NMPT gets first place among 13 ports for cleanliness
‘The port registers Rs 190.55 crore net profit in 2017-18’
Mangaluru, July 31: Nava Mangaluru Port Trust (NMPT) president MT Krishna Babu said that after paying Rs 124.81 crore tax, the port has recorded a net profit of Rs 190.55 crore during 2017-18 financial year.
Speaking to reporters here on Tuesday, Krishna Babu said that during 2017-18, the port had handled 42.06 million metric tons goods, which is 5.28 per cent more compared to 2016-17.
First place in cleanliness
The NMPT has got the first place among 13 ports in the country under the swachh Bharat campaign for cleanliness. From the solar power generation units adopted in the NMPT, total 840 kv power was being generated due to which, more than 95 per cent of the total power demand of the port was being supplied from solar energy. This project was considered under the Swachh Bharat campaign, he said.
During 2017-18, total 24,258 people have visited through 22 ships and in 2016-17, total 30,246 had visited through 28 ships. Compared to this year, last year had more visitors and ships. The NMPT has handled 23.719 lakh tons iron ore, 23.999 lakh tons processed iron ore, 41.717 lakh tone coal, 17.434 lakh tons through containers and 22.09 lakh ton LPG. Compared to last year, this year the quantity of coal being supplied from Udupi Power Plant and crude oil to MRPL has come down. Comprehensively, progress was achieved in goods transport, he said.
Sand from Malaysia
As per the decision to import sand from Malaysia in order to curb sand mining in the district, total 1.50 lakh ton sand was imported from Malaysia during 2017-18, he said.
Two mechanized berths to be completed in 2019
The construction of two mechanized berths would be completed in 2019. Currently, the berth number 16 was being developed in private-public partnership, he said.
Steps to cut down expenses
The NMPT has taken steps to cut down the goods transportation and port expenses. With the cutting of additional payment to workers other than their salaries, the burden on the customers of the port would come down. Steps would be taken to give only salary to the workers of the port, he said.
Project for connecting road, railway line
A project report was prepared to develop a connecting road and a railway line to transport the goods inside the port. Under this programme, existing facilities would be upgraded. In 2017-18, the NMPT has spent Rs 2,60,66,000 for CSR funds to invest for community and public works, Krishna Babu said.
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Delhi court acquits husband, in-laws in dowry death case
New Delhi (PTI): A Delhi court has acquitted a man and his parents in a dowry death case, saying the prosecution failed to establish allegations of cruelty or dowry harassment against them.
Additional Sessions Judge Deepak Wason acquitted Kartik Sharma, his father Ravi Dutt Sharma, and his mother Veena Sharma in the case of Shivali Sharma, who died by suicide in March 2023.
The accused were facing trial under Sections 498A (cruelty by husband or relatives) and 304B (dowry death) of the IPC.
In the April 1 order, the court said, “There is nothing on record to establish the culpability of the accused persons in the commission of the offences charged against them. The prosecution has failed to prove the charge beyond a reasonable doubt.”
It held that while the death was unnatural and occurred within seven years of marriage, the key elements of dowry death, particularly proof of harassment connected to dowry demands, remained unproven.
According to the prosecution, the deceased's family alleged she was subjected to harassment and repeated dowry demands, including cash and a vehicle, which allegedly drove her to commit suicide.
The police registered the FIR after her parents made statements before an executive magistrate.
However, during the trial, key prosecution witnesses, including the deceased's mother, father, brother, uncle and grandmother, did not support the allegations in the court.
They consistently stated that Shivali was living a "peaceful and happy" married life and denied any dowry demand or harassment by the accused.
The witnesses further attributed her death to depression caused by her child's serious medical condition.
The court noted that the testimonies of close relatives, considered the most material witnesses, revealed no evidence of cruelty or dowry-related harassment “soon before her death,” a crucial requirement to establish an offence under Section 304B IPC.
The court observed that the medical evidence confirmed death due to asphyxia caused by hanging.
Giving the benefit of the doubt, the court said this alone was insufficient to implicate the accused without corroborative evidence of cruelty.
