Latest news with #govt
Time of India
an hour ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Kerala high court seeks Centre's views on waiving of loans of Wayanad landslide victims
Kochi: Kerala high court has sought instructions from the central govt by June 11 on its position regarding waiving of the loans availed by those affected by the devastating landslides at Chooralmala and Mundakkai in Wayanad on July 30, 2024. Earlier, on April 10, the court had directed the central govt to consider whether the provisions of the Disaster Management Act (DMA) could be invoked to direct banks to waive of the loans of the landslide victims. On Friday, while considering the suo motu petition concerning the rehabilitation of the victims, the bench of Justices A K Jayasankaran Nambiar and P M Manoj noted that no further instructions had been received on the matter. The court, therefore, directed the deputy solicitor general to obtain and submit instructions. Meanwhile, amicus curiae submitted a report raising concerns over whether National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has approved any disaster management plan as mandated under the DMA. The report referred to a study conducted by NATPAC, which found that approximately 36% of national highways in Kerala are classified as unsafe. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Perdagangkan CFD Emas dengan Broker Tepercaya IC Markets Mendaftar Undo These high-risk zones include stretches passing through geologically sensitive regions such as Wayanad, Kasaragod and Idukki. The report also cited several incidents related to ongoing highway construction activities across the state. Upon reviewing the report, the court directed NHAI to submit a report in the matter by June 11. The petition has been adjourned to June 13 for further proceedings. The Kerala State Disaster Management Authority informed HC that debris removal work in the landslide-affected area commenced on April 15, beginning with the road stretch between the Bailey Bridge and the school. It was subsequently decided to extend the operation from the confluence of the Punnapuzha and Padavattipuzha rivers down to the Attamala region.
Time of India
14 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
K'taka transfers top DK cops, forms new force to nix communal trouble
Mangaluru/Bengaluru: Following communal tension and a spate of murders in the restive coastal Karnataka, the state govt Thursday night transferred Mangaluru City police commissioner Anupam Agarwal and Dakshina Kannada superintendent of police Yateesh N with immediate effect. The govt issued transfer order hours after announcing the formation of Communal Violence Control Force (CVCF) comprising personnel from Anti-Naxal Force (ANF). The new force will be deployed in Mangaluru, Udupi, and Shivamogga, the three districts witnessing heightened communal tension. The twin near-simultaneous developments follow a wave of resignations announced by ground-level workers of Congress minority wing in Dakshina Kannada over state govt's alleged failure to protect the minorities in coastal Karnataka. Several Muslim functionaries and office-bearers quit, accusing the govt of negligence and failing to safeguard the Muslim community amid recent targeted killings. Sources said the police transfer order was to send out a message that the govt is serious about ensuring law and order and no community should feel it's in jeopardy. The mass resignations were announced during an emergency meeting at Shadi Mahal auditorium in Bolar, Mangaluru, attended by both booth-level workers and senior workers. Party workers stormed the stage, demanding justice for Abdul Rahiman, secretary of Kolathamajalu mosque who was brutally murdered recently. KPCC general secretary MS Mohammed, DK district Congress minority unit president Shahul Hameed and former corporator Abdul Rauf were present at the meeting, which descended into chaos. Emotional scenes unfolded as leaders struggled to calm the agitated crowd. Workers accused the leadership of backtracking after initially deciding to postpone their resignations. Under intense pressure, Suhail Kandak, who was state secretary in Youth Congress, was the first to quit as a member of the party, triggering a chain reaction. Amid uproar, CM Siddaramaiah in Bengaluru issued a stern warning. "We will take action as per law against anyone involved in it irrespective of how influential that person is. No one is above the law. Law alone is above all," he declared. To address the escalating crisis, the government has repurposed part of the ANF, now largely dormant following a decline in Naxal activity in Karnataka. Of the 648 existing posts in the ANF, 248 will be allocated to the new force. The govt order on Thursday said, "The new STF will have three companies and they will be established in Udupi, Shivamogga and Mangaluru districts." According to the order, the Communal Violence Control Force will include an intelligence unit with a technical cell to monitor hate speech and communal activity across media and social platforms. It will also focus on early-warning systems, outreach programmes, and monitoring radicalisation. The DG&IGP will oversee deployment of CVCF personnel during communal riots. The remaining 376 ANF staffers will continue in service for three more years due to intelligence inputs that Maoists may be shifting from Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand to Karnataka's border regions. Home minister G Parameshwara said the Mangaluru murder had forced the government into immediate action. "We will take action without any hesitation. If such incidents keep recurring, we cannot remain silent. We will further tighten the law," he said. He reiterated that Mangaluru, Udupi, and Shivamogga will be treated as sensitive zones. "We will focus more attention on these three districts," he said. "If hatred spreads, what will remain of society? How can people live in such an environment? The government will not stay silent." Parameshwara added that investigations into the Mangaluru murder have revealed disturbing details. "Serious information has come to light, and action will be taken accordingly." He also appealed to political leaders to help restore peace. "If they try to provoke people, how can peace be maintained? I have instructed officials to hold peace meetings with religious leaders," he said.
Time of India
a day ago
- General
- Time of India
State's first biodiversity plan focuses on climate resilience
Panaji: The first ever Goa State Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (GSBSAP) draft has been released by govt for public consultation. The plan has been framed after a massive exercise with various sub-committees working under a 45-member committee. The biodiversity plan not only documents the state's biodiversity in minute detail but also proposes a strategy to drive the conservation of the state's resources by linking them to livelihood for local populations. This is expected to give the local populations a further incentive to conserve. The GSBSAP contains separate chapters on the conservation of the biodiversity of coastal, marine, and vulnerable ecosystems. Dedicated chapters address sustainable development planning for rural and urban areas, climate change, traditional knowledge, mid-plains, forest areas, and agri biodiversity among others. The sub-committee on wetlands and water bodies has said that a sea level rise could pose a threat to Goa's mangroves. 'The average sea level rise trends in Goa has seen an increase at the rate of 1.45mm per year from the period of 1969-2013,' the draft said. It said if this affects the mangroves, nesting sites of species like olive ridley turtles will be lost and the mangrove forest ecosystem will change due to the loss of saline-intolerant species. The sub-committee on avifauna has said that due to climate change, Goa has become vulnerable to forest fires which pose a threat to bird habitats such as those on Pilerne and Socorro plateaus. Drought-tolerant crops/crop varieties appropriate for Goa should be promoted, the sub-committee on climate change has recommended. 'Despite significant progress in the agricultural sector, climate extremes periodically result in losses to livelihoods and yields that produce distress in the farming community,' the draft said. 'Hence long-term measures are needed to develop climate-resilient agriculture production systems that can contribute to food security and poverty reduction.' The Goa State Biodiversity Board will keep the plan open for public suggestions and objections till July 22. The draft has been made available on the board's website, member secretary of the board Pradip Sarmokadam has said.
News18
a day ago
- Politics
- News18
News18 Afternoon Digest: Rajnath's Statement on PoK, Man Held For Spying For ISI & Other Top Stories
Last Updated: Rajnath Singh said PoK residents are Indians and will return to India. Rajasthan employee Shakur Khan Manganiyar was arrested for spying for ISI and visited Pakistan seven times. News18 Afternoon Digest: In today's afternoon digest, we are covering Rajnath Singh's big statement on PoK residents, Rajasthan govt employee arrested for spying for ISI and other top stories. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday said those residing in the Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK) are India's own people and will one day return to the country, saying that they are Indians. Addressing an event in New Delhi, Rajnath Singh also said that India could have done much more when retaliating to Pakistan's terror attacks, and that we exercised restraint with power during the 'Operation Sindoor'. Read more Rajasthan Govt Employee Arrested For Spying For ISI, Visited Pakistan 7 Times A Rajasthan government employee has been arrested in Jaisalmer for allegedly spying for Pakistan's ISI, amid a nationwide crackdown on espionage networks across the country after the May 7-10 Operation Sindoor. The arrested employee was identified as Shakur Khan Manganiyar, who was picked up by a joint team of CID and intelligence agencies from his office in Jaisalmer. Khan, who was employed with the state's employment department, may be shifted to Jaipur for further questioning. Read more Elon Musk Pressured Trump Team to Kill OpenAI's UAE Deal, White House Ignored Him: Report Renowned actor and politician Kamal Haasan seems to have unwittingly waded into a controversy over the origin of Kannada language. At a promotion of his new movie 'Thug Life", Haasan said that Kannada came from Tamil implying that Tamil is the mother language of Kannada. He made this highly controversial statement in the presence of Kannada actor Shivarajkumar, son of thespian, the late Rajkumar. Read more Air Chief Marshal AP Singh on Thursday highlighted the use of technology in warfare and stated that India's recent anti-terror operation, codenamed as 'Operation Sindoor' was conducted very professionally. Giving an interesting Salman Khan-style twist to India's resolute of maximising the use of Indian made defence equipment, the Air Chief Marshal said, 'Ek baar jo humne commitment kar diya to fir, hum apne aap ki bhi nahi sunta…(Once I make a commitment, I don't even listen to myself afterwards)." Read more First Published: May 29, 2025, 14:07 IST
Time of India
a day ago
- Politics
- Time of India
HC reserves order on petition seeking stay on S+4 floor policy in Gurugram
GURUGRAM : Punjab and Haryana high court has reserved its order on a petition seeking a stay on construction of four floors with stealth parking — also called S+4 floor buildings — in the city's residential areas. The matter, which drew widespread attention due to its potential impact on urban infrastructure and the environment, was heard by the division bench led by the chief justice. The petition was filed by Sunil Singh, a resident of Sushant Lok, who challenged the July 2024 notification issued by the department of town and country planning (DTCP) that permits the construction of four floors on residential plots. The petitioner also accused the govt of ignoring its responsibility to upgrade basic amenities like sewage, water supply and roads before implementing the policy. Singh argued that this decision was taken without any assessment of existing infrastructure capacity or environmental impact. During the hearing, the petitioner's counsel questioned the validity of the expert committee report that recommended allowing four floors. The counsel also highlighted the lack of environmental assessment in the decision-making process. "This policy is not in the interest of the common residents but rather serves the interests of builders," he said, adding that the unchecked vertical expansion was disturbing the city's planned layout and livability. He informed the court that while DTCP collected approximately Rs 1,100 crore through additional FAR and other development charges, no significant infrastructure improvement was made. The court, on March 24, refused to grant interim relief. The petitioner then moved Supreme Court, which acknowledged the seriousness of the issue and directed HC to reconsider the matter. HC then held a detailed hearing on Thursday and Friday, after which it reserved its order on the interim relief last week. The counsel pointed out that most of the residential colonies in the city had their service plans approved based on a population density of 13.5 persons per plot. However, the four-floor policy would increase the density to 18 persons, putting pressure on already stretched infrastructure. Additionally, the July 2024 notification of the DTCP was also challenged during the hearing. In HC reserving the verdict, it will be crucial to determine whether the controversial four-floor policy will remain in effect or face suspension. The decision is awaited by residents, builders and planning authorities alike.
