LIVE: Raised issues of principles before Cong leadership, says Sachin Pilot

The south-west monsoon is expected to become active again over Mumbai and other parts of coastal Maharashtra from today. Follow the latest news of the day here

2:21 PM

Rahul Gandhi's objections to draft EIA 'unnecessary and premature': Javadekar

Those raising objections to the draft environment impact assessment (EIA) notification are the same people who took "big decisions without consultations" when they were in power, Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar said on Monday, hitting out at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.

 

Gandhi had on Sunday tweeted that the draft EIA was a "disaster" and urged people to protest against it.

 

Speaking to the media after an event to celebrate World Elephant Day, Javadekar said, "Saw reaction of some leaders demanding protest against the EIA draft. How can they protest against the draft? It is not a final notification. It was kept for public consultation for 150 days because of COVID-19. Otherwise it is only 60 days as per rules."

2:19 PM

The reactions coming in protest of Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) draft are very premature: Prakash Javadekar

2:06 PM

Thunderstorm with light to moderate intensity rain in some parts in next 2 hours: IMD

Thunderstorm with light to moderate intensity rain would occur over and adjoining areas of Agra, Tundla, Noida, Bhiwani, Panipat, Aligarh, Hathras, Mathura, Bharatpur, Narnaul and Karnal during next two hour, said India Meteorological Department (IMD) here on Monday.

 

Thunderstorm with light to moderate intensity rain would occur over and adjoining areas of Agra, Yamunanagar and Saharanpur during the next two hours, it predicted.

 

Heavy rainfall would occur at isolated places over Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Gilgit-Baltistan, Muzaffarabad, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, East Uttar Pradesh, West Rajasthan, West Madhya Pradesh, Vidarbha, Bihar, West Bengal, IMD said.

1:53 PM

Loss in Karnataka due to floods and torrential so far up to Rs 4,000 crore

According to preliminary estimates, loss due to torrential rains and floods in several parts of Karnataka so far is to the tune of Rs 3,500-4,000 crore and the state government will seek immediate relief from the Centre, Revenue Minister R Ashoka said on Monday.

 

In the absence of Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa, who is undergoing treatment for COVID, Ashoka along with Home Minister Basavaraj Bommai is attending the video conference chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi regarding the flood situation in several parts of the country, news agency PTI reported.

 

"...according to estimates by our officials the loss may be to the tune of Rs 3,500 to 4,000 crore so far, this is not final...crops have been damaged in about 80,000 acre so far, we have got all the information from the officials, we will place it before the Prime Minister," Ashoka said.

 

Speaking to reporters ahead of the meeting with the Prime Minister, he said, this is only an estimate so far, there may be more floods and damages, we will seek an ad hoc amount so that it will be helpful in taking immediate measures and provide adequate relief.

 

1:40 PM

Several houses and roads damaged due to a cloudburst in Uttarakhand today

1:30 PM

Notices issued to 193 Pakistani pilots after scrutiny

The Pak­is­tan Civil Aviation Autho­rity (PCAA) has completed the scrutiny process of 262 pilots, while show-cause notices have been issued to 193 pilots suspected of having 'dubious flying licences, the media reported on Monday. According to sources, the PCAA inquiry board found 850 pilots with suspected credentials out of which 262 licences were found 'dubious', reports Dawn news. The board had grounded all the 262 pilots, while the federal cabinet had approved cancellation of the licences of 28 pilots out of these 262.

1:28 PM

Five killed in Pakistan blast

At least five people were killed and 10 others injured in a blast that occurred near an under-construction building in Pakistan's Chaman city on Monday, police said. According to law enforcement agencies, an improvised explosive device (IED) was fitted on a motorcycle in the city's Mall Road area, reports The Express Tribune. As a result of the explosion, a nearby mechanic shop was completely destroyed by fire.

1:20 PM

PM Modi chairs meet on floods in various states

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today took part in a video conference with the ministers of various states over the flood situation in the country.  

1:14 PM

Determined to strengthen strategic security & strategic communication: IT Ministry

Dept of Telecommunications is determined to strengthen strategic security & strategic communication and also our commitment to cover the uncovered villages: Ravi Shankar Prasad, Union Minister of Communications, Electronics & Information Technolgy

1:07 PM

LG Manoj Sinha calls upon President

Manoj Sinha, Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir called on President Ram Nath Kovind at Rashtrapati Bhavan today. Sinha took oath as Lt Governor on Friday last week.
 

1:01 PM

Rajasthan BJP legislature party meeting to be held at 4 pm

Rajasthan BJP legislature party meeting to be held at 4 pm tomorrow, said Ramlal Sharma, BJP MLA from Chomu. State Assembly session is scheduled to convene from August 14.

12:51 PM

B'desh police station blast: Negligence suspected in handling of explosive

Explosives must be neutralised by a bomb disposal team at the spot to avoid any accident, but the Pallabi police team chief and Officer-in-Charge (OC) Nazrul Islam of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) did not do this. Even the Police team did not follow proper safety measures, they carried the explosive to the police station instead and it accidentally went off when the police officers tried to defuse it inside the premises. The blast that occurred on July 29 injured 5 people including 4 police officers.

 

12:43 PM

B'desh police station blast: Negligence suspected in handling of explosive

Explosives must be neutralised by a bomb disposal team at the spot to avoid any accident, but the Pallabi police team chief and Officer-in-Charge (OC) Nazrul Islam of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) did not do this. Even the Police team did not follow proper safety measures, they carried the explosive to the police station instead and it accidentally went off when the police officers tried to defuse it inside the premises. The blast that occurred on July 29 injured 5 people including 4 police officers.

 

12:34 PM

Shutters of Pamba dam in Kerala shut

Six shutters of the Pamba dam, which were opened on Sunday evening after its water level rose near the permissible limit, were shut on Monday, reducing concerns of flood in its downstream. Officials said there was a 30 to 40 cm rise in water level in river Pamba but the river did not breach. They said the shutters of the dams were closed after bringing down the water level in the dam to 982.8 metres. The dam has the capacity to store 986.332 metres of water.

All 6 shutters of the Pamba dam opened for 60 cm each following rainfall in the area, in Pathanamthitta district on Sunday.

12:23 PM

Sri Lanka's new Parliament session to commence on Aug 20

Sri Lanka's new Parliament will meet for the first time on August 20 with strict COVID-19 health protocols and no visitors will be allowed, a senior official said on Monday. Sri Lanka, one of the very few countries in Asia to hold a General Election amidst the pandemic, has reported 2,844 coronavirus cases, including 2,579 recoveries and 11 fatalities. The Sri Lanka People's Party (SLPP) led by Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and his younger brother and President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, registered a landslide victory in the August 5 general election, securing two-thirds majority in the 225-member Parliament.