News in brief from across Gujarat

Ahmedabad:
– Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation(AMC) has demolished a wide footpath on Shivranjani-Naherunagar stretch of Satellite road in order to widen the existing road. The footpath was slowly converting into new slum pocket on this road which is considered very posh area. On the other side of the road, the footpath has been snatched by hawkers entirely. Hawkers who somehow mange to get High Court protection have completely occupied the footpath and cycle track. Vehicles parked to access the hawkers market occupy the road.

– Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation(AMC) has resumed its sealing drive and sealed 44 shops in Dhananjay tower and 8 shops in Saga flat, block A which is located behind Nirma University due to lack of fire safety system. 67 units of GHB complex near Ankur Char Rasta in Naranpura area are also sealed for same reason.

– Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu on his visit to Gujarat today went to Doordarshan Kendra and Akashwani Kendra in Ahmedabad. He attended Swachch Bharat function in Tagore Hall and gave SBM certificates to Ahmdabad and ten other civic bodies. He declared Gujarat as open defecation free state in urban areas. Naidu witnessed signing of MoU between Government of Gujarat and Energy Efficiency Services Ltd pertaining to promotion of clean energy and energy efficiency.

– Madhantasinh Jadeja, Yuvraj of erstwhile Royal family for Rajkot has been summoned by court for appearance for nonpayment of Rs 7.45 crore to Gruh Finance Ltd Bank loan and cheque return.

– After stalling Vishwamitri River Front project in Vadodara, National Green Tribunal has once again responded to NGOs plea and halted the work of Vadodara – Bhilad express highway. The 268 km long project which has been cleared by Ministry of Environment and Forest, Government of India has been challenged by serial petitioner and dubious NGO operator Jayesh Patel of Gujarat Khedut Samaj. As per government claim, 30,000 trees are to be cut to construct the highway stretch while Khedut Samaj has argued that actually 5.5 lakh trees are to be cut. Khedut Samaj has also argued that 30 ft height of the highway will create water logging issue on both sides as the area attracts upto 100 inch rain. NGT has in response to this plea ordered status quo till 29 November. Such activism may halt more development projects in this country which badly needs aggressive infrastructure movement. It should be mentioned that NGT has emerged as new weapon for NGOs that want to stall major infra projects. Gujarat Khedut Samaj has also challenged expansion of Olpad Cyanide unit expansion project.

DeshGujarat