1. Dalit Murder: 3 More Nabbed, Main Accused on Run
Three days after a 25-year-old Dalit youth was killed by his upper-caste in-laws, cops have arrested three more people involved in the crime. While two, including the main accused father-in-law of the victim, is on run.
The deceased, Haresh Solanki, was murdered by his in-laws, who belonged to the Darbar community and opposed the marriage.
Confirming the arrest, PD Manvar, Deputy Superintendent of Police, SC/ST Cell of Ahmedabad district said, "The arrested have been identified as Ajaysinh Zala, Prabhatsinh Zala, and Anopsinh Zala. After getting a tip-off, a team of local crime branch nabbed them from an industrial area located near Ahmedabad and Mehsana district border."
(Source: DNA)
2. Water Level in Ukai Dam Rises by One Foot After Rain
Water level in Ukai dam has increased by one foot after heavy rain in the upper catchment areas of Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra in the past 24 hours.
The main water source for the people of Surat, Navsari and Valsad, Ukai dam receives water from 20 receiving stations in Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. The water level in the dam was 276.32 feet before heavy rainfall in the upper catchment areas. It received 22,000 cusecs inflow on Wednesday, taking the level to 277.55 feet on Thursday, 11 July.
However, the level is much below the danger level of 345 feet. Sources said the rainfall reduced on Thursday and the inflow has reduced to 4,200 cusecs. The water level in Hathnoor dam also increased to 209.04 feet in the past 24 hours.
(Source: The Indian Express)
3. Land Acquisition for Surat Metro Rail Project to Begin Soon, Says SMC Commissioner
Surat Municipal Commissioner M Thennarasan was on Thursday, 11 July, appointed Executive Director of Surat Metro Rail Corporation (SMRC) at a high-level meeting organised in Gandhinagar. He said land acquisition for the project would be initiated soon.
At the meeting, Principal Secretary Mukesh Puri, officials of the Gujarat Metro Rail Corporation and SMC Commissioner Thennnarasan discussed how to speed up the project and prioritise the works.
“To execute the work, we have fixed priorities,” SMC Commissioner Thennarasan said. “We first have to open an office for the Surat Metro Rail project and later we have to execute the plan. On the basis of a Detailed Project Report, which has been approved by the Central government, we have done a survey of the areas and lands to be acquired. In the coming days, we will start acquiring the land first from Dream City to Kadarshah naal and later in other areas. We will organise weekly meetings with officials of the metro rail corporation to review the work completed and decide what is left and how to do it.”
(Source: The Indian Express)
4. Roadshows in Gujarat to Boost Trade Between India, Canada
Leading businesspersons, industrialists and government officials of Canada will hold roadshows in the state in an attempt to explore business opportunities and foster relationship between India and Canada, Canadian High Commissioner to India said at an event in Ahmedabad on Thursday, 11 July.
Nadir Patel, High Commissioner of Canada to India, was present in Ahmedabad on Thursday for an interactive session with the representatives of Indo-Canadian Business Chamber (ICBC) where he announced that roadshows will be held between September and November.
“All the details (of the roadshows) are being worked out with ICBC and local chambers of commerce in Gujarat and this will be from mid-fall season. The goal is two-fold – first to bring Canadian companies to Gujarat so that they can witness the opportunities over here and while we are here, we will also showcase the Canadian opportunities to the Indian and Gujarat-based companies,” said Patel
(Source: The Indian Express)
5. Loan Waiver: BJP, Congress Clash Over Farmers' Debt in Gujarat
The Congress and BJP had heated arguments over a private member bill moved by Congress MLA from Visavadar Harshad Ribadiya for debt waiver of farmers in the state. As per the Opposition, the move was necessary since "it’s because of the anti-farmer policy of the state and Central governments, the farmers are in debt", while the BJP accused the Congress of bad mouthing the farmers in the state as those who did not repay loans.
The bill was eventually defeated by a vote after the Congress refused to withdraw it. Speaking about the issue, Ribadiya said lack of irrigation facilities coupled with the import policy of the Central government had pushed farmers in the state to the brink.
"When you import pulses and other farm products in abundance at cheap rates, prices are going to crash in the domestic market. The MSP support being offered to farmers is also a pittance," said Ribadiya even as the Congress members shouted Jai Jawan Jai Kisan.
(Source: DNA)
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