4,189 complaints of abandoned Indian wives addressed in last 3 yrs: MEA

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January 3, 2019

The External Affairs Ministry has addressed 4,189 complaints in the last three years of distressed Indian women deserted by their NRI husbands, the Rajya Sabha was told on Thursday.

In 2016, a total of 1,510 such complaints were addressed, while in 2017 as many as 1,498 complaints were addressed and last year, till November 30, 1,181 complaints were addressed, Minister of State for the External Affairs Ministry V K Singh said in reply to a question.

Singh said the government has adopted a “multi-pronged approach to give respite to the wives deserted by their NRI husbands”.

“The Ministry of External Affairs provides counselling, guidance and information about legal procedures, mechanisms for serving judicial summons on the overseas Indian husband; filing a judicial case in India, issuing Look out circulars; impounding and revocation of Indian passport of husband to such aggrieved women,” he said.

The Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF) Guidelines were revised in September, 2017 with an aim to provide financial and legal assistance to distressed women married to NRI spouses by all Indian Missions and Posts abroad, he added.

The amount of legal and financial assistance to distressed Indian women has also been increased to $4,000 per case, he said in a written response.

“The assistance is released to the empanelled legal counsel of the applicant or Indian Community Association or Women’s Organisation or an NGO concerned to enable them to take necessary and appropriate steps to assist the woman in documentation and preparatory work for filing the case,” he said.

Three militants killed in encounter with security forces in J&K’s Pulwama

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January 3, 2019

Three militants were killed in an encounter with the security forces in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama district on Thursday, the Army said.

The security forces launched an anti-insurgency operation in the higher reaches of Tral area in the morning following information about the presence of at least two militants in the forests. The search operation turned into an encounter when the militants, who were hiding, opened fire, an Army officer said.

“Three militants have been killed, while one soldier was injured in the operation,” the officer said. The deceased have been identified as Zubair Ahmad Bhat alias Abu Huraira, Shakoor Ahmad Parray alias Jaffar and Tawseef Ahmad Thoker alias Abu Talha, a police spokesperson said.

As per the police records, Zubair was affiliated with the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), while Shakoor and Tawseef belong to the Hizbul Mujahideen, the spokesperson said. The three were wanted in connection with attacks on security establishments and civilians. It was a combined group of JeM and Hizb outfits, he said.

Arms and ammunition were recovered from the encounter site. A case has been registered and an investigation is on, he added.

SC decision should be final, says BJP ally Paswan opposing Ram Temple ordinance

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January 3, 2019

BJP ally and Union minister Ram Vilas Paswan on Thursday opposed an ordinance on the Ram temple issue and asserted that the Supreme Court’s decision on the matter should be final.

“Whatever judgement the Supreme Court gives on the Ram temple issue should be accepted by everyone, be it Hindu, Muslim or any other community. Our stand has been consistent. When the PM said that we will wait for the SC judgement, and then all ifs and buts should end,” the Lok Janshakti Party president told reporters.

Asked if he would support an ordinance on the issue, Paswan said his stand has been consistent and that he would not support it. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said on Tuesday that the government would not take any decision on the issue till the judicial process is over. Hindutva groups such as the Vishwa Hindu Parishad have been demanding an ordinance to pave way for the temple’s construction in Ayodhya.

The LJP is the second major ally of the BJP to oppose an ordinance. Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar had recently said that the contentious issue should be resolved either through a court judgement or mutual agreement among different groups. The Ram temple title case is in the apex court.

Paswan also supported the Supreme Court judgement allowing women’s entry into the Sabarimala temple. The LJP is against any gender discrimination, he said. The Dalit leader said the BJP may have protested against the implementation of the court’s order but the Union government has not interfered in the matter.

“The SC has given its judgement and now two women have even entered the temple. Is the government stopping them from entering the temple? “There should be no discrimination in the name of gender. Women are going to space, then why can’t they enter a temple,” he said.

Paswan added that political parties have different views on issues. He also asked Congress president Rahul Gandhi to make his stand clear on these issues, saying that the Congress chief seems to be confused.

West Bengal Rath Yatra: SC to hear BJP’s plea on Jan 8

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January 3, 2019

The Supreme Court will on January 8 hear the BJP’s plea against the Calcutta High Court’s order on party’s yatra in West Bengal.

Last month, the BJP moved

The Supreme Court will on January 8 hear the BJP’s plea against the Calcutta High Court’s order on party’s yatra in West Bengal.

Last month, the BJP moved the vacation bench of the Apex Court against the order of the high court’s division bench which restricted the party from holding yatra in West Bengal.

The division bench had earlier quashed the order of a single bench allowing the BJP to hold yatra in the state.

The Mamata Banerjee-led state government has been protesting against the proposed yatra citing intelligence reports of possible communal violence in areas where the BJP has planned the rallies.

“The areas proposed to be covered by the yatra are, because of publicity and propaganda gradually turning into communally sensitive pockets. Intelligence reports indicate that public perception is that the religious overtones of the Yatra will be turned into propaganda,” a letter from the state government reads.

The government also claimed that the yatra may trigger communal violence in several districts due to the participation of the RSS, Bajrang Dal and the VHP.

RBI scales down printing of Rs 2000 note to minimum: Govt source

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January 3, 2019

The printing of Rs 2000 banknote, introduced post-demonetisation in November 2016, has been reduced to the “minimum” by the Reserve Bank, a top finance ministry official said on Thursday.

Soon after the sudden decision to ban old Rs 500/1000 currency notes by the government, the Reserve Bank had come out with the Rs 2000 currency note along with a new look Rs 500 note as part of its massive remonetisation exercise.

The senior official said the RBI and the government from time to time decides on the quantum of currency to be printed on the basis of money in circulation.

When the Rs 2000 note was launched, it was decided that the printing would be “scaled down” going forward, since the new high currency value note was meant for meeting the remonetisation need.

“The printing of 2000 rupee notes has been substantially reduced. It has been decided to limit the printing of 2000 currency notes to minimum. This is nothing new,” the official said.

According to the RBI data, there were 3,285 million pieces of Rs 2000 notes in circulation at end-March 2017. A year after (on March 31, 2018), there was only a marginal increase in the number at 3,363 million pieces.

Of the total currency in circulation amounting to Rs 18,037 billion at end-March 2018, Rs 2000 notes accounted for 37.3 per cent, down from 50.2 per cent at end-March 2017.

The old 500/1000 bank notes that were scrapped in November 2016 accounted for around 86 per cent of the total currency in circulation at that time.

Entry of trucks into Delhi may be banned if pollution continues to be severe on Friday: CPCB

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January 3, 2019

Entry of trucks in the national capital may be banned if the pollution level does not reduce by Friday morning, the Central Pollution Control Board-led task force recommended on Thursday.

Noting that “combustion sources require priority attention”, the CPCB-led taskforce called for intensification of measures already in force.

“The task force opines that measures already in force must continue with intensified action by implementing agencies particularly with regard to traffic congestion, open burning of waste, industrial emissions,” the taskforce said.

“In case the situation does not improve by tomorrow morning (Friday), entry of truck traffic into Delhi (except essential commodities) may be stopped,” it said.

The taskforce also urged people to minimise use of personal vehicles and avoid prolonged exposure to the outdoor air.

“The severe condition has continued for 31 hrs consecutively exceeding 300 g/m3 for PM2.5. It is observed that while PM10 levels are marginally exceeding 500 g/m3, PM2.5 levels are much higher reaching up to 350 g/m3,” the taskforce said.

Delhi’s air quality remained severe for the second day on Thursday due to adverse meteorological conditions as authorities warned that the condition would continue to deteriorate unless sufficient rainfall brings respite by cleansing the air.

Torrent Power bags distribution rights for 3 Maha sub-divisions

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January 3, 2019

Torrent Power on Thursday said that it has been appointed as electricity distribution franchisee for three sub-divisions under Thane urban circle of Maharashtra.

“The company has emerged as winner of competitive bidding process conducted by Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Ltd (MSEDCL) for appointment of input based distribution franchisee for distribution of electricity in Shil, Mumbra and Kalwa sub-divisions under Thane urban circle, for 20 years,” Torrent Power said in a BSE filing.

Shil, Mumbra and Kalwa sub-divisions have a customer base of 2.15 lakh, the filing said.

Torrent Power is expected to upgrade the infrastructure, improve quality of supply and lower AT&C losses, whereas MSEDCL is obliged to supply input power at annual input rates as agreed under the agreement.

32 missions, including Chandrayaan-2, planned for 2019: ISRO

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January 3, 2019

India has planned 32 missions, including the “most complex” Chandrayaan-2 during 2019, the Indian Space Research Organisation has said.

India’s maiden human spaceflight programme ‘Gaganyaan’ activities would go full steam to accomplish the various development and qualification milestones during the year, the space agency said.

“The year 2019 promises to be much more challenging to the ISRO community with 32 planned missions (14 launch vehicles, 17 satellites and 1 Tech demo missions),” ISRO Chairman K Sivan said in a New Year message.

“This includes the most complex Chandrayaan-2, which will be the 25th mission from SLP (second launch pad), and the development flights of Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV),” he said.

ISRO had earlier said that Chandrayaan-2 will be launched in a window from January-February 16, 2019.

Sources said that it is expected by the middle of next month but no date has been finalised.

“We are all trying hard. Definitely, it should be possible to launch the mission in February,” a senior ISRO official told agencies.

“There is no impediment. It’s on track,” the official said.

Chandrayaan-2 mission, costing nearly Rs 800 crore, is an advanced version of the previous Chandrayaan-1 mission about 10 years ago.

This spacecraft to be launched on board GSLV-Mk III is a totally indigenous mission, comprising an Orbiter, Lander and Rover.

Sivan said during the year, Gaganyaan activities would go “full steam” to accomplish the various development and qualification milestones.

The Union Cabinet gave its nod for the Rs 9,023-crore programme last Friday.

The objective of the mission is to carry a three-member crew to low earth orbit and return them safely to a predefined destination on earth.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had on Independence Day announced that the mission would be undertaken by 2022.

ISRO is aiming to reinstate its microwave remote-sensing capability through the RISAT (Radar Imaging Satellite) series and attain operational Geo-imaging capability through the GISAT (GEO Imaging Satellite) series, according to Sivan.

It is also planned to progressively improve the payload capability of GSLV (Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle) and its variants.

The country would meet the high throughput bandwidth requirement of Digital India and also in-flight connectivity with the launch of GSAT-20.

On the application side, crop production estimation would be enhanced to cover 10 additional crops and also provide vital inputs for water and energy security, Sivan said.

He said that 2019 is the birth centenary of the founding father of Indian Space Programme, Vikram A Sarabhai, and year-long celebrations, consisting of a host of national and international events, would commence August 12, 2019.

Terming 2018 as a year of many ‘firsts’ and ‘beginnings’ with profound growth in all directions, he said during the year ISRO completed 16 missions, signing off with seven successful missions within 35 days.

This included two successful GSLV missions in a single year.

Among other things, the period also witnessed active discussions and partnerships with other space agencies in advanced technology areas of human spaceflight and other areas like LOX/Methane propulsion, joint satellite missions, among others, he said.

A major initiative has been the UNNATI programme, which is an international programme to train participants on nano satellite assembly, and has evoked major respoISRO-LD CHANDRAYAANnse from 34 countries.

PM to inaugurate 8 projects, lay foundation stone for 4 in Manipur

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January 3, 2019

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate eight projects and lay the foundation stone for four other schemes during his visit to Manipur on Friday, officials said on Thursday.

After arriving at the Imphal International Airport Friday, the prime minister will proceed to Hapta Kangjeibung near here, where he will inaugurate and lay foundation stone of the projects at a public rally, Information and Public Relations department officials said.

The projects which the prime minister will inaugurate include the integrated the check post in Moreh of Tengnoupal district, Dolaithabi Barrage project of Imphal East district, FCI food storage godown in Imphal East district and the Buffer water reservoirs in Ukhrul district, the officials said.

The other projects are the improvement and upgradation of water supply for Churachandpur zone, eco-tourism complex at Thangapat in Kangpokpi district, integrated tourist destination in Noney district and the water supply scheme at JNV, Lambui and its surrounding villages, they added.

Modi will lay foundation stone for four projects Infrastructure development of Dhanamanjuri University in Imphal West district, flood lighting of hockey stadium and the main stadium at the Khuman Lampak Sports Complex in Imphal East district and AstroTurf laying in Langjing Achouba of Imphal West district, the officials said.

Security measures have been tightened in the entire state in view of the prime minister’s visit, they added.

Unable to recover dues, RTI activist questions MMRDA’s transparency

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January 3, 2019

Under the leadership of Chief Minister, the work at MMRDA seems far from being transparent. Pendency of over Rs 2,000 crores recoveries has left MMRDA exasperated, while incurring expenses of Rs 1.5 lakhs towards litigation as per information provided by MMRDA to RTI activist Anil Galgali. Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Industries Limited, Naman Hotels, Raghuleela Builders and India Newspaper Society are amongst those dragging MMRDA to courts.

Galgali had sought information from MMRDA with regards to legal expenses on hearing of the court cases filed by leaseholders of MMRDA’s “G” Block including Reliance Industries Limited, Naman Hotels, India Newspaper Society amongst other.

MMRDA legal department has informed that in various cases filed by Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Industries Limited, M/s Naman Hotels, India Newspaper Society and Raghuleela Builders Limited in Mumbai High Court, Advocate General of Maharashtra Ashutosh Kumbhakoni attends on behalf of MMRDA towards which Rs 1.5 lakhs has been paid until now as professional fees. At first, it was Raghuleela Builders who dragged the MMRDA administration to court on September 26, 2017. Naman Hotels on October 12, 2017, India Newspaper Society on November 29, 2017, and Reliance Industries Limited filed petition on November 30, 2017.

“It is binding that failure to complete construction of project within stipulated time attracts extra premium to be paid and also addition to the charges for additional FSI. Rather than paying dues to MMRDA, the leaseholders have rushed to the court. If MMRDA would have taken timely action and stopped work, it would have saved lakhs of Rupees being spent on legal expenses. I felt at the root is negligence on part of some officers of MMRDA,” Galgali said.