JAIPUR: Rajasthan will be the first state in the country where global positioning system (GPS) would be installed in around 1,000 buses of the state-owned Rajasthan State Roadways Corporation (RSRTC). The installation process would begin from Tuesday onwards. This system will not only enable the authorities to keep a track on the long-distance buses but will also facilitate them to put a check on things like theft of diesel which has been a big concern since it was rampant with the RSRTC buses.

JAIPUR: Almost two FIRs in connection with illegal mining are being lodged everyday in various police stations of the district in an indication that mafias have not left untouched even the city's surrounding areas.

The ongoing drive by the district administration has brought to the fore rampant illegal mining at several places including Maheshwas, Chainpura, Shyopur, Hathnoda, Manoharpura, Baneri Baandh and Kotputali. At least 15 people have been arrested over the past one month.

JAIPUR: With monsoon approaching and farmers gearing up to sow the next crop, the Jaipur Development Authority (JDA) has a big challenge ahead to take possession of remaining acquired land for the ring road project.

As the clouds of uncertainty continue to hover over the project, even those farmers who had surrendered their lands are preparing to sow groundnut and bajra after rain this monsoon.

JAIPUR: The Jal Mahal land lease agreement dispute reached the Supreme Court on Thursday, as was widely anticipated.

The private company, the Jal Mahal Resorts Pvt Ltd that was to lose the lease after the Rajasthan High Court declared the agreement illegal, filed a special leave petition (SLP) before the apex court, challenging the verdict passed on May 17. The SLP was mentioned before a division bench of Justice Deepak Verma and Justice SJ Mukhopadhaya that directed that the case to be listed again on Friday.

JAIPUR: A division bench of Rajasthan high court has observed that the mining mafia is at its peak in the state and there is no effort to check them. The court made this remark while hearing a PIL filed by a Bharatpur-based advocate.

The petitioner, Battu Singh, has moved the court alleging that four politically powerful persons have been doing illegal mining in forest area in Bayan tehsil of Bharatpur. The case is being heard by Chief Justice Arun Kumar Mishra and Justice N K Jain (senior).

JAIPUR: Rajasthan has been allotted 13 per cent of the total funds for providing drinking water the Centre claimed on Monday.

JAIPUR: The department of telecommunication (DoT), government of India, in its letter to the state government has made it clear that the emission level from the cellphone towers in Jaipur is well within the limit and indicates that it poses no threat to human life.

Addressed to the chief secretary, the letter says, "Radiations in the city are within safe limits and absolutely follow the international standards". It added that no excessive radiations emitting from the towers were found by the DoT. GS Sandhu, principal secretary, urban development and housing confirmed the development. "We have received the communication from the DoT and it stated that radiations under the safe limit".

JAIPUR: As heat is mounting on the state government about its failure in checking rampant illegal mining, chief minister Ashok Gehlot held a meeting with his cabinet colleagues on Sunday. However, the meeting ended up with a few customary words of "strong action" against officials responsible for the menace.

"Take action against the collector or district police chief where illegal mining is taking place and ensure that safety measures for workers are in place in the recognized mines," the chief minister instructed chief secretary CK Mathew after meeting was over.

JAIPUR: A major disaster was averted at the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) depot in Sitapura on Sunday when thousands of litres of oil spilled on to the premises after a "gasket failure". However, swift action by company officials averted a major tragedy.

The nearby factories also witnessed a shower of oil, which created panic among the labourers. They moved out of their units immediately fearing that this could lead to a major inferno like the last one. An FIR has been registered against IOC officials by some owners of nearby factories for putting their life in danger.

The farmers are demanding lifting of ban on registration of land in 164 villages in the area that was imposed in 1987 and announcing forest road leading to Sariska as national highway.

"The government did not fulfill its promises which it had made to the farmers earlier. They made the national highway, a lifeline for all the villages in the area, as forest road. This time we will not make any agreement with the government unless they accept our demands," he added.