News Analysis India

Tag: demolition

  • ‘Illegal’ parts of homes of 3 Muslims razed in MP after being accused of ‘spitting’ on procession

    By Online Desk

    Local authorities in Ujjain on Wednesday demolished alleged ‘illegal’ portions of homes belonging to three youth accused of ‘spitting’ water on a religious procession, PTI reported. Media reports state that the three men are Muslims.

    A video shared by Hindutva Watch shows drummers accompanying the local administration and police during the course of the demolition in the Madhya Pradesh town.

    Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Akash Bhuria told Indian Express that the police had informed the Ujjain Municipal Corporation and the Revenue Department about the accused. Following this, the local administration had found “illegal constructions in their houses” and that they “were removed after making announcements to allow the residents to remove their goods”, the cop told PTI.

    The properties are located at Daba Road, Tanki Chowk and near Gold Bakery, the ASP said.

    The cop told IE that traditionally, drummers were always present with the police to publicly announce demolition actions.

    Location: Ujjain, Madhya PradeshAmid drum beats and police presence, local authorities demolished the home of three Muslim brothers for allegedly spitting on a religious procession of the majority community. pic.twitter.com/e9AnXuWpdf
    — HindutvaWatch (@HindutvaWatchIn) July 20, 2023
    As per a complaint filed with the police, some people, who were part of the ‘Baba Mahakal Sawari’ procession in Ujjain on July 17, reportedly saw a few youngsters standing on the balcony of a building and “spitting water on them.”

    Those part of the procession shot a video and lodged a complaint, police said. A case under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) for disturbing communal harmony has been registered against the trio.

    Meanwhile, The Quint spoke to an Ujjain-based police officer on Tuesday who said the ‘spitting’ was not intentional, as found by their investigation. “The boys were hanging out on the terrace, and one of them happened to have a habit of spitting every now and then, like many other people,” he said. 

    The cop told The Quint that there was a green-coloured cloth laid as well as a window visor in the house where the trio were standing which would have prevented the spit from reaching the road below. 

    Two of the accused are minors and brothers. They were sent to a juvenile home after they were produced in a court on Tuesday while the third accused has been remanded to judicial custody.

    The video of the incident had earlier led to protests by Hindu outfits at Kharakua police station, PTI reported.

    In January this year, Human Rights Watch expressed concern over increasing home demolitions, stating that although authorities “tried to justify the demolitions by claiming the structures were illegal”, the demolitions seemed to be “intended to be collective punishment for Muslims.”

    (With PTI inputs)

    Local authorities in Ujjain on Wednesday demolished alleged ‘illegal’ portions of homes belonging to three youth accused of ‘spitting’ water on a religious procession, PTI reported. Media reports state that the three men are Muslims.

    A video shared by Hindutva Watch shows drummers accompanying the local administration and police during the course of the demolition in the Madhya Pradesh town.

    Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Akash Bhuria told Indian Express that the police had informed the Ujjain Municipal Corporation and the Revenue Department about the accused. Following this, the local administration had found “illegal constructions in their houses” and that they “were removed after making announcements to allow the residents to remove their goods”, the cop told PTI.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    The properties are located at Daba Road, Tanki Chowk and near Gold Bakery, the ASP said.

    The cop told IE that traditionally, drummers were always present with the police to publicly announce demolition actions.

    Location: Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh
    Amid drum beats and police presence, local authorities demolished the home of three Muslim brothers for allegedly spitting on a religious procession of the majority community. pic.twitter.com/e9AnXuWpdf
    — HindutvaWatch (@HindutvaWatchIn) July 20, 2023
    As per a complaint filed with the police, some people, who were part of the ‘Baba Mahakal Sawari’ procession in Ujjain on July 17, reportedly saw a few youngsters standing on the balcony of a building and “spitting water on them.”

    Those part of the procession shot a video and lodged a complaint, police said. A case under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) for disturbing communal harmony has been registered against the trio.

    Meanwhile, The Quint spoke to an Ujjain-based police officer on Tuesday who said the ‘spitting’ was not intentional, as found by their investigation. “The boys were hanging out on the terrace, and one of them happened to have a habit of spitting every now and then, like many other people,” he said. 

    The cop told The Quint that there was a green-coloured cloth laid as well as a window visor in the house where the trio were standing which would have prevented the spit from reaching the road below. 

    Two of the accused are minors and brothers. They were sent to a juvenile home after they were produced in a court on Tuesday while the third accused has been remanded to judicial custody.

    The video of the incident had earlier led to protests by Hindu outfits at Kharakua police station, PTI reported.

    In January this year, Human Rights Watch expressed concern over increasing home demolitions, stating that although authorities “tried to justify the demolitions by claiming the structures were illegal”, the demolitions seemed to be “intended to be collective punishment for Muslims.”

    (With PTI inputs)

  • Yogi government’s action to run bulldozers in Haridwar sparks outrage among Akhara saints

    Express News Service

    DEHRADUN: Bairagi saints in Haridwar on Thursday condemned the demolition of their huts by the Uttar Pradesh irrigation department on the pretext of removing encroachments and threatened to go on an indefinite hunger strike if the reconstruction is not done by February 13. In the meeting held at Haridwar Nirmohi Akhara, the saints living in Bairagi Camp area also demanded the Uttar Pradeshgovernment take action against the officials concerned. The saints also threatened to file a contempt of court case against the officials.

    Addressing a large number of saints, Mahant Baba Balram Das Hathyogi of Digambar Akhara said, “Bairagi Camp land is Kumbh mela land reserved for Bairagi Akharas where all the three Bairagi Akharas – Shri Panch Nirmahi Ani Akhara, Shri Panch Nirvani Ani Akhara and Shri Panch Digambar Ani Akhara- are held. But the Uttar Pradesh irrigation department repeatedly harassed saints in the name of encroachment which will not be accepted”.

    Haridwar District Magistrate Vinay Shankar Pandey told The New Indian Express, “The matter is completely related to the Uttar Pradesh government. Since the property is located in Uttarakhand, we provide them police assistance at the same time when help is sought from Uttarakhand in terms of law and order”.

    Uttar Pradesh Irrigation Department SDO ShivKumar Kaushik told this newspaper, “UP owns 1500 hectares of land in Uttarakhand. 700 hectares of land is transferred to Uttarakhand during each Kumbh Mela, which is automatically transferred to Uttar Pradesh after the completion of the mela”. “After the Kumbh Mela ended in 2021, there are some illegal occupants still present on it, who are being duly removed”, added SDO Kaushik.

    “On a PIL filed in the Uttarakhand High Court by Congress leader Dharamveer Saini regarding encroachment at Bairagi camp, the irrigation department had prepared a list of 658 families which were to be removed in the name of illegal encroachment,” local councillor Sachin Agarwal said. “These three akharas are among the 658 families against which the saints had appealed in the high court. He got a stay order from the court, a copy of which was also made available to the Irrigation Department of Uttar Pradesh several days ago.

    Mahant Vishnu Das Maharaj of Nirmohi Akhara said, “It is not yet decided whether this land belongs to the Uttar Pradesh Irrigation Department or the Uttarakhand Irrigation Department, but the UP officials are harassing the saints”. He also alleged, “Hundreds of illegal permanent constructions in bairagi camp are not being removed and only Bairagi Akharas are being targeted”.

    DEHRADUN: Bairagi saints in Haridwar on Thursday condemned the demolition of their huts by the Uttar Pradesh irrigation department on the pretext of removing encroachments and threatened to go on an indefinite hunger strike if the reconstruction is not done by February 13. In the meeting held at Haridwar Nirmohi Akhara, the saints living in Bairagi Camp area also demanded the Uttar Pradesh
    government take action against the officials concerned. The saints also threatened to file a contempt of court case against the officials.

    Addressing a large number of saints, Mahant Baba Balram Das Hathyogi of Digambar Akhara said, “Bairagi Camp land is Kumbh mela land reserved for Bairagi Akharas where all the three Bairagi Akharas – Shri Panch Nirmahi Ani Akhara, Shri Panch Nirvani Ani Akhara and Shri Panch Digambar Ani Akhara- are held. But the Uttar Pradesh irrigation department repeatedly harassed saints in the name of encroachment which will not be accepted”.

    Haridwar District Magistrate Vinay Shankar Pandey told The New Indian Express, “The matter is completely related to the Uttar Pradesh government. Since the property is located in Uttarakhand, we provide them police assistance at the same time when help is sought from Uttarakhand in terms of law and order”.

    Uttar Pradesh Irrigation Department SDO ShivKumar Kaushik told this newspaper, “UP owns 1500 hectares of land in Uttarakhand. 700 hectares of land is transferred to Uttarakhand during each Kumbh Mela, which is automatically transferred to Uttar Pradesh after the completion of the mela”. “After the Kumbh Mela ended in 2021, there are some illegal occupants still present on it, who are being duly removed”, added SDO Kaushik.

    “On a PIL filed in the Uttarakhand High Court by Congress leader Dharamveer Saini regarding encroachment at Bairagi camp, the irrigation department had prepared a list of 658 families which were to be removed in the name of illegal encroachment,” local councillor Sachin Agarwal said. “These three akharas are among the 658 families against which the saints had appealed in the high court. He got a stay order from the court, a copy of which was also made available to the Irrigation Department of Uttar Pradesh several days ago.

    Mahant Vishnu Das Maharaj of Nirmohi Akhara said, “It is not yet decided whether this land belongs to the Uttar Pradesh Irrigation Department or the Uttarakhand Irrigation Department, but the UP officials are harassing the saints”. He also alleged, “Hundreds of illegal permanent constructions in bairagi camp are not being removed and only Bairagi Akharas are being targeted”.

  • Joshimath sinking: Demolition of unsafe buildings resumes; buildings with cracks rise to 863

    By PTI

    DEHRADUN: The demolition of ‘unsafe’ buildings in subsidence-hit Joshimath in Uttarakhand resumed on Saturday as the weather improved, even as the number of buildings with cracks rose to 863, officials said.

    They also said the discharge of water near JP colony here reduced to 136 LPM.

    “The discharge of water there (JP Colony) stood initially at 540 LPM. A substantial reduction in this is a positive sign,” Ranjit Kumar Sinha, secretary, Disaster Management told reporters here.

    Water has been flowing from a point near the colony since January 2.0

    Sinha said cracks have been noticed in 863 buildings so far and 274 families have been evacuated to temporary relief centres.

    “An amount of Rs 3.62 crore has been distributed to 242 affected families as interim relief so far,” he said.

    Meanwhile, drilling machines and bulldozers were back in the town to dismantle hotels — Malari Inn and Mount View — and the PWD’s inspection bungalow as the weather cleared Saturday morning.

    The demolition exercise had been temporarily halted on Friday due to bad weather following heavy snowfall and rain, adding to the woes of people living in temporary relief camps.

    “Providing relief to the affected people in Joshimath is among the top priorities of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami at present,” an official release here said.

    Adequate arrangements have been made at the temporary relief centres for the affected people to protect them from cold.

    Heaters and blowers have been supplied to 76 families, thermal wears to 110 people, hot water bottles to 175, woollen caps to 516, warm socks to 280 and shawls to 196 people, it said. Foodgrain kits have been supplied to 771 people, blankets to 601 and daily use kits to 114 people, the release added.

    Joshimath, the gateway to famous pilgrimage sites like Badrinath and Hemkund Sahib and international skiing destination Auli, appears on the edge of a precipice with gaping cracks appearing on buildings, roads and public facilities. The state government faces an uphill task of providing relief and rehabilitating the affected families in brutal winter.

    ALSO READ | Joshimath sinking: Will follow experts’ opinion on crisis, says U’khand govt

    DEHRADUN: The demolition of ‘unsafe’ buildings in subsidence-hit Joshimath in Uttarakhand resumed on Saturday as the weather improved, even as the number of buildings with cracks rose to 863, officials said.

    They also said the discharge of water near JP colony here reduced to 136 LPM.

    “The discharge of water there (JP Colony) stood initially at 540 LPM. A substantial reduction in this is a positive sign,” Ranjit Kumar Sinha, secretary, Disaster Management told reporters here.

    Water has been flowing from a point near the colony since January 2.0

    Sinha said cracks have been noticed in 863 buildings so far and 274 families have been evacuated to temporary relief centres.

    “An amount of Rs 3.62 crore has been distributed to 242 affected families as interim relief so far,” he said.

    Meanwhile, drilling machines and bulldozers were back in the town to dismantle hotels — Malari Inn and Mount View — and the PWD’s inspection bungalow as the weather cleared Saturday morning.

    The demolition exercise had been temporarily halted on Friday due to bad weather following heavy snowfall and rain, adding to the woes of people living in temporary relief camps.

    “Providing relief to the affected people in Joshimath is among the top priorities of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami at present,” an official release here said.

    Adequate arrangements have been made at the temporary relief centres for the affected people to protect them from cold.

    Heaters and blowers have been supplied to 76 families, thermal wears to 110 people, hot water bottles to 175, woollen caps to 516, warm socks to 280 and shawls to 196 people, it said. Foodgrain kits have been supplied to 771 people, blankets to 601 and daily use kits to 114 people, the release added.

    Joshimath, the gateway to famous pilgrimage sites like Badrinath and Hemkund Sahib and international skiing destination Auli, appears on the edge of a precipice with gaping cracks appearing on buildings, roads and public facilities. The state government faces an uphill task of providing relief and rehabilitating the affected families in brutal winter.

    ALSO READ | Joshimath sinking: Will follow experts’ opinion on crisis, says U’khand govt

  • Around 500 police, traffic personnel deployed in Noida ahead of twin towers demolition

    By PTI

    NOIDA: Around 500 police and traffic personnel besides the Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) have been deployed as the area around Supertech’s twin towers here was put out of bounds for civilians ahead of Sunday’s planned demolition of the structures.

    Road diversions were put in place early in the morning, as evacuation of all residents from the two adjoining housing societies of Emerlad Court and ATS Village in Sector 93A was completed around 8 am, police officials said.

    Over 3,700 kg of explosives has been loaded into the twin towers, which are scheduled to be imploded at 2.30 pm, and an area of roughly 500 square metres around them has been converted into an exclusion zone, where no human, vehicle or animal is allowed.

    DCP Rajesh S, who is also the police’s incident commander for overseeing the evacuation exercise, said, “Around 400 civil police personnel were on demolition duty Sunday.”

    DCP (Traffic) Ganesh Saha said separately 150 to 200 traffic personnel were also deployed across Noida at all crucial junctions to facilitate movement of vehicles in view of restrictions and diversions on several routes.

    Saha said his department was keeping commuters informed about the changes and Google Maps was showing real-time updates on diversions. “In case of any doubt, people can call up Noida traffic helpline number 99710 09001 for updates,” the officer said.

    NOIDA: Around 500 police and traffic personnel besides the Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) have been deployed as the area around Supertech’s twin towers here was put out of bounds for civilians ahead of Sunday’s planned demolition of the structures.

    Road diversions were put in place early in the morning, as evacuation of all residents from the two adjoining housing societies of Emerlad Court and ATS Village in Sector 93A was completed around 8 am, police officials said.

    Over 3,700 kg of explosives has been loaded into the twin towers, which are scheduled to be imploded at 2.30 pm, and an area of roughly 500 square metres around them has been converted into an exclusion zone, where no human, vehicle or animal is allowed.

    DCP Rajesh S, who is also the police’s incident commander for overseeing the evacuation exercise, said, “Around 400 civil police personnel were on demolition duty Sunday.”

    DCP (Traffic) Ganesh Saha said separately 150 to 200 traffic personnel were also deployed across Noida at all crucial junctions to facilitate movement of vehicles in view of restrictions and diversions on several routes.

    Saha said his department was keeping commuters informed about the changes and Google Maps was showing real-time updates on diversions. “In case of any doubt, people can call up Noida traffic helpline number 99710 09001 for updates,” the officer said.

  • Twin tower demolition: One nautical mile of air space to remain briefly unavailable for flights 

    By PTI

    NOIDA: One nautical mile of air space around the twin tower demolition site in Noida will remain briefly unavailable for flights on August 28, the Noida Authority said on Friday.

    A nautical mile is equal to approximately 1.8 kilometres.

    The Union Ministry of Civil Aviation has given its consent for this, the Noida Authority said as it oversaw preparations for the demolition of the nearly 100-metre-tall twin towers on Sunday.

    “In view of the dust generated after the demolition, on the recommendation of the Noida Authority, the Ministry of Aviation has given its consent for the non-availability of one nautical mile of air space for aircraft to fly at the time of demolition,” it said in a statement.

    ALSO READ | Demolition preparation of Noida’s Supertech twin towers complete

    Earlier, the Noida police on Thursday banned the use of drones in city skies from August 26 till August 31 citing security reasons in view of the demolition of Supertech’s illegal towers.

    Deputy Commissioner of Police (Headquarters) Ram Badan Singh invoked the powers under CrPC Section 144 as he passed the ban order.

    Police had also declared that drones will be allowed but only beyond the “exclusion zone” of about 500 metres and that too with their permission. No human, animal or vehicles would be allowed in the exclusion zone on August 28.

    The nearly 100-metre-tall Apex and Ceyane towers -taller than Delhi’s iconic Qutub Minar–are scheduled to be demolished at 2.30 pm on August 28 in pursuance of a Supreme Court order that found their construction within Emerald Court premises in violation of norms.

    Over 5,000 residents living in Emerald Court and adjoining ATS Village society will be evacuated on August 28. They will vacate premises by 7 am and are allowed only after safety clearance post demolition by agencies concerned around 4 pm.

    NOIDA: One nautical mile of air space around the twin tower demolition site in Noida will remain briefly unavailable for flights on August 28, the Noida Authority said on Friday.

    A nautical mile is equal to approximately 1.8 kilometres.

    The Union Ministry of Civil Aviation has given its consent for this, the Noida Authority said as it oversaw preparations for the demolition of the nearly 100-metre-tall twin towers on Sunday.

    “In view of the dust generated after the demolition, on the recommendation of the Noida Authority, the Ministry of Aviation has given its consent for the non-availability of one nautical mile of air space for aircraft to fly at the time of demolition,” it said in a statement.

    ALSO READ | Demolition preparation of Noida’s Supertech twin towers complete

    Earlier, the Noida police on Thursday banned the use of drones in city skies from August 26 till August 31 citing security reasons in view of the demolition of Supertech’s illegal towers.

    Deputy Commissioner of Police (Headquarters) Ram Badan Singh invoked the powers under CrPC Section 144 as he passed the ban order.

    Police had also declared that drones will be allowed but only beyond the “exclusion zone” of about 500 metres and that too with their permission. No human, animal or vehicles would be allowed in the exclusion zone on August 28.

    The nearly 100-metre-tall Apex and Ceyane towers -taller than Delhi’s iconic Qutub Minar–are scheduled to be demolished at 2.30 pm on August 28 in pursuance of a Supreme Court order that found their construction within Emerald Court premises in violation of norms.

    Over 5,000 residents living in Emerald Court and adjoining ATS Village society will be evacuated on August 28. They will vacate premises by 7 am and are allowed only after safety clearance post demolition by agencies concerned around 4 pm.

  • Uttar Pradesh CM reviews preparations for demolition of Noida towers 

    By PTI

    LUCKNOW: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday reviewed preparations for the demolition of Supertech Twin Towers in Noida, which is scheduled to take place on August 28.

    According to a statement issued by the government here, Adityanath said people’s safety should be ensured at all cost.

    He also directed to take care of the environmental challenges in view of the demolition.

    Water tankers, sprinklers and smog guns will be used to clear the dust generated as a result of demolition. Sweeping machines will be installed on the roads within two-kilometre radius of the buildings.

    After the Chief Minister’s review, Infrastructure and Industrial Development Commissioner Arvind Kumar issued detailed guidelines.

    Kumar said the preparations for the demolition of the towers have been completed. The buildings near the towers will be vacated on August 28 at 7 am.

    Alternate parking arrangements and the protection of gardens will be ensured.

    He said as per the CM’s directions, traffic on the roads around the Twin Towers will be restricted during the demolition.

    The Noida-Greater Noida Expressway will be closed for half an hour for safety at the time of demolition. A private firm has partnered with South African Jet Demolitions for the task.

    The officer said the company has to demolish the towers in such a way that there is no damage to residential buildings nearby.

    According to the statement, about 3,700 kg of explosives being used to demolish the towers. The demolition will result in the generation of approximately 80,000 tonnes of debris. Steel and concrete will be separated from the rubble on the spot.

    About 50,000 tonnes of debris will be accommodated in the twin towers’ two basements. The remaining 30,000 tonnes of debris will be processed scientifically and converted into tiles. According to the plan, the entire process of disposal of debris will be completed in next three months.

    LUCKNOW: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday reviewed preparations for the demolition of Supertech Twin Towers in Noida, which is scheduled to take place on August 28.

    According to a statement issued by the government here, Adityanath said people’s safety should be ensured at all cost.

    He also directed to take care of the environmental challenges in view of the demolition.

    Water tankers, sprinklers and smog guns will be used to clear the dust generated as a result of demolition. Sweeping machines will be installed on the roads within two-kilometre radius of the buildings.

    After the Chief Minister’s review, Infrastructure and Industrial Development Commissioner Arvind Kumar issued detailed guidelines.

    Kumar said the preparations for the demolition of the towers have been completed. The buildings near the towers will be vacated on August 28 at 7 am.

    Alternate parking arrangements and the protection of gardens will be ensured.

    He said as per the CM’s directions, traffic on the roads around the Twin Towers will be restricted during the demolition.

    The Noida-Greater Noida Expressway will be closed for half an hour for safety at the time of demolition. A private firm has partnered with South African Jet Demolitions for the task.

    The officer said the company has to demolish the towers in such a way that there is no damage to residential buildings nearby.

    According to the statement, about 3,700 kg of explosives being used to demolish the towers. The demolition will result in the generation of approximately 80,000 tonnes of debris. Steel and concrete will be separated from the rubble on the spot.

    About 50,000 tonnes of debris will be accommodated in the twin towers’ two basements. The remaining 30,000 tonnes of debris will be processed scientifically and converted into tiles. According to the plan, the entire process of disposal of debris will be completed in next three months.

  • Demolition preparation of Noida’s Supertech twin towers complete

    Express News Service

    With just two days to go for the demolition of Supertech’s twin towers — Ceyane and Apex– in Noida, the work to raze the illegally constructed 100-metre tall buildings is almost complete. The 40-storey building is slated to be demolished at 2.30 pm on Sunday, August 28, in compliance with the Supreme Court order.

    The apex court had found the twin structures in Sector 93A built in violation of norms. Earlier, the razing was scheduled for August 21 but it was deferred by a week by the court following Noida Authority’s request for an extension.

    As part of the preparations for demolition, both towers have been loaded with around 3,700 kg of explosives filled in 9,400 holes drilled in the columns and shears of the skeletal structures of the twin towers to bring it crashing down under controlled demolition.

    “All preparations have been made for the blast to be held on this Sunday. Today the final spot visit and meeting with the stakeholders was done. Explosives loaded on both towers,” said Ritu Maheshwari, CEO, Noida Authority while talking to media persons.

    Maheshwari claimed that both towers would be demolished in 10-12 seconds. “Demolition will lead to around 80,000 tons of debris of which around 50,000-55,000 tons would be used here at the site for filling purpose, rest would go for recycling,” she said.

    ALSO READ | Twin towers demolition: ‘No fly zone’ for drones in Noida on August 28

    The Noida Authority CEO also added that the residents – 7,000-8,000—living in 1400 flats of the two adjacent societies — Emerald Court and ATS Village — would be vacated till 7 am on Sunday and after the visit of the site by the agencies concerned post-demolition, they would be given the permission to returnto their flats.

    “The exclusion zone built in 500-700 metres periphery of the twin towers to be demolished would be closed for the whole day on Sunday.   Traffic on Noida and Greater Noida Expressway would be diverted from 2 pm-3 pm,” said Maheshwari. She added that fire tenders, sensitized medical teams and other emergency services would be kept war ready on the day of demolition.

    Around 1,200 vehicles belonging to residents of the two housing societies will also be removed from the premises for the period. The Noida Authority will provide space for them in the multilevel parking facility at Botanical Garden metro station

    Meanwhile, on Thursday, the power supply to both the towers was snapped due to which the team of six experts of demolition company Edifice Engineering and Johannesburg were walking up and down the 32 floors of the building 2 to 3 times a day to give final shape to the preparations.

    The expert team examined 32 floors, three times a day, to check cable connections to the explosives and materials installed around the building for implosion. The loading of explosives was already done on August 22nd.

    With just two days to go for the demolition of Supertech’s twin towers — Ceyane and Apex– in Noida, the work to raze the illegally constructed 100-metre tall buildings is almost complete. The 40-storey building is slated to be demolished at 2.30 pm on Sunday, August 28, in compliance with the Supreme Court order.

    The apex court had found the twin structures in Sector 93A built in violation of norms. Earlier, the razing was scheduled for August 21 but it was deferred by a week by the court following Noida Authority’s request for an extension.

    As part of the preparations for demolition, both towers have been loaded with around 3,700 kg of explosives filled in 9,400 holes drilled in the columns and shears of the skeletal structures of the twin towers to bring it crashing down under controlled demolition.

    “All preparations have been made for the blast to be held on this Sunday. Today the final spot visit and meeting with the stakeholders was done. Explosives loaded on both towers,” said Ritu Maheshwari, CEO, Noida Authority while talking to media persons.

    Maheshwari claimed that both towers would be demolished in 10-12 seconds. “Demolition will lead to around 80,000 tons of debris of which around 50,000-55,000 tons would be used here at the site for filling purpose, rest would go for recycling,” she said.

    ALSO READ | Twin towers demolition: ‘No fly zone’ for drones in Noida on August 28

    The Noida Authority CEO also added that the residents – 7,000-8,000—living in 1400 flats of the two adjacent societies — Emerald Court and ATS Village — would be vacated till 7 am on Sunday and after the visit of the site by the agencies concerned post-demolition, they would be given the permission to return
    to their flats.

    “The exclusion zone built in 500-700 metres periphery of the twin towers to be demolished would be closed for the whole day on Sunday.   Traffic on Noida and Greater Noida Expressway would be diverted from 2 pm-3 pm,” said Maheshwari. She added that fire tenders, sensitized medical teams and other emergency services would be kept war ready on the day of demolition.

    Around 1,200 vehicles belonging to residents of the two housing societies will also be removed from the premises for the period. The Noida Authority will provide space for them in the multilevel parking facility at Botanical Garden metro station

    Meanwhile, on Thursday, the power supply to both the towers was snapped due to which the team of six experts of demolition company Edifice Engineering and Johannesburg were walking up and down the 32 floors of the building 2 to 3 times a day to give final shape to the preparations.

    The expert team examined 32 floors, three times a day, to check cable connections to the explosives and materials installed around the building for implosion. The loading of explosives was already done on August 22nd.

  • PM’s hand-picked gifts for G-7 leaders puts UP’s artworks on global forum  

    Express News Service

    LUCKNOW:  Black pottery of Nizamabad, hand painted tea set from Bulandshahr, Gulabi Meenakari brooch and cufflink set from Varanasi and hand-embroidered Zari Zardozi box were just a few specialised items hand-picked by Prime Minister Narendra Modi as gift for G-7 leaders before departing for Germany.These items, identified with Uttar Pradesh and made under ‘One District One Product’ scheme of the state government, were blended with the culture of the country whose leader received the gift.

    The Gulabi Meenakari brooch and cufflinks were gifted to US President Joe Biden. The brooch, meant for First Lady Jill Biden, was a piece of pure silver moulded into a base form and with embossed design. It is a GI-tagged art form of Varanasi. Biden was gifted matching cufflinks.

    Japan’s PM Fumio Kishida was gifted the black pottery of Nizamabad, which is produced through a technique to bring out the black colour while the pottery is inside the oven. A platinum painted tea set was gifted to British PM Boris Johnson. The crockery was outlined with platinum metal paint in honour of Queen Elizabeth on the platinum jubilee of her coronation this year.

    French President Emmanuel Macron got a Zari Zardozi carrier box crafted in Lucknow with hand embroidery on khadi silk and satin tissue in the colours of French national flag. The box carried Attar Mitti – produced as a concoction of jasmine oil, attar shamama, attar gulab, exotic musk and garam masala in UP’s Kannauj.

    The Summit host, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, received brassware of Moradabad while Italy’s PM Mario Draghi was gifted a marble table top inlaid with semi-precious stones with gradients in their colour. The pietra dura has its origins in Rome.

    Senegal President Macky Sall was gifted Moonj baskets and cotton durries in consonance with Senegal’s tradition of hand-weaving passed down from mother to daughter. In acknowledgment of the common cultural heritage with Indonesia, Modi gifted a lacquerware Ram Durbar to its President Joko Widodo. The GI-tagged lacquerware art has its roots in Varanasi.

    Demolition: HC gives day’s time to govt to respond The Allahabad High Court on Tuesday gave a day’s time to the UP government and Prayagraj Development Authority (PDA) to file reply in response to a petition filed by wife and daughter of Javed Mohammad, the alleged mastermind of June 10 violence in Prayagraj, against the demolition of their house by the administration on June 12. The matter has been posted for hearing on June 30.         

  • Demolition row: SC seeks replies from UP government on pleas, says due process should be followed

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Stating that authorities should strictly follow the due procedure under the law, the Supreme Court on Thursday sought replies from the Uttar Pradesh government and its authorities within three days on pleas alleging the illegal demolition of houses of those accused in last week’s violence.

    There must be a sense among the citizens that rule of law prevails in the country, a vacation bench of Justices AS Bopanna and Vikram Nath said, “Everything should be fair. We expect the authorities to strictly follow the due procedure under the law.”

    The bench posted the matter for further hearing on Tuesday.

  • Tentative date for Noida twin towers demolition moved to August 21

    By PTI

    NOIDA: The tentative date for demolition of Supertech’s illegal twin towers in Noida has been moved from August 28 to August 21, officials said on Tuesday.

    The Supreme Court had earlier permitted extending the demolition date till August 28 from May 22 this year after the private company engaged for the work approached it with a plea for time extension.

    “The tentative date for demolition has been moved to August 21 now. The time limit extension granted by the honourable Supreme Court is till August 28. The decision has been taken in order to create a buffer period so that the work is completed in any case by August 28,” Noida Authority’s CEO Ritu Maheshwari told PTI.

    The senior IAS officer said the private agency, Edifice Engineering, engaged for the demolition work by Supertech on Tuesday made a presentation to the Noida Authority about the work progress and its preparation.

    “The company said they are on track for the job. It said it has on its own taken a buffer period of 12 days from the actual date of demolition (August 28). They will be ready 12 days in advance. So it has been decided to shift the demolition date by one week to August 21,” Maheshwari said.

    The Supreme Court had on August 31 last year ordered the demolition of the nearly 100-metre tall twin towers which had come up in violation of building bye-laws inside Supertech’s Emerald Court group housing society in sector 93A.

    The towers were earlier scheduled for demolition on May 22 and test blasts were held on April 10 at the site by Edifice Engineering, which has further roped in South African firm Jet Demolitions for the work owing to its expertise in the job.

    During the meeting, chaired by Maheshwari, the status of compliance of the court orders with the described conditions and the problems arising out of the demolition were discussed, the Noida Authority said in a statement.

    Besides the Noida Authority, officials of the police department, fire department, Pollution Control Board, Central Building Research Institute (CBRI), Edifice Engineering and Supertech group were also present.

    Residents Welfare Association members of the Emerald Court society and its adjoining ATS village also took part in the discussions, it said.

    “Since the demolition proceedings should be done by August 28, therefore, to ensure compliance with the orders of Supreme Court, the date August 21 was fixed for the demolition, taking a grace period of one week, so that in any unavoidable circumstances, the demolition must be completed by August 28, 2022,” the statement read.

    By Wednesday, the areas falling within the radius of 50 metres of the twin towers should be identified and the information made available to both the RWAs, the Noida Authority asked the demolition agency.

    The pre-demolition structural audit of this 5-metre radius area by Edifice Engineering should be provided to the CBRI by June 30 and by the same time it should make available its plan for scientific disposal of construction and demolition waste to the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board, according to the statement.

    The demolition firm has also been asked to present a report of the vibration test for the April 10 test blasts to the Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL) and the CBRI. This report should be made available to them by June 20, it added.