Latest news with #RavindraJaiswal
Time of India
5 days ago
- General
- Time of India
Green wave: Kashi div leads way, plants 1.81cr saplings, exceeds target
Varanasi: The Varanasi division, comprising four districts — Varanasi, Ghazipur, Jaunpur, and Chandauli — successfully planted 1.81 crore saplings under the Tree Plantation Campaign 2025, exceeding the target of 1.80 crore plants. This massive plantation drive aimed to increase Uttar Pradesh's forest cover, currently around 25%, with a goal to reach 33%. The people of Varanasi came together to participate in a massive tree plantation drive as part of the Uttar Pradesh govt's environmental protection campaign. On Wednesday, a large-scale event was held at the STP premises in Ramna, where UP minister Ravindra Jaiswal, district panchayat president Poonam Maurya, and MLC Dharmendra Singh planted Peepal, Banyan, and Neem trees in the sacred Triveni forest. This event marked the beginning of a statewide initiative to plant 37 crore saplings. Ravi Kumar Singh, conservator of forests, Varanasi circle, said The Varanasi division successfully planted 18,104,154 saplings against a target of 18,087,500, achieving 100.09% of its goal. Divisional forest officer Swati Srivastava said Varanasi district had a target of 1,828,400, and 1,839,370 saplings were planted, achieving 100.60 per cent. In Ghazipur district, 4,363,900 saplings were planted against the target of 4,365,101, achieving 100.03 percent of the target, while Jaunpur district recorded 5,495,600 tree plantations against the target of 5,499,475, achieving 100.07 percent. Chandauli district planted 6,399,600 saplings against the target of 6,400,208, achieving 100.01 percent.
Time of India
6 days ago
- General
- Time of India
Kashi combats climate challenge by planting 18L saplings in a day
Varanasi: A massive drive was organised in Varanasi as part of the statewide campaign to plant a record 37 crore saplings across the state on a single day on Wednesday. Varanasi was assigned a target of planting over 18 lakh saplings under the campaign. UP minister Ravindra Jaiswal, district panchayat president Poonam Maurya, and MLC Dharmendra Singh inaugurated the event by planting sacred Triveni trees (Peepal, Banyan, Neem) at the STP Ramna premises. Following this, all public representatives, officials, and school children planted trees. District magistrate Satyendra Kumar said that over 18 lakh saplings are being planted in the district. According to statistics, the forest cover in Uttar Pradesh is about 25%, while it should be 33%. He emphasised the responsibility to keep the planted saplings alive and the need to enhance green cover. Schoolchildren were also given saplings to plant at their homes, schools, etc., and take care of them. The goal of the tree plantation campaign is to promote environmental conservation through extensive planting. District panchayat president Poonam Maurya highlighted the annual increase in temperature and said that planting trees was the only way to combat the heat. Planting fruit-bearing and shade-giving trees also offers benefits like fruits and wood. Minister Ravindra Jaiswal said that during the COVID-19 pandemic, the mortality rate was lowest in villages due to a better environment. The tree plantation campaign "Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' is being conducted at the call of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Just as a mother gives life and cares for her children, trees provide oxygen and, like a mother, offer care through oxygen, fruits, wood, and shade. Arjun trees are also being planted for use in Banarasi paan and silk saree production. Saplings like Peepal, Banyan, Pakar, and Neem, which play a special role in environmental conservation, are being planted. He stressed the responsibility of protecting all planted trees and the significance of trees from birth to death, making it our duty to protect them. The students and teachers at Shastrarth College planted saplings on the campus while reciting Vedic hymns. The event was attended by principal Pawan Kumar Shukla, former principal Ganesh Dutt Shastri and others.
Time of India
6 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
Massive plantation drive organised in Varanasi under plantation mega campaign 2025
VARANASI: A massive plantation drive was organised in Varanasi as part of the Plantation Mega Campaign 2025 on Wednesday. Varanasi district was assigned a target of planting 1,831,300 saplings under this campaign, while a target was set to plant 370 crore saplings across the state. UP minister Ravindra Jaiswal, District Panchayat President Poonam Maurya, and MLC Dharmendra Singh inaugurated the event by planting sacred Triveni trees (Peepal, Banyan, Neem) at the STP Ramna premises. Following this, all public representatives, officials, and school children planted trees. On this occasion, District Magistrate Satyendra Kumar said that over 18 lakh saplings are being planted in the district under the tree plantation campaign. According to statistics, the forest cover in Uttar Pradesh is about 25%, while it should be 33%. He emphasised the responsibility to keep the planted saplings alive and the need to enhance green cover. School children were also given saplings to plant at their homes, schools, etc. , and take care of them. The goal of the tree plantation campaign is to promote environmental conservation through extensive planting. District Panchayat President Poonam Maurya highlighted the annual increase in temperature and urged planting trees to combat the heat, providing ample oxygen and reducing temperatures. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Solar-Hammer: Das kostet eine Solaranlage mit Speicher 2025 Solaranlagen Vergleich Undo Planting fruit-bearing and shade-giving trees also offers benefits like fruits and wood. Minister Ravindra Jaiswal said that during the COVID-19 pandemic, the mortality rate was lowest in villages due to a better environment. The tree plantation campaign "A Tree in Mother's Name" is being conducted at the call of the Prime Minister. Just as a mother gives life and cares for her children, trees provide oxygen and, like a mother, offer care through oxygen, fruits, wood, and shade. Arjun trees are also being planted for use in Banarasi paan and silk saree production. Trees like Peepal, Banyan, Pakar, and Neem, which play a special role in environmental conservation, are being planted. He stressed the responsibility of protecting all planted trees and the significance of trees from birth to death, making it our duty to protect them. The students and teachers at Shastrarth College planted saplings on the campus while reciting Vedic hymns. The event was attended by former Principal Ganesh Dutt Shastri, Principal Pawan Kumar Shukla, and others.
Time of India
26-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
UP govt expedites process to recover Rs 650cr dues from toll collection firms
1 2 Lucknow: The UP govt has to recover more than Rs 650 crore dues from the highway toll management companies. Following the Bhadohi case — where a Delhi-based firm secured lease for toll collection in UP by paying just Rs 100 stamp duty instead of Rs 63 cores — the stamp and registration department carried out an audit to find the status of all pending recovery cases. The stamp and registration department has started reaching out to the district administration in 31 districts to expedite the recovery process. A total of 95 cases pertaining to evasion of stamp duty by toll companies have been detected. While the majority of cases are pending with operators who entered into an agreement with the National Highways Authority of India, operators engaged by the Uttar Pradesh Expressways Industrial Development Authority for toll collection over expressways are also yet to make payments. Among the 95 cases, 23 cases are sub-judice while 72 cases are pending before collectors in various districts. Among the 72, recovery proceedings have been initiated against the promoters of 17 private agencies engaged for toll collection. UP stamp department minister Ravindra Jaiswal said, "The dues collected from the toll operators will be used to upgrade the public infrastructure and fund the social sector schemes. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Fastest Selling Plots of Mysore from 40L | 40+ Amenities PurpleBrick Learn More Undo Senior officials concerned have been asked to follow up on the old cases pending before courts and magistrates." While the company engaged by NHAI to manage the Meerut expressway has the highest stamp duty dues of around Rs 26 crore, the one managing the Lucknow–Rae Bareli national highway has to pay Rs 10 crore. Interestingly, 15 out of 95 toll operators had entered into an agreement with NHAI on stamp paper worth Rs 100, whereas, as per the estimates prepared by the department, such companies need to cough up Rs 130.40 crore. Though in some cases the procedure to recover the amount was initiated more than five years ago, the matter picked pace only from Oct last year after the state govt urged the district collectors to expedite the process. In July last year, the Supreme Court while disposing of a similar case from Madhya Pradesh had dubbed the concession agreement between toll operators and NHAI as a lease, putting the liability of paying the stamp duty on the agreement value over the value mentioned in the contract.
Time of India
07-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Ayodhya administration set to revise circle rates
AYODHYA | LUCKNOW: People looking to invest in property in Ayodhya will have to pay more to execute transactions as the district administration is set to revise the circle rate of the land upwards. According to officials, the benchmark rates of residential properties in prime areas could increase by about 40%, while agricultural land on the outskirts would be increased by 10-30%. The new rates will take effect from Saturday, and buyers will need to pay increased stamp duty. The circle rates in Ayodhya were not revised since 2017. Noting the increased value of properties mentioned in sale deeds, the local administration initiated the process of revising the stamp duty last year. Divided into five tehsils (administrative subdivisions) — Sadar, Sohawal, Milkipur, Bikapur, and Rudauli — the benchmark value of agricultural, non-agricultural, and commercial plots and vacant land will increase substantially. A senior officer from the district administration said that after conducting local surveys and collating the value of the plots and buildings mentioned in the sale deeds, the new rates were fixed after addressing objections and suggestions of residents. State minister of stamps and registration (independent) Ravindra Jaiswal said, "The increased rates will not only help the department generate more revenue but will also benefit local farmers and property owners who are going to be impacted due to development projects. The value of the land being acquired by govt agencies and private players will also increase proportionately." Giving an example, a senior administrative officer said that for buying land in Ramkot, the locality situated in the vicinity of Ram temple, stamp duty had to be paid at the rate of Rs 4,100 per sq mt (about Rs 380 per sq ft). However, the actual rate of properties has increased by 15-20 times. Assistant inspector general of stamps and registration department, Yogendra Pratap Singh, said that the increased stamp duty would have to be paid from June 7. "New rates will be publicised by the district administration and also put up on the notice board in the office of sub-registrars where the registry takes place," he said. The average hike in non-agricultural (residential) land value across localities will be 10%-40% while that in commercial properties will be 20%-50%. Similarly, the increase in agricultural land will be around 10%-30%. Maximum hike in three property segments will be imposed in localities situated within Sadar tehsil, followed by Sohawal, officials said.
