FOLLOW US: @TheStatesmanLtd @thestatesmanltd thestatesman1875 www.thestatesman.com People’s Parliament, Always in Session India’s National Newspaper since 1818 | Pages 12 | ` 5.00 | KOLKATA | NEW DELHI | SILIGURI | BHUBANESWAR Ban on money-based online games ignites debate BRIEFLY NHPC workers trapped in U’khand after landslide Russia, China oppose sanctions: Putin Who calls the shots on US Federal rates Page 7 Page 12 Thaw in ties with China as Xi backs India's fight against terror We are committed to taking our relations forward on the basis of mutual trust, respect and sensitivity. After the disengagement on the border, an atmosphere of peace and stability has been created. SHAHID K ABBAS New Delhi, 31 August C Pithoragarh: Nineteen workers of National Hydroelectric Power Corporation Limited (NHPC) were trapped inside a power house on Sunday as a landslide blocked normal and emergency tunnels of Dhauliganga Power Project in Uttarakhand's Pithoragarh, officials said. District officials said that machines have been deployed to remove the debris, and the way will be cleared by evening, after which all the workers will be able to come out. The path leading to the normal and emergency tunnels of the Dhauliganga power project in Ealagarh area near Dharchula here in the district was blocked due to a landslide caused by heavy rains. He said the work of clearing the way is underway. Hockey Asia Cup: India advance to Super 4s PERSPECTIVE Page 9 Page 6 Monday, 01 September 2025 SPORTS WORLD EDITORIAL PAGE | hina extended support to India in its fight against terror during the talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Sunday. "All I will say without going into specifics is the issue was discussed, raised by the Prime Minister. He outlined his understanding very crisply and specifically. He outlined the fact that this is the scourge that India and China are both victims of," foreign secretary Vikram Misri told reporters. “He asked for China's support on this issue ~ the Chinese have expressed their support,” Mr Misri said. Both PM Modi and President Xi welcomed the steady progress in their bilateral ties since they last met in Russia for the BRICS summit. They noted that they are partners, and not rivals, and that their differences should not turn into disputes. Mr Modi emphasised that PM NARENDRA MODI the interests of the people of India and China are closely tied to mutual cooperation. He made these remarks during his bilateral talks with Mr Xi on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin, China. This is his first visit to China in seven years. The prime minister said that the two countries should pursue strategic autonomy, and their relations should not be seen through a third country's lens. "The two leaders deemed it necessary to expand common ground on bilateral, regional, and global issues and challenges, like terrorism and fair trade in multilateral platforms," the MEA statement said. Both sides agreed to reopen border trade following foreign minister-level talks earlier this month, which would help in diversifying trade at a time of severe tariff uncertainties. China also assured India that it would address its need for rare earth minerals, fertilisers, and tunnel boring machines. The two leaders noted with satisfaction the successful disengagement last year and the maintenance of peace and tranquility along the border areas since then. “They expressed commitment to a fair, reasonable, and mutually acceptable resolution of the boundary question proceeding from the political perspective of their overall bilateral relations and the long-term interests of the two peoples. They recognized the important decisions taken by the two Special Representatives in their Talks earlier this month, and agreed to further support their efforts,” a release issued by the Ministry of External Affairs after the talks said. In his opening remarks posted on social media, PM Modi said both countries had been moving in a positive direction since last year. “We are committed to taking our relations forward on the basis of mutual trust, respect and sensitivity,” he said, asserting: “After the disengagement on the border, an atmosphere of peace and stability has been created.” Mr Xi said that both nations need to handle their relationship from a strategic and long-term perspective. "We must also step up to our historic responsibilities to uphold multilateralism, a multipolar world, and more democracy in international institutions and work together for peace and prosperity in Asia and around the world," he said. “China and India are two of the most ‘civilisational’ countries. We are the world’s two most populous countries and part of the Global South … It is vital to be friends, a good neighbour, and [for] the ‘dragon’ and the ‘elephant’ to come together,” Mr Xi said. Mohta’s company in dock as HC orders demolition Promoter, NKDA officials to face criminal action STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE Kolkata, 31 August In a ruling that shakes the foundations of Kolkata’s real estate sector and evokes memories of the Supertech demolition in Noida a few years ago, a Division Bench of Calcutta High Court has ordered the demolition of a 26-storeyed tower comprising 233 apartments, 269 car parking spaces and a commercial plaza in a residential housing project in New Town promoted by Sushil Mohta (photo) of the Merlin group and others. The court has further directed that officials of the promoter and engineers/officials of the New Kolkata Development Authority who connived in the fraud be proceeded against, both departmentally and under criminal laws. Sushil Mohta is the Managing Director of Elita Garden Vista Private Limited which promoted the complex while Prakash Bachhawat is a Whole Time Director. The judgment came on a petition filed by some of the original owners of flats in the Elita Garden Vista complex. Holding that the promoters had obtained permission to construct the tower through fraud, corruption and muscle power, a bench of Justice Rajasekhar Mantha and Justice Ajay Kumar Gupta ordered them to demolish the illegal structure within two months, during which occupants were given a month to remove their effects. Should the promoters fail to do so, the court has directed the New Kolkata Development Authority to carry out the demolition at the cost of the promoters. The court ordered the promoters to refund the sums paid by purchasers with 7 per cent interest. The Court also rejected a prayer made by Mr Abhrajit Mitra, Senior Advocate, appearing for the promoter, to stay operation of its judgment. In a comprehensive, 94-page judgment written by Justice Mantha, the Court rejected virtually all the prayers made by the promoters and held that a revised sanction plan given in 2015 for construction of the tower was obtained by fraud and suppression of facts. The court noted: “Various other provisions of the NKDA Act have been violated by the promoter, consequent upon violations of the WB Apartment OwnershipActandWBPromoters Act. The said revised plan dated 20 August 2015 is therefore illegal and is liable to be revoked/ cancelled under Section 81 of the NKDA Act and is hereby cancelled.” Sanction for Elita Garden Vista was initially obtained by its original promoter, Keppel Magus Private Limited, in 2007 and envisaged construction of 15 towers of 23 floors each, comprising 1278 flats, 1688 car parking spaces and several other facilities. The undivided share of each flat owner was 0.1 per cent of the land and common areas. Title of the flats was conveyed along with undivided share in land and common areas to buyers in 2010, and the registration process was completed in 2012. In 2014, the original promoter sold its rights to Elita Garden Vista Private Limited, a consortium of city builders led by Sushil Mohta, who is also President of Credai ,West Bengal, affiliated to the Confederation of Real Estate Developers’ Associations of India. The other builders involved in Elita are Pradeep Sureka of the Sureka group and Prakash Bachhawat of the JB Group. The judgment records: “Without the knowledge or consent or concurrence of the existing land and flat owners, the new promoter…on 20th August 2015 applied for and obtained a revised sanction plan for construction of an additional tower comprising 26 floors…in a part and portion of an open landscape area. Sanction was also obtained for the construction of a new commercial complex within the said building complex.” The original flat owners only came to know of the revised sanction plan in 2017, when they learnt that the complex now had 16 towers and 1,588 flats, while their proportionate share of the land and common areas had been reduced to 0.08 per cent. “The pathways came to be reduced by 600 sq. m. and the landscape and open areas consequently came to be substantially reduced.” On 19 April and 20 May 2018, the original flat owners wrote to NKDA asking for cancellation of the revised sanction plan and stoppage of construction work. However, both NKDA and the promoter refused to act, forcing the aggrieved owners to move the High Court. While a single bench of the High Court initially found that the appellants had made out a prima facie case regarding the illegality of the revised sanction plan issued by the NKDA dated 20 August 2015, as well as the illegality of the construction of the 16th tower in the apartment complex, it dismissed the writ petition, which forced the flat owners to prefer a Letters Patent Appeal before the Division Bench. Discussing the conduct of the promoter, the Division Bench has noted that it acted both “fraudulently and illegally” and “clearly defrauded the owners of the 15 towers as well as those of the 16th tower.” It held that the promoter had “illegally and surreptitiously” obtained sanction of the modified plan for construction of the 16th power. The Court held that NKDA failed to discharge its statutory duties despite specific notice of the illegality committed by the promoter. PM Modi urges citizens to embrace Swadeshi for ‘Viksit Bharat’ STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE New Delhi, 31 August Stressing the importance of Swadeshi products, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday appealed to people to embrace Indian goods and support the mantra of 'Vocal for Local'. 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' would help realise the vision of 'Viksit Bharat', he said. Addressing the 125th episode of his monthly radio programme 'Mann Ki Baat', PM Modi said: "At this time, the whole country is celebrating the pomp and fervour of 'Ganesh Utsav'. The radiance of many festivals will spread in the coming days." "You should never forget about Swadeshi during these festivals. Gifts should be those made in India, attire should be that woven in India, decor should be that made from materials made in India, luminary items from India-made frills, and many more; everything in every need of life should be Swadeshi," he added. He urged citizens to take pride in indigenous products. "We have to move forward with this feeling of pride for Swadeshi and say with pride, 'This is Swadeshi'," while stressing, "One mantra -- 'Vocal for Local'; One path -'Aatmanirbhar Bharat'; One goal -- 'Viksit Bharat'." Mr Modi further reminded citizens to uphold cleanliness during the festive season. "Amidst all this joy, keep emphasising cleanliness, because where there is cleanliness, the joy of festivals rises even more," he added. The PM expressed sorrow over the loss of life and property in view of the natural disasters, including floods, landslides, caused by the heavy rains and cloudbursts in different parts of the country. “The pain of the families who lost their loved ones is our shared pain. Wherever the crisis struck, our NDRF-SDRF personnel, other security forces, everyone toiled day and night to save the people there,” he said. Talking about how modern technology was being used in the rescue work, he said with the help of myriad modern resources such as thermal cameras, life detectors, sniffer dogs and drone surveillance, a lot of efforts were undertaken to lend speed to the relief work. During this time, relief material was delivered by helicopters and the injured were airlifted. In the moment of disaster, he said, the army came forward to help. Local people, social workers, doctors and the administration, everyone made every possible effort in this hour of crisis. I express heartfelt gratitude to every citizen who has kept humanity above everything else during this testing time, he said. 197 glacial lakes in Kishtwar pose flood threat, says report SP SHARMA Jammu, 31 August The 197 glacial lakes in the Kishtwar district of Jammu and Kashmir are a looming threat to the region as a latest report on Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs) has warned of flash flooding that could put to grave danger villages, infrastructure and the fragile ecosystem. The glaciers in the Kishtwar Himalayas are retreating at an accelerated pace due to rising temperatures, leading to the creation of new glacial lakes. Existing lakes are also expanding, increasing the water volume held behind unstable moraine dams, the report warns. Kishtwar district is notable for having the highest number of glacial lakes in Jammu & Kashmir, with a total of 197 lakes which accounts for 36.08% of all glacial lakes in the Union Territory. These lakes cover an area of approximately 392.64 hectares, representing 13.63% of the total lake area in the district. According to the GLOF Management Plan for Kishtwar 2024-25, the tehsils of Padder, Machail, Dachhan, Marwah, and Warwan are in peril of being the worst-affected due to their proximity to glacial lakes. The Padder area recently witnessed the death of 67 pilgrims due to a flash-flood. About 40 people are still missing and 115 were injured in the incident on 14 August. The official report says that four of these glacial lakes caused due to ice melt, Mundiksar and Hangu lake have been categorised as “High Risk”, while Unnamed lake and Patla Pani Lake have been categorised as “Moderate Risk”. “The presence of multiple glacial lakes at varying elevations and their proximity to each other heightens the risk of outburst floods, which could be triggered by factors such as rapid ice melt, landslides, or seismic activity. The potential for a GLOF in this region poses a severe threat to downstream communities and infrastructure, necessitating close monitoring and risk management strategies to mitigate the potential impacts of such natural disasters”, the report says. The ongoing hydroelectric projects under CVPPL Limited—such as Pakal Dul, Kiru, Kwar, and Dangduru are also at high risk from GLOF events. Rising water levels or potential dam breaches could threaten project infrastructure, disrupt operations, and increase downstream flood risk. Environmental impacts are also a concern, particularly for the Kishtwar High Altitude National Park, where ecosystem disruption, habitat loss, and biodiversity threats are potential outcomes. The Chenab River, fed by glaciers and glacial lakes, is sensitive to changes in the region's hydrology. As lakes expand, there is an increased risk of sudden outflows, which could impact the river's course and flood surrounding areas. Changes in the water balance of these glacial lakes are continuously monitored, but sudden shifts in water volume due to rapid melting or lake outbursts could lead to devastating floods, the report says. Suggesting long term ways to prevent further damage to ecology, the report says “The escalating risk of GLOFs in Kishtwar, exacerbated by global warming and accelerated glacier melting, underscores the need for robust long-term climate change adaptation strategies tailored to the region’s unique geography”. “Kishtwar’s high-altitude terrain, combined with operational hydroelectric projects such as Pakal Dul and Kiru, demands focused interventions to mitigate the heightened GLOF risks. Regular monitoring of glaciers and glacial lakes through satellite technology and field assessments is critical for detecting early signs of ice melt and water level fluctuations”. The Kishtwar Himalayas host significant glaciers, including the Brahma Glacier and the Metwan Glacier. These glaciers serve as crucial water sources for the region, feeding into the local streams that eventually flow into the Marwah River, a major tributary of the Chenab River.