Nagpur Updates

Last choice for any project is to cut trees: Gadkari

Nagpur: Union surface transport and highways minister Nitin Gadkari has assured people of giving full support to the protection of trees and the environment in the news that could help ruffled environmentalists. The two-time town MP, speaking exclusively to TOI, said cutting trees “was always the last choice for any project.” Gadkari spoke a day after the municipal authorities decided to drop plans to build a road through flourishing biodiversity in the city’s Bharat Nagar area owned by Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth (PDKV).

Calling himself an environment lover, Gadkari said, “As I think about growth, the primary focus is on ensuring progress and protection of the environment go hand in hand. I am very alert to such issues and I assure the citizens that I will give my full support. “Affirming that not a single tree would be cut in the urban mini-forest rechristened as’ Bharat Van,’ Gadkari said,” A lot of people came to meet me and we decided to find a middle way after various discussions. Our goal was to find a solution that would not harm the trees in Bharat Van. I am pleased today that not one single tree will need to be cut for this road project. “As reported earlier by TOI, on 3 April last year, hundreds of environmentally conscious people including Bharat Nagar residents, green activists, children, doctors, senior citizens and members of various civil society groups gathered to meet with Gadkari, raising their voices against the” environmental foeticide “which was expected to kill Bharat Van.

TOI was the first to comment on the planned road that was part of the nearby reconstruction project for Telangkhedi Lake. In Gadkari’s own words, his “dream project” has been the facelift for the lake by building a musical fountain and an elevated viewing gallery. This paper had also highlighted how the development plans endanger more than 500 age-old trees and a rich biodiversity ecosystem.

Environment activists in the city, welcoming the minister’s stance, stressed that the next focus should be on conserving the Telangkhedi lake. “We are thankful that the Minister has taken a decision which takes into account citizens ‘ concerns. The 220-year-old lake is on the verge of dying, while Bharat Van is now healthy. It is full of garbage, silt, and hyacinth of water which causes its dissolved oxygen levels to drop. Even if the musical fountains and other activities begin, the lake will die in a few years ‘ time, “Nagpur’s honorary wildlife warden, Jaydeep Das said.

Based on reports from TOI, Das had written a letter to Bombay high court’s Nagpur bench outlining the adverse impacts of the proposed route. HC dealt with his letter on 3 December 2018 as a suo motu public interest litigation.

Meanwhile, Nagpur Municipal Corporation and Public Works Department (PWD), MahaMetro, which is the project’s executing agency, has confirmed that dropping the road was a joint decision of itself. “The Metro had no central role in this project’s policy-planning. The roadbuilding plan was submitted as per PWD guidelines, which manages the entire project’s planning and financing, “the agency said. It added that PWD had informed MahaMetro of changes at any point.

‘Science Expo’ 2020 began at RSC, Nagpur

Every year at the Raman Science Center in Nagpur, ‘Science Expo,’ a unique event to bridge the gap between science and society, is organized with collaborative efforts from Science & Technology institutions. The event’s goal is to act as an interface between science and society. It greatly helps to create awareness in society about the works of Research & Development being done in various scientific institutions.

Raman Science Centre and other scientific institutions in Maharashtra are jointly organising ‘Science Expo’ to create awareness among the school/college students; bring students and general masses face to face with practising scientists; and also to motivate students about the benefits of choosing science as their career.

It is expected as in the previous year a large number of students from various schools and colleges will visit the expo. They will have the first-hand information on the latest scientific developments particularly in the fields in which the collaborating institutions are engaged. The’ Science Expo 2020′ showcases the scientific research and development in 15 participating institutions in particular; 1. Indian Anthropological Survey, Nagpur 2. Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration & Research, Nagpur 3. The Central Institute for Citrus Research, Nagpur 4. Central Institute for Cotton Research, Nagpur 5. Geological Survey of India (Central Region), Nagpur 6. Nagpur 7: Government Medical College & Hospital. Manganese Ore Limited (India) 8, Nagpur. Nagpur Limited Mineral Exploration Company 9. National Research Institute for Environmental Engineering, Nagpur 10. Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited, Mumbai 11. Nagpur 12 Indian Heating and Air Conditioning Engineers Association. Raman Science Centre & Planetarium, Nagpur 13. Nagpur 14: Provincial Remote Sensing Center (Central). Western Coalfields Limited (WCL) Nagpur Scientists and officials from these institutions will interact with the visitors comprising the school children, college students, family groups, and general masses as well. They will be explaining the scientific developments and works that are being carried out by these institutions along with the career prospects in the field of Science & Technology for the budding scientists.

During the five-day event, a series of Popular Science Lectures (PSL) are also held. The’ Science Expo ‘ event will give the general public an opportunity to get closer to the worlds of scientific research and understand the excitement, pain and ecstasy of scientific research. It is hoped this experience will encourage young minds to opt for a career in science.

The’ Science Expo 2020′ opened at 11.00 am on 16 January 2020. Dr. Ranjit Rath, CEO of Mineral Exploration Corporation Limited, Nagpur in the presence of Dr. Rakesh Kumar, Director of NEERI, Nagpur, Shri Shrikant Pathak, Former Director of Central Research and Training Laboratory, Kolkata and Shri Vijay Shanker Sharma, Project Coordinator, Raman Science Center, Nagpur. Also present on this occasion were Dr. Ratna Dhar, AnSI, Shri Suresh Kumar, Regional Director, AMD, Shri Shrinivasan, General Manager, RRSC and other scientists from all of the participating institutions. Tata Parsi, New Apostolic Students, Pt. Bachharaj Vyas, also attended the Anuman College of Engineering.

The’ Science Expo’ will remain open to the public from 11.00 am on every day. Between 16 to 20 January 2020, until 5.30 pm.

Popular Science Lectures can take place at 12 pm and regular at 3.30 pm. Free entry to the Science Expo site and to the lectures will be granted to visiting public & students.

22 Babus known as Fadnavis transferred favourites

Mumbai / Nagpur: 22 bureaucrats, including the Director-General for Information and Public Relations (DGIPR) Brijesh Singh and the additional commissioner of Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, Pravin Darade, known for their proximity to former Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, have been transferred by the Maha Vikas Aghadi Government in a major reshuffle. Singh will continue as the special IG, cybercrime, while Darade will now be the new commissioner for social welfare for Pune. The new DGIPR will be Sindhudurg district collector DD Pandharpatte.

The Congress and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) have been strident in demanding the transfers of Singh and Darade, whom the previous BJP-led government pampered. Now that Darade’s posting will be in Pune, he’ll need to vacate the formidable Malabar Hill bungalow. There was a huge controversy in 2014 when he was the new local commissioner after it was assigned to him. His wife Pallavi Darade is the commissioner of food and drugs, Maharashtra.

Sanjay Nirupam, former chief of the Mumbai Congress, alleged that Darade had helped Vidarbha Infotech, an information technology firm, bag the contract for towing vehicles that had breached parking rules in Mumbai. Darade was then the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority’s additional commissioner and Fadnavis governor. Fadnavis ‘ office had, however, clarified that there was no wrongdoing in awarding Vidarbha Infotech the towing contract.

Sachin Sawant, a spokesman for the Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee, had blamed Brijesh Singh for suspected mismanagement in tendering for the television show ‘ Mi Mukhya Mantri Boltoy.’ The office of Fadnavis also denied those charges.

The commissar for goods and service tax, Rajiv Jalota, was transferred as the secretary for rural development. He will replace the incumbent Asim Gupta, who is to be the new secretary of energy. The next GST commissioner will be the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company MD Sanjeev Kumar, the additional IAS official chief secretary-rank. The Free Press Journal in its Sunday edition had broken the story of the MVA’s plans for the reshuffle.

P Velrasu, Maharashtra’s member-secretary Jeevan Pradhikaran, will be Darade’s new additional municipal commissioner instead. Mrs J Mukherjee, managing director of the Maharashtra State Textile Corporation, was named additional chief secretary of the Minority Development Department and will succeed the incumbent, SA Tagde, who will be the new chief secretary of the textile department. The current chief secretary of the textile department KH Govindraj will take over as the additional Metropolitan Development Authority commissioner in Mumbai Metropolitan region.

Managing Director B Venugopal Reddy of the Maharashtra State Small Scale Industries Development Corporation has been appointed as the main secretary, forests, as the post had been vacant since the appointment of Vikas Kharge as the chief secretary in the office of the chief minister.

Sales tax commissioner Shaila A was moved to the Maharashtra State Power Generation Company as its chairman and managing director. Satara district collector Shweta Singhal is now the additional divisional commissioner, Pune, while the commissioner for soil and water conservation, Deepak Singla, will be the new collector of the district of Gadchiroli, replacing Shekhar Singh who will be the new collector of Satara district.

Manju Laxmi, CEO of Sindhudurg Zilla Parishad, will be the new district collector of the same district, while Solapur district collector RB Bhosale has been elected joint MD of the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company. Pune Municipal Transport Corporation CMD Nayana Gunde is to become the tribal research and training institute’s new commissioner. Raigad District Collector VN Suryavanshi will replace her.

RS Jagtap, CEO of Bhandara Zilla Parishad, has been moved as the additional Nagpur Divisional Commissioner and will be succeeded by the new CEO of Nashik Zilla Parishad Bhuvaneshwari. Madan Nagargoje was appointed the information technology director.

Alumni changing the face of VNIT, 5 unveiled projects on Sunday

Nagpur: Come Sunday and city-based Visvesvaraya National Technology Institute (VNIT), thanks to its alumni association, will give a new look. The first institution will mark its diamond jubilee by unveiling Sir M Visvesvaraya’s 10-feet-high bronze statue, after whom the institute is named.

In the presence of VNIT chairman Vishram Jamdar, director Pramod Padole, alumni association chairman Shashikant Chaudhary and others, a new-look entrance with modern fountains, street lights and a LED light display would also be inaugurated on the day by Union transport minister Nitin Gadkari. The dignitaries would also inaugurate three more projects funded by the Alumni. These include a soccer field, two tennis courts in the park, and a modern night tea kiosk named’ Chandrama’ for students.

Interestingly, the different batches of VNIT have fully conceptualized, supported and executed all the projects.

“Our alumni association has raised Rs5 crore, which would be used for various academic programs as well as for infrastructural projects. So far, we have completed 11 projects for them to fund. We have also entered into an agreement with the Ministry of Union Transport to conduct road safety and audit classes for government officials including those from PWD and CPWD, “Padole told the media.

He added that the statue was created by Ram Sutaria, who was part of the Gujarat team which constructed the highest’ Statue of Unity’ in the world. “Fourteen of my doctoral students have contributed to the statue,” he said.

Explaining the other projects, Chaudhary said their organization has operated since 2012 and has 1,600 members of life so far. “The 1984 batch took on the task of giving the bronze statue, and Chandrama was set up in 1985 batch. The 1986 batch helped build the tennis courts, and the football stadium was funded by 1992 batch. In the diamond jubilee year, more alumni are coming forward to support their alma mater. We have statistics of 20,000 of the more than 22,000 students who have graduated from this prestigious institution, albeit partially, “he said, adding that it felt nice to give back to your alma mater.

Jamdar said VNIT will create a’ Center for Excellence in Innovation’ in cooperation with the Government of India’s Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) division. “We will be holding a meeting of directors of various NITs, and under this initiative, 16 of them have already agreed to attend. Kirloskar group’s Vikram Kirloskar has agreed to give a carbon policy ranking and accreditation lecture at our college on February 8th, “he said.

Padole added that Visvesvaraya’s grand nephew— Satish Mokshagundam and his wife Laxmi Satish — would attend Sunday’s meeting. “Our alumni chapters are also working in Dubai and the USA apart from all metro cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Pune and Bangalore,” he said.

New projects in VNIT* 10-feet-high bronze statue of Sir M Visvesvaraya* New look front with fountains, street lights & LED light show* Big football ground and two lawn tennis courts* Modernized night tea kiosk Chandrama for students*‘ Centre for Excellence in innovation’ with MSME Dept* City’s biggest international convention centre* Freshwater lake inside college premises

Pawar, Nagpurians want power stations moved to Nashik

Nagpur: While Nitin Raut, the new energy minister, has ruled out the scrapping of two new 660MW thermal units at the Koradi power plant, NCP supremo Sharad Pawar wants new ones at Nashik.

A source in Mahagenco said Nashik power plant only has three units. “Only one is currently being run as the electricity is more costly than other power stations. Plans have been made for a 660MW device but it is stuck because of the question posed by the defence ministry (MoD) over the chimney height, “he added.

Chhagan Bhujbal, minister of Nashik, wants new units there to get work for local people. He asked Mahagenco to start new ones there, but he did not get a lot of reaction. And he told his boss, Sharad Pawar.

The source said Pawar recently held a meeting with Mahagenco’s president-cum-managing director (CMD) and other senior officials in this regard.

The officials told him the height of the chimney problem. We also said that because the Nashik plant was far from coal mines, its power costs were higher than those located in Vidarbha. “We told him that the merit order dispatch (MOD) would not buy Nashik money,” the source said.

But Pawar was steadfast on new units. Therefore, the officials recommended that the old non-operational units be restored and made online. The NCP chief has asked officials to submit a report on all the options within days.

Although it is difficult for Mahagenco to receive environmental clearance for Koradi units, it is not ready to move them to Nashik, where local people are ready.

Local environmentalists mocked Mahagenco’s claims that it would not buy Nashik electricity. “Mahagenco will sign a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with its sole customer, MSEDCL, and if power is required then Nashik power will be consumed,” an environmentalist said.

The Mahagenco source also said Nashik power would be costly too at over Rs4 per unit with solar power costing about Rs3 per unit. But this argument also holds true for Koradi groups.

Raut wants new units in Koradi, creating 5,000 jobs for the locals. However, due to increased pollution, he is completely ignoring the damage to people’s health.

Income tax raids in Nagpur at 7 locations

On Thursday, Income Tax Department teams carried raids across the city at seven locations and searched lockers, and also seized incriminating documents related to business deals. According to sources from the Income Tax Department, teams consisting of around 100 officers were swooping on businessmen and traders at various locations like Itwari, Butibori, Pratap Nagar and elsewhere. Some residences were scanned, too. Lockers were scanned, and property-related documents incriminating were confiscated. Huge cash was also confiscated in the raids according to reports. A company based in Butibori came under the Income Tax sleuths microscope, too.

Some traders dealing with the supari company were also raided at the locality of Itwari in Parvarpura. A dealer imports supari (betel nut) from Hyderabad and has also reportedly been operating a kharra panni factory that is banned in Maharashtra. The prohibited gutkha and scented tobacco, imported from Madhya Pradesh, are also sold on a massive scale in Nagpur market. The prohibited stuff is also being distributed across the state at many sites. A number of Itwari traders, sources suggested, are connected to the clandestine sector. To avoid any untoward incident, the visiting Income Tax officials were followed by a policeman pose.

CR to run weekly specials between Nagpur-Rajkot-Nagpur

The Central Railway has decided to start weekly special trains between Nagpur-Rajkot-Nagpur in the festive season from January 20 onwards to a strong rush of travellers.

Train No. 01207 Superfast Weekly Special will depart Nagpur at 7.50 p.m. each Monday from January 20 to March 30 (11 trips) and enter Rajkot the next day at 4.30 p.m.

Train No. 01208 Weekly Special leaves Rajkot every Tuesday from January 21 to March 31 (11 trips) at 22.00 hrs and arrives at Nagpur the next day at 22.15 hrs.

The stops: Wardha, Badnera, Akola, Bhusaval, Jalgaon, Dharangaon, Amalner, Nandurbar, Surat, Bharuch Jn., Vadodara Jn., Anand Jn., Ahmedabad, Viramgam Jn, and Surendranagar.

Composition: OneAC-2 Tier, ThreeAC-3 Tier, 9 sleeper tier, 2 second-class general.

Bookings for 01207 Superfast special charged trains will open at all PRS locations on January 17 and at www.irctc.co.in.

General second-class coaches of these specials will run as unreserved coaches and will be booked as applicable to superfast mail/express trains via UTS network.

सेंसेक्स पहली बार ऐतिहासिक स्तर 42,000 के पार, भारतीय शेयर बाजार में रिकॉर्ड तेजी

सेंसेक्स ने पहली बार 42,000 का स्तर छुआ, शुरुआती कारोबार में 134.58 अंक चढ़ा। निफ्टी भी 32.35 अंक चढ़कर 12,375.65 के स्तर पर पहुंचा ।

भारतीय शेयर बाजार का प्रमुख संवेदी सूचकांक सेंसेक्‍स पहली बार गुरुवार को 134.58 अंकों की तेजी के साथ 42 हजार के ऐतिहासिक स्‍तर पर पहुंच गया। शुरुआती कारोबार में सेंसेक्स और निफ्टी रिकॉर्ड ऊंचाई पर पहुंच गए। अमेरिका और चीन के बीच पहले चरण के व्यापार करार के बाद से दुनिया भर के शेयर बाजारों में तेजी देखी जा रही है। सेंसेक्स ने पहली बार 42,000 का स्तर छुआ, शुरुआती कारोबार में 134.58 अंक चढ़ा तो वहीं निफ्टी भी 32.35 अंक चढ़कर 12,375.65 के स्तर पर पहुंचा । वैश्विक सकारात्मक संकेतों के बीच बॉम्बे स्टॉक एक्सचेंज (बीएसई) का प्रमुख सूचकांक सेंसेक्स 134.58 अंकों की तेजी के साथ 42 हजार के स्‍तर पर पहुंच गया। इसी तरह निफ्टी 32.35 अंक की तेजी के साथ 375.65 अंक पर कारोबार करता दिखाई दिया। सुबह 9 बजकर 54 मिनट पर सेसेंक्स 162.32 अंकों की तेजी के साथ 42,035.05 पर कारोबार कर रहा है। वहीं निफ्टी 39.00 अंकों की तेजी के साथ 12,382.30 के स्तर पर कारोबार कर रहा है।

पाकिस्तान पर CDS बिपिन रावत का निशाना, कहा-जैसा अमेरिका ने किया, वैसा ही कुछ करना होगा

चीफ ऑफ डिफेंस स्टाफ (CDS) बिपिन रावत ने पाकिस्तान पर बड़ा हमला बोला है। दिल्ली में रायसीना डायलॉग के दौरान बिपिन रावत ने कहा है कि जैसा एक्शन अमेरिका ने आतंकवाद के ख़िलाफ किया, वैसा ही कुछ करना होगा।

चीफ ऑफ डिफेंस स्टाफ (CDS) बिपिन रावत ने पाकिस्तान पर बड़ा हमला बोला है। दिल्ली में रायसीना डायलॉग के दौरान बिपिन रावत ने कहा है कि जैसा एक्शन अमेरिका ने आतंकवाद के ख़िलाफ किया, वैसा ही कुछ करना होगा। इसके लिए ज़रूरी है कि आतंकवाद को पालने वाले देशों को अलग-थलग किया जाए। बिना जड़ तक पहुंचे आतंकवाद ख़त्म करना मुश्किल है।बिपिन रावत ने कहा, “आतंकवाद के ख़िलाफ़ ये लड़ाई जारी रहने वाली है। जब तक हम इसकी जड़ तक नहीं पहुंचेंगे, इसे ख़त्म नहीं कर पाएंगे। जब तक ऐसे मुल्क है जो आतंकवाद को स्पॉन्सर करते हैं, जब तक ऐसे लोग हैं जो आतंकवाद को प्रॉक्सी की तरह इस्तेमाल करते हैं, उन्हें हथियार मुहैया कराते हैं, उन्हें फंडिंग करते हैं, तब तक आतंकवाद पर काबू नहीं पाया जा सकता।“उन्होंने आगे कहा, “हमें आतंकवाद को ख़त्म ही करना होगा और ये तभी मुमकिन होगा जैसे अमेरिका ने 9/11 के बाद आतंकवाद के खिलाफ एक्शन लिया। जिस तरह उसने टेररिज़्म के खिलाफ ग्लोबल वॉर शुरू किया इसलिए आतंकवादियों को अलग थलग करना होगा। जो आतंकवाद को स्पॉन्सर कर रहा है, उसके खिलाफ कड़े कदम उठाने होंगे। आप ऐसे लोगों के साथ नहीं चल सकते है जो आतंकवाद के ख़िलाफ़ ग्लोबल वॉर में आपके साथ होने का दावा भी करते हैं और आतंकवाद को बढ़ावा भी देते हैं। ये हर उस देश के लिए जो आतंकवाद को स्पॉन्सर करता है।“

Dry on revenue, govt moots to lift Chandrapur liquor ban

Nagpur: The Maharashtra government has decided to mop up funds by additional mobilization, with diminishing revenues and precarious financial situation. A meeting was held on Tuesday under deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar in which different departments came forward with their respective proposals.

Excise Ministry, too, put forward its request to lift the Chandrapur liquor prohibition. It was also proposed to extend wine shops closing time in the state by one hour until 11.30 pm.

According to senior excise officials, the state received annual Rs242 crore from the Chandrapur district from excise duty until 2014-15, which it had been losing out over the past five years. We believed the ban was failing to serve its purpose as cases of illegal smuggling jumped to a new high. They told TOI, on condition of anonymity, that Pawar and other ministers responded positively to the proposal and that they intend to discuss it during the next meeting of the cabinet.

The previous BJP-led government led by former chief minister Devendra Fadnavis had instituted the liquor prohibition in 2015 after large-scale demands from women in Chandrapur. It was the third district of the state and also of Vidarbha after Wardha and Gadchiroli where the consumption of liquor was prohibited. The large-scale anger due to the ban had resulted in a surprising loss of former union minister and six-time MP Hansraj Ahir from liquor baron Suresh alias Balu Dhanorkar, who has been demanding that the ban be lifted since his victory.

Excise officials told TOI that their proposal had been discussed in detail where they provided the last five years statistics that included losses suffered and quantity of illicit liquor confiscated. “We told them of cops ‘ investigations in cases of liquor smuggling, both in terms of the number of crimes and the amount seized that soared over the past five years.” They also pointed out that revenue figures would have increased over the past five years if the ban was not enforced. “Since the last 5 years, we have been missing out on precious revenue from over Rs250 crore. Such amount could have been used for other purposes such as for farmers. The very object of the prohibition is thwarted by large-scale smuggling of illicit liquor. “Nevertheless, the move by the government received mixed reactions from the district’s public representatives and other netas.

The main leader who started the movement to ban liquor in Chandrapur through her organization Sharamik Elgar Parishad, the social activist Paromita Goswami, said she and her organization would steadfastly resist any such attempt by the government. “I will be holding a press conference in this regard on Thursday. We will be informed about how the liquor ban has significantly helped people here and why it should continue. “Netas like MLA Kishor Jorgewar stressed that a thorough review must be carried out before the prohibition is relaxed. “The government needs to look in the last five years at the pros and cons of the prohibition. It should take into account not only revenue losses but also incidents involving drug dumping and the selling of counterfeit or fake liquor. I have learnt that over 40,000 crimes against illicit consumption have been committed. “Defending the prohibition move by the BJP government in Chandrapur, former excise minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule said the decision was taken after 90 per cent of Gram Panchayats passed a resolution in this regard, which was well supported by the majority of women. “We can not lift the ban just by citing reductions in sales. Alternatively, by merging police and excise force to begin operations, they could reinforce the system to prevent the sale of illicit liquor. I think any such move would be strongly opposed by the women people there, “he said.