Himachal chief secretary VC Pharka on Thursday held a state-level disaster management meeting to take stock of heavy rains, hail storm and snowfall in higher riches in last two days in the state.

Pharka said that unprecedented wide spread heavy rains along with hail storm had  occurred in all districts of the state. He directed Public Works Department, Irrigation and Public Health Department and electricity departments to restore the affected roads, water supply schemes and electricity on priority.

Pharka asked the agriculture and horticulture departments to seek reports of losses at the earliest from all the districts and direct their field staff to personally monitor the same.

He said that two persons have died and eight other injured due to lightening at Khadaan village in Rampur Sub Division of Shimla District on Wednesday. He said that Rs 10,000 had been given to the deceased, while Rs 4,000 each to the injured. He said that one critically injured person was referred to IGMC Shimla and Rs 10,000 had been given his family member.

The Chief Secretary said that one person died due to fall in Sundernagar sub division of Mandi district. He said that one person and 15 cattles died due to lightening in Dharjot village in Baijnath Sub Division of Kangra District, besides 18 kachha houses and five cow sheds had also been fully damaged. He said that 15 kachha houses were partially damaged due to storm in Banjar Sub Division of Kullu District. He said that as per primary reports, loss of Rs 1.84 lakh was estimated under horticulture in Banjar area.

He said that roofs of two schools of gram panchayat Thati-Dhar in Kullu and GHS Sari in Banjar area were damaged due to high wind and estimated loss of Rs 4 lakh was reported. Besides 15 kachha houses were fully damaged in Banjar. He said that two kachha houses were fully damaged in Chamba and one pucca house at Jogindernagar in Mandi district.

Additional Chief Secretary (Revenue and Disaster Manager), Tarun Sridhar said that funds have already been provided to the Deputy Commissioners and other line departments under disaster management and asked to utilize the same and seek more funds, if required.

Director Meteorological Department Dr. Manmohan Sharma said that 12.3 mm actual rainfall has been experienced in the state as against normal rainfall of 2.6 mm on Wednesday, which is 381 per cent departure from normal.

In order to prevent the misuse, damage, unauthorised use and encroachment of state's infrastructure, the Haryana government on Thursday notified the Haryana Road Infrastructure Protection act, 2017. An official spokesman said that various activities would be prohibited under this act and these would be determined with reference to the land records maintained by the Revenue and Disaster Management Department (RDMD).

The official said that the prohibited activities included the encroachment upon the government land under road infrastructure, to raise any permanent, temporary or movable structure on or from road infrastructure, to misuse a road by erecting workshop and carrying out commercial activities including tethering of livestock on road infrastructure. To block or damage roadside drainage and cross drainage system, to divert water, sullage or muck to the road infrastructure, to stack or throw excavated earth or debris or any other material on road infrastructure, to dig or damage road infrastructure without permission from competent authority.     

He also said that on the occurrence of any activity prohibited, the competent authority would issue an order directing the person to stop forthwith the prohibited activity. Wherever necessary, the authority also orders the restoration of status of the road infrastructure to its original position within a period of three days. "An order of the competent authority would clearly describe in writing the prohibited activity and also indicate by way of sketch, the location of the occurrence of prohibited activity, extent of such activity and the damage already caused or being caused," said the spokesperson.

The spokesman said that in the event of failure to comply with the orders passed, the competent authority would take necessary steps to restore the status at the cost of the person, in addition to the penalty which may extend to Rs.5,000.

A relentless war of words might have marred the recently-concluded Test series between India and Australia, but Moises Henriques has said that the IPL will break barriers and bring the players closer.

“It (IPL) breaks down those barriers and you get to know players off the field which is probably the most important piece to know,” Henriques, who is a key all-rounder for Sunrisers Hyderabad, told reporters.

“Once you get to know people and what they are like off the field, that's when you start building true friendships. What happens on the field that's competitive, that's emotional. But when you slow down, when you realise, there are absolutely more important than cricket.

“You go to families and friends, that's when I guess you start develop some new relationships,” the Australian cricketer said.

Defending champions Sunrisers Hyderabad defeated Royal Challengers Bangalore by 35 runs here last night in the inaugural match of the Indian Premier League season 10.

Happy to be a part of the Hyderabad outfit, Henriques said all the team members are gelling well.

“The likes of Yuvraj Singh and Bhuvneshwar Kumar are very humble and their pleasing personality has an infectious effect on others,” said Henriques, who scored a valuable 52 on Wednesday.

In the coming episodes of the popular television show Koi Laut ke aaya hai, the love track will soon take a u-turn and a slap sequence would be visible.

After Surbhi Jyoti ‘s slap to Shaleen Malhotra, it is now time for Surbhi Jyoti to get a slap.

In the coming episodes, Nivedita Bhattarcharya will be seen slapping Surbhi for misbehaving with Ekroop Bedi.

“The doctors would reveal that Chanda is pregnant and when Geetanjali will get to know that her husband was not driving Abhimanyu’s car, she will confront her and blame conspiracy. This is when Ratna will step in and stop Geetanjali and also hint at Rishabh (Sharad Kelkar) being the father of Chanda’s unborn baby, “the sources revealed.

Shocked by the revelation, Geetanjali will confront Rishabh, who will deny his association.

Will Geetanjali manage to put all allegations to rest?

Stay tuned to find out!

Lawmakers cannot fulfil their duties if there is ban on flying, Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan said on Thursday after the Lower House witnessed chaos over the issue of fly ban on Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Gaikwad.

“I am not a judge and cannot pass judgement on this issue. But, the matter should be resolved amicably,” Mahajan told reporters outside Parliament.

“MPs have to come to Parliament. Saturday and Sundays are off so many times. MPs have to go for meetings and it is not possible to travel by train to those places and come back."

“So one has to take flights. If there is a ban on flying, then an MP cannot fulfil his/her duty. No matter should be prolonged for so long. Whatever enquiry has to be conducted, it should be done and a conclusion should be reached,” she said.

The Lok Sabha witnessed utter chaos as Shiv Sena MPs, including Union Minister Anant Geete, surrounded Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju after he refused to heed to their demand for revoking the flying ban on Gaikwad.

After the chaos, the Speaker held a meeting with TDP parliamentarians, including Raju, and Shiv Sena MPs, including Geete.

According to TDP sources, during the meeting, Mahajan expressed her displeasure over the behavior of Shiv Sena MPs inside the House, saying it is “not acceptable”.

The matter of fly ban should be looked into and both sides have decided to sit together and amicably resolve the matter at the earliest. Gaikwad spoke in details about the incident in the House and also asked the fly ban be revoked, the Speaker said.

The civil aviation minister said rules are same for everybody, including MPs. But, everyone was angered as they were expecting a solution from the minister, Mahajan said.

“That is why there was a chaos. I adjourned the House as I could not understand anybody's point.
“Later, all of us sat together. It was decided that the issue cannot be resolved in Parliament. It will be resolved only after both the sides discuss the matter,” she said.

After the meeting with the Speaker, TDP as well as Shiv Sena leaders met separately to discuss the matter.

Earlier, Gaikwad tendered an apology to Parliament but insisted that he owed no apology to the airline officials as he sought removal of the ban imposed on him by domestic airlines after he allegedly beat up an Air India officer with slippers.

Australia and New Zealand warned on Thursday that extremists may be planning an attack on the commemoration of a World War I campaign that is being held in Turkey this month.

Australian Veterans Affairs Minister Dan Tehan urged the nearly 500 Australians and New Zealanders registered to travel to Gallipoli, Turkey, to mark ANZAC Day on April 25 to exercise a high degree of caution amid the warning, but offered no specifics about the alleged threat.

ANZAC Day is an annual holiday commemorating the April 25, 1915, landings in Gallipoli the first major military action fought by the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps during World War I.

Australian Federal Police deputy commissioner Mike Phelan declined to release details of what prompted the warning, saying only that the government had received information that extremists may attack the services being held on the Gallipoli peninsula. Phelan said there was no specific plot linked to the alert.

"It is just that terrorists may indeed try to carry out a terrorist attack during the celebrations," Phelan told reporters in the nation's capital, Canberra. "That is all we have got at this stage." 

Tehan said Australia and New Zealand were working closely with Turkish authorities on security arrangements, but that the commemoration was scheduled to continue as planned.

For the past two years, Australian police have said they thwarted planned attacks on ANZAC Day celebrations in Australia. In 2015, police in Melbourne arrested five teenagers on suspicion of plotting an Islamic State group-inspired attack intended to coincide with the city's ANZAC service.

In 2016, police arrested a 16-year-old and charged him with planning an attack on an ANZAC ceremony in Sydney.

In a statement, New Zealand Foreign Minister Murray McCully urged New Zealanders in Turkey to be vigilant in public places and monitor the media for updates on potential safety risks.

The Supreme Court on Thursday reserved its order on a petition seeking restoration of conspiracy charges against senior BJP leaders including L K Advani, M M Joshi and Uma Bharti in the Babri Masjid demolition case.

The apex court will also decide whether the trial of the VVIP accused can be transferred from a court in Rae Bareli to Lucknow.

There were two sets of cases relating the demolition of the disputed structure on December 6, 1992. The first involved unnamed 'karsevaks', the trial in which is taking place in a Lucknow court in Lucknow, while the second set of cases relates to the VVIPs in a Rae Bareli court.

A bench comprising Justices P C Ghose and R F Nariman also indicated that they may order holding of joint trial of the two sets of cases by transferring the trial from Raebareli to a Lucknow court.

The bench also said since 25 years have already passed, in the interest of justice it will consider ordering a timebound trial on day-to-day basis, to be completed preferably within two years.

Senior advocate K K Venugopal, appearing for Advani and Joshi, vociferously opposed the proposal for holding joint trial and transferring their case from Rae Bareli to Lucknow.

The CBI clarified that it was not making any submission on the issue of the trial of the VVIP accused but restricting itself to restoration of the charge of conspiracy against the accused.

Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for one of the intervenors, supported the proposal for a joint trial, contending the two sets of cases had arisen from one incident which allegedly involved single conspiracy.
The apex court also gave opportunity to all the parties to file their written submission by Tuesday.

The apex court had earlier decided to examine the appeal against dropping of conspiracy charge against Advani, Joshi, Uma Bharti and 10 others.

The clubbing of two FIRs was opposed by the counsel for the accused on the ground that there were different sets of persons named as accused in the two cases, the trial of which were at an advanced stage at two different places.

They were of the view that joint trial would lead to the beginning of de novo (afresh) proceedings.
The conspiracy charge against 13 accused including Advani, Joshi and Bharti was dropped in the case, the trial of which is being held at a special court in Rae Bareli.

The second set of case was against unknown 'karsevaks' who were in and around the disputed structure and pulled it down. The trial against them is being held in a Lucknow court.

The appeals were filed by one Haji Mahboob Ahmad (since dead) and the CBI against dropping of conspiracy charges against 21 accused including BJP leaders Advani, Joshi. Eight of them later died.
A supplementary charge sheet was filed against eight persons but not the 13 who were discharged for plotting the demolition.

Besides BJP leaders Advani, Joshi and Bharti, conspiracy charges were dropped against Kalyan Singh (currently the Governor of Rajasthan), Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray and VHP leader Acharya Giriraj Kishore (both have since died).

The others against whom the conspiracy charge was dropped include Vinay Katiyar, Vishnu Hari Dalmiya, Satish Pradhan, C R Bansal, Ashok Singhal (now deceased), Sadhvi Ritambhara, Mahant Avaidhynath (now deceased), R V Vedanti, Paramhans Ram Chandra Das (now deceased), Jagdish Muni Maharaj, B L Sharma, Nritya Gopal Das, Dharam Das, Satish Nagar and Moreshwar Save (now deceased).

The appeals have sought setting aside the Allahabad High Court's order of May 20, 2010, dropping section 120B (criminal conspiracy) under the IPC while upholding a special court's decision.

In September 2015, the CBI had told the apex court that its decision making was not influenced by anyone and the dropping of criminal conspiracy charge against senior BJP leaders in the case was not at the party's instance.

The agency had said all decisions by it were taken strictly in accordance with the provisions of the CBI Crime Manual and there was a “hierarchic” mechanism that allowed officers at each level to take decisions and make “reasoned recommendations in an independent manner”.

The May 2010 order of the high court had said there was no merit in CBI's revision petition against the May 4, 2001 order of the special court which had directed dropping of criminal conspiracy charge against them.

CBI had charge-sheeted Advani and 20 others under sections 153A (promoting enmity between classes), 153B (imputations, assertions prejudicial to national integration) and 505 (false statements, rumours etc circulated with the intent to cause mutiny or disturb public peace) of the IPC.

It had subsequently invoked charges under section 120B (criminal conspiracy) of IPC which was quashed by the special court whose decision was upheld by the high court.

One of the most stunning Formula One circuits of modern era, the Shanghai International Circuit is set to host the second GP on the calendar year 2017 – Chinese Grand Prix, starting Friday.

The season opener Australian Grand Prix witnessed German driver Sebastian Vettel reviving Ferrari back to winning ways. Vettel clinched the title, while Mercedes’ duo of Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas finished second and third respectively in Melbourne.

Mercedes have always dominated the Chinese Grand Prix as they have taken pole position consecutively since 2012. Also, Hamilton has been the most successful driver here with four wins and seven podiums.

Keeping all this in view, Mercedes are expected to bounce back after the Australian deficit.

Here are some quick facts of the Chinese Grand Prix 2017 that you need to know.

Technical trivia

The Shanghai International Circuit made its F1 debut in 2004, where Rubens Barrichello of Ferrari was crowned champion.

The circuit is stretched to 5.451 KM and with covering 56 laps of the Chinese Grand Prix, it covers a total distance of 305.066 km.

Debonair driver on circuit

Legendary German driver Michael Schumacher has been the most dashing driver on this circuit with his record timing of 1:32.238 that he clocked in the inaugural season of the Chinese GP.

Clash to watch out for

Lewis Hamilton vs Fernando Alonso

Among the current lot, Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes and Fernando Alonso of McLaren have been the only successful drivers on the track that is known for its high-speed straights and crucial overtaking.

Three-time Formula One champion Hamilton carries four title victories and as many as seven podiums under his name from the Chinese GP.

Alonso, who won two F1 championship titles in 2005 and 2006, clinched the Chinese GP in 2005 and 2013 while driving for Renault and Ferrari respectively.

The Spanish driver is currently facing troubles with his engine as despite starting briskly in the Australian GP, he failed miserably midway and took late retirement due to suspension failure.

No other driver has managed to register a victory more than once here. Therefore, it would be interesting to watch these two drivers putting everything on stake to extend their dominance in Shanghai.

What’s in the venue?

The Shanghai International Circuit is shaped like the Chinese character 'Shang', which symbolises being on top.

The circuit has been designed keeping the modern architecture in perspective and it features the longest straights of the world that stretches to 1.2 km.

With windy turns and remarkable high-speed straights, drivers get decisive overtaking opportunities and F1 fans get the best of unpredictable action.

Weather moods

The race to be held on April 7-9 would witness a rainy weather with an average expected temperature of 16 degree Celsius during the first and second practice on Friday.

However, the spectators may expect a sunny morning on Saturday that might help drivers get an advantage in qualifying race. Nevertheless, the rain god will have the final say on the race day.

Tracking weak global markets and Reserve Bank of India’s move to keep key lending rates unchanged, Indian benchmark indices slipped from record highs and closed Thursday’s trading session with marginal declines.

In its bi-monthly monetary policy review, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Thursday kept key repo rate or lending rate unchanged at 6.25 per cent but hiked reverse repo rate by 25 basis points (bps) to 6 per cent.

The Reserve Bank also narrowed policy rate corridor, due to liquidity flush, by increasing marginal standing facility rate and bank rate to 6.50 per cent.

The Sensex at the BSE closed 47 points or 0.16 per cent down at 29,927 while the NSE Nifty ended three points lower at 9,262.

In the broader markets, BSE Midcap gained 0.2 per cent while BSE Smallcap index slipped 0.2 per cent.

Among the BSE sectoral indices, Realty index closed with the biggest gain, up 2 per cent. Oil & Gas (up 0.7 per cent), Power (up 0.7 per cent) and Metal (up 0.4 per cent) indices were other notable gainers. FMCG and Telecom indices declined 0.8 per cent and 0.6 per cent respectively.

On Wednesday, the NSE Nifty had closed at record-closing high, up 27 points or 0.30 per cent at 9,265. The BSE Sensex had closed 64 points or 0.21 per cent higher at 29,974.

Top gainers in the Sensex-30 pack: Tata Steel (up 1.7 per cent), Reliance Industries (up 1.7 per cent), Bajaj Auto (up 1.5 per cent), Power Grid (up 1.3 per cent) and Gail (up 1.1 per cent).

Top losers in the Sensex-30 pack: ITC (down 1.7 per cent), ICICI Bank (down 1.4 per cent), SBI (down 1.4 per cent), Coal India (down 1.2 per cent) and Dr Reddy’s Labs (down 0.9 per cent).

Asian markets traded in the negative zone. Japan’s Nikkei 225 Index plunged 1.4 per cent, Singapore’s Straits Times Index slipped 0.1 per cent, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index declined 0.5 per cent, Korea’s KOSPI index lost 0.4 per cent and China’s Shanghai Composite Index inched up 0.1 per cent.

The Rupee closed 36 paise higher at 64.51 against the US Dollar.

In an effort to ease the travel of Indian businessmen and tourists to the country, Israel on Thursday approved a new policy allowing multiple entry business visas for five years.

"Israel approves five-year, multiple entry visas for businessmen from India," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Emmanuel Nahshon was quoted as saying by a news agency.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu initiated the gesture keeping in mind the growing ties between Jerusalem and New Delhi.

The initiative carries importance ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's planned visit to the country in July.

In March, reports stated that the country had increased its promotional budgetary allocation to $2.5 million in the last two years with the plan to ease visa norms for Indian tourists.

"We realise that India is going to be one of the top three countries sending tourists to Israel and so we have started to invest a lot in marketing our tourism potential there," Director General of Israel's Ministry of Tourism Amir Halevi was quoted as saying by a news agency.

(With inputs from agencies)

Alwar police have arrested three people, including the president of a local college student union, for abetting violence on pretext of cow vigilante. The accused were produced before a local court which send them on one-day police remand on Thursday.

"One of the accused Vipin Singh Yadav is student union president of a local college, efforts are being made for arrest of the remaining accused," a police officer said. 

The incident took place few days ago on Jaipur-Delhi highway near Behror in Alwar district of Rajasthan when self-styled cow vigilante attacked a group of traders carrying cows. In the incident, 50-year-old Pehlu Khan had died. 

Meanwhile, the incident took political turn as opposition claimed it to be an example of crumbling law and order in the state.

"Despite producing legal documents the traders were assaulted by criminals and such trend has been on rise in the BJP government," state congress vice-president Archana Sharma said. 

A BJP MLA, though ridiculed the claims of death being caused due to assault, "the deceased had died of heart attack and it is unfair to blaim the cow vigilants for it" said BJP MLA Gyandev Ahuja.

In Rajasthan, the state laws prohibit sale and purchase of beef and prohibits cow slaughter. However, as cow smugglers are active along border districts, the nuisance of cow vigilante is also frequent in the areas. At several occasions, there are violent clashes between these groups and many times even legitimate cow traders and farmers become target of such elements. 

Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday assured the Lok Sabha that the Centre would ensure that justice prevails in the alleged lynching case of a Muslim by cow vigilantes in Rajasthan's Alwar.

Singh's response came after Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge raised the issue during Zero Hour, demanding action against the culprits.

"The state government has taken cognisance of the matter. FIR has been registered and some arrests have been made in the case. Centre would try that justice would prevail," Singh said.

Earlier, raising the matter, Kharge said: "It's not good to take law into (one's own) hands. It's a serious matter. This is the fifth incident in a row. Earlier such cases were reported in Uttar Pradesh and Haryana also."

He also sought compensation for the victim and action against the culprits.

Victim Pehlu Khan, in his 50s, was brutally beaten up by cow vigilantes in Rajasthan's Alwar district on Saturday while transporting cows.

Khan succumbed to his injuries on Monday night in a hospital where he was being treated.

Explosion at a tyre factory in the outskirts of Jaipur killed five labourers and injured several others.

The incident occurred in Chomu town of Jaipur district on late Wednesday after leakage from one of the boilers.

Following the incident district collector and senior administrative officials visited the accident site and an inquiry has been ordered in the incident.

According to officials, the factory is owned by one Vishnu Dutt Sharma and the license of the firm had not been renewed since 2014.

The boilers were also operated without due clearance following which FIR has been instructed under the Boilers Act. 

Police have initiated inquiry into the incident. Meanwhile, locals informed that the factory was used for extraction of oil from waste tyres and most of the labourers employed were from Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.

Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund on Thursday announced that Lukasz Piszczek has signed a contract extension until 30 June 2019, according to a statement made on their website.

"I am very happy about the confidence that BVB has in me and am honestly proud to play at least two more seasons in the yellow and black jersey before our great fans," said the 31-year-old full-back.

BVB Sports Director Michael Zorc: "Piszczu is an absolute prototype and thus also a role model for our many young players. In his time at the BVB, he has developed into a highly respected leader, both sportingly and from his personality. “

Piszczek signed for Dortmund in 2010 from Bundesliga side Hertha BSC on a free transfer, initially signing a three-year contract. Then on January 27, 2016 the experienced full-back signed a one-year extension which has now been further extended by a another year.
 
In the 2016-17 season, the Polish right-back has made 31 appearances for the senior side notching five goals and four assists in the process. 

Dortmund play Bayern Munich on Saturday in what promises to be an epic Bundesliga encounter and the Pole is expected to start for Die Borussen.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday laid the foundation stones of a slew of projects, including a multi-modal terminal on the Ganga river here, and said the projects will put Jharkhand on the world trade map.

Besides the terminal, Modi laid the foundation stones of a four-lane bridge connecting Jharkhand's Sahebganj with Manihari in Bihar's Katihar district and a 311-km Govindpur-Jamtara-Dumka-Sahebganj highway in the state.

Speaking on the occasion, Modi reiterated his commitment to continue the war on corruption and said the country was witnessing a "new age of honesty".

"The four-lane bridge in not just the biggest bridge connecting two states; rather, it's an avenue that will open up new opportunities for the state and take it towards development and progress," he said.

The Prime Minister said all the projects will not just create employment for thousands of youths in the region but also help develop their skills.

He said corruption has been the bane of the country as people in power looted money. 

"But we have waged this war against corruption and black money. And unless and until they return the looted money, I will not sit quiet," he said adding that the youth of the country were determined to lead an honest life.

"The age of honesty has dawned in the country where people want to work hard and work with honesty," said Modi.

Hailing Union Minister for Highways and Shipping Nitin Gadkari for his endeavour to develop inland waterways, Modi said once the Sahebganj multi-modal terminal becomes operational, it will help landlocked Jharkhand put itself on the world trade map.

"The multi-modal terminal will change Jharkhand's fortunes. The state's produce — be it coal, minerals or agricultural goods — all will reach foreign shores through this terminal. The terminal and the bridge will not just improve Jharkhand's connectivity with Bihar and other eastern states, but also open up opportunities of trade with the rest of the world," he said.

The multi-modal terminal is an important part of development of National Waterway-1 (NW-1) from Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh to Haldia in West Bengal.

NW-1 is being developed under the Jal Marg Vikas Project of the Inland Waterways Authority of India, with technical and financial assistance from the World Bank at an estimated cost of Rs 5,369 crore. The project will enable navigation of commercial vessels with capacities of 1,500-2,000 DWT (deadweight tonnage).

The Sahebganj terminal is the second of the three multi-modal terminals to be constructed on NW-1, with the first in Varanasi and the third terminal in Haldia.

The state-of-the-art terminal at Sahebganj will have a cargo handling capacity of 2.24 Million Tonnes Per Annum (MTPA) on completion in 2019.

The terminal facilities will include berthing space for two vessels, stockyard, conveyor belt system with hoppers, barge loaders, shore protection works, roads, ramps, parking area, and terminal buildings.

A roll-on, roll-off (ro-ro) terminal at Sahebganj will provide critical connectivity with Bihar at Manihari.

On the occasion, the Prime Minister also handed out smartphones to women self-help groups, a project of the Jharkhand government under which one lakh smartphones will be distributed to give impetus to Digital India and 'less cash' initiatives.

He also inaugurated two solar power units and stressed the importance of renewable energy.

"India is making rapid progress in renewable energy, particularly solar energy. Solar energy is not just clean and green it is also cheap," he said.

He said his government has given away 50,000 LED bulbs across the country that helped save electricity worth Rs 11,000 crore.

Modi lauded Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das for his government's move to give impetus to dairy farming and animal husbandry.
 

Party without booze? No way…Punjabi families having marriage functions in a day or two are looking for alternatives to avoid any spoil-sport to their celebration 'spirit' in wake of Supreme Court's (SC) liquor ban orders.

They have come down to organise pre-marriage parties with booze at their houses and farmhouses. Majority of bachelor parties and 'Sangeet' before marriage has shifted to the interior points instead of already booked marriage palaces.

"My marriage is scheduled on Saturday. Most of my friends are from abroad and we had planned a bachelor party at a restaurant situated on the highway. Now, the owners at the restaurants have denied to serve liquor due to the prevailing confusion. SC's order has become a spoil sport for us. Now, I and my friends are planning to organise party at one of my friends house," said a Ludhiana based businessman, wished not to be named.

On the other hand, even as the Punjab government has denotified 12 highway stretches to bypass SC's order banning sale or serving of liquor within 500 metres of national and state highways, the marriage palace owners still in a lurch as they are not getting the permits to serve liquor during marriage functions.

According to them, the marriage functions will pick up the pace in a day or two in the entire state.

"We are not getting the permits for liquor serving from the concerned department. Even, confusion over de-notified roads have not been cleared yet. It is going to take more time. Till then we are helpless to serve liquor to our guests. We are bound to follow SC's ruling till we do not get any clarity or go ahead," president of Punjab Marriage Palace Owners' Association in Ludhiana, Sukhdev Singh Sidhu, told The Statesman.

In an attempt to term as a relief to the marriage owners, the Punjab government has de-notified the state highways of Hoshiarpur-Chandigarh, Balachaur-Garshankar, Moga-Kotkapura, Moga-Harike, Gagan Chowk to Liberty Chowk, JCS Saviour School to Bhaironpur Sirhind Chunni Road, Malikpur Chowk to Dalhousie by-pass.

Meanwhile, when contacted, Punjab Excise and Taxation Commissioner, Vivek Pratap Singh, said "We are in the process to resolve the issues being faced by the marriage palace owners in order to get the permits. Since the verdict is given by SC, it is a matter of concern for us to check the guidelines thoroughly. Those marriage palaces are not falling under highways are getting the permits".

The tourists in Goa will be able to visit various art, culture and heritage sites in one journey by hopping on to the GTDC's soon to be launched HOHO bus service.

"The launch of 'hop-on-hop-off' (HOHO) air-conditioned buses will happen soon. We are solving some last minute issues and finalising the modalities to unveil this unique tourism project," a senior official of Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) said.

GTDC will launch this service in association with Pune-based Prasanna Purple company, the official said.

"HOHO will be launched through two double decker open top buses and as many high deck buses," he said.

He said the sight-seeing tours on the HOHO bus service will be reasonably priced.

He said there will be multi-lingual commentary through a mobile app at the tourist locations.

"The facility will enable tourists to explore Goa at leisure," added the official.