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Flip-flop over new airport around Delhi continues

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New Delhi: What exactly is the status of a proposed new airport in the National Capital Region? Going by the statements of two ministers — one overseeing tourism and the other civil aviation — the position remains unclear.

At a tourism event here on Thursday, attended both by Tourism Minister Mahesh Sharma and Civil Aviation Minister Askok Gajapathi Raju, the former said the national city and its neighbourhood needed a new airport, while the latter has maintained that he is unaware of such a proposal.

The duo, however, was together at the event only for a brief while.

The remarks by Sharma, who is also minister of state for civil aviation, come two days after he told parliament that no clearance on such a proposal had been given — in what appeared to be a curious about-turn to an announcement he had himself made on June 26.

Responding to the June 26 remark, Raju had said: “Please ask Mr Sharma about this. Anybody can give a suggestion, anybody can write (to the concerned ministry). I don’t even know whether it should go to the Cabinet.”

On Thursday, Sharma said: “There is a lot of congestion at the Delhi. To serve some 8-10 crore population, who now have to depend solely on the existing airport, there is a need for another one in the National Capital Region.”

He also went into the formalities to be followed for clearances and added: “We have written to Rajasthan, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh governments asking them for land where we can have a new airport. As and when we get a response, we can act.”

Sharma had earlier said that Jewar, around 100 km from the national capital, was among the sites identified. “The proposal to develop a new airport, for which several sites are being explored, including Jewar, would now be sent to the Cabinet for approval,” he had said.

But on Thursday, he said: “We have not decided on Jewar yet. As soon as we get responses from the states we have written to, the location will be decided.”

The reason for this flip-flop, according to officials, is due to an existing guideline that no new airport can come up within 150 km of an existing one.

The proposal has also come under fire as detractors claim the present Indira Gandhi International Airport, which can handle some 62 million passengers per year, has ample under-utilised land and catered to a traffic of 40.9 million in 2014-15. The airport’s capacity can be expanded to 100 million.

In his reply to the Rajya Sabha, Sharma had said: “In case there is a need to set up a greenfield airport within an aerial distance of 150 km of an existing civilian airport, such cases shall be placed before the union cabinet for consideration.”

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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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