PM Modi Holds Covid Review Meet, Emphasizes Regular Monitoring & Enhanced Testing

A ‘mohalla bus’ scheme to ensure last mile-connectivity, inclusion of more electric buses and development of three ISBTs with airport-like facilities were some of the key announcements made by Delhi Finance Minister Kailash Gahlot for the transport sector in the city budget on Wednesday.

Presenting his first budget, Gahlot announced an allocation of over Rs 9,337 crore for transport, roads and bridges, a decrease from last year’s allocation of Rs 9,539 core.

PM Modi highlighted that Covid-19 pandemic is far from over and there is a need to monitor the status across the country on regular basis. The Prime Minister advised to continue focusing on 5-fold strategy of Test-Track-Treat-Vaccination & Covid Appropriate Behaviour, enhance Lab Surveillance & testing of all Severe Acute Respiratory Illness (SARI) cases. Mock drills should be conducted regularly to ensure that our hospitals are ready for all exigencies.

The Prime Minister exhorted community to follow respiratory hygiene and to adhere to Covid appropriate behavior in crowded public places.

PM Modi directed that effective monitoring of IRI/SARI cases, and testing for Influenza, SARS-CoV-2 and Adenovirus be followed up with States. Further, Prime Minister stressed the need to ensure availability of required Drugs & Logistics for Influenza & Covid-19 across Health Facilities along with availability of sufficient beds & health human resources.

PM emphasized Covid appropriate behaviour including wearing of masks in hospital premises by both patients, health professionals and health workers. He also stressed that wearing of masks is advisable when senior citizens and those with co-morbidities visit crowded areas.

PM Modi directed officials to enhance Whole Genome Sequencing of Positive Samples with the designated INSACOG Genome Sequencing Laboratories. This will support tracking of newer variants, if any, and timely response.

A 2.7 magnitude earthquake hit Delhi at 4:42 pm, according to the National Center for Seismology (NCS).

PM Modi is holding a meeting with officials to review Covid situation.

The ongoing session of the Delhi Assembly has been extended till March 27, according to an official communication.

The session was earlier scheduled to end on Thursday.

The Delhi government will set up a lab for real-time pollution data monitoring and gathering in each district of the national capital, Finance Minister Kailash Gahlot said on Wednesday.  Presenting the Delhi Budget for the financial year 2023-24 in the assembly, he said PM2.5 and PM10 pollution in the city has reduced by more than 30 per cent in the last eight years “(Chief Minister Arvind) Kejriwal’s Delhi has a new anti-pollution plan — real-time pollution data lab will be set up in each district,” Gahlot said.

The Delhi government is conducting a study to identify the real-time contribution of emission sources to the air pollution in the city. The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur is leading the study with IIT-Delhi and The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) involved in providing insights and technical assistance.  The Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) is the nodal body for the project.

COVID-19 infections increased in Kerala slightly prompting the state government to sound alerts to all districts on Wednesday.

In a statement, Health Minister Veena George said there has been a little increase in the number of Covid-19 cases with the state reporting 172 cases on Tuesday.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will on Wednesday hold a high level meeting to review the Covid related situation and public health preparedness at 4:30 pm.

A ‘mohalla bus’ scheme to ensure last mile-connectivity and development of three ISBTs with airport-like facilities were some of the key announcements made by Delhi Finance Minister Kailash Gahlot for the transport sector in the city budget on Wednesday.

Presenting his first budget, Gahlot announced an allocation of over Rs 9,000 crore for the transport sector.

The Delhi Rouse Avenue Court on Wednesday sent former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia to Judicial custody till April 5.

Presenting the Delhi Budget, Finance Minister Kailash Gahlot on Wednesday said that the budget has nine schemes as part of G-20 summit preparations.

➡️The government will undertake upgradation and beautification of road network, construction of 26 flyovers, three double-decker flyovers in collaboration with DMRC.

➡️These include 1,600 e-buses, carry out electrification of bus depots, construct world class ISBTs

➡️Work to remove landfill sites and clean Yamuna.

➡️Out of 26 flyover projects, 10 are in construction stage while plans for 11 have been sent to UTTIPEC for clearance.

Presenting the Delhi Budget, Finance Minister Kailash Gahlot on Wednesday announced that local bodies will be given financial assistance of Rs 8,241 crore in financial year 2023-24.

Finance Minister Kailash Gahlot on Wednesday said this year’s Delhi budget is dedicated to a clean, beautiful and modern Delhi.

This is the ninth consecutive budget of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government.

“Every possible help will be given to the MCD to remove the three mountains of garbage in Delhi. We will connect all colonies to the sewer network. Increase capacities of sewage treatment plants to clean Yamuna river,” he said

This is Finance Minister Kailash Gahlot’s maiden budget, following the resignation of deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia who was arrested by the CBI in connection with the Delhi excise policy scam case.

“I would have been happier if it this budget was presented by Manish Sisodia who is like my elder brother. The budget is an expression of expectations and aspirations of the people,” Gahlot said in his budget speech.

Finance Minister Kailash Gahlot on Wednesday presented a Rs 78,800 crore budget in the Delhi Assembly for the financial year 2023-24.

The Delhi government’s budget size for 2022-23 was Rs 75,800 crore and Rs 69,000 crore in the previous year.

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday said that Delhiites are “missing” Manish Sisodia on the day of budget presentation, and asserted that the work started by the former minister will be carried on at double the speed.

This time, the budget will be presented by Finance Minister Kailash Gahlot, who was given charge of the finance department after resignation of deputy chief minister Sisodia.

Partly cloudy skies are predicted in Delhi on Wednesday and the maximum temperature is expected to settle around 30 degrees Celsius, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.

Back-to-back western disturbances over northwest India led to rain and hail in several parts of the region, including the national capital, between Saturday and Monday.  Delhi recorded 10 mm rainfall in 24 hours ending 8:30 am on Tuesday, which is the maximum precipitation in a day in March in three years.