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Israeli Babool banned in govt-run nurseries over ecological concerns
Israeli Babool banned in govt-run nurseries over ecological concerns

Time of India

time29-06-2025

  • General
  • Time of India

Israeli Babool banned in govt-run nurseries over ecological concerns

1 2 Jaipur: Forest department has banned Acacia tortilis (Israeli Babool) in govt-run nurseries across the state. The species will also be excluded from the upcoming plantation drive. The directive states that Acacia tortilis must not be planted, sown, or raised in any departmental nursery unless prior approval is granted by the principal chief conservator of forests. Nursery supervisors and district-level forest officers have been instructed to ensure strict compliance and to inform all subordinate staff of this. Acacia tortilis, native to arid regions of Africa and the Middle East, was introduced to India in the 1950s and 60s for sand dune stabilisation and afforestation. While it became widespread in Rajasthan's desert districts, it also raised ecological concerns due to its invasive nature and suppression of native vegetation. "Given that Acacia tortilis hinders the natural regeneration of native species, its plantation or seeding shall henceforth be permitted only with prior written approval from the principal chief conservator of forests, supported by proper scientific justification and the remarks of the chief conservator," states the order by Arijit Banerjee, head of forest force, Rajasthan. "The ban is a timely and essential measure for restoring the ecological health of the Thar Desert," Dau Lal Bohra, environmental expert, told TOI. Although the order does not specify the reasons for the decision, the move aims to restore ecological balance and curb the uncontrolled spread of this exotic species. The species has become especially common in districts of Jaisalmer, Barmer, Bikaner, Jodhpur, Nagaur, Churu, and Pali. Environmentalists welcomed the decision. Mal Singh Jamra, former honorary wildlife warden, Jaisalmer, said, "The move will help revive native grasses, biodiversity, and wildlife, which were suppressed under the canopy of Acacia tortilis." A senior official source said, "In an effort to showcase rapid greenery in their respective regions, many officials favoured Acacia tortilis over ecologically important native species due to its fast growth and low maintenance requirements. However, this short-term approach led to long-term ecological damage." The order also warns that any violation—such as unauthorised propagation of Acacia tortilis—will result in disciplinary action and recovery of costs incurred.

Eden Gardens isn't public place, CAB not liable to pay ad tax to KMC: HC
Eden Gardens isn't public place, CAB not liable to pay ad tax to KMC: HC

Time of India

time23-06-2025

  • Business
  • Time of India

Eden Gardens isn't public place, CAB not liable to pay ad tax to KMC: HC

1 2 Kolkata: Eden Gardens cannot be considered a public place, Calcutta High Court has ruled, upholding a single judge's order that Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) is not liable to pay advertisement tax of over Rs 51 lakh to Kolkata Municipal Corporation for advertisements put up inside the stadium during the 1996 World Cup. "It is not the dimension of a place or the number of people that visit a particular place that would determine the nature of a place as 'private or public'. The only criterion must be whether or not members of public have an unrestricted right of access to that place. Applying this test, Eden Gardens Stadium cannot be held to be a public place," a division bench of justices Arijit Banerjee and Kausik Chanda held in the June 19 order. Dwelling on what constitutes a public place — KMC Act does not have a definition for it — the bench clarified that it meant any place that was open to people. "Any member of the public must have access to that place without any restriction. Nobody's permission should be required for visiting such a place… For example, the Maidan in Kolkata is undisputedly a public place. The riverside is also a public place. Any member of the public has absolute, unconditional, and unrestricted access to such places at any time," the bench explained. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Dermatologist: Just Add 1 Drop Of This Household Item To Any Dark Spot And Wait 3 Minutes Undo Eden Gardens had hosted the 1996 World Cup inaugural match and a semi-final on Feb 11 and March 13. KMC had issued a demand note to CAB for Rs 51,18,450 as tax on ads put up inside and outside the stadium. CAB moved HC and won the case in 2015, but KMC challenged the single judge order. The division bench, however, was not keen on interfering with the single-bench order. It was not happy with the two days' notice given to CAB to reply to the demand note and reprimanded KMC for initiating criminal proceedings without giving CAB a hearing. The bench also noted that the notice sent by KMC did not have a bill breakdown. It also considered Article 285 of the Constitution that exempts Union property from state taxation — CAB enjoys a lease of the Eden Gardens ground, which is owned by the defence ministry. The division bench held, "CAB is the lessee of the property where the stadium is situated… Take, for example, that a rich person owns a private stadium which can accommodate 200,000 people. He organises sports activities in the stadium and sells tickets which interested spectators can purchase for watching the activities inside the stadium. On a particular day, games are played before a packed stadium. Hoardings are put up by brand owners inside the stadium which are visible only to people who are inside the stadium. Would KMC be entitled to impose advertisement tax in respect of the same? We think not. Although 200,000 spectators may be viewing the advertisements, the private stadium is not a public place. The owner of the stadium will be entitled to deny entry to an interested person even if he offers to pay for a ticket."

India-Pakistan tensions: Flight to safety for Great Indian Bustard babies from border
India-Pakistan tensions: Flight to safety for Great Indian Bustard babies from border

Time of India

time13-05-2025

  • General
  • Time of India

India-Pakistan tensions: Flight to safety for Great Indian Bustard babies from border

Representative image JAIPUR: As border tensions rippled into wildlife zones, conservationists raced to shield newborn Great Indian Bustard babies from warzone - and keep fragile recovery efforts alive. Nine chicks were relocated from a key conservation site in Rajasthan's Jaisalmer district following drone incursions and artillery fire from Pakistan. Sensitive to loud sounds and shockwaves, bustards are particularly vulnerable during early stages of life. Ramdevra Conservation Centre, located just a few km from Indo-Pak border, hosts the country's sole bustard recovery programme. Following shelling on May 10, scientists and forest officials moved nine of the 18 chicks born this year to a safer facility in Arwar village of Ajmer district - nearly 500km east. "The chicks, aged between five and 28 days, were transported in soft-suspension vehicles fitted with padded compartments and sand bedding to reduce stress during the 10-hour journey," said Sutirtha Dutta, senior scientist at Wildlife Institute of India (WII). Several of the chicks were hatched through artificial incubation - an effort to revive one of India's most endangered bird species, with fewer than 130 believed to remain in the wild. "The relocation was carried out successfully. The chicks are healthy and have acclimatised well," said Arijit Banerjee, head of Rajasthan Forest Service, also known as Forest Force.

Attempt To Grope Breasts 'Aggravated Sex Assault' But 'Not Rape': Calcutta High Court
Attempt To Grope Breasts 'Aggravated Sex Assault' But 'Not Rape': Calcutta High Court

NDTV

time26-04-2025

  • NDTV

Attempt To Grope Breasts 'Aggravated Sex Assault' But 'Not Rape': Calcutta High Court

Kolkata: The Calcutta High Court on Friday, suspending an earlier order by a West Bengal trial court convicting and sentencing an accused under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act, observed that an attempt grope the breasts of a victim can only support the charge of "aggravated sexual assault" and not "attempt to rape", under the act. The trial court found the accused guilty of both "aggravated sexual assault" and "attempt to rape", and had sentenced him 12 years of rigorous imprisonment. Hearing the appeal, a division bench of Justice Arijit Banerjee and Justice Biswaroop Chowdhury also observed that the medical examination of the victim in the case did not indicate any penetration or attempt of penetration. It noted that, as per the version of the victim, the accused tried to "grope her breasts" under the influence of alcohol. "Such evidence may support a charge of aggravated sexual assault under Section 10 of the POCSO Act, 2012, but prima facie does not indicate commission of the offence of attempted rape," the division bench observed. It also observed that if after the final hearing, the charge is scaled down to just "aggravated sexual assault" from both "aggravated sexual assault" and "attempt to rape", the imprisonment period for the convict would also be scaled down between five and seven years from 12 years, which is applicable in case of "attempt to rape". In this particular case, the convict has already spent 28 months behind bars. The bench ordered that the operation of the order of conviction and sentence shall remain suspended till the disposal of the appeal or until further orders, whichever is earlier. It also stayed the payment of the fine till the disposal of the appeal. However, at the same time, the division bench also clarified that its observations should have no impact on the hearing of the appeal.

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