Odd-even 2nd Round for 2 Weeks from April 15
The odd-even formula to curb pollution in the national capital is set to make a comeback next month, for two weeks starting April 15. The Delhi government on Monday announced details of the rerun of the scheme under which vehicles of odd and even numbers will be allowed to ply on alternate days. State Transport Minister Gopal Rai said, “Exemptions for the scheme will remain the same – two-wheelers, vehicles with judges and other VIPs, women drivers, and those ferrying the sick. A final notification will be issued on April 8.” The fine of `2,000 for violating the rule is likely to remain unchanged. School buses will not be used this time. Last time, schools were closed and school buses were roped in to boost public transit.
ED Attaches Bhujbal’s Mill, Land worth `55 cr
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Monday attached Girna sugar mill and 290
acres of prime land worth `55 crore at Malegaon in Nashik in connection with its money-laundering probe against NCP leader and former PWD minister Chhagan Bhujbal. The agency issued a provisional attachment order, under the PMLA, against the two assets which are owned by Bhujbal’s firm Armstrong Infrastructure. The ED has also put prohibitory orders on the factory. This is the fourth attachment order issued by the ED and it has already attached assets, both movable and immovable, worth `280 crore earlier.
Patna
Oven Wapsi Prompts CM to Drop Gift Programme
Apparently embarrassed by the return of gifts by two senior BJP leaders in protest against the non-payment of salaries to lakhs of teachers, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar indicated the scrapping of the gifts for legislators. “If the people feel so offended by gifts, then this practice should be discontinued, but there shouldn’t be any politics over it,” Nitish said. Earlier former deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi and State BJP chief Mangal Pandey returned all seven gifts, including a microwave oven, at a counter at the legislative council. A few more BJP legislators are also likely to return their gifts.