Latest news with #ManishKumar
Time of India
14 hours ago
- Time of India
Model shop in Gr Noida among 3 outlets to lose their liquor licences for overcharging
Noida: Licences of three liquor shops were suspended by the district excise officer for allegedly overcharging customers. Among the three shops is a model shop at Jagat Farm in Greater Noida, whose salesman was allegedly assaulted by an excise inspector last week. The two other shops are a country liquor outlet in Greater Noida's Milakh village and a composite liquor shop in Noida's Bahlolpur village. Last week, Manish Kumar (29), a salesman from the Jagat Farm model shop, had accused excise inspector Chandra Shekhar of assaulting him over complaints of overcharging customers Rs 10 for beer bottles. Kumar had suffered injuries to his limbs and chest in the assault. His family staged a protest at the DM's office in Greater Noida after police refused to lodge a complaint. Shekhar was subsequently suspended, and a departmental inquiry was initiated into the incident. Subodh Kumar, district excise officer (DEO), Noida told TOI the licence of the Jagat Farm model shop was suspended. "We received frequent complaints about overcharging at the model shop for the past two weeks. Despite repeated verbal and written warnings to both the salesperson and the licensee, the issue persisted. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Scam Exposed: What They Won't Tell You about zero trust! Expertinspector Click Here Undo Similar complaints were also received from the other two shops. So, we have suspended the licences of all three shops. They have been directed to immediately shut down operations," the official said. The excise department also issued show-cause notices to the licence holders of the three shops. Under the excise policy, the licensees have been given 14 days to respond to the notices. "Once their replies are received, the DM will conduct a hearing and take a final decision. If the explanations are found to be satisfactory, the suspension will be revoked. If not, the licences will be permanently cancelled and the shops will be opened for auction to grant new licences," the DEO said.
Time of India
a day ago
- Time of India
24 minor children rescued from train at Muzaffarpur station, 5 human traffickers held
Patna: A joint team of Railway Protection Force (RPF) and Govt Railway Police (GRP) rescued 24 minor children, mostly from Katihar district, from a general coach of the New Jalpaiguri–Amritsar Karmabhoomi Express (12407) at Muzaffarpur station on Wednesday evening. According to Muzaffarpur RPF inspector Manish Kumar, the rescue was carried out under 'Operation Aahat', a national initiative launched by railways and aimed at combating human trafficking. Acting on a tip-off, a joint team of the Muzaffarpur RPF and GRP launched a swift operation as the train arrived at the station late Wednesday evening, and arrested five suspected human traffickers accompanying the children. They were identified as Bilas Kumar from Katihar, Avinash Hembram from West Bengal, Manoj Kewat from Katihar, Tanveer from Khagaria, and Manish from Samastipur. The children were visibly distressed and appeared to be unaware of their destination. However, when interrogated, the accused said that these children were being taken to Ambala, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, and Amritsar to work as labourers on monthly payments of Rs 10,000 to 12,000 each. The RPF inspector added that railway police were making all possible efforts to reunite the rescued children with their families with the help of an NGO. After recording the statement of the rescued children by the RPF, the five accused were handed over to the Muzaffarpur GRP for further legal proceedings against them.
Time of India
5 days ago
- Time of India
Art therapy: Kaushambi jail inmates find solace in colours & brushstrokes
Prayagraj: At the crack of dawn, 26-year-old Manish Kumar , one of the 800 inmates at Kaushambi district jail, unleashes his creativity. Armed with colours of hope and brush, he brings his imagination to life, conceptualising sketches and designs that leave a lasting mark on the jail's walls. Manish finds solace in working with colours. Notably, Manish shares his knowledge with fellow inmates, who typically engage in various activities such as farming, computer learning, crafting, agriculture and sewing to productively pass their time in jail. The undertrial has introduced his fellow inmates to diverse art forms, highlighting the effectiveness of wall slogans. He encourages them to try sketching, painting, and mastering techniques like colour combinations and shading. T hrough their collaborative efforts, the prison walls are being transformed into lively and dynamic works of art like vibrant murals and hard-hitting slogans like 'stree ki unnati par hi rashtra ki unnati nirbhar hai' (The progress of a nation depends on the progress of women) and 'vyakti apne vicharon ke siwa kutch nahi hai, vo jo sochta hai ban jata hai' (A man is nothing but his thoughts; he becomes what he thinks). Ajitesh Mishra, superintendent of Kaushambi district jail, told TOI, "Manish, a resident of Charwa, was lodged in Kaushambi district jail three months ago under Posco charges. About a fortnight ago, Manish approached the jail authorities with a unique request — to allow him to transform the prison walls into vibrant and lively spaces. He also requested art supplies, including paint and brushes." "Inmates are showcasing their creativity by working on various murals and artworks to transform the prison's interiors... The prison walls are being decorated with vibrant graffiti, featuring sketches of freedom fighters, forest scenes and wildlife. The inmates have also created artwork to beautify the walls, bringing them to life with their creative expressions," Mishra added. Considering it as a way of expression, Manish is spending five to six hours daily painting the graffiti, a jail official said. Manish feels painting serves as a great way to disconnect from the outside world, requiring intense focus and effort. He also appreciates the productive nature of this creative outlet. "They should feel motivated and become better people after their release," said a senior jail official, adding, "They have seen a drastic change in their personality and their approach after they took up art". "We think most of them need a platform to channelise their energies in the right direction," said a senior jail authority, adding, "Once these prisoners learn skills in different artwork, they could be able to transform their lives and become self-reliant after release."
Time of India
26-05-2025
- Time of India
Man held hostage in moving car, robbed at knifepoint in Zirakpur
1 2 3 Mohali: In a late-night incident, a man was held hostage at knifepoint, assaulted, and robbed by four unidentified persons who also drove him around for over an hour before fleeing with his motorcycle, cash, and valuables. The incident occurred around midnight near the road leading to High Ground Nabha in Zirakpur. The victim, Manish Kumar, who has a private job in Zirakpur, was returning home after work on his motorcycle when he was intercepted by four youths in a car. " They stopped me and pulled me inside their car. One of them held a knife against my neck while the others started thrashing me," Manish said in his complaint to the police. The robbers demanded the PIN to his mobile and used it to withdraw Rs 34,000 via UPI. They also demanded he transfer an additional Rs 50,000, which he refused, prompting more physical assault. During the ordeal, a passerby reportedly tried to intervene, but was threatened and driven away by the assailants. The robbers looted an iPhone 13, a gold chain weighing about 1.25 tolas, Rs 4,000 in cash, and the motorcycle. After more than an hour of driving the victim around, they dumped him by the roadside and fled. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Thị trường có dấu hiệu suy thoái không? IC Markets Đăng ký Undo With the help of the passerby, Manish reached the local police station and reported the crime. Zirakpur police have registered a case against the unidentified robbers under Sections 115(2), 304/3, and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), and a search operation has been launched to trace the culprits. Police officials said CCTV footage from the area is being examined, and checkpoints were alerted to monitor suspicious vehicle movement. MSID:: 121417192 413 |
Time of India
25-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
How Haryana plans to cut groundwater deficit by 50%
Gurgaon: Haryana govt on Tuesday announced its latest Integrated Water Resources Action Plan, under which it aims to save around 6 billion litres of water, just over half of the state's projected deficit of 12 billion litres by 2027. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The plan sets targets for 16 govt departments, which will be responsible for saving water over two fiscal years – 2025-26 and 2026-2027. Each department has been given a target of the amount of water it needs to save. Of this, over 90% of the target is to be reached by the agriculture and irrigation department, officials told TOI. Key interventions will include rainwater harvesting, reuse of treated water by industries and crackdown on borewells illegally extracting groundwater. Keshni Anand Arora, chairperson of Haryana Water Resources Authority (HWRA), said the plan was the govt's "most comprehensive approach to water management", but he acknowledged that "significant challenges remain". HWRA carried out the study and mapped interventions as well. To overcome the challenges, "We have been taking several steps for Gurgaon and Panipat like districts. For example, we have told them to carry out rooftop rainwater harvesting and ensure zero liquid discharge. Industries have been directed to use only treated water. Our teams have been carrying out several surveys and have issued closure notices to more than 80 borewells recently in Gurgaon and Faridabad that were found to be operating without permission. We are also fitting the tubewells with telemeters so that we know the consumption of groundwater," she told TOI. "The plan mandates 42 interventions that are focused on improving groundwater recharge, farming practices, water harvesting, and wastewater management. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The initiative will also help build the capacity of local communities to manage water more efficiently. To track the progress of these activities and determine their impact, monitoring protocols based on aquifers, borewells and rivers could be used to compare the outcomes with the current situation," said Dr Manish Kumar, research scientist leading the adaptation & risk analysis group at Center for Study of Science, Technology and Policy (CSTEP). The Haryana government's Integrated Water Resources Action Plan (IWRAP) for 2025–2027 is a bold initiative, but experts have identified several key challenges that could hinder its successful implementation, for instance Haryana currently lacks a robust, real-time water monitoring infrastructure. Implementing and maintaining such systems across the state is resource-intensive. Excessive and often illegal extraction of groundwater, especially through unregulated borewells, continues to be a major issue. Enforcement of regulations remains weak in many areas. "Enforcement is difficult due to widespread non-compliance, lack of local oversight, and political or social resistance. Ensuring seamless coordination between 16 departments and accountability, and timely reporting across departments is complex and prone to bureaucratic delays," said Pradeep Rawat, water policy expert. Haryana must conserve water. According to the Central Groundwater Authority, 60% of the state's area was in the 'red' category for excess groundwater exploitation. Data collected every year also shows that the state extracts more groundwater than it replenishes. Haryana is water stressed as over 1,900 villages are classified as severely groundwater-stressed, with water tables deeper than 30 meters. Another 1,093 villages are moderately stressed (depth between 20–30 meters). Excessive groundwater extraction, especially for agriculture, has led to aquifer depletion . Water-intensive crops like paddy are widely grown, especially in areas with poor groundwater recharge. Inefficient irrigation practices further worsen the situation. Urban settlements are the main guzzlers. Gurgaon's water demand for domestic uses, at 369.7 million cubic metres (MCM) in 2022-2024, is the highest among all 22 districts of the state. This is more than double the demand of Faridabad, which ranks second at 150 MCM, according to Haryana Water Resources Authority (HWRA). At the other end of this spectrum are districts such as Charkhi Dadri, where most settlements are predominantly rural. The district's water need for domestic use is 21.4 MCM, just about 5% of Gurgaon's demand. Water demand for industrial use is equally skewed. Industries in Panipat lead this table, consuming an average of 532.8 MCM every 2022-2024 and accounting for 41% of the state's total usage. Gurgaon follows behind, at 271.5 MCM. Palwal ranks at the bottom, with negligible demand of 0.001 MCM in 2022-2024. Asked if these urban-rural disparities were taken into account for the water management plan, the HWRA chairperson said several steps have been introduced specifically for Gurgaon and Panipat. "For example, we have told the two districts to carry out rooftop rainwater harvesting and ensure zero liquid discharge. Industries have been directed to use only treated water. Our teams have been carrying out several surveys and have issued closure notices to more than 80 borewells in Gurgaon and Faridabad. We are also fitting tubewells with telemeters so that we know the consumption of groundwater," Arora said. A growing gap Experts pointed out that even if the integrated water management plan achieves its target, the state would still not be able to meet its water needs in the future. A projection by HWRA estimates that domestic water needs are likely to increase from 1,396.6 MCM currently to 1,467.9 MCM by 2027, a hike of 10.5%.
