Budget 2018-19

  After the Ganga in Kanpur and Varanasi, the Saryu in Ayodhya, and Yamuna in Vrindavan are all set to become pollution-free. After the Ganga in Kanpur and Varanasi, the Saryu in  Ayodhya , and Yamuna in Vrindavan are all set to become pollution-free as the drains falling into these rivers have been tapped. The water of the drains connecting to the sewage treatment plants (STP) is being treated and purified. The water of as many as 37 drains in prominent cities have been prevented from falling into rivers. New STPs have been set up on the banks of rivers. In the last one year, total 72 drains have been tapped. According to officials, water quality of major rivers, including Ganga, has improved significantly due to the work being carried out under the ambitious Namami Gange programme. A new STP of 50 million litres per day (MLD) capacity has been prepared in Ramna in Varanasi at a cost of Rs 161.31 crore and three drains falling into the  Ganga  have been tapped. Prin...

  From a Yoga guru to a saint to an accused — Anand Giri’s life has been a roller-coaster ride. From a Yoga guru to a saint to an accused —  Anand Giri ‘s life has been a roller-coaster ride. Now in police custody for allegedly abetting the suicide of his mentor Mahant Narendra Giri, not many are surprised with what has happened to Anand Giri — once termed as a successor to his guru. Mahant Narendra Giri had brought Anand from a Haridwar Ashram to Prayagraj’s Baghambari Mutt when he was 12 years old. Anand, now 38, hails from Bhilwara in Rajasthan. He was formally inducted into the Shri Panchayati Akhara Niranjani, the ancient monastic order to which Narendra Giri belonged, in 2007. Known as ‘Chhote Maharaj’ at the famous Bade Hanuman temple in Prayagraj before he had a dispute with his Mahant Narendra Giri over various issues, including property. Over the period of time, he cultivated his own following through yoga. Anand Giri claims to have formally studied Sanskrit,  A...