Latest news with #NOCs
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Whistleblower Gram Panchayat member killed by land mafia
NAGPUR: A 30-year-old Gram Panchayat member and BJP leader was brutally murdered on Tuesday morning in Saoner tehsil, allegedly by individuals linked to the land mafia. The victim, Atul Patil, was stabbed to death at Pipla, which falls under the jurisdiction of Khaparkheda police station in the district. Patil, a vocal whistleblower who had exposed several land scams, had filed multiple complaints against illegal land dealings, including schemes orchestrated by village sarpanch Vishnu Kokadde, a Congress leader and a close associate of former Maharashtra minister Sunil Kedar. The murder has sparked outrage and raised political temperature in the region, especially as the Zilla Parishad (ZP) elections are near. The police have arrested two suspects in connection with the murder - Himanshu Kumbhalkar, 19, who is the prime accused, and Vishnu Kokadde, 41, who had previously faced charges of forgery and cheating in a ZP land allotment scam exposed by Patil. According to police sources, Patil had used the Right to Information (RTI) Act to uncover fake documents used to develop unauthorised layouts. His complaints led to the registration of cases against Kokadde, a Gram Panchayat secretary, and others. It is alleged that Kokadde and his wife, former Nagpur Zilla Parishad president Muktabai Kokardde, misused their political influence to issue fraudulent No Objection Certificates (NOCs) and earn crores of rupees through illegal land deals. Senior Inspector Arvind Katlam of Khaparkheda police station revealed that Kumbhalkar had called Patil out of his house under the pretext of resolving an old dispute. 'As Patil stepped outside, he was ambushed. A brief scuffle broke out, but Kumbhalkar overpowered him and stabbed him multiple times,' said Katlam. Patil was rushed to a nearby private hospital but was declared dead on arrival. Both accused were produced in Saoner court, where Kumbhalkar was remanded to police custody till June 21 and Kokadde till June 19, for further investigation. The murder is also believed to be linked to the political rivalry between Patil and Kokardde in the area. However, police officials maintain that the land scam exposure appears to be the main motive. BJP leaders staged a 'rasta roko' protest demanding swift justice and immediate arrest of all those involved in the conspiracy. The agitation was led by local MLA Ashish Deshmukh and district president Manohar Kumbhare, who accused the authorities of failing to protect a whistleblower. Deshmukh has also demanded that the case be heard in a fast-track court. Meanwhile, security has been beefed up in the region to prevent any law and order issues.
Indian Express
2 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
West Bengal plans 25 new fire stations after series of incidents in Kolkata
After a series of escalating fire incidents across Kolkata and its surrounding areas, the West Bengal government said it is planning to propose the construction of 25 new fire stations across the state. State Fire and Emergency Services Minister Sujit Bose addressed the West Bengal Assembly on Tuesday, defending his department's response to a blaze on Monday at a market in Kolkata's Khidderpore which reportedly destroyed around 1,300 shops. Minister Bose, while rejecting allegations of delayed response and negligence, stated that the new fire stations would be established in districts such as Howrah, Hooghly, North 24 Parganas, Malda, Uttar Dinajpur, Birbhum, and Purba Bardhaman. Notably, one of the proposed stations will be strategically located near Nabanna, the state secretariat in Howrah. Other specific locations mentioned include Dhaniyakhali in Hooghly, Barjora in Bankura, Narayangarh in Paschim Medinipur, and Itahat in Uttar Dinajpur. During the Assembly session, the Opposition criticised the fire department's handling of the Khidderpore incident, alleging the late arrival of fire tenders, insufficient water, and a breakdown of one of the engines. In response, Minister Bose stated that three fire tenders were immediately dispatched upon receiving the emergency call at 2:05 pm, with more engines sent subsequently. He affirmed the presence of senior officials, Mayor Firhad Hakim, and even Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee at the site. Addressing concerns about water supply and fuel, Bose firmly said 'there was sufficient water, and the pumps had fuel.' He attributed any initial pump malfunction to silt entering the system during the suction process, vowing to 'investigate' the issue. 'Just like our soldiers at the border, our firemen work under extreme risk, putting their lives on the line. Do not belittle their courage and sacrifice,' he urged. The planned expansion of fire infrastructure comes in the wake of numerous major fire incidents in the past six months, which have resulted in fatalities and injuries. These incidents include a significant fire at an abandoned factory in Rajabazar last October, requiring six fire tenders. Days later, 15 tenders were deployed to extinguish a blaze at Tiretti Bazar on Ezra Street. A slum fire on Prince Anwar Shah Road also injured one person This year alone, major fires have been reported in areas such as Park Circus, Sealdah ESI Hospital, Narkeldanga, Park Street, and Pathuriaghata. Incidents in the Narkeldanga slum and Pathuriaghata in Jorabagan claimed three lives. Residents allege that while fire safety norms are adhered to for obtaining No Objection Certificates (NOCs) and licenses, 'compliance often lapses' once permissions are secured. Sweety Kumari reports from West Bengal for The Indian Express. She is a journalist with over a decade of experience in the media industry. Covers Crime, Defence, Health , Politics etc and writes on trending topics. With a keen eye for investigative and human-interest stories. She has honed her craft across diverse beats including aviation, health, incidents etc. Sweety delivers impactful journalism that informs and engages audiences. Sweety Kumari is a graduate of Calcutta University with an Honors degree in Journalism from Jaipuria College and a PG in Mass Communication from Jadavpur University. Originally from Bihar, she is brought up in Kolkata and completed her education from Kendriya Vidyalaya SaltLake. Multilingual, Sweety is fluent in English, Hindi, Bengali, and Maithili. She started her career as an Entertainment and lifestyle journalist with a newsportal in Kolkata. She is working with The Indian Express for 8 years now. ... Read More
Hindustan Times
6 days ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
PWD to check feasibility of flyover from Sonia Vihar to Delhi-U.P. border
The Public Works Department (PWD) has started the process to engage consultants to prepare a detailed feasibility report for an elevated corridor in Sonia Vihar to Delhi-Uttar Pradesh border near Tronica City, to decongest areas in northeast Delhi, officials aware of the matter said on Saturday. The ₹500 crore elevated road will run approximately six kilometres from Nanaksar Gurudwara in Sonia Vihar. It is the first flyover project announced by the BJP government in Delhi after PWD minister Parvesh Verma took charge. Officials said that the corridor is part of a larger integrated transit corridor development and street network plan aimed at easing vehicular movement along one of the city's interstate arterial stretches at an estimated consultancy cost of ₹1.52 crore. 'The corridor witnesses significant traffic during both peak and non-peak hours… Construction of an elevated road may improve traffic flow and help reduce congestion issues, and appears constructible on the existing median/central verge without major hindrance,' the tender document reads. The consultant will be first required to involve surveys including traffic counts, topographical mapping, lane configuration assessments, and cost estimation for land acquisition and utility shifting. In the second stage, it will include detailed feasibility like 3D walk-throughs, soil investigations, environmental and heritage assessments, and multimodal integration plans with metro, BRT, and local transport networks. The consultant is then expected to prepare three alternative proposals for the corridor's alignment, assess each for viability, and present a comprehensive cost-benefit analysis, including potential savings in travel time, fuel consumption, and reduction in emissions. The consultant will also be responsible for obtaining No Objection Certificates (NOCs) and approvals from over 20 agencies including DUAC, UTTIPEC, ASI, fire department, DMRC and DDA. The project also plans to include pedestrian-friendly design with footpaths, signage, landscaping, and provisions for street furniture and universal access, along with stormwater infrastructure and integrated rainwater harvesting features. The elevated road is set to start from Nanaksar Gurudwara T-point and will cross the Wazirabad road to go further till Tronica City near UP border. The existing Sonia Viahr-Pusta Road is a 100-metre-wide, three-lane stretch that carries traffic from both directions. The new elevated road will span approximately 5,750 metres with pillars constructed on both sides to minimise land acquisition and environmental impact. Officials added that the interstate traffic going to Tronica City will be on the elevated road, while the existing road will be used by the local traffic, thereby reducing conflict points. 'Due to the large number of trees in the area, we decided that an elevated road will be the most sustainable option. We are committed to protecting Delhi's environment while addressing its infrastructure needs,' the minister had said. PWD officials and once the DPR is prepared, it will take about two years to obtaining permissions, issue a tender and finish construction.
New Indian Express
7 days ago
- General
- New Indian Express
Pulicat ‘land grab': Shrimp farm units may face action
CHENNAI: A day after damning report by the Save Ennore Creek Campaign exposing illegal shrimp farms encroaching on wetlands in the Pulicat bird sanctuary's Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ), the Tamil Nadu forest department confirmed key allegations and announced possible action. In a communication to chief wildlife warden, the Chennai Chief Conservator of Forests, Ritto Cyriac, stated that the aquaculture farms in Thangalperumbulam village indeed fall within the 10 km default ESZ of the sanctuary. The forest department clarified that no permissions or No Objection Certificates (NOCs) had been granted for aquaculture activities in the area. More critically, the wildlife warden and district collector have reported that these farms —operating since 2008-09 — did not receive mandatory approvals from either the sub-divisional or district-level committees, as required under the Coastal Aquaculture Authority (Amendment) Act, 2023. The collector's office may issue show cause notices for unregistered and illegally functioning units, sources said. 'The coastal aquaculture farms can be registered only if it is recommended by sub-divisional committee/district-level committee prescribed in the CAA Act. It is informed by collector and wildlife warden that, the above committees have not recommended registration of these farms,' Ritto said. While he claimed the farms are in patta lands, revenue records show around 62 acres of government poramboke land classified as grazing grounds and floodplains have been encroached.
Time of India
13-06-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Fire breaks out in Noida hospital, patients evacuated; short-circuit suspected
Noida: A fire broke out early Friday morning in the record room of Sumitra Hospital in Sector 35. The fire was reportedly caused due to a short circuit in the computer equipment, and the affected room was locked during the incident. Six fire tenders and hydraulic platforms from the fire safety department controlled the blaze in an hour. As dense smoke spread to the first and second floors, around 25 patients were safely evacuated and relocated. Firefighters confirmed there were no serious injuries or casualties. "Two patient attendants sustained minor injuries while exiting through a window," chief fire officer Pradeep Kumar Chaubey said. The broader issue of fire safety in the district revealed that 42 hospitals operate without valid fire no objection certificates (NOCs), with many lacking standard safety infrastructure such as extinguishers, alarms, hydrants, and clear evacuation routes. Officials noted that previous incidents, including a recent blaze at Metro Hospital in Noida and server-room fires in other medical facilities, highlight the urgent need for compliance. Hospital management confirmed that all necessary precautions and safety protocols were in place, but the short circuit triggered the fire. Earlier this week, a minor fire broke out in the physiotherapy ward of Metro Hospital in Sector 11. While several equipment were damaged, no evacuation was required, police said. Follow more information on Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad here . Get real-time live updates on rescue operations and check full list of passengers onboard AI 171 .
