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Hindustan Times
6 hours ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Punjab:Burlton Park in Jalandhar revamp hits roadblock over tree felling
The much-hyped Burlton Park sports hub project hit a roadblock after the auction related to cutting down fully grown trees was deferred twice following strong objections from environmentalists. Burlton Park sports hub project has remained in limbo for 17 years, is now estimated to cost ₹ 77.77 crore. (HT Photo) Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann and AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal laid the foundation stone of the project on June 11, this year. The project, which has remained in limbo for 17 years, is now estimated to cost ₹77.77 crore. As per the detailed project report, the Jalandhar municipal corporation had planned to cut 50 trees to clear the land for the construction of the new stadium. However, the corporation's plans irked the environmentalist organisations, which decided to move the Punjab and Haryana high court against the local body. Jalandhar Mayor Vaneet Dhir said the corporation had discussed the environmental concerns involving the project and decided to come up with an alternative to tree felling. 'We have come up with an alternative. The corporation will shift these fully grown trees to another suitable location within the Burlton Park. We have been identifying the places for relocation of the trees so that they don't come in the way of the construction of the new stadium,' Dhir said. He added that the issue will be resolved after a detailed discussion. 'We have ensured that nearly 300 more mature trees will be planted to ensure quick growth,' he said. The sports hub, which is to come up on 60 acres, will include outdoor sports facilities such as a cricket stadium, an astroturf hockey ground and a seven-a-side football ground (natural grass), each with separate pavilion areas. It will also have indoor sports facilities for multiple disciplines, including yoga, skating, cycling and jogging. Stalled since 2008 The project was first floated by the Shiromani Akali Dal-Bharatiya Janata Party (SAD-BJP) combine in 2008. In 2016, the Union ministry of housing and urban affairs announced that Jalandhar would be developed as a Smart City, with the sports hub set to be one of the key projects. In 2022, just before the state assembly elections, the then Congress government had awarded the project's tender to a Chandigarh-based firm, with a completion deadline of 12 months. But only the construction of the boundary wall was done. A sum of ₹1.13 crore was also released to the company, after which the MC terminated the tender. Dhir said after much deliberation, the municipal corporation has re-allotted the tenders to the same company, which was assigned the project earlier, for the construction of the sports hub. 'In the past few months, multiple meetings were held with contractors, who were assured that all the required logistics would be provided for the completion of the project,' said Dhir. It may be mentioned that CM Mann announced that Burlton Park will be renamed after a legendary Punjabi athlete, shedding its colonial legacy.
Indian Express
02-08-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
High Court upholds challenge to CUET-PG answer key, directs NTA to award marks for correct answer
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has directed the National Testing Agency (NTA) to rectify the Common University Entrance Test- Postgraduate (CUET-PG) 2025 result of a Panjab University student who was denied marks for a correctly attempted question in Political Science. Holding that the NTA's reasoning was 'not in consonance with the simple language of the disputed question', the court said the answer given by the petitioner was 'correct in terms of plain reading'. A division bench of Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Sanjiv Berry passed the order while disposing of a writ petition filed by Gurshaan Singh Cheema, a final-year undergraduate student from the Chandigarh-based university. Cheema had sought the setting aside of the provisional answer key published on April 24, the final answer key released on May 6, and the result and score sheet issued the same day. Challenging the final answer key issued by NTA for the CUET-PG 2025 Political Science paper, Cheema contended that his answer to Question ID 7311302427 concerning the chronological order of four constitutional amendments, was rejected despite being historically accurate. For Cheema, Advocate Prashant Kumar Kapila contended that the petitioner lost five marks — lack of credit of four marks for the correct and negative marking (one mark) for selecting an answer different from the one listed. At the same time, the counsel argued that a student who selected the factually incorrect answer gained four marks instead of getting one negative mark. This, the counsel said, significantly impacted his rank and eligibility for admission. The court reproduced the question in its order: 'Arrange the following amendments to the Constitution in a chronological order: A. Incorporation of Dadra and Nagar Haveli as Union Territory B. Abolition of Election Tribunals C. Abolition of Privy Purse D. Reducing the age of voting rights from 21 to 18 years.' Cheema had selected Option 1 (A, B, C, D), which corresponds with the order in which the constitutional amendments were enacted — 1961, 1966, 1971 and 1989, respectively. However, the NTA had marked Option 2 (A, C, B, D) as correct, based on what it claimed was a subject expert's interpretation of 'chronology' in the context of 'effect on federal structure and political development'. Rejecting this rationale, the court noted: 'Undoubtedly, the amendments… were enacted in the year 1961, 1966, 1971, 1989, respectively and by arranging these enactments in chronological order, the correct answer had to be Option 1 (A, B, C, D)… The explanation given by the NTA… appears to be hyper technical and not in consonance with the simple language of the disputed question.' The court further observed that the question did not mention any context beyond the literal chronological arrangement: 'There was no occasion for the candidate to have answered so in terms of the concept which was in the mind of the subject expert, which was nowhere reflected in black and white in the question paper.' Accordingly, the bench directed the NTA to treat Option 1 as the correct answer and update Cheema's scorecard. 'The petitioner is entitled to get credit thereof in the scorecard,' the court said, adding that NTA must issue the revised scorecard within 15 days of receiving the order. The NTA conducts the CUET, a standardised test, for admission to undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in Central Universities and other participating institutes. Its results are accepted by several state universities too. Senior Panel Counsel Anil Chawla represented the Union of India while Advocate Arun Gosain appeared for the NTA and Advocates Hemen Aggarwal and Dashim Garg represented the UGC.
Time of India
24-07-2025
- Health
- Time of India
200 got new lease of life by kidney transplant under state-run scheme in 7 yrs: Arunachal CM
Itanagar: Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Tuesday said more than 200 patients got a fresh lease of life by kidney transplants under a state-run scheme in the last seven years. He highlighted the ongoing implementation of the Chief Minister Organ Transplant Scheme (CMOTS), reinforcing the state's commitment to saving lives through critical support. The chief minister, in a social media post, advocated a fundamental shift in the state's healthcare approach towards prevention and wellness. "Over the last 7 years, we've helped more than 200 patients receive a second chance at life through kidney transplants. Now, we're building on that progress. Under the new Chief Minister Organ Transplant Scheme (CMOTS), we're expanding support of Rs 10 lakh for kidney transplants, Rs 15 lakh for bone marrow transplants, Rs 20 lakh for liver transplants," he said in a post on X. However, Khandu emphasised that treatment alone is not enough to build a healthy society. "Real progress is when people don't fall sick in the first place. We've got to change how we think about healthcare. Because a healthy society doesn't start in the operating room. It starts at home, in our communities, in how we live," he said. The chief minister urged the health department to prioritise prevention through real investment in awareness, education, and lifestyle change. The state government has allocated an amount of Rs 369 crore for the health sector in the 2025-26 fiscal. CMOTS is currently in effect and is part of the government's broader health sector roadmap. A key component of the scheme involves strengthening the state's capability in kidney transplants through a dedicated programme at the Tomo Riba Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (TRIHMS) at Naharlagun, near here. TRIHMS is collaborating with the Chandigarh-based Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), India's leading centre for transplant medicine and research. State Health and Family Welfare Minister Biyuram Wahge recently visited PGIMER, where he met Director Prof Vivek Lal and a team of specialists to discuss a phased implementation plan tailored to Arunachal's unique healthcare needs. Wahge later shared that PGIMER has agreed to provide comprehensive technical and logistical support to Arunachal Pradesh, which will include capacity building, training, infrastructure development, and long-term institutional collaboration. The state government is also partnering with various other organisations to increase awareness about organ donation and to scale up transplant-related services.
Time of India
20-07-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Minerva Academy lift World Youth Cup
1 2 3 Minerva Academy FC has become the first Indian team to win the World Youth Cup twice, securing the 2025 Gothia Cup title in Sweden. The Chandigarh-based club clinched the trophy with a 4-0 win over Argentina's Escuela de Football 18 Tucumán in the final. Minerva remained unbeaten throughout the tournament, winning all their group matches and conceding only two goals across all fixtures. In the semi-finals, the team defeated Swedish side Syrianska IF 2-0, with goals from Rhythm and Chetan T. In the final, the Indian side scored four goals in the first half through Rhythm, Yohenba, Raj, and Denamoni. The defense remained solid, preventing any goals from the Argentine team. This marks Minerva's second title at the prestigious youth tournament, having previously won in an earlier edition.
Time of India
19-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Falling short of baraatis to dance & cheer at your wedding? Now, rent some
Pune: In a quirky twist, India's wedding industry has given rise to 'rent-a-baraatis', where professionals are hired to dance, cheer and bolster the groom's procession, creating a lively atmosphere even with few genuine guests. This trend is especially popular among NRIs seeking to add a touch of traditional grandeur to their big-fat weddings. The couple, Fatima and Aidan from Turkey, have a special tradition — celebrating each wedding anniversary in a different country with a grand celebration. "They approached us last year saying they wanted a grand Indian wedding with all the rituals. They needed both guests and baraatis, so we helped them hire about 100 people for their wedding. They got great pictures and videos of the functions," a Delhi-based wedding planner said. You Can Also Check: Pune AQI | Weather in Pune | Bank Holidays in Pune | Public Holidays in Pune When Vijay from Chennai married Chandigarh-based Shweta (name changed), he faced an unexpected challenge. As per the wishes of Shweta's family, a loud and cheerful baraat was a must. Vijay said, "But hardly anyone in my family is confident of dancing because our weddings are usually quiet. I had to almost given in when we decided to rent baraatis to dance in the wedding. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Up to 70% off | Libas Purple Days Sale Libas Undo It was actually good fun." The rented baraatis bring energy and glamour to weddings, creating an illusion of a larger social circle. "Clients usually ask for 20-50 baraatis depending on the size of the wedding. They also have preferences in terms of the age and gender profile of the baraatis," Delhi-based wedding planner Mohsin Khan, founder of Vivah Luxury Weddings, said. He said, "Some want more friends to be seen dancing, and some want a mixed crowd. We partner with agencies to fulfill these requirements and even rent costumes to match the wedding theme." Divya, who rented baraatis for her 2023 wedding, said, "Nobody except us knows they're rented, so how does it matter? The photos and videos look great, and the baraatis blend in seamlessly with the other guests." This perspective highlighted the debate around renting baraatis, with some seeing it as a harmless way to enhance wedding celebrations, while others view it as a reflection of societal pressure to project a certain image. Wedding manpower agencies emphasized that thorough background checks were conducted before hiring baraatis to ensure a seamless experience. Arvind Vishwakarma, who runs a baraati rental agency in Bhopal, said, "We provide baraati services for NRI and destination weddings, training them to fit the occasion. We even hire actors to play specific roles, like older relatives, and teach them to respond vaguely if asked about their connection to the family." Renting a baraati isn't cheap. It costs anywhere between Rs 2,500 to 5,000 per baraati, which also includes the cost of outfit rental. With a passion for dancing, Abhishek from Bhopal has performed in numerous weddings as a rented baraati. "I danced in almost 30-35 weddings in the last 3-4 years. I enjoy getting charged up for every baraat," he said, adding, "I operate within fixed hours, usually three hours for local weddings. For destination weddings, travel and stay costs are covered." Tushar Gawande, founder of Happy Minds Events, notes that renting baraatis is a popular choice for destination weddings. "Instead of booking rooms and making travel arrangements for many guests, clients opt to rent baraatis," he said. "We train them according to the playlist or theme, and source external manpower for special requests. There is high demand for baraatis in carnival-themed weddings." Sukhraj Singh, who runs Raj Events in Ambala, said there is good demand for rental baraatis in and around the city. "We also have a DJ on wheels for baraats using which we conceptualise the baraat theme. We also get requests to engage Russian dancers in baraats," he said. Pooja Prema, who hired baraatis for her wedding, said, "My finace and I wanted a grand celebration with dance and music. Unfortunately, everyone in our family is shy and reserved. Getting them to dance was a task so we decided to hire the services of an agency and rented baraatis."
