1. MV Act in Gujarat: Deadline Relaxed Till Oct 15 for Compulsory Helmet Rule
The Gujarat government on Wednesday, 18 September, decided to relax the deadline for compliance with the rules regarding helmets and PUC certificates till 15 October. The decision was taken at a cabinet meeting presided over by Chief Minister Vijay Rupani on Wednesday.
State Transport Minister RC Faldu told mediapersons after the meeting that all two-wheeler sellers will have to provide ISI-marked helmets free of cost along with bike or scooter to the customer, from Wednesday.
After implementing the newly amended Motor Vehicles (MV) Act for two days in the state, the state government also decided to open 900 new Pollution Under Control (PUC) centres in the state, after taking into consideration the long queues at the existing PUC centres in cities.
(Source: Indian Express)
2. Man Rapes 21-Yr-Old Neighbour, Arrested
A 21-year-old girl was raped several times and gave life threat by her neighbour, a resident of Juna Vadaj area. The incident came into light when she got pregnant and subsequently, a case of rape was lodged with the Vadaj police station on Tuesday, 17 September.
According to police officials, a complaint who lives with her parents and three brothers, the incident happened on 2 May 2019 at around noon when she was alone at home as her parents had gone to an eye hospital to get her mother check-up and her brothers had gone out for some work.
As per the allegation when the victim was alone at home the accused identified as Sailesh Thakor,25, an auto driver entered her house from the terrace. Taking advantage of the situation the accused grabbed the victim from behind, gagged her and raped her. Post the incident, the accused threatened to kill her if she revealed the incident to anyone.
(Source: DNA)
3. Gujarat Govt to Monitor Work Environments, Labour Checks at Factories With Two New Apps
With the aim of using technology to bring transparency in labour inspections and regulate the work environment in industrial units, Gujarat’s Labour Department will be launching two mobile applications on Thursday, 18 September.
Chief Minister Vijay Rupani will launch the Safety and Comprehensive Health Environment Test (SACHET) application in in Gandhinagar, which will allow work environment monitoring in industrial units.
“We will form 20 mobile teams, comprising of trained technical personnel and equipped with ultramodern scientific equipment to monitor work environments in hazardous industrial units. Seven other mobile teams will monitor work environments at construction sites,” said Vipul Mittra, Additional Chief Secretary, Labour and Employment Department.
(Source: Indian Express)
4. Alpesh Kathiriya Bail: Sessions Court Rejects Gujarat Govt’s Plea
The city sessions court in Ahmedabad on Wednesday, 18 September, rejected an application of the state seeking cancellation of the bail given to PAAS leader Alpesh Kathiriya in connection with a sedition case. The government had sought cancellation of the bail on the grounds of violation of bail conditions.
The court has however asked the PAAS leader to ensure that he appears before the superintendent of the Metropolitan Cout on every 15th and 29th of the month until the trial continues in the sessions court. Rafik Lokhandwala argued on behalf of Kathriya.
The state had moved its plea for revocation of bail in September first week. Kathiriya was charged with sedition following the August 2015 agitation for reservation carried out by Patel community in Gujarat. The agitation resulted in large scale violence in the state.
(Source: DNA)
5. Withdrawal of Monsoon Not Any Time Soon: IMD
The withdrawal of South-West monsoon from the state has been further delayed with another system developing over the Arabian Sea that is expected to bring rainfall across Gujarat this week, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). Usually, monsoon withdrawal takes place from the second week of September.
“There is nothing like the withdrawal of monsoon at present. It is not expected soon in Gujarat,” IMD regional director Jayanta Sarkar told The Indian Express.
On the rainfall forecast for the week, he said, “A low pressure area is developing over the east-central and north-east areas of the Arabian Sea on 20 September. This will become a depression by September 22, bringing good rainfall over South Gujarat and Saurashtra areas from 20 till 25 September .”
Till Wednesday, 18 September this season, Gujarat received 994.6 mm of rainfall, recording 121.89 per cent average rainfall with the highest being in August.
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