Manoj Ahuja is a principal correspondent based in Indore. He writes on business, agriculture and aviation. His focus is on south-western Madhya Pradesh, particularly the tribal belt.
Articles by Manoj Ahuja
Tie discom officials to tree if they fine farmers: Rajasthan BJP MLA
Rajasthan discoms are the biggest loss-making power distribution companies in the country. Power thefts are common in the state, where 40% of the electricity is consumed by the farm sector.
Updated on Mar 05, 2018 11:34 AM IST
Hindustan Times, Jaipur | Manoj Ahuja
MLAs queue up to test for swine flu as virus spreads in Jaipur
Rajasthan has reported 976 cases of H1N1 influenza in 2018 until February 19.
Updated on Feb 21, 2018 08:43 PM IST
Hindustan Times, Jaipur | Manoj Ahuja, Jaipur
No plan to amend cattle trading laws: Agriculture minister
Saini said that although the Centre was working on a model cattle marketing Act and has asked for suggestions from states, Rajasthan will study the new Act legally and not implement it if it was not in favour of the state.
Updated on Feb 20, 2018 09:58 PM IST
Hindustan Times, Jaipur | Manoj Ahuja
Shekhawati’s ‘red zone’ is centre of another farmer agitation
A ‘red zone’ flourishing in the heart of saffron bastion in Shekhawati region for decades has once again become the centre of anti-farmer agitation in Rajasthan
Updated on Feb 18, 2018 09:58 PM IST
Hindustan Times, Jaipur | Manoj Ahuja
After son’s death, Rajasthan man spends money saved for his education on social cause
Shankarlal Verma, a businessman, has spent more than Rs 20 lakh to build a community centre at Jalpali in Rajasthan’s Sikar district.
Updated on Feb 17, 2018 10:24 AM IST
Hindustan Times, Jalpali (Sikar) | Manoj Ahuja
Move to de-acquire land for DMIC project hits Alwar farmers
In January, Rajasthan government had decided to de-acquire about 993 hectare land in five villages of Alwar
Updated on Feb 16, 2018 10:21 PM IST
Hindustan Times, Jaipur | Manoj Ahuja
Poll-bound Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan unveil sops, farm loan waivers
Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan witnessed farmer protests last year due to falling prices.
Updated on Feb 12, 2018 11:43 PM IST
Jaipur/Bhopal | Manoj Ahuja and Ranjan Srivastava
Agri credit by co-op banks decline as farmers suicides rise in Rajasthan
Data tabled in assembly shows that short-term crop loan disbursement by central cooperative banks in Rajasthan has declined from ₹16,830 crore in 2013-14 to ₹13,540 crore in 2016-17, a reduction of 19.54%.
Updated on Feb 10, 2018 10:23 PM IST
Hindustan Times, Jaipur | Manoj Ahuja
No Padmaavat screening in Rajasthan as ‘real’ Karni Sena continues protest
Despite the Mumbai faction of Karni Sena group withdrawing its protest, Padmaavat will not be screened in Rajasthan as Shri Rajput Karni Sena claims his is the ‘real’ Karni Sena.
Updated on Feb 03, 2018 04:47 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Manoj Ahuja and Salik Ahmad, Jaipur
Post defeat in Rajasthan bypolls, CM Vasundhara Raje calls meeting of core group
The BJP lost two Lok Sabha seats and an assembly seat to Congress in the Rajasthan bypolls. Political experts say the Rajasthan govt is expected to go for course correction in the upcoming state budget.
Updated on Feb 02, 2018 11:16 PM IST
Hindustan Times, Jaipur | Rakesh Goswami and Manoj Ahuja
Rajasthan bypolls: More than gloom, disbelief in BJP over triple loss
There was no prominent BJP face in the office till noon but state party president Ashok Parnami was expected to address the media after declaration of the final results
Updated on Feb 01, 2018 05:04 PM IST
Hindustan Times, Jaipur | Manoj Ahuja
Padman at work: Men power drive for menstrual hygiene
In ‘Uger’, apart from women, young men are encouraged to stitch pads and take part in female reproductive health training sessions.
Updated on Jan 29, 2018 09:42 PM IST
Hindustan Times, Jaipur | Manoj Ahuja
Padmaavat: CBFC chief Prasoon Joshi pulls out of JLF, Karni Sena welcomes move
The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) chief had cleared the Sanjay Leela Bhansali film with U/A certificate and a set of five modifications despite protests by Hindu right-wing groups.
Updated on Jan 27, 2018 04:41 PM IST
Hindustan Times, Jaipur | Manoj Ahuja
Rajasthan to export 4,000 MW clean energy by early 2019
Work on a number of solar projects in Rajasthan is in full swing.
Updated on Jan 21, 2018 10:21 PM IST
Hindustan Times, Jaipur | Manoj Ahuja
Bhadla to fuel Rajasthan’s plan to triple solar power generation
Apart from the Bhadla solar park, Rajasthan has already commissioned solar projects of 1,592 MW over the past four years.
Updated on Jan 19, 2018 09:55 PM IST
Hindustan Times, Jaipur | Manoj Ahuja
Flight makes emergency landing in Jaipur as passenger suffers heart attack, dies
An airport official said the control room was informed about the medical emergency and they decided to land in Jaipur to provide medical aid to the passenger. An ambulance was rushed to the tarmac and the passenger was rushed to a nearby hospital
Updated on Jan 18, 2018 10:07 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Manoj Ahuja, Jaipur
In rural Barmer, a renewed hope as PM Modi launches refinery work
Locals believe that the refinery will now finally materialise, some say they were not happy with works done by chief minister Vasundhara Raje, but will vote for Modi in next polls
Updated on Jan 16, 2018 10:02 PM IST
Hindustan Times, Jaipur | Manoj Ahuja
Barmer refinery: PM Modi says Congress has a history of misleading people
Prime minister launches work commencement of Rs 43,129-crore refinery complex at Pachpadra in Rajasthan’s Barmer. It will be India’s first greenfield BS-VI petrochemical project.
Updated on Jan 16, 2018 09:48 PM IST
Hindustan Times, Jaipur | Manoj Ahuja
BJP set to tap poll gains from Barmer oil refinery project
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Rajasthan on January 16 to lay the foundation stone of the proposed Rs 43,129 crore Barmer refinery project is set to provide the much-needed booster shot to the ruling BJP in the state ahead of the assembly elections due later this year
Published on Jan 13, 2018 08:20 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Manoj Ahuja, Jaipur
Eleven langurs brutally killed, dumped near highway in Rajasthan
Forest officials said the simians were presumably beaten with sticks and then splashed with an abrasive chemical by unidentified people. Outsiders are believed to be responsible for the crime.
Updated on Jan 12, 2018 04:43 PM IST
Hindustan Times, Jaipur | Manoj Ahuja
Kumar Vishwas may be replaced as AAP Rajasthan in-charge
Senior members of AAP Rajasthan are unhappy with Vishwas.
Updated on Jan 10, 2018 05:00 PM IST
Hindustan Times, Jaipur | Manoj Ahuja
Alwar bypolls: Two Independents in fray, may queer pitch for BJP, Congress
Kisan Mahapanchayat president Rampal Jat and Rajasthan Berozgar Ekikrat Mahasangh president Upen Yadav will be filing their nominations on January 10
Updated on Jan 08, 2018 08:54 PM IST
Hindustan Times, Jaipur | Manoj Ahuja
Digital push will have big impact on bypolls, says BJP IT cell chief
It’s well past lunch time on Tuesday, but about 200 karyakartas (workers) at the state BJP headquarters listen attentively as the BJP IT (information technology) cell chief Amit Malviya answers their queries
Updated on Jan 02, 2018 09:43 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Manoj Ahuja, Jaipur
Padmavati: CBFC move fails to mollify Rajputs; splinter group warns of violence
Rajput Sabha and Rashtriya Rajput Karni Sena have threatened to hold protests if the film is released with a changed title.
Updated on Dec 30, 2017 06:49 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Manoj Ahuja, Jaipur
Padmavati row: Splinter Karni Sena group warns of violence if movie is released
The screening of the film was held in the presence of committee members comprising regular examining committee members along with the CBFC officials and a special advisory panel.
Updated on Dec 30, 2017 05:22 PM IST
Hindustan Times, Jaipur | Manoj Ahuja
When mothers work, kids are tied up: The life of nomad children in Rajasthan
People of Banjara community near Banskho village live in tents covered with tarpaulin, cook food on earthen stoves and have to walk to the nearest tube-well about half a kilometre away to get water.
Updated on Dec 28, 2017 08:47 PM IST
Jaipur, Hindustan Times | Manoj Ahuja
Agrarian distress puts BJP govt on backfoot in Rajasthan
The Congress has got an opportunity to exploit the farmers’ sentiments in its favour and put the Raje government on backfoot
Updated on Dec 26, 2017 08:41 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Manoj Ahuja, Jaipur
Jaipur discom replicates Alwar model to check power thefts
Over the last 18 months, the distribution losses in Alwar circle have come down to 17.51% from 29.03%
Updated on Dec 25, 2017 08:21 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Manoj Ahuja
To monitor big cats, Rajasthan will have hi-tech anti-poaching system by January
Once the concept is ready in the core areas, the system will be extended to cover the entire sanctuary by March 2018.
Updated on Dec 23, 2017 07:37 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Manoj Ahuja, Jaipur
Eyebrows raised as BJP MLA’s son becomes class IV staff in Rajasthan Assembly
More than 18,000 people had applied for the job out of which 18 were appointed after a rigorous selection process.
Updated on Dec 22, 2017 08:41 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Manoj Ahuja, Jaipur