Latest news with #Chaudhari
Time of India
5 hours ago
- General
- Time of India
Governor finally names search panel to select NU VC
Nagpur: After over 10 months, Maharashtra governor CP Radhakrishnan has set up the search panel for the appointment of Nagpur University (NU) vice chancellor. The announcement comes as the NU VC's post has been operating under additional charge for more than a year. The NU Management Council had already named IIT Jodhpur director professor Avinash Agarwal as its nominee to the panel in September last year. The governor's office hasn't disclosed the name of the search panel chairman, though NU sources said a retired professor from a South Indian university is likely to lead the committee. The principal secretary of higher education, or a principal secretary nominated by the govt, will be the third member on the panel. The advertisement for the VC post will now follow, calling for applications from desirable candidates. Once the advertisement is published, it will take at least two months to name the new NU VC as the application period, scrutiny, shortlisting, and interviews will take time. Finally, the panel will recommend five names to the governor, who is the chancellor of public universities. However, the uncertainty over the continuation of deans still persists. Earlier, the chancellor allowed the continuation of the deans beyond April 30, the final cut-off in case of the death of a VC. This was extended till June 15. Now, it remains to be seen whether the deans will get another extension or the posts are allowed to fall vacant in anticipation of the new VC's appointment. The governor's decision follows a series of administrative changes at NU. In March this year, governor Radhakrishnan relieved Gondwana University vice chancellor Prashant Bokare of the additional charge of NU, handing over the responsibility to additional divisional commissioner Madhavi Khode Chavre. This move raised questions about the sudden removal of Bokare, who served eight months in the role. Bokare had first held the NU VC position from March 11 to April 11 last year after the suspension of then-VC Subhash Chaudhari. He was reinstated in July 2024 following Chaudhari's second suspension, and continued after Chaudhari's demise in September 2024. Under the Maharashtra Public Universities Act, the additional charge of a VC can be held for up to one year. For the first time since 2014, a bureaucrat was assigned the VC role at NU, after then divisional commissioner Anup Kumar held the position following the termination of VC Vilas Sapkal.
Time of India
a day ago
- Time of India
Contractors Give Two Hoots To Civic Chiefs' Road Digging Ban
1 2 Nagpur: Days after municipal commissioner and administrator Abhijeet Chaudhari issued a strict diktat banning all road excavation from June 1 and mandating full restoration of dug-up roads by May 31, violations continue to be glaringly visible across Nagpur. On Monday, TOI found fresh excavation underway near the busy Old Katol Road square in Mangalwari zone, where a private telecom company was laying underground cables. The digging was in direct defiance of the civic chief's May 27 order. Following a TOI query, chief engineer Manoj Talewar directed the Mangalwari zone office to initiate immediate checks and action. A similar case of unauthorised road work was observed near the State CID office in west Nagpur. Even in the Narendra Nagar area, TOI found road digging was under way. The May 27 high-level review meeting chaired by Chaudhari laid out clear consequences: failure to restore roads dug up for civic works by May 31 would result in steep fines and possible criminal prosecution. He also imposed a blanket ban on fresh road digging during the monsoon across all departments and private utility agencies, warning that violations would trigger police complaints and penalties for negligent engineers. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Quedas no banheiro: Como evitar? (Saiba mais) Evite quedas e escorregões Saiba Mais Undo Yet, ongoing utility and pipeline-related activities continue to mar key areas. Under the Pora River Pollution Abatement Project, the NMC's public health engineering (PHE) department dug up over 500km of roads in South-West, South, and Kamptee assembly segments for laying sewer lines. However, only 100km of work was completed so far, and in light of the June 1 ban, PHE superintendent engineer Shweta Banerjee confirmed the department halted fresh digging. "The focus is now on restoring previously dug-up stretches. Around 80% of the restoration was completed, and work is ongoing to finish the remaining 20%," she said, adding that most incomplete sections lie in the South and Kamptee constituencies. Banerjee clarified that only emergency works, such as water pipeline repairs and strengthening interconnections under AMRUT 1.0, will be permitted during the monsoon. Chaudhari also stressed that no debris or rubble should remain unattended, especially in slum pockets where sewer works are underway. Contractors were warned to clear sites thoroughly or face penalties. The sanitation department has been tasked with monitoring compliance. With monsoon approaching, Chaudhari's ultimatum sends a clear message: incomplete roads and public inconvenience will no longer be tolerated. Yet, as the latest findings show, enforcement remains a challenge on the ground.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Climate
- Time of India
North, East Nagpur Wards At Higher Risk Of Flood Damage
1 2 Nagpur: Civic wards in North and East Nagpur are the city's most flood-prone zones, reveals a newly released Multi-Hazard Risk Vulnerability Assessment (MHRVA) report. The first of its kind study in the city, commissioned by Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) under Maharashtra state relief and rehabilitation department's disaster risk management programme in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), has also brought to fore alarming disparities in flood risk exposure across the 38 municipal wards. Released by municipal commissioner Abhijeet Chaudhari, the report presents a granular ward-wise analysis of hazards such as floods and earthquakes, aimed at bolstering Nagpur's preparedness in the face of increasing climate-related risks. The flood vulnerability assessment categorises wards based on average annual loss (AAL) from potential flood events. Strikingly, ward No. 3 in the city's northeastern part emerged as the most vulnerable, with an estimated AAL exceeding Rs10 crore, placing it in the highest risk category (Rs10.1 crore to Rs20.9 crore). Close behind are wards Nos. 2, 4, and 12, each projected to suffer annual losses between Rs8.1 crore and Rs10 crore due to flooding. Wards Nos. 13 and 24 fall into the next-highest bracket, with estimated losses between Rs4.1 crore and Rs8 crore. A group of five wards — 11, 18, 23, 25, and 26 — are assessed to face moderate risks with losses in the Rs2.1 crore to Rs4 crore range. Meanwhile, 21 wards, primarily located in South, Central, and West Nagpur — including ward Nos. 8, 9, 19, 20, and 30 — fall in the lower risk Rs1 crore to Rs2 crore bracket. At the other end of the spectrum, five wards are categorised under 'negligible' loss, signalling minimal financial impact from flooding events. These areas are largely in newer parts of the city that benefit from better drainage systems and planned urban layouts. Experts attribute the heightened vulnerability of northern and eastern wards to aging drainage networks, unchecked encroachments on natural watercourses, and haphazard construction. "The disparity in risk levels underscores urgent need to revamp urban infrastructure in older parts of the city," said a senior NMC official. Real-Time Assessment A standout feature of the MHRVA report is the unveiling of a Digital Risk Atlas — a web-based Geographic Information System (GIS) platform that enables civic authorities, urban planners, and emergency responders to identify high-risk zones and assess vulnerabilities in real time. The platform integrates flood maps, overlays of critical infrastructure, and accessibility data, providing a powerful tool for disaster preparedness and response. "This tool will empower NMC and other stakeholders to take targeted preventive and emergency measures, especially in the most vulnerable wards," said commissioner Chaudhari during the release event. The MHRVA report also evaluates risks to essential urban infrastructure, including hospitals, schools, and transport nodes, and recommends comprehensive measures such as upgrading drainage systems, enforcing flood-resistant building codes, and conducting regular ward-level flood preparedness drills. With climate change driving more frequent and intense weather events, the findings of the MHRVA report reinforce the pressing need for proactive, data-driven urban planning to safeguard both lives and livelihoods in Nagpur. BOX-1 Losses (Crore INR) --- Ward numbers Negligible --- 9, 8, 19, 20 and 30 1 to 2 --- 1, 5, 6, 7, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17, 21, 22, 27, 28, 29, 31, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37 and 38 2.1 to 4 ---11, 18, 23, 25 and 26 4.1 to 8 --- 13 and 24 8.1 to 10 --- 2, 4 and 12 10.1 to 20.9 --- 3
NDTV
5 days ago
- Politics
- NDTV
"If They Had Told Us Some Years Ago...": Ex Air Chief On Defence Delivery Delay
The crucial issue of delay in delivery of homegrown defence equipment and delayed timelines, that was flagged unexpectedly on Thursday by the Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh, was seconded today by his predecessor Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari. In an exclusive interview with NDTV, Air Chief Marshal Chaudhari said because in terms of national security, depletion of strength is a very serious issue, "filling the bins" in time becomes crucial. "It requires a lot of planning, a lot of assurance from the people whom you place the orders on that they are going to deliver as promised. If they fail to deliver, or if they told us maybe some years ago that we will not be able to meet the timelines, maybe alternative paths could have been found," he said. The revelations of Air Chief Marshal Singh have been a shock to many, coming as it does days after Pakistani aggression with missiles and drones targeting multiple cities and parts of the border in the wake of Operation Sindoor. Air Chief Marshal Chaudhari said in view of the situation, the requirement is not just to have timely deliveries but also surge capacities. "The ability to manufacture in numbers at the right time is very vital. Apart from that, to have capability to carry out surge production," Air Chief Marshal Chaudhari said. "You know, when you just mentioned about drones, let's say, I need a very, very large number of drones. It is not going to be sufficient if somebody is going to give me 20 per month or 50 per year. We need them in large numbers. So capacity building definitely has to be enhanced," he added. What it all boils down to is that it is a matter of national security, So "things should not be taken lightly when it comes to delayed timelines, or late deliveries, or substandard equipment," he said, underscoring that timely delivery and in the numbers required, "should be something that everybody should take pride in". Earlier on Thursday, speaking at an official event, Air Chief Singh said, "Timelines - This is crucial. Every project I can think of has been delayed. Why we can't meet promised timelines? Sometimes we know it's unachievable but sign the contract anyway. We need to be realistic and transparent from the start." "To produce at scale, we need capacity. So, trust and communication between the forces and industry must continue. We need to be open and forthright to ensure the relationship stays strong," he had added. His remarks also came amid the push for faster indigenisation and domestic capability under the government's "Atmanirbhar Bharat" initiative.
Time of India
27-05-2025
- General
- Time of India
Complete all road repair work, clear debris by May 31 or face action: NMC Commissioner
1 2 Nagpur: With the monsoon looming, Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) Commissioner Abhijeet Chaudhari has warned contractors that they must complete all road repair works by May 31 or face strict action, including hefty fines. He also made it clear that no department or agency will be permitted to carry out road digging works during the monsoon season. "If any department undertakes such activities, police complaints will be filed against them," said Chaudhari during a review meeting held at NMC headquarters in Civil Lines on Tuesday. He also warned that action would be taken against any NMC engineers found negligent in their duties. During the meeting, discussions were held regarding the completion of roadworks across different parts of the city, where digging was carried out for sewer lines, drinking water pipelines, and other purposes. Superintendent engineer Shweta Banerjee provided details on the progress of sewer line and water pipeline works, particularly under AMRUT Phase 2. She reported 78.94% of the project work was completed. Out of the total 40.96 km of feeder line and water pipeline laying work, 32.33 km was completed, while 8.63 km remains unfinished. The commissioner instructed all contractors to expedite and complete the remaining work without delay. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like O novo dispositivo que os idosos usam para ajudar na neuropatia (dor nos nervos) A arte do herbalismo Undo Chaudhari noted that several contractors were using insufficient manpower, leading to delays, and warned that if the work is not finished before the monsoon, contractors will face serious consequences. Chaudhari also warned that no debris or garbage heaps should be left on the roads. The responsibility for clearing this debris also lies with the contractors, and this must be completed by May 31. The NMC sanitation department has been directed to inspect whether the debris has been cleared, and any contractors found guilty of negligence will face heavy fines, said Chaudhari.
