Latest news with #HindustanTimes
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
3 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Business Standard
Kaanta Laga fame actor Shefali Jariwala dies at 42 due to cardiac arrest
Actor-model Shefali Jariwala, best known for her 2002 music video 'Kaanta Laga', passed away late Friday night at the age of 42. She died in Mumbai following a sudden cardiac arrest. According to a report in the Hindustan Times, Jariwala was brought to Bellevue Multispeciality Hospital by her husband, actor Parag Tyagi, and three others. Hospital staff confirmed she was declared dead on arrival. Her body has since been sent for post-mortem at Cooper Hospital. Jariwala's sudden demise has sent shockwaves through the entertainment industry and among fans who remember her as a defining face of early 2000s pop culture. Her performance in Kaanta Laga made her a household name, and she went on to appear in several television shows, including Bigg Boss 13, where her honesty and resilience were widely praised. Shefali used her public platform to speak candidly about her struggles with epilepsy and mental health, winning admiration for her courage and authenticity. Her openness about personal challenges helped reduce stigma and inspired many. Shefali is survived by her husband, Parag Tyagi. Married since 2014, the couple frequently appeared together on screen, including on Nach Baliye Seasons 5 and 7. Tyagi is known for his work in shows such as Pavitra Rishta, Brahmarakshas and Jodha Akbar. The pair met at a dinner hosted by mutual friends. Following Jariwala's 2009 divorce from Harmeet Singh of the Meet Bros duo, their relationship developed gradually. Tyagi's steadfast support led to their marriage after four years of courtship. Tributes have been pouring in on social media, with fans and fellow celebrities expressing shock and sorrow over the sudden loss. Shefali Jariwala is remembered not just for her iconic debut but also for her strength, grace and authenticity.
Hindustan Times
4 hours ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Navi Mumbai rids ‘critically polluted' tag
NAVI MUMBAI: In a significant policy shift poised to inject new life into Navi Mumbai's real estate sector, the city no longer falls under 'Critically Polluted Areas', as it was categorised by the Comprehensive Environmental Pollution Index (CEPI). According to the CEPI score published in 2019, Navi Mumbai fell under the 'Severely/Critically Polluted Areas'. However, as of May, Navi Mumbai registered comfortably below the 60-point threshold with a score of 53.59. CEPI score takes into account the air quality, surface and groundwater, and soil. Construction projects that faced restrictions getting environmental clearances (EC) in the region will now see a drastically simplified process that is expected to unlock hundreds of crores in stalled real estate investments. A much simplified environ-mental clearances process is expected to unlock hundreds of crores in stalled real estate invest-ments. HT Archives (Hindustan Times) This latest development was announced, along with the updated 2024 CEPI data from the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) during the 241st meeting of the State Expert Appraisal Committee (SEAC-2) on May 29, the minutes of which were made available online recently. A Bombay High Court order from June 25 also bolstered the development, as it mandated all EC applications in the city to be assessed solely by the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA), Maharashtra. Responding to a writ petition filed by the Builders Association Navi Mumbai, the high court directed the state to process, within 8 weeks, all pending EC proposals on the current CEPI data as published by the MPCB. The elimination of the previous requirement for additional scrutiny from the Central Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) reduces approval times for both new and ongoing projects, injecting fresh momentum into commercial and residential segments. Developers, investors, and homebuyers are hopeful about the accelerated revival of delayed housing projects, reduced financial strain, and promising new proposals, including under the NAINA (Navi Mumbai Airport Influence Notified Area) development scheme. Santosh Patil, secretary of the NAINA builder welfare association, said, 'Due to regulatory uncertainty, several projects were stuck financially. This policy shift clears that logjam. The development potential of Navi Mumbai can now be fully realized.'
Hindustan Times
4 hours ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Vacate Sassoon Dock, port authority tells fishers, traders
MUMBAI: It's well before dawn but the dock is already alive with handcart-pullers, porters, exporters – and, at the heart of it all, the Koli women. As the early catch is hauled ashore, a pungent aroma settles over the landing sites, anointing the daily ritual. Moments later, several tonnes of seafood slip into a supply chain that starts right here, at Sassoon Dock, on the city's eastern waterfront, in Colaba. Fish on sale at Sassoon dock (Hindustan Times) But the dock will fall eerily silent if the Mumbai Port Authority (MPA) follows through on its verbal ultimatum to fish traders and the fishing community – 'vacate the MPA's godowns within 15 days, or face eviction', they have been told. The threat has triggered alarm for thousands of fishermen, seafood suppliers, shopkeepers and restaurant owners who rely on the sale of fish for their livelihood, not to mention the thousands of workers who populate the supply chain, at the dock and beyond. Matters have boiled over again in a dispute that has dragged on for decades. At the core of the clash is a disagreement between the MPA and the state-run Maharashtra State Fisheries Development Corporation (MFDC) over rental payments for godowns owned by the port authority. While MFDC rents the godowns to seafood processors, the latter have allegedly defaulted on payments to the MPA over Ready Reckoner rates. The confrontation has lasted 30 years. The last serious face-off took place in 2014, when MPA had told godown users to vacate. However, a meeting with ministers in 2015 resulted in a consensus to protect the fishing industry by forming a tripartite agreement among stakeholders. Fisher groups claim that despite that meeting, no formal steps were taken over the next decade. Now, without implementing the promised agreement, the MPA is once again threatening eviction. The directive has led to a grassroots movement to 'Save Sassoon Dock'. Operators of the dock's 80-90 godowns say the move will dismantle an economic ecosystem. For each godown, at least 50 to 100 labourers are employed, rendering them jobless. Ruksana Khan, who owns Harbour Exports and supplies seafood to restaurants, says: 'I've been working here since I was very young. My entire family, including my daughter, is involved. We pay ₹ 15 lakh annually in taxes. We handle 200-300 tonnes of seafood daily. This eviction will render us jobless.' According to Krishna Pawle, president of the Shiv Bharatiya Port Sena, a federation of 14 fisher associations, a shutdown would impact a nationwide supply chain. 'This is not just about Mumbai. Seafood from Sassoon Dock is sent to Gujarat, Kerala, Alibag and beyond. Workers from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh have been working here for decades. They will all be unemployed,' said Pawle. The dock area also supports communities such as the Banjara Samaj, who specialise in shelling prawns and fish. 'We contribute to foreign exchange earnings,' Pawle added, underlining the broader economic implications of the dock's operations. He says there is no reason the fishing community should be held responsible. 'We were given these godowns to use by the MFDC. If the MPA wants to reclaim them, they should take possession from MFDC. Why are we being dragged into this?' Vasant Bhuchade, president of the Marine Products Auctioneers Association (MPAA), points out that the godowns have been operational before independence, and some families are now in their fourth generation managing them. 'Without these processing units, the seafood supply chain will collapse, and the government will lose crucial revenue.' For now, the MPA is adamant. Despite repeated attempts, a senior official from the MPA was unavailable for comment.
Hindustan Times
4 hours ago
- General
- Hindustan Times
Delhi may soon get its 3rd flyover with trees
The public works department (PWD) is preparing to open the Nand Nagari flyover to traffic by August—even as trees remain standing in the middle of its carriageway due to pending forest clearances. The 1.5km stretch, part of Delhi's ₹ 157.85 crore push to make Wazirabad Road signal-free, is nearly 85% complete, officials said. But delays in securing tree-felling permissions have left more than 60 trees rooted along the alignment, raising concerns about potential traffic hazards. Trees in the middle of the road on Nand Nagari flyover. (Vipin Kumar/Hindustan Times) If opened in its current state, the flyover will become the third in Delhi where vehicles are forced to navigate around standing trees. Earlier this year, the Anand Vihar and Punjabi Bagh flyovers were inaugurated with full-grown trees left under or even between traffic lanes, as the forest department's nod failed to arrive in time. The PWD is now taking a similar approach here—treating the removal of trees as a 'pending work' to be handled post-opening through a supplementary agreement. 'Opening the traffic flow is a priority as it will offer relief from congestion along the stretch,' said a senior PWD official, adding that the agency aims to make the flyover operational around Independence Day. A report dated June 21 said the core structure will be ready by July-end. However, it flagged multiple safety concerns, including sewer lines and manholes obstructing the retaining wall near the Nand Nagari depot, debris on service roads, and missing drain covers—each posing accident risks. 'Debris, silt and malba near the ramp must be removed immediately… Lighting should also be improved for safe traffic movement at night,' the report stated. The project, which began in February 2023, was originally slated for completion by July 2024. In addition to the elevated corridor, it includes road improvements, footpaths, upgraded drainage, and rainwater harvesting. The six-lane flyover starts from the Nand Nagri junction and ends near the Gagan Cinema T-junction, covering a 1,500-metre stretch of National Highway-9. It serves commuters travelling between North Delhi and Uttar Pradesh and connects densely populated colonies such as Dilshad Garden, Gonda, Mustafabad, and Karawal Nagar. Tree-related delays have proved to be a major stumbling block. While 63 trees are listed for felling or transplantation—36 on the e-Parivesh portal and 27 under the Delhi Preservation of Trees Act (DPTA)—approvals are still awaited. On June 4, Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena invoked a special exemption under Section 29 of the DPTA to lift area restrictions and allow the application to be reviewed. However, final clearance from the forest department is still pending. Once operational, the corridor is expected to halve the current 30-minute travel time for those commuting to Bhopura via Signature Bridge. A foot overbridge on the stretch will be demolished and replaced with a subway for pedestrian access.
Hindustan Times
5 hours ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Bulk waste generators that don't sort waste at source will be fined in Noida
Bulk waste generators which will not segregate waste at source will be imposed a penalty of ₹ 500 starting July 1, the Noida authority has decided. Noida, India- June 05, 2025: Pile of garbage on the road of Atta Market Sector 27, in Noida, India, on Thursday, June 05, 2025. (Photo by Sunil Ghosh / Hindustan Times) The order comes after the authority had earlier this week directed bulk waste generators to handover only dry waste to the collector, and the wet waste must be processed into compost for recycling, officials said. The authority's health department is organising an awareness workshop for bulk waste generators including apartment owners association, hotels, restaurants, hospital and nursing homes to improve sanitation services so the city can perform better in the upcoming Swachh Survekshan 2025, officials said. Further, if the bulk waste generator will not set up a compost making unit, the authority will stop collecting their waste from July 1. 'We've advised them several times in the past about waste segregation, and setting up of compost making units. We have warned them earlier too. It's time they cooperate so Noida can perform better in the upcoming Swachh Survekshan. If they fail to do so, they will have to pay the fine of ₹ 500 from July 1,' Indu Prakash Singh, officer on special duty, Noida Authority, said. According to Solid Waste Management Rules, any entity producing over 100 kg of waste daily is classified as a bulk waste generator and is mandated to process wet waste through composting. The authority on Thursday held a workshop in Panchsheel Balak Inter College in Sector 91, attended by owners of hotels, restaurants, hospitals, schools, colleges, apartment owners' associations, and other bulk waste producers. The authority had also organised this workshop on June 14 at the same place, appealing the bulk waste generators to comply with the rules or face penalty. Experts at the event urged stakeholders to segregate dry and wet waste and highlighted that composting can be done easily on-site. In the previous years, Noida ranked 324th in 2018 Swacch Survekshan contest, 150th in 2019 (1st in Uttar Pradesh), 25th in 2020, 4th in 2021 (7-star garbage-free city), and 5th in 2022 (recognised as a 'self-sustainable city'). In 2023, Noida ranked 14th on national level and received a five-star rating in garbage-free and water-plus (wastewater recycling) categories.
