National
No need for Permanent Water Disputes Tribunal: Palaniswami to Centre
Chennai, Nov 29 (IANS) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K. Palaniswami has told the central government that the state is of the view that there is no need for setting up a Permanent Water Disputes Tribunal (PWDT) as each and every inter-state water dispute is unique and complex.
“I have examined the matter in detail and once again reiterate the decision of the Government of Tamil Nadu that there is no need to constitute a Permanent Water Disputes Tribunal to adjudicate the Inter-State River Water Disputes amongst the states,” Palaniswami told Union Water Resources Minister Nitin Gadkari in a letter on Tuesday.
The text of the letter was released to the media on Wednesday in connection with the Inter-State River Water Disputes (Amendment) Bill, 2017.
Palaniswami said each and every inter-state water dispute is unique and complex and the river basins differ widely in the total availability, utilisation and nature of water use in them.
According to Palaniswami, the current Act of 1956 does not speak about the tenure of appointment of a Chairman and two other members nominated by the Chief Justice of India from among persons who at the time of such nomination are judges of the Supreme Court or of a High Court.
However, under the proviso in clause (4), an upper age limit has been prescribed if the proposed legislation is enacted and comes into force.
“In so far as the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal is concerned, the Members appointed are hearing the dispute right from the year 1991 and they have already crossed 70 years of age,” Palaniswami said.
He said the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal was constituted by the central government on the apex court’s orders and transfer of pending applications to the Inter-State River Water Disputes Tribunal under clause (4) of the draft Bill on its enactment, shall not be done without the leave of the Supreme Court.
Palaniswami said the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal will be in a better position in terms of continuity and institutional memory to decide on the issues before it.
He also said the data provided by the state government need not be verified by the central government, as proposed in the amendment.
“Further, the Government of Tamil Nadu conveys its decision that the functioning of the existing Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal should not be hampered on the pretext of transfer of the pending applications to the proposed constitution of the Inter-State River Water Disputes Tribunal,” Palaniswami added.
–IANS
vj/rn
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.