TCS, DLF seek govt nod to set up IT SEZs in Haryana, Uttar Pradesh

TCS has proposed to set up an IT/ITeS SEZ at Noida in Uttar Pradesh in an area of 19.9 hectares.

Software firm TCS and realty major DLF have sought government nod to set up special economic zones (SEZ) for IT sector in Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.

These proposals will be taken up by the Board of Approval, the highest decision-making body for SEZ, in its meeting on February 26 here. The inter-ministerial body is chaired by the commerce secretary.

TCS has proposed to set up an IT/ITeS SEZ at Noida in Uttar Pradesh in an area of 19.9 hectares, according to the agenda paper of the board meeting.

The total proposed investment for the project is Rs 2,433.72 crore.

Development Commissioner of Noida SEZ has recommended the proposal for grant of formal approval for setting up the zone.

On the other hand, DLF has proposed to set up two SEZs in Haryana. The proposed investments for these projects are Rs 793.95 crore and Rs 761.54 crore.

The requests of these two companies have been placed before the Board of Approval for consideration, it said.

SEZs are major export hubs in the country as the government provides several incentives and single-window clearance system.

As on November 14, 2019, the government has approved 417 such zones in the country. Out of this, 238 zones are operational.

Exports from these zones grew by about 14.5 per cent to Rs 3.82 lakh crore in April-September 2019-20. It was Rs 7.02 lakh crore in entire 2018-19 financial year.

In next ten days, 5,000 more Shaheen Baghs to come up across country: Azad

Addressing a massive gathering, Azad said the Citizenship Amendment Act is a 'black law' that is dividing people on religious lines.

In the next 10 days, there will be 5,000 more protest sites like Shaheen Bagh across the country, Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad said on Wednesday evening as he reached the iconic demonstration spot in south Delhi to extend his support to the women protesting against CAA and NRC.

Addressing a massive gathering, the Dalit leader said the Citizenship Amendment Act is a "black law" that is dividing people on religious lines.

"I congratulate those who have participated in this protest. This is not just a political agitation. We have to save the Constitution and unity of the nation," he told the women who have been staging a sit-in against the CAA for more than a month now.

Azad said even the record-breaking cold has not been able to break the will power of the women protesters.

The crowd, singing Faiz Ahmed Faiz's Urdu poem 'Hum Dekhnege' before Azad's arrival, got charged as he reached the venue.

Holding the Constitution, he said, "I promise you that in next 10 days there will be at least 5,000 Shaheen Baghs across the country".

Azad said that earlier everyone had heard about Jallianwala Bagh, but now they were talking about Shaheen Bagh. "If you have the courage of sacrifice, then you have to sacrifice with holding your demonstration peacefully," he said.

"Till the Bhim Army is here, this law would not be applicable and they have to go through my corpse (to implement it)," Azad said.

"The court is saying that we should respect our Prime Minister. I do and and I will do because the constitution says this. But the Prime Minister also needs to respect the constitution of this country," he said.

The protesters hailed Azad and raised slogans in his support.

He said when he was in Tihar jail, he read the newspapers to know about the situation of women sitting on protest at Shaheen Bagh.

Business Standard

Polling booth for least voters and one at highest altitude, Leh has it all

The polling station for casting votes for the least number of voters - only 12 - has been set up at Gaik village under Leh assembly segment of Ladakh parliamentary constituency,

A polling booth for the least number of voters and one at the highest altitude, Leh has it all among the 11,316 polling stations set up for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls in Jammu and Kashmir.

The polling station for casting votes for the least number of voters - only 12 - has been set up at Gaik village under Leh assembly segment of Ladakh parliamentary constituency, Leh District Electoral Officer Anvy Lavasa old PTI.

"Gaik polling station (number 38) has the lowest voters, only 12," she said.

The voters at Gaik village include only five males and seven females, she added.

Similarly the district also has a polling station at the highest altitude in the country at 14,890 ft above the sea level, she said, adding this polling station with the unique distinction has been set up at a place called Anlay Pho.

She said the two are among the 294 polling stations set up in Leh assembly segment.

A total of 11,316 polling stations have been set up in the state for 78,42,979 voters to exercise their rights of franchise in the multi-phase parliamentary polls in Jammu and Kashmir starting April 11 to choose six MPs.

Out of the six parliamentary constituencies, the Ladakh constituency also has the distinction of having the least number of polling stations, only 559, for the lowest voters numbering 1,71,819.

Leh and Kargil districts, forming parts of Ladakh Lok Sabha constituency, have 294 and 265 polling stations respectively.

As per the official figures, most of the polling stations have been set up at an altitude of 8,001 to 13,000 feet with the maximum number of high-altitude stations, numbering 183, located in Leh assembly segment, followed by 158 in Kargil segment.

Over 190 polling stations have been set up at altitudes between 7,001 to 8,000 feet.

Business Standard

Goa pledges to make state free of plastic and pollution on Liberation Day

Goa was freed from the Portuguese dominion on December 19, 1961 after a freedom movement and Army operation. It was granted full statehood in 1987.

On the 57th Liberation Day of Goa, the state government Wednesday appealed to the people to make the coastal state free of plastic and pollution.

Various programmes were held across Goa to mark the occasion.

In absence of ailing Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, Legislative Assembly Speaker Pramod Sawant unfurled the national flag at the official function held here this morning.

Parrikar, 63, has been recuperating at his private residence near here since October 14, after he was discharged from Delhi's All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS).

Goa was freed from the Portuguese dominion on December 19, 1961 after a freedom movement and Army operation. It was granted full statehood in 1987.

In his 10-minute speech made in Konkani, Sawant touched upon Parrikar's inability to attend the event on medical grounds.(Business Standard )

"The state government is trying hard to make Goa plastic and pollution free, but the efforts can become fruitful only with the active participation of citizens. On this day, let us take the pledge to make Goa free of plastic and pollution", he said.

Lakhs of tourists visit Goa every year for its picturesque beaches.

The problem of plastic items being dumped haphazardly by tourists at various beaches is a cause of concern for the administration as well as environmentalists.

During his address, Sawant listed out various developmental programmes, infrastructural works and employment generating initiatives taken up by the BJP-led government with the help of the Centre.

"Completion of two bridges over Mandovi and Zuari rivers, in addition to the existing ones (bridges), will help streamline flow of traffic from North Goa to South Goa", the speaker said.

Sawant also recalled the sacrifices made by freedom fighters and citizens to get Goa liberated from the 450-year rule of the Portuguese in 1961.

He also hailed the Indian armed forces for pushing the Portuguese military out of the state in 1961.

Meanwhile, addressing a gathering in Margao in south Goa, GFP leader and state Town and Country Planning Minister Vijai Sardesai stressed the need to liberate oneself from "regressive ideas, pseudo activism, external interference and patronising attitudes".

"Liberation of Goa happened in 1961, but we should remember that liberation is a continuous process and it can never be over", said the minister whose Goa Forward Party (GFP) is one of the constituents of the BJP-led coalition government in the coastal state.

"Only adversaries have changed since 1961. We have new threats from inside and outside. We also have to liberate ourselves from our prejudices, negativity, dogmas and petty rivalries. We should also liberate ourselves from dependence to take Goa forward", he said.

Underlining the need for "neo-liberation", the minister said, "we need neo revolutionaries, neo-activists and neo-Goemkars (Goans)".