Latest news with #WorldBank-funded
Time of India
2 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
Med camp for workers at treatment plant
Ludhiana: A health camp for workers was organised at the site of the water treatment plant (WTP) in Sahnewal's Bilga village Sunday. A total of 142 labourers/workers underwent general health and eye check-ups at the camp. The check-ups were done by a specialist team from community health centre, Sahnewal. It was led by doctors Kavita Kamal and Namrata. Ensuring full compliance with health and safety protocols, the initiative aimed to ensure the well-being of on-site workers through early diagnosis and preventive care. The camp was organised by the social safeguard and health and safety departments of Ludhiana Urban Water and Wastewater Management Ltd and the contractor firm. The world-class WTP is being set up as part of the World Bank-funded canal-based water supply project for Ludhiana city.
Business Recorder
3 days ago
- Business
- Business Recorder
Probe into power projects: Senate panel for action against PD for providing ‘misleading' info
ISLAMABAD: The Senate Standing Committee on Economic Affairs has recommended the Economic Affairs Division (EAD) taking action against the Power Division for allegedly providing misleading information during an inquiry initiated by the former caretaker Federal Minister for Energy. The inquiry pertains to the ACSR Bunting Conductor tender and the World Bank-funded 765kV Dasu-Islamabad Transmis-sion Line Project (Lot-1). According to official documents, Additional Secretary Power Division, Imtiaz Hussain Shah, informed the Committee on June 30, 2025, that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had confirmed no Power of Attorney (PoA) related to Chinese firms M/s Henan Tong-DA Cable Co. Ltd. or M/s Jiangsu Zhongtian Technology Co. Ltd. was submitted to the Pakistani Embassy in Beijing for verification. The Embassy also clarified that since Pakistan joined the Apostille Convention in November 2024, such attestations are no longer required through diplomatic channels. HUBCO proposes $51mn investment in Thar-based coal projects The Committee, chaired by Senator Saif Ullah Abro, directed the EAD and Power Division to directly contact the companies involved to determine whether they had ever submitted such documents. In its session, the Committee was also briefed on the submission of records for a special audit into the ACSR Bunting Conductor case. These were handed over to the Auditor General's office on June 4, 2025. Regarding the high-voltage Dasu–Islamabad Transmis-sion Line (Lot-1), the Power Division shared that the internal inquiry led by GM NGC Muhammad Mustafa had recommended referring the matter to the World Bank. The Bank, in response, confirmed that the procurement process was conducted in line with its guidelines. However, the Committee expressed concern over a potential cover-up. Officials from the Power Division failed to present the supplementary report that supposedly formed the basis for communication with the World Bank. Instead, they showed only a letter written by a former senior official, which the Committee suspects was intended to conceal irregularities. The panel demanded all correspondence relating to that letter and clarified that under World Bank procurement regulations, the borrower (in this case, Pakistan) holds full responsibility for the procurement process. The Committee was told that no formal inquiry report was ever prepared or submitted by former caretaker Energy Minister Muhammad Ali, despite his active role as head of an internal investigation committee. Power Division officials stated they had only heard about an unsigned report, which was never officially shared. The Committee was visibly shocked and questioned how the former Minister was able to present conclusions at a Senate Standing Committee meeting on February 20, 2024, without a documented report. It directed the Power Division to locate and submit even an unsigned copy of the inquiry findings and recommended that EAD take disciplinary action against the Power Division for providing misleading information in this matter. The Committee further advised EAD to seek clarification on how both the former caretaker Minister and the then Secretary of the Power Division—members of the inquiry committee—could act with such negligence, allegedly concealing facts about financial and procedural irregularities in key power sector tenders. On the issue of recovering Rs 1.282 billion from a contractor involved in the 765kV Dasu–Islamabad Grid Station (Lot-IV), the Committee clarified that the NTDC Board was not authorized to conduct an independent inquiry. It recalled earlier discussions confirming that the disputed amount was not to be considered in the bid evaluation, per the bidding documents. The Committee instructed EAD to formally write to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) to ensure recovery of the Rs 1.282 billion from the lowest bidder in line with earlier recommendations. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
New Indian Express
5 days ago
- General
- New Indian Express
WRD plans fresh round of evictions along Cooum, Adyar rivers and Buckingham canal
CHENNAI: In line with Madras High Court directions, another round of evictions is likely along the Cooum and Adyar rivers, and the Buckingham canal. This eviction drive will also include families residing along the Cooum who were allotted land under the World Bank-funded MUDP scheme. The Tamil Nadu Urban Habitat Development Board (TNUHDB) had told the court that though allotments were made by the board, sale deeds have not been issued to the beneficiaries as the land under the scheme have not yet been transferred to the board so far. TNUHDB said the scheme area remains with the Public Works Department. The order by Justice GR Swaminathan stated, when the area occupied by the petitioners is a waterbody, they have to vacate it and the only remedy they can seek is alternative accommodation. 'The high court has been constantly directing us to restore Chennai rivers and Buckingham Canal after removing the encroachments. But we are not sure if we will be able to resettle encroachers within the deadline given to us,' a senior WRD official told TNIE. The official said that out of 15,526 families living in 60 habitations along the Cooum river, 14,121 families from 52 habitations have already been relocated till April this year. 'Efforts are on to shift the remaining families,' he said. As for the Adyar river, out of 9,539 identified encroachments, only 4,728 locations have been cleared so far. In another order earlier this month, Justice Swaminathan directed TNUHDB to carry out an enumeration of families at Srinivasapuram in Pattinampakkam and evict them within eight weeks, and provide them alternate housing arrangements. The court called the settlement an 'illegal extension' of TNUHDB habitation in the area constructed between 1970 and 1977 in the Adyar creek and on the coastline. Another official pointed out that a feasibility report costing Rs 3.87 crore has been submitted for the demarcation of the Adyar, Cooum, and Buckingham Canal using Differential Global Positioning System (DGPS), under the Chennai Rivers Restoration Trust (CRRT) fund. 'In addition, CRRT has approved Rs 11.93 crore for boundary demarcation works along the Buckingham Canal, and the work is already underway,' he said. 'We believe once the government releases funds, the remaining work can be taken up quickly,' an official noted. M Janaki, chief engineer of WRD (Chennai region), refused to comment on the issue.
Time of India
14-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Modi to inaugurate Bairabi-Sairang railway on request of Mizoram CM
1 2 3 4 Aizawl: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on the request of Mizoram chief minister Lalduhoma on Monday, said he will personally undertake inauguration of the newly constructed 51.38km-long Bairabi-Sairang railway at the Sairang station at a convenient time, an official statement said. Lalduhoma met Modi at the latter's official residence in Delhi and asked him to inaugurate the Bairabi-Sairang road and the Sairang Rail station in the outskirts of Aizawl. Sources in the Northeastern Frontier Railway (NFR) said the PM is likely to inaugurate the newly constructed railway line by the end of July as safety inspection by the commissioner of railway safety (CRS) and trial run along the entire railway had already been completed. During the meeting, the two leaders discussed wide ranging issues, including fallout of the recent conflict in the Chin state effecting Mizoram. They also discussed the proposed Thenzawl Peace City Project, 'Hand-holding scheme' — the flagship programme of the present Zoram People's Movement (ZPM) govt and upgrading the World Bank-funded Aizawl to Thenzawl road into a national highway. Lalduhoma also raised the issue of the Rs 9,265 crore northeast grid national gas pipeline project being undertaken by the Indradhanush Gas Grid Limited (IGGL). The completion of this project will revolutionise cooking gas usage with the people of Aizawl city availing piped gas connection. The PM in turn said he wanted the deputy commissioner of Mamit district bordering Tripura to speed up the construction of the pipeline as it will be going through the district.
Time of India
12-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Well, well, well... no surface water, third tender goes dryLudhiana civic body faces challenges in finalising contractor for surface water supply project under world bank and amrut schemes.
Ludhiana: City's plan to replace its groundwater-dependent water supply with treated canal water has hit a snag, as civic officials struggle to finalise a contractor for the pilot phase of the ₹50 crore project backed by the World Bank and AMRUT 2.0 schemes. The Municipal Corporation has now floated tenders for the third time — after unsuccessful bids in April and May — to develop demo zones for the transition, despite construction in progress at a water treatment plant in Bilga village and associated overhead tanks. The demo zones, intended to test the system before citywide rollout, will include 14,000 homes across six localities. These zones are split between the two schemes: Jagat Nagar, Laxmi Nagar, Tarsem Colony, and Silver City under the AMRUT scheme; and Urban Estate Dugri Phases 1 and 2 and Urban Estate Phases 1 and 2 along Chandigarh Road under the World Bank-funded canal water plan. Currently, Ludhiana draws an estimated 450 million litres of water daily from underground sources via tube wells. Officials say the new surface water system will not only provide the city with a more sustainable supply but also ensure uninterrupted access throughout the day. As part of the pilot, water meters may be installed in households, although billing remains undecided. Many residents benefit from exemptions. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Why seniors are rushing to get this Internet box – here's why! Techno Mag Learn More Undo "We want to understand usage patterns first," said an official, "and only later will the state decide if billing is necessary." Municipal commissioner Aaditya Dachalwal said the demo zone will help address unforeseen technical challenges. "We are trying again and again to find a suitable contractor to handle this work," he said. "Hopefully, we will succeed this time." The broader goal, as civic authorities claim, is to modernise water infrastructure, improve delivery, and reduce ecological pressure on groundwater sources. MSID:: 122405570 413 |
