Latest news with #PHED
Time of India
3 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
‘Substantial evidence': ED opposes bail for ex-min Mahesh Joshi in JJM scam
Jaipur: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) Tuesday opposed the bail plea of former public health engineering department (PHED) minister Mahesh Joshi, who is currently in jail in connection with the multi-crore Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) scam. At a hearing in a special court for cases under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), the ED submitted that it had substantial evidence against Joshi, alleging that the proceeds of the crime were funnelled into a company owned by his son. The court will hear the matter on Thursday. On May 27, Joshi's counsel senior advocate Vivek Raj Bajwa had contended in the court that the former minister was not named in the initial FIR lodged by the anti-corruption bureau (ACB) and argued that the ED failed to trace any proceeds of the crime back to him. Bajwa had argued that Joshi was being falsely implicated due to political rivalry. In response, ED's lawyer Ajatshatru S Mina Tuesday pointed to the four FIRs filed in the case by various govt investigation agencies, including one each by the Jaipur police and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), and two by the ACB. Mina told court that Joshi was named in one of these FIRs, which formed the basis of ED's enforcement case information report (ECIR). Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Provence-alpes-cote-d'azur: Voici l'astuce pour avoir des panneaux solaires sans payer l'installation ! Programme Ecologique Undo He elaborated on Joshi's alleged role in facilitating the approval of fraudulent bills for Shree Ganpati Tubewell Co and Shree Shyam Tubewell Co, and claimed he exerted undue influence on PHED officials to secure tenders based on a forged IRCON certificate. The ED further accused Joshi of directly benefiting from the scam's financial gains, which were reportedly invested in his son's company. Mina alleged that Joshi orchestrated the entire scam through an associate, Sanjay Badaya, and accused the proprietors of both tubewell firms of threatening PHED officials to ensure compliance of their demands, warning them of departmental transfers if they failed to do so. Joshi was arrested on April 24 when he appeared for questioning following a notice from the ED.
Time of India
7 days ago
- General
- Time of India
After 77 yrs, Banka village gets water at the turn of a tap
1 2 Patna: For nearly eight decades since Independence, the women of Gauripur village in Banka district carried out a daily ordeal under the blistering sun. With buckets and utensils in hand and on their heads, they walked to the nearby river, dug into the sand and collected water just enough to quench their thirst and keep their families going. Not anymore. The public health and engineering department (PHED) has brought a wave of relief to this village, home to over 1,000 residents. In just 15 days, three hand pumps were installed and all 210 households were connected with piped water under the state govt's "Har Ghar Nal Ka Jal" scheme. The village, located barely 12km from the Banka district headquarters, had been inexplicably overlooked for decades. That changed when the matter came to the notice of the district magistrate, who promptly flagged the issue. "Right since Independence, people from this village dug river sand to collect water for their survival. However, once we got this information through the district magistrate concerned, we acted and arranged water for the villagers at the village itself. The villagers now have freedom from a decades-old water crisis in a record 15 days," the PHED said in a statement issued on Saturday. According to the statement, all homes now receive clean drinking water directly through household pipelines. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Bolsas nos olhos? (Tente isso hoje à noite) Revista Saúde & Beleza Saiba Mais Undo The three new hand pumps serve as a backup water source, particularly useful when electricity outages interrupt the piped supply. "The village is now completely free from the old problem of collecting water from the river," the department said. PHED minister Neeraj Kumar Singh praised the meticulous execution of the project and said, "The department prioritises swift action on any water-related complaints to ensure clean water reaches every home. The work done in Gauripur village in record time is an example of this commitment," the minister said. Under the govt's flagship "Har Ghar Nal Ka Jal" initiative, over 1.75 crore rural households across Bihar have been connected to piped water supply. The department has also introduced a grievance redressal system through which residents can register water supply issues via a toll-free number, mobile app and social media platforms.
Time of India
22-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Dibrugarh mandates monthly water quality tests for hotels & restaurants
Dibrugarh: Dibrugarh district administration has issued a strict order requiring all hotels, restaurants and similar establishments to conduct a monthly quality test of drinking water. The directive, aimed at ensuring safe and potable water for customers, mandates compliance with Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) norms. The order, dated May 21 and signed by additional district commissioner Biraj Boruah, stipulates that all eateries and lodging facilities must test their drinking water for physical, chemical and microbiological parameters. The tests must be carried out by the Public Health Engineering Department (PHED) or its authorised laboratories. Under the new directive, establishments must submit their water quality reports to the district health officer, municipal corporation, or local licensing authority by the 10th of every month. The PHED will maintain a centralised database of all test results to monitor compliance and ensure timely testing. The new rules come into effect immediately, with the first round of test reports due by June 10. As per the order, failure to adhere to the new regulations will invite stringent action under the Public Health Act, Food Safety and Standards Act, and other relevant laws. Establishments found violating the norms may face fines, suspension of liceces, or even legal prosecution. "We want to ensure that every citizen has access to safe drinking water, whether at home or in public spaces. Access to clean drinking water is a fundamental right, and this order is a proactive step to prevent waterborne diseases. We have observed instances where contaminated water has led to health hazards, and this measure will hold establishments accountable. Regular inspections will be conducted, and establishments found violating these guidelines will face immediate action," the ADC said.
Time of India
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Pipeline bursts day after inauguration by dy CM
Jaipur: A newly constructed overhead water tank in Ward 28 of Vidhyadhar Nagar, inaugurated just a day earlier by deputy CM Diya Kumari, turned into a cause for panic after a major pipeline burst Monday evening. The tank was part of multiple development projects inaugurated Sunday in Wards 19 and 28, with a total outlay of Rs 15 crore, including an overhead reservoir in Udyog Nagar, Jhotwara. However, the celebration was short-lived as, by 4pm Monday, the pipeline connected to the tank burst under pressure, flooding Kailash Path road. Ward councillor Durgesh Nandini said, "PHED started filling the tank around 4pm. Due to the old pipeline system, it couldn't handle the water pressure and gave way. We immediately informed the department, and the water supply was shut off." Local residents expressed strong dissatisfaction. A resident of Kailash Path said, "We already face major drinking water issues. Now the govt has used substandard materials. Today it's the pipeline, tomorrow it could be the tank itself. We are living in fear." Residents claim the tank itself is leaking, though the councillor denied these allegations. "It seems the inauguration was just for show. A little water pressure was enough to expose poor workmanship. This could have led to a major accident," one resident said. Locals are demanding a probe, accountability from PHED, and immediate inspection of materials used, to prevent a potential disaster.
Time of India
16-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Hefty water bills without connection shock residents of Prithviraj Nagar
Jaipur: Residents of several colonies in Prithviraj Nagar were left stunned after receiving unexpectedly high water bills in May—even in areas where water pipelines are yet to be installed. The issue surfaced in over 20 colonies, including Ashok Vihar, Hans Vihar, Krishna Vihar, and Shyam Vatika. The Public Health Engineering Department (PHED) recently began supplying Bisalpur water to parts of the area, but many households without active water connections still received bills, causing confusion and frustration among residents. "Around five months ago, I applied for the PHED connection. The department is yet to supply water to my house. Still, the department sent me a bill of Rs 700," said Shailendra Bhatt, a resident of Rajiv Vihar. The residents claimed that most of them received bills ranging between Rs 400-700, despite the water supply to households being very limited. Even residents of the Income Tax Colony in Sanganer have received these 'inflated' bills. "In my colony, no PHED officials visited a single house after providing the Bisalpur connection to read the meter. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Cost Of Amusement Park Equipment From Mexico Might Surprise You - See Tips Amusement Park Equipment | search ads Click Here Undo Then how did PHED calculate our bill?" said Narayan Singh, President of Hans Vihar Vikas Samiti. When TOI contacted PHED, a senior engineer said, "Residents do not need to worry. As per the new norm, we are going to generate bills according to the new tariff, but residents consuming water up to the quantity of the lowest slab of the tariff need to shell out only Rs 50 after deducting all the subsidy," said a PHED engineer.
