Latest news with #ToR
Indian Express
2 days ago
- Business
- Indian Express
Bombay HC dismisses 2 PILs against Lloyds Metals
The Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court has dismissed two public interest litigations (PILs) challenging the grant of permission to the capacity expansion of the Surjagarh iron ore mines of Lloyds Metals and Energy Ltd (LMEL) in Gadchiroli. While the PILs were quashed on May 9, the order copy was uploaded on June 19. The high court found both the PILs to be without merit. The PILs filed by Samarjeet Chatterjee, a mining contractor from Raipur, Chhattisgarh, alleged that the process of environmental clearance (EC) granted by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) for expansion of mining capacity from 3 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) to 10 MTPA and further Terms of Reference (ToR) towards expansion from 10 MTPA to 26 MTPA were 'illegal'. The division bench comprising Justices Nitin Sambre and Abhay Mantri observed that 'the complete procedure based on the ToR is followed,' and found that both the PILs were devoid of merit. The petitioner also alleged that the public hearing was conducted at a place far away from the project site. The court observed, 'The fact remains that in compliance with the Environmental Impact Assessment notification dated May 29, 2006, as amended on December 01, 2009, a public hearing was conducted at the [Gadchiroli] District Headquarters, which is perhaps properly secured in view of the Naxal menace.' The counsel for the respondents submitted that the petitioner has no locus standi, and since he never attended the public hearing conducted by the collector at the district headquarters, he lost the opportunity to question the legality of the orders impugned in these PILs. Further, the counsel submitted that the initial EC was granted in 2005-06 after the hearing conducted by the collector at the very same place, and the said hearing was never questioned by the petitioner for the last 20 years. The counsel added that the EC for 10 MTPA was issued by the MoEF&CC under strict compliance with and adherence to the provisions of the EIA Notification dated May 29, 2006 and the SOP issued by the ministry. Though the public hearing was conducted at Gadchiroli district headquarters on the recommendation of the Police Department as the project site fell within the Naxal-affected area, all the locals were given due opportunity to present their say on the mining project, the court observed. The high court further stated that the courts should be sensitive and careful to the fact that the petitioner should not be allowed to indulge in making wild and reckless allegations. Since the petitioner stated that his annual income was Rs 4-5 lakh, the court observed, 'We fail to understand as to what is the source of expenses incurred by the petitioner as there is a serious doubt about his bona fides also'. With due observations, the high court dismissed both the PILs without costs.
India.com
5 days ago
- Politics
- India.com
8th Pay Commission BIG Update: Pensioners' Federation writes to Modi government, Panel likely to be formed by…, Finance Ministry to…
8th Pay Commission Latest Update New Delhi: In a major development, the Bharat Pensioners Samaj (BPS) has written to the Finance Minister and the Secretary, Department of Personnel and Training, calling for quick action on the 8th Central Pay Commission. The Bharat Pensioners Samaj (BPS) one of the oldest and largest federations representing pensioners and senior citizens. In the letter, the federation has appealed for early finalization of the Terms of Reference and prompt appointment of the chairman and members of the 8th CPC. Expressing concerns, the federation has said that the delay in fixing the ToR and the appointment of the chairman and members of the 8th CPC is creating an atmosphere of anxiety and uncertainty among the central government employees and pensioners. The letter written by the BPS reads, '…the lack of further progress — notably the non-finalization of the Terms of Reference and the absence of announcements regarding the Chairman and Members of the Commission- has led to growing unease.' 'The prolonged delay is fuelling rumours, speculations, and misunderstandings, causing anxiety and uncertainty among government pensioners. Unverified information circulating on various media and social platforms is creating confusion and adversely affecting morale.' The federation said, 'Given the criticality of the situation, we humbly request your good offices to kindly expedite the necessary steps.' These steps are as follows: Early finalization of the Terms of Reference (ToR), Prompt appointment of the Chairman and Members of the 8th CPC, and Ensuring representation of pensioners in the Commission. In the letter penned by Secretary General of BPS SC Maheshwari, the federation said that 'Clear and timely communication will not only dispel rumors and reassure stakeholders but will also facilitate the smooth and effective functioning of the Commission to deliver its recommendations on schedule.' Here are some of the important details: More than 1.2 crore central government employees and pensioners are eagerly awaiting the formation of the 8th Pay Commission Despite the government's approval on January 16, 2025, the Pay Commission has not been formally constituted. However, according to the reports, the Modi government is likely to form the panel soon. The ToR and the appointment of the chairman and other important members have also not yet been completed. The government on January 16 announced the approval of the implementation of the 8th Pay Commission. The Pay Commission is scheduled to be implemented from January 1, 2026. A look at the process of the 7th commission revealed that it took an average of 2 to 2.5 years to prepare the report and implement it. Given the current circumstances, if the commission is constituted in late 2025 or early 2026, the report will be completed by 2027 or 2028.
New Indian Express
6 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Telangana Minister Uttam asks Centre to reject AP request for appraisal of Banakacherla
HYDERABAD: Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy on Monday requested Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav not to undertake any appraisal of the Polavaram-Banakacherla project proposed by the Andhra Pradesh government and reject outright the request to grant ToR in the upcoming meeting of EAC. In a letter to the Union minister, Uttam said that the AP government submitted the proposal to the Ministry of Environment and Forest requesting terms of reference (ToR) for the Polavaram-Banakacherla link project to divert 200 tmcft of floodwaters. This proposal was included as an agenda item for the 33rd meeting of the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) on river valley projects scheduled on June 17, 2025. 'In this regard, it is to state that Andhra Pradesh has no locus standi for undertaking such a link project as the proposal submitted by it is totally against the Godavari Water Disputes Tribunal, 1980. The Telangana government, in its earlier protracted correspondence to MoEF/MoJS/CWC/GRMB/PPA, has explicitly stated that AP has no right to unilaterally proceed with such a huge project which will alter the water dynamics of the River Godavari infringing on the water rights of Telangana state,' Uttam wrote to Yadav in the letter. The Ministry of Jal Shakti too on its part assured Telangana that Central Water Commission (CWC) would duly examine such a proposal in accordance with extant guidelines, existing awards, inter-state agreements and various provisions under Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014, Uttam recalled. The letter also pointed out that the AP submitted the Pre-Feasibility Report (PFR) of the project proposal to the Project Appraisal Directorate of the Central Water Commission (CWC) on May 23, 2025. The PFR was then forwarded to KRMB, GRMB and co-basin states on June 11, for their comments, he wrote.
Mint
13-06-2025
- Business
- Mint
8th Pay Commission: What to expect? Will salary hike miss January 2026 timeline? What we know about Pay Band this time
8th Pay Commission News: Around 1 crore central government employees and pensioners are eagerly waiting for the Terms of Reference (ToR) for the 8th Pay Commission, which will serve as the basis for the revisions of salaries and pensions among other things. The 8th Pay Commission, which is expected to be set up soon, will revise the salaries, pensions and allowances of government employees and pensioners. But when will the 8th Pay Commission be set up? Will there be delays? How will a delay affect fitment factor? Read on to know the answers. As per a report by The Economic Times, the 8th Pay Commission may be delayed beyond the expected timeline of January 2026. The 7th Pay Commission, which was announced in February 2014, came into effect almost two years later in January 2016. That timeline was given to accommodate the time required for submission of reports, approval from the cabinet and subsequent rollout. However, as of mid-2025, there is no report of the 8th Pay Commission being formed, and the ToRs have not been finalised either. While there are reports of discussions about the commission being underway, the rollout of the 8th Pay Commission may miss the January 2026 timeline. According to the ET report, the implementation may only be done in late 2026 or early 2027. Over the three decades of pay commissions, the government has experimented with its structure – Grade Pay, Pay Bands, and the Pay Matrix. Each of them have set a norm for how salaries have been revised through the decades. Before 6th CPC, there were over 4,000 disparate pay scales across roles, which complicated salary calculations. The 6th Pay Commission introduced Pay Bands and Grade Pay, simplifying the payment process for each role. The 7th CPC brought the real gamechanger – the Pay Matrix. The commission created a 24-level Pay Matrix, with each cell representing unique salaries. Under the 7th CPC, the fitment factor was revised at 2.57. While there have been no word on how the 8th Pay Commission will revise salary structures of lakhs of central government employees and pensioners, experts have said that the fitment factor will be kept between 2.5 to 2.8. However, since there is no clarity on even the formation of the commission, nothing can be confirmed as of now.
Business Standard
13-06-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
Sigachi Industries rises after securing ToR nod from SEIAA Andhra Pradesh
Sigachi Industries added 1.15% to Rs 58.10 after the firm informed that it has secured the Terms of Reference (ToR) approval from the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA), Andhra Pradesh. This key approval is for its upcoming manufacturing facility dedicated to Bulk Drugs, Drug Intermediates, and Specialty Chemicals, including Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs), to be established at Orvakal in Kurnool District, Andhra Pradesh. This strategic project is proposed over 25.09 acres at Plot No. A-10, Guttapadu-Orvakal Node. The facility falls under Category B1, aligned with Schedule 5(f) of the EIA Notification, 2006, applicable to the Synthetic Organic Chemicals sector. The Environmental Clearance (EC) process for the upcoming facility is set to begin on 15 July 2025, with project development activities scheduled to commence from 1 August 2025. The project is expected to be instrumental in enhancing the companys API manufacturing capacity and strengthening its global presence. It will support the expansion of the product pipeline across regulated and semi-regulated markets, while also establishing a strategically located facility with strong export potential. Additionally, the project aligns with the Make in India initiative, promoting world-class infrastructure and sustainable manufacturing practices. Commenting on this development, Amit Raj Sinha, managing director and CEO of Sigachi Industries stated - This is a significant milestone in our journey to become a vertically integrated pharmaceutical manufacturing company. The Orvakal project will anchor our next phase of growth in APIs and specialty chemicals, helping us create scalable, sustainable, and compliant operations for global markets. At Sigachi, we are strategically positioning ourselves to cater to increasing global demand by building capacity closer to key markets and regulatory jurisdictions. The new facility will not only strengthen our product supply chain but also enable faster commercialization, seamless tech transfers, and enhanced responsiveness to evolving customer requirements. Telangana-based Sigachi Industries is engaged in the manufacturing of microcrystalline cellulose (MCC), which is widely used in the pharmaceutical, food, beverage, cosmetic, and paint industries. The most common uses of MCC are in vitamin supplements and tablets. It also acts as a bulking agent in food production. MCC is produced from refined wood pulp, which is imported by the company. The companys consolidated net profit tanked 11.8% to Rs 13.27 crore despite 23.1% rise in revenue from operations to Rs 128.20 crore in Q4 FY25 over Q4 FY24.
