QAhmedabad: HC Bars Malls From Levying Parking Fee & More

Here is your roundup of the top stories from Ahmedabad.

Representational image.

(Photo: Wikimedia Commons)

1. High Court: Malls, Multiplexes Can’t Levy Parking Fee

The Gujarat High Court on Wednesday, 10 July, said that malls and multiplexes in Ahmedabad cannot levy parking fees, overturning an earlier order passed by a single judge bench of the HC.

The order was on a petition moved by Alpha One mall, renamed as Ahmedabad One, against the state government, Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) and police inspector of traffic division over parking fee.

The petitioner party argued that initially they had made parking available for free but people visiting other places also started using the mall to park their vehicles, denying parking space to the visitors of the mall, after which they decided to levy a parking fee of Rs 10 for two-wheelers and Rs 20 for four-wheelers.

(Source: Indian Express)

2. ‘State Inter-Caste Marriage Scheme Aided 175 Couples in Ahmedabad’

The Gujarat government told the state Assembly on Wednesday, 10 July that as many as 175 couples benefited from its Dr Savitaben Ambedkar Inter-Caste Marriage promotion Scheme from Ahmedabad district alone, and that in the past one year, a total of Rs 97.50 lakh financial assistance has been availed.

This was with reference to an unstarred question by BJP MLA from Sanand, Kanubhai Patel. He had sought information on beneficiaries and financial assistance under the scheme in Ahmedabad district.

A government press release said the scheme has proved to be effective in eradicating untouchability, encouraging social harmony by providing financial and social security to those opting for inter-caste marriages.

(Source: Indian Express)

3. Congress MLA Disqualification: Gujarat HC Suspends Conviction of Bhaga Barad

The Gujarat High Court on Wednesday, 10 July, overruled an order by the Veraval court last week, and granted stay on the conviction for disqualified Congress MLA from Talala, Bhaga Barad.

Suspending Barad’s conviction, the court of Justice SH Vora clarified that the court “has not examined the merits of the matter at this stage and therefore, all the contentions are kept open to be agitated before the appellate court, who in turn, shall decide the same in accordance with law, uninfluenced by the observations recorded in the impugned order (of July 3, of the Veraval trial court)”.

Barad’s appeal for a stay on conviction was remanded to the Veraval sessions court for a second time by the Gujarat High Court, on June 26, on account of the trial court’s absence of providing a reasoned order to this effect.

4. Monsoon in Lull Phase, No Rain in Next 4 Days

The weather office has ruled out chances of any major rainfall in the state in the next four-five days, owing to the absence of any weather system which would bring rainfall to Gujarat.

Meteorologist Manorama Mohanty told DNA that no major rainfall is expected until the end of the week, except for isolated showers in south Gujarat. "We are not expecting any major rainfall as there is no system prevalent that would bring rainfall to the state. None of the Met centres in the state have recorded any rainfall till 5:30 pm on Wednesday," she said.

The meteorologist also clarified that cloud cover will remain at several places across the state, including Ahmedabad, due to the prevalence of abundant moisture in the atmosphere and convection. Interestingly, due to the lack of rainfall, temperatures have started soaring and that, combined with high relative humidity, is giving a tough time to citizens.

(Source: DNA)

5. With High-Tech Sector Being Wooed, Dholera Industrial City to Get Boost

With finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman's budget announcements, Dholera Industrial City in the state is expected to get a major boost. The zone has been conceived as a hub for large manufacturing projects, especially in high-technology sectors. Officials of Dholera Industrial City Development Ltd (DICDL) said they are in touch with companies.

In her maiden budget speech, the finance minister said, "The government will launch a scheme to invite global companies through transparent and competitive bidding to set up mega-manufacturing plants in sunrise and advanced technology areas such as semi-conductor fabrication, solar photo voltaic cells, lithium storage batteries, solar electric charging infrastructure, computer servers, laptops, etc."

She added that exemptions under the Income Tax Act and other indirect tax benefits would be provided. Dholera has vast tracts of undisputed land and so the synergy is natural, feel state government officials.

(Source: DNA)