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Guwahati: The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has ordered legal action against Assam's Special Chief Secretary, M K Yadava, for serious breaches of the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980. The case involves the unauthorised diversion of reserved forest land for the construction of Commando Battalion Camps in Assam -- projects initiated without mandatory prior approval from the Central Government. Ready for a challenge? Click here to take our quiz and show off your knowledge! Yadava, who was serving as Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Head of Forest Force at the time of the alleged violations, is accused of illegally permitting the diversion of 28 hectares in the Geleky Reserved Forest (Sivasagar Division) and 11.5 hectares in the Innerline Reserved Forest (Hailakandi Division) for non-forest purposes. According to official inspection reports, large-scale permanent constructions were carried out by the Assam Police Housing Corporation Ltd. without Central clearance. A site visit by the Ministry's Regional Office in Shillong in August 2024 found that nearly 80% of construction at Geleky had already been completed. Another inspection in March 2024 at Innerline Reserved Forest revealed the presence of around 500 workers, heavy machinery, and ongoing construction over an estimated plinth area of 30,000 square metres. Ready for a challenge? Click here to take our quiz and show off your knowledge! The Ministry, invoking Rule 15(2) of the Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Rules, 2023, has now empowered Divisional Forest Officers in Assam to initiate prosecution against Yadava. They have been given 45 days to file complaints and submit action-taken reports. Additionally, the Assam Government is required to provide monthly updates to the Ministry's Shillong office. While Yadava defended the construction projects as being necessary for forest protection, the Ministry rejected this rationale as "not legally tenable." The Advisory Committee acknowledged the role of security forces in protecting forested areas but reaffirmed that prior Central Government clearance is mandatory under Rule 11.8 of the Forest (Conservation) Act and its 2023 amendments. The situation has also raised concerns of a potential conflict of interest, as Yadava's current position as Special Chief Secretary gives him influence over administrative decisions, including those related to potential legal proceedings against himself. Meanwhile, the National Green Tribunal has closed a related case involving the Damchera camp following post-facto clearance, but the Geleky matter remains under judicial consideration before the NGT's Kolkata bench.
Guwahati, Jun 5 (PTI) The Assam Congress on Thursday demanded a CBI inquiry into alleged illegal stone mining in Karbi Anglong district in violation of a Supreme Court order. Addressing a press conference here, former Rajya Sabha member Ripun Bora also alleged that Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council Chief Executive Member Tuliram Ronghang was allowing illegal activities in the district in nexus with Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. "Large-scale illegal stone mining is taking place in the hills of Karbi Anglong in violation of the Supreme Court order. The SC had banned mining in and around K ...Read More >
New Delhi/Thiruvananthapuram, June 26 (SocialNews.XYZ) The UPSC team, which met in New Delhi on Thursday to screen the list of top IPS officials to be considered for the post of the Kerala state police chief, has zeroed down on three candidates from the list given by the Pinarayi Vijayan government. Apart from the Central government officials, the selection team also included Kerala Chief Secretary A.Jayatilak and outgoing DGP Sheikh Darvesh Saheb. The list from Kerala included Nithin Agarwal, Ravadha Chandrasekhar, Yogesh Gupta, and Manoj Abraham (all of them holding the rank of the Directo ...Read More >
New Delhi: The Centre has asked the states and union territories to make any proposed changes in the boundaries of administrative jurisdictions before December 31, 2025, when they will freeze for the Census-2027 exercise and the first phase of the decadal population count will begin on April 1 next year, according to a communication sent by the registrar general and census commissioner of India, Mritunjay Kumar Narayan, on June 27. The freezing means the states/UTs won't be able to change the boundaries of districts, towns, villages and tehsils post December 31. The Census can be conducted on ...Read More >
Delhi's air pollution continues to worsen, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) hitting a hazardous 490, despite the government's 21-point plan to tackle the issue. The city’s residents are struggling to breathe, even indoors, and hospitals are overwhelmed with patients facing respiratory problems. The pollution crisis is exacerbated by the lack of cooperation among Delhi and neighboring states, and the central government, with each blaming the other. This pollution not only threatens public health but also jeopardizes Delhi's economic future, as it could drive away professionals and harm business ...Read More >
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has charged five individuals, including goldy Brar, in relation to the 2024 Gurugram club bombing plot, as revealed in a recently filed chargesheet. This case involves a conspiracy to bomb two clubs, aiming to disrupt communal harmony in Haryana, with the banned terrorist group Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) implicated. The NIA's investigation highlights the severity of the plot. Those charged include satinderjit Singh (Goldy Brar), Sachin Talian, Ankit, Bhavish, and Randeep Singh. News Directory 3 provides crucial updates on sensitive cases such ...Read More >
VISAKHAPATNAM: Energy Minister Gottipati Ravi Kumar inaugurated Andhra Pradesh's first Super ECBC (Energy Conservation Building Code) compliant building at Sagar Nagar in Visakhapatnam on Friday. Terming it a landmark in sustainable infrastructure, he emphasised the government's commitment to energy efficiency and green design in public facilities. The facility will serve as a national-level training hub for power sector staff. He urged power utilities to expedite 20 lakh rooftop solar connections, targeting 10,000 in each Assembly segment. He reaffirmed nine-hour uninterrupted power for agri ...Read More >
Bhubaneswar: Zeenat, the three-year-old tigress from Maharashtra brought to Odisha's Similipal last year under translocation project, is believed to be pregnant after mating with a melanistic male tiger named T-12 Mahabal in May this year. If her pregnancy is confirmed, Zeenat would deliver cubs around August or September this year, said Prem Kumar Jha, Odisha's Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife). Love blossomed after Zeenat was released into the wild in April this year. She made the forests between Yamunagarh and Gudugudia in Similipal her new home. In May, she came across a r ...Read More >
Guwahati, Jan 31 (PTI) The Gauhati High Court has issued notices to the Assam government and its various departments over rampant rat-hole coal mining and asked them to furnish what steps they have taken to stop the unlawful activity. Taking suo motu cognizance of the Dima Hasao coal mining tragedy, the high court registered a public interest litigation on Monday and issued notices the next day to seven government departments, including the office of the chief secretary. "The court has taken note of various reports which suggest that around more than 200 rat-hole mines are in operation in Um ...Read More >
Srinagar- Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Saturday said foreign countries were told clearly during the post-Operation Sindoor diplomatic outreach that in case of a fresh provocation, India would repeat its action. Speaking at a discussion at the Ahmedabad Management Association, Tharoor said Indian delegations which visited foreign countries in the aftermath of Operation Sindoor managed to convey that India acted with restraint and responsibility. "In other places, we actually were able to get some very high-placed people to say not only that they respected and supported India's right of self- ...Read More >
SRINAGAR, July 2: Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, Rajiv Ranjan Singh and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today jointly chaired a high-level review meeting of the Animal Husbandry and Fisheries sectors of Jammu & Kashmir. The meeting was attended by Minister for Agriculture Production & Panchayati Raj Javid Ahmad Dar, Advisor to the Chief Minister Nasir Aslam Wani, Secretary GoI Alka Upadhyay, Additional Chief Secretary Dheeraj Gupta, Additional Secretary (CDD/IT) and other senior officers from the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying. Principal Secretary ...Read More >
Kokrajhar (Assam), Jan 28 (VOICE) Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Tuesday that there are several reports that some sections of Bangladeshi establishment are trying to revive militancy in Assam with the help of Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). He was in Bodoland (Kokrajhar) to commemorate five years of the 2020 Bodo Peace Accord. On this occasion, he said that for the last three-and-a-half years, there was not even a political agitation in Bodoland. After the accord peace is prevailing there, he added. CM Sarma said, "The situation in Bangladesh is not good. We ...Read More >
Bhubaneswar: Revenue minister Suresh Pujari on Saturday said Odisha would not be allowed to follow the lawless path in sand operations like it is in Bihar and West Bengal, while responding to the recent assault of an additional tehsildar in Kaptipada block, Mayurbhanj district, by the sand mafia. He promised stringent action against the sand mafia regardless of their connections, while speaking to mediapersons here on Saturday."The Kaptipada incident represents a serious escalation in conflict between law enforcement and the sand mafia. The attack on officers performing their enforcement dutie ...Read More >
New Delhi: Alleging "blatant misuse" of agencies to defame its leaders, AAP on Thursday questioned why the first information report filed against former Delhi ministers Saurabh Bharadwaj and Satyendar Jain was being kept under wraps and "selective" press notes were being leaked to the media.Bharadwaj, who is Delhi AAP convener, alleged that only two former ministers were named in the case without any reasonable cause while all the officers of the health and public works departments, who were actually responsible for executing the hospital projects, were spared. "Is the FIR so baseless that BJP ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], July 1 (ANI): The Delhi Police on Tuesday seized two end-of-life vehicles (ELVs), a 15-year-old petrol bike and a 10-year-old diesel bike, from a petrol pump in the city, as part of its ongoing enforcement of scrappage rules for outdated vehicles. Traffic officials confirmed that both motorcycles were found operating in violation of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) guidelines, which prohibit the use of petrol vehicles older than 15 years and diesel vehicles older than 10 years in the national capital. While speaking to ANI, Ashok Kumar, Traffic Inspector, said, 'Two motor ...Read More >
Leh, July 2: Pursuant to putting in place a comprehensive legal framework to ensure fair, inclusive, and transparent recruitment to public services, the Administration of the Union Territory of Ladakh has initiated a large-scale recruitment drive for 359 Gazetted posts through the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). This marks the first-ever recruitment of Gazetted posts through UPSC since the formation of the Union Territory. This milestone follows the establishment of a unique and dedicated legal framework specifically designed for Ladakh. The framework ensures maximum local representat ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], July 7 (ANI): Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, on Monday announced multiple initiatives by the Government to boost the waterways and maritime sector in the region. With an investment of 5,000 crores earmarked, the Union Government has drawn up major initiatives in this regard, a release from the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways said. As per the release, over the past 11 years, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways (MoPSW) has transformed India's maritime sector, achieving record growth in cargo handling, capacity, and co ...Read More >
Ranchi: Chief minister Hemant Soren on Thursday stressed that GOI's support is crucial for a state like Jharkhand to progress on all around development reiterating his govt's demand for pending dues and special assistances. Speaking at the 27th meeting of the Eastern Zonal Council in Ranchi, which was chaired by Union home minister Amit Shah, Soren presented a total of 31 demands across various sectors for Centre's due consideration stating that it will help them further the ongoing developmental and welfare measures in the state. Among the major demand, he has urged for pending Rs 1.40 lakh c ...Read More >
Silchar: Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday visited the flood-ravaged districts of Hailakandi and Sribhumi in the Barak Valley. He assured affected residents of providing timely disbursement of rehabilitation grants and swift repair of damaged infrastructure.This marks Sarma's second visit to the flood-hit region within four days, underscoring the gravity of the situation. Speaking to the media in Sribhumi after inspecting multiple relief camps, the CM said, "Flood-related problems may persist till July. I will return before Durga Puja to ensure that roads and infrastructure ar ...Read More >
Kolkata, June 28: A political slugfest has erupted in West Bengal after a woman accused Padma Shree awardee monk Kartik Maharaj, who is posted with the Murshidabad unit of Bharat Sevashram Sangha, of allegedly raping her 12 times for six months in 2013. As per the police complaint lodged by the woman, Kartik Maharaj raped her multiple times 12 years ago promising her a job at a local school. The ruling Trinamool Congress is highlighting the issue in a major way and accusing the BJP of being silent on it since the accused monk had been reportedly close to the saffron party. The woman accusin ...Read More >
New Delhi: In a key development regarding the Census 2027, the government of India has asked states and Union Territories to make any proposed changes in the boundaries of administrative units before December 31, when they will be considered final for the census exercise. In a letter to all states and Union Territories, Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India Mritunjay Kumar Narayan has said that for the Census, all villages and towns are divided into uniform enumeration blocks and for each block, an enumerator is assigned to avoid any miss or repetition during the population count ...Read More >
Shimla, July 2 (PTI) A day after he was booked for allegedly assaulting two NHAI officials, Panchayati Raj Minister Anirudh Singh on Wednesday denied the allegations and said that "the FIR does not mean that I am guilty." Singh also claimed widespread irregularities in road construction works by the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) and called its officials the "most corrupt in the country". The alleged incident occurred on Monday when the minister was inspecting a building collapse site in Shimla and called NHAI officers there. The owner of the building had claimed negligence by NHA ...Read More >
Kargil , Jul 2: Pursuant to putting in place a comprehensive legal framework to ensure fair, inclusive, and transparent recruitment to public services, the Administration of the Union Territory of Ladakh has initiated a large-scale recruitment drive for 359 Gazetted posts through the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). This marks the first-ever recruitment of Gazetted posts through UPSC since the formation of the Union Territory, officials said. This follows the establishment of a unique and dedicated legal framework specifically designed for Ladakh. The framework ensures maximum local re ...Read More >
Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala) [India], July 9 (ANI): Following the violent protest at Kerala University, a case has been registered against 27 activists of the ruling CPM's Students Federation of India (SFI), including its state secretary P S Sanjeev, who has been named the prime accused, police said. The case also names 1,000 identifiable protesters who have been accused of damaging public property, forcibly entering the university campus, and assaulting police and university staff, police said on Tuesday. Also Read | Nobel Peace Prize 2025: From Mahatma Gandhi to Jawaharlal Nehru, Check Full ...Read More >
Sonitpur (Assam) [India], June 6 (ANI): As the swelling Brahmaputra's raging floodwaters submerge vast areas of Tezpur, local residents are demanding immediate action from the state government to prevent further soil erosion and houses from getting washed away. A local resident said, "One or two houses have been washed away. In the Bhomoraguri village, under the Tezpur Legislative Assembly constituency, Sonitpur district, a large portion of land along with many homes at Bairagi Tila has been swallowed by the river, leaving everyone in a state of panic. Similarly, due to the intense erosion by ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], June 8 (ANI): BJP MP Gulam Ali Khatana, who was part of the all-party parliamentary delegation to Europe, said that during their recently conclued visit they successfully communicated India's development story and its resolute stand against terrorism, particularly emanating from Pakistan. Highlighting the delegation's key discussions during the tour, Khatana told ANI, 'We discussed how we dismantled the terrorism factory in Pakistan by responding... We also talked about tourism infrastructure, G20 Summit, and projects like the six-lane roads, bridges, solar initiatives, our ...Read More >
Mumbai, June 29 (SocialNews.XYZ) It was a belligerent, brilliant, and breathtaking performance from the Chennai Bulls, who were crowned the first ever champions of the Rugby Premier League, here in Mumbai, at the Shahaji Raje Bhosale Sports Complex. The Chennai Bulls thrashed the Delhi Redz by a scoreline of 41-0 in the final, to clinch the title. In fact, the margin of victory is the biggest across Season 1 of the GMR RPL. Meanwhile, the Hyderabad Heroes, who had finished top of the table in the league stage, came away with a third-place finish, after they won 17-12 against the Bengaluru Bra ...Read More >
HYDERABAD: With the kharif season underway and farmers facing an acute shortage of urea, agriculture minister Tummala Nageswara Rao has written to the Centre, urging immediate intervention to ensure timely and sufficient supply of the critical fertiliser. In letters addressed to Union minister for chemicals and fertilisers JP Nadda, Tummala highlighted the alarming gap between the state's demand and actual supply. The minister said the Centre had allocated five lakh metric tonnes of urea to Telangana for the months of April, May, and June. However, only 3.06 lakh metric tonnes have been suppli ...Read More >
Chandigarh: Punjab chief ministerBhagwant Mann on Thursday said the government will table a bill in the assembly on Friday to introduce harsher punishment for religious sacrilege. However, the law will not be enacted immediately, as the government plans to hold consultations with stakeholders before finalising the legislation.Mann said the decision was taken in a meeting of the cabinet earlier in the day. After the legislation is tabled, Punjab govt will gather suggestions on the law from stakeholders, including religious organisations and people, he added.Sources said said the new legislation ...Read More >
The Assam government is all set to make 'Lakhpati Didis' out of 30 lakh self-help group members by pumping an annual business of Rs 30,000 crore. The ambitious plan is part of the roadmap prepared by the Assam Panchayat and Rural Development for a period extending to 10 years. At present, approximately 8.5 lakh women will earn Rs 1 lakh per year by themselves through business under the Lakhpati Didi vision. According to Ranjeet Kumar, the minister for Panchayat and Rural Development in Assam, th ...Read More >
Bengaluru, June 27 (SocialNews.XYZ) Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday said an investigation has been launched into the death of a tigress and its four cubs in the state's Chamarajanagar district, and necessary orders have already been issued, even as two suspects have been held for questioning. Sources said that the authorities have taken two persons into custody on Friday and are questioning them in connection with the incident. Speaking to the media in Bengaluru, CM Siddaramaiah said that appropriate action would be taken once the investigation report is submitted. Minister ...Read More >