The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) on Monday released the first National Highways Green Cover Index (NH-GCI), establishing a baseline for measuring vegetation along the country’s highway network using satellite-based assessment.. The first assessment cycle has covered around 30,000 kilometres of national highways across 24 states. (Image sourced from Doordarshan). Subsequent annual cycles will track year-on-year changes along the same highway stretches, enabling monitoring of improvements in roadside vegetation over time, NHAI said in a statement.. The index was prepared in coordination with the National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) after a memorandum of understanding was signed by both agencies in January 2024 to develop a scientific and quantitative framework for assessing plantations along national highways.. The index uses high-resolution satellite sensors to detect chlorophyll content along highway corridors, enabling an estimate of vegetation within the right of way on both sides of the road.. The first assessment cycle has covered around 30,000 kilometres of national highways across 24 states for the period between July and December 2024.. Also Read: NHAI to build bridge, 2 km road to ease traffic at Masani Barrage. According to NHAI, the index is a technology-based approach for macro-level estimation of green cover along highways and could help identify stretches with relatively lower vegetation levels where plantation management may require attention. The framework also enables comparison and ranking of highway sections based on green cover. It said the use of satellite data offers a cost-effective and time-efficient method for monitoring vegetation along the expanding national highway network.. The release of the NH-GCI report follows NHAI’s publication of its sustainability report in July 2025, which outlined the agency’s sustainability initiatives and environmental performance across highway development and operations site. 

 When YouTuber Anurag Dobhal, popularly known as UK07 Rider, was critically injured in a car crash on the Delhi-Meerut Expressway in Ghaziabad, a friend and follower of the social media influencer rescued him from the mangled SUV.. Anurag Dobhal was later referred to another hospital in Delhi and was in a stable condition, officials informed.. The accident took place on Saturday near Hawa Hawai restaurant in the Masuri police station area. The event was captured on a social media live where Dobhal told ‘goodbye’ to thousands of followers before crashing his car into a barrier. He is currently admitted to the ICU and recovering from the injuries.. Police have said that a friend and follower of the influencer reached the spot before the police and rushed him to a nearby hospital in Meerut.. According to the UP Police, Anurag was heading towards Delhi from Meerut when his SUV crashed near the Hawa Hawai Aeroplane Restaurant and went to the opposite lane in Meerut.. “The crash was so severe that his car was mangled and the wheels came off. We received information about the incident on the emergency helpline number 112 from his friends.” Ajay Kumar, station house officer, Masoori police station said.. Surendra Nath Tiwari, deputy commissioner of police, Ghaziabad (Rural) told HT that they received information about the incident on the emergency helpline number from his friends. By the time police reached the spot, his friends had already rushed him to the nearest hospital.. Friend, follower rushed to the spot. Police also said one of his friends and social media follower, Ashish Chaudhary from Mehrauli, was the first to reach the spot.. Ashish told HT that he came after watching the live video on social media. “I am familiar with the DME. My friends and I rushed to the spot and rescued him from the mangled SUV. Locals also helped us at the spot,” he said.. Also read: Anurag Dobhal ‘fighting for his life’ in hospital after car crash, manager sends a message for ‘haters’. The influencer was later referred to another hospital in Delhi and was in a stable condition, officials informed. They also said that the exact reason behind the incident would be ascertained after recording the victim’s and his family members’ statements.. A resident of Dehradun, Anurag, told his viewers he felt completely alone and had no one left to call during his Instagram live. He was seen driving his SUV on the Delhi–Meerut Expressway, with the speedometer showing 140-150 kmph.. Also read: Anurag Dobhal in ICU after crashing car at 140 kmph during ‘final drive’ with 80,000 watching livestream. Multiple clips of the live also went viral, showing the influencer being emotional and turning the steering sharply.. Police said that based in primary investigation, it is suspected to be a case of suicide, adding that further investigation is still underway to determine the exact cause.. Meanwhile, in a recent picture shared from Anurag’s Instagram stories, the 

 To fast-track environmental clearances (EC) further, the Union government has decided to set up a Standing Authority on Environment Impact Assessment (SAEIA), which will appraise projects when state-level impact assessment authorities are non-functional. The SAEIA will also discharge other tasks entrusted to it, according to a March 5 draft notification.. The SAEIA will consist of ex-officio members appointed by the central government. (HT PHOTO/Representative). The draft notification notes that the tenure of the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) and State Level Expert Appraisal Committee (SEAC) is three years, extendable by one year. In the absence of SEIAA/SEAC, appraisal of projects within their domain is carried out at the central level. The process of reconstitution is initiated six months before expiry, and delays occur due to late or incomplete submission of proposals from states.. “The matter has been examined… It has been observed that delayed reconstitution of SEIAA leads to a complete halt in the EC process at the state levels, and the pending proposals are transferred in bulk to the Centre, leading to extended timelines and unwarranted delays in the appraisal of the projects, thereby impacting project timelines and investor confidence,” the draft states.. The SAEIA will consist of ex-officio members appointed by the central government. “The central government deems it necessary that the continuity of SEIAA and SEAC be ensured by authorising a separate standing body as an interim arrangement for the purpose of appraisal of projects/activities and grant of regulatory clearances under EIA [Environment Impact Assessment] Notification 2006, in the absence of a functional authority and till the constitution of new SEIAA/SEAC,” the draft states.. “The Central Government also deems it necessary that the…standing body may also be authorised to consider the project that are delayed at the SEIAA/SEAC level and to discharge such other tasks as may be entrusted to it by the Central Government related to the implementation of the EIA Notification, 2006, as amended from time to time, within the respective State/UT [Union Territory].”. The draft notification provides for the standing committee stepping in if appraisals are delayed by state-level bodies. “In the event the application for grant of EC is not appraised by the concerned State Level Expert Appraisal Committee (SEAC) within a period of 120 days from the date of the submission of the complete application by the project proponent, the application shall be automatically forwarded to the Standing Committee on Environment Impact Appraisal (SCEIA), through PARIVESH portal, for consideration, which shall appraise such projects and provide their recommendations as per the scenarios and within the time frame mentioned.”. Also, if the decision of the SEIAA is not communicated to the project applicant within the period specified, the proposal shall be automati 

 West Bengal’s ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Monday accused chief election commissioner Gyanesh Kumar of disrespecting women and shouting at a delegation of the party that met him and the two election commissioners in Kolkata, escalating tensions between the two sides.. TMC leader Chandrima Bhattacharya quoted Kumar as saying that he is helpless, as the Supreme Court is monitoring the SIR in West Bengal. (ANI). “Like every time, it was he [Kumar] who did all the talking. After speaking for some time, he suddenly got irritated and said that you [TMC] have moved the Supreme Court. He was shouting. He accused us of shouting,” said TMC leader and state minister Chandrima Bhattacharya.. She quoted Kumar as saying that Special Intensive Revision (SIR) has been completed in other states and that he is helpless, as the Supreme Court is monitoring the process in West Bengal. “Is moving the Supreme Court a crime? We have the right to move court,” Bhattacharya said after the meeting. “He [Kumar] was asking me not to shout. I told him that his attitude proves that he does not respect women. That is why names of women voters are being deleted.”. There was no immediate response from the Election Commission of India (ECI) to Bhattacharya’s version of what transpired at the meeting.. Earlier on Monday morning, TMC workers carrying placards with “go back” slogans written on them and black flags gathered as Kumar visited the Kalighat Temple. TMC workers showed Kumar black flags and shouted go back slogans after Kumar landed in Kolkata on Sunday evening.. In a statement on the meeting with the representatives of the political parties, the ECI on Monday said that they urged it to conduct the assembly election in one or two phases, protect voters, and deploy Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) to curb poll violence. It added that Kumar assured them that the ECI will not leave any stone unturned in ensuring an impartial, transparent, and fair poll.. Kumar and election commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, who are on a three-day visit to Kolkata, are holding a series of meetings to take stock of the poll preparations.. Bharatiya Janata Party spokesperson Sishir Bajoria said they requested the ECI to conduct the elections in one phase or at most two phases. “Holding elections in multiple phases does not help.”. The ECI and the TMC have been at loggerheads over the SIR. On February 24, the Supreme Court invoked its extraordinary powers under the Constitution’s Article 142 to direct the ECI to continue publishing supplementary voter lists even after the final electoral roll is notified on February 28 to ensure that no eligible voter is disenfranchised ahead of the assembly elections.. The court deemed that voters included in supplementary lists would be treated as part of the final roll, effectively neutralising rigid statutory timelines that might otherwise bar inclusion of voters whose verification remained pending. It authoris 

 Itanagar, One hundred and sixty-five militants belonging to various insurgent groups have laid down their arms in the insurgency-affected districts of Tirap, Changlang and Longding in Arunachal Pradesh during the last six years, state Home minister Mama Natung informed the assembly on Monday.. 165 militants surrendered in Arunachal in last six years: Minister. Natung, replying to a written question by NPP MLA Thangwang Wangham, said that between January 2020 and December 2025, a total of 47 militants surrendered before security forces in Tirap district, 41 in Changlang district and 77 in Longding district.. The minister said 50 cadres of the National Socialist Council of Nagalim surrendered in the three districts. Another 37 militants belonging to the National Socialist Council of Nagaland laid down arms.. Besides, 35 rebels of the Eastern Naga National Government also surrendered during the period.. Natung further said that 27 cadres of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland surrendered, along with 14 of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland , five of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland , four of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland .. Two each from the United Liberation Front of Asom , the National Socialist Council of Nagaland and the Eastern Naga National Organisation , and one rebel from the National Socialist Council of Nagaland .. The minister said that surrendered cadres are provided benefits under the government’s Surrender and Rehabilitation scheme, including financial assistance amounting to ₹1.4 crore in the last six years.. He said that a rehabilitation camp at Bhismaknagar in Lower Dibang Valley district has been operational since January 9 last year and the surrendered cadres are currently staying there.. Vocational training programmes are also being conducted for the skill development of the surrendered militants.. During the current fiscal, short-term vocational training was provided to 26 cadres, the minister said, adding that the scheme has no provision for direct employment or housing.. He further stated that under the provisions of the Surrender and Rehabilitation scheme, cases relating to minor offences against successfully rehabilitated cadres may be considered for withdrawal in accordance with government policy.. However, Natung clarified that cadres involved in heinous offences such as murder, rape, abduction and other serious crimes will face due process of law and surrender will not be treated as amnesty from criminal liability.. The minister added that the reintegration and livelihood status of surrendered militants are regularly monitored under government supervision.. He also said the government has taken steps to strengthen the Surrender and Rehabilitation scheme by sanctioning an additional stipend of ₹6,000 per cadre and approving ₹109.10 lakh for improvement of rehabilitation infrastructure.. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.