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People are more important than industries, SC tells Centre

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New Delhi, July 16 (IANS) The Supreme Court on Monday, while taking into note of a report that 60,000 people have died due to pollution, told the Centre that “people are more important than industries”.

A bench of Justice Madan B. Lokur and Justice Deepak Gupta slammed the Ministry of Environment and Forests after it sought time to study the impact of ban on import of pet coke used in industries as fuel which is a cause of pollution and asked whether the government had allowed the import without studying its impact on the people’s health.

The bench said: “You (Environment Ministry) seem very keen to allow the import of pet coke. Were you earlier allowing import of pet coke in the country without even conducting the study?

“The other day newspapers reports said that 60,000 people died due to pollution. What are you doing? People are dying in the city due to huge amount of pollution. We don’t know whether the newspaper report is correct or a fake news. But your reports have also earlier indicated that people have lost lives due to pollution.”

“Let us be very clear. The people of this country are more important than the industries,” the apex court added.

Advocate Aparajita Singh, who was assisting the court as amicus curiae in the case, told the bench that the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has supported the ban on import of pet coke, but the Environment Ministry has been opposing it.

She said that the Environment Ministry’s report “is like an ‘Alice in Wonderland’ report” and while the Petroleum Ministry is coming forward, the Environment Ministry is not bothered. “Now they say they want to further study the impact,” she added.

She alleged that the Environment Ministry’s stand on conducting the study was the reason for “delaying” the ban on import of pet coke.

Additional Solicitor General A.N.S. Nadkarni, appearing for the Environment Ministry, asked “What’s wrong in conducting the study and having a discussion with them (EPCA)?”, while urging to give at least two days to prepare the report.

The court directed the Environment Ministry to conduct a meeting with EPCA during the week and apprise it about the expert committee report.

The top court on May 10 had set a deadline of June 30 for the Central government to decide on the issue of banning import of pet coke and said the government’s failure on this count would compel it to pass a direction.

The court was hearing a PIL filed in 1985 by environmentalist M.C. Mehta relating to air pollution in Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR).

–IANS
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Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma

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World-renowned business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has supported Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission. In memory of his mother, Late Veena Verma, who was a 3 term Rajya Sabha MP.

Dr. Verma dedicated a state-of-the-art free permanent shelter for the attendants of patients at KGMU Medical University, Lucknow, under the aegis of Vijay Shree Foundation. His daughter, Nicolle Verma, inaugurated the shelter.

During the event, Foodman Vishal Singh honored Nicolle Verma by presenting her with a memento. Mrs. Nidhi Sharma and Avantika Yadav, associated with the organization, welcomed her with garlands. Following this, Nicolle Verma distributed essential items to the attendants and also handed out fruits. She became emotional remembering her grandmother on her birth anniversary.

On this occasion, she also inaugurated the “Veena Verma Sevalaya” in memory of her grandmother, Veena Verma, to serve the attendants. She expressed, “I feel proud that my family is engaged in nation-building as well as social service. Today, in collaboration with Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh Ji, I feel immensely proud to dedicate this shelter for the poor, helpless, and needy attendants of patients battling serious illnesses like cancer. I am honored to be associated with the Hunger-Free World Mission for humanity.”

Inspired by the continuous humanitarian service provided by Vijay Shree Foundation over the past 17 years, Nicolle Verma donated 10 lakh rupees to support the cause. The purpose of this donation is to ensure that services continue for the needy attendants of patients suffering from severe illnesses in hospitals, as facilitated by Foodman Vishal Singh.

It is noteworthy that Dr. Abhishek Verma’s family has a legacy of public and philanthropic service. They are helping millions to carry forward the values and service work of their parents. On the occasion of his mother’s birth anniversary, Dr. Abhishek Verma dedicated this state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College to serve the attendants of patients through the Vijay Shree Foundation.

Supporting Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission, Dr. Abhishek Verma assured that he would continually support keeping this flame of humanity alive. He also promised to assist in providing medicines to the helpless patients.

Continuing her grandmother’s legacy of service, Nicolle Verma personally served food to the needy patients and attendants. She said, “It is our good fortune to have received the joy of doing this noble work today through Foodman Vishal Singh. I have taken another step forward in carrying my family’s values and cooperation by joining hands with the Vijay Shree Foundation. My father taught me to serve and help the needy, and I feel happy when I bring a smile to someone’s face.”

On the birth anniversary of the late Veena Verma, the event organizer, Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh, said, “We feel proud and happy that Dr. Abhishek Verma, a globally renowned business tycoon, has extended his support to uplift our country from the hunger index. Today, on his mother’s birth anniversary, he inaugurated a state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College, which will always be helpful for the needy attendants of patients. It is a pleasure for me and the organization to receive the affection of Mr. Verma.”

The event was attended by General Manager Verma Family Office Hemant Garg, Sonu Rajput, and the organization’s volunteers, including Sandeep Singh, Parmeshwar Ji, Prashant Rao Gautam, Balram Singh, Ramesh Chaudhary, Suman, Jeetu, Anil, Suraj, Vinay, Manish Bhadauria, Manas Mehrotra, Vivek, Apurv, Happy, and others.

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