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Time of India
3 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
Loss of property documents costs housing finance firm 10 lakh
Coimbatore: The district consumer disputes redressal commission has directed a housing finance firm to pay a compensation of 10 lakh to a customer for loss of original property documents. According to an official source, S Murugesan and his son M Prabhakaran, of Vadavalli, jointly availed a housing loan from DCB Bank in Coimbatore by mortgaging their property. Later, PNB Housing Finance Ltd at Pappanaickenpalayam agreed to take over the loan and sanctioned an amount of 22.90 lakh on November 11, 2018. As part of the process, the father-son duo deposited the original title deeds and other documents related to the property with the finance firm after executing a memorandum of deposit of title deeds. After the duo settled the entire outstanding loan amount, the finance firm closed the loan and issued a no objection certificate on November 12, 2023. On December 5, 2023, Murugesan and Prabhakaran visited the finance firm's office to collect their original title deeds and documents. To their shock, they were informed that the documents were misplaced and that the finance firm was in the process of tracking them, the source said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like American Investor Warren Buffett Recommends: 5 Books For Turning Your Life Around Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo The finance firm also did not execute the cancellation of the memorandum of deposit of title deeds and failed to return the original documents. Murugesan and Prabhakaran filed a petition before the district consumer disputes redressal commission. In its order, commission president R Thangavel and member P Marimuthu directed the finance firm to take steps to obtain a non-traceable certificate from the concerned police station for the purpose of reconstructing the missing original documents and obtaining certified copies of the same. The commission also directed the finance firm to initiate the cancellation of the memorandum of deposit of title deeds and pay a compensation of 10 lakh, along with 5,000 towards the cost of legal proceedings, to the complainants. MSID:: 122977737 413 |
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
Goodricke plans foray into FMCG and hospitality biz
Kolkata: Goodricke Group, one of India's leading tea groups and a subsidiary of UK-based Camellia Plc, is planning to restructure its operations and diversify into FMCG and hospitality businesses. It would sell off two more of its gardens, along with two already sold, to fund the upcoming projects. In hospitality, Goodricke has identified assets in Kolkata, Dooars and Darjeeling for conversion into hotels and is in talks with leading hospitality groups. Goodricke vice-chairman and MD A N Singh, speaking to TOI after its 49th AGM on Tuesday, said it has big plans to become an FMCG company. This would include milk products, horticulture products and white label products, which would be procured by the company and packaged and marketed under the Goodricke brand along with tea. You Can Also Check: Kolkata AQI | Weather in Kolkata | Bank Holidays in Kolkata | Public Holidays in Kolkata Singh said they have started discussions with 2-3 leading hospitality groups for identification of property and management contracts for tea tourism. "We will monetise some assets in Kolkata, Dooars and other areas," he added. Some companies like Luxmi Tea have tied up with the Taj Group in Makaibari. Singh said they have identified one property in Mirik where the number of rooms would be increased from 6 to 20 and then handed over for management to a leading group. 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 "We will do the infrastructure," he said. Replying to shareholders, Singh added that the company would also do a lot of horticulture crops, including turmeric, garlic and ginger. It would set up a piggery as well. The Bengal govt has allowed 30% of garden area for alternative use while Assam has granted 5%, he pointed out. "We are in talks with Bengal govt to uproot some non-tea growing areas for alternative businesses," he said. Elaborating on restructuring of the tea business, Singh said that after selling two gardens for Rs 44.6 crore, the board has approved the selling of two more gardens in Darjeeling and Dooars. The company is likely to get Rs 25 crore from this. "We might choose a couple of gardens more to finance our diversification projects," he added. Goodricke, along with its sister concerns in India, has 27 gardens; it alone has 18 gardens. The production is 13.7 million kg in Dooars, 2.9 mkg in Assam and 0.4 mkg in Darjeeling. Goodricke reported a financial turnaround in FY 2024–25 by posting a revenue of Rs 929 crore, up from Rs 824 crore in the previous year. The net profit stood at Rs 20 crore, reversing a loss of Rs 69.3 crore in FY24. Goodricke chairman Stephen Buckland, in his address, expressed concern over climate change. "Risks persist in the form of climate variability, increasing regulatory requirements and competition from both established brands and local packagers," he said.
Time of India
3 hours ago
- General
- Time of India
No power, Pandanwatand locals walk 6km to charge phones in trucks
Hazaribag: In a world where technology and development are advancing at breakneck speed, a small tribal village in the heart of India remains untouched by the glow of electric light. Pandanwatand, nestled in the Barkagaon block of Hazaribag district, is home to around 250 residents, predominantly from the Ganjhu tribe, who were only recently recognised with Scheduled Tribe status. Yet, despite this recognition, the village remains shrouded in darkness, relying on lanterns and diyas to illuminate their homes after sunset. In a scene reminiscent of a bygone era, the youth of Pandanwatand embark on a daily 6-km trek to Phataha Chowk. Here, amidst the rumble of coal-laden trucks, they find a lifeline — truck drivers who generously allow them to charge their mobile phones using dashboard chargers. This act of kindness highlights the stark reality of a village left behind in the shadows of progress. Krishna Ram, a member of the Chepakala panchayat samiti, expressed his deep frustration to TOI, stating, "As a public representative, I feel ashamed that these 40 families still live without electricity. 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 Despite all the development in the country, the people of Pandanwatand are still living like it's the pre-Independence era." The challenges faced by Pandanwatand are compounded by its remote location, surrounded by dense forests. Barkagaon Zila Parishad chairperson Phulwa Devi emphasised the difficulties, noting, "The lack of electricity forces people to rely on age-old methods to light their homes." While a few solar panels were once installed, they now lie defunct, leaving residents like Ritesh Thakur to rely on the goodwill of truck drivers. "Charging our phones from trucks is the only way. Drivers are familiar with our hardship and so help us," he said. The absence of electricity not only hampers daily life but also poses a threat to safety, with regular encounters with wild elephants, snakes, and scorpions. Efforts to bring electricity to Pandanwatand are underway, with electric poles already installed. However, the necessary infrastructure, including wires and transformers, remains absent. Block development officer Jitendra Kumar Mandal assured that the issue is being addressed, stating, "We have taken up the issue seriously and power supply will be ensured soon."
Time of India
5 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
NGT raps Punjab over non-compliance on fuel policy in steel hub
1 2 Chandigarh: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has criticised Punjab govt for failing to implement its own fuel policy in Mandi Gobindgarh, where coal-fired furnaces continue to operate in violation of environmental norms. The tribunal directed the chief secretary of Punjab to appear virtually and assist the tribunal at the next hearing, scheduled for Sept 1. The issue relates to the continued use of coal, pet coke, and furnace oil by industrial units in Mandi Gobindgarh, despite directives from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and the framing of a fuel policy by the Punjab govt on Oct 4, 2023, which was not made effective. These furnaces are associated with industries like recycled steel production, ceramics/refractories, cupola furnaces, and rolling mills. The tribunal, in its earlier order dated March 27, recorded the assurance of the advocate general of Punjab that a comprehensive response would be filed within four weeks. However, no such response was filed. Taking serious note of this non-compliance, the bench comprising Prakash Shrivastava, Sudhir Agarwal, and Dr A Senthil Vel observed that neither was the promised response submitted nor was the advocate general present at the latest hearing. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like American Investor Warren Buffett Recommends: 5 Books For Turning Your Life Around Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo As a result, the tribunal stated it had "no option", but to direct the chief secretary to appear virtually to ensure compliance. After the tribunal criticised the PPCB for its absence in the previous hearing, terming it "unfortunate" given the seriousness of the matter, the chairperson of PPCB, Reena Gupta, appeared virtually and informed the tribunal that she recently took charge and assured that in future, effective assistance will be rendered by the advocate of the PPCB in all matters. PPCB's counsel informed the tribunal that a reply was filed on July 21 after 3pm and therefore had not yet appeared in the case record. The tribunal directed that copies be shared with all parties, who have been granted two weeks to respond. The CPCB, which previously sought four weeks to file its response on the implementation of directions under Section 5 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, also failed to comply. The counsel requested an additional two weeks to file a comprehensive report on the fuel policy status adopted by various states, including Punjab. The tribunal has listed the matter for further hearing on Sept 1. INDUSTRY RAISES CONCERNS Despite sustained efforts by the authorities to promote the use of piped natural gas (PNG) in industrial operations, refractory units have raised serious concerns, citing technical limitations. Industry representatives argue that PNG is not suitable for high-temperature manufacturing processes required in refractory production and have urged the govt to allow the use of pet coke, under stringent pollution control measures.
Time of India
5 hours ago
- Climate
- Time of India
It's a crawl: Traffic thrown out of gear during rush hours
New Delhi: Delhi woke up to a grey Tuesday and relentless rain that turned its streets into streams and intersections into pain points. By morning rush hour, waterlogging spread across the city, disrupting traffic, stalling vehicles and stranding commuters. Although conditions improved by mid-morning, the early hours saw the worst of the chaos. From Zakhira underpass to Panchkuian Marg, key stretches were submerged in ankle-deep water. Traffic was reduced to a crawl, with some vehicles breaking down. Stranded drivers and two-wheeler riders sought refuge under flyovers, shop awnings, and even trees, which further slowed vehicular movement. The impact was felt across arterial routes, with major snarls reported from ITO, Mathura Road and NH-8. Office-goers, especially those heading to or from Noida and Gurgaon, faced acute delays — some commutes took over an hour longer than usual. Live traffic maps showed long red stretches across different parts of the city. You Can Also Check: Delhi AQI | Weather in Delhi | Bank Holidays in Delhi | Public Holidays in Delhi According to traffic police sources, waterlogging was reported in several parts of the city, including the Zakhira and Punjabi Bagh underpasses, areas near Modern School, Kapashera Marg, Nigambodh Ghat, Mukherjee Nagar, South Avenue, Teen Murti roundabout, Majnu ka Tila, MCD Chowk, Mundka traffic signal, Panchkuian Marg, Azad Market, and stretches near Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium and New Delhi Railway Station. 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 As a result, traffic was also affected on these stretches. Disruptions were also reported on Mehrauli-Badarpur Road, MG Road, Old Rohtak Road, and near key junctions leading to NH-8. Those crossing ITO to reach Vikas Marg and onward to Noida faced particularly severe snarls, with several commuters reporting travel times that doubled. Many also encountered delays on Mathura Road and other link roads leading out of the capital. Traffic advisories were issued throughout the day. One warned of waterlogging at the GTK Bus depot, urging commuters to take alternate routes. Another alert flagged the Zakhira underpass, which remained heavily waterlogged for much of the morning. At Kalindi Kunj, traffic personnel in rain gear were seen managing the flow of vehicles. Traffic officials said swift on-ground action was taken. "Wherever complaints of waterlogging were received, staff was sent immediately to manage the situation," a senior officer said. Frustrated commuters took to social media to share updates and vent. "Deep congestion on Barapullah (Baba Banda Singh Bahadur Setu between JLN and Aurobindo Marg) due to waterlogging," one user posted. Another wrote, "Water has flooded the road in front of Air Force Station Tughlakabad, and because of that, there's traffic."
