Archana Patni, NDTV
Saturday, September 9, 2006 (Bangalore):
The central district in Bangalore is probably one of the most expensive properties in the entire country.
17, Rajbhavan Road is the only residential complex, apart from the governor's house on the Rajbhavan road in Bangalore.
Mantri Alitus is everybody's dream home. Imagine waking up every morning, walking out to your balcony and getting this beautiful view of the city of Bangalore.
But owning these bungalows in the sky is not that easy. You don't only have to be really rich; you also have to be extremely lucky to get chosen to own this property
"This property was designed only for high class people, on invitation only. We called the people. We made a selection so that we could have like-minded families with us," said Snehal Mantri, Director, Marketing, Mantri Builders.
Luxuries galore
A 17-floor building with each floor housing just one apartment of about 5,600 sq ft each, every house give you a panoramic view of the city of Bangalore.
"Amenities-wise, we have taken care and pampered our owners. They have the luxury of 11,000 sq feet of clubhouse, which is being designed on seven-star hotel standards.
"From the main lobby to the swimming pool to the club house, the sauna, jacuzzi and billiards, all the luxuries they want they will get," said Mantri.
While the first flat was sold for Rs 3 crore, you can now only own one of these apartments for a whopping Rs 12 crore, and guess what, it's already all sold out!
Showing posts with label India. Show all posts
Showing posts with label India. Show all posts
Saturday, September 09, 2006
Friday, September 08, 2006
Faridabad: Irate commuters target Rajdhani in Faridabad
[ 8 Sep, 2006 1235hrs IST PTI ]
FARIDABAD: Angry over delay in clearing lines for local trains, hundreds of irate passengers on Friday pelted stones at Delhi-bound Rajdhani Express at the railway station and disrupted rail traffic.
No one was injured in the incident. However, rail traffic through the station was disrupted for nearly three hours this morning, delaying trains to and from Delhi.
The trouble started at around 8:00 am as passengers at the railway station started protesting against railway officials allegedly giving clearance to the Express trains by delaying the departure of local trains.
As the atmosphere got charged up, some passengers pelted stones at the Delhi-Mumbai Rajdhani which was approaching the station and another local train.
Though some window panes of the trains were broken, no injuries were reported.
At least 12 trains, including six Express services, were delayed. A large posse of police has been deployed at the station.
The train services resumed after three hours.
FARIDABAD: Angry over delay in clearing lines for local trains, hundreds of irate passengers on Friday pelted stones at Delhi-bound Rajdhani Express at the railway station and disrupted rail traffic.
No one was injured in the incident. However, rail traffic through the station was disrupted for nearly three hours this morning, delaying trains to and from Delhi.
The trouble started at around 8:00 am as passengers at the railway station started protesting against railway officials allegedly giving clearance to the Express trains by delaying the departure of local trains.
As the atmosphere got charged up, some passengers pelted stones at the Delhi-Mumbai Rajdhani which was approaching the station and another local train.
Though some window panes of the trains were broken, no injuries were reported.
At least 12 trains, including six Express services, were delayed. A large posse of police has been deployed at the station.
The train services resumed after three hours.
Chennai: Raid at former Tamil Nadu CM's residence
[ 8 Sep, 2006 1230hrs IST PTI ]
CHENNAI: The officials with Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) on Friday raided the residence of AIADMK leader and former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Pannerselvam at Periyakulam in Theni district.
The raids began at 7 am and would continue till evening, officials said.
The officials also conducted raids at the residence and business establishments of former AIADMK minister Anitha R Radhakrishnan at Tuticorin.
The raids, the reason for which were yet to be ascertained, came as a surprise even to the police as the DVAC officials kept their plan a secret till they began the operation.
These were the first raids conducted by the DVAC after the DMK government took office in May last.
CHENNAI: The officials with Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) on Friday raided the residence of AIADMK leader and former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Pannerselvam at Periyakulam in Theni district.
The raids began at 7 am and would continue till evening, officials said.
The officials also conducted raids at the residence and business establishments of former AIADMK minister Anitha R Radhakrishnan at Tuticorin.
The raids, the reason for which were yet to be ascertained, came as a surprise even to the police as the DVAC officials kept their plan a secret till they began the operation.
These were the first raids conducted by the DVAC after the DMK government took office in May last.
New design for Bangalore airport
[ 7 Sep, 2006 2328hrs IST TIMES NEWS NETWORK ]
BANGALORE/NEW DELHI: Two months after the construction work at redesigned portions of the Bangalore international airport began, the Union cabinet formally endorsed the changes on Thursday.
The project — redesigned at the behest of Union civil aviation minister Praful Patel — will now be able to accommodate 11.4-million passengers annually in the sprawling 7-acre terminal.
The projected traffic is 8.4 million by 2010. The Union cabinet also approved amendments to the concession agreement with BIAL, allowing the joint venture firm to re-design the airport.
As against the initial forecast of 41,000 aircraft movements per year in 2010, the latest projection has increased it to 1, 06,000, forcing BIAL to re-design the airport by merging the second phase of construction with the first phase, to be completed by 2010.
The projected cost after redesign goes up from Rs 1,411.79 crore to Rs 1,930.29 crore. The additional amount would be raised by BIAL through loans and advances from third-party service providers, like cargo handling or fuel supplies, and not through additional equity or state support.
About Rs 450 crore would be taken from lenders and Rs 68.5 crore from service providers, raising the debt-equity ratio from 2.25:1 to 3.63:1, an official spokesperson said.
Under the new design, the total built-up area for the passenger terminal building would be increased to 71,000 sq metre as against 55,850 sq metre.
BANGALORE/NEW DELHI: Two months after the construction work at redesigned portions of the Bangalore international airport began, the Union cabinet formally endorsed the changes on Thursday.
The project — redesigned at the behest of Union civil aviation minister Praful Patel — will now be able to accommodate 11.4-million passengers annually in the sprawling 7-acre terminal.
The projected traffic is 8.4 million by 2010. The Union cabinet also approved amendments to the concession agreement with BIAL, allowing the joint venture firm to re-design the airport.
As against the initial forecast of 41,000 aircraft movements per year in 2010, the latest projection has increased it to 1, 06,000, forcing BIAL to re-design the airport by merging the second phase of construction with the first phase, to be completed by 2010.
The projected cost after redesign goes up from Rs 1,411.79 crore to Rs 1,930.29 crore. The additional amount would be raised by BIAL through loans and advances from third-party service providers, like cargo handling or fuel supplies, and not through additional equity or state support.
About Rs 450 crore would be taken from lenders and Rs 68.5 crore from service providers, raising the debt-equity ratio from 2.25:1 to 3.63:1, an official spokesperson said.
Under the new design, the total built-up area for the passenger terminal building would be increased to 71,000 sq metre as against 55,850 sq metre.
Bangalore: Mason held for murder
[ 7 Sep, 2006 2325hrs IST TIMES NEWS NETWORK ]
BANGALORE: A mason who had killed a woman and buried her near her aunt's house was arrested on Wednesday. He was nabbed after the deceased's aunt came to know about the murder.
The deceased is Nagarathna (28) from Kuppam in Andhra Pradesh. She had come to her aunt,Gowramma's house in Raghavendra Nagar, HBR Layout, on August 17 along with her sister and brother-in-law.
Later, Nagarathna's sister and brotherin-law left for Kuppam and the former continued to stay with Gowramma. Three days later, Gowramma left Nagarathna alone at home and went to Kuppam.
A mason identified as Muniraju, who reportedly had a relationship with Gowramma, visited the house in a drunken state. On seeing Nagarathna alone at home, Muniraju made sexual advances towards her and when she refused, he picked up a wooden plank and hit her on the head.
Following this, she died and he buried her near Gowramma's house in a trench dug by him. He also cleaned the blood stains and fled the scene.
Two days later, Gowramma returned home and found Nagarathna missing and started a search for her. On Wednesday, foul smell emanated from the trench and Gowramma noticed Nagarathna's clothes buried underneath.
She informed the police who exhumed the body. Gowramma suspected Muniraju's involvement and told the police who in turn questioned Muniraju who confessed to the crime.
Woman conned: A stranger conned an elderly woman of her gold chain on Thursday afternoon after promising her to get a loan.
When Lakshmidevi (88) was returning to her house located near Janavahini Educational Trust, Girinagar, a stranger identifying himself as a relative approached her and told her that he could help her get a bank loan.
He took her to an isolated spot and asked her for the chain. He took away the chain and fled the scene. Credit card forgery: Byappanahalli police have arrested a person who used to buy expensive gold ornaments from shops using stolen credit cards and recovered valuables worth over Rs 8 lakh from him.
According to police, Anil Kumar (23) used stolen credit cards and forged signatures to buy valuables.
Live band joint raided: Talaghattapura police raided a live band joint at a farm house near Tataguni village on city outskirts, Kanakapura Road, on Wednesday.
At least 14 girls have been arrested, the police said. The police also seized a television set and other electronic gadgets from the farm house.
BANGALORE: A mason who had killed a woman and buried her near her aunt's house was arrested on Wednesday. He was nabbed after the deceased's aunt came to know about the murder.
The deceased is Nagarathna (28) from Kuppam in Andhra Pradesh. She had come to her aunt,Gowramma's house in Raghavendra Nagar, HBR Layout, on August 17 along with her sister and brother-in-law.
Later, Nagarathna's sister and brotherin-law left for Kuppam and the former continued to stay with Gowramma. Three days later, Gowramma left Nagarathna alone at home and went to Kuppam.
A mason identified as Muniraju, who reportedly had a relationship with Gowramma, visited the house in a drunken state. On seeing Nagarathna alone at home, Muniraju made sexual advances towards her and when she refused, he picked up a wooden plank and hit her on the head.
Following this, she died and he buried her near Gowramma's house in a trench dug by him. He also cleaned the blood stains and fled the scene.
Two days later, Gowramma returned home and found Nagarathna missing and started a search for her. On Wednesday, foul smell emanated from the trench and Gowramma noticed Nagarathna's clothes buried underneath.
She informed the police who exhumed the body. Gowramma suspected Muniraju's involvement and told the police who in turn questioned Muniraju who confessed to the crime.
Woman conned: A stranger conned an elderly woman of her gold chain on Thursday afternoon after promising her to get a loan.
When Lakshmidevi (88) was returning to her house located near Janavahini Educational Trust, Girinagar, a stranger identifying himself as a relative approached her and told her that he could help her get a bank loan.
He took her to an isolated spot and asked her for the chain. He took away the chain and fled the scene. Credit card forgery: Byappanahalli police have arrested a person who used to buy expensive gold ornaments from shops using stolen credit cards and recovered valuables worth over Rs 8 lakh from him.
According to police, Anil Kumar (23) used stolen credit cards and forged signatures to buy valuables.
Live band joint raided: Talaghattapura police raided a live band joint at a farm house near Tataguni village on city outskirts, Kanakapura Road, on Wednesday.
At least 14 girls have been arrested, the police said. The police also seized a television set and other electronic gadgets from the farm house.
Bangalore: Soon, you can zip through Tumkur Road
Sowmya Aji Mehu
[ 7 Sep, 2006 2323hrs IST TIMES NEWS NETWORK ]
BANGALORE: In keeping with Bangalore's image of embracing anything new, the NHAI has designed the IT city's first access-controlled road project on the highly accident-prone Tumkur Road.
Tumkur Road's shocking figures of an accident a day and a death once in five days have spurred the authorities to action.
The road has one of the highest traffic density of incoming/outgoing traffic to and from Bangalore — 1.30 lakh passenger carrying units per day — making travel to Nelamangala a matter of an hour from Bangalore city.
The plan to ease this is: A 4.5 km elevated road beginning immediately after the ring road, and beyond that a 15.5 km six-lane road up to Nelamangala that will have walls or railings on both sides to prevent any traffic from crossing the highway. Result: Travel time across the stretch is a mere 15 minutes!
"Access control will reduce accidents on this road. The elevated stretch will also contribute by easing the congestion on this road," NHAI sources told The Times of India.
Designed to be built at a cost of Rs 440 crore, the Bangalore-Nelamangala stretch of Tumkur Road is to match the dream-scape of the Mumbai-Pune, Ahmedabad-Vadodra stretches.
There will be no interruptions, with six flyovers and several pedestrian/cattle underpasses built to ferry people across wherever there is need.
The project was planned over an year ago, but ran into trouble because it clashed with the Bangalore Metro. Both projects were eying the same land, the NHAI for expanding the existing road, Metro to put up its rail line and stations.
"That issue has been sorted. Both projects are essential, but ours is planned and ready, so we are going ahead. The Metro will acquire land next to ours," sources added. Bids have already come in from the private sector for the project and are being processed.
The project, planned in the public-private partnership (PPP) model, is to be awarded within a month and take off in another six months with a two-year construction period.
[ 7 Sep, 2006 2323hrs IST TIMES NEWS NETWORK ]
BANGALORE: In keeping with Bangalore's image of embracing anything new, the NHAI has designed the IT city's first access-controlled road project on the highly accident-prone Tumkur Road.
Tumkur Road's shocking figures of an accident a day and a death once in five days have spurred the authorities to action.
The road has one of the highest traffic density of incoming/outgoing traffic to and from Bangalore — 1.30 lakh passenger carrying units per day — making travel to Nelamangala a matter of an hour from Bangalore city.
The plan to ease this is: A 4.5 km elevated road beginning immediately after the ring road, and beyond that a 15.5 km six-lane road up to Nelamangala that will have walls or railings on both sides to prevent any traffic from crossing the highway. Result: Travel time across the stretch is a mere 15 minutes!
"Access control will reduce accidents on this road. The elevated stretch will also contribute by easing the congestion on this road," NHAI sources told The Times of India.
Designed to be built at a cost of Rs 440 crore, the Bangalore-Nelamangala stretch of Tumkur Road is to match the dream-scape of the Mumbai-Pune, Ahmedabad-Vadodra stretches.
There will be no interruptions, with six flyovers and several pedestrian/cattle underpasses built to ferry people across wherever there is need.
The project was planned over an year ago, but ran into trouble because it clashed with the Bangalore Metro. Both projects were eying the same land, the NHAI for expanding the existing road, Metro to put up its rail line and stations.
"That issue has been sorted. Both projects are essential, but ours is planned and ready, so we are going ahead. The Metro will acquire land next to ours," sources added. Bids have already come in from the private sector for the project and are being processed.
The project, planned in the public-private partnership (PPP) model, is to be awarded within a month and take off in another six months with a two-year construction period.
Mumbai: Attack on woman sparks fear in Andheri
[ 8 Sep, 2006 0317hrs IST TIMES NEWS NETWORK ]
MUMBAI: In yet another attack on a woman, a 23-year-old was assaulted by an unidentified person who attempted to rob her while she was climbing the staircase of a building in Andheri's Manish Nagar area on Thursday.
The incident follows an attack on a 21-year-old MBA student who was targeted in a similar manner in the colony last month.
While police claim both incidents were attempts at robbery, residents are edgy and have demanded more patrolling.
According to witnesses, Thursday's incident took place in building number 44. The victim, Nishtha Patel, a physician at a charitable clinic in JVPD, was returning home in the afternoon. Nishtha lives with her parents on the fourth floor of the building.
"Around 12.30 pm, after Nishtha had climbed two floors, an unidentified man appeared in front of her and tugged at her handbag. When she resisted, he picked up a cement pole and hit her on the head," said inspector Pradeep Suryavanshi. However, Nishtha put up a tough fight.
After unsuccessfully trying to steal her handbag, the man fled, clambering over the society's compound wall to escape. Nishtha was rushed to Sujay hospital where she was given medical treatment and discharged.
Nishtha described the assailant to the police and said he was about five feet in height and in his twenties. Police suspect he was loitering on the building terrace and keeping a watch. Officials have started preparing a sketch of the offender.
Locals voiced concern over the attacks. "The problem is an under-construction transit camp that has sprung up at the edge of our colony," said gemology student Rovina D'souza.
"The labourers are hired on a temporary basis and keep a watch on movements of residents. There are very few watchmen in the area and trespassers walk in and leave whenever they want."
Rovina's friend, MBA student Vailani Varella, sustained 16 stitches to her head after an unidentified assailant had struck her repeatedly with a hammer on August 21. Varella was in building 48, which is only a block away from where Thursday's incident took place.
The police had acted swiftly and arrested a 19-year-old welder from the nearby construction site but residents remain dissatisfied.
"We believe there are 3-4 men involved in these attacks and they work in groups. The real culprit is still at large," said resident Jitendra Jain. He added that a month ago an 80-year-old woman was robbed in Block B, but the case remains unsolved.
Another resident Mangala Patil said local college students usually return to their homes in the afternoon and in the wake of these attacks, the police need to take stringent measures.
MUMBAI: In yet another attack on a woman, a 23-year-old was assaulted by an unidentified person who attempted to rob her while she was climbing the staircase of a building in Andheri's Manish Nagar area on Thursday.
The incident follows an attack on a 21-year-old MBA student who was targeted in a similar manner in the colony last month.
While police claim both incidents were attempts at robbery, residents are edgy and have demanded more patrolling.
According to witnesses, Thursday's incident took place in building number 44. The victim, Nishtha Patel, a physician at a charitable clinic in JVPD, was returning home in the afternoon. Nishtha lives with her parents on the fourth floor of the building.
"Around 12.30 pm, after Nishtha had climbed two floors, an unidentified man appeared in front of her and tugged at her handbag. When she resisted, he picked up a cement pole and hit her on the head," said inspector Pradeep Suryavanshi. However, Nishtha put up a tough fight.
After unsuccessfully trying to steal her handbag, the man fled, clambering over the society's compound wall to escape. Nishtha was rushed to Sujay hospital where she was given medical treatment and discharged.
Nishtha described the assailant to the police and said he was about five feet in height and in his twenties. Police suspect he was loitering on the building terrace and keeping a watch. Officials have started preparing a sketch of the offender.
Locals voiced concern over the attacks. "The problem is an under-construction transit camp that has sprung up at the edge of our colony," said gemology student Rovina D'souza.
"The labourers are hired on a temporary basis and keep a watch on movements of residents. There are very few watchmen in the area and trespassers walk in and leave whenever they want."
Rovina's friend, MBA student Vailani Varella, sustained 16 stitches to her head after an unidentified assailant had struck her repeatedly with a hammer on August 21. Varella was in building 48, which is only a block away from where Thursday's incident took place.
The police had acted swiftly and arrested a 19-year-old welder from the nearby construction site but residents remain dissatisfied.
"We believe there are 3-4 men involved in these attacks and they work in groups. The real culprit is still at large," said resident Jitendra Jain. He added that a month ago an 80-year-old woman was robbed in Block B, but the case remains unsolved.
Another resident Mangala Patil said local college students usually return to their homes in the afternoon and in the wake of these attacks, the police need to take stringent measures.
Navi Mumbai: Nerul murder shrouded in mystery
[ 8 Sep, 2006 0316hrs IST TIMES NEWS NETWORK ]
NAVI MUMBAI: Twenty-six-year-old housewife Kamini Manojkumar Giri left home on an errand on Tuesday and never returned. Even as the Nerul police found her body on Thursday, they continue to search for her infant son.
After two nerve-wracking days, the Giri family of Nerul, as also the entire Oriya community here, were plunged into grief when Kamini's body was found in a pond along Palm Beach Road.
Even as the police were doing the panchanama, Kamini's distraught husband arrived at the scene and was so shocked by the sight of her body and overcome by emotion that he began vomiting. He was rushed to a local hospital immediately.
While the Nerul police located her bloated body in the pond, there is still no sign yet of the couple's nine-month-old son. The two had been last seen at around 11.30 am on Tuesday.
Kamini had taken the boy along with her when she left their Gharkul society residence in Sector 16, Nerul, to buy some medicines. A missing complaint had been subsequently lodged at the Nerul police station by her husband.
The police themselves discovered the body in the pond. The grieving Giri family is now waiting for news of how Kamini died. "We will get the post-mortem report on Friday and only then can we comment on the cause of death," said the deputy commissioner of police (Zone 1), Amar Jadhav. Kamini's father-in-law Surendra Giri has told TOI, "There was no marital dispute between the husband and wife, and all of us were living very normally in Nerul. Only God knows how this has happened."
The entire Oriya community of Navi Mumbai has expressed shock at the mysterious death of the housewife, who was known to regularly interact with other members of the community.
"Kamini would without fail attend the holy satsangs in Nerul that were organised by the Oriya community. This tragedy in the Giri household has shaken everyone in Navi Mumbai," said one Oriya, S Das.
NAVI MUMBAI: Twenty-six-year-old housewife Kamini Manojkumar Giri left home on an errand on Tuesday and never returned. Even as the Nerul police found her body on Thursday, they continue to search for her infant son.
After two nerve-wracking days, the Giri family of Nerul, as also the entire Oriya community here, were plunged into grief when Kamini's body was found in a pond along Palm Beach Road.
Even as the police were doing the panchanama, Kamini's distraught husband arrived at the scene and was so shocked by the sight of her body and overcome by emotion that he began vomiting. He was rushed to a local hospital immediately.
While the Nerul police located her bloated body in the pond, there is still no sign yet of the couple's nine-month-old son. The two had been last seen at around 11.30 am on Tuesday.
Kamini had taken the boy along with her when she left their Gharkul society residence in Sector 16, Nerul, to buy some medicines. A missing complaint had been subsequently lodged at the Nerul police station by her husband.
The police themselves discovered the body in the pond. The grieving Giri family is now waiting for news of how Kamini died. "We will get the post-mortem report on Friday and only then can we comment on the cause of death," said the deputy commissioner of police (Zone 1), Amar Jadhav. Kamini's father-in-law Surendra Giri has told TOI, "There was no marital dispute between the husband and wife, and all of us were living very normally in Nerul. Only God knows how this has happened."
The entire Oriya community of Navi Mumbai has expressed shock at the mysterious death of the housewife, who was known to regularly interact with other members of the community.
"Kamini would without fail attend the holy satsangs in Nerul that were organised by the Oriya community. This tragedy in the Giri household has shaken everyone in Navi Mumbai," said one Oriya, S Das.
Mumbai: Nothing but the BEST (buses)
Yogesh Naik
[ 7 Sep, 2006 0054hrs IST TIMES NEWS NETWORK ]
MUMBAI: Commuters who catch their BEST buses along the Eastern or Western Express Highways are a step closer to a whole new experience.
The design for swanky new bus shelters—which will cost Rs 7 lakh each to build—was cleared by a high-powered committee of officials-cum-citizens on Saturday.
Fresh tenders will now be issued by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), which presented the updated design, and 85 shelters on both highways are expected to come up in six months.
Later, other roads—like LBS Marg, SV Road and the underconstruction Santa Cruz-Chembur, Jogeshwari-Vikhroli and Andheri-Ghatkopar link roads—will also get the bus shelters.
Compared to the current drab bus-stops, the new shelters will have features that will make waiting for a bus a more aesthetic and comfortable experience (See graphic).
In addition, hi-tech features, like electronic displays, will allow commuters access to information about BEST services. However, commuters will have to wait longer for the most eagerly awaited feature.
The Global Positioning System (GPS) will be linked to the new stops later. The GPS will allow commuters to know exactly where a bus is along a route, making it possible to know if it will be on time.
[ 7 Sep, 2006 0054hrs IST TIMES NEWS NETWORK ]
MUMBAI: Commuters who catch their BEST buses along the Eastern or Western Express Highways are a step closer to a whole new experience.
The design for swanky new bus shelters—which will cost Rs 7 lakh each to build—was cleared by a high-powered committee of officials-cum-citizens on Saturday.
Fresh tenders will now be issued by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), which presented the updated design, and 85 shelters on both highways are expected to come up in six months.
Later, other roads—like LBS Marg, SV Road and the underconstruction Santa Cruz-Chembur, Jogeshwari-Vikhroli and Andheri-Ghatkopar link roads—will also get the bus shelters.
Compared to the current drab bus-stops, the new shelters will have features that will make waiting for a bus a more aesthetic and comfortable experience (See graphic).
In addition, hi-tech features, like electronic displays, will allow commuters access to information about BEST services. However, commuters will have to wait longer for the most eagerly awaited feature.
The Global Positioning System (GPS) will be linked to the new stops later. The GPS will allow commuters to know exactly where a bus is along a route, making it possible to know if it will be on time.
Patna: For Nitish, 'charity' begins at home
Radhika D Srivastava
[ 8 Sep, 2006 0330hrs IST TIMES NEWS NETWORK ]
PATNA: The wheel of development is moving fast in the state, and fastest in Nalanda. A private sugar mill, piped water in villages, new power stations, super highways, hospitals, rural electricity, new colleges... you name it and it's all happening in Nalanda, the home district of CM Nitish Kumar.
The remaining 37 districts are in the queue, waiting for the state government's largess to befall them. The worst-affected are Supaul, Madhepura, Araria, Saharsa, Madhubani, Purnia and Jamui.
For, most of these districts are flood prone and in dire need of development. That Nalanda is special is an open secret in the corridors of power in Patna.
"If a new state-wide scheme is to be implemented, it is an unwritten code that it has to be first implemented in Nalanda," a bureaucrat said.
In their bid to please the boss, even cabinet ministers end up focussing more on Nalanda. A politician said, "Nalanda is a pampered district. First it was former Union minister George Fernandes who benefited the district and it got, among other things, an ordnance factory project. Now it is the turn of Nitish."
In the last two months alone, the state government has okayed development projects worth Rs 700 crore for Nalanda. On the eve of Independence Day, Nitish himself announced projects worth Rs 500 crore, including Rs 257 crore for a rural electricity project and Rs 130 crore for setting up a milk powder processing plant.
A few days ago, the cabinet gave its nod to a private enterprise to set up a sugar complex in the district.
The complex, to be set up at a cost of Rs 122.4 crore, will produce sugar, alcohol and even about eight megawatt of electricity. The government has also approved the formation of a municipal corporation at Biharsharif.
[ 8 Sep, 2006 0330hrs IST TIMES NEWS NETWORK ]
PATNA: The wheel of development is moving fast in the state, and fastest in Nalanda. A private sugar mill, piped water in villages, new power stations, super highways, hospitals, rural electricity, new colleges... you name it and it's all happening in Nalanda, the home district of CM Nitish Kumar.
The remaining 37 districts are in the queue, waiting for the state government's largess to befall them. The worst-affected are Supaul, Madhepura, Araria, Saharsa, Madhubani, Purnia and Jamui.
For, most of these districts are flood prone and in dire need of development. That Nalanda is special is an open secret in the corridors of power in Patna.
"If a new state-wide scheme is to be implemented, it is an unwritten code that it has to be first implemented in Nalanda," a bureaucrat said.
In their bid to please the boss, even cabinet ministers end up focussing more on Nalanda. A politician said, "Nalanda is a pampered district. First it was former Union minister George Fernandes who benefited the district and it got, among other things, an ordnance factory project. Now it is the turn of Nitish."
In the last two months alone, the state government has okayed development projects worth Rs 700 crore for Nalanda. On the eve of Independence Day, Nitish himself announced projects worth Rs 500 crore, including Rs 257 crore for a rural electricity project and Rs 130 crore for setting up a milk powder processing plant.
A few days ago, the cabinet gave its nod to a private enterprise to set up a sugar complex in the district.
The complex, to be set up at a cost of Rs 122.4 crore, will produce sugar, alcohol and even about eight megawatt of electricity. The government has also approved the formation of a municipal corporation at Biharsharif.
Patna: Rs 3500-cr plan to develop city
[ 8 Sep, 2006 0329hrs IST TIMES NEWS NETWORK ]
PATNA: If the city development plan prepared by various government agencies is implemented fully, Patna will join the league of well-planned cities.
A development plan worth Rs 3,500 crore has been drawn up to revamp the drainage, sewerage, drinking water, power and roads sector in the state capital.
Of this, the Patna Municipal Corporation and Bihar Rajya Jal Parshad have already prepared a detailed project report worth Rs 1,600 crore.
PMC commissioner Atul Prasad said the project duration is for seven years. A year has already passed. By the time the required clearances are obtained, this year will end. "So effectively we will be left with five years to implement the project," he said.
Prasad said about 50 per cent of the funds will be provided by the Union government under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Modernisation Mission. The remaining 50 per cent will be given by the state government.
He said it is high time the old and crumbling sewerage system was upgraded. "Our capacity to treat sewage is not enough. Against a generation of 170 million litres a day (MLD) of sewage, the city's sewage treatment plants have a combined capacity to treat 107 MLD only."
All drinking water pumping stations do not work as the water pipes do not have the strength to withstand the pressure generated by these pumps. "We have 96 pumping stations. But at a given time only 82 are operated. If we switch on all of them, the water pipes may burst," he said.
So first on the priority list is the revamping of drainage and water systems. A new network of storm water drains is to be laid keeping in mind the increase in population over the next 15 years. Drinking water pipes will also be re-laid.
Besides, the city development plan envisages uninterrupted power supply to the water pumping stations so that these are not dependent on the local power networks.
Prasad said there is a plan to provide a dedicated and uninterrupted power supply to the pumping stations. Underground cables will be laid so that there is no pilferage from these lines.
There is also a provision for constructing roads and relaying them so that they are able to face the vagaries of nature.
Prasad said, "All departments need to work in complete co-ordination so that there isn't a situation in which a freshly-laid road is cut open for laying water pipes or even power lines."
PATNA: If the city development plan prepared by various government agencies is implemented fully, Patna will join the league of well-planned cities.
A development plan worth Rs 3,500 crore has been drawn up to revamp the drainage, sewerage, drinking water, power and roads sector in the state capital.
Of this, the Patna Municipal Corporation and Bihar Rajya Jal Parshad have already prepared a detailed project report worth Rs 1,600 crore.
PMC commissioner Atul Prasad said the project duration is for seven years. A year has already passed. By the time the required clearances are obtained, this year will end. "So effectively we will be left with five years to implement the project," he said.
Prasad said about 50 per cent of the funds will be provided by the Union government under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Modernisation Mission. The remaining 50 per cent will be given by the state government.
He said it is high time the old and crumbling sewerage system was upgraded. "Our capacity to treat sewage is not enough. Against a generation of 170 million litres a day (MLD) of sewage, the city's sewage treatment plants have a combined capacity to treat 107 MLD only."
All drinking water pumping stations do not work as the water pipes do not have the strength to withstand the pressure generated by these pumps. "We have 96 pumping stations. But at a given time only 82 are operated. If we switch on all of them, the water pipes may burst," he said.
So first on the priority list is the revamping of drainage and water systems. A new network of storm water drains is to be laid keeping in mind the increase in population over the next 15 years. Drinking water pipes will also be re-laid.
Besides, the city development plan envisages uninterrupted power supply to the water pumping stations so that these are not dependent on the local power networks.
Prasad said there is a plan to provide a dedicated and uninterrupted power supply to the pumping stations. Underground cables will be laid so that there is no pilferage from these lines.
There is also a provision for constructing roads and relaying them so that they are able to face the vagaries of nature.
Prasad said, "All departments need to work in complete co-ordination so that there isn't a situation in which a freshly-laid road is cut open for laying water pipes or even power lines."
Lucknow: UP's peaceful tribute to'Vande Mataram'
[ 8 Sep, 2006 0338hrs IST TIMES NEWS NETWORK ]
LUCKNOW: Barring reports of stone pelting in Meerut, centenary year celebrations of Vande Mataram passed off peacefully despite all the heat that the issue had generated.
In many an educational institutions, even a few'madarsas' in Varanasi, the national song was recited with enthusiasm and ferver on Thursday morning.
In Meerut police used force to disperse two groups indulging in stone pelting. The situation was however promptly brought under control.
In Gorakhpur too, police remained on their toes throughout the day as local Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Mahant Adtiyanath's had issued a threat to recite the song from a place of worship.
He remained untraceable on Thursday.In Faizabad, reports said that the Saryu Yamuna Express train was detained for two hours by students of Saket Degree College to protest against the attempts of certain sections to prevent the recital of Vande Mataram.
In Lucknow a special function was organised at City Montessori School, Gomtinagar, where students turned up in large number to sing Vande Mataram. According to school authorities, Muslim students were also participated in the program."I do not find anything against any religion in the national song," said Mohammed Tariq, a class 12th student.
Tariq's classmate Adil Usman felt that the spirit of the song was important and not the words.National song and National Anthem are the part of the daily prayers in Colvin Taluqdar's College.
Therefore students and staff recited Vande Mataram with all devotion and passion as they do everyday.
LUCKNOW: Barring reports of stone pelting in Meerut, centenary year celebrations of Vande Mataram passed off peacefully despite all the heat that the issue had generated.
In many an educational institutions, even a few'madarsas' in Varanasi, the national song was recited with enthusiasm and ferver on Thursday morning.
In Meerut police used force to disperse two groups indulging in stone pelting. The situation was however promptly brought under control.
In Gorakhpur too, police remained on their toes throughout the day as local Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Mahant Adtiyanath's had issued a threat to recite the song from a place of worship.
He remained untraceable on Thursday.In Faizabad, reports said that the Saryu Yamuna Express train was detained for two hours by students of Saket Degree College to protest against the attempts of certain sections to prevent the recital of Vande Mataram.
In Lucknow a special function was organised at City Montessori School, Gomtinagar, where students turned up in large number to sing Vande Mataram. According to school authorities, Muslim students were also participated in the program."I do not find anything against any religion in the national song," said Mohammed Tariq, a class 12th student.
Tariq's classmate Adil Usman felt that the spirit of the song was important and not the words.National song and National Anthem are the part of the daily prayers in Colvin Taluqdar's College.
Therefore students and staff recited Vande Mataram with all devotion and passion as they do everyday.
Lucknow: Beware of make-believe doctors
Shailvee Sharda
[ 8 Sep, 2006 0339hrs IST TIMES NEWS NETWORK ]
LUCKNOW: An apron-clad person with a stethoscope dangling around his neck need not be a doctor, at least in Balrampur hospital. Crooks and touts don this attire to fleece patients and their attendants here.
These cheats fake as interns medicos. They go around the wards, examine patients and build a rapport with attendants. The real game starts after winning the confidence of the patients and attendants.
Attendants are conned into buying costly medicines, getting a useless diagnostic test done or even getting the patient shifted to a private nursing home. These fake doctors get into their act when the real ones are not around. In the late hours they have a free field and a fair chance of a'successful operation'.
Medical superintendent, Dr DP Mishra says,"This issue is of grave concern as four touts have been found operating in the hospital in the past six months." An attendant Ashraf fell in the trap of a fake doctor on the night of September 2/3 - a weekend. His grandmother was having breathing problems.
He rushed to find a doctor and bumped into one who identified him as an intern Hasan Rizwi. After examining his grandmother,'Dr Hasan' told Ashraf to get certain medicines urgently from a particular medical store located outside the hospital. The medicine cost Ashraf Rs 1,200, almost double their market price.
His grandmother's condition did not improve. A senior consultant examined her the following morning. He discovered that redundant medicines and injections had been prescribed to the patient. A probe was ordered and it was found that there was no intern by the name of Hasan Rizwi in the hospital.
Another attendant Ramadhin on August 6 - a Sunday became a victim of a similar prank. His wife was admitted in the female ward.
[ 8 Sep, 2006 0339hrs IST TIMES NEWS NETWORK ]
LUCKNOW: An apron-clad person with a stethoscope dangling around his neck need not be a doctor, at least in Balrampur hospital. Crooks and touts don this attire to fleece patients and their attendants here.
These cheats fake as interns medicos. They go around the wards, examine patients and build a rapport with attendants. The real game starts after winning the confidence of the patients and attendants.
Attendants are conned into buying costly medicines, getting a useless diagnostic test done or even getting the patient shifted to a private nursing home. These fake doctors get into their act when the real ones are not around. In the late hours they have a free field and a fair chance of a'successful operation'.
Medical superintendent, Dr DP Mishra says,"This issue is of grave concern as four touts have been found operating in the hospital in the past six months." An attendant Ashraf fell in the trap of a fake doctor on the night of September 2/3 - a weekend. His grandmother was having breathing problems.
He rushed to find a doctor and bumped into one who identified him as an intern Hasan Rizwi. After examining his grandmother,'Dr Hasan' told Ashraf to get certain medicines urgently from a particular medical store located outside the hospital. The medicine cost Ashraf Rs 1,200, almost double their market price.
His grandmother's condition did not improve. A senior consultant examined her the following morning. He discovered that redundant medicines and injections had been prescribed to the patient. A probe was ordered and it was found that there was no intern by the name of Hasan Rizwi in the hospital.
Another attendant Ramadhin on August 6 - a Sunday became a victim of a similar prank. His wife was admitted in the female ward.
Hyderabad: Narco test scares Krushi scamster
[ 8 Sep, 2006 0324hrs IST TIMES NEWS NETWORK ]
HYDERABAD: Krushi Bank scam prime accused K Venkateshwara Rao has reportedly refused to undergo the narcoanalysis test as he feared the drug being used in test may pose a risk to his life. However, CID officials claim Telgi’s revelations may have influenced him to do a U-turn.
As Rao refused to take the test, the CID officials brought him back to the city from Ahmedabad on Thursday afternoon and sent him back to the Chanchalguda jail.
"If the CID wants to conduct a narcoanalysis test at any cost, why should they seek Venkateshwara Rao’s consent? Due to the drug given during a narco test, the subject may slip into a coma and it may pose a risk to his life too,’’ G Ashok Reddy, counsel for Kosaraju Venkateshwara Rao, told TOI on Thursday.
Before conducting a surgery or a procedure on a patient, doctors take mandatory medical consent from the patient or relatives, making it clear they are not responsible for any eventuality during the event. Similarly, the CID and doctors want to escape from their responsibility by way of getting his assent, Reddy said.
CID sources said Venkateshwara Rao was all right till Tuesday night and they thought he would cooperate and undergo the test.
Suddenly, he changed his mind and refused to sign after completing the mandatory health check, they added.
"Some news channels aired fake stamp scam kingpin Telgi’s revelations during the narcoanalysis on Tuesday night and that could have scared him. He may have thought he would drop names too under the influence of the drug and that may pose a threat to his life,"the sources added. The CID officials would approach the court again for an order.
"Consent of the accused is not mandatory for conducting the truth serum test. There are several judgments delivered by courts in Karnataka and Maharashtra on this. The FSL experts might have refused to do the test because their guidelines insist on subject’s consent,"a CID officer said.
Police officers also dismissed the argument that the truth serum test drug ‘sodium pentothal’ could induce coma. "The drug is given in small doses during many medical procedures and it will not harm the person,” he said, adding it was a tactic adopted by the accused to avoid the test.
Hyderabad: Ganguly Dada ko itna gussa kyon ata hai!
Solomon S Kumar
[ 8 Sep, 2006 0327hrs IST TIMES NEWS NETWORK ]
HYDERABAD: The dreadful red thing with a four-letter name irked Sourav Ganguly so much on Thursday that the rattled southpaw went marching to umpire I Sivaram.
What got Ganguly’s goat was the umpire’s decision to change the ball within the first 10 overs and then a couple of overs later during Bengal’s innings against Mumbai in the Moin-ud-Dowlah Gold Cup match at the Gymkhana here. Throughout the day Mumbai fielders were seen showing the ball to the umpires as they did not seem too happy with its shape.
As the umpires were waiting to change the ball a second time, Ganguly decided to take things in hand. The shirt-waving southpaw marched towards the umpire and after a short animated chat was seen gesticulating towards the Bengal dressing room.
Within minutes one of the players ran out with a couple of used balls. But the umpires preferred to rub a new ball to a used one.
Later, Sivaram told TOI: "He was unhappy when we had to change the ball a second time. He said there was no need to replace it with a new ball and instead an old one should be used," Sivaram said.
"I told him that there were no used balls in the association and, hence, we had to sandpaper a new ball. He insisted that we find a used ball. He said, 'An umpire of your calibre should know things better’. I told him to suggest a solution to the problem as there were no old balls. Ganguly then had some used balls brought from the dressing room. But they could not be used as they were too old."
Sivaram, one of the best umpires in the country, said Ganguly remained unhappy. "So I told him that both teams should have a level playing field. But when he inisted we continue with the same ball, I told him that once the umpires made a decision, it would be unfair to the fielding side if we did not go ahead with it."
Even when play resumed Ganguly seemed irreconcilable to the idea. "I told Ganguly that such a small issue should not affect him so much. If a player of your experience is disturbed by the change of ball then what will a newcomer do. This seemed to have an effect on him and he got down to business," Sivaram said.
The Hyderabad umpire added that the balls used in first class cricket in the country have been causing a lot of problems. "This is happening everywhere. Even in Ranji Trophy matches, umpires are having a problem with the balls, which lose shape fast." he said.
[ 8 Sep, 2006 0327hrs IST TIMES NEWS NETWORK ]
HYDERABAD: The dreadful red thing with a four-letter name irked Sourav Ganguly so much on Thursday that the rattled southpaw went marching to umpire I Sivaram.
What got Ganguly’s goat was the umpire’s decision to change the ball within the first 10 overs and then a couple of overs later during Bengal’s innings against Mumbai in the Moin-ud-Dowlah Gold Cup match at the Gymkhana here. Throughout the day Mumbai fielders were seen showing the ball to the umpires as they did not seem too happy with its shape.
As the umpires were waiting to change the ball a second time, Ganguly decided to take things in hand. The shirt-waving southpaw marched towards the umpire and after a short animated chat was seen gesticulating towards the Bengal dressing room.
Within minutes one of the players ran out with a couple of used balls. But the umpires preferred to rub a new ball to a used one.
Later, Sivaram told TOI: "He was unhappy when we had to change the ball a second time. He said there was no need to replace it with a new ball and instead an old one should be used," Sivaram said.
"I told him that there were no used balls in the association and, hence, we had to sandpaper a new ball. He insisted that we find a used ball. He said, 'An umpire of your calibre should know things better’. I told him to suggest a solution to the problem as there were no old balls. Ganguly then had some used balls brought from the dressing room. But they could not be used as they were too old."
Sivaram, one of the best umpires in the country, said Ganguly remained unhappy. "So I told him that both teams should have a level playing field. But when he inisted we continue with the same ball, I told him that once the umpires made a decision, it would be unfair to the fielding side if we did not go ahead with it."
Even when play resumed Ganguly seemed irreconcilable to the idea. "I told Ganguly that such a small issue should not affect him so much. If a player of your experience is disturbed by the change of ball then what will a newcomer do. This seemed to have an effect on him and he got down to business," Sivaram said.
The Hyderabad umpire added that the balls used in first class cricket in the country have been causing a lot of problems. "This is happening everywhere. Even in Ranji Trophy matches, umpires are having a problem with the balls, which lose shape fast." he said.
New Delhi: Curtains for shops around school
Ambika Pandit
[ 8 Sep, 2006 0309hrs IST TIMES NEWS NETWORK ]
[ 8 Sep, 2006 0309hrs IST TIMES NEWS NETWORK ]
NEW DELHI: With godowns, a screening press and 100-odd shops dealing in junk, timber and building material circling its boundary wall, it was hard to spot the government-aided senior secondary school at Old Double Storey area in Lajpat Nagar IV.
When MCD sealed eight shops here on Thursday, the authorities at Shradharam Sanatan Dharam Senior Secondary School said this has come as a major relief to students.
"These shops have all along been a cause of pollution and distraction to students," said Ramesh Sharma, the manager of the school. He added that all these shops had been running illegally on school land for years now.
From the outside, it seems that the shops are located outside the school boundary. But once you enter the premises, it becomes clear that the shops have eaten into the playground.
At one place, the iron grill has brokwn down, owing to the junk pressing against the wall. Sitting inside the classroom, you can only see rows of tin roofs strewn with junk.
Protesting against the sealing drive, the shopkeepers claimed that they have been paying rent to the Shradharam Trust. They even produced legal documents to show that they were tenants, which however read that, "lesee will not carry out any business which will create nuisance and pollution in the area."
When contacted, the Pandit Shradharam Trust Committee labelled all these shops as unauthorised and pointed out that they were occupying the school land.
Three acres of land had been allotted to the trust to run a school in 1953.
"But the previous manager of the committee in connivance with some others had allowed these shops to come up between 1995 and 2002.
He was arrested in 2002 in connection with a case of misappropriation of funds and a fake degree racket. The case is still on. The school land was allotted by Land and Development Office (L&DO) to the Trust.
But despite complaints from the new trust committee, the authorities are yet to rid the land of encroachments," one of the trust members told Times City.
The trust and residents of the area have complained about these shops to the MCD and L&DO.
"Responding to numerous complaints, L&DO carried out a survey here a few months back, and assured school authorities that it would initiate demolition action to bring respite to people. But nothing has happened so far," said a trust member.
New Delhi: Vande Mataram's echo in city schools
Sonia Sarkar
[ 8 Sep, 2006 0311hrs IST TIMES NEWS NETWORK ]
NEW DELHI: For some, it was an occasion to pay tribute to the nation. While for others, it was a special day to remember the freedom struggle. Understanding the meaning of the National Song was probably not so important for the students who sang it during morning assembly on Thursday to mark the 100 years of Vande Mataram.
"I am not too sure about the meaning of the song, but probably it talks about freedom struggle and mother. Our teachers asked us to sing it and we obeyed," said P V Rahul, a Class XI student at KV, R K Puram.
To understand the Sanksrit version was not an easy thing, felt G Sidharth, a Class XI student of Tagore International, Vasant Vihar. "I think the song is about the Motherland," he said. His teachers made a 15-minute presentation on the history of song and the three tunes which had been composed so far.
If those studying in Class XI don't understand the meaning, one can't blame Shiv Sharma, a Class I student at Birla Vidya Niketan. "I don't know the meaning of the song. Our teachers sang it first, we repeated," he said.
Though there was no official direction by the state government to sing the song at 11 am, almost all schools across the city sang in unison. "We organised a special assembly at 9 am just to sing Vande Mataram. After the assembly, we distributed English and Hindi translations of the song and pasted a copy of the same on the notice board. We want students to understand the essence of the song," said Vinay Kumar, principal, DPS Vasant Kunj.
Students of two Urdu schools, Fatehpuri Muslim School and Anglo-Arabic School, also joined the choir. "Our students sang the song in the assembly along with the teachers.
This song should be sung by all irrespective of the religion," said Firoz Bakht Ahmed, a governing body member of the Anglo-Arabic School.
Even though the Muslim clergymen were not in favour of singing the song in madarssas, an all girls Madrassa Niswan at Kashmere Gate reportedly sang it.
Imam Bukhari said: "I have neither asked any madrassa to sing the song nor had instructed any not to sing it." Despite the SGPC officials declaring it optional for its schools to sing Vande Mataram, schools run by the management did not sing it.
[ 8 Sep, 2006 0311hrs IST TIMES NEWS NETWORK ]
NEW DELHI: For some, it was an occasion to pay tribute to the nation. While for others, it was a special day to remember the freedom struggle. Understanding the meaning of the National Song was probably not so important for the students who sang it during morning assembly on Thursday to mark the 100 years of Vande Mataram.
"I am not too sure about the meaning of the song, but probably it talks about freedom struggle and mother. Our teachers asked us to sing it and we obeyed," said P V Rahul, a Class XI student at KV, R K Puram.
To understand the Sanksrit version was not an easy thing, felt G Sidharth, a Class XI student of Tagore International, Vasant Vihar. "I think the song is about the Motherland," he said. His teachers made a 15-minute presentation on the history of song and the three tunes which had been composed so far.
If those studying in Class XI don't understand the meaning, one can't blame Shiv Sharma, a Class I student at Birla Vidya Niketan. "I don't know the meaning of the song. Our teachers sang it first, we repeated," he said.
Though there was no official direction by the state government to sing the song at 11 am, almost all schools across the city sang in unison. "We organised a special assembly at 9 am just to sing Vande Mataram. After the assembly, we distributed English and Hindi translations of the song and pasted a copy of the same on the notice board. We want students to understand the essence of the song," said Vinay Kumar, principal, DPS Vasant Kunj.
Students of two Urdu schools, Fatehpuri Muslim School and Anglo-Arabic School, also joined the choir. "Our students sang the song in the assembly along with the teachers.
This song should be sung by all irrespective of the religion," said Firoz Bakht Ahmed, a governing body member of the Anglo-Arabic School.
Even though the Muslim clergymen were not in favour of singing the song in madarssas, an all girls Madrassa Niswan at Kashmere Gate reportedly sang it.
Imam Bukhari said: "I have neither asked any madrassa to sing the song nor had instructed any not to sing it." Despite the SGPC officials declaring it optional for its schools to sing Vande Mataram, schools run by the management did not sing it.
New Delhi: RTI New Bill to give more teeth
NIDHI SHARMA
[ 8 Sep, 2006 0312hrs IST TIMES NEWS NETWORK ]
NEW DELHI: In a bid to give fillip to the Right to Information (RTI) Act and bring errant government officials to book, Delhi is preparing a new legislation — Delhi Public Grievances Act 2006.
The draft bill, which is likely to be introduced in the next Assembly session, attempts to give more teeth to the Public Grievances Commission (PGC) — the appellate body for RTI.
The legislation will make the commission a statutory body and will bring many administrative changes to help in checking corrupt practices and harassment by government officials.
At present, PGC is a non-statutory body comprising one chairman and three members (one full-time and two part-time members).
It addresses grievances of the people and hears appeals under the Delhi RTI Act 2001. However, the government takes a long time in the implementation of the commission's decisions or recommendations and can even reduce the quantum of punishment.
If the government ignores PGC's recommendations, which it has regularly been doing, the commission has no powers to take any action.
The new legislation aims at making PGC a statutory body. This would give the commission powers of a civil court. It would be able to summon any officer on a complaint of the common man and order production of government records.
PGC chairman Baleshwar Rai said: "The draft legislation is ready. We have incorporated the suggestions made by the law department. Now we will send it to Delhi government. Through this legislation we have aimed at giving more powers to the commission for effective grievance redressal of the common man."
The draft Bill empowers the commission to levy heavy penalties if there is delay or violation of its directions. PGC, under the legislation, levies a fine of Rs 250 per day extending to a maximum of Rs 10,000 on an officer for dereliction of duty or even harassment.
Even civic bodies, corporations or departments can be directed to pay damages to an individual in case they are found violating rules or causing harassment. The draft Bill lays down that PGC would review grievance redressal system of different departments at least twice a year.
One of the biggest changes proposed would be in the administrative set-up. The draft has tried to nudge out retired bureaucrats from PGC.
So far, there has been a tradition to post retired bureaucrats as the chairman and members. The draft says that any public servant would be given the responsibility of PGC.
The commission would be headed by a chairman. It would have a member secretary and three full-time members. They would have a fixed tenure of three years, unlike the present members who can serve till the age of 65 years.
If the Bill comes through in its present form, PGC would not be dependent on Delhi government for its day-to-day budget. It would be given an annual grant, which will be earmarked at the beginning of the financial year.
It would also have an annual accounting and auditing system.
[ 8 Sep, 2006 0312hrs IST TIMES NEWS NETWORK ]
NEW DELHI: In a bid to give fillip to the Right to Information (RTI) Act and bring errant government officials to book, Delhi is preparing a new legislation — Delhi Public Grievances Act 2006.
The draft bill, which is likely to be introduced in the next Assembly session, attempts to give more teeth to the Public Grievances Commission (PGC) — the appellate body for RTI.
The legislation will make the commission a statutory body and will bring many administrative changes to help in checking corrupt practices and harassment by government officials.
At present, PGC is a non-statutory body comprising one chairman and three members (one full-time and two part-time members).
It addresses grievances of the people and hears appeals under the Delhi RTI Act 2001. However, the government takes a long time in the implementation of the commission's decisions or recommendations and can even reduce the quantum of punishment.
If the government ignores PGC's recommendations, which it has regularly been doing, the commission has no powers to take any action.
The new legislation aims at making PGC a statutory body. This would give the commission powers of a civil court. It would be able to summon any officer on a complaint of the common man and order production of government records.
PGC chairman Baleshwar Rai said: "The draft legislation is ready. We have incorporated the suggestions made by the law department. Now we will send it to Delhi government. Through this legislation we have aimed at giving more powers to the commission for effective grievance redressal of the common man."
The draft Bill empowers the commission to levy heavy penalties if there is delay or violation of its directions. PGC, under the legislation, levies a fine of Rs 250 per day extending to a maximum of Rs 10,000 on an officer for dereliction of duty or even harassment.
Even civic bodies, corporations or departments can be directed to pay damages to an individual in case they are found violating rules or causing harassment. The draft Bill lays down that PGC would review grievance redressal system of different departments at least twice a year.
One of the biggest changes proposed would be in the administrative set-up. The draft has tried to nudge out retired bureaucrats from PGC.
So far, there has been a tradition to post retired bureaucrats as the chairman and members. The draft says that any public servant would be given the responsibility of PGC.
The commission would be headed by a chairman. It would have a member secretary and three full-time members. They would have a fixed tenure of three years, unlike the present members who can serve till the age of 65 years.
If the Bill comes through in its present form, PGC would not be dependent on Delhi government for its day-to-day budget. It would be given an annual grant, which will be earmarked at the beginning of the financial year.
It would also have an annual accounting and auditing system.
Chandigarh: MCC to merge five villages
Sukhbir Siwach
[ 8 Sep, 2006 0339hrs IST TIMES NEWS NETWORK ]
CHANDIGARH: Despite protests by some sarpanches and BJP activists, the UT administration has decided to go ahead with its plans to merge villages with the Chandigarh municipal corporation.
The administration has turned down the objections raised against the move and a notification will be issued soon to merge five villages with the civic body.
These villages are Dadu Majra, Kajheri, Maloya, Hallomajra and Palsora. The UT administration had decided to merge the villages in phases. Later, other villages in the UT would also be made a part of the civic body.
The administration had invited objections to its proposal a fortnight back and subsequently received nine.
Sources said many of those who had raised the objections had demanded that first better infrastructure should be provided in these villages. Some had demanded that these villages should be declared as 'model villages'.
Mayor Surinder Singh asserted that the civic body would insure improved infrastructure and facilities in these villages.
Talking to Times of Chandigarh, a senior UT officer said, "Villagers had raised some apprehensions regarding the importance of 'gram sabhas'. But there would be no vacuum as the municipal corporation would replace these bodies after the villages become a part of the civic body."
A few days back, in the wake of the UT administration's decision, a delegation led by Mam Chand Rana, sarpanch of Maloya and president of the BJP's Kisan Morcha, had met with the home secretary and had filed objections to the merger move in respect of Maloya and Dadu Majra villages.
"The UT administration's decision is not all in the interest of the residents of these villages and they should not be merged with the municipal council, as this would be a glaring violation of the Panchayati Raj Act as well as the Indian constitution", Rana said.
The delegation had told the home secretary that "the UT's move seems to have been taken hurriedly without taking into consideration the exact position of each village.
Most of the land in Maloya and Dadu Majra is agricultural and the residents' main source of livelihood is farming". BJP activists had recently staged a demonstration against the administration's move.
[ 8 Sep, 2006 0339hrs IST TIMES NEWS NETWORK ]
CHANDIGARH: Despite protests by some sarpanches and BJP activists, the UT administration has decided to go ahead with its plans to merge villages with the Chandigarh municipal corporation.
The administration has turned down the objections raised against the move and a notification will be issued soon to merge five villages with the civic body.
These villages are Dadu Majra, Kajheri, Maloya, Hallomajra and Palsora. The UT administration had decided to merge the villages in phases. Later, other villages in the UT would also be made a part of the civic body.
The administration had invited objections to its proposal a fortnight back and subsequently received nine.
Sources said many of those who had raised the objections had demanded that first better infrastructure should be provided in these villages. Some had demanded that these villages should be declared as 'model villages'.
Mayor Surinder Singh asserted that the civic body would insure improved infrastructure and facilities in these villages.
Talking to Times of Chandigarh, a senior UT officer said, "Villagers had raised some apprehensions regarding the importance of 'gram sabhas'. But there would be no vacuum as the municipal corporation would replace these bodies after the villages become a part of the civic body."
A few days back, in the wake of the UT administration's decision, a delegation led by Mam Chand Rana, sarpanch of Maloya and president of the BJP's Kisan Morcha, had met with the home secretary and had filed objections to the merger move in respect of Maloya and Dadu Majra villages.
"The UT administration's decision is not all in the interest of the residents of these villages and they should not be merged with the municipal council, as this would be a glaring violation of the Panchayati Raj Act as well as the Indian constitution", Rana said.
The delegation had told the home secretary that "the UT's move seems to have been taken hurriedly without taking into consideration the exact position of each village.
Most of the land in Maloya and Dadu Majra is agricultural and the residents' main source of livelihood is farming". BJP activists had recently staged a demonstration against the administration's move.
Chandigarh: These students want to vote for 'nobody'
Garima Talwar
[ 8 Sep, 2006 0340hrs IST TIMES NEWS NETWORK ]
CHANDIGARH: "In the ballot papers, there should be an option as I vote nobody", said vigilant students of Punjab University.
Has the recent display of incidents between students unions, where they play dirty to outnumber each other, drilled fear in the minds of students?
Keeping in account the recent case where a neutral person got stabbed or the latest incident outside Mata Gujri hostel, where on the name of politics, personal rivalry between two girls came to the fore in the most obscene manner and student unions took the charge of bubbling up the situation to strengthen their vote banks, students certainly feel that none of these people are really fit to become their leaders.
"I really wish that we were given the choice to vote for 'nobody' to express our disapproval against the leaders. We want someone who can fight for the real cause. Calling a strike over petty issues like attendance or mess food is so whimsical. Why can't we have leaders who can think beyond this", said Naresh (name changed), a student of mass communication at PU.
Echoing his views, Supriya of English department said, "An option of 'nobody' in ballot papers would surely go with my expression of antipathy and resentment towards the present political scenario, both at university and national level."
In the abyss of gaining power, political parties seem to have swayed from the very purpose for which they had come into existence.
According to Maninder (name changed) of law department: "It is a sheer wastage of university funds. We can put this money into something productive like building an open-air auditorium or setting up various societies. Most of the leaders are amateurs who can go to any length to fill their vote banks. I have lost faith in them completely."
Harleen Sidhu, a pass out of English department, who completely complies with the situation, said, "PU politics is really dirty and not a single person is fit to be a student representative in the real sense since nobody is fighting for students. They are just fighting amongst themselves."
[ 8 Sep, 2006 0340hrs IST TIMES NEWS NETWORK ]
CHANDIGARH: "In the ballot papers, there should be an option as I vote nobody", said vigilant students of Punjab University.
Has the recent display of incidents between students unions, where they play dirty to outnumber each other, drilled fear in the minds of students?
Keeping in account the recent case where a neutral person got stabbed or the latest incident outside Mata Gujri hostel, where on the name of politics, personal rivalry between two girls came to the fore in the most obscene manner and student unions took the charge of bubbling up the situation to strengthen their vote banks, students certainly feel that none of these people are really fit to become their leaders.
"I really wish that we were given the choice to vote for 'nobody' to express our disapproval against the leaders. We want someone who can fight for the real cause. Calling a strike over petty issues like attendance or mess food is so whimsical. Why can't we have leaders who can think beyond this", said Naresh (name changed), a student of mass communication at PU.
Echoing his views, Supriya of English department said, "An option of 'nobody' in ballot papers would surely go with my expression of antipathy and resentment towards the present political scenario, both at university and national level."
In the abyss of gaining power, political parties seem to have swayed from the very purpose for which they had come into existence.
According to Maninder (name changed) of law department: "It is a sheer wastage of university funds. We can put this money into something productive like building an open-air auditorium or setting up various societies. Most of the leaders are amateurs who can go to any length to fill their vote banks. I have lost faith in them completely."
Harleen Sidhu, a pass out of English department, who completely complies with the situation, said, "PU politics is really dirty and not a single person is fit to be a student representative in the real sense since nobody is fighting for students. They are just fighting amongst themselves."
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