India To Contribute $7.5 Mn Under 'Quad Cancer Moonshot' Initiative, Says PM Modi

The NGRI team would try their best to gather more data on the Ratna Bhandar conditions. The team will reportedly take help of GPR System.

The team started the three-day survey Saturday, which saw them carrying out an effort to gather data for around 3 hours and 50 minutes.

After the conclusion of the survey Monday, the team will reportedly submit the report by the end of first week of October. 

The repairing of the Ratna Bhandar will be carried out on the basis of the detailed report.

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This news of urination in the city engineer’s chamber in fact throws light on a deeply concerning issue regarding the inefficiency of urban infrastructure management in Bhubaneswar, specifically the stalled drainage system repairs in Ward 45, Sabar Sahi. The residents’ frustration with the poor drainage system and the foul smell is evident, culminating in a highly unusual and provocative protest—urinating in the office of the city engineer to express their dissatisfaction. This incident highlights several critical issues:

 The core issue lies in the incomplete drainage repair work that has been pending for months. This negligence has forced residents to endure unsanitary conditions, including stagnant water and foul odors, which not only degrade the quality of life but also pose significant health risks. The lack of action by local authorities, despite repeated complaints, suggests a systemic failure in addressing civic concerns in a timely and effective manner.
 

The residents have made multiple attempts to voice their grievances, but their concerns have been ignored or deflected by local authorities, with the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) shifting blame to other departments, such as sewerage and electricity. This lack of coordination among different agencies involved in urban infrastructure projects points to poor communication and governance.

 Furthermore, the city engineer, who is responsible for overseeing these projects, has failed to adequately address the issue or provide timely solutions. The absence of a clear accountability mechanism within the municipal corporation exacerbates the problem, leading to residents feeling neglected and disempowered.

The unusual form of protest—urinating in a government office—reflects the extreme frustration felt by the residents. Such a protest not only draws attention to their plight but also raises ethical questions about the lengths to which citizens must go to get their voices heard. Public opinion is divided, with some supporting the protest as a necessary form of activism, while others criticize the method as inappropriate. Regardless of public opinion, the protest highlights the desperate measures people are willing to take when conventional channels of communication and redress fail.

 The response from Bhubaneswar Mayor Sulochana Das indicates a recognition of the problem but also points to bureaucratic delays. She attributed the halted repair work to the failure of a private power distribution company to relocate two electric poles. While this provides a technical explanation for the delay, it does not fully absolve the BMC of responsibility. Effective governance requires overcoming such bureaucratic hurdles through proactive coordination and crisis management.

To address this type of problem and prevent similar incidents in the future, a multifaceted approach is necessary.

The BMC needs to create a transparent accountability structure, ensuring that the responsible individuals and departments are held accountable for delays and inefficiencies. A formal mechanism for monitoring the progress of infrastructure projects, with regular updates to the public, can help build trust and reduce frustration.
 

The municipal corporation should improve communication with residents by creating accessible platforms for grievances, such as dedicated helplines or apps, where people can track the status of their complaints. This would reduce the need for extreme protests and improve the responsiveness of authorities.

The BMC must ensure that there must be better coordination between different agencies, such as the BMC, sewerage, and electricity departments. Regular inter-departmental meetings to review ongoing infrastructure projects and address bottlenecks in real-time can prevent such issues from escalating.
 

For complex projects involving multiple agencies, appointing a dedicated project coordinator can streamline communication, ensure timely completion of tasks, and resolve conflicts between departments.
 

BMC must explore the possibility of involving0 residents in the decision-making process for infrastructure projects. Holding regular town hall meetings, where citizens can raise concerns directly with city officials, would allow for more collaborative and responsive urban planning.
 

Educating the public about ongoing and planned projects, as well as expected timelines for completion will also work wonders. This would help manage public expectations and prevent misunderstandings about delays.

Given the health hazards associated with poor drainage, the BMC should prioritize completing repairs in areas like Ward 45. Expediting procurement processes and removing administrative bottlenecks can ensure faster project execution.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi, US President Joe Biden, Japanese PM Fumio Kishida and Australian PM Anthony Albanese issued a joint statement Saturday after the four countries' fourth in-person Quad summit held in Wilmington, Delaware, reported Yonhap news agency.

The summit came as Pyongyang has recently ratcheted up tensions on the peninsula with its rare disclosure of a uranium enrichment facility, continued weapons tests and launches of trash-filled balloons into South Korea, not to mention tough rhetoric.

"We condemn North Korea's destabilizing ballistic missile launches and its continued pursuit of nuclear weapons in violation of multiple UN Security Council resolutions (UNSCRs). These launches pose a grave threat to international peace and stability," the leaders said in the statement, named "the Wilmington Declaration".

"We urge North Korea to abide by all its obligations under the UNSCRs, refrain from further provocations and engage in substantive dialogue. We reaffirm our commitment to the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula consistent with relevant UNSCRs and call on all countries to fully implement these UNSCRs," they added.

They stressed the need to prevent any proliferation of nuclear and missile technologies related to North Korea.

"We express our grave concern over North Korea's use of proliferation networks, malicious cyber activity and workers abroad to fund its unlawful weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs," they said.

"In that context, we urge all UN Member States to abide by the relevant UNSCRs, including the prohibition on the transfer to North Korea or procurement from North Korea of all arms and related materiel," the leaders said.

Moreover, they expressed "deep" concerns about countries that are deepening military cooperation with the North, saying that it undermines the global nonproliferation regime.

The leaders also underscored the importance of sanctions enforcement against Pyongyang, noting that a UN expert panel monitoring sanctions violations has been disbanded.

"We reiterate our commitment to continued implementation of the relevant UNSCRs which remain in full force," they said.

Earlier in the day, Biden and Kishida held a separate bilateral meeting, where Biden recognised improvement in relations between Seoul and Tokyo, long strained over historical feuds.

"He (Biden) also commended the Prime Minister's courage and conviction in strengthening ties with the Republic of Korea, which enabled the launch of a momentous new era of US-Japan-ROK trilateral cooperation at the historic Camp David Summit in August 2023," the White House said in a readout. (ROK stands for South Korea's official name, the Republic of Korea.)

The Camp David summit is the first standalone trilateral meeting among the three countries' leaders. It produced a series of landmark cooperation agreements, including the "Commitment to Consult" each other in the event of a shared threat.

In their joint statement, Quad leaders also expressed their serious concern over China's assertiveness in the South China Sea.

"We continue to express our serious concern about the militarization of disputed features, and coercive and intimidating maneuvers in the South China Sea," they said. "We condemn the dangerous use of coast guard and maritime militia vessels, including increasing use of dangerous manoeuvres," said the leaders.

For three-way maritime security efforts, the leaders said that the US Coast Guard, Japan Coast Guard, Australian Border Force and Indian Coast Guard plan to launch a first-ever Quad-at-Sea Ship Observer Mission in 2025 to improve interoperability and advance maritime safety in the Indo-Pacific.

They also announced the launch of a "Quad Indo-Pacific Logistics Network" pilot project to pursue shared airlift capacity among their countries and leverage collective logistics strengths in order to support civilian response to natural disasters "more rapidly and efficiently" across the Indo-Pacific.

The next Quad Summit will be hosted by India.

(IANS)

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