Gujarat

Double engine govt becoming symbol of good governance, says PM Modi

PM Modi further lauded CM Bhajanlal Sharma for 'giving new momentum and direction to Rajasthan's development'

Guj properties law: Presumption of constitutionality attached to enactment

There is a presumption of constitutionality attached to every enactment, the Supreme Court on Monday said and dismissed a plea against a Gujarat High Court order refusing to suspend certain provisions of a 1991 state law over properties in disturbed areas. While hearing the challenge, Justices Dipankar Datta and Prashant Kumar Mishra, asked, "How can, by an interim order, certain provisions be suspended?" "There is a presumption of constitutionality attached to every enactment," it observed. The high court on October 28 rejected an application seeking suspension of certain provisions of the Gujarat Prohibition of Transfer of Immovable Property and Provisions for Protection of Tenants from Eviction from Premises in the Disturbed Areas Act, 1991. The law prohibits the transfer of immovable property in the disturbed areas of the state. The high court noted as far as the relief prayed for the suspension of certain provisions of the 1991 Act -- vires of which were challenged in the wri

Ambuja Cements commissions 200 MW solar power project in Gujarat

Ambuja Cements, part of Adani Group firm, on Friday announced the commissioning of a 200 MW solar power project in Khavda, Gujarat, to supply green power to 20 cement plants. The Khavda project is part of Adani Cements' plan to have 1 GW of renewable power from solar and wind projects, along with 376 MW from WHRS (Waste Heat Recovery Systems). "The balance 806 MW capacity from this project is at various stages of commissioning and expected to start transmitting in phases between March 2025 and June 2025," said a statement. Of the remaining 806 MW capacity from this project, 156 MW of wind power from Khavda and a further 300 MW of solar power from Rajasthan are expected to be commissioned by March 2025 in phases. The balance of 350 MW of solar power is expected to be commissioned by June 2025. This will "positively impact the company's EBITDA" as this development leads to an impressive 70 per cent savings compared to current power cost, it added. The company is spending around Rs

Gujarat faces alarming malnutrition rate despite Rs 2,879 cr central aid

Gujarat continues to grapple with high malnutrition rate and widespread anaemia, despite receiving Rs 2,879 crore from the Centre under the Poshan Abhiyaan

Juniper Green signs pact to procure 1GW solar modules from First Solar

Juniper Green Energy on Tuesday said it has signed a pact with First Solar for the procurement of 1 GW of solar modules. The Gurgaon-based renewable energy company plans to deploy these modules in the coming financial year for its projects across Rajasthan, Gujarat and Maharashtra, a company statement said. According to the statement, Juniper Green Energy has inked a landmark agreement with First Solar, Inc. for the procurement and supply of 1 gigawatt (GW) of its advanced Series 7 FT1 cadmium telluride (CdTe) thin film photovoltaic (PV) modules. Under this agreement, First Solar will supply the high-efficiency solar modules over a two-year period, the statement said, adding that it is one of the largest such agreements for domestically-produced modules. "We're excited to partner with First Solar, as this collaboration is expected to ensure a reliable supply of modules for a vital segment of our development pipeline. Sourcing our modules from First Solar enhances our domestic conte

'Drunk' man threatens to assassinate PM Modi, nabbed by cops in Ajmer

A 37-year-old man was held from Ajmer in Rajasthan for allegedly sending a message to the Mumbai traffic police helpline threatening to harm Prime Minister Narendra Modi, an official said on Monday. Jharkhand resident Mohammad Nadim Baig Mirza was held by a team of Worli police, the official added. "Our probe has found Mirza, who works as a turner in a private firm, was angry as its owner asked him to go home for coming to work after consuming alcohol. In anger, he sent the threat message against the PM to the Mumbai traffic police helpline on Saturday. A case was registered at the time with Worli police station," the official said. "He was tracked down with the help of technical support and arrested from Ajmer. He has been served a notice to remain present in court. Further probe is underway," the official added.

Five cubs born under Vantara's cheetah conservation program in Jamnagar

As per Vantara's objectives, these cubs will soon be rewilded to help restore India's biodiversity

Gujarat first state to telecast live court proceedings on YouTube: CM Patel

The Chief Minister said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has prioritized digital infrastructure for transparent, efficient and good governance and that the Gujarat High Court has worked as an example

Coast Guard rescues 12 Indian crew members of sunken ship with Pak's help

The Indian Coast Guard has rescued 12 crew members of a merchant vessel from the country which sank in the north Arabian Sea during its voyage from Porbandar in Gujarat to Bandar Abbas port in Iran, officials said on Thursday. The vessel 'MSV Al Piranpir' sank on Wednesday outside Indian waters, within Pakistan's search and rescue region. Hence, the Indian Coast Guard carried out the rescue operation in collaboration with the Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA), the ICG said in a release. "This humanitarian search and rescue mission saw a close collaboration between the Indian Coast Guard and PMSA, with both nations' maritime rescue coordination centres (MRCC) maintaining continuous communication throughout the operation," it said. The merchant vessel left for the Iranian port from Porbandar on December 2 with general cargo. On its way, it reportedly sank in the morning hours of Wednesday due to rough seas and flooding, said the release. A distress call was received by the In

Dearness allowance of Gujarat govt employees, pensioners hiked by 3%

The Gujarat government on Wednesday announced a hike in dearness allowance (DA) for its around nine lakh employees and pensioners by 3 per cent to 53 per cent of the basic pay, a decision which will come into effect retrospectively from July 1, 2024. The finance department issued a resolution raising the DA from the current 50 per cent to 53 per cent of the basic pay under the Gujarat State Services (Pay Revision) Rules, 2016, benefiting over nine lakh employees and pensioners. Arrears for the period July to November will be disbursed along with the December salary and pension in January 2025, it said. All state government and panchayat employees, teaching and non-teaching staff in secondary and higher secondary schools, and staffers in aided non-government schools who are covered under the 7th Pay Commission will benefit from the hike. With appropriate modifications, the benefit will also be available to primary teachers and employees on deputation or transfer in panchayats who ..

Lam Research to offer onsite support for Tata Electronics' chip fab in Guj

Lam Research India's virtual fab platform, 'Semiverse', is used by fabs and customers globally to simulate fabrication processes

New cottage and rural industries policy to create 1.2 mn jobs in Gujarat

The Gujarat government announced on Wednesday its new cottage and rural industries policy, offering higher loans and subsidies to artisans and entrepreneurs to set up units in the state. Minister of Cottage Industries Balwantsinh Rajput, who unveiled the policy in Gandhinagar, said it will facilitate the creation of nearly 12 lakh jobs over five years. The new policy was introduced after the five-year validity of the previous scheme ended, an official release said. The New Cottage Policy 2024, which will remain in force for five years, aims to develop a self-sustaining cottage industry sector and open the doors of local and international markets for artisans, the minister said. Under the policy, the state will work towards the availability of credit and market support to artisans and focus on infrastructure, skill, technology upgrades and innovation, Rajput said. To encourage new industries and businesses, the state government has increased the maximum loan amount under this schem

Maharashtra loses out as Gujarat and Andhra secure Saudi-backed refineries

Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh are likely to get Saudi-backed refineries amid talks of $100 billion Saudi investments and bilateral energy collaboration with India

Divisions hang over realisation of Gandhi's vision in India: Bill Clinton

Clinton mentioned his visit to Gujarat after the devastating earthquake in 2001, including that to a hospital and his interaction with a group of Indian youths at the Gandhi Ashram in Ahmedabad

SC issues notice to Gujarat govt on Asaram's plea for sentence suspension

The Supreme Court on Friday sought response from the Gujarat government on a plea filed by jailed self-styled godman Asaram seeking suspension of the life sentence imposed on him by a trial court in a 2013 rape case. A bench of Justices M M Sundresh and Aravind Kumar told the counsel appearing for Asaram that it would examine the issue only if there are medical grounds. "We will issue notice, but we will consider only on medical conditions," the bench said while posting the matter for hearing on December 13. The Gujarat High Court on August 29 had rejected Asaram's plea for the suspension of life imprisonment in the case by a Gandhinagar court in 2023. Refusing to suspend the sentence and grant him bail, the high court had observed that no case for relief was made out. The sessions court in January 2023 convicted Asaram in the 2013 rape case, filed by a woman who was living in his ashram near Gandhinagar at the time of the crime. Asaram is currently lodged in Jodhpur jail in ...

Ragging horror in Gujarat: Medical student dies after standing for hours

The deceased was reportedly forced to stand for three hours during ragging by seniors at the hostel of GMERS Medical College and Hospital

Industrialist accused in Morbi bridge collapse honoured; victims' kin upset

Industrialist Jaysukh Patel, the main accused in the 2020 Gujarat suspension bridge collapse that claimed 135 lives, received criticism after he was felicitated at an event organised by the Patidar community in Morbi district. While the victims' kin expressed anguish over the event, the organisers said that Patel, currently out on bail, was honoured in his capacity as the son of late OR Patel, a philanthropist who founded the Ajanta Group. Patel was weighed in modak (sweet dumpling) on a scale at the function organised by Kadva Patidar Kanya Kelavani Mandal on the outskirts of Morbi town on Friday to mark the Pran Pratishtha' of the Uma Sanskardham temple. The modak will be packed in 60,000 boxes and distributed among Patidar families, the organisers said. It is a matter of sadness for us to see the main accused in the Morbi suspension bridge collapse being honoured like that, said Narendra Parmar, a member of the association representing victims and their families. A court recent

4.2 magnitude earthquake recorded in Gujarat's Patan; no damage reported

An earthquake of 4.2 magnitude was recorded in Patan district of north Gujarat on Friday night, the Institute of Seismological Research (ISR) said. While people came out of their houses after feeling the seismic movement, no casualty or loss of property was reported in the region, officials of the state control room in Gandhinagar said. The quake was recorded at 10:15 pm with its epicentre located 13 km south south-west of Patan, the Gandhinagar-based ISR said. Reports from northern districts of Banaskantha, Patan, Sabarkantha and Mehsana claimed that tremors were felt for two to three seconds. The state has suffered nine major earthquakes in the past 200 years including the devastating earthquake of January 26, 2001, in Kutch district, as per the data provided by the Gujarat State Disaster Management Authority (GSDMA).

700 kg drugs seized mid-sea: Gujarat ATS, NCB, Navy conduct joint op

The Gujarat coast continues to struggle with its reputation as a key entry point for drug smuggling into India, driven by its proximity to Pakistan, a transit hub for narcotics from Afghanistan

Checking of bags a non-issue, Uddhav seeking votes by whining: Fadnavis

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has said Shiv Sena (UBT) head Uddhav Thackeray was trying to divert the attention by needlessly protesting against the checking of his bags by poll officials and was "seeking votes by whining". What is wrong with checking of bags? the senior BJP leader wondered. Thackeray's frustration was showing, Fadnavis said on Tuesday while campaigning for the ruling Mahayuti's candidate Sulabha Ganpat Gaikwad in Kalyan East in Thane district ahead of the November 20 Maharashtra assembly polls. "What is wrong with checking bags? We had our bags checked during campaigning, and there was no need for this level of frustration," the deputy CM said, adding that election officials followed the same procedures with his campaign team too. Lacking pressing topics, Thackeray is now "seeking votes by whining", he said. For the second consecutive day, Thackeray claimed his bags were inspected by election authorities on Tuesday after he arrived in Latur