Maharashtra Punjabi Sahitya Academy faces eviction, seeks staff and new office space
'The Punjabi Academy was established in 2018 and was reconstituted around six months ago with an 11-member team to help the Academy implement schemes. But there is no staff, and recently the culture department asked the Academy to vacate the current office at the Old Customs House and shift to another rented space,' said a source.
The Academy's Executive Chairman, Bal Malkit Singh, said: 'We have requested the minority department for staff and an alternative office, and our requests are being considered positively and they will be met soon.'
You Can Also Check:
Mumbai AQI
|
Weather in Mumbai
|
Bank Holidays in Mumbai
|
Public Holidays in Mumbai
Singh added that the Punjabi Academy's annual budget was increased from Rs 30 lakh to Rs three crore.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
20 minutes ago
- Business Standard
Delhi's Holambi Kalan e-waste plant to double capacity after Norway study
Delhi's first E-Waste Eco Park in Holambi Kalan will now be twice as big and powerful, Environment and Industries Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said. Initially designed to process 51,000 metric tonnes of e-waste annually with an investment of Rs 150 crore, the Holambi Kalan plant will now be built to handle 1,10,000 MT per year, covering almost twice the area and with nearly double the capital expenditure, according to a government statement. The decision comes after Sirsa's August 4-5 inspection of the Revac facility in Norway's Revetal, regarded as one of Europe's most advanced and environmentally compliant e-waste plants, it said in the statement. Sirsa said the upgraded project will adopt a global zero-waste model, ensuring no air, water, or radiation pollution, with advanced scrubbers, in-house water purification, concretised flooring, and complete material recovery. "Our goal is integrated progress where clean industry fuels economic growth and safeguards the environment," he said. The Delhi government also plans to introduce robust third-party monitoring for compliance, inspired by Norway's non-profit inspection framework for Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR). The plant will recover aluminium, iron, and refuse-derived fuel without burning waste, promoting a true circular economy. To be developed under a public-private partnership model through the Delhi State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation (DSIIDC), the park is expected to generate over Rs 500 crore in revenue.
Hans India
20 minutes ago
- Hans India
Robert Vadra dodged questions, put onus on deceased associates in money laundering probe: ED
Robert Vadra, businessman and husband of Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, has been accused by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) of giving evasive and non-cooperative replies during questioning about a suspicious 2008 land deal in Gurugram's Shikohpur village. According to the ED's 332-page chargesheet, filed before a special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court in Delhi, Vadra repeatedly avoided direct answers and instead shifted full responsibility onto his three deceased associates, refusing to clarify his own role in the deal. His reluctance to cooperate significantly delayed the investigation and obstructed the agency's efforts to trace the flow of illicit funds. The federal agency alleges that Vadra used his political connections, including influence through former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, to pressurise the government officials into approving the land transaction, which involved alleged fraudulent practices and money laundering. The chargesheet reveals that Vadra's company, Skylight Hospitality Private Limited, acquired 3.5 acres of land for Rs 7.50 crore in a deal where no real payment was made. The cheque mentioned in the sale deed was never issued by Vadra, and its value was significantly below market rates. Despite these irregularities, the deal was pushed through by the Directorate of Town and Country Planning (DTCP), allegedly after backdated approvals and altered plans to qualify for commercial licensing. Throughout the investigation, Vadra's evasiveness complicated the probe. The ED claims his refusal to provide clear responses hindered uncovering the full scope of the alleged money laundering and fraud. The agency has identified Rs 58 crore as proceeds of crime and provisionally attached 43 immovable properties worth Rs 38.69 crore linked to the case. Vadra and seven companies tied to him stand accused alongside others. The special PMLA court has scheduled August 28 to consider the ED's complaint and issued notices to Vadra and co-accused.
Indian Express
20 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Punjab's ‘Bill Liao Inam Pao' scheme awards over Rs 3.3 cr in prize, boosts tax compliance: Cheema
Announcing 'strong performance' of Punjab's 'Bill Liao Inam Pao' scheme, Finance, Planning, Excise and Taxation Minister Harpal Singh Cheema on Sunday said since its inception, 1,76,832 bills were uploaded on 'Mera Bill' app and 5,644 winners received a total of Rs 3,35,80,215 in prize. Penalties worth Rs 9,07,06,102 were imposed on entities found guilty of irregularities in issuing bills to consumers, the minister said, adding, ' Of which Rs 7,30,92,230 has already been recovered.' In the July draw, 257 winners shared Rs 15,30,015 in prize money, he said, adding the drive also facilitated 135 new tax registrations. Launched in September 2023, the 'Bill Liao Inam Pao' (Bring Bills, Get Rewards) scheme encourages citizens to demand purchase bills and strengthen tax compliance. The minister urged residents to keep uploading bills, noting that every entry supports the state's anti-tax-evasion efforts and offers citizens a chance to win. 'Bills for petroleum products, liquor, out-of-state purchases and B2B transactions are ineligible, and only bills from the preceding month qualify for the draw,' he clarified. Under this scheme, consumers are encouraged to upload bills of their purchases on the 'mera bill app', after which they will automatically become eligible to participate in a lucky draw, which is held on the seventh of each month. The reward will be equivalent to five times the taxable value of goods or services declared in the bill, with a maximum cap of Rs 10,000 for each reward. Cheema said the department promptly transfers the prize amount to winners' bank accounts upon receipt of the necessary details, including account numbers. 'The success of this initiative stands as a testament to the power of citizen-driven governance and reflects the AAP government's resolve to build a more accountable and participatory fiscal ecosystem,' he said. 'The scheme's dual impact is not only rewarding vigilant consumers but also tightening the state's tax enforcement mechanisms,' the minister added.
