1. PM Expresses Happiness Over Deve Gowda's Visit to Statue Of Unity
Acknowledging JD(S) supremo H D Deve Gowda lauding his efforts towards constructing the world's tallest statue of Sardar Vallabhai Patel in Gujarat, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed happiness over the former PM's recent visit to the Statue of Unity.
Gowda, who has been openly critical of the BJP and Modi in the past, also had recently appreciated Modi for plogging barefoot at a beach in Mamallapuram and termed it "inspiring."
"Former Prime Minister Shri H D Deve Gowda praised the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi for making of the world's tallest statue of Sardar Vallabhai Patel in Gujarat," a post on the prime minister's official website said.
Gowda recalled Ahmedabad airport was renamed as Sardar Vallabhai Patel International airport and that a memorial for the former Union Home Minister was built in his home town at Nadiad, Gujarat in the past, it said.
(Source: The Times of India)
2. Monsoon Withdraws, Season's Rainfall at 142 PC of LPA
The southwest monsoon withdrew from Gujarat on Monday, with the state getting 142 percent of long period average (LPA) rainfall, an India Meteorological Department official said.
It has withdrawn from entire Gujarat as well as north Arabian Sea on 14 October, the IMD's weather forecast bulletin informed. LPA is the average rainfall received over a 50-year period and acts as a benchmark against which the rainfall in any monsoon season is measured.
The State Emergency Operation Centre informed that monsoon started in late June and the state received 1158.59 millimetres of rain, or 141.98 percent of the annual average, the maximum of 446.05 mm rainfall being recorded in August.
(Source: Business Standard)
3. Rs 25k Reward for Info on 4 Men Who Tortured Leopard Cub
The Gujarat forest department on Monday, 14 October, announced a cash reward of Rs 25,000 for information on four persons seen in a viral video torturing a leopard cub, an official said.
In the video, a man can be seen holding the cub by the scruff of the neck while two other persons are trying to click photographs and record clips. A fourth person armed with a stick is seen laughing as the 4-month-old cub gets agitated due to discomfort and tries to paw at a mobile phone.
"A cash reward of Rs 25,000 for providing information in catching these culprits announced by Greater Gir Task Force. Contact concerned DCFs or contact the task force at 7574950055," the forest department tweeted on Monday.
(Source: Business Standard)
4. Villagers Accuse Teacher of Reaching School Drunk
A primary school teacher was caught by villagers dozing off allegedly in a drunken state in a classroom of a government primary school at Kath Mandav village in Gujarat's Chhota Udepur district.
An inquiry was instituted against teacher Raojibhai Vasava after villagers recorded a video and complained to authorities, said District Primary Education Officer P D Baraiya.
Baraiya said a report has been sought from taluka education officials on the incident. Villagers had earlier too complained that Vasava often reached school drunk.
Gujarat, incidentally, is a dry state with jail provisions of up to 10 years for manufacturing, purchase, sale and transportation of liquor.
(Source: Business Standard)
5. Gujarat Exempts 3 Industries From Taking Prior NA Clearance
The Gujarat government on Monday exempted Information Technology/IT-enabled services (ITeS), logistics and mining industry from taking prior non- agricultural (NA) clearance to start their business as these sectors have been given 'bonafide industries' status.
The move will attract more investment, create jobs and improve ease of doing business in Gujarat, said Revenue Minister Kaushik Patel.
The decision to consider these three sectors as 'bonafide industries' has been taken to attract more investment in them and create new employment opportunities by reducing the hassles of converting an agricultural land into a NA one to start their business after buying that land, said Revenue Minister Kaushik Patel.
(Source: Business Standard)
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