India News
ONGC fined Rs 2.05 crore for Green Norm Violation
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The Pollution Control Board, Assam imposed a fine of Rs 2.05 crore on Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) firm Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) for allegedly violating the Supreme Court’s order issued on February 22, 2017, directing all the effluent discharging units to install primary effluent treatment plant (PETP) within three months.
PCBA claimed ONGC violated the order which is causing pollution to the environment.
In a letter dated September 5, the Pollution Control Board Assam informed ONGC that it had “nonchalantly violated the provisions of law in force causing pollution to the environment”.
“Pollution Control Board, Assam, is constrained to inform you that you have nonchalantly violated the provisions of law in force causing pollution to the environment “Environmental compensation fine amounting to Rs 2,04,90,000 only has been assessed as per formula provided by the National Green Tribunal (NGT), Principal Bench,” said the order dated September 5, 2019.
ONGC has been asked to deposit the money within one month of issuance of the order, The Economic Times reported.
The Pollution Control Board, Assam (PCBA) had earlier issued a show-cause notice to the company on June 28 this year and ONGC replied to it on July 18.
“Your reply to the show cause notice is not based on the facts and findings of the inspection carried out during July 6 to July 8, 2019, by engineers and scientists deputed from Head Office cum Central Laboratory of this board,” the order dated September 5, 2019 said.
The order also said that the drilling operation of the six well units was “either completed or in operation without installing any primary effluent treatment plant” (PETP) at the sites.
“During inspection by the officials of the board’s Regional Laboratory cum Office, at Sivasagar, it has been observed that there is seepage/leakage in the waste pits of the wells. Waste pits were full of effluent and without having any treatment facility,” PCBA said.
Mentioning the Supreme Court’s order, the board told ONGC, “Thereby you have violated the aforementioned order of the Supreme Court of India pertaining to installation of the primary effluent treatment plant.”
As per the “analysis report” of samples collected during the inspection by the officials, it was found that parameters such as “oil and grease and total suspended solids” are beyond the permissible limits in all cases, which indicates “your failure in pollution control measures,” the order said.
Though the penalty was for six wells, but the board informed ONGC that the Regional Laboratory cum Office had reported that there was no mobile ETP for treatment of the effluent of the waste pits in eight wells.
“You are directed to take necessary measures for proper treatment of the effluent and arrange for reclamation of the completed drill sites,” it added.
When contacted, ONGC officials declined to make comments immediately.
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
India News
BJP’s Shahnawaz Hussain suffers cardiac arrest, admitted to Lilavati Hospital
While giving information about the health of BJP leader Shahnawaz Hussain, Doctor Jalil Parkar of Lilavati Hospital said that he was admitted to Lilavati Hospital after cardiac arrest. He told that Shahnawaz Hussain has suffered a heart attack. After this the doctors performed his angioplasty.
Former Union Minister and BJP leader Shahnawaz Hussain has suffered a heart attack. According to reports BJP leader Shahnawaz Hussain suffered a cardiac arrest in the evening. After which he has been admitted to Lilavati Hospital in Mumbai. Shahnawaz Hussain is the national spokesperson of BJP and he has also been the Industry Minister in Bihar Government.
While giving information about the health of BJP leader Shahnawaz Hussain, Doctor Jalil Parkar of Lilavati Hospital said that he was admitted to Lilavati Hospital after cardiac arrest. He told that Shahnawaz Hussain has suffered a heart attack. After this the doctors performed his angioplasty.
He was one of the youngest Union Ministers in Atal Bihar Vajpayee’s Cabinet. The BJP leader held several portfolios, including Minister of State, Ministry of Food Processing Industries, Minister of State, Ministry of Human Resource Development, Minister of State (Independent Charge), Ministry of Coal, Minister of Civil Aviation and Minister of Textiles during Vajpayee regime.
Shahnawaz Hussain suffered a major setback when he had to face defeat in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. Earlier in 2006, BJP had brought him to Parliament through by-election. After the defeat in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, the party did not even give tickets in the 2019 elections. The seat from which Shahnawaz Hussain contested was given to JDU by BJP. However, JDU was a part of NDA at that time.
In the 2020 assembly elections in Bihar, BJP had fielded Shahnawaz Hussain for the Legislative Council elections. Shahnawaz Hussain was successful in winning and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar made him the Industries Minister. However, in 2022, BJP suffered a major setback when Nitish Kumar’s party JDU broke ties with NDA and formed the government with RJD.
Shahnawaz Hussain, who once enjoyed power, is now seen in the role of opposition in the Bihar Legislative Council. Bihar is the home state of Shahnawaz Hussain and Supaul is his home district.
India News
Students hold protest in Manipur after photos of two dead students surface online
The protesting students tried to march towards Chief Minister N Biren Singh’s residence
Hundreds of students took to the streets in Manipur’s capital, Imphal to protest against the brutal murder of two students by suspected armed men. The students demanded justice for the victims. According to reports, photos of two students, who apparently have been decapitated, have gone viral across the social media platforms.
The protesting students tried to march towards Chief Minister N Biren Singh’s residence, after which security forces used tear gas shells and smoke bombs in an effort to disperse the crowd. Reportedly, multiple students were injured and they were hurried to the hospital for medical treatment.
The photos that have gone viral show two students, a 17-year-old girl and a 20-year-old boy, sitting at the grassy compound in what appears to be a makeshift jungle camp of an armed group.The girl is seen in a white shirt and the boy in a checked shirt holding a backpack. Behind them, two armed men were clearly visible.
In the next viral photo, their bodies are seen slumped on the ground. According to reports, as the girl was a minor, officials concerned to the matter are looking into the allegations of rape, before she was murdered.
Meanwhile, N Biren Singh led Manipur government has asked the people of the northeastern state to exercise restraint and allow authorities to investigate the kidnapping and killing of both the students. In a statement issued by the secretariat of Chief Minister N Biren Singh late on Monday night, the state government asserted that the case has been already handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
In addition, the government also assured the public that swift and decisive action will be taken against all those involved in the crime. The statement further underlined that the government was committed to ensuring justice for the murdered students and severe punishment on any perpetrators found responsible for this heinous crime.
India News
Delhi Arbitration and Conciliation Council, WICCI holds their first meeting, aims to work for benefit of women empowerment
Delhi Arbitration and Conciliation Council members will also recommend government and other institutions on various policy making.
The Delhi Arbitration and Conciliation Council, WICCI President Vinita Sahay and Vice President Sandhya Kohli on Tuesday conducted the council’s first physical meeting at Jangpura Extension, New Delhi. Along with the President and Vice President, all 36 Council members took part in the meeting.
As per sources, the major objective of the council members is to spread a robust council who will work for the Council and for the benefit of women empowerment with the spirit of sisterhood.
The vision of the council members is to interact with other councils who are registered with Women’s Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (WICCI) nationally and internationally with an effort to inform them that Delhi Arbitration and Conciliation Council, WICCI is a team of experienced and dedicated arbitrators, who will keep in view the spirit of the amended Arbitration and Conciliation Act 2016.
Furthermore, the Delhi Arbitration and Conciliation Council members will also recommend government and other institutions on various policy making. Sources stated that the first meeting was a great success and deliberations were carried out with all council members present in the meeting.
In the Delhi Arbitration and Conciliation Council’s meeting, the council members discussed how to achieve the aforesaid objectives, conduct monthly meetings of council to review action plan, organise webinars and seminars for the awareness of women and further focus on women empowerment by the council of Arbitration and Conciliation initiated in 2023.
Women’s Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (WICCI) is a National Business Chamber for Women that strengthens and builds women’s entrepreneurship and businesses through greater engagement with government, institutions, global trade and networks.
Women’s Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (WICCI) also enables fundamental changes in governmental policies, laws and incentives with a view to robustly encourage and empower women in business, industry and commerce across all sectors.
