1. Gujarat Bypolls: 53.68% Turnout in Six Assembly Seats
A 53.68 per cent turnout was recorded in the byelections to six Assembly constituencies in Gujarat on Monday. Polling for the six seats spread across various districts was held between 8 am and 6 pm. Counting of votes will be taken up on October 24.
The bypolls were held for Tharad in Banaskantha district, Radhanpur in Patan, Kheralu in Mehsana, Bayad in Arvalli, Amraiwadi in Ahmedabad and Lunawada in Mahisagar district.
By 6 pm, Tharad recorded the highest turnout of 68.95 percent, while Amraiwadi, an urban seat of Ahmedabad city, recorded the lowest 34.75 per cent polling.
(Source: Business Standard)
2. BSF Arrests Two Pak Fishermen, Seizes Their Boat
The Border Security Force (BSF) on Monday arrested two Pakistani fishermen and seized their wooden fishing boat from the Harami Nullah creek area off the Gujarat coast.
The incident took place on Monday evening, 21 October when a BSF team was patrolling near the creek area, an official in the BSF said in a statement, adding that a thorough search operation in the area has been initiated after the incident.
"It is to inform you that on 21.10.19 at about 1710 hrs, a creek patrolling party of Border Security Force while patrolling in the area of Harami Nullah, Seized 01 wooden Pak fishing boat (single-engine fitted) and apprehended 02 Pak fishermen," the statement read.
(Source: Business Standard)
3. Submit Report on Manhole Deaths Today: Gujarat High Court to State
A day after the two labourers died inside a manhole in Ahmedabad, the Gujarat High Court on Monday, 21 October ordered the state government to submit the follow-up in the case by Tuesday. It also sought an update from the government on other cases, including compensation to the kin of the deceased in similar cases since 2016.
The state government is expected to file its report of action taken so far under the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013, by Tuesday, 22 October.
The division bench headed by Justice SR Brahmbhatt said in its order, “It appears that despite pendency of the matter and assurances to the court, the unfortunate situation still prevails under which on one pretext or the other the workmen have to risk their lives. We are at pain to note that there is absolute lack of sensitivity… else this would not have happened. It goes without saying that the follow up, as prescribed under the Act needs to be placed on record…”
(Source: Indian Express)
4. Vadodara: 6 Injured in Blast at Blower Manufacturing Company
Six people were injured after a boiler exploded at a blower manufacturing company, Chemshell company in Vadodara’s GIDC- Makarpura area, on Monday evening, 21 October. Of the six injured, two are said to be in a critical condition while others have sustained burn injuries but are said to be in a stable condition. All the injured have been moved to SSG hospital for treatment.
Those injured have been identified as Bhaskar Nath (36), owner of the company and five other employees, Khumansinh Bhabhor (32), Subhash Chitre (33), Rajesh Jain (35), Vishwas Sol (37), Srikant Borse (38). Bhabhor and Chitre are said to be in a critical condition.
As per preliminary information, the accident took place after a boiler exploded during a routine testing of the machineries at the company. The said boiler was a part of the machinery being used to extract bio oil from single-use plastic. The machine, with a capacity of 100 litre liquid plastic, exploded due to an increase in pressure created from the vapourised form, fire officials said.
(Source: Indian Express)
5. Rajkot: Congress Alleges Corruption in Plan to Allot Land in Nana Mava
Leader of Opposition, Vashram Sagathiya Monday demanded that Rajkot municipal commissioner should not grant administrative approval to a proposal adopted by the general board of Rajkot Municipal Corporation to allot more than 600 square metre (sqm) land to a person from a plot reserved for socially and economically weaker section (SEWS) in Nana Mava area of the city.
He also threatened to move court if the commissioner gives his nod. The general board at its meeting held on Saturday, 19 October approved a proposal of the town planning department of the RMC to allot around 594 sqm land to Gean Singh Ahluwalia from plot No. 784 of Town Planning (TP) Scheme-2 (Nana Mava).
The town planning department moved the proposal after repeated pleas by Ahluwalia that he had not been allotted any land against around 650 sqm land he owned earlier which had been reserved by the government while finalising the Nana Mava TP scheme in 1996.
(Source: Indian Express)
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