News updates: Delhi MLAs to take oath on Feb 24, CAG report on AAP spending to be tabled next day

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8:11 PM

PM Modi assures full support in rescue efforts for trapped tunnel workers in Telangana

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday spoke to Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy regarding the ongoing rescue efforts at the SLBC tunnel, where eight workers are trapped following a roof collapse near Domalapenta in Nagar Kurnool district. The Prime Minister assured the Chief Minister of full assistance from the Central government in the rescue operations.

 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi enquired about the accident at the SLBC tunnel near Domalapenta in Nagarkurnool district. Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy briefed the Prime Minister on all the details of the incident, as per the CMO statement.

 

The CM informed the PM that eight workers were trapped inside the tunnel and that necessary rescue operations were being done. The CM also informed the PM that Ministers Uttam Kumar Reddy and Jupally Krishna Rao were overseeing the rescue efforts on site.

 

PM Modi assured CM Revanth Reddy that an NDRF team would be dispatched immediately for rescue operations. The Prime Minister assured that the Central government is ready to give full cooperation, said the statement.

 

Similarly, Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy is constantly reviewing the situation. Eight workers are feared trapped in the tunnel, according to the Telangana CMO statement.

 

The Chief Minister instructed the officials to expedite the necessary rescue operations and save the trapped workers. On the CM's instructions, Ministers N Uttam Kumar Reddy, Jupally Krishna Rao, DIG, IG and senior officials of Irrigation already rushed to the accident site.

 

The District Collector, SP and other officials are closely monitoring the rescue operations.

7:11 PM

Delhi's maximum temperature settles at 24.7 deg C

The maximum temperature in the national capital on Saturday settled at 24.7 degree Celsius, 0.8 notch below the seasonal average, the weather office said.

 

The minimum temperature recorded was 12.5 degrees with partly cloudy sky in the morning, it said.

 

The humidity level recorded at 8.30 am 93 per cent.

 

At 6 pm, the air quality was recorded in the "moderate" category, with an AQI reading of 145, according to the Central Pollution Control Board.

 

An AQI between 0 and 50 is considered good, 51 to 100 satisfactory, 101 to 200 moderate, 201 to 300 poor, 301 to 400 very poor, and 401 to 500 severe.

 

The weather department has predicted mist on Sunday with maximum and minimum temperature to be settled at 25 and 12 degrees Celsius, respectively.

6:07 PM

Govt says 8 first-mile connectivity projects of CIL arm SECL under various stages of development

5:29 PM

Property-tax offices to remain open on Saturdays till March 31, says MCD

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has announced that the property-tax offices at the civic body's zonal offices and headquarters will remain open on Saturdays until March 31.

 

In a move to facilitate property-tax payments, the offices will remain open from 10 am till 5 pm, providing additional convenience to taxpayers.

 

According to an official statement, the decision aims to ensure that property owners and occupiers have ample opportunity to file their property-tax returns before the deadline.

 

The MCD has said adequate arrangements have been made at the tax offices to assist citizens efficiently.

 

The civic body has urged all property owners and occupiers to pay their taxes and file their returns by March 31.

5:28 PM

Meitei organisation calls for extended timeframe to surrender illegal weapons in Manipur

5:18 PM

Sexual harassment case against ex-WFI chief: Delhi court to record complainant's statement on Mar 3

5:03 PM

Kerala gets EoIs for investments worth over Rs 1.53 trillion

Kerala received Expressions of Interest (EoIs) for investments worth over Rs 1.53 lakh crore at the two-day investor summit that ended on Saturday.

Industries Minister P Rajeeve said EoIs have been received from more than 370 companies.

"It is a new beginning of a united Kerala to transform Kerala into an investment friendly state," Rajeeve said, adding that the summit saw more than 5,000 delegates.

Announcing EoIs worth about Rs 1,53,905.,67 crore, the minister asserted that the state is looking only for realistic investment proposals.

For the EoIs, there will be a dashboard-based fast-track mechanism and follow-up of the proposals.

A dedicated toll-free investment number and email address will be notified, the minister added.

4:55 PM

Macron says will urge Trump not to make allies 'suffer' with tariffs

4:54 PM

Delhi MLAs to take oath on February 24, CAG report on AAP government spending to be tabled next day

4:53 PM

Cooperative sector gained momentum due to Centre's efforts: Shah

Union Cooperation Minister Amit Shah said on Saturday that the cooperative sector received a boost in the last three years due to efforts of the Centre.

 

Addressing the concluding ceremony of the diamond jubilee celebrations of Janata Sahakari Bank in Pune, Shah said the Modi government made India's cooperative sector marketable.

 

Separately, the Union Home Minister chaired the 27th meeting of the Western Zonal Council in Pune.

 

He appealed to the cooperative banking sector to embrace technology.

 

"In the last three years, the Centre has worked to give momentum to the cooperative movement in the country. We have made the model of India's cooperative sector marketable. We are empowering the cooperative education by bringing a cooperative university bill," said Shah.

 

He said PM Modi has given a direction to the cooperative sector and underlined the introduction of innovation in the cooperative sector.

 

Shah credited Pune MP and MoS for Cooperation, Murlidhar Mohol, for the establishment of the first regional branch of the Central Register of Cooperative Societies in the city.

3:50 PM

Madan Rathore elected unopposed to post of Rajasthan BJP chief

Rajya Sabha MP Madan Rathore has retained the post of BJP Rajasthan president after he was declared elected unopposed on Saturday, party leaders said.

The process for organisational elections started on Friday with the filing of nominations. Rathore was the only candidate to file the nomination paper for the election to the post of state president.

Rathore was appointed as the state president in July last year.

He was declared as the state president on Saturday by the election in-charge and former Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani at the party office here.

Five sets of nomination papers were submitted on Friday and all proposals had Madan Rathore's name.

Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma, former CM Vasundhara Raje and other leaders of the party were also present on the occasion.

Twenty-five members of the party's national council were also elected from the state. They will take part in the election of the party's national president.

3:49 PM

Maoist splinter group 'commander' arrested in Jharkhand's Palamu

A member of TSPC, a splinter group of CPI(Maoist), was arrested from Jharkhand's Palamu district, police said on Saturday.

The arrested Maoist was identified as Anil Bhuiyan (35) and wanted in several Maoist-related cases for the past seven years, a police officer said.

He was arrested from the Ghasidag area under the jurisdiction of the Vishrampur police station area on Friday night when he came to meet his family.

"We got a tip-off about the presence of Bhuiyan in the Vishrampur area. Based on the input, a police team was set up and he was arrested," Vishrampur police station in-charge Saurav Kumar said.

The self-styled area commander of Tritiya Sammelan Prastuti Committee (TSPC) was involved in an encounter with the police in Mohammadganj in 2018, where he had led the attack, the police officer said.

2:36 PM

Govt formed to give results, end problems of people: BJP MLA lauds Delhi ministers inspecting their areas

With various Delhi ministers, including Chief Minister Rekha Gupta being in "full action mode," as they attend meetings and inspect various areas of the national capital, Bharatiya Janata Party MLA Satish Upadhyay on Saturday lauded the work being done and assured the people that the government is formed to "give results, end problems."

2:28 PM

Delhi CM Rekha Gupta meets PM Modi at his residence today

Just two days later of being sworn-in as Delhi Chief Minister, Rekha Gupta met Prime Minister Narendra Modi at his residence in the national capital. Both of them had met during the oath-taking ceremony at Ramlila Maidan on February 20 too while the PM attended the event along with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and various other NDA leaders.

2:08 PM

Madan Rathore re-elected as Rajasthan BJP President

Madan Rathore, a senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader was re-elected as the president of the Rajasthan unit of the party on Saturday. Just before the official announcement, he highlighted the unity of the party to reporters.