Gadkari to sign MoU with six states: Ministry
New Delhi, Aug 27 : Union Minister Nitin Gadkari will on August 28 sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with six states for the construction of Lakhwar multi-purpose project in the upper Yamuna basin, Water Resources Ministry said on Monday.
The six states are Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana and Delhi.
To create storage facilities in upper Yamuna basin, the six states had signed an MoU to conserve and utilize the monsoon flows of the Yamuna, a Ministry statement said.
Under the MoU, a 204-meters high Lakhwar project will be constructed near Lohari village of Uttarakhand with live storage capacity of 330.66 Million Cubic Meter (MCM).
"This storage will provide irrigation for 33,780-hectare land and facilitate availability of 78.83 MCM water for domestic, drinking and industrial use in six basin states," said Ministry.
According to the MoU, the Centre will provide 90 per cent fund and the rest would come from the states. The total project is worth Rs 3966.51 crore.
The project will generate 300 mw of power and will be executed by Uttarakhand Jal Vidyut Nigam Limited (UJVL), it said.
"Except sharing of stored water, all other resultant economic benefits, including generation of hydro power due to construction of the dam, are assigned to Uttarakhand," said Ministry.
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Kerala enters silence campaigning phase; Candidates make last-mile outreach
Thiruvananthapuram (PTI): Kerala on Wednesday entered the mandatory silence period ahead of the April 9 Assembly polls, with candidates and party workers making last-ditch efforts to reach out to voters through door-to-door visits and personal contacts.
After nearly a month-long campaigning period, a total of 2.71 crore voters would exercise their franchise to decide the fate of 883 candidates in the crucial polling for the 140-member Assembly to be held on Thursday.
With high-decibel campaigning ending on Tuesday evening, the focus has now shifted to quiet, direct voter engagement, as candidates seek to secure support from all sections of voters in their constituencies.
Prohibitory orders have been imposed in sensitive constituencies to prevent any untoward incidents, while distribution of polling materials is being carried out across the state from Wednesday morning.
According to the Election Commission, campaigning through public meetings, rallies, media interactions and election-related interviews is strictly prohibited during the silence period to ensure a level playing field for all stakeholders.
In an advisory, the Commission directed star campaigners and political leaders to refrain from addressing the media through press conferences or interviews on poll-related matters during this period. Of the total 2.71 crore voters, 1.32 crore are men, 1.39 crore women and 273 transgender persons, along with over 2.42 lakh overseas voters.
The contest is primarily among three fronts -- the CPI(M)-led LDF, the Congress-led UDF and the BJP-led NDA.
The state's Chief Electoral Officer, Rathan U Kelkar, has said that all arrangements have been put in place for the smooth conduct of polls.
A total of 30,495 polling stations have been set up across Kerala, including 24 auxiliary booths created following the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, he said.
These additional booths are located in Kasaragod, Kannur, Palakkad, Malappuram and Ernakulam districts.
Among the polling stations, 352 will be managed entirely by women and 37 by persons with disabilities, Kelkar said.
He added that 140 distribution and collection centres have been established, while counting will take place at 140 strongrooms and 43 locations.
As part of security measures, around 2,000 persons identified as potential troublemakers have been placed under preventive detention. Authorities have also executed about 11,000 non-bailable warrants and removed over 3,400 social media posts for alleged violations of poll norms.
The conclusion of public campaigning on Tuesday evening saw a vibrant display of political mobilisation across the state, with roadshows, rallies and processions filling town centres, marked by party flags, drum beats and slogan-shouting workers.
Apart from traditional canvassing, political parties also relied heavily on television, print media and social media platforms to reach voters during the campaign period.
