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The Hindu
01-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Farmers demonstrate against land survey for Shaktipeeth expressway project
Farmers in various districts of Marathwada demonstrated on the streets on Tuesday (July 1, 2025) opposing the land survey for the proposed Nagpur-Goa Shaktipeeth Expressway project. Agitating farmers expressed concerns over the acquisition of their fertile land for the 802-kilometre greenfield, access-controlled, six-lane corridor that will connect central and western Maharashtra to Goa. The protests were renewed after the Maharashtra Cabinet on June 24 approved the acquisition of land for the project. Also Read | Maharashtra Cabinet clears ₹20,787 crore for Shaktipeeth Expressway amid farmers' opposition The expressway will pass through Nanded, Hingoli, Parbhani, Beed, Latur and Dharashiv districts in the Marathwada region, an official said. Farmers staged a sit-in protest on a road at Malegaon in Ardhapur taluka of Nanded district, vowing not to part with their land. "The government has ignored agriculturists while surveying for the Shaktipeeth project. We will oppose the survey," Nanded MP Ravindra Chavan told PTI. Also Read | Farmers march to Mumbai, demand scrapping of Shaktipeeth project Farmers sat on the Nanded-Washim Road in Hingoli district, briefly disrupting the vehicular traffic. "I am opposing this project as my orchard will be acquired, rendering me landless," a protester said. Another farmer said the compensation for the acquisition of land won't last forever. "I hold two acres of land which will be acquired for the expressway project. What's the use of compensation? It will not last forever. As a farmer, I am dependent on land", he said. Similar agitations were staged in parts of Beed and Dharashiv districts. Named after the revered Shakti Peethas or important Hindu pilgrimage sites, the expressway is envisioned to improve connectivity to religious sites and boost regional development. The expressway will link 18 major pilgrimage sites, including Shaktipeeths such as those dedicated to goddesses Renuka Devi in Mahur, Tulja Bhavani in Tuljapur, Mahalakshmi in Kolhapur, and Patradevi in Goa. Originating from Pavnar in Wardha district in eastern Maharashtra to Patradevi in Sindhudurg on the Maharashtra-Goa border, the expressway will pass through 12 districts.
Time of India
27-06-2025
- Time of India
Biology teacher brings animal brain to class in Telangana: Students allege it was cow's brain; booked under cow slaughter act, suspended
HYDERABAD: What began as a well-intended biology demonstration turned into a controversy in Telangana's Vikarabad district. A biology teacher at the zilla parishad high school (girls) in Yalal mandal was suspended and booked under the Telangana Prohibition of Cow Slaughter and Animal Preservation Act after she brought an animal's brain into the classroom to teach students about brain anatomy. While the teacher claimed the brain was that of a sheep, several students insisted she had identified it as a cow's brain during the class. You Can Also Check: Hyderabad AQI | Weather in Hyderabad | Bank Holidays in Hyderabad | Public Holidays in Hyderabad The incident occurred on June 24. Biology teacher Kasim Bi brought the brain to school in a tiffin box and used it during a standard 10 science class to demonstrate the structure and function of the human brain. Students said she placed the organ on a plate and claimed it was a cow's brain. She explained that it was a live example to help them understand a chapter on brain functioning. While the demonstration initially drew curiosity from students, it quickly turned controversial. The next day, villagers protested outside the school, alleging it hurt religious sentiments and demanded action against the teacher. Objecting to the teacher reportedly bringing a cow's brain into the classroom, they said that it was an offence under the Cow Slaughter Act. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like USDJPY đang đi lên không? IC Markets Đăng ký Undo The headmaster filed a complaint, prompting police to register an FIR against the teacher. A police officer from Yalal said that they are verifying whether the brain was indeed from a cow or a different animal. "We have questioned the teacher, and an investigation is underway," the official told TOI on Thursday. Following the inquiry, district education officer Renuka Devi suspended the teacher and submitted a detailed report to the district collector. The police investigation is on and authorities are working to determine the exact source and species of the brain used in the demonstration.
Time of India
27-06-2025
- Time of India
Telangana: Teacher suspended and booked following classroom demo with cow's brain; police launch investigation
HYDERABAD: What began as a well-intended biology demonstration turned into a controversy in Telangana's Vikarabad district. A biology teacher at the zilla parishad high school (girls) in Yalal mandal was suspended and booked under the Telangana Prohibition of Cow Slaughter and Animal Preservation Act after she brought an animal's brain into the classroom to teach students about brain anatomy. While the teacher claimed the brain was that of a sheep, several students insisted she had identified it as a cow's brain during the class. The incident occurred on June 24. Biology teacher Kasim Bi brought the brain to school in a tiffin box and used it during a standard 10 science class to demonstrate the structure and function of the human brain. Students said she placed the organ on a plate and claimed it was a cow's brain. She explained that it was a live example to help them understand a chapter on brain functioning. You Can Also Check: Hyderabad AQI | Weather in Hyderabad | Bank Holidays in Hyderabad | Public Holidays in Hyderabad While the demonstration initially drew curiosity from students, it quickly turned controversial. The next day, villagers protested outside the school, alleging it hurt religious sentiments and demanded action against the teacher. Objecting to the teacher reportedly bringing a cow's brain into the classroom, they said that it was an offence under the Cow Slaughter Act. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Free P2,000 GCash eGift UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo The headmaster filed a complaint, prompting police to register an FIR against the teacher. A police officer from Yalal said that they are verifying whether the brain was indeed from a cow or a different animal. 'We have questioned the teacher, and an investigation is underway,' the official told TOI on Thursday. Following the inquiry, district education officer Renuka Devi suspended the teacher and submitted a detailed report to the district collector. The police investigation is on and authorities are working to determine the exact source and species of the brain used in the demonstration.
Indian Express
26-06-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Explained: The concerns around Rs 80,000 cr Shaktipeeth Expressway in Maharashtra
The Maharashtra cabinet on Tuesday (June 24) approved the acquisition of land for the proposed Nagpur-Goa Shaktipeeth Expressway project, which was halted due to farmers' protests in Kolhapur in 2024. The expressway is a six-lane greenfield corridor estimated to cost over Rs 80,000 crore. The project comes 20 days after Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis inaugurated a 76-kilometre stretch of the Samruddhi Mahamarg, marking the completion of the 701-kilometre expressway connecting Mumbai and Nagpur. The Mahamarg was first envisioned as his flagship infrastructure project during his tenure as Chief Minister in 2016. While the Shaktipeeth Expressway is touted as a transformative route connecting key religious and economic regions, the project is already facing stiff resistance from farmers along its proposed alignment. The proposed Shaktipeeth Expressway is an 802-kilometre greenfield, access-controlled, six-lane corridor that will connect central and western Maharashtra to Goa. Named after the revered Shakti Peethas, which are important Hindu pilgrimage sites, the expressway is envisioned as a project to improve connectivity to sacred sites and also boost regional development and economic integration in the state. Designed primarily to serve the religious tourism corridor, the expressway will link 18 major pilgrimage sites, including prominent Shaktipeeths such as Renuka Devi in Mahur, Tulja Bhavani in Tuljapur, Mahalakshmi in Kolhapur, and Patradevi in Goa. Stretching from Pavnar in Wardha district in eastern Maharashtra to Patradevi in Sindhudurg on the Maharashtra-Goa border, the expressway will pass through 12 districts. When was the Shaktipeeth Expressway Project envisaged? The idea for the Nagpur-Goa Shaktipeeth Expressway was first announced in September 2022 by the then-Deputy Chief Minister, Devendra Fadnavis, who described it as a transformative, multilane corridor that would drastically reduce travel time between the two regions. Fadnavis had then said that the 1,016-kilometre journey from Nagpur to Goa currently takes around 21 hours, and that the proposed expressway would significantly reduce this travel time while improving connectivity and economic integration across the state. Following the announcement, the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) undertook a feasibility study and started land acquisition along the proposed alignment. However, the project quickly encountered opposition from local farmers, many of whom were reluctant to part with their agricultural land. The expressway became a major electoral issue in 2024, particularly in districts like Kolhapur, where several protests erupted. During the Lok Sabha campaign, Hatkanangle candidate and farmer leader Raju Shetti vocally opposed the land acquisition, warning the state government not to move forward with the project. Ashok Chavan, the BJP Rajya Sabha MP from Nanded who had switched from the Congress in the run-up to the Lok Sabha elections, wrote to the Chief Minister highlighting the widespread opposition from farmers in his district. 'Farmers are opposing the project not only in Nanded but in every district,' Chavan said in his letter. In the aftermath of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, where the BJP-led NDA suffered losses in 10 out of the 11 districts through which the expressway is planned, the state government decided to pause land acquisition until after the 2024 Assembly elections. What is the current status of the Shaktipeeth Expressway Project? Following the BJP's return to power in Maharashtra, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis gave the green light to resume work on the Shaktipeeth Expressway. In February 2025, the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) restarted its land acquisition surveys along the proposed 802-km corridor. On Tuesday, the Maharashtra Cabinet approved a provision of Rs 20,787 crore for the planning and land acquisition phase of the project. Of this, Rs 12,000 crore has been secured from the Housing and Urban Development Corporation. The project will be executed by MSRDC and constructed using the Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) model. Under this model, a single contractor will be responsible for the entire project lifecycle from design and engineering to procurement of materials and final construction. Why is there opposition to the Shaktipeeth Expressway? The proposed Shaktipeeth Expressway will traverse 12 districts across Maharashtra: Wardha, Yavatmal, Hingoli, Nanded, Parbhani, Latur, Beed, Dharashiv, Solapur, Kolhapur, Sangli, and Sindhudurg. To build the 802-km corridor, the state requires 8,615 hectares of land, of which 8,149 hectares are privately owned. The highest land acquisition is expected in Solapur (1,688 ha), Yavatmal (1,421 ha), and Kolhapur (1,258 ha). However, the project is encountering strong resistance, especially from districts in Western Maharashtra, which account for nearly 40% of the land acquisition. Unlike previous greenfield initiatives such as the Samruddhi Mahamarg, which primarily passed through arid and less cultivated regions, this expressway cuts through fertile, agriculturally productive zones. Many farmers in these areas, especially those cultivating sugarcane and other cash crops in Western Maharashtra, are reluctant to part with high-yield land, fearing irreversible livelihood loss. Critics have also raised questions about redundancy, pointing out that the Nagpur-Ratnagiri National Highway is already being expanded to improve connectivity on the same alignment, making a parallel expressway seem excessive. Environmentalists and local communities have further expressed concern over the ecological disruption the project could cause, particularly in the Western Ghats and Konkan region, which are rich in biodiversity and prone to ecological sensitivity. Despite these objections, the state government remains committed to the project. In a speech to the state assembly in March 2025, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis defended the expressway. 'The Samruddhi Expressway transformed the economy, and the Shaktipeeth Expressway will similarly change lives across the 12 districts it touches by enhancing connectivity to ports, airports, and the rest of the state.' What concerns has the State's finance department raised? While the total project cost exceeds Rs 80,000 crore, the Maharashtra government on Tuesday cleared a Rs 20,787 crore loan guarantee for land acquisition for the 802 km Nagpur-Goa Shaktipeeth Expressway. While concerns remain about how the remaining funds for the project will be raised, the Maharashtra Finance Department has already flagged serious financial risks. The department warned that the off-budget loan guarantee would significantly burden the state's finances, citing rising debt, projected at Rs 9.32 lakh crore by March 2026, and increasing interest payments, estimated at Rs 1.54 lakh crore in FY26. It also questioned the 8.85% interest rate for the proposed loan, especially when market bonds were recently raised at 6.75%. The department warned this could worsen the state's fiscal deficit, which is projected to rise to 4.08%, and push the debt-to-GSDP ratio to 25%, breaching FRBM norms. It further advised reprioritising capital projects and warned that such high capital expenditure could force cuts in essential revenue expenditure and committed spending.
The Hindu
01-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Mysuru gears up for International Yoga Day with 21-day pre-event activities
The city known to be an international yoga hub is bracing up for International Yoga Day to be celebrated on June 21. In the run-up to the actual event, the stakeholders from the Department of Ayush and Federation of Yoga Organisations will conduct a slew of programmes for 21 days culminating with the grand finale at the Mysuru palace on June 21. The curtain raiser for the yoga day event was launched in front of the Lalitha Mahal Palace on Sunday and District Ayush Officer Renuka Devi flagged off the yoga performance in which nearly 300 persons from various institutions, including all Ayush dispensaries, took part in it. Termed as Yoga Dhanush, this was the first of the series of such events planned in the lead up to the global celebrations. Girish, Yoga instructor from the Department of Ayush, said that this was the curtain raiser and in a move to drum up greater public participation, pre-event activities will be held at different places across the city every day culminating with the International Yoga Day on June 21. The theme of this year's global event is Yoga for One Earth, One Health and apart from Yoga Dhanush, the Ayush has planned Yoga Unplugged, Green Yoga (Harit Yoga), Yogodhyana and Yoga Sangama, said Mr. Girish. The Sunday's Yoga Dhanush programme commenced at 7 a.m. and was held for one hour as per the yoga day protocol. There will be another session of Yoga Dhanush on June 6 at the Mall of Mysore, scheduled from 4.30 p.m. to 5.30 p.m., featuring a 45-minute general yoga demonstration. The Yoga Unplugged initiative will take place on June 4 at the Police Training School in Jyothinagar, where a yoga workshop and awareness campaign will be conducted for female constable trainees between 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. Details about the remaining events including Green Yoga, Yogodhyana, and Yoga Sangama will be shared with the public in the days ahead. Mysuru has long been recognised for its yoga tradition and was home to legendary teachers like T. Krishnamacharya whose students included B.K.S. Iyengar and Pattabhi Jois, who played key roles in popularising yoga worldwide. The Wadiyars of Mysuru took the lead in patronising yoga and the then Maharaja Mummadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar (1794-1868) wrote 'Sritattvanidhi' which also has a chapter on yoga complete with postures. In the present times, Mysuru is home to hundreds of yoga institutions that cater to the growing demand from both local residents and international students who come to the city to learn yoga.
