Latest news with #Samant
Time of India
2 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
NMC to take over MIDC's fire station at Ambad industrial estate in city
Nashik: The civic body will take over the fire station owned by Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC). The fire station, built by the industrial development corporation, is located at Ambad industrial estate within the jurisdiction of Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC). The handover of the fire station from MIDC to NMC was stuck for the past three years as the former had demanded Rs 11 lakh from the civic body for handing over its fire station. The civic body was reluctant to pay the amount. During a recent meeting, state industry minister, Uday Samant, told both MIDC and NMC to sit together and decide about the handover within a week. The meeting was attended by the NMC commissioner Manisha Khatri, and senior officials of MIDC through video conference. Accordingly, the meeting between MIDC CEO and NMC commissioner is expected to be held in the next few days. During the recent meeting, Samant said that MIDC collected Rs 3 crore through fire cess from the industries in three years after it started its operation. But later, the fire cess by MIDC was cancelled as NMC was already recovering the fire cess from MIDC. Samant said both the authorities should sit together and find a solution to the issue. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like What She Did Mid-Air Left Passengers Speechless medalmerit Learn More Undo The fire station should be handed over from MIDC to NMC at the earliest. Accordingly, the meeting between NMC and MIDC authorities is expected to be held in the next few days. In fact, the cost of handing over the fire station to NMC was much higher, and the authority should have quoted a lower price. The industry minister was positive about sorting out fire cess issue, but MIDC's decision to demand a higher price from NMC delayed the decision. "We will soon launch an agitation if the issue is not settled at the earliest," said Dhananjay Bele, former president of Nashik Industries & Manufacturers' Association.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Sula Vineyards charts path to 100% sustainable winemaking amid climate pressures
Climate change is affecting nearly every region in the world. Nashik, known as the wine capital of India, is also feeling the heat. In the last 15 years, almost 50 seasons have been affected by climate change, according to Anil Ghanwat , President, Shetkari Sanghatana, a Maharashtra-based farmers' union. 'Sometimes there are heavy rains, sometimes there is a drought, sometimes the temperature drops below zero degrees in some areas,' he said. Excessive heat is resulting in overripe grapes and unbalanced wines, while increased temperature raises the risk of fungal diseases in grapevines. 'This calls for active efforts needed to be taken by farmers,' he emphasised. Sula Vineyards , a major winery in Nashik, is working on mitigating the impacts of climate change on its grape farms. Given the frequent droughts and water scarcity in the region, CEO Rajeev Samant said that they are focusing on water management. Sula has employed advanced water recycling, considering India's monsoon-dependent climate, and it aims to reduce water usage per bottle produced. Not just water management, Sula is also working on energy conservation. 'The methane that is captured during the treatment of wastewater is transformed into clean electricity. This reduces the reliance on natural resources that are subject to fluctuations and enhances the climate resilience of the operation as a whole,' Samant said. Sula works with over 2,800 acres of contracted vineyards and has processed more than 11,000 tonnes of grapes in FY25. According to the company, it is committed to achieving net zero emissions by 2050. The company is a member of the International Wineries for Climate Action and also part of the United Nations-led 'Race to Zero' global campaign. Live Events Samant claimed that Sula Vineyards has incorporated sustainability into every aspect of winemaking. Samant claimed that Sula Vineyards has incorporated sustainability into every aspect of winemaking. In FY25, Sula relied on solar power for 65% of its energy needs; this number, as per Samant, is likely to increase to 75% in FY26. Power-saving initiatives, such as the Burkert temperature control system, have already resulted in a saving of 37% of power in the cellar, and further growth is anticipated, he said. According to him, Sula consumed 5% less water per case in FY25. The company aims to bring it down by 6% in FY26, as it looks to utilise 20% recycled water, he said. 'We have also installed a methane capture facility that generated 35,000 power units in FY25 and aims to increase by 44% in FY26. We also have a localised glass bottle supply chain, which reduces its carbon footprint and supports local economies. The company increased its use of rewash bottles by 24% in FY25 and aims to do so to an even greater extent,' he said. Low-alcohol wines The wine manufacturer has also dabbled in low-alcohol wines, which offer a sustainable and healthier alternative to health-conscious consumers and have considerably less environmental impact. Sula's Source Moscato and Chenin Blanc Reserve are known for lighter, refreshing profiles. 'There is a shift towards light, approachable wines that seem to be gaining traction. Moving towards lower-alcohol wines can be good for consumers, especially from a health and wellness standpoint, as well as from an environmental sustainability perspective. These wines need fewer resources to be put into fermentation and greatly more freedom regarding harvesting and ripening of the grapes,' he said. Sula has also dabbled in low-alcohol wines, which offer a sustainable and healthier alternative to health-conscious consumers and have considerably less environmental impact. However, he highlighted the challenges of sustaining these green efforts due to the high upfront costs of technologies like solar panels, methane capture systems, and EV fleet conversion. 'Scaling these efforts while maintaining cost-efficiency and consistent product quality can also be complex,' he said. 'Moreover, as climate change intensifies, managing grape quality and yield sustainably remains a long-term challenge,' he added. Nevertheless, Sula maintains an optimistic outlook for the future. In FY26 and the following years, the company aims to reduce power consumption per case sold by an additional 11%, increase its EV fleet share from 45% to 55%, achieve a 6% reduction in water usage per case while enhancing water recycling to 20%, and realise a 44% increase in electricity generation from methane capture. 'These actions will aid Sula in becoming a pioneer in sustainable innovation while also assisting in meeting the set target of achieving carbon net-zero by 2050,' he said.
Scroll.in
6 days ago
- Business
- Scroll.in
Goa's ‘taxi mafia': What tourists need to know
On Friday, after a fortnight of intense debate about draft guidelines on app-based taxis notified by Goa's transport department, Chief Minister Pramod Samant said that external cab giants such as Uber and Ola would not be allowed to operate in the state. Though the Goa Transport Aggregator Guidelines, 2025, offers a regulatory framework for app-based taxi and bike taxi operators, Samant said that it is 'meant to regulate the existing taxi system, not to permit new companies'. The controversy about the guidelines brings into focus the polarised opinions about the taxi system in a state that earns just over 16% of its revenues from tourism. The guidelines have been welcomed both by residents and tourists. They cite a variety of reasons for supporting app-based taxis: unregulated, inflated fares by Goan taxi operators, a shortage of vehicles when they are needed, the seemingly whimsical behaviour of taxi operators, among them. In fact, some have fixed the blame for what they believe is the decline of Goan tourism on the so-called taxi mafia. But the state's taxi drivers are up in arms. They oppose the idea of a business that they have built and sustained over years being handed over to large corporations. The Goa taxi mafia is behind this. They are just looting tourists. I was staying at a hotel in Varca, and here's their taxi fare chart. — Dr_SUMIT🇮🇳 (@Dr__Sumit) June 14, 2025 To understand fares are high in the state, it is essential to realise that the taxi business in Goa is not homogeneous. There are those who operate at airports, black-and-yellow taxis that run from railway stations, taxis that queue up outside hotels and the ones that wait for customers at designated taxi stands. These taxis pick up passengers from point A and drop them off at point B. It is an unwritten rule that after they drop off a passenger, they will not pick another ride as they return to their point of origin. This convention ensures that they do not step on the business of drivers at the other location. To make this practice viable, they build a 50% return fare into such trips. This reflects the cooperative nature of a business in which even one taxi operator's greed for rides outside his territory could break a chain of trust and impinge on the livelihood of others. Why do their rates appear higher than those of app-based aggregators in large cities? First, app-based aggregators do not operate on fair pricing models. Their rates are heavily subsidised by the venture capital they have at their disposal. They burn this cash to depress fares – and annihilate the local competition. Such predatory techniques allow them to eventually establish a monopoly. This coerces local cab drivers to sign up with these aggregators or forces them out of business altogether. Secondly, distances between destinations in Goa are longer than in most cities – but the journey often does not take quite as much time. For instance, when I travel from my home in Ponda to Panjim city, I cover the 30-km-odd distance in around 45 minutes. On a recent visit to Mumbai, I covered 8.5 km in 45 minutes. This could make me wonder why I am being charged Rs 1,200 for a 45-minute ride in Goa that would seem to cost Rs 500 in Mumbai. Goa's taxi mafia wins, tourists lose. BJP bows to union pressure, blocking Ola & Uber — just to protect vote banks. Progress shouldn't be held hostage by fear. Strong regulation is the way forward, not submission. #Goa #TourismCrisis #TransportReform #BJPFails #PublicVsMafia — Mahua Moitra Fans (@MahuaMoitraFans) June 14, 2025 It is also important to understand that in Goa, taxi fares vary according to both distance and type of vehicle. A seven-seater Ertiga cannot charge the same amount as a four-seater Wagon R. These rates are notified by the state transport department. Taxi owners have no say in deciding them. The lack of standardised fares is a failure of enforcement. The introduction of app-based aggregators will not necessarily bring in standardised fares precisely because these apps thrive on an unregulated pricing model. They enforce surge pricing, which means that in situations of high demand or adverse weather conditions, fares escalate substantially. Last month's guidelines make it mandatory for aggregators to pay the taxi drivers the fare notified by the transport department. Any commission and the profit for the aggregator will have to be levied on top of this fare. Unless the aggregator subsidises the fare, rides would actually become more expensive for customers. Amidst this discussion, what stands out is the characterisation of Goan taxi drivers as a 'taxi mafia'', a label that generates a preemptive bias towards them. Tourists often resent them because the drivers control their mobility. Some mistakenly believe that drivers want to sit idle through the day, making as few trips as they can but charging hefty fares to suffice for a day's earnings. This is a perception tourists develop as they observe drivers who operate outside hotels and resorts seemingly doing nothing as they wait for fares. Drivers follow a queue system and assign incoming requests serially to those in the line. There is no guarantee when their turn will come. Taxi operators say that getting even one trip a day is considered lucky. This waiting period makes it look like drivers are lazy. Nothing could be further from the truth. Imagine yourself in a situation where you have to provide for your family, pay monthly installments for a car loan, taxes and deductions of all kinds, and save for a rainy day. Add to that irregular working hours, rising inflation and the overall uncertainty that comes with unstable income. The last thing you would want to do is not work. Goa taxi drivers protest the entry of uber/ola. Many tourists avoid Goa just because of taxi mafia!! Thankfully, govt. is waking up and taking right measures. Tourism is the biggest employment generator. — Pvt. sector exploited tax payer (@TaxPayerPvt) June 1, 2025 What Goa's taxi drivers – many of them from Bahujan communities – have evolved is a cooperative model of doing business that is built around the community. These values are alien, and perhaps detrimental to capitalist methods of doing business. It is not that Goa does not have app-based aggregators already. There are at least two apps that are currently operating. They were handed a monopoly over the Goan taxi market on a platter. Predictably, these apps have failed because demand in Goa is not as intense as it is in large cities, and is unevenly distributed. The algorithms of the apps cannot adapt to Goa's humane ways of doing business.
Time of India
6 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Kadu Ends Hunger Strike After State Govt Assurance
Nagpur/Amravati: Prahar Janshakti Party (PJP) president Bachchu Kadu on Saturday ended his week-long hunger strike at Gurukunj Mozari in Amravati after receiving a written assurance from the Maharashtra govt regarding his key demands. Industries Minister Uday Samant handed Kadu an official letter from revenue minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule, confirming the state's commitment to address the issues in a time-bound manner. Kadu, who was on hunger strike since Sunday last, was demanding the implementation of 17 key demands, most prominently a blanket farm loan waiver, issuance of fresh agricultural loans ahead of the kharif season, and an increase in the monthly honorarium to persons with disabilities (divyangs). According to the letter from Bawankule, the govt agreed to constitute a high-powered committee within 15 days to finalise the mechanism for the farm loan waiver. A formal decision on the waiver will follow the committee's report. It also states that the govt will hold a separate meeting to decide on stopping the forcible recovery of pending farm loans and facilitating the disbursal of new crop loans. Regarding the hike in the monthly honorarium for divyangs, the letter notes that a budgetary provision for this will be included in the supplementary demands scheduled for the monsoon session of the legislature beginning June 30. For the remaining demands, the govt assured further meetings with concerned ministers and the chief minister. K adu ended his agitation after recieving the letter, breaking his fast by accepting juice from Samant. Later, both leaders paid tribute to Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj at Mozari. MLA Amol Mitkari and senior leader Kamaltai Gawai were also present. Kadu also spoke with CM Devendra Fadnavis on the phone. Samant expressed gratitude to Kadu for responding positively to the state's appeal. "The govt has taken his demands seriously. His health deteriorated over the past few days, and we are relieved that he has ended his fast," he said. Kadu, while thanking supporters, warned that if the promises made are not implemented, he along with supporters will march into Mumbai's Mantralaya on Oct 2. "This is only a pause. If the govt does not act, we will return with stronger resolve," he said. The protest, which drew wide political attention and backing from opposition parties including the Congress, was aimed at pressing for unconditional farm loan waivers and urgent relief measures for affected communities. Congress Legislature Party leader Vijay Wadettiwar earlier expressed solidarity with Kadu, urging the govt to act instead of issuing fresh assurances. "If the govt is serious, it must act, not delay further," Wadettiwar 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 .
Time of India
6 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
MIDC to utilise NMC-owned land at Sadhugram to construct exhibition centre
Nashik: Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) will set up a permanent exhibition centre at Sadhugram in Tapovan area of the city. The state industry minister, Uday Samant told reporters at a meeting with industrial associations in Nashik city on Friday, that the NMC owns the land at Sadhugram, which is used for one year during the Kumbh Mela but otherwise remains unused for the next 11 years. Hence, the exhibition centre will be developed at this location. Nashik is one of the four cities where the Kumbh Mela is held every 12 years. This infrastructure will serve as Sadhugram for the sadhus who will stay there during the Kumbh Mela. "Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) will provide the land where MIDC will develop the dome-like infrastructure. The MIDC will soon float the tender," said Samant. Manish Rawal, vice-president of the Nashik Industries & Manufacturers' Association (NIMA), who was present at the meeting, said that initially, the permanent exhibition centre is to be developed on 25 acres. "We have been demanding the state govt and NMC to set up a permanent exhibition centre for the industries in the city. In Dec last year, the NMC administration invited suggestions from residents and professionals about projects that can be undertaken at Sadhugram during the non-Kumbh period of 11 years," he said. The NMC administration also issued a public notice, appealing to residents and professionals to provide their suggestions. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch vàng CFDs với mức chênh lệch giá thấp nhất IC Markets Đăng ký Undo Accordingly, NMC received several suggestions from city residents. Many suggested that NMC develop the exhibition centre there, which will generate at least Rs 21 crore in revenue for the civic body annually. Subsequently, the NMC Commissioner, Manisha Khatri, was also positive about the project. During a meeting with industrial associations around two to three months ago, she also assured to speed up the project. 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 .
