Latest news with #FinanceDepartment
News18
2 days ago
- Climate
- News18
Despite measures, forest fires still a big concern in Maharashtra: Official
Mumbai, Jul 20 (PTI) Forest fires continue to threaten Maharashtra's ecosystems, particularly in the eastern parts of the state, despite several measures and technological interventions, a senior forest department official said on Sunday. Forest Minister Ganesh Naik had earlier informed the legislature that between January 1 and April 15 this year, 204 forest fire incidents were reported from various forest areas across several districts. Naik had said that most of these fires were caused by human negligence or natural factors. 'Although no wildlife deaths have been reported during these incidents, the recurrence of fires remains a concern," he had said. The official said that the Forest Department has taken multiple steps, including issuing fire prevention guidelines, training personnel, and deploying firefighting equipment, the official said. 'In January 2024 alone, eight fire incidents were recorded," the official said, adding that illegal burning of forest areas is being tackled under provisions of the Indian Forest Act. In several regions in the state, including Konkan, Vidarbha and the northern parts, people start forest fires to keep wild animals at bay. Fires are also used to clear forested patches and stake claims to the land, as many areas lack clearly demarcated forest boundaries, the official said. Efforts to prevent fires include the marking of forest boundaries, creation of fire lines, and increased patrolling in vulnerable areas. 'We have trained staff in fire management and are using modern equipment to enhance response time," the official said. Despite these measures, a large number of fires continue to erupt, he said. According to the India State of Forest Report 2023, released in December last year, Maharashtra ranked fifth in the country with 16,008 forest fire incidents between November 2023 and June 2024. Of these, Gadchiroli alone accounted for 7,042 cases, the highest number for any district in India. 'The department is using advanced tools like Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and remote sensing to identify high-risk zones. Forest fire control centres have been established, fire-blower machines are used to remove dry leaf litter, and observation towers have been installed in sensitive areas," the official said. Meanwhile, the state has also recorded a sharp increase in human-wildlife conflicts. According to official records, such incidents, including human deaths, injuries, crop damage and livestock loss, rose from 44,692 in 2020-21 to 2,37,841 in 2023-24. To address compensation and related concerns, the state government allocated Rs 80 crore each in 2020-21 and 2021-22, Rs 127.1 crore in 2022-23, Rs 145 crore in 2023-24, and Rs 220.86 crore in 2024-25. 'The Forest Department has submitted a proposal to the Finance Department for additional financial provision based on the increasing number of conflict cases. The proposal, based on data from December 2023, is currently under review," the official added. PTI ND NR view comments First Published: July 20, 2025, 21:30 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Hamilton Spectator
6 days ago
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
How Canada is responding to the U.S. steel and aluminum tariffs
OTTAWA - U.S. President Donald Trump introduced 25 per cent tariffs on all imports of steel and aluminum on March 12, and doubled the levies to 50 per cent in early June. The Canadian government has responded with a number of measures. Initial response The day after the U.S. tariffs came into effect, Canada imposed a retaliatory 25 per cent tariff on American goods. The government said the levies cover $29.8-billion worth of imports in total, including $15.6 billion worth of steel and aluminum. The tariffs also cover a variety of other goods including gold, jewelry, platinum, scrap metal and waste, ceramics, iron products, umbrellas and candles. There are more than 530 products on the list ranging from screws and sewing needles to pipes and railway tracks, stoves and barbecues and, yes, even the kitchen sink. New protections On June 19, the government announced protectionist policies, including new federal procurement rules that limit access to Canadian suppliers and reliable trading partners, and pledged to adopt measures to address overcapacity and unfair trade practices in the steel and aluminum sectors. Prime Minister Mark Carney also said Canada will adjust steel and aluminum counter-tariffs on July 21, depending on how the trade negotiations with Trump were going. Later that month, tariff rate quotas were set on steel mill products imported from countries Canada does not have a free-trade deal with. If imports exceed 2024 levels, a 50 per cent tariff would kick in. The government said the measure was meant to address the risk that steel that had been intended for the U.S. market is redirected to Canada. Additional measures Tariff rate quotas will be expanded to countries that Canada has a free-trade deal with starting on Aug. 1, except for the U.S. and Mexico. Any imports above 2024 levels will be subject to a 50 per cent surtax if a trade deal is in place. Steel from countries with no trade deal with Canada will be subject to the tariff after imports exceed 50 per cent of the 2024 levels. Imports of steel that was melted and poured in China will also be subject to a 25 per cent levy, unless they're imported from the U.S. Canada has had a 25 per cent tariff on Chinese steel and aluminum products since last October. Business-specific relief Businesses can apply for tariff exemptions or refunds in some circumstances, for example, if they are importing goods that are exported or used to produce goods for export within four years. There's also an exceptional relief program in cases where the imported goods cannot be sourced outside the U.S. or where there are 'exceptional circumstances that could have severe adverse impacts on the Canadian economy,' the Finance Department says. A $10-billion loan program for large companies aims to help businesses with a liquidity shortfall. Initially the program was for companies with more than $300 million in Canadian revenue to apply for at least $60 million in loans, but on Wednesday the government revised the criteria to $150 million in revenue and $30 million in minimum loan amount. The government has also announced temporary changes to the employment insurance program to waive the one-week waiting period for applicants and to allow businesses to reduce their hours without laying off workers. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 16, 2025.
Winnipeg Free Press
6 days ago
- Business
- Winnipeg Free Press
How Canada is responding to the U.S. steel and aluminum tariffs
OTTAWA – U.S. President Donald Trump introduced 25 per cent tariffs on all imports of steel and aluminum on March 12, and doubled the levies to 50 per cent in early June. The Canadian government has responded with a number of measures. Initial response The day after the U.S. tariffs came into effect, Canada imposed a retaliatory 25 per cent tariff on American goods. The government said the levies cover $29.8-billion worth of imports in total, including $15.6 billion worth of steel and aluminum. The tariffs also cover a variety of other goods including gold, jewelry, platinum, scrap metal and waste, ceramics, iron products, umbrellas and candles. There are more than 530 products on the list ranging from screws and sewing needles to pipes and railway tracks, stoves and barbecues and, yes, even the kitchen sink. New protections On June 19, the government announced protectionist policies, including new federal procurement rules that limit access to Canadian suppliers and reliable trading partners, and pledged to adopt measures to address overcapacity and unfair trade practices in the steel and aluminum sectors. Prime Minister Mark Carney also said Canada will adjust steel and aluminum counter-tariffs on July 21, depending on how the trade negotiations with Trump were going. Later that month, tariff rate quotas were set on steel mill products imported from countries Canada does not have a free-trade deal with. If imports exceed 2024 levels, a 50 per cent tariff would kick in. The government said the measure was meant to address the risk that steel that had been intended for the U.S. market is redirected to Canada. Additional measures Tariff rate quotas will be expanded to countries that Canada has a free-trade deal with starting on Aug. 1, except for the U.S. and Mexico. Any imports above 2024 levels will be subject to a 50 per cent surtax if a trade deal is in place. Steel from countries with no trade deal with Canada will be subject to the tariff after imports exceed 50 per cent of the 2024 levels. Imports of steel that was melted and poured in China will also be subject to a 25 per cent levy, unless they're imported from the U.S. Canada has had a 25 per cent tariff on Chinese steel and aluminum products since last October. Business-specific relief Monday Mornings The latest local business news and a lookahead to the coming week. Businesses can apply for tariff exemptions or refunds in some circumstances, for example, if they are importing goods that are exported or used to produce goods for export within four years. There's also an exceptional relief program in cases where the imported goods cannot be sourced outside the U.S. or where there are 'exceptional circumstances that could have severe adverse impacts on the Canadian economy,' the Finance Department says. A $10-billion loan program for large companies aims to help businesses with a liquidity shortfall. Initially the program was for companies with more than $300 million in Canadian revenue to apply for at least $60 million in loans, but on Wednesday the government revised the criteria to $150 million in revenue and $30 million in minimum loan amount. The government has also announced temporary changes to the employment insurance program to waive the one-week waiting period for applicants and to allow businesses to reduce their hours without laying off workers. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 16, 2025.
India.com
7 days ago
- Business
- India.com
8th Pay Commission Big Update: THIS State government prepares budget estimates based on..., over 7 lakh employees to get..., salary hike by...
8th Pay Commission Latest Update New Delhi: The Madhya Pradesh government is reportedly preparing the budget to implement salaries and pensions as per the 8th Pay Commission for around 7.5 lakh regular government employees and 4.5 lakh pensioners. An estimated 15 percent increase in salary and pension is being anticipated. It is important to note that the Modi government has already constituted the 8th Pay Commission and appointed its chairman. The Mohan Yadav-led Madhya Pradesh government is also preparing budget projections for the coming years. A committee has also been formed in this regard. Currently, officials, employees, and pensioners in the state are being paid according to the 7th Pay Commission. Around 33 percent of the total annual budget is currently spent on this. Here are some of the important details: The tenure of the 7th Pay Commission is set to end in December 2025. It is likely that the 8th Pay Commission may submit its report to the central government before that. Once approved, the Madhya Pradesh government will implement the 8th Pay Commission The states will assess their financial situation, and then they will consider the formula prescribed for central government employees. The government accepts the formula for salary and pension hikes, but allowances are often reduced. Under the 7th Pay Commission, a multiplication factor of 2.75 was used to calculate the revised pay, meaning the basic salary was multiplied by 2.75 to determine the new pay scale. At that time, the monthly salary increased by Rs 7,000 to Rs 18,000. Government spending 33 percent of the budget on establishment expenses The 8th Pay Commission could be fixed at around 3 to 3.25 percent, considering inflation and other factors. As a result, the state's establishment expenditure — which currently accounts for 33 percent of the annual budget — may increase to 37 to 40 percent. At present, the Finance Department has directed all departments to prepare establishment expenditure proposals assuming a 3 percent annual salary increase.
New Indian Express
11-07-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
Government mandates all officers to enroll in Mission Karmayogi
NEW DELHI: In an attempt to enhance the professional skills of its workforce, the Delhi government has directed all officers and employees to enroll in the Centre's Mission Karmayogi initiative. Launched by the Centre in 2020, the initiative aims to upskill civil servants with modern administrative capabilities. Initially targeted at central government employees, it has now been extended to state government workers, including those in Delhi. A circular from the Finance Department mandates that every officer and official of the Delhi government must register on the Karmayogi portal and complete at least one online training module by the end of July. The government has provided a step-by-step guide for smooth registration, ensuring accessibility for all employees. The program aims to make civil servants more creative, proactive, and technology-enabled, preparing them for future challenges, the circular read.
