Category: Ranchi

Govt lures investors for infrastructure projects

Source: dailypioneer.com

Jharkhand Urban Infrastructure Development Company Limited (JUIDCO) proposed infrastructure development projects worth Rs. 1850 crore to private investors under Public-Private Partnership (PPP) policy framework in a summit held in a hotel here on Monday. Under the proposed plan, ISBT, bus stations, and market complexes are to be built in three important cities – Ranchi, Dhanbad, and Jamshedpur. Investors from Ranchi and Gujarat were present in the summit.

A total of 5 bus terminal projects are to be built in Ranchi, Jamshedpur, and Dhanbad. Ranchi is to get a new bus station in Dubaliya, and the Khadgarha bus stand will be renovated under the new proposal. Two new bus terminals will be constructed in Dhanbad, and one in Jamshedpur. K Venkatesh Kumar, Vice President, Infrastructure Development Corporation (Karnataka) Limited (iDeCK) outlined the projects, the total cost of which is estimated to be around Rs. 250 crores.

Four market complexes in Jamshedpur are also to be revamped under the proposed plan. Varsha Pandey from IIDC Limited presented a background to the dilapidated condition of the old market complexes in main areas of the city, like Sakchi, Bistupur, and Golmuri. A phase-wise development of the markets was proposed, keeping in mind the amount of business to be affected by the project.

Ameet Kumar, Director of State Urban Development Agency (SUDA) highlighted the salient features of PPP policy to attract the investors present at the summit. He outlined the obligations of the government under a PPP contract. “The government will facilitate the developer in obtaining necessary project related approvals and clearances along with ensuring availability of project site for development,” he said. He remarked that State Government is already successful in PPP in various sectors.

Urban Development and Housing Development Minister C.P Singh, who was the Chief Guest at the event, spoke about the necessity to attract private investment by guaranteeing returns to the investors. “The investor is not a social worker; they demand returns for their investment. The government should approach the investors accordingly, so that everybody benefits from the deal. Urban development is the responsibility of the government. I hope this summit produces results,” he said. He also cited the example of the bus terminals constructed under PPP in Baroda, Gujarat, and hoped the same feat could be reproduced here.

Urban Development and Housing Development Secretary Ajoy Kumar Singh stressed on the importance of securing private investment in the urban development sector. “We have implemented many policies to attract private investment, but this meet is equally important. All doubts and suggestions are welcome. We’ll be preparing a draft investment policy after this meet. Upon its approval from the ministry, we will streamline the ISBT plans before October. These new bus terminals will be planned with on the lines of our airports, and with a vision of the coming 40 years,” he said.

However, many investors expressed concerns regarding the financial viability of the projects, which was not outlined properly in the various presentations. Issues of bankability were also raised by investors. Urban Development and Housing Development Secretary Ajoy Kumar Singh assured the investors that the finance aspect of the projects will be discussed thoroughly with various banks’ representatives at a later date.

Ranchi University Admission 2019: RU to launch new admission system for academic session 2019

Source: jagranjosh.com

Ranchi University Admission 2019: For the new academic session 2019-2020, the Ranchi University is going to launch a separate admission system for students willing to take admission in various under graduate and post graduate courses. Kamini Kumar, who is the Pro vice-chancellor, said that “the university would release the schedule for admissions on Monday.” Students of Ranchi University welcomed this decision of admitting students through its own system of individualized web portal and offline admissions.

In 2018, to promote transparency and streamline admissions, state universities directed students to register themselves on the governor’s/chancellor’s web portal without which they couldn’t secure admission in various courses. But students faced various technical glitches in the web portal during registration. As a result, the academic session was delayed. Thereafter, students had demanded a separate portal for every college along with the provision for off-line submission of admission forms.

On June 4, the vice-chancellor of Ranchi University, RK Pandey had met the governor and informed him about the various issues faced by students in the centralized portal in the last year. After this meeting, on June 8, the principal secretary to the governor had issued a representation to all vice-chancellors and secretary, department of higher technical education and skill development.

In the representation, all the VC’s of various universities are directed to set up an urgent meeting with the department of HRD in order to remove the difficulties through chancellor’s portal within a week. In case of removal of all the technical glitches is not feasible, then universities may proceed to start admission online through their respective websites and upload the data on chancellor’s portal.

In the meantime, 5 universities including Sido Kanhu Murmu University, Nilamber Pitamber University, Vinoba Bhave University,  Kolhan University and Binod Bihari Mahato Koyalanchal University have already commenced the admission process for under-graduate courses the automated portal. A total of 59,873 applications were already received at these five universities. On the other hand, the admissions process is being conducted through the university’s web portal at Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee University (DSPMU).

Flood of stink in parched city

Source: telegraphindia.com

The capital may be reeling from an acute water crisis but a locality in the heart of the city is crippled by flood, albeit of drain water.

A roughly 150-foot stretch of the main road that connects Vidyapatinagar Colony in Ward No. 2 with Gandhinagar Colony and Kanke road has been under knee to ankle deep drain water for 10 days. The reason, said local residents and Ranchi Municipal Corporation sources, is the discharge of the existing sewage onto a waste land has been choked by the land owner, a grade-IV employee of the civic body.

Bhartendu Kumar Jha, a resident of the locality, said it is a problem that recurs twice or thrice every year.

“The road is inundated by drainage and sewage water. Ranchi Municipal Corporation is aware of this problem but the municipal authority never showed interest for permanent solution of the problem. I informed RMC officials and they once visited the locality and returned without giving any solution. Ranchi’s civic guardians apparently have always been immune to such criticism,” Jha said.

Sources in the civic body said the RMC employee and his family members own the 10-cottah vacant plot which is used as the discharge area of the drainage, and they have blocked the discharge.

“In the last two months, we received around two dozen complaints from local residents who said that some unknown person choked the drainage. Every time we cleaned it, the next day the drainage was found choked again,” said an RMC employee who pleaded anonymity.

Residents are being forced to stay indoors due to the overflowing drain.

“We are living in a hell with foul smells, insects and reptiles all around,” said Shiv Kant Mishra (75), a pediatrician whose house is situated next to the vacant plot.

“I can’t even go out of my house as my premises are flooded. The drain water has polluted my well. Parents face problem to visit my home,” added Mishra, who on average treats 40 children at his home clinic.

Raman Kumar, assistant to gynaecologist Sunita Jha who runs her private nursing home in the colony, said patients are not coming these days and they take medical advice over phone.

“The road is narrow and full of potholes and flooded so it is risky for pregnant women to visit the nursing home. This is one of the busiest roads of the colony, but unfortunately the RMC doesn’t care for basic civic amenities,” said Kumar.

Residents fear the worst is yet to come; schools are due to open next week after summer vacations. Vidyapatinagar Col-ony has a population over 10,000. Gandhinagar has four schools including DAV, and health centres such as CCL Hospital.

Most of the children of the locality study at these schools.

“My two daughters study at DAV school. I am worried how they will go to school,” said homemaker Sabita Mishra. “They will have to travel an additional kilometre. For the past 10 days me along with my children and husband have been living with my parents at Boreya.”

Around three years ago, the civic body had sanctioned Rs 36 lakh to extend the drainage pipe to Gandhinagar. However, work was stopped midway. The RMC reasoned that it would be an unnecessary expenditure since the mega drainage and sewerage project for Ranchi under the JNNURM (Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission) has already been kicked off including at ward number 2.

“Do we suffer till our locality is covered under JNNURM? This project is already running late,” said resident and shopkeeper Bapi Chatterjee.

“My business has suffered. We are always neglected by RMC.”

Contacted, Ranchi deputy mayor Sanjeev Vijayvargiya said: “I personally called the land owner, who is an RMC employee, to allow his land as outfall but he gave cold response. Last year we decided to extend and connect the drainage with that of Gandhinagar. But the authorities of Central Coalfields Limited denied permission. We are trying to find an alternative.”

Homemaker Anita Jha said the locality would hold meeting within a couple of days “to decide whether to pay tax to the RMC”.

She added: “We the housewives have been facing problems. During the Assembly election we will surely teach the government a lesson.”

SIAM launches safe driver incentive app at MoRTH event

Source: autocarpro.in

Society for Automotive Fitness & Environment (SAFE), a SIAM initiative, in association with Ministry of Road Transport & Highways and Transport Department, Government of Jharkhand, organised the 20th edition of SAFE Annual Convention today in Ranchi, Jharkhand where a new app was launched to recognise, reward and incentivise people with good driving behaviour called ‘Driver Safe App’.

The convention this year was themed around ‘Make Roads Safer: 50 by 2030’, which implies reducing 50 percent fatality rate by 2030, with a fitting tag line – Safe Jharkhand. Sure Jharkhand. The convention was attended by prominent guests from the ministry and delegates from different backgrounds.

Speaking on the occasion, chief guest, C P Singh, minister of urban development, housing and transport department, Government of Jharkhand welcomed the automotive industry in Jharkhand and requested to spearhead their CSR funds for automotive testing centre at Jharkhand. He also stressed that the lawmakers should first adhere to the road rules and regulations and then enforce the same for the public. He also informed that Transport Department secures crores of funds and provides it to the Police department for proper allocation. The corporates and the enforcement agencies have to go a long way to make safe and secure Jharkhand.

Addressing the delegates, Prawin Kumar Toppo, secretary transport, Government of Jharkhand laid emphasis on the road safety concern and said, “Safety on the roads is as much a responsibility of individuals as it is on the law enforcers. He welcomed the auto industry for managing the road safety work in Jharkhand by opening the ILC centre and training centre.” 

SIAM and the Automotive Skills Development Council (ASDC) also launched ‘Driver Safe App’ which is a platform to recognise, reward and incentivise people with good driving behaviour. This app is designed to provide better knowledge to the drivers to prevent road accidents and can detect a driver’s way of driving, the driving pattern and the level of proficiency in driving. Based on this, skill-based training can be provided to drivers which will eventually help in reducing accidents and thus lead to safer roads.

P.K. Banerjee, executive director, technical, SIAM said, “This is a unique initiative to make better drivers and better traffic management system in today’s fast paced era.” 

The sessions were divided in four categories under four ‘E’s of safety, namely, Education, Enforcement, Engineering and Emergency Services. The first session highlighted on educational transition for school, colleges and for all road users and also to create a roadmap to impart education for safer driving habits making ‘Safe Jharkhand. Sure Jharkhand’. During this session, Arun Lakshman, road safety consultant automotive skill development council,  Neeru Sachdeva, road safety expert, Gyan Mandir Public School, S Dheerendra, road safety specialist, Safe India Drive, Hyderabad, Pankaj Singh, director, Health & Safety at ACC Limited (Lafarge Holcim Group) shared their insights to all delegates.

The second session emphasised on the steps to be taken for bringing stringent enforcement for road discipline for achieving  Safe Jharkhand. Sure Jharkhand. Anil Chikkara, MLO, Delhi transport department, and Ritwik Mishra, consultant road safety cell, transport department, Jharkhand presented their insights to all delegates.

The third session was focussed on safe transport and road engineering and suggested that sustainable steps should be taken by enforcement bodies in making Safe Jharkhand. Sure Jharkhand. This session was presented by  H M Naqvi, chief general manager, National Highway Authority of India (NHAI),  Rama Shankar Pandey, managing director, Hella India, S R Hariharan, deputy general manager, Volvo Trucks India and B Bhanot, consultant, Rosemarta.

The last session, titled ‘Emergency services’ – Bringing sustainability in public health and air quality, discussed the importance of bringing sustainable solutions for emergency services achieving Safe Jharkhand. Sure Jharkhand. During the session, Nitin Madan Kulkarni, health department, Jharkhand,  Eilia Jafar, chief program officer, Save LIFE Foundation, Dr M S Khalid Quasmi, deputy general manager (Occupational Health Services), Tata Motors and Dr Gaurav Gupta, national professional officer (Injury and Disability Prevention), World Health Organisation (WHO) presented their insights. Abhinav Kumar Verma, an accident survivor victim also shared his traumatic experience at the convention.

11 get life imprisonment in Dumka gang-c case

Source: hindustantimes.com

Dhanbad

A local court in Dumka on Monday sentenced 11 persons to life imprisonment for raping a 19-year-old woman in the district in 2017.

“Pronouncing the punishment on Monday, the court also slapped a fine on each of the convicts of ₹2.97 lakh. It was observed that the amount would be paid to the victim,” said additional public prosecutor Surendra Prasad Sinha.

Last week, district and sessions judge Pawan Kumar had convicted the them under section 376 D (gang-rape) and many other sections under the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

The court awarded life sentence to John Murmu, Marshal Murmu, Albinus Hembrom, Jaiprakash Hembrom, Subhash Hembrom, Shailendra Murmu, Suraj Soren, Daniel Kisku, Suman Soren, Anil Rana and Saddam Ansari. The convicts are aged between 19 to 24 years.

The case involved as many as 16 accused out of which five were minors. The minors are being tried separately in juvenile justice board.

The incident occurred on September 6, 2017, between 8-9 pm when the victim, travelling on a motorcycle along with her boyfriend, was intercepted by a group of five-six young men at Digghi locality. The miscreants dragged the girl to a nearby secluded place, summoned their other friends and raped the girl one by one. One of the them, even made a video of the whole incident.

According to the FIR lodged with the Mofassil police station on the basis of victim’s statement, the girl, along with her boyfriend, had gone to her college on a motorbike. While returning, they were stopped at a place to attend nature’s call. Soon, the miscreants reached there and inquired from her about the purpose of making a halt. They demanded money from the couple saying that they could provide a hideout to them to get physical.

When the victim reacted, the accused assaulted both of them and snatching their mobile phones and money. The accused summoned some of their friends. Soon 15-20 local youths assembled there and dragged the girl to nearby bushes and raped her.

The girl informed that she had heard names of some of the accused while they were outraging her modesty. She disclosed that she could not recall other names as she fell unconscious after resisting for a while. After regaining consciousness, the girl and her friend somehow managed to reach the police station, she had informed.


Ranchi University to launch new admission system for academic year 2019

Source: hindustantimes.com

Ranchi University will not admit students for various under graduate and post graduate courses in the academic session of 2019 through the centralized and automated system on the chancellor portal, university officials said on Sunday.

Pro vice-chancellor, Kamini Kumar said that the university would issue schedule for admissions on Monday. “For the new academic session, the university would admit students through a separate system. The data of admissions would be later uploaded on the chancellor portal,” she said.

In a bid to promote transparency and streamline admissions, all universities in the state in 2018, had issued notifications that students could secure admission only after applying through governor’s/chancellor’s web portal. The portal ran in trouble shortly with several glitches during online registrations. The errors in the automated system had resulted in the academic session being delayed. Students had then demanded a separate portal for every college, besides the provision for off-line submission of admission forms.

Last Tuesday, RU’s vice-chancellor, RK Pandey had met the governor regarding the issue of admissions through the centralized portal. Following this, on Saturday the principal secretary to the governor issued a representation to all vice-chancellors and secretary, department of higher technical education and skill development.

“All the VC’s are directed to convene an urgent meeting with the department of HRD to remove the difficulties through chancellor’s portal within a week…In the event of admission through the portal not being feasible by removing all practical difficulties, universities may proceed to start admission online through their respective websites and upload the data on chancellor’s portal,” it said.

However, the representation directed the vice chancellors to ensure that admission, in the next academic session, were conducted through the portal as a policy decision.

Meanwhile, admissions for under-graduate courses have commenced through the automated portal for the other 5 universities in the state. A total of 59,873 applications were received for Sido Kanhu Murmu University, Dumka, Nilamber Pitamber University, Palamu, Vinoba Bhave University, Hazaribag, Kolhan University, Jamshedpur and Binod Bihari Mahato Koyalanchal University,Dhanbad. At Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee University (DSPMU) in the city capital, admissions are being conducted through the university’s web portal.

Students at RU welcomed the decision to admit students through its own system of individualized web portal and offline admissions. Poonam Kumari, secretary of Ranchi University students’ union said that unless the technical glitches were resolved, admission through the automated portal remained unfeasible.

11 Killed, 25 Injured After Bus Rams Into Truck In Jharkhand

Source: ndtv.com

New Delhi:  11 people were killed and 25 others injured after a speeding double-decker bus rammed into a truck following a brake failure at National Highway 2 near Hazaribagh in Jharkhand.

The accident took place near Danua-Bhanua area on National Highway 2 when the bus hit the rear of the trailer truck.

“The bus was running at a speed of 120 km/h when we got to know that the breaks are not working. The bus driver tried to control the speeding bus but it rammed into a truck coming from the opposite side. The lower deck of the bus got completely damaged and the passengers were pulled out from the bus after the accident,” an injured passenger Saurabh Kumar told ANI.

Pictures of the accident released by news agency ANI show the vehicle overturned and a crowd gathered at the site where the incident took place. 

“I heard the bus driver shouting that the breaks are not working and we should save ourselves, both the conductor and bus driver tried to save the passengers but they couldn’t because there was no way to stop the speeding bus,” another injured passenger told ANI.

Few of the injured passengers are said to be in a critical condition and they have been shifted to Ranchi for further treatment. 

Senior police officer Manish Kumar said, “We have visited the accident spot with the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) team earlier as well, and that spot has been declared as a ”Black Spot” because at least 150 people have died in a road accident in the last six months on the same spot. We will be visiting the accident spot again with NHAI team for further research after this incident.”

Ranchi MP Sanjay Seth lists issues to raise in parliament

Source: hindustantimes.com

BJP’s newly elected Ranchi MP Sanjay Seth on Friday identified a number of issues that he would raise before the parliament and other platforms to mitigate people’s woes and ameliorate the condition of Ranchi parliamentary constituency.

Speaking to media, Seth said that he had identified a number of issues like construction of railway over bridge (ROB) at various locations, traffic and water supply problems, stoppage of important trains at particular station, displacement issue, setting up of Forest Research Institute and developing tourist spots that need to be addressed.

“After being elected as Ranchi MP, I have been visiting the entire constituency since a fortnight to interact with people to know their problems. I assured them that their MP would raise the issues vehemently in Parliament and other platforms,” Seth said.

ROBS AT CHUTIA AND NAGRI

Speaking about his plans, Seth said that he would talk to railway ministry to construct ROB at Chutia and Nagri in Ranchi city. “We have identified that heavy traffic jams at these points create chaos at times. Construction of ROBs at these two points is urgently needed,” he said.

Seth also pointed out that people of small town like Muri didn’t have privilege to travel in Garib Rath as the train doesn’t stop at Muri railway station. “I will see if Muri becomes a stoppage for Garib Rath, “Seth said.

RISING POLLUTION LEVEL IN KHALARI COAL BELT

The Ranchi MP showed his concern over rising pollution level in Khalari coal belt. “Coal India Limited (CIL) is engaged in coal mining activities in this area. I have witnessed smoky atmosphere in Khalari and there is no water sprinkling to settle the dust. Traffic jams due to heavy vehicles transporting coal is another major issue. I will knock the doors of state pollution control board and other agencies to solve the problem, “Seth said.

FOREST RESEARCH INSTITUTE IN RANCHI

Seth also advocated for setting up a Forest Research Institute in Ranchi and up gradation of Ranchi University as a central university. “Jharkhand is reach in forest reserve but we don’t have a forest research institute. The migration of students from Ranchi for higher studies is another cause of concern,” he said.

NITI AAYOG’S ASSISTANCE NEEDED FOR WHOLESOME DEVELOPMENT OF RANCHI

Seth said that he would submit a report for the overall development of Ranchi to the NITI Aayog within two months. “The report titled–Antyodaya Se Sarvodaya Tak–would be prepared after consultation with every section of the society. I hope that Aayog would take a positive action in this regard,” he said.

SAMADHAN KENDRA IN ALL SIX ASSEMBLY CONSTITUENCIES

Disclosing his plans on how to serve people better, Seth assured that he would soon open one office (Samadhan Kendra) in each assembly constituency under Ranchi Lok Sabha seat.

“It will be made functional on all seven days of a week except on holidays of festive nature. I will ensure to sit in these offices at least once in every ten days. People need not to visit my place for their work,” Seth said.

Jharkhand ration tragedy blamed on internet glitch

Source : telegraphindia.com

The death of a senior citizen in rural Jharkhand has been linked to starvation, allegedly triggered by a two-month ration freeze that the dealer has blamed on Internet glitches.

If the account is established, it will shine a torch on a little-debated aspect of the celebrated ration delivery system based on the online biometric model.

“Ramcharan Munda, 65, was not given rations for the last two months by his PDS (public distribution system) dealer. Our officials have found this to be true. There’s ‘zero’ written in the delivery chart for two months in respect of Munda,” Latehar deputy commissioner Rajiw Kumar told The Telegraph on Thursday.

Such a confirmation is a rare occurrence in Jharkhand. As many as 21 people have died in the state since September 2017 of suspected starvation, according to the state convener of the Right to Food Campaign, Asharfi Nand Prasad. But the state government has consistently refused to admit that any of them was caused by hunger, citing pre-existing ailments as the probable causes.

Munda, who died on Wednesday, hailed from Durup, a remote Latehar village more than 170km from Ranchi. Sources said Munda lived with wife Chamri Devi and daughter Sunila Kumari in a hut. His son died of TB two years ago.

Prasad blamed the state government for the recurring tragedies.

“The area in Latehar where Munda died of starvation lacks good Internet facilities. This was reported to the district administration by the PDS dealer,” said Prasad, who is part of a nine-member state government committee formed last year to formulate a protocol for defining and investigating starvation deaths.

“The state government should make the food supply offline, instead of following the existing biometric-based ration delivery system, in areas with network issues,” he added.

Deputy commissioner Kumar said he would investigate whether the PDS dealer had sold Munda’s rations to others at a premium.

“This is too serious a matter. I fail to understand how ration to this senior citizen was denied for two months on the pretext of poor online connectivity of the point-of-sale machine and an unresponsive biometric machine,” the deputy commissioner said.

Jharkhand has put in place a system of “express money” under which the panchayat head keeps Rs 10,000 that can be used during such exigencies. Kumar said he would find out why the money was not used in this instance.

James Herunj, state convener of NREGA Watch, said one of the NGO’s aid workers, Afsana, had visited Munda’s home a day after his death.

“The home had nothing, a clear sign that they lived in abject poverty,” he said quoting Afsana, who had reached the place after Munda’s family had created him using money pooled from fellow villagers.

Afsana said Munda and Chamri Devi were old-age pensioners but had not been receiving pension for the past five months.

Deputy commissioner Kumar confirmed Afsana’s visit to Munda’s home but could not say whether the couple were pensioners.

He said Afsana had informed SDO Mahuadarn Sudhir, who had sent an official to the Munda home with 50kg rice and Rs 2,000 for the family.

Ranchi: 6 injured in knife attack over water dispute

Source: business-standard.com

Amidst the prevailing water shortage in the region due to rising mercury, at least six people sustained injuries after being stabbed by a man here over a water dispute.

The injured are undergoing treatment in a local hospital here.

On Friday, while locals in Kishoreganj were lined up in front of a tanker to fill water, a man from a neighboring village was seen filling water in large barrels, leaving a lesser amount of water for residents of the region.

Speaking to ANI, Sunil Kumar Yadav, one among those who sustained bruises in the incident, said his father asked the man why he was taking so much water and explained that others, too, must get a chance to fill water.

Irked by this, the accused, Yadav said, began quarreling and hurled abuses at his father. When Yadav tried to intervene, the accused took out a knife and began stabbing him with it.

“A boy came to fill water multiple times in our area. My father asked him why he is taking so much water and if he takes all the water, where will everybody else get water from. He started arguing with my father. When I intervened, he hurled abuses and later stabbed me with a knife. He stabbed my mother and brother also when they tried to save me. We rounded him up and grabbed his knife, after which the police took him away,” Yadav said.

Recalling the incident, Yadav’s mother Sona Devi said she too was stabbed by the man when she tried to save her son.

Kishoreganj, locals say, is reeling under water shortage, as tankers are sent only once in four days. Locals claim they are forced to travel distances to fulfill their requirement, as water bodies in the region have begun to dry up due to soaring temperatures.

Acknowledging the situation, state minister CP Singh said people should learn how to use available water judiciously rather than fight over it.

“I heard of the knife attack, this is wrong. Everyone needs water, fighting is wrong. The state and local administration are working on water-related projects. We are trying to arrange water through pipelines, but some are installing motors and diverting water flow. People should learn how to judiciously use water and start water harvesting. It is taking time, but we’re working on it,” he added.