IRCTC to run tourist train to SoU on Feb 27

IRCTC to run tourist train to SoU on Feb 27

New Delhi:13.02.2021 

In line with the Government of India’s initiative ‘Dekho Apna Desh’ to promote domestic tourism, the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) will run a deluxe train for “Jyotirlinga and Statue of Unity” tour on February 27.

The train will depart from Delhi Safdarjung on February 27 and will cover two prominent Jyotirling temples Mahakaleshwar (Ujjain) and Omkareshwar along with the tallest statue in the world ‘Statue of Unity’ near Kevadia, Gujarat.

Tourists can board the train at Delhi Safdarjung, Mathura, Agra and Gwalior stations.

When it comes to facilities, the train features two fine dining restaurants, a modern kitchen, shower cubicles in coaches, sensor-based washroom functions and foot massagers.

The fully air-conditioned train provides two types of accommodation such as the first AC and second AC. Besides CCTV cameras, the train will have a deployment of private security guards for enhanced security.

Besides the train fare, IRCTC is also offering onboard and offboard meals, hotel stay at respective destinations, guided excursions in air-conditioned buses and travel insurance for the passengers in the tour package.

Situated near Kevadiya in Gujarat's Narmada district, the 'Statue of Unity' is the world's tallest statue and monumental tribute to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, independent India's first home minister as well as deputy prime minister.

The statue was inaugurated in October 2018 by Prime Minister Modi on the occasion of Patel's 143rd birth anniversary. AGENCIES

‘Corruption is like snake in systems’

POND SCAM

‘Corruption is like snake in systems’

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Ahmedabad:

13.02.2021 

The Gujarat high court has made scathing remarks about the corrupt practices by bureaucrats and termed corruption “a termite and a poisonous snake which has penetrated deeply into our systems”.

The observation about corrupt practices has come from Justice R M Sareen while refusing legal protection against possible arrest of an assistant director of Gujarat State Land Development Nigam Ltd, Ramendrainh Kushvah, in connection with the alleged Khet Talavadi scheme (farm ponds) scam. The judge echoed the observations made earlier by Justice Bela Trivedi while describing the role of the government officials in this scam.

On Thursday, Justice Sareen said, “It cannot be gainsaid that corruption has become a social menace and is very much rampant nowadays. It is like a termite or a poisonous snake which has penetrated deeply into our systems. It is often quoted that the public servants are like fish in the water, none can say when and how a fish drank the water.”

Kushvah was booked by the anti-corruption bureau (ACB) last year in Godhra for an alleged scam in the farm pond scheme. He was posted in Shahera town then. The Prevention of Corruption Act was invoked against him on the ground that there is rise in Kushvah’s income to an extent of 62.68% as compared to the sources of his official income.

Kushvah told the court that some of the contractors were politically connected and he had been falsely accused under political pressure.

The court rejected the bail and said, “Considering his designation, there are all likelihood of petitioner having misused his official position by involving himself in purchase of immovable property. The importance of custodial interrogation in such nature of accusation becomes more necessary for verifying the actual nature of transaction.”

He cleared CA to be a Jain monk!

He cleared CA to be a Jain monk!

Surat Boy Harsh Singhi To Embrace Monkhood In May

Bharat.Yagnik@timesgroup.com

Ahmedabad:13.02.2021 

There are stories galore of professionals giving up their corporate lives to become monks. But a Surat boy became a chartered accountant (CA) professional as a precondition to renounce the worldly pursuits.

Harsh Singhi, 25, who will take diksha from Bhakti Yogacharya Yashovijaysuriji Maharaj in May, said he had made up his mind to become a monk when he was in his teens.

“I have audited many account books but realized that we limit our thinking to material gains and losses only. Few carry out an audit of the ‘atma’ (soul) which actually transcends birth and death,” said Harsh.

Harsh said he got influenced quite early on in his life as his family is quite religious. “One day I came after listening to a spiritual discourse and told my elder sister about my wish to become a Jain monk. My father overheard this midnight conversation and next morning told me it was his wish that I become a CA. Then I was free to walk the path of my choice,” said Harsh.

Harsh said it was his father's attachment which led to put this pre-condition.

Harsh said he got influenced quite early on in his life as his family is quite religious

‘I’m honouring commitment to myself’

My father may have thought I will grow out of my idea of renouncing the worldly life. I decided to honour my father's wish and committed myself to clearing CA final exam,” says Harsh.

While he was giving CA exams, he again broached the topic of taking diksha with his father.

This time, he said sister Shreya's marriage was fixed and asked him to wait till the marriage was solemnized.

“Two days after the marriage took place, I discussed with my father. I had honoured all my promises, now it was time for me to honour my commitment to myself," said Harsh who says all humans need to do regular audits of their souls instead of focussing solely on their bodies.

TN govt sanctions case against Stalin

TN govt sanctions case against Stalin

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:13.02.2021 

The AIADMK government has sanctioned a defamation case against DMK president M K Stalin for having levelled corruption charges against fisheries minister D Jayakumar.

In his party’s Makkal Grama Sabha meeting at Royapuram in Chennai last month, the DMK leader had alleged several irregularities in procurement of walkie-talkies for fishermen and accused Jayakumar of “causing loss to the tune of ₹30 crore to the exchequer”.

Incidentally, the DMK had mentioned it in its 98-page ‘corruption petition’ to governor Banwarilal Purohit, seeking DVAC probe against Jayakumar.

The DMK had said there was evidence of corruption, abuse and misuse of official power to favour a private company. An order issued by the public department on Wednesday said the defamatory speech was intended to malign the reputation of the minister in the discharge of his public functions.

“On a perusal of the said speech, it is found that it has imputations, which are per se defamatory against the minister. The defamatory speech is not only devoid of truth and good faith, but it has been intentionally made against the interest of the public good,” the order said, sanctioning the city public prosecutor, Chennai, to lodge a complaint against the DMK president.

The order said the government was satisfied that it was expedient and necessary that Stalin should be prosecuted in a court of law for an offence under section 499 of the Indian Penal Code punishable under section 500 of the said code.

DANCE of DEMOCRACY

DANCE of DEMOCRACY

‘Will shift to to old pension scheme’

Stalin Vows To Waive All Edu Loans

Bosco.Dominique@timesgroup.com

Villupuram: 13.02.2021 

DMK president M K Stalin has promised to scrap the new pension scheme and migrate to the old one for the benefit of government servants if his party is voted to power in the ensuing assembly polls. He also reiterated his earlier promise to waive all educational loans availed by students in the state. He was interacting with people after receiving petitions from them in Villupuram district during the third phase of his election campaign, 'Ungal thoguthiyil Stalin' (Stalin in your constituency) on Friday. He questioned the AIADMK government for failing to take stern action against the contractor after a check dam across Pennaiaru River in the district collapsed within a month of construction and sought to drive home the point that corruption was rampant in the AIADMK.

He claimed that all the welfare schemes of the current AIADMK government were introduced and successfully executed by the previous DMK government led by former chief minister M Karunanidhi. But chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami was making false claims and creating a mirage that the AIADMK government had introduced those welfare schemes, he said, and went on to list out the schemes launched by the previous DMK government that were replicated by the current AIADMK government after renaming them. He accused the ruling AIADMK of using the government's exchequer to spread lies by placing advertisements in media that Tamil Nadu was marching along the path of victory. He claimed that the government had been replicating his ideas and announcing projects and schemes. "The chief minister did not have any idea of launching a toll-free helpline to redress the grievances of the people for the past four and-a-half years, but launched the toll-free number only after I started receiving the grievances from the public," he said.

Stalin said Palaniswami claimed people can air their grievances using their mobile phones from any part of the state using the toll-free number, forgetting that the AIADMK failed to honour its poll promise of providing mobile phones free of cost to the people of Tamil Nadu.

CM Edappadi K Palaniswami launched the toll-free number only after I started receiving the grievances from the public

M K Stalin | DMK PRESIDENT

Power cut on Tuesday

Power cut on Tuesday

13.02.2021 

Chennai: Power supply will be suspended from 9am to 2pm in Ponneri, KK Nagar, Sembium and Tambaram MEPZ areas on Tuesday to facilitate maintenance work, a release from Tangedco said. Supply will be restored before 2pm if work is completed sooner. There will be no power supply in commercial establishments and residents in Arasur, Vellodai, Anuppambattu, Perumbedu, Athipattu, Saikiruba Nagar, Thatchoor, Andarkuppam, Madhavaram and surrounding areas of Ponneri. Similarly, those residing in Rajamanar Salai, RK Shanmugham Salai, Kannigapuram and Vijayaraghavapuram in KK Nagar circle and DRJ Hospital area, Ranga Garden, Balaji Nagar, Thirumalai Nagar, Jayanthi Nagar and VMT Nagar in Sembium will face power cuts. Power supply will be cut in MEPZ-I part of Tambaram, West Tambaram area, GST Road, Chitlapakkam, Thiruneermalai, Rail Nagar and Moulana Nagar. TNN

Pallavaram municipality struggles to handle waste

Pallavaram municipality struggles to handle waste

Ram.Sundaram@timesgroup.com

Chennai:13.02.2021 

Officials representing the Pallavaram municipality have informedtheNationalGreen Tribunal(NGT) that disposing waste accumulated at the local waste transfer station on Thoraipakkam Radial Road will take longer as there is no dumping site nearby and installation of incinerators is pending. Admitting the submissions made by the municipality, the tribunal during a recent hearing observed that it was the responsibility of the Chengalpet district collector and local body to ensure that unscientific disposal of waste doesn’t create public health issues. If not, the district collector will be compelled to appear before the tribunal, it said.

The issue of dumping solid waste at the station in Ganapathipuram and roads around was first brought to light by TOI in a report dated September 24, 2020. As complaints from the public went unattended, NGT southern zone took suo motu cognizance of the issue and constituted a joint-committee to look into it.

Due to the fault of the concessionaire, the NGT had in January 2021directed the Pallavaram municipality not to dispose the accumulated waste at Vengadamangalam solid waste management facility. According to official data, around 17,340tonnesof solidwastewas accumulated on the station premises, of which the municipality submitted it has cleared13,371tonnes. Sothelocalbody approached Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC), which later permitted the municipality to dispose of waste at the Perungudi dump yard and subsequently at Kodungaiyur. But private trucks that were engaged to dispose waste to Kodungaiyur, 55km away from Ganapathipuram, were able to clear only 40 tonnes of waste a day because they could make only four trips a day.

But the problem is that the daily waste collected from houses and shops in Pallavaram is adding to the pile. At present, of the104 tonnes daily waste gathered at Ganapathipuram, 30 tonnes are processed at micro-compost centres and the remaining 60-70 tonnes get accumulated at other end. So, clearing 100% accumulated waste would be possible only when the two incinerators proposed at the Vengadamangalam facility are ready, the municipality contended.

GARBAGE MOUNTAIN: Waste piling up at the Pallavaram dump yard has been spilling on to 200ft Radial Road