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The Wire
04-07-2025
- Business
- The Wire
CPI(M) Alleges Ties to Abhishek Banerjee, Massive Corruption in Deocha-Pachami Coal Project
Bankura: The Communist Party of India (Marxist) has demanded a judicial inquiry into the controversial Deocha-Pachami coal mining project in Birbhum district of West Bengal. At a press conference held on July 3 at the party's state headquarters on Alimuddin Street, CPI(M) state secretary Mohammed Salim alleged large-scale corruption, environmental violations, and illegal tender procedures, accusing both the Trinamool Congress (TMC)-led state government and the BJP-led Union government of complicity. Salim presented evidence alleging that the state government secured environmental clearance for the project fraudulently. He claimed the union environment ministry had granted clearance for a mere 12 acres, despite the project's actual size being over 431 hectares, which would necessitate a mandatory public hearing and full environmental scrutiny as a Category A project. 'This environmental certificate is practically fraudulent and was given under the auspices of the BJP-led Union government. Both the Centre and the state are responsible,'alleged Salim. The West Bengal Power Development Corporation Limited (WBPDCL) awarded the mining contract in March 2024 to Trancemarine & Confreight Logistics Pvt Ltd, a Mumbai-based firm with no prior mining experience, at a 71.05% revenue share. In April, 2025 Himadri Speciality Chemical Ltd, a Kolkata-based firm, acquired 60% of Trancemarine for a mere Rs 4.23 crore. Himadri also issued a Rs 150 crore loan to Sturdy Niketan, an obscure entity with no turnover, allegedly for royalty payments. According to a company release, Trancemarine's annual turnover for FY23-24 was Rs 35.69 crore, much higher than what Himadri is paying for its acquisition. 'Once someone is given a tender, it cannot be passed to someone else. This is a direct violation of WBPDCL policy. Sturdy Niketan, which has zero income, is being used as a front for illicit financial flows,' Salim claimed. Interestingly, Himadri Chemicals, now central to the project, had earlier invested in Tidings Media & Communication Pvt Ltd, which acquired the Bengali daily Ei Samay from the Times Group. One of Tidings' major stakeholders is Sanjay Basu, known to be a legal advisor and close confidante of both Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her nephew, the Diamond Harbour MP Abhishek Banerjee. In February 2025, CM Banerjee claimed at the Bengal Global Business Summit that coal mining had begun at Deucha-Pachami and promised over one lakh jobs. However, CPI(M) pointed out that WBPDCL has not even submitted the required geological report or mining plan to the Union coal ministry, 66 months after the coal block was allotted in overall project, including basalt mining, is expected to generate over Rs 1,500 crore in profits, raising serious questions about insider profiteering. 'Where is the coal? It was said that above 100,000 people would be employed, where is employment? The fact is that stones will be extracted from that land,' Salim said. Documents indicate that the coal mining lease process remains incomplete, and no private company applied to mine the block even after two deadline extensions in 2025. In November 2023, the state government authorised WBPDCL to mine basalt on 431.47 acres, with an estimated profit of Rs 5,600 crore. In June 2024, Pachami Basalt Mining PrivateLimited was incorporated in Kolkata. Neither Sturdy Niketan nor Pachami Basalt Mining Private Limited has an official website, and their corporate listing links to Basalt mining began in Deucha-Pachami site in February this year, but locals demanded a permanent halt, citing severe environmental and health hazards and alleging that forest land was cleared without informing the resident tribal communities.
The Hindu
20-06-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Karnataka bike taxi riders left in limbo, call for regulation over blanket ban
Hundreds of bike taxi riders across Karnataka say their livelihood is in crisis following the State government's ongoing crackdown on bike taxis. Riders are now demanding urgent regulation of the sector, arguing that the absence of clear policy has left many jobless and struggling to make ends meet. 'My phone won't stop ringing, 250 to 300 drivers call me every day, asking what they should do,' said Mohammed Salim, president of the Namma Bike Taxi Association. 'I don't know what to tell them. Should we lose our livelihood because the government has no policy for bike taxis? We don't want chaos. We need regulation, not a ban,' he added. Last year alone, Karnataka saw over 8 crore bike taxi rides, Mr. Salim pointed out. 'We're not asking for favours, we're asking for the right to work legally and safely.' Ban pushes families into financial distress For many, the impact of the ban has been deeply personal. Imran M., 37, a father of two, said he has had to borrow money twice this month just to get by. 'My daughter's school is asking for fees, and I have nothing left. I used to earn enough to support my family. Now, we're surviving on borrowed time.' Another rider, Sathish, 26, questioned the State government's double standards. 'Delivery partners can use the same bike to deliver food, but I get fined for giving someone a ride. Where's the logic in that? All I want is to earn an honest living.' Meanwhile, several bike taxi riders have begun shifting to food and quick commerce delivery platforms in an effort to sustain themselves. 'I started delivering food and quick commerce apps just two days ago. I have been working as a bike taxi rider for over two years, and adjusting to this new kind of work hasn't been easy. It's physically demanding and the pay is unpredictable.' Open letters The Namma Bike Taxi Association has written a series of open letters to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, but riders say they are yet to receive a response. 'What's ironic is that the same government passed a Gig Worker Welfare Bill just last month. And yet, they are dismantling a sector that provides flexible income to thousands of gig workers across the state,' said Mr. Salim. As desperation grows among riders, many fear that the longer the delay in regulation, the worse their situation will become. The association members are now calling for an immediate dialogue with the government to frame a legal structure that protects both riders and passengers.
Time of India
19-06-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
Bike taxi drivers allege harassment by auto unions over plan to protest ban; demand legal framework
After the bike taxi ban came into effect on June 16, over 100 drivers from aggregator platforms such as Ola, Uber, and Rapido in Karnataka alleged harassment by auto unions and said they were denied permission to protest at Freedom Park due to pressure from such groups. The drivers, part of the Namma Bike Taxi Association , submitted a petition on Thursday, demanding legal recognition of bike taxis and a clear policy framework to end harassment and regulatory confusion. 'Last year, Karnataka saw over eight crore bike taxi rides. We're not asking for favours, we're asking for the right to work legally and safely,' said Mohammed Salim, president of the association. Representatives of the bike taxi drivers also met Karnataka Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao and Dasarahalli MLA S Muniraju on Thursday, seeking urgent intervention to reverse the ongoing crackdown on bike taxi services in the state. The meeting follows a series of open letters addressed to chief minister Siddaramaiah, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, and MP Rahul Gandhi, none of which have elicited a response. The association said it's ironic on the government's part, as they were the ones to pass a Gig Worker Welfare Bill just last month, while banning a sector that offers flexible income to thousands. Salim said over 300 drivers are calling him daily, seeking help. 'And I don't know what to tell them. Should we lose our livelihoods because the government has no policy for bike taxis? We don't want chaos. We need regulation, not a ban,' he said. Commuters face the brunt Discover the stories of your interest Blockchain 5 Stories Cyber-safety 7 Stories Fintech 9 Stories E-comm 9 Stories ML 8 Stories Edtech 6 Stories Daily commuters said they have been feeling the pinch since the ban, with auto fares rising sharply. Many also complained of frequent booking cancellations unless they added high tips. Several commuters have called for a public consultation on the issue and urged the government to withdraw the ban. 'Auto fares are going through the roof. I used to pay Rs 50 on a bike taxi, now autos charge Rs 100 to Rs 150 for the same distance,' said a college student in the city. The union pointed out that despite the Motor Vehicle Aggregator Guidelines 2020 from the Centre recognising bike taxis, Karnataka is yet to formulate corresponding rules. 'The state's 2021 Electric Bike Taxi Policy was also quietly withdrawn in 2024, leaving thousands of drivers without regulatory protection,' it said in a statement. With the ban in full effect, bike taxi drivers are facing a tough time earning a living. Imran M, a father of two who uses the aggregator apps, said, 'I've borrowed twice already this month. My daughter's school is asking for fees, and I have nothing left.' Similarly, Sathish, a 26-year-old driver who treated ferrying passengers as his regular job, said, 'Delivery partners can use the same bike to deliver food, but I get fined for giving someone a ride. Where's the logic in that?'
United News of India
05-05-2025
- Politics
- United News of India
CPM, Cong back TMC against Guv's 'recommendation' of Central rule
Kolkata, May 5 (UNI) In a rare instance, the CPI(M) and Congress have supported the West Bengal government and the ruling Trinamool Congress in opposing Governor CV Ananda Bose's mention of considering Article 356 of the Constitution -- recommending the President's rule -- in his report on the recent communal violence in Murshidabad district. CPI(M) state secretary and politburo member Mohammed Salim in his statement said that transferring power from the West Bengal government to the Governor under President's Rule would not resolve the state's problems. 'What has been happening in Murshidabad and various other parts of the state clearly shows that Mamata Banerjee has failed in her roles as home minister, and chief minister. The state government has failed to maintain peace, harmony," he said. "However, that does not mean handing over power to the Governor through President's Rule will solve anything,' Salim wrote in his statement. 'The people of this state have had bitter experiences with President's rule. Even after turning a state into a Union Territory, a terrorist attack in J&K's Pahalgam could not be prevented. Now, even the National Security Advisor is untraceable. In Manipur, despite a 'double-engine' government, people's lives remain endangered. It is the elected state government that must take responsibility for protecting the lives of the people here. President's Rule is not a solution,' said the CPI(M) leader. The Congress, too, strongly criticised the Governor. Terming his statement as, "constitutionally unwanted," "politically motivated" and against the federal structure of the country, the Congress in a written statement, said, 'The recommendation by West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose to impose President's Rule under Article 356 is a deeply alarming development that strikes at the heart of India's federal democratic framework. Such a move is not only constitutionally unwarranted, but also politically motivated, violating the basic tenets of cooperative federalism enshrined in the Constitution.' Alleging that the imposition of President's rule, in its broader objective, is a political design of the BJP and RSS, the Congress statement, said, 'This act must also be seen in the broader context of the ideological objectives of the RSS and the BJP. Both have, in various forums, hinted at the long-term plan of fragmenting West Bengal — culturally rich and politically resilient — into smaller administrative units.' 'The imposition of President's rule, therefore, is not just a question of governance — it is a calculated attempt to undermine Bengal's political autonomy and pave the way for divide-and-rule politics. It must be opposed unequivocally by all democratic forces,' the statement read. After his visit to trouble-torn Murshidabad, the Governor sent a report to Home Minister Amit Shah on the communal strife in the state where he suggested President's rule if the situation worsens. The report also recommended deployment of Central forces, a judicial inquiry and Central intervention. Several former members of the Trinamool Congress strongly criticised the Governor's report for suggesting that the Union government consider invoking Article 356, with the party's West Bengal state general secretary calling the report biased and aligned with the BJP's political agenda. Echoing this view, West Bengal Parliamentary Affairs and Agriculture Minister Sovandeb Chattopadhyay claimed the report's recommendations were made under instructions from the Union government, adding, 'So it is natural that the Governor will say all negative things about West Bengal in his report.' UNI XC PRS
