Recovery of cash: Congress says party in 'no way connected with businesses of Dheeraj Sahu'
New Delhi, Dec 10: The Congress on Saturday distanced itself from its Jharkhand Rajya Sabha MP Dheeraj Sahu after the recovery of a huge amount of cash from a liquor company linked to him.
"The Indian National Congress is in no way connected with the businesses of Dheeraj Sahu, MP. Only he can explain, and should explain, how huge amounts of cash have been reportedly unearthed by the income-tax authorities from his properties," AICC general secretary Communications Jairam Ramesh said in a post on X.
The Income Tax department recovered over Rs 225 crore cash during a series of raids on an Odisha-based distillery group on charges of tax evasion.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday assured the people that the money looted from the public will be returned.
Taking to X, the Prime Minister said, "The countrymen should look at the pile of these notes and then listen to the honest speeches' of their leaders ..Whatever has been looted from the public, every penny will have to be returned, this is Modi's guarantee."
The prime minister also tagged a Hindi newspaper where the cash recovered by the IT department was shown stacked.
The seizure of cash from some premises linked to Congress MP Dhiraj Prasad Sahu in Income Tax department raids shows how the grand old party has kept the tradition of corruption alive generation after generation, the BJP said on Saturday.
A huge pile of cash has been recovered so far in the searches conducted by the Income Tax department against Odisha-based Boudh Distillery Private Limited and entities linked to it. Premises linked to Sahu were also covered as part of the searches, according to officials.
The seizure amount is expected to reach Rs 290 crore, making it the "highest-ever" black money haul by any agency in a single operation, official sources said Saturday.
At a press conference at the BJP headquarters, party leader and Union minister Meenakashi Lekhi said, "The cash seized from Sahu is the biggest haul of cash that has been seized from corrupt persons so far. This shows how the Congress has spread corruption generation after generation and the tradition of corruption has been kept alive."
"Rs 300 crore recovered from just one Congress leader and counting is still on. Imagine if all the corrupt leaders of Congress are kept together, how many notes will be recovered," she said.
BJP's Jharkhand unit president and former chief minister Babulal Marandi has also demanded the arrest of Congress Rajya Sabha MP.
सांसद धीरज साहू के बिज़नेस से भारतीय राष्ट्रीय कांग्रेस का कोई लेना-देना नहीं है। सिर्फ़ वही बता सकते हैं, और उन्हें यह स्पष्ट करना भी चाहिए, कि कैसे आयकर अधिकारियों द्वारा कथित तौर पर उनके ठिकानों से इतनी बड़ी मात्रा में कैश बरामद किया जा रहा है।
— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) December 9, 2023
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Karnataka Maritime Board announces plans for Mangaluru Water Metro Project
Mangaluru (Karnataka), Nov 4: After being endowed with multi connectivity facilities like three national highways, port and airport, Mangaluru city is now looking at a significant move towards sustainable urban mobility as the Karnataka Maritime Board (KMB) has announced plans for the Mangaluru Water Metro Project (MWMP), officials said on Monday.
This ambitious initiative aims to transform public transportation in the state, utilising National Waterways to connect areas along the Nethravathi (NW-74) and Gurupura (NW-43) rivers, they said.
Set to become India's second-largest water transport system after Kochi, the project promises an eco-friendly, economical and efficient mode of travel, the officials said.
According to officials, the MWMP will connect isolated communities from Bajal to Maravoor, enhancing accessibility and promoting the holistic development of these regions. The initiative is expected to boost local livelihoods and improve the standard of living through integrated transport networks.
According to the project report available with PTI, the MWMP will be rolled out in phases, with the initial stretch covering 30 kilometres along the Nethravathi and Gurupura river backwaters.
The priority route, beginning at Bajal on the Nethravathi and extending to the Maravoor Bridge on the Gurupura, will feature around 17 modern Metro stations.
Key locations such as Someshwara Temple, Ullal and the New Mangalore Port are included in the proposed route. State-of-the-art electric and diesel catamaran boats will be deployed, equipped with essential amenities to ensure a high standard of comfort and operational efficiency.
A comprehensive Feasibility Report (FR) will assess the project's viability, presenting a detailed cost-benefit analysis, market potential, operational strategies and environmental considerations.
"The report will objectively evaluate the project's merits and challenges, providing crucial information for decision-makers, stakeholders and investors," they said.
Officials in the port and fisheries subdivision told PTI that key areas of analysis has been based on assessing the potential to decongest old port areas, exploring the feasibility of cargo movement using Roll-on/Roll-off (Ro-Ro) water metros, examining water level variations influenced by tidal flows, integration with feeder services to ensure seamless last-mile connectivity, demand forecasts over a 25-year period, based on extensive socio-economic research of usage and utility of the MWMP.
The project's Terms of Reference (ToR) emphasise sustainable development, involving thorough site identification, user demand assessments and environmental impact studies. Comprehensive surveys such as LIDAR mapping, bathymetric studies and topographical analysis will ensure accurate planning and implementation, the officials told.
Furthermore, technical collaborations with national institutes of repute will support studies on wave tranquillity, vessel height clearance and infrastructure recommendations for jetties and repair facilities, they said.
A detailed environmental monitoring programme will assess air and water quality, noise levels and aquatic biodiversity in line with Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MOEF&CC) guidelines, the officials added.
The officials of the Maritime Board said the MWMP promises significant economic and environmental benefits, from easing traffic congestion to reducing air pollution. The project will also explore non-fare revenue streams and develop models to ensure financial sustainability.
A socio-economic impact assessment will measure the project's contribution to regional development, backed by projected revenue from passenger fares and ancillary services, a senior official said.
The Board also aims at championing cleaner and greener transportation and to set a precedent for sustainable urban mobility, positioning Mangaluru as a progressive city that leverages its waterways, he added.
