The Indian Railways, as per reports, is intensifying efforts to ensure passenger safety by collaborating with state governments, police chiefs, and the National Investigation Agency (NIA). They are collaborating to identify miscreants attempting to disrupt train operations by placing objects on tracks, said Union Minister for Railways, Ashwini Vaishnaw on Tuesday (Sep 24).

<h2 bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:8,&quot;y&quot;:103,&quot;w&quot;:723,&quot;h&quot;:26,&quot;abs_x&quot;:41,&quot;abs_y&quot;:1790}">Indian Railways on high alert</h2>

"The entire railway administration is on alert and is taking this matter seriously," said Railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.

"We are constantly in touch with all state governments. State DGPs, Home Secretaries, and the NIA are also involved," he added while talking to the press in Jaipur.

Also read |&nbsp;<a bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:8,&quot;y&quot;:247,&quot;w&quot;:691,&quot;h&quot;:34,&quot;abs_x&quot;:41,&quot;abs_y&quot;:1934}" href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/extra-judicial-killing-cop-who-shot-akshay-shinde-linked-to-encounter-specialist-pradeep-sharma-761542">Extra-judicial killing? Cop who shot Badlapur accused linked to ‘encounter specialist’ Pradeep Sharma</a>

The minister said that his ministry was coordinating with various railway zones and the Railway Protection Force (RPF) to investigate these incidents thoroughly.&nbsp;

"We will take strict action against anyone and everyone behind such illegal activities," he assured, adding that the administration was "working hard to ensure that no such incidents are repeated and that we can track down the offenders."

While the NIA has not formally registered a case related to recent sabotage incidents on railway tracks, an official, as per Indian media reports, indicated that they are informally investigating the matter.&nbsp;

"We look into all railways’ accidents informally and assist local police/other agencies in investigation to probe it from conspiracy angle," the official stated, adding that they are waiting for an official directive from the government to launch a comprehensive investigation.

This comes as earlier on Tuesday (Sep 24), three railway employees were arrested for allegedly&nbsp;carrying&nbsp;out sabotage themselves&nbsp;to get social media fame, promotion, and reward by raising alarm and alerting about&nbsp;it in time while putting several lives at risk.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/anna-sebastian-perayil-case-ey-pune-operating-since-2007-without-required-permits-761615">Anna Sebastian Perayil case: EY Pune operating since 2007 without required permits, reveal authorities</a>

<h2 bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:8,&quot;y&quot;:633,&quot;w&quot;:723,&quot;h&quot;:26,&quot;abs_x&quot;:41,&quot;abs_y&quot;:2320}">Railway tracks and harmful objects</h2>

This heightened vigilance follows multiple alarming incidents where railway drivers encountered dangerous objects on the tracks. For instance, on September 22, a goods train driver spotted a gas cylinder on the track and activated the emergency brakes just in time to avert a disaster.

Similar occurrences included the discovery of a damaged cylinder and other hazardous materials on September 15, just before the Kalindi Express arrived in Kanpur.

Additionally, on September 21, unidentified individuals removed a fishplate and key from a track in Uttar Pradesh, prompting&nbsp;alarm.&nbsp;In a separate incident, on Sunday, nine metal rods were found on the Bhatinda-Delhi route at around 3 am.

(With inputs from agencies)

The Indian Railways, as per reports, is intensifying efforts to ensure passenger safety by collaborating with state governments, police chiefs, and the National Investigation Agency (NIA).

The Indian Railways, as per reports, is intensifying efforts to ensure passenger safety by collaborating with state governments, police chiefs, and the National Investigation Agency (NIA). They are collaborating to identify miscreants attempting to disrupt train operations by placing objects on tracks, said Union Minister for Railways, Ashwini Vaishnaw on Tuesday (Sep 24). Indian Railways on high alert "The entire railway administration is on alert and is taking this matter seriously," said Railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. "We are constantly in touch with all state governments. State DGPs, Home Secretaries, and the NIA are also involved," he added while talking to the press in Jaipur. Also read | Extra-judicial killing? Cop who shot Badlapur accused linked to ‘encounter specialist’ Pradeep Sharma The minister said that his ministry was coordinating with various railway zones and the Railway Protection Force (RPF) to investigate these incidents thoroughly. "We will take strict action against anyone and everyone behind such illegal activities," he assured, adding that the administration was "working hard to ensure that no such incidents are repeated and that we can track down the offenders." While the NIA has not formally registered a case related to recent sabotage incidents on railway tracks, an official, as per Indian media reports, indicated that they are informally investigating the matter. "We look into all railways’ accidents informally and assist local police/other agencies in investigation to probe it from conspiracy angle," the official stated, adding that they are waiting for an official directive from the government to launch a comprehensive investigation. This comes as earlier on Tuesday (Sep 24), three railway employees were arrested for allegedly carrying out sabotage themselves to get social media fame, promotion, and reward by raising alarm and alerting about it in time while putting several lives at risk. Also read | Anna Sebastian Perayil case: EY Pune operating since 2007 without required permits, reveal authorities Railway tracks and harmful objects This heightened vigilance follows multiple alarming incidents where railway drivers encountered dangerous objects on the tracks. For instance, on September 22, a goods train driver spotted a gas cylinder on the track and activated the emergency brakes just in time to avert a disaster. Similar occurrences included the discovery of a damaged cylinder and other hazardous materials on September 15, just before the Kalindi Express arrived in Kanpur. Additionally, on September 21, unidentified individuals removed a fishplate and key from a track in Uttar Pradesh, prompting alarm. In a separate incident, on Sunday, nine metal rods were found on the Bhatinda-Delhi route at around 3 am. (With inputs from agencies)

Indian Railways ‘on high alert’, collaborates with NIA, police to stop rail track sabotage attempts

The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/supreme-court-asks-army-to-decide-on-granting-special-commission-to-female-officers-263289">Supreme Court</a> on Monday issued notice to Centre and all the State governments on a petition against the continued deaths of children who fall into borewells and the negligence shown by authorities to prevent such tragedies.

A Bench of Justice <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-general-elections-2019/this-is-nonsense-says-supreme-court-dismissing-pil-seeking-100-vvpat-verification-220408">Arun Mishra</a> and Justice MR Shah sought response from the Central and State governments, Union Territories and the NDRF on the PIL filed by advocate GS Mani.

The plea said authorities remain negligent about safety measures concerning borewells despite Supreme Court directions in 2010. The advocate cited several news reports of borewell deaths in Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, and Maharashtra over the years after the court issued directions. 
Citing the failure of the government at the State and Central levels to comply with the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/united-states-supreme-court-to-hear-its-first-major-gun-case-since-2010-265748">Supreme Court 2010</a> guidelines to prevent bore well/tube well deaths, the plea said that such deaths have been reported across the country.

The plea was filed in October 2019 in the wake of the death of two-year-old Sujith Wilson, who got trapped in an abandoned borewell near Tiruchi in Tamil Nadu.

Not only Tamil Nadu State authorities failed to take any steps to prevent the death of small children who fall into abandoned or open bore wells and tube wells, but they have failed to implement or comply with the directions issued by the Supreme Court in this regard, the petition stated.

"After the 2010 Supreme Court judgment was passed, there have been several incidents clearly evincing the total failure of the government to do their part to prevent the death of innocent children from falls into such wells," the petition states.

Immediate, necessary action and punishment be ordered against erring government officials for non-compliance with these precautionary measures, it demanded.

The Supreme Court on Monday issued notice to Centre and all the State governments on a petition against the continued deaths of children who fall into borewells and the negligence shown by authorities to prevent such tragedies.

The Supreme Court on Monday issued notice to Centre and all the State governments on a petition against the continued deaths of children who fall into borewells and the negligence shown by authorities to prevent such tragedies. A Bench of Justice Arun Mishra and Justice MR Shah sought response from the Central and State governments, Union Territories and the NDRF on the PIL filed by advocate GS Mani. The plea said authorities remain negligent about safety measures concerning borewells despite Supreme Court directions in 2010. The advocate cited several news reports of borewell deaths in Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, and Maharashtra over the years after the court issued directions. Citing the failure of the government at the State and Central levels to comply with the Supreme Court 2010 guidelines to prevent bore well/tube well deaths, the plea said that such deaths have been reported across the country. The plea was filed in October 2019 in the wake of the death of two-year-old Sujith Wilson, who got trapped in an abandoned borewell near Tiruchi in Tamil Nadu. Not only Tamil Nadu State authorities failed to take any steps to prevent the death of small children who fall into abandoned or open bore wells and tube wells, but they have failed to implement or comply with the directions issued by the Supreme Court in this regard, the petition stated. "After the 2010 Supreme Court judgment was passed, there have been several incidents clearly evincing the total failure of the government to do their part to prevent the death of innocent children from falls into such wells," the petition states. Immediate, necessary action and punishment be ordered against erring government officials for non-compliance with these precautionary measures, it demanded.

Supreme Court seeks reply from Centre and States on plea to stop deaths in borewells

Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Saturday asked the Tamil Nadu and Kerala state governments to step-up relief measures even as protests continued in coastal areas over the tardy response of government agencies.

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??????? ??????????????? ????? ??????? ????????????????? ?????????????? ???????????? ?????? ????????? ???????????? ??????????. ??????? ?????? ?????? ????????? ????????? ??????????? ??????? ???????????? ?????? ???????? ?? ????? ???? ??????????????????.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TamilNadu?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TamilNadu</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CycloneOckhi?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CycloneOckhi</a>
&mdash; Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) <a href="https://twitter.com/OfficeOfRG/status/936944013306822656?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 2, 2017</a></blockquote>
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Expressing his condolences to those who died due to Cyclone Ockhi, Rahul Gandhi tweeted &quot;I express my deepest condolences to those who lost their dear ones due to Cyclone Ockhi,&#39;&#39; he wrote on his official Twitter handle.&nbsp;

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??? ?????????????????????? ???????? ????????????????????? ??????????? ????? ????? ?????????????. ??? ????????? ????? ??????? ?????? ??????????????? ??????????? ??????? ???? ??????????????????? ???????? ???????????? ???????????? ?????????????????. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Kerala?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Kerala</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CycloneOckhi?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CycloneOckhi</a>
&mdash; Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) <a href="https://twitter.com/OfficeOfRG/status/936940064340242432?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 2, 2017</a></blockquote>
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The Congress leader wrote the same message in Tamil and Malayalam in an indication of two southern states hit by the cyclone.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

"I express my deepest condolences to those who lost their dear ones due to Cyclone Ockhi,'' Rahul Gandhi wrote on his official Twitter handle.

Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Saturday asked the Tamil Nadu and Kerala state governments to step-up relief measures even as protests continued in coastal areas over the tardy response of government agencies. ??????? ??????????????? ????? ??????? ????????????????? ?????????????? ???????????? ?????? ????????? ???????????? ??????????. ??????? ?????? ?????? ????????? ????????? ??????????? ??????? ???????????? ?????? ???????? ?? ????? ???? ??????????????????.#TamilNadu #CycloneOckhi — Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) December 2, 2017 × Expressing his condolences to those who died due to Cyclone Ockhi, Rahul Gandhi tweeted "I express my deepest condolences to those who lost their dear ones due to Cyclone Ockhi,'' he wrote on his official Twitter handle. ??? ?????????????????????? ???????? ????????????????????? ??????????? ????? ????? ?????????????. ??? ????????? ????? ??????? ?????? ??????????????? ??????????? ??????? ???? ??????????????????? ???????? ???????????? ???????????? ?????????????????. #Kerala#CycloneOckhi — Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) December 2, 2017 × The Congress leader wrote the same message in Tamil and Malayalam in an indication of two southern states hit by the cyclone.

Cyclone Ockhi: Rahul Gandhi asks state governments to step-up rescue efforts

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Friday asked all the state governments to file a composite action plan that would automatically come into effect as levels of Particle Pollution (PM) rises even as it lifted the ban on construction activities in Delhi.

As per NGT direction, concerned states must submit the plan within&nbsp;two weeks, failing which the NGT has proposed to impose a fine of Rs 5 lakh on senior most official responsible for the delay. &nbsp;The fine will be deducted from the particular officer&#39;s salary.

NGT also observed that schools can automatically be closed whenever Pollution levels are severe.&nbsp;

On an application pleading not to exempt CNG vehicles during the implementation of odd-even scheme as long as CNG stickers are being blackmarketed to petrol and diesel vehicles.

NGT directed the state government to take serious note of the application and initiate action as judiciously as possible.

NGT also said that nobody is allowed to park their cars&nbsp;on the road of the market. &#39;&#39;No excuse would be entertained. We direct Delhi police SDMC and enforcement to ensure to be continuously present there for 2 weeks for compliance.. violators will be fined with RS 5 thousand excluding challan. &nbsp;Open area should be declared a no parking zone,&#39; it further said. 
&nbsp;

NGT also observed that schools can automatically be closed whenever Pollution levels are severe.?

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Friday asked all the state governments to file a composite action plan that would automatically come into effect as levels of Particle Pollution (PM) rises even as it lifted the ban on construction activities in Delhi. As per NGT direction, concerned states must submit the plan within two weeks, failing which the NGT has proposed to impose a fine of Rs 5 lakh on senior most official responsible for the delay. The fine will be deducted from the particular officer's salary. NGT also observed that schools can automatically be closed whenever Pollution levels are severe. On an application pleading not to exempt CNG vehicles during the implementation of odd-even scheme as long as CNG stickers are being blackmarketed to petrol and diesel vehicles. NGT directed the state government to take serious note of the application and initiate action as judiciously as possible. NGT also said that nobody is allowed to park their cars on the road of the market. ''No excuse would be entertained. We direct Delhi police SDMC and enforcement to ensure to be continuously present there for 2 weeks for compliance.. violators will be fined with RS 5 thousand excluding challan. Open area should be declared a no parking zone,' it further said.

NGT asks state governments to file action plan to combat pollution

India risks straining public finances and undermining already ailing state banks, economists said, after a $5.6 billion loan write-off for farmers in Uttar Pradesh and moves to do something similar in at least four other states.

One of the first acts of the new government in India&#39;s most populous state following last month&#39;s election triumph of Prime Minister Narendra Modi&#39;s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was to keep a promise to provide debt relief to 21.5 million farmers.

Taking their cue from Uttar Pradesh, more state governments could waive loans to farmers, senior officials there said, to fulfil election pledges or woo rural voters before further polls in the run-up to a general election in 2019 when Modi is expected to run for a second term.&nbsp;

&quot;This will spread like a contagious disease to most parts of the country and you will very soon see at least 3-4 states announcing similar farm loan waivers,&quot; said Ashok Gulati, a farm economist who advised India&#39;s last government.

Economists caution that the move could encourage indebted farmers not to repay loans, deepening malaise at public sector banks already saddled with most of India&#39;s $150 billion in stressed loans.

Uttar Pradesh will cover the cost of the waivers by issuing bonds. This would in turn constrain India&#39;s sovereign credit because such bonds are backstopped by the federal government, the economists said.

India&#39;s total public sector debt, as a share of gross domestic product, stands at around 66 per cent - high compared to other emerging economies.

Economists at Merrill Lynch estimate that states will end up writing off debts equivalent to 2 per cent of GDP - the bulk of all outstanding loans to farmers.

&nbsp;

LEVERAGE LEVELS

Ratings agencies would like to see India&#39;s debt-to-GDP ratio fall below 60 per cent over the next three years to justify an upgrade in its sovereign rating. Yet debt waivers would, even if staggered, force up borrowing, analysts said.

&quot;The loan waivers would likely worsen the fiscal deficits and leverage levels of the state governments, unless other resources are mobilised or expenditure is controlled,&quot; said Aditi Nayar of ICRA, an affiliate of Moody&#39;s Investors Service.

&quot;There is a significant risk that productive capital spending may end up being reduced to fund a portion of the loan waivers.&quot;

A government-appointed panel has suggested capping the states&#39; debt at 20 per cent of India&#39;s GDP, while Reserve Bank of India Governor Urjit Patel has said the Uttar Pradesh loan waiver &quot;undermines honest credit culture&quot;.

&nbsp;

WHO&#39;S NEXT?

The western state of Maharashtra and Punjab in the north are expected to announce similar loan waivers soon, senior officials in both states told Reuters.

In Maharashtra, ruled by the BJP, farmers are clamouring for a bailout after two years of drought and falling commodity prices. In Punjab, known as India&#39;s grain bowl, the opposition Congress party won last month&#39;s election partly on the promise of a farm loan waiver.

In southern Tamil Nadu, reeling from dry weather, a court asked the state government to write off loans to all farmers.

Farmers from Tamil Nadu recently protested in New Delhi, showing the skulls of neighbours who had committed suicide to press their demand for drought relief and loan write-offs.

&nbsp;

WON&#39;T PAY

Some of India&#39;s 263 million farmers have decided not to repay their debts, expecting loan waivers to mean they don&#39;t have to.

&quot;I am not going to repay the loan because defaulters benefited from the previous waiver and I didn&#39;t get any government help even as I repaid the loan on time,&quot; said Gorakh Patil, a farmer from Jalgaon in western India.

Patil was referring to an $11 billion national farm loan waiver in 2008 that helped the Congress party-led coalition of the day win re-election the following year. But non-performing assets jumped.

Gross non-performing loans in agriculture and its allied sectors surged to 588 billion rupees ($9.12 billion) at the end of the December quarter, from 97.4 billion rupees in the 2007/08 fiscal year, RBI data show.

&quot;There&#39;s no benefit from such waivers,&quot; said a director at one state bank who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter. &quot;If you give any benefit across the board, it definitely has an adverse effect on credit discipline.&quot;

(Reuters)

More state governments could waive loans to farmers to fulfil election pledges to woo rural voters before the 2019 election

India risks straining public finances and undermining already ailing state banks, economists said, after a $5.6 billion loan write-off for farmers in Uttar Pradesh and moves to do something similar in at least four other states. One of the first acts of the new government in India's most populous state following last month's election triumph of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was to keep a promise to provide debt relief to 21.5 million farmers. Taking their cue from Uttar Pradesh, more state governments could waive loans to farmers, senior officials there said, to fulfil election pledges or woo rural voters before further polls in the run-up to a general election in 2019 when Modi is expected to run for a second term. "This will spread like a contagious disease to most parts of the country and you will very soon see at least 3-4 states announcing similar farm loan waivers," said Ashok Gulati, a farm economist who advised India's last government. Economists caution that the move could encourage indebted farmers not to repay loans, deepening malaise at public sector banks already saddled with most of India's $150 billion in stressed loans. Uttar Pradesh will cover the cost of the waivers by issuing bonds. This would in turn constrain India's sovereign credit because such bonds are backstopped by the federal government, the economists said. India's total public sector debt, as a share of gross domestic product, stands at around 66 per cent - high compared to other emerging economies. Economists at Merrill Lynch estimate that states will end up writing off debts equivalent to 2 per cent of GDP - the bulk of all outstanding loans to farmers. LEVERAGE LEVELS Ratings agencies would like to see India's debt-to-GDP ratio fall below 60 per cent over the next three years to justify an upgrade in its sovereign rating. Yet debt waivers would, even if staggered, force up borrowing, analysts said. "The loan waivers would likely worsen the fiscal deficits and leverage levels of the state governments, unless other resources are mobilised or expenditure is controlled," said Aditi Nayar of ICRA, an affiliate of Moody's Investors Service. "There is a significant risk that productive capital spending may end up being reduced to fund a portion of the loan waivers." A government-appointed panel has suggested capping the states' debt at 20 per cent of India's GDP, while Reserve Bank of India Governor Urjit Patel has said the Uttar Pradesh loan waiver "undermines honest credit culture". WHO'S NEXT? The western state of Maharashtra and Punjab in the north are expected to announce similar loan waivers soon, senior officials in both states told Reuters. In Maharashtra, ruled by the BJP, farmers are clamouring for a bailout after two years of drought and falling commodity prices. In Punjab, known as India's grain bowl, the opposition Congress party won last month's election partly on the promise of a farm loan waiver. In southern Tamil Nadu, reeling from dry weather, a court asked the state government to write off loans to all farmers. Farmers from Tamil Nadu recently protested in New Delhi, showing the skulls of neighbours who had committed suicide to press their demand for drought relief and loan write-offs. WON'T PAY Some of India's 263 million farmers have decided not to repay their debts, expecting loan waivers to mean they don't have to. "I am not going to repay the loan because defaulters benefited from the previous waiver and I didn't get any government help even as I repaid the loan on time," said Gorakh Patil, a farmer from Jalgaon in western India. Patil was referring to an $11 billion national farm loan waiver in 2008 that helped the Congress party-led coalition of the day win re-election the following year. But non-performing assets jumped. Gross non-performing loans in agriculture and its allied sectors surged to 588 billion rupees ($9.12 billion) at the end of the December quarter, from 97.4 billion rupees in the 2007/08 fiscal year, RBI data show. "There's no benefit from such waivers," said a director at one state bank who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter. "If you give any benefit across the board, it definitely has an adverse effect on credit discipline." (Reuters)

Farm loan write-offs win votes in India, but may hurt economy

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