Amaravati (Andhra Pradesh) [India], February 27 (ANI): Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy here on Friday called upon the town planners to come up with solutions to the emerging challenges with a futuristic outlook on the goals set by the United Nations for sustainable development.
While inaugurating the 69th National Town and Country Planners Conference virtually at Vishakhapatnam, the Chief Minister said that he is looking forward to the recommendations on affordable housing for lower-income groups and reducing the financial burden on the government in wake of the growing cost of land and high rents in urban areas making the land acquisition a difficult task.
He expressed confidence that the three-day meet will come up with solutions that are pertinent to the State and country vis-a-vis the 17 sustainable goals for 2030 set by the United Nations.
“The Conference, being organized by the Institute of Town Planners of India (ITPT) and attended by Town Planners, Academics, Researchers, Directors and others from across the country, would deliberate on the emerging challenges in the changing scenario, and I hope the Summit will come up with useful recommendations,” the Chief Minister said in his inaugural address.
Some of the interesting topics the Summit would be discussing include the impact of COVID in work culture and the requirements besides environment and climate change.
“Water management is another issue of major concern and it needs comprehensive planning as cities are growing from multiple directions and there will need to extend the water facilities to all areas,” he said.
The Chief Minister has stated that the government is looking forward for developing the coastal region utilising the vast stretch of 974 Km coastline in the State, where even Visakhapatnam city is also one of the beneficiaries of an integrated coastal development plan.
Jagan Mohan Reddy reiterated that the purpose of this summit is to deliberate various issues on sustainable development goals by 2030 as recommended by the UN and looking forward to the solutions that would emerge in the summit for a remarkable change in current situations to lead better.
“We will take forward all the suggestions and recommendations that the Conference will give after the deliberations and put them to best use,” he added. (ANI)

Prayagraj/Haridwar (Uttar Pradesh/Uttarakhand) [India], February 27 (ANI): Devotees across Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand on Friday took holy dips on the occasion of ‘Magh Purnima’, the full moon night in the Magha month of the Hindu calendar.
To mark the occasion, the Prayagraj District Administration showered flower petals on devotees at Triveni Sangam, also known as Sangam Ghat, the meeting place of three rivers — the Saraswati, Yamuna, and Ganga (Ganges).

#WATCH: Prayagraj District Administration showers flower petals on devotees at Triveni Sangam, on the occasion of ‘Magh Purnima’. pic.twitter.com/tpjlP6xfiN

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Devotees in Prayagraj and Haridwar were seen observing the holy occasion by offering diyas (lamps) in the water.
Magh Purnima is celebrated around the months of January and February and Lord Vishnu is worshipped during this time. (ANI)

Nashik (Maharashtra) [India], February 27 (ANI): Spike, a sniffer dog, who was a part of the Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad (BDDS) of the Nashik City Police Force, received a grand farewell on 24 February after completing 11 years of service.
Spike, who joined the Nashik Bomb Detection-Dog Squad in 2010, is famous for discovering hidden petrol bombs.

Spike was paraded on the bonnet of the Police van on the occasion while Police marched by the side of the vehicle.
The unique way of paying respect to the dog ended with the cutting of a cake. (ANI)

New Delhi [India], February 27 (ANI): The National Green Tribunal on Saturday directed Central Monitoring Committee constituted by Environment Ministry to look into the death of an elephant by electrocution and to protect the lives of 40 elephants in Bandhavgarh in Madhya Pradesh.
An NGT bench headed by its chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel directed Central Monitoring Committee constituted by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) and the Chief Wildlife Warden, Madhya Pradesh to look into the grievance in the present application and take remedial action in accordance with the law.
The tribunal was hearing an application moved by one PG Najpande seeking for fixing accountability for the death of an elephant by electrocution and to protect the lives of 40 elephants in Bandhavgarh, Madhya Pradesh.
The applicants have stated that on November 28, 2020, one elephant lost its life by electrocution in the forest area of Bargi, village Mohas, District Jabalpur on account of a high voltage trap with high voltage over-loaded power lines.
Apart from the death of one elephant, there is a danger to the lives of 40 wild animals in the forest of Bandhavgarh, Madhya Pradesh.
The tribunal noted that a Central Monitoring Committee has been constituted by the MoEF&CC to coordinate with the elephant-bearing States on the issue of the safety of elephants in elephant protection zones. (ANI)

Vijayawada (Andhra Pradesh) [India], February 27 (ANI): Vice Admiral Atul Kumar JainFlag Officer Commanding-in-Chief (FOC-in-C) Eastern Naval Command(ENC), before relinquishing his command, called on Biswabhusan Harichandan, Governor of Andhra Pradesh and Chief Minister of the state YS Jagan Mohan Reddy.
Vice Admiral met Chief Minister at CM Camp Office at Vijayawada on Friday.
The FOC-in-C briefed the Governor and Chief Minister on the forthcoming activities of the Navy i.e. the President’s Fleet Review and MILAN 2022 a multinational exercise, both major naval events being hosted in the City of Destiny.
Jain also apprised them of the various security challenges and impetus to various infrastructure projects of ENC. (ANI)

Chamoli (Uttarakhand) [India], February 27 (ANI): The death toll in the Uttarakhand glacier burst incident has reached 72 as two more bodies and 30 parts of human bodies were recovered from the debris, according to the state government on Saturday..
“So far, 72 bodies and 30 human body parts have been recovered from different places in the avalanche hit areas out of which 40 bodies and one human body part have been identified,” said Chamoli district police.
DNA samples of bodies which have not been identified are being preserved.
Missing reports of 205 persons have been registered at Joshimath police station so far.
DNA samples of 110 family members of missing people, 58 bodies and 28 human body parts have been sent to Forensic Science Laboratory in Dehradun for matching, it said.
Meanwhile, the rescue and search operation for missing people is underway. The Indo-Tibetan Border Police personnel along with National Disaster Response Force and other sister agencies have been conducting search and rescue operations in Chamoli district.
A glacier burst earlier in the Tapovan-Reni area of Chamoli District of Uttarakhand triggered massive flooding in the Dhauliganga and Alaknanda rivers that damaged houses and the nearby Rishiganga power project. (ANI)