NewzIntel.com

Category: Africa

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Secretary-General’s video message to the World Urban Forum [scroll down for Arabic version]

    Source: United Nations

    Download the video: https://s3.amazonaws.com/downloads2.unmultimedia.org/public/video/evergr…

    I am pleased to take part in the World Urban Forum.

    It is fitting that you are gathering in Cairo – an enormously vibrant megacity and a magnet for innovation and creativity for over a thousand years.

    I thank the Government of Egypt for hosting the 12th Forum.

    Dear Friends,

    You represent urban areas which are home to more than half of humanity. 
     
    You are on the frontlines of shaping a more inclusive, connected and resilient world.  
     
    And you are at the heart of where lasting change happens. 

    As your theme rightly puts it: “It all starts at home”.

    Real progress begins at the local level.

    On the ground.

    In communities and people’s lives.

    World leaders have just adopted the Pact for the Future.

    It is an important new tool to advance our vital work, accelerate the SDGs, and address inequalities.

    It calls for ensuring adequate, safe and affordable housing for all — and supporting developing countries to plan and implement just, safe, healthy, accessible, resilient and sustainable cities. 

    We need this more than ever.

    Cities generate 70 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions. And municipal waste is set to rise by two-thirds within a generation.

    Not only are cities powerful engines of social and economic development, they are also catalysts of sustainable solutions. 

    I see local and regional authorities as a crucial part of the answer on so many issues and at every level, including at the United Nations.

    We can all benefit from your insights and ideas. 

    That’s why I created the UN Advisory Group on Local and Regional Governments.

    I know over the next five days this Forum will have the chance to delve into the complexities and opportunities of sustainable urban development.

    I invite you to seek innovations and inspiration and take them back to your communities.  

    And to help develop infrastructure and public services for all, including women and girls.

    Local actions are the building blocks for future green, just and resilient cities.

    Together, let’s make sustainable urbanization a reality.

    And let’s ensure that no one and nowhere is left behind.

    Thank you.

    *****

    يسعدني أن أشارك في المنتدى الحضري العالمي.
             إنه لمِن الملائم أن تجتمعوا في القاهرة – هذه المدينة الضخمة النابضة بالحياة والمستقطبة للابتكار والإبداع على مدى أكثر من ألف عام.
             أشكر حكومة مصر على استضافتها للمنتدى الثاني عشر.
             أيها الأصدقاء الأعزاء،
             أنتم تمثلون المناطق الحضرية التي تسكنها أكثر من نصف البشرية.
             ما يعني أنكم في طليعة مَن يرسمون ملامح عالم أكثر شمولاً وترابطاً وقدرةً على التكيف.
             وأنكم موجودون في قلب المكان الذي تحدث فيه التغييرات الدائمة.
             إن الموضوع الذي اخترتموه للمنتدى يعبّر أصدق تعبير بأن ”كل الأمور تبدأ من البيت“.
             فإحراز التقدم الحقيقي يبدأ أول ما يبدأ على المستوى المحلي.
             على الأرض.
             داخل المجتمعات المحلية وفي حياة الناس.
             لقد اعتمد قادة العالم للتو ميثاق المستقبل.
             وهو أداة جديدة هامة الغرض منها هو الدفع بعملنا الحيوي والتعجيل في تحقيق أهداف التنمية المستدامة والتصدي لأوجه عدم المساواة.
             وهو يدعو إلى ضمان توفير السكن الملائم والآمن والميسور التكلفة للجميع، وإلى دعم البلدان النامية في تخطيط وتنفيذ مدن عادلة وآمنة وصحية وميسورة التكلفة ومستدامة وقادرة على التكيف.
             ونحن اليوم أحوج ما نكون إلى ذلك أكثر من أي وقت مضى.
             فالمدن تولّد 70 في المائة من انبعاثات غازات الاحتباس الحراري. ومن المتوقع أن يزيد حجم النفايات البلدية بنسبة الثلثين خلال جيل واحد.
             بيد أن المدن ليست محركات قوية للتنمية الاجتماعية والاقتصادية فحسب، بل هي أيضا محفِّزات للحلول المستدامة.
             إنني أرى في السلطات المحلية والإقليمية جزءا أساسيا من الحل في العديد من القضايا وعلى جميع المستويات، بما في ذلك في الأمم المتحدة.
             ويمكننا جميعا الاستفادة مما تبدونه من آراء متبصّرة وتطرحونه من أفكار نيِّرة.
             ولهذا السبب أنشأتُ فريق الأمم المتحدة الاستشاري المعني بالحكومات المحلية والإقليمية.
             أنا أعلم أن هذا المنتدى سيحظى خلال الأيام الخمسة المقبلة بفرصة الخوض في ما تحمله التنمية الحضرية المستدامة من تعقيدات وما تتيحه من فرص.
             لذ، أدعوكم للسعي إلى استنباط الابتكارات وتلمُّس الأفكار الملهِمة كي تحملوها معكم إلى مجتمعاتكم المحلية.
             كما أدعوكم إلى تطوير البنى التحتية والخدمات العامة للجميع، بما في ذلك للنساء والفتيات.
             إن ما تتخذونه من إجراءات محلية سيشكل اللبِنات الأساسية لبناء مدن خضراء وعادلة وقادرة على التكيف في المستقبل.
             فلنعمل معاً كي نجعل من التحضر المستدام حقيقة واقعة.
             ولنضمن ألا يتخلف أحد، في أي مكان، عن الركب.
             شكراً لكم.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: African Development Bank-backed research highlights potential of health tech to boost Africa’s health systems

    Source: African Development Bank Group

    A new study co-funded by the African Development Bank finds that applying technology to healthcare delivery, management, and research could provide more Africans with universal health coverage and significantly advance Africa’s progress towards achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

    The report, titled Policy Blueprint to Fast-Track Healthtech Innovations in Public Health in Africa, examined the potential of health technology innovations – called healthtech to benefit patients, health systems and communities across the continent. Commissioned by HealthTech Hub Africa and produced by VillageReach, the study was funded by UBS Optimus Foundation and the African Development Bank Group’s Innovation and Entrepreneurship Lab with financing from the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs.

    The study, conducted between May 2023 and February 2024, involved data collection and stakeholder consultation with innovators, startups, investors, civil society, and government and civil society representatives across 11 African countries — Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, and Cameroon.

    The findings offer policy guidance, specific actions and practical examples to accelerate healthtech in Africa while supporting innovation development, testing and sustainability.

    Dr. Babatunde Omilola, the African Development Bank’s Manager for Public Health, Security and Social Protection, emphasized the timeliness of the report. “This policy blueprint comes at a very opportune time as it gives policy directions to governments across Africa who are witnessing increased entrepreneurs involved in developing innovative healthtech products. The policy guidance will help create an enabling environment for products that can improve healthcare access and quality while reducing costs for millions.”

    The report identified several challenges hindering mainstreaming health tech in Africa, including:

    • Lack of unified, comprehensive and updated policies
    • Complex licensing processes
    • Fragmented and poorly digitized health data systems
    • Insufficient funding and innovation incentives

    To address these issues, the report recommends:

    • Strengthening dialogue and coordination among healthtech stakeholders
    • Refining policies on health data access and interoperability
    • Accelerating innovation while safeguarding data

    The study aligns with the African Development Bank’s broader efforts to improve healthcare across the continent. In 2022, the Bank approved its Strategy for Quality Health Infrastructure for Africa 2022-2030, which supports facilities like connection to water and sanitation, energy, transport, and communications services. In 2020, it adopted the Pharmaceutical Sector Action Plan to enhance local production capacities of medicines and vaccines and support research and development of pharmaceutical products.

    Click here to read the report.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-Evening Report: West Papuan outcry over Prabowo’s plan to revive transmigration

    By Victor Mambor in Jayapura

    Just one day after President Prabowo Subianto’s inauguration, a minister announced plans to resume the transmigration programme in eastern Indonesia, particularly in Papua, saying it was needed for enhancing unity and providing locals with welfare.

    Transmigration is the process of moving people from densely populated regions to less densely populated ones in Indonesia, Southeast Asia’s most populous country with 285 million people.

    The ministry intends to revitalise 10 zones in Papua, potentially using local relocation rather than bringing in outsiders.

    The programme will resume after it was officially paused in Papua 23 years ago.

    “We want Papua to be fully united as part of Indonesia in terms of welfare, national unity and beyond,” Muhammad Iftitah Sulaiman Suryanagara, the Minister of Transmigration, said during a handover ceremony on October 21.

    Iftitah promised strict evaluations focusing on community welfare rather than on relocation numbers. Despite the minister’s promises, the plan drew an outcry from indigenous Papuans who cited social and economic concerns.

    Papua, a remote and resource-rich region, has long been a flashpoint for conflict, with its people enduring decades of military abuse and human rights violations under Indonesian rule.

    Human rights abuses
    Prabowo, a former army general, was accused of human rights abuses in his military career, including in East Timor (Timor-Leste) during a pro-independence insurgency against Jakarta rule.

    Simon Balagaize, a young Papuan leader from Merauke, highlighted the negative impacts of transmigration efforts in Papua under dictator Suharto’s New Order during the 1960s.

    “Customary land was taken, forests were cut down, and the indigenous Malind people now speak Javanese better than their native language,” he told BenarNews.

    The Papuan Church Council stressed that locals desperately needed services, but could do without more transmigration.

    “Papuans need education, health services and welfare – not transmigration that only further marginalises landowners,” Reverend Dorman Wandikbo, a member of the council, told BenarNews.

    Transmigration into Papua has sparked protests over concerns about reduced job opportunities for indigenous people, along with broader political and economic impacts.

    Apei Tarami, who joined a recent demonstration in South Sorong, Southwest Papua province, warned of consequences, stating that “this policy affects both political and economic aspects of Papua.”

    Human rights ignored
    Meanwhile, human rights advocate Theo Hasegem criticised the government’s plans, arguing that human rights issues are ignored and non-Papuans could be endangered because pro-independence groups often target newcomers.

    “Do the president and vice-president guarantee the safety of those relocated from Java,” Hasegem told BenarNews.

    The programme, which dates to 1905, has continued through various administrations under the guise of promoting development and unity.

    Indonesia’s policy resumed post-independence on December 12, 1950, under President Sukarno, who sought to foster prosperity and equitable development.

    It also aimed to promote social unity by relocating citizens across regions.

    Transmigration involving 78,000 families occurred in Papua from 1964 to 1999, according to statistics from the Papua provincial government. That would equal between 312,000 and 390,000 people settling in Papua from other parts of the country, assuming the average Indonesian family has 4 to 5 people.

    The programme paused in 2001 after a Special Autonomy Law required regional regulations to be followed.

    Students hold a rally at Abepura Circle in Jayapura, the capital of Indonesia’s Papua Province, yesterday to protest against Indonesia’s plan to resume a transmigration programme, Image: Victor Mambor/BenarNews

    Legality questioned
    Papuan legislator John N.R. Gobay questioned the role of Papua’s six new autonomous regional governments in the transmigration process. He cited Article 61 of the law, which mandates that transmigration proceed only with gubernatorial consent and regulatory backing.

    Without these clear regional regulations, he warned, transmigration lacks a strong legal foundation and could conflict with special autonomy rules.

    He also pointed to a 2008 Papuan regulation stating that transmigration should proceed only after the Indigenous Papuan population reaches 20 million. In 2023, the population across six provinces of Papua was about 6.25 million, according to Indonesia’s Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS).

    Gobay suggested prioritising local transmigration to better support indigenous development in their own region.

    ‘Entrenched inequality’
     British MP Alex Sobel, chair of the International Parliamentarians for West Papua, expressed concern over the programme, noting its role in drastic demographic shifts and structural discrimination in education, land rights and employment.

    “Transmigration has entrenched inequality rather than promoting prosperity,” Sobel told BenarNews, adding that it had contributed to Papua remaining Indonesia’s poorest regions.

    Pramono Suharjono, who transmigrated to Papua, Indonesia, in 1986, harvests oranges on his land in Arso II in Keerom regency last week. Image: Victor Mambor/BenarNews]

    Pramono Suharjono, a resident of Arso II in Keerom, Papua, welcomed the idea of restarting the programme, viewing it as positive for the region’s growth.

    “This supports national development, not colonisation,” he told BenarNews.

    A former transmigrant who has served as a local representative, Pramono said transmigration had increased local knowledge in agriculture, craftsmanship and trade.

    However, research has shown that longstanding social issues, including tensions from cultural differences, have marginalised indigenous Papuans and fostered resentment toward non-locals, said La Pona, a lecturer at Cenderawasih University.

    Papua also faces a humanitarian crisis because of conflicts between Indonesian forces and pro-independence groups. United Nations data shows between 60,000 and 100,000 Papuans were displaced between and 2022.

    As of September 2024, human rights advocates estimate 79,000 Papuans remain displaced even as Indonesia denies UN officials access to the region.

    Pizaro Gozali Idrus in Jakarta contributed to this report. Republished with the permission of BenarNews.

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI: Bitget Brings Early Access to Zircuit (ZRC) with Pre-Market Launch Ahead of Spot Trading

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    VICTORIA, Seychelles, Nov. 04, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bitget, the leading cryptocurrency exchange and Web3 company, has announced the listing of Zircuit (ZRC) on its pre-market trading platform, providing early access to this new token before it enters spot trading. Users can now engage in ZRC/USDT trades on Bitget’s platform, giving traders an exclusive opportunity to interact with ZRC ahead of its full listing.

    Bitget’s pre-market trading platform allows users to engage in over-the-counter transactions of new tokens before their official listing. This feature offers a peer-to-peer marketplace where buyers and sellers can negotiate prices, facilitating advanced liquidity and strategic investment opportunities. Participants can secure coins at favorable prices, allowing for optimized investments without the immediate need for sellers to possess the coins.

    Zircuit, a fully EVM-compatible protocol, leverages zero-knowledge rollup technology to provide a highly efficient, scalable environment for transactions. This new addition aligns with Bitget’s focus on integrating advanced blockchain solutions, enhancing user experience, and expanding digital asset availability. With a total supply of 10 billion tokens, ZRC represents Bitget’s commitment to broadening its offerings and introducing technologies that support secure and effective blockchain interactions.

    Through Bitget’s pre-market trading platform, users can explore trades and set prices before an asset’s public listing. This OTC (over-the-counter) setup enables buyers and sellers to agree on terms and reserve liquidity in advance, offering flexibility and access to price discovery prior to market entry. Unlike typical spot trading, pre-market trades on Bitget allow sellers to complete transactions even if they do not initially hold the required coins, as long as they acquire them before the final delivery time. This unique structure is designed to empower both parties to achieve optimal trading results.

    The pre-market launch of Zircuit highlights Bitget’s continuous efforts to provide flexible, user-centric solutions in the evolving digital asset landscape. This initiative reaffirms Bitget’s drive to offer innovative trading opportunities that accommodate diverse user needs and enhance accessibility within the crypto sector.

    Bitget has established itself as one of the leading crypto spot trading platforms, offering a diverse selection of over 800 coins and more than 900 trading pairs across various ecosystems, including Ethereum, Solana, Base, and recently, TON. The pre-market platform, launched in April 2024, has facilitated early access to over 150 high-profile projects such as EigenLayer (EIGEN), Zerolend (ZERO), Notcoin (NOT), and ZkSync (ZKSYNC), providing a unique opportunity for investors to engage with emerging tokens at an early stage. The addition of ZRC to this lineup further enhances Bitget’s commitment to offering users access to promising Web3 projects.

    For more information on Zircuit tokens on Pre-market, please visit here.

    About Bitget

    Established in 2018, Bitget is the world’s leading cryptocurrency exchange and Web3 company. Serving over 45 million users in 150+ countries and regions, the Bitget exchange is committed to helping users trade smarter with its pioneering copy trading feature and other trading solutions, while offering real-time access to Bitcoin price, Ethereum price, and other cryptocurrency prices. Formerly known as BitKeep, Bitget Wallet is a world-class multi-chain crypto wallet that offers an array of comprehensive Web3 solutions and features including wallet functionality, token swap, NFT Marketplace, DApp browser, and more. 

    Bitget is at the forefront of driving crypto adoption through strategic partnerships, such as its role as the Official Crypto Partner of the World’s Top Football League, LALIGA, in EASTERN, SEA and LATAM market, as well as a global partner of Turkish National athletes Buse Tosun Çavuşoğlu (Wrestling world champion), Samet Gümüş (Boxing gold medalist) and İlkin Aydın (Volleyball national team), to inspire the global community to embrace the future of cryptocurrency.

    For more information, visit: Website | Twitter | Telegram | LinkedIn | Discord | Bitget Wallet

    For media inquiries, please contact: media@bitget.com

    Risk Warning: Digital asset prices may fluctuate and experience price volatility. Only invest what you can afford to lose. The value of your investment may be impacted and it is possible that you may not achieve your financial goals or be able to recover your principal investment. You should always seek independent financial advice and consider your own financial experience and financial standing. Past performance is not a reliable measure of future performance. Bitget shall not be liable for any losses you may incur. Nothing here shall be construed as financial advice.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/0d74c17b-7ff1-480e-860e-8637bed3ed20

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: ADB, Partners Mark Start of Construction of Tina River Hydropower Project in Solomon Islands

    Source: Asia Development Bank

    HONIARA, SOLOMON ISLANDS (5 November 2024) — The Asian Development Bank (ADB) today joined project partners in Solomon Islands for a ceremony to mark the beginning of construction of the Tina River main dam structure.

    Solomon Islands Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele led the commissioning ceremony. He was joined by ADB Director General for the Pacific Leah Gutierrez, World Bank Country Director for Papua New Guinea and the Pacific Islands Stephen Ndegwa, Australia’s High Commissioner to Solomon Islands Rod Hilton, other senior government officials, and representatives from Korea Water Resources Corporation, Hyundai Engineering Corporation Limited, and Tina Hydropower Limited.

    “This transformational project will support the development of renewable energy to supply electricity to the capital, Honiara,” said Ms. Gutierrez. “This project is a testament to the power of partnerships that has prioritized climate change action, sustainability, and community development.”

    The 15-megawatt hydropower plant will be developed on the Tina River, just outside Honiara, which will reduce the country’s reliance on imported fossil fuels.

    Tina Hydropower Limited, a special project company, consisting of Korea Water Resources Corporation and Hyundai Engineering Corporation Limited, implements the project through a build-operate-own-transfer scheme.

    ADB supports the project with a $18 million loan from its concessional ordinary capital resources and a $12 million grant from the Asian Development Fund, which provides grants to ADB’s poorest and most vulnerable developing member countries.

    Other project partners include the Abu Dhabi Development Fund, Australian government, Export–Import Bank of Korea, and the Green Climate Fund. 

    ADB is committed to achieving a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific, while sustaining its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty. Established in 1966, it is owned by 69 members—49 from the region.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau meets with United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi

    Source: Government of Canada – Prime Minister

    Today, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi.

    Prime Minister Trudeau and High Commissioner Grandi discussed the unprecedented nature of the current global refugee crisis, which is fuelled by more intense and longer lasting conflicts and the growing effects of climate change. The Prime Minister recognized the valuable role that the High Commissioner and his office (UNHCR) play in providing protection and humanitarian assistance to refugees and other forcibly displaced people.

    Prime Minister Trudeau expressed his concern over the growing humanitarian impacts arising from the situation in the Middle East and acknowledged the important role that the UNHCR is playing in responding to the needs of those forcibly displaced in both Lebanon and Syria. The two leaders also discussed the human dimension of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, including its impacts on internally displaced people and refugees. Additionally, Prime Minister Trudeau expressed his concern over the humanitarian impacts of the crisis in Sudan and underscored Canada’s support for those affected by it.

    The Prime Minister strongly underscored Canada’s commitment to the UNHCR and its support for the organization’s work to make a positive difference in the lives of refugees. Prime Minister Trudeau thanked the High Commissioner for the UNHCR’s dedication to protecting the most vulnerable in difficult circumstances.

    The two leaders reaffirmed the strong partnership between Canada and the UNHCR, and they agreed to stay in close contact.

    Associated Links 

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: U.S. Marines, Sailors conclude MRF-D 24.3 rotation, strengthening regional partnerships

    Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

    DARWIN, Northern Territory, Australia  –  

    U.S. Marines and Sailors with Marine Rotational Force – Darwin 24.3 completed a six-month rotation to Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia, closing a deployment marked by a series of multinational exercises and partnership engagements across the Indo-Pacific region from April to October.

    The rotational deployment is part of a 25-year agreement established in 2011 between the United States and Australia to strengthen shared security goals under the Australian-U.S. Force Posture Initiatives. This year marks the third consecutive year the rotation was led by a California-based Marine infantry regiment, bringing approximately 2,000 U.S. Marines and Sailors to Australia’s Northern Territory for exercises and training events alongside the Australian Defence Force.

    During the rotation, U.S. Marines and Sailors with MRF-D 24.3 supported I Marine Expeditionary Force and U.S. Indo-Pacific Command’s operations, activities, and investments, enhancing the U.S-Australia alliance. As a forward-postured, scalable force capable of responding to crises and contingencies, MRF-D 24.3 participated in 16 large-scale exercises and operations across multiple countries, including but not limited to Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands.

    “The time the Marines and Sailors have spent in Darwin has been incredibly rewarding, both professionally and personally,” said U.S. Marine Corps Col. Brian T. Mulvihill, the commanding officer of the MRF-D 24.3 Marine Air-Ground Task Force. “The Australian people have welcomed us like family, and our training with the Australian Defence Force has been tough and realistic and has enhanced our unit readiness.”

    MRF-D 24.3 deployed as a MAGTF comprised of four elements: 5th Marine Regiment served as the command element; 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment (Reinforced) served as the ground combat element; Combat Logistics Battalion 5 (Reinforced) served as the logistics combat element; and Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 268 (Reinforced) served as the aviation combat element.

    MAGTF elements rehearsed humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations, amphibious integration, and participated in multinational combined-arms training, becoming better prepared to respond to crisis or contingencies alongside our Allies and partners. Advancements in joint logistics allowed MRF-D to expand distribution networks and improve contracted support for faster transport of repair supplies. U.S. Navy medical personnel made notable contributions to health initiatives during the deployment, through leading fresh whole-blood transfusion training, supporting mental health programs with the ADF, and earning certifications to work alongside Australian healthcare professionals in the Royal Darwin Hospital. MRF-D 24.3 highlighted the strong Australian-U.S. Alliance and advanced partnerships in the Indo-Pacific region through a series of combined training events, collaboration and shared commemoration.

    “The bond with our Australian Defence Force brothers and sisters is as strong as it has ever been,” said Mulvihill. “Through interoperability with the Australian Defence Force, their professionalism and expertise have made our units more ready, contributing to regional stability in the Indo-Pacific.”

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI China: 136th Canton Fair wraps up with record int’l buyer attendance

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    Buyers select massage machines at the 136th China Import and Export Fair in Guangzhou, south China’s Guangdong Province, Nov. 4, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

    The 136th Canton Fair, officially known as the China Import and Export Fair, concluded on Monday in Guangzhou, south China, recording a historic high in terms of overseas buyer attendance, according to data from the organizers.

    As of Sunday, a total of 253,000 overseas buyers from 214 countries and regions had attended the event, marking an increase of 2.8 percent compared to the previous edition held from April 15 to May 5 this year, setting a new record, Zhou Shanqing, deputy director of China Foreign Trade Center and head of the fair’s media center, told a press conference held on Monday.

    Buyers from countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) accounted for over 60 percent of the attendance. The number of buyers from Middle East countries grew the most, reaching 34,000 or a surge of 32.6 percent compared with the previous edition. There was also a notable rise in the number of buyers from the United States and European countries, with 54,000 attending, an 8.2-percent increase from the previous edition.

    The intended turnover of export transactions at this session reached 24.95 billion U.S. dollars, 1 percent higher than the previous session. Notably, transactions with Belt and Road partner countries accounted for more than half of this total, while transaction volumes involving buyers from Europe and the United States both logged growth.

    Yang Zhusong, an associate professor at the School of Public Policy and Management, Tsinghua University, said that the growing number of exhibitors at the fair is a microcosm of China’s influence in global import and export trade.

    The increase in buyer attendance from Europe and the United States is attributable not merely to their confidence in China’s huge market potential but also to China’s efficient manufacturing prowess, which provides a complete industrial chain of services, Yang said.

    The attendance of increasing number of enterprises from Belt and Road partner countries indicates that China’s cooperation with these countries is pragmatic and the benefits are mutual, according to Yang.

    Christian Noll, a buyer from Germany, was still busy on the last day of the fair. Focused mainly on garments, he browsed some booths and settled on a cooperation plan with a partner from Fuzhou in east China’s Fujian Province.

    “It is the biggest trade show I’ve ever seen. Normally trade shows happen every two years or at most once a year, to allow companies to innovate in between. This show occurs twice a year and each time the size is amazing, and there is a lot of new stuff. This is the coolest show on the planet,” said Noll.

    Having attended the fair for four consecutive years, Moulay Elkamel, a buyer from Morocco, described his latest trip to China as “beyond delightful.”

    “I’ve met great friends and partners and have seen many interesting products. It’s a pity the fair only lasts for half a month. I plan to come back for the show next year in April. There are already some orders ready for settlement,” Elkamel said.

    Themed “Serving high-quality development, promoting high-level opening up,” the 136th Canton Fair featured more than 30,000 exhibitors showcasing 1.15 million new products.

    Yang said international buyers are leveraging the Canton Fair as a platform to forge deeper, more mutually advantageous and promising partnerships with Chinese companies.

    The continuous development of “Made in China” and “Created in China” is also injecting fresh impetus into the growth of global industrial and supply chains, Yang added.

    Chu Shijia, deputy director and secretary general of the fair and head of China Foreign Trade Center, said that the continuous expansion of the Canton Fair reflects the growth and strength of China’s foreign trade, and demonstrates China’s unwavering determination to open wider to the outside world, providing new opportunities for the world with the country’s new development and contributing to the development of an open global economy.

    Founded in 1957, the Canton Fair is held twice a year in Guangzhou, the capital of Guangdong Province. It is the longest-running of several comprehensive international trading events in China, and is hailed as the barometer of China’s foreign trade.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: 12th World Urban Forum kicks off in Egypt

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi (at the podium) speaks at the opening ceremony of the 12th session of the World Urban Forum in New Cairo, Egypt, on Nov. 4, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

    The 12th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF12) kicked off on Monday in New Cairo, Egypt, marking the forum’s first return to Africa in more than two decades.

    Addressing the opening ceremony, Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi said this year’s WUF convenes at a critical time, as successive global crises, including devastating wars, have catastrophic repercussions for cities and urban communities.

    This requires efforts and political will to establish peace, terminate conflicts, and prioritize development, and reconstruction, he added.

    Noting the ongoing wars and conflicts in the Middle East, primarily the war in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon, he urged urgent response to end the bloodshed and destruction, and to embark on processes of reconstruction and development.

    Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said the Israeli offensive has damaged 80 percent of facilities, hospitals, and buildings in the Gaza Strip. He noted more than 150,000 Palestinians were either killed or wounded, calling on the international community to take their responsibilities to stop the Israeli offensive.

    At the opening ceremony, the Egyptian president announced the launch of the “National Smart Cities Strategy” and the “National Green Urbanization Strategy,” which aim to reinforce ongoing national endeavors in promoting urbanization.

    Co-organized by the United Nations Human Settlements Program (UN-Habitat) and the Egyptian government, the WUF12 will run until Friday, attracting attendees such as government officials, academics, business people, community leaders, urban planners and civil society representatives. A delegation led by Chinese Minister of Housing and Urban-Rural Development Ni Hong also attended the opening ceremony.

    The WUF was established in 2001 by the United Nations to examine urbanization and its impact on communities, cities, economies, climate change and policies. The first WUF was held in Nairobi, Kenya in 2002.

    During the conference, Azerbaijan was announced as the next host for the forum. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: The Gambia: International Monetary Fund (IMF) Staff Reaches Staff-Level Agreement on the Second Review of the Extended Credit Facility Arrangement

    Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:

    WASHINGTON D.C., United States of America, November 5, 2024/APO Group/ —

    • IMF staff and the Gambian authorities have reached a staff-level agreement on economic policies to conclude the second review of the program under the Extended Credit Facility (ECF) arrangement.
    • Economic recovery is strengthening while inflation has decelerated significantly.
    • The Gambia’s reform agenda is advancing despite challenges to fiscal policy.

    An International Monetary Fund (IMF) team, led by Ms. Eva Jenkner, held discussions in Washington DC with the Gambian authorities. The discussions followed those in Banjul from September 30 to October 11, 2024 (see PR 24/367). A staff-level agreement was reached on the second review of the program supported under the 36-month Extended Credit Facility (ECF) arrangement approved in January 2024 for total access of SDR 74.64 million (about US$99.4 million). Subject to approval by the IMF’s Executive Board, the completion of the review would enable a disbursement of SDR 8.29 million (about US$11.04 million), bringing the total disbursement under the arrangement to about US$33.1 million. The Board date is tentatively scheduled for December 20, 2024.

    At the conclusion of the discussions, Ms. Jenkner issued the following statement:

    “The authorities remain committed to their reform agenda and program objectives.

    “Economic activity is strengthening. Economic growth remains estimated at 5.8 percent for 2024, supported by agriculture, services, telecom, and construction sectors. Inflation reached 10 percent at end-September 2024, from a peak of 18.5 percent at end-September 2023, remaining above the central bank’s medium-term objective of 5 percent.

    “Continued policy discussions mainly focused on the fiscal trajectory for 2024 and 2025 with the aim of maintaining fiscal responsibility. This includes increasing the room for responding to large social and developmental needs, protecting the most vulnerable, addressing climate related risks and vulnerabilities, and ensuring gradual clearance of central government arrears and unsettled commitments.

    “The ECF supported program is anchored on a medium-term fiscal framework aiming to reduce debt vulnerabilities and to maintain overall macrofinancial stability.

    “The mission would like to thank its counterparts for candid and constructive discussions.”

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI China: Hehe Culture ambassadors honored for promoting cultural exchange

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    The 2024 Global Forum on Hehe Culture was held in Taizhou, Zhejiang province, on Saturday. 

    Essam Sharaf (C), former Egyptian prime minister and Orchid Awards recipient, Erik Solheim (R), former U.N. under-secretary-general, and Piet Steel (L), honorary chairman of the Europe-Asia Center and a member of the Board of Directors of Special Olympics, are honored ambassadors of Hehe Culture during a forum in Taizhou, Zhejiang province, on Nov. 2, 2024. [Photo/China.org.cn]
    To honor the contributions of those in promoting Chinese cultural values and facilitating cultural exchange, the forum’s organizing committee named three distinguished global figures as ambassadors of Hehe Culture. They were Essam Sharaf, former Egyptian prime minister and Orchid Awards recipient, Erik Solheim, former U.N. under-secretary-general, and Piet Steel, honorary chairman of the Europe-Asia Center and a member of the Board of Directors of the Special Olympics .
    Launched at the 2023 Global Forum on Hehe Culture, the Cultural Ambassadors of Hehe Culture program is a joint initiative by China International Communications Group, the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Zhejiang Provincial Committee, the CPC Taizhou Municipal Committee, and the Taizhou municipal government, as part of their efforts to implement the Global Civilization Initiative. Every year, the program honors individuals who champion Chinese traditional culture, foster cultural exchange, and contribute to the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Secretary-General’s video message to COP29 Religious Leaders’ Summit

    Source: United Nations – English

    strong>Download the video: https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/downloads2.unmultimedia.org/public/video/evergreen/MSG+SG+/SG+1+Nov+24/3298308_MSG+SG+COP29+RELIGIOUS+LEADERS+SUMMIT+01+NOV+24.mp4

    Excellencies, dear friends,

    I want to thank you for coming together across faiths to help push for a successful outcome at COP29 in Baku.

    Our climate is in crisis — extreme temperatures, raging fires, droughts, and epic floods.

    No country is spared.

    And the poorest and most vulnerable are hardest hit.

    As faith leaders, your voices are essential to drive climate action and climate justice. 

    Action to ensure countries produce — by next year — new national climate action plans aligned with the imperative to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees.

    And justice so all countries have the resources to adapt to our changing planet and can transition — fast and fairly — to a sustainable and renewable future.

    This includes a much stronger flow of financial resources to developing countries, and a well-funded Loss and Damage Fund that supports those hardest hit by disasters.

    By standing together, you’re standing up for the future of the world we share.

    Thank you for being part of this vital effort for people and planet.
     

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Secretary-General’s message on World Tsunami Awareness Day [scroll down for French version]

    Source: United Nations – English

    his year marks the 20th anniversary of the Indian Ocean Tsunami – one of the deadliest disasters in recent history.  More than 230,000 people lost their lives.   

    On this World Tsunami Awareness Day, we honour the victims and recommit to protecting the 700 million people around the world who are at risk from tsunamis.

    The best way to do so is by all partners delivering on the United Nations Early Warnings for All initiative that helps ensure every person on Earth is alerted when tsunamis and other disasters are on the way.

    Education is vital to saving lives, and as this year’s theme reminds us, the participation of children and young people is critical. I urge governments and partners in coastal communities to raise awareness, so children and young people know how and where to evacuate to higher ground.

    Together, let’s ensure people’s futures are not swept away by tsunamis.  Let’s build resilience – now. 

    ***

    Cette année marque le vingtième anniversaire du tsunami survenu dans l’océan Indien, l’une des catastrophes les plus meurtrières de l’histoire récente, qui a coûté la vie à plus de 230 000 personnes.

    En cette Journée mondiale de sensibilisation aux tsunamis, nous honorons la mémoire des victimes et nous renouvelons notre engagement à protéger les 700 millions de personnes dans le monde qui sont menacées par les tsunamis.

    Le meilleur moyen d’y parvenir est que tous les partenaires mettent en œuvre l’initiative « Alertes précoces pour tous » des Nations Unies, qui permet d’alerter chaque personne sur Terre à l’approche de tsunamis ou d’autres catastrophes.

    L’éducation est essentielle pour sauver des vies et, comme le rappelle le thème de cette année, la participation des enfants et des jeunes est cruciale. J’invite les gouvernements et les partenaires dans les zones côtières à sensibiliser les populations, afin que les enfants et les jeunes sachent comment procéder, en cas d’évacuation, pour regagner des zones plus élevées.

    Ensemble, agissons pour que l’avenir de nos semblables ne soit pas balayé par les tsunamis. Renforçons la résilience, maintenant !
     

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI: Valeura Energy Inc.: Completion of Internal Restructuring

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SINGAPORE, Nov. 05, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Valeura Energy Inc. (TSX:VLE, OTCQX:VLERF) (“Valeura” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce the completion of an internal restructuring of its Thailand subsidiary companies. 

    Valeura’s working interests in all its Thai III fiscal contracts, covering the Nong Yao, Manora and Wassana fields, are now held by Valeura Energy (Thailand) Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Valeura, which previously had only held an interest in the Wassana asset.  The Company anticipates that the new structure offers the potential to optimise various operational and financial aspects of these assets.  In particular, the Company anticipates realising efficiencies through ongoing contracting and procurement, as well as the pooling of future costs and historical tax loss carry-forwards associated with these assets.  As of September 30, 2024, the cumulative tax loss carry-forwards are estimated at US$397 million(1).  

    Dr. Sean Guest, President and CEO commented:

    “Today marks a milestone in delivering value for our shareholders, and completes the integration work we started after our Gulf of Thailand acquisitions in 2022 and 2023.  Early on, we identified the potential for greater efficiency by bringing our Thai III assets together through a re-organisation; our team recognised that together, these assets are worth more than the sum of their parts. 

    Pursuing this type of synergy strengthens our ability to re-invest in the business for the benefit of all stakeholders.  We intend to continue investing directly into the many organic growth opportunities inherent in our Thailand portfolio, and also seeking new ways to provide further value, including through acquisition-led growth.”

    Under Thailand’s income tax provisions, from today forward, petroleum income tax for the three subject assets will be assessed as a single entity. Tax obligations relating to the previous subsidiary company arrangement are required to be assessed immediately and settled within the next 30 days. Taxation arrangements for the Jasmine field, which is governed by a different vintage of fiscal terms (known as Thai I), and held in a separate subsidiary entity, will continue unchanged. 

    (1) Unaudited internal management estimate based on Thai baht exchange rate as of November 1, 2024, subject to review by tax advisors and auditors.

    For further information, please contact:

    Valeura Energy Inc. (General Corporate Enquiries)  +65 6373 6940
    Sean Guest, President and CEO  
    Yacine Ben-Meriem, CFO  
    Contact@valeuraenergy.com  
       
    Valeura Energy Inc. (Investor and Media Enquiries)  +1 403 975 6752 / +44 7392 940495
    Robin James Martin, Vice President, Communications and Investor Relations  
    IR@valeuraenergy.com  
       

    Contact details for the Company’s advisors, covering research analysts and joint brokers, including Auctus Advisors LLP, Canaccord Genuity Ltd (UK), Cormark Securities Inc., Research Capital Corporation, and Stifel Nicolaus Europe Limited, are listed on the Company’s website at www.valeuraenergy.com/investor-information/analysts/.

    About Valeura

    Valeura Energy Inc. is a Canadian public company engaged in the exploration, development and production of petroleum and natural gas in Thailand and in Türkiye. The Company is pursuing a growth-oriented strategy and intends to re-invest into its producing asset portfolio and to deploy resources toward further organic and inorganic growth in Southeast Asia. Valeura aspires toward value accretive growth for stakeholders while adhering to high standards of environmental, social and governance responsibility.

    Additional information relating to Valeura is also available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

    Advisory and Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Information

    Certain information included in this news release constitutes forward-looking information under applicable securities legislation. Such forward-looking information is for the purpose of explaining management’s current expectations and plans relating to the future. Readers are cautioned that reliance on such information may not be appropriate for other purposes, such as making investment decisions. Forward-looking information typically contains statements with words such as “anticipate”, “believe”, “expect”, “plan”, “intend”, “estimate”, “propose”, “project”, “target” or similar words suggesting future outcomes or statements regarding an outlook. Forward-looking information in this news release includes, but is not limited to: the potential to optimise various operational and financial aspects, relating to such matters as ongoing contracting and procurement, as well as the pooling of future costs and historical tax loss carry-forwards associated with these assets and statements with respect to the growth opportunities inherent in the Company’s Thailand portfolio and the Company seeking new ways to provide further value.

    Forward-looking information is based on management’s current expectations and assumptions regarding, among other things: the ability of the Company to obtain the anticipated benefits from the internal restructuring; political stability of the areas in which the Company is operating; continued safety of operations and ability to proceed in a timely manner; continued operations of and approvals forthcoming from governments and regulators in a manner consistent with past conduct; future drilling activity on the required/expected timelines; the prospectivity of the Company’s lands; the continued favourable pricing and operating netbacks across its business; future production rates and associated operating netbacks and cash flow; decline rates; future sources of funding; future economic conditions; the impact of inflation of future costs; future currency exchange rates; interest rates; the ability to meet drilling deadlines and fulfil commitments under licences and leases; future commodity prices; the impact of the Russian invasion of Ukraine; royalty rates and taxes; future capital and other expenditures; the success obtained in drilling new wells and working over existing wellbores; the performance of wells and facilities; the availability of the required capital to funds its exploration, development and other operations, and the ability of the Company to meet its commitments and financial obligations; the ability of the Company to secure adequate processing, transportation, fractionation and storage capacity on acceptable terms; the capacity and reliability of facilities; the application of regulatory requirements respecting abandonment and reclamation; the recoverability of the Company’s reserves and contingent resources; ability to attract a partner to participate in its tight gas exploration/appraisal play in Türkiye; future growth; the sufficiency of budgeted capital expenditures in carrying out planned activities; the impact of increasing competition; the ability to efficiently integrate assets and employees acquired through acquisitions; global energy policies going forward; future debt levels; and the Company’s continued ability to obtain and retain qualified staff and equipment in a timely and cost efficient manner. In addition, the Company’s work programmes and budgets are in part based upon expected agreement among joint venture partners and associated exploration, development and marketing plans and anticipated costs and sales prices, which are subject to change based on, among other things, the actual results of drilling and related activity, availability of drilling, offshore storage and offloading facilities and other specialised oilfield equipment and service providers, changes in partners’ plans and unexpected delays and changes in market conditions. Although the Company believes the expectations and assumptions reflected in such forward-looking information are reasonable, they may prove to be incorrect.

    Forward-looking information involves significant known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Exploration, appraisal, and development of oil and natural gas reserves and resources are speculative activities and involve a degree of risk. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated by the Company including, but not limited to: the ability of management to execute its business plan or realise anticipated benefits from acquisitions; the risk of disruptions from public health emergencies and/or pandemics; competition for specialised equipment and human resources; the Company’s ability to manage growth; the Company’s ability to manage the costs related to inflation; disruption in supply chains; the risk of currency fluctuations; changes in interest rates, oil and gas prices and netbacks; potential changes in joint venture partner strategies and participation in work programmes; uncertainty regarding the contemplated timelines and costs for work programme execution; the risks of disruption to operations and access to worksites; potential changes in laws and regulations, the uncertainty regarding government and other approvals; counterparty risk; the risk that financing may not be available; risks associated with weather delays and natural disasters; and the risk associated with international activity. See the most recent annual information form and management’s discussion and analysis of the Company for a detailed discussion of the risk factors.

    The forward-looking information contained in this new release is made as of the date hereof and the Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless required by applicable securities laws. The forward-looking information contained in this new release is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.

    This announcement does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities in any jurisdiction, including where such offer would be unlawful. This announcement is not for distribution or release, directly or indirectly, in or into the United States, Ireland, the Republic of South Africa or Japan or any other jurisdiction in which its publication or distribution would be unlawful.

    Neither the Toronto Stock Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Toronto Stock Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

    This information is provided by Reach, the non-regulatory press release distribution service of RNS, part of the London Stock Exchange. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact rns@lseg.com or visit www.rns.com.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Year End Review 2024: Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation,

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Posted On: 25 JAN 2025 10:14AM by PIB Delhi

    The Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, Ministry of JalShakti has been working relentlessly towards achieving the vision and mission of making India a ‘Water Secure Country’ as envisioned by Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi. The Ministry of Jal Shakti, formed in 2019 by bringing together all water related departments and organizations under one umbrella Ministry, has been playing a pivotal role in implementation of a focused strategy towards making India ‘Water Secure’ while ensuring optimal utilization of precious and scarce water resources across the nation. During the year2024, the Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation has undertaken several new initiatives and achieved significant outcomes/milestones. Following is some of the key achievements of the Department in 2024:

    1.  ​National Mission forClean Ganga (NMCG)

    National Mission for Clean Ganga, in the year 2024, completed 25 projects which resulted in the completion of a cumulative total of 303 projects, sofar, and also sanctioned 39 new projects amounting to ₹ 2,056 crore, bringing the cumulative total to 488 projects sanctioned worth ₹ 39,730 crore. In sewerage infrastructure, 12 projects for the creation/ rehabilitation of 305 MLD sewage treatment capacity have been sanctioned between January to December 2024. In the same period, 16 projects for the creation/ rehabilitation of 750 MLD sewage treatment capacity have been completed. Till date, a total of 203 sewerage infrastructure projects have been sanctioned in the Ganga Basin for the creation of 6,255 MLD sewage treatment capacity and the laying of a 5,249 km sewer network.

    Other key achievements during the year 2024 are as follows:

     

    (A) Inauguration and Laying of Foundation Stones Sewerage infrastructure projects by Hon’ble Prime Minister (Under Nirmal Ganga)

     

    • On 25thJanuary 2024, the Hon’ble Prime Minister inaugurated the following projects with a cumulative cost of ₹ 790.5 Crores from Bulandshahr, Uttar Pradesh.

     

    1. Construction of 30 MLD STP at Masani, Mathura (under Hybrid Annuity-basedPPP (HAM) model under Namami Gange Program), Rehabilitation of existing (30 MLD at Trans Yamuna and 6.8 MLD STP at Masani, Mathura) total 36.8 MLD and Construction of 20 MLD TTRO plant (Tertiary Treatment and Reverse Osmosis Plant), Masani, Mathura 
    1. Construction of 58 MLD STP with 264 km and sewerage Network at Moradabad

     

    • On 1st March 2023, the Hon’ble Prime Minister inaugurated three projects worth
      ₹ 575 crore       from Hooghly, West Bengal. These projects include, 40 MLD STP work with Interception & Diversion at Bally, West Bengal, 60 MLD STP work with Interception & Diversion at Kamarhati and Baranagar Municipalities, West Bengal and 65 MLD STP work with Interception & Diversion at Howrah.

     

    • On 2nd March 2024, the Hon’ble Prime Minister inaugurated twelve projects worth ₹ 2,189 crore from Aurangabad, Bihar. These projects include 60 MLD STP and 162 km sewerage network at Saidpur, Patna, 60 MLD STP at Pahari, Patna, 93 km sewerage network at Pahari Zone IVA (S), Patna, 116 km sewerage network at Pahari Zone V, Patna, 180 km sewerage network at Beur, Patna, 96 km sewerage network at Karmalichak, Patna, 11 MLD STP at Barh, Patna, 10 MLD STP at Sultanganj, Bhagalpur, 9 MLD STP at Naugachia, Bhagalpur, 3.50 MLD STP at Sonepur, Saran, 32 MLD STP at Chhapra, Saran.

     

    • On 10th March 2024, the Hon’ble Prime Minister inaugurated three sewage projects worth ₹ 1,114 crore from Azamgarh, Uttar Pradesh. These projects include 72 MLD STP and I&D network work at Naini (District-G, 42 MLD), Phaphamau (District-F, 14 MLD) and Jhunsi (16 MLD), Prayagraj, 30 MLD STP and I&D network  work at Jaunpur and 45 MLD STP and I&D network work at Etawah.

     

    • On 2nd October 2024, the Hon’ble Prime Minister inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for ten sewage treatment plant (STP) projects with a total cost of ₹ 1,555 crore. Among these, five projects worth ₹ 534.25 crore were inaugurated across Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. Additionally, laid the foundation stone for five more projects across Bihar, Jharkhand, and Uttar Pradesh, amounting to ₹ 1,021 crore.

     

    (B) Inauguration and Laying of Foundation Stones Sewerage infrastructure projects by Hon’ble Union Minister of Jal Shakti (Under Nirmal Ganga)

     

    • On 4th January 2024, the Hon’ble Union Minister for Jal Shakti inaugurated 14 MLD Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) with a 2.4 km Interception & Diversion (I&D) Network worth ₹ 77.36 crores in Baghpat, Uttar Pradesh.

     

    • On 18th January 2024, the Hon’ble Union Minister for Jal Shakti laid the foundation stone for the 220 MLD Meerut sewage treatment plant (STP) with interception and diversion (I&D) project worth ₹ 370 crore in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh.

     

    1. Training on Occupational Health & Safety Audit

    NMCG organized 9 virtual safety training program and trained more than 1,500 officials on “Occupational Health and Safety Audit (OHSA)” From January 2024 to December 2024, to ensure workplace safety and compliance.

    1. Activities Under Biodiversity Conservation (Under Aviral Ganga)

     

    The programme has sanctioned projects focused on protecting and rehabilitating fishery, turtles, crocodiles, and dolphins. Projects Sanctioned in the year 2024 are as under :

     

    • Advancing Rescue System for the protection of stranded Ganges river Dolphins.
    • Conservation, Reintroduction, and Rehabilitation of threatened Turtles along ganga basin.

    · Expanding Conservation Breeding Programme of Freshwater Turtle and Gharial at Kukrail Rehabilitation Centre, Lucknow

    NMCG, in partnership with CIFRI, has successfully implemented fish ranching programs for Indian Major Carps and other species. In 2024, notable achievements include – Ranching of Indian Major Carps (IMC): 49.25 lakhs, Mahseer: 7,370, Hilsa: 42,117 and Hilsa tagging: 1,387 nos.

    1. Important Activities (under Jan Ganga)

     

    • Launch of Namami Niranjana Abhiyan: NMCG launched the “Namami Niranjana Abhiyan” on 20th February 2024, aimed at ensuring the perennial flow of the Niranjana (Falgu) river and bolstering the ongoing efforts of the “Niranjana (Falgu) River Recharge Mission”. The Falgu river, revered as Niranjana in Bodhgaya and Falgu in Gaya, originates from Belgadda in the Simaria block of Chatra district, Jharkhand, holding profound significance in the Hindu Sanatan religion. Pilgrims partake in rituals such as PindDaan and Tarpan for their ancestors using water from the Falgu river.
    • Celebration of International Day of Yoga: On the occasion of the International Day of Yoga, the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) organized ‘Ghat Par Yoga’ at BSF Camp, Zero Pushta, Sonia Vihar in Delhi on the bank of River Yamuna on 21st June, 2024. Over 1,000 people participated in the event including officials and staff from the NMCG, NGOs under the Yamuna Action Plan (YAP-III) of the Delhi Jal Board (DJB), the Border Security Force (BSF), Ganga Vichar Manch, various other NGOs, as well as students and children.
    • 8thIndia Water Week 2024: The 8th edition of India Water Week (IWW) 2024 was held during 17-20 September 2024, in New Delhi, on the theme “Partnerships and Cooperation for Inclusive Water Development and Management.” This prestigious international event has become a key platform for collaboration in water resource management. The event was inaugurated by the President of India,  alongside Hon’ble Union Minister of Jal Shakti, and Hon’ble Minister of State for Jal Shakti.

     

    • Ganga Utsav- A River Festival 2024: On 4th November 2024, the 8th edition of Ganga Utsav was organized by NMCG at scenic Chandi Ghat in Haridwar to promote the conservation of the Ganga River, emphasize its cultural and spiritual importance, and raise public awareness about cleanliness. The event was inaugurated by Hon’ble Union Minister of Jal Shakti in the august presence of the Hon’ble Union Minister of State for Jal Shakti, Hon’ble Uttarakhand Minister for Women & Child Welfare, Secretary, DoWR, RD & GR, Ministry of Jal Shakti, and DG, NMCG. This eighth edition of the event was the first time held on the riverbank, with celebrations extending across more than 110 districts in the Ganga basin states.The event featured participants from diverse spheres, including students, scientists, spiritual leaders, and more.
    • 9th India Water Impact Summit: The 9th India Water Impact Summit (IWIS) & 2nd Climate Investments and Technology Impact Summit were organised jointly by NMCG & c-Ganga from 4th to 6th December 2024 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.
    1. International Collaboration

     

    • Meeting with German Delegates: On 9th May 2024, a meeting was held with the Deputy Head of the Economic Division, German Embassy to discuss the current status of projects aimed at rejuvenating the Ganga River, supported through bilateral cooperation between India and Germany.
    • Workshop on Strengthening Quality Infrastructure for Water Monitoring of the Ganges River II: NMCG in association with Physikalisch- Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB)  under Indo-German Technical Cooperation Programme organised a 6-day training programme from 22nd July to 31st July 2024.
    • Inception Workshop for District Ganga Plans: On 5th July 2024, NMCG in association with GIZ organized an inception workshop for the District Ganga Plans. The workshop aimed to create comprehensive District Ganga Plans (DGPs) based on a River Basin Management approach, which has been prepared for four pilot districts.
    • Smart Laboratory for Clean Rivers (SLCR): The Smart Lab for Clean Rivers (SLCR) has been set up under the Green Strategic Partnership between India and Denmark to bring global solutions on current challenges in the field of clean river water, conduct collaborative research and development to fit in real environment through Living lab approach and creation of platform between Government authorities, academic institutions and technology providers for knowledge sharing and co-creation to achieve clean river water.
    • Meeting of the Joint Review Committee: On 9th October 2024, the first meeting of the Joint Review Committee (JRC) under the India-Israel Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was held under the chairmanship of DG, NMCG, to address priority areas such as reducing non-revenue water, urban water management through IoT and AI, wastewater treatment, and sewage sludge management.
    1.  Development of knowledge products (Under Gyan Ganga)

     

    The ‘River Atlas for Ganga Main Stem Districts’, an in-house developed knowledge product of the GKC was launched by the Hon’ble Minister of Jal Shakti on 09thDecember 2024 during the 13th Empowered Task Force Meeting. The atlas comprises maps of River Ganga and its tributaries, covering five main stem states in the Ganga basin – Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, and West Bengal. This comprehensive Atlas is essential for the effective implementation of policies and programs and accurate planning and informed decision-making.

     

    1. ​National Water Mission (NWM)
    • MoU with Girganga Parivar Trust (Girganga) has been signed on 22.10.2024 on Pro bono basis. They have committed to build 11,111 bore well recharge and 11,111 check dams.
    • MoU with Sarkaritel.com/jalprahari.in has been signed on 13.12.2024 on Pro bono basis. They have committed for generating awareness on Water Conservation in the public.
    • MoU with Vyakti Vikas Kendra India (VVKI), the Art of Living has been signed on 16.12.2024 on Pro bono basis. They have committed for creating of Water recharge structure with the help of implementing many River Rejuvenation Programs through Government scheme MGNREGA
    • Central Water and Power Research Station, Pune
    • Central Soil and Material Research Station, New Delhi
    • National Institute of Hydrology, Roorkee
    • Central Water Commission, New Delhi
    • Publication of research/ technical reports – 281 Nos.
    • Organisation of Trainings and workshops – 94 Nos.
    • Training of people for capacity building- 2623 persons
    • Publication of high impact technical report & research papers – 18 Nos.
    • 13 new research schemes has been recommended by Standing Advisory Committee and approved by Secretary (WR).
    • The research project “Hydro-geological Assessment and Socio-Economic implications of Depleting Water Resources in tourist towns of Uttarakhand” has been completed.
    • The research project “Irrigation Efficiency Improvement through On–farm Water Management” has been completed.
    • The research project “Dynamic Downscaling to study Climate Change Impacts on
    • Water Resource in India” has been completed.
    1. ​ National Water Development Agency (NWDA): Inter-Linking of Rivers Project

    Under National Perspective Plan (NPP) formulated by Government of India, 30 inter-basin water transfer links (16 Peninsular and 14 Himalayan component) have been identified by National Water Development Agency for preparation of Feasibility Reports. Detailed Projects Reports (DPRs) of 11 links, Feasibility Reports (FRs) of 26 links and Pre-Feasibility Reports (PFRs) of all the 30 links have been prepared. The Inter-Linking River (ILR) Programme has been taken up on high priority by Government of India. The works related to ILR projects are already in progress. Five links have been identified as priority links by Govt. of India viz., Ken-Betwa Link Project (KBLP), Modified Parbati-Kalisindh-Chambal Link Project (MPKC) and Godavari-Cauvery (G-C) Link Project (comprising of 3 link systems).

    System studies of four link projects viz.; Manas-Sanksoh-Teesta-Ganga (MSTG) link, Ganga-Damodar-Subernarekha (GDS) link, Subernarekha-Mahanadi (SM) link and Farakka-Sunderbans (FS) link have been initiated and the work of these four links has been awarded to IIT, Guwahati, NIT, Patna, NIT, Warangal and NIH, Roorkee respectively. Inception Reports have been submitted in June, 2023 by all the four Institutes. The draft final reports of MSTG and GDS have been submitted by the respective Institutes. The system studies of Mahanadi-Godavari link have been completed by NIH, Roorkee and the Final Report has been submitted in May, 2023. Awarding of work for system studies of southern linkage initiated, however, it may be taken up after finalization of quantity of water that can be transferred from MSTG, GDS, FS and SM link projects to Mahanadi river, as per system studies. 

    Ken-Betwa Link Project (KBLP): is the first inter-linking of rivers (ILR) project for which implementation has been initiated. The project will be of immense benefit to the water starved Bundelkhand Region, spread across the States of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh which includes districts of Panna, Tikamgarh, Niwari, Chhatarpur, Sagar, Damoh, Datia, Vidisha, Shivpur&Raisen and Banda, Mahoba, Jhansi & Lalitpur respectively. The status of KBLP is as given below:

     

    1. Subsequent to signing of tripartite agreement in year, 2021, Govt. of India approved implementation of the project in December, 2021 at an estimated cost of Rs. 44,605 Crore with central support of Rs. 39,317 Crore.
    2. With allocation of budget under RE of FY 2021-22, the implementation of the project has started.
    3. Steering Committee and Ken-Betwa Link Project Authority (KBLPA) were been constituted vide Gazette Notification dated 11.02.2022.
    4. KBLPA HQ Office is set up at Bhopal with three more offices at Chhatarpur, Panna and Jhansi, which are fully functional with regular CEO/ACEOs, Director (Fin.) and other officials.
    5. Six meetings of Steering Committee and Six meetings of KBLPA have been held so far.
    6. Initially the focus is on land acquisition, R&R, fulfilling the compliances to the conditions of forest clearance and wildlife clearance.
    7. Greater Panna Landscape Council (GPLC) under Chief Secretary, Govt. of MP has been constituted for implementation of Landscape Management Plan through various stakeholders. Its first meeting was held on 05.09.23. Sub-Committee of GPLC was constituted on 16.10.2023 and its 1st& 2nd meetings were held on 17.10.2023 & 29.11.2023 respectively.
    8. Planning for an Integrated Research and Learning Centre (IRLC) at Panna has already been initiated by WII.
    9. The Monitoring Committee for R&R works of KBLP under Secretary, DoLR, MoRD has been constituted.
    10. Collector, Chhattarpur has made payment of Rs. 197.23 Crore to the affected Families. Whereas, Collector Panna has made payment of Rs.76.82 Crore to the affected families of Panna. The remaining Land Acquisition Payment for Private land in both the districts are in Progress.
    11. The work for engagement of Project Management Consultant (PMC) is in process. 9 bids were received for PMC, Result of Technical Evaluation of Bids was published on the CPP Portal on 22.08.2024. The Financial Proposals of the 5 technically qualified firms were opened on 10.09.2024. 20 meetings of Consultancy Evaluation Committee (CEC) for hiring PMC have been held so far. 20th meeting of CEC was held on 11.09.2024 for financial evaluation of bids. After financial and technical evaluation of bids received, recommendations of the CEC have been submitted to DoWR,RD&GR, MoJS for approval on 13.09.2024.
    12. A Technical Advisory Group for KBLP (TAG-KBLP) for KBLPA has been constituted to review and advise KBLPA on various planning and technical matters on implementation of various components of the link project. 10 meetings of TAG have been held so far.
    13. The tender document for the main component of the project i.e. Daudhan dam and its Appurtenant works (EPC mode) was finalized by Technical Advisory Group of KBLP and the Tender Evaluation Committee (TEC) and floated on CPP portal on 11.08.2023.   The complete proposal of technical and financial evaluation of bids was sent to Ministry of Jal Shakti that has been approved by Ministry. Subsequently, KBLPA has issued Letter of Acceptance to M/s NCC Limited for the work of Daudhan dam on 28.11.2024.
    14. Stage–II Forest Clearance for diversion of 6017.00 ha of forest land for development of KBLP has been accorded by MoEF& CC on 03.10.2023.
    15. The draft tender for EPC execution of Ken-Betwa Link Canal is prepared in two packages and circulated to State Governments of MP and UP for their comments/suggestions. Suggestions from Govt. of UP have been received.
    16. PTR has accepted total 6017 ha non-forest land Transferred/ Mutated. Notification of 6017 ha has been completed by Forest Department under section-29 of Indian Forest Act-1927 and has been published.
    17. Land in submergence: 3239 ha (Govt. Land: 1784.67 ha + Private Land 1454.33 ha) of land is coming under submergence area of Daudhan Dam. Private land of 1454.33 ha and Government land of 1604.429 ha has been mutated in favour of WRD, MP. Balance 180.241 ha Government land is likely to be transferred to WRD, MP soon.
    18. Land Acquisition for Ken Betwa Link canal (99 villages of MP and 10 villages of UP) is under progress.
    19. The work on State specific components like Lower Orr, Kotha Barrage and Bina Complex Multipurpose Project is already in progress. Head Works of Lower Orr has been completed whereas Head Works for Kotha & Bina are ongoing.

    Cumulative Progress (%) upto December, 2024

    1. Lower Orr      : 67.00
    2. Kotha Barrage: 59.00
    3. Bina Complex: 50.20
    1. The preparation of DPRs of components of UP likes two barrages, renovation and modernization of Tanks of Mahoba district, renovation and modernization of three weirs and ken command system is in progress.
    2. Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji laid the Foundation Stone of KBLP on 25.12.2024 at Khajuraho (Madhya Pradesh).
    3. The project is planned to be completed in 8 years by March, 2030.

     

    Modified Parbati-Kalisindh-Chambal Link Project (MPKC):

     

    1. PFR has been circulated to concerned States. The work of DPRs is under progress.
    2. Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed on 28.01.2024 amongst States of MP, Rajasthan and Govt. of India.
    3. Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) of Modified Parbati-Kalisindh-Chambal link project has been signed on 05.12.2024 amongst States of MP, Rajasthan and Govt. of India. Subsequently Hon’ble Prime Minister declared the signing of the agreement on 17th December, 2024 at Rajasthan.

     

    Godavari-Cauvery (G-C) Link Project (comprising of 3 link systems):

     

    1. Modified proposal for transfer of 4189 MCM of water from Godavari along with supplementation in Krishna basin through Bedti-Varda link (524 MCM) has been studied by NWDA.
    2. Draft DPR of the modified /revised proposal has circulated to the concerned State/UT during Jan., 2024.
    3. Draft MoA has been prepared for implementation of the project and circulated to concerned State/UT for perusal and observation during April, 2024.
    4. Concerted efforts are being made for building up consensus amongst the States/UT for signing of MoA for the early implementation of this link project.

     

    8th India Water Week 2024:

     

    1. IWW-2024 was successfully organized/held from 17th to 20th September, 2024 at Bharat Mandapam, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi.
    2. The theme of the 8th India Water Week is “Partnerships and Cooperation for Inclusive Water Development and Management”.
    3. The mega event was inaugurated by the Hon’ble President of India.
    4. The four-day multi-disciplinary conference comprises of Ministerial Plenary, Global Water Leaders’ Plenary (2), Country Forum (4), Water Leaders Forum (9), Practitioner’s Forum (8), Startup Forum, Youth Forum, Water Convention (18) one-day study tour and concurrently organized exhibition. Denmark, Australia and Israel were the Partner Countries. There were 15 Partner States viz.; Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Kerala, Haryana, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, J&K, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka and Telangana.

    More than 4500 delegates from India & abroad participated in the IWW-2024. About 215 delegates from 40 countries participated in the conference. Parallel to the conference, in the exhibition 143 Exhibitors from Central, States Government, Public Sector undertakings, Private Firms, NGOs, Startups and Schools etc. showcased their technologies.

    1. ​ Central Water Commission (CWC)

          (i)   Central Water Commission has undertaken sedimentation assessment studies of selected reservoirs located in various States using Satellite Remote Sensing technique under the plan scheme “Research & Development Programme in Water Sector”. It is planned to take up the studies in respect of 80 reservoirs during 2021-26. Accordingly, the work of carrying out the study for the first batch of 40 reservoirs was outsourced.  Due to non-availability of either the desired water levels or satellite data for a reservoir on date of satellite pass, study in respect of 31 reservoirs was feasible which has been completed and reports published during 2022 to 2024. Besides this sedimentation studies in respect of 30 reservoirs have been completed in-house using Remote Sensing Techniques. Furthermore, a Google Earth Engine-based tool has also been developed by CWC officers, in-house under Smart Water Resources Modelling Organization (SWRMO) – Centre for Excellence, to automate the assessment of sedimentation in the live storage zone of reservoir.

          (ii)  A World Bank (WB) and Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) team conducted the Mid-Term Review (MTR) mission for the Second Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (DRIP-2) between January 17 and May 3, 2024. The mission held discussions with Implementing Agencies (IAs) in Bhubaneshwar (Odisha), Surat (Gujarat), and New Delhi and undertook field visits to selected dams in Gujarat (Ukai) and Odisha (Hirakud, Rengali). The wrap-up meeting was held in New Delhi, chaired by Joint Secretary, D/o WR, RD&GR, Ministry of Jal Shakti (MoJS) and attended by Project Director, Central Water Commission (CWC), members of the Central Project Management Unit (CPMU), the Engineering and Management Consultant (EMC), and representatives of all Implementing Agencies (IA). As part of the mission, a detailed exercise on the use of the rapid risk assessment tool for Indian dams, in compliance with the National Dam Safety Act 2021, was carried out between March 5 and May 3, 2024.

          (iii) The quarterly dialogues on Coastal Area Management, initiated as per the direction of the Chairman, Central Water Commission (CWC) was held in April and May 2024.These dialogues brought together stakeholders from various levels of government, research institutions, and relevant departments to discuss pressing issues such as coastal erosion, salinity ingress, and the need for robust data collection and management. The dialogues provided a platform for sharing information, best practices, and innovative solutions from all stakeholders. As an outcome of the Quarterly Dialogue, CWC has published a report titled “Status Report on Coastal Area Management- An Indian Perspective, Region Issues & Remedial Measures”. The report provides a comprehensive overview of the challenges and initiatives related to coastal management in India. The report highlights the significant impacts of coastal erosion and salinity ingress, emphasizing the need for robust data collection, effective mitigation strategies, and increased collaboration among stakeholders.

    (iv) A Smart Water Resources Modelling Organization acts as Centre of Excellence to grow as a pioneering hub for developing in-house expertise and innovation in tackling diverse problem statements and studies in water sector and directly reports to Chairman, CWC.

    (v) Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed on 06.06.2024between Central Water Commission (CWC) and IIT, Roorkeefor research work related to Irrigation Efficiency Assessment, Water Accounting studies, Cropped Area Mapping, Water Auditing, Urban Flood Forecasting & Risk Management, Urban Flood Inundation & Hazard Mapping, etc. These works will be carried out through mutual consultations and collaboration, leveraging the expertise and resources of both institutions.

    (vi) A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between Central Water Commission (CWC) and Space Application Centre (SAC) in the field of hydrology and water resources management, leveraging remote sensing and collaborative research efforts for mutual benefit on 08th July,2024.

    (vii) Support for Irrigation Modernization Program (SIMP): Central Water Commission (CWC), DoWR, RD & GR has taken up an initiative Support for Irrigation Modernization Program (SIMP) with technical assistance from theAsian Development Bank (ADB) to modernize Major/ Medium Irrigation (MMI) projects in the country.

    (viii) SIMP is proposed to be taken up in 4 phases. SIMP Phase-1 concluded on 31.12.2021 under which 4 MMI projects have been identified for inclusion under 1st batch of projects for preparation of Irrigation Modernization Plans (IMPs) out of the 57 proposals received from 14 States and 2 UTs. The entire process including the preparation of IMPs, Detailed Project Report (DPRs), detailed designs and final implementation/ project execution is expected to be completed by Phase-4. Implementation of the project would lie with the concerned States who would have an option to either fund it from their own resources or they can avail loan facility from ADB or any other financial institutions.

    (ix) SIMP Phase-2 was initiated from November 2022. Irrigation Modernization Plan (IMP) of four projects namely VanivilasaSagara Project, Karnataka, Palkhed Project Maharashtra, Purna Project, Maharashtra and Loharu Lift Irrigation Project, Haryana have been prepared. As a 1st step for preparation of IMPs, FAO developed RAP-MASSCOTE (Rapid Appraisal Procedure-Mapping System and Services for Canal Operation Techniques) workshops were organized to assess the present status of the identified four projects. The findings of RAP MASSCOTE workshops and issues related to Batch 1 SIMP projects were discussed in a mid-term workshop organized by ADB and CWC on 09.06.2023 at New Delhi.

    For capacity building under SIMP phase-II, the following activities were organized:

    • From 6th to 10th November 2023, a five days training on modernization and design of Pipe Distribution Networks (PDN) was organized at Panchkula/ Chandigarh. 22 Engineers from Karnataka, Maharashtra, Haryana, Punjab and CWC participated in the training.
    • On 15th and 20th December 2023, a Webinar on Irrigation Modernization and Design of PDN Systems was organized.
    • A Training on Asset Management Planning for Irrigation Schemes was held from 8th  to 12th  January 2024 at WALMI, Aurangabad.
    • A training on new technologies in Agriculture and Water Practices was held from 22nd  to 25th  January 2024 at HIRMI, Kurukshetra, Haryana.

    The Preliminary Project Reports (PPR) of all the four projects has been submitted by ADB to the concerned project authorities. PPR of Loharu, Haryana is under process with Govt department. PPR of Palkhed and Purna, Maharashtra is under process in Planning Department of Haryana, PPR of VVS, Karnataka is under process with state finance Govt of Maharashtra.

    PPRs are to be finalized by the states and submitted to DEA. After necessary approval from DEA, action for phase-3 will be taken up for preparation of DPRs.

    (x) A Training program on the application of Rapid Risk Assessment tool, in association with the World Bank for the officers of the core group was held during April 22, 2024 – May 3, 2024 at Auditorium, 1st floor, CWC Library Building, Near Sewa Bhawan, Sector-1, R K Puram, New Delhi. Total 66 officials nominated by CWC, NDSA and States / DRIP IAs for taking forward the assignment of carrying out the Rapid Risk Assessment of specified dams in the country.

    1. GLOF and Flood forecasting activities: –

    CWC finalized the criteria for Risk Indexing of Glacial Lakes in the Indian Himalayan Region in September 2024, which provide a comprehensive methodology for identifying and categorizing Glacial Lakes based on factors such as Glacial Lake size, Glacial Lake type, Side slope, Snout distance from GL etc. and the potential socio-economic impacts of a Glacial Lake Outburst Flood.

    In the year 2024, 2 new stations (Inflow) have started functioning. Currently CWC is providing flood forecast at 340 stations (200-level forecasting stations & 140-inflow forecasting stations). During the period from 1st April to 30.11.2024, 10415 (i.e. 7093 Level and 3322 Inflow) forecasts were issued, out of which 9947 (95.5%) forecasts were found within the accuracy limit (±0.15m for level forecast and ±20% for inflow forecast).During flood season, CWC operates the Central Flood Control Room on 24×7 basis at its headquarter in New Delhi and 36 Divisional Flood Control Rooms spread throughout the country for monitoring flood situation. On an average, about 10,000 forecasts are issued during flood season every year by the CWC. Normally, these forecasts are issued 6 to 30 hours in advance, depending upon the river terrain and location of the flood forecasting sites and their base stations. In addition to conventional flood forecasting techniques, mathematical model forecasting based on rainfall-run off methodology is being used for some areas. This has enabled CWC to issue 7-day advance flood advisory.

    Automated online 7-day flood advisory for all the level and inflow forecasting stations is maintained. “Flood Situation for next seven days” in respect of stations likely to be above warning level has been added in the “Daily Flood Situation Report cum Advisory” based on the 7-day advisory.

    1. Flood Plain Zoning

    In order to have a reasonable degree of protection, floods need to be managed through both structural & non-structural measures so as to reduce the losses. Non-structural measures are planned activities to modify susceptibility due to flood related damages. These are meant to keep people away from floods. Flood Plain Zoning is one of the main non-structural measures for management of floods worldwide.

    A technical committee under the chairmanship of Member (RM) was constituted during November 2022 for formulation of ‘Technical Guidelines on Flood Plain Zoning’ . After due deliberations, the committee submitted the guidelines to Ministry. The guidelines is presently under circulation to the states for their comments/review. Once implemented, these guidelines shall serve as a valuable document in guiding the states in framing their own legislation in protecting their rivers from future encroachments.

    1. Hydrological Studies:

    The success of a project is largely governed by the hydrological inputs. The success of a project is largely governed by the hydrological inputs. The Hydrological Studies Organization (HSO), a specialized unit under Design and Research (D&R) Wing of CWC, carries out hydrological studies in respect of the water resources projects in the country. The inputs in Detailed Project Report (DPR) or Pre- Feasibility (PFR) stage are made available in the form of:

    • Water availability/yield studies.
    • Design flood estimation.
    • Sedimentation studies.
    • Diversion flood studies.

    The country has been divided into 7 zones and further into 26 hydro- meteorologically homogeneous sub-zones and flood estimation models are developed for each subzone to compute the design flood in ungauged catchments. So far, flood estimation reports covering 24 sub-zones have been published. During the year 2024- 25, technical examinations of hydrological aspects of DPRs in respect of 88 projects have been carried out in CWC. Out of this, 46 projects have been cleared and comments were issued for 17 projects. Rest of the projects are under examination.

    Some of the major works carried out during this period are:

    •   Flood frequency analysis & carrying capacity of Yamuna River from Hathnikund Barrage to Delhi.

    •   Hydrology Chapter for Bakchachuu HEP, Ringyang HEP, &RimbiKhola HEP has been submitted.

    •   100 yr& 500 yr Return Period flood of Chandrawal River under Ken Betwa Link project.

    •   Water Availability of the untapped catchment between alignment of feeder canal, Mahalpur barrage and Navnera Barrage Under MPKC link.

    Technical Assistance / Advice tendered

    HSO has provided secretariat assistance to various technical/ expert committees for undertaking special studies on various aspects related to water resources development and management. Some of the important contributions during the year 2024- 25 are as under:

    • Hydrological Studies for Ponnaiyar River Basin, to resolve the interstate issue between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.
    • Hydrological modeling for heavy rainfall across the Yamuna River catchment in July 2023 caused significant runoff and discharge, leading to rapid water level rises. In this study estimated submergence areas for different return-period floods, analyzed embankment overtopping, and identified drainage congestion and afflux of existing structures using 2-D modeling for the river reach between 21 km upstream of Wazirabad barrage and 10 km downstream of Okhla barrage.

    Hydrological modeling for tackling issues related to high intensity rainfall, riverine flood, drainage and interrelated issues in urban areas.

    1. Planning and Design of Water Resources Projects

    CWC is actively associated with design of majority of the mega water resources projects in India and neighboring countries, viz., Nepal and Bhutan by way of design consultancy or in the technical appraisal of the projects. At present CWC is provided design consultancy to 94 projects. Out of this, 31 projects (including 3 from neighboring countries) are at construction stage, 35 projects (including 2 from neighboring countries) are at DPR stage and 28 projects involve special problems.

    National Committee on Seismic Design Parameters: –

    The National Committee on Seismic Design Parameters (NCSDP) was constituted by MoWR Order dated 21 st October, 1991 with the objective to recommend the seismic design parameters for the proposals received from the dam owners. Member (D&R), CWC is the chairman of the committee with 12 other experts from various engineering disciplines from different technical institutions and Government organizations as its members. Director (FE&SA), CWC is the member Secretary of NCSDP. The 38th meeting of NCSDP was held on 10.05.2024 at CWC, New Delhi under the Chairmanship of Member (D&R) wherein six projects were cleared.

    Further, a special meeting of NCSDP was held on 05.06.2024 wherein the Guideline for Preparation and Submission Of Site-Specific Seismic Study Report of River Valley Project To National Committee On Seismic Design Parameters was revised comprehensively to be in line with the International practices.

    1. National Register of Large Dams:

    Before enactment of Dam Safety Act 2021, Dam Safety Organisation (DSO) , CWC compiled and maintained the register of large dams across the country in the form of National Register of Large Dams (NRLD) based on information provided by State Govts. / PSUs. After enactment of Dam Safety Act 2021, the NDSA has been mandated to maintain National level database of all specified dam in the country. The National Register of Specified (Large) Dams 2023 was released by Hon’ble Vice President of India in International Conference on Dam Safety held during 14th-15th September 2023 at Jaipur. As per NRLD- 2023, there are 6138 constructed and 143 under construction dams in the country. The NRLD, 2023 is available on CWC’s website and can be accessed by l ink- https:// cwc. gov. in/ publication/nrld.

    1. Technical Examination of Instrumentation aspects of the projects:

    Hydroelectric project:-

    Detailed Project Report (DPR)/ construction drawings of 29 river valley projects in various States/ countries namely Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Meghalaya, Odisha, Sikkim Uttarakhand, West Bengal, Jammu & Kashmir, Bhutan and Nepal were examined, out of which 4 projects have been cleared with respect to instrumentation aspects and remaining 25 projects are at various stages of examination.

    Pumped storage Project:-

    Detailed Project Report (DPR)/ construction drawings of 42 river valley projects in various States/ countries namely Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh were examined, out of which 6 projects have been cleared with respect to instrumentation aspects and for remaining 36 projects, clearance from instrumentation aspects is no longer required as per the latest CEA guidelines.

    1. Standing Technical Advisory Committee of CSMRS

    The Standing Technical Advisory Committee (STAC) was constituted under the Chairmanship of Member (D&R), CWC for providing an overall perspective and guidance in technical scrutiny of research schemes being undertaken at CSMRS. The STAC is composed of 11 members drawn from various public sector institutions and is headed by Member (D& R), CWC. The 39th Standing Technical Advisory Committee (STAC) meeting of CSMRS was held on 25.10.2024

    1. Other Seismic works:

    Work related to technical evaluation and critical examination of web-based tool Seismic Hazard Assessment Information System (SHAISYS) being developed by IIT Roorkee and CWPRS Pune under DRIP is being carried out. A meeting is proposed on 18th December 2024 under the chairmanship of Member (D&R), CWC with the expert of IIT Roorkee at CWC, New Delhi regarding way forward for development of SHAISYS.

     

    1. CWC Activities under National Hydrology Project (NHP):

    Study on “Physical based Mathematical Modelling for estimation of Sediment Rate and Sediment Transport in Seven River Basin” has been completed.

    Extended Hydrological Prediction (multi week forecast) for Yamuna, Narmada and Cauvery basins is in progress.

    • Reservoir Sedimentation Studies using Hydrographic survey for 32 reservoirs” under Phase-I has been completed. Works of Phase II: Consists of 87 reservoirs in 10 states (Rajasthan, Gujrat, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Telangana, and Odisha is under progress.
    • Supply, Installation, Testing & Commissioning (SITC) of 93 Nos. ADCP (14 + 29 + 50 in three phases) for the measurement of discharge at the HO sites of CWC has been completed. Further procurement of additional 46 no’s ADCP and 8 no’s Total station is in under progress.
    • Supply, Installation, Testing & Commissioning (SITC) of 32 velocity radar sensors for modernization of discharge observations has been completed.
    • 7 no’s of  Water Quality Equipment (ICP-MS and GC-MS) have been commissioned and installation & Commissioning of 3 more Water Quality Equipment (1 GC-MS and 2 ICP-MS) is under process.
    • Consultancy services for “Early Flood Warning System Including Inundation Forecast in Ganga Basin” is in progress.
    • Consultancy services for Development of Decision Support System near to real time for Integrated Reservoir Operation System of Ganga Basin” has been completed.
    • Real Time Data Acquisition System (RTDAS) for Narmada Control Authority (NCA) and Arunachal Pradesh comprising of network of 48 & 50 no’s hydro meteorological Stations respectively has been commissioned.
    • Reservoir Sedimentation Studies using Hydrographic survey for 32 reservoirs” under National Hydrology Project, Phase-I have been completed and reports published and under Phase II studies in respect of 87 reservoirs are taken up.
    1. DAM REHABILITATION AND IMPROVEMENT PROJECT (DRIP) Phase-II and III

    Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (DRIP) is an externally aided project with financial assistance from the World Bank, targeting rehabilitation of some of the selected dams of the Country along with accompanying institutional strengthening component.

    Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (Phase-II & III):

    Based on the success of DRIP Phase- I, Ministry of Jal Shakti initiated another externally funded scheme, DRIP Phase-II and Phase-III. The Union Cabinet has approved the Scheme on October 29, 2020.

    The scheme has provision for rehabilitation of 736 dams located in 19 States (Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Meghalaya, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, West Bengal, and three Central Agencies (Central Water Commission, Bhakra Beas Management Board, and Damodar Valley Corporation). It is a State Sector Scheme with Central component, with duration of 10 years, to be implemented in two Phases i.e. Phase- II and Phase-III, each of six years duration with an overlap of two years. The budget outlay is Rs 10,211 Cr (Phase II: Rs 5107 Cr; Phase III: Rs 5104 Cr) with rehabilitation provision of 736 dams. Out of this cost, Rs. 7,000 crore is an external loan and Rs. 3,211 crores would be borne by the respective participating States and the three Central agencies. The funding pattern of scheme is 80:20 (Special Category States), 70:30 (General Category States) and 50:50 (Central Agencies). The scheme also has provision of Central Grant of 90% of loan amount for special category States (Manipur, Meghalaya and Uttarakhand). The DRIP Phase-II and III Scheme is 10 years duration, proposed to be implemented in two Phases, each of six-year duration with two years overlapping. Each Phase has external assistance of US$ 500 M. The Phase-II of the scheme is being co-financed by World Bank and Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), with funding of US$ 250 million each. The loan agreement by World Bank was signed on August 04, 2021 with 10 States (Gujarat, Kerala, MP, Maharashtra, Manipur, Meghalaya, Rajasthan, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, and Chhattisgarh) and became effective from 12th October, 2021. In addition to 10 States, four States (Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Karnataka) have been notified by World Bank for inclusion under this scheme in June 2022 and their loan declared effective in January 2023.

    The loan agreement by AIIB was signed on 19th May, 2022 with 10 States (Gujarat, Kerala, MP, Maharashtra, Manipur, Meghalaya, Rajasthan, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, and Chhattisgarh) and declared effective on 29th December, 2022 by AIIB.

    Inclusion of four States (Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Punjab, Telangana) and two Central Agencies (BBMB and DVC) is under process.

    Important project achievements include approval of PSTs of 139 dams costing Rs 3715 Cr by the World Bank. The contract(s) amounting approximately Rs 2906 Cr have been awarded by various Implementing Agencies and an amount of Rs 1487 Cr spent as on 30.11.2024 on various project activities including dam rehabilitation, institutional strengthening and project management activities

    A training on DRIP Ph-II &Ph-III was given to 40 officers of Punjab WRD on 12th June 2024 at Shahpur Kandi. Few topics were covered like Overview of DRIP Ph-II &Ph-III scheme; dam structural problems & their identification; Procurement procedures; Hydro-Mechanical structural problems; PST preparation; Financial Management of DRIP scheme etc.

    A three days training on DFR organized during 8th to 10th July, 2024, in which 22 participants from seven (7) states and CWC participated.

     The Management Information System (MIS-with 05 modules) was officially rolled out to SPMU on 14th  August 2024. In this regard a virtual MIS demonstration was organized on 14th August 2024 in which concerned officials of CPMU, SPMU, and EMC participated.

    2nd meeting of National Level Steering Committee (NLSC) on DRIP Phase-II and III chaired by Secretary, DoWR, RD and GR were held on 25.09.2024 at New Delhi to discuss the progress and issues of DRIP Scheme.

    3rd  meeting of Technical Committee of DRIP Phase II and III was held on 18.10.2024 under the chairmanship of Member (D&R), CWC at Dehradun, Uttarakhand in which nodal officer and Project Director of DRIP IAs participated. Deliberations in respect of technical matters with regard to pertaining to implementation of the scheme were held during the meeting.

    1. National Task Force for Integrated Water Resources Development and Management

    National Task Force for Integrated Water Resources Development and Management (NTFIWRDM) has been set up by DoWR, RD & GR vide its OM dated 25.11.2024.

    Sustainable development of water resources and its efficient management is the key to water security and economic growth. As a country, aspiring to be the world leader with the most powerful economy, challenges like increasing population, economic growth, industrialization and urbanization are bound to result in increased and conflicting demands for various purposes across the country. Moreover, the vagaries of climate change have already started to affect the water sector adversely. In the wake of ever-growing challenges in the water resources sector, it has become necessary to prospectively assess the projected water use for various purposes. In view of above, Department of Water Resources, RD & GR has set up a National Task Force for Integrated Water Resources Development and Management (NTFIWRDM) on 25.11.2024 under the chairmanship of Hon’ble Member, Niti Aayog with members from various Govt. Departments and experts from different organisations; thereby comprehensively covering various domains of water resources. Chief Engineer, BPMO, CWC is the Member Secretary of the NTFIWRDM. The NTFIWRDM – 2024 is expected to complete its work within 24 months, with interim reports submitted at yearly intervals.

    (xxii) LIST OF IMPORTANT PUBLICATIONS OF CWC during 2024

    Sl. No.

    Publication

    Released during

    1

    Water Sector at a Glance-2022

    Aug-2024

    2

    Water & Related Statistics-2023

    Sept-2024

    3

    Water Sector at a Glance-2023

    Sept-2024

    4

    National Register of Major & Medium

    Irrigation Projects in India-2024

    Sept-2024

    5

    Compendium on Sedimentation of Reservoirs in India

    August 2024

    6

    Assessment of Area Affected Due to Floods in India

    July 2024

    7

    Report on Flood Damage Statistics (1953-2022)

    July 2024

    8

    Assessment of Area Affected Due to Floods

    in India [Part II: Assessment at Sub-District Level]

    September 2024

    9

    Criteria for Risk Indexing of Glacial Lakes in

    Indian Himalayan Region

    September 2024

    10

    Status Report on Coastal Area Management –

    An Indian Perspective, Regional Issues & Remedial Measures

    September 2024

     

    1. ​Central Ground Water Board (CGWB):

    National Aquifer Mapping and Management Programme (NAQUIM)

    Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) is implementing National Aquifer Mapping and Management program (NAQUIM), which envisages mapping of aquifers (water bearing formations), their characterization and development of Aquifer Management Plans to facilitate sustainable management of ground water resources. Out of 32 lakh sq km of the entire country, entire mappable area of 25 sq lakh km has been covered under this programme. NAQUIM outputs are shared with various stakeholders including the District Authorities. Building on the experiences of the NAQUIM, the NAQUIM 2.0 has been initiated from the year 2023-24 which emphasizes on detailed mapping and implementable management plans for identified priority areas. CGWB has completed 68 such studies (covering nearly 40,000 sq km) in year 2024.

    In order to create infrastructure for data generation under NAQUIM, a Project has been approved by the Public Investment Board (PIB) with an outlay of Rs 805 Cr for implementation by CGWB during the period 2022-2026.  As of now, tenders amounting approximately Rs. 550 Cr have been awarded. 

    One of the components of the project involves the construction of 7000 piezometers and the installation of Digital Water Level Recorders with telemetry devices for strengthening and automation of groundwater monitoring networks in the country.  Construction of piezometers for strengthening groundwater monitoring has been initiated in 15 states (Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, MadhyaPradesh, Chhattisgarh, UttarPradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, WestBengal, Odisha and Jammu&Kashmir).  A total of 1796 piezometers have been constructed till 31st December 2024.

    Another component of the project involves construction of 1135 Exploratory Wells (EW) and Observation Wells (OW) for completing the data gap in the NAQUIM project area for which work has been initiated under all awarded packages in 11 states (Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Odisha, Assam). A total of 319 EW/OWs have been constructed till 31st December 2024.

    Ground Water Resources

     

    The Ground Water Resource Assessment for the water year 2024 was carried out jointly by Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) and States/UTs, through the web-based automated application “INDIA-GROUNDWATER RESOURCE ESTIMATION SYSTEM (IN-GRES) for the entire country. The assessment provides the state wise ground water resource scenario and insights required to adopt an integrated and sustainable ground water management in the Country.

    As per the assessment, the total annual groundwater recharge in the country has been assessed as 446.90 billion Cubic Meter (BCM). The annual extractable ground water resource has been assessed as 406.19 BCM. The annual groundwater extraction for all uses is 245.64 BCM. The average stage of groundwater extraction for the country stands at 60.47 %. Out of the total 6746 assessment units (Blocks/ Mandals/ Talukas) in the country, 4951 (73.4 %) assessment units are categorized as ‘Safe’. 711 (10.5 %) assessment units are categorized “Semi-critical’’, 206 (3.05 %) assessment units, have been categorized as ‘Critical’ and 751 (11.1%) assessment units have been categorized as ‘Over-exploited’. Apart from these, there are 127 (1.8%) assessment units, which have been categorized as ‘Saline’ as major part of the ground water in phreatic aquifers in these units is brackish or saline.

    Key Highlights:

    • Total Annual GW Recharge has increased (15 BCM) substantially and Extraction has declined (3 BCM) in 2024 from 2017 assessment. There is slight reduction in recharge and increase in extraction in the present assessment year compared to the preceding year.
    • Recharge from Tanks, Ponds and WCS has shown a consistent increase in the last five assessments. In the year 2024, it has increased by 0.39 BCM w.r.t. 2023.
    • With respect to the year 2017, there is an increase of 11.36 BCM in recharge from Tanks, Ponds & WCS (from 13.98 BCM in 2017 to 25.34 BCM in 2024).
    • The percentage of Assessment Units under Safe Category have increased from 62.6% in 2017 to 73.4 % in 2024 (The percentage of Safe assessment units was 73.14 % in 2023).
    • The percentage of Over Exploited Assessment units have declined from 17.24 % in 2017 to 11.13 % in 2024 (The percentage of OE Assessment units was 11.23% in 2023)

    The Union Minister for Jal Shakti released “National Compilation of Dynamic Ground Water Resources of India 2024” on 31st December, 2024.

    High resolution aquifer mapping and management in Arid areas of India

    • The Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) has undertaken high resolution aquifer mapping in the arid regions of Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Haryana using advanced heliborne geophysical surveys. Under Phase I of the project, an area of 97,637 sq. km has been surveyed, covering 40,313-line km across 92 blocks in these states.
    • Based on the heliborne geophysical survey results, Gram Panchayat-level information of saturated/de-saturated, saline/fresh aquifers, groundwater potential zones, drilling sites, and managed aquifer recharge sites has been identified. Detailed reports have been prepared for 39 out of 92 blocks, comprising 20 blocks in Gujarat, 11 in Rajasthan, and 8 in Haryana.
    • A Coffee Table Book on the Summary of the findings of Heliborne Survey Phase I was released on 19.09.2024 in India Water Week-2024 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi by the Hon’ble Minister of State, Jal Shakti.

    Artificial Recharge Activities

    Groundwater augmentation through artificial recharge in identified water stressed areas of Rajasthan, comprising Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Alwar, Jhunjhunu & Sikar districts of Rajasthan has been taken up in three phases

    • Phase-1: Two large dams have been constructed:
      • Zoned Earth Fill Dam with Clay Core, Indroka, Mandore, Jodhpur
      • Concrete Gravity Dam, Bastawa Mata, Balesar, Jodhpur.
    • Phase-2: 82 WHS (Stone Masonary Check Dams (MCD), Anicuts, Concrete Check Dams (CCD & Recharge shafts) have been constructed in certain water stressed blocks of Jodhpur, Jaisalmer and Sikar district.
    • Phase-3: 39 WHS (Check Dam, Anicut, Model Talab) have been constructed certain water stressed blocks in Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Sikar, Jhunjhunu and Alwar districts of Rajasthan to know the concentrated effect of artificial recharge.

    Regulation of Ground Water extraction

    • The primary role of Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) is to regulate groundwater resource exploitation in the country. The Authority has been regulating groundwater development and management by way of issuing ‘No Objection Certificates’ for groundwater extraction to industries, infrastructure projects, Mining Projects, registration of drilling rigs etc., and framed guidelines in this connection.

     

    • Development of a new portal for NoC issuance to ground water users i.e. BhuNeer APP, which is an advanced version of the application processing software of CGWA for issuing NOC to ground water users of Industries, Infrastructure & Mining projects and Bulk Water Supply. The motto of developing this portal is to provide users a smooth experience with new features and functionalities.

    Rajiv Gandhi National Ground Water Training & Research Institute (RGNGWTRI) 

    It is the training wing of CGWB and functions as a `Centre of Excellence’ with the national role of capacity building of Officers and Officials of CGWB, other Central Govt. Depts., State Govt. Depts., Public Sector Undertakings, Non-Governmental Organizations, Academic institutions and other stake holders through three arms -Tier I (National Level), Tier II (State Level) and Tier III (Block level) trainings.

    • During the last 10 years, from 2012-13 to 2024-25(As on 24.12.2024) a total of 1711 training courses (Tier-I, Tier-II & Tier-III) were organized (Male 83,330 + Female 30,369 = 1,13,699 Participants) by RGNGWTRI, Raipur.
    • The institute has also conducted Four trainings for foreign nationals, during the last 10 years

    Development of three Indigenous Softwares as part of Smart India Hackathon (SIH) 2022- a significant step towards Atmanirbhar Bharat

    • Smart India Hackathon (SIH), a nationwide initiative envisioned under the leadership of Hon’ble Prime Minister is an important mega annual event among students to provide solutions through innovations for specific challenges identified by different organizations. It is an annual event organized by the Ministry of Education’s Innovation Cell, All India Council for Technical Education, along with partners. Based on problem statements shared by CGWB and under the mentorship of CGWB scientists, following three software applications were developed by engineering students as a part of Smart India Hackathon (SIH)
    • Hydra-Q: A Standalone desktop application for analysis, visualization and interpretation of hydrochemical data.
    • Aqua Probe: A Standalone desktop application for Pumping Test data analysis.
    • OASIS-G: Online application System for Stable Isotope Studies-Ground Water

    The software applications can be accessed / downloaded from CGWB website (https://www.cgwb.gov.in/freewares-groundwater-data-analysis).

    These freeware applications will be useful for students, researchers and groundwater professionals. So far, the software that are used for such kind of analysis are developed mostly in countries other than India. This is a significant step towards Atmanirbhar Bharat and is likely to reduce India’s dependence on foreign software.

    Aquifer Management for Augmentation and Sustainability of Urban Water Supply- Faridabad

     

    CGWB has taken up a study on augmentation of water supply to Faridabad city through sustainable ground water development in active Yamuna flood plain in 2024. CGWB has signed MoU with Faridabad Metropolitan Development Authority (FMDA)

    Ground Water Quality Analysis

     

    The comprehensive assessment of Ground Water Quality conducted by the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) provides valuable insights that can guide remedial actions and inform future planning by various stakeholders. Notably, this report on Ground Water Quality is the first to implement a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for groundwater quality monitoring, which ensures consistency in data collection, analysis, and interpretation. Additionally, the use of internationally recognized methods significantly bolsters the credibility and technical rigor of the findings. On December 31, 2024, Sh. CR Paatil, Hon’ble Union Minister of Jal Shakti, unveiled the Annual Groundwater Quality Report, 2024.

    Key Highlights:

    • In terms of cation chemistry, calcium dominates the ion content, followed by sodium and potassium. For anions, bicarbonate is the most prevalent, followed by chloride and sulphate. This indicates that overall water in the country is of Calcium-Bicarbonate type.
    • Some regions face sporadic contamination of nitrates, fluoride, and arsenic.
    • Seasonal trends observed in parameters like Electrical Conductivity (EC) and fluoride provide evidence of positive monsoon recharge effects, which improve water quality.
    • From an agricultural perspective, the analysis of Sodium Adsorption Ration (SAR) and Residual Sodium Carbonate (RSC) reinforces the generally favorable suitability of groundwater for irrigation, with over 81% of samples meeting safe thresholds. However, localized issues of high sodium content and RSC values demand targeted interventions to prevent long-term soil degradation.
    • 100% of ground water samples in North-Eastern States are in excellent category for irrigation.
    1.     Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY)

    Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) for 2021-26 with an outlay of ₹93,068 Crore to benefit about 22 lakh farmers

    • Against a target of 34.63 Lakh Ha irrigation potential of 25.80Lakh Ha (approx.74.5%) created through AIBP works of the prioritized projects during 2016-17 to 2023-24
    • Nine (09) new MMI projects and two (02) new National projects have been further included under PMKSYAIBP.

     

    Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY)- Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP):

    The Government of India on 27.07.2016 approved funding of the 99 prioritized irrigation projects (and 7 phases) with an estimated balance cost of Rs. 77,595 Crore (Central share- Rs. 31,342 crores; State share- Rs. 46,253 crores) for completion in phases. The works include both the AIBP and CAD works. Funding arrangement for both Central Assistance (CA) and State Share made through NABARD under Long Term Irrigation Fund (LTIF). Targeted Irrigation Potential to be created under the scheme is 34.63 Lakh ha. An expenditure of Rs. 68891 crore (upto March 2024) has been reported to be incurred by the concerned State Governments on these projects since 2016-17. In January 2020, Ministry of Finance conveyed the continuation of ongoing centrally sponsored scheme up-to 31.03.2021.

     

    Physical Progress: Against the target of 34.63 Lakh Ha. Irrigation Potential of about 25.80 Lakh ha. has been created through AIBP works of the prioritized projects during 2016-17 to 2023-24. The potential created during 2024-25 shall be available only after the end of cropping season.

     

    Project Completed under PMKSY-AIBP: AIBP works of 62 prioritized projects out of identified 99 projects (and 7 phases) were reported to be completed till date.

    The Government of India has approved implementation of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) for 2021-26 with an outlay of ₹93,068 Crore on date 15-Dec-2021 to benefit about 22 Lakh farmers. The Union Cabinet has approved central support of ₹37,454 Crore to States and ₹20,434.56 Crore of debt servicing for loan availed by Government of India for irrigation development during PMKSY 2016-21. Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme, ‘Har Khet Ko Paani’ and Watershed Development components have been approved for continuation during 2021-26. Total additional irrigation potential creation targeted during 2021-26 under AIBP is 13.88 Lakh hectare. Apart from focused completion of 60 ongoing projects including their 30.23 lakh hectare command area development, 9 additional projects have been taken up till date. Also, two national projects, namely Renukaji Dam Project (Himachal Pradesh) and Lakhwar Multipurpose Project (Uttarakhand) have also been included for central funding of 90% of works of water component under the scheme.

     Inclusion of new Major/Medium Irrigation (MMI) projects as well as funding of National Projects under AIBP.

     Financial progress requirement is dropped for inclusion of a project underAIBPand only physical progress of 50% to be considered.

     Advanced stage (50% physical progress) criteria are relaxed for projects having command area of 50% or more in Drought Prone Area Programme (DPAP), tribal, Desert Development Programme (DDP), Flood prone, Tribal area, Flood prone area, left wing extremism affected area, Koraput, Balangir and Kalahandi (KBK) region of Odisha, Vidarbha& Marathwada regions of Maharashtra and Bundelkhand region of Madhya Pradesh & Uttar Pradesh, as also for Extension Renovation Modernization (ERM) projects and also for States with net irrigation below national average.

     Reimbursement is allowed for due central assistance in subsequent year also.

       Project completion permitted with physical progress of 90% or more.

     Online Management Information System (MIS) has been developed for monitoring of the projects. A nodal officer for each of the 99 priority projects has been identified who updates the physical and financial progress of the project regularly in the MIS.

     GIS based Application has been developed for geo-tagging of project components. Remote Sensing Techniques have been used for digitization of the canal network of the projects. Further, the Cropped Area estimation in the command of 99 priority projects is being carried out annually through remote sensing.

     To resolve the issue of Land Acquisition (LA) and increase water conveyance efficiency, use of Underground Pipeline (UGPL) has been actively promoted. Guidelines for Planning and Design ofPiped Irrigation Network were released by this Ministry in July, 2017.

     Pari-passu implementation of Command area development works in the commands of these projects is envisaged to ensure that the Irrigation Potential Created could be utilized by the farmers. New Guidelines bringing focus on Participatory Irrigation Management (PIM) have been brought out. Further, transfer of control and management of irrigation system to the Water Users’ Association (WUA) has been made necessary condition for the acceptance of CADWM completion.

    The Financial Progress under PMKSY-AIBP is as follows:

     

    Funds Released

    2016-17 to 2023-24

    2024-25 (so far)

    Total

    Central Assistance for AIBP projects

    including special and National Projects

    18550.98

    629.22

    19180.20

    State Share

    33830.83

    180.60

    34011.4

    Total

    52,381.81

    809.82

    53191.6

     

    Special Package for Maharashtra: A Special Package approved on 18.07.2018 which provides Central Assistance to complete 83 Surface Minor Irrigation (SMI) projects and 8 Major / Medium Irrigation Projects in drought prone districts in Vidarbha and Marathwada and rest of Maharashtra in phases up to 2023-24 (extended till March-25). The overall balance cost of the said projects as on 1.4.2018 is estimated to be Rs.13651.61 Crore. Total CA is estimated to be Rs. 3831.41 Crore including reimbursement for expenditureduring 2017-18Balancepotentialof 3. 77 Lakh Ha would be created on completion of these schemes. CA of Rs. 2901.63 crores have been released under the scheme so far. Under the scheme, 53 SMI and 2 MMI projects have been reported to be completed by the State Government of Maharashtra. Overall irrigation potential of 1.66 Lakh ha. has been reported to be created through all these projects during 2018-19 to 2023-24. Further potential created during 2024-25 shall be available only after the end of cropping season.

    Modernization of Command Area Development & Water Management (M-CADWM):

    The Ministry of Jal Shakti is reviewing the CADWM programme to make it more relevant in the current context of water use efficiency and agricultural productivity. The proposed change is a proposed smart irrigation scheme which envisages transforming the existing command (whether rain fed or gravity based) to a Pressurized Piped Irrigation Command (PPIC) by providing pressurized irrigation water from Established source to Farm Gate below Minor (Tertiary) Level Network. This will make the entire command area micro-irrigation ready with robust back-end infrastructure using Surface Water. The farmers shall be empowered by creating a Water User Society, which will also be an “economic entity”.

    The Scheme will develop suitable models for different Agro-Climatic zones, integrating various sources of water, and different levels of water availability, covering both areas of assured irrigation and protected irrigation. These models will pave the way for development of a National Plan for Modernization of water management in rural area in general and irrigation services in particular based on integrated, sustainable, efficient and inclusive water management.

    Polavaram Irrigation Project: Polavaram Irrigation Project was declared as National Project under Section 90 of AP Reorganization Act, 2014, which came into force on 1st  March 2014. The project with 2467.50 m of earth-cum-rock fill dam and 1121.20 m long spillway aims at irrigating 2.91 Lakh ha in erstwhile East Godavari, Visakhapatnam, West Godavari and Krishna districts besides several other benefits envisaged by it. Central Government is funding 100% of the remaining cost of the irrigation component of the project, as on 01.04.2014. Government of Andhra Pradesh is executing the irrigation component of the project on behalf of Government of India. The approved cost of the Project as per Revised Cost Committee (RCC) is Rs 29,027.95 cr at 2013-14 PL and Rs 47,725.74 cr at 2017-18 PL up to FRL i.e. EL +45.72 m. After declaration as National Project, a sum of Rs. 15,605.96 cr has been released for execution of Polavaram Irrigation Project so far.

    The Union Cabinet has approved the revised cost of the PIP in its meeting held on 28.08.2024, with water storage upto EL + 41.15 m at a cost of Rs. 30,436.95 cr with balance central grant for the project limited to Rs. 12,157.53 cr. Further, an amount of Rs. 2,348 cr has been released on 09.10.2024 as advance payment to GoAP on account of execution of Polavaram Irrigation Project in addition to the reimbursement of Rs 15,605.96 cr made to GoAP.

    As reported by Water Resource Department, Government of Andhra Pradesh, an expenditure of Rs 18,348.84 cr has been incurred on the project works up to 30.11.2024, after declaration of Polavaram irrigation project (PIP) as National Project.

    1.  Atal Bhujal Yojana (Atal Jal)

    Atal BhujalYojana (Atal Jal) is a Central Sector Scheme of Government of India with an outlay of Rs 6000 Crore, with focus on community participation and demand side interventions for sustainable ground water management in identified water stressed areas in 8203 water stressed Gram Panchayats of 229 administrative blocks/Talukas in 80 districts of seven States in the country viz. Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. The scheme, partly funded by the World Bank, is being implemented from 1.04.2020 for a period of 6 years.

    This unique scheme aims at increasing the capacity of States to manage their ground water resources and for ensuring their long-term sustainability with active participation of the local communities through a mix of top-down and bottom-up approaches. It also envisages convergence of various ongoing schemes for implementation of interventions for improving ground water availability with emphasis on demand management and also to inculcate behavioral changes in the community to ensure optimal use of available water resources.

    The launch of Atal Bhujal Yojana heralds a change in the Government policy for ground water management by emphasizing the importance of community participation in planning, execution, and monitoring of scheme activities; convergence of ongoing schemes for implementing interventions aimed at improving ground water availability; focus on demand side management through improving water use efficiency and incentivizing participating States for awareness creation among the masses on the importance of ground water.

    Atal Bhujal Yojana also envisages improving the capacity of States for ground water governance through strengthening of institutions dealing with ground water management, improving ground water monitoring networks, creation of awareness among the public on the importance and criticality of ground water resources and building the capacity of the grass root level stakeholders to plan and utilize the available resources in a judicious manner. It also addresses the gender perspective by making it mandatory to include women in all activities of the scheme.

    Atal Bhujal Yojana is expected to improve ground water conditions in the target areas and to contribute significantly to ensure ground water sustainability for interventions planned under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM). It is also expected to contribute to the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s goal of doubling farmers’ income and to result in optimal use of ground water by the stakeholders in the long-run.

    Further, to bridge the gap in the data availability at the GP level for better water management across India, Department of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation in collaboration with Ministry of Panchayati Raj has taken the initiative to expand water budgeting exercise to non-Atal Jal areas as well by their inclusion in the Gram Panchayat Development Plans (GPDPs).

    Key achievements under Atal Bhujal Yojana are as follows:

    • Public disclosure of data in all the Atal Jal GPs through various modes of disclosure viz., central/state web portals, display board at each GP, social media, wall paintings, distribution of pamphlets/brochure, public meetings and Atal Jal Mobile application.
    • States have used innovative measures like Groundwater Data Information Dissemination Centers, QR codes, social media, etc., to disseminate the groundwater related data to public.
    • Community led Water Budget and WSPs prepared for all the 8203 GPs and updated on yearly basis.
    • Groundwater monitoring system has been strengthened at GP level by providing equipment like Digital Water Level Recorders, water level indicators, rain gauges, water quality testing kits, water flow meters etc. In addition, piezometers have been constructed in GPs for monitoring of water levels.
    • A total of 49 State level, 410 District level, 1152 Block level and 99,406 GP level trainings have been conducted so far.
    • Awareness and sensitization at GP level through innovative Information Education and Communication practices like narrowcasting in Haryana, folk dances/songs in Karnataka, Jal dindis in Maharashtra, Ratri Choupals in Rajasthan have been used to drive the message of sustainable groundwater management.
    • Investment of Rs. 4355 Crore towards implementation of interventions proposed under WSPs through convergence.
    • An area of around 6.7 lakh Hectares has been brought under efficient water use practices including Drip, Sprinkler, Mulching, Crop Diversification etc.
    • More than 70,000 wells are being monitored for water level at GP level and shared with community.
    • More than 90,000 existing Water Conservation and Artificial Recharge structures have been mapped.
    • 813 GPs in 47 Blocks have shown improvement in ground water level.
    • A total of Rs.3420.57 Cr. has been disbursed to the States since the inception of the scheme. A total of Rs.2863.98 Cr. has been utilized by the States since the inception of the scheme.
    • Sixth meeting of National Level Steering Committee (NLSC) for implementation of Atal Bhujal Yojana was held on 07 June 2024.

     

    1. Minor Irrigation Statistics: Progress under the scheme “Irrigation Census”:

     

    Minor Irrigation Census conducted quinquennially in order to create a sound and reliable database on groundwater and surface water minor irrigation schemes in the country. The Minor Irrigation Census is conducted under the centrally sponsored scheme “Irrigation Census” with 100% central funding through which State Statistical Cells constituted under different States/UTs are also supported.

     

    The sixth Minor Irrigation Census and the first Census of Water bodies covering all water bodies in the country, both rural and urban have been completed. All India and State-wise report on 6th Minor Irrigation Census and First Census of Water Bodies has been published and are available at the Department website ‘https://jalshakti-dowr.gov.in’. Key results have been disseminated on Bhuvan portal and the state wise unit level data has also been disseminated on Open Government Data (OGD) platform.

    During 2024, the following progress under the scheme “Irrigation Census” has been achieved:

    • 7th Minor Irrigation Census and 2nd Census of Water Bodies are underway, along with two new censuses: the 1st Census of Springs and the 1st Census of Major and Medium Irrigation Projects, with reference year 2023-24.
    • An all-India Workshop on these Censuses was held in 2023, with participation from all States and Union Territories. NIC has developed a mobile/web application for these censuses, with pilot testing successfully conducted in Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Odisha, and Meghalaya in month of October, 2024.
    • Six regional workshops for training of trainers for upcoming censuses are being conducted at regional centers in Tripura, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan, and West Bengal from December, 2024 to January, 2025 to provide training to trainers at State level for further capacity building.
    • Grands-in-aid to States/UTs were released timely on receipt of proposals from eligible States/UTs.

     

    1. ​Flood Management Wing (FM):

     

    Flood Management and Border Areas Programme (FMBAP):

     

    The “Flood Management Programme (FMP)” and “River Management Activities and Works related to Border Areas” (RMBA) under operation during XII Five Year Plan were merged as “Flood Management and Border Areas Programme” (FMBAP) for the period 2017-18 to 2019-20 and further extended up-to March, 2021. Cabinet further approved the continuation of FMBAP scheme during 2021-22 to 2025-26 with an outlay of Rs. 4100 Crore (FMP-Rs. 2940 Crore and RMBA – Rs. 1160 Crore).

    Since the inception of FMBAP (till December 2024), Central Assistance of Rs. 7136 crores have been released to States/UTs under FMP component of Flood Management & Border Area Programme (FMBAP) scheme and Central Assistance of Rs. 1258.73 crores have been released to UTs/States under RMBA component of FMBAP scheme.

     

    Completion of balance works of North Koel Reservoir Project: DoWR, RD & GR has taken up the long pending project for completion of balance works of North Koel Reservoir Project, Bihar and Jharkhand. In August, 2017 the Union Cabinet has approved the proposal for balance works of North Koel Reservoir Project at an estimated cost of Rs. 1622.27 crore during three financial years from the start of the project. Subsequently, at the request of both State Governments, certain other components were found necessary to be included in the project. Complete lining of Right Main Canal (RMC) and Left Main Canal (LMC) was also regarded essential from technical considerations to derive envisaged irrigation potential. Thus, the works of Gaya distribution system, lining of RMC and LMC, remodeling of enroute structures, construction of a few new structures and onetime Special Package for R&R of Project Affected Families (PAFs) were to be provided for in the updated cost estimate. Accordingly, Revised Cost Estimate of the project was prepared. Out of the cost of balance works of Rs. 2430.76 crore, the Central would provide Rs.1836.41 crore. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has given its approval to the proposal to complete the balance works of North Koel Reservoir Project at a revised Cost of Rs. 2,430.76 crore on 04.10.2023. Project will provide irrigation benefit to 114,021 hectares of land annually in drought prone areas of Aurangabad and Gaya districts of Bihar and Palamau and Garwa districts of Jharkhand. Project also has the provision for supply of 44 MCM water for drinking and industrial water supply. The execution of balance works of the project on turnkey basis by M/s WAPCOS Ltd., a CPSU under DoWR, RD & GR as Project Management Consultant (PMC). 10% works on dam & appurtenant, 100% of additional works of Mohammad Ganjbarrage, 86% works on left main canal and works on Right Main Canal in Jharkhand Portion & 18% works on Bihar portion have been completed.

     

    India and Bangladesh Matters

     

    A Treaty was signed by the Prime Ministers of India and Bangladesh on 12th December, 1996 for the sharing of Ganga/Ganges waters at Farakka during the lean season. As per the Treaty, the Ganga/Ganges waters is being shared at Farakka (which is the last control structure on river Ganga in India) during lean period, from 1st  January to 31st  May every year, on 10-daily basis as per the formula provided in the Treaty. The validity of Treaty is 30 years. The sharing of water as per the Treaty is being monitored by a Joint Committee headed by Members, JRC from both sides. The following India-Bangladesh Joint Committee Meetings have been convened.

     

    • The 83rd  meeting of the Joint Committee on sharing of the Ganga/Ganges waters at Farakka was held at Dhaka on 24th  January, 2024 after a visit to the joint observation site at Hardinge Bridge, on 24th January, 2024.
    • The 84th  meeting of the Joint Committee on sharing of the Ganga/Ganges Waters at Farakka was held at Kolkata on 7th  March, 2024 after visit to the joint observation sites at Farakka on 5th  March, 2024.
    • The 85th  meeting of the Joint Committee on sharing of the Ganga/ Ganges waters at Farakka was held at Dhaka (Bangladesh) on 14th  November, 2024 for the finalization of Annual Report of the lean/dry season of the year 2024.

    During the 83rd  and 84th  Joint Committee meetings, the Indian delegation was led by Mr. Atul Jain, Commissioner (FM), Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation Ministry of Jal Shakti. During the 85th Joint Committee meeting, the Indian delegation was led by Mr. Sharad Chandra, Commissioner (FM), Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, Ministry of Jal Shakti, Government of the Republic of India and Member, India-Bangladesh Joint Rivers Commission. The Bangladesh delegation was led by Dr. Mohammad Abul Hossen, Member, India-Bangladesh Joint Rivers Commission, Ministry of Water Resources, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh.

    1. National River Conservation Directorate (NRCD)

    Cleaning of river is a continuous process and Government of India is supplementing the efforts of the State Governments in addressing the challenges of pollution of rivers by providing financial and technical assistance. Assistance is provided to State Governments for abatement of pollution in identified stretches of various rivers (excluding river Ganga and its tributaries) under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme of National River Conservation Plan (NRCP) on cost sharing basis between the Central & State Governments for taking up various pollution abatement works relating to interception & diversion of raw sewage, construction of sewerage systems, setting up of sewage treatment plants, low cost sanitation, river front/bathing ghat development, etc.

    • Project for ‘Pollution Abetment River Banganga at Katra’ in Jammu & Kashmir at a cost of Rs.92.10 crore was sanctioned.
    • Project for ‘Pollution Abetment and Conservation of river Mindhola at Surat’ in Gujarat at a cost of Rs.98.51 crore was sanctioned.
    • Project for ‘Interception & Diversion of Sewerage Water from Existing Drains to Nearest STP for Treatment Purposes in Jodhpur City for Pollution Abatement of River Jojari at Jodhpur’ in Rajasthan at a cost of Rs.13.10 crore was sanctioned.
    • Project for ‘Sewer rehabilitation of old and deteriorated pipes by Trenchless CIPP Technology for main trunk sewer lines heading towards Nandari and Salawas STPs for pollution abatement of Jojari River at Jodhpur’ in Rajasthan at a cost of Rs.51.99 crore was sanctioned.
    • Project for ‘Design of Complete Sewerage System and Proposal of Development of New STP for Jhalamand Area, Jodhpur for pollution abatement of river Jojari at Jodhpur’ in Rajasthan at a cost of Rs.53.63 crore was sanctioned.
    • Project for ‘Establishing and Commissioning of 30 MLD Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) at Nandari for pollution abatement of river Jojari at Jodhpur’ in Rajasthan at a cost of Rs.53.86 crore was sanctioned.
    • Project for ‘Rejuvenation of Imphal-Manipur River and Faecal Sludge and Septage Management at 27 ULBs’ in Manipur at a cost of Rs.92.39 crore was sanctioned.
    • Project for ‘Elamkulam sewerage project for rejuvenating Chitrapuzha River through restoration of natural streams/outfalls carrying sewage/pollutants-Construction of STP 17.5 MLD’ in Kerala at a cost of Rs.47.53 crore was sanctioned.
    • Project for ‘Perandoor Sewerage Project for Rejuvenating Periyar River through Restoration of Natural Streams/Outfalls Carrying Sewage/Pollutants—Construction of 19 MLD STP (Part 1)’ in Kerala at a cost of Rs.49.78 crore was sanctioned.
    • Project Management Consultant has been appointed for implementation the project of ‘Pollution abatement and conservation of River Nag at Nagpur, Maharashtra’ sanctioned at a cost of Rs.1,926.99 crore with Japan International Cooperation Assistance.
    • Project for pollution abatement of river Devika and Tawi at Udhampur, Jammu & Kashmir sanctioned for Rs.186.74 crore has been completed 3 sewage treatment plants (STPs) with total capacity of 13.06 mld constructed under NRCP.
    • Project for pollution abatement of river Tapi at Surat, Gujarat sanctioned for Rs. 971.25 crore has been completed 11 sewage treatment plants (STPs) with total capacity of 208.97 mld constructed under NRCP.
    • Central Assistance amounting to Rs. 425 crores released to various State Governments/Agencies for implementation of projects under NRCP.
    • Stakeholder Consultation Workshop on Guidelines for National River Conservation Plan and DPR Preparation held on 06th May, 2024 in the presence of Secretary, DoWR, RD & GR. The recommendation and suggestions of the stakeholders are under review and accordingly will be proposed in the revised guidelines of NRCP and DPR guidelines.
    • First meeting of the Stakeholder Advisory Committee (SAC) was held on 31.05.2024 under the Chairpersonship of Secretary, DoWR, RD & GR at Nagpur under the project Condition Assessment and Management Plan of Six River Basins (Cauvery, Periyar, Narmada, Mahanadi, Godavari and Krishna).
    • The project “Assessment of ecological status of 7 rivers viz. Narmada, Mahanadi, Godavari, Cauvery, Periyar, Pamba and Barak for conservation planning” has been entrusted to Wild Life Institute of India (WII) at a sanctioned cost of Rs. 24.56 crore in September, 2020. The project broadly aims to spearhead river conservation in above seven Indian rivers for biodiversity conservation and maintenance of ecosystem services. Intensive ecological studies will be carried out in the seven prioritized river basins of India and ecological status will be assessed. Stake Holders workshops of NRCD- WII held at Bengaluru, Karnataka Cauvery River basin.

     

    1. External Affairs & International Cooperation (EA&IC)

    DoWR, RD & GR has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with different countries on cooperation in the field of water resources management and development. For effective implementation of activities under the various signed MoUs, to enhance the collaboration under the MoU, certain activities were undertaken including Joint Working Group (JWG) meeting, the details of which is as follows –

     

    1. MoU with Denmark – The MoU between India and Denmark on Cooperation in the field of Water Resources Management was signed on 12.09.2022. Two projects namely “Centre of excellence on Smart Water Resources Management (CoESWaRM)” and “Smart Laboratories on Clean River (SLCR)” have been identified under the MoU. Indian side Joint Working Group was formed on 05.08.2024. First Joint Working Group (JWG) meeting under the MoU was held on 05th December 2024. In the meeting, it has been agreed to have organizational division at PMU level into two sub-thematic areas under the existing Centre of Excellence (CoE).

     

    1. MoU with European Union – The MoU between India and the European Union on Water Cooperation was signed on 01.10.2016. Three JWG meetings have been convened so far.  Third Meeting of JWG was convened on 12.07.2023 virtually. The 6th EU-India Water Forum meeting was held on 18.09.2024 during the 8th India Water Week in New Delhi. The forum inter-alia explored trilateral collaboration between East Africa, India and the EU to address water challenges in regions like Lake Victoria and Lake Tanganyika. 

     

    1. MoU with Israel: The MoU between India and Israel on Water Resources Management and Development Cooperation was signed on 11.11.2016. A Joint Review Committee (JRC) (Now Steering Committee) has been formed on 20.02.2024 to assess the activities and progress of the projects identified for implementation under the MoU. 1st meeting of the JRC was convened on 9th Oct 2024 recommending the proposal for the “Establishment of India-Israel Centre of Water Technology (CoWT)”.

     

    1. MoC with Japan (Water Resources): The Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) between India and Japan in the area of Water Resources was signed on 11.12.2019. Two meetings of Joint Working Group (JWG) have been convened so far. 2nd JWG meeting was held on 14.11.2024. In the meeting both sides agreed for extension of the MoU and to identifying additional areas for collaboration.

     

    1. MoU with Morocco- The MoU between India and Morocco on cooperation in the field of Water Resources was signed on 14.12.2017. Four JWG meetings have been convened so far. Fourth JWG meeting was convened on 20.09.2024. It was agreed upon that both the countries will share their experiences, analysis, findings, policies and developments in the field of water resources in its next meeting of JWG.

     

    Bilateral Meetings of Hon’ble Minister of Jal Shakti with the Ministers of Foreign Nations during India Water Week 2024 in New Delhi: –

     

    • Denmark: Mr. C.R. Paatil, Hon’ble Minister of Jal Shakti met with H.E. Mr. Morten Bødskov, Denmark’s Minister of Industry, Business and Financial Affairs. Denmark’s Minister reaffirmed Denmark’s commitment to sustainable water solutions and highlighted the expertise of Danish companies in water management. The Hon’ble Minister of Jal Shakti proposed collaborative initiatives to develop scalable technologies for water challenges, suggesting pilot projects at the district level.
    • Guyana: A significant meeting took place between Mr. C. R. Paatil, Hon’ble Minister of Jal Shakti and Mr. Collin D. Croal, Hon’ble Minister of Housing & Water, Guyana. It was agreed upon that both the countries will share their experiences, policies and developments in the field of water resources
    • Tanzania: Mr. C. R. Paatil, Hon’ble Minister of Jal Shakti, India met with Mr. Mathew Andrea Kundo, Deputy Minister of Water, Tanzania. The Tanzanian Minister proposed discussions on a new project to transport water from Lake Victoria, estimated at $600 million, to address water challenges in Tanzania. Hon’ble Minister of Jal Shakti assured that this proposal would be deliberated upon in the Ministry positively.
    • Zimbabwe: A productive meeting took place between Mr. C. R. Paatil, Hon’ble Minister of Jal Shakti and Mr. Vangelis Peter Haritatos, Hon’ble Deputy Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe’s Minister sought innovative financing options beyond traditional avenues such as EXIM etc. Hon’ble Minister for Jal Shakti assured that these matters would be deliberated upon positively, emphasizing that improvements in Zimbabwe’s irrigation sector would significantly enhance food security across Africa.
    1. Barhmaputra & Barak (B&B) Wing

     

    Expert Level Mechanism (ELM)

    During the visit of the Hon’ble President of the People’s Republic of China to India on November 20-23, 2006, it was agreed to set up an Expert-Level Mechanism to discuss interaction and cooperation on provision of flood season hydrological data, emergency management and other issues regarding trans-border Rivers as agreed between them. Accordingly, the two sides have set up the Joint Expert Level Mechanism through a Joint Declaration by both the countries.

    The ELM meetings are held alternately in India and China every year. Fifteen meetings of ELM have been held so far. The 15th meeting of ELM was held at Beijing, China during 13th-14th August 2024. The GoI delegation was led by Shri S.K. Sinha, Commissioner (B&B), DoWR, RD & GR, Ministry of Jal Shakti and the Chinese delegation was led by Mr. Hao Zhao, Director General of the International Economic & Technical Cooperation and Exchange Centre, Ministry of Water Resources, People’s Republic of China.  Representatives of Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Central Electricity Authority (CEA) and Central Water Commission (CWC) had also participated in the meeting.

    (ii)        INDIA-BHUTAN COOPERATION

    1. Joint Group of Expert (JGE) on Flood Management:

    A Joint Group of Expert (JGE) on Flood Management has been constituted between India and Bhutan to discuss and assess the probable causes and effects of the recurring floods and erosion in the southern foothills of Bhutan and adjoining plains in India and recommend to both Governments appropriate and mutually acceptable remedial measures. Ten meetings of JGE have been held so far. The 10th meeting was held during 28th-29th February, 2024 at New Delhi, India. The GoI delegation was led by Shri S. K. Sinha, Commissioner (B&B), Department of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation (DoWR, RD& GR), Ministry of Jal Shakti, GoI and the RGoB delegation was led by Mr. Karma Dupchu, Director, National Centre for Hydrology and Meteorology (NCHM), RGoB.

    1. Joint Technical Team (JTT) on Flood Management:

    In accordance with the decision taken during the first meeting of JGE, a Joint Technical Team (JTT) on Flood Management between the two countries was constituted. The purpose of JTT is to assess the field situation and provide technical support to JGE on flood management. Eight meetings of JTT have been held so far. The 8th meeting of JTT was held during 18th–20th November, 2024 at Chalsa, Jalpaigudi, West Bengal. The Indian delegation was led by Shri G.L. Bansal, Chief Engineer, Brahmaputra Basin Organisation (BBO), Central Water Commission, GoI and the Bhutanese delegation was led by Dr. SingayDorji, Chief of Meteorological Services Division (MSD), National Centre for Hydrology and Meteorology, RGoB.

    1. Joint Experts Team (JET) on Flood Forecasting:

    A Joint Experts Team (JET) consisting of senior officials from the Government of India and Royal Government of Bhutan(RGoB) continuously reviews the progress and other requirements of a network of 36 hydro-meteorological sites located in the catchments of trans-border rivers Puthimari, Pagladiya, Sankosh, Manas, Raidak, Torsa, Aie and Jaldhaka. So far, JET has met 38 times alternately in India and Bhutan since its reconstitution in 1992 and the last JET meeting i.e. 38th meeting was held at Mandarmani, West Bengal, India during 10th-11th December, 2024.

    The Indian delegation was led by Shri Subhrangshu Biswas, Chief Engineer, Teesta&Bagarathi-Damodar Basin Organisation (T&BDBO), Central Water Commission, GoI and the Bhutanese delegation was led by Mr. Karma Dupchu, Director, National Centre for Hydrology and Meteorology (NCHM), RGoB.

    13.     NERIWALM

    The North Eastern Regional Institute of Water and Land Management (NERIWALM), under the Ministry of Jal Shakti, continued its vital contributions to water and land management across North East India in 2024. As the only institute of its kind in the region, it upheld its mandate of capacity building and skill enhancementfor efficient management of water and land resources for irrigation and agriculture.

    During the year (January to December, 2024), the institute organized 76 training programmes, reaching 3,173 beneficiaries. Among these were induction-level courses for newly recruited engineers from the Irrigation and Agriculture Departments of Assam, as well as the Brahmaputra Board. A faculty development program on advancements in agriculture and water management was also conducted. NERIWALM collaborated with leading national institutions and agencies to host a two-day National Seminar on Advances in Irrigation Technologies and Management, fostering knowledge exchange and innovation.

    In research and development, the institute undertook a diverse range of projects sponsored by state and central government departments. Key initiatives included the preparation of State-Specific Action Plans for 19 states, evaluations of PMKSY-AIBP and PMKSY-HKKP irrigation projects in Assam and Meghalaya, research project on farmer participation in irrigation management in Manipur, studies on good water management practices and study on the impact of climate change on dam-related hydro-geomorphic and social aspects in Arunachal Pradesh.

    NERIWALM’s academic program also progressed with the enrollment of 15 students in the M.Tech course on Water Resource Management for the 2024-25 session. The institute further strengthened its credentials by developing e-learning modules on water resource management for the i-GOT platform. NERIWALM was accredited as “EXCELLENT” under the Capacity Building Commission’s National Standards, while its Soil and Water Laboratory achieved NABL accreditation.

    14.       NATIONAL HYDROLOGY PROJECT
     

    National Hydrology Project (NHP), with support from the World Bank, envisages establishing a system for timely and reliable water resources data acquisition, storage, collation and management. It has pan-India coverage with 48 Implementing Agencies (IAs) {12 from Central Government (including 3 from River Basin Organisations) and 36 from States/ UTs}. It will also provide tools and systems for informed decision making for water resources assessment, planning and management. The National Hydrology Project has been approved with an outlay of Rs. 3,679.77 Crore as a Central Sector Scheme with 100% grant to State Governments and Central Implementing Agencies. The project originally had a duration of 8 years from 2016-17 to 2023-24. However, Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance has accorded approval for extension of project till Sept-2025 within the same allocation.

    Broad objectives of NHP include: a) To improve the extent, quality, and accessibility of water resources information; b) To create decision support system for floods and basin level resource assessment/planning; and c) To strengthen the capacity of targeted water resources professionals and institutions in India.

    Under the ongoing NHP, almost 22960 Real Time Data Acquisition System (RTDAS) surface water and ground water stations have already been installed in the country. Besides, 46 Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) packages have been commissioned; almost 5667 piezometers constructed; 134 stationary as well as mobile water quality labs have been developed/procured/maintained and put into operation;
    high-resolution DEMs, CORS network as well as Geoid model have also been developed. Furthermore, Bathymetric surveys of 464 important reservoirs of the country covering 162 BCM have also been taken up under NHP of which 373 studies have already been completed. Further 36 State Data Centres / Regional data centres / knowledge centres, etc. have been completed under the ongoing NHP. The need for development & maintenance of appropriate institutional framework both at the Central as well as State level for water resources information system intended for collection, collation and dissemination of the database was given shape in the ongoing NHP. As envisaged in the Cabinet note, the National Water Resources Informatics Centre (NWIC) has been created in 2018 and is now functional. Additionally, the formation of the State Water Informatics Centres for development of respective State Water Resources Information Systems was expedited in the ongoing NHP. Till date almost 19 SWICs have already been formed with a few more under process. The information system covering hydro-meteorological, hydro-geological, sedimentation, morphological and water quality data is also important in the context of various studies being done under NHP which
    include IT Applications, Digital Products, geospatial hydro products, etc.

     

    15.     Surface Minor Irrigation (SMI) scheme

     

    Under the Surface Minor Irrigation (SMI) scheme, since 12th plan onwards, 7282 schemes are ongoing with an estimated cost of ₹ 16113.560 crores. Central Assistance (CA) of Rs. 9009.169 crores have been released to states up-to March, 2024. Further, 4965 schemes have been reported to be completed up-to March, 2024. Target irrigation potential creation of these schemes is 11.58 L Ha and out of this, 8.59 L Ha is reported to be created till March, 2024.

     

    16.     Repair, Renovation and Restoration (RRR) of Water Bodies scheme

     

    Under the Repair, Renovation and Restoration (RRR) of Water Bodies scheme, since 12th plan onwards, 3075schemes are ongoing with an estimated cost of Rs. 2834.692 crore. Central Assistance (CA) of Rs. 554.279Crore has been released to states up to March, 2024. Further, 2192 water bodies have been reported to be completed up to March, 2024. Target irrigation potential restoration of these schemes is 2.41 L Ha and out of this, 2.00 L Ha is reported to be restored till March, 2024

     

    18.       Mass Communication Internship programme

     

    DoWR, RD & GR undertook internship programme in mass communication on during 2024.  Students pursuing Degrees or are Research Scholars enrolled in recognized University/Institution in the field of Mass Communication in India are given opportunity to apply as “interns”. The Internship Programme provided short term exposure to “selected candidates” to be associated with the Department’s work related to media/social media activities. The objectives of the programme are to well acquaint the “Interns” with the working of the Department in field of media/social media related activities etc. and simultaneously the “interns” to supplement the process of mass publicity of this Department to create awareness about importance of development and management of water resources in holistic manner.

     

    03 interns were selected for an initial period of 6 months under the program.

    *****

    Dhanya Sanal K

    Director

    (Release ID: 2096022) Visitor Counter : 29

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Jonathan Cook: Israel kills the journalists. Western media kills the truth of genocide in Gaza

    Report by Dr David Robie – Café Pacific. –

    Western publics are being subjected to a campaign of psychological warfare, where genocide is classed as ‘self-defence’ and opposition to it ‘terrorism’. Jonathan Cook reports as the world marked the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists at the weekend.

    ANALYSIS: By Jonathan Cook

    Israel knew that, if it could stop foreign correspondents from reporting directly from Gaza, those journalists would end up covering events in ways far more to its liking.

    They would hedge every report of a new Israeli atrocity – if they covered them at all – with a “Hamas claims” or “Gaza family members allege”. Everything would be presented in terms of conflicting narratives rather than witnessed facts. Audiences would feel uncertain, hesitant, detached.

    Israel could shroud its slaughter in a fog of confusion and disputation. The natural revulsion evoked by a genocide would be tempered and attenuated.

    For a year, the networks’ most experienced war reporters have stayed put in their hotels in Israel, watching Gaza from afar. Their human-interest stories, always at the heart of war reporting, have focused on the far more limited suffering of Israelis than the vast catastrophe unfolding for Palestinians.

    That is why Western audiences have been forced to relive a single day of horror for Israel, on October 7, 2023, as intensely as they have a year of greater horrors in Gaza — in what the World Court has judged to be a “plausible” genocide by Israel.

    That is why the media have immersed their audiences in the agonies of the families of some 250 Israelis — civilians taken hostage and soldiers taken captive — as much as they have the agonies of 2.3 million Palestinians bombed and starved to death week after week, month after month.

    That is why audiences have been subjected to gaslighting narratives that frame Gaza’s destruction as a “humanitarian crisis” rather than the canvas on which Israel is erasing all the known rules of war.

    Western media’s human-interest stories, always at the heart of war reporting, have focused on the far more limited suffering of Israelis than the vast catastrophe unfolding for Palestinians. Image: www.jonathan-cook.net

    While foreign correspondents sit obediently in their hotel rooms, Palestinian journalists have been picked off one by one — in the greatest massacre of journalists in history.

    Israel is now repeating that process in Lebanon. On the night of October 24, it struck a residence in south Lebanon where three journalists were staying. All were killed.

    In an indication of how deliberate and cynical Israel’s actions are, it put its military’s crosshairs on six Al Jazeera reporters last month, smearing them as “terrorists” working for Hamas and Islamic Jihad. They are reportedly the last surviving Palestinian journalists in northern Gaza, which Israel has sealed off while it carries out the so-called “General’s Plan”.

    Israel wants no one reporting its final push to ethnically cleanse northern Gaza by starving out the 400,000 Palestinians still there and executing anyone who remains as a “terrorist”.

    These six join a long list of professionals defamed by Israel in the interests of advancing its genocide — from doctors and aid workers to UN peacekeepers.

    Sympathy for Israel
     Perhaps the nadir of Israel’s domestication of foreign journalists was reached last month in a report by CNN. Back in February whistleblowing staff there revealed that the network’s executives have been actively obscuring Israeli atrocities to portray Israel in a more sympathetic light.

    In a story whose framing should have been unthinkable — but sadly was all too predictable — CNN reported on the psychological trauma some Israeli soldiers are suffering from time spent in Gaza, in some cases leading to suicide.

    Committing a genocide can be bad for your mental health, it seems. Or as CNN explained, its interviews “provide a window into the psychological burden that the war is casting on Israeli society”.

    In its lengthy piece, titled “He got out of Gaza, but Gaza did not get out of him”, the atrocities the soldiers admit committing are little more than the backdrop as CNN finds yet another angle on Israeli suffering. Israeli soldiers are the real victims — even as they perpetrate a genocide on the Palestinian people.

    One bulldozer driver, Guy Zaken, told CNN he could not sleep and had become vegetarian because of the “very, very difficult things” he had seen and had to do in Gaza.

    What things? Zaken had earlier told a hearing of the Israeli Parliament that his unit’s job was to drive over many hundreds of Palestinians, some of them alive.

    CNN reported: “Zaken says he can no longer eat meat, as it reminds him of the gruesome scenes he witnessed from his bulldozer in Gaza.”

    Doubtless some Nazi concentration camp guards committed suicide in the 1940s after witnessing the horrors there — because they were responsible for them. Only in some weird parallel news universe, would their “psychological burden” be the story.

    After a huge online backlash, CNN amended an editor’s note at the start of the article that originally read: “This story includes details about suicide that some readers may find upsetting.”

    Readers, it was assumed, would find the suicide of Israeli soldiers upsetting, but apparently not the revelation that those soldiers were routinely driving over Palestinians so that, as Zaken explained, “everything squirts out”.

    Banned from Gaza
     Finally, a year into Israel’s genocidal war, now rapidly spreading into Lebanon, some voices are being raised very belatedly to demand the entry of foreign journalists into Gaza.

    This week — in a move presumably designed, as November’s elections loom, to ingratiate themselves with voters angry at the party’s complicity in genocide — dozens of Democratic members of the US Congress wrote to President Joe Biden asking him to pressure Israel to give journalists “unimpeded access” to the enclave.

    Don’t hold your breath.

    Western media have done very little themselves to protest their exclusion from Gaza over the past year — for a number of reasons.

    Given the utterly indiscriminate nature of Israel’s bombardment, major outlets have not wanted their journalists getting hit by a 2000lb bomb for being in the wrong place.

    That may in part be out of concern for their welfare. But there are likely to be more cynical concerns.

    Having foreign journalists in Gaza blown up or executed by snipers would drag media organisations into direct confrontation with Israel and its well-oiled lobby machine.

    The response would be entirely predictable, insinuating that the journalists died because they were colluding with “the terrorists” or that they were being used as “human shields” — the excuse Israel has rolled out time and again to justify its targeting of doctors in Gaza and UN peacekeepers in Lebanon.

    But there’s a bigger problem. The establishment media have not wanted to be in a position where their journalists are so close to the “action” that they are in danger of providing a clearer picture of Israel’s war crimes and its genocide.

    The media’s current distance from the crime scene offers them plausible deniability as they both-sides every Israeli atrocity.

    In previous conflicts, western reporters have served as witnesses, assisting in the prosecution of foreign leaders for war crimes. That happened in the wars that attended the break-up of Yugoslavia, and will doubtless happen once again if Russian President Valdimir Putin is ever delivered to The Hague.

    But those journalistic testimonies were harnessed to put the West’s enemies behind bars, not its closest ally.

    The media do not want their reporters to become chief witnesses for the prosecution in the future trials of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his Defence Minister, Yoav Gallant, at the International Criminal Court. The ICC’s Prosecutor, Karim Khan, is seeking arrest warrants for them both.

    After all, any such testimony from journalists would not stop at Israel’s door. They would implicate Western capitals too, and put establishment media organisations on a collision course with their own governments.

    The Western media does not see its job as holding power to account when the West is the one committing the crimes.

    Censoring Palestinians
     Journalist whistleblowers have gradually been coming forward to explain how establishment news organisations — including the BBC and the supposedly liberal Guardian — are sidelining Palestinian voices and minimising the genocide.

    An investigation by Novara Media recently revealed mounting unhappiness in parts of The Guardian newsroom at its double standards on Israel and Palestine.

    Its editors recently censored a commentary by preeminent Palestinian author Susan Abulhawa after she insisted on being allowed to refer to the slaughter in Gaza as “the holocaust of our times”.

    Senior Guardian columnists such as Jonathan Freedland made much during Jeremy Corbyn’s tenure as leader of the Labour party that Jews, and Jews alone, had the right to define and name their own oppression.

    That right, however, does not appear to extend to Palestinians.

    As staff who spoke to Novara noted, The Guardian’s Sunday sister paper, The Observer, had no problem opening its pages to British Jewish writer Howard Jacobson to smear as a “blood libel” any reporting of the provable fact that Israel has killed many, many thousands of Palestinian children in Gaza.

    One veteran journalist there said: “Is The Guardian more worried about the reaction to what is said about Israel than Palestine? Absolutely.”

    Another staff member admitted it would be inconceivable for the paper to be seen censoring a Jewish writer. But censoring a Palestinian one is fine, it seems.

    Other journalists report being under “suffocating control” from senior editors, and say this pressure exists “only if you’re publishing something critical of Israel”.

    According to staff there, the word “genocide” is all but banned in the paper except in coverage of the International Court of Justice, whose judges ruled nine months ago that a “plausible” case had been made that Israel was committing genocide. Things have got far worse since.

    Whistleblowing journalists
     Similarly, “Sara”, a whistleblower who recently resigned from the BBC newsroom and spoke of her experiences to Al Jazeera’s Listening Post, said Palestinians and their supporters were routinely kept off air or subjected to humiliating and insensitive lines of questioning.

    Some producers have reportedly grown increasingly reluctant to bring on air vulnerable Palestinians, some of whom have lost family members in Gaza, because of concerns about the effect on their mental health from the aggressive interrogations they were being subjected to from anchors.

    According to Sara, BBC vetting of potential guests overwhelmingly targets Palestinians, as well as those sympathetic to their cause and human rights organisations. Background checks are rarely done of Israelis or Jewish guests.

    She added that a search showing that a guest had used the word “Zionism” — Israel’s state ideology — in a social media post could be enough to get them disqualified from a programme.

    Even officials from one of the biggest rights group in the world, the New York-based Human Rights Watch, became persona non grata at the BBC for their criticisms of Israel, even though the corporation had previously relied on their reports in covering Ukraine and other global conflicts.

    Israeli guests, by contrast, “were given free rein to say whatever they wanted with very little pushback”, including lies about Hamas burning or beheading babies and committing mass rape.

    An email cited by Al Jazeera from more than 20 BBC journalists sent last February to Tim Davie, the BBC’s director-general, warned that the corporation’s coverage risked “aiding and abetting genocide through story suppression”.

    Upside-down values
     These biases have been only too evident in the BBC’s coverage, first of Gaza and now, as media interest wanes in the genocide, of Lebanon.

    Headlines — the mood music of journalism, and the only part of a story many of the audience read — have been uniformly dire.

    For example, Netanyahu’s threats of a Gaza-style genocide against the Lebanese people last month if they did not overthrow their leaders were soft-soaped by the BBC headline: “Netanyahu’s appeal to Lebanese people falls on deaf ears in Beirut.”

    Reasonable readers would have wrongly inferred both that Netanyahu was trying to do the Lebanese people a favour (by preparing to murder them), and that they were being ungrateful in not taking up his offer.

    It has been the same story everywhere in the establishment media. In another extraordinary, revealing moment, Kay Burley of Sky News announced last month the deaths of four Israeli soldiers from a Hezbollah drone strike on a military base inside Israel.

    With a solemnity usually reserved for the passing of a member of the British royal family, she slowly named the four soldiers, with a photo of each shown on screen. She stressed twice that all four were only 19 years old.

    Sky News seemed not to understand that these were not British soldiers, and that there was no reason for a British audience to be especially disturbed by their deaths. Soldiers are killed in wars all the time — it is an occupational hazard.

    And further, if Israel considered them old enough to fight in Gaza and Lebanon, then they were old enough to die too without their age being treated as particularly noteworthy.

    But more significantly still, Israel’s Golani Brigade to which these soldiers belonged has been centrally involved in the slaughter of Palestinians over the past year. Its troops have been responsible for many of the tens of thousands of children killed and maimed in Gaza.

    Each of the four soldiers was far, far less deserving of Burley’s sympathy and concern than the thousands of children who have been slaughtered at the hands of their brigade. Those children are almost never named and their pictures are rarely shown, not least because their injuries are usually too horrifying to be seen.

    It was yet more evidence of the upside-down world the establishment media has been trying to normalise for its audiences.

    It is why statistics from the United States, where the coverage of Gaza and Lebanon may be even more unhinged, show faith in the media is at rock bottom. Fewer than one in three respondents — 31 percent — said they still had a “great deal or fair amount of trust in mass media”.

    Crushing dissent
     Israel is the one dictating the coverage of its genocide. First by murdering the Palestinian journalists reporting it on the ground, and then by making sure house-trained foreign correspondents stay well clear of the slaughter, out of harm’s way in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.

    And as ever, Israel has been able to rely on the complicity of its Western patrons in crushing dissent at home.

    Last week, a British investigative journalist, Asa Winstanley, an outspoken critic of Israel and its lobbyists in the UK, had his home in London raided at dawn by counter-terrorism police.

    Though the police have not arrested or charged him — at least not yet — they snatched his electronic devices. He was warned that he is being investigated for “encouragement of terrorism” in his social media posts.

    Police told Middle East Eye that his devices had been seized as part of an investigation into suspected terrorism offences of “support for a proscribed organisation” and “dissemination of terrorist documents”.

    The police can act only because of Britain’s draconian, anti-speech Terrorism Act.

    Section 12, for example, makes the expression of an opinion that could be interpreted as sympathetic to armed Palestinian resistance to Israel’s illegal occupation — a right enshrined in international law but sweepingly dismissed as “terrorism” in the West — itself a terrorism offence.

    Those journalists who haven’t been house-trained in the establishment media, as well as solidarity activists, must now chart a treacherous path across intentionally ill-defined legal terrain when talking about Israel’s genocide in Gaza.

    Winstanley is not the first journalist to be accused of falling foul of the Terrorism Act. In recent weeks, Richard Medhurst, a freelance journalist, was arrested at Heathrow airport on his return from a trip abroad. Another journalist-activist, Sarah Wilkinson, was briefly arrested after her home was ransacked by police.

    Their electronic devices were seized too.

    Meanwhile, Richard Barnard, co-founder of Palestine Action, which seeks to disrupt the UK’s supply of weapons to Israel’s genocide, has been charged over speeches he has made against the genocide.

    It now appears that all these actions are part of a specific police campaign targeting journalists and Palestinian solidarity activists: “Operation Incessantness”.

    The message this clumsy title is presumably supposed to convey is that the British state is coming after anyone who speaks out too loudly against the British government’s continuing arming and complicity in Israel’s genocide.

    Notably, the establishment media have failed to cover this latest assault on journalism and the role of a free press — supposedly the very things they are there to protect.

    The raid on Winstanley’s home and the arrests are intended to intimidate others, including independent journalists, into silence for fear of the consequences of speaking up.

    This has nothing to do with terrorism. Rather, it is terrorism by the British state.

    Once again the world is being turned upside down.

    Echoes from history
     The West is waging a campaign of psychological warfare on its populations: it is gaslighting and disorientating them, classing genocide as “self-defence” and opposition to it a form of “terrorism”.

    This is an expansion of the persecution suffered by Julian Assange, the Wikileaks founder who spent years locked up in London’s Belmarsh high-security prison.

    His unprecedented journalism — revealing the darkest secrets of Western states — was redefined as espionage. His “offence” was revealing that Britain and the US had committed systematic war crimes in Iraq and Afghanistan.

    Now, on the back of that precedent, the British state is coming after journalists simply for embarrassing it.

    Late last month I attended a meeting in Bristol against the genocide in Gaza at which the main speaker was physically absent after the British state failed to issue him an entry visa.

    The missing guest — he had to join us by zoom — was Mandla Mandela, the grandson of Nelson Mandela, who was locked up for decades as a terrorist before becoming the first leader of post-apartheid South Africa and a feted, international statesman.

    Mandla Mandela was until recently a member of the South African Parliament.

    A Home Office spokesperson told Middle East Eye that the UK only issued visas “to those who we want to welcome to our country”.

    Media reports suggest Britain was determined to exclude Mandela because, like his grandfather, he views the Palestinian struggle against Israeli apartheid as intimately linked to the earlier struggle against South Africa’s apartheid.

    The echoes from history are apparently entirely lost on officials: the UK is once again associating the Mandela family with terrorism. Before it was to protect South Africa’s apartheid regime. Now it is to protect Israel’s even worse apartheid and genocidal regime.

    The world is indeed turned on its head. And the West’s supposedly “free media” is playing a critical role in trying to make our upside-down world seem normal.

    That can only be achieved by failing to report the Gaza genocide as a genocide. Instead, Western journalists are serving as little more than stenographers. Their job: to take dictation from Israel.

    Jonathan Cook is an award-winning British journalist. He was based in Nazareth, Israel, for 20 years and returned to the UK in 2021. He is the author of three books on the Israel-Palestine conflict, including Disappearing Palestine: Israel’s Experiments in Human Despair (2008). In 2011, Cook was awarded the Martha Gellhorn Special Prize for Journalism for his work on Palestine and Israel. This article was first published in Middle East Eye and is republished with the author’s permission.

    This article was first published on Café Pacific.

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI: BW Energy Limited: First day of trading of bonds

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    BW Energy Limited – First day of trading of bonds

    Reference is made to the stock exchange announcement by BW Energy Limited (the “Company”) on 31 October 2024 regarding the approval and publication of the Company’s prospectus in connection with the listing of a new senior unsecured bond issue with an initial issue amount of USD 100 million with ISIN NO0013259663 on the Oslo Stock Exchange.

    As of today, the bonds start trading on Euronext Oslo Børs under the ticker code “BWE01”.

    For further information, please contact:

    Brice Morlot, CFO BW Energy, +33.7.81.11.41.16

    ir@bwenergy.com

    About BW Energy:

    BW Energy is a growth E&P company with a differentiated strategy targeting proven offshore oil and gas reservoirs through low risk phased developments. The Company has access to existing production facilities to reduce time to first oil and cashflow with lower investments than traditional offshore developments. The Company’s assets are 73.5% of the producing Dussafu Marine licence offshore Gabon, 100% interest in the Golfinho and Camarupim fields, a 76.5% interest in the BM-ES-23 block in, a 95% interest in the Maromba field in Brazil and a 95% interest in the Kudu field in Namibia, all operated by BW Energy. Total net 2P+2C reserves and resources were 580 million barrels of oil equivalents at the start of 2024.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Asian Development Blog: Empowering Women with Disabilities: Key Actions for Inclusive Sports in the Pacific

    Source: Asia Development Bank

    Inclusive sports can empower women with disabilities, and foster accessibility, social integration, and gender equality in the Pacific. Recent Paralympic milestones and policy examples illustrate the ongoing need for supportive infrastructures and greater representation to create equitable opportunities in sports.

    The importance of sport for women with disabilities cannot be overstated. It provides a platform for empowerment, fostering physical and mental well-being, and breaking societal barriers related to gender and disability. Participation in sports helps build confidence, resilience, and a sense of community.

    The Paralympic Games have been instrumental in setting standards for inclusion, showcasing the incredible talents and achievements of athletes with disabilities on a global stage. By promoting gender equality and providing equal opportunities, the Paralympics inspire change and highlight the importance of accessibility and inclusivity in sports.

    This year’s Paralympic Games in Paris marked a historic milestone with a record 1,983 women, or 45% of participants, across 549 medal events in 22 sports, making it the most gender-inclusive Paralympics ever. It was also a historic moment for the Pacific region, as it sent its largest contingent of athletes to the Paralympic Games.

    Thirteen athletes, comprising seven women and six men, represented six countries to compete in para-athletics and para-taekwondo: Fiji, Kiribati, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Tonga, and Vanuatu. According to the Oceania Paralympic Committee, the Pacific athletes “not only represent their nations but also the aspirations of the entire Pacific region.”

    Among the remarkable athletes was Tongan discus thrower Meleane Vasitai Leaaepeni Falemaka, known as Vasi, who competed in the Paralympic Games for the first time. She is making her mark on the global stage as Tonga’s sole representative in the Paralympic Games where she competed in the women’s F37 discus throw event. Prior to the Paralympics, Vasi achieved her personal best throw at the World Para Athletics Grand Prix April 2024 held in Marrakech, Morocco.

    Women with disabilities outnumber men with disabilities in most Pacific countries, largely due to longer life expectancy and the increased likelihood of acquiring disabilities in old age. Persons with disabilities are overrepresented among the poorest of the poor across the region and face economic and social exclusion, violence, and accessibility challenges.

    Despite this, women with disabilities often do not get to make decisions that affect them. Evidence from 19 countries shows that only 2.3% of women with disabilities held a position as a legislator, senior official, or manager.  Only four out of 18 countries in the region had a “woman with disability” in parliament.

    Sports provide a powerful platform for empowering women with disabilities, fostering inclusion, and challenging societal barriers.

    The following actions are needed to increase the inclusion of women with disabilities in sports:

    Enhance policy and financing for gender and disability inclusive sport. Governments must enact robust legislation to eliminate accessibility barriers in multiple areas such as transport, housing, services, education, and sport. For example, Brazil passed the “Inclusion of People with Disabilities Act” before the Rio 2016 Paralympics that aimed to enhance the lives of the nearly 50 million people with impairments in Brazil. This Act increased the amount allocated to para-sports from the gross revenues of the federal lotteries, from around $26 million to $49 million per year.

    Promote accessibility and inclusivity of sport. The Paralympics have made strides in accommodating athletes with disabilities through modified rules and regular reassessments by classifiers. Classification varies across sports, for example, swimming has up to 10 eligible impairment types, and classifications depend on how much an impairment affects performance.

    In wheelchair basketball, players are rated from 1.0 to 4.5 based on their disability level with a maximum point total allowed per team to ensure competitive balance. This approach enhances fairness and integrity in competitions, creating a more equitable environment for all Paralympic athletes.

    Include women with disabilities in stakeholder consultations. This can be done through partnerships with local organizations and women’s groups where women with disabilities take on leadership and decision-making roles. Mapping stakeholders supporting people with disabilities is crucial in creating awareness among all stakeholders and policymakers in sport on the needs of women athletes with disabilities.

    Ensuring that sports facilities are accessible and safe for women with disabilities. Sports facilities must be designed within the lens of gender and disability. This not only promotes physical health but also enhances social integration and economic opportunities for people with disabilities.

    Governments and development partners’ financial commitments to accessibility improvements are essential. For instance, prior to the 2008 Paralympic Games in Beijing, the People’s Republic of China invested over $150 million to make 14,000 facilities accessible across the country. Similarly, for the Rio 2016 Games, nearly $1 million was allocated to enhance access to major tourist attractions and sports arenas.

    Promoting media representation to change perceptions. Media coverage can significantly change societal perceptions. For example, UK’s Channel 4 won various awards for its coverage of the London 2012 Paralympics, which included presenters with disabilities.

    The channel spent $1.2 million searching for, recruiting, training and developing the skills of media professionals to ensure that half of the on-screen talent during the Games consisted of persons with disabilities. The channel’s “Meet the Superhumans” commercial combined powerful imagery of athletes with their extraordinary stories creating a compelling narrative that resonated widely and likely changed attitudes towards Paralympic sports.

    Encouraging women with disabilities to take up sports. Sport enables women with disabilities to develop social skills and independence. Families and carers can help foster the love for sport by initiating play and developing interest, which can also serve as a shared activity. Sport can also be a transformative tool for women to demonstrate their abilities, which can help reduce the longstanding negative perceptions and gender stereotypes associated with women with disabilities.

    By addressing these issues, we can create an environment where athletes like Vasi can thrive, inspiring future generations and contributing to a more inclusive and equitable society in the Pacific.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI China: Global forum celebrates Hehe Culture in historic city

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    The 2024 Global Forum on Hehe Culture is held in Taizhou, eastern China’s Zhejiang province, on Nov. 2, 2024. [Photo/China.org.cn]
    The 2024 Global Forum on Hehe Culture convened Saturday in Taizhou, an eastern Chinese city in Zhejiang province, where this philosophy originated.
    The forum, themed “Hehe Culture and New Model for Human Progress,” brought together participants from home and abroad, including politicians, think tank experts, and youth leaders.
    The ancient Chinese concept of Hehe Culture represents dual meanings of harmony: The first “He” symbolizes peace and balance, while the second represents unity and cooperation, according to “Keywords to Understand Hehe Culture,” a book released at a previous session of the Global Forum on Hehe Culture.
    Zhu Yongxin, vice chairperson of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference and executive vice chairperson of the Central Committee of the China Association for Promoting Democracy, delivered a speech at the opening ceremony of the forum.
    In his address, Zhu emphasized the importance of promoting Chinese culture while maintaining a people-centered approach. He called for strengthening cultural confidence, deepening cultural exchanges and promoting the progress of civilizations. He also advocated adhering to the philosophy of harmony and unity, and promoting the building of a global community of shared future.
    Wang Wenxu, a member of the Standing Committee of the Zhejiang Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), said in a speech that while Hehe Culture originates in China, it belongs to the world. Amid the ongoing transformations unseen in a century, Hehe should serve as an approach to addressing issues such as development imbalances, governance challenges, and geopolitical conflicts.
    “We must look to Hehe as a philosophy facilitating inclusive cultural exchange, a way of pursuing mutual benefits for all countries and parties, and a solution to global security and governance challenges,” he highlighted.
    Essam Sharaf, former prime minister of Egypt and winner of the inaugural Orchid Awards, delivered a speech at the forum. He expounded on the concept of a global community of shared future, saying that “[it] means all countries have equal sovereignty – none can intervene in the internal affairs of others; that countries should jointly manage global affairs democratically, rather than through the dictates of the most powerful states; that countries should engage in ‘win-win cooperation’ to ‘build a world of common prosperity.’”
    “Hehe Culture can play an important role in guiding the efforts aiming at building a community of a shared future where everyone can enjoy a prosperous future,” he added.
    Yu Tao, vice president of China International Communications Group (CICG), also shared his insights in a speech. He said Hehe Culture is one of the valuable assets of Chinese wisdom and a shared achievement of global civilization. With its enduring relevance, Hehe Culture has gained renewed vitality. It fosters strength for safeguarding peace and stability, advancing cooperation and promoting mutual learning among civilizations.
    “Looking to the future, we should advocate peaceful coexistence to develop a new global security perspective grounded in mutual respect and dialogue, promote win-win cooperation to build open, inclusive, and universally beneficial dynamics for global development, and encourage diversity and harmony to create a vibrant, mutually enriching global civilization,” Yu said.
    Li Yueqi, secretary of the CPC Taizhou Municipal Committee, echoed the idea that Hehe Culture is a brilliant gem within the tapestry of traditional Chinese culture. It is woven into the daily lives of Taizhou people and permeates all aspects of the city’s development, serving as an important foundation of its cultural identity.
    In his speech, Li expressed hope that the forum would foster deeper and broader cooperation and exchange regarding Hehe Culture.
    The event featured five parallel sessions that addressed sister city partnerships, Sinology studies, youth programs, academic research, and family traditions.
    Forum organizers named new cultural ambassadors and launched an initiative to strengthen ties among sister cities. Officials also unveiled a new collection of poems titled “Cold Hill’s Poetry.”
    In addition, participants toured local historic sites showcasing Hehe Culture heritage.
    The forum, established in 2021, has emerged as a significant platform for international cultural dialogue.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Chinese PLA Support Base in Djibouti holds training with Djiboutian army

    Source: People’s Republic of China – Ministry of National Defense

      The Chinese PLA support base in Djibouti carries out a three-day joint training of “Cooperation-2024.10. FAD” with the Djiboutian army from October 26th to 28th, 2024. The training, themed on “joint anti-terrorism military operation”, consisted of land phase and sea phase, and involved more than 300 soldiers, five boats, and 40 armored vehicles, artilleries, logistic vehicles. Both sides’ participants conducted such training subjects as fire strike, armed escort, and counter-piracy. (eng.chinamil.com.cn/Photo by Sun Ye, Mi Peng, Han Liang, Meng Xinde, Wu Shihong, Zhou Weiyue, Zhu Ruifeng)

    loading…

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Chinese PLA Support Base in Djibouti Holds Training with Djiboutian Military

    Source: People’s Republic of China – Ministry of National Defense

      By Shao Bo

      BEIJING, Nov. 4 — The Chinese PLA Support Base in Djibouti carried out a three-day joint training “Cooperation-2024.10. FAD” with the Djiboutian military from October 26th to 28th, 2024.

      Themed on “joint anti-terrorism military operations”, the joint training consisted of land phase and sea phase and focused on such subjects as fire strike, armed escort, and counter-piracy.

      The joint training involved more than 300 soldiers, five boats, and 40 armored vehicles, artilleries, logistic support vehicles.

    loading…

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Appointment of Bishop of Coventry: 4 November 2024

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    The King has approved the nomination of The Right Reverend Sophie Jelley, Suffragan Bishop of Doncaster to be appointed as Bishop of Coventry.

    The King has approved the nomination of The Right Reverend Sophie Jelley, Suffragan Bishop of Doncaster to be appointed as Bishop of Coventry, in succession to The Right Reverend Dr Christopher Cocksworth following his appointment as Dean of Windsor.

    Background

    Sophie was educated at the Universities of Leeds and Oxford and trained for ordination at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford. She served her title at St Peter’s, Shipley, in the former Diocese of Bradford (now in the Diocese of Leeds) and was ordained priest in 1998.

    She took up the role of Mission Partner with the Church Mission Society in 2000, serving at Uganda Christian University in Mukono, before returning to the UK in 2003 to take up the role of Resident Minister of St John the Evangelist, Churt with Rushmoor, in the Diocese of Guildford. In 2010, Sophie was appointed Vicar of St Andrew’s, Burgess Hill, in the Diocese of Chichester, and from 2013 was additionally Assistant Diocesan Director of Ordinands. In 2015, Sophie was appointed Canon Missioner of Durham Cathedral and Diocesan Director of Mission, Discipleship and Ministry, in the Diocese of Durham.

    In 2020, Sophie took up her current role as Suffragan Bishop of Doncaster, in the Diocese of Sheffield

    Updates to this page

    Published 4 November 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Tanzania marks record agricultural achievement as African Development Bank President Adesina urges investment in Africa

    Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:

    DES MOINES, United States of America, November 4, 2024/APO Group/ —

    • Tanzania achieves 128% food self-sufficiency, one of continent’s two successful cashew nut processors
    • If you are not investing in Africa, what are you doing? – Akinwumi Adesina

    Tanzania is setting new benchmarks in food self-sufficiency across Africa, raising hope that the fight against hunger and malnutrition on the continent is achievable.

    President Samia Suluhu Hassan of Tanzania said her country had reached 128 percent food security and is now exporting surplus to neighbouring countries.  

    She was speaking on Thursday 31 October during a high-level session at the World Food Prize Norman E. Borlaug International Dialogue in Iowa, moderated by the president of the African Development Bank Group, Dr Akinwumi Adesina. The session, entitled “Bold Measures to Feed Africa,” also featured the President of Sierra Leone, Julius Maada Bio.

    President Suluhu Hassan told a packed auditorium, that after achieving food sufficiency, “we are now working on quality, accessibility and affordability, and how to minimize post-harvest loses.”

    Adesina praised President Suluhu Hassan’s leadership and strong political will for Tanzania’s success. He said the growing commitment of other African nations, underscores the continent’s readiness for large-scale investment in agriculture and food production.

    He recalled how the African Development Bank’s 2023 Dakar 2 Food Summit ignited commitment across Africa for country-specific food and agriculture compacts. The summit, co-hosted by the government of Senegal and the African Union, was attended by 34 African Heads of State and Government. It has mobilized more than $72 billion to date.

    President Suluhu Hassan said Tanzania left Dakar 2 summit with a signed compact and determination to implement increasing productivity as well as the political will to create institutions and support structures for its farmers.

    “We realized that not investing in agriculture is much more costly than investing in the sector,” she said.

    Tanzania has broken another record by becoming a processor and net exporter of cashew nuts, which for nearly all African countries, are processed in Asia. The country has also succeeded in rural electrification with nearly 100 percent of its 12,300 villages with electricity, President Suluhu Hassan said.

    Backed by investment from the African Development Bank, Tanzania’s Creating jobs for Youth and Women programme is targeting the country’s 65% youth population with training in farming, agriculture, livestock and crop farming.

    The Tanzanian leader said each youth is given 10 acres of land and is supported by training, already 11,000 have benefitted and this year’s harvest has begun. “We thank the African Development Bank for supporting that program,” she said.

    Joining Adesina on stage, President Bio of Sierra Leone shared his country’s success with the Feed Salone program, which has cut rice imports by 20 million tons and spurred agricultural productivity.

    Until then the nation had not paid enough attention to food security and Bio said he had focused on education during his first term. “Agriculture is the basis of development,” President Bio stated.

    The Feed Salone programme has helped boost agricultural productivity to feed the nation and to enable them export. “Already we have reduced rice imports by 20 million tons,” he said.

    “We are here to share the Sierra Leone story and invite investors. We are an ambitious nation and want to succeed to attract investors,” President Bio said.

    Adesina highlighted the African Development Bank’s efforts to reshape global perceptions of Africa and drive investment in critical sectors like agriculture.

    He said the event and the Africa Dialogue, also hosted by the African Development Bank in Iowa, was intended to break stereotypes and showcase Africa’s potential, a continent that is home to 65% of the world’s remaining arable land and has the technology to turn Africa into a global food basket.

    “This is why we bring African leaders here so you can hear from them directly,” Adesina said.

    The 2024 Norman E. Borlaug Dialogue gathers experts worldwide to inspire innovative solutions to global hunger. This year’s theme, “Seeds of Opportunity, Bridging Generations and Cultivating Diplomacy,” champions collaboration, legacy, and hope in the fight for food security.

    Adesina recalled the words of Norman E. Borlaug to him shortly before his death in 2009 at 95 years old.

    “He told me keep on scoring goals for Africa,” Adesina said. “If you are not investing in Africa, what are you doing?”

    Learn more about the African Development Bank’s Feed Africa High 5 priority here (http://apo-opa.co/4htLM6p).

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Press release: Appointment of Bishop of Coventry: 4 November 2024

    Source: United Kingdom – Prime Minister’s Office 10 Downing Street

    The King has approved the nomination of The Right Reverend Sophie Jelley, Suffragan Bishop of Doncaster to be appointed as Bishop of Coventry.

    The King has approved the nomination of The Right Reverend Sophie Jelley, Suffragan Bishop of Doncaster to be appointed as Bishop of Coventry, in succession to The Right Reverend Dr Christopher Cocksworth following his appointment as Dean of Windsor.

    Background

    Sophie was educated at the Universities of Leeds and Oxford and trained for ordination at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford. She served her title at St Peter’s, Shipley, in the former Diocese of Bradford (now in the Diocese of Leeds) and was ordained priest in 1998.

    She took up the role of Mission Partner with the Church Mission Society in 2000, serving at Uganda Christian University in Mukono, before returning to the UK in 2003 to take up the role of Resident Minister of St John the Evangelist, Churt with Rushmoor, in the Diocese of Guildford. In 2010, Sophie was appointed Vicar of St Andrew’s, Burgess Hill, in the Diocese of Chichester, and from 2013 was additionally Assistant Diocesan Director of Ordinands. In 2015, Sophie was appointed Canon Missioner of Durham Cathedral and Diocesan Director of Mission, Discipleship and Ministry, in the Diocese of Durham.

    In 2020, Sophie took up her current role as Suffragan Bishop of Doncaster, in the Diocese of Sheffield

    Updates to this page

    Published 4 November 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Pensioner Advice Events bring comfort and financial relief to Derby residents

    Source: City of Derby

    In a heartening series of community events throughout October, we have been able to deliver life-changing support to residents facing financial hardship, bringing peace of mind and practical assistance to individuals who need it most.

    At our Pensioner Advice Event on October 4 at The Council House, a local woman left with a brighter financial outlook, gaining £73 extra each week thanks to council-led advice on available benefits. Several other attendees also found they were eligible for Pension Credit. Although some who attended the event could not apply immediately due to a lack of required documents, home visits have been scheduled with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to help them complete their applications.

    The events not only put more money in people’s pockets but also brought warmth and safety into their homes. An 84-year-old gentleman, who attended an event in New Zealand on October 25, learned for the first time that he qualified for Pension Credit. This discovery was a tremendous relief for him and his wife, who had been cutting back on heating and cooking hot meals to save on costs. The couple was also gifted a heated blanket and an air fryer, ensuring they can now stay warm and enjoy warm meals without worry.

    A woman from Mackworth walked away £36 per week better off after council advisors helped her identify unclaimed entitlements. Another attendee at a local event was also delighted to receive a heated blanket and air fryer, just as winter temperatures begin to set in. Another participant reported savings of £75 per week after connecting with council representatives.

    Councillor Sarah Chambers said:

    These events are here to make a real difference for Derby residents who may be struggling or unsure of the support available to them. I strongly encourage anyone who could benefit from extra help to attend. Our team is dedicated to connecting residents with resources to improve their quality of life, especially as costs rise and winter draws in. We’re here to help every step of the way.”

    There are upcoming events happening around Derby in the coming weeks. These include:

    • Mackworth – Thursday 24 October, 10am-12 noon, St Francis Church, Prince Charles Avenue, Mackworth, DE22 4FN
    • New Zealand – Friday 25 October, 10am-12 noon, Lonny Wilsoncroft Community Centre, Stepping Lane, Derby DE1 1GL
    • Chaddesden – Friday 1st November, 10am-12 noon, Age UK Building, Chaddesden Park, Chaddesden, DE21 6LN (There is free parking in the main car park off Maine Drive, Chaddesden)
    • Sinfin – Monday 4 November, 10am-12 noon, Sinfin Moor Church, Arleston Lane, Sinfin, Derby, DE24 3DH
    • Allenton – Wednesday 4 December, 2pm-4pm, Derby South Salvation Army, 24 Chellaston Road, Derby, DE24 9AE
    • Osmaston – Monday 10 December, 10am-12 noon, Moorways Sports Village, Moor Lane, Derby, DE24 9HY

    If you want to learn more about cost of living support, visit our cost of living webpage or visit Community Action Derby’s cost of living online hub.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Opening Ceremony (World Urban Forum 12th Session)

    Source: United Nations (Video News)

    The World Urban Forum (WUF) is the premier global conference on sustainable urbanization. The twelfth session will take place in Cairo, Egypt , from 4 to 8 November, 2024.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDbl443Yq4Q

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: PRESIDENT CONFERS VAYU SENA MEDAL (GALLANTRY) ON WING COMMANDER AKSHAY SAXENA (29020) FLYING (PILOT)

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Posted On: 25 JAN 2025 2:50PM by PIB Delhi

    Wing Commander Akshay Saxena (29020) was commissioned as a pilot in the Flying branch of the IAF on 17 Jun 2006 and is on the posted strength of a C-17 Squadron since 01 Feb 2021.

    On 16 Mar 2024, the officer executed a mission in support of Op Sankalp aimed at anti piracy operations in the Arabian Sea. He airdropped two Combat Rubberised Raiding Craft (CRRC) boats and a team of 18 MARCOs with combat load to capture a Pirate controlled ship which was not only launching attacks on merchant vessels in the Arabian Sea but also opened fire at INS Kolkata and had shot down a naval spotter drone on 15 Mar 24. The objective area was near the Somalian coast, 1450 NMs off Mumbai and 540 NMs out of Indian FIR. Due to the time critical and secret nature of the mission, he finalised suitable crew and ensured aircraft readiness for a quick launch.

    The mission involved real threat of small arms with the pirates over and above the extended mission timelines which involved flying into airspace of another country undeclared and undetected for close to four hours. The Officer as Captain of the C-17 aircraft decided to switch off all emitters, fly low level over high seas in foreign territory and drop at dusk time to avoid detection. Even after receiving the changed drop location only 50 NMs prior to the drop, he guided the crew to safely execute a precision airdrop thus resulting in the capture of the pirates and rescue of MV Ruen with its 17 member crew. He displayed effective inter-service coordination with Indian Navy while maintaining heightened situational awareness both on ground and in air. All possible measures were taken to maintain secrecy of the almost 10 hours long mission. During the flawless execution of the extremely gruelling, mission the officer displayed exceptional courage, dynamic leadership, outstanding professionalism and steadfast determination.

    For his act of indomitable courage and conspicuous gallantry Wing Commander Akshay Saxena is awarded with ‘Vayu Sena Medal (Gallantry)’.

    ***

    VK/JS/SM

    (Release ID: 2096093) Visitor Counter : 87

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi interacts with NCC Cadets, NSS Volunteers, Tribal guests and Tableaux Artists

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Posted On: 25 JAN 2025 5:08PM by PIB Delhi

    Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi interacted with NCC Cadets, NSS Volunteers, Tribal guests and Tableaux Artists who would be a part of the upcoming Republic Day parade at his residence at Lok Kalyan Marg yesterday (24 Jan 2025). During the interaction, many participants expressed their joy of meeting the Prime Minister in person, to which the PM replied that “this demonstrates the strength of Indian Democracy”. 

    Interacting with a participant from Munger, Bihar, the PM extended his respects to the land of Munger, acknowledging that Munger is renowned worldwide for yoga and now the entire world is embracing yoga. 

    Another participant said that initiatives like the Swachh Bharat Mission and National Health Mission have not only contributed to the country’s progress but have also attracted the youth. She added that everyone was drawn to the Prime Minister like a magnet, and it was a matter of great pride for the nation to have a Prime Minister with such a personality. Shri Modi emphasized that if 140 crore Indians resolve to maintain cleanliness, then India will always remain Swachh.

    Another participant from Odisha asked Shri Modi, the actual definition of success, to which he remarked that one should never accept failure. He highlighted that those who accept failure never achieve success, but those who learn from it reach the pinnacle. The Prime Minister emphasized that one should never fear failure, but rather have the spirit to learn from it and those who learn from failure ultimately reach the top.

    Upon being asked by a participant what keeps him motivated and energetic, the Prime Minister remarked “Meeting young people like you gives me energy and inspiration”. He highlighted that when he thinks of the farmers in the country, he realizes how many hours they work; when he remembers the soldiers, he reflects on how many hours they stand guard at the borders. The Prime Minister emphasized that everyone works very hard, and if we observe and try to live like them, we feel that we don’t have the right to rest either. He noted that as they fulfill their duties with such dedication, the 140 crore citizens of the country have also entrusted him with duties to fulfill.

    The Prime Minister remarked that the habit of waking up early was very beneficial in life. He shared that being an NCC cadet in the past and the habit of waking up early during camps had taught him discipline. The Prime Minister highlighted that even today, his habit of waking up early is a valuable asset, allowing him to complete many tasks before the world wakes up. He encouraged everyone to maintain the habit of waking up early, as it will be very useful to them.

    On the topic of learning from great personalities, the Prime Minister shared that we need to learn from everyone, including Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. He emphasized the importance of drawing lessons from great leaders of the past and applying those lessons to serve the nation today. 

    The Prime Minister asked a participant about her learnings from others during the Republic Day program preparations, to which she replied that building friendships and interacting with various participants and blending together to form a unified India. She added that it has also taught a lot about making adjustments of every kind. Shri Modi was pleased when it was shared by a young participant from a Kashmiri Pandit family that being in the program has taught her to be self-independent. She highlighted that despite never having done household chores before, learning to manage everything independently here has been a significant experience. She emphasized that once she returns home, she will help her mother with the household work alongside her studies.

    The Prime Minister was deeply touched when it was shared by a young participant that one of the most important lessons learned here is that family is not only composed of those who live with us at home, but also included the people here – friends and seniors – all forming a big family. The participant emphasized that this is a valuable lesson that will always be remembered. Shri Modi remarked that embracing the spirit of “Ek Bharat, Shrestha Bharat” as a significant learning from this experience.

    Upon being asked by Shri Modi to the participants about their selection or non – selection in the upcoming Republic Day Parade, a participant replied that selection or non-selection was a different matter, but making an effort is a significant achievement in itself. Shri Modi then emphasized that the most important thing is to give your best, regardless of the outcome. 

    Prime Minister highlighted to the participants, who have spent a month here, that they were able to video conference with their friends and family because of Technology and Digital India which was leading us to Viksit Bharat. He emphasized that there are very few countries around the world that have data as affordable as it is in India. He added that as a result, even the poorest in the country can comfortably talk to their loved ones via video conference. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi asked how many people use UPI and digital payments, remarking that the new generation seems to hardly carry cash in their pockets.

    Upon being asked by Shri Modi about what valuable aspects the participants gained from NCC which they didn’t have before, a participant replied punctuality, time management and leadership. Another participant highlighted that the most important lesson learned from NCC was public service, such as organizing blood donation camps and maintaining cleanliness in the surroundings. Highlighting the MY Bharat or Mera Yuva Bharat platform run by the Government of India, PM remarked that over three crore young men and women have registered on this platform. He emphasized that the participants had made significant contributions, including debates on a developed India, quiz competitions, essay writing, and speech contests. He noted that around 30 lakh people across the country were involved in these activities. Shri Modi urged the participants to register in the MY Bharat portal soon. 

    Discussing the goal set by India and Indians to make Bharat a developed nation (Viksit Bharat) by 2047, the Prime Minister remarked that if 140 crore citizens resolve to do something positive, achieving the goal will not be difficult. He emphasized, “By fulfilling our duties, we can become a significant force in building a developed India”. 

    Asking the participants that who among us loves our mothers deeply and who loves Mother Earth just as much, Shri Modi stressed that a program ‘Ek Ped Maa ke Naam’ that expresses reverence for both our mothers and Mother Earth. He urged everyone to plant a tree in their mother’s name and ensure it never dries up. He added that the first beneficiary of this act will be Mother Earth.

    Interacting with a participant from Arunachal Pradesh, Shri Modi highlighted that the unique feature of Arunachal Pradesh was it is where the first rays of the sun reach India. He mentioned that in Arunachal Pradesh, people greet each other with “Jai Hind” instead of “Ram Ram” or “Namaste.” The Prime Minister encouraged everyone to experience the diversity, art, natural beauty, and love of the people in Arunachal Pradesh. He urged people to visit the entire region of Ashtalakshmi, including Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland, Sikkim, Tripura, Assam and Meghalaya, mentioning that there is so much to see that even two or three months may not be enough.

    Prime Minister asked the participants if there was any work done by the unit that has been widely recognized in their area while working with the NSS team. Sharing his experience, a participant from Jharkhand said that one notable effort involved helping the Mahiri community in Dumka, known for crafting bamboo items. He added that the community faced challenges as their products were only sold seasonally. He said that the unit identified such artisans and connected them with factories that manufacture incense sticks (agarbatti). The Prime Minister highlighted that the forests in Agartala, Tripura produce agar wood, known for its unique and pleasant fragrance. He mentioned that the oil extracted from these trees is highly valuable and among the most expensive oils in the world. He added that the rich aroma of agar has led to the tradition of making incense sticks (agarbatti) with this fragrance.

    Shri Modi highlighted the government’s GeM (Government e-Marketplace) portal. He encouraged educated youth to help local artisans and producers register their products on the portal. The Prime Minister explained that by listing products and prices, there is a possibility that the government might place orders for those items, enabling swift transactions. He shared his vision of making 3 crore women from self-help groups (SHGs) in villages become “Lakhpati Didis” and noted that their numbers have already reached 1.3 crore. A participant shared that his mother learned sewing, and now makes traditional Chaniyas worn during Navratri. He added that these chaniyas were even exported abroad. He added that this sets an inspiring example and emphasized that the “Lakhpati Didi” program can play a crucial role in building a developed India.

    The Prime Minister was pleased to hear from a participant from Nepal, who expressed excitement about visiting India and meeting him. She also took a moment to thank the Prime Minister for the unconditional hospitality extended to her. Another  participant from Mauritius said that on the eve of their departure, the High Commissioner of India to Mauritius met with them and encouraged them to visit India, referring to it as their “second home.” The Prime Minister emphasized that India is not only their second home but also the first home of their forefathers.

    The Union Minister for Defence, Shri Rajnath Singh, Union Minister for Youth Affairs & Sports and Labour & Employment, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya were present among other dignitaries during the event. 

     

     

    ***

    MJPS/SR

    (Release ID: 2096135) Visitor Counter : 77

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Be a part of India’s vibrant game developer community through Road to Game Jam & become India’s brightest game developer team for WAVES

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Be a part of India’s vibrant game developer community through Road to Game Jam & become India’s brightest game developer team for WAVES

    GDAI, IGDC & KGeN assuring nourishment of talent from across the country to fulfil your dream

    Squad of talented devs being fostered to represent their regions and showcase their games at World Audio Visual Entertainment Summit

    Registrations reopen for Road to Game Jam: Apply by February 1, Submit by February 16, Results on March 16

    Road to Game Jam sees  over 5,400 registrations across 1,622 colleges, uniting game developers nationwide under WAVES Create in India Challenge

    Posted On: 25 JAN 2025 6:07PM by PIB Delhi

    The Game Developer Association of India (GDAI), through its flagship event, the India Game Developer Conference (IGDC), has joined forces with KGeN to organize the “Road to Game Jam.” This initiative is one of the challenges under the Create in India Challenge Season 1, an activity under the Government of India’s World Audio Visual Entertainment Summit (WAVES). It aims to empower India’s game developers to shape the future of the gaming industry by showcasing cutting-edge innovation and creativity.

    The Road to Game Jam is offering game developers another opportunity to join this exciting initiative. With registrations open until February 1st 2025, aspiring developers can now showcase their talent and creativity in game design. The new submission deadline is February 16th 2025, with results set to be announced on March 16th 2025.

    If you missed the first round, now is the perfect time to jump in and demonstrate your game-making skills. Don’t miss this chance to be part of a national platform fostering innovation and excellence in India’s game development community.

    GDAI and KGeN are proud to announce the remarkable progress of the Road to Game Jam, an unprecedented initiative aimed at nurturing and expanding India’s vibrant game development community. By fostering local talent and providing a platform for regional representation, this program is paving the way for India’s brightest game development teams to shine at the WAVES India Summit.

     

    Building Momentum: Achievements So Far

    Since its launch, the Road to Game Jam has achieved incredible milestones:

    • 5,496 game development enthusiasts registered for the program.
    • Representing 1,622 unique colleges across India.
    • Participants hail from 446 cities, spanning 28 states and 8 Union Territories.
    • 120 teams from various colleges have already formed and are actively participating.
    • The themes for the Game Jam were released on the 20th of December 2024
    • Themes:
      • Everything Falls Apart
      • Stuck Together
      • Handle with Care
      • Invisible Connections
      • The Sound of Silence

    Empowering the Game Development Community

    GDAI and KGeN have also initiated several impactful activities to educate and empower the game development community:

    Workshops

    • The first workshop, conducted by Rahul Sehgal, founder of Gamer2Maker, focused on building a career in game development in India and addressed foundational aspects of the industry.
    • An AMA Session was held on January 18, 2024, featuring Nakul Verma, Founder of Playbae and Senior Engineer at Netflix. Nakul provided invaluable insights and addressed questions from the community offering practical guidance to inspire the participants

    These sessions are designed to foster networking, provide mentorship, and equip participants with the skills and knowledge needed to excel in game development.

    About GDAI

    The Game Developer Association of India (GDAI) is dedicated to building a globally recognized ecosystem for game developers, studios, and industry professionals. For over a decade, GDAI has championed innovation, sustainability, and excellence in game creation. The association provides resources, mentorship, and skill development while promoting ethical standards, inclusion, and innovation in the gaming industry.

    About IGDC

    The India Game Developer Conference (IGDC) is India’s premier event for game developers, organized “By the Industry, For the Industry.” Now in its 16th edition, IGDC serves as a cornerstone of India’s gaming ecosystem, enabling developers to learn from global industry leaders, network with peers, and connect with investors and publishers.

    About KGeN

    KGeN is creating a decentralized gamer network to empower gamers by enabling them to own their data. At the core of KGeN’s platform is the Proof of Gamer (PoG) engine, which allows gamers to build, own, showcase, and monetize their reputation. Game publishers utilize KGeN’s product stack to engage meaningfully with gamer cohorts through its multi-chain gamer network. Kratos Gamer Network operates across India, Brazil, Nigeria, Southeast Asia, and the MENA region.

    *****

    Dharmendra Tewari/Kshitij Singha

    (Release ID: 2096169) Visitor Counter : 73

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Mahakumbh 2025: A Dip in the confluence of Spirituality, Indian Culture, and Patriotism – On Republic Day, the ‘Sangam’ will showcase a Patriotic Display

    Source: Government of India

    Mahakumbh 2025: A Dip in the confluence of Spirituality, Indian Culture, and Patriotism – On Republic Day, the ‘Sangam’ will showcase a Patriotic Display

    On the 11th Day of Mahakumbh, Bollywood Singer Sadhana Sargam to perform at the Ganga Pavilion; Classical and Semi-Classical Performances to take Listeners on a Spiritual Journey

    Posted On: 25 JAN 2025 7:27PM by PIB Delhi

    On the 11th day of the Mahakumbh 2025, and the occasion of Republic Day, listeners will experience a dip in the confluence of Spirituality, Indian culture, and Patriotism. The Uttar Pradesh Culture Department has organized performances at all four pavilions—Ganga, Yamuna, Saraswati, and Triveni—on 26th January. The main event at the Ganga Pavilion will feature Bollywood singer Sadhana Sargam, whose songs will delight the audience.

     

    Diverse Events on Republic Day 2025

    On Republic Day, the Mahakumbh will also host various events. On one hand, the audience will be introduced to Uttar Pradesh’s rural culture through performances like Faruwahi, Birha, and Alha, while on the other hand, people will enjoy the classical and semi-classical performances, including Kuchipudi, Bharatnatyam, Kathak, along with other classical music and dances.  The Main Events on Republic Day include:

     

    Ganga Pavilion:

    • Sadhana Sargam – Bollywood Singer
    • Deepika Reddy (Hyderabad) – Kuchipudi Dance
    • Kala Ramnath (Maharashtra) – Violin, Music Academy Awardee

     

    Triveni Pavilion:

    • Snehalata Mishra (Delhi) – Classical/Semi-Classical Singing
    • Ravishankar Upadhyay (Delhi) – Classical/Semi-Classical Instrumental Performance (Pakhawaj)
    • Kantika Mishra (Lucknow) – Classical/Semi-Classical Dance (Kathak)
    • Ashutosh Pandey (Kanpur) – Bhajan

     

    Yamuna Pavilion:

    • Abha-Vibha Chaurasia (Madhya Pradesh) – Hindustani Vocal
    • Priya Venkataraman (Delhi) – Bharatnatyam Dance
    • Sandeep Malik – Kathak Dance
    • Rajan Tiwari (Banaras) – Bhajan
    • Omkar Nath Awasthi (Unnao) – Alha
    • Sudarshan Yadav (Chandauli) – Birha
    • Pratima Yadav (Ambedkarnagar) – Awadhi Singing
    • Ramhit (Gorakhpur) – Faruwahi
    • Rajnish (Pilibhit) – Tharu Tribal Performance

     

    Saraswati Pavilion:

    • Ashok Bhantia (Mumbai) – Madhav Natak Performance
    • Manoj Yadav (Lucknow) – Bhajan
    • Akhilesh Mishra (Lucknow) – Bhajan

    *****

    AD/VM

     

    (Release ID: 2096214) Visitor Counter : 75

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –