Latest news with #Rs35
Business Recorder
3 days ago
- Business
- Business Recorder
JI accuses Nepra of displaying anti-Karachi bias
KARACHI: Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Karachi chief Monem Zafar Khan has accused the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) of discriminatory practices against Karachiites, criticizing the decision to burden consumers with recovery losses and imposing a higher basic tariff of Rs40 per unit in the metropolis as compared to Rs35 in other cities. In a letter to NEPRA's chairman, he condemned the authority for failing to uphold its constitutional duties, alleging clear bias against Karachi's residents. He argued that while other cities' electric supply companies are barred from passing recovery losses onto consumers, Karachi Electric (KE) has been allowed to do so, placing an unfair financial strain on the city's residents. 'Such biased decisions undermine NEPRA's claims of equality and lay the foundation for injustice,' he stated. Highlighting NEPRA's approval of a multi-year tariff, the JI leader noted that KE is set to collect an additional Rs97 billion from consumers until 2030. He also raised concerns over NEPRA's ongoing hearings regarding KE's Rs76 billion write-off claims, alleging the authority may once again favour the controversial private utility. Monem criticized KE's dismal performance, pointing out that it provides the most expensive electricity in the country while failing to address inefficiencies and alleged misdeeds. He demanded that Nepra take strict notice of KE's poor service, frequent load-shedding and questionable transactions. Additionally, he called for the revocation of KE's operating license and a forensic audit of the company's accounts to ensure transparency. The JI Karachi Chief urged the Nepra to reconsider its policies and prioritize the interests of Karachi's consumers, warning that continued discrimination would deepen public resentment. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Time of India
4 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Maha Govt Waives Registration Fees for Farm Land Partitions to Ease Farmers' Burden
Nagpur: In a landmark decision aimed at alleviating the financial burden on farmers and preventing disputes over agricultural land, the Maharashtra cabinet has approved the waiver of registration fees for partitioning farmland. The decision, taken during Tuesday's state cabinet meeting in Mumbai, was based on a proposal by the revenue department. Until now, the registration fee for property transactions in Maharashtra — including farmland and non-agricultural properties — was uniformly charged at 1% of the property's value, capped at Rs30,000. While the stamp duty for agricultural land was already a nominal Rs100, the registration fee still applied, discouraging many farmers from formalising the partition of their land. This reluctance often led to unclear ownership and subsequent legal battles within families. In a statement, revenue minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule said the registration fees were causing an unnecessary financial burden on farmers, and many avoided registering their partition deeds, leading to disputes and hardships later. "By waiving this fee under Section 85 of the Maharashtra Land Revenue Code, 1966, we are ensuring farmers can secure their ownership rights without financial strain." by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Book Your Daily Profit By 11 AM With This Superclass By Mr. Bala TradeWise Learn More Undo The govt expects this move to increase the number of registered partition deeds for agricultural lands, which will help formalise ownership records and reduce conflicts. "This will accelerate the process of land record documentation, benefiting not just the farmers but also rural governance and planning," Bawankule added. Officials estimate that the decision will lead to an annual revenue loss of Rs35–40 crore for the state, but they argue that this is a small price to pay for the long-term benefit of farmers' peace of mind and legal clarity. "The waiver will ensure farmers and their families are spared from financial and mental distress arising from unregistered land partitions," Bawankule emphasised. The decision is being widely welcomed by farmer groups and rural development advocates, who see it as a crucial step towards reducing litigation and improving the lives of farmers across the state. BOX # Key Points at a Glance: - Decision: Registration fee for partitioning agricultural land waived - Previous Fee: 1% of property value (max Rs30,000) - Stamp Duty: Rs100 nominal for agricultural land # New Rule: No registration fee for farmland partitions under Section 85 - Expected Revenue Loss: ₹35–40 crore/year # Expected Impact: - Boosts registration of partition deeds - Reduces land disputes - Eases financial burden on farmers - Supports clear ownership documentation # Who Benefits? - Around 70 lakh farming families in Maharashtra - Strengthens rural governance and property record systems # Minister's Take: "By waiving the registration fee, we're giving farmers relief and protecting their rights." – Chandrashekhar Bawankule
Time of India
5 days ago
- Time of India
3 get life imprisonment in 1998 journalist attack case
Nagpur: Three men were on Wednesday sentenced to life imprisonment for a brutal assault on a journalist and two civilians in December 1998 in a case registered at Sitabuldi police station. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The convicted individuals are Afi Khan Ejaz Khan, a resident of Katol Road, Shekhar Dharanidhar Chaturvedi, and Anand Shankardayal Yelia, both residents of Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh. District and sessions judge RS Bhosale (Patil) on Tuesday found the accused guilty under IPC Sections 147 (rioting), 148 (armed rioting), 149 (unlawful assembly), 324 (causing hurt), and 307 (attempt to murder). In addition to life imprisonment, the trio received multiple terms of rigorous imprisonment ranging from 2 to 5 years for individual offences. They were each fined a total of Rs35,000, with non-payment resulting in additional simple imprisonment. Half of the collected fine will be paid to the injured victims. The incident dates back to December 1998, when Anubhav Shiveshwar Vinod, then chief editor of a news channel, was working on a report on food quality at a restaurant in Shankar Nagar. Upon learning that the footage might be broadcast, associates of the restaurant allegedly orchestrated an attack to silence the reporter. The confrontation took place at Ramdaspeth, in front of Pushpkunj Complex. As the accused confronted Anubhav, bystanders Sumukh Mukesh Mishra and Pramod alias Prakash Wamanrao Sakharkar intervened. Both were seriously injured in the knife attack that followed. The case was investigated by the then superintendent of police Madhukar Kad, who filed the charge sheet in court. Prosecution was led by advocate AM Mahurkar, while the defence team was represented by advocate Jaltare, with court officers Kiran Kaithal and Milan Lonare assisting.
Business Recorder
5 days ago
- Business
- Business Recorder
Murad urges youth to contribute to investment and defence
KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has urged the youth to contribute to national investment and defence, saying during the recent conflict with India, the power of the people combined with technology played a vital role. Speaking at the Sindh Startups Exhibition, organised by the Sindh Higher Education Commission (HEC) in collaboration with the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI), he emphasised for creating bridge between classrooms and boardrooms, and between research and real-world impact. The exhibition featured ideas from students and faculty across Sindh's public and private universities. From the 50 projects presented in the moot, five outstanding entries were selected by industry leaders based on their potential for scaling, adoption, and industrialisation. Each winning team will receive a cash award of Rs0.5million. The chief minister lauded the Sindh HEC for its vision and commitment to strengthening higher education, noting a shift from routine learning to real innovation and collaboration. He urged all Vice Chancellors and university leaders to draw inspiration from this initiative and leverage their Offices of Research, Innovation and Commercialisation (ORICs) to cultivate a local culture of invention, entrepreneurship, and applied research. He said that his government is vigorously promoting higher education. The province allocates the highest development budget for universities, amounting to Rs35 billion, with an additional Rs8 billion for development portfolios. 'This funding surpasses the combined allocations of the other three provinces and the federal government,' he said. He stressed the importance of universities producing not just graduates, but "innovators, creators, and problem-solvers," and developing platforms for student and faculty engagement with industry. This, he said, will steer universities towards self-sustainability, reducing dependency on government funding. Chairman Sindh HEC Dr Tariq Rafi highlighted this exhibition as the fourth major collaborative initiative between Sindh HEC and FPCCI. Previous efforts included the Sindh Research Support Program and events spotlighting university-based inventions, all aimed at delivering local solutions to local industries and moving universities towards greater self-reliance. Dr Rafi underscored the critical interdependence of industry and academia, stating, "Around the world, the most advanced industrial ecosystems owe their success to the breakthroughs, insights, and talent emerging from their universities." Chairman CIEC, Sindh HEC, Dr Sarosh Lodhi envisioned a future where ORICs function as "active launch pads for ideas" and encouraged more institutions to host local innovation showcases and campus-industry dialogues. President FPCCI Atif Shaikh also spoke. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Time of India
24-05-2025
- General
- Time of India
30 years on, Melghat villagers putting life on line to fetch water
Amravati: Khadimal and 13 surrounding villages located in the remote tribal belt of Melghat in Amravati district receive significant rainfall during monsoon, suggesting the area is water sufficient throughout the year. But locals from these villages say they have been suffering water crisis during the summer months, especially from March to May, for their entire life. The hilly region where these villages are nestled has low groundwater level due to the topography. The water flows downhill, lowering the water table in the hilly areas. Every summer, the water level in the wells hits alarming levels. With wells, bore wells, and streams drying up completely, the villagers including children, women, the elderly, and even the sick spend entire days searching for just one bucket of water. This water crisis has persisted for over three decades, say locals. The water tankers deployed by the district administration used to cause scramble for water, often squabbles and fights. Now, the 15 tankers that are supplying water to these villages daily are being emptied into dried wells, many of which are at least 50ft to 60 ft deep. Villagers rush to these wells with pots and buckets, and draw every drop of water in risky, often dangerous, ways. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trade Bitcoin & Ethereum – No Wallet Needed! IC Markets Start Now Undo The wells become dry in just 10 minutes, causing another agonising wait for the water tankers, say locals. Social activist Bandu Sane calls it a humanitarian crisis. "Are these people (the district administration) not human? Every year, the govt announces water supply schemes worth crores, but the projects are delayed citing various issues like non-payment to contractors, erratic electricity, and forest department restrictions," said Sane. Locals like Alka Saldhekar, Madhuri Bethekar and Vijay Sawalkar echo the sentiment. "Our lives have revolved around the struggle for water. From childhood till now, it has only worsened," they say. The district administration initiated a project worth Rs35 crore in 2022 to bring water to these villages. The works included construction of tanks and laying pipelines to supply water from reservoirs. As per district collector Saurabh Katiyar, the project being executed by Maharashtra Jeevan Pradhikaran is "90% complete". "By next summer, every home will receive water through taps," he said. Meanwhile, supply through tankers continues to these parched villages as a stop-gap arrangement.
