Maharashtra News Archive: November 2005

Technologies in glass and glazing industry
Wednesday, November 30, 2005 | AY

Zak Glasstech, a programme to provide a platform for convergence of new technologies in glass and glazing industry, will be held on 8-11 December at NSE Complex in Mumbai. Zak Glasstech International, organised by the Zak group, over the years has grown as a major activity hub for the SAARC. Zak Glasstech International 2005 is scheduled to be the largest covergence of all teh stakeholders of the glass industry in the country, which will help bring in new technologies, innovations in service, cost effective production, better quality and global trade relationship. Zak Glasstech since its inception had become India's premiere event for the glass and glazing industry.

Trials on the meningitis vaccine
Tuesday, November 29, 2005 | AY

The second phase of human trials on the sub-dollar meningitis vaccine, has begun by the Pune-based Serum Institute of India (SII). Scientists from the institute expect the vaccine to become commercially available by 2009, once it clears clinical trials. In the second stage, it will be tested for its immune efficiency. The trials are being conducted in sub-Saharan Africa by Path’s Meningitis Vaccine Program (MVP). While polysacchride-based vaccines have been available for meningitis since early 90s, it is effective only in adults. But Nisseria A, the bacterial strain prevalent in sub-Saharan Africa attacks infants. So they decided to use conjugate technology to combine polysacchrides and protein, which has been found to be effective in infants. Annual demand worldwide for the sub-dollar vaccine has been estimated at 600 million doses.

A herbal plant gets scientific advantage
Monday, November 28, 2005 | AY

Scientists has found that a cactus-like plant used for long in traditional Indian medicine as a bone-healing agent, has key chemical ingredients required to make human bone. Researchers at the National Chemical Laboratory (NCL) in Pune have shown that the plant, Cissus quadrangularis, is rich in both calcium and phosphorus, two major elements found in bones. Cissus quadrangularis grows in both northern and peninsular India. Bubbling carbon dioxide gas when added into a watery paste from crushed and boiled stems of the plant leads to formation of calcium carbonate crystals, the mineral found in seashells. The NCL scientists have presented these findings in the latest issue of the journal, Current Science. The scientists said, this calcium may also be used in the formation of calcium hydroxyapatite, the major component of bones and teeth. But the exact mechanism through which the plant extract influences bone healing remains unknown.

Volvo bus services increased
Sunday, November 27, 2005 | AY

Maharahstra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) has decided to increase the Volvo bus service on the Mumbai-Pune route. MSRTC officials said that Volvo buses for Dadar will leave from Pune Railway Station every half an hour. Earlier, only five buses were being used, but now the number of buses has been raised to 15. The number of trips has been raised to 30 instead of the earlier 10.

Bal Thackeray warns Kannadigas
Sunday, November 27, 2005 | AY

Shiv Sena Chief Bal Thackeray has warned that the Shiv Sena would retaliate against Kannadigas residing in Maharashtra if Maharashtrians in Karnataka were attacked by Kannadigas. He also said the Sena will not allow any ministers from Karnataka into Maharashtra. On Belgaum former mayor Vijay More being “brutally” beaten up by Kannadigas at Bangalore, he said though the Maharashtra Government was not serious about the attack on the mayor, the Sena will not let it pass lightly. Shiv Sena will launch an agitation from Mumbai to Belgaum demanding the inclusion of Belgaum into Maharashtra.

First gold for Maharashtra
Saturday, November 26, 2005 | AY

The standard IV student from Shamrao Kalmadi School (Pune), Shruti Palaskar, won the first gold medal in the fin-weight category (girls) on the opening day of the 23rd Sub-Junior National Taekwondo Championship, at the Andheri Sports Complex on Friday. Her Karnataka challenger Shaivya proved no match for her lightening-quick kicks. Last year’s gold medal winners, Deepak Salve, Nilima Wagh and Ashwini Jadhav, will be seen in action on today.

A fabric project coming up in Maharashtra
Saturday, November 26, 2005 | AY

Oswal group owned, Vardhman Polytex company have entered into a joint venture with FM Hammerle of Austria to invest Rs 200 crore in a Greenfield project called YDS Fabric’ project. Yarn-Dyed Shirting Fabric’ is used to make high-quality, high-value premium shirts by top Indian as well as international brands. According to the JV MoU, the Austrian company will provide complete technical, design, financial and marketing support to the new venture. The Oswal group with the technical support of FMH will set up a new state-of-the-art manufacturing facility near Kolhapur in Maharashtra, for which it has acquired 50 acres of land from MSIDC.

Congress wins in Maharashtra
Wednesday, November 23, 2005 | AY

Revenue Minister Narayan Rane’s victory margin got nearly doubled to 63,372 and Congress candidate from Mumbai North-West Lok Sabha constituency Priya Dutt scored a thumping victory, shows that, Sena is fast losing it's grip over Mumbai and Konkan, which were once considered to be the Sena stronghold. Priya Dutt defeated her nearest rival by more than 170000 votes. Mr Rane, on the other hand, won the Malwan assembly by-election by a margin of 63,000 votes.

Maharashtra by-poll heating up
Tuesday, November 22, 2005 | AY

Maharashtra Revenue Minister and Congress candidate Narayan Rane was today leading by over 11,000 votes over his rival Parshuram Uparkar of the Shiv Sena at the end of the second round of counting for the Malwan assembly by-elections. Counting began amid tight security for the Mumbai North West Lok Sabha and the Malwan assembly by-elections. While the initial trends of the Mumbai North West by-elections were yet to come, in Malwan bypoll, till the second round, Rane had bagged 14294 votes as against 3014 by Uparkar. The by-election was necessitated following the expulsion of Rane from Shiv Sena in July and his quitting the seat. In the Mumbai North West Lok Sabha by-elections, that was necessiated following the demise of sitting MP and Union minister Sunil Dutt on May 25, his daughter Priya Dutt is the Congress nominee, facing senior Shiv Sena's Madhukar Sarpotdar.

'Deccan Odyssey' has commenced
Monday, November 21, 2005 | AY

'Deccan Odyssey', the Palace on Wheel of Maharashtra, is a joint project of the Maharashtra Government and Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) to promote the state as a major tourism centre. The super luxury train arrived in Mumbai at 0530 hrs from Goa. During the five hours halt here, the tourists were taken to prominent historical and cultural places in the city such as new palace museum, historical Bhavani mandap, Goddess Mahalaxmi Temple and Rankala lake before taking them to a hotel. At noon, the passengers were served both vegetarian and non-vegetarian fare, prepared in Kolhapur spices, on board as the train departed for Pune on its onward journey. With Deccan Odyssey's arrival here, Kolhapur would now feature in the world tourist maps.

Editors choice award goes to a Maharashtrian
Sunday, November 20, 2005 | AY

Neela Satyanarayan, Maharashtra bureaucrat, has added another feather to her cap by winning the 'Editor's Choice' award for her poem 'My Promise'. Poetry.com, a library having an international collection of poems, recently announced the award to Ms Satyanarayan, who is State Principle Secretary. The IAS officer's poem contains the thoughts of a woman who assures herself not to budge before injustice and maintain self- respect. She has in the past won Dr Patangrao Kadam Foundation Award for her exemplary work in the field of literature. Ms Satyanarayan has also penned film lyrics.

Scientist from Trombay trying to predict next Tsunami
Saturday, November 19, 2005 | AY

Scientists of the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) in Trombay, on Mumbai’s fringe, have readied mathematical models that can predict if an undersea earthquake will generate a tsunami and the height of waves that would hit shores - about two hours before they strike. Two mathematical models have been developed at BARC, and some models have been adapted from existing international ones. The computational analysis will be used to notify Department of Atomic Energy authorities to issue alerts, based on the models’ estimates of where and when a tsunami is likely to strike, and the area likely to be inundated. BARC’s tsunami alert system at Mumbai also comprises a seismic sensor network collecting data from Mumbai, Gauribidanur (80 km from Bangalore) and Delhi. The system can analyse whether an earthquake can cause a tsunami or not, based on parameters like the quake’s location, magnitude, depth and amplitude of the waves it generates.

Genetically modified brinjals coming soon
Saturday, November 19, 2005 | AY

Genetically modified brinjals, may enter Indian kitchens after clearing environment and health safety standards. Maharashtra Hybrid Seed Company (Mahya), said that they are looking at 2006-07 for commercial release of the new genetically modified eggplant. Grown year round, a significantly large percentage of the brinjal crop is damaged due to high infestation of fruit and shoot borer. Even the undamaged crop that reaches dining rooms is contaminated by repeated use of toxic pesticides. The transgenic varieties of eggplant currently under second year of field trials have all been developed using biogenetic material from Monsanto, which has licensed it to the consortium partners. The project, Agricultural Biotechnology Support Project II (ABSPII), funded by the US Agency for International Development (USAID) is led by Cornell University. Besides eggplant, the ABSPII consortium is exploring the transgenic route for developing drought and salt tolerant rice, late blight resistant potato, ringspot virus resistant papaya, and multiple virus resistant tomato.

Mumbai North-West Lok Sabha by-election campaign ends
Thursday, November 17, 2005 | AY

Campaign ended today for the November 19 bye-election to high-profile Mumbai North-West Lok Sabha constituency, where late film star-turned-politician Sunil Dutt's daughter Priya of Congress takes on senior Shiv Sena leader Madhukar Sarpotdar. Sunil Dutt's death on May 25 necessitated the bypoll. Sarpotdar, on the other hand, had an uphill task ahead of roping in Shiv Sena leaders and workers to his constituency, since the party's focus was on the legislative assembly bye-election in Malwan of Sindhudurg district. The electioneering was given a tinge of Bollywood glamour in the form of participation by stars like Govinda, Shabana Azmi, Salman Khan and Dino Morea.

Pune’s IT city in limelight
Wednesday, November 16, 2005 | AY

The Maharashtra government aims to create an IT mega city at Hinjewadi, which lies off the Mumbai-Pune expressway. Infosys holds over 100 acres of land at Hinjewadi Infotech Park in Pune. Phase I of the IT park with 96 hectares has created 22,000 jobs. As an IT city, Hinjewadi would have over 1,000 ha of land, which should create 1.5-2 lakh jobs. The state government also plans to create an IT special economic zone (SEZ) at this location. The wooing of Infosys by the state government comes on the heels of the fallout between former PM HD Deve Gowda and Infosys’ chief mentor Narayana Murthy. They have got the MIDC to commit on setting up multiplexes, hospitals, hotels so that people can live at Hinjewadi.

Inter-state squash semis
Tuesday, November 15, 2005 | AY

Former champions Maharashtra 'A' and defending champions Tamil Nadu topped their respective pools in the Senior Inter-State Squash Championships at the Otters Club at Mumbai. Mahaharashtra 'A', who won a hat-trick of titles from 2000 to 2002, beat Services 'A' 4-1 to top Pool 'A', while Tamil Nadu overcame Delhi by the same margin to head Pool 'B'. Tamil Nadu will take on Services 'A' in the first semi-finals on Tuesday, while Maharashtra 'A' will face last year’s runners-up Delhi in the second semi-finals.

$3.5bn project in Mumbai
Monday, November 14, 2005 | AY

India and France Friday signed contracts for the construction of six Scorpene class submarines in India under Project-75, which will cost around 3.5 billion dollars. According to the contracts, India will build the Scorpene class submarines at the state-owned Mazagon Docks in Mumbai under transfer of technology from France. The first submarine will be ready for induction into the service within seven years of signing the contract. The submarine would be laced with high levels of automation and armed with anti-ship Exocet missiles and wire-quided torpedos. The Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Arun Prakash said that the contracts had received repeated scrutiny at every level, by different organs of the government and the Parliament.

Taj Mahal to be premiered on Nov
Sunday, November 13, 2005 | AY

Filmmaker Akbar Khan has dropped the idea of having a London premier for his magnum opus TAJ MAHAL - AN ETERNAL LOVE STORY. Khan who had earlier planned a grand London premier for the film to be graced by the royal family, has now decided to have the exclusive world premier of the film in Mumbai on November 16. After having devoted more than four years and several crores of rupees to his dream project, he admitted that he was glad that his hard work and relentless pursuit to do justice to the subject, was finally seeing the light of the day.

Music of- Mr Prime Minister- launched
Saturday, November 12, 2005 | AY

Dev Anand recently launched the music of his upcoming film Mr Prime Minister in Mumbai. The Bollywood veteran makes his debut as a playback singer in Mr Prime Minister. He has sung the title track himself in two rap versions - English and Hindi. Dev Anand's favourite music composer Bappi Lahiri, along with newcomer Darshan Dave, has composed the movie's soundtrack. Lahiri has recorded some hip-hop and pop musical tunes that are clubbed with rap lyrics rendered by Dev Anand, Kuku Prabhas, Imran Ahmed Khan and Darshan Dave. Mr Prime Minister focuses on the 9/11 bombing on the US. It is a satire on the political system with Dev Anand as the protagonist. Boman Irani and Page 3 star Tara Sharma play pivotal roles in the film.

OMA awards to be held in Mumbai
Saturday, November 12, 2005 | AY

The Point of Purchase Advertising International - India (POPAI India)hosts its First POPAI Outstanding Merchandising Achievement (OMA) Awards at the Nehru Convention Center in Worli, Mumbai on Friday, January 20, 2006. With the goal of promoting the importance of marketing at-retail in the total marketing mix, proceeds will go towards furthering POPAI’s mission in its four thematic pillars of work in India: ethical practices, rapid expansion of business opportunities, protection of economic interests, and preservation of the industry's rights as a commercial communications medium in India.
Internationally, winning displays of POPAI OMA awards include Frank Mayer & Associates, Inc. for BMW, Rand Display International, Inc. for Pfizer, Timbar Packaging and Display for Intuit, Coca Cola, Microsoft Xbox Halo 2 standee, Corona Tiki Torch for Barton Beers.

Mumbai blasts culprit caught
Saturday, November 12, 2005 | AY

It was on the fateful Friday of March 12, 1993, the underworld don allegedly carried out the massacre of 257 innocents in Mumbai. Twelve years later, on another Friday, India’s dogged endeavour to bring the suspected killers to book bore fruit. The underworld don, who is wanted in more than five dozen cases by the CBI, was finally brought to Mumbai from Portugal on Thursday night. On Friday, he was remanded to police custody till 23 November by the designated TADA court. Meanwhile, Salem's wife Monica Bedi is now in Hyderabad and will be produced at the magistrate's house in Secunderabad later this morning. The former model and Bollywood actress is facing three charges of passport forgery.

Evacuation of residents from dangerous buildings
Wednesday, November 9, 2005 | AY

The Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) will begin evacuating 29 ‘very, very dangerous’ buildings within the next three days after an inquiry conducted by it found the structures unfit for living. Most of these 29 buildings are located in areas like Byculla and Mazagon Docks in south Mumbai, and Parel and Lalbaug in central Mumbai and house around 750 families. MHADA has till now evacuated 832 families from 42 buildings, which were categorised as ‘very, very dangerous,’ since the eviction drive began on September 15 after a series of building collapses — precipitated by heavy rains — killed nearly 20 people here. But MHADA has been facing huge hurdles in the process of evacuation. Families living in these buildings have often lived there from the time the structures were built and tenants pay very little rent, ranging anywhere from Rs 100 to Rs 300 ($ 2-6) a month.

Mahagenco projects financed by M'shtra
Tuesday, November 8, 2005 | AY

Govt is all set to finance the power generation projects of the Maharashtra State Power Generation Company (Mahagenco) amounting to Rs 1,500 crore over the next five years. The decision to this effect was taken during a presentation by the three state-owned power sector companies - Mahagenco, the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company (Mahadiscom) and the Maharashtra State Transmission Company (Mahatransco), which have been carved out of the erstwhile Maharashtra State Electricity Board (MSEB). Reliable sources say that Sharad Pawar has agreed to use his influence at the Centre to get cheap loans for the state power companies from Power Finance Corporation, Rural Electrification Corporation of India and other institutional lenders.

Zee Marathi and Zee UK join hands
Monday, November 7, 2005 | AY

Zee Marathi and Zee UK had hosted the world premiere of Shwaas, the first Marathi film which got an official entry to an Oscar. Zee targeted television audiences in the Middle-East, Europe and India with the world premiere. Viewers also participated in socio activity with Zee Marathi by sending a SMS typing SHWAAS to 7575. The revenue generated from this was donated to the NGO Akanksha that works for the welfare of street children.

Five festivals will rock the city
Sunday, November 6, 2005 | AY

This month holds the promise of five festivals with a menu full of arts and music, to be kicked off by the Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC). Banganga Festival (January 7-8, 2006)
Venue: The Banganga Tank, Walkeshwar, Mumbai, organised by the India Heritage Society and MTDC, is a tribute to Mumbai’s heritage sites and promotes awareness of conservation of the holy tank. First held in 1992, ren-owned artistes like Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia and Veena Sahasrabuddhe will perform. Mumbai Festival (January 14-26,2006), spread across the city, Elephanta Festival (February 11-12, 2006), will include a shehnai programme at the Gateway and performances by artistes like Alarmel Valli, Sanjeev Abhyankar and Ananda Shankar. Kalidas Festival (November 12-16, 2005), showcases some of the greatest exponents of music, dance and drama. Ellora Festival (November 25-28, 2005), will showcase performances by Ustad Bismillah Khan, Jaya Prada and Mallika Sarabhai among others.

Nurses in Mumbai seek foreign placement
Sunday, November 6, 2005 | AY

The Maharashtra Nursing Council (MNC) receives more than 300 applications per month for nurses wanting referrals to migrate and practice abroad. This number has seen a 100 per cent increase in the last five years. Dismal working conditions coupled with poor remuneration are cited as the most obvious reasons for the large-scale migration of nurses to countries like the US and the UK. While a decade ago, the Middle East was a sought-after destination, now it’s the US and the United Kingdom that gives qualified and trained nurses a red carpet welcome. Nursing is still considered a female bastion with almost a negligible percent of males registering for nursing courses. In Maharashtra, out of the registered 1,15,081 nurses, only 2,392 are males.

Naveen tops the ONGC 23rd Nehru sub-junior hockey tournament
Sunday, November 6, 2005 | AY

Five goals by Naveen Kumar took Oswal Jain HSS, Alwar, to a 13-0 victory over NCC, Maharashtra, in a Group `C' match of the ONGC 23rd Nehru sub-junior hockey tournament at the Shivaji Stadium. Rahul Yadav (3), Jitendra Kumar Yadav (2), Amit Kumar Yadav (2) and Arvind Naruka were the other scorers. The Alwar led 8-0 at the interval. For the winners, who led 8-0 at half time, Naveen opened the account in the very first minute and that opened the floodgates as the Maharashtra citadel crumbled repeatedly under tremendous pressure.

BJP may claim opposition leader post
Sunday, November 6, 2005 | AY

If the strength of Shiv Sena in the lower house is reduced when seven Sena MLAs resign as announced by Revenue Minister and former Sena leader Narayan Rane, BJP would stake claim for the oppostion leader post in Maharashtra Assembly. The Sena has 59 members in the assembly after three MLAs resigned from their seats yesterday. The BJP, Sena's strong ally, has 54 members in the assembly. Sena had accepted situation that existed when its leader Chhagan Bhujbal had left Sena in 1991 alongwith some MLAs thereby reducing party's strength in lower house. At that time, number of BJP MLAs were more than Sena's and as a result Munde had become Leader of Opposition in state assembly.

Squash championship in the state
Wednesday, November 2, 2005 | AY

Bombay Gymkhana will witness the action of the 53rd Senior National Squash Championship, played by leading squash players of the country, Ritwik Bhattacharya (Delhi) and Joshna Chinnappa (Tamil Nadu). The Senior Nationals are being held in Mumbai for the first time after the 2002 event. Matches would be played over best-of-five 9-point games format. The Nationals, for which a record 800-plus entries have been received, are being held concurrently with the 30th Bombay Gymkhana Maharashtra State Open tournament. The championship is being held under the aegis of the Squash Racquets Federation of India and the auspices of the Squash Racquets Association of Maharashtra.

Reduced loadshedding in the state during the festival
Tuesday, November 1, 2005 | AY

Diwali, festival of lights, promises to bring some light in the lives of people in Maharashtra, by reducing the power cut to less than 1,000 MW as against the current 3,000-3,500 MW. During Diwali festival, the the industrial demand is less due to holidays and the decrease in demand of electricity during the period would be beneficial to help cut down the duration of loadshedding. He said the evening peak demand, which had come down to 10,000 MW in September, has, in the last 10 days, gone up to 12,200 MW.

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