National news in brief

IANS/PTI

Haryana bans single-use plastic bottles in offices

Chandigarh, June 6 (IANS): The Haryana government on Wednesday announced that it has decided to ban single use plastic bottles in government offices, including departments, boards, corporations and autonomous units in the state. “Now only multi-use water bottles of alternative material such as glass, steel, aluminium etc would be allowed instead of plastic bottles so as to minimize the generation of plastic waste,” a statement government spokesman said here on Wednesday. The single-use plastic bottles are the ones in which mineral water and other food grade liquids are sold. However, many people have the habit of using these bottles repeatedly even though this is not advisable. The decision to impose a ban on single-use plastic bottles was taken at a meeting chaired by Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar here on Monday. The official order was issued here on Wednesday by Chief Secretary D.S. Dhesi.

Youth electrocuted while listening to music on headphones

Chandigarh, June 6 (IANS): A youth in Haryana has been electrocuted while he was listening to music using headphones while the mobile phone was being charged, police said on Wednesday. Thath Singh, 22, a resident of Pandyo village in Yamunanagar district, died on Tuesday of the electric shock received through the headphones. Police officials said the incident took place when the victim put his phone on charging and started listening to music. At that time, there was no electricity supply in his house. As he was listening to the music, the electricity supply was restored and he got an electric shock.

WCD to give specially-designed rape investigation kits to police, hospitals

New Delhi, Jun 6 (PTI): The Ministry of Women and Children Development (WCD) will be distributing specially-designed kits to all police stations and hospitals to carry out immediate medical investigation into sexual assault cases, Union Minister Maneka Gandhi said today. The rape investigation kits are being procured by state governments with financial support under the Nirbhaya Fund, she said. The fund, named after a Delhi rape victim, aims to support initiatives by the government and NGOs working towards ensuring safety of women in India. Gandhi said the kit comprises essential items which will aid in furnishing evidence such as blood and semen samples in sexual assault and rape cases. These kits will also contain instructions on the evidence that needs to be collected from the crime scene, the minister said. The kit would be sent to the closest lab and within two months one would have the results, Gandhi said.

Govt. nod to INR 1,948 cr. bridge over Ganga

New Delhi, Jun 6 (PTI): The government today approved a proposal for a 10-km bridge across river Ganga in Allahabad to be built at a cost of Rs 1,948 crore. The decision was taken by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “The CCEA... approved the project for construction of 9.9 km long new 6-lane bridge across the Ganga on NH 96 at Phaphamau in Allahabad with total capital cost of Rs 1,948.25 crore,” a statement from the ministry of road and highways said. The project, expected to be completed by December 2021, will resolve the traffic congestion on the existing 2-lane Phaphamau bridge, it said. It will also ease the rush during Kumbh, Ardh-Kumbh and other rituals at ‘sangam’ and will boost the pilgrimage tourism and local economy of Allahahad.

TN to now give women chickens to raise, sell

Chennai, June 6 (IANS): The Tamil Nadu government will provide 50 country chickens each free of cost to 38,500 women living in places outside Chennai to raise for eggs and meat, Chief Minister K. Palaniswami said on Wednesday. Making the announcement in the state assembly, he said there is a growing demand for country chicken eggs and meat and as a result, rearing of such chicken in backyards has gained popularity. The measure come in order to encourage this trend, he said, adding that the outlay for the scheme is about Rs 25 crore. The government is already implementing free milch cows, goats/sheep scheme in the state.