Authorities on Thursday launched a survey of illegal houses and other structures that came up all along the Musi River in Hyderabad and adjoining districts in preparation for the Musi Riverfront Development Project.

Several teams of officials along with the police were visiting residential areas that had encroached upon the river bed and the buffer zone in Hyderabad, Rangareddy and Medchal Malkajgiri districts.

The team members were seen marking the structures which will be removed to clear the river bed and buffer zone of all encroachments.

The officials were seen surveying Langar Houz, Chaderghat, Musa Nagar, Shankar Nagar and other areas.

The officials were collecting details of the residents and checking their documents.

Police personnel were seen accompanying the officials to prevent any untoward incident.

A total of 16 teams were conducting a survey in Hyderabad district, four teams in Rangareddy district and five teams in Medchal Malkajgiri district.

At a few places, residents raised objection to the survey and raised slogans against the government.

They showed their property registration documents and said they have been living in the area for decades and paying property tax, electricity and water bills.

A woman criticised the Telangana government for removing the encroachments and planning to shift them to other places.

“Will the two-bedroom house be sufficient for us,” she asked regarding the government’s decision to allot double-bedroom houses to those being removed from the river bed and buffer zone.

One of the residents questioned the government for calling their houses illegal.

He appealed to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to intervene and direct Chief Minister Revanth Reddy to stop this action against poor families.

The survey began a day after the state government issued orders allotting approximately 15,000 double bedroom housing units for rehabilitation of the eligible economically poor families that will be moved for the Musi Riverfront Development project.

According to the Government Order, these families may be allotted 2BHK housing in Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) area, subject to eligibility.

The officials said they would soon begin the removal of 10,000-odd illegal dwellings and commercial structures.

A preliminary survey conducted by the revenue department revealed that there are 2,116 structures on the river bed and another 7,850 in the buffer zone.

The Municipal administration and Urban Development Principal Secretary Dana Kishore, who is also the Managing Director of the Musi Riverfront Development Corporation, said that the government has prepared an action plan to clear the constructions that came up along the river course.

“We will ensure rehabilitation of the evacuees of the Musi riverfront in double-bedroom houses. The government has allotted nearly 16,000 double-bedroom houses in different parts of the city to provide accommodation for the people who will be evacuated from the dwellings along the river,” Kishore said.

Those living in the buffer zone will receive compensation for their structures in accordance with the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation, and Resettlement Act, 2013.

Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset protection Agency (HYDRAA) is gearing up to demolish the illegal structures.

Chief Minister Revanth Reddy on September 24 discussed with officials the modalities for carrying out demolition of structures along the Musi river and rehabilitating the people from there.

He announced the allocation of 16,000 double-bedroom homes for such families.

A brainchild of CM Reddy, the Musi Riverfront Development Project is aimed to conserve the river, promote tourism and prevent flooding.

The world-class project is proposed to be taken up on a public private partnership basis. The government claimed many private players are evincing keen interest in the project.

The Opposition Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) has questioned the need for the project. It questioned the ‘dramatic’ increase in the cost of the project.

According to BRS Working President K.T. Rama Rao, it was initially estimated at Rs 50,000 crore. The project’s cost was later revised to Rs 70,000 crore, and now it is a staggering Rs 1.5 lakh crore, he said.

The former minister claimed that the erstwhile BRS government had already completed 100 per cent sewerage treatment at a cost of Rs. 3,866 crore and planned the rejuvenation, beautification, and development of the Musi River at an estimated cost of Rs 16,634 crore. This includes an expressway from ORR West (Manchirevula) to ORR East (Pratapa Singaram).

He questioned the significant increase in project costs, raising doubts about the current government’s calculations and intentions. AGENCIES

 Former Chief Minister and BJP MP Basavaraj Bommai on Thursday urged Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to immediately resign from his position if he wants to maintain his dignity.

Speaking to the media, Bommai said, “CM Siddaramaiah has his own identity in Karnataka politics and his own public support. If he wants to maintain that, he must uphold high moral standards. If he behaves like everyone else, he too will join their ranks.”

Bommai further stated that complaints have been filed against CM Siddaramaiah, based on which the Governor issued orders, subsequently, the High Court and the Special Court have also issued orders. At every stage, the case is tightening further.

“A time for introspection has come. While anyone can fight their case in court, Siddaramaiah must maintain public trust in him. I hope he is able to preserve that trust,” he said.

Responding to a question about the alleged irregularities in the Valmiki Tribal Welfare Development Board, Bommai said, “The SIT had submitted a charge sheet without naming ministers and chairpersons. They had tried to close the matter. However, since the CBI and ED have started investigating, they have now filed a charge sheet. Action against them is inevitable. If wrongdoing has occurred, we must continue the fight as an Opposition party.”

When asked about the ‘Bangalore Chalo’ movement planned by AHINDA (a pro-Backward Class, minority, and Dalit organisation), Bommai declined to comment on it but asserted that the BJP’s fight against CM Siddaramaiah would continue.

On the question of the BJP’s moral right to demand CM Siddaramaiah’s resignation, Bommai responded, “It’s not about who has allegations against them or not. The question now is about Siddaramaiah. In the past, when he was in the Opposition, he would question everyone’s morality. Now that he is Chief Minister, he must question his own morality and provide answers.”

Bommai further stated that a candidate for the Shiggaon constituency bye-election will be selected soon.

“We have already held two meetings regarding this. Several aspirants have submitted their applications. After review, further action will be taken,” he said.

When asked about the possibility of a surprise candidate for the Shiggaon Assembly constituency, Bommai responded, “I’ve not been in town for the past ten days, so I’m unaware of any developments. However, the candidate will be finalised as soon as possible.” AGENCIES

 A Mumbai Court has found Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut guilty in a 2022 defamation case filed by Medha K. Somaiya — wife of ex- Bharatiya Janata Party MP Kirit Somaiya — and awarded him 15 days jail plus a fine of Rs 25,000, here on Thursday.

The order of Mazagon Metropolitan Magistrate Court came in the two-year-old libel suit filed by Medha Somaiya against Raut, who had alleged a Rs 100-crore toilet construction scam in Mira Road (Thane), linked to an NGO run by the Somaiyas.

Raut said that he had merely raised certain questions based on certain official records raising doubts on the toilet construction issue, which was also endorsed by ruling MahaYuti alliance leaders, “so where have I made any defamation”.

The SS(UBT) leader said he will challenge the Metropolitan Magistrate Court’s conviction order in a higher court shortly.

Among other things, Raut had claimed that Medha Somaiya was involved in the scam after which she had lodged the libel case.

An elated Medha Somaiya expressed her happiness at the verdict and said that her faith in the judiciary has been vindicated.

“I am an ordinary housewife, engaged in social service and educational activities, but will fight anyone who tries to harm my family members. I am satisfied with the court’s verdict. It will prevent others from making such absurd allegations,” Medha Somaiya told media persons.

In 2022, Raut had accused Medha Somaiya and her family members of the alleged scam and claimed he had documentary evidence to back it up, but failed to produce the same.

The Somaiyas first complained to the Mulund Police Station, and later, filed a defamation suit in the Mazgaon Court, challenging Raut’s allegations and stating that “not even a one rupee scam has been committed”.

While the MahaYuti allies Shiv Sena-BJP-Nationalist Congress Party welcomed the court verdict, opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi partners Congress-Nationalist Congress Party (SP)-SS (UBT) flayed the outcome, terming it as “politically motivated” ahead of the upcoming Maharashtra Assembly elections. AGENCIES

 West Bengal Junior Doctors’ Forum (WBJDF), the umbrella body of doctors spearheading the movement against the rape and murder of a junior doctor of R.G. Kar Medical College & Hospital, sent a fresh email to Chief Secretary Manoj Pant on Thursday, highlighting their unfulfilled demands.

In the communique, a hard copy of which is available with IANS, the WBJDF has highlighted seven demands which they raised in the previous communique on September 19, which are yet to be fulfilled.

In the fresh note to the Chief Secretary on Thursday morning, the forum has accused the state government of taking no action as regards to the formation of the Central Enquiry Committee for disciplinary proceedings against the perpetrators of the ‘threat culture’ in medical colleges.

Second, the forum has claimed that the no directive has been given by the state government to individual colleges to form college-level enquiry committees consisting of undergraduate students and resident doctors for disciplinary proceedings against perpetrators of the “threat culture” in medical colleges.

The third unfulfilled demand is regarding a directive to authorities of various colleges to conduct college council meetings with immediate effect for holding elections to form resident doctors’ associations and students’ unions with polls to be held within two months.

The fourth demand, according to WBJDF, is the formation of an enquiry committee by the state against West Bengal Medical Council and West Bengal Health Recruitment Board members who are under scrutiny for promoting threat culture and running health syndicates.

The fifth point is regarding a directive for the formation of college-level task force or monitoring committee in every medical college and hospital constituting representatives of junior doctors, senior doctors, students, nursing and healthcare staff in accordance with the Supreme Court order on September 9.

The sixth point is formation of decision-making bodies such as college council, internal complaints committee, patients’ welfare committee, anti-ragging squads and committee, hospital committee, house staff selection committee and senior resident counselling committee, besides allocating funds for the same.

The seventh and final point is the directive for implementation of proper and transparent transfer policy for all recruited medical personnel as per West Bengal Service Rules. AGENCIES

 Former SHO of Tala Police Station Abhijit Mondal, who was remanded to judicial custody till September 30 by a special court in Kolkata in connection with the investigation of the R.G. Kar rape-murder case, was admitted to the prison hospital, said sources on Thursday.

Sources said Mondal complained of uneasiness as he was being taken from the special court at Sealdah in central Kolkata to Presidency Central Correctional Home in South Kolkata on Wednesday.

He also tripped while getting into the prison van and started complaining of acute uneasiness since then. Later in the night, he was shifted to the prison hospital where he is under treatment now.

On Wednesday, the counsel of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which is conducting a court-directed and court-monitored investigation into the rape and murder case, informed the special court that the exhibits and evidence in connection with the case were changed and tampered with at the Tala Police Station. R G Kar Medical College and Hospital falls under the jurisdiction of the police station and Mondal was in charge of the police station then.

The CBI also made a mention of the explosive claim in the remand letter for Sandip Ghosh, the former principal of R.G. Kar. Mondal and Ghosh were presented at the special court on Wednesday.

“During the custodial interrogation of both the accused persons, new additional facts have emerged to the effect that some false records pertaining to the case were created/altered in Tala Police Station,” the remand letter read. The CBI counsel also informed the court that the investigating team members have already procured the DVR and hard disc containing the CCTV footage of Tala Police Station and the same has been forwarded to the Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL) for examination.

The CBI counsel claimed that after the report from CSFL comes, it might reveal fresh clues about the rape and murder case. He also said that after the CFSL report comes, the investigation officials might seek fresh remand of Ghosh and Mondal for further questioning in the matter. AGENCIES

Contradictory statements were made by the forensic surgeon and an autopsy assistant, both of whom were part of the team that conducted a post-mortem on the body of R.G. Kar rape-murder victim, during their interrogation by the CBI, said sources here on Thursday. 

The two were questioned on Wednesday by the CBI team here. The contradictions have made the suspicions of the investigating officials stronger regarding gross lapses in the drafting of the autopsy report and how the procedure was conducted.

Sources said the forensic surgeon and the autopsy assistant were questioned together for a prolonged period during which the contradictions in their statements were marked by the investigating officials.

The contradictions were even more blatant in their statements on the nature of the wounds they noticed on the body of the victim at the time of the autopsy.

At the same time, sources added, the nature of wounds mentioned in the post-mortem report did not tally with the pictures taken by a batchmate of the victim just before the post-mortem, which have already been procured by the investigating officials.

Sources said the photographs taken on the mobile phone of the victim’s batchmate have already been forwarded to the Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CSFL) for further examination.

The investigating officials believe that the report from CSFL, which is awaited, is expected to reveal further clues relating to the macabre tragedy.

Already the CBI sleuths have identified procedural lapses in the drafting of the post-mortem report and the process of conducting the autopsy.

First, the amateurish language used in the post-mortem report, which lacks mentions and descriptions in technical and proper medical terms, is the prime reason for suspicion.

Secondly, the post-mortem was conducted after sunset which is against the general protocol.

Finally, the entire autopsy process was completed within 70 minutes, which the investigating officials felt was an unusually short period considering the seriousness of the matter. AGENCIES

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s scheduled visit to Pune in Maharashtra on Thursday to inaugurate a new corridor of the metro and launch several development projects valued at over Rs 22,600 crore has been cancelled due to heavy rain in the city.

The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) on Wednesday issued a rain alert for Mumbai and Pune.

Heavy rain on Wednesday evening flooded several roads in Pune city. Vehicles moved slowly, leading to traffic jams in many parts.

The Pune district administration has also issued orders to keep schools and colleges shut on Thursday not only in Pune but also in the neighbouring Pimpri Chinchwad area.

In Mumbai, the torrential downpour claimed at least four lives. More rain has been predicted on Thursday with the authorities declaring schools and colleges shut as a precautionary measure.

Wednesday’s sudden downpour, which caught lakhs of Mumbaikars hurrying home totally by surprise, saw three casualties, including a 45-year-old woman, Vimal A. Gaikwad, who drowned in an open drain in Andheri east MIDC area.

Another woman drowned near the Zenith Waterfalls in the Khopoli area of Raigad and two persons were killed in a lightning strike at Varap village in Kalyan town of Thane.

Some parts of eastern Mumbai were pounded with heavy rain — Mankhurd 275 mm, Powai 260 mm, Vikhroli 230 mm, and many other areas notching over 150 mm and more than 200 mm till this morning.

The Prime Minister was to inaugurate the Pune Metro section from District Court to Swargate. The cost of the underground section is estimated at around Rs 1,810 crore.

Further, the Prime Minister was also to lay the foundation stone for the Swargate-Katraj Extension of Pune Metro Phase-1 to be developed at the cost of around Rs 2,950 crore. This southern extension of around 5.46 km is completely underground with three stations namely Market Yard, Padmavati and Katraj.

Apart from this, PM Modi was to lay the foundation stone for the Memorial of the Krantijyoti Savitribai Phule’s First Girls’ School at Bhidewada. He was later scheduled to address a rally at the SP College ground in Pune. AGENCIES

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a heartfelt interaction with the Chess Olympiad winners, reminisced about the ‘Khel Mahakumbh’ initiative in Gujarat and informed about how it worked wonders in creating a sporting culture in the state.

PM Modi also shared a video of his meeting with the Chess Olympiad gold-winning teams at his official residence, on his social media handles.

Taking to X on Thursday, he wrote, “A wonderful interaction with the Indian chess contingent that won the 45th FIDE Chess Olympiad.”

Recalling the one-of-its-kind initiative, PM Modi said, “When I was governing Gujarat, my government used to run Khel Mahakumbh, which saw participation of lakhs of students under various disciplines. Over a period of time, many young talents were identified.”

“Under the program, even the grown-ups and adults were encouraged to participate in the games,” he added.

PM Modi also called upon the need to develop a sporting culture in the country besides nurturing ‘achievers and champions’.

“I firmly believe that there is an abundance of talent in the country. A culture of sportsman spirit should be inculcated among the citizens, and this should be made part of a daily routine. There should be achievers in every field who could hold the nation’s flag high,” said the Prime Minister.

Further sharing his vision on Viksit Bharat with the chess champions, PM Modi said that the country must attain prominence and dominance in all sectors, including science, technology, sports, science and technology.

“A country doesn’t become Viksit (developed) just because of its economy, industry, GDP size, there has to be holistic and all-round growth of the country across all sectors,” he said.

In another video shared on social media, the Chess Olympiads shared their experience of meeting the Prime Minister and also about their valuable insights.

PM Modi’s meeting with Indian men’s and women’s teams that won historic maiden gold medals in the recently-concluded 45th Chess Olympiad in Hungary witnessed some lighter moments as they gifted him a chess board and engaged in light-hearted conversation.

PM Modi also watched Praggnanandhaa and Arjun Erigaisi play a blitz game. AGENCIES

 Senior BJP leader and former Union Minister Smriti Irani said on Thursday that Omar Abdullah after sensing the mood of the people is now saying that his party, National Conference (NC), can form the government in alliance with Congress, a climb down from his earlier stance.

Abdullah, earlier, was claiming that the NC will get a majority and form the government on its own in J&K.

Addressing the media in Jammu, Smriti Irani said the BJP has said from day one that “we will form the government in J&K on our own while Omar Abdullah has shifted his stand from the earlier statement that the NC would form the government in J&K on its own.”

“He now says the NC will form the government in alliance with the Congress. Does he sense his defeat now?” Smriti Irani said in reply to a question.

She said that the BJP has said in Parliament and through the Solicitor General in the Supreme Court that “we will restore statehood”.

“Congress says they will launch an agitation for statehood to J&K. It is only the BJP government at the Centre that can restore statehood and not the Congress,” she said.

“On the issue of restoration of statehood, the Congress stand is of agitation while our stand is of restoration,” she asserted.

She said Rs 84,000 crore worth of investment has come to J&K after the abrogation of Article 370.

“Rs 8,000 crore worth of financial help has been given to three lakh youths in J&K after the abrogation of Article 370. Through the J&K Reorganisation Act, one per cent reservation has been given to women. Seven lakh women of self-help groups have become Lakhpati Didis in J&K. We have promised to give Rs 18,000 to the eldest woman of every household once we form the government in J&K. Under Ujwala scheme, 1,17,000 households have been brought under this scheme. We have promised in our manifesto to give two LPG cylinders free to poor households,” she said.

“Under the Pandit Premnath Dogra Employment scheme, we promise to give five lakh new jobs. Those youths aspiring for the UPSC and JKPSC exams will be given Rs 10,000 for coaching. PM Narendra Modi is the leader of digitalisation in India. Children of higher secondary schools in remote areas will be given laptops and tablets to get online education. Under a special economic zone scheme, Jammu will become an IT hub. Three regional development boards will be formed,” she said.

The BJP leader attacked Congress saying its policy is to divide. “This is the party that has been headed by people not born in India in the past. Isn’t that unfortunate? I appeal to people to vote for the BJP for a new dawn of development and prosperity in J&K,” she said. AGENCIES

BJP National Spokesperson Ajay Alok on Thursday condemned the recent vandalism at the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Temple in Sacramento, California, and urged the US administration to ensure stringent punishment for the culprits.

The temple was defaced with anti-Hindu messages on Wednesday night, marking the second such incident in less than 10 days after a similar attack at a BAPS temple in New York.

“We have taken this seriously, and the Indian government has informed the embassy, which is in contact with US officials. No culprits should be spared, and this is our appeal to the US administration,” Alok told IANS.

He emphasised the global significance of the Swaminarayan Temple, stating that it is a place of worship not only in America but also across many cities around the world.

“Whenever such places of faith are attacked, governments should take it seriously, and we have done so,” he added.

Ajay Alok also welcomed the Himachal Pradesh government’s decision to mandate the display of names on eateries, calling it a “commendable” move.

“This is a commendable step. A model that is helping people should be adopted nationwide,” he said.

He further emphasised the success of policies modelled after Prime Minister Modi’s initiatives, stating, “Many states have progressed by adopting the Modi model. So, if the Himachal government is adopting the Yogi model, what is the harm?”

He also took a dig at the Congress, asserting, “Congress and its ‘Yuvraj’ must be having a problem with it because they cannot practice the politics of polarisation anymore.”

Reacting to former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy’s forthcoming visit to the Tirupati Temple on September 28, Alok criticised the leader, claiming he has no right to offer prayers at the temple.

“While serving as the Chief Minister, he allowed the induction of more than 13 non-Hindus into the Tirumala Trust,” Alok alleged.

He also alleged that the Reddy government gave the “laddu contract to a non-Hindu,” which led to adulteration in the ‘prasadam’ and hurt the sentiments of Hindu devotees. AGENCIES