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Essar Future Energy Limited on Monday announced it would establish a large-scale bio-fuel complex in Gujarat's Devbhumi Dwarka district with a proposed investment of Rs 5,100 crore. The company signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the state government at the ongoing Vibrant Gujarat Regional Conference (VGRC) in Rajkot. "The project involves a proposed investment of Rs 5,100 crore and is expected to generate around 350 direct employment opportunities, with operations targeted to commence by 2029," a release from the company said. Under the MoU, Essar Future Energy will establish a large-scale bio-fuel complex in Devbhumi Dwarka district, with an initial feedstock processing capacity of 1 million tonnes per annum (MTPA), it added. The project will be developed as an SEZ unit and will focus on decarbonizing hard-to-abate sectors, offering clean fuel solutions for aviation, shipping, and road transport, the release said, adding that it is expected to contribute to regional .
A group of men playing 'damru' and 108 horses drawn from different parts of Gujarat were part of the Somnath temple's Shurya Yatra on Sunday which saw Prime Minsiter Narendra riding an open-top vehicle. The yatra began from Shankh Circle, and the prime minister travelled the nearly one km stretch towards Veer Hamirji Gohil Circle, that faces the Somnath temple complex. A group of men, wearing playing the 'damru' formed part of the parade and preceded the prime minister's vehicle in sequence. Modi carried a drum in his hand, which he played briefly at the beginning of the procession before handing it over to security personnel. The crowd, which lined the streets on both sides, cheered, and many showered floral petals as the procession moved ahead, while artistes performed on different dance forms of India on various stages mounted at regular intervals along the parade route. The brigade of 108 horses stood out in the procession, whose riders wore a starch white shirt paired with k
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to arrive at Somnath in Gujarat on Saturday evening to take part in celebrations being held as part of the Somnath Swabhiman Parv, officials said. The temple town has been decked up, and a series of events is being held there from January 7-11 as part of the festivities. "The Somnath Swabhiman Parv is a powerful symbol of our spiritual tradition, celebrated with great reverence, devotion, and joy across the country. In this connection, I will have the privilege of participating in the divine chanting of the Omkar Mantra at the Somnath Temple tomorrow night at around 8 p.m.," Prime Minister Modi said in a post on X on Friday. "The next day, at around 9:45 a.m., after participating in the Shaurya Yatra dedicated to the countless brave sons of Mother India, I will visit and worship the temple. After this, I will also have the opportunity to participate in a public program here. #SomnathSwabhimanParv," he said. A mega drone show will also be he
At least 12 tremors of magnitude ranging from 2.6 to 3.8 jolted Gujarat's Saurashtra region between Thursday night and Friday afternoon, triggering panic among residents of three talukas in Rajkot district, with many of them seeking refuge in open fields as a precautionary measure. Rajkot Collector Om Prakash, however, said 21 tremors have been recorded in Upleta, Dhoraji and Jetpur talukas in the district, with their magnitudes ranging from 1.4 to 3.8. No loss of life or damage has been reported so far, officials said. The first tremor, which was of 3.3 magnitude, was recorded at 8.43 pm Thursday, with its epicentre near Upleta town, an official said. Gandhinagar-based Institute of Seismological Research (ISR) recorded 12 tremors of 2.6 to 3.8 magnitudes with their epicentres located 27 to 30 km east-northeast of Upleta, he said. Due to the 'earthquake swarm' (series of tremors or small earthquakes), people in Upleta, Dhoraji and Jetpur talukas are in the grip of fear. Locals sa
The Union Ministry of Home Affairs has handed over the probe into the alleged ricin poison terror plot to the National Investigation Agency (NIA), said a senior Gujarat ATS official on Saturday. The Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) had arrested Dr Ahmed Mohiyuddin Saiyed, Azad Suleman Sheikh, and Mohammad Suhail Mohammad Saleem on November 9 last year for their alleged role in a plan to carry out a major terrorist attack with weapons and chemicals. The agency had booked the three under the stringent UAPA, or Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, besides invoking the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Arms Act. The MHA has ordered to hand over the UAPA case concerning the ricin chemical plot to the NIA, Superintendent of Police (ATS) K Siddharth told PTI. Ricin is a highly poisonous substance that can be made from the waste material left over from processing castor beans. Gujarat ATS, which was probing the case, arrested Dr Saiyed, originally from Hyderabad, near Adalaj in Gandhinag
Gujarat witnessed a slew of tragedies during the year, which saw a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner operated by Air India plunge to the ground and erupt into a massive fireball, claiming 260 lives, the Gambhira bridge collapse in Vadodara district and a deadly inferno at a firecracker godown in Banaskantha. While the Bhupendra Patel-led government's decision to set up a panel to implement the Uniform Civil Code drew criticism from the Opposition, Gujarat also had its moments of celebration with the state's selection as the host of the 2030 Commonwealth Games, and the encouraging number of Asiatic lions. Nearly 40 seconds after Air India's flight AI 171 to London Gatwick took off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad on June 12, the Boeing plane crashed into a medical hostel complex, in what was among the worst aviation disasters in recent history. The accident killed 241 persons, including former Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani, on board the plane and 19
Any person from outside Gujarat or India can now consume liquor at designated hotels or restaurants inside GIFT City, a global finance centre in Gandhinagar, by just showing photo ID card, as per changes made in alcohol rules at the hub by the state government. The government has introduced major changes to liquor rules at Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City) and done away with the norm of obtaining a permit for alcohol consumption. The state home department has announced the changes through a gazette notification. Through the December 20 notification, the department has further eased liquor consumption rules at GIFT City. Gujarat is a "dry" state where manufacture, sale, and consumption of liquor are prohibited. However, the government made an exemption for GIFT City in 2023 by allowing sale and consumption of alcohol inside the central business district with some conditions. As per the latest notification, any "external person", who is not from Gujarat, or a foreig
As many as 73.73 lakh voters were removed following the special intensive revision (SIR) drive in Gujarat, reducing the number of registered voters in draft electoral rolls to 4.34 crore from the earlier 5.08 crore, officials said. The draft electoral rolls were published by the Election Commission on Friday. The names of 73,73,327 voters were omitted after the SIR undertaken by the Election Commission to clean up voter lists, said state Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Harit Shukla. Before the SIR, a total of 5,08,43,436 voters were registered in the state. After the publication of the draft electoral rolls, the number is 4,34,70,109, he said. The names of 73,73,327 voters were removed for various reasons. Of these, 18,07,278 voters are deceased, 9,69,662 voters were absent, 40,25,553 persons have migrated outside the state, while 3,81,470 voters were registered in two places. Besides, 1,89,364 voters were removed for other reasons, the release from CEO's office said. The SIR was .
In a significant judgment, the Gujarat High Court on Wednesday rejected nearly 150 petitions from Muslim Waqf institutions seeking exemption from payment of fees to the State Waqf Tribunal to access a court of law. Justice JC Doshi dismissed the petitions, many of which involved contested rent claims, possession disputes, and rights of occupancy over key properties across the state. Waqf trusts such as Sunni Muslim Idgah Masjid Trust, the Vadodara Saher Masjid Sabha Trust, and the Sarkhej Roza Committee in Ahmedabad, had challenged orders of the Gujarat State Waqf Tribunal requiring payment of court fees before their disputes could be heard. The court observed that they had sought reliefs before the tribunal which were adversarial in character wherein rights and obligations of contesting parties are required to be judicially determined. "An application instituted under section 83 of the Waqf Act, forming part of the judicial proceedings contemplated under Chapter VIII thereof, ...
As many as 10 private schools in Ahmedabad received an email on Wednesday threatening bomb blasts, which later turned out to be a hoax as nothing suspicious was found during searches, police said. As a precautionary measure, these schools declared a holiday for the afternoon shift as the morning shift was already over when they received the emails, having a common text, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Zone 1, Harshad Patel said. After being alerted, police, along with the bomb detection and disposal squad, dog squad and anti-sabotage teams, reached the schools and conducted a thorough search, Patel told reporters. "In the email sent to the schools, it was claimed that bomb blasts will be carried out in these establishments during the afternoon. As a precautionary measure, these schools declared a holiday for the afternoon shift as the morning shift was already over," he said. "Our teams reached the schools and conducted a thorough search. However, nothing suspicious was found. ...
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday flagged the issues of "rising menace of drugs and illegal liquor" and the plight of farmers in Gujarat, and claimed that the state is "sinking" despite a double-engine government being in place. The Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha said that during the Congress party's ongoing 'Jan Aakrosh Yatra' in Gujarat, people, especially women, have repeatedly stated that the "rising menace of drugs, illegal liquor, and crime" has deepened the sense of insecurity in their lives. "Gujarat is the land of Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Patel, where traditions of truth, morality, and justice have prevailed, but over the past few years, the future of the state's youth is being pushed toward the dark world of drugs and crime," Gandhi said in a post on X in Hindi. Women are taking to the streets in large numbers because criminals are receiving protection from those in power, while they themselves are met only with neglect, he claimed. "Gujarat is asking why i