Pola is very involved in the Taman Rimba Kiara development issue as he sits on the committee of the TTDI Residents Association. — Photos: AZMAN GHANI/The Star {{category}} {{time}} {{title}} “I may have retired but I have not retired from life, so there is no slowing down for me as far as contributing to the community is concerned.” – Pola Singh Focus 27 Apr 2019 Transit homes which became permanent He regularly writes letters to newspapers highlighting community issues, besides assisting in soup kitchens, fighting for green lungs in the city and being involved in education.For example, Pola is a familiar face in the Taman Rimba Kiara development issue by virtue of being a TTDI Residents’ Association committee member and contributing his expertise to various government agencies.“Some of the issues highlighted have brought positive changes, such as parking woes at the TTDI morning market. “The parking spaces were previously taken up by motorists who worked nearby but now, market visitors benefit.“I may have retired but I have not retired from life, so there is no slowing down for me as far as contributing to the community is concerned. “Strangers have approached me at malls and the park, and told me that they enjoy reading my articles. “With that, I enjoy what I do as I find it fulfilling,” he said. These days, Pola devotes his time to the betterment of society by imparting writing skills to the public as well as being a motivational speaker on ageing gracefully. “I would like to thank those who made a difference in my life and contributed to where I am today, especially those who left footprints in my life,” he said. Nation 21 May 2019 MACC: Taman Rimba Kiara project graft probe reopened Central Region Tags / Keywords: “It was very fulfilling for me as we put an effort to uplift the livelihood and well-being of the people and help them prosper through a series of programmes focused on their needs,” he said. Pola, who will turn 70 on Monday, is still going strong. FROM a civil servant to a green activist and educator, Pola Singh is a man who wears many hats. However, his most memorable experience was serving as a diplomat of the Asean Secretariat in Jakarta from 2002 to 2006.“Using my previous experience at the Economic Planning Unit of the Prime Minister’s Department, I was tasked with narrowing the gap between least developed countries and the rest of the Asean countries. “The task had impact as we firmed up the economic roots of the least developed countries. Related News Related News Letters 10 Jul 2019 Clearing the air on refugees read more

Four rebel MLAs from Karnataka visit Siddhivinayak templeThe rebel MLAs of the Congress-Janata Dal (Secular) coalition have returned to the Renaissance Hotel in suburban Powai, where they would be staying for another two days.advertisement Next Press Trust of India MumbaiJuly 12, 2019UPDATED: July 12, 2019 17:52 IST Four rebel MLAs from Karnataka visit Siddhivinayak templeAmid the political turmoil in Karnataka, four of the fourteen rebel MLAs from the state who are camping in Mumbai, Friday visited the famous Siddhivinayak temple here and offered prayers to Lord Ganesh.The four legislators, Byrathi Basavraj, S T Somashekar, Shivaram Hebbar and B C Patil, visited the temple located in central Mumbai.They were among the fourteen rebel MLAs from Karnataka who returned to a luxury hotel on Thursday evening after submitting their resignations to the Assembly Speaker in Bengaluru.The rebel MLAs of the Congress-Janata Dal(Secular) coalition have returned to the Renaissance Hotel in suburban Powai, where they would be staying for another two days.The legislators have been camping here since last Saturday after resigning and withdrawing support to the 13-month-old Janata Dal(Secular)-Congress government in Karnataka, bringing it on the verge of collapse.The 11-day monsoon session of the Karnataka Legislature began on Friday.ALSO READ | Karnataka crisis Live Updates: BJP has black sheep in their party, says Congress leader SiddaramaiahALSO WATCH | Karnataka crisis: Rebel MLAs return to MumbaiFor the latest World Cup news, live scores and fixtures for World Cup 2019, log on to indiatoday.in/sports. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter for World Cup news, scores and updates.Get real-time alerts and all the news on your phone with the all-new India Today app. Download from Post your comment Do You Like This Story? Awesome! Now share the story Too bad. Tell us what you didn’t like in the comments Posted byKritika Kashyap Tags :Follow KarnatakaFollow MumbaiFollow Siddhivinayak TempleFollow Rebel MLAsFollow Renaissance HotelFollow four Legislators read more

Assam flood situation worsens, Army called inOfficials said the Army’s assistance was sought in Baksa district to aid the personnel of National Disaster Response Force and State Disaster Response Force in rescuing marooned people.advertisement Next Press Trust of India GuwahatiJuly 12, 2019UPDATED: July 12, 2019 23:59 IST Over eight lakh people have been affected by the flood situation in Assam. (Photo: ANI)The Army was called for assistance in Assam as the flood situation in the state worsened on Friday with the toll rising to six and affecting nearly 8.7 lakh people across 21 districts.Officials said the Army’s assistance was sought in Baksa district to aid the personnel of National Disaster Response Force and State Disaster Response Force in rescuing marooned people.Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) officials said three more persons died in rain and flood-related incidents in Golaghat and Dima Hasao districts Friday. While two persons died in the flood at Bokakhat revenue circle in Golaghat, one died in landslide in Haflong in Dima Hasao district.It said about 8.7 lakh persons have been hit by the deluge in Dhemaji, Lakhimpur, Biswanath, Sonitpur, Darrang, Baksa, Barpeta, Nalbari, Chirang, Bongaigaon, Kokrajhar, Goalpara, Morigaon, Hojai, Nagaon, Golaghat, Majuli, Jorhat, Sivasagar, Dibrugarh and Tinsukia districts.The state has a total of 33 districts and till yesterday three persons had died in floods and around 4.23 lakh people were affected in 17 districts.Barpeta is the worst hit with 3.5 lakh people affected, followed by Dhemaji where 1.2 lakh people are hit. They are followed by Bongaigaon where the number of affected is 62,500, ASDMA said.Massive erosions have taken place at various places in Chirang, Barpeta and Baksa due to the floods, which has submerged a total 1,556 villages and damaged 27,864.16 hectares of crop area, embankments, roads, bridges, culverts and other infrastructure in the affected districts.The authorities are running 68 relief camps and distribution centres in 11 districts, where 7,643 people are taking shelter currently, ASDMA said.The Army, NDRF and SDRF have rescued 1,160 persons in the state since Thursday and have distributed 1,281.35 quintals of rice, dal, salt and 1,493.46 litres of mustard oil, besides tarpaulin, water pouch, sanitary napkins, baby food and other essential items.Currently, Brahmaputra is flowing above its danger-mark at Guwahati, at Nimatighat in Jorhat, Tezpur in Sonitpur and at Goalpara and Dhubri towns, it said.Burhidehing river is flowing above its danger mark at Khowang in Dibrugarh, Desang river at Nanglamuraghat in Sivasagar, Dhansiri river at Numaligarh in Golaghat and Jia Bharali at NT Road Crossing in Sonitpur district. Kopili river is above the red at Kampur in Nagaon, Puthimari river at NH Road Crossing in Kamrup, Beki river at Road Bridge in Barpeta, Katakhal river at Matizuri in Hailakandi and Kushiyara river at Karimganj town, the ASDMA added.With the Brahmaputra flowing 2.27 meters above the danger level at Neematighat, ferry services to and from Majuli island, which is Asia’s largest river island, remained suspended for the fifth day Friday, Central Water Commission officials said here.The Inland Water Transport Authority of the state government has kept two of its vessels ready loaded with anti-erosion materials to meet any situation in the erosion-prone areas of the island.The swirling flood waters have forced the railway authority to control train services due to “settlement of tracks” in Lumding-Badarpur hill section, Northeast Frontier Railway Chief Public Relations Officer Pranav Jyoti Sharma said.Heavy rains have affected the train tracks between Jatinga Lumpur to New Harangajao station in Lumding-Badarpur hill section of the NF Railway, he added.As a result, some trains have either been cancelled or short terminated, Sharma said.Kaziranga National Park, the famed habitat of the Great Indian Rhino and a World Heritage site, has been affected too forcing the authorities to set up road barricades on the National Highway passing through it to limit the speed of vehicles, said Kaziranga Divisional Forest Officer Ruhini Saikia.The Golaghat administration has also imposed prohibitory orders under Section 144 CrPC in the areas near the park as the animals are coming out of it to go to the Karbi Anglong hills in search of safety in its high grounds.Also Read | Floods affect 8 lakh in Assam, 10 dead across Northeast as rains lash region | 10 pointsAlso Watch | In Depth: Decoding the link between floods and droughtsFor the latest World Cup news, live scores and fixtures for World Cup 2019, log on to indiatoday.in/sports. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter for World Cup news, scores and updates.Get real-time alerts and all the news on your phone with the all-new India Today app. Download from Post your comment Do You Like This Story? Awesome! Now share the story Too bad. Tell us what you didn’t like in the comments Posted byChanchal Chauhan read more

Next Press Trust of India GuwahatiJuly 12, 2019UPDATED: July 12, 2019 23:59 IST Over eight lakh people have been affected by the flood situation in Assam. (Photo: ANI)The Army was called for assistance in Assam as the flood situation in the state worsened on Friday with the toll rising to six and affecting nearly 8.7 lakh people across 21 districts.Officials said the Army’s assistance was sought in Baksa district to aid the personnel of National Disaster Response Force and State Disaster Response Force in rescuing marooned people.Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) officials said three more persons died in rain and flood-related incidents in Golaghat and Dima Hasao districts Friday. While two persons died in the flood at Bokakhat revenue circle in Golaghat, one died in landslide in Haflong in Dima Hasao district.It said about 8.7 lakh persons have been hit by the deluge in Dhemaji, Lakhimpur, Biswanath, Sonitpur, Darrang, Baksa, Barpeta, Nalbari, Chirang, Bongaigaon, Kokrajhar, Goalpara, Morigaon, Hojai, Nagaon, Golaghat, Majuli, Jorhat, Sivasagar, Dibrugarh and Tinsukia districts.The state has a total of 33 districts and till yesterday three persons had died in floods and around 4.23 lakh people were affected in 17 districts.Barpeta is the worst hit with 3.5 lakh people affected, followed by Dhemaji where 1.2 lakh people are hit. They are followed by Bongaigaon where the number of affected is 62,500, ASDMA said.Massive erosions have taken place at various places in Chirang, Barpeta and Baksa due to the floods, which has submerged a total 1,556 villages and damaged 27,864.16 hectares of crop area, embankments, roads, bridges, culverts and other infrastructure in the affected districts.The authorities are running 68 relief camps and distribution centres in 11 districts, where 7,643 people are taking shelter currently, ASDMA said.The Army, NDRF and SDRF have rescued 1,160 persons in the state since Thursday and have distributed 1,281.35 quintals of rice, dal, salt and 1,493.46 litres of mustard oil, besides tarpaulin, water pouch, sanitary napkins, baby food and other essential items.Currently, Brahmaputra is flowing above its danger-mark at Guwahati, at Nimatighat in Jorhat, Tezpur in Sonitpur and at Goalpara and Dhubri towns, it said.Burhidehing river is flowing above its danger mark at Khowang in Dibrugarh, Desang river at Nanglamuraghat in Sivasagar, Dhansiri river at Numaligarh in Golaghat and Jia Bharali at NT Road Crossing in Sonitpur district. Kopili river is above the red at Kampur in Nagaon, Puthimari river at NH Road Crossing in Kamrup, Beki river at Road Bridge in Barpeta, Katakhal river at Matizuri in Hailakandi and Kushiyara river at Karimganj town, the ASDMA added.With the Brahmaputra flowing 2.27 meters above the danger level at Neematighat, ferry services to and from Majuli island, which is Asia’s largest river island, remained suspended for the fifth day Friday, Central Water Commission officials said here.The Inland Water Transport Authority of the state government has kept two of its vessels ready loaded with anti-erosion materials to meet any situation in the erosion-prone areas of the island.The swirling flood waters have forced the railway authority to control train services due to “settlement of tracks” in Lumding-Badarpur hill section, Northeast Frontier Railway Chief Public Relations Officer Pranav Jyoti Sharma said.Heavy rains have affected the train tracks between Jatinga Lumpur to New Harangajao station in Lumding-Badarpur hill section of the NF Railway, he added.As a result, some trains have either been cancelled or short terminated, Sharma said.Kaziranga National Park, the famed habitat of the Great Indian Rhino and a World Heritage site, has been affected too forcing the authorities to set up road barricades on the National Highway passing through it to limit the speed of vehicles, said Kaziranga Divisional Forest Officer Ruhini Saikia.The Golaghat administration has also imposed prohibitory orders under Section 144 CrPC in the areas near the park as the animals are coming out of it to go to the Karbi Anglong hills in search of safety in its high grounds.Also Read | Floods affect 8 lakh in Assam, 10 dead across Northeast as rains lash region | 10 pointsAlso Watch | In Depth: Decoding the link between floods and droughtsFor the latest World Cup news, live scores and fixtures for World Cup 2019, log on to indiatoday.in/sports. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter for World Cup news, scores and updates.Get real-time alerts and all the news on your phone with the all-new India Today app. Download from Post your comment Do You Like This Story? Awesome! Now share the story Too bad. Tell us what you didn’t like in the comments Posted byChanchal Chauhan Assam flood situation worsens, Army called inOfficials said the Army’s assistance was sought in Baksa district to aid the personnel of National Disaster Response Force and State Disaster Response Force in rescuing marooned people.advertisement read more

Press Trust of India New DelhiJuly 12, 2019UPDATED: July 12, 2019 19:16 IST The accused used to dupe people of their money on the pretext of helping out the customers during the rush hours. (Reuters photo used for representation)Two men have been arrested here for allegedly swindling people out of their cash on the pretext of helping them make deposits into their bank accounts using machines, police said Friday.The accused, identified as Jitender Mehto (32) and Baccha Lal Kumar (19), are residents of the same village in Bihar’s West Champaran district, they said.”They were arrested on July 4 at around 2 pm when they again came to target people at a bank branch in Bhogal,” Deputy Commissioner of Police (Southeast) Chinmoy Biswal said.The complaint was filed on June 7, police said.They said the complainant alleged that on May 27, while he was depositing Rs 45,000 into his account using the machine installed at the bank branch in Bhogal, two persons came there and on the pretext of helping him, swindled him out of his cash.The duo was arrested after police scanned CCTV footage of the premises where the incident took place, they said.The interrogation revealed that the accused used to work as labours in West Bengal and few months back, they met one Babu, who was also from their village and used to work in Delhi, police said.Babu used to dupe people using same modus operandi. He allured Mehto and Kumar to work with him, Biswal said, adding that they used to pay 20 per cent commission to Babu and he had assured them to provide support in case they get arrested.On the pretext of helping out the customers during the rush hours, the accused used to dupe people of their money, he said.While helping out the targets in depositing their cash, the accused secretly used to press the “add transaction” button on the machine and then would tell them that the deposit was successful, the DCP said.However, as soon as the target left the premises, the accused pressed the “cancel” button, resulting in a failed transaction due to which the cash would come out of the machine, police said.Also Read | Class 7 dropout from Hissar spirits away Rs 3,000 crore by cheating 20 lakh peopleAlso Read | Banker wife dupes husband of Rs 45 lakh in PuneFor the latest World Cup news, live scores and fixtures for World Cup 2019, log on to indiatoday.in/sports. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter for World Cup news, scores and updates.Get real-time alerts and all the news on your phone with the all-new India Today app. Download from Post your comment Do You Like This Story? Awesome! Now share the story Too bad. Tell us what you didn’t like in the comments Posted byChanchal Chauhan 2 held for swindling money from people on pretext of depositing cash into bank accountsThe accused, identified as Jitender Mehto (32) and Baccha Lal Kumar (19), are residents of the same village in Bihar’s West Champaran district.advertisement Next read more