Union Home Secy lauds TG cops
State Chief Secretary K. Ramakrishna Rao, Special Chief Secretary (Home) Ravi Gupta, Director General of Police Dr Jitender and other senior IAS and IPS officers attended. The DGP and senior officials briefed the MHA team on transition, training & tech upgrades in the enforcement of NCLs.
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Time of India
15 minutes ago
- Time of India
Siddaramaiah meets Rajnath; seeks defence corridors, land transfer and IAF air show for Dasara
Bengaluru: A delegation led by chief minister Siddaramaiah , his deputy DK Shivakumar and some cabinet colleagues met Union defence minister Rajnath Singh Wednesday and sought central support for a wide range of proposals — from setting up two defence industrial corridors and securing defence land for major infrastructure work in Bengaluru, to hosting an Indian Air Force (IAF) air show during this year's Mysuru Dasara celebrations. In a letter to Singh, Siddaramaiah urged the Centre to establish a defence industrial corridor each in North and South Karnataka, like those announced in Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu in 2018. While requesting "similar support", Siddaramaiah, citing the state's strong aerospace base, wrote: "The proposed corridors will leverage this existing ecosystem and infrastructure, further cementing Karnataka's reputation as the defence capital of India." You Can Also Check: Bengaluru AQI | Weather in Bengaluru | Bank Holidays in Bengaluru | Public Holidays in Bengaluru Karnataka contributes 67% of India's aircraft and helicopter production and 25% of the aircraft and spacecraft industry, he said. The corridors would aid the 'Make in India' initiative, strengthen industry-academia ties, and create skilled jobs. Siddaramaiah also detailed the industrial capabilities of Belagavi, Hubballi-Dharwad, and Vijayapura in the north — home to major firms and the country's first precision manufacturing SEZ — and South Karnataka, which includes HAL's headquarters, TASL's C130 assembly line, and a hi-tech aerospace park in Devanahalli. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo Siddaramaiah also requested the defence ministry to expedite transfer of land for three Bengaluru infrastructure projects: Twin tunnel project from Hebbal to Silk Board, a link road to Sarovara Layout, and Phase-3 of Namma Metro at Goraguntepalya. For the tunnel project, he wrote, "A vital ramp near Hebbal necessitates 2 acres of defence land, previously part of the Hebbal Defence Dairy Farm." The link road requires 6 acres, while 7 acres of defence land is needed for the Metro corridor. "The construction… will give huge benefit to the public, as it would solve long pending traffic issues at Goraguntepalya junction," he noted. Siddaramaiah also invited IAF to conduct aerobatic displays during Mysuru Dasara. "I request an aerial display by Surya Kiran, Sarang and other aerobatic teams," he wrote, recalling the public enthusiasm during similar shows in 2017, 2019, and 2023. "Like every year, programmes are being planned to showcase the rich cultural heritage and tradition of Karnataka. In this context, the state government intends to organise an air show as part of the Dasara celebrations in Mysuru," he wrote.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Irregularities in solar pump project implemented by Anert, alleges Ramesh Chennithala
Thiruvananthapuram: Congress working committee (CWC) member Ramesh Chennithala on Wednesday demanded a detailed investigation into the irregularities in the Rs 240-crore tender to make grid-connected agriculture pumps solar under PM-Kusum scheme. After releasing documents, including the sanction order from Union ministry, Chennithala said there was an increase of over Rs 100 crore in total project cost and a misappropriation of more than Rs 100 crore in obtaining a loan of Rs 175 crore from Nabard. Agency for new and renewable energy research and technology (Anert) was given the order by Union ministry of new and renewable energy in May 2022 to convert 9,348 agricultural pumps to solar. Meanwhile, electricity minister K Krishnankutty instructed additional chief secretary of energy department to investigate the allegations of irregularities and submit a report. He said no one responsible for any irregularities found in the investigation would be protected. Appropriate further actions will be taken after receiving the investigation report, he said. There were irregularities on many counts, Ramesh alleged. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like An engineer reveals: One simple trick to get internet without a subscription Techno Mag Learn More Undo "The Rs 240-crore tender was scrapped after technical and financial bids were opened, the lowest bidder was allowed to withdraw and there were irregularities in accepting the financial bid in the second tender. Work orders were given to companies that didn't mention amounts in bids, grading was not followed in converting solar pumps and pumps were set up at 146% more than the benchmark set by govt of India. State govt returned around 85% of the subsidy to Centre," he said. Chennithala said the irregularities began when Anert CEO, who is authorised to call tenders worth up to Rs 5 crore, invited a tender for Rs 240 crore. "It needs to be clarified how such a high-value tender was called without govt's written approval," he said. Irregularities occurred throughout the entire process, he alleged. "After a company submitted its tender, they were given the opportunity for revisions and were issued a work order," he said, adding that govt should explain how changes were allowed after opening the tender. "Most contracts were awarded at more than double the benchmark amount set by central govt for installing such pumps. There is a difference ranging from Rs 1-3 lakh in contracts for various solar projects from 2-10 kilowatts. This resulted in a difference of nearly Rs 100 crore in total project cost," he alleged. The approval and corruption involved in causing such a significant difference should be investigated, he added. "This misappropriation was carried out by taking a loan of Rs 175 crore from Nabard. Grading was implemented for companies to ensure error-free project execution. It is understood that contracts were awarded to companies that didn't qualify. Contracts were given to companies without grading at the same amount as the one quoted by the lowest bidder," he said. An investigation into all these irregularities should be ordered by removing Anert CEO, Chennithala said.
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Our border is with Tibet, not China: Arunachal CM Pema Khandu takes swipe at Beijing
Arunachal CM Pema Khandu (File photo) Arunachal Pradesh shares a 1,200km border with Tibet, not China, chief minister Pema Khandu declared Wednesday in a surgical swipe at Beijing for repeatedly laying claim to the northeastern state, and also creating what he called a ticking "water bomb" in the form of the world's largest dam project on the Yarlung Tsangpo (Brahmaputra in India) river. "Officially, yes, Tibet is under China now. That can't be ruled out... but originally we shared a border with Tibet," he told PTI in Delhi on his way back from the Dalai Lama's 90th birthday celebration in Dharamshala. "In Arunachal Pradesh, we share three international boundaries - with Bhutan approximately 150km, with Tibet... and on the eastern side, with Myanmar approximately 550km." Khandu, in his third consecutive term as CM and credited with strengthening BJP's hold on the state, made the remarks while seeking to "correct" the interviewer the moment he referred to Arunachal Pradesh bordering China. Pointing to China's "forcible" occupation of Tibet in 1950, Khandu said that if one looked at India's map, "none of the Indian states directly shares borders with China". The CM's statement comes amid China's intensified bid to stamp its authority on the Dalai Lama's succession. Union minister and fellow Arunachal Pradesh native Kiren Rijiju, said recently that the decision on who should be the Dalai Lama's successor should be solely his and in accordance with established Tibetan Buddhist convention. No government, including China's communist regime, should have a say, he said. On the dam China is building on the Yarlung Tsangpo, the Tibetan name for the Brahmaputra, Khandu warned that the project poses an 'existential threat' to Arunachal and its neighbouring northeastern states. He termed it 'a bigger issue' than anything else other than the Chinese 'military threat' hanging over the region. Khandu said Beijing not being a signatory to any international water treaty meant it 'cannot be trusted'. 'No one knows what they might do... Suppose the dam is built and they suddenly release water, our entire Siang belt would be destroyed. The Adi tribe and similar groups would suffer devastating effects,' he said. The CM said that after discussions with the Union government, Arunachal Pradesh conceived the Siang Upper Multipurpose Project as a bulwark against China's intentions. 'Since we cannot make China see reason, it is better that we focus on our own defence mechanisms and preparations,' he told PTI.
