Rajasthan No.1 in water conservation: NITI Aayog
Jaipur, June 20 : NITI Aayog has ranked Rajasthan at No.1 among the states in water conversation as it registered a significant increase in the level of ground water.
Shriram Vedire, President, Rajasthan River basin and Water Resources Planning Authority, said on Tuesday the NITI Aayog's report confirmed that the water level has increased in state due to water conservation structures built under Chief Minister's Jal Swawlamban Abhiyan programme.
Also, there has been an increase in irrigation capacity by 81 per cent.
The innovative techniques adopted under the project such as geo-tagging and surveying with the help of drone while engaging people who too participated actively in the campaign is something which other states should follow and adopt, said Vedire.
A total of 4 lakh water conservation structures were created and 1.5 million plantations were done in last three years under the directions of Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje.
With these efforts, the ground water level has risen by 5 feet in around 21 districts. Also, there has been a decrease in distributing water through tankers by 56 per cent.
Looking at the significant impact of the initiatives taken by the state government, NITI Aayog has directed other states to take similar initiatives in water conservation, rehabilitation of water resources and irrigation management.
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Diljit Dosanjh challenges liquor policy, calls for a dry nation movement
Ahmedabad: Renowned Punjabi singer Diljit Dosanjh has sparked a debate on liquor policies across India, calling for a nationwide prohibition on alcohol. Performing at a concert in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, on November 17, Dosanjh declared that he would stop singing songs about alcohol if liquor sales were banned nationwide.
The singer, who is currently on his Dil-Luminati India Tour, criticised the double standards of authorities who have often targeted him for promoting alcohol through his songs. He cited Bollywood’s widespread use of alcohol themes in movies and songs, questioning why similar scrutiny is not applied to the film industry. He also took a jibe at Bollywood celebrities, pointing out that unlike them, he doesn't endorse or advertise alcohol.
Dosanjh’s remarks came after the Telangana government issued a notice ahead of his Hyderabad concert, asking him to avoid performing songs that promote alcohol, drugs, or violence. Responding to this, he altered his popular tracks Lemonade and 5 Taara during the concert but expressed frustration over what he called selective enforcement.
At the Ahmedabad concert, he highlighted Gujarat's dry state status and said, “If all states close liquor shops, I will stop singing songs about alcohol. During the pandemic, everything was shut down except liquor stores. You can’t fool the youth.”
Dosanjh also offered to refrain from singing about alcohol in concerts held in dry states or on dry days declared by the government. He called upon his audience to support a movement advocating a dry nation.
The singer emphasised his versatility as an artist, noting that he has released numerous devotional songs but continues to face criticism primarily for his tracks that mention alcohol, such as Patiala Peg. “Tweaking songs is easy for me, but the focus should be on broader societal changes,” he said.
Dosanjh also pointed out the disparity in how Indian and international artists are treated. “If an international artist performs, there are no restrictions. But when an Indian artist sings, it becomes an issue,” he remarked.
