Page 6 - Jharkhand

PVUNL to commission three 800 MW units in phase-1 by Dec this year: CEO

The three 800 MW units of phase 1 of Patratu Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Limited (PVUNL) in Jharkhand's Ramgarh district will be commissioned by the end of this year, an official said. The Patratu Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Limited (PVUNL), a joint venture of National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) and Jharkhand Bijli Vitran Nigam Limited (JBVNL). Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of PVUNL, R K Singh on Friday said that the year 2025 would be a year of development and achievements for Jharkhand and Ramgarh as all three units of the phase-1 project with 2,400MW capacity would be commissioned by December 2025. As per the MoU signed between NTPC and JBVNL, 85 per cent of power generated by PVUNL would be supplied to Jharkhand, which will likely to get over 2,000MW power from phase-1. An initiative has been taken for 2800MW capacity power plant project in phase 2, he said. "PVUNL feels happy to announce that three units of 800 MW each are to be commissioned by December 2025 while the first unit of 80

Jharkhand CM urges Centre to clear state's Rs 1.36 trillion coal dues

Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren urged Union Minister for Coal and Mines G Kishan Reddy to clear the state's coal dues "worth Rs 1.36 lakh crore". Reddy assured Soren that the central government would take necessary steps to ensure payment of the outstanding dues, an official release said. A meeting was held among senior officials of the state government, the coal ministry and Coal India Ltd in the presence of Soren and Reddy on Thursday. The Jharkhand government presented a detailed assessment of the outstanding mineral royalty payments to the Union minister in the meeting, the release said. "...The Union coal minister directed that central government officials collaborate with the state government to verify the authenticity of these claims," it stated. Soren said the central and state governments need to move forward together to better manage coal mining, production, transportation, land acquisition and compensation. The CM also said the lands on which mining operations ha

No need to panic as J'khand still unaffected by HMPV cases: Health minister

Jharkhand Health Minister Irfan Ansari on Tuesday said the state has been unaffected by the human metapneumovirus infection, and there is no need to panic over the detection of such cases in other parts of the country. Ansari said he is closely monitoring the situation. The infection of HMPV has been reported in parts of the country but there is no impact in Jharkhand. I have been closely monitoring the situation. There is no need to panic as no cases of the HMPV infection have so far been reported in the state, Ansari told reporters at Congress headquarters here. Human metapneumovirus is one of the many respiratory viruses that can cause infections in people of all ages, particularly during the winter and early spring months. The infection is usually a mild and self-limiting condition and most cases recover on their own, according to doctors. The Centre has advised states to step up surveillance for respiratory illnesses, including ILI and SARI, and spread awareness about the ...

INDIA bloc to take a call on subsidised LPG cylinders: J'khand minister

Jharkhand Finance Minister and Congress leader Radhakrishna Kishore on Sunday said that INDIA bloc will take a call on providing subsidised LPG cylinders to consumers at a rate of Rs 450 in the state. At present, domestic LPG cylinders are available for Rs 860 in major cities of Jharkhand. The Congress during assembly elections has promised gas cylinders to all citizens at a subsidised rate on being voted to power. The party is part of the JMM-led alliance in the state. "The call to provide LPG cylinders at Rs 450 has to be taken by the INDIA bloc. The promise was made by a political party - Congress to which I also belong. But a final call can be taken only by the alliance," Kishore told reporters here. He also said that the Jharkhand government is actively considering resorting to multiple steps, including legal action, to recover the outstanding amount of Rs 1.36 lakh crore from the central government. The finance minister highlighted that the outstanding sum has been pending f

Scams @2024: Major political controversies that made headlines this year

From Delhi's liquor policy fallout to NEET exam leaks, 2024 was a year of explosive scandals. Read on to know more about the controversies that defined this year

11 of 47 workers stuck in Cameroon brought back to Jharkhand, says Govt

The Jharkhand government on Sunday said 11 of the 47 workers stranded in Cameroon in central Africa were brought to the state and efforts were underway for the safe return of the remaining labourers. The development comes after the state government filed FIRs against a Mumbai-based firm and some middlemen for alleged non-payment of wages to 47 workers from the state, who were stuck in the African country. "Eleven out of 47 migrant workers from Jharkhand, stranded in Cameroon, were brought to the state as per instructions from Chief Minister Hemant Soren. All the workers were sent to their homes by the Labour Department. The return of the remaining 36 workers is also being ensured," a statement from the chief minister's secretariat said. Earlier this month, the labour commissioner had filed the FIRs at Hazaribag, Bokaro and Giridih police stations against middlemen and employers following a direction from Soren who had received complaints that these workers did not receive their wage

Jharkhand 2024: A year of political thrills, twists, and stunning comebacks

The year 2024 in Jharkhand unfolded like a gripping political drama, a narrative filled with suspense, unexpected twists, and electrifying comebacks. The year began like a Bollywood thriller with Chief Minister Hemant Soren's mysterious disappearance from Delhi sparking widespread speculations. As the entire nation was watching the drama, Hemant, who was summoned by the Enforcement Directorate for questioning in a money-laundering case linked to an alleged land scam, appeared in his official residence in Ranchi on January 30, having made a 1,250 km road journey, leaving everyone astounded by his sudden return. This was only the beginning of the year's political spectacle. Hemant was arrested shortly after resigning as chief minister on January 31 at Raj Bhavan. This prompted JMM to elect Champai Soren, a loyal aide of JMM supremo Shibu Soren, who earned the sobriquet 'Jharkhand's Tiger' for his contribution to the long fight for the creation of a separate state in the 1990s, as par

NIA conducts searches in Jharkhand's Giridih in CPI (Maoist)-related case

Houses and other premises of suspects and over-ground workers (OGWs) were extensively searched by NIA teams, which seized several mobile phones and SIM cards

Jharkhand hikes employees' dearness allowance by 3%: Check benefits

Central government and West Bengal announced similar steps before

From Maharashtra to Andhra, 2024 was the year of political comebacks

From the Lok Sabha elections to state assembly polls, various leaders staged striking returns in 2024, capturing the attention of both the public and political analysts

Jharkhand Congress to launch drive in January to strengthen organisation

Jharkhand Congress is set to launch a statewide campaign in the first week of January to take its mission and agenda to every household, a senior party official said on Saturday. During a meeting here, the party also decided to strengthen the organisation in the state and continue the agitation against the BJP for allegedly insulting the architect of the Constitution, BR Ambedkar. Addressing party workers, Jharkhand Congress in-charge Ghulam Ahmad Mir said, "We will release a calendar highlighting party activities." "On January 6 or 7, we will launch a campaign where party workers will visit every household to spread the party's mission and agenda," he added. He added that the purpose of the meeting was to express gratitude towards the party workers and voters who worked hard to bring the alliance government back to power. "The alliance performed well, even though the Congress had expected to win 28 seats in the assembly polls," Mir told reporters after the meeting. The Congress

Amit Shah applauds SSB, credits for securing borders, combating Naxalism

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday lauded the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) for its pivotal role in securing the country's borders with friendly nations such as Nepal and Bhutan, combating Naxalism in Bihar and Jharkhand, and curbing illegal activities. Addressing the 61st Raising Day celebrations of the SSB in Siliguri, Shah said, "The Sashastra Seema Bal has played a key role in securing our borders with friendly nations such as Nepal and Bhutan. Its alertness and presence have ensured a sense of security in the Siliguri Corridor and the Eastern region." Highlighting the SSB's role in tackling left-wing extremism, Shah noted, "The SSB has played an important role in ending the menace of Naxalism in Bihar and Jharkhand. Their proactive approach, in coordination with the CRPF and local police forces, has significantly weakened Naxal activities in Chhattisgarh, making the region Naxal-free after almost four decades." Shah commended the SSB for its unique initiatives to foster cultur

J'khand initiates process for legal action to realise coal dues from Centre

The Jharkhand government initiated the process for legal action to realise "Rs 1.36 lakh crore coal dues" from the Centre. The government issued a notification on Tuesday authorising Secretary, Revenue, Registration and Land Reforms to commence the legal procedure to realise the dues. The development came shortly after the state government announced in its first cabinet meeting last month that it would take legal action to get its dues. "Secretary, Revenue, Registration and Land Reforms is nominated as nodal officer to initiate immediate legal action to realise Rs 1.36 lakh crore dues from the Centre. "In case of obstacles in payments by subsidiaries of Coal India in lieu of washed coal royalty dues, common cause dues etc, steps should be taken to resolve this in consultation with the Advocate General," the notification said. Chief Minister Hemant Soren, too, had said after being sworn in last month that legal action would be initiated to realise the dues. Earlier, he had request

Tata Steel starts all-women shift at Jharkhand's Noamundi iron mine

The shift will comprise women employees for all the mining activities of the shift, including heavy earth-moving machinery

Will take Jharkhand forward by strengthening all sections of society: CM

Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Saturday said his government would take the state forward by strengthening all sections of the society. Soren said his government made all efforts to empower women in the state. Jharkhand became the first state in the country, which has increased the monthly financial assistance to women to Rs 2,500 from Rs 1,000 under 'Maiyan Samman Yojana', the CM claimed. Soren was speaking at a government function at Bhognadih in Sahibganj, where he inaugurated and laid the foundation stones for 331 projects worth around Rs 350 crore for Sahibganj and Pakur districts. He also distributed assets worth around Rs 187 crore among beneficiaries of various government schemes in the two districts. The CM said that the people of Jharkhand have again elected Abua Sarkar (our government)' and voted for the state's dignity, development of tribals, farmers, workers, women and protection of 'jal, jungle and jamin' (water, forest and land). The state's mineral resou

Jharkhand HC puts stay on law giving 75% quota in pvt sector jobs to locals

The Jharkhand High Court has put a stay on the implementation of a state law that guarantees 75 per cent reservation to locals for jobs with salaries up to Rs 40,000 a month in the private sector in the state. A division bench, comprising Chief Justice MS Ramchandra Rao and Justice Deepak Roushan, heard a petition filed by a small-scale industries association challenging the provisions of the Jharkhand State Employment of Local Candidates in Private Sector Act, 2021 on Wednesday. As per the Act passed by the Jharkhand Assembly in 2021, every employer shall fill up 75 per cent of the total existing vacancies by local candidates with respect to such posts where the gross monthly salary or wages are not more than Rs 40,000. Jharkhand Small Scale Industries Association counsel AK Das submitted that the enactment has created a clear division between candidates from the state and aspirants from outside Jharkhand. Das claimed that the implementation of the Act is against the principles of

Adani seeks new lifeline for troubled power plant amid B'desh pay backlog

The Adani plant, which accounts for about a 10th of Bangladesh's power consumption, has already racked up as much as $790 million of dues as of the end of September

'Drunk' man threatens to assassinate PM Modi, nabbed by cops in Ajmer

A 37-year-old man was held from Ajmer in Rajasthan for allegedly sending a message to the Mumbai traffic police helpline threatening to harm Prime Minister Narendra Modi, an official said on Monday. Jharkhand resident Mohammad Nadim Baig Mirza was held by a team of Worli police, the official added. "Our probe has found Mirza, who works as a turner in a private firm, was angry as its owner asked him to go home for coming to work after consuming alcohol. In anger, he sent the threat message against the PM to the Mumbai traffic police helpline on Saturday. A case was registered at the time with Worli police station," the official said. "He was tracked down with the help of technical support and arrested from Ajmer. He has been served a notice to remain present in court. Further probe is underway," the official added.

Jharkhand CM Soren, ministers take oath as members of Legislative Assembly

Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Monday took oath as a member of the Jharkhand Assembly on the first day of the four-day session of the House. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Radhakrishna Kishore, Revenue and Land Reforms Minister Deepak Birua and Labour Minister Sanjay Prasad Yadav were among the ministers in the Hemant Soren cabinet who also took oath as members of the assembly. The CM and the ministers were among 80 elected representatives who were administered the oath as MLAs by the assembly's pro-tem Speaker Stephen Marandi soon after the proceedings of the House began at 11 am. The House was adjourned till 11 am on Tuesday after the oath-taking ceremony. "All MLAs and ministers took oath today. We will move for next proceedings tomorrow," the CM later told reporters. The Speaker's election is scheduled to be held on Tuesday, an assembly official said. Kishore said Nala MLA Rabindra Nath Mahato is likely to be elected as Speaker of the House unopposed as all members,

Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren, ministers take oath as Assembly members

Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Monday took oath as a member of the Jharkhand Assembly on the first day of the four-day session of the House. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Radhakrishna Kishore, Revenue and Land Reforms Minister Deepak Birua and Labour Minister Sanjay Prasad Yadav were among the ministers in the Hemant Soren cabinet who also took oath as members of the assembly. The CM and the ministers were administered the oath as MLAs by the assembly's pro-tem Speaker Stephen Marandi soon after the proceedings of the House began at 11 am. All 81 members of the House are scheduled to take oath as MLAs of the Jharkhand Assembly on Monday. Election of the Speaker, governor's address, presentation of the second supplementary budget and debate on the governor's speech are also scheduled during the session, an assembly official said. Hemant Soren took oath as the 14th chief minister of Jharkhand in a grand ceremony here on November 28, while 11 MLAs took oath as state ministe