Author: Supriya Jena

On Friday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised the Sufi tradition, calling it an important part of India’s culture. He spoke at the 25th Jahan-e-Khusrau event, which honors the famous Sufi poet Amir Khusrau. Modi highlighted that Sufi saints share a message of love and harmony. He noted that they appreciated both the Quran and the Vedas, showing their belief in unity among different religions.

Modi named several well-known Sufi saints and poets like Nizamuddin Auliya, Rumi, and Raskhan, who wrote beautiful poems about God and Krishna, to emphasize their teachings on kindness and understanding. He explained how Khusrau, who lived in the 13th century, believed India was greater than any other country and valued its rich traditions and knowledge.

The Prime Minister remembered his visit to Afghanistan, where he shared Rumi’s thoughts, emphasizing that Rumi felt he belonged to everywhere, not just one place. This idea ties closely to the saying “the world is a family.” Modi said such thoughts inspire him when he represents India around the globe.

He also spoke about how art and music reflect a country’s culture. He enjoyed the performance at Jahan-e-Khusrau, which showcased their shared heritage. He expressed hope that Sufi traditions can help bring people together during difficult times.

Modi ended by wishing everyone a blessed Ramzan, stating that Sufi teachings can fill both spiritual and worldly gaps among people.

On Friday, the Supreme Court decided not to interfere with a 2022 order from the Madras High Court that canceled a show cause notice against Isha Foundation. This foundation, started by spiritual leader Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev, was accused of building without permission at Velliangiri Hills in Coimbatore between 2006 and 2014.

The notice was issued on November 19, 2021, because Isha Foundation allegedly did not get the required environmental clearance (EC). The Madras High Court ruled in December 2022 that Isha Foundation is an “educational institution,” which means it does not need to follow some environmental rules.

In the recent ruling, Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh said the yoga and meditation center of the foundation won’t face any harsh actions for now. However, they reminded Isha Foundation to follow all environmental rules given by the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB).

The judges made it clear that their decision should not be seen as permission for illegal building practices, as it was based on the special circumstances of this case.

During the hearing, Tamil Nadu’s advocate general, PS Raman, explained that the government just wanted to ensure their ruling doesn’t act as a “forever pass” and should not prevent future inspections of the property. The Supreme Court agreed, emphasizing there is no free pass when it comes to following environmental laws.

Earlier this year, the Supreme Court criticized TNPCB for taking too long to challenge the High Court’s 2022 decision. The court wanted to know why the state didn’t act sooner, saying, “When the state comes late, we become suspicious.”

On Friday, rescuers worked hard to save many Border Roads Organisation (BRO) workers stuck after an avalanche hit in Chamoli, Uttarakhand. The avalanche was caused by a glacier burst and happened near Mana village, close to the India-Tibet border and about five kilometers from the famous Badrinath temple.

Mana village is at a high altitude of 3,200 meters. The avalanche buried eight containers and one shed with 57 workers inside. Some of the containers have been found, but rescuers are still looking for the others.

By Friday evening, at least 16 workers were rescued, according to Uttarakhand’s Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami. Thankfully, there have been no reports of anyone being injured.

However, the rescue efforts are challenging because of rain and snowfall, which are making it hard for helicopters to help. Images shared on social media showed army personnel carrying a person on a stretcher through deep snow, with more snow still falling. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned of heavy snowfall, expecting more than 12 centimeters (5 inches) in the area.

Teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) are also facing delays in reaching the workers due to the harsh weather.

This situation reminds us of a tragic event in February 2021 when a glacier collapse in Uttarakhand claimed the lives of at least 80 people, and another avalanche in 2022 caused 16 deaths.

New Delhi – The Supreme Court of India recently told the government to think about getting experts to help protect the environment from possible damage caused by the Vadhavan port in Maharashtra. A group of judges, including Justices Abhay S Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan, looked at a report about the port from the attorney general, R. Venkataramani. The report stated that no major construction work is happening right now.

The judges said, “The attorney general has shared a detailed report about the Vadhavan Port project. Currently, only land acquisition work is moving forward, and they expect to have the physical possession of the land by October 2025. Road construction is also set to begin in October 2025.”

They further explained that a survey for land reclamation (where land is added or reclaimed from the sea) is planned for July 2025, starting after the land for the shore area is acquired. The court emphasized that land acquisition would still need to follow any further decisions made in this case.

The issue will be discussed again on May 6. The court suggested that the government looks into having experts involved and allowed them to come to the court if they need guidance.

This discussion arose because the National Fishworkers Forum and Conservation Action Trust appealed against a previous decision by the Bombay High Court. They challenged a certificate that allowed construction for the new port at Vadhavan, which the Dahanu Taluka Environment Protection Authority had issued. This authority had given a “no objection certificate” to the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority for developing this new greenfield port.

In June last year, the government approved the building of a ₹76,200 crore all-weather deep draft major port at Vadhavan. This project will be built by the Vadhavan Port Project Limited company, a partnership between the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority and the Maharashtra Maritime Board, with shares of 74% and 26%, respectively.