Latest news with #SRDS


Time of India
a day ago
- Business
- Time of India
14 acres of Gadag MGRDPR University turn into green oasis
Hubballi: SBI Foundation has developed 14 acres at Mahatma Gandhi Rural Development and Panchayat Raj (MGRDPR) University campus in Nagavi, Gadag. The hilly space, which was filled with bushes, has turned into a green farm with more than 19,000 saplings, thanks to SBI Jan-Van project. Dr Suresh V Nadagoudar, registrar and (acting) vice-chancellor of the varsity, told TOI that the SBI Foundation exclusively selected MGRDPR University from the entire Karnataka to implement the SBI Jan-Van project. "This initiative, launched in collaboration with Sankalpa Rural Development Society (SRDS), is a step toward environmental conservation. This mini forest has become an excellent spot for the leisure of the people of Gadag. It also offers our students a rare opportunity to experience and connect with the environment. With a dedicated water supply, greenery, and cleanliness, a pure and sustainable ecosystem has been created here," he said. The forest has a check dam, open gym, meeting space, borewells and recharge units, trenches, gully plugs, solar lights and benches. A wide variety of trees, including Banyan, Neem, Tamarind, Simarouba, Teak, Tabebuia, Bengali, Indian Ash, Guava, Custard Apple, Jamun, Peepal, Fig, and Honge (Pongamia), have been planted here. 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 Sanjay Prakash, managing director, SBI Foundation, Mumbai, said their Jan-Van plantation and 'Gram Saksham' watershed development work in Gadag district have helped in increasing the greenery and improving groundwater levels. The collaborative work from SBI Foundation, Sankalpa, MGRDPRU and the gram panchayats stands as a testament to how collective efforts can bring gradual impact on the ground," he commented. Sikandar Meeranayak, CEO, SRDS, Gadag, said to ensure water supply during the summer and prevent scarcity, 20-25 water tankers are brought in every month to water the plants. "This has resulted in the healthy, well-nourished growth of plants. The open meeting space is available for small gatherings and cultural programmes. Roofing sheets and curtains have been installed around the area. As a preventive measure against borewell depletion in the future, the Twin Ring Recharge Method (a technique for recharging borewells by capturing rainwater and directing it into the ground through a filtration system using cement rings) has been implemented," he said.


Time of India
02-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
ACB raids kingpin's home in Rs 2.32 cr sheep scam; luxury cars seized
Hyderabad: In a dramatic turn in the Rs 2.32 crore sheep procurement scam, sleuths from the Anti Corruption Bureau raided the Kokapet residence of prime accused Syed Mohiduddin late Thursday night, sparking rumours of his arrest. However, officials swiftly dispelled the speculation, confirming that Mohiduddin is still absconding in Dubai. The late-night operation led to the seizure of two high-end vehicles, including a BMW and an Innova, belonging to his family. You Can Also Check: Hyderabad AQI | Weather in Hyderabad | Bank Holidays in Hyderabad | Public Holidays in Hyderabad Mohiduddin, managing director of Hyderabad-based Lolona livestock company, has been on the run since his name surfaced in the high-profile scam. "Our team searched his Kokapet home in the presence of family members. Mohiduddin and his nephew Ikramuddin, both wanted in the case, are still hiding in Dubai. We have initiated procedures to attach the seized vehicles," an ACB official confirmed. So far, the ACB has named 15 individuals in the case and arrested eight. Five others have been served notices under section 41-A of the CrPC and questioned. Only Mohiduddin and his nephew remain at large. "We have issued look-out circulars and impounded their passports," said the official. The scandal traces back to the Telangana govt's sheep rearing and development scheme (SRDS), launched in 2017 by the then BRS regime. Under the scheme, shepherd families were to receive units of 20 sheep each, subsidised at 75% by the govt. Thousands of sheep were procured from traders in Guntur and Karnataka. The first signs of trouble emerged on Dec 26, 2023, when Gachibowli police received a complaint from S Yedukondalu, a sheep trader from Palnadu district in Andhra Pradesh. He alleged that Mohiduddin, along with his nephew Ikramuddin and two assistant directors from the state animal husbandry department—D Ravi Kumar and M Aditya Keshava Sai—approached him to supply sheep for the SRDS. Between Aug 13 and 23, 2023, Yedukondalu and 17 other traders delivered 133 units (21 sheep each) at Vellela in Prakasam district. They submitted their bank details and Aadhaar cards to the officials, expecting payment. But the funds never arrived. The case was soon handed over to the ACB, whose preliminary investigation uncovered a fraudulent scheme where bank accounts were opened under fictitious names or using the identities of Mohiduddin's associates to allegedly siphon off govt funds.