Page 12 - Madhya Pradesh

Man behind PM Modi's Project Cheetah, Vincent Van Der Merwe, found dead

Vincent Van Der Merwe (42) was a 'cheetah expert' from South Africa. He was found dead in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Vincent was the expert who advised the Indian government on 'Project Cheetah'

HCC-Tata Projects JV secures Rs 2,191 crore Madhya Pradesh Metro contract

Hindustan Construction Company Ltd in partnership with Tata Projects Ltd has bagged a Rs 2,191 crore contract from the Madhya Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (MPMRCL). The Rs 2,191-crore contract is for the construction of an 8.65-km long corridor including underground tunnels and stations for MPMRCL, a company statement said. HCC holds a 55 per cent share in the joint venture. According to the statement, the package IN-05R is the first and only underground segment of the 31.32-km Indore Metro Phase 1 project. The package includes the construction of 11.32 km long tunnel by tunnel boring machine (TBM) and seven underground stations at Indore Railway Station, Rajwada, Chota Ganpati, Bada Ganpati, Ramchandra Nagar, BSF/Kalani Nagar, and Airport, connecting a ramp east of Indore Railway Station to a ramp west of Airport Station, the statement added. Currently, HCC is engaged in Mumbai Metro Line III, constructing 4 km of twin tunnels and four stations, along with two Chennai Metro

Cheetah, 4 cubs to be released into wild in MP's Kuno National Park

In a boost to India's cheetah conservation project, a female big cat and its four cubs will be released into the wild at the Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh on Monday, a development expected to draw tourists to the facility. Sharing the information on X on Sunday night, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said the increased number of cheetahs will offer tourists an opportunity to watch them in their natural habitat, which will attract more visitors to the KNP, located in Sheopur district. "Female cheetah Gamini from South Africa will be released in the free-range tomorrow (Monday) along with her two male and two female cubs in Khajuri tourism zone of the Kuno National Park," Yadav said in the post. The Madhya Pradesh government is determined to take wildlife conservation and tourism to new heights, he added. After the release of Gamini and her four cubs, the number of cheetahs in the wild in KNP will rise to 17, while nine will stay in the enclosures. According to officials, Gamini g

7 killed, 3 injured as gas tanker hits two vehicles in MP's Dhar district

Seven persons were killed and three injured after a gas tanker collided with two four-wheelers in Madhya Pradesh's Dhar district, police said on Thursday. The incident took place around 11 pm on Wednesday when the gas tanker was heading from the wrong side on a road near Bamansuta village on Badnawar-Ujjain highway. It hit a car and a jeep coming from the opposite direction, Dhar SP Manoj Kumar Singh said. Four persons died on the spot, while three others succumbed to injuries later in hospital, he said. After receiving information, senior officials reached the spot to launch the rescue operation. Local residents helped in the operation during which trapped persons were pulled out of the vehicles using a crane, the SP said. The injured persons were admitted to a hospital in neighbouring Ratlam district, he said. The victims belong to Ratlam, Mandsaur (in MP) and Jodhpur (Rajasthan) districts, the SP said. The truck driver fled from the spot after the accident.

MP budget to be around Rs 4.21 trillion: CM Mohan Yadav before presentation

The size of Madhya Pradesh's budget for 2025-26 would be around Rs 4.21 lakh crore, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said on Wednesday. Deputy CM and Finance Minister Jagdish Devda will be presenting the budget in the legislative assembly during the day. In a video statement on X ahead of the budget presentation, Yadav said, "When the government was being formed, we had promised to double the outlay in five years. In the last FY (2024-25), we had presented a budget of around Rs 3.5 lakh crore. This year's budget is going to be more than Rs 4.20 lakh crore. "Madhya Pradesh was formed in 1956. By 2003, the state's budget had increased to around Rs 20,000 crore. It is now going up 21 times to around Rs 4.21 lakh crore. This shows the pace of development," Yadav added. BJP-ruled Madhya Pradesh was growing at the fastest pace in the country, he claimed. His government was working for the welfare of the youth, women, the poor and farmers in keeping with the resolution of prime minister Nare

8 killed, 13 injured in collision between truck, SUV in MP's Sidhi

Seven persons were killed and 14 others injured in a collision between a truck and a sports utility vehicle (SUV) in Madhya Pradesh's Sidhi district early on Monday, police said. The incident took place at around 2.30 am near Upni petrol pump on Sidhi-Bahri Road, Deputy Superintendent of Police Gayatri Tiwari said. The vehicles collided head-on when the SUV (a taxi service) carrying members of a family was going towards Maihar, while the truck was heading to Bahri from Sidhi, she said. Seven persons travelling in the SUV were killed and 14 other occupants were injured in the accident, the official said. Nine injured persons were referred to neighbouring Rewa for further treatment and the others were being treated at the Sidhi district hospital, she said. The truck driver was detained, the official said, adding further investigation was underway.

13 held for violence in MP's Mhow after stone-pelting at CT victory rally

Clashes broke out in the Mhow town of Madhya Pradesh's Indore district on Sunday after a rally celebrating the Indian cricket team's ICC Champions Trophy final victory was allegedly pelted with stones, locals said. Indore collector Ashish Singh, when asked, said the situation was under control and forces had been deployed in the area. "How it happened will be ascertained later. As of now, the situation is under control," he said. The incident sparked panic in multiple areas of the town, with several vehicles torched, the locals said. A group of young cricket enthusiasts had organised a rally to celebrate India's final victory against New Zealand. However, as they approached the Jama Masjid area, a large group of individuals began hurling stones at them, leading to chaos and forcing them to abandon their motorcycles and flee, the locals said. In the aftermath, some people set fire to a number of the abandoned motorcycles, further escalating tensions, they said. Local authorities

Will make death penalty provision for religious conversion of girls: MP CM

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said on Saturday that his government would make a provision for the death penalty for religious conversion of girls, along the lines of punishment for rape of minors. Yadav made the announcement at a programme organised here to mark International Women's Day. The government is very strict against those who rape innocent daughters. A provision for the death penalty has been made in this regard. Besides this, a provision for capital punishment will also be made in the Madhya Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act for religious conversion, he said. Yadav said the state won't spare those behind illegal conversions. The government has resolved that it will deal strictly with such evil practices and wrongdoings, he said. Later, Yadav said on X that the Madhya Pradesh government is dedicated to the protection and self-respect of daughters. After (provision for) death penalty for those who rape (our) daughters, now provision for capital punishment will

Raise state's share in central taxes to 48%: MP CM to Finance Commission

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on Thursday asked the 16th Finance Commission to increase the share of states in the Central taxes pool from the current 44 per cent to 48 per cent to ensure the nation's development. Developed India cannot be built without a developed Madhya Pradesh, Yadav said while addressing a meeting with the chairperson and members of 16th Central Finance Commission at Kushabhau Thackeray International Convention Centre here. "The strength of the nation lies in the strength of the states. Therefore, the share of the states in Central taxes and revenue receipts, i.e. grants, must be increased. By getting more financial grants from the Union government, the states will be able to achieve their long-term goals in the short term," the CM said. Asserting that MP was progressing rapidly in the fields of agriculture, infrastructure, education, health, forest, tourism, urban development and industrial development, he said strong financial support/grants are ..

Dacoit Kusuma Nain dies: All about the notorious bandit of Chambal

Chambal dacoit Kusuma Nain gained notoriety when she gunned down 15 people and gouged out the eyes of two victims in Asta village in UP's Auraiya in 1984

Cheetah reintroduction plan to be expanded to Gujarat, MP's Gandhisagar: PM

After Madhya Pradesh's Kuno National Park, cheetah introduction will be expanded to Banni Grasslands in Gujarat and Gandhisagar Sanctuary of MP, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced at the seventh National Board of Wildlife (NBWL) meeting here on Monday. African cheetahs were reintroduced at Kuno National Park in two batches in September 2022 and February 2023. "The Prime Minister announced that cheetah introduction will be expanded to other areas, including the Gandhisagar sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh and Banni Grasslands in Gujarat," a government release stated. The release, however, did not specify details about the number of wild cats to be brought in at both forest areas and the timeline. Banni Grasslands is a 2,500 sq km protected forest in the Kutch district of Gujarat that supports numerous animal genetic resources like Banni buffalo, Kankrej cattle, sheep, goats, camels, and horses. The grassland is a breeding and nesting ground for more than 250 bird species, including

Chequered history of liquor bans in India: MP joins the prohibition trend

The Nitish Kumar government in Bihar banned the sale and consumption of alcohol on April 1, 2016

The cost of liquor ban: MP expects an annual revenue loss of less than 2%

The ban on the sale of spirits in 19 locations will impact 47 composite liquor outlets

SC overturns termination of two women judges in MP, orders reinstatement

The Supreme Court on Friday set aside the orders terminating the services of two women judicial officers in Madhya Pradesh in 2023, terming the action as "punitive, arbitrary and illegal". A bench of Justices B V Nagarathna and N Kotiswar Singh directed that the two officers be reinstated in service within 15 days. "The termination of these two judicial officers is punitive, arbitrary and therefore illegal," Justice Nagarathna said while pronouncing the verdict. Justice Nagarathna said the verdict also discusses issue of women in Indian judiciary. On December 17, 2024, the top court had reserved its verdict in the matter pertaining to the termination of two women judicial officers by the Madhya Pradesh High Court. On November 11, 2023, the top court had taken a suo motu cognisance of the termination of six women civil judges by the state government over their alleged unsatisfactory performance. However, a full court of the Madhya Pradesh High Court reconsidered its earlier resolu

PFC inks pact to provide Rs 26,800 crore finance to MP power utilities

State-owned Power Finance Corporation on Thursday said that it has inked an initial pact to provide Rs 26,800 crore finance to power utilities of Madhya Pradesh. This funding will support capital expenditure projects for entities such as Madhya Pradesh Power Generation Company Ltd (MPPGCL), Madhya Pradesh Power Transmission Company Ltd (MPPTCL), and MP discoms (distribution companies), PFC said in a statement. Power Finance Corporation (PFC) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the government of Madhya Pradesh to extend financial assistance of Rs 26,800 crore to the state's power utilities, the statement said. The financial assistance will be directed towards crucial infrastructure projects, including the development of new supercritical thermal units, solar power plants, renovation and modernisation of hydropower stations, power evacuation networks, smart metering, and loss reduction initiatives under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS), ensuring energy ..

Bhopal gas tragedy: SC refuses to interfere with HC order on waste disposal

The Supreme Court on Thursday refused to interfere with the Madhya Pradesh High Court order on shifting toxic waste from the 1984 Bhopal gas tragedy and disposing it in Pithampur area of Madhya Pradesh's Dhar district. A bench of Justices B R Gavai and A G Masih also refused to stay Thursday's trial run of disposal of the waste from the Union Carbide India Ltd plant. It noted that experts from NEERI, NGRI and CPCB have given their views on the issues, which were considered by the high court as well as the expert panel. The bench asked aggrieved parties, including civil society members, to approach the high court which is seized of the matter. On February 25, the top court asked authorities to apprise it about the precautions taken to dispose the waste. Around 377 tonnes of hazardous waste from the now defunct Union Carbide factory was shifted to Pithampur industrial area, about 250 km away from Bhopal and 30 km from Indore, for disposal at a plant. Highly toxic gas methyl isocyanat

Madhya Pradesh investors' meet attracts Rs 26.6 trillion in commitments

Together with the Regional Industry Conclaves (RICs) that were held across various zones of the state over the last one-year, the investment commitment goes up to almost ₹31 trillion, Yadav said

Adani Group to invest $18 billion in various projects across Assam, MP

Asia's second-richest person, on Tuesday, pledged spending Rs 50,000 crore in the northeastern state of Assam in areas including airports, city gas, transmission, cement and roads

Next step on Union Carbide waste disposal depends on SC's orders: Official

The government authorities will wait for the Supreme Court's directions before proceeding with the plan to dispose of 337 tonnes of waste from Bhopal's Union Carbide factory at a waste disposal unit in Pithampur, a senior Madhya Pradesh government official said on Tuesday. On the intervening night of December 2 and 3, 1984, highly toxic methyl isocyanate (MIC) gas leaked from the Union Carbide factory in Bhopal. At least 5,479 people were killed and thousands were crippled. It is considered as one of the world's biggest industrial disasters. "The next hearing in the matter of disposal of Union Carbide waste is scheduled in the Supreme Court on February 27, and we will wait for what direction the court gives in this hearing," Indore Divisional Commissioner Deepak Singh told PTI. The administration's next step regarding the plan to dispose of Union Carbide's waste will depend on the instructions of the apex court, he said. The commissioner's statement came after the Supreme Court on

First 'Made in India' semiconductor chip expected by 2025: Vaishnaw

Union minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Tuesday said the first 'Made in India' semi-conductor chip would be ready for production by 2025. He made the announcement on the second day of the 'Global Investors Summit 2025' organised in Bhopal. "By 2025, the first 'Made in India' semiconductor chip would be ready for production," an official release quoted the Electronics and Information Technology Minister during the event that he joined via video conference. "Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, electronic manufacturing in Madhya Pradesh has gained significant momentum. Two electronic manufacturing clusters have been approved by PM Modi one each in Bhopal and Jabalpur," he said. Currently, 85 companies are actively engaged in the electronics manufacturing sector in the state, marking a major success for the double-engine government, Vaishnaw said. The government's commitment to technological advancement by announcing the training of 20,000 engineers under the Future Skills ...