State to Review its Power Tariff Hike Plan -Nitin Raut

Nagpur: By Sanjay Patil: State power minister Nitin Raut said he has issued directives to review the tariff hike proposal put up before the Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (MERC).

The outgoing power secretary had come up with a proposal to hike the tariff which was initially agreed upon. However, as an after thought, it appeared that the increase is not warranted. Orders have been issued to review the move, the minister told on the sidelines of a function hosted by Vidarbha Industries Association .

“The government will ensure that the common man will not be affected due to any move to revise electricity tariff in the state. However, to ensure a lower tariff, steps will also have to be taken for reducing the cost of generation,” said Raut.

RB Goenka, vice-president of VIA and also the organization’s adviser on power sector, said the proposal includes a revenue demand of Rs60,000 crore to be recovered over a period of five years. On an average, it would lead to an increase in power bills by 7% to 8%, he said.

Since the tariff hike petition has already been put up before the MERC, the government will now have to either submit a review petition or withdraw the existing plea under section 108 of the Maharashtra State Electricity Act 2003, citing public interest. MERC has already issued notices to hear objections over the state’s tariff hike proposal, said Goenka.

MERC is a quasi judicial body whose approval is needed to implement any power hike, including that by the state government-owned power utilities.

Earlier addressing the VIA members, Raut said, “The state’s power utilities have pending due to the tune of Rs35,000 crore from the farm sector. There are plans to come up with a scheme under which the dues can be repaid on easy terms by the farmers. At the same time, there are sizeable dues from the government organizations also. Strict action would be taken against these type of defaulters like power cut during some parts of the day,”

Raut, who is also Nagpur’s guardian minister, said, “The previous government considered promoting solar power as a threat to the thermal electricity plants. The contention was that if the use of solar power goes up, the thermal plants can break down due to reduction in load factor.”

“The revival after that leads involves a major expenditure. However, it cannot be so. The state’s generation units do not supply power in Maharashtra alone. The plants can function on the load due to demand from other states too. Our government will not have an anti-solar power policy,” he said.

Raut said he has also directed the divisional commissioner (Nagpur) to form a special purpose vehicle (SPV) to revive the national industrial and manufacturing zone (NIMZ) at Bhiwapur that was planned during the Congress-NCP rule. “Already, 2,600 hectares of land have been acquired for the project and power supply can be arranged too,” he said.

नागपूर: महाराष्ट्र विद्युत नियामक आयोगासमोर (एमईआरसी) मांडलेल्या जाचक दरवाढीच्या प्रस्तावाचे पुनरावलोकन करण्याचे निर्देश दिल्याचे राज्याचे ऊर्जामंत्री नितीन राऊत यांनी सांगितले.

जाणारे उर्जा सचिव यांनी दर वाढीचा प्रस्ताव आणला होता ज्यावर सुरुवातीला सहमती झाली होती. तथापि, विचार केल्यानंतर, असे दिसून आले की ही वाढ नाही. विदर्भ इंडस्ट्रीज असोसिएशनने (व्हीआयए) आयोजित केलेल्या कार्यक्रमाच्या वेळी मंत्री टीओआयला म्हणाले की, या निर्णयाचा आढावा घेण्याचे आदेश देण्यात आले आहेत.

“राज्यात वीज दरात बदल करण्याच्या कोणत्याही निर्णयामुळे सर्वसामान्यांना त्रास होणार नाही याची खात्री सरकार करेल. तथापि, कमी दर निश्चित करण्यासाठी, उत्पादन खर्च कमी करण्यासाठीही पावले उचलण्याची गरज आहे, ”राऊत म्हणाले.

व्हीआयएचे उपाध्यक्ष आणि वीज क्षेत्रावरील संस्थेचे सल्लागार आरबी गोएंका म्हणाले की, या प्रस्तावात पाच वर्षांच्या कालावधीत वसूल करण्याची 60,000 कोटी रुपयांच्या महसुली मागणीचा समावेश आहे. ते म्हणाले की, वीज बिलांमध्ये सरासरी 7% ते 8% वाढ होते.

दर वाढीची याचिका एमईआरसीसमोर ठेवण्यात आली असल्याने आता सरकारला एकतर आढावा याचिका सादर करावी लागणार आहे किंवा जनहिताचा हवाला देऊन महाराष्ट्र राज्य विद्युत अधिनियम 2003 च्या कलम 108 नुसार विद्यमान याचिका मागे घ्यावी लागेल. राज्याच्या भाडेवाढीच्या प्रस्तावावर आक्षेप घेण्यासाठी एमईआरसीने यापूर्वीच नोटिसा बजावल्या आहेत, असे गोएंका म्हणाले.

एमईआरसी ही एक अर्ध न्यायिक संस्था आहे, ज्याची राज्य सरकारच्या मालकीच्या वीज उपयोगितांसह कोणत्याही वीज दरवाढीच्या अंमलबजावणीसाठी मंजूरी आवश्यक आहे.

त्याआधी व्हीआयए सदस्यांना संबोधित करताना राऊत म्हणाले, “शेती क्षेत्राकडून मिळणार्‍या 35,000 कोटी रुपयांच्या रकमेमुळे राज्यातील वीज उपयोगिता प्रलंबित आहेत. अशी योजना आखण्याची योजना आहे ज्या अंतर्गत शेतक farmers्यांद्वारे थकबाकीदारांना सोप्या अटींवर परतफेड करता येईल. त्याचबरोबर सरकारी संस्थांकडूनही मोठ्या प्रमाणात थकबाकी घेतली जाते. दिवसाच्या काही भागात वीज कट सारख्या प्रकारच्या डिफॉल्टर्सवर कडक कारवाई केली जाईल, ”

नागपूरचे पालकमंत्री असलेले राऊत म्हणाले, “मागील सरकारने सौरऊर्जेला प्रोत्साहन देणे औष्णिक वीज प्रकल्पांना धोका दर्शविले होते. मत असा आहे की सौरऊर्जेचा वापर वाढल्यास भारनियमन घटण्यामुळे औष्णिक प्रकल्प तुटू शकतात. ”

“त्यानंतरच्या पुनरुज्जीवनात मोठा खर्च होतो. तथापि, तसे होऊ शकत नाही. राज्यातील जनरेटिंग युनिट्स एकट्या महाराष्ट्रात वीजपुरवठा करत नाहीत. इतर राज्यांकडूनदेखील मागणी केल्यामुळे रोपे लोडवर कार्य करू शकतात. आमच्या सरकारकडे सौरऊर्जाविरोधी धोरण असणार नाही, ”ते म्हणाले.

कॉंग्रेस-राष्ट्रवादीच्या कारकीर्दीत आखण्यात आलेल्या भिवापूर येथे राष्ट्रीय औद्योगिक व उत्पादन क्षेत्र (एनआयएमझेड) पुनरुज्जीवित करण्यासाठी विभागीय आयुक्त (नागपूर) यांना विशेष प्रयोजन वाहन (एसपीव्ही) तयार करण्याचे निर्देशही त्यांनी दिले आहेत, असे राऊत म्हणाले. “या प्रकल्पासाठी यापूर्वी २,00०० हेक्टर जमीन अधिग्रहित करण्यात आली आहे आणि वीजपुरवठादेखील करता येईल,” ते म्हणाले

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Centre vs Maharashtra over 2018 Bhima-Koregaon violence: : Sanjay Patil

By Sanjay Patil : Nagpur

The issue of Koregaon Bhima case has been suddenly handed over to the National Investigation Agency. Home Minister Anil Deshmukh has strongly condemned the decision of the Center, saying that the action of the Center is against the Constitution.

Nagpur: Conflict between the Center and the Maharashtra government has been sparked by the central government's sudden investigation into the Koregaon Bhima case. Home Minister Anil Deshmukh has strongly condemned the decision of the Center, saying that the action of the Center is against the Constitution.

After the Maharashtra government decided to go to the root of the Koregaon Bhima incident, the central government intervened and handed over the investigation to the NIA without the permission of the state government. "This action is against the Constitution," Anil Deshmukh said. He also mentioned that it is the responsibility of the state government to maintain law and order in the state.

Phone Tapping: Fadnavis flares up

Meanwhile, the Koregaon-Bhima violence case was investigated suddenly by the Maharashtra police and taken to the NIA. The Center has informed the Chief Secretary of Maharashtra and the Director General of Police of the state. Due to this, there has been a spate of controversy between the central and state governments.

NCP Congress President Sharad Pawar has demanded Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray to establish an SIT in Koregaon Bhima violence. Pawar has made serious allegations against the BJP government led by the then Devendra Fadnavis in two water letters written to the Chief Minister. In the case of Koregaon Bhima, the Fadnavis government misused power. Misinformed the media as well. It was a conspiracy by the police to hand over. All the left was to mislead the masses by keeping the chiefs behind. In this letter, Pawar has alleged that the police have broken most of the evidence in this case. On the one hand, Sharad Pawar has demanded a SIT probe in this regard, and the Central Government has given the inquiry to the NIA.

Bhima-Koregaon case:

Meeting to review violence in Pune underway; Maharashtra deputy CM Ajit Pawar and state HM Anil Deshmukh in attendance

Mumbai: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and state Home Minister Anil Deshmukh met senior police officials in Mumbai on Thursday to review the case of violence at Koregaon Bhima in Pune on 1 January, 2018.

The meeting is currently underway at the state secretariat in Mumbai, an official said.

NCP leader Ajit Pawar in this file photo. PTI

NCP chief Sharad Pawar in December demanded that a Special Investigation Team (SIT) be set up under a retired judge to probe the action taken by Pune Police in the Koregaon Bhima case.

NCP leader Deshmukh, after taking charge as Home minister, earlier in January had said that he would seek a status report on the case and then take a decision.

The term "urban Naxal" was used by the Pune Police probing the alleged links between the Elgar Parishad conclave of 31 December, 2017, and the caste clashes around Koregaon Bhima in Pune district the next day.

While some rights activists were arrested in the case by the Pune city police, their rural counterparts had booked Hindutva leaders Milind Ekbote and Sambhaji Bhide for

allegedly inciting violence.

Ekbote was granted bail by the Supreme Court, while Bhide was never arrested.

The Pune Police have claimed the conclave was backed by Maoists. The parishad, they alleged, instigated violence near the Koregaon Bhima war memorial on 1 January, 2018.

Bhima Koregaon case:

 Shiv Sena leader says evidence against arrested activists submitted, judicial commission to decide further action

Mumbai: Shiv Sena leader Deepak Kesarkar on Friday said that all the evidence against the activists held in Bhima Koregaon case has already been submitted to the court.

He said the judicial commission probing the Bhima Koregaon violence case can examine the evidence (against the activists).

Representational image. AFP

His statement comes over a month after NCP chief Sharad Pawar demanded that a Special Investigation Team (SIT) be set up under a retired judge to probe the action taken by Pune police against activists in the Elgar Parishad case. He had termed the police action as "wrong" and "vengeful".

Talking to PTI on Friday, Kesarkar, who was Minister of State for Home in the previous Devendra Fadnavis government, said, "A judicial commission is probing the Koregaon Bhima violence case. All the evidence against the activists in the Elgar Parishad case has already been submitted to the court."

The state government had set up the judicial commission under former Chief Justice of Calcutta High Court, JN Patel, to inquire into the violence that took place during the 200th commemoration of the battle of Koregaon Bhima on January 1, 2018.

"The judicial commission can check if the evidence submitted to the court is correct or not," Kesarkar said.

According to Pune police, the Elgar Parishad conclave held in Pune on December 31, 2017, was supported by Maoists and inflammatory speeches made at the event led to caste violence at the Koregaon Bhima war memorial in the district the next day.

The Left-leaning activists arrested during the probe had links with Maoists, the Pune police had claimed. They had booked the activists under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

The Pune Police had arrested nine activists — Sudhir Dhawale, Rona Wilson, Surendra Gadling, Mahesh Raut, Shoma Sen, Arun Ferreira, Vernon Gonsalves, Sudha Bharadwaj and Varavara Rao — in connection with Elgar Parishad case.

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'Closed Maharashtra' today of 'VANCHIT" - SANJAY PATIL

Sanjay Patil : Nagpur : 24 Jan-2020: The Vanchit Bahujan Front today announced the closure of Maharashtra against the Citizenship Improvement Act and the central government's policy of selling new companies in the country. The administration and police have been prepared to prevent inappropriate incidents during the shutdown.

The deprived Bahujan Front today announced the closure of Maharashtra against the Citizenship Improvement Act and the central government's policy of selling new companies in the country. The administration and police have been prepared to prevent inappropriate incidents during the shutdown.

Vanchit President Adv. Prakash Ambedkar has called for the closure. Their appeal has been supported by about 5 organizations in the state. There is a huge outcry against the NRC and the CAA in the country. The government is trying to enforce this law through repression. On the other hand, the economy of the country has gone down. Due to GST, note bans and mistrust, the government does not receive funds. The country is on the verge of bankruptcy. Prakash Ambedkar said in a press conference held on January 7 that Maharashtra government was calling for protesting the government and the protest was responsible. Prakash Ambedkar appealed that various organizations, organizations and political parties of Maharashtra including Mumbai should participate in the shutdown.

Meanwhile, leaders of other organizations, including the underprivileged, held meetings to raise awareness about the closure in Nagpur city and district. A joint meeting of the Vanchit constituencies and city executives was held on Thursday to review the preparations for the closure. Representatives of various organizations were also present. The meeting also urged that no one should be disturbed during the shutdown, that the general and businessmen would not be disturbed and that there would be no loss of government or private property. Bandala has announced the support of MIM, Gondwana Republic Party, Tribal Asmita, Republican Auto Association, Nagpur Ferriwala Shops Association, Muslim Council, Shivshahi Traders Association and other organizations. The meeting was attended by deputy city president Ravi Shende, Rahul Wankhede, Prof. Ramesh Pise, Sanjay Hedou, Mangalam Murthy Sonakusare were also present.

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भविष्यात सदर पूल ध्योका दायक - संजय पाटील

नागपूर :  द्वारा संजय पाटील: सदर येथील उडाणपुला तील मूळ डिझाईन मध्ये दोष असल्याने भविष्यात पुलावरील वाहतुकीला धोका निर्माण होणार हे आमच्या सर्वे मध्ये आढळून आले आहे. लिबर्टी सिनेमाकडून जाणारा हा उडाण पूल थेट काटोल मार्गाकडे  जाणारा   आहे. तर त्यापूर्वी उजवीकडे वळणारा पूल थेट विभागीय संकुला कडे जाणारा आहे. काही वाहने विरुद्ध दिशेने येऊन नंतर विभागीय संकुलाकडे डावीकडे वळण घेत आहे. त्यामुळे पुलावर अपघातप्रवण क्षेत्रा निर्माण झाले आहे.

 by Sanjay Patil : Nagpur:   In the future, this pool is worth the blow.
Our survey has found that there will be a risk to traffic on the bridge in the future as the original design of Udanapula at Sadar is flawed. This flying bridge from Liberty Cinema is directly on the way to Katol. So the bridge to the right before it goes straight to the sectional complex. Some vehicles are coming in opposite directions and then turning left onto the sectional complex. Due to this, there has been an accidental area on the bridge.

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गोंदिया जिल्ला परिषद बांधकाम विभागात दहा कोटींचा घोटाळा : आमदार रहांगडाले यांचे देबडवार यांना तक्रार

 गोंदिया : द्वारा संजय पाटील : आमदार रहांगडाले यांच्या पत्रानुसार रस्ते दुरुस्ती च्या कामासाठी निविदा काढल्यानंतर लगेच तीन दिवसांनी कामाचे कार्यारंभ आदेश देण्यात आले . तदनंतर अवघ्या अकरा दिवसात संबंधीत कामाची देयके काढण्यात आल्याने बांधकाम विभागात दहा कोटींचा घोटाळा झाल्याचा आरोप आमदार विजय रहांगडाले यांनी केला आहे. आमदार नुसार या कामाचे निविदा १७ डिसेंबर २०१९ रोजी काढण्यात आली. कुठलीही   निविदा काढल्यानंतर ७ दिवसाचा कालावधी असतो. या ठिकाणी तीन दिवसात निविदा प्रक्रिया आटोपून २० डिसेंबर ला कार्यारंभ आदेश देण्यात आले. ३१ डिसेंबरला संबंधित कामाचे देयके काढण्यात आले . एवढ्या कमी वेळेत  संबंधित काम झाले कसे ? असा सवाल हि त्यांनी केला आहे. कंत्राटदाराची स्वाक्षरी ना घेता , त्यांनी कुठल्याही प्रकारची माहिती ना देता देयके पोहचविण्याचे काम जिल्हा परिषदेकडून झाल्याचेही तक्रारीत म्हटले आहे . या सर्व प्रकरणात सुमारे ५ ते १० कोटींचा कामे ना करताच अवैध रूपात देयके काढून गैरवयहार झाल्याचं म्हटले आहे . या पात्राची दाखल घेऊन मुख्य अभियंता श्री देबडवर नागपूर यांनी गोंदिया जिल्हा परिषदेचे मुख्य कार्यकारी अधिकारी यांना पात्र पाठविले. त्या पात्राची दाखल घेत मुख्य काय्रकरी अधिकारी डाक्टर राजा दयानिधी यांनी स्वतः संपूर्ण प्रकरणाची चौकशी केली आहे .  त्यांनी आश्वासन दिले कि दोषी व्यक्तीला कठोर शासन करण्यात येईल. Gondia ; by Snajy Patil : According to a letter from MLA Rahhangdale, the work order was issued three days after the tender for the road repair work. MLA Vijay Rahhangdale has alleged that the construction department has been involved in scam of Rs. According to the MLA, the tender for this work was withdrawn on December 9. There is a period of 3 days after the removal of any tender. The tender process was completed on 3 December and the order was issued on December 3. On December 7, payments for related work were withdrawn. How was the related work done in such a short time? This is the question they have raised.The complaint also said that the district council had done the work of delivering the payments without any sign of the contractor. In all these cases, it is said that illegal payment of illegal payments was done without doing about Rs. After filing this letter, Chief Engineer, Shri Debadwar Nagpur sent a letter to the Chief Executive Officer of Gondia Zilla Parishad. The Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Raja Dayanidhi, has filed an inquiry into the case. He assured that the culprit will be severely punished.

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Government does not have the guts to decide : Nitin Gadkari

SANJAY PATIL ( FREELANCE JOURNALIST)

NAGPUR :  Minister Nitin Gadkari has said that there is no shortage of money for implementing the scheme in the country and it does not have the courage to take decisions in the government. Nitin Gadkari also said that the government's mentality and negative attitude were the reasons for the failure of various schemes. He was speaking at the program of Visweswaraya National Technology Institute in Nagpur.

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has said that the government has no finger to make decisions in the country but there is no shortage of money in the government. Nitin Gadkari also said that the government's mentality and negative attitude were the reasons for the failure of various schemes. He was speaking at the program of Visweswaraya National Technology Institute in Nagpur. Gadkari's statement has raised questions about the functioning of the government.Nitin Gadkari also informed about how he worked as a minister at the Center. He said that in the last 3 years, I have worked for Rs 1 lakh crore. And this year it will go up to five lakh crore rupees. There is nothing short of money and it is true. If there is a deficiency, it is the mentality of the work, the negative attitude.

Nitin Gadkari also made a serious statement that the government does not have the courage to make decisions. He continued, ' I went to a high level meeting. There he was saying ... he would start it ... he was saying (IAS officer). I told them, why would you start?

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freedom of press should be respected by Government : Supreme Court

By Sanjay PatilNagpur- 13, Jan. 2020 : Freedom of press is a requirement in any democratic society for its effective functioning and governments are required to respect this at all times, the Supreme Court said on Friday.The apex court said importance of the press is well established and is a valuable and sacred right enshrined under the Constitution."This right is required in any modern democracy without which there cannot be transfer of information or requisite discussion for a democratic society," a bench headed by Justice N V Ramana said.

The observation came while delivering a judgement on a plea filed by Anuradha Bhasin, Executive Editor of Kashmir Times, who had submitted that since August 6 the newspaper's Kashmir edition has not been printed and published as complete and absolute restrictions on communication services and movement have resulted in the imposition of a de facto blockade on media activities, including reporting and publishing on the situation in the valley.However, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told  ..the court that editors of Kashmir Times chose not to publish their newspaper from Srinagar.The apex court said that no evidence was put forth to establish that other individuals were also restricted in publishing newspapers in the area."Without such evidence having been placed on record, it would be impossible to distinguish a legitimate claim of chilling effect from a mere emotive argument for a self serving purpose," it said."In view of these facts, and considering that the aforesaid petitioner has now resumed publication, we do not deem it fit to indulge more in the issue than to state that responsible governments are required to respect the freedom of the press at all times. Journalists are to be accommodated in reporting and there is no justification for allowing a sword of Damocles to hang over the press indefinitely," the court said.

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