Ahead of assembly polls, Bihar CM Nitish Kumar launches projects worth Rs 21,406 crore to improve rural connectivity
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New Indian Express
30 minutes ago
- New Indian Express
JDS leader slams Congress over khata fee hike
BENGALURU: Former JDS MLC H M Ramesh Gowda has criticised the ruling Congress government for imposing exorbitant charges—ranging from Rs 2 to Rs 3 lakh—for converting B Khata to A Khata within the Greater Bengaluru Authority limits. Gowda also termed the process as 'big bogus'. If the matter goes to court, the government will be reprimanded, he added. Addressing a press conference on Friday, he said that earlier, BBMP was levying a tax of Rs 13,800 per square meter. This tax rate has been increased by an average of 1,000% by the state government, and this will lead to an increase from Rs 3-6 lakh rupees. The state government charged Rs 250 per square meter in 2007, and under the present government led by Siddaramaiah, the rate has been increased to over Rs 2,000 per square foot, he alleged. On 25-07-2025, the state government issued an order and created confusion by announcing the issue of 'A' Khata to 'B' Khata holders. The purpose of this government is to make money, and it does not care about the people. Expressing solidarity with Gowda, senior party leader K A Thippeswamy said that a 'tax raj' is being created in the city in the name of Greater Bangalore. 'The state Congress government is looting the people of the city in the name of tax. Our party will wage all kinds of struggles against this loot,' he said.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
House adjourned for 10 mins amid protests over coal-handling cess
Speaker Ramesh Tawadkar adjourned the House for 10 minutes on Friday after opposition MLAs rushed to the well in protest of state govt's failure to collect green cess on coal-handling from Jindal and Adani. The legislators vehemently declared that they did not want coal in Goa. Opposition leader Yuri Alemao alleged that the two companies handled double the amount of coal than the permissible limit, and that govt had failed to recover around Rs 4,000 crore from them. He also said that coal imports increased after the cessation of ore mining in 2012, and that even though everyone objected to coal-handling at the Mormugao port during subsequent public hearings, the activity was still recommended for environmental clearance (EC). Alemao further said that the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) had reduced coal-handling at the port by 25% based on a letter by former chief minister Manohar Parrikar, but it was reversed following Parrikar's death. He told the House that the environment department had written a letter calling for a decrease in coal-handling at the Mormugao port and that this letter was put in the public domain at a public hearing. He asked whether the letter was ultimately sent to New Delhi to be included in the coastal zone management plan. While chief minster Pramod Sawant said it was, Alemao claimed it was never sent. 'My charge is that the EC was illegally granted as state govt hid the letter and did not send it to Centre,' the opposition leader said. Sawant responded that all the documents placed at the public hearing were sent to Delhi. Alemao also accused govt of allowing illegalities at the Mormugao port pertaining to coal-handling, but Sawant insisted that govt was not allowing any illegalities there and that coal was handled according to the limit. Environment minister Aleixo Sequeira said the import and export of coal are monitored by the GSPCB, and agreed with the figures pointed out by Alemao. Sequeira said that the GSPCB had not given any permission to increase coal-handling at Mormugao port as there is no bypass road for its transportation. He promised that in the next assembly session, he would provide the correct coal-handling figures. Alemao pointed out that Sawant claimed coal was handled as per the EC limit, but that the environment minister contradicted the chief minister. 'Jindal and Adani are handling double the amount of coal compared to the EC limit,' Alemao said. 'Jindal has not paid green cess since 2013, which amounts to Rs 3,000-4,000 crore, and it needs to be recovered. When will it be recovered?' Sawant replied that govt had recovered green cess on coal-handling. His response didn't sit well with the opposition, prompting them to rush to the well of the House.>
New Indian Express
an hour ago
- New Indian Express
Kerala govt targets whistleblower doctor with fresh charges over missing medical equipment
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In what appears to be a witch hunt against Dr Haris Chirackal who highlighted major gaps in state's healthcare system, the government has come up with fresh allegations which could corner the urology professor. Health Minister Veena George on Friday said medical equipment worth Rs 20 lakh has been found missing from urology department, apparently putting the blame on the whistleblower. The minister said a departmental inquiry has found that medical equipment in the department was deliberately damaged or missing. The missing item is an oscilloscope worth around Rs 20 lakh purchased using funds from MP Shashi Tharoor's development allocation. The minister confirmed that a further departmental inquiry would follow, and a police investigation could be initiated if necessary. The administration hardened its stance just weeks after the government extended him support for publicly highlighting treatment crisis in Thiruvananthapuram Government Medical College. The sudden shift in the government approach has drawn sharp criticism from the opposition and wide sections of the medical community. The Kerala Government Medical College Teachers Association (KGMCTA) has come out in support of Dr Haris, voicing concern over what they view as retaliation against a senior faculty member who brought systemic shortcomings to light. 'We hope the show-cause notice is merely a procedural formality to close the matter,' said Dr Aravind C S, general secretary, KGMCTA. 'However, we are apprehensive that the new charges may be aimed at silencing Dr Haris.' The association has warned of strong protests if disciplinary action is taken and has demanded that the inquiry report be made public. 'The government is trying to send a message that no doctor should dare speak out again,' said Leader of Opposition V D Satheesan. 'The same health minister who once spoke of supporting Dr Haris is now leading the action against him. They have twisted the situation to the point of accusing a whistleblower of theft.'
