Business
TN power utility turns to non-forest Coal block in Odisha to bypass eco hurdle

The Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Company (TANGEDCO) will soon float a tender to develop the Chandrabila coal block in Odisha.
The tender, according to sources in TANGEDCO will be floated by the end of February.
TANGEDCO will be using the coal mines from this block for its power projects such as the 800 MW North Chennai Thermal power station Stage -3. The coal will be used also for the 1320 MW Ennore SEZ power station.
The Centre had allocated the Chandrabila coal block in Odisha to TANGEDCO in 2016 and the state-owned company should have completed the development of coal mines at Chandrabila before 2021.
However, the lack of clearance from the Union Ministry of Environment it could not be taken forward as environment clearance was required for forest areas that were not permitted by the Ministry.
Interestingly, two tenders were floated earlier but there were no takers due to the low price of the tender. However, TANGEDCO officials told IANS that this time around, the bidders will be allowed to quote the price that suits them to develop the project.
TANGEDCO has now devised plans to develop part of the Chandrabila coal block that is not within the forest area and for this tenders will be floated.
It is to be noted that the Chandrabila Coal block is spread across 9.32 square kilometers with a total geographical reserve of coal of 896.16 tonnes. Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Company have been allowed to mine 10 million tonnes per year for a period of 35 years.
The non-forest area of the Chandrabila coal mine is around 5 sq km out of the 9.32 sq km.
National
Thackeray brothers to address joint victory rally today to celebrate Maha govt’s turnaround on Hindi from Grade 1

Mumbai, July 5: Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray will on Saturday participate in a joint victory rally organised by the Shiv Sena (UBT) and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), in Worli Dome to celebrate the MahaYuti government’s decision to withdraw two government resolutions on the introduction of Hindi from Classes 1 to 5.
It will be the first joint rally of the Thackeray cousin brothers Uddhav and Raj, after the split in the Shiv Sena in 2005.
Amid talks of coming together ahead of the upcoming BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections slated to be held within the next six months, Uddhav and Raj have decided to jointly rake up the issues of Marathi language and ‘Marathi Manoos’ in a serious bid to corner the BJP-led MahaYuti government in Maharashtra.
Both the parties have decided not to display party flags and banners but the Shiv Sainiks and ManSainiks have worked hard to put up a major show of strength on Saturday.
Uddhav and Raj Thackeray will be seen on the same platform as they will reach the joint rally venue at 11.30 A.M.
Before they speak, the Communist leader Prakash Reddy, the Peasants and Workers Party of India leader Jayant Patil and NCP (SP) leader and party MP Supriya Sule will address the rally.
Incidentally, NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar has conveyed his inability to be part of the joint rally due to prior engagements but said his party is against the imposition of Hindi in Maharashtra.
The senior Pawar chose to stay away so that the focus will remain on both the Thackeray brothers.
The Congress has decided not to join the rally especially due to differences with Raj Thackeray’s protests against Hindi speaking people, especially North Indians.
Shiv Sena (UBT) and MNS sources said that if the Congress decides to join at the last moment the party representative will be given an opportunity to address the joint rally.
Big screens have been installed inside and outside the joint rally venue as the organisers expect a big turnout.
Both the Thackeray cousins have said that the issue of imposition of Hindi is not yet over as the government’s move to appoint the Narendra Jadhav committee is meaningless and they will continue to oppose the introduction of Hindi.
National
NDA to contest Bihar polls under Nitish Kumar’s leadership: Jitan Ram Manjhi

Mumbai, July 4: Union Minister and Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) leader Jitan Ram Manjhi on Friday confirmed that the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) will contest the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections under the leadership of Chief Minister and Janata Dal-United leader Nitish Kumar.
“All the leaders of the NDA have agreed that with five parties in the alliance, including ours, the Bihar elections scheduled for November 2025 will be fought under the leadership of Nitish Kumar. Traditionally, the leader under whom the elections are contested becomes the Chief Minister. So naturally, Nitish Kumar will be our face for the CM post. There is no doubt – we are confident of winning under his leadership,” Manjhi said.
Asked whether he harbours any desire to become Chief Minister again, the 79-year-old leader ruled out the possibility due to his age and current responsibilities.
“As far as age is concerned, I had earlier decided not to be active in electoral politics beyond 75. Still, due to certain circumstances, I contested in 2015 and again in 2020. But now, I am not in a position to contest elections,” he added.
Manjhi said that he “doesn’t consider myself eligible for the Chief Ministerial post”.
“PM (Narendra) Modi has entrusted me with ministerial responsibilities, and I am fully committed to fulfilling them. Even at this age, I am not sitting idle—I’m working hard to strengthen my department. As for the Chief Minister’s post, I do not consider myself eligible anymore. I won’t be able to dedicate the time and energy required, so I have no such ambition,” he said.
He further reaffirmed his party’s unwavering commitment to the NDA, highlighting its contribution and influence within the alliance.
“Hindustani Awam Morcha has four MLAs, one MLC, a minister, and a Lok Sabha member. We have always stood firmly with the NDA and continue to do so. In Bihar, the focus is on development, and under Nitish Kumar’s leadership, the state has seen notable progress in electricity supply, law and order, and education. At the national level, PM Modi has emerged as a towering figure who has transformed India’s image both at home and abroad,” he said.
Manjhi emphasised the power of the “double-engine government” and its appeal to voters across Bihar.
“People here believe that a government led by both Nitish Kumar and PM Modi is best for the state’s future. Every child in Bihar is now thinking that it’s time to support the NDA again. We are united and ready to move forward,” he said.
Crime
Kolkata law college rape: Monojit Mishra made 16 calls in 3 hours, police probe details

Kolkata, July 4: Monojit Mishra, one of the three accused and reportedly the main architect in the law college student gang-rape case, made as many as 16 calls in three hours after the crime incident took place on the evening of June 25.
Those call details are currently being examined by the investigating sleuths, and at the same time, the process of interrogation of those with whom Mishra conversed during that period has started.
The tower locations of the mobile phones of the three accused, namely Mishra, Jaib Ahmed and Pramit Mukhopadhyay, during that period are being tracked by the investigating officials to have an idea of the places they went to immediately after the crime.
Sources said that one of the calls that Mishra made from his mobile phone during that period was to a member of the governing body of the same college. Although the governing body member concerned has already been questioned by the investigating officials, the latter are not willing to disclose anything on the interrogation findings for the sake of the investigation.
This week, the investigation into the case was handed over to the Detective Department of the city police, which has started the probe process by adding new sections against the three prime accused persons.
Before Detective Department took over the charge of the investigation, the three accused persons were charged under sections on rape. However, with the Detective Department taking over the investigation sections relating to abduction and causing injuries with weapons were also slapped on the three.
On Friday morning, around 3 a.m., the sleuths of the detective department reached the campus of the law college in Kolkata along with the three accused for reenactment of the incident.
Sources said that the findings of the reenactment process will be cross-checked with the statement given by the victim soon after the event of sexual harassment took place last week. Earlier, a member of the special investigation team, which was initially investigating the matter, had gone to the college campus with the victim for reenactment purposes.
The woman, a student of the South Calcutta Law College, was allegedly raped by two senior students and an alumnus of the institute in the guard’s room on June 25. Apart from the three, the college guard has been arrested in the case so far.
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