1. MP CM Writes to PM on Translocating Guj Lions to Kuno
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on translocating lions from Gujarat to MP against the backdrop of deaths of several big cats there recently.
Nath, in his letter, said the Kuno National Park in MP was developed as a second home for lions and asked the PM to issue suitable directions to the Union Ministry of Environment and Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) and to the Gujarat government for smooth translocation.
"All recommendations made by the Wildlife Institute of India and expert committee formed to oversee the translocation of Asiatic lions to Kuno, like habitat improvement, prey base augmentation, relocation of 24 villages (1543 families) etc have been completed by the state government," Nath's letter stated.
(Source: PTI)
2. Ahmedabad Metro Tunnel Work over in 11 Months
On Monday evening, 25 February amidst shouting of slogans, waving of the national flag and hugs, two Tunnel Boring Machines (TBM) ended their successful journey in record breaking time – within 11 months.
For the Ahmedabad Metro Rail Project, Gujarat Metro Rail Corporation (GMRC) Limited is constructing a 6.35km-long underground tunnel in the walled part of the city, where more than 60% of the work has been completed.
"Four TBM machines are being used to work in the tunnel, laying shaft. This is indeed an achievement. The first machine was lowered on 5 April, 2018 and the second, on 20 June, 2018. The work on the underground tunnel from Apparel park to Kalupur has been completed," said IP Gautam, MD GMRC.
(Source: DNA Ahmedabad)
3. Shaktisinh Gohil, Bharatsinh Solanki Had Threatened Us for Voting Against Party Whip, Says Ex-MLA
Former Congress MLA Tejashree Patel, who is currently with the BJP, on Monday, 25 February told the Gujarat High Court that days before the 2017 Rajya Sabha election was to be held, then state Congress chief Bharatsinh Solanki and senior party leader Shaktisinh Gohil had “threatened (party MLAs) that if they don’t vote for Ahmed Patel they will be suspended from the party and would not be given tickets for any election”.
Deposing before the High Court, which is hearing a petition filed by BJP leader Balwantsinh Rajput challenging Ahmed Patel’s election to the Rajya Sabha, Tejashree said that the “threat” was given to all the Congress MLAs in the specially-convened meeting on 25 July, 2017 in the run-up to the Rajya Sabha polls for three seats. Patel appeared as a witness for Rajput.
(Source: Indian Express)
4. Swine Flu: February Sees 200% Rise in Ahmedabad
Swine flu cases in the city nearly tripled to more than 600 in February as compared to the previous month, an official data revealed.
According to figures released by the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC), 612 swine flu cases were confirmed in the city as of 24 February, almost three times higher than the 213 cases that were reported in January.
Though swine flu cases shot up in the entire state in February, the increase in Ahmedabad was much higher than the overall rate in the state. According to state health department data, 1,875 swine flu cases were confirmed in the state in February so far, 254% higher than 737 H1N1 cases confirmed at the end of January.
(Source: DNA Ahmedabad)
5. Gujarat: High Court Notice to Govt on Cops’ Plea Against Seniority List
The Gujarat High Court on Monday, 25 February issued a notice to the state government on a petition moved by more than a dozen police sub-inspectors (PSI) challenging the state government’s policy that has rendered them junior to their directly recruited counterparts.
The Division Bench of Acting Chief Justice Anant S Dave and Justice Biren Vaishnav issued a notice to the state government, seeking its response by March 8.
The petitioners, who have been posted as PSI in wireless wing of the state police’s technical services department, were promoted to the rank of PSI in November-December 2014.
(Source: Indian Express)
6. Adani to Operate Ahmedabad Airport for 50 Years
After dominating trade, ports, power and energy, Gautam-Adani led Adani group will now make its presence felt in the aviation sector as it bags to operate five airports across the country including Ahmedabad.
After a few years of the Airports Authority of India's proposal to privatise Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International airport, Adani Group has finally won the bid, by being aggressive in quoting per passenger pay to the AAI.
Adani Group has outbid GMR, Delhi airport operator, by quoting more than double the amount quoted by GMR. Shocking many in the aviation industry, the Adani group emerged as the highest bidder for five airports that include Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Lucknow, Trivandrum and Mangalore.
(Source: DNA Ahmedabad)
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