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<keyword id="155869" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Aviation-watchdog" source="Orion">Aviation watchdog</keyword> <keyword id="19899185" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="dgca" source="keywords">DGCA</keyword> on Friday imposed a fine of Rs 80 lakh on <keyword id="19896871" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="air-india" source="keywords">Air India</keyword> for violations of norms related to <keyword id="8400738" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="flight-duty-time-limitations" source="Orion">flight duty time limitations</keyword> and <keyword id="21053584" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="fatigue-management-system" source="Orion">fatigue management system</keyword> of flight crew. The decision came after the <keyword id="6354705" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Directorate-General-of-Civil-Aviation" source="Orion">Directorate General of Civil Aviation</keyword> (DGCA) conducted a spot audit of Air India in January, during which evidence was collected and fleet-wise random reports were analysed. "The analysis of reports and evidence revealed that <keyword id="20879472" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="air-india-limited" source="keywords">Air India Limited</keyword> operated flight(s) with both flight crew aged above 60 years flying together in a few instances. "... the operator was also found deficient in providing adequate weekly rest, adequate rest before &amp; after ultra-long range flights and adequate rest on layover to the flight crew, which violates the extant provisions of the <keyword id="20777683" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="civil-aviation-requirements" source="keywords">Civil Aviation Requirements</keyword> pertaining to FDTL," the regulator said in a release. Further, the DGCA said there were instances of exceeding duty periods, wrongly marked training records and overlapping duties. On March 1, the regulator issued a show cause notice to Air India with respect to the violations. "The operator submitted its response to the show cause notice, which was not found satisfactory. Pursuant to the non-satisfactory response submitted by the operator, a fine of Rs 80,00,000 has been imposed on the operator," the release said.

Aviation regulator DGCA slaps Rs 80 lakh fine on Air India

New Delhi, Feb 28 () Markets regulator Sebi on Friday imposed a total penalty of Rs 80 lakh on 16 entities for conducting fraudulent trading in the scrip of Mapro Industries Ltd.The order follows a probe by Sebi into the trading in the company shares between July 2014 and November 2014. Sebi, from the trading pattern of the entities, noted that the entities manipulated the share price of the company by contributing positively to the LTP (last traded price) which consequently led to the rise in the price of the scrip.Therefore, the entities have been fined Rs 5 lakh each for violating Prohibition of Fraudulent and Unfair Trade Practices norms. Apart from nine individuals, the entities include Cosmos Distributors, Bhargabi Trading, Jagsakti Tower, Jahman Agency, Ritudhan Marketing, Godavari Real Estate and V.S.G. Leasing and Finance Co. In a separate order, Sebi levied a total fine of Rs 40 lakh on Midfield Industries Ltd its chairman and managing director Madhu Mohan Reddy and executive director Ashok Sagar Mudumba for diverting the funds raised from initial public offer (IPO) of the firm. Out of Rs 59.85 crore of the IPO proceeds, the firm utilized Rs 30.89 crore towards clearing its pre-existing overdraft balance, which was not mentioned in the prospectus. "The Noticees had committed a fraud in diverting the funds raised through IPO and not utilized the money in accordance with the objects of the issue as stated in the prospectus," Sebi said.Separately, Sebi slapped a total fine of Rs 22 lakh on MPF Systems and its senior officials-- Kirti Salvi, Anil Kothari, Aakesh Chopra and Ambrish Barsati Pal for flouting various market norms.It was found that there was failure on the part of the firm to comply with principles of corporate governance and accounting standard leading to misrepresentation of financial statements.Among others, the entities failed to "recover the sundry debts and also failed to file any document to substantiate their submission that they rectify the error made by earlier management," Sebi said. SRS MRMR

Sebi levies Rs 80 lakh fine on 16 entities for fraudulent trading in Mapro Industries' scrip

New Delhi, Nov 22 () Markets regulator Sebi on Friday levied a fine totalling Rs 80 lakh on Aplaya Creations Ltd, three of its officials and two other entities for conducting fraudulent trading in the scrip of the firm.
 Officials of Aplaya Creations include Managing Director Ramawtar Gupta and Director and Chief Financial Officer Pramod Kumar Gupta.
 The order follows an investigation conducted between April 2014 and July 2015.
 Sebi during the investigation found that the firm had come out with preferential allotment and thereafter, the price of the scrip was artificially manipulated by Maheswari Financial Services Pvt Ltd and Vemuri Finvest Pvt Ltd by frequently putting sell orders over the last traded price.
 At a subsequent stage, the preferential allottees were provided exit at the manipulated price by the exit providers.
 "These acts of preferential allotment, price manipulation and subsequent providing of exit constitutes a scheme. The scheme has in effect resulted in benefit to the preferential allottees," as per the Sebi order.
 Sebi concluded that "the company had come out with preferential allotments and had devised a scheme to manipulate the price of the scrip to benefit the preferential allottees."
 While levying fine on the officials, Sebi said "every person who at the time the offence was committed was in charge of, and was responsible to, the company for the conduct of the business of the company, as well as the company, shall be deemed to be guilty of the offence."
 Consequently, a fine of Rs 15 lakh on Aplaya Creations, Rs 10 lakh each Ramawtar Gupta and Pramod Kumar Gupta, Rs 20 lakh on Maheswari Financial Services Pvt Ltd and Rs 25 lakh Vemuri Finvest Pvt Ltd was imposed by Sebi. SRS HRS

Sebi fines Aplaya Creations, its officials and 2 other entities for fraudulent trading

New Delhi, Dec 31 () Market regulator Sebi has slapped a total fine of over Rs 14.4 crore on five entities, an amount twice the ill-gotten gains made by them while fraudulently trading in the scrip of Sunteck Realty Ltd.
 Of these, the two entities-- Jitendra Joshi and Shripal Shares and Securities Ltd-- that have incurred losses are facing a fine of Rs 5 lakh each.
 The entities have been penalised for executing circular trades among themselves, thereby violating Prohibition of Fraudulent and Unfair Trade Practices (PFUTP) norms.
 By trading in the scrip of the firm, the entities made a combined profit of over Rs 7.24 crore.
 The matter pertains to a probe conducted by Sebi between April 2007 and August 2008 on receipt of an alert in its surveillance system with regard to the price movement and trading pattern in the scrip of Sunteck Realty.
 Sebi noted that scrip price of the realty firm rose from Rs 494.05 on April 02, 2007 to Rs 579.4 on April 30, 2007 and further increased to Rs 1,630.9 on October 31, 2007. It touched a high of Rs 1,957.1 on November 21, 2007 and closed at Rs 1,725 on December 31, 2007. The scrip closed at Rs 1,427.25 on August 31, 2008.
 It found that the entities --Chiranjilal Jayaram Vyas, Namdeo H. More, Kishore Bhikaji Giri, Deendayal M. Bohara, Kishorilal Amrutlal Bissa, Jitendra Harivansh Joshi and Shripal Shares and Securities Ltd-- executed circular trades among themselves.
 They transferred shares through off-market route to a large number of other entities, who then sold the shares in the market so as to give an impression of widespread trading in the scrip of Sunteck. This contributed significantly to the market volume as well as price rise in the scrip, Sebi said.
 "In the present case, the Noticees, which are found to be connected to each other, contributed significantly to the market volume in the scrip of Sunteck during the period of investigation, which was as high as around 75-80 per cent in four months," it added.
 Sebi noted that Chiranjilal Vyas made a profit of nearly Rs 3.53 crore, Namdeo More gained over Rs 2.69 crore, Kishore Giri gained Rs 62 lakh, Deendayal Bohara made a profit of Rs 35.4 lakh and Kishorilal Bissa gained Rs 4.47 lakh.
 While imposing the fine for violating PFUTP norms, Sebi said a penalty amount twice the ill-gotten gains may be appropriate and levied a total fine of Rs 14,48,18,966. SRS SHW
SHW

Sebi levies over Rs 14 cr fine on seven entities for fraudulent trading in Sunteck Realty scrip

New Delhi, Jan 24 () Markets regulator Sebi has levied a penalty of Rs 18.80 lakh on Scan Steels Ltd for indulging in fraudulent trading in the stock options segment of the BSE.
 The matter pertains to a probe conducted by the regulator between April 2014 and September 2015 after observing large scale reversal of trades in stock options segment of the BSE by certain entities including Scan Steels that led to creation of artificial volume.
 The probe found that the trades executed by the company "were not genuine trades and being non-genuine, created an appearance of artificial trading volumes" in the stock options contracts.
 It further noted that Scan Steels has entered into 324 non-genuine transactions in 113 stock option contracts which demonstrates the repetitive nature of the default on its part and by executing such trades, the company violated the provisions of PFUTP (Prohibition of Fraudulent and Unfair Trade Practices) norms.
 Consequently, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi), in an order passed on Thursday, imposed "a penalty of Rs 18.80 lakh on the noticee viz Scan Steels Limited".
 In a separate order on Friday, the regulator imposed a fine of Rs 5 lakh on Viju Babulal Jain, one of the directors of ShivamShree Business Ltd, for violating insider trading norms.
 Sebi observed that from November 6, 2015, Jain started disposing of his shareholding and on November 27, 2015 the value of the disposed holding was over Rs 14.47 lakh, thus exceeding Rs 10 lakh.
 Jain was required to make the disclosure to the company about the number of securities disposed of within two trading days. However, no such disclosure was made by him and thus violated the PIT (Prohibition of Insider Trading) norms.
 Being one of the directors of the company, Jain was an insider who is not allowed to take opposite position of his own trades within six months of the transaction without getting explicit relaxation from the compliance officer with proper reason.
 In this case, Jain bought and sold shares within six months without obtaining a proper reasoned relaxation from the compliance officer and made of profit of more than Rs 1 lakh. By this, he violated the code of conduct adopted by the company for insider trading. AST SP ANU

Sebi fines Scan Steels Rs 18.8 lakh for fraudulent trading

New Delhi, Feb 3 () The new lower income tax rates offered in the Budget 2020-21 will leave more cash in the hands of those who do not wish to make compulsory investments to save tax, said Revenue Secretary Ajay Bhushan Pandey.
 In an interview with , he said the Budget gives an option to individuals to migrate to a new regime by foregoing their existing exemptions and deductions for a lower tax rate.
 "We are not saying which one is beneficial, which one is not beneficial. We have provided an option. We have not put restrictions on anyone. This proposal can only benefit somebody and not harm anybody," he said. "So, in this whole proposal, not a single person will be loser."
 He said taxpayers have an option to stay with the current regime of getting a standard deduction of Rs 50,000 and investing Rs 1.5 lakh in saving schemes and pay 5 per cent, 10 per cent or 30 per cent tax depending on income levels.
 Alternatively, they can migrate to the new regime and pay lower tax rates without having to invest in any instrument to claim exemption, he said.
 In the new regime, 5 per cent tax is levied on an annual income between Rs 2.5 lakh and Rs 5 per cent. The tax rate rises to 10 per cent, 15, per cent, 20 per cent and 25 per cent for every Rs 2.5 lakh addition. A 30 per cent tax is charged for income over Rs 15 lakh.
 "Because the proposal is that we will continue the old scheme and if you find the new scheme attractive, you come or else you don't come. Therefore, there is no scope of confusion or worry," he said.
 Pandey said the taxpayer will have to choose between old and the new regime at the time of filing return for the next financial year, sometime in July 2021.
 "When you file I-T return, there will be a choice. If you say choice 1 then the return form in the new system will open and most of your application will be pre-filled. Then, you make appropriate changes and file I-T (return). If you choose the old system, then only that form will open. It is easier to pre-fill the form under new tax structures," he said.
 He said data show that out of the 5.8 crore individuals who filed income tax returns in the financial year 2018-19, 90 per cent claimed tax deductions of less than Rs 2 lakh, including deductions under Section 80C of the Income Tax Act (for provident fund, PPF, life insurance premium), Section 80D (mediclaim insurance), Section 80CCD(1B) (additional deduction for National Pension Scheme), deduction for housing loan interest and standard deduction.
 "I am not saying it (new scheme) will benefit everyone. It might benefit 30-40 per cent people. But, even if it is benefiting 30 per cent people then also it is a big thing," he said. "We are giving option to those people who are unable to avail exemptions or deductions. Who are these people -- somebody who has just joined job market, someone who has not decided to buy a house, he does not know how much will be savings, he might be putting little money in PF (provident fund) and insurance. He may find that depending on his income, this new scheme is better."
 Similarly, for senior citizens living on a pension and who do not have to buy a house or put money in PF, the new regime would be beneficial, he said.
 The new tax regime is also beneficial for small businessmen and shopkeepers who do not get the benefit of LTC or HRA. 
 "It is not that our objective was to provide benefit to each and every section of the taxpayer. We have provided option and that should be fine," he said adding the new tax rates would lead to a Rs 40,000 crore dent in government revenues in the next financial year.
 Individuals having an annual salary income of over Rs 13 lakh and availing deductions of up to Rs 2 lakh will save on their tax outgo if they opt for the new tax regime proposed in the Budget, government sources said on Sunday.
 For those earning a salary of Rs 12 lakh and less and availing deductions of up to Rs 2 lakh, the old tax system will be beneficial as the tax outgo will be less compared to the proposed new structure.
 While individuals with an annual salary income of Rs 13 lakh and above will pay Rs 1.43 lakh tax under the proposed tax structure; in the old regime, they would have paid a tax of Rs 1.48 lakh, thereby saving Rs 5,200, a source said.
 On a salary of Rs 14 lakh a year, savings would be Rs 10,400; and for those with an income of Rs 15 lakh and above, savings would be Rs 15,600, provided the deductions claimed are up to Rs 2 lakh.
 In the case of non-salary earners, who do not get a standard deduction of Rs 50,000, the new tax structure is beneficial for those earning Rs 9.5 lakh annually and availing deductions up to Rs 1.5 lakh. They would save Rs 5,200 in their annual income tax outgoing. JD ANZ HRS

New tax structure gives option to save tax: Revenue Secy

Money can buy anything, anywhere. This proved to be true when <keyword id="126105" type="COMPANY" weightage="80" keywordseo="Cognizant-Technology-Solutions">Cognizant Technology Solutions</keyword> spent about Rs 17 crore ($2.7 million) last year trying to influence lawmakers in the US, where lobbying is institutionalized, to agree to its points over the country's new immigration rules. The amount of money was considerably higher than its top three Indian IT rivals – <keyword id="10862" type="CITY" weightage="80" keywordseo="Wipro">Wipro</keyword>, TCS and <keyword id="6354512" type="CITY" weightage="80" keywordseo="Infosys">Infosys</keyword> - put together. 
 According to filings with the US Lobbying Act Disclosure Database, Wipro spent about $460,000 on lobbying in the US, and <keyword id="6357585" type="CITY" weightage="80" keywordseo="Tata-Consultancy-Services">Tata Consultancy Services</keyword> (TCS), India's largest software exporter, about $80,000, while Infosys did not even feature among the top lobbyists. 
 But what was the need for lobbying? Indian IT firms were under tremendous pressure last year against certain immigration proposals that threatened to significantly increase their cost of doing business in the US. Eventually, these provisions were struck or watered down in the final version of the landmark immigration reform that US President <keyword id="15962" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Barack-Obama">Barack Obama</keyword> unveiled in November. 
 
According to an Economic Times report, the need for lobbying also increased because of outcry in the US against outsourcing of jobs to cheaper, third-world destinations such as India. 
 Further, Teaneck, New Jersey-based <keyword id="28721" type="CITY" weightage="80" keywordseo="Cognizant">Cognizant</keyword>, which has most of its 2.17 lakh employees in India, has typically spent more than its Indian peers on exerting influence among US lawmakers. 
 
In 2013, Cognizant spent $2.07 million on trying to influence US lawmakers, while Infosys spent less than $5,000. But later, Infosys was slapped with a $35-million fine by the US government in a case related to visa misuse. 
 
So far this year, Cognizant has spent about $180,000 on lobbying in the US, compared to about $20,000 each by TCS and Wipro, according to data available on Lobbying Disclosure website. 
 
Lobbying is institutionalised in the US where large offshore companies such as TCS and Infosys constantly strive for the support of lawmakers, but they are required to disclose how much they spend on such efforts. 
 
(Image: Indiatimes)

Just to persuade US lawmakers, Cognizant spent $2.7mn last year

It’s the payback time. The common man who bet all he had on a single horse last year, accepted a rather hurried budget that was presented by the ‘fresh’ government last time. This time around, the expectations have risen and clearly so. The ‘aam junta’ of India is now seeking return favours, and the big question is: how ready is the government to meet the aspirations of common man without inviting any retribution? 
 Last year’s budget had reasons to cheer, though the expectations were that the government would deliver a somewhat flowery budget for the general public. Women’s safety was being talked about, senior citizens were being referred to; and most importantly, on personal tax front, individual tax payers had a lot to raise a toast for themselves. Reference to <keyword id="44528" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="FDI">FDI</keyword> in defence was met with partial criticism, but that settled down a little later. 
 
To increase the level of savings, the investment limit under Sec 80C was hiked, encouraging citizens to pool in their resources that would in turn help the government meet its fiscal needs to arrive at the infrastructure investment. 
 
The euphoria that gripped the entire nation during 2014 Lok Sabha elections is very much alive, even to the dismay of those who had expected a cryptic reaction to last year’s hurried budget. 
 
Having rested their hopes on the Modi regime that’s a few months old by now, people are expecting this time the government will address their needs and aspirations. There is also high expectation on policy level changes that have been counterproductive to investments, savings and increased red tapism, which is hindering the growth of industries. A significant change is expected from the government’s side to make the common man’s life better than before. 
 
In the last few months, the government has adopted several measures to correct the policy logjam to speed up reforms on both FDI and structural front. This has resulted in increased participation from private parties, with progressive rejuvenation of investors’ confidence on Indian equities. 
 But, mind you, the common man wouldn’t care about the details, though the devil lies in it. The man on the street isn’t bothered about the fine print. All he wants to know is whether he will be paying more taxes than before, and if they would be reduced this year, and what kind of investments can he make to protect his family from losing money. Of course, the property rates are a concern too, and so is the price of essential commodities with <keyword id="22195" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Inflation">inflation</keyword> refusing to settle down. Things like <keyword id="35050" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="gdp">GDP</keyword> and black money can wait while the ‘aam janta’ understands if rice and dal would cost the same or less, and if the vegetables will turn predictable with their prices. 
 
Last year, and this year too it has been a lucky ride for the government which has reduced petrol and diesel prices. Thank stars that the international oil prices have come down and this is a universal phenomenon. 
 
What’s pinching the middle class is the stagnant price of products. Their price is not reduced because manufacturing costs have remained stable at a high, and have not come down since last year. 
 
Now, when domestic savings rate has been on a regressive fall, it will really hurt the middle class unless the government finds a way of addressing it through the budget. Because, unless the country’s savings rate goes up, it could boost the GDP growth at the best. The government should aim at restoring domestic savings, after having encouraged the common man to pool in his money under various savings headers, through tax incentives. 
 The common expectation of salaried class now is the hike in <keyword id="6354751" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Income-Tax">income tax</keyword> exemption to Rs 3 lakh from Rs 2.5 lakh. This will inturn favour the government by attracting more savings. 
 With every passing year, working women’s participation in country’s <keyword id="34412" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="economy">economy</keyword> is increasing. As an incentive, raising the IT exemption to Rs 4 lakh would again be a productive measure adopted by the government, attracting huge savings from this class. 
 
Addressing senior citizens’ pension funds and extension of health insurance plans to ensure better returns will put the government on good stead. 
 
Image: PIB

Will Modi’s Budget Address Common Man’s Dreams?

The Supertech <keyword id="396781" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="twin-towers" source="Orion">Twin Towers</keyword> in Noida were blown to bits earlier this week. It collapsed to the ground within 12 seconds like a house of cards and turned into rubble. But its story doesn’t end there. <div type="image" title="The Supertech Twin Towers in Noida were blown to bits earlier this week" msid="93936515" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;The Supertech Twin Towers in Noida were blown to bits earlier this week&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> As India saw its largest <keyword id="6367653" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="demolition" source="Orion">demolition</keyword> to date, a sea of dust enveloped the neighbourhood as the mangled iron dropped to the ground. The <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1563814230070947840">demolition</a> followed an <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/thelife/news/two-high-rise-apartment-buildings-that-were-constructed-illegally-have-been-blown-up-by-authorities-in-india/articleshow/93838929.cms">order </a>from the Supreme Court last year after a lengthy legal battle. The towers were found to have violated multiple building regulations and fire safety norms. The nearly 100-metre-high Twin Towers, taller than the city’s Qutub Minar, stood tall in the Emerald court compound for years and it has now left behind<a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/india/families-near-indian-skyscraper-demolition-site-vacate-homes-2022-08-28/"> 80,000</a> tonnes of <keyword id="44114" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="debris" source="Orion">debris</keyword> for the authorities to deal with. <div type="image" title="The towers were found to have violated multiple building regulations and fire safety norms" msid="93936523" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;The towers were found to have violated multiple building regulations and fire safety norms&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> How vast is the sea of debris? The unoccupied Apex and Ceyane towers with 32 and 29 storeys respectively turned into 35,000 cubic metres of rubble, approximately 80,000 tonnes. Before the big blast, all walls and brickwork had been removed, leaving only the concrete exterior. The two towers had 915 flats in total and Supertech stood to have <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/thelife/news/two-high-rise-apartment-buildings-that-were-constructed-illegally-have-been-blown-up-by-authorities-in-india/articleshow/93838929.cms">made </a>₹1,200 crore if all were sold. What happens to the leftovers? As per the <a href="https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/india-has-joined-100-metre-building-demolition-club-foreign-brain-behind-noida-twin-tower-success-3295459">Edifice’s debris management plan</a>, around 50,000 tonnes of the debris has been absorbed in the basements of the erstwhile towers and the remaining of it would be disposed of in 90 days. Some of it will be reused and recycled. As per media <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/thelife/news/two-high-rise-apartment-buildings-that-were-constructed-illegally-have-been-blown-up-by-authorities-in-india/articleshow/93838929.cms">reports</a>, the demolition cost ₹20 crore, a quarter of which will be borne by builders Supertech. Not only did the demolition need a huge investment, but it would also affect the environment. Aftermath of <keyword id="12258952" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Twin-Towers-demolition" source="Orion">Twin Towers demolition</keyword>: High water consumption and air pollution The Ramky group has started the cleaning work to remove the dust and soil accumulated on the ground. Over <a href="https://weather.com/en-IN/india/news/news/2022-08-30-45-lakh-litres-water-used-after-noida-twin-tower-demolition">450 tankers of water </a>have been used to make neighbouring <keyword id="4838195" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="supertech-emerald" source="Orion">Supertech Emerald</keyword> and ATS societies dust-free. Approximately 45 lakh litres of water has been <a href="https://weather.com/en-IN/india/news/news/2022-08-30-45-lakh-litres-water-used-after-noida-twin-tower-demolition">sprayed </a>to control the dust with anti-smog guns. The dust has gathered on trees, windowpanes and roads. If the cleaning work is delayed, this dust could <a href="https://weather.com/en-IN/india/news/news/2022-08-30-45-lakh-litres-water-used-after-noida-twin-tower-demolition">lead </a>to eye irritation, respiratory problems and skin diseases. The Indian authorities used 3,700 kilos or 8,100 pounds of<a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/thelife/news/two-high-rise-apartment-buildings-that-were-constructed-illegally-have-been-blown-up-by-authorities-in-india/articleshow/93838929.cms"> explosives</a> that included solar coal, electric detonators, shock tubes and emulsions. The gunpowder used in this blast, and cement particles are also scattered in the air. As per Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), in Delhi, <a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/construction-dust-open-waste-dumping-top-polluting-activities/articleshow/67445201.cms">construction </a>dust is a top polluter. After the demolition of the Twin Towers, on August 28, Noida’s air quality was marked in yellow, which means it was of poor quality that caused breathing discomfort to people with lungs, heart diseases and asthma. As per the report, very small particles found in dust and smoke (PM10), and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) were the prominent pollutants in Noida. <div type="image" title="Air Quality Index in Noida after Twin Towers demolition" msid="93936580" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;em&amp;gt;Air Quality Index in Noida after Twin Towers demolition &amp;lt;/em&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> What are India’s rules on construction and demolition waste management? Inadequately managed waste disposal can affect the environment. In a bid to repurpose urban waste, the <a href="https://cpcb.nic.in/openpdffile.php?id=TGF0ZXN0RmlsZS8xNTlfMTQ5NTQ0NjM5N19tZWRpYXBob3RvMTkyLnBkZg">Centre </a>released rules and regulations to handle construction and demolition waste in 2016. As per the <a href="https://cpcb.nic.in/openpdffile.php?id=TGF0ZXN0RmlsZS8xNTlfMTQ5NTQ0NjM5N19tZWRpYXBob3RvMTkyLnBkZg">Construction and Demolition</a> (C &amp; D) Waste Management Rules, 2016, authorities are required to use recycled products in the best possible manner and make provision for giving incentives for use of material made out of construction and demolition waste in the construction activity including in non-structural concrete, paving blocks, lower layers of road pavements, colony and rural roads. <a href="https://cpcb.nic.in/displaypdf.php?id=d2FzdGUvQyZEX3J1bGVzXzIwMTYucGRm">CPCB </a>norms include segregating construction debris into steel, concrete and iron and depositing it at a collection centre, a ban on dumping them in the open or on the road, and the mandatory use of water sprinklers to suppress dust and, thereby, pollution. Every waste generator is <a href="https://cpcb.nic.in/displaypdf.php?id=d2FzdGUvQyZEX3J1bGVzXzIwMTYucGRm">required </a>to pay relevant charges for collection, transportation, processing and disposal as notified by the concerned authorities. After segregation, the waste is to be deposited at the collection centre and/or to be handed to an authorised processing facility. The authorities are required to ensure that there’s no littering on roads that could cause traffic. The waste is not to be burned, buried or thrown into drains or water bodies. What happens next? Of the 80,000 tonnes of construction waste left behind by the Twin Towers, 30,000 will be removed and recycled. The remaining 50,000 tonnes will be used to lay the foundation of the proposed <a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/noida/where-twin-towers-stood-a-sprawling-garden-next/articleshow/93843931.cms">garden</a>. However, it won’t be until the next four months that the residents of Emerald court will get to see green pastures in the place of a giant grey rubble. Here's a small video <div type="image" title="Simply Put: What happens to the Twin Towers’ 80,000 tonnes of debris?" msid="93936592" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Simply Put: What happens to the Twin Towers&amp;#8217; 80,000 tonnes of debris? &amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div>

SIMPLY PUT: What happens to the Twin Towers’ 80,000 tonnes of debris?

Till two weeks ago, the name Hardik Patel hardly rang any bell. Post the Patidar convention in Gujarat, in just few days, he met political leaders, both from state and national parties. Hardik Patel had arrived on the national scene, big time. 
 The gun-toting 22-year-old youth from Patidar community is now the face of the unrest that has been brewing in Gujarat for quite a while now. The <keyword id="937702" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Patel-community">Patel community</keyword> wants reservation in Other Backward Caste (OBC) category, claiming that their caste has been deprived of the benefits of development in Modi’s Gujarat. 
 In other words, Patidars, who are considered affluent and hold on some major businesses and diamond trade, say they have not tasted the slice of ‘<keyword id="6406658" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Vibrant-Gujarat">vibrant Gujarat</keyword>’. 
 
The huge convention, which took Gujarat by storm, has indicated the most significant tectonic shift in the national politics as well. Analysts and Modi’s detractors are in a hurry to call this a phase where fissures in Modi’s Gujarat have begun to show. 
 But, what most people have refused to see is the fact that this is a politically motivated congregation that has more to do with dissidence than a rightful demand of being included in <keyword id="149006" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="OBC-category">OBC category</keyword>. Because, as per the Constitution and the existing provisions, Patidars will never make it to the list. 
 
And this is not for the reason that Gujarat has exhausted its reservation quota allocated to the state, which should not cross 50%; but for the reason that it is a challenge to prove with facts and figures that Patidars are indeed a deprived community. 
 
 Patidars are politically strong, well-connected and are highly influential in Gujarat’s businesses. Till the late 1970s, they supported the Congress party. And during 80s-90s, they shifted their loyalties to the Bharatiya Janata Party and decided to bring about a change. They formed a strong support base for the lotus party and transformed the anger against Congress into strength of the BJP. The success saga then rolled out, and there was no stopping it. At least, not until recently. 
 
The huge popularity of Modi sent the political charts soaring. Gujarat, which has always had a huge influence on Indian politics right from the freedom struggle, created a PM out of Modi and sent him to Delhi projecting Gujarat as the best model that the rest of the country needs to follow. 
 
Now with Maha Kranti Rally, <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Gujarat+">Gujarat</a> seems to have stood at cross-roads again. Were those tall claims of development not true? What is the matter with Patidars who are now demanding their ‘slice’ of <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=development">development</a> cake, when they stood mum while the world watched Gujarat turn into a fine example? 
 
Clearly, Hardik is a part of bigger political vendetta against Modi. This is much like a sibling rivalry with one child crying for attention, no sooner does the parent shifts the attention to another baby. It’s a normal phenomenon, and there isn’t anything unnatural about it. 
 
But, understanding the issue in such a simple manner won’t help the situation. Because the Maha Kranti Rally wasn’t anything like that. More than five lakh people came together to demand their OBC status through the rally. Does it mean anything to the state or the Centre? 
 
Yes, it does. Firstly, the claims of depravation undo Modi’s projection of Gujarat. They show him in such poor light that the rest of India will soon begin to get restless and start similar agitations too. How and who funded the rally of five lakh people? It, surely, wasn’t a voluntary act. Hardik, a commerce graduate, who cannot manage much of national branding for himself, extensively travelled the state in the last few years to consolidate people. 
 
JD(U) and <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=AAP">AAP</a> have already supported Hardik unconditionally. This wasn’t tip-toeing into a space of dissidence. This gesture was a clear indication to PM Modi that if he did not pay heed to their demands and take them into confidence, such Hardiks can breed all over the country much to his disdain. 
 
India has managed an electoral feat with single party getting the largest majority only last year. Till then, the country was torn in different directions owing to coalition governments and scams. Time was ripe for the gold to be sown and reaped. Just when this was about to happen, Hardik happened and the road ahead looks a bit too hazy to be clear. 
 
(Image: Indiatimes)

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