BUKAD NEWS

There is some good news for the suburban residents. The central government has sanctioned funds to some second-tier cities in order to aid their transition into solar cities. The cities to receive financial aid, which include Kalyan-Dombivli from Maharashtra, are among the 43 selected from across India for the ‘solar city’ programme, under which, the cities will have to meet at least 10 percent of the incremental energy needs through renewable sources over the next five years.

The initial amount of Rs 50 lakh, to be handed over to the civic bodies, will be used for activities such as setting up a dedicated ‘solar cell’ in KDMC and for preparing a master plan for meeting targets and promoting this unique programme. It is an initiative by the ministry of new and renewable energy, under a long-term plan to augment solar energy production capacity in India.

The ministry, which is executing an ambitious project to take India’s solar production capacity from around 50 megawatts to 1,300 megawatts (MW) over the next few years, has plans to identify more such city corporations with a “high level of commitment in promoting energy efficiency and renewable energy” to serve as examples for the remaining areas. Around 34 cities were identified as of the end of last year and the number will keep rising in the near future, according to information released by the ministry.

The cities, which have population in the range of 5 lakh to 50 lakh, will be identified and funds will be allocated by the year 2013. Maharashtra has five cities approved for inclusion in the project, including Thane, Nagpur, Aurangabad and Nanded apart from these suburbs. The ministry aims to include at least one city from each state.

Meanwhile, Japan has also shown interest in developing these futuristic solar cities of India. Japan wants to promote “Midori no Bunken”, which aims at changing a centralized society into a community based one, in order to enhance self sufficiency within a region through maximizing natural resources (ie forest, sea, food) and energy, besides emphasizing on electricity generated by renewable sources like solar, wind, micro-hydel and biomass energy.

The two countries have also agreed to strengthen cooperation in research and development for promoting renewable energy.

BUKAD NEWS

Focus on rail safety; plan for 113 new trains, more suburban services

Increasing the fare for the first time in eight years, the Railway budget for 2012-13 also envisages 113 new trains and promises to focus on safety, for which the Railway Board will be restructured and a separate authority set up.

Railway Budget 2012 - at a glance (PDF)

The budget, presented by Railway Minister Dinesh Trivedi, proposes a steep increase in passenger fares to help the Railways earn an additional Rs.7,000 crore during 2012-13. The lowest fare of Rs. 2 for travel up to 10 km in a non-suburban train has been raised to Rs. 5.

The Railways have planned to increase fares in kilometre terms, starting with 2 paise for the lower classes and increasing it gradually to 30 paise for air-conditioned first class. The general increase is up to 30 per cent in the sleeper classes and air-conditioned classes. Thus, for example, the Delhi-Chennai sleeper class fare will go up from Rs. 488 to Rs. 600, a hike of 23 per cent, and Thiruvananthapuram to Delhi in AC two-tier will rise from Rs. 2,181 to Rs. 2,650, a hike of 21 per cent.

Railway Budget - Key Figures (PDF)

The budget promises to increase the strength of the Railway Board by taking in two more members — one for safety and the other for public-private participation and marketing.

A Railway Safety Authority will be set up as a statutory regulatory body. The conditions of track, bridges and signalling and telecommunication systems will also be improved. To avoid accidents at unmanned level crossings, a rail-road grade separation corporation will be put in place.

The Railway Rupee (PDF)

Mr. Trivedi proposes to recruit at least one lakh persons in the next financial year, clearing the backlog of SC/ST/OBC vacancies and those in other categories, while filling all slots to ensure the safe running of trains and the safety of passengers.

Safety measures, green initiatives

Among the other safety measures announced by Mr. Trivedi in his budget are increasing the number of trains to be escorted by RPF/GRP personnel to 3,500 and integration of the RPF helpline with the All-India Passenger Helpline.

As part of the Railways' green initiative, 2,500 coaches will be equipped with bio-toilets, 200 remote stations will be powered by solar energy, solar-lighting systems will be installed at 1,000 manned level crossing gates, and two bio-diesel plants will be commissioned at Raipur and Tondiarpet.

Indian Railways - the safety report (PDF)

The passenger amenities proposed include 321 escalators, of which 50 will be installed in 2012-13, six mechanised laundries, new Rail Neer plants at Palur in Tamil Nadu and Ambernath in Maharashtra, an alternative train accommodation system for wait-listed passengers and specially designed coaches for differently-abled persons in all mail and express trains.

Patients suffering from Aplastic Anaemia and Sickle Cell Anaemia will be given 50 per cent concession in fare in AC 2, AC 3 and Chair Car and Sleeper classes. The Arjuna awardees will get the facility of travelling by the Rajdhani and Shatabdi trains.

Despite the poor state of the system and the Railways' inability to fulfil the promises made in 2011-12, the budget proposes 75 new express trains, 21 passenger trains, nine DEMU and eight MEMU, besides extension in the service of 39 trains and increase in the frequency of 23.

Mumbai will have 75 additional suburban services, Chennai 18, Kolkata 44, and Kolkata Metro 60.

For resource mobilisation and modernisation, two corporations will be opened: the Indian Railway Station Development Corporation and the Logistics Corporation.

Schemes for private investment in wagon-leasing, siding, private freight terminals, container train operations and rail connectivity projects will be made more attractive to investors. To facilitate this, the Railway Board will have a new member.

A National High Speed Rail Authority will be set up to run high-speed trains in future. A pre-feasibility study will be done for the Delhi-Jaipur-Ajmer-Jodhpur corridor, in addition to the six corridors proposed. As for connectivity to neighbouring countries, the project to connect Agartala with Akhaura in Bangladesh will be taken up in 2012-13.

Mr. Trivedi announced the setting up a wagon factory at Sitapali in Odisha's Ganjam district, while two coach factories will be established at Kutch in Gujarat and Kolar in Karnataka. A plant for making traction alternators for high- horse power diesel locomotives will be set up at Vidisha, Madhya Pradesh.

Two projects have been proposed for West Bengal to make next-generation propulsion systems for use in high-power electric locomotives at Shyamnagar, and augmenting the electric loco ancillaries unit of the Chittaranjan Locomotive Works at Dankuni for fabrication of locomotive shells and assembly of three- phase locomotives for manufacture of 9000-HP locomotives.

A survey and feasibility study will be done for new coach terminals at Nemam, Kottayam, Mau and Dankuni, for the development of the Royapuram station in Chennai, a new coach complex at Panvel and coach maintenance complexes at Khlamboli in Maharashtra and at Naihati, birth place of Rishi Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, in West Bengal.

KALYAN NEWS

The Kalyan GRP has arrested a suspended ticket checker (TC) for allegedly cheating commuters in local trains since the last five years by posing as an on-duty ticket checker (TC). Cops also found Central Railway's original batch and receipt book with the accused which he was allegedly using to cheat commuters.

The accused has been identified as Sudhir Uttekar, 35, who resides in Guru Chhaya Complex in Badlapur (E).

On Tuesday, Chirag Taneja, 40, a resident of Ulhasnagar, was accosted in a local train between Vitthalwadi and Ulhasnagar stations by Uttekar, who-posing as a TC-asked for his ticket. Taneja, who noticed that Uttekar was trying to take bribe from all commuters, asked the ticket collector to show his identity card, but the latter then started making excuses. When the train reached Ulhasnagar station, Taneja called a constable, Anil Jagdale. When Jagdale made enquiries with Uttekar, he showed him a batch number and receipt book. 


Jagdale observed that the receipt book Uttekar was carrying was very old. When he asked Uttekar about his senior officer's name, the latter was started fumbling. Jagdale then took him to the Kalyan GRP police station. "When I told Uttekar to come with me to the police station, Uttekar started pleading that he be let off. He claimed that he had taken to cheating people for the sake of his wife and children. "But I took him to the police station, where a complaint was lodged against him," said Jagdale.

The police have booked Uttekar under Section 170 (impersonating a public servant) and 420 (cheating) of the IPC. "We found that Uttekar was working as a junior TC at Chinchpokli station, but in 2006, he was caught by vigilance officers while accepting money from commuters and suspended.," said Arun Jagtap, senior inspector, Kalyan GRP. Uttekar has been remanded in police custody.

BUKAD NEWS

Candidates may no longer have to spend sleepless nights agonizing over election results as the State Election Commission (SEC) wants to declare civic poll results on the same day as the polls. The SEC has written a letter to municipal commissioners asking them for feedback by December 15. The civic polls in Mumbai, Thane, Ulhasnagar, Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad , Nagpur and Nashik are scheduled in early 2012.

"At present immediately after the election process, the electronic voting machines (EVM) used for the polls are taken to a secured place. The process requires lot of manpower and security personnel to guard the ballot box. Since the voting is done through EVM, the SEC is of the opinion that counting should be done on the same day," Neela Satyanarayan, State Election Commissioner, said.

"The SEC will decide on the issue after receiving the feeback from the authorities ," Chand Goel, additional chief secretary, State Election Commission told BUKAD.


Meanwhile to encourage more voters to participate in the exercise, the SEC has decided to allow setting up of polling stations at housing societies where voters' population is more than 1000. "The idea is to increase voter turnout . We have asked municipal corporations to give publicity to the plans by giving advertisements in newspapers, television channels and cable networks ," Neela Satyanarayan said. "Those housing societies meeting the eligibility criteria can send their request to the concern municipal commissioners and accordingly the arrangements would be made," she added. 

ULHASNAGAR NEWS

Ulhasnagar civic officials want salary as per sixth pay panel


More than 3,000 civic employees staged a dharna in front of the office of the municipal corporation on Monday. Alleging official apathy, the employees of the Ulhasnagar Municipal Corporation were protesting against the non-payment of salaries in accordance with the recommendations of the Sixth Pay Commission.

“The civic authorities have only been making false promises. Whenever we met officials to make them aware of our plight, we were told that the civic body was looking into our demands and will find an amicable solution soon. However, two years have passed but nothing concrete has happened so far,” said Charansingh Tak, president, Akhil Bhartiya Safai Mazdoor Congress.

Tak added that official apathy had escalated this matter and infuriated employees now seek immediate action from municipal corporation to resolve this simmering crisis.

He warned that if the administration failed to offer any solution soon, 3,000 civic employees will go an indefinite strike.

Highlighting the grievances of civic employees, he said the authorities had failed to implement the recommendations of the Lad and Page committee report. There has been no progress in the recruitment of 300 employees, which has been pending for almost a year now. Due to the indifference of the civic officials, more than 200 workers have been forced to work on daily wages for almost 10 to 15 years. Most of them are due to retire soon, but the civic body still doesn’t have any concrete plans to offer them some retirement benefits.

When HT approached municipal commissioner Ashok Rankhamb, he said, “We had formed a committee to look into the matter and we are also seeking guidance from legal and account sections to implement the recommendations of the committee at the earliest. We have also approached the state government to expedite the matter.”

Expressing concern about employees’ welfare, he said, “They are our employees and we will be happy to address their grievances. We are looking into their demands and will see to it that this issue is resolved.”

RANDOM NEWS

Rupee hits all-time low of 52.73 vs dollar; looks vulnerable


The rupee skidded to an all-time low on Tuesday as oil refiners and other companies scrambled to buy dollars, with the currency looking increasingly vulnerable to a swelling current account deficit. 

Exposure to short-term portfolio flows, a rising oil import bill and slowing export growth have heightened the risk on the rupee and the outlook remains bearish. 

There is also the increasing likelihood the US super committee will fail to reach a deal on debt restructuring, which could trigger another major round of selling of in emerging market and risky assets. 

At 10:40 a.m. (0510 GMT), the rupee was at 52.58/59 per dollar, after touching an all-time low of 52.73, and 0.8 percent weaker than its previous close of 52.1550/1650. 

At its record low, the rupee has slumped 16.8 percent from its 2011 high reached in late July. 

"The outlook for the rupee continues to look weak at this point. The next technical level on the chart shows 55.11," said Ashtosh Raina, head of foreign exchange trading at HDFC Bank in Mumbai. 

"There is all-round demand coming in from all quarters and there are unlikely to be any ranges for the market now." 

Describing the sharp depreciation of the rupee as "disruptive", the Reserve Bank said any action to arrest the fall will be guided by medium-term considerations. 

"We don't really have a target or a rate in mind. It's moving as per market dynamics. It (fall in the value of the rupee) is disruptive, there is no question. There (will be) impact on our import bill, particularly for energy. It's having an impact on companies and it is a problem," Reserve Bank Deputy Governor Subir Gokarn told reporters here. 

On the possibility of action by the central bank to arrest the fall of the rupee, Gokarn said, "Any action we take now (will) have to take into account the fact that these actions might have consequences a little further down the road. So we have got to balance out actions with risks or a potential increase in vulnerability later on..." 

"Actions have to be weighed in terms of their medium-term risks," he added. 

The immediate impact of the fall in the value of rupee, he said, will be on the inflation rate, which has been hovering near the double-digit mark for several months. 

"We should not be looking at only the short-term when we make these judgements. Every action that has been suggested... that has been debated, also has potentially adverse consequences down the road. So we have got to balance out those too." 

Although the RBI has been maintaining that the exchange rate should be market-determined, it is volatility that has been worrying the central bank. 

"... Volatility is another thing. This is the sharpness and speed of the movement that is obviously creating some disruptions. We don't know where it is going to go, but it is something we need to watch out for," Gokarn said. 

DOMBIVLI NEWS

Collegians arrested for robbing three

The police on Thursday arrested three youths, including two collegians, for robbing people in Dombivli (W). They took to crime to finance their "lavish lifestyle", the police added. The police also seized a bike used by the youths to commit the crime. 

The accused are identified as Ajay Sakpal (20), Mayur Bane (18) and Prakash More (18). According to the police, Sakpal and Bane are FYJC students, while More works in a factory. On November 2, the accused targeted Pramod Badge around 12.30am in Manpada and robbed him of Rs 7,500. Later around 1.30am, they offered another passerby, Subhas Singh, a lift and took him to a deserted place where they beat him up and snatched his cellphone and jewellry worth Rs 24,000. 

At 2.30am, they stopped auto driver Santosh Yadav near Lodha Heaven and robbed him of Rs 1,500. The Manpada police formed a special team headed by inspector Dattatray Pandharey and on Thursday arrested accused from Dawdi, based on a tip-off. "We will check if they are involved in other robberies," Prakash Nilewad, inspector, Manpada police station.

DOMBIVLI NEWS

Governor lessons for CM on file disposal


It's time for chief minister Prithviraj Chavan and his cabinet colleagues to take lessons from governor K Sankaranarayanan on the quick disposal of files.

Sankaranarayanan, disclosing the secret on Sunday, said, "when I was the junior-most cabinet minister in Kerala, and whenever there was difficulty in understanding a subject or there was confusion, I never hesitated in consulting senior cabinet colleagues, so decision-making was faster."

Sankaranarayanan told a function largely attended by Keralites settled in Dombivli that now files were pending as there were no consultations. "There is nothing wrong if a cabinet member consults his senior. One should not feel shy about it. In the absence of consultations, pendency is bound to increase,'' he said. 

ULHASNAGAR NEWS

Muslims fight for burial ground in Ulhasnagar


MUMBAI: Fed up with the alleged apathy of the state government and the Ulhasnagar Municipal Corporation (UMC) towards their three-decade-old demand for a burial ground, some Muslims of Ulhasnagar have threatened to try and bury their dead near the statue of Mahatma Gandhi outside Mantralaya.

With 1.5 lakh Muslims, the town of Ulhasnagar badly needs a Muslim graveyard as the community has to take their dead to Kalyan and Ambernath, several kilometres away, for burial.

On Tuesday a group of around 100 Muslim residents of Ulhasnagar sat on a dharna at Azad Maidan, demanding at least two acres of land for the burial ground. Some of the protesters' representatives at a press conference threatened that if the government didn't give them a burial place within 15 days, they would take their dead to the gates of Mantralaya and, on the way the ambulances carrying the bodies would also stop at Matoshree, Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray's residence at Bandra. 

ULHASNAGAR NEWS

7L gold, cash looted from bizman's home

Ulhasnagar: Five robbers threatened a businessman's family at gunpoint and escaped with Rs 5 lakh cash and gold jewellery worth Rs 1.68 lakh at Ulhasnagar on Sunday. One of the robbers had kept a security guard confined to the building gate at gunpoint so that he could not raise an alarm.
The incident took place around 3.45 am. Of the gang of five, four entered the first floor flat ofPremchand Narwani at Sai Charan apartment of Gol Maidan. Premchand's wife and son were in the house at the time. The valuables in the house were meant for Premchand's son's wedding in February 2012.

AMBERNATH NEWS

Kshamata Gaikwad

She is the first Indian woman to co-author a description of a new species of lizard. Kshamata Gaikwad (24) from Ambernath has made a universal discovery of new species of lizard in Kolhapur, under the guidance of Dr Varad Giri, the curator of Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS). After completing her post graduation in environmental science from Mumbai University in September 2007, she volunteered in BNHS, learning the basics of taxonomy on caecilians and reptiles. In September 2008, she was given the post of research fellow when she began working on this gecko. "I always had a liking towards wildlife. I observed that a lot of research was being done on larger group of animals whereas little creatures like reptiles and caecilians were unexplored. Thus, I plunged in and took the opportunity to explore their world under my microscope," quips Kshamata. Her mentor Dr Giri is full of praise for the young scientist. "Kshamata has been patient and persistent throughout these years. She volunteered for a year with BNHS and travelled all the way from Ambernath to Fort everyday even when she wasn't paid a penny. We need thousands of Kshamatas to come forward and popularise the beauty of reptiles," he says. For her part, Kshamata is thankful to her mentor. "Giri sir always cleared my doubts but never spoon-fed me; instead, he nudged me to think on my own," she avers. Kshamata is proud of her work and yet believes in staying simple and working hard. "I am happy that at this point of my career I have received a co-authorship for a universal discovery but will be content when I will become the first author," she confesses. The determined girl is now working in the Western Ghats looking for new species of reptiles and amphibians. She will also check their breeding season while finding out if they are facing any problems related to survival and ensuring that the species is preserved. We wish her all the very best!  About the lizard  This gecko has been termed scientifically as cnemaspis kolhapurensis, after the locality where it was discovered. It belongs to the group of dwarf gecko (cnemaspis genus) and is smaller in size, has a strange snout and a long neck. As this lizard moves on the ground, it has circular pupil and smooth scales. It also has slender digits and a shiny tail. The under side of the tail has black and yellow dots. These characteristics mark it from other specimens of this family Fast facts • The first sample of this dwarf gecko was picked by Dr Giri back in 2005 • It took four years for the finding to be published as the scientists had to compare this gecko with every individual species in the group to guarantee that the specimen was first of its kind • This species is registered in Zootaxa, a scientific journal from New Zealand

REAL ESTATE IN BUKAD

“One can find plenty of 1BHK homes costing Rs 10-15 lakh here, which is perfect for government employees,” says Mohan Tharwani, from Tharwani infrastructure. Tharwani’s ongoing projects include Rosalie, Rosalie LX at Kalyan and Ritu World- Wind of Change at Barrage Road, Badlapur (West). “Ritu World is the first of its kind luxury project in Badlapur with all modern amenities at affordable prices,” informs Mohan Tharwani.  

Ambernath is faring well with its new projects like Wadhwa constructions. “Ambernath is a blend of old-world charm, culture and modern times. People keep getting attracted to its ambience,” says Prakash Wadhwa, from Wadha group. He adds, “We have slashed 100 rupees from the booking price for Gudi Padwa to boost sales in Ambernath,” adds Wadhwa.

In Dombivli, premium lifestyle projects such as Lodha’s Casa Bella and Regency Estate have altered the perception of the city. “These flats offer high-end amenities at reasonable prices, moreover Dombivli is really well connected, has good education options, a mall nearby,” says Kishore Pishori, a CA and a resident of Regency Estates.

Interestingly, Government policy has a role to play in the emergence of these areas as realty hotspots. Avers Bhavin from Raj Group, “The home loans are more attractive. Most of these projects are backed by banks; these factors are responsible for a huge spurt in realty demand.”

There are positive signs of development in the far flung suburbs too. Neptune builders and Nirmal Lifestyle are coming up with projects in Ambivli and Shahad, which are all set to revolutionise the face of these towns. “The main advantages of these suburbs are low pollution level and affordable rates,” says Raja Rochlani of Madhav constructions.

"Badlapur has become a haven for professionals from the public sector. One can find plenty of 1BHK homes costing Rs 10-15 lakh here, which is perfect for government employees”

KALYAN NEWS

The Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) has started resurfacing roads following criticism from citizens and Opposition members. In the first phase, the KDMC has started pothole-filling work in Dombivli. On Tuesday, the work started from the Rajendra Prasad Road in Dombivli.

On October 23, a woman died after falling from a bike on the Badlapur-Dombivli Pipeline road.

Standing panel chairman Janardan Mahatre said, "Nine contractors are trying to complete the work as soon as possible."