1. Vijay Rupani Makes Way for Skyscrapers in Gujarat Cities, to Raise FSI to 4
As a pre-Diwali gift for real-estate developers in Gujarat, Chief Minister Vijay Rupani on Monday, 23 September, announced that his government will raise the Floor Space Index (FSI) to a maximum of 4, which will permit denser real-estate development on wider roads in all cities of the state. He hoped that the move will help reduce the cost of homes.
Addressing an event organised by the Gujarat chapter of the CREDAI (Confederation of Real Estate Developers Association of India) on Monday, Rupani also said that his government will give “special” approvals for the construction of iconic skyscrapers in the four large cities of Gujarat.
The CM announced that an FSI of 4 will be allowed in roads that are 45 metres or more in breadth. Similarly, an FSI of 3.6 will be allowed in projects along the 36-44 metre wide roads.
(Source: The Indian Express)
2. Gujarat ATS Arrest Terror-Accused
A joint team of the Crime Branch in Ahmedabad and the Anti Terrorism Squad (ATS) on Monday, 23 September, arrested a man who is accused of funding Jihadi elements in the state. The man identified as Abdul Wahab Sheikh (50), a resident of Juhapura, was arrested after he arrived at the city airport from Saudi Arabia, cops said.
BV Gohil, ACP, Crime Branch said that Sheikh was arrested from the city airport while returning from Saudi Arabia. "We arrested him on the basis of a tip off. He is wanted in connection with the 2003 Jihadi conspiracy case," said Gohil.
According to police, Sheikh, had provided financial support to Jihadi elements in the state who wanted to avenge the 2002 Godhra riots in which many Muslims were killed.
(Source: DNA)
3. Projects in Vadodara Have No Sewage Planning, Says RERA Chairman
Asking real-estate developers in urban areas to address basic issues in their projects, Dr Amarjit Singh, the chairman of RERA (Real Estate Regulatory Authority) in Gujarat, on Monday, 23 September, said that of the 147 projects in Vadodara, 146 do not have any planning for sewage.
“Out of the 147 projects that have come up in Vadodara, 146 are do not have any planning for sewage. When you come up with projects in urban areas, sewage should be taken care of,” Singh, a retired IAS officer said while addressing an event organised by Gujarat chapter of CREDAI (Confederation of Real Estate Developers Association of India).
“Most of the projects in Vadodara and Rajkot are outside the TP (Town Planning) schemes. So TP schemes should be made in these places to provide the required infrastructure.” he added. Claiming that 6,000 projects have been registered with RERA in Gujarat, Singh said, “Their cumulative investments is Rs 2 lakh crore.”
(Source: The Indian Express)
4. Gujarat High Court Raps Govt for Failure to Allot Land to Differently Abled
The Gujarat High Court has criticised the state government for its failure to allot land to 62 differently able persons, who have been waiting for the same since 2009, without any fault on their part. The court remarked the same as "unfortunate" and said the government inaction on the allotment of plots has defeated the objective of the Disability Act as well the policy framed by it in this regard.
The single judge bench of Justice VM Pancholi also directed the government to consider the individual applications made by the 62 petitioners for plot within a period of three months. It held that the insistence of the authorities for layout plans from applicants is "misconceived".
(Source: DNA)
5. Will Not Serve Non-Veg Food on Gandhi Jayanti: Western Railways
Ahead of Mahatma Gandhi’s 150th birth anniversary on 2 October, the Western Railways announced on Monday that it will not be serving any non-vegetarian food on its “premises” on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti.
Last year, Indian Railways had introduced a similar diktat on Gandhi Jayanti — by banning non-veg food for a day — but had backtracked after facing criticism from the public.
A circular issued Monday by Assistant Commercial Manager F M Gaurav Jain of Ahmedabad division, Western Railways read that, “The 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi is to be observed in a befitting manner from October 2, 2018 to October 2, 2020. The board desires that 2nd October, 2019, should be celebrated as a totally vegetarian day, where no non-vegetarian food will be served anywhere on the Western Railway premises. All station masters are advised to follow these instructions and ensure that no non-vegetarian food is served at any catering unit at the stations.”
(Source: The Indian Express)
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