Latest news with #SureshPujari
New Indian Express
9 hours ago
- Business
- New Indian Express
PMAY beneficiaries to get two tractor-loads of sand free: Odisha Min Pujari
BHUBANESWAR: In a move to reduce financial burden of the poor and low income group people, especially beneficiaries of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY), the state government on Saturday announced to provide two tractor-loads of sand free of cost for house construction. Informing the decision, Revenue Minister Suresh Pujari told mediapersons that a proposal is also being drafted to ensure supply of sand to people at reasonable rates for house construction. 'The government has decided to issue permit to poor and low income group people to get sand free of cost ensuring that affordable housing becomes a reality. This will reduce the construction cost of the poor people especially the PMAY beneficiaries,' the minister said. At the same time, sand prices will be regulated to make it affordable for different income groups who depend on local suppliers and dealers, mostly dominated by the sand mafia. 'Illegal mining of sand from riverbed by sand mafia and sometime by the Water Resources department for general purpose, and transportation of sand using heavy vehicles like Hyva trucks are the other areas of concern. The government will take a call on the two issues soon,' Pujari said.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Govt committed to win people's heart in Kotia: Pujari
1 2 Bhubaneswar: Revenue and disaster management minister Suresh Pujari on Friday asserted the govt is committed to winning the hearts of the people in the disputed Kotia region, for which Odisha and Andhra Pradesh have been in a legal tussle over jurisdiction for over six decades. Pujari, who leads a newly formed 16-member committee dedicated to the development of Kotia, chaired the panel's inaugural meeting. "A comprehensive road map for the region's all-round development will be prepared within a month. The govt aims to ensure that the people of Kotia have access to quality education, healthcare and market linkages for local farmers and traders," he said. "Some of the decisions taken by the committee can't be made public at this stage. However, people would see its outcome in the days to come," Pujari stated, emphasising that Kotia is an inseparable part of Odisha. He assured that the govt is committed to doing everything necessary to win the people's hearts. The meeting also reviewed steps taken by the previous BJD govt and called for an action taken report on recommendations from a House committee that previously visited Kotia. The minister highlighted the need to review the legal position and pending cases to bring the dispute to a logical conclusion. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like People Born 1940-1975 With No Life Insurance Could Be Eligible For This Reassured Get Quote Undo The committee, formed on May 23, marks a significant step towards addressing the long-standing border dispute. Pujari emphasised the focus on developing the neglected region while promoting 'Odia Asmita' and resolving the dispute. He acknowledged the complexity of the issue but expressed confidence in finding a lasting solution. The Kotia dispute, dating back to the 1960s, involves 21 of 28 villages with a population of around 5,000. Odisha filed a petition in Supreme Court in 2021 against Andhra Pradesh for violating a 1968 status quo order. The SC previously ruled in 2006 that only Parliament could determine states' territorial jurisdictions. The Pujari-led committee has been tasked with recommending steps for Kotia's development and the structure of an integrated development agency for the area. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Eid wishes , messages , and quotes !
Time of India
4 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
AEC gets Pujari's custody in 1 crore extortion case
Mumbai: The Anti-Extortion Cell of Mumbai Crime Branch has obtained the custody of extradited gangster Suresh Pujari in a case of allegedly demanding Rs 1 crore from a Vakola-based car dealer in 2021. Police said that they want to record Pujari's voice and match with the recorded conversation where the caller threatened the car dealer. Additional chief metropolitan magistrate G R Dhepe said, "The voice sample of the accused is to be taken. The detailed investigation in respect of co-accused is to be carried out and co-accused, if any, are to be arrested. The accused has used an international mobile number to threaten the complainant. The grounds appear to be satisfactory to grant police custody remand." Police claimed Pujari made several threatening calls to the car dealer between March and June 2021, demanding Rs 1 crore. The calls were allegedly made from international numbers which have now been traced during technical surveillance. Police said the complainant had recorded one of the calls on his mobile phone, and this recording was examined in the presence of two panch witnesses, and the voice was identified by the complainant as that of Pujari. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Promoções imperdíveis de voos baratos Voos | Anúncios de Pesquisa Saiba Mais Undo The mobile phone has since been seized as evidence. Pujari is currently lodged in Thane Central Jail in connection with cases under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act and the Arms Act. Of the 31 offences against Pujari, 17 are registered in Mumbai alone. Pujari, who was deported from the Philippines in 2022, hails from Malpe in Karnataka. He allegedly had eight passports in fake names.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
About 300 revenue officers in Odisha issued show-cause notices for land sale norms flout
BHUBANESWAR : State govt has issued show-cause notices to around 300 govt employees posted as district sub-registrars (DSRs) in the past 10 years, who are involved in suspected irregularities in land sales, revenue, and disaster management, revenue minister Suresh Pujari said here on Tuesday. "Officers who were on DSR duty between 2014 and 2024 and indulged in illegal activities are facing disciplinary proceedings. Some of them even faced criminal charges and are in jail," he said. There are 217 sub-registrar offices and 30 DSR offices in the state. Several cases of land fraud and illegalities involving DSRs have been reported in the past year. In March, a DSR and four brokers in Sambalpur were arrested for land fraud to acquire land of a deceased person through impersonation. Most irregularities, however, involve allowing the registration of sub-plots (part of a land parcel) without the approval of development authorities, which is not allowed after the enactment of the Registration ( Odisha Amendment) Act, 2013. In April, the govt recommended action against 18 sub-registrars for illegally registering sub-plots in Bhubaneswar. More than 3 lakh sub-plots were registered since 2014 without the permission of the development authorities. The minister said to prevent such wrongdoings, the govt is now focusing on greater use of technology and smart surveillance systems in every DSR office. "We are reviewing the reports periodically," the minister said. He was speaking to media persons ahead of a workshop of tehsildars and sub-collectors scheduled here on Wednesday. CM Mohan Charan Majhi is scheduled to inaugurate the workshop. Pujari said 317 tehsildars and 58 sub-collectors will attend the workshop physically, while revenue divisional commissioners, district collectors and other employees of the department, such as revenue inspectors and amins, will attend digitally. "During the workshop, there will be interactions with officials on their workplace difficulties and the govt's priorities so that we achieve the desired outcomes in the days to come," the minister said. Revenue department officials have been asked to come to the workshop with progress reports of their work. One year's work of the tehsils will be reviewed. "Three districts and five tehsils that have excelled in their services, such as issuance of records of rights to the landless, giving land rights to tribals and people displaced by projects, and land acquisition for railway, highway and industrial projects, will be awarded during the event," he said. "After the tehsildar workshops, a DSR workshop will also be held soon," he added.
New Indian Express
4 days ago
- Business
- New Indian Express
Odisha government assures rabi crop loss compensation to farmers
BHUBANESWAR: As the low pressure-induced pre-monsoon rains have caused significant damage to rabi crops in several districts, the state government on Tuesday said compensation will be provided to the affected farmers as early as possible. The crop loss situation was reviewed at a high-level meeting attended by deputy chief minister-cum-Agriculture minister KV Singh Deo, Revenue and Disaster Management minister Suresh Pujari and Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare minister Krushna Chandra Patra at Lok Seva Bhawan here. After the meeting, Pujari told mediapersons that instructions have been issued to all district collectors to send reports on crop damage within the next three to four days. He said reports have already started arriving from some of the districts. After assessment of the extent of damage, the government will send the reports to the insurance companies to pay the compensation to farmers covered under Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY).
