Think India Foundation

Court stays construction on Mahanadi river bed

CUTTACK: The Orissa High Court on Friday imposed an interim stay on construction activities at Hadia Patha area on the Mahanadi river bed.

A high court bench of Justice B P Das and Justice M M Das has directed the district administration and the Cuttack Development Authority to stop construction activities in the area until the next hearing of the case. Read more

Source : articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com

States urged to use satellite imagery to curb illegal mining

Mumbai : The Centre in active coordination with the state governments has stepped up efforts to curb illegal mining, especially by focusing on effective governance and application of modern technologies.

Close on the heels of rampant cases of illegal mining, especially in ore rich states such as Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Orissa and Jharkhand, the Centre wants states to aggressively apply geo-referencing of mining leases and rope in Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to use its satellite imagery. Read more

Source : business-standard.com

Orissa, Goa tie-up for tourism boost

BHUBANESWAR: If you are planning to visit Goa, then you need not browse through the internet. Rather, you can approach the Orissa Tourism Development Corporation (OTDC) to avail of facilities such as transport, accommodation and sight seeing in that western tourism hub.

Orissa and Goa have jointly decided to promote tourism potentials of the two states on mutual beneficial basis. The link up will lead to increase tourist inflow to both states, officials claimed. "This will be a win-win situation for both the states. The MoU will help mutual promotion of tourism, showcasing each other's cultural heritage to tourists and felicitating inbound travel into the respective states," said OTDC managing director Manoranjan Patnaik. Read more

Source : timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Manali to emerge as historic village soon

MANALI: Efforts to present Manali town as a historic village has been stepped up by the government. Away from the charm of big cities, Manali has approved to reinvent itself in the form of a beautiful village.

Streets, roads and pathways of Manali would give the look of a village. For this purpose, local slate are being fitted everywhere. Manali nagar parishad president Roop Chand Negi said tourists from across the world come to Manali to experience its rich culture and tradition; they do not come to see our markets or shopping malls. "Architecture of our villages is unique. This is the reason many tourists were moving towards villages from cities. Our efforts are to show them a glimpse of village everywhere in Manali town. In the first phase of this multi-crore project, traditional slates are being laid on the path between Manali and Hadimba Temple," Negi said. Read more

Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Gujarat spending less, food is priority

GANDHINAGAR: Even as the state government has been claiming all-round prosperity, when it comes to the ability to spend, Gujarat's position vis-A -vis other states appears to be worsening. The National Sample Survey (NSS) report, "Key Indicators of Household Consumer Expenditure in India", put out this month, has revealed that Gujarat's average monthly per capita expenditure (MPCE) - considered measure of the ability to spend - is Rs 1,110 in rural areas, and nearly double - Rs 1,909 in urban areas.

The NSS report suggests that Gujarat's MPCE in rural areas lower than seven other states, including Kerala, Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana and Andhra Pradesh. Things are not rosy in urban Gujarat, too. If Gujarat ranks eighth in rural MPCE, the state's urban MPCE rank is tenth and several major states, including Kerala, Maharashtra, Punjab, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Haryana, have a higher MPCE. Worse, on both the counts, Gujarat has slipped since 2005, the NSS study suggests. Read more

Source : timesofindia.indiatimes.com

After poonga, plans afoot to restore Adyar estuary

CHENNAI: The Chennai River Restoration Trust (CRRT) has started the process of getting the coastal regulation zone (CRZ) clearance from the ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) for the second phase of restoration of 300 acres of the ecologically-sensitive Adyar estuary. The agency is likely to send the application to the MoEF in a week.

Following high court directions in 2006, Tamil Nadu Urban Infrastructure Financial Services Limited came up with the master plan for the creek and estuary. "As there is a specific court order to restore of the ecology of wetlands, CRRT is in the process of sending a proposal for CRZ clearance. We will file the papers in a week," government sources said. This will be subject to the approval of the state government. Read more

Source : articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Noida farmers end agitation over land acquisition

A day after the government released the draft Land Acquisition Bill, the Kisan Sangharsh Samiti has decided to suspend its agitation against land acquisition for the urban infrastructure project for three months, till the bill gets passed.

The draft Land Acquisition Bill, released on Friday, seeks to enhance compensation for landowners, even as the government would cease buying land for private projects. The bill also aims at ensuring rehabilitation of those displaced. Read more

Source : domain-b.com

Project to improve urban infrastructure at Hyderabad

HYDERABAD: Chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy has directed officials to work out project-wise details, financial commitments and capacity of each urban local body to implement the Andhra Pradesh Municipal Development Project, which will be aided by the World Bank. The project, to be completed by December 31, 2015, will look to improve basic urban infrastructure at the urban local body level. The chief minister along with minister for Municipal and Urban Administration on Friday reviewed the project details with officials at the Secretariat. The total cost is $350 million (`1,670 crore), with World Bank providing $300 million (`1,432 crore), the state government- $19.4 million (`93 crore) and the local bodies- $30.6 million (`146 crore).

The project will help to increase provision of basic services like water supply and sewerage, greater accountability of ULBs to citizens, positive impact of social inclusion by responses under citizen’s charters, improving accountability of the ULB management, increasing capital expenditure as proportion of total expenditure and increased tax and revenue collections. Read more

Source : ibnlive.in.com

Capital connect

BHUBANESWAR: It is focus Jatni now for developers of Bhubaneswar. As the first step towards it, the government has decided to augment the road network to this town. There will be four roads. These will come up between Dhauli and Jatni, Lingaraj Station and Jatni, Pipli and Jatni and a road running along the banks of River Daya touching the Pipli-Jatni road.

The town, about 25 km from here, is emerging as the epicentre of development. While the new campuses of Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) and NISER (National Institute of Science Education and Research) are coming up near Jatni, the state government has identified over 2,000 acres of land for the new airport, around 10 km from Jatni. Besides, the International Institute of Information Technology (IIIT) and second infocity are close to Jatni. Read more

Source : timesofindia.indiatimes.com

High-tension wires to be shifted to make way for electricity poles at Gurgaon

GURGAON: The Haryana Urban Development Authority has finally decided to install electricity poles on the 3 km stretch between Sector 5 and 23 in Gurgaon.

At present, the road does not have electricity poles because the high tension wires on both sides of the street have left no space for the installation of the electricity poles. Read more

 

Source : timesofindia.indiatimes.com

SCA projects likely to be affected with failure of state govt to furnish DPR in time

IMPHAL : There is a high possibility of delay in the implementation of Special Central Assistance (SCA) funded projects in the state for the current financial year 2011-12, due to alleged failure of the department concerns to furnish the Detail Project Reports (DPRs) of various projects in time to the Planning Commission of India through the state planning commission.

A highly placed official source has mentioned that projects earmarked under SCA funding include Manipur Sericuture project Phase-II amounting to Rs 10.12 crore, upgradation of various roads in both hill and valley districts to promote connectivity under the state works department amounting to Rs 200.89 crore, maintenance of equipments of district hospital Thoubal, construction of district hospital for Imphal east and Imphal west and Bishnupur district under the health department with a total amount of Rs.28.11 crore. Read more

Source : kanglaonline.com

IIM-Udaipur's first session begins

UDAIPUR: The much-awaited dream of the City of Lakes was fulfilled on Saturday with the introduction of the first batch of Indian Institute of Management, Udaipur, at Mohan Lal Sukhadia University (MLSU) auditorium.

Union surface transport minister C P Joshi, state technical education minister Mahenderjeet Singh Malaviya, C K Birla, chairman board of directors IIM-U, attended the programme. Chief minister Ashok Gehlot could not attend because of ill-health. Read more

Source : timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Green building initiative at PCMC

Pune: The Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) launched its 'Green Building Initiative' on Saturday. The initiative was inaugurated by PCMC commissioner, Ashish Sharma and mayor, Yogesh Behl at the Auto Cluster, Chinchwad.

On the occasion, Behl said buildings had a major impact on the environment in terms of depletion of natural resources due to building materials, enormous energy consumption and wastage of water during and after construction and pollution of urban air. Thus emerged the need for green buildings to benefit the environment and to provide a better place for the occupants to live and work in. Read more

Source : daily.bhaskar.com

‘22 New Tourist Destinations Coming Up in Kashmir’

Srinagar - Maintaining that geo-climatic conditions of Jammu and Kashmir are best suited for conventional tourism, the Minister for Tourism and Culture Mr. Nawang Rigzin Jora called for focused attention towards the sector. He said state has three distinct regions offering varied climatic conditions where the convention tourism can be promoted as round the year activity.

This was stated by the Minister while addressing to the ‘Interactive Session’ with the board members of Indian Convention Promotion Bureau and Tour and Travel Organizations of Kashmir for holding national and international meetings, conferences and events in valley. The one-day interactive session was organized by the SKICC management. Read more

Source : kashmirobserver.net

BBMP gets entangled in tele cables

Bangalore: The Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has been planning to take action against telecom companies that have dug up roads illegally to lay optical fibre cables (OFCs). But with telecom companies allegedly lobbying with the Urban Development Department, it looks like their hands are tied for now. Chief secretary SV Ranganath has directed the BBMP not to take action against the companies till a committee chaired by the additional chief secretary and urban development rules on the issue.

The matter came up recently during a BBMP council meet when Yediyur corporator NR Ramesh furnished documents which noted that of the 13 telecom service companies, many had laid cables flouting permit norms. Precisely, they laid 10 times the permitted level. Read more

Source : daily.bhaskar.com

Domlur bus stand: The new-age bus terminal

BANGALORE: From the looks of it, seems like the new bus terminals that are being constructed across the city could give some of the malls a run for their money. The fancy glass facade along with the use of bright colours seems inviting enough.

When compared to the earlier drab bus terminals in the city these swanky new terminals seem to have a lot of potential. Speaking with City Express, chief traffic manager, Prabhu Das said that the motive behind constructing such terminals was to give the commuter better facilities and amenities. Read more

Source : ibnlive.in.com

WWF's programme to sensitize youth about value of forests launched

SHIMLA: With a view to sensitize school-going kids and college youths regarding relevance and value of forests and to create a resonance about it amongst city dwellers, chief justice of HP high court, Kurian Joseph launched the "Cities for forests programme" of the World Wide fund (WWF) India at the Bishop Cotton School, on Saturday coinciding with its launch in 20 other cities in the country.

State director of WWF-India Vandana Thaplyal said, "2011 has been declared as the International Year of Forests by the UN with an aim to raise awareness towards conservation of forests and strengthen efforts for their sustainable management.The "Cities for forest programme" is being launched with an aim to foster youths as agents of change and the campaign is a platform for urban youth to express their concern about disappearing urban forests and take action towards their conservation and maintenance." Read more

Source : timesofindia.indiatimes.com

In new india, all roads lead to the city

New Delhi : “All cities are mad:  but the madness is gallant. All cities are beautiful: but the beauty is grim.” — Author Christopher Morley in Where the Blue Begins

India is headed towards a collision of madness and beauty. Provisional 2011 census figures show that more people, especially in southern states, are moving to towns and cities. Almost 1 in every 3 Indians now lives in an urban centre. As more cities arise, however, the situation could become grim.

The increase in the share of people living in urban areas is the fastest since the decade of 1971-81, when it rose 3.43 %. In the decade ended 1991, the rise in the share of urban population decelerated to 2.37% and to 2.10% in the following decade. It picked up sharply to 3.35% in the last decade. Read more

Source: hindustantimes.com

Pretty dough-eyed

When Tulsi Khemka of Bangalore says her salary has shot up 20 times in the last five years, she's just stating a fact - with a little trace of pride but no boast, really. The 30-year-old senior executive in a multinational retail company is on a roll, like the growing horde of women in India with more earning power and wider disposable incomes than ever before.

And it's only getting better. A June 2011 Nielsen study, 'Women of Tomorrow', says that working women's contribution to family income is expected to increase. Other surveys have found that average incomes of urban Indian women have doubled in the last decade. In some cases, the rise has been phenomenal. So when Priya Marwah, associate director with a leading headhunting firm and with a monthly income of Rs 2-4 lakh, says she has invested Rs 3 crore in a luxury apartment in Gurgaon, you know it's a fast-changing world out there with social, political, cultural and familial dynamics being constantly overhauled, sometimes slowly, but always constantly. "I work hard and live well," says Marwah, mirroring this new-found confidence. "I am positive I'll be the CEO of a company one day." Read more

Source : timesofindia.indiatimes.com

RAY of hope, bulldozer balm in sight for Jharkhand

New Delhi : The Union government has assured Jharkhand that it has taken up its case on tackling slums and encroachments on PSU and other central agencies’ land, possibly offering a way out for the Arjun Munda government that has been politically pilloried for going ahead with a court mandated eviction drive.

At a state ministers conference on the Rajiv Awas Yojana (RAY) housing scheme for urban poor in New Delhi today, Union housing and urban poverty alleviation and culture minister Kumari Selja had something specific to offer Jharkhand even though deputy chief minister Hemant Soren – also urban development minister – nor department secretary Nitin Madan Kulkarni turned up. Read more

 

The recent protest against the anti-encroachment drive at HEC. File picture

Source : telegraphindia.com

NHAI project to fetch Rs 32,000cr premium

NEW DELHI: The government has got itself a Rs 32,000-crore bonanza from the award of the largest-ever highway contract.

During a bidding process on Friday, GMR Infrastructure quoted the premium for the 555-km Kishangarh-Udaipur-Ahmedabad highway stretch that is expected to cost around Rs 5,500 crore. While the highway would be upgraded into a six-lane stretch over the next three-four years, GMR would pay the premium to National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) over the 26-year concession period. Read more

Source : timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Guidelines for model footpaths in Chennai getting ready

CHENNAI : Junction boxes and garbage bins will be allotted proper space

The Highways Department is formulating guidelines for creating model footpaths on arterials roads in the city under its control, including Jawaharlal Nehru Salai, popularly known as 100 Feet Road and Anna Salai.

The focus of the exercise is to ensure that utilities such as junction boxes, garbage bins and streetlights are allotted proper space to make the pavements safe and comfortable for pedestrians. Read more

Source : thehindu.com

Divorces soar in Mumbai as stress takes a toll on couples

Mumbai : “Family court, family court, family court,” shout the auto-rickshaw drivers lined outside Kurla (west) station. Many of the rickshaws are headed to the family court and are not interested in going to other destinations.

They do not have to wait for long as they easily get three to four grim-looking individuals headed for the court every few minutes.

Outside the Bandra family court, the scene is chaotic. Lawyers and their agents keep approaching visitors, offering to represent them in court. Hawkers, auto- and taxi drivers, and scores of onlookers hang outside the premises. Read more

Source : khaleejtimes.com

Census data shows rapid urbanisation of West Bengal

KOLKATA : That a considerable section of West Bengal's population is increasingly opting for the non-agricultural way of life resulting in rapid urbanisation in each of the 19 districts of the State is substantiated by provisional data of Census 2011 released by the State's Directorate of Census Operations here.

The data shows that since 2001 there has been a huge increase in urban centres across the State against a decline in the number of villages. Read more

Source : thehindu.com

Prescriptions for OTC med a double-edged sword

NAGPUR: The Superbug controversy that arose last year has made the government take a tough stand against sale of antibiotics in the country. They have now introduced a new category of schedule drugs that will make some common medicines like Penicillin, cough syrups, sleeping tablets, Paracetamol and Soframycin prescription drugs. Chemists welcome this step, yet worry about the practical implementation and implications of this amendment.

The schedule HX of the Drugs & Cosmetics Act bans the over-the-counter sale of many antibiotics, while restricting the availability of few others with tertiary hospitals. Those who wish to buy these medicines can do so only after getting two prescriptions for it from a registered medical practitioner. One of these is to be kept by the patients, while the other copy of the prescription has to be retained by the chemist for two years. Read more

Source : articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Yerawada hospital may start PG course in mental health

PUNE: Yerawada Mental Hospital, Pune, and Government Medical College, Latur, have been shortlisted for starting post-graduate (PG) courses in mental health under the National Mental Health Programme (NMHP) of the Union government.

Speaking to TOI on Friday, S B Nadoni, senior regional director, regional office for health and family welfare, Government of India, said, "We will soon inspect both the institutes to take stock and assess their existing infrastructure and resources to start the PG course." Read more

Source : articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com

CM convenes meet on Monday

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With the Chief Minister making a timely intervention, the City Corporation has temporarily dropped its idea to allow transportation of garbage vehicles to Vilappilsala waste treatment plant during daytime. The CM has called a high-level meeting on the Vilappilsala issue on August 1. Whether or not to stop night plying of vehicles and allow daytime transportation would be decided only after the meeting, the Mayor said.

It was during the period of the last Council that the local people in Vilappilsala and nearby areas had risen in protest against the passage of stinking vehicles through the streets during daytime. The Ombudsman for Local Self-Government Institutions, in an order, had then asked the Corporation to stop the routine and reschedule its timings. Following which, Corporation vehicles collected garbage by afternoon and lay idle in some open grounds (inviting protests from there too) till nighttime to dump the garbage at Vilappilsala. Read more

Source : ibnlive.in.com 

Are we heading into knee-deep trouble in Chennai?

CHENNAI: Monsoon days are fast approaching and Chennaiites are gearing up for flood days. The corporation, which failed to speed up drain works taken up under the Centre's flagship programme, JNNURM, is equally unsuccessful in wooing contractors to take up cleaning of drains in several areas. Reason: The contractors are reluctant to participate citing low estimates.

The city has a drain network for about 950 km, out of 2,800 km of roads in ten zones. The local body engages contractors to clean up drains during the months of July and August. The drains are used as dumps by residents during sunny days, leading to chock-a-block sewers during the rains. Illegal sewer connections from houses too add to the mess. Read more

Source : timesofindia.indiatimes.com

PMC gets jitters from ‘most-favourite’ firm

M B Patil Construction, which failed to complete culvert work on time, files case against civic body. PMC has no record to submit its say in high court

Pune : Pune Municipal Corporation's (PMC) most sought-after construction firm, which is executing various development works worth Rs 635 crore in the city, has now become a headache for the civic body.

The firm - M B Patil Construction - was allotted a culvert work of Rs 4.45 crore on the Mundwa Bypass-Infotech Park, Kharadi to Ahmednagar Road but it failed to complete the work within the stipulated time. And when the PMC forfeited its security deposited and decided to allot the work to another contractor, it was found that the construction company's file has gone missing mysteriously. Read more

Source : punemirror.in

Chennai Mayor orders re-tender for canal project

CHENNAI: Upon complaints of slow progress in upgrading Captain Cotton canal in north Chennai, mayor M Subramanian on Thursday ordered the civic administration to terminate the contract with a private firm and float a new tender. The project costing 57 crore is partially funded by the centre's flagship programme, JNNURM.

In order to alleviate flooding in the city, corporation and public works department have prepared a comprehensive programme in 2009. With the support of JNNURM, the local body floated tenders in 12 packages to improve micro and macro drains in the city, which are estimated to cost 814 crore to the exchequer. Read more

Source : articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Chennai corporation's move to dig roads to hit traffic

CHENNAI: Tough times are ahead for road users in the city with the traffic police giving a nod to Chennai Corporation's plans to dig up over 30 major roads for the construction of storm water drains.

But police say they have a plan to ensure the smooth flow of traffic. "Alternate routes near the work sites will be identified. If a long stretch is taken, the works will be allowed in a phased manner," additional commissioner of police (traffic) Sanjay Arora said. Heavy machineries, such as concrete mixers, will be allowed only at night, he said. Read more

Source : articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Don’t allow UID centres at offices of political parties: IT

Mumbai : Acting against unauthorised Unique Identification (UID) registration centres operating from offices of political parties in the city, the state government recently issued a circular outlining the rules which need to be followed for operating these centres. In a circular issued on July 20, the state information technology (IT) department has asked the municipal corporations, councils and collectors to issue prior permission to all the UID enrolment agencies in their jurisdiction for continuing UID registration.

Private enrolment agencies were roped in by the Unique Identification Authority of India to complete the registration process. Some political parties too started running registration centers at their offices. Read more

Source : hindustantimes.com

Dial 100: riskiest lottery in Kolkata town - Mismatch between police jurisdiction and phone exchange hits emergency calls

Calcutta : The tragedy at Bidhan Nivas has nailed a myth that told generations of Calcuttans to dial 100 when in trouble.

An investigation by The Telegraph suggests that the trust-inducing three digits are largely a gateway to a communication merry-go-round for those living on the so-called “fringes” of Calcutta police’s territory. Read more

 

 

 

 

No more a safe place, says son who lost his mother

Source : telegraphindia.com

Citizen database work lacks coordination

Chandigarh : In what clearly amounts to duplication, two government agencies are planning to create separate citizen databases including biometrics of the state's entire population in Haryana without any coordination. The food and supplies department of the Haryana government and the census department, Registrar General of India (RGI), have decided to undertake huge data collection work separately for their own databanks. The databases being prepared by the two government agencies will be almost identical with both gathering similar information. Besides, they will use the state machinery for data collection exercise.

The food and supplies department, which is collecting the biometrics and other data under the Centrally-funded project for replacement of paper-based ration cards with smart cards, has already launched its exercise in Ambala, Gharaunda (Karnal), Sonepat and Sirsa blocks of the state. It is collecting composite biometrics for fingerprint, face and iris recognition and 'know your resident+' (KYR+) information for the "state database" to be created by information technology department of the Haryana government. Read more

Source : hindustantimes.com

India to block gender test websites to curb female foeticide – report

NEW DELHI (TrustLaw) – India is planning to block websites which offer parents illegal gender tests for their unborn babies in an effort to curb the practice of female foeticide, the Indian Express reported on Friday.

Up to 12 million girls have been aborted over the last three decades by parents who tended to be wealthy and educated, researchers from the Toronto-based Centre for Global Health Research said in a study published in the Lancet. Read more

Source : trust.org

Rail safety is badly off track

Indian Railways has been slow to implement the technology to make journeys safer

The recent accident at Fatehpur when the Howrah-Kalka mail derailed highlights once again the urgent need to look at suitable alternatives to improve railroad safety in India. The number of people killed on the tracks and through other railroad accidents has steadily increased over the years and accounts for about eight per cent of accidental deaths. In 2010 alone, of the 50 major railroad accidents worldwide 14 were in India. Although the Railway Vision 2020 of the Indian Railways unequivocally points to making railway operations accident-free through the use of advanced technologies, progress on this front has lagged intention.

Communication plays a very important role for the safe day-to-day operations of rail systems to prevent or to minimise the effect of all types of railroad accidents from sabotage, unmanned railroad crossings and derailments. But thanks to political ploys, important technology interventions to upgrade the communication and signalling systems and eliminate rail accidents as set out in the vision document is still to make visible marks in India. Read more

Source : business-standard.com

HUDA plans new housing scheme, likely in August

Panchkula : Six years after having floated a housing scheme in 2005, Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) is planning a new housing scheme in Panchkula in August.

Perhaps, last of the scheme from the development authority, officials are busy digging out details about unallotted plots in all the sectors of Panchkula Urban Estate. Read more

Source : expressindia.com

‘Ground reality remains the same’ in Panchkula

PANCHKULA: The claims of Panchkula municipal council and Haryana Urban Development Authority (Huda) to tackle the problem of waterlogging in the city have fallen flat again.

Prabhat Mishra, a resident of Sector 11, said, ''It just required a short spell of rain to reflect the working of civic authorities. The situation will definitely worsen if it pours for a long time." Read more

Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com

HC flak for Haryana for not launching eco cabs

Chandigarh : Irked over non-filing of a response with regard to the steps taken for the launch of eco cabs, the Punjab and Haryana High Court on Friday directed the director of Haryana urban bodies department to be present before the court on the next date of hearing.

A division bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and Ajay Tewari observed that the state’s response was not too serious towards the issue. The directions were passed during the resumed hearing of a PIL arising out of a suo motu notice taken by the high court on a news item published in The Indian Express. Read more 

Source : indianexpress.com

India Plans Better Housing Facilities for Urban Poor

New Delhi : With an estimated 95 million people expected to be living in shanties by next year, the government has drawn up an "ambitious", but "achievable" scheme to transform the urban landscape of the country by providing affordable houses and better amenities for the urban poor.

"Rajiv Awas Yojana, which is called RAY, has the potential to radically transform the urban landscape of India and the living conditions of the urban poor," said Minister of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation Selja here Saturday while inaugurating the state minister's conference on RAY. Read more

Source : daijiworld.com

NHAI raps MCG, HUDA for Hero Honda Chowk mess

GURGAON: The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has written letters to the Municipal Corporation of Gurgaon (MCG) and the Haryana Urban Development Authority ( HUDA)) complaining against the severe damage being caused to the stretch of highway near Hero Honda Chowk due to perpetual waterlogging.

The authority has asked the two agencies to take preventive measures to ensure that the condition of the road does not deteriorate further. The NHAI made it clear it does not want to incur huge expenditure due to repair of the road. Read more

Source : timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Plan to upgrade national parks

Guwahati : Top officials from the ministry of environment and forests will be coming to Assam on Sunday to prepare a follow-up plan to implement the directives of the World Heritage Committee on Manas and Kaziranga.

A source said additional director-general of forests (wildlife), ministry of environment and forests, Jagdish Kishwan would attend the meeting, along with officials from the Wildlife Institute of India and state forest department. Read more

Source : telegraphindia.com

Delhi Zoo zooms in on green cover

With many trees in the Delhi Zoo decaying, authorities have come up with a new plan to keep the green cover intact. Zoo officials have conducted a survey of the flora, and decided that new trees must replace decaying ones. The future plan of action also includes re-introducing the concept of dividing the zoo into four zones — African, American, Asian and Australian — placing the flora and fauna accordingly. While the move is appreciated, experts feel other steps need to be taken in order to rope in youngsters to take up the cause of animal rights.

“It is a common and sad sight to see animals so extremely frustrated by confinement that they engage in obsessive and repetitive stereotypic behaviours: constant pacing, swaying, and head bobbing,” says Poorna Poorva Joshipura, chief functionary PETA India. Read more

Source : asianage.com

Bhubaneswar city on Centre's solar energy project map

BHUBANESWAR: The Centre will develop Bhubaneswar as a solar city for promotion of renewable energy and its usage. Bhubaneswar is among 60 cities identified for it in the country.

The entire cost of the Rs 37.37 lakh project would be borne by the Union ministry of new and renewable energy (MNRE). It recently launched the nationwide programme on the development of solar cities to support urban local bodies in guiding their cities towards becoming 'renewable' energy cities. Read more

Source : timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Population of Sikkim touches the mark of 6, 07,688 lakhs

The Director of Census Operation, Sikkim has released its paper on the Census of India 2011 carried out in State on 9th to 28th of February 2011and the book was released at ICAR Auditorium hall, Daragaon which was chaired by the Joint Director Directorate of Census operation cum in charge of Assam and Sikkim State Dr. Dilip Kumar Dey along with Director PIB and Deputy Director of Director of Census Operation, Sikkim Mr. MK Dorjee.

The released paper -2, volume 2 of Census 2011 carries the provisional population total of rural and urban distribution of state and the said facts and the data collected are through the enumerators abstracts based on three parameters namely total Population, population 0-6yrs,and literates by residence and sex. Read more

Source : isikkim.com 

Brace up for a surge in your electricity bill in Kolkata

KOLKATA: Brace up for a massive surge in the monthly electricity bill. With coal prices hitting the roof, power utility CESC has applied for a tariff hike of 34 paise per unit before the state electricity regulatory commission (SERC).

This is the second hike this year following the 46 paise hike that it undertook in May (effective since April 1) as part of the monthly variable cost adjustment ( MVCA) mechanism that allows power utilities to recover fuel cost hike on a monthly basis and then file for reconciliation during the annual tariff hike application before SERC. Read more

Source : articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Manesar is more than New Gurgaon

Manesar is one of the fastest growing industrial hubs and has become increasingly popular after the recent developments in the Greater Noida area. As a part of the National Capital Region (NCR), it has undergone a transformation from a sleepy village to one of the fastest growing townships in the country. It is seen as an area with great potential, second only to the rapidly developing Gurgaon. It is also acquiring an identity as the "New Gurgaon" and some developers are marketing their projects by that name.

Its location confers distinct advantages. Delhi's IGI Airport is 32 kilometres away and the NH-8 runs through the town, making it well connected with both Delhi and Jaipur. It is also home to some of the best urban infrastructure that can be found in northern India with many factories, offices, hotels and educational institutes situated there. Read more

Source : indianexpress.com

'Bring changes in higher education'

JAIPUR: Senior Congress leader and Union minister of Road Transport and Highways, C P Joshi drew the attention of HRD minister Kapil Sibal for public private partnership in higher education. He hinted Sibal (without naming him) for bringing fundamental changes in the higher education system to bring it in consonance with the need of the time.  

He was addressing a meet of 40 vice-chancellors from different universities on the first day of a two-day West Zone Vice-Chancellors' Conference at the City Palace hotel in Udaipur. The conference is being organised by Mohanlal Sukhadia University, Udaipur in collaboration with Association of Indian   Universities, New Delhi.  Read more

Source : timesofindia.indiatimes.com

New land acquisition law could affect infra work in MMR

Mumbai : Though the national land acquisition and rehabilitation and resettlement bill is still in the drafting stage, its imminent clearance in the Centre could affect the infrastructure projects in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR). The bill at a time when the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) and Public Works Department (PWD) are considering huge land intensive projects for the city has set the alarm bells ringing.

Expressing reservation over the proposed law, the real estate industry has contended that the bill in its current form would only serve to derail the development process, especially in infrastructure and township projects. Restrictions on the acquisition of fertile land, land for private companies and private purposes are the sore points for the developers. The experts say it could result in an increase in prices but it will be too early to comment on the same. Read more

Source : hindustantimes.com

Rise in migration from rural areas of Bihar

PATNA: Rural Bihar's mind is on the state's urbanscape that encompasses 139 statutory towns and 60 census or non-statutory towns. As a result, the state's rural population has decreased over the last one decade, resulting in a rise of the urban population.

The Provisional Population Totals pertaining to the 2011 census, which were released on Friday, show that a significant segment of the state's rural population has not only been migrating to metros and towns outside Bihar, but also to big, medium and small towns within the state. Read more

Source : timesofindia.indiatimes.com