Maharashtra News Archive: September 2006

Castrol awards in Mumbai
Saturday, September 30, 2006 | AY

If international cricket has the ICC awards, India has the Castrol awards. Legendary off-spinner Erapalli Prasanna received the Castrol lifetime achievement award for his contribution to cricket. Another member of an Indian team that won a Test series in England, although in women's cricket, was Jhulan Goswami. Her heroics in the recent Test series in Blighty earned her a special award. Lalchand Rajput received Piyush Chawla's award for the junior cricketer of the year.

Foreign involvment in Mumbai train blasts
Saturday, September 30, 2006 | AY

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister RR Patil said that there has been evidence that, the mastermind behind the July 11 serial train blasts in Mumbai is from "across the border". Patil said fast track courts would be set up to try the accused and the whole process should not not take more than two years.

Comet 1611 in Maharashtra
Saturday, September 30, 2006 | AY

Ashok Leyland, the Hinduja Group flagship in India, launched Comet 1611 in Maharashtra. With Comet 1611, Ashok Leyland has engineered a vehicle that is the closest fit to meet the growing demand in rated payload segments such as containers, parcel, courier, white goods and tankers. The enhanced fuel efficiency is the result of the proven H series BSII 4-cylinder engine equipped with an optimized driveline that has ZF 5-speed synchromesh gearbox and hypoid rear axle. Comet 1611 enters the market at a time when the overall buoyancy in the economy is manifesting in accelerated growth at the top and bottom end of the payload band.

Hubli-Mumbai air service
Wednesday, September 27, 2006 | AY

Air Deccan, a leading civil aviation company, has disclosed that the company will start direct air service from Hubli to Mumbai from next month, to meet the long pending demand of the north Karnataka people. The air service would reduce the journey time and the fares would be affordable compared to other airways. The proposed aircraft between Hubli-Mumbai, will take off from Hubli at 11.20 am and will reach Mumbai at 12.55 pm, while the aircraft from Mumbai will take off at 8.55 am and will reach Hubli via Belgaum at 11.05 am.

Bachchan's security to be reviewed
Wednesday, September 27, 2006 | AY

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister RR Patil said that, police have been asked to conduct a review and to provide more personnel to guard Amitabh Bachan. He said according to the norms set by the Centre for X-category security, Bachchan's security cover had not been "downgraded". He said, that they are wasting manpower on some people who don't have the remotest threat to their lives. Despite this, the decision to downgrade the security of some people has been made into a prestige issue. Following a review of the security cover for VIPs by a committee headed by the chief secretary, the state government recently reduced the security for Bachchan. The superstar's X-category security cover, however, was not downgraded.

Siamese twins seperated at Mumbai hospital
Monday, September 25, 2006 | AY

At Mumbai’s Nair Hospital, after six-and-a-half hours of surgery, doctors said what they had done was first in Mumbai first, probably even an India first, Siamese twins have been rarely separated with success. Diya and Siya—they were christened by the hospital’s doctors—were joined at the torso, with 50 percent of their livers and three veins fused together. One of them even had a hole in the heart. A team of specialists from paediatrics, dermatology and anaesthesia worked quickly to plan the surgery before the hole in the heart became life threatening.

Wagh got wild card for Mumbai Open
Sunday, September 24, 2006 | AY

Pune colt Akash Wagh was given a dream start to his fledgling career when he became the third wild card recipient for the $3,80,000 Kingfisher Airlines men's Tennis Open that is to commence at the cricket club of India on September 25. Akash is a very exciting talent. He's 16 and has already won the under-18 singles title at the Nationals held in Chennai.

Veerdhaval sets new swimming record
Sunday, September 24, 2006 | AY

Maharashtra schoolboy Veerdhaval Khade, on the second day of the LIC 60th Senior National Aquatics Championship, rewrote his own best Indian performance in 200 metres freestyle with a comfortable time of 01:56.03 seconds, erasing the previous best of 01:57.32 seconds he had set last year at Thrissur. Of the five new National records set today, Veerdhaval accounted for one more, pushing National record holder Rajeev K of Kerala to bronze in the 50 metres butterfly. The other two new National records came in the 400 meters individual medley events, with Karnataka's Rehan Poncha and Police's Richa Mishra, both improving upon their own previous National best marks.

Elephants ban in Mumbai
Saturday, September 23, 2006 | AY

Wildlife groups called for an elephant ban in Mumbai yesterday after a 25-year-old female pachyderm was left paralysed in her second road accident in three years. Laxmi, one of 15 licensed elephants employed for religious ceremonies and processions in Mumbai, broke her leg and suffered spinal injuries after being hit by a water tanker driven by an alleged drunk. The elephant-headed Hindu deity Ganesha is hugely popular in Mumbai with the animals in great demand for religious ceremonies at temples. Camels, which were used for pleasure rides for tourists, have already been banned in Mumbai after complaints that camel corpses were being found and left unclaimed on the beachfront. The latest government estimate back in 2002 said there were more than 26,000 wild elephants in India.

Non stop flights from Canada to Mumbai
Saturday, September 23, 2006 | AY

Canada's flagship carrier Air Canada will introduce non-stop service between Toronto and India's financial capital Mumbai from next year. The service will become operational once Air Canada takes delivery of its Boeing 777 planes. Apart from the passenger fees, Air Canada would benefit from being able to carry cargo to and from India.

Polio virus found in Mumbai
Wednesday, September 20, 2006 | AY

Health and sanitation inspectors have detected fresh polio virus in the sewage system of Mumbai. Mumbai, being a high-prone zone for polio, due to its high migrants’ population, is under weekly surveillance. Meanwhile, the government has decided to give injectable polio vaccines (IPV) in Moradabad and JP Nagar districts of UP where fresh polio cases have been reported.

12th Pune Navratra Festival
Tuesday, September 19, 2006 | AY

The 12th Pune Navratra Festival, will have competitions like flower arrangement, cookery, yogasan and make-up. The festival also have a Ms and Mrs Pune Navratri Personality Award and an SMS competition. Senior personalities from Marathi musical theatre Saraswatibai Rane and Kirti Shiledar will be felicitated with the Tejaswini Award for their contribution to Marathi theatre as part of the festival. Others who will be felicitated include actress Leela Gandhi, singer Lalita Phadke, music director Anil Mohile, kirtankaar Dadasaheb Manmadkar and child artist Vaishanvi Gire, who will be conferred with the Shree Laxmimata Kala Sanskruti Award.

Petrol pump strike
Monday, September 18, 2006 | AY

The Federation of All Maharashtra Petrol Dealers Association has threatened to go on an indefinite strike from Monday. They will stop buying and stocking fuel, which means the present stocks could run out soon. This is their way to protest till their demands. They said the Maharashtra government has not met their primary demand for reducing the sales tax on fuel in the state. The petrol pump dealers are primarily demanding a reduction in sales tax, reasonable profit margins for pump dealers, amendment in the marketing disciplines guidelines 2005, removal of license fee on CNG and rehabilitation of dealers affected by the Maharashtra Rent Control Act.

Infosys expanding in Pune
Sunday, September 17, 2006 | AY

Infosys Technologies is expanding in Pune. The company will be opening the first of its two new buildings at Hinjewadi that resemble spaceships on Tuesday. Incidentally, Infosys has 55 hectares in Pune of which 24 hectares have been developed. The company has already crossed the 11,000 staff mark in Pune and will be celebrating this at the opening of the new building.

Danube opens Mumbai office
Sunday, September 17, 2006 | AY

Dubai based Danube Building Materials has opened an outlet in Mumbai, its second in Asia after Shanghai in China, to take advantage of the jump in the real estate sector in the city. The outlet is based in the Santacruz (W) suburb of the city. Danube is also planning outlets in Bangalore, Delhi, Chennai and Calcutta in the near future.

Robbie Williams cancels date with Mumbai
Saturday, September 16, 2006 | AY

A huge disappointment for thousands of Robbie Williams fans, who were looking forward to see the British pop star perform in Asia. Organisers of the show said that the concerts in India and China had been cancelled because the singer was stressed and exhausted. Due to poor health, Williams’ had decided to cancel the Asian leg of his Close Encounters World Tour, which included concerts in Mumbai, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Bangkok and Singapore.

Petrol dealers on strike
Saturday, September 16, 2006 | AY

Petrol dealers across Maharashtra will go on an indefinite strike from Monday to protest the high rate of sales tax on fuel in the state. Sales tax in Maharashtra is the highest in the country. The state charges 34 per cent sales tax on diesel, while neighbouring states like Goa, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Gujarat charge 23, 28, 30 and 28 per cent respectively. In the border areas, vehicle owners prefer to fill up fuel in neighbouring states. Due to this, nearly 800 petrol pumps in the border areas of the state are facing huge losses. Though petrol pump owners are going on strike, those Mumbaikars in urgent need of petrol can fill up at oil-company operated petrol pumps at Bandra Kurla Complex, Haji Ali, Pedder Road, Lokhandwala Complex, Marine Drive, Turner Road and Kandivli.

Longest trial, finally getting to an end
Wednesday, September 13, 2006 | AY

Court yesterday found four members of a Muslim family, including a woman, guilty in the 1993 bomb blasts in Mumbai that resulted in the death of 257 people. These were the first convictions in one of the world's longest trials. The sentences will be announced after all the verdicts have been delivered. The series of 13 blasts in the country's financial hub, with targets including the Bombay Stock Exchange building, the headquarters of the state-owned Air India, a movie theater and a busy market, were the deadliest bomb attacks in India's history. It is believed that the attacks were launched in retaliation for the destruction, in 1992, of a 16th-century mosque in Ayodhya by Hindu extremists in Uttar Pradesh, along with subsequent deadly clashes between Hindus and Muslims.

Asian Satellite in November
Wednesday, September 13, 2006 | AY

Mumbai is hosting the Asian Satellite tournament from November 14-17. Maharashtra Badminton Association (MBA) President Pradeep Gandhe made the announcement at a media conference here last night to announce MBA's three-year sponsorship deal with German sports goods firm Victor. As per the agreement between MBA and the German firm's Delhi-based distribution company in India, the association stood to gain to the tune of Rs 25 lakhs annually, including Rs 5.05 lakhs towards its development fund.

Finolex may sell land near Pune
Monday, September 11, 2006 | AY

PVC pipe manufacturer Finolex Industries is in negotiations to sell 70 acres of land lying vacant at its Chinchwad factory. The floor price of the 70 acres, going by the state government’s stamp duty ready reckoner, will be close to Rs 250 crore. However, real estate sources are putting the deal value close to Rs 600 crore. Finolex had announced plans to shift its factory at Chinchwad to make way for the company’s proposed special economic zone.

Pune gets grant to reduce vehicular pollution
Sunday, September 10, 2006 | AY

As part of a series of anti-pollution cooperative ventures between Washington and New Delhi, the United States has given a USD 296,000 grant to Pune to introduce innovative measures and technologies to reduce vehicular pollution. The funding by the US trade and development agency is designed to retrofit diesel-fuelled buses with technologies designed to reduce toxic emissions and utilize low-sulfur diesel fuel. The Pune project will focus on retrofitting buses with diesel particulate filters, diesel oxidation catalysts and other innovative retrofit technologies verified by the EPA or the California air resources board to reduce air pollution. The long-term goal of the collaboration with the Pune Municipal Corporation and the Nagpur-based National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) is to develop a viable system for Pune that might later be applied in other Indian cities.

Explosive devices identical to that of the July blast
Sunday, September 10, 2006 | AY

The explosive devices that killed 31 people in Malegaon possibly contained RDX and were "identical" to the bombs used in the blasts on commuter trains here on July 11. Investigators have also questioned some persons in Malegaon in connection with the use of two bicycles that were found at the site of the blasts and are believed to have been used to transport the explosive devices. Thirty-one people were killed and nearly 300 injured in the four blasts near Noorani mosque, a nearby graveyard and the busy Mushaira Chowk in Malegaon on Friday.

Loksatta launches Delhi reprint of Marathi edition
Saturday, September 9, 2006 | AY

Marathi newspaper Loksatta today started the Delhi reprint of its Mumbai edition becoming the first daily in the language to be launched in the national capital. Edited by noted journalist Kumar Ketkar, the Express group publication has editions from Mumbai, Pune, Ahmednagar and Nagpur. The daily will also carry all the 12 supplements of the original edition and have a local page 'Marathi Vishwa' covering cultural events of Maharashtrians in Delhi.

Terror hits Mumbai again
Saturday, September 9, 2006 | AY

At least 31 people died and over 100 were injured in three explosions in Muslim-dominated Malegaon, 300 km from Mumbai, yesterday. The bombs went off between 1.46 p.m. and 1.50 p.m., one in a town square and two outside the Bada Kabrastan mosque-cum-graveyard. Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh said two bombs were rigged to bicycles. Deshmukh announced a compensation of Rs 1 lakh to the kin of the dead and Rs 50,000 to the injured. The cost of medical expenses of the injured would be borne by the state government.

Infosys 'spaceship' in Pune
Wednesday, September 6, 2006 | AY

On September 18, Infosys Technologies company will inaugurate the first of its two "spaceships" in Pune — a gigantic, five-storey steel-glass-aluminium clad building that resembles a spacecraft and will house 3,000 professionals. The structure, designed by eminent architect Hafeez Contractor, looks like a spaceship that has just descended on Earth. The building has 1.5 lakh sq.ft of floor space over five floors. Its form has been derived from an ellipsoid and the structure is meant to speak the hi-tech language of computers, software development and cutting-edge technology.

Suniel Shetty's car skids
Tuesday, September 5, 2006 | AY

Actor Suniel Shetty had a truly providential escape after his Skoda car skid on the Express Highway while he was returning from Pune on Sunday evening. The car skidded and slammed the railing on the side of the road and the entire left side was dented. There was some oil on the road and they were in a hurry to visit Ganesh pandals in Thane.

New technology against breast cancer
Monday, September 4, 2006 | AY

The Prashanti Cancer Care Mission, for the first time in Western India, has introduced a minimal invasive procedure for breast biopsy using a Hand-Held Mammotome. The procedure, which works as an alternative to open surgery for lumps in the breast, will also help to accurately diagnose breast cancer. This will offer women a minimal invasive alternative to an open surgical biopsy without scarring or disfigurement of the breast and will require only a local anesthesia. The technology behind the Hand-Held Mammotome is a computer controlled vacuum system which has a high-speed rotating cutter that allows doctors to obtain tissue samples for a thorough biopsy. The Mammotome Breast Biopsy System has been available in the US since 1995 and has been used to conduct over 2 million breast biopsies.

Film fest in Pune
Monday, September 4, 2006 | AY

The Youth Commonwealth Games to be held in Pune in 2008 and the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi have inspired organisers of the Pune International Film Festival (PIFF) to include a special section on sports. Announcing that the festival would be held from January 11 to 18, 2007, director of PIFF, Jabbar Patel said a section on sports films from around the world would be a part.

Pune abandons historic Ganpati site
Saturday, September 2, 2006 | AY

Pune has forgotten the man who gave the city the biggest festival in the country. Tilak started public celebrations from his home in 1894. In those days the area was known as the "law classes Ganpati mandal" as Tilak would hold tuitions for his law students there. Over the years the historic structure was left to crumble. During the 10-day festival lakhs and crores of rupees are collected and spent lavishly but the historical structure is neglected. Pune has over 2,500 mandals. Even if they pool in just a fraction of the collections, a memorial can easily be built in the name of the man who gave the festival to everyone.

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