Latest news with #Section4
Hans India
4 hours ago
- Politics
- Hans India
Section 4 crisis to be resolved soon; will appeal to Centre, SC: Khandre
Bengaluru: Under Section 4 of the Forest Act 1963, the government has the option to abandon the land allocated before the notification, and a special proposal will be submitted to the Centre and the Supreme Court to provide justice to the people who have built houses and are cultivating for 30-40 years after the notification, said Forest, Ecology and Environment Minister Eshwara B Khandre. Presiding over a meeting held with Chikkamagaluru district MLAs and forest and revenue department officials at Vikas Soudha, he said that a request will be submit-ted to the Supreme Court and the Centre to give an alternative to the designated forest with residential areas, patta land, etc. and the land allocated after the Section 4 notification, and to abandon this land from the forest area. In many cases, even though Section 4 has been notified for 60-70 years, Section 17 is still not in effect. After the implementation of the Forest Conservation Act of 1980, it has become difficult to abandon such forests. Therefore, it is imperative to appeal to the Center and the Supreme Court. Chikkamagaluru district is in the Western Ghats and there is a rich forest area here. There is 300-400 acres of land in a single survey number, and there is confusion because there is no joint survey. In this context, he told the officials to conduct a joint survey of forest and revenue land and try to resolve the problem quickly. The survey number in the certificate submitted to the Supreme Court as a deemed forest also includes houses, government schools, government buildings, and land plots. Now that we have finally got the opportunity to submit a report to the Supreme Court, we can submit a petition to the Supreme Court by conducting a proper survey and determining the amount of land eligible for abandonment, and by providing revenue land elsewhere as an alternative and cultivating a forest there, Ishwar Khandre Forest Minister also instructed that the deemed forest certificate, which was al-ready submitted to the Supreme Court in 2022, be uploaded on the department's of-ficial website to make it available to the public. Responding to the request of the MLAs that the current 10 km buffer zone around the bear sanctuary in Arsikere limits of Hassan district is also causing hardship to the farmers of Chikkamagaluru in the border area, the Minister said that a proposal has been submitted to reduce this limit to 1 km. He assured that this problem will be resolved soon. Forest, Ecology and Environment Minister Eshwar B Khandre, who convened a meeting to discuss the problems being faced by the common people due to Section 4 of the Forest Act and the affected forest notification in Chikkamagaluru district, was thanked by MLAs Rajegowda, Thammanna, Nayana Motamma, Srinivas and Anand who participated in the meeting. Forest Force Chief Meenakshi Negi, Chief Wildlife Warden Subhash Malkade, PCCF BP Ravi, Biswajit Mishra, Chikkamagaluru District Commissioner Meena Na-garaj and others participated in the meeting.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Joshimath lessons ignored: Rs 6,200cr Doon–Mussoorie elevated road may trigger another ecological disaster
Dr Rakesh Kapoor, a former special secretary to the government of Himachal Pradesh, is a geologist and an expert in integrated waste management The environmental casualties in Uttarakhand are now perhaps part of life. We haven't learnt lessons from the 2013 Kedarnath tragedy—Rishiganga, Joshimath, and Silkyara are happening repetitively. Cloudbursts and landslides have become common features. From hills to plains, the story is the same: unplanned growth, projects being conceived and implemented without envisioning the fear of environmental catastrophes. The proposal to widen VIP Road from Dila Ram Chowk to Raj Bhawan, taking a toll of 3,000 trees, and the proposed road from Rishikesh to Dehradun have been partially stalled only after thousands of citizens and environmentalists gathered to protest. The fire has still not been extinguished, but a new controversial chapter of an elevated road from Dehradun to Mussoorie—to cut travel time for tourists entering the hill state from Delhi-NCR and Western UP—has been opened. Even after a casual gaze at the proposal, it is clear that it has been mooted only with the aim of minting money through contracts. Because even today, the agency is not clear about who will finance and execute the proposal. It has raised more questions than it has answered on vital issues concerning environmental degradation, rehabilitation, and the real benefit of the project. Firstly, what is the real need for an elevated 26 km road corridor passing through part of Dehradun city? Is it just to save time for tourists from Delhi-NCR reaching Mussoorie and to attract more tourists to the Queen of Hills, especially on weekends? How much time are they going to save? At what cost is it going to be? Secondly, the Mussoorie Dehradun Development Authority (MDDA) and government either do not know or do not want to disclose the position of the land bank, ie the status of land—whether it is encroached upon by dwellers, government, forest, or private land—on which the project is to be implemented. If for a 26 km elevated road, 2,614 identified families are to be displaced, it comes out to be 100 families per km, or 1 family per 10 metres. Without assessing the implication of the plan cost—besides environmental cost assessment and its inclusion into the project cost—how is it going to be implemented? The government sources have confirmed that no proposal for providing land-for-land compensation to property owners instead of acquired land has been prepared at the state government level so far. The reported dichotomic brief of the MDDA VC in a section of the press is creating more confusion, as it envisages that the displaced 2,614 identified families shall have two options—either land-for-land or monetary compensation. When no plan has been finalised, neither the land bank nor site for allotment of land to rehabilitate displaced families has been demarcated, nor is there a Section 4 notification on land acquisition prescribed under the Act, despite it being mandatory—how will the displaced families exercise the option? Now comes a very vital point. The town of Mussoorie, during normal weekends, sees the entry of 4,000 to 5,000 vehicles, especially during the summer months, ie end of March to June, which causes traffic jams for hours together and chaotic situations often. Once the elevated road comes up, another 4,000 to 5,000 vehicles are going to be added to this lot. The town, as per reports, has parking capacity of only 2,000 four-wheelers and 1,500–2,000 two-wheelers altogether. The three new parking lots to add 2,000 to the present capacity are still hanging in the fire—either due to financial crunch or facing litigation since 2019. Now comes the most vital part of the project. The very foundation of the so-called Rs 6,200 crore project is belied by simple arithmetic. No denying the fact that even today, the Volvo buses plying between Delhi and Dehradun take just 270 to 275 minutes, despite the Dehradun–Delhi expressway not being fully operational. If you add another 60 minutes to reach Mussoorie via the bypass, anybody can reach it in 5 hours and 30 minutes even today. Even after the 26 km elevated road, traffic jams are bound to happen in the absence of parking spaces for the additional 4,000 to 5,000 vehicles entering Mussoorie. If tourists have to spend 2–3 hours in traffic jams, what's the point of arriving 30 minutes earlier? The Dehradun–Mussoorie ropeway project—aimed at finding a solution to the problem of traffic jams with just Rs 300 crore investment (which is in an advanced stage of execution as per the government's own claim)—shall not only save time, reduce environmental pollution, and add adventure to the journey for tourists, but also serve as an additional attraction. It seems more credible. The claim of making tourists reach Mussoorie in 4.5 hours from Delhi is belied by the project's design itself. As the elevated road Bindal–Rispna corridor shall land at a point near Max Hospital. Don't spread this misinformation about Delhi to Mussoorie in 2.5 hours. It will still take you about 7-odd hours with all these expressways and elevated corridors, assuming normal traffic flows. Let's take this example: you stay in GK or Model Town in Delhi and are coming to Uttarakhand: 60 minutes from your home to Akshardham, Delhi. 150 minutes from Akshardham to Asarodi, Dehradun (as claimed by the government). 30 minutes from Asarodi to the entry point of the new elevated corridors (assumed). 30 minutes on 26 km elevated corridors (once they are ready). 60 minutes from Max Hospital or Nagal in Dehradun to Mussoorie (Max & Nagal are points in Dehradun where the elevated corridor ends). You will also likely take a minimum of two breaks during this long journey. Add another 60 minutes for your breaks. The grand total is coming close to 6.5 to 7 hours. Today, without all these expressways and corridors, you are still reaching in about 7 to 8 hours. If there is just one hour of time saving, is it worth it to cut thousands of trees, create these mammoth monsters of cement, kill our rivers forever, ruin the skyline of Dehradun, and displace so many people? Why this fuss? The project is going to be an environmental and ecological disaster—besides being pound-foolish, penny-wise. We are going to add another Joshimath to the list. In Rs 6,200 crore, another hill town nearby could be developed for tourism purposes—if only that is the consideration. But it's beyond that—what we actually want and what we really need. Facebook Twitter Linkedin Email Disclaimer Views expressed above are the author's own.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Kalispell-based nonprofit sees federal funds pulled, then restored
May 13—Cassidy Kipp opened an email on March 6 to find out that federal dollars meant to help pay for renovating the Community Action Partnership of Northwest Montana's headquarters had abruptly been pulled. The nonprofit, of which Kipp is the director of project development, connects individuals across Northwest Montana with community programs like heating and rental assistance. It was using the money on its new location at 1820 U.S. 93 S. in Kalispell, which also houses a recently launched subsidized child care program. The email, which had come from an intermediary responsible for dolling out the dollars, said that "without warning and without consultation, all of the grants were pulled nationally." The money had been rescinded the week prior, according to the message. Kipp immediately halted work on the new facility. The Community Action Partnership relocated at the end of 2024 to a new building along U.S. 93. The organization was in the middle of pre-development planning to spruce up the new place when the funds were pulled. "We had an engineer working, we had landscape architects going in," she said. "Thankfully, we hadn't accrued a ton of expenses in that window of time, but we had to just terminate all efforts and pivot," she added. The two grants funding the project came from the Department of Housing and Urban Development's Section 4 competitive grant program, which is intended to help nonprofits carry out community development activities. Each grant amounted to between $40,000 and $60,000, according to Kipp. "We love those grants because they are capacity building grants," meaning they are meant to support the nonprofit's mission to provide services, Kipp said. But more than a month later, Kipp arrived in her office on April 29 to find another email: The grants had been reinstated. An official from the federal housing department told the Inter Lake that the grant program was halted for being out of compliance with President Donald Trump's spate of executive orders. Kipp said that the specific order the program was in violation of was "Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing," which Trump signed on Jan. 20. The federal agency told the Inter Lake that organizations could appeal the Section 4 grant revocations on a case-by-case basis. A national organization, Rural — Local Initiatives Support Corporation, which was responsible for distributing the grant funds, successfully appealed the cancellation, according to a post on the organization's website. "For over 30 years, [the Rural-Local Initiatives Support Corporation] has been a trusted steward of the Section 4 program—helping nonprofits grow, stabilize, and deepen their impact," read the post. Kipp said she is always looking for ways to make operations more efficient, but that the federal dollars funding building revitalization is not an example of wasteful spending or contributing to a woke agenda. "All we were trying to do with this particular programming is align with what the city requirements are for our campus space and to make sure that we are being a good neighbor," Kipp said. "We're talking about [eliminating] bunch grasses in the front yard, not about some woke agenda," she added. THE LEARNING Tree Preschool is a new low-income child care facility that can host up to 24 kids and holds story times, group music and cooperative games. Stockman Bank helped build a playground on the property, which also houses the Community Action Partnership's headquarters, said Kipp. The need for low-priced child care was identified in the nonprofit's annual community needs assessment. "It's a barrier that pops up time and time again, where people are constantly having to have that juggle of covering child care expenses and getting work," Kipp said. The Kalispell location is also home to a paid HVAC apprenticeship program. Participants conduct energy audits at homes and retrofit energy saving techniques like replacing windows, furnaces or woods stoves. "We're training young people to get out in the field," Kipp said. ALTHOUGH THE grants were restored, business is not as usual. Kipp said she remains on edge and will continue to be nimble with funding by finding ways to diversify revenue. "I think that everybody anticipates that there are still more cuts to come," she said. The nonprofit owns six different low-income apartment complexes, comprising of 152 units, most of which are dedicated toward seniors or individuals with a disabling condition, according to Kipp. Heating assistance remains the most used program, according to the nonprofit's end-of-year statistics. "What we found is that increasingly we are having more folks who are homeowners seeking help to alleviate things like heating burdens," she said. Reporter Jack Underhill may be reached at 758-4407 and junderhill@
Express Tribune
13-05-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Interchange redesign raises Ring Road cost
With 50% of the Rawalpindi Ring Road project completed, authorities have decided to redesign the Thalian Interchange into a broad-based structure to accommodate higher traffic volumes. This change comes after consultations with the National Highway Authority (NHA), as the interchange falls within its jurisdiction. As a result, the project's overall cost is now expected to escalate, with the contractor also demanding increased compensation due to construction cost escalations. Originally, the revised PC-1 for the project was approved at Rs33 billion by ECNEC, reduced from an earlier proposed Rs39b. However, due to the redesign of the Thalian Interchange, increased land acquisition, and rising construction costs, the budget is now projected to rise againpotentially reaching Rs39 to Rs40b. The contractor argues that the current rates date back to 2021, while costs in 2025 have significantly increased. The Ring Road, stretching 38.3 kilometers from GT Road Rawat (Banth Mor) to Thalian Motorway Interchange, is progressing rapidly. Under the execution of the Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA)'s Project Management Unit (PMU), and contracted to the Frontier Works Organization (FWO), the project includes five interchanges (Banth, Chak Beli Khan, Adiala Road, Chakri Road, and Thalian), two river bridges, seven nullah bridges, one railway bridge, 11 overpasses, 10 subways, and 53 culverts. In light of the redesign at Thalian, the RDA has been assigned to initiate Section 4 for acquiring additional land. The new interchange will not only handle current traffic more efficiently but also serve future expansion plans, particularly Phase 2 of the Ring Road. Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has set a deadline of December 2025 for the project's completion. Meanwhile, the proposal to establish economic zones along both sides of the Ring Road has yet to gain approval. The Rawalpindi and Islamabad Chambers of Commerce and Industry (CCIs), along with other business associations, continue to push for this initiative, considering it a potential game changer for economic development in the region.
Time of India
13-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
SC overturns CCI ruling against Schott Glass India after a decade
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel After over a decade, the Supreme Court on Tuesday finally rejected the Competition Commission of India 's decision that held Schott Glass India , a dominant supplier of neutral borosilicate glass tubes, guilty of abusing its dominant position by offering exclusionary volume-based discounts, imposing discriminatory contractual terms, and, on occasions, refusing ampoules and vials manufacturer Kapoor Glass , the complainant in the case, had alleged that Schott Glass had violated competition laws by resorting to discriminatory pricing and using its market dominance that disadvantaged downstream buyers like a now defunct Competition Appellate Tribunal's April 2014 decision that set aside the CCI's order imposing a fine of Rs 5.66 crore and asking Schott Glass to cease-and-desist from discriminatory practices, a Bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Prasanna B Varale held the CCI had relied on untested statements and pre-2009 correspondence and had not undertaking any 'credible assessment of harm.''…the omission of a proper harm analysis vitiates the CCI's order in limine. Because each of the alleged abuses has already been negatived on the facts, the appeals (filed by CCI and Kapoor Glass) must fail on this additional ground as well, the apex court held, adding that '…no appreciable adverse effect on competition is shown on the evidence marshalled by the COMPAT, converter growth, stable downstream prices, absence of foreclosure.'The SC enhanced the fine of Rs one lakh (imposed by COMPAT) to Rs five lakh on Kapoor Glass for its 'wholly unsubstantiated nature of the allegations and the prolonged litigation.' The costs have to be paid to Schott India within eight the judgment, senior counsel Percival Billimoria, who represented Schott India, 'Significantly, the judgment sets out the principle that an 'effects based' approach would be followed for Section 4 abuse of dominance cases. It is the first pronouncement on the law in such cases.'The bench said that the competition law is not designed to humble the successful or to clip the wings of enterprises that have, through industry and innovation, secured a commanding share of the true purpose of antitrust laws is to preserve the process of competition, i.e., to ensure that rivals may challenge the incumbent on the merits, that consumers enjoy the fruits of efficiency, and that technological progress is not stifled by artificial barriers, the judgment stated, adding that in today's global economic climate, prudence is vital.'If mere size or success were treated as an offence, and every dominant firm exposed to sanction without tangible proof of competitive harm, the law would defeat itself: it would freeze capital formation, penalise productivity, and ultimately impoverish the very public it is meant to protect,' according to Justice Nath, writing the judgment for the case had its genesis in a complaint lodged by Kapoor Glass in May 2010 alleging that Schott India, then the principal domestic manufacturer of neutral USP-I borosilicate glass tubing, had abused its dominant the CCI directed Director General's investigation in March 2011 had concluded that Schott India had violated Section 4 of the Competition Act, the Commission by a majority order of March 29, 2012 levied a penalty equal at a rate of 4% of Schott India's average of three years turnover equivalent to about Rs 5.66 crore and also issued a cease-and-desist order against Schott India from doing any discriminatory practices to any of the Schott India and Kapoor Glass challenged the appellate tribunal's order, with the latter reiterating its refusal-to-supply grievance. However, the COMPAT annulled the penalty on Schott India and held that the evidentiary material did not establish any abuse of dominant position.
