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The Hindu
a day ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
MVA delegation meets Maharashtra Governor, urges him not to sign Special Public Security Bill
A delegation of Maha Vikas Aghadi met Maharashtra Governor C.P. Radhakrishnan on Friday (July 18, 2025) and requested him to decline permission to the Maharashtra Special Public Security Bill against extremist left wing organisations. The delegation submitted a memorandum printed on the letterhead of Maharashtra Legislative Council chairperson Ambadas Danve, requesting the Governor to send the Bill against to the government for reconsideration. There is anger against the Bill among the people, the memorandum stated. It has been signed by several leaders of Congress, NCP SP and Shiv Sena UBT. Interestingly, some of the signatories are members of the joint committee of the legislature which had cleared the Bill without any dissent note. This comes three days after left wing organisations and civil society members had approached the Maharashtra Governor with a similar request. 'The bill is draconian in nature. The definitions are ambiguous, at best. And there is fear that it will be misused to silence the opposition and peaceful protestors, particularly farmers and students,' Ulka Mahajan, a civil society activist, told The Hindu. The Maharashtra Special Public Security Bill was passed by the lower House on July 10 amid express opposition by the lone Communist Party of India MLA. The next day, on July 11, it was tabled in the Maharashtra Legislative Council where Congress and Shiv Sena UBT opposed the Bill vociferously. The Bill was passed by a voice vote by majority in both the Houses.
The Hindu
06-07-2025
- Science
- The Hindu
Environment impact study for Great Nicobar project downplays earthquake risk
The Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) study carried out for the ₹72,000-crore Great Nicobar Infrastructure Project (GNIP) downplays the risk of future earthquakes that could trigger tsunamis on the scale that was seen in 2004, despite several scientists suggesting that few on-ground scientific assessments have been done in the region. According to the nearly 900-page-long EIA report commissioned by the Andaman and Nicobar Islands Integrated Development Corporation and executed by a private consultant, Vimta Labs, the probability of a mega earthquake, such as the earthquake of 9.2 magnitude that led to the 2004 tragedy, was 'low'. The EIA study, while acknowledging the region's proximity and susceptibility to massive earthquakes, primarily draws on a 2019 study by scientists of the Indian Institute of Technology-Kanpur stating that the 'return period', a term for the likelihood of a similar-sized earthquake reoccurring, is 420–750 years for mega-earthquakes (magnitude of 9 or more). The return period is a shorter 80-120 years for large-magnitude earthquakes (>7.5). EXPLAINED | The prospect of energy exploration at Andaman The IIT-Kanpur report had analysed sediments from the Badabalu beach in South Andaman and revealed evidence of at least seven large tsunami events in the last 8,000 years in the region. The report states: 'Andaman Segment has enough accumulated strain to trigger a mega tsunamigenic subduction zone earthquake in near future and that there was a 2,000-year gap in the region's sediment history added uncertainty to the prediction of future earthquakes.' This bit doesn't appear in the EIA study. Speaking to The Hindu, Professor Javed Malik, the scientist who led the IIT-Kanpur study, said while their study did trace the history of major tsunamis, planners of any major infrastructure project in the Nicobar Islands should ideally conduct a 'site-specific study'. This was because an earthquake, such as the one in 2004 that was centred in Indonesia's Banda Aceh, could play out differently if the origin point was the Nicobar Islands. The Andaman-Sumatra fault line was known to be vulnerable to massive earthquakes and there was still insufficient knowledge regarding what stretches along this line were likely to rupture. He said in 2020, in a meeting with government officials, he had pointed out that studies similar to those conducted in Andaman ought to be done in Car Nicobar and Campbell areas of Nicobar, but he was still waiting to hear on it. 'Not only can we get insight into historical earthquakes but we can estimate inundation patterns and this can help plan infrastructure projects,' he added. Also Read | Great Nicobar project: Shipping Ministry proposes cruise terminal, high-end tourism infra Other scientists suggest that there are multiple sources of tsunamigenic-earthquakes that are unknown. C.P. Rajendran, geo-scientist and professor at the National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bengaluru, said that his own studies over the years and emerging studies have shown that while the Banda Aceh event may have released a certain amount of pent-up energy, there were several other 'parallel rupture lines south of the Andamans [and towards Nicobar] whose pent-up energy and history were unknown'. 'To add to that, earthquake recurrence is a non-linear process. You could have centuries without any mega-quake and then suddenly a massive one. There are local fault lines in the Great Nicobar Island [GNI] as well as changes in land levels prior to a massive earthquake. This is an extremely geo-dynamic area and major infrastructure projects here are particularly vulnerable,' he told The Hindu. 'It is better to avoid such an area for a port or a container terminal.' A senior scientist in the Ministry of Earth Sciences acknowledged that while no specific site studies in the Nicobar Islands were commissioned for the project, it would be impossible to forecast when a massive earthquake was likely and a 'calculated risk' had to be taken in executing the project. 'Depending on the nature of buildings and infrastructure, design codes will be incorporated but we can never say when the next major quake or tsunami will occur. There is much that is unknown,' the scientist said. Also Read | Tribals in Great Nicobar not against development but lack info about mega project: NCST member The GNIP envisages a trans-shipment port, an international airport, township development, and a 450 Megavolt-Amperes (MVA) gas and solar-based power plant in the GNI. Though accorded an environment and preliminary forest clearance by the Centre, concerns about the potential loss of biodiversity, tree-felling, and impact on resident tribes prompted the National Green Tribunal to order a review of the environmental aspects of the project. The islands were among the worst affected regions during the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami-earthquake that claimed at least 1,500 lives. Atleast 10,000 Indians perished in the tsunami. The region, which comes under the highest seismological category of five, is prone to earthquakes as it has the Indian plate diving beneath the Burmese Microplate along the Andaman Trench in a process known as 'Subduction.'
The Hindu
01-07-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Robust reforms must be brought in to build a corruption-free system, says Maharashtra Governor Radhakrishnan
C.P. Radhakrishnan, Governor of Maharashtra, said that robust reforms in taxation, the judiciary, and the electoral process must be brought in to build a system that prevents corruption and supports law-abiding citizens. He was speaking at the GST Day programme organised by the Central Goods and Services Tax (CGST) Commissionerate in the city on Tuesday (July 1, 2025). Mr. Radhakrishnan said that all reforms should be designed in a way that leaves no gaps for corruption. 'The system should be strong enough to take care of the good people and correct itself when needed,' he said. On judicial reforms, he noted that wrongdoers exploit loopholes in the system and said judgments should be stricter and more effective. He also stressed the need for reform in the income tax system, stating that the tax administration should be able to distinguish between hard-earned income and illicit gains. 'There are people who have not yet come under the tax net, but their income is genuinely earned. On the other hand, black money, which is not backed by any work or effort, should be clearly identified and acted upon,' he said. Describing GST as a scientific tax system, Mr. Radhakrishnan said it has contributed to transparency, reduced corruption, and ensured a level playing field for businesses. He added that the system, now adopted by over 160 countries, has encouraged tax compliance and led to increased national revenue. This, he said, is reflected in infrastructure development projects across the country. 'Without revenue, none of these projects would be possible. GST has also been one of the key reasons India has become the world's fourth largest economy,' he said. On electoral reforms, he supported the idea of 'One Nation, One Election', stating that it would reduce the time and cost involved in conducting frequent elections and allow for more efficient governance. Dinesh P. Pangarkar, Principal Commissioner of GST and Central Excise, said the Coimbatore Central GST Commissionerate had recorded significant growth since GST implementation. Revenue increased from ₹1,105 crore in 2017–18 to ₹3,906 crore in 2024–25. The taxpayer base doubled in eight years, he said, reflecting wider acceptance among trade and industry. In 2024–25 alone, GST refunds worth ₹746 crore were disbursed. Top tax payers were felicitated at the event.
The Hindu
09-06-2025
- The Hindu
Father of actor Shine Tom Chacko laid to rest
The funeral of C.P. Chacko, 70, father of Malayalam actor Shine Tom Chacko, who was killed in a road accident on the Dharmapuri national highway, near Palacode, in Dharmapuri district on June 6, 2025, was held at the Mount Carmel Church in Mundur, Thrissur, on Monday. Earlier, the body was kept at his house in Mundur for the public to pay homage. Actors Tovino Thomas, Soubin Shahir, and Sarayu were among those who paid homage. Shine and his mother Maria Carmel, 65, who had sustained injuries in the accident, paid their last respects at the house in the morning. They were brought in an ambulance from the private hospital in Thrissur, where they are undergoing treatment. The actor, who had sustained a fracture below his left shoulder and a minor spinal fracture, is expected to undergo surgery on Tuesday, according to the hospital authorities. His mother had sustained hip fracture in the accident that occurred near Parayur. The car had reportedly rammed a moving lorry from behind. To Bengaluru While the septuagenarian was killed on the spot, the 41-year-old actor, his brother Joe John Chacko, 36, and their mother were injured along with the driver, Anees, 42. All four were initially admitted to the government medical college hospital at Dharmapuri for treatment. The actor had recently admitted to using drugs. The family was reportedly travelling from Kochi to Bengaluru, where he was reportedly undergoing rehabilitation.
Mint
03-06-2025
- Business
- Mint
Schloss Bangalore to build 250-room ‘Leela' luxury hotel in Mumbai's Bandra-Kurla Complex
Bengaluru: Brookfield-backed Schloss Bangalore will build a mixed-use project, including a 250-room 'Leela' luxury palace hotel, a 700,000 sq ft office tower and the Arq Club, in Mumbai's premium business district, Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC). A consortium led by Schloss Bangalore has been allotted 2.1 acres in BKC by Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) for a ₹ 1,302 crore lease premium, the newly-listed company said in a regulatory filing on Tuesday. The land parcel in BKC's prime G block has a total permissible built-up area of over 3.62 lakh sq ft. Of the total payable premium for the 80-year lease, 25% is payable within two months of the offer of allotment, and the remaining 75% within 10 months thereafter. The Schloss Bangalore-led consortium that includes Arliga Ecospace Business Park and Schloss Chanakya had submitted its bid for the land parcel in February. Schloss Bangalore and subsidiary Schloss Chanakya will hold 50% in the consortium, while Arliga Ecospace Business Park will hold the remaining 50% stake along with its affiliates. 'The possession of the aforesaid plot shall be handed over after the payment of the total lease premium,' the filing said. Schloss, which operates 'The Leela' brand of hotels across cities, plans to open seven new 'Leela' branded luxury hotels in spiritual, hill stations, wildlife, heritage and grandeur, and business categories in the next three years. The new hotels will be built in Ayodhya, Ranthambore, Gangtok, Srinagar, Bandhavgarh, Agra, and Mumbai, as Schloss plans to expand its portfolio to 20 from 13 hotels, catering to the luxury traveller. Schloss has 13 hotels with 3,353 keys, and the seven new hotel projects will add another 678 keys. Five of the seven new hotels will be owned, and the remaining two will be managed or franchised. 'Our focus is on luxury, which is where demand is being generated. In comparison, the supply of luxury hotels is limited," Anuraag Bhatnagar, CEO, The Leela, said in an interview with Mint in May. In 2019, Hotel Leelaventure Ltd completed the sale of its hotel properties to New York-headquartered Brookfield Asset Management for ₹ 3,950 crore. C.P. Krishnan Nair set up the hotel chain in 1986.
