NGO: MoEF in rush to clear projects
New Delhi: NGO Centre for Science and Environment on Friday claimed that the Environment Ministry was approving projects in forest areas at an “unprecedented speed” and was giving clearance to projects which were “held in abeyance by diluting clauses”. The NGO also claimed that the trajectory of granting forest clearances has gone up significantly since January this year — whopping rise of more than 70 per cent in clearances. A mere 3 per cent projects have been rejected, the CSE claimed. Environment Ministry official refuted the claim, saying the NGO was speaking about the projects cleared by the Cabinet Committee on Investment (CCI) or by the Group of Ministers.
Swiss firm denies any wrongdoings
New Delhi: In the wake of CBI filing a chargesheet against it for paying bribes to Abhishek Verma, blacklisted Swiss firm Rheinmetall Air Defence on Friday denied any “inappropriate business dealings” saying these allegations lack “factual substance”. “Rheinmetall Air Defence AG (RAD), Zurich, strongly denies accusations of inappropriate business dealings with the Ganton group of companies and Abhishek Verma. Such allegations lack factual substance,” RAD said in a statement.
Poliovirus: WHO team rushes to Beed dist
New Delhi: A WHO team was on Friday rushed to Beed district in Maharashtra, which has reported a case of a 10-month-old boy being infected with the vaccine-derived poliovirus (VDPV) even as the Health Ministry termed it as an “isolated” case. “It seems to be an isolated case. However, a team of WHO officials has gone to the spot,” a top Health Ministry official told PTI. He said the team will collect stool samples and also check the immunity status of the residents of the area from which the case has been reported.
SC refuses to quash FIR against IPS officer
New Delhi: The apex court on Friday made it clear to PP Pandey, a senior IPS officer facing arrest in the Ishrat Jahan fake encounter case, that it will not quash the FIR against him.and others following directions from the Gujarat High Court. “We are unanimous that quashing part cannot be entertained. We will not quash the FIR... It will not be appropriate to deal with it,” a Bench comprising Justices Gyan Sudha Misra and Madan B lokur said.