Latest news with #Agrawal
Time of India
21 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
VIA Objects to MERC's New Tariff Order, Considers Legal Options
Nagpur: The Vidarbha Industries Association (VIA) has expressed serious concern over the Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission's ( MERC ) latest Multi-Year Tariff Policy Review Order. VIA has described it as a regressive move which threatens industrial viability and green energy investments across the state. The association claimed that the new tariff regime is expected to significantly raise electricity costs for industries, particularly those operating on three-shift, 24x7 models. According to VIA's preliminary analysis, the revised structure could increase electricity bills by 8% to 10% compared to the current rate. "This sharp hike stems from a combination of increased demand charges, steeper energy costs during peak hours, and curtailed off-peak incentives under the revised Time-of-Day (TOD) tariffs," VIA said. VIA president Vishal Agrawal stated that such abrupt changes undermine the govt's stated goals under initiatives like 'Make in India' and 'Atmanirbhar Bharat'. He noted that industrial growth depends on stable and predictable energy pricing, which the new policy disrupts by effectively reversing earlier tariff reductions through a mid-cycle review. Agrawal warned that the impact will be particularly harsh on energy-intensive sectors such as textiles, engineering, and foundries, which are already under pressure from global competition, volatile raw material prices, and high logistics costs. He said many units, especially small and medium enterprises in regions like Vidarbha, may be forced to scale down operations or shut shop entirely due to the sudden rise in power costs. Adding to industry's woes, the revised order also deals a heavy blow to the state's green energy movement. VIA has raised alarm over two specific provisions which it believes will discourage solar adoption. The first is the prohibition of night-time banking of solar power — a system that allowed industries to store excess day-time generation and draw it at night, ensuring round-the-clock usage of clean energy. "The new policy scraps this mechanism, forcing industries to either waste their surplus generation or invest in expensive battery storage systems, which most consider financially unfeasible," VIA said. Equally damaging is MERC's introduction of Grid Support Charges (GSC) on solar power, especially targeting installations above 10 MW capacity. According to the new rules, even when industries use their own solar power or previously banked energy, they must pay a fee for utilising the grid infrastructure. VIA argues that this completely erodes the economic viability of solar investments and penalises companies that are actively contributing to grid stability during peak sunlight hours. Agrawal emphasised the need for MERC to engage directly with stakeholders, particularly MSMEs and round-the-clock manufacturing units, before pushing through structural changes of this magnitude. He asserted that industries in Maharashtra — and particularly in power-surplus regions like Vidarbha — deserve a forward-looking and participatory electricity policy, not one that discourages efficiency and clean energy. VIA, he said, will continue to advocate for industrial interests through formal representation and, if necessary, legal intervention. Box: VIA's demands Roll back the punitive demand and TOD tariffs, and ensure no more than CPI-based escalation in effective cost Reinstate night-time banking of solar energy to preserve the commercial viability of green power Scrap the Grid Support Charges or at least cap them till an independent impact assessment is conducted Hold stakeholder consultations, especially with MSMEs and large 3-shift units, before implementing such structural changes
The Hindu
a day ago
- The Hindu
Yoga ‘guru' arrested in Chhattisgarh for possessing cannabis
A 45-year-old self-styled yoga 'guru' from Chhattisgarh who claims to have spent a decade in Goa teaching yoga to Indians and foreign nationals has been arrested for allegedly possessing nearly 2 kg of cannabis. The arrested man, Yogi Tarun Kranti Agrawal alias Sonu, had recently bought a property spread across five acres of land in an area close to the famous Dongargarh temple. Rajnandgaon Superintendent of Police Mohit Garg said that while the offence for now is the violation of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, the police were also probing his finances as well as scrutinising his claims such as visiting over 100 countries to teach yoga. On the sequence of events, an investigator said that Agrawal, a native of Dongargarh, had left home two decades ago and returned recently. He bought the aforementioned land where the construction had began for an ashram. However, people complained to the local police that drugs were being served on the premises following which the place was raided on June 25. 'We found 1.993 kg of cannabis in his possession. He was arrested under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act and remanded to judicial custody. We suspect he was selling drugs on the premises,' said Mr. Garg. He added that the accused has been booked under Section 20B (that prohibits using cannabis production, manufacturing, possession, or uses cannabis) of the NDPS Act. During interrogation, the accused purportedly told the police that he had spent the last decade in Goa. He had left his home two decades ago and is said to have spent over a decade in Goa where he taught 'Kranti Yoga' to many people, including several foreign nationals. During the questioning, he told the investigators that he also travelled to various countries to teach yoga and that he runs many non-governmental organisations (NGOs). The police have seized Agrawal's passport and are verifying these claims. A police official said that the accused was under the influence of cannabis when he was arrested.
Indian Express
a day ago
- Indian Express
‘Yoga guru' who returned from Goa to set up ashram in Chhattisgarh arrested, police say 2 kg weed found
A 45-year-old self-proclaimed yoga guru, who recently returned from Goa and set up an ashram in Chhattisgarh's Rajnandgaon district, has been arrested for allegedly possessing nearly 2 kilograms of cannabis after allegations emerged that drugs were being peddled on the premises. The accused had returned after spending a decade in Goa, where he ran 'The Krantis', teaching what he called Kranti Yoga to many, including foreigners. The accused, Tarun Kranti Agrawal alias Sonu, recently purchased a property spanning 5 acres of land near the Pragya Giri hills, located barely two kilometres from the Dongargarh temple, also a popular tourist destination. A few months later, Kanti began construction work to set up an ashram on the premises. However, earlier this month, the local Dongargarh police started receiving complaints about drugs allegedly being served on the premises to minors and tourists. According to the police, it was also alleged that some youngsters at the place were carrying knives. 'We received information about unlawful activities taking place on the premises, after which we raided the place on June 25. We found 1.993 kg of cannabis in his possession. He was arrested under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act and remanded to judicial custody. We suspect he was selling drugs on the premises,' said the Rajnandgaon Superintendent of Police, Mohit Garg. Agrawal's parents are businessmen, and he is a native of Dongargarh. He left his home two decades ago, police said. 'Agrawal claimed before us (the police) that he has visited many countries and runs 10 NGOs. We will be seizing his passport, and we have received information about a few NGOS that he is referring to. We will check the activities of these organisations,' said an official. Agrawal has been booked under section 20 B (produces, manufactures, possesses, sells, purchases, transports, imports inter-State, exports inter-State or uses cannabis) of the NDPS Act.
Yomiuri Shimbun
a day ago
- Health
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Startup Sells Plastic-eating Fungi Diapers to Tackle Landfill Waste
AUSTIN, Texas (Reuters) — Could baby poop and fungi work together to tackle landfill waste? That's the idea behind a new product launched by an Austin, Texas-based startup that sells disposable diapers paired with fungi intended to break down the plastic. Each of Hiro Technologies' MycoDigestible Diapers comes with a packet of fungi to be added to the dirty diaper before it is thrown in the trash. After a week or two, the fungi are activated by moisture from feces, urine and the environment to begin the process of biodegradation. Disposable diapers contribute significantly to landfill waste. An estimated 4 million tons of diapers were disposed of in the United States in 2018, with no significant recycling or composting, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Diapers take hundreds of years to naturally break down. That means the very first disposable diaper ever used is still in a landfill somewhere. To tackle this, Hiro Technologies turned to fungi. These organisms — which include mushrooms, molds, yeasts and mildew — derive nutrients from decomposing organic matter. In 2011, Yale University researchers discovered a type of fungus in Ecuador that can feed on polyurethane, a common polymer in plastic products. They figured the fungus, Pestalotiopsis microspora, would be capable of surviving on plastic in environments lacking oxygen, like landfills. Hiro Technologies cofounder Tero Isokauppila, a Finnish entrepreneur who also founded medicinal mushroom company Four Sigmatic, said there are more than 100 species of fungi now known to break down plastics. 'Many, many moons ago, fungi evolved to break down trees, especially this hard-to-break-down compound in trees called lignin … Its carbon backbone is very similar to the carbon backbone of plastics because essentially they're made out of the same thing,' Isokauppila said. Three sealed jars at Hiro Technologies' lab show the stages of decomposition of a treated diaper over time. By nine months, the product appears as black soil — 'just digested plastic and essentially earth,' Isokauppila said. The company says it needs to do more research to find out how the product will decompose in real-world conditions in different climates and hopes to have the data to make a 'consumer-facing claim' by next year. It also plans to experiment with plastic-eating fungi on adult diapers, feminine care products and other now, it is selling 'diaper bundles' for $35 a week online. Cofounder Miki Agrawal, who was also behind period underwear company Thinx, said the MycoDigestible Diapers had been generating excitement from consumers and investors since launching about a month ago, declining to give details. Agrawal said the company had chosen to focus on diapers as the top household plastic waste item. 'There is a deleterious lasting effect that we haven't really thought about and considered,' Agrawal said. 'Because when you throw something away, no one's asking themselves, 'Where's away?''
Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Surveillance, security the buzzwords as all roads lead to Puri
1 2 Puri: Hours before the annual Rath Yatra of Jagannath Temple, the city has been placed under a thick security blanket. The heightened security follows recent Indo-Pak tensions in the aftermath of the terror attack in Pahalgam. At least 203 platoons of police force will be strategically positioned throughout the city to ensure a smooth and incident-free Rath Yatra. "We have significantly upgraded our surveillance capabilities with the installation of AI-enabled CCTV cameras at crucial locations. These advanced systems can detect suspicious activities and monitor crowd density in real-time," Puri superintendent of police Vinit Agrawal told TOI. Police have decided to use drone surveillance to keep an eye on traffic flow, crowd management on the Grand Road, and enhance beach security. They have identified and prepared 21 parking lots across the city. To prevent traffic congestion, holding areas have been set up at five locations outside Puri where incoming vehicles can be temporarily stationed before the traffic situation is brought under control inside the city. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5-year-old girl needs her second heart surgery! Donate For Health Donate Now Undo Given chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi's emphasis on an incident-free festival, the Puri SP said a multi-layered security approach has been implemented. As part of the plan, specialised anti-terrorist squads, National Security Guard (NSG) personnel, and dedicated anti-sabotage teams have been deployed. "Our arrangements are meticulously planned with a strong focus on welfare of devotees, particularly vulnerable groups such as the elderly and differently-abled," Agrawal said. Talking about beach security, Agrawal said regular police patrols have been intensified, particularly during evening and night hours. "We have significantly increased the number of trained lifeguards to prevent any drowning incidents. We are actively discouraging tourists from entering the sea during potentially dangerous conditions," Agrawal said.
