National
SC allows transportation of iron ore outside Goa mining lease areas
New Delhi/Panaji, April 4 (IANS) Providing some relief for iron ore mining companies in Goa, the Supreme Court on Wednesday allowed transportation of ore from loading points on river jetties, while disposing a joint special leave application filed by Vedanta Resources and another local mining company.
The apex court’s ruling followed the filing of a special leave petition by the mining companies on Monday, appealing against the March 28 verdict of the Panaji Bench of the Bombay High Court, which had stopped all transportation of iron ore.
The apex court bench of Justice Madan Lokur and Justice Deepak Gupta said that the iron ore for which royalty has been paid to the state government and has been extracted on or before March 15 this year, should be allowed to be transported.
“Under these circumstances, we are of the view that the iron ore which is royalty paid and which is lying on the jetties on or before March 15, 2018 should be permitted to be loaded on the barges and on the vessels so that they can be transported to their destinations,” its order read.
The order also states that other issues raised in the SLP may be adjudicated by the High Court bench in Panaji.
Mining activity in the state has been shut down since March 15, following a temporary ban by the Supreme Court, which had ruled that 88 mining leases in the state had been wrongly renewed and had directed the state government to issue the disputed mining leases afresh.
After winding down their operations in mining leases following the March 15 deadline, mining companies were lifting iron ore outside the lease for transportation to cargo ships mid-sea by river barges, which was objected to by a local NGO Goa Foundation, which had petitioned the High Court.
Speaking to reporters in Panaji, Goa Foundation’s director Claude Alvares said that, while the Supreme Court’s order allowed transportation of iron ore from the jetties, it did not establish the legality of the ore in question.
“The matter now comes back to the High court where government will have to submit data to prove its claim about which of the ore is royalty paid and which is not,” he said.
–IANS
maya/him/vd
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.