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Sealing drive: DDA clears changes to save traders (Roundup)

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New Delhi, Feb 2 (IANS) The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) on Friday approved changes to the city’s Master Plan — in a move to provide relief to traders hit by the sealing drive — on a day lakhs of traders pulled down their shutters to protest against the ongoing measure.

The sealing drive is being carried out against business establishments using residential areas for commercial purposes without paying conversion charges.

Praveen Khandelwal, National Secretary General, Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT), which announced the 48-hour ‘Delhi Trade Bandh’ from Friday, told IANS that around seven lakh businesses across Delhi remained closed on Friday.

He said that they would continue with the strike on Saturday and urged the Central government to reopen the sealed business establishments.

DDA’s proposed amendments to the Master Plan include increasing Floor Area Ratio (FAR) of local shopping complexes (LSCs) from existing 180 per cent to 300 per cent and regularising agricultural godowns on 12 metre wide roads.

Also, there will be a reduction in conversion charge penalties from existing 10 times to two times and commercial activity in the basements will be allowed in all commercial areas “subject to payment of requisite charges without any discrimination”.

The decision was taken at a meeting chaired by Lt Governor Anil Baijal, who is chairman of the DDA.

“The board has approved these changes. They will now be put in the public domain for three days and a meeting will be called after that,” DDA member and BJP legislator Vijender Gupta told IANS.

The changes are expected to be notified as amendments to the Master Plan after the next meeting.

Meanwhile, both the Aam Aadmi Party and the Bharatiya Janata Party took credit for the proposed amendments.

DDA member and AAP MLA Somnath Bharti, addressing party supporters, said the changes happened due to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s “struggle”.

BJP MLA O.P. Sharma, who is also a DDA member, termed the changes to the Master Plan a “historic decision by the Central government” and alleged Kejriwal was misleading traders on the sealing drive.

The AAP and BJP have locked horns over the drive with both parties blaming each other.

The issue of sealing drive echoed in the Rajya Sabha on Friday, causing disruptions.

AAP MPs trooped near the Chairman’s podium under party leader Sanjay Singh’s leadership and raised slogans against the drive.

Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad said: “Delhi is second home for every MP. So it is our duty to help them. The Union government can’t be a mere spectator. They should give answers.”

Addressing media later, Sanjay Singh condemned the BJP MPs from Delhi for staying “mum” when he along with other AAP MPs — Sushil Gupta and N.D. Gupta — raised the issue of sealing in the Upper House.

“Can’t the BJP bring a bill in the parliament against sealing and conversion charges?” he questioned.

–IANS
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Foodman Vishal Singh Honored for Hunger Free World Mission in Bangkok

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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.

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