Latest news with #DP
Time of India
a day ago
- Business
- Time of India
PCMC cancels Charholi town planning scheme after CM's directive
Pune: The Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation officially cancelled the proposed town planning (TP) schemes for Charholi on Wednesday, following a directive from chief minister Devendra Fadnavis to the civic administration to withdraw the plan in the light of strong opposition from residents. Civic officials said the proposal to cancel the TP schemes was approved in the general body meeting by municipal commissioner and administrator Shekhar Singh on Wednesday. "Town planning schemes are meant for planned development. When landowners themselves are opposing it, it is not appropriate to proceed," a Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) official said. Fadnavis had said during his visit to the city on Wednesday, "The govt will not implement any project without taking people into confidence." He emphasised the importance of inclusive planning, particularly in a rapidly growing city like Pimpri Chinchwad, where development needs to be envisioned with a 50-year perspective. Residents argued that they lost a significant portion of land for various development works under the Development Plan (DP). They claimed that the new TP schemes would further reduce their landholding. Local political leaders also opposed the plan, pointing out that similar schemes had not been very successful in other parts of the state and could delay the development in Charholi. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Free P2,000 GCash eGift UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo "A revised draft of the DP for Pimpri Chinchwad has been published. It includes reservation for several amenities in the Charholi and Chikhali areas. Hence, a separate TP scheme was not needed," said a resident. Earlier, PCMC proposed five TP schemes in Charholi, spanning over 1,425 hectares. A strong resistance from residents, including a call for a "bandh" and a dramatic protest where residents climbed up a water tank, prompted the civic body to initially pause the scheme. The demand for a permanent cancellation of the schemes led to the final decision announced on Wednesday. A similar TP scheme proposed for the Chikhali area over 380 hectares was also cancelled following opposition from residents.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Narrower Roads, Vanishing Spaces: 186 Public Utility Plots Deleted In Nagpur DP Revision
Nagpur: In a city where even the widest roads now feel choked due to rampant roadside parking, the deletion of 23 reserved parking plots from Nagpur's Development Plan (DP) is raising serious alarm. The irony runs deeper — as vehicular population surges and traffic congestion worsens, the civic body has quietly erased 186 plots originally earmarked for key public amenities, including those meant to ease urban pressure. Nearly 25 years after Nagpur Improvement Trust (NIT) crafted the 2000 DP to ensure a liveable and well-serviced city, the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) is now revising that vision — but not without controversy. A detailed review of the 2000 DP reveals that reservations for playgrounds, parks, schools, health centres, fire stations, libraries, markets, and even plots for CRPF camps and air cargo hubs have been axed or merged — with little public explanation. The 2000 DP had earmarked 882 plots specifically for such civic infrastructure. These included 86 land parcels for parking, 166 for playgrounds, 23 for sports activities, 26 for gardens, and 11 for fire stations — reflecting a conscious attempt to create a balanced and accessible urban environment. However, in the revised draft, only about 696 of these reservations may remain. Over the years, the NMC reportedly deleted the reservations. Among the most heavily affected are playgrounds (27 deletions), parking lots (23), 13 primary schools, 10 secondary schools, 9 parks, and 8 gardens. Notably, several of these vanished plots were located in newly developing localities — precisely where public infrastructure is urgently needed. The revised Development Plan is being formulated to earmark land for public amenities such as playgrounds, parking spaces, and schools, based on projected population growth over the next 20 years. However, Nagpur's vehicular population has already crossed 21 lakh, putting immense pressure on the existing infrastructure. In response, NMC has begun designating on-street parking zones across 51 roads in the city, which can collectively accommodate about 17,500 vehicles — including 13,500 two-wheelers and 4,000 four-wheelers. Urban planners argue this is a reactive move that falls far short of addressing long-term mobility needs in a rapidly growing city. Urban planners and citizen groups warn the deletions will not only accelerate inequity but also push Nagpur further away from its Smart City goals. "You can build flyovers and lay expressways, but without parks, schools, and clinics, urban life becomes unsustainable," said a former NIT planner who was part of the original DP team. "By deleting these reservations, we are dismantling the civic architecture of the future. " Even spaces reserved for the dis-housed, slaughterhouses, and an ambitious air cargo hub near the airport have disappeared from the plan, highlighting a trend where real estate pressures appear to be outweighing public needs. A former town planner from the NMC admitted that some plots in the 2000 DP may have overlapped with previously allotted residential land, which was challenged in the high court. "Yes, the earlier DP had its flaws. But it at least acknowledged the city's long-term needs. The new deletions seem less about corrections and more about commercial convenience," he said. Citizens are now urging the NMC to restore these reservations or provide adequate substitutions. "Once these plots are deregulated, they're lost forever to private developers. No one comes back later and sets up a school or park," said a housing rights activist. With the draft DP currently open for public suggestions and objections, pressure is mounting on the NMC to clarify its rationale and ensure transparency in the planning process. "City planning isn't just about land use — it's about people's right to a dignified life," said a member of a local civic group. "Those 186 missing plots aren't numbers. They are lost opportunities for a fairer, healthier, and more liveable Nagpur. " Unless rectified, planners warn, the revised DP could transform Nagpur into a dense, concrete city — efficient in form, but hollow in function.
India.com
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- India.com
Meet Pakistan's richest Hindu, his name is also in the Guinness Book of World Records for..., his name is..., net worth is...
Meet Pakistan's richest Hindu, his name is also in the Guinness Book of World Records for..., his name is..., net worth is... Hindus form the largest religious minority in Pakistan, making up approximately 2.17 per cent of the total population, with the majority residing in Sindh. Among them, Deepak Perwani has risen to prominence as both an acclaimed fashion designer and a successful businessman. Deepak was born in 1973 in Mirpur Khas, a city in the Sindh province of Pakistan. He belongs to the Hindu Sindhi community. Deepak started his career in fashion and slowly made a big name for himself. His flashy fashion life started in 1996 when he set up his own couture house, 'DP (Deepak Perwani),' which specialized in bridal and formal wear. Over the years, he has been awarded many, both locally and globally, with, for example, being named the sixth-best fashion designer in the world in 2014 at the Bulgarian Fashion Awards. Additionally, he has won multiple Lux Style Awards, BFA Awards, and the Indus Style Guru Award. In fact, he is one of the most famous designers in Pakistan. Apart from fashion, Deepak has also acted in a few Pakistani dramas and films like Yeh Zindagi Hai, Meri Jaan, Very Filmy, and Punjab Nahi Jaungi. Perwani has also served as Pakistan's cultural ambassador to China and Malaysia. In 2022, a report said that his total wealth was about Rs. 71 crore. That makes him the richest Hindu in Pakistan. Deepak also made a world record. He created the world's biggest kurta (a traditional long shirt). For this, his name was added to the Guinness Book of World Records. Earlier this year, in an interview with Aamna Haider on her show Something Haute , Mr Perwani shared his candid views on the contrasting realities of life in Pakistan and India. He highlighted stark differences between the two countries, particularly in terms of freedom, happiness and infrastructure. He also pointed out how cities in India felt more pedestrian-friendly compared to Pakistan. Perwani's views have divided Pakistani social media users. While some accused him of being unpatriotic, others viewed his statements as a sobering reflection of reality. Today, Deepak Perwani is seen as a symbol of success for minorities in Pakistan. His cousin, Naveen Perwani, a world-famous snooker player with international fame, is also among the richest people, with an estimated net worth of around Rs 60 crore.
Asia Times
5 days ago
- Politics
- Asia Times
Lee's election in S Korea: The time for wishful thinking has come
South Korea has a new President. President Lee Jae-myung is a lifelong leftist with an affinity for the People's Republic of China and North Korea, and has no great love for the United States. He has referred to American troops in South Korea as 'occupiers' and said China should do what it wants to Taiwan. Lee apparently likes North Korea enough to put money down. He currently faces charges for involvement in sending $8 million to North Korea while he was governor of Gyeonggi Province. His deputy has already been convicted. However, during the recent election campaign Lee talked up the US-ROK alliance and three-way US-ROK-Japan security cooperation. Thus, many American observers claim Lee is a pragmatist and a centrist, and will govern as such. Maybe. But as likely it reflects a tendency towards wishful thinking on the part of America's foreign policy class when a certain type of radical leader comes along. The same was said about Hugo Chavez in Venezuela, Turkey's Recep Erdogan, Solomon Islands' Manasseh Sogavare, Zimbabwe's Robert Mugabe, Nicaragua's Daniel Ortega and Cuba's Fidel Castro. Even Xi Jinping was mentioned as a reformer who just needed to solidify his position before liberalizing the PRC. But maybe these sort of men mean what they say beyond the soothing language intended for Western elites when on the verge of taking power. As for Lee, forget what he said on the campaign trial, and look at his new prime minister, Kim Min-seok. Kim was a Seoul National University radical student leader in the 1980s and joined the illegal occupation of the Seoul American Cultural Center in 1985. He was jailed for three years due to his anti-state and pro-North Korea activities. The Americans once refused to give him a visa, and he is said to have claimed the Americans were behind Covid. One recalls candidate Barack Obama who promised to 'unify' a divided United States. Once elected, he appointed Chicago political operative Rahm Emanuel as chief of staff. And America got Chicago politics at the national level. Rule #1 of Chicago politics: crush your opponents. Rule #2: do whatever it takes to keep power—forever. Don't expect centrist, conciliatory policies from Lee. Rather, we'll soon see Lee's pogrom against his opponents – to include anyone with the nerve to have called for honest elections. Lee's Democratic Party of Korea (DP) has an overwhelming majority in the national assembly – likely obtained by questionable means. He can do whatever he wants, and packing the Supreme Court appears on the menu. Lee's calls for 'restoring democracy' and unifying the nation in his inaugural speech give chutzpah a bad name. He and the DP spent the entire two years of Yoon's administration making it impossible for Yoon to govern and enact his policies. This went well beyond sharp-elbowed politics found in a normal country. Instead, it was intended to cause chaos. Nearly 30 impeachments of Yoon and his officials? Zeroing out Yoon's budget requests and more? Not exactly the behavior of a loyal opposition. Rather, Lee's election is one more episode in a years-long effort by South Korean radicals to establish single-party rule in South Korea – and align with the PRC, North Korea and even Russia. The original impeachment resolution against former president Yoon accused him of 'antagonizing North Korea, China, and Russia' and 'adhering to a bizarre Japan-centered foreign policy.' Sometimes people tell you what they really think – if you'll listen. Is this the end of the US-ROK alliance? It won't collapse tomorrow, and still has resilience. But any relationship is on shaky ground when key figures on one side dislike the other side – and would rather hook up with their partner's main rivals. Everything will get more difficult for Washington in Northeast Asia, and easier for Beijing, which has been pressuring and insinuating itself into South Korea for years. Perhaps hoping to make the best of things, the White House said the US-ROK alliance is 'ironclad' – and declared the election 'free and fair.' It did express general concern over 'Chinese interference' in democracies. The State Department similarly offered congratulations to President Lee. Free and fair election? South Korean citizens facing intimidation and lawsuits uncovered substantial evidence of widespread electoral irregularities (as they did for elections in 2020, 2022, and 2024). Did anyone at the US Embassy, the State Department or the White House even examine the evidence? Or meet with the citizen's groups? Apparently not. The foreign press has been equally lazy. As have most analysts. Rather than investigating, just call it baseless conspiracy theories. This was a gut punch to pro-alliance South Koreans, already distressed that the Trump administration couldn't be bothered to make a favorable reference to consensual government and honest elections before the polling. So maybe the Trump administration is going to wish away the problem and pretend Lee isn't what he's been all his professional life, in hopes of keeping the alliance alive. But at some point a US administration is going to discover that Lee and South Korean leftists—just like Chavez, Erdogan, Ortega and others – mean what they say. And Washington may one day find that South Korea, once solidly with the US and democracies, is quite the opposite. And, furthermore, that a system has developed in the ROK so that even if the problematic 'leader' goes away, the country is stuck and cannot re-democratize. Washington still has cards to play if it wants to support consensual government in South Korea – and at the same time preserve the US-ROK alliance. Not least is that most South Koreans don't want to go where Lee and his 'jusapa' radicals want to take them. But having a good hand requires one to actually play it. Grant Newsham is a retired US Marine officer and former US diplomat. He was the first Marine liaison officer to the Japan Self-Defense Forces and is a fellow at the Center for Security Policy and the Yorktown Institute. He is the author of the book, When China Attacks: A Warning To America . This article was originally published by The Sunday Guardian. It is republished with permission.
Powys County Times
5 days ago
- Sport
- Powys County Times
Rory McIlroy ready for next challenge after ‘climbing Everest' with Masters win
Rory McIlroy is ready for a new challenge after 'climbing my Everest' of winning the Masters and has set his sights on next month's Open at Portrush. McIlroy ended a difficult week at the US Open on a high on Sunday, going some way to exorcising the demons of an Oakmont course that had tortured him for the first three days. The 36-year-old played his best golf of the week, with the sort of accuracy and guile that he would have longed for on Thursday and Friday, carding a three-under-par 67 to finish on seven over. The early pairings are showing that there are scoring opportunities out there. Rory now -3 for the day after this birdie. — U.S. Open (@usopengolf) June 15, 2025 It was not just the bruising difficulty of Oakmont which had him feeling fuzzy-headed this week, though, as McIlroy still suffers the hangover of that momentous win at Augusta in April, where he became just the sixth male player to complete a career grand slam of majors. He has accepted that he needs time to regain his focus and knows next month's Open on home soil in Northern Ireland is the place to do it. 'Look, I climbed my Everest in April, and I think after you do something like that, you've got to make your way back down, and you've got to look for another mountain to climb,' he said. 'An Open at Portrush is certainly one of those. 'If I can't get motivated to get up for an Open Championship at home, then I don't know what can motivate me. Six birdies in a final round 67 (-3) for Rory ✍️ #USOpen — DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) June 15, 2025 'I just need to get myself in the right frame of mind. I probably haven't been there the last few weeks.' Next month's final major of the year is just 65 miles from where he grew up playing at Holywood and it will be his first visit to Northern Ireland since winning the green jacket and completing the set. 'I feel like playing an Open at Portrush already (in 2019) and at least remembering what those feelings were like and those feelings that I was probably unprepared for at the time,' he said. 'Obviously it will be my first time sort of in public back home after winning the Masters. It should be a really nice week. 'Hopefully I can celebrate with them on Sunday night with the Claret Jug and the green jacket. 'It will be amazing to go home and play in that atmosphere and see a lot of people that I still haven't seen yet. I'm really looking forward to it. 'It was nice to end this week with a bit of a positive note with the way I played today, and yeah, I'll just be looking forward to and trying to get myself prepared for Portrush.'
