Maharashtra News Archive: August 2005

SpiceJet plans to raise $300 m by mid-Sept
Wednesday, August 31, 2005 | AY

Even as NRI promoters Kansagara brothers of Spice Jet are engaged in a court battle over ownership of the company's shares, the company has decided to raise $300 million by way of either foreign convertible currency bonds (FCCBs) or dilution of shares to fund its expansion plans. Earlier, the promoters were planning to fund the company's fleet expansion by raising $90 million through FCCBs, but when talks with the Hindujas over sale of a part of the company's stake progressed, SpiceJet postponed the FCCBs issue.

Mumbai's space lab gets busy
Wednesday, August 31, 2005 | AY

A unique space mission that scientists and engineers from Mumbai to Pune and Bangalore are getting off the ground with modest budgets that would make NASA notice. India's first space observatory for multi-wavelength scientific explorations of the invisible universe-Astrosat, launch 2008-will carry a payload of five major instruments being designed and built hands on in labs nationwide with some foreign collaborations. 1,400 thin wires - each one-third the diameter of human hair, are part of a large area X-ray detector to measure energy and timing of X-ray emissions.

Patil avoids Sena-Rane clashes
Tuesday, August 30, 2005 | AY

The Maharashtra home minister Mr RR Patil has asked Shiv Sena leader Mr Raj Thackeray to defer his tour of Konkan till after the Ganesh festival as he is afraid of clashes between Shiv Sainiks and supporters of Mr Narayan Rane, who became revenue minister after defecting to the Congress. About a fortnight ago, a confrontation was averted as the DM and the SP of Sindhudurg district successfully persuaded Mr Raj Thackeray to suspend a visit to the region as violence could break out at a flimsy pretext.

Zee Marathi claims to be in top position
Tuesday, August 30, 2005 | AY

Zee Marathi claims top position in terms of channel share, TVRs and time spent in Mumbai as well as Maharashtra market in all important target groups. The Tam data (for a period of 7:30 pm to 10:30 pm, CS4+) provided by the channel has the show recording maximum TVRs 8.4, 8.1 and 9.8 in markets Mumbai+Maharashtra, Mumbai and rest of Maharashtra respectively. In CS15+, it is 9, 9.2 and 9.5 respectively. The channel claims second position here, just behind Star Plus which recorded 19 per cent reach in the particular time slot on 15 August.

Salman cant fly to US
Monday, August 29, 2005 | AY

Actor Salman Khan is supposed to fly to the US to shoot for his movie Jaaneman within coming days. However, the Mumbai police have not given back the actor his passport. Police Commissioner A N Roy is quoted as saying that Salman’s passport couldn’t be returned until the controversy over his infamous taped conversations was resolved. The crew of Jaaneman is supposed to fly to the US on September 5. Salman had surrendered his passport to the police a few years ago in the black buck killing case. Producer Sajid Nadiadwala has his fingers crossed that Salman would be reissued his passport in the coming days so that he can shoot in NY.

Mumbai gangster shot dead
Monday, August 29, 2005 | AY

Police in Mumbai, headed by encounter specialist Daya Nayak, on a tip off followed Anil Parte, who they say was a member of the Chhota Rajan Gang and injured him after a half an hour gunfire in Goregaon area of the city. Police officials said Parte, involved in 20 cases, including four murders, died in the hospital. Police officials said that Parte was a key informer of another encounter specialist, inspector Ravindra Angre who shot to fame two years ago after he gunned down elusive gangster Suresh Manchekar in Thane district.

Haji Ali ought to be rebuilt
Sunday, August 28, 2005 | AY

Haji Ali, Mumbai's great landmarks, is likely to be razed and rebuilt.The Dargah Trust has sent a proposal to the state urban development ministry seeking permission to do so. The shrine, which was built around 1431 AD and was last repaired in the early sixties, is gradually falling apart. The 85-feet minaret of the shrine is in imminent danger of toppling off. The Trust, in keeping with the fashion of the times, wants to rebuild the entire shrine in marble and has, for that purpose, ordered slabs from Makrana.

Cricketers from outside the state to play for Maharashtra
Sunday, August 28, 2005 | AY

The Maharashtra Cricket Asso-ciation (MCA) yesterday selected three cricketers from outside the state - all-rounder Sairaj Bahutule, spinner Nilesh Kulkarni and pacer Munaf Patel - to play for its team for the 2005-06 Ranji season. The MCA had given a go ahead to the selection committee to select three players from outside the state to play for Maharashtra during the current season.

Compensation amount asked by the rape victim
Saturday, August 27, 2005 | AY

Rs 15 lakh is demanded from the from the Maharashtra state government by the teenage girl who was raped by a police constable in Mumbai. The girl was assaulted on April 21 inside a police post on Mumbai's famous Marine Drive. The constable, Sunil More, took her when she was walking on the promenade. The constable was suspended and is in jail. The victim is seeking compensation from the state because a state employee, who should protect the citizens, had attacked her. The court has not admitted her petition yet and has asked the state to explain why the court should not admit it.

Ban on bars proving to be a heavy loss
Saturday, August 27, 2005 | AY

There are close to 1,300 dance bars in Maharashtra, of which around 650 are in Mumbai. Ninety eight per cent of the bars have been shut down after the imposition of the ban, which has cost them close to Rs 1,100 crore loss since it came into effect on August 15. While the government claims it will lose only Rs eight crore in revenue, bar owners say that tax collections from Maharashtra’s 1,300 dance bars amount to nearly Rs 1,500 crore. The bars pay a plethora of taxes: Entertainment tax of Rs 30,000 per month to the collectorate, performance license fees of Rs 15,000 per month to the Police, excise license fee of Rs 75,000 per year to the excise department, a BMC tax of Rs 23,000 per year and a Police license fees (Rs 10,000 per year). The ban has rendered two lakh people including 75,000 bar girls jobless.

Cinemax’s eighth multiplex has come up
Friday, August 26, 2005 | AY

Cinemax, the pioneers of exhibition with seven theatres and 19 screens spread across Maharashtra, has now come up with the biggest multiplex in Mumbai at Versova, Andheri. Scheduled to open this month it will be the eighth multipex credited to the Cinemax chain, making it the biggest multiplex chain in Mumbai. With six screens and a seating capacity of 1671, this is the biggest theatre in the city. Cinemax encourages the new changing patterns of filmmaking from enterprising young directors. For the first time ever in Mumbai, two screens titled ‘Gold Screen’ and ‘Silver Screen’ are being introduced in the intelligently lit lounge titled ‘Red Lounge’, which has recliner seats.

Statistics on infant death in the state
Friday, August 26, 2005 | AY

The Maharashtra government's health department today presented to the Bombay High Court statistics of child and infant deaths in the five sensitive tribal districts of Maharashtra. Infant deaths from April to July in Thane and Amravati have increased marginally over the last year. Thane reported 393 infant deaths in 2004 and 404 infant deaths in 2005. In Amravati, 70 infants had died last year while this year the number of deaths has gone up to 87. The court also said that there seemed to be no coordination between the Health and the Child and Women Welfare department.

No more plastic bags in the state
Thursday, August 25, 2005 | AY

Maharashtra government, as part of its post-26/7 clean-up operation, decided to prohibit the use of plastic bags all over the state. The phasing out will begin after a 30-day period, during which citizens can file their suggestions and objections, if any, with the government. Vilasrao Deshmukh said a final decision would be taken after citizens' suggestions and objections were scrutinised. Discarded plastic bags choked the drains and the sewerage and were mainly responsible for the unprecedented waterlogging in Mumbai on July 26. After the ban comes into being, anyone found violating it will be slapped with a hefty fine--Rs 1,000 for ordinary citizens, and Rs 5,000 for traders, stall owners and hawkers who parcel their goods in plastic bags.

Former Indian wicketkeeper is Mumbai coach
Thursday, August 25, 2005 | AY

Chandrakant Pandit, the former Indian wicketkeeper and Ranji Trophy-winning Mumbai coach, has been appointed as the Maharashtra coach. Pandit, 43, played five Tests for India, and more recently led Mumbai to two consecutive Ranji Trophy triumphs in 2003 and 2004. Darren Holder, an Australian coach, was recently appointed as the Maharashtra Cricket Association's (MCA) cricket director. The president of the MCA, Pandit, along with Holder, would be responsible for the coaching of the senior and other teams of all age-groups of the region.

Ron Moss coming to Mumbai soon
Wednesday, August 24, 2005 | AY

Leaving the affections of Brooke and his screen mother Stephanie, back in the USA, Ron Moss, more popularly known as Ridge Forrester from the American soap opera The Bold and The Beautiful, will be coming to Mumbai in November, this year. While the main reason he is coming to the city is his singing (Ron is lead singer in the band The Players), his itinerary will also include acting assignments on television, in Bollywood and modelling. Interestingly, actor Kabir Bedi's son Adam will also be involved in marketing Moss in India.

Amarr Upadhyay not coming back in 'Kyunki....'-Ekta
Wednesday, August 24, 2005 | AY

There is a strong rumour that Amarr Upadhyay is all set to return to TV serial "Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi" that made him a household figure. But producer Ekta Kapoor dismisses it. According to reports he'll be playing Tulsi's grandson named Mayank in the soap. Amarr refutes the interview whereby he was quoted as saying he was coming back to play Mihir. "I am not playing Mihir. Actually a journalist misquoted me and had later cleared the misunderstanding." Amarr was put out of sight after he stormed out to be a cine star. Clarifies Ekta: "He is back with us. And he has important roles in two of our serials, 'Kkusum' and 'Kasauti Zindagi Kay'.

Hi- Tech camera is a hero
Tuesday, August 23, 2005 | AY

BMC’s (Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation) Hydraulic Engineer Department untill recently would detect leakage/ contamination in underground water pipe lines by digging the surface of a base. Now the department has gone high-tech, using a semi-robotic camera to detect such leakages. BMC is the only municipal corporation in the country using this gadget. The camera makes detection easier; it saves time, money and gets the results. Whereas previously the BMC would take an average of one week to one month to solve contamination/ leakage problems, it took only one or two days to address the same problems with the trendy camera. An order for two more cameras was soon placed, owing to large demand by engineers. The BMC has detected over 500 cases of leakages/ contamination using the camera since 1999.

Tragedy strikes again
Tuesday, August 23, 2005 | AY

A 100-year old building on Temkar street in Mumbai, collapsed at 1:10 am, bringing down with it all 16 flats. Official reports say that 11 people have died and nearly 39 have been injured in the accident. While 47 people have been rescued so far, many are still feared buried under the rubble of the four storeyed building 'Sadaf'. Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh also visited the spot a short while ago, and announced an enquiry into the accident. He promised compensation for people who suffered losses. The building housed 16 flats and is located in a crowded residential area of Nagpada in south-central Mumbai, but was not in the official list of 68 unsafe buildings.

Bappi Lahiri eyeing on the west
Monday, August 22, 2005 | AY

Bappi Lahiri’s eyeing a Grammy. After 450 films, 100 platinum discs and a career that’s spanned 32 years, Bappi feels that it can’t be that difficult. In his attempt to appeal to a Western audience, Lahiri’s also tweaking his style to incorporate a touch of sophistication. He is even negotiating with Whitney Houston to sing a duet on an album. Funk is so much a part of his persona, that often fans don’t recognise him in plainclothes. Seven neckpieces, each dedicated to a different god, have been glued to his chest from the beginning.

Transport bus set to fire
Monday, August 22, 2005 | AY

A Maharashtra State Transport Corporation bus was set fire by 25 armed Naxalites on Sunday after forcing the 20-odd passengers to alight. The Naxals, who were wearing uniforms, stopped the bus between the Gyarapatti police station and Murum and forced the passengers to alight along with baggage. No one has been injured in the incident, Gadchiroli superintendent of police Shirish Jain said.
No claim has come so far but police have recovered posters by CPI(Maoists) from the spot, condemning last month's encounter in the region. So far, none of the passengers have come forward to identify the attackers.

India's BPO industry have a new entry
Sunday, August 21, 2005 | AY

Ventura is the latest entrant into India’s $5.7 billion BPO industry which employs 3.25 lakh people. At 2,000 seats, Ventura India would account for about 20% of the parent’s total revenues. The Pune centre is the first customer contact centre outside the UK for the £131 million company which has branches in Cardiff, Leeds and South Yorkshire. It has been in the contact centre management business for 35 years and has a workforce of 7,500. Country head of Ventura India said clients in the UK prefer an onshore/offshore mix of services rather than total off-shoring.

Maharashtra Colts beat Rajasthan
Sunday, August 21, 2005 | AY

Maharashtra Colts beat Rajasthan by six runs, while Vidarbha rallied to beat Jharkhand in the second round matches of the Mindteck Buchi Babu All India Cricket tournament in Chennai today. In the Maharashtra Colts--Rajasthan tie, the latter restricted the former to 154 all out with medium pacers, Kishan Choudhury (3/30) and Vikrant Yadav (3/22) sharing the honours. Hyderabad, Rajasthan, Jharkhand, Vidarbha, Maharashtra Colts, TNCA Presidents XI and Districts XI have all gained eight points from two sets of matches.

Yash Chopra felicitated for his hit movie
Saturday, August 20, 2005 | AY

Yash Chopra has been honoured by the the Film & Television Producers’ Guild of India Ltd, on the account of a record-breaking 500-week uninterrupted run of Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge at a single theatre in Mumbai. The felicitation ceremony took place during a meeting of the Council of Management of Guild on August 17. A silver-plated plaque was presented to Chopra by Guild President Amit Khanna. Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge starring Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol has been a hit from the day one it hit the screens.

Leptospirosis testing lab coming up
Saturday, August 20, 2005 | AY

JJ Hospital, Byculla, is planning the city’s first leptospirosis testing lab in the next six months thanks to an effort by the International Federation of Red Cross (IFRC). This will be a boon to the 200 to 300 Mumbaikars tested every monsoon for suspected leptospirosis as they no longer have to send blood samples to Pune or Port Blair. Murli Deora, MP and vice president of IFRC have discussed this issue with the CM Vilasrao Deshmukh and Suresh Shetty, state minister for health, and decided to sponsor the machinery for the proposed leptospirosis detection lab.

Book your tickets at a petrol pump
Saturday, August 20, 2005 | AY

India’s first low cost carrier Air Deccan and Club HP have come together to offer passengers the option of booking Air Deccan tickets at Club HP petrol pumps at Mumbai. At present, 19 petrol pumps at Mumbai will sell Air Deccan tickets and gradually more outlets will be opened in the city. This is the first initiative of its kind in the country wherein a passenger will be able to book air tickets at a petrol station. This tie-up will greatly benefit those who do not have immediate access to the internet, travel agents or the airport because they can just walk across to the nearest Club HP bunk and book Air Deccan tickets. Tickets will be available even during non-working hours as petrol pumps function from early morning to late at night often up till 12 midnight, making tickets more accessible to the common man.

Tiranga organized in Mumbai
Saturday, August 20, 2005 | AY

A unique concert for peace, Tiranga was held for the first time in Mumbai at the NCPA on August 15. The music and poetry event designed by Durga Jasraj, was woven around poems written by Javed Akhtar to honour human values and aspirations symbolised by the colours of the national flag. It was a combination of Akhtar’s recitations and musical melody by Pandit Jasraj, Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma and Vidwan U. Shriniwas, accompanied by Vidwan Vikku Vinayakram, Vidwa Selva Ganesh and Vijay Ghate. The artistes have worked together over the last-year-and-a-half to craft this unique theme based jugalbandhi. Citizens for Peace (CFP) sees Tiranga as a celebration of our independence and our continued struggle for freedom from all forms of oppression and injustice.

Pomegranate harvest brings disappointment to the state
Saturday, August 20, 2005 | AY

In India’s largest pomegranate growing state, which accounts for 85 per cent of the country’s total production, and promoted through heavy subsidies by the government, this season the pomegranate has rotted in the fields and farmers are staring at huge losses. The heavy rainfall in June flooded pomegranate fields and the wet soil resulted in a fungal disease affecting the standing crop. In a region which boasts of having grown a gunniess record breaking 2.53 kg pomegranate, there is despair among the farmers as they are trying to offload their produce in the local markets. Farmers estimate that almost 80 per cent of the crop has been affected this time round. Though the fruit can be plucked in three different seasons, most farmers chose to harvest their crop in June, collectively flooding the markets.

IT exports business reigning high in Maharashtra
Saturday, August 20, 2005 | AY

The information technology exports in Maharashtra have increased by 11.39 per cent in 2004-05 over the previous year and the state constitutes 17.6 per cent of the total IT exports of the entire country. Since 2001, 186 IT proposals were received worth Rs 16,397 crore out of which 88 proposals amounting to Rs 13,995 crore were under different stages of implementation. Industries Minister Ashok Chavan said said Maharashtra at present ranks number two in the field of IT after Karnataka.

Music show in memory of Krishnarao Shankar Pandit
Wednesday, August 17, 2005 | AY

The festival in memory of maestro Krishnarao Shankar Pandit saw quality music presented by various musicians. A relief after the havoc caused by the rain, the city witnessed quality music presented by various musicians at the Khayal Trust, Kalbharati organized festival in memory of the maestro Krishnarao Shankar Pandit. Roopak Kulkarni, the brilliant flautist began with the raga 'Miyan ki Malhar'. With Yogesh Samsi on the tabla, there were enough interactive passages which held the audience spellbound. The morning session began with a vocal recital by Dr. Ram Deshpande who sang 'Natbhairav' in the Jasraj/Kumar Gandharva mould. Yogesh Samsi, Vishwanath Shirodkar, Seema Shirodkar, Girish Nalavade and Guruprasad Hegde provided superb support to the musicians.

Claims from rain-affected Mumbaikars
Wednesday, August 17, 2005 | AY

Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram has instructed to clear the 3000 claims received by Public Sector National Insurance Company for Rs.350 crore from the customers in Mumbai. The Insurance Regulatory Development Authority (IRDA) had instructed that there was no need for any survey for claims up to Rs.50,000 and hence these claims would be settled soon. The premium for next year from those, who claimed insurance, was likely to go up from next year.

A kind gesture by the Republic of South Korea
Tuesday, August 16, 2005 | AY

The Navy cruise training force of the Republic of South Korea on Monday donated $3,300 along with medical aid to Indian authorities for rehabilitation and relief operation in Maharashtra. They said that they had heard about the unprecedented rains and floods in Maharashtra on July 27 when they sailed to call on Mumbai port. Incidentally, the gesture comes on the day when India and South Korea are celebrating their 59th and 61st Independence day respectively.

Maharashtra toll reaches to 247
Tuesday, August 16, 2005 | AY

Health Department sources say with 14 more people succumbing to waterborne diseases, including leptospirosis, the toll has risen to 142 in the metropolis while Maharashtra reported a total of 247 deaths so far. In the last 24 hours ending 8 am on Tuesday, 874 people have been admitted to various hospitals in Mumbai with complaints of fever. Meanwhile, an eight-member team from Defence Research Laboratory of Gwalior is coming here to proceed to Sangli and Kolhapur to assess the situation in the wake of spread of diseases like malaria and dengue there.

Junior Inter-district badminton meet from Aug 29
Monday, August 15, 2005 | AY

The Poona District and Metropolitan Badminton Association (PDMBA) will be hosting the prestigious Maharashtra Junior Inter-district and State Open badminton championship at the Western India Enterprises Sports Complex here from August 29 to September 3. The tourney serves as the trials for the Maharashtra teams to take part in the West Zone Junior Inter-state badminton championship slated to be held at Aurangabad from September 28 to 30 and the mini junior national championship as well. The Open events, comprising singles and doubles for boys and girls Under-19, Under-16 and Under-13 years, will be organised from August 31 onwards and will carry a total prize money of Rs 50,000.

Dance bars banned in Maharashtra from sunday
Monday, August 15, 2005 | AY

State government has issued a notification on the implementation of the ban on dance bars in Maharashtra from Sunday onwards. Governor S M Krishna had on August 9 given his assent to the Mumbai Police (amendment) Bill, 2005, aimed at banning the dance bars in the state after it was passed by both the Houses of the state legislature during last month's monsoon session. The state government had sought to effect a ban by promulgating an Ordinance, but the Governor had returned the same on June 23, saying the government could introduce a Bill on the issue in the assembly during its forthcoming session. Accordingly, the Bill was introduced in the House on July 14 during the monsoon session and was passed unanimously by both the Houses.

Kingfisher Airlines starts new services
Sunday, August 14, 2005 | AY

Kingfisher Airlines, one of India's new-age private domestic carriers, said that it would launch daily non-stop services between New Delhi and Mumbai from Monday as part of its route expansion plans. The airline, an arm of Bangalore-based liquor giant United Breweries Limited, will operate five flights daily in both directions. With the launch of flights on the New Delhi-Mumbai sector, Kingfisher Airlines will also offer connectivity between New Delhi and Goa, via Mumbai, with two daily flights. One-way fares on the New Delhi-Mumbai route start at Rs.3,399. The New Delhi-Goa one-way fare starts at Rs.4,699.

Centre sends more antibiotics to Maharashtra
Sunday, August 14, 2005 | AY

The Centre has dispatched more than 2 lakh tonnes of doxycycline to Mumbai today and it is likely to arrive there later this evening. Doxycycline is the medicine duly administered to the suspected cases of leptospirosis. Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare is constantly reviewing the situation. With the focused approach of the State and Central Government, the situation is being brought under control and is likely to improve considerably in the next few days. The State has adequate stocks of essential medicines, disinfectants and insecticides to tide over the situation.

Virender Sehwag in an Ad film
Saturday, August 13, 2005 | AY

Mumbai's Dattatri Chawls played host to Virender Sehwag shooting a promo film for a television channel. For the channel and the film director, Sehwag was the first and obvious choice to portray their message. Those behind the cameras believe that Sehwag performs in front of the camera exactly the way he bats - straight, direct and with a lot of heart. But the batsman himself believes that it is easier to be batting than acting.

Austrian Airlines begins five weekly flights ex-mumbai
Saturday, August 13, 2005 | AY

After having shifted their headquarters to Mumbai from Delhi, Austrian Airlines plans to launch its five weekly flights ex-Mumbai from September 1, 2005. Amey Amladi, regional sales manager for western and southern India, Austrian Airlines, said that that the airline was also looking at adding a third destination in its circuit and was looking at a location in southern India in the second half of 2006. He said that the reason for shifting base to Mumbai was due to the fact that western India, that is Pune and Gujarat, contributed a substantial amount of business along with southern India. Amladi said that the airline has identified student traffic as an area of concentration.

Sonia visits Maharshtra today
Saturday, August 13, 2005 | AY

Congress President, Sonia Gandhi is visiting flood-hit areas of Maharashtra today. The Congress President's first stop will be in Pune and she is also expected to visit flood-affected areas of neighbouring Karnataka state. On her way back to Delhi, Sonia Gandhi will arrive in Mumbai where she would visit flood-hit areas of Saki Naka and Kurla, besides going to V N Desai hospital to meet flood-hit people admitted there. The Congress President is also expected to attend a briefing by government officials on relief work undertaken by the state.

Outbreak of water borne diseases
Saturday, August 13, 2005 | AY

Doctors are battling to treat sick patients in crowded hospitals in India’s financial hub of Bombay and surrounding areas as water-borne illnesses claimed 66 lives following heavy rains. A major worry was an outbreak of leptospirosis that officials believed was responsible for many deaths but a multitude of cases of gastroenteritis, viral fever, dengue fever and other illnesses was also reported. Leptospirosis is caused by exposure to water contaminated with animal urine and its symptoms include high fever and vomiting. The Maharashtra government said it would bear the expenses of treatment of all the patients suffering from water-borne diseases following the July 26 deluge. Over 80 people have died of fever due to water-borne diseases in Mumbai and Thane district.

Bhansali gets sued for 8.5 crores
Thursday, August 11, 2005 | AY

The state-run Maharashtra Film, Stage and Cultural Development Corporation aka Film City has dragged Applause Bhansali Films (ABF) to court claiming Rs 8.50 crore in damages from the firm for completely damaging its prime studio during the shooting of Black last year. ABF had hired the much sought after indoor studio at Film City in Goregaon for the month of February last year. On February 18, while shooting was in progress, a part of the studio suddenly caught fire and in a few hours the entire structure was gutted.

State disaster management authority set up in Maharashtra
Thursday, August 11, 2005 | AY

Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh said that the state government has decided to set up a Maharashtra State Disaster Management Authority, which would handle various facets of disaster Management like taking prohibitory measures, response, relief and rehabilitation in case of natural and other calamities. A bill on disaster management would be introduced in the winter session of the state legislature. A three-member fact-finding committee would also be set up to go into the causes of the situation leading to and following the heavy rains of July 26.

Monsoon packages refundable
Wednesday, August 10, 2005 | AY

The Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation has announced a full refund to all its patrons who had scheduled their travel plans between the period of the July 25th and August 6 to any of the MTDC resorts in the Konkan region. Also, an offer to rebook their holiday packages at the same discounted rates till December 2005. This step has been taken by MTDC due to the unexpected rains and floods that had brought the entire state to a standstill. For more information contact: 22026713/7762/4627.

Dabhol power only for us - Maharashtra
Wednesday, August 10, 2005 | AY

The Maharashtra government has told the Centre that the state, which suffered from a severe power shortage, was unwilling to sell power from the Dabhol plant to consumers outside the state.The power ministry wanted 10 per cent of power generated at Dabhol sold outside Maharashtra. Dabhol which has received the mega-power status makes these plants eligible for customs duty concessions on import of capital goods. However, one of the conditions plants seeking concessions under the mega-power status have to fulfil is inter-state sale of power. The percentage of power to be sold in a state is not specified. However, financial institutions want the policy altered to specify that 25 per cent of power generated be sold in another state.

Dharam Singh makes allegations against Maharashtra
Tuesday, August 9, 2005 | AY

Karnataka Chief Minister N Dharam Singh today alleged that Maharashtra is indulging in spreading false propaganda about floods stating that storage in Alamatti is the reason for the floods. Mr Singh said that the allegation that backwater build up in Maharashtra areas was because of higher reservoir level in Almatti Dam cannot be true at all. Karnataka has suffered more loss and damage due to excessive rains and huge release from Koyna, Warna, Dudganga, Ujjini and Veerbhatkal reservoirs. The areas which have been hit by floods in Maharashtra such as Kolhapur, Sangli and Satara are situated above the sea level and the Alamatti dam was below these areas, which made Singh ask how their dam water inundates Maharastra areas. Mr Singh alleged that with false propaganda, Maharashtra is trying to build up a false records to bolster its arguments before the second Krishna Tribunal which was set up recently.

Ten lakhs families affected by the floods
Tuesday, August 9, 2005 | AY

The rains in Maharashtra have affected ten lakh families while claiming 1056 lives. The number of affected people in the state, specially in Sangli, Kolhapur and Solapur districts, was on the rise on a daily basis. Around 1,200 medical teams had been deployed in various parts of the state, which have been treating 11,300 cases of fever and 8,160 gastric elements. In Mumbai, 21,515 people were being treated in various hospitals for ailments like diarrhoea, jaundice, leptospirosis, malaria and fever. Of the total deaths, Mumbai accounted for 452, Thane 216, Raigad 165, Ratnagiri 18, Nanded and Yavatmal 11 each.

Additional flights from Mumbai to gulf
Monday, August 8, 2005 | AY

Air Arabia will operate an additional daily flight to Mumbai from August 14 to September 3 in order to meet increasing customers demand. Head of Planning and Revenue Management for Air Arabia said that with the end of the summer vacations approaching, they are planning more flights so that people can return back to their destination from Mumbai. There is an increasing number of people travelling between the UAE and India to visit family and friends, and they are pleased to be able to offer them more flight choices at an affordable fare.

Red cross provide relief funds
Monday, August 8, 2005 | AY

The International Federation of Red Cross and Crescent Societies, in association with its Indian wing, the Indian Red Cross Society, has joined flood relief efforts in Maharashtra especially in Mumbai. Red Cross has already distributed utensils,stoves, clothes, medicines and bed sheets. They also have donated five Disaster Water Sanitation Responsive Units to Maharashtra Government which will be installed at selected hospitals and other places. Mc Kerrow also expressed appreciation for the relief work done by the Government but added that the devastation could have been averted had there been proper drainage and other disaster preparedness. The society is providing relief kits worth Rs.seven crores( $ 16.1million). Meanwhile, Mukesh Ambani has announced plans to donate Rs. 5 crore( 11.5 million dollar) on behalf of the Reliance Group of Companies.

TV preparing for Indepenedence celebrations
Sunday, August 7, 2005 | AY

From Kashmir to Kanyakumari, from Maharashtra to Assam the [v] Freedom Express '05 is going to celebrate India's 57th year of Independence. Channel [v] VJs Archana, Juhi and Tina travelled the length and breadth of the country with one mission. Lending their support to this special initiative were stars Saif Ali Khan and Preity Zinta. The programme will be aired on Channel [v] from August 3 to August 15.

Number of deaths in Maharashtra crossed 1000
Sunday, August 7, 2005 | AY

The heavy rains and floods in Maharashtra in the past 10 days have claimed 1,056 lives,with 452 in Mumbai. Over two lakh people were evacuated due to floods in many parts of the state. Floods have also completely uprooted 332 km stretch of road across the state and another 353 km road network have cracked open. The state Relief and Rehabilitation Department sources said that 33 of the total 35 districts were hit by heavy rains and floods.

Steps taken to clear out the blockage in the river
Saturday, August 6, 2005 | AY

Maharshtra govt has taken immediate steps to clear out the blockage to the flow of the Mithi river, which flows through Mumbai and drains out into the sea. Blockages in its flow had worsened the flood situation in the city during last week's downpour. Meanwhile, Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority officials said that a Mithi River Development and Conservation Authority would be set up soon to decide upon issues like removal of encroachments along the river, prohibition of dumping of toxic chemicals and wastes into it and purification of its water.

No question of seperating Mumbai from Maharashtra - CM
Saturday, August 6, 2005 | AY

Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh strongly opposed to the idea of delinking Mumbai from Maharashtra. He said that, Mumbai is an undividable part of the State, and it can't be separated. The issue came into the focus after Samajwadi Party MP Jaya Bachchan supported the idea of legal luminary Fali Nariman on separate statehood for Mumbai during a discussion in Parliament. All political parties in the State, including Shiv Sena, have strongly objected to the statehood idea. The Chief Minister, citing the 'sacrifice' of 105 people of the State in the creation of 'Samyukta Maharashtra' (United Maharashtra), said the question of separating Mumbai does not arise at all.

Health condition worsened
Saturday, August 6, 2005 | AY

About 3,000 people have been affected by cholera, gastroenteritis and dysentry in the rain-ravaged Indian state of Maharashtra, but there have been no signs of an epidemic yet. Residents of Mumbai, where scores died in the flooding brought by the heaviest monsoon rains in decades, were advised to boil water, take chlorine tablets and test drinking water supplies for any contamination. Nearly 40 people were down with jaundice in the flood-hit parts of the state.

PM organises meeting t o discuss about the flood
Saturday, August 6, 2005 | AY

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has called a meeting, which is to be held on a mutual convenient date, involving chief ministers of Maharashtra, Karnataka and Goa to discuss the flood situation in their states. The prime minister has also directed that a high-powered central team visit Karnataka and report to him on the situation there.

CM got to prove himself
Thursday, August 4, 2005 | AY

Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Desmukh is presently not in the good books of senior congress leaders due to his inefficiency in handling the situation of his state. Party sources said the Chief Minister did not appear to be moving fast despite the prodding by senior leaders. Reports had it that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who had undertaken an aerial survey of Mumbai and Raigarh a few days ago, was also said to be not too happy with the Congress-led government's handling of the situation in the state.

Karnataka blamed for the mumbai flood
Thursday, August 4, 2005 | AY

Maharashtra now blames Karnataka of not releasing the promised six lakh cusecs of water from its Alamatti dam, thus causing a backwater effect that worsened the flood situation in the Kolhapur, Sangli and Satara districts. Deputy Chief Minister R.R. Patil said Karnataka was permitted to build the Alamatti dam on the condition that it would ensure that no submergence took place in Maharashtra. The non-release of sufficient water was a violation of the inter-State accord. The toll in the State on account of the rain and floods has gone up to 987. These include 432 deaths in Mumbai, 169 in Thane and 147 in Raigad.

Saki Naka disaster in Mumbai could have been avoided
Wednesday, August 3, 2005 | APA

Mumbai, Aug 3 (PTI) Disasters like Saki Naka landslide, which claimed over 75 lives in the torrential rains last week, could have been avoided had the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) authorities heeded to the disaster management expert committee's warning and taken stern action against those who made the heavily quarried hillock as their homes, experts said."We had warned BMC about possible places of landslides during the monsoons in the city. Saki Naka (in north Mumbai) was listed as one of the sites for possible landslides," a members of the BMC's expert committee V Subramaniyan told PTI here today."Landslides in a coastal city like Mumbai and that too in residential areas are entirely due to anthropogenic activities," Subramaniyan, a retired professor of Engineering Geology of IIT, Mumbai, said."Slopes of these hills in Mumbai are perfectly stable. No landslide will occur if they are not disturbed," he said adding, but stone quarries are opened up on these slopes at many places, cutting them into vertical faces.This destabalises the hill slopes, removing the basal support for the rock blocks that occur above, he said.The geological set-up of Mumbai is such that the black basalt rock has a westerly inclination called `dip' and so the hills have accordingly a long slope to the west at moderate angles of upto 15 degrees, Subramanyan said. PTI

Provogue MD arrested in drug case
Wednesday, August 3, 2005 | AY

Mumbai Police today arrested Salil Chaturvedi, managing director of Provogue, claiming that they have solid evidence against him in the cocaine case. The Santacruz Airport police had summoned Chaturvedi for questioning this morning. He arrived there around noon and the police arrested him soon after. They then raided his house in Andheri, where they claimed they seized three vials of cocaine. Chaturvedi’s relatives, including his brother’s wife, Sheetal, contested the police claim, saying that the vials ‘‘had been planted’’ and the whole thing was an attempt by the investigators to victimize Chaturvedi. The police have been on the cocaine trail since January 2005 when Alwyn Sequira, a Provogue employee, was arrested for booking a courier for Chennai that allegedly contained cocaine vials.

Reliance blamed for poor power supply
Wednesday, August 3, 2005 | AY

The Maharashtra government blamed the Reliance Energy and set a deadline for the company to resume power supply to several areas in the suburbs, which remained blacked out for the last four days. All power distribution licensees in Mumbai - Reliance Energy, Tata Power, the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company and the Brihanmumbai Electricity Supply and Transport (BEST) were served notices, asking them to explain the loss of service in their respective consumer lines and the efforts undertaken to restore normalcy in services. Reliance Energy said sixteen feeders of the company were shut down as per a directive of the state government for human safety and to avoid casualty. The company also said that the power situation had improved in Kurla, Kalina and Sakinaka areas.

Maazi Gostha
Tuesday, August 2, 2005 | AY

"Maazi Gostha"—a Marathi movie on schizophrenia was premiered at the National Film Archives of India on July 31. The film subtly throws light on various aspects of schizophrenia. Jitendra Joshi plays the role of a music director who is a schizophrenic patient called Akshay Chitrava. The movie depicts various stages Chitrava passes through and how a positive attitude can make all the difference.

Govt announces relief package
Tuesday, August 2, 2005 | AY

Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh has announced a compensation of Rs 5000 for families whose homes have been flooded with water. The total relief package by the State Government is of Rs 1.5 crore for Mumbai residents. Also 20 kilograms of ration and 10 litres of kerosene would be provided to the affected families. Loans will also be granted to commercial establishments, which have lost business. Meteorological department has warned that heavy rains and strong winds are expected in and around the city over the next 24 hours. Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh estimated losses at 20 billion rupees (460 million dollar) but the most pronounced effect thus far has been the human toll.

Schools,colleges shut due to rains
Monday, August 1, 2005 | AY

Maharashtra government declared an alert asking people to stay indoors and announced that all school and colleges in the country’s financial and entertainment hub would remain closed till Monday. At least 1,000 people have lost their lives in torrential rains, the worst in 100 years, that lashed the state since Tuesday. Mumbai recorded the highest number of casualties at over 400. Airport authorities say many flights that were expected to land at the Mumbai airport early yesterday have been diverted to other cities following poor visibility amid heavy rains here.

Maharashtra govt faces PIL from Bollywood
Monday, August 1, 2005 | AY

Leading bollywood celebrities decided to file a public interest litigation (PIL) against the Maharashtra government over its failure to activate a disaster management plan to mitigate personal and commercial losses inflicted by the floods. Leading Bollywood personalities like Mahesh Bhatt, Koel Puri and Neena Gupta are part of the group that will file the suit. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had last year said his government would transform Mumbai into "another Shanghai" as part of a larger plan of urban renewal.

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