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The Hindu
9 hours ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Residents of Sheva Koliwada move Bombay HC over four-decade wait for rehabilitation
Residents of Sheva Koliwada in Uran taluka of Raigad district, Maharashtra, who have spent the past 40 years in a transit camp, have approached the Bombay High Court against multiple authorities — including the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA), the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, the Divisional Commissioner of Konkan Division, the Raigad District Collector, and CIDCO — alleging false assurances regarding rehabilitation. Filed under Articles 226 and 227 of the Constitution, the petition seeks judicial directions against JNPA for what the petitioners describe as a gross failure to fulfil statutory obligations under the Maharashtra Project Affected Persons Rehabilitation Act, 1976. The petitioners — the Maharashtra Small Scale Traditional Fish Workers Union, represented by its president Nandkumar W. Pawar and secretary Ramesh B. Koli — are seeking appropriate orders for permanent and adequate rehabilitation of 256 families displaced due to land acquisition for the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Project (JNPT). The petition urges time-bound implementation of a rehabilitation plan approved on January 24, which includes the allocation of 10.16 hectares of land, interim relief, compensation for prolonged displacement, and the appointment of a court-monitored committee to oversee the implementation process. The prolonged struggle has drawn media and administrative attention in recent years. A report titled '40 years in a transit camp' published in The Hindu on November 16, 2024, and a follow-up story on November 20, 2024, highlighted electoral boycotts by the affected community. Following the coverage, officials from the Election Commission of India and the Raigad District Collector visited the area, promising to convey residents' demands to higher authorities. On December 19, 2024, a senior Union government official gave a verbal assurance that permanent housing would soon be provided. However, on April 14, more than 400 residents protested outside the tehsildar's office, displaying a photograph of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar and a copy of the Constitution, in a symbolic plea for justice. The protest was held to draw attention to the community's displacement and the delay in rehabilitation by the State and Central governments. Also Read | Party workers tried to force us to vote, Sheva Koliwada transit camp residents say The petition, filed through advocate Siddharth Sonaji Ingle, also seeks ₹50 lakh compensation for each family, citing 'undue hardship, delay, and mental anguish' caused by the non-implementation of rehabilitation measures despite multiple government assurances over four decades. The residents have also demanded immediate upgrades to existing transit camp facilities, including provision of safe drinking water, sanitation, drainage, reliable electricity, structural safety, and other essential services for the project-affected families. Mr. Ramesh Koli, 65, said, 'We have had several meetings with all kinds of government officials all these years, from CMs, to Guardian Ministers, to different Union ministers... We staged protests, filed RTIs, took the matter to Lokayukta, we have been made to run from pillar to post... governments changed in this State and country, but we have remained in the same transit camp, waiting for our independence, hoping some day we will get our lost homes, our village that the country took away from us in the name of development and forgot about the people behind the mega project.' He further stated that affected families were given assurances of employment and local business opportunities during the displacement process. 'But till date no one from affected fisherfolk families received any employment or any business to sustain their families,' he said. 'We are aboriginal, indigenous community of this region who have lost everything under the guise of development. Traditional fishing practices have dwindled due to fishing zones being allotted for various projects and heavy industrial pollution. We are left with no future for our young generation despite the fact that several coastal projects are running their business on our traditional fishing land. Is this democracy or dictatorship?' Mr. Koli added.
Time of India
28-05-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
NMC to auction 123 old diesel buses this week
Nagpur: In a major step towards providing safer and more eco-friendly public transport, the Nagpur Municipal Corporation's (NMC) transport department is set to auction 123 diesel buses that are over 15 years old. These buses, originally acquired in 2010 under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM), deteriorated significantly and are being phased out due to high pollution levels caused by diesel. "We are introducing electric buses to promote environmental sustainability and safer transport in the city. As part of this effort, 15-year-old diesel buses are being phased out in stages. In the first phase, 123 such buses are being auctioned," said NMC's transport department manager Vinod Jadhav. NMC's fleet includes 240 diesel buses, out of which three are non-functional due to fire damage, 112 are operational, and 70 converted to run on CNG. Remaining buses are non-operational. A special committee comprising officials from the state transport department, RTO, and NMC transport department completed valuation of the 123 buses. The online auction process will be conducted this week through the Maharashtra Scrap Trading Corporation. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Click Here - This Might Save You From Losing Money Expertinspector Click Here Undo NMC operates 537 buses on 129 routes, serving approximately 1.39 lakh passengers daily. This fleet includes 230 electric buses, 112 old diesel buses, 150 midi buses and 45 mini buses. NMC is gradually removing outdated diesel buses from service. By June, the city is also expected to receive more electric buses under the PM E-Bus Seva scheme. The auction process is aligned with a central govt policy that mandates proper disposal of outdated vehicles and scrap. Govt departments, including NMC, must first assess and fix an 'offset value' for the scrap material. Registered bidders on the online portal can then bid for items like metal parts and plastic components. The highest bidder above the offset value deposits the amount online and is then granted access to inspect and collect the scrap.
Indian Express
25-05-2025
- Indian Express
Three arrested after 38 booked in Aligarh mob assault over carrying ‘cow meat'
Three persons were arrested on Sunday in connection with an assault on four men and setting their vehicle on fire in Uttar Pradesh's Aligarh district on Saturday on the suspicion of transporting cow meat, police said. An FIR was registered at the Harduaganj police station on Saturday against 38 people, 13 by name and 25 unnamed, on the complaint of Salim Khan, the father of Akeel, one of the men who were assaulted. The four injured — Akeel (35), Nadeem (32), Akil (43) and Arbaaj (38) — are receiving treatment at the Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College (JNMC) Hospital, Aligarh, and their condition is stable, a police official said. The assault case was filed under sections 191(2) (rioting), 191(3) (unlawful assembly), 190 (unlawful assembly to commit an offence), 109 (attempt to murder), 308 (extortion), 310(2) (robbery) and 3(5) (joint criminal liability) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, an official said. Another FIR was registered under the Uttar Pradesh Prevention of Cow Slaughter Act on the complaint of one Vijay Bajrangi against unidentified people. The investigators, however, did not divulge the names of those arrested or the others named in the FIR. In his complaint, Salim Khan said, 'The moment their vehicle reached Panaithi road, Ram Kumar Arya and Arjun as part of a conspiracy sent Chetan Lodhi, Shivam Hindu Lodhi, Lavkush, Anuj Bhura, Vijay, Girish Kumar and Ankit of Mahmudpur, Rana of Alhadadpur and Vijay Kumar Gupta to extort 'Chauth' (protection money) from them (assault victims).' Chauth was a tax levied by the Maratha Empire in areas under Mughal control, which was 25% of the revenue. 'They pulled the four out of the vehicle and demanded Rs 50,000. When the four refused to pay the money, they were brutally beaten up with wooden and iron rods and were also robbed of their phones and money,' Khan told the police. The meat they were transporting was brought from a meat factory at Al-Ambar, he said. The police on Sunday issued a press statement with a video grab of the incident, calling for the general public to help them identify some of those involved in the assault. Posters of some of those named in the FIR were pasted at some places, it is learnt. 'This is to inform the general public that on May 24, visuals have come to our notice related to an incident that occurred between Panaithi road and Sadhu Ashram road under the jurisdiction of the Harduaganj police station,' read a statement issued by Atrauli Circle Officer Sarjana Singh. 'If anyone has any information about those seen in the visual, please inform the investigating officer Dheeraj Kumar. The identity and address of those sharing information will be kept a secret,' it added. In his complaint, Bajrangi said on Saturday morning, he upon receiving a tip-off followed a vehicle near Ahladadpur village. 'When I tried to stop the vehicle, the driver tried to run over me. Seeing this, labourers and farmers working in the nearby fields ran to the spot and the four men in the vehicle attacked them. When I checked their vehicle, I saw seven decapitated cows.' 'When the four were caught and questioned, they said they were smuggling cow meat by paying a bribe of Rs 3 lakh to police. We had informed the Harduagnaj police station nearly 15 days ago about the same vehicle carrying cow meat,' he alleged. Harduganj Station House officer (SHO) Dheeraj Kumar said 'We are investigating Bajrangi's allegations. He has denied connection with the Bajrang Dal or any right-wing Hindu organisations.' The police had previously said the vehicle had a licence and that it was carrying buffalo meat. Salim Khan also mentioned in his complaint, 'Fifteen days ago, a similar incident happened where these men were demanding Rs 50,000 but our vehicle was released after a team from the Akrabad police station intervened.' Harduganj SHO Kumar said the transportation of meat in the area takes place on the basis of complete documentation. 'The licence is checked but the allegations of demand for money by some people to allow transportation of meat have surfaced for the first time.'
