct 9 : Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama on Saturday greeted journalists Maria Ressa and Dmitry Muratov, the winners of this Year's Nobel Peace Prize, saying the freedom of the press is crucial to a more peaceful world.
He wrote to them that he was happy to learn that this year's Nobel Peace Prize had been awarded to the two journalists for their efforts to defend freedom of expression and freedom of the press in the Philippines and Russia.
"In making their award, the Nobel Committee has honoured these two as representatives of journalists everywhere, who put themselves at risk in standing up for this ideal under challenging conditions.
"Journalists have a key role to play in promoting human values and a sense of social and religious harmony.
They can contribute to educating people to acknowledge the oneness of humanity and the responsibility we all have to work for the common good.
Freedom of expression and freedom of the press are crucial to our being able to promote harmony and friendship between nations, disarmament and a more peaceful world order.
"I greatly admire the courage journalists such as Ressa and Muratov have shown in their work," he said.
"May this award serve to encourage everyone working in the media in particular to defend the truth and freedom on which democracy and lasting peace in the world depend," the Nobel Peace Laureate added.
--IANS
vg/ksk/.
Source: IANS
He wrote to them that he was happy to learn that this year's Nobel Peace Prize had been awarded to the two journalists for their efforts to defend freedom of expression and freedom of the press in the Philippines and Russia.
"In making their award, the Nobel Committee has honoured these two as representatives of journalists everywhere, who put themselves at risk in standing up for this ideal under challenging conditions.
"Journalists have a key role to play in promoting human values and a sense of social and religious harmony.
They can contribute to educating people to acknowledge the oneness of humanity and the responsibility we all have to work for the common good.
Freedom of expression and freedom of the press are crucial to our being able to promote harmony and friendship between nations, disarmament and a more peaceful world order.
"I greatly admire the courage journalists such as Ressa and Muratov have shown in their work," he said.
"May this award serve to encourage everyone working in the media in particular to defend the truth and freedom on which democracy and lasting peace in the world depend," the Nobel Peace Laureate added.
--IANS
vg/ksk/.
Source: IANS
New Delhi, Oct 9 : When you talk to him about the trolling he is subjected to on social media, he smiles that it has stopped bothering him now.
"Anybody who is relevant gets trolled. Come on, people do not spare the Prime Minister even. What can you do? You need to be someone to get trolled. But honestly, if you ask me, I feel pretty sad for those who spend all their time and energy on trolling.
Worst part being, they are so predictable that it is not even funny anymore. I really have sympathy for them, all they are doing is giving celebrities great engagement," he tells IANS.
Bestselling author Chetan Bhagat, whose latest book '400 Days' (Westland Publications) recently hit the stands is certain that this is best work ever.
For someone who has written around nine novels and three non-fiction titles, many of which have been made into Hindi films, the lockdowns provided an opportunity to focus like never before.
"In the pre-Covid era, besides writing, there were a host of activities that I would regularly undertake -- events, motivational talks and travelling extensively.There were times when I would be on the road, and then in the middle, would come back to finish a chapter of a new book.
In short, a lot of distractions. However, the lockdowns forced me to be at home. There was nothing else I could do apart from writing," Bhagat says.
'400 Days' is the third book from the Keshav-Saurabh series and revolves the story of a missing girl 'Siya' and her mother's determination to bring back her daughter even when everyone in the family has given up.
The author says that during his travels and motivational talks, he gets a pulse of modern India and what the young are looking for, something that helps him make better stories which are relatable.
"Right from my first book in 2004, I have been picking up contemporary issues facing the country."
Adding while a story should have multiple ingredients to ensure that it is unputdownable, the author says that his books always have a "certain message".
"That, plus an entertaining story -- be it about romance, friendship or mystery. Even though the package is entertaining, there is a certain message in every book I write.Well, this is the tenth one, so I guess the combination has worked.
Talking about his motivational talks which he gives across the country, and now also on his YouTube channel, the author recalls that during book launches and other events, people would often ask him questions related to living a fruitful life etc.
"And slowly, I became a motivational speaker. And it kind of helped me learn about India, as I would travel across the country for them. These talks have become an indispensable part of me now."
While multiple ideas with potential for a book may keep striking him, Bhagat says that many dissolve after a few days but there are some that keep coming back.
"It is like -- okay, this one has potential. Let me carry this for one more week in my mind and see if it can grow further, just like a little plant if it grows more trees.
It is also about what will challenge me? Murder mysteries are hard to write -- how do you get the perfect suspense, trust etc.
It is difficult. Thus, it was interesting to dive into them -- I wrote two. And then I asked myself -- what is the next level of challenge? And then I thought, okay, a missing child's story.
Can it be made interesting, fun, thrilling... Everything?" says the author who prefers to work on one book at a time.
Fondly recalling his experience in the Hindi film industry, Bhagat on whose books films like '2 States', '3 Idiots', 'Half Girlfriend' and several others have been made, asserts the author says that he has always had the clarity that he wanted to reach as many people as possible, and what could be a better medium than films? "I would love to do more work there but Covid has kind of slowed down things, and there is a huge backlog in the industry."
Post writing two books back to back, he now wants to pause and start travelling again.
"I have been missing going to different parts of the country. One does not really have to work so much all the time. It is ok," he concludes.
--IANS
sukant/shs.
Source: IANS
"Anybody who is relevant gets trolled. Come on, people do not spare the Prime Minister even. What can you do? You need to be someone to get trolled. But honestly, if you ask me, I feel pretty sad for those who spend all their time and energy on trolling.
Worst part being, they are so predictable that it is not even funny anymore. I really have sympathy for them, all they are doing is giving celebrities great engagement," he tells IANS.
Bestselling author Chetan Bhagat, whose latest book '400 Days' (Westland Publications) recently hit the stands is certain that this is best work ever.
For someone who has written around nine novels and three non-fiction titles, many of which have been made into Hindi films, the lockdowns provided an opportunity to focus like never before.
"In the pre-Covid era, besides writing, there were a host of activities that I would regularly undertake -- events, motivational talks and travelling extensively.There were times when I would be on the road, and then in the middle, would come back to finish a chapter of a new book.
In short, a lot of distractions. However, the lockdowns forced me to be at home. There was nothing else I could do apart from writing," Bhagat says.
'400 Days' is the third book from the Keshav-Saurabh series and revolves the story of a missing girl 'Siya' and her mother's determination to bring back her daughter even when everyone in the family has given up.
The author says that during his travels and motivational talks, he gets a pulse of modern India and what the young are looking for, something that helps him make better stories which are relatable.
"Right from my first book in 2004, I have been picking up contemporary issues facing the country."
Adding while a story should have multiple ingredients to ensure that it is unputdownable, the author says that his books always have a "certain message".
"That, plus an entertaining story -- be it about romance, friendship or mystery. Even though the package is entertaining, there is a certain message in every book I write.Well, this is the tenth one, so I guess the combination has worked.
Talking about his motivational talks which he gives across the country, and now also on his YouTube channel, the author recalls that during book launches and other events, people would often ask him questions related to living a fruitful life etc.
"And slowly, I became a motivational speaker. And it kind of helped me learn about India, as I would travel across the country for them. These talks have become an indispensable part of me now."
While multiple ideas with potential for a book may keep striking him, Bhagat says that many dissolve after a few days but there are some that keep coming back.
"It is like -- okay, this one has potential. Let me carry this for one more week in my mind and see if it can grow further, just like a little plant if it grows more trees.
It is also about what will challenge me? Murder mysteries are hard to write -- how do you get the perfect suspense, trust etc.
It is difficult. Thus, it was interesting to dive into them -- I wrote two. And then I asked myself -- what is the next level of challenge? And then I thought, okay, a missing child's story.
Can it be made interesting, fun, thrilling... Everything?" says the author who prefers to work on one book at a time.
Fondly recalling his experience in the Hindi film industry, Bhagat on whose books films like '2 States', '3 Idiots', 'Half Girlfriend' and several others have been made, asserts the author says that he has always had the clarity that he wanted to reach as many people as possible, and what could be a better medium than films? "I would love to do more work there but Covid has kind of slowed down things, and there is a huge backlog in the industry."
Post writing two books back to back, he now wants to pause and start travelling again.
"I have been missing going to different parts of the country. One does not really have to work so much all the time. It is ok," he concludes.
--IANS
sukant/shs.
Source: IANS
Lucknow, Oct 8 : The regional bench of the Armed Forces Tribunal (AFT) has directed the Uttarakhand Police to lodge an FIR against a man who served the Indian Army for 34 years, impersonating his brother.
The imposter was exposed when he applied for getting his PAN linked with pension and so did his brother who had also retired from the Army.
The case relates to one Narain Singh who got himself enrolled in the Army as Shyam Singh on November 30, 1982.
He joined the 13 Guards Battalion as a soldier.
Singh retired on June 30, 2001 as Naik.
He later re-enrolled in the defence security corps (DSC) on March 3, 2002 and was discharged on July 1, 2018 after rendering more than 16-years of service.
With two retirements, he was eligible for two pensions.
He had linked his permanent account number (PAN) and Aadhaar with his bank account while in the DSC service.
However, in May 2017, his army pension was stopped after the bank found two permanent account number (PAN) cards with the same name (Shyam Singh), same father's name (Madan Singh) and same date of birth (July 11, 1963) but with two different individual pictures.
Later his DSC pension too was stopped.
During investigations, it came to light that Shyam Singh is the name of the accused's younger brother, who too served the Army with 6 Mechanized infantry.
He joined on March 15, 1982 and served for 20-years before retiring on January 31, 2002 as Havaldar.
In April 2017, the SBI's Kashipur branch (Udham Singh Nagar district) asked real Shyam Singh to link his PAN with bank following which it was found that imposter Shyam Singh had already linked PAN with SBI's Rampur branch of Almora district.
Thereafter bank officials stopped the pension of the two siblings.
After a four-year-long trial, the AFT Lucknow bench ordered Uttarakhand Police to lodge an FIR against accused Narain Singh.
The court observed that accused Narain Singh had used his younger brother's fifth grade marksheet to enrol in the Indian Army.
However, agricultural land records and ration card entries had his name as Narain Singh.
He used his brother's PAN card details to link with pension payment order (PPO) for disbursement of pension.
Lt.
Col. (retired) Seemit Kumar, the joint registrar of AFT Lucknow said, "The case of impersonator never would have come into light, had the PAN card was not linked to bank and PPO."
The judgement in the case came on Wednesday and a copy of the order was released on Thursday.
--IANS
amita/dpb.
Source: IANS
The imposter was exposed when he applied for getting his PAN linked with pension and so did his brother who had also retired from the Army.
The case relates to one Narain Singh who got himself enrolled in the Army as Shyam Singh on November 30, 1982.
He joined the 13 Guards Battalion as a soldier.
Singh retired on June 30, 2001 as Naik.
He later re-enrolled in the defence security corps (DSC) on March 3, 2002 and was discharged on July 1, 2018 after rendering more than 16-years of service.
With two retirements, he was eligible for two pensions.
He had linked his permanent account number (PAN) and Aadhaar with his bank account while in the DSC service.
However, in May 2017, his army pension was stopped after the bank found two permanent account number (PAN) cards with the same name (Shyam Singh), same father's name (Madan Singh) and same date of birth (July 11, 1963) but with two different individual pictures.
Later his DSC pension too was stopped.
During investigations, it came to light that Shyam Singh is the name of the accused's younger brother, who too served the Army with 6 Mechanized infantry.
He joined on March 15, 1982 and served for 20-years before retiring on January 31, 2002 as Havaldar.
In April 2017, the SBI's Kashipur branch (Udham Singh Nagar district) asked real Shyam Singh to link his PAN with bank following which it was found that imposter Shyam Singh had already linked PAN with SBI's Rampur branch of Almora district.
Thereafter bank officials stopped the pension of the two siblings.
After a four-year-long trial, the AFT Lucknow bench ordered Uttarakhand Police to lodge an FIR against accused Narain Singh.
The court observed that accused Narain Singh had used his younger brother's fifth grade marksheet to enrol in the Indian Army.
However, agricultural land records and ration card entries had his name as Narain Singh.
He used his brother's PAN card details to link with pension payment order (PPO) for disbursement of pension.
Lt.
Col. (retired) Seemit Kumar, the joint registrar of AFT Lucknow said, "The case of impersonator never would have come into light, had the PAN card was not linked to bank and PPO."
The judgement in the case came on Wednesday and a copy of the order was released on Thursday.
--IANS
amita/dpb.
Source: IANS
New Delhi, Oct 8 : Depots for the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC)'s electric buses, which would ply on the city roads from early 2022, are getting ready in the national capital.
DTC Managing Director, Ashish Kundra, shared two pictures of the newly built depots with its caption reading: "Depots for #electricbuses getting ready in #Delhi ! Public transport set to change".
Delhi Cabinet in March had approved a proposal for the engagement of 300 Low-Floor Fully Electric Air Conditioned buses by DTC under the Centre's 'Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric Vehicles in India [FAME] Phase-II' Scheme.
DTC's Deputy Chief General Manager (Traffic (and) Public Relations), Ravinder Singh Minhas, had told IANS in September that Delhi will start getting its first 300 e-buses from January onwards as the tender for the same has matured.
Under the FAME scheme, the buses will be able to operate a minimum of 140 km in a single charge.
As per official sources, these buses will be controlled by DTC and operated by private entities.
Under the arrangement, the operator will provide the driver and the DTC will depute its own conductor in the buses.
In August 2020, Delhi Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot had said the national capital will receive as many as 2,000 electric buses by the end of 2021.
However, a few months ago, lack of infrastructure was cited as the reason behind the delay in its rollout.
Both the Delhi and Central governments are "actively" batting for greener and sustainable mode of transportation to "better tackle" the future challenges of environmental problems due to climate change.
--IANS
rdk/shs.
Source: IANS
DTC Managing Director, Ashish Kundra, shared two pictures of the newly built depots with its caption reading: "Depots for #electricbuses getting ready in #Delhi ! Public transport set to change".
Delhi Cabinet in March had approved a proposal for the engagement of 300 Low-Floor Fully Electric Air Conditioned buses by DTC under the Centre's 'Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric Vehicles in India [FAME] Phase-II' Scheme.
DTC's Deputy Chief General Manager (Traffic (and) Public Relations), Ravinder Singh Minhas, had told IANS in September that Delhi will start getting its first 300 e-buses from January onwards as the tender for the same has matured.
Under the FAME scheme, the buses will be able to operate a minimum of 140 km in a single charge.
As per official sources, these buses will be controlled by DTC and operated by private entities.
Under the arrangement, the operator will provide the driver and the DTC will depute its own conductor in the buses.
In August 2020, Delhi Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot had said the national capital will receive as many as 2,000 electric buses by the end of 2021.
However, a few months ago, lack of infrastructure was cited as the reason behind the delay in its rollout.
Both the Delhi and Central governments are "actively" batting for greener and sustainable mode of transportation to "better tackle" the future challenges of environmental problems due to climate change.
--IANS
rdk/shs.
Source: IANS