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THOMAS COOK PROFITABLE BRANCH IN INDIA GETTING SOLD OFF!

2012-02-09T21:07:00.000-08:00

India Business

The Times of India

Thomas Cook to exit India ops

TNN | Feb 9, 2012, 04.04AM IST

MUMBAI: British tour operator Thomas Cook Plc said on Wednesday that it has launched a process to sell its 77% stake in Thomas Cook India. The announcement sent the local unit's shares up by 20%, the maximum permissible limit for the day. Thomas Cook is taking Credit Suisse's assistance to sell its prized India asset in which several private equity funds have shown interest.

The travel services firm, which is on a financial lifeline from lenders, has been selling off businesses to retire its debts of up to 890 million pounds and the India-unit sale is part of that restructuring imitative.

Based on the stock's Wednesday closing price of Rs 54 on the BSE, the 77% stake in the 130-year-old Thomas Cook India is valued at nearly Rs 880 crore.

Europe's second-largest holiday maker's move to sell the India unit comes close on the heels of it pledging its entire 77% stake in Thomas Cook India to Royal Bank of Scotland. "Following a number of unsolicited, informal expressions of interest, we have decided to seek formal offers for our stake in Thomas Cook India," Thomas Cook's CEO Sam Weihagen was quoted as saying in a regulatory filing.

"If the offers are attractive, then we will consider selling our stake and using the proceeds to continue to strengthen the group's balance sheet," he added.

If Thomas Cook exits its India operations, it would be its second such exit. In 2005, it had sold the company to Dubai Investment Group, only to buy it back in 2008.

Private equity investors such as KKR, Blackstone, Actis and Bain Capital are said to be potential suitors for Thomas Cook India. This couldn't be individually confirmed. Tour operators, including Cox & Kings, are also interested in grabbing India's oldest travel house.

However, industry analysts say that Cox & Kings may not aggressively bid for the unit as it has recently made a big-ticket acquisition. Last July, Cox & Kings acquired UK's Holidaybreak for 312 million pounds.

With a turnover of Rs 310 crore, Thomas Cook India is one of the most profitable units within Thomas Cook's global portfolio. The company has two major divisions - travel services and financial services. A majority of business, around 60%, comes from the forex business. The Indian arm, headed by Madhavan Menon, has expanded its business by acquiring LKP Forex and Travel Corporation of India.

SO THE QUESTION - WHY SALE OF PROFITABALE ARM??!!

MOST PROBABLY ;OR MAY BE ; PRESSURE FROM SEMI BANK RUPT GOVERNMENT?

PASSING THE BUCK-next 10 years will see a yuan standard replacing a dollar standard

2012-02-08T07:39:00.000-08:00

When the world economy heads into a crisis, the international currency system often breaks down. This occurs either because debtors can't meet their obligations, or because creditors fear they are not being repaid in sound money.

The first condition exists today in the euro zone; the second is likely to emerge in the China-US relationship. So how might these conditions change the system? Much discussion concerns whether the US dollar will be replaced as the global reserve currency by the Chinese yuan or whether it will simply be one of a number of reserve currencies that includes the euro, yuan and yen.

The global reserve currency is the one that forms the largest proportion of the holdings of central banks. More broadly, it is also the currency most likely to be accepted by merchants worldwide. In my view, the debate about whether the dollar will be replaced by the yuan is a bit of a red herring because such a shift will not occur quickly.

As of 2010, about 60% of all foreign-exchange reserves were denominated in dollars, giving the US currency a critical mass. Investors are still comfortable with holding it; despite the country's fiscal problems, in times of crisis, the dollar is regarded as a haven. It will take a long while for international investors to become confident that a Communist-led government will always respect their rights.

By 2020, if current trends are realised, China will become the world's largest economy. The nation's foreign-exchange reserves already give it significant power as a creditor nation. But even if foreigners wanted to hold yuan instead of dollars, there would be constraints on their doing so. And removing the constraints would probably cause the yuan to soar, something that the Chinese are keen to avoid.

So it seems unlikely that the next 10 years will see a yuan standard replacing a dollar standard. But might the present crisis conditions lead to some other sort of change? Might countries, for example, be driven to enter a new arrangement comparable to the 1944 Bretton Woods pact, in which the world's major industrial states agreed to adhere to a global gold standard to stabilise international currencies?

At this juncture, an agreement on this scale would be very difficult. Bretton Woods was made possible because of the limited number of participants and the urgency of wartime. Much of Europe was under Nazi occupation and could not take part; the Soviet Union had little intellectual input; and the developing world was consulted on a fairly cursory basis. The Americans were in charge, but listened to John Maynard Keynes out of respect for his intellect.

Battered baby--India's human rights record in 2011 'disappointing':

2012-01-29T23:11:00.000-08:00

Battered baby: Cops on cabbie trail

Dwaipayan Ghosh, TNN Jan 28, 2012, 02.39AM IST

NEW DELHI: While the two-year-old battered baby battles for life at AIIMS, police are trying to track down the parents of the abandoned child. And cops claim, they have definite clues in the case. They are trying to hunt down two men who played a crucial role in handing over the child to the main accused, Rajkumar.

Police say they hope to question all accused in the next 48 hours, including Rajkumar, the 21-year-old cabbie who has a family in Mumbai. Police have clearly demarcated their roles.

While south district police will track down parents of the child, cops from southeast district will investigate charges of the teenager that she had been repeatedly raped while living with the accused at Mahipalpur. A missing case along with rape has been lodged at the Sangam Vihar police station.

Investigators are also close to cracking the rape and kidnapping case that was lodged at Sangam Vihar in June last year. "The teenage girl has given us clues about the baby's parents," said Ajay Choudhury, additional commissioner (South-East), said.

"The child's parents have not been traced yet. We are scouring Uttam Nagar for a woman, Munni. It was Munni, who abandoned the child two months ago. She worked as a maid for Laxmi, who on her part knew another person, Manoj. Laxmi told us she had passed on the child to Manoj, who was in touch with the main accused, Rajkumar. The baby was handed over to him three weeks back. Rajkumar took the baby to the rented guesthouse where he was staying with the teenage girl. We have tracked down Rajkumar and the other women, except Munni. Manoj has been contacted, and he is expected to join investigations,'' said a senior police officer.

Several people have approached the police, expressing willingness to adopt the child. But no relative has come forward yet. "After so much media attention, someone would have turned up from her family, if she had been kidnapped. We think she may have been abandoned by her parents,'' said an officer.

Sources said kingpin Rajkumar went out of the city leaving behind the teenage girl to take care of the toddler.

It is suspected he went to Mumbai to meet his wife. And the girl may have hurt the baby in frustration. "She admitted that the child was increasingly becoming a problem and she would often beat her up,'' said a police officer heading the probe. He refused to comment on the bite marks.

On January 18, the girl claimed she took the baby to the bathroom for a wash when it slipped out of her hands and suffered head injuries. She rushed to a private hospital from where she took the baby to the AIIMS Trauma Centre.

The teenager's mother died five years ago and she lived with her alcoholic father, who often abused her. Unable to bear the trauma, she fled from her residence on May 26 last year.

Her father lodged a case of kidnapping at the Sangam Vihar police station on June 2. The girl told the police she went straight to her aunt's house where she stayed for three months, but her aunt did not inform her father.

The girl again fled from her relative's place and was spotted at a bus shelter by a woman who offered her a job at her residence in Munirka. She stayed there for two months and was then handed over to Rajkumar, who took her to his residence in Dwarka. The girl alleged that Rajkumar raped her several times over a period of three months.

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Police team off to Mumbai to track man in battered baby case

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A police team has been dispatched to Mumbai to track down Rajkumar, who is wanted in connection with the badly battered two-year-old baby girl now battling for life at the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences' Trauma Centre here.

Rajkumar, a cab driver, had allegedly brought the child home about a fortnight ago, claiming that he had adopted her. He handed over the baby to the teenaged girl living with him for the past several months and went out of the city a few days ago. The girl could not take proper care of the child and is suspected to have beaten her up in frustration. She claimed to have taken the baby to the bathroom for a wash on January 18 when it fell down and suffered severe head injuries.

The victim was subsequently admitted to the Trauma Centre and the 14-year-old girl handed over to the police. Suspecting her to have assaulted the baby, the police produced her before a juvenile court. However, the court directed them to produce the girl before the Child Welfare Committee for necessary action. Subsequently the police were ordered to trace her father and identity the baby's parents.

Accordingly the police have tracked down the young girl's father to Govindpuri. “He told us that his daughter had fled from the house along with a man, probably Rajkumar,” said a police officer.

However, in her statement to the Committee the girl said she fled home as her father, who was an alcoholic, used to torture her. She went to her paternal aunt's place from where she went to Munirka and was employed by a woman. The girl claimed that Rajkumar frequented the woman's house and one day took her along and started living with her. He allegedly sexually abused her on several occasions.

For its part, the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights has ordered a detailed investigation into the baby girl's case and asked for a factual report from the Delhi police within a fortnight. “The act of violence cannot be ignored as a private issue. They have to be recognised as violation of human rights and a public matter,'' said NCPCR chairperson Shantha Sinha.

In a letter to the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime and Railways), the Commission has sought information about the facts and circumstances of the case; whether the accompanying 14-year-old girl has been suitably rehabilitated and psychological counselling is being provided to her; under what circumstance the girl was separated from her parents and brought to the present place; whether all those involved have been identified; status of the health and recovery of the baby and status report of the case along with investigation details.

Taking a serious view of the visuals of the injured child shown by several television channels, the Lajpat Nagar Child Welfare Committee chaired by Raaj Mangal Prasad has issued notice to the Trauma Centre seeking an explanation on how people were allowed inside the Intensive Care Unit.

“It was highly insensitive on the part of the doctor-in-charge of ICU to have allowed media persons inside and expose her unnecessarily to infection causing danger to her life. This amounts to cruelty under Section 23 of the Juvenile Justice Act,” said the order, adding that the showing of the baby's body parts bearing injury marks was in contravention of Section 21 of the Juvenile Justice Act.

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mumbai police says the person whom delhi police wanted to arrest is already arrested ;while delhi police is not clear about this .why?
whawas is womens' commision and etc concerned departments were doing when all this was happening?
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India's human rights record in 2011

'disappointing'

:

New York: India's human rights record in 2011 got a thumbs down from a leading global rights group for its "failure" to protect vulnerable communities and rapped the government for custodial killings, police abuses, including torture.
Human Rights Watch also criticised the Indian government for its inaction in repealing the controversial armed forces act and for remaining silent on the "gravest abuses" in countries like Syria.
In its World Report 2012, Human Rights Watch (HRW) assessed progress on human rights during the past year in more than 90 countries. In India's case, HRW said it has been a "disappointing year for human rights".

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"Custodial killings, police abuses including torture, and failure to implement policies to protect vulnerable communities marred India's record in 2011 as in the past," HRW said in its report.
Asia director at the city-based organisation Brad Adams said the Indian government took few steps to "prosecute abusive soldiers, undertake needed police reforms, or bring an end to torture. Internationally, India missed opportunities to be a leader at the United Nations Security Council and Human Rights Council in protecting the rights of vulnerable people abroad."
HRW said the Indian government took no action to repeal the "widely discredited Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), disregarding the recommendations of political leaders and advisers.
"Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's call for 'zero tolerance' of abuses by the armed forces has been undercut by the near zero progress in holding the abusers responsible," Adams said.
HRW however said violence in the northern state of Jammu and Kashmir dropped significantly during 2011. While the government has promised a thorough inquiry into the discovery of over 2000 unmarked graves in the state.
In the international arena too HRW said India left a lot to be desired. India served on both the UN Security Council and Human Rights Council but it "let opportunities pass to support independent, international investigations into conflict-related abuses in Sri Lanka and Burma".
India did not use memberships on these bodies to show leadership to protect human rights abroad but instead "remained silent on even the gravest abuses" in countries like Syria. "India is now watched closely for signs of responsible global leadership," Adams said.
HRW however commended India's Presidency at the Security Council, during which it was able to secure a consensus among sharply divided member states on Syria, leading to the first Council statement condemning the violence.
The government however adopted "long overdue" measures to compensate rape victims and revised its medico-legal protocols to exclude the humiliating "finger" test to investigate rape cases, Human Rights Watch said.

Kerala to have 450 e-toilets by March

2012-01-21T09:28:00.000-08:00

Kerala to have 450 e-toilets by March

IANS

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Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala will have 450 functional e-toilets by the end of this fiscal, becoming the first state in India with Connected Toilet Infrastructure which would be on a par with health and hygiene standards of developed countries. An e-toilet has an automated door opening, power flushing, automatic closet washing and sterilisation and automatic platform-cleaning mechanism -- all backed by SMS alerts to inform a control room about the status of water tank and biogas plant in the event of any errors or failures.

The product has been developed by city-based Eram Scientific Solutions Pvt Ltd, a part of Eram Group which has operational presence in India, the Middle East and Southeast Asia. This latest technological innovation is a convergence of web-mobile-electronics technologies and is expected to bring about a revolutionary change in the public health and hygiene sector of the state, a company statement said on Friday.

Currently, there are over 150 e-toilets across various locations and before the end of this fiscal another 300 will be operational. The cost of e-toilet varies from Rs.350,000 to Rs.850,000 (inclusive of bio-membrane reactor's price). Bio-membrane reactor is a nano-technology-aided device that instantly recycles the used water and makes it ready for future use, the statement said.

An e-toilet occupies around 20 square feet and has two doors -- a sliding door at the front and a normal door ahead of the toilet. As soon as the coin (entry charge) is dropped, the sliding door opens and the light and the exhaust fan switch on. Inside the toilet there is a bucket, mug and such other items.

In case the user does not flush the toilet after use, the system automatically does all the cleaning operations. Human excreta is treated and reduced to a sand-like material, which will not have any bacteria and is removed physically once in three months.

The e-toilet unit will receive alerts in case of any theft or vandalism attempts. The agency responsible for the operation of the e-toilet will also be able to remote-control the unit and clean the toilet. The price of a unit depends on the manufacturing materials like fibre, metal sheets, stainless steel, MS pillars and a combination of the said materials.

Electronic and cleaning features will be the same for all variants but more facilities for the physically challenged, women and children will be added to the models.

The average life of a unit is estimated to be around 7-10 years.

BANDRA TO VERSOVA SEA LINK IS SANCTIONE D ,SO IT IS SUSPICIOUS -BUILDER PROMOTED -TO SANCTION A PARELLEL BANDRA TO VERSOVA COASTAL ROAD

2012-01-21T03:35:00.000-08:00

Versova link gets coastal body nod

Clara Lewis, TNN Aug 27, 2011, 01.11am IST

MUMBAI: The Bandra-Versova sea link on Friday received the go-ahead from the Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority (MCZMA). The authority also approved the offsite infrastructure for the Navi Mumbai international airport. Both the projects have been approved under the new Coastal Regulation Zone norms of 2011, said T C Benjamin, principal secretary, urban development.
The MCZMA will now write to the Union environment ministry to allow the construction of the two projects, said Valsa Nair-Singh, secretary, environment. The go-ahead from the MCZMA is considered a virtual green signal from the Union environment ministry as well

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Nod for Bandra-Versova sea link

Ketaki Ghoge, Hindustan Times
Mumbai, December 30, 2011

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First Published: 01:43 IST(30/12/2011)
Last Updated: 01:44 IST(30/12/2011)

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Even as the state-appointed joint technical committee on coastal roads is slated to submit its report this week, the government has firmed up its decision to construct a sea link from Bandra to Versova.

A government resolution issued on Thursday by the Public Works Department(Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation) said that the decision to construct a 10 km sea bridge 900 metres into the sea, from Bandra to Versova, had been finalised after considering four options. This alignment of the sea link had been recommended by MSRDC-appointed consultants Parsons Brinckerhoff, which carried out a feasibility study.
The GR states that the consultants recommended the sea link option after looking at preliminary cost estimates, environmental concerns and the new Coastal Regulatory Zone notification 2011.
This alignment has also got a go-ahead from the MSRDC board and was under consideration by the state. The state government, after consultations with the planning department and approval of the finance department, has now cleared this alignment.
The 8-lane link, which will run from Bandra to Versova, will have two connectors/inlets for vehicles at Carter Road junction (near Otters Club) and at Juhu Koliwada.
The sea link has got a green nod from the state coastal body and has been awaiting clearance from the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF). "If we opt for mixed alignment or coastal road, we will have to struggle for clearances. MoEF is unlikely to clear the coastal road in a jiffy. In that time, the sea link project can take off," said a senior official, who did not wish to be named. There have been consistent flip-flops in the government in the last year on whether the Western Freeway project, aimed at linking south Mumbai to the western suburbs, should be a sea link or a coastal road.
Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan, who has been keen on a coastal road as it is cost effective, had set up a committee led by municipal commissioner Subodh Kumar to carry out a techno-feasibility report on the project. The report is likely to be submitted this week. This has already delayed the proposed Worli-Haji Ali sea link.
Interestingly, deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar has expressed dissatisfaction with the coastal road plan, pointing out that obtaining environmental clearance for such a plan would be impossible.

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Builders were planning to extend their sea coast construction and make a profit ;for which they are promoting the coastal road
IN FACT AFTER THE SEA LINK NOD CAME ;THE NEWS OF COASTAL ROAD CAME IN A PANIC REACTION FROM SUCH SOURCES AND SUPPORTED BY OTHERS WHO CAN MAKE A PROFIT FROM ADDITIONAL CONSTRUCTION ON THE RECLAIMED SEA SHORE
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WATERFRONTS IN JEOPARDY

Bandra Residents to protest against Coastal Road project - {Source- TIMES OF INDIA}

Mumbai: A new 35-km coastal road along the city’s west coast, recommended by a joint technical committee headed by civic chief Subodh Kumar, is expected to face stiff opposition in the days to come.

Citizens’ groups, NGOs, environmentalists and activists said they plan to protest against the proposal, which was submitted to chief minister Prithviraj Chavan on Tuesday. The project will destroy Mumbai’s waterfronts, mangroves and affect historical sites, they said.

On Wednesday, representatives of various civic groups gathered in Bandra to chalk out a strategy to oppose the plan. Residents of Bandra Bandstand and Carter Road, who developed and maintained two of the city’s landmark promenades, said the coastal road would finish these tourist spots permanently.

“The BMC and state government sanctioned crores of rupees in the last few years for the preservation of these two waterfronts and Jogger’s Park. This coastal road will override the waterfront and destroy the unique features special to Bandra and Mumbai. In our opinion, this road is not feasible and should not be constructed in a piecemeal and haphazard manner,” a statement issued by various local Bandra organizations on Thursday, said.

“Our objections should be considered before the project is finalized. The coastal road scheme, as envisaged, will entail a huge amount of reclamation of the coast. Reclamation is banned by the environment ministry under CRZ regulations. In order for this scheme to go through, CRZ regulations will have to be waived off/ amended by the central ministry of environment. This creates a very bad precedent not only for Mumbai but for the entire coastline of India,” it said.

The project envisages a road that will commence from the north end of the sealink, skirt Bandra Fort, stretch along Bandra Bandstand, Chimbai village and Carter Road. An elevated road skirting Khar-Danda village will go underground at the airport.

Civil engineer Vikram Rao said an elevated road or a sealink would be the best option. Bandra resident and AGNI member Shyama Kulkarni said the coastal road will destroy mangroves. “It will also affect fishing villages in Danda and Chimbai,” she said.

Environmentalist Rishi Aggarwal said, “In a city starved of spectacular vistas, the coast is Mumbai’s last frontier. The coastal road will kill the soul of Mumbai and its undulating coastline.” Aggarwal said the rapid growth in vehicular traffic will choke up the coastal road within five years. “It will only make contractors rich,” he said.
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Sena's see-saw on coastal road

By: Rinkita Gurav

Date: 2012-01-23

Place: Mumbai

The party, which had earlier supported the project, plans to make people aware of drawbacks after, CM's office says construction on the Rs 10,000-crore project would begin after clearance from the Centre
Now that the state government has made public the report of a 12-member committee appointed to study the feasibility of building a coastal freeway connecting South Mumbai with the suburbs and the rapidly growing metropolitan region, the Shiv Sena that's ruling the city's civic body in alliance with the BJP has said it will use the issue to target the Congress while campaigning for the upcoming BMC polls. Party leaders, many of whom were once vouching for Municipal Commissioner Subodh Kumar's idea, would now be telling citizens about the flipside of the Rs 10,000-crore project.

Turning the tide! The Sena says it's concerned that the project would
adversely affect the Koli community living along the coast

Last week, Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan announced that construction of the freeway would begin once necessary clearances are obtained from the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests.

But this move has not gone down well with the Sena and party leaders say they have lost their trust in Kumar now.

"The members on the panel were themselves opposing the idea of having the coastal freeway, which would cause a lot of environmental losses to the city and would pose coastal regulatory zone (CRZ) issues.

Also, reclaiming of land is not permitted at all and according to the report this would be done at three places.

Earlier we had supported the project but now that the Congress is taking credit for it, we would not let it happen as it would also affect the Koli villages along the coast," said a Shiv Sena leader on condition of anonymity. He added that the Sena has always had plans of improving the coastal front in the Koli villages along with beautification of the area, but if the project is implemented, that won't be possible.

About-turn!
Another senior Sena leader told MiD DAY that they have been studying the pros and cons of the project and they would now accuse the state government of trying to destroy the coastline.

"Although traffic would be reduced, the existing promenades in Bandra and Worli would not remain, and with traffic movement there, pollution would increase too. There would be destruction of mangroves, which is against the law and even citizen groups that have been protecting the areas would be opposing the move," he said.

MiD DAY had earlier reported that the committee members had already informed the commissioner about the project's environmental implications.

"The panel members had pointed out that large amounts of soil would be required for reclamation and the water level would rise in areas like Vasai-Virar.

How would that be handled? The primary concern is that the project doesn't affect the environment," said Sena leader Rahul Shewale.

On a previous occasion he had told MiD DAY that the party had complete faith in Kumar's vision and execution.
Meanwhile, Congress Spokesperson Nizamuddin Rayeen said the party has no political agenda in mind regarding the project.

"The aim is to develop the city as per international standards. Whether that happens through the state government or central government isn't important. Both the governments have invested money in the city's corporation; what has the ruling party done for development? The report has been sent to the centre. If there are any concerns, they would be addressed," he said.

Link-up
The 35-km coastal freeway is a response to the expensive sea links, which take more time to complete. The freeway would be a combination of roads on stilts, widened existing roads and tunnels. Although reclamation is the cheapest form, it would not be used throughout. Three tunnels are proposed ” one each under Marine Drive, Malabar Hill and Juhu aerodrome. The report also offers two options, one including a tunnel under Marine Drive, and one without.

sea link[Ambani ?]----------------------------------------coastal road[builders lobby]

40 patients dead as Rajasthan doctors' strike continues

2011-12-25T22:19:00.000-08:00

Jaipur

The Times of India

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JAIPUR: Medical services in Rajasthan remained badly affected on the fifth day of the strike by resident doctors Sunday, with at least 40 patients dying across the state so far far due to the agitation, officials said.

Some 3,500 doctors have struck work since Wednesday to press for a pay hike and other demands. About 400 doctors have been arrested till now for violating the Rajasthan Essential Services Maintenance Act (RESMA) clamped by the state government.

CM Ashok Gehlot visited Jaipur's Sawai Man Singh Hospital Sunday morning to take stock of the situation.

"We are negotiating with the striking doctors. A solution is likely to be reached soon," a health department official said. At least 40 patients have died in hospitals across the state due to the absence of doctors, he added.

Hospitals in Jaipur, including Sawai Man Singh Hospital, wore a deserted look Sunday and patients alleged that they were being discharged without treatment. Sources said that situation in rural areas was worse as there was no one to attend to patients at primary health centres.

Nearly 3,500 resident doctors and 20,000 National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) contract employees, along with thousands of in-service doctors, are participating in the strike since Wednesday. The NRHM contract employees are demanding permanent posts which, they claim, was promised to them by the chief minister last year.

The All Rajasthan In-service Doctors Association (ARISDA) has been demanding a hike in wages on a par with the central government employees for the past 11 months. Gehlot Saturday directed the health department to authorise private hospitals to treat at approved rates patients who are suffering due to the strike. The private hospitals will charge patients as per the standard rates approved for Sawai Man Singh Hospital and other authorised government hospitals, a health department official said. The state government has also sought help from doctors in the army, Border Security Force and railways.

Real estate bill is against consumer interest

2011-12-25T21:57:00.000-08:00

Mumbai

The Times of India

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Real estate bill is against consumer interest

Jehangir B Gai , TNN | Dec 26, 2011, 02.55AM IST

It is common knowledge that most builders blatantly engage in various malpractices-be it delay in construction, use of substandard materials, deviation from sanctioned plans, failure to obtain the occupation certificate, avoiding the formation of a co-operative society, illegal sale of parking and other open areas, misappropriation of advance monies taken for maintenance etc. Flat purchasers are always at the receiving end, with builders flouting the provisions of the Maharashtra Ownership Flats Act. The only viable, time-tested and effective remedy available to a flat purchaser to fight the might of the builder was through the redressal mechanism provided under the Consumer Protection Act.
Will consumers get better protection with the introduction of the real estate (regulation & development) bill by the ministry of housing and urban poverty alleviation? Though this new legislation appears to project a rosy picture, an analysis of the various provisions will show that in reality it will be beneficial to builders at the cost of the flat purchasers.
The negative aspects
Under Section 2 (c) of the new law, by a legal fiction, opens spaces are included under the definition of "apartment". Once the bill is passed, builders will be legally entitled to sell the open spaces (like parking space, terrace and private garden) for independent and private use. At present, as per the interpretation of law by the Supreme Court, sale of open spaces by a builder is illegal, as the land and other open spaces would belong to the society. The new law will help builders overcome this well reasoned judgment and profiteer by selling the open spaces.
Section 3 of the bill provides that a builder must compulsorily be registered with the real estate regulatory authority for plots measuring 4000 sq. metres or more. Most of the buildings are constructed on smaller plots. Hence this provision will not be applicable to most builders.
Section 18 of the bill provides for establishment of the real estate regulatory authority comprising of one chairperson and two members. There law does not mandate the appointment of any judicial officer on the authority. So, given the way our country functions, the appointments may be made to favour persons with the "right connections". The composition of the authority and its strength of three members will be inadequate to cope with the construction and development projects being carried out throughout the country. Also, it would be difficult for the common man to approach a remote centralized authority.
Similarly, the real estate appellate tribunal comprising nine members, to be constituted under section 35, will be unable to set up Benches throughout the country to deal with disputes. Accessibility to the redressal mechanism will become more difficult and costly.
Section 46 provides that the order of the tribunal can be enforced like the decree of a civil court. This proceeding is lengthy, cumbersome and costly. Unlike the consumer fora, the authority or tribunal under the new bill does not have power to adopt penal proceedings/criminal prosecution for non- compliance. Such proceedings would have to be initiated by the authority or tribunal by filing a complaint before a criminal court, and the flat purchaser would not have any idea about what is happening in such pro-ceedings.
Section 47 provides that the decision of the appellate authority would have to be challenged before the Supreme Court. The quality of adjudication by the authority with no judicial member would be questionable. The rates of appeal would be high. The cost involved would also be high. The tribunal would not be easily accessible to the common man. The three-tier redressal system under the Consumer Protection Act would be much more effective and economical.
The most anti-consumer provision of the new law is Section 60, which states that no injunction shall be granted by any court or other authority in respect of any action taken or to be taken in pursuance of any power conferred by or under this Act. The new law, thus, takes away the alternative, efficacious remedy which was hitherto available to a flat purchaser under the Consumer Protection Act.

TRAINS KILL 36000 PEOPLE IN MUMBAI-BOMBAY IN 8 YEARS

2011-12-24T09:23:00.000-08:00

Rail toll in city beats terror,road deaths

Manthan K Mehta and Somit Sen TNN

Mumbai: The city has lost more lives to rail and road accidents in the past 10 years than the cumulative death toll in terror attacks since 2002.The citys lifeline has ended up claiming 36,152 lives,besides injuring 36,688 people in the past 10 years since 2002.
Of these,nearly 20% deaths were due to trespassing alone,on stretches under the Kurla and Borivli police stations.
Comparatively,only 444 people died in terror strikes since 2002.In fact,since the 1993 blasts,in which 257 people died,the total toll in bomb blasts including the 26/11 strike,has been a mere 710.

Road accidents are also major contributors to the fatalities as 3,315 people have died in the past decade.This does not include 2011,but it has always been in the range of 600-650 every year since 2001.

Crackdown on begging mafia helps parents find missing child

2011-12-21T03:58:00.000-08:00

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Wednesday, December 21, 2011

In Bangalore A girl who was abducted when she was three years old has been reunited with her parents. The parents had visited a juvenile home in the city after hearing that children rescued from a begging mafia had been taken there.

Ashwini, the daughter of Venkatesh and Jyothi Jagannath, had been abducted from Annamma temple in the Majestic area of the city in August 2008. According to the Child Welfare Committee (CWC), an unidentified woman from Gadag district of Karnataka abducted her.

Six months later, she sold the child to a rice mill owner in Davangere. Unable to take care of her, the man returned the child to the woman who abandoned her in a ST bus.

The girl was sent by locals to a Gadag home for destitute children and later transferred to the CWC home in Hubli. In July, she was transferred to the juvenile home in Bangalore. Last week, the 210 children rescued from the begging mafia were sent to the CWC home where Ashwini was staying.

Looking for their child, the Jagannaths visited the home on Friday. Anupama Dwivedi, a lawyer with the CWC, said, “The parents recognised her and she was returned to them after a proper background check.”

Venkatesh, a sweet stall owner, said, “We searched for Ashwini everywhere. We had almost given up hope of ever seeing her again when the raid happened. I guess it was destiny’s way of bringing things full circle. We will always be grateful to the CWC and others.”

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MP clerk has assets worth Rs 40 cr, held

2011-12-19T03:51:00.000-08:00

Mon, 19 Dec 2011Milind Ghatwai

Tags : Ramesh Dhuldhoye, government clerk,Economic Offences Wing, Madhya Pradesh Police,nation newsPosted: Mon Dec 19 2011, 00:27 hrsBhopal:

“don't dictate terms... - By Shiva Subramanian Erratic saina loses ... - By BASTINE BRITTO Poor reporting - By Ravi Ajit singh. - By anil kotwal Ajitsingh - By P.V.Namjoshi Cabinet berths - By gull Chidambaram the chic - By MANISELVAN

An early-morning raid at a government clerk’s house in Indore on Sunday yielded details of properties and valuables worth a staggering Rs 40 crore.

Ramesh Dhuldhoye, a clerk with RTO, Indore, was nailed by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the Madhya Pradesh Police at his residence in Ranipura.

The clerk draws a salary of Rs 16,000 but owns 49-bigha land on Khandwa road on which stands a two-storey farmhouse. The property is located not far from Indore, the state’s commercial capital.

“The present value of his properties, cash and valuables is Rs 40 crore,” SP (EOW) Manoj Singh told The Indian Express.

The huge farm in Morod was bought a year after Dhuldhoye was found involved in a fake-receipt scandal in 2002-03.

The team also raided an RTO agent, who was also allegedly involved in the scandal, but did not receive much from his house.

Dhuldhoye owns four plots on Sanver Road, has four cars and four other vehicles and lives atop a hotel he owns. The raiding team seized Rs 1 lakh in cash, one-kg gold and 4.5 kg silver. His five bank accounts would be opened on Monday, when EOW officials expect to unearth more details. The raid follows two recent raids by the Lokayukta Police at a peon-cum-storekeeper in Ujjain and a sub-engineer in Mandsaur. Both were found worth more than Rs 10 crore.

No free lunch for poor,4.6L cr sops for rich--Tax Breaks,Biz Incentives Up For 3rd Straight Yr TIMES NEWS NETWORK -INDIA

2011-12-19T03:47:00.000-08:00

No free lunch for poor,4.6L cr sops for rich

Tax Breaks,Biz Incentives Up For 3rd Straight Yr

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi: The subsidy for the poor is dwindling,but this has not deterred the government from lining up corporate houses pockets.
Last year,the Centre gave away potential revenue of Rs 4.6 lakh crore on account of various tax exemptions and incentives to industrialists,compared to the Rs 1.54 lakh crore on subsidy to poor and farmers.
There are direct tax incentives and exemptions to businesses in the corporate sector in the form of profit and investment-linked deductions,besides other freebies that together accounted for Rs 88,000 crore,the finance ministry informed Parliament in response to a question.
The incentives on various exemptions for central excise and customs duties were Rs 3.73 lakh crore in 2010-11.This,however,does not include revenue foregone on account of input tax neutralization schemes for export and service tax exemptions,according to the finance ministry.
On the contrary,in the last fiscal ending March 31,2011,the government had spent about nearly Rs 1.54 lakh crore on subsidies for aam admi comprising Rs 60,600 crore spent on food,Rs 55,000 crore on fertilizer and Rs 38,000 crore on petroleum,kerosene and LPG.
The exemptions to the rich have been going up every year.It was Rs 4.20 lakh crore in 2008-09 and raised to Rs 4.37 lakh crore the next year,which further went up to Rs 4.60 lakh crore in 2010-11.
Though the subsidy for the poor has gone up too,they are much less than what rich have been provided with.
The governments expenditure on subsidy was Rs 1.29 lakh crore in 2008-09;Rs 1.41 lakh crore (2009-10 ) and Rs 1.54 lakh crore (2010-11 ).This has been brought down to Rs 1.44 lakh crore in 2011-12.

Maharashtra: Hunger kills 500 yearly in Melghat

2011-12-17T07:22:00.001-08:00

Residents fume as BMC garden turns into a vegetable bazaar - DNA ... www.3dsyndication.com › English News & Features Since the past three weeks, a Mulund garden has turned into a mini vegetable market every Monday, with hawkers making hay due to the negligence of the ...

2011-12-17T07:01:00.001-08:00

Residents fume as BMC garden turns into a vegetable bazaar - DNA ...

www.3dsyndication.com › English News & Features

Since the past three weeks, a Mulund garden has turned into a mini vegetablemarket every Monday, with hawkers making hay due to the negligence of the ...

Come visit this garden. It's worth Rs 142 crore![30million dollar!!!]most probably another scam

2011-12-17T06:58:00.000-08:00

By: Varun Singh

Date: 2011-12-17

Place: Mumbai

Under renovation for the last four years, BMC has already spent Rs 105 crore & says it needs another Rs 37 crore to restore the 100-year-old S K Patil Udyan to its old glory
In a city where breathing space is fast shrinking 1.95 sq m per of open space for every Mumbaikar as per a recent survey the civic body has deprived a section of the populace of a garden that was, once, all the rage with its patrons, but now only evokes rage by dint of having been made messy and off-limits, its patrons claim.

The year in which S K Patil Udyan, near Charni Road station, was closed for renovation. The BMC had promised to reopen the park in 39 months

Drawn-out revamp
When the garden opposite Charni Road station, called the S K Patil Udyan, was shut on October 4, 2007 for renovation and for fixing of the underground water tunnel, the BMC had said the work wouldn't take more than 39 months.

However, almost a year after it was supposed to be returned to residents revamped that is, in January 2011 it lies partly deserted and decrepit.

In fact, a senior scribe who lives in Girgaum claimed that the corporation has turned it into the graveyard that it was allegedly built on (see box).

After Mansoor Darvesh, a frequenter to the garden, filed an RTI application, he realised that far from restoring its glory, the BMC ruined what was there of it, and it doesn't seem likely that it would be reopened for the locals any time soon.

As per the RTI reply, until last week, the corporation has spent Rs 105 crore on the park and the subterranean water drains, and plans to spend another Rs 37 crore. But the state of the garden shows few signs of having been repaired, Darvesh pointed out.

The S K Patil Udyan shows very little sign of renovation and bears a desolate look as less than nothing has been done to restore it to its former glory

The BMC's water supply projects department replied to Darvesh's RTI query, saying, "The holdup is due to the garden department's delay in handing it over to the water supply projects department.

Because trees were obstructing the pipeline alignment, we had to revise the design, as various underground utilities obstructed the pipeline route."

To which, Darvesh asks, "How did the BMC begin designing a renovation plan if they weren't aware of the utilities that were underground? Don't they have a copy of the map? This is a lame excuse and isn't acceptable. The BMC should have completed the project by now," said Darvesh.

BMC says
But according to RS Ghodge, chief engineer, water supply projects, it is a huge project and requires time. Though he said, "We are in the last leg of the project and it would be complete soon. We won't take more than three months and the garden would be open for the common public."

Ghodge added, "The pipeline coming from Cross Maidan will benefit a larger section of the public in Malabar Hill and adjoining areas. Immediately after the pipeline work is done, the garden will be opened. The total expenditure for the project is estimated at Rs 154 crore."

Darvesh further said that it was troubling that the BMC destroyed a popular garden, a favourite of the residents of the area.

"I come from a far-off suburb (Jogeshwari) but I love the garden (in SoBo) as it gives me peace. It had huge elephant and giraffe statues and other such fun things that were very popular with children, but now all of it is gone," he said.

Irate patrons
Senior journalist Neeta Kolhatkar, a resident of Girgaum, who has childhood memories attached to the garden, and still visits it for walks, turned red at the very mention of the BMC's Rs-105 crore expenditure on the garden.

"What has the BMC spent so much money on? Look at the garden, it's in a miserable state. They have thoroughly spoilt it. I remember, as a child my friends and I used to regularly go to the garden and play.

It's famous as the Japanese garden. Nearly 10 decades old, it is one of the oldest gardens that had everything from a walking area to sand pits to swings and the works, even benches for senior citizens.

They have destroyed the garden in the name of renovation," she said, adding, "The locals are very angry with the way the BMC has turned it into a graveyard."

The garden was built on a graveyard and is today bordered by a cemetery, which is about the only reason why people go near the park now, Kolhatkar said.

Rs 37 cr
The amount that the BMC is going to further spend on the park

39
The time (in months) in which the BMC was supposed to complete the renovations

2007
The year in which S K Patil Udyan, near Charni Road station, was closed for renovation.
The BMC had promised to reopen the park in 39 months. PIC/bipin kokate

AFTER 65 YEARS OF INDEPENDANCE AND [after 31 years of communist rule in west bengal]-india

2011-12-15T21:40:00.000-08:00

PATIENTS ADMITTED TO A HOSPITAL IN BENGAL ;SITTING AROUND THE SINGLE GLUCOSE STAND FOR I.V. GLUCOSE

bmc says no money for gardens--corporators slammed the administration for allowing Rs 50 crore of the budget earmarked for maintenances of gardens and open spaces to lapse.

2011-12-14T23:51:00.000-08:00

[1]

Gardens, open spaces to be fenced as Rs50 cr unused

TNN | Dec 15, 2011, 12.48AM IST

MUMBAI: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Wednesday decided to secure gardens and open spaces by fencing them and setting up compound walls following criticism over its failure to spend its budget for gardens. The move came after corporators slam-med the administration for allowing Rs 50 crore of the budget earmarked for maintenances of gardens and open spaces to lapse. The overall budget for 2010-2011 was Rs 130 crore.
After civic standing committee members criticized the BMC for the shoddy condition of open spaces, it ordered their inspection, especially where contractors have been appointed for maintenance. Even as the members have their eyes on the polls, they used the opportunity to slam contractors for doing a shoddy job. The civic body also decided to fine contractors for not doing a good job.
Additional municipal commissioner Aseem Gupta said that to prevent the funds from lapsing, the BMC has to allocate them before March 31, 2012. However, due to elections and the code of conduct which will precede them, the civic body needs to hasten the process.
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[2]

After having let the city’s open spaces lie in languish, the civic administration has suddenly woke up to their maintenance. Following an uproar in the standing committee meeting on Wednesday, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has ordered an inspection and upkeep of all the open spaces across the city.

The standing committee members unanimously blamed the civic body for non-completion of even minor works in the garden and the open spaces. “The administration is misguiding people by giving false information about upkeep of open spaces, even as the maintenance work of gardens has been pending for a year now. In some places where the work has started, it has been left incomplete,” said Mangesh Satamkar, Shiv Sena Corporator from Matunga.

Corporators alleged that the BMC has also delayed the appointment of contractors for the maintenance work. “The funds of Rs50 crore are lyingunused. Why is the BMC administration not fining contractors who are not maintaining the gardens?” demanded Satamkar.

Meanwhile, the civic body has announced that meeting would be held with all the zonal level officials. “Based on the inspection, we will also fine the erring garden contractors. We will also allocate the funds of Rs50 crore, to avoid them getting lapse before the code of conduct. The amount will be spent on fencing the open spaces and securing them,” said Aseem Gupta, additional municipal commissioner.

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[3]

Mumbai

Plan to turn open space into theatre upsets residents

Clara Lewis, TNN Sep 9, 2009, 02.51am IST

MUMBAI: A plot reserved for a recreation garden is in danger of being converted into a drama theatre. The plot measuring 48,630 sq ft-approximately an acre-is off S V Road at Kandivli (W) and can be accessed by a lane so narrow that it's difficult for two vehicles to pass at the same time.
For several years, the plot lay neglected, and became the haunt of drug addicts and anti-social elements. "It's filled with trees that are home to a variety of birds. A few months ago, we met local BJP corporator Yogesh Sagar and told him about the plot. He informed us that it was a BMC plot so we asked him to spruce it up. A couple of months ago, a boundary wall was erected, and the next thing we knew, the BMC wanted to remove the RG reservation,'' said Lalit Adhduk, secretary of Khajuria Nagar housing society. The society has opposed the change in reservation status.
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Mumbi

MUMBAI: In a bid to protect open spaces from political interference and encroachments , the BMC has issued a new draft policy as per which playgrounds that are situated next to schools and colleges will be given to the educational institutions for adoption.

The BMC will levy a token annual licence fee of Re 1 on the institution that adopts the playground. While neighbourhood residents will be able to enjoy the open space after school hours, political and religious functions will be banned. The proposal follows a 40-year fight for open space by students and the management of a Khar school.

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Mumba

BMC open spaces policy rebuffs greens

TNN Jun 25, 2011, 05.35am IST

MUMBAI: The civic administration is reluctant to drop the caretaker policy for open spaces despite vociferous opposition from green activists. It plans to adopt an amended version that municipal commissioner Subodh Kumar finalized on Thursday night. The draft proposes to allow the caretaker to commercially exploit 25% of a plot above 50,000 sq feet, while making him pay for maintenance of the remaining 75%, physical possession of which the BMC plans to retain with itself.

The BMC claims this is because it can't afford to develop and maintain the city's 1,200 reserved open spaces. Aseem Gupta, additional municipal commissioner, said the BMC would have to incur a one-time expenditure of around Rs 1,000 crore just to develop the plots, which would take at least five to seven years.

The civic body will put up the final draft proposal on its website by June 28 so that citizens can send in their objections and suggestions within 30 days. Thereafter there will be a public hearing. The administration may modify the proposal if there are valid suggestions and then put it before the Improvements Committee for its approval. After the general body too gives its approval, it will be sent to the state government for the go-ahead .

However, Neera Punj, convenor , Citispace, a citizens' group that has been fighting to save the city's few open spaces said it was a crying shame that the BMC was unwilling to provide Mumbaikars their much-needed green space.

"All it takes is Rs 100-odd crore annually , which the BMC can easily afford, to maintain all green spaces in the city. The BMC is giving so much to builders, why does it need to touch the open spaces? The caretaker policy must be completely done away with. Not a single inch of open space should be allowed to be encroached upon ," she said. PK Das, architect and civic activist, said the whole exercise seemed to be aimed at destroying the quality of life in the city.

2G scam: ED grills Unitech MD for routing Rs 240cr to tax haven in Isle of Man Pradeep Thakur, TNN | Dec 14, 2011, 02.41AM IST

2011-12-14T02:28:00.000-08:00

2G scam: ED grills Unitech MD for routing Rs 240cr to tax haven in Isle of Man

Pradeep Thakur, TNN | Dec 14, 2011, 02.41AM IST

NEW DELHI: Unitech MD Sanjay Chandra, an accused in the 2G scam, who got bail in end-November, was grilled by the Enforcement Directorate twice in the last 10 days for a transaction of around Rs 240 crore. The transaction was detected during the trail of 2G probe in tax haven, Isle of Man. The sum is suspected to be part of the payoffs made in the allocation of 2G telecom licences during former minister A Raja's tenure.

Chandra's subsidiary company Unitech Overseas Ltd in Isle of Man had invested $51,000,000 (about Rs 240 crore) in a derivative product through the Netherland's Rabobank. The derivative purchased was linked to the performance of a Mauritian firm, Pluri Emerging Companies PCC Cell.

Unitech Ltd, Chandra's parent company, had provided an undertaking to Rabobank to make good the loss on the investment when the bank hedged such a big bet on an unknown firm whose credentials were not well established.

Both the Netherlands and Isle of Man alerted authorities here after Chandra's Rs 240 crore investment in Pluri turned into a zero sum instrument within a span of few months. The CBI and the ED are investigating the trail of transactions related to the scam. The probe is in advance stages in the Netherlands, Mauritius and Isle of Man.

Chandra's subsidiary in Isle of Man bought this derivative product, the one-year Yield Enhancement Certificate linked to Pluri Emerging Compnaies on January 3, 2008. The spectrum licences were allocated on January 8, 2008. And, Indian authorities were informed after the investment certificate expired in 2009.

It is suspected that the transaction could have been made to transfer the illicit payments through Pluri Emerging Companies. Chandra has been asked to substantiate about beneficiaries of investment made in Pluri's PCC Cell.

Chandra has been cooperating with the agencies on the money trail. "We wish to state that since the beginning of 2G case investigation, Sanjay Chandra and Unitech Ltd has always cooperated with all agencies. Since his bail on November 23, Chandra remains committed to cooperate further on and is duty bound to respond to all queries in accordance with law," a Unitech spokesperson told TOI.

The company, however, defended its investment in Pluri. "All Unitech Ltd's subsidiaries, either in India or aborad, and their financial details form a part of our annual reports and we are confident of no wrong-doing or any transgression from well established laws of the region on part of these subsidiaries," it said.

Earlier, the CBI and the ED had unearthed a transaction of Rs 214 crore that the agencies found was pay-offs made to Kalaignar TV, owned by daughter and wife of DMK supremo M Karunanidhi. The money was paid to Kalaignar by Cineyug Media and Entertainment Pvt Ltd, owned by Asif Balwa of D B Realty, the firm that had acquired stakes in Swan Telecom. Like, Unitech, Swan was beneficiary of 2G licences allocated during former telecom minister A Raja's tenure.

100-crore [$20 MILLION plan], house-NIL to show AFTER 6 years of wait, not a on land for city’s poor

2011-12-13T08:59:00.000-08:00

A redevelopment project worth Rs 100 crore in one of city's most expensive land parcels is lying in shambles.

Six years on, the land doesn't even have a single house to show. It is a story of officials bungling, residents' greed, and opportunistic builders.

The plot, spread over 20,000 sq mt at D N Nagar on Juhu Link Road, housed eight low-income group (LIG) buildings.

The residents of those buildings - 480 families - formed D N Nagar Co-operative Housing Societies' Union and inked a redevelopment deal with Vaidehi Akash builders in 2005.

The redevelopment proposed two 18-storey residential towers with four floors of parking and apartments ranging between 1,200 sq ft and 2,185 sq ft.

Residents were offered houses in the towers. MHADA gave a no-objection certificate to the redevelopment.

Work, however, was stalled after a few months as Vaidehi Akash builders ran into Coastal Regulatory Zone notification problems.

In December 2008, the government raised the floor space index (FSI) of MHADA plots from 1.2 to 2.5.

This rule made the society eligible for additional construction rights on around 11,000 sq mts. Residents alleged that Vaidehi Akash sold FSI rights to Rustomjee Realty.
While this issue was brewing, MHADA said that it owned the land and moved the Bombay High Court demanding Rs 22 crore from the society for the additional development rights.

As things stand, the court has restrained the society from taking any step towards redevelopment, both developers - Vaidehi Akash and Rustomjee Realty - lay claim to the project; and 480 families fear they have lost their homes.

A resident, Meena Gonsalvis, pays Rs 18,000 towards rent every month. "We were told that the developer will pay me Rs 12,000 every month till my new home was ready. I haven't got a penny from the developer for the past three years. I filed a police complaint against Bhushan Sarang, secretary of the residents' union, for cheating me."

Another resident, Jitendra Singh Sahani, said the cops should register a case of land grab against the builders. "We are homeless, and can't afford to pay rent all our lives," he said. Sarang denied any wrongdoing, but refused to comment further.

Gurunath Phondekar, owner of Vaidehi Akash builders, said he was "very much part of the project". He said, "I did sell extra FSI to Rustomjee Realty but I never talked about leaving the project. It remains my project, and I will start work there once I get the Coastal Regulatory Zone clearances.***** I will not allow anyone to hijack the project."

Boman Irani of Rustomjee Realty said rent is being paid to the representatives of the residents. "If you want to know the entire story, come to the construction site, where residents will brief you. We don't know about others; we have always gone by the book."

Former chairman of D N Nagar Co-operative Housing Societies' Union Shyam Kumar Wadhawa blamed Phondekar and Sarang for the mess. "I didn't agree with Sarang and Phonderkar's ways, and was forced to quit. Residents are being cheated; earlier, they were offered apartments of 540 sq ft, which have now been reduced to 465 sq ft," Wadhawa said.

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The above building is quiet FAR FROM SEA...so why the builder is talking of coastal zone etc?may be just to delay the construction?

Another multi story building[15 STORY] is coming up-JUST 50 FEET FROM HIGH TIDE MARK[very similar to Adarsh of nariman point]; in SEVEN BUNGALOWS AREA of Andheri west ,MUMBAI;NEXT TO MANU APARTMENT .wonder how coastal clearance. got ?or not got for it?!
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RELATED NEWS:-

Mumbai

MMRDA does U-turn on Adarsh society having valid CRZ
Shibu Thomas, TNN | Dec 14, 2011, 02.48AM IST

MUMBAI: In an about-turn, a senior MMRDA official on Tuesday admitted before the judicial commission that Adarsh did not have a valid Coastal Regulation Zone clearance.

This comes days after Pradeep Yadav, senior town planner with the MMRDA, had said a 2003 letter was a valid CRZ clearance and was the basis of the commencement certificate that was granted to the society to start construction. During cross-examination by senior advocate A Y Sakhare, counsel for the state, Yadav said, "MMRDA now does not consider the 2003 letter as NOC for CRZ purposes." He said in 2005, it was pointed out that Adarsh had not submitted approval of the Union ministry of environment and forests. "This deficiency was not made good by the architect of the society," said Yadav.

Last week, Yadav had agreed to a suggestion by the lawyer of P V Deshmukh, former deputy secretary of the urban development, that according to the MMRDA, the March 2003 letter was a valid NOC under the CRZ rules. "In the light of the letter's contents, the decision to consider that as a CRZ clearance and process the building permission was approved by the then metropolitan commissioner S V Joshi," Yadav had said.

In October 2002, Deshmukh had written a letter to the MoEF seeking NoC for Adarsh. The MoEF wrote back saying the "construction may be taken up as per the CRZ rules and Coastal Zone Management Plan of Greater Mumbai".

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RELATED NEWS:-

Adarsh scam: CBI interrogates retired IAS officer Subhash Lalla

Published: Tuesday, Dec 13, 2011, 19:18 IST
Place: Mumbai | Agency: PTI

The retired IAS officer Subhash Lalla, one of the accused in the Adarsh Housing Society scam, was interrogated by the CBI in Mumbai on Tuesday.

Lalla, who was principal secretary to the then Chief Minister Ashok Chavan, is accused of conspiring with co-accused and former principal secretary of Urban Development department, Ramanand Tiwari and facilitating transfer of Floor Space Index (FSI) from BEST ( the city transport undertaking) to Adarsh society by which the building could be built up to 31-storeys.

According to CBI, two of Lalla's close relatives were given flats in the controversial building in return for the favour.

CBI, which had registered an FIR against 14 persons in January this year, had summoned Lalla for questioning today.

Besides, the agency also recorded today the statement of IAS officer Idzes Kundan who also owns a flat in the society.

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Apart from Lalla, CBI FIR also names former chief minister Ashok Chavan, Ramanand Tiwari, society's general secretary RC Thakur, retired Brigadier MM Wanchoo, Congress leader KL Gidwani, retired Lt General PK Rampal, Major Generals AR Kumar and TK Kaul, Brig (retd) RC Sharma, Pradeep Vyas, the then collector of Mumbai and PV Deshmukh, the then deputy secretary of Urban Development department.

The investigating agency has so far interrogated several of the accused and has also recorded statements of several witnesses including union ministers Vilasrao Deshmukh and Sushil Kumar Shinde, who had dealt with Adarsh files during their tenure as Maharashtra chief ministers.

Below:-The plot, spread over 20,000 sq mt at D N Nagar on Juhu Link Road, housed eight low-income group (LIG) buildings.

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