National
Complete plant in 18 months or pay Rs 50,000 a day: NGT
New Delhi, Dec 12 (IANS) The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Tuesday ordered for the completion of a waste-to-energy plant in Jammu and Kashmir within 18 months, after which Rs 50,000 per day will be charged from the contractors.
The 5 megawatt power plant at Achan in Srinagar district is to be used to utilise dumped biomass to generate electricity.
Disposing the case on Tuesday, the NGT said the construction work on the plant at Achan — the first one in Jammu and Kashmir — should start within a week of signing of the power purchase agreement (PPA) with the state government.
Ever since the process was started in 2013, several contractors have left due to various reasons.
“Complete the plant within 18 months of signing the PPA. The document is already with the state government. Let that be done expeditiously,” NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar ordered.
“In case of delay beyond the contract period of 18 months, Rs 50,000 per day shall be charged as environment compensation,” the bench said, adding that the fine would be applied for the default period.
The contractors — Keystone Energy Tools, LLC and Aztec Infrastructure Pvt Ltd — were awarded the contract regarding different aspects of the project.
The contractor on Tuesday claimed that once the PPA was signed, the project would be completed in 18 months though the contract period is 24 months.
Earlier, miffed by the delay in the plant’s commissioning, the NGT commented that the plant was of great public importance as the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir generates about 450 metric tonnes of municipal waste every day.
–IANS
kd/tsb/mr
National
Foodman Vishal Singh Honored for Hunger Free World Mission in Bangkok
Lucknow: Vishal Singh, a renowned social worker from Lucknow, also known as Foodman, has once again made India proud. He was honored by the Happy Hands Gloves Cooperative Limited Company in Korathai, Thailand, for his work with the Hunger Free World Mission.
The Hunger Free World Mission’s meeting was held in Korathai, Thailand, under Vishal Singh’s leadership. Representatives from several countries, including Mr. Raja Dwivedi (Managing Director of Happy Hands Gloves Limited), Thailand Coordinator Mr. Raja Mishra, and member Mr. Varun Singh, attended the event.
Under Vishal Singh’s leadership, the attendees took a pledge to work together toward creating a hunger-free world.
Speaking on the occasion, Vishal Singh explained that the main goal of the Hunger Free World Mission is social participation. He said the mission is not just about feeding people but also about meeting other basic needs of those who are struggling. The mission focuses on helping families of terminally ill patients in hospitals by providing food and shelter. It also works to fulfill essential needs like education, jobs, and care for the elderly.
For the last 16 years, the Vijay Sri Foundation has been providing free services, benefiting thousands of people. Vishal Singh highlighted that the mission aims to gain global recognition like other organizations such as WHO, WWF, and Red Cross, which work for social causes.
During this meeting, Vishal Singh was appointed as the Chairman of the Hunger Free World Mission by representatives from various countries. They also discussed holding regular meetings in different countries to push the mission forward.
Business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has also supported this humanitarian mission, vowing to promote the idea of “Seva Parmo Dharma” (Service is the highest duty) worldwide. Vishal Singh praised him, stating that people like Dr .Abhishek Verma inspire others to work for the betterment of society.
Recently, Romania’s Ambassador, Mr . Daniela Sezonov Ţane, invited Vishal Singh to the Romanian Embassy in Delhi, where they discussed the mission in detail. Impressed by his humanitarian work, she honored Vishal Singh and invited him to Romania to take the mission forward .
Food man Vishal Singh has been serving the people of India for the past 16 years. Through the Vijay Sri Foundation, he provides free meals to cancer patients & their families ,shelter, and education for women & children along with running free old-age homes in Lucknow.
In addition to his humanitarian work, Vishal Singh also addresses issues like crime and corruption through his role as Chairman of Seva Path Media and Managing Director of Vijay Sri Foundation.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Vishal Singh and his team worked tirelessly to provide food and help to the needy, including starving children, elderly citizens, and pregnant women. Despite contracting the virus himself, he continued to assist others after his recovery. He even created a life-saving oxygen regulator using household items, which was praised by doctors both in India and abroad.
In his address at the meeting, Vishal Singh spoke about his mission to create a hunger-free world. He pointed out that India’s large population, along with issues like unemployment and poverty, has caused the country to fall on the Hunger Index. He urged people to contribute just one handful of grains daily to help create a hunger-free world.
He concluded by saying that through social participation, we can empower the people around us, meet their basic needs, and work together to build a stronger, more prosperous, and developed society.