PUNE, DECEMBER 12, 2015 | www.thegoldensparrow.com
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THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY DECEMBER 12, 2015
PUNE
MUMBAI Unruly parking compounds the chaos at Swargate P 13
“We have constructed more wells in one year than the previous government, more than 800 tankers are being sent to the drought-affected areas daily and largescale works are being carried out under Jal Yukt Shivar programme.” —Devendra Fadnavis, Chief Minister
Mumbai police ANC officers find that South African foreigners marry local girls to win citizens’ confidence BY SANTOSHEE GULABKALI MISHRA @santosheemishra
Mumbai police’s Anti-Narcotic Cell (ANC) has recently learnt that Nigerian nationals have started learning Marathi to flourish in their drug peddling business in the city. The language was a barrier during their interaction with ‘middlemen’. A senior ANC officer said that these drug peddlers speak English and their native language Igbo and authorities needed a translator to
interrogate the arrested culprits. “Each case has a unique modus operandi. Learning the language has helped them socialise with the locals and camouflage their identities. Some have even married local girls to gain citizens’ confidence. Recently, we arrested one Nigerian national Mensa Paras from Pune for drug smuggling. The arrested accused was smuggling drugs concealed in book covers through a courier company in Goregaon. The company alerted us and we nabbed his accomplice in Pune only to find that he was speaking fluent Marathi. For a moment we could not believe his nationality. These foreign nationals are even communicating with each other in Hindi,” said ANC Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Vilas Shinde. The senior officer said that the accused was in garment business and was arrested under Narcotic Drugs and
FOR REPRESENTATIONAL PURPOSE
Nigerian peddlers now speak Marathi to strike deals
Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985. Mumbai police in 2015 have handled 17,000 cases and arrested 36 Nigerians in the city. Nigerians visit city on medical or business visas. Many stay in small pockets like Mira Road, Diva near Thane and Kopar Khairane in Navi Mumbai. Drugs worth Rs 9 crore have been seized this year and
250 peddlers have been booked under NDPS Act. Over 17,000 people were booked for consumption of banned substances and 20 per cent were women. “Our ANC police officials always keep a close tab on these areas and have found that these Nigerians have started socialising with locals in crowded areas. Knowing Marathi helps them understand the situations around and it’s easy for them to come in contact with local drug peddlers and crack deals. They learn the languages with local people or thorough translation books available online or book stores,” said ANC Deputy Commissioner of Police Jayant Naiknavare. Three Nigerians were deported in 2015 as against 14 last year. Nigerian peddlers deal in heroine, cocaine, morphine, brown sugar and chemical drugs like meow-meow. santosheemishra@gmail.com
Food chain mired in Don’s property sale
‘We are not afraid of Dawood’
Delhi Zaika owner writes to authorities to dissociate his outlet from benami property auction TGS NEWS SERVICE @TGSWeekly
Even as the Mumbai office of Smuggling and Foreign Exchange Manipulators Act of 1976 (SAFEMA) has put the property of India’s most wanted Dawood Ibrahim in Mumbai on auction, a hotelier who was associated with the property is finding his brand facing disgrace. Dawood’s property admeasuring 45.16 sq m and located at Pakmodia Street, Bhendi Bazaar was auctioned at Hotel Diplomat on Marine Drive on Wednesday. Aamir Zulfikar Siddiqui, the owner of Delhi Zaika that was running on the said property, has written to the Mumbai office of SAFEMA to remove the Delhi Zaika signboard and return furniture, utensils worth Rs 4 lakh to him. The letter states that restaurant Delhi Zaika is their business and they had just used the property. “The place was only rented to us from 2010 till 2013 and the auction is of Hotel Ronak Afroz only and not of our business,” reads Siddiqui’s letter to
the authorities. “This was our second restaurant in Pakmodia Street after our first venture in Kurla. As the name Delhi Zaika suggests, we specialise in Delhi cuisine and have dedicated patrons. We had approached a real estate agent from Nagpada who suggested this property as a hotel on this place was running into loss. I made an agreement with Dawood’s brother Iqbal Kaskar on a monthly rent of Rs 17,500 and Rs 1 lakh deposit. The property was seized
in 2013 and our furniture and kitchen utensils also were confiscated,” Aamir said. Meanwhile, the property went to former journalist S Balakrishnan for Rs.4.28 crore. He paid Rs 40 lakh as the initial amount and said that he would raise the remaining amount by appealing to people as he plans to run an NGO at the property. The bidding for this structure began at Rs 1,18,63,000 before it was bought by Balakrishnan’s Desh Seva Samiti. tgs.feedback@goldensparrow.com
A 2000 model green Hyundai Accent Sedan Amazon used by underworld don Dawood Ibrahim found a unique bidder. Hindu Mahasabha President Swami Chakrapani took part in the auction of the car (MH04-AX-3676) that Swami Chakrapani was parked at a government society in Ghatkopar for past four years. The bidding began at Rs 15,700. The Hindu leader wanted to send a strong message across that the common man is not afraid of the fugitive Mumbai mafia don “Several cases have cropped up of underworld don threatening journalists and others. I will use the car for my ‘gauraksha’ programme. I want to give message that Hindus do not fear Dawood. I plan to remodel the car into ambulance and use it for free for people belonging to all religious communities,” said Chakrapani, who finally bought the don’s car for Rs 32,000. “I will burn down the car if it is found in a dilapidated state,” he said.
Salman Khan acquitted by HC in hit-and-run case TGS NEWS SERVICE @TGSWeekly
Bollywood superstar Salman Khan can breathe a sigh of relief, at least for now. Bombay High Court on Thursday has acquitted the actor of all charges in the 2002 hit-and-run case. The accident that took place on September 28, 2002, allegedly left one pavement dweller dead and four others injured. Justice AR Joshi, who was hearing the actor’s appeal in HC said, “The order of Sessions Court has been set aside and the accused Salman Khan is acquitted of all charges.” The court added “On the basis of evidences produced by the prosecution, (Salman Khan) cannot be convicted, no matter how differently the common man thinks.” The court also said that it is also not proved that he was drunk and driving. Public prosecutor Sandeep Shinde said, “We will appeal in the Supreme Court.” Mumbai Police spokesperson DCP Dhananjay Kulkarni said that they will take further steps after studying the copy of court order. In May 2015, Additional Sessions Judge DW Deshpande had found Salman Khan guilty on several counts. In the judgement delivered on May 6, the actor was sentenced to suffer rigorous imprisonment for five years and to pay fine of Rs 25,000 on charge of culpable homicide not amounting to murder. He was also found guilt under Section 338 (Causing grievous hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others) of the IPC and sentenced to suffer simple imprisonment for one year
and to pay fine of Rs 500. The judge found him guilty under Section 337 (Causing hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others) of the IPC and sentenced him to suffer simple imprisonment for three months and to pay fine of Rs 500. Salman was also convicted under Section 134 (Duty of driver in case of accident and injury to a person) of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, and sentenced to suffer simple imprisonment for two months and to pay fine of Rs 500. Moreover, he was sentenced to imprisonment of six months and two months for charges under Sections 185 (drunken driving) and 3(1) (not holding a valid driving licence) of the MVA respectively. All the sentences were to run concurrently. After the verdict by the Sessions Court, the actor had approached Bombay High Court. HC suspended his sentence pending his appeal. tgs.feedback@goldensparrow.com
Mumbai, Bengaluru Oxygen cylinder blast claims infant’s life lead office stock Mumbai and Bengaluru are expected to lead the country in terms of total operational Grade-A office stock of 100 million sqft and about 93 million sqft, respectively, by the end of 2015, according to a study. Strong demand from IT occupiers for relatively larger spaces is helping Bengaluru to build more, which will gradually narrow down the gap in operational stock of both these cities, the study said. The study titled ‘Housing for All: Catalyst for development & inclusive growth,’ was conducted by The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry (ASSOCHAM) jointly with property advisory firm JLL. Amid tier-II cities, Pune is expected to lead the market in constructing new office spaces thereby adding about 45 million sqft space, it said. According to the study, the total stock of Grade-A office space across top seven cities is likely to settle at 440 million sqft by end-2015. Robust take-up of about 31 million sqft is projected for 2015 while a total of about 34 million sqft of office space is expected to become operational.
“Over the past few months, an improvement was seen in occupiers sentiment in commercial real estate”, said D S Rawat, secretary general of ASSOCHAM while releasing the findings of the study. “With a pro-business government at the Centre, the office sector is expected to see a lot more traction and various multi-national (MNC) occupiers and investors entering the country”, said Rawat. During the second half of 2015, an improvement in business sentiment will likely result in greater confidence and implementation of expansion plans will result in an increase in net absorption, the study said. . The study has forecast that 2015 will provide a window of opportunity for occupiers and investors as rents and capital values in most of micro-markets are at their cyclical bottom. Among tier-II cities, Pune is expected to see healthy demand in the medium term as few quality information technology (IT) special economic zones (SEZs) are in an advanced stage of construction with strong pre-commitments. PTI
Day-old baby pays with its life for negligence that caused blast in ambulance TGS NEWS SERVICE @TGSWeekly
The Thane Crime Branch registered a case of accidental death after a dayold baby boy died late Thursday night in the ambulance after a blast in the oxygen cylinder and injuring three persons, including Dr Bhavandeep Garg, Leeja Chacko and Dhiraj Jain, who are relatives of the baby. The authorities from Thane Civil hospital claim that the blast in the oxygen cylinder was due to continuous leakage which may have been neglected for a long time. Manish Mahindra Jain, 22, of Kalher in Bhiwandi taluka had shifted his day-old baby immediately after the baby developed health issues. Jain was married last year and this was his first child. Deputy Commissioner of Police, Zone 5, VB Chandanshive said that the baby was born prematurely. The statements of the hospital staff were recorded. “She delivered a baby boy in the eighth month. The baby had
breathing-related issues so it was brought to Vedant Hospital in Thane immediately. But its health was failing so the Jains decided to go to Surya Hospital in Santa Cruz,” said Chandanshive. A family friend, B K Jain said that they decided to take the baby to Surya Hospital as the infant’s condition was not improving and the hospital did not have adequate facilities and infrastructure. The Jain family went to Santa Cruz and the ambulance arrived in Thane along with a doctor and nurse. “We went to Surya Hospital and brought an ambulance. The baby was taken inside and the doctor put an oxygen mask on its face, when there was a spark and a huge blast,” said Jain. “There was a leak in the oxygen pipe. The Surya Hospital staff should have checked the apparatus in the ambulance. The leakage of oxygen set off a spark leading to the blast,” said a senior doctor from Thane Civil Hospital. “The blast and fire was so huge that another ambulance nearby also caught fire. The police is examining the ambulances in Vedant Hospital,” said an eye witness. The Jain family went to clear the hospital bill and it was lucky to survive. tgs.feedback@goldensparrow.com
Baby was shifted in an ambulance from one hospital to another when the vehicle caught fire due to oxygen cylinder blast
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PUNE, DECEMBER 12, 2015 | www.thegoldensparrow.com
PICS BY RAHUL RAUT & TEJAS GAIKWAD
They are RESPONSIBLE for CHAOS on PUNE ROADS Pune’s road-users are the epitome of nonchalant when it comes to offering explanations as to why they have broken some traff ic law or another See Spotlight, p06 & 07
Who will stop these ‘Mad Max’ school bus drivers? Reckless school bus drivers put children’s lives at great risk by driving on the wrong side of the national highway
VISHAL KALE
BY GARGI VERMA @missgverma Drivers of Blossoms Public School buses and other schools are taking undue risks and putting the lives of innocent school children and vehicle users on the PuneBangalore Highway in grave danger. While approaching from Pashan, these buses drive on the wrong side for several hundred metres. The school authorities feign complete ignorance, as their unscrupulous drivers are indulging in such hazardous antics. One can only imagine how chocked the parents of these school children would be were they to be made aware of the school bus drivers’ reckless demeanour. The 300-metre stretch between Pashan Exit and Renault Showroom is a service road which is extremely bumpy and rough and there are no exits for almost two kilometres. That is the reason school bus drivers are citing for driving on the wrong
side of the national highway. Now with the winter fog and smog, the dangers for school buses on the wrong side of the road are even greater with the reduced visibility amidst the heavy and fast-moving traffic. Besides the large number of buses and vans of Blossoms Public School, the drivers of Akshara International school and a Zilla Parishad School buses also resort to this risky enterprise, to avoid a long detour and save some time and fuel. And the early morning hours are more conducive to break traffic rules. Team TGS decided to monitor the deadly activity. Before sunrise, at 6:40 am, the PuneBangalore Highway, aka National Highway 4 is abuzz with heavy traffic. Buses, trucks and cars whiz past at high speeds. A bus bearing the registration number MH12BA0893 appears on the service road approaching from Pashan. Contd on p2 RAHUL RAUT
THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY DECEMBER 12, 2015
PUNE
“When Dahiphale was the education officer, there was a ban on the recruitment process by the government. But he used his power to appoint people illegally. This is gross violation of the government order.” — Matin Mujawar, Education activist
This chain-snatcher targets housing societies
Srinagar girls go on tour despite threat
P8
P10
Inmates burn mattresses, ransack shelter and escape
31-50 age group most at risk from swine flu
Women who escaped from shelter home, alleged that they were being served poor quality food; Home asked to explain BY YOGESH WAGH @ywagh1857 Nineteen of the 38 women who ransacked the Rescue Foundation shelter home at Wanowrie, before escaping on Monday, December 8, were captured by the Wanowrie Police station personnel and presented before the first class judicial magistrate court, Shivajinagar. They were charged with rioting. The police had asked for magistrate custody for the culprits, but their lawyer had pleaded for their release on bail. However, the presiding justice J S Kokate rejected the bail plea, and instead ordered that the 19 women be sent to the government observation home at Baramati. The judge also ordered the Rescue Foundation to respond within seven days to the women’s allegations regarding substandard quality of food, and that they were not allowed any communication with their families. These 38 Bangladeshi women who had been rescued from brothels in the city, were brought to the Rescue Foundation shelter home. On Monday evening, the women were agitated and demanding that they be set to free by the home authorities. They were in an aggressive mood, threatened and then attacked the security guard and other employees of the home with iron rods and sticks. They destroyed the office computers, the colour TV set, cabinets, furniture and broke the windows panes. They also threatened the other
Rescue Foundation shelter home superintendent Shiny V Padiyara said, “We run this house without government subsidy. We can accom mo d ate 40 women, but we usually have more than our Shiny V Padiyara capacity. We have asked for police protection and a limit on the number of inmates, but so far the state administration has not heeded our demands. The government observation house at Mundhwa has not been opened owing to the lack of a no objection certificate. It will be welcome if the government completes the formalities and opens the shelter.”
inmates of to join in and started to set the mattresses on fire. They threatened to burn down the home as well. The police were summoned by the home’s superintendent Shiny Padiyara, but the irate women were
the streets and eventually the police managed to take them back in custody in the Poolgate area. Wanowrie police station Inspector M R Pandit said, “The women were very aggressive and were wielding iron rods and sticks. We were unable to control them owing to there being just one woman constable with us. The agitated women threatened to commit suicide on the railway tracks, and even lay down on the roads in front of vehicles.” yogesh.wagh@goldensparrow.com
just as aggressive with the PSI and three constables including a woman constable, pelting stones at them. Eventually, they managed to break open the shelter home door and went out. They created a ruckus on
Woman, daughter fall into a manhole
TGS NEWS NETWORK @TGSWeekly A woman and her daughter fell into an open manhole
on a pavement along Gokhale Road near Garware Bridge in the Deccan Gymkhana area, on Wednesday afternoon. The woman and her daughter both sustained minor injuries. Manmad resident Neha Gujarati, 28, was walking towards Khandoji Baba Chowk with her four-year-old daughter, when she stepped on the broken lid of the manhole, which gave way and they both fell into the manhole. They were rescued by the passersby.
Gujarati said, “It was a scary experience but fortunately my daughter and I escaped with just a few bruises. It is surprising that manhole covers in such a busy area and not tended to by the corporation.” Residents and shopkeepers of the area said that the manhole cover has been broken for the past week but the civic authorities have not replaced it, but have adopted makeshift remedies like placing cement blocks on it.
Road Department Superintendent Engineer Rajendra Raut said, “We have conducted a survey and we are dealing with the manholes and storm water chambers. A number of manholes in the JM Road and Deccan area have been covered. Nearly 25 per cent of work on manholes in the city has been completed and the remaining work will be completed by the ward office and main department of the PMC.” tgs.feedback@goldensparrow.com
BY DNYANESHWAR BHONDE @dnyanesh1 People in the 41 to 50 age group seem to most susceptible to swine flu. Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) health department data shows that nearly 33 per cent, or 49 (25 male and 24 female) patients of 150 who had contracted swine flu have died since January 1. The people from the middle age are more at risk from swine flu than younger and older people. Nearly 150 patients have died of swine flu in PMC hospitals till December 10. Following the 41-50 age group, was the 31-40 age group with 34 deaths, then the 51-60 age group with 27 deaths, the 21-30 age group with 15 deaths, while the 61- 70 and above 71 groups had nine deaths each. The 1–10 and 11-20 age groups recorded three deaths each. Only one below one year old male child died of the disease. The PMC data shows that the 31 to 50 age group is most at risk, with 73 of 150 deaths. Swine influenza flu is an infection caused by any one of several types of H1N1 viruses. The virus was first detected in Pune in 2009. Since January 1 to December 8, 2015, 900 people lost their lives in the state, of which 150 deaths occurred in PMC limits. Of the 150 who succumbed at city hospitals, 49 were residents of Pune. The rest were from Pune rural (28), followed by Satara (18), Ahmednagar (15), PimpriChinchwad (8), and Baramati (7). The others were from adjacent districts of Pune. Three were from Gujarat, Bhopal and Karnataka. The PMC Health department re-
corded 1124 positive (infected) cases in its limits from January 1 to December. Nearly 210 patients were in the 21–30 age group, 224 in the 31-40 age group, and 220 in the 41-50 age group. Eleven were under one year of age, while 112 between 1 and 10 years, and 47 in the 11 to 20 age group. Among seniors, 78 were in the 61 to 70 age group, and 59 in the above 71 age group. Of 1124 cases in city limits, only 742 were residents of Pune, while 148 were from rural areas, 54 from PMCM, Ahmednagar (46), Satara (41), Solapur (13), Baramati (12) and Sangli (10), and 58 from other districts. Nearly 26 per cent (49) of positive patients (220) in the 41 to 50 age group succumbed to swine flu this year. Only eight per cent (15) of positive patients (210) in the 21-30 age group resisted the disease. Children and senior citizens are not at high risk. PMC health chief Dr Somnath Pardeshi said, “The 41-50 age group is high risk because of other ailments like blood pressure, asthma and obesity are common among them.” The 21-30 age group gets infected but their immune power is greater so they recover quickly. Dr Avinash Bhondwe, senior physician and state vice president of IMA, said, “The 31 to 50 age group is most susceptible because they are suffering from cancer or diabetes, which reduce their immunity. The infection creates more complication. The best way to combat it is to undergo regular vaccination. People should get vaccinated regularly. The vaccine, available at Rs 400, takes 2-3 weeks to take effect.” dnyaneshwar.bhonde@goldensparrow.com
Ruby records most swine flu deaths Ruby Hall Clinic, Pune’s prominent hospital, recorded 37 swine flu deaths, the highest among city hospitals. KEM Hospital, Rasta Peth recorded 23 deaths, Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital, Erandwane recorded 22 deaths, Poona Hospital, Navi Peth recorded 17 deaths and Noble Hospital, Hadapsar recorded 13 deaths. The remaining 28 deaths occurred at 12 other hospitals. Nearly 73 per cent of the deaths occurred at five hospitals.
Who will stop these ‘Mad Max’ school bus drivers? PICS RAHUL RAUT
Contd from p1 As it gets close, one can read the Blossoms Public School sign. Crammed full with school children, it makes a couple of stops, and when it reaches a small break on the service road, the bus swerves on to the wrong side of the Highway, maintaining its speed, unmindful of the oncoming traffic, the driver honking at full blast to clear the way. It is followed by two other school vans, replaying the same scary maneuver. At 07:00 am, more school buses appear. The Akshara International (MH12BZ1727) and Zilla Parishad (MH14BA3595) school buses whiz past us with their cargo of school children. The Zilla Parishad bus makes a u-turn, but the Akshara bus continues on the wrong side till it reaches another part of service road, and goes on for nearly 7.5 km, before entering the school. Blossoms’ vans and buses also join the service road after going 250-300 metres on the Highway and continue for eight km on the service road before entering the school premises. T h e Blossoms School nursery classes Narayan Shinde begin at 09:00 am. The buses
enter the no entry zone and travel on the wrong side, again at 8:30 am,
at even higher speeds. There is much more traffic now, but the drivers of
buses MH14BA8948 and MH12BA 1828, honk up a storm as they make their way through oncoming traffic. It’s another matter that there is the risk that a fast-moving heavy vehicle will not see the school bus until it’s too late to slow down and avert a collision. The callous drivers are not given to ponder about such trif les obviously. We follow one of the MH12BA0893 bus to school, and speak with the driver, who is Narayan Shinde. “There’s no other option for me but to venture on to the wrong side. I do it every day, it is no big deal,” he says. Does he understand the implications and the risk? He offers to take us on a ride to show how simple and safe it is. Only after much argument, does he accept that there is a different route, which is longer but is the safer and correct route. “Yes, going on the right side is safe, but it is too long. I will have to take the entire route twice. Why go to that much trouble, when this is better?” he says simply, even when his seniors dissuade him. The school authorities claim not to know anything about their reckless bus drivers. Blossoms Public School Vice Principal Pankaj Dhawan says that the drivers decide the routes. “We just tell them where our pick-up points are,” she said. When we told her about the extremely hazardous antics of the bus drivers, of driving on the wrong
side amidst heavy traffic, she tries to brush it off. But we tell her that it’s an everyday affair. “I apologise on behalf of the authorities but we knew nothing about it. I will make sure the drivers are given a workshop and explained the graveness of the situation. I assure you this will not be repeated.”
Parents of the school kids were horrified. Pashan resident Sweety Ahuja, mother of two children who study at Blossoms, said, “I am shocked. We live far from the school and send our children by bus. Now I think that I will drop my children to school.” gargi.verma@goldensparrow.com
Alert citizen tried notifying authorities to no avail
Manish Mutalik
Manish Mutalik, 40, is a Software Freelancer, who lives near NH4. “I go for morning walks and I have noticed school buses driving on the wrong side regularly,” he said. He was shocked enough to bring this to the attention of the authorities. “I shot a video and took pictures of school buses driving on the wrong side and posted it on the social media. I have written to the authorities, but they have not responded,” he said. Manish is more worried about the school children than the school authorities.
Authorities say schools have been warned While the school authorities claim to be unaware of the bus drivers’ wrongdoing, the city traffic authorities say that the schools had been alerted five months ago. The city traffic police had even conducted a special drive to curb undisciplined driving of the school buses and vans. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic), Pune, Sarang Awad said, “We have even fined the school buses for breaking traffic rules. After fining over 300 school bus drivers in different parts of the city, we had written to the schools, informing them about it.” The bus drivers on the Katraj-Dehu road (NH4) had been warned since the maximum numbers of fatalities are reported from that region every year. Awad said, “It is a stretch of one and half kilometres where school buses travel on the wrong side of the road. The drivers say that it is difficult and timeconsuming to travel two kilometres for a u-turn. We had taken stern action against these drivers. The policemen are still conducting such drives but it is collective responsibility to curb such collective disobedience.”
THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY DECEMBER 12, 2015
“The PMPML will have to rethink many aspects of the BRTS. Despite the launch of new routes, the number of people using the service has not gone up drastically. In fact, in the last couple of months, it has reduced.” — Jugal Rathi, Founder, PMP Pravasi Manch
PUNE
Long weekend travel fast becoming a trend: survey
Lack of planning, workload probs could affect start-ups: Study
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P9
School without toilets and drinking water There are several schools in the city that lack basic infrastructure mandated by the government
PICS BY TEJAS GAIKAWAD
BY TUSHAR RUPANAVAR @TGSWeekly Pune is the second most developed city in Maharashtra after Mumbai. After the setting up of the Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA), it has a metro city status. It is a matter of immense distress then that the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) run school at Khandave Padal in Lohegaon, has no toilet on its premises. Consequently, students of the school are forced to answer nature’s call in the open, while the women teachers have to use the toilets of the residents in the vicinity of the school. The school also does not have a drinking water facility, nor a boundary wall around it, and the school building itself is in a rather dilapidated state. The Education Department has listed 10 norms relating to the infrastructure and academic aspects of state schools as part of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education, including classrooms, ramps for disabled students, girls and boys toilets, building, electricity, drinking water facility, room for headmaster, playground, library and boundary wall, to improve the standard of primary school education, in May 2014. There are currently 1,214 primary schools operating within PMC limits, of which the civic body runs 333. Seven months down the line, the PMC run schools are yet to comply with the norms. While the Khandave
The dilapidated state of the school tells its own sorry tale
Padal School does not have toilets for boys or girls, there are 14 schools without a room for the headmaster, 73 schools without playgrounds, 22 schools without libraries, and 18 schools without boundary walls. A woman teacher of Khandave Padal School, on condition of anonymity, said, “In the five years I have been working at this school, nothing has changed in terms of infrastructure. The PMC school education board rented a room to start its first school in this area, in 1978. As the number of students increased, the local Sarvajanik Ganpati Mandal handed over two more classrooms to accommodate them. Now the school caters to students from playgroup to standard IV. The school building is in a dilapidated state, which results us in a watery mess during the monsoons. As we do not have enough benches, some students have to be seated on the floor. The floor is not tiled so students use mats to sit on. The absence of a boundary wall means that we cannot ensure the students’ safety and owing to
the lack of toilets, the students have to go in the open spaces behind the school. Students have to bring along water bottles from home as we do not have a drinking water facility. The three of us woman teachers are forced to constantly use the neighbouring villagers’ toilets, and it is an awkward situation when we have to ask the menfolk for the use of their toilets. We have sent numerous applications to the PMC board chief Vasanti Kakade and education officer B K Dahiphale, regarding the provision of toilets and a drinking water facility, but to no avail. The school building is in a precarious state and is in danger of collapsing, which poses a big threat to the students and teachers.” Education officer B K Dahiphale said, “Education board had provided a mobile toilet to Khandave Padal School, but the residents in the neighbourhood complained about the foul odour, so we had to remove it. We are in search of land to construct a new school building but have not succeeded yet. The rooms used for the school have been acquired
on a lease agreement, and their owner has objected to and prevented us from undertaking any renovation work. We are facing obstacles in complying with the state education department norms. It is not possible to build boundary walls around every school owing to the lack of space, which is also the reason we are unable to build toilets, additional classrooms, and rooms for headmasters. Earlier, PMC used to run schools in wadas, where there was no possibility of playgrounds, which are impossible to be provided for schools in the heart of the city as there is no available land. We have built ramps at 320 schools, and there are just 13 schools where ramps are yet to be built. The school at 55B Sutarwadi, Pashan has its foundation at the ground level so we cannot build a ramp there. These are technical problems which we are unable
Management
to deal with, but we are doing our best to comply with the three essential norms, namely toilets, drinking water and classrooms.” PMC school board chief Vasanti Kakade said, “I took charge as PMC school board chief just three months ago and am still in the process of assessing all the problems. I intend to pursue the compliance with the state education
department’s ten norms with the school administrations. I am planning to visit Khandave Padal School in a day or two and I will do my best to resolve the issues they are facing.” Data compiled by the PMC’s School Education Board shows that the situation is no different in the private, unaided and self-financed schools. tgs.feedback@goldensparrow.com
Total schools
No ramp
No playground
No library
No boundary wall
Central School
5
2
0
0
0
Department of Education
1
0
0
0
0
Madrasa recognised
1
0
0
0
0
333
13
73
22
18
5
1
0
0
0
Permanent Unaided
417
119
49
17
10
Pvt. Aided
317
73
40
5
10
Self Finance
20
9
0
0
0
Social Welfare
2
1
1
1
0
Social Welfare Aided
12
5
5
1
0
Social Welfare Unaided
3
1
1
1
0
Unaided
70
23
4
3
0
Unrecognised
28
14
7
3
1
1214
261
180
53
39
PMC schools Partially Aided
Total
Aamir’s ‘Dangal’ to be shot at Balewadi ‘Fandry’ producer accused of cheating despite sports minister’s diktat
Vinod Tawde, State Minister for sports had recently announced that sporting arenas in the stadium will not be used for non-sporting activities
Kothrud resident Radhika Waikar has moved court alleging that Nilesh Navalakha cheated her in a land deal BY DNYANESHWAR BHONDE
BY HEENA GROVER MENON AND ASHISH PHADNIS @TGSWeekly Five days after State Minister Vinod Tawde announced that Pune’s Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex at Balewadi will not be used for anything other than sports, the management at the world class facility has given out weightlifting hall to the makers of Aamir Khan’s upcoming film Dangal. Sources revealed that some of the sequences of the film will be shot in the weightlifting arena, which not so long ago hosted an international tournament. On Tuesday, several workers were seen readying the weightlifting arena for the shoot scheduled to take place from December 13 to 20. Heavy equipment had been brought in and kept inside the hall. Carpenters, painters and tailors had set up their workshops just outside the hall. They were getting ready to erect a makeshift waiting room inside. TGS spoke to some of the members of the unit, who said that few fight sequences of Dangal would be shot in the arena inside the hall for which a lot
Preparations are underway for the shoot that is to begin from December 13
of equipment will be erected. This development comes five days after Vinod Tawde, state minister for sports, while addressing a crowd in Pune, said that Balewadi stadium would only be used for sports activities.“In one of the movies, whose name I cannot recollect right now (Chak De! India, featuring Shah Rukh Khan), the administrator says ‘Ab se Raamleela walon ko maidan band’. Along the same lines, I would like to announce that from now on we won’t allow any non-sporting activity in
playing arenas inside the stadium,”said Tawde on December 3, during a speech on the occasion of distribution of Shiv Chhatrapati State Sports Awards. He added, “I understand that the officials are required to generate funds for the upkeep of the sports complex. They can give open areas, like parking, for other activities. But playing areas inside will remain untouched.” He had made a similar promise a month ago. “Pune’s Balewadi stadium will now be exclusively used for sports related activities,” the minister had tweeted on October 28. Officials at Balewadi stadium have their own interpretation of the Minister’s assurance. “The minister was talking permissions to food stalls and caterers. Once food is allowed to be served or sold in the playing area, people tend to litter. Otherwise, it is alright to give out the arenas on rent. As long as they pay commercial rates, which are higher than rates for sporting events, we are ok with giving out the place. There is nothing wrong with giving the playing arena to film makers for a shoot,” said Narendra Sopal, deputy director at Balewadi stadium. What about the damage that
all the heavy equipment required for shooting would cause to the playing arena? “We would check everything first. Even in basketball court when tournaments are hosted, they require trolleys. We make sure that heavy equipment does not damage our facility. I believe the same type of trolleys used during basketball tournaments are going to be used for the film’s shooting,” Sopal justified. The multi-equipped sports complex was originally built in 1994 for the National Games. It was rebuilt to host the Commonwealth Youth Games in 2008 and was expected to give a major boost to sports. It has several arenas for sports like wrestling, boxing, weightlifting, table tennis, shooting, badminton, among others. However, since the rentals for the arenas are high, not many sports’ associations can afford to host their events at the Balewadi stadium. ‘Dangal’ is directed by Nitesh Tiwari and starring Aamir Khan, Sakshi Tanwar and Fatima Sana Shaikh. The film is based on life of wrestler Mahavir Singh Phogat, who taught wrestling to his daughters. TGS.feedback
A case of cheating has been filed against six persons, including movie producer Nilesh Navalakha in Shivajinagar court, on November 28, by Kothrud resident Radhika Mahesh Waikar. In the case filed against Nilesh Mohandas Navalakha, 39, his wife Madhavi, 37, Soniya Rajesh Mehta, 41, Aarati Madanlal Chhajed, 43, all residents of Mukundnagar, Rakesh Motilal Sharma, 44, Shahu College Road, Parvati and Nitin Memane, 41, Mangaldas Road, complainant Radhika Waikar, 33, stated that she and her husband Mahesh purchased 13 gunthas of land from Nilesh Navalakha in 2010. The Waikars paid Rs 7.5 lakh to Navalakha for the land. Waikar stated that Navalakha failed to give them possession of the land and that the revenue officer had not registered their name on the 7/12 extract of the document. “Navalakha’s associates prevented us from entering the land we purchased and even
resorted to violence as they drove us away,” Waikar alleged. She said that Madhavi Navalakha, Soniya Mehta and Arati Chhajed’s names were registered on the 7/12 extract of the land. “Rakesh Sharma prevented us from entering Navalakha’s office in the Market Yard area. Nitin Memane, who drew up all the legal documents, too threatened to file a case against me,” Waikar claimed. She alleged that Nilesh Navalakha refused to answer her calls. Waikar said that Kothrud Police station personnel refused to file a complaint and told them to go to the civil court. The case has been filed with the court under sections 420 (cheating), 380 (theft in dwelling house) and 34 (acts done by several persons with common intention) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Nilesh Navalakha refused to comment on the matter to TGS, and said that it was a personal matter and that he would answer to the court. dnyaneshwar.bhonde@goldensparrow.com
Radhika Waikar at the plot she claims to have bought in 2010; Nilesh Navalakha (inset)
THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY DECEMBER 12, 2015
PUNE
“We found that at least 5,000 hawkers have not collected their licenses. The administration has sent reminders to the owners but only some collected their documents. Now the administration will discard the rest since it does not want them misused.” — Om Prakash Bakoria, Additional Municipal Commissioner
Truck carrying stolen liquor worth Rs 66 lakh traced P 13
Corporators defer the smart city plan NCP, Congress and MNS corporators voted to postpone the discussion on sending the smart city plan to the Centre. Say they need more time to decide BY EKTA KATTI @Ektaak On Wednesday, politicians in the Pune Municipal Corporation dimmed the chances of the city getting on the smart city bandwagon. Barring those from the Bharatiya Janata Party and Shiv Sena, corporators from all the others political parties rejected civic chief ’s Rs 3,900 crore proposal, which is to be sent to the Central government by December 15. Corporators from the Nationalist Congress Party, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena and Congress expressed their doubts over the proposal and voted in favour of postponing it. On Wednesday PMC commissioner Kunal Kumar came prepared with an elaborate proposal. The docket containing the detailed proposal had already been sent to the corporators a couple of days ago. A General Body meeting had been called only to ratify the proposal to be sent to the Central Government, which is going to fund the projects in shortlisted cities. When the meeting began, corporators took turns and expressed their views on the proposal prepared by Kumar. The BJP corporators were all praise for the PMC chief ’s efforts. However, the Congress, MNS and NCP corporators were against it. They did not allow Kumar to make a presentation. Their major concern was formation of a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) for the implementation of the smart city plan. The SPV, as per norms is to have a Board of Directors comprising of members from the Central Government, State Government and local body. The Board is also supposed to have Independent Directors, in addition to the CEO and Functional Directors. In essence, the board will largely comprise of bureaucrats and those with the experience of running companies, with little or no participation of local politicians.
No wonder, a mere 33 corporators from BJP and Sena, who are in power at the Centre and State, voted in favour. In contrast, 77 corporators from NCP, MNS and Congress voted to postpone the proposal. The civic administration led by Kumar has prepared an elaborate plan and proposed development projects between Rs 3,600 crore and Rs 3,900 crore. The proposal which is to be submitted to the Central Government by December 15, recommends improvement in several areas - public transport, housing, water supply, solid water management, environment, sanitation and sewerage, health, entertainment, education and safety. Vasant More, MNS corporator from Katraj expressed his concern over handing the powers to the SPV for implementation of smart city plan. He said, “We are not opposing the plan, however, the party feels we need more time to study the docket put forth by the Commissioner. In the past, the party already had a bad experience dealing with PMC related bodies like PMPML and SRA.” Bibwewadi ward corporator Asmita Shinde, also from MNS, said, “There are other problems in the city that the PMC should focus on immediately. Solid waste management, transportation, water shortage are grave issues that loom upon us. If these issues are solved, the city will automatically become a smart city. We are not against the plan as such. We only have our concerns over the formation of SPV.” Congress corporator Arvind Shinde, who is also the leader of opposition in PMC said, “We have nothing against the smart city plan. All we are asking is for more time to go through the docket presented by the Commissioner. Things should be more transparent.” BJP leader in the PMC, Ganesh Bidkar, and Somwar Peth ward corporator said, “It was a very sad decision to postpone the plan. It’s a
PROBLEMS PLAGUING PUNE
TRANSPORTATION AND MOBILITY Traffic and transportation has appeared as the single biggest problem. On an average, a person has to wait for more than 20 minutes for a bus, owing to traffic and poor means of transport. Only five per cent of the commuters use public transport which means more citizens use private vehicles which in turn increases the traffic. Pedestrian safety is another major concern as 1/4th of the city does not have footpaths. SLUMS AND HOUSING In Pune, 36 per cent population stays in slums. Of this only 55 per cent have a toilet inside their homes. So far under the rehabilitation scheme only 8,000 houses have been constructed.
The rehabilitation plan becomes more difficult as only 1/3 of the slums are on mixed land ownership. ENVIRONMENT Pune has around 158 public gardens which amount to eight per cent of the green space in the city. As of now, there is approximately one tree per capita which is just in line to maintain a healthy urban environment. Air pollution is increasing and harmful gases are above the permissible levels. Similarly, waste being dumped in the water bodies is resulting in water pollution. HEALTH Public health care takes a backseat as there are only four hospitals beds per 1,000 population. Out of the 15 PMC wards, only 11 have maternity
hospitals. The maternal mortality rate per 1,00,000 births in 2011-12 was 86, while the numbers increased to 132 to 2014-15. EDUCATION On the education front, Pune has the reputation of being the Oxford of the East. The literacy rate is 88.5 per cent and teacher-student ratio is 31:1. However, there are still some core aspects that need attention. PMC owns 298 primary schools and only 25 secondary schools which forces students to take admission in private schools. TOURISM Though the city has several tourist spots, Pune gets only 10-15 per cent share of Maharashtra’s tourism compared to Mumbai’s share of 75-80 per cent. Also, the city gets only eight per cent of the domestic tourists compared to Mumbai’s 25 per cent.
RAHUL RAUT
“There are other problems in the city that the PMC should focus on”
PMC’S RS 3,900 CRORE PROPOSAL FOR SMART CITY TRANSPORTATION The plan includes increasing the number of buses for public transport, installing GPS and providing a schedule of the buses to the citizens. This will cost around Rs 500 crore. WATER SUPPLY A proposed budget is of Rs 420-450 crore will guarantees 24-hour water supply. GIS monitoring will ensure that there is no wastage of water. Smart bulk metering and complaint box will be providpolitical conspiracy of Congress, NCP and MNS. The smart city plan would have put Pune on the international map and if we don’t make it to the Phase I, it will be a huge loss for the city. If Pune gets selected, it would definitely get huge investors and several beneficial schemes.” Similarly, Ashok Harnaval, leader of Shiv Sena in the PMC and corporator from Parvati said, “We wanted the plan to get sanctioned by
ed. Mobile app and grievance portal will reduce the water shortage in the city. WASTE MANAGEMENT PMC plans to incur an expense of Rs 6070 crore, to ensure that waste generated in the city is segregated and treated. The plan also includes procuring 357 smart garbage bins. SMART GRID AND SOLAR ENERGY PMC plans to spend Rs 500 crore on
everyone and sent to the Centre as soon as possible. The city stands to gain a lot from the development under the smart cities project.” The PMC chief was saddened by the development. He pointed out that if Pune fails to get selected in the Phase I of the smart city plan, it will stand to lose a lot. On the other hand, the opposing corporators were of the opinion that the Pune can learn from proposals put forth by other cities.
HOW THE PMC CHIEF DREW UP THE ELABORATE PLAN Citizens were actively involved in preparation of the smart city plan for Pune. “To make the city smart, active participation of the citizens is important. Several volunteers and representatives helped us gather valuable data within a matter of days,” said Commissioner
Kumar. The entire exercise was carried out in three phases. The first phase titled ‘Envision’ starting from September 17, involved collating views of citizens, their problems and their vision for
smart Pune. This phase got over on September 28. In the second phase titled ‘Diagnose’ (October 3 to 12), the civic body identified development opportunities and issues in each core area. In the third phase, titled ‘Co-Cre-
Garbage raises stink at Wakad
Wakad housing society residents face daily ordeal owing to garbage bins near the society gates TGS NEWS NETWORK @TGSWeekly The garbage issue at Wakad does not seem nearer to a solution. Bins with overflowing garbage near Phases 1 & 2 of Pristine Prolife, at Shankar Kalate Nagar Road, are a nuisance residents have to cope with. The dump attracts lots of stray dogs, and it is a health hazard with the insects and the foul
Jeet Sohi
odours. Pleas to the local ward officer and the PimpriChinchwad Municipal Corporation ( P C M C ) to shift the garbage bins have come to
nought. Hotels in the area dump waste at the spot and the garbage is not cleaned regularly. Suresh Sagar, 65, Chairman of the society, said, “Our pleas to the PCMC for over a year have been in vain. The stray dogs attracted by the garbage have even bitten a few people. The garbage bins must be shifted away from the society and they should have lids.” Pankaj Jambhulkar, 31, a resident
Suresh sargar
this front. Every house will be installed with a smart grid and solar panels to provide 24 hours power supply. In Aundh, Baner and Balewadi (ABB) area, solar power will be extensively used. SAFETY, DEVELOPMENT AND SECURITY PMC intends to cover the entire city with CCTv cameras and set up surveillance centres. Open spaces will be created at 13 locations. Also, 3.5 km of riverside will be developed. The plan includes construction of four schools and three public hospitals. Under this head PMC chief has proposed an expenditure of Rs 220 crore.
They said that PMC should wait and watch proposals of other cities in the race, emulate them and apply in Phase II. “We can send the proposal to the Central government but it will be like sending a plan with no soul, without the corporators’ approval. We still have a couple of days in hand to go over the plan with the representatives. They were provided with the SPV details a couple of days ago. The future is in front of us, and everyone wants Pune to
ate’ (October 16-31), the PMC came up with ideas to address the problems raised by citizens. Solutions offered by citizens too were incorporated. Throughout the exercise, PMC used every possible medium to reach out to the citizens – people were asked to fill out forms to highlight their issues and suggest ideas, an
become a smart city,” said Kumar. Later on Wednesday evening, Commissioner Kumar wrote to the State Government requesting that the General Body should be directed to take a decision on smart city proposal before December 14. On Thursday, State Government issued a Resolution ordering the General Body to give its clear decision before December 14, failing which appropriate action would be initiated.
online platform was created for the tech savvy citizens on which citizens cast their votes and also offered suggestions. PMC chief was active online through his twitter account and urged people to participate in the exercise. In 45 days, over 34 lakh inputs and votes were received from the citizens.
of the society, said, “Earlier PCMC workers used to clear the bins twice a day. But now they are not cleared for days on end. Th is is the only garbage dump, so all the waste from the area is
dumped here.” Jeet Sohi, 30, a resident of the society, is using the social media to publicise the issue. “The garbage attracts rodents, dogs, cats and scavenger birds. These creatures then make a bigger mess by spreading the
refuse over a larger area.” Ram Bhat, a member of the society, said, “The stray dogs are a real menace at night.” PCMC sanitary inspector Yogesh
Phalle said, “It is difficult to shift the garbage bins which have been there before the building was constructed. We try to clear the garbage regularly.” tgs.feedback@goldensparrow.com
THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY DECEMBER 12, 2015
PICS BY RAHUL RAUT
One of the unregistered dental labs in the city
thereafter listed 12 illegal dental labs in the city. MDMA President Sandip Naik said, “This is government data and the actual number of illegal dental labs in Pune is much higher.” He said that of the 150 dental labs in the city, 80 are operating illegally. “Such illegal dental labs do not
employ qualified technicians and this can be hazardous for dental patients. We have been communicating with the Dental Council of India for a couple of years, and have also urged the municipal corporations that are the local authorities to help us,” said Naik. But PMC officials say that taking action against bogus dental labs did not come under the purview of the civic body. PMC Assistant Medical Officer Dr Vaishali Jadhav said, “We can take action against bogus doctors but not against bogus dental labs or nonqualified dental technicians.” Their survey brought to light 12 illegal dental labs within PMC limits. “We have submitted our report to the MSDC which will take further action.” MDC officials painted quite a different picture while talking with
Radiologists serve six-week ultimatum to government
BY GARGI VERMA @missgverma Can a missing signature put you behind bars? Yes, it can, according to radiologists in Pune, who claim that 54 doctors have been fined and even jailed for such clerical oversights, and the latest incident was a doctor being booked on December 5. The Indian Radiological & Imaging Association, Pune Chapter members took out a protest march in the city, on December 7. They have given the government a six-week deadline to take remedial action on December 9, failing which they will resort to legal action. According to the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act 1994, any clerical error while maintaining patient records will be held equivalent to a sex determination test. But doctors allege that these bylaws are used by authorities to harass doctors. The Association’s President Dr Viren Kulkarni said, “As in other professions, there are black sheep among doctors and radiologists. We are unequivocally opposed to female foeticide and its protagonists, who deserve the most stringent punishment. But it is unfair to target the entire community for the misdoings of a few.” As per the Act, doctors need to maintain records and submit them to the district health department monthly. District authorities also conduct random raids on diagnostic centres. “A form has at least 20 queries and there are three forms per patient.
Street kids roughed up by bakery owner
Woman offered cakes to the urchins, which offended the bakery owner. She alleged that he abused and beat them up
Unregistered labs
BY PRIYANKKA DESHPANDE @journopriyankka In its dispute over the registration issue with the Maharashtra State Dental Council (MSDC), the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has come upon 12 dental labs in the city operating illegally without registering with the MSDC. PMC officials say that the MSDC should ensure that there are no dental labs operating without registration, while MSDC officials say that the PMC should take action against dental labs operating without registration. Such dental labs manufacturing artificial teeth are flourishing in the city. PMC had undertaken a survey at the behest of the Maharashtra Dental Mechanics Association (MDMA) and
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PMC survey unearths 12 illegal dental labs Unregistered dental labs flourishing in the city while PMC looks the other way
China’s BO peaks at USD 6.3 billion
Gift a book and get 36 in turn!
“Cycling and walking should be encouraged by providing the necessary infrastructure. The use of private cars should be discouraged by imposing heavy parking charges.” — Ranjit Gadgil, Programme Director, Parisar
If the doctor or even the patient forgets to sign one of the forms, the doctors are punishable with a year in jail and monetary fines,” Dr Kulkarni said. “In face of India’s declining sex ratio, the World Health Organisation pressurises the Central Government, which in turn passes it to the state government, which passes it to district authorities. And district authorities zero in on clerical errors to inflate the numbers,” Dr Kulkarni said. The conviction of radiologist Dr Vilas Jagtap, who runs a private practice in Yerawada, was what sparked the protest march. “My centre is called Dr Jagtap’s Diagnostic centre. Only two of the 11 offences filed against me are true, and they involve clerical errors. In one month in 2014, I had 78 patients but my secretary keyed in only 75 names. I was charged with withholding information under the PCPNDT Act. The second instance was that I had not put the proprietor’s signature in a report. It shouldn’t have mattered as I am the doctor and proprietor, but apparently it does,” Jagtap said. The state has filed 554 cases under the PCPNDT Act in Maharashtra since 2011, including 54 in Pune. “Only two of these cases are genuine as decoys were sent and the doctors were caught red-handed. The remaining 552 cases involve clerical errors. My lawyer said that these two cases may pan out as it depends on decoy’s version, but clerical errors are solid proof,” said Dr Kulkarni, whose case lodged in 2011 is currently in the
Judicial Magistrate Court in Pune. Radiologist Dr Deepali Ahirrao, who has been booked under the PCPNDT Act for clerical errors, said, “I used to work at Birla Hospital. In 2012, a pregnant woman was to undergo sonography. As soon as I was done, she rushed to the bathroom and did not return so her signature was missing on the form. The district authorities pulled me up and I was sentenced to one year in jail and fined Rs 5,000. The case is going on, but my practice has stopped since then.” The Association’s members have submitted a memorandum of their demands to the Pune Municipal Corporation Commissioner Kunal Kumar. Medical associations, political parties, and other organisations have extended their support to the protests. Indian Medical Association Maharashtra Vice President Dr Avinash Bhondve, IMA Pune Chapter President Dr Avinash Bhutkar, and MLA Vinayak Nimhan have given a letter of support to the agitating radiologists. Social Activist Anna Hazare has also extended support to the IRIA on Tuesday when a delegation of radiologists and sonologists met him at Ralegansiddhi village. Dr Kulkarni said, “Radiological services like MRI, CT Scan, X-ray mammography and interventional radiology services were unavailable in the district on Wednesday. However, we ensured that all emergency radiology services were made available at select hospitals during the strike. We have given six weeks to the government to decide on amendment of the PCPNDT Act, failing which we will go on an indefinite strike and also approach the judiciary.” The district authorities have remained non-committal. Pune Municipal Corporation assistant health officer Dr Vaishali Jadhav said, “It’s our responsibility to implement the act as per the guidelines. If the radiologists have a problem, they should get the Act amended and not protest against us.” gargi.verma@goldensparrow.com
• Laxmi Dental Lab, Karve Nagar • Class Dental Lab, Balaji Nagar, Dhankawadi • Sundaram Dental Lab, Tanaji Nagar, Dhankawadi • Shree Siddhivinayak Dental Lab, Sukhsagar Nagar • Shivam Dantkala, Gulab Nagar, Dhankawadi • Smile Dental Lab, Kothrud • Shiv Dental Lab, Sukhsagar Nagar • Design Dental Lab, Vadgaon (Bk) • Aishwarya Dental Lab, Sinhagad Road • Shree Sai Dental Lab, Navi Peth • Dev Dental Lab, Hadapsar • Creative Technique Dental Studio, Paud Road The Golden Sparrow. MDC President Dr SC Bhoyar said that the council could initiate action against nonqualified dental technicians, but lab registrations are not in their purview. “Dental labs have to be registered under the Bombay Shop and Establishment Act, and the municipal corporations are authorised to take action against illegal labs,” Dr Bhoyar said. Shashi Nayar, proprietor of Shree Sai Dental Lab in Navi Peth, which is illegal, said that though they had not registered with the MDC, they employed qualified technicians. This issue would be tabled at the ongoing state assembly winter session at Nagpur. priyankka.deshpande@goldensparrow.com
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RAHUL RAUT
Priyadarshini Kakde outside Diamond Bakery
BY GITESH SHELKE @gitesh_shelke A bakery owner in Hadapsar allegedly physically abused street urchins after a woman offered them cakes on December 8. He also allegedly verbally abused the woman. Priyadarshini Vijay Kakde, 30, of Mundhwa had gone to the bakery to get cakes and bread. “As I was leaving, I saw three beggar kids and offered them the cakes I had got from the Diamond Bakery in Fatimanagar, Hadapsar,” she said. She called the street urchins to the small parking space of the bakery. “As I handed over the cakes to the children, the bakery owner rushed out and shouted at the children and also beat them,” she said. “He did not want the beggar kids in the parking area of his bakery,” she said. “He was slapping the kids, so I asked him why he was doing that. I
had called the kids to the parking area. But the man was in such a rage that he didn’t realise that I was his customer,” she said. “He abused me and told me to leave the bakery premises immediately. There were onlookers to the scene and I was extremely embarrassed,” she said. Priyadarshini reported the incident to the Wanowrie police station, who registered a complaint against Mushtaq Ali Jafari (Irani), 63, owner of Diamond Bakery. Police have booked him under sections 504 (Intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace) and 323 (Punishment for voluntarily causing hurt) of the Indian Penal Code. Jafari said that the incident was fabricated by the woman. “The police said that it was not worth a complaint. How can they file a complaint against me for such a minor incident?” he said. gitesh.shelke@goldensparrow.com
THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY DECEMBER 12, 2015
PUNE
They are responsib chaos on Pune road
Pune’s road-users are the epitome of nonchalant when it com explanations as to why they have broken some traff ic law TGS NEWS SERVICE @TGSWeekly Everyone, citizens, politicians and the police agree that the traffic conditions in Pune are getting worse by the minute, but no one knows how to rein in the rampant and unruly vehicle users. Driving without seat belts, speaking on cellphones while riding or driving, jumping signals, halting on zebra crossings, rash or drunk driving are common traffic offenses. About 400 persons are killed and 10,000 are injured on city roads every year. Pedestrians and
Sania Mirza
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senior citizens are at the mercy of the vehicle users. The traffic police and civic authorities keep implementing measures to ease vehicular congestion, but with 40 lakh vehicles registered in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad RTOs, the effect is nullified. Chaos, confusion, congestion, catastrophic are some of the fi rst words that come to mind in reference to the everyday situation on Pune’s notoriously overcrowded streets. But who would think that comic was also a word that is eminently apt when one thinks of the capers that Pune’s supposedly educated and civilised road-users indulge in as they navigate the ever busy streets in their tearing
hurry to get to their destinations. They may possess valid riding/driving licenses but the knowledge and awareness of traffic laws and regulations that they exhibited en route to acquiring that mandatory document seems since then to have evaporated or faded into the dim nether regions of their memory, if the reckless, lawless manner in which a majority of them blatantly disregard road etiquettes and courtesy are a fair indication. In fact, the outlandish excuses some of them make for any infringement they are accosted by the law enforcers for would be downright hilarious were it not for the fact that such flouting of traffic laws can at times be the recipe for
mishaps with wholly tragic consequences. It is with an intention to clear up the and sort out the jigsaw puzzle of just why the city of Pune and its resident road-us its perennially overworked traffic law e have arrived at such a cul-de-sac, that The Sparrow on Saturday undertook this one-o survey. We turned our attention and the lens cameras on the key intersections of the city, close watch on and our ears tuned to what tr when road-users who violated traffic nor hauled up by the traffic police. The primary these law-breakers gave and their fi rst rea
Hamza Inamdar
amza Inamdar of Kondhwa was driving his car (MH 12 JC 1716) when he was stopped by the traffic police for running a red light at Mahavir Chowk, M G Road after coming from East Street. Inamdar said, “When I started to cross the chowk the light was green. I didn’t realise when it changed to amber and red. I only realized it was red when I was in the middle of the turn. I am not at fault but now the police are saying that I jumped the red light.”
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ohaib Shaikh of Nana Peth is a student of Poona College in Camp who was stopped by the traffi c police for riding a two-wheeler on Lakdi Pul. Shaikh said, “I was following Google maps to go to my destination. The route went through Lakdi Pul and as I was engrossed with the mobile app, I completely missed the ‘no entry’ sign.”
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ania Mirza lives in Model Colony, is a student of MMCC College. She was stopped by the traffic police for riding her scooter on Lakdi Pul, where two-wheelers are banned. She also did not have a driving license when she was caught. Mirza said, “I did not know that Lakdi Pul is banned for two-wheelers. I also did not see any ‘no entry’ sign prohibiting twowheelers from entering the bridge. Th is is the fi rst time that I have been caught for breaking traffic rules.”
Vishal Chede
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ishal Chede of Kondhwa is a student of MIT College, who was stopped by the police for riding his motorcycle on Lakdi Pul, which is banned for two-wheelers. Chede said, “I did not see any ‘no entry’ sign to alert two-wheeler riders about this. I was in a hurry and neither did the police at the other end stop me from entering the bridge.”
Sohaib Sha
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Pranali Acharya
ranali Acharya is a student of S P College and she was riding her scooter (MH 14 EQ 4698) when she jumped the red light and halted her scooter on the zebra crossing at Alka Talkies Chowk. She was pulled over by the traffic police. The quick-witted Pranali responds by saying, “It was not my fault. I had stopped before the zebra crossing, but the person behind me kept honking and so I was forced to move ahead. That is how my scooter happened to be on the zebra crossing. Now the police has caught me for no fault of mine. I know it is an offense to stop on a zebra crossing.”
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Janardan Su
anardan Sutar is a delivery officer who works with a private fi rm who was riding his motorcycle (MH 12 GW 2440) when he was caught by the police going the wrong way in a one way zone off Kelkar Road. Sutar shows no signs of guilt as he said, “I was searching for an address in the area to make a delivery. I asked someone for directions on Laxmi Road, and he told me to come this way. It is not my fault as I have been misguided.”
THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY DECEMBER 12, 2015
PUNE
ble for ds
REFUSE TO MEND THEIR WAYS Sarang Awad,
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic), Pune “The traffic situation in the city has become chaotic because of unruly road-users for the most part. There are other reasons of course, such as road repairs and fallen trees, which obstruct the flow of traffic. The road users of the city offer endless reasons and explanations as to why they break traffic rules. Not just that, they are also prone to get into long arguments with the traffic constables who have pulled them up, and who are just doing their duty. Our duty is not just to collect fines from law-breakers, but the primary responsibility of the police is to regulate the traffic. The task has become very difficult because of those who violate traffic rules. Signal jumping, halting on zebra crossings, talking on cellphones while driving/
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being pulled up by the law were jaw-droppingly memorable. Some feigned complete innocence after blatantly running a red light or disregarding a traffic sign, claiming that they did not see the red light or sign. Some were even more matter of fact when they said that they had done no wrong, but that it was someone else’s fault. There were also some who said that they ignored the light, or one-way sign because they were just going round the corner, or ‘Ithech jaycha hota’. These were some of the traffic law benders and their spontaneous explanations. tgs.feedback@goldensparrow.com
PICS BY RAHUL RAUT AND TEJAS GAIKWAD
R
PEOPLE OF ALL AGES BREAK TRAFFIC LAWS Prashant Inamdar, Convenor of Pedestrian First
“The traffic situation on the Pune roads is getting more difficult by the day. The primary reason for this is the unruly and uncivilised vehicle users. There are so many who break traffic rules blatantly and with no regard for other road users. They show no concern for other road users or pedestrians. Puneites are notorious for being rash riders and drivers. I do not know why they are always in such a hurry and have no
respect for the law. It is not only the youth who break traffic rules, but in Pune people of all ages break traffic laws freely. They do not think twice about breaking a traffic rule, be it running a red light or driving the wrong way or side. Such law-breakers put their own and others’ lives in jeopardy. The traffic police should enforce the law on the streets strictly. There is no such thing as traffic management in Pune. The roads are not in good condition, and in lots of places there are no lines demarcating parking zones, lanes, and stop lines. Roads are not properly engineered or managed. Roads are not properly designed by the civic authorities and neither are they maintained properly.”
Raosaheb Kisanrao Doltade
aosaheb Kisanrao Doltade has come to Pune from Satara and he is in search of a job. The police have caught him at Alka Talkies Chowk for riding his motorcycle on Lakdi Pul, which is a no entry zone for two-wheelers. Doltade is in the dock but his demeanour is that of a victim who has been unjustly pulled up. “I am new to this city. I did not see the ‘no entry’ sign on the other side of the bridge. So how can I be caught when it is really not my fault? I have come here in search of a job and I don’t have the money to pay the fine,” he said.
aikh
utar
riding, driving and parking on the footpaths, haphazardly parking vehicles, and rash and negligent driving are some of the most common offenses. The Pune traffic police collects crores of rupees in fines. This year we collected Rs 19 crore as fines in the city police jurisdiction from the motorist. Despite conducting special drives to catch traffic rule offenders, it seems that they are not learning any lessons from the police action. A special drive was undertaken earlier this year to check if school children riding or driving vehicles possessed valid driving licenses. We found that a majority of school children did not have valid driving licenses. It is shocking that their parents allow them to ride motorcycles or scooters even when they are under-age. We deploy more personnel at busy intersections to curb traffic rule violations, but even despite the extra police presence, road-users continue to break traffic rules. What can the traffic police do when people would rather break traffic rules instead of following them?”
THEIR PLIGHT
Head constable Shailesh Khedkar
Head constable Shailesh Khedkar says, “Vehicle users when they are caught, have many excuses to avert or reduce the fine. I don’t know how rhey come up with such excuses. Nowadays, the GPS maps have become an extra headache for us. They show directions and vehicle users follow them blindly, ignoring traffic rules. “It is really difficult to regulate traffic on the city roads as people have endless reasons to argue with us instead of paying the fines. “The procedure to obtain driving licenses should be made very strict, like in western countries. People then will be more responsible. “Dealing with female drivers or riders is very difficult as they burst into tears if they are caught after breaking traffic rules.”
Head constable R G Tanpure
S
Head constable R G Tanpure said, “We avoid fining vehicle users during peak traffic hours even when they break traffic rules, to avoid traffic jams. Our priority is traffic regulation but road users take undue advantage of this. There are cases where police have been hurt by vehicle users. A constable has died at Nal Stop chowk about a year ago. I don’t know why people do not cooperate with us.”
Sagar Nagare
agar Nagare of Vadgaon Sheri was driving his car (MH 12 CA 0638) which has tinted glasses and accordingly he was pulled up by the traffic police at RTO Chowk. Nagare said, “I bought this car just last week from someone at Vadgaon Sheri. I was not aware that tinted glass panes are against the law. I had actually come to the RTO office to get the paperwork done for this car which I have just bought.”
API Aanieeta Hivarkar
A
ssistant Police Inspector Aanieeta Hivarkar of Cantonment Traffic Division said, “Very few vehicle users accept their mistakes, and most of them deny their mistakes. They say we let others go and catch them. Some demand to see fine
charts, which we do. Some refuse to produce vehicle documents or driving licenses and they take up so much time. “Most vehicle users are unruly and are prone to argue with us. Some even call up senior officers, politicians and other businessmen to avoid a Rs 100 fine.”
THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY DECEMBER 12, 2015
PUNE
“India is prepared to move our cooperation at a pace which Pakistan is comfortable with. But today, let us at least resolve to help Afghanistan in the best traditions of good neighbourliness.” — Sushma Swaraj, External Affairs Minister
“ If I am asked whether India is tolerant, my answer would be yes and no. We have a caste system in India and the scheduled castes or Dalits never got much tolerance from the Brahmins.” — Alyque Padamsee, Theatre Veteran
Harvest efficient and renewable energy sources MCCIA conference highlights importance of generation of renewable sources for electricity TGS NEWS SERVICE @TGSWeekly The two-day conference organised by Mahratta Chamber Of Commerce Industries and Agriculture (MCCIA) at Hotel Hyatt Pune in Kalyaninagar from December 9 underlined the fact that renewables will be the globally significant source of power in future. E n e r g y efficiency experts Dr Anil Kakodkar at the conference talked on the various sources of renewable energy sources and participating firms showcased renewable energy models. The speakers included India’s eminent nuclear scientist, former Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) Director, Chairman of Atomic Energy Commission Dr Anil Kakodkar and former Chairman of the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission and Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (MERC) Dr Pramod Deo. The conference was an effort to bring
Visitors at the stalls put up at Hotel Hyatt Pune in Kalyaninagar
key stakeholders such as technology providers, policy makers, financing institutions and implementing agencies on one platform. The two-day meet also saw sessions on trends, opportunities on the renewable energy, financing solar projects a way forward, policies and legal framework, challenges and the way forward. To realise the targets of India Vision 2025, the country’s major stakeholders comprising civil society and public should play a key role in capitalising the benefits of renewable energies in environmental management and governance. Authorities on their part have taken steps towards partnerships in effective environmental management and launched various initiatives to educate and raise awareness
on environmental challenges and encourage the participation of citizens in environmental conservation and management. According to KPMG report, solar is expected to contribute substantially to bridge the renewable energy divide with the market penetration of solar power likely to be 5.7 per cent (54 GW) by 2020 and 12.5 per cent (166 GW) by 2025. With India aiming to reduce emission per dollar of GDP by 33 to 35 per cent by 2030 from 2005 levels, the report states that solar power is likely to contribute 4 per cent towards this target. Solar power plants have come up in many states in India as Minister of State for Power, Coal, and New and Renewable Energy Piyush Goyal said
that any amount of investment in this sector will have a quick pay back. The minister told the Rajya Sabha that thermal power plants in the country at present have up to 21 days of power generation stock available with them. Solar thermal power plants does not damage the environment and take only two to three years to build. The benefits of solar power is expected to start being felt from 2017 and accelerate post 2020. States promoting solar (and also wind power) will see considerable fall in use of conventional coal generators as solar replaces coal-fired generation in the daytime hours. Goyal said that during 2015, there is a plan to provide solar pumps in the agriculture sector. He said around 30,000 pumps have been installed and nearly 1.08 lakh pumps have been sanctioned. KPMG report states that the price for solar power in India has seen a decline with rare falling to 15 per cent of the coal power price with signs of further dip by 2020. The solar rooftop power is already competitive compared to grid power for many consumers and, as per the report, if combined with storage, it could be cheaper than grid power after 2022 for consumers. A ‘solar house’ that is self-sufficient in energy terms could be a reality within the Satish Magar coming decade.
What are you recycling next week? GREEN INITIATIVE
Attend ‘Beauty of Recycling Festival’ at Seasons Mall next week to experience the magic of recycling BY SALONEE MISTRY @SaloneeMistry Spread over six days, the ‘Beauty of Recycling Festival’ held in the city next week is aimed at changing the way the city looks at the potential of waste. The unique event will focus on designing with waste, educational and interactive events with panel discussions and performances, and festive shopping. Holding the festival’s fi fth edition, its organiser eCoexist thinks that there is a need to make a quantifiable impact on the city to ensure that issues revolving around excess of waste or improper waste management are effectively dealt. ALL UNDER ONE ROOF Seasons Mall and other venues like The
Loft for a panel discussion on design for social change, among others will see many organisations join hands for this eco-friendly venture. While the initial festivals were held in FabIndia outlets and Phoenix Mall in 2014, Seasons Mall was chosen to attract maximum crowd. “The festival is a way for Puneites to celebrate innovation in recycling. We identified 75 designers and 30 will take part in the festival. All participants are involved in recycling and reusing waste and their initiatives are spread across the country. Our efforts are to generate public awareness about reusing or recycling waste and know the right place to send their waste,” said the festival’s project consultant and Green Idea project coordinator Rashi Goel. The event will conclude with a weekend carnival that will have stalls selling various sustainable high quality low impact products made by repurposing or recycling, pilot experiments made with products made out of water materials that have little
ECoexist started in 2006 in response to a marketing need for Holi colours made by a farmers’ group. We promote e c o -f r iend ly p r o d u c t s through socially sensitive means. We believe that if good design Manisha Gutman comes together with a social and environmental conscience it can produce a beautiful environment for all of us. Our effort in this festival is to showcase this coming together through a joyful experience. Manisha Gutman, Founder, eCoexist or no economic value and technology transfer between designers from other cities and self-help groups based in Pune, among other programmes. The programme is a call to rethink on recyclables and change our mindset towards waste and its usability. C h i l d r e n work shops on recycling, exhibition and sale of recycled p r o d u c t s , Rashi Goel sessions on learning to repair things, street plays, fashion shows and children’s theatre are attractive
programmes of the festival. Kids will make costumes out of waste, weave baskets out of newspapers and design toys from trash. Members of Swach will also present programmes and discussion will be held on challenges faced by ragpickers. FUNDING FESTIVAL Part of a bigger campaign on increasing awareness regarding reusing and recycling of waste, the festival is funded through sponsors and by the grant that eCoexist has received for the umbrella project- Green India Campaign. The grant which partially funds the umbrella campaign is given by the Government of Maharashtra’s Environmental Department. The Green Idea Campaign focuses on recycling of non-biodegradable products. The organisation will focus on thermocol, thin plastic bags and metallised fi lm packets which are commonly used for chips and other grocery produces. The funding of the festival is what turned out to be one of the most challenging parts of setting it all up. “While we have sponsors and are using a part of the grant money, collecting enough funds to run the festival was a challenge. We wanted to bring down a band from Bengaluru that make their instruments from waste but funding them became an issue. We believe that once the awareness of how one can reuse and recycle their waste increases the funding will automatically go up. It is just a matter of time,” said Rashi. The organisation is making no money from the festival and sponsors will directly interact with participating artists. salonee.mistry@goldensparrow.com
Experts look forward to a rigorous long-term planning that prepares for a transformed electricity grid of distributed sources, variable renewables and storage solutions. India has raised its target of installing 20,000 MW of solar energy capacity to 100,000 MW by 2022. The Government is committed to usher in an ‘energy revolution’ by harnessing sources of energy such as solar and wind power. The government also wants to put in place 60,000 MW of wind power capacity by then in a country that’s the world’s third largest emitter of greenhouse gases, behind US and China. MCCIA president Satish Magar said, “We must take stock of the progress achieved so far in view of the fast changing energy scenario both domestically and internationally. Renewable energy has an important role to play and hence MCCIA has taken proactive lead in providing a platform to the stakeholders in this field by organising an exclusive conference on renewable energy.” MCCIA Director General Dr Anant Sardeshmukh said, “The industry as well as MCCIA is equally interested in harnessing this energy resource which is competitive and totally green. MCCIA and the industry fully extend support to this initiative. MCCIA wants to disseminate the information on the present status, potential and state of technology to all the stakeholders. The deliberations on this platform created by MCCIA will give impetus to
the entire initiative. We would like even MSMEs to go for this form of energy. The event was organised with National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), and sponsors include NABARD, Bharat Forge Ltd, Bank Of Maharashtra, Greaves Cotton Limited, Span Pumps Pvt Ltd, Relyon Solar Pvt Ltd, Global Energy Pvt Ltd. Maharashtra Energy Development Agency (MEDA) also supported the conference and mobile app sponsor was Mobile Sutra. tgs.feedback@goldensparrow.com
TAPPING ENERGY SOURCES
• Over 100 Indian companies including DMRC, ITC Limited, Mahindra and Mahindra and Tata Group present their best practices in sustainable development while launching a ‘Corporate Vision on Climate Change’ at Paris COP 21 Climate Summit • Google states that renewable energy accounts for 37 per cent of the power needed to run its data centres. It has invested about $2.5 billion in companies and projects trying to produce more wind, solar and geothermal power • Apple, Facebook and other technology firms have invested heavily in renewable energy in an effort to reduce the pollution caused by the popularity of their products • Infosys is the first ICT company in India to declare the goal of becoming carbon-neutral by 2018 at the UN
Gift a book and get 36 in turn! BY GARGI VERMA @missgverma Christmas time is almost here. Like every year, this time also, it has brought along with it several gifting traditions, and social media takes the cake. ‘Gift a Book Challenge’, is on rage, where a bibliophile can receive up to 36 and more books at the cost of gifting just one book. The tradition is garnering huge online support. How amazing would it be, if we could gift one unknown person a book, and receive 36 in return from unknown people? It might sound like utopia, but it is actually true. An initiative called ‘Gift a Book’ is actually turning this into a reality. The initiative, started by parents, is to inculcate more and more books into children’s lives. Parents, who want their children to get away from screens and read words on paper, put up posts on Facebook asking for interested candidates to participate and get 36 books in return of gifting one. Th is post, picked up by bibliophiles has now reached college students, young professionals and even teenagers. “How it works is I create a group of
6, who all send books to one person, selected by me. Then, my friends create six groups each, and ask all of them to send books to me. Their friends in turn make their friends send books to them and the chain continues,” explains Raina De, a college student in Pune from Siliguri. She further adds, “I have grown up with books around at home, but now that we have grown older, the culture seems to be fading.” Another college student, Anukriti Tiwari, said, “Who doesn’t like books when they are coming almost free!” Parents, especially young parents, are more than happy with this experience. “My child Manya is five years old and she is always watching television or playing games on cellphones. This way, at least the surprise takes her fancy and she is willing to read,” said homemaker Anagha Deshmukh. The trend is picking up fast online with many requests coming to friends who already got six participants. With books started arriving at homes within a week of gifting just one, hopefully by Christmas, all houses will be flooded with cheer, joy and books! gargi.verma@goldensparrow.com
This chain-snatcher targets housing societies BY GITESH SHELKE @ Gitesh_Shelke
City police who are on the lookout for bikers who snatch gold chains from women walking in deserted areas and poorly-lit streets now have another ‘smart’ chain-snatcher as their main target. According to the police, this 25-year-old, 5.4 ft tall man takes into confidence the elderly women he sweet talks to and flees from the spot on his scooter after snatching their gold chain. One of the victims who stay in Sahakarnagar No II said, “I was plucking flowers for puja when he
casually walked up to me and asked whether I love flowers. I was conversing with him and before I could realise, he was driving away on his scooter after
snatching my gold chain,” said the elderly woman who is one of the several victims who has fallen for this ‘decent looking’ thief in the past four months. Police said that the thief targets elderly women staying in bungalows and housing societies. With cops keeping an eye on city roads to curb chain-snatching incidents, the youth executing the crime in housing societies has left them baffled. He has allegedly committed such crimes in Sahakarnagar, Erandwane, Kothrud and nearby areas. Assistant Commissioner of Police (Crime) Rajendra Joshi said that the youth only targets elderly women
during the morning hours. “The victims were either on morning walks or were plucking flowers when he executes the crime. He begins conversation by either asking about a nearby address or talking about flowers. All his victims are 65 years old and above,” Joshi said. Police authorities have obtained CCTV footages from housing societies and have found that the culprit wears jeans and T-shirts but does not cover face with mask. “We have obtained the registration number of his scooter. He has managed to escape from our traps in the past but we will nab him soon,” Joshi said. gitesh.shelke@goldensparrow.com
Woman entreprenuer and designer Vrishali Deshmukh Kekre takes time from busy schedule to read books to her four-year-old daughter Antara during bedtime
THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY
TECH/START-UP
DECEMBER 12, 2015
‘Sri Lanka will never sign CEPA with India’
“A red panda is an animal native to the Himalayas and southwestern China. The English word for red panda is ‘Firefox’ which is where the browser gets its name from – so the Firefox logo is actually a red panda, not a fox!” — http://www.thefactsite.com/
P 11
Lack of planning, workload probs could affect start-ups: Study Proliferation of connected devices and people is also resulting in an information overload
customer demands that start-ups are facing,” Greyhound Research Chief Analyst and CEO Sanchit Vir Gogia told reporters here. While start-ups understand the value of
information in creating and delivering unique customer experiences, few are able to utilise it effectively, he added. Nearly 60 per cent respondents said they
APP WORLD
Best video calling apps
are not able to turn the learnings into sizeable, actionable results and 10 per cent stated that information overload was making it even harder to make decisions, the study found. Organisations, big or small, must adopt a digital mindset and embrace datadriven attributes to predictively spot new opportunities, innovate in an agile way, demonstrate transparency and trust, deliver a unique and personalised experience and operate in real time, he said. As digital inclusion initiatives in India gather steam, traditional businesses must prepare for the onslaught of new customer demands while staving off disruption by agile start-ups that are able to natively leverage technology legacyfree, said Amit Mehta, Country Manager Isilon Storage Division at EMC India. On the other hand, “born-in-the-cloud” start-ups could learn a few lessons from traditional organisations in scaling these insights and putting in the right processes in place, he added. PTI
3G Video Calling
Android/IOS: Free These days, it’s all about 3G Video Calls. If you’ve got a smartphone, you’re likely holding a 3G Video Calls machine. And regardless of what your smartphone is running, it likely came with some built-in 3G Video Calls. But your smartphone if not built-in 3G Video Calls software you don’t worry this Application make video free Facetime. 3G Video Calls application you can make video calls easily by 3G network to connect with friends and family. Video Call on smartphones has come a long way and the tools available for Android have genuinely useful. In order to make a free call, you need to have app installed on your phone. While most smartphones come equipped with built-in app, they may not function across all platforms. So, if you’re looking to get on board with video chat for all phones, just try this app.
Vonage Mobile
Android/IOS: Free Use Vonage Mobile from up to five of your devices and get free texting and group messaging, free calls and free video chat on Android phones and tablets, along with iPhones, iPads and iPods. Choose your device, and get free text and group messaging, free calls, and free video chat with other Vonage Mobile users worldwide. The app works over Wi-Fi, 3G and 4G networks. You can also make low-cost international calls to all mobile numbers and landlines. Choose your device, and get great video call quality for face-to-face time with friends and loved ones with free video calling to other Vonage Mobile users worldwide – Android and iPhone users alike. It’s also easy to leave a Video Message. Record a video in app to leave as a message or select a pre-recorded video from your phone.
Start-Up programme launched in 14 states start-up enterprises in rural areas. “SVEP supports the rural start-up enterpreneurs by training them to choose the right enterprise to start and run it, making available loans thorugh Self Help Groups for starting the enterprise and subsequently linking them to banks for additional funds for expansion and supporting them for the initial six months of its business to ensure sustainability of the enterprise,” Rural
OUTWARD REMITTANCES
Development Minister Birender Singh told the Rajya Sabha in reply to questions. As per the provisions, the states initially carry out a baseline and market potential study of the blocks through approved Programme Implementing Agency for providing support to the start-ups, handholding and accessing finance to the enterpreneurs. The programme was announced in the 2014 Budget. Of the 17 states which evinced
VentureNursery unveils acceleration programme
NATION
CITY
Get your voice heard on NetaG P6
No damaged goods please P3
GRANDCHILDREN SUE THE COMPLETE MAN
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Dr Vijaypat Singhania’s grandchildren from his estranged son Madhupati have moved Bombay High Court seeking their share in ancestral property. They have filed a suit against their grandfather, father, mother and Raymond Limited. Detailed story on p7 TGS LIFE
When hunger strikes past midnight
NATION
CITY
Bakery worker’s daughter gets her wings P 12
Why are traffic cops taking selfies these days? P3
DITCH THE
AUTO,
HAIL A
CAB
GAUTAM SINGHANIA
Truly, a tree lady P4
or long distances (depending on their mood), overcharge or ask for obnoxious fares, often refuse to ply by meter – the list is endless. TGS Team members decided to give the ‘victimised’ autorickshaw drivers a chance. Five members of the team tried hiring rickshaws for distances ranging between 1.5 and 20 kms. All the members came
Intentions of Dr Singhania were ‘malafide and illegal’ with a motive to grab the share of Madhupati and Anuradha as well as grandchildren and to achieve the same he directed that his son and daughter-inlaw move to another country ‘instead of Collectively Pune Municipal continuing to stay in India with the family.
DEHU
6
Corporation, PimpriChinchwad Municipal Corporation and Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited have spent `1,816 crores on constructing dedicated corridors and flyovers along major routes, erecting bus shelters, and buying buses. Despite this not a single route is operational or has succeeded in years. Citizens residing in twin cities continue to cry foul over pathetic public transport system. And from the looks of it nothing is going to change in near future. See Spotlight on p8&9
said director of the school, who
Supriya Bhoite from Chaturshrungi police station. Contd on p4
CHINCHWAD BHOSARI
4 THERGAON HINJEWADI VILLAGE
KALEWADI FATA
WAKAD
DIGHI
NASHIK PHATA
5
LOHEGAON
DAPODI 50
PIMPLE GURAV
WAGHOLI
3 4 BANER
VISHRANT VIMAN WADI NAGAR YERWADA
AUNDH
2
SANGAMWADI PASHAN
AH47
WADGAON SHERI
MUNDHWA
SHIVAJI NAGAR
GHORPADI
9
BAVDHAN
CAMP
HADAPSAR
KOTHRUD
SWARGATE PARVATI
WANOWRIE
1
NANDED AMBEGAON BUDRUK
KONDHWA
UNDRI
KATRAJ
4
Had it not been for a Pune-based activist everybody had forgotten about a film on Lokmanya Tilak commissioned in 2001 by Central Government at the cost of 2.5 crores. Three years after Vishnu Kamalapurkar raised questions about the film,
fi led the FIR and kept in touch with “We are feeling the investigating officer and public prosecutor The director is let down by the PUNE, MARCH 14, 2015throughout. | www.thegoldensparrow.com yet to get a copy of the order. prosecution The case dates back to February 2013 when some of the students and the system. studying in class five walked up to their class teacher and alleged that It is upsetting their creative writing sir had touched because we do them inappropriately. The class teacher in turn informed the principal and not how to face management. School authorities spoke to several other students and the parents and found that 22 girls in all had levelled similar allegations. Director of the students who school approached Chaturshrungi came forward police station and lodged an FIR under the Protection of Children from to give their Sexual Offences Act (POCSOA). The investigation was carried out by statements.” DIRECTOR OF THE SCHOOL
ALANDI
AKURDI
RAVET
Sab golmal hai...
The creative writing teacher from a reputed school in Baner was booked and arrested in February 2013. A special court acquitted him on the grounds that police bungled up in collecting evidence
RITU GOYAL HARISH
CHIKHALI
KIWALENIGDI
~ Suit filed by the siblings
Precious man hours are lost every day at Hinjewadi just because planners forgot to make more entry and exit points. Over a decade after Hinjewadi was planned to house country’s best IT firms and talent, planners have finally woken up to the plight of citizens. They have now planned five alternative roads. But the authorities are in no hurry to complete them. See spotlight on p8 & 9
The case created ripples across the city. A teacher was accused of sexually abusing 22 students all from fi fth standard of a reputed school in Baner. In February 2013, Chaturshrungi police registered a case of sexual abuse against the creative writing teacher and arrested him immediately. Two years after the cops went all out to claim that they had a watertight case, the teacher has been acquitted by a Special Court. The court ruled that the prosecution made out a weak case. The management of the school and parents of students are not only disappointed but also irked with the outcome. “We are feeling let down by the prosecution and the system. It is upsetting because we do not how to face the parents and students who came forward to give their statements. We believe we were on the right,”
Parents teach them more than exams do P 10
`1,816 1,816 crores spent on BRTS,
~ Suit filed by the siblings
What a mess!
Teacher booked for sexually abusing 22 students acquitted
COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS
CITY
TGS LIFE
Hum Saath Saath Hain
And yet no respite for commuters
DR VIJAYPAT SINGHANIA
Madhupati Singhania (57) and his wife Anuradha (54) with their children Ananya (29), Rasaalika (26), Tarini (20) and Raivathari (18)
Rickshaw unions across the city want us to believe that private cab service providers or radio cab operators, as they are popularly known as, are villains. Around 12,000 radio cabs have made their lives miserable for 50,000-odd autorickshaw drivers in twin cities of Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad. The auto drivers want us to believe that corporate houses with deep pockets behind the cab services are eating into their share. Essentially poor rickshaw drivers are getting poorer because of stiff competition from private cab operators. All that the auto drivers are saying is true. But what they are not telling us or willing to concede is that their enemy lies within. Their enemy number one is not private cabs but members of their own ilk – many of whom are rude, refuse to ply short
While Gautam Singhania ‘in a span of 14 years as CMD of Raymond Limited has built a personal net worth of `1.4 billion, Madhupati belonging to the same family was struggling to settle down in a new country, educate his children and make a new life.’ Gautam and his family led a luxurious life ‘with fancy cars, private jets, yachts and expensive holidays.’
PICS ANIRUDDHA RAJANDEKAR
businesses to grow, she added. In a post, Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg said: “There s nothing small about small business, especially in India, one of the world s most important economies. Small and medium enterprises drive 40 per cent of India’s exports.” “There are more than two million small businesses in India with active Facebook pages. We want to help these
TGS LIFE
Run for... yourself
RAHUL RAUT
Social media giant Facebook, which has over two million Indian small and medium businesses (SMBs) on its platform, has set up a SME Council to help small ventures from various industries share feedback and discuss ideas around leveraging technology to grow their enterprise. Th is is the second SME Council set up by Facebook globally, the fi rst one being in the US. Over 45 million small businesses actively use Facebook Pages to connect to their consumers. “Small businesses are the backbone of India’s economy. From kirana stores to restaurants and online clothing sites, these businesses drive economic growth, create new jobs and enrich the lives of people across the country,” Facebook India Managing Director Kirthiga Reddy told PTI. Facebook is focussed on helping people connect, including giving them access to the Internet, and assisting
and all businesses grow by connecting them to customers across the globe,” she added. A group of leaders from different industries will meet Facebook team and help understand how the social media company can better serve the businesses that are creating jobs and opportunities for the people across India, she added. “To help businesses better connect with the people they care about, we are excited to announce the fi rst SME India Council in Asia-Pacific. The new council is a group of small business from various industries and geographies in India,” Reddy said. The Council will have members like Amruta Walvekar (Wrapistry), Anaka Narayanan (Brass Tacks), Anitha Nayak (Floured), Gautam Ivatury (MeraDoctor), Maya Chandrasekaran (Babajob.com), R Balakrishnan (GIO Adventures) and Vivek Iyer (English Dost), among others. The group will meet throughout the year to share feedback, discuss new ideas and work with Facebook to build better ads solutions. PTI
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ANIRUDDHA RAJANDEKAR
Facebook starts SME Council
THANK GOD IT’S S AT U R D AY
ANIRUDDHA RAJANDEKAR
VentureNursery, India’s premier angelbacked accelerator, has invited early stage start-ups from across the country to apply for Season 9 of its acceleration program. The 13-week intensive program will include mentoring by experienced members of the accelerator, VentureNursery said. A maximum of three start-ups will be chosen after a five-stage rigorous selection process. Only start-ups that are at the inception stage and are focused on solving a urgent and pervasive customer need will be considered. Once selected, the budding entrepreneurs will get access to advice from VentureNursery’s 30 members, it said in a release. They will also get to tap resource pool of VentureNursery’s Mentorsin-Residence drawn from business, in marketing and finance, strategy and execution to technology, it said. PTI
Over 45 million small businesses use Facebook Pages to connect to their consumers
interest in the scheme, 14 were accorded approval where the scheme began last month in 40 blocks. Singh said the states were asked to identify what kind of enterpreneurship they require. The enterpreneurs will later also be linked with Centre’s ambitious MUDRA programme to make their ventures sustainable, he said. PTI
advance, and second instalment was to be released after completion of certain formalities. The very next year second instalment was also disbursed. Cut to October 2012 – Kamalapurkar fi led an RTI with chief public information officer (CPIO) of Ministry of Culture seeking information about the fi lm on Tilak. The CPIO was clueless about the project and sought information from his colleagues in other department in the same ministry. But none of
ANIRUDDHA RAJANDEKAR
NEW DELHI: Seeking to give a boost to rural economy, government has rolled out a ‘Start-Up’ programme in 40 blocks across 14 states to train and support 1.82 lakh enterpreneurs over a period of four years with an estimated cost of Rs 484 crore. “The Start-Up Village Enterpreneurship Programme, a sub scheme under the National Rural Livelihood Mission (SVEP) is being implemented through states to promote to
ANIRUDDHA RAJANDEKAR
Indian start-ups may be growing at a blazing pace but they are often unable to optimise information due to lack of planning and workload constraints, says a study. According to the study by Greyhound Research commissioned by technology firm EMC India, technology is helping start-ups deliver unique and personalised experiences compared to mid and large-sized enterprises. However, proliferation of connected devices and people is also resulting in an information overload. “Business agility is the key business attribute that is allowing startups to disrupt traditional industries. “Access on multiple platforms across web and mobile (82 per cent), 24x7 support and connectivity (65 per cent) and personalised experiences (62 per cent) are the top
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Hum
of the fi lm. Vishnu Kamalapurkar, Pune-based activist, sought details of the project in 2012 from the Central Government only to be told that they had no records left, the concerned ministry had been wound up, and that fi lm-maker could not be traced. Essentially, the government acceded that it had been duped of `2.5 crores, the sum that was transferred to the fi lm-maker. It has taken Kamalapurkar three years since he sought details about the fi lm under Right to Information Act to get the government to launch a fullfledged investigation. Dhumale has
receiving his RTI finally been traced by the government with the help of police and claims that the fi lm will be released in “next two to four months”. He still hasn’t answered several questions raised by the government about the script and the star cast. It all started in December 2001, when Commemoration Bureau under the Ministry of Tourism and Culture commissioned a fi lm on Lokmanya Tilak. A sum of Rs 1.25 crores was paid to Dhumale immediately as an
Saath Saath
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A family that prays together stays together. Pune’s joint families on why they agree to disagree
TGS takes a night trail around the city to look for places that will silence a grumbling tummy in the dark of night
The Kamdars
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Puneites are running to fight depression, lethargy, even physical disadvantage. Marathoners are taking over the street and making the city fitter than it has ever been
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“The prime minister talks of cooperative federalism but there is huge difference in words and deeds. Allocation to agriculture ministry had come down and the government has not provided proper compensation to the farmers affected by drought.” — Jyotiraditya Scindia, Congress MP
25 per cent of foodgrain waste leading to price rise India is the largest producer of pulses at 19.5 million tonnes. The country is also the largest importer of pulses at 3.5 million tonnes
Onion and pulses prices soar periodically in India and that too ahead of elections bringing tears to common man and deny much needed protein to the poor. This happens despite the fact that the production has increased substantially in the country. Onion production has doubled in the last 7-8 years to 190 lakh tonnes. The pulses production might not have grown that rapidly but India is the largest producer of pulses at 19.5 million tonnes. The country is also the largest importer of pulses at 3.5 million tonnes. In onion, the wastage is around 30-40 lakh tonnes every year. The shortfall during years of crop failure or destruction of standing onion crops due to floods or unseasonal rails is usually not more than 10 lakh tonnes. When this shortfall is not bridged prices skyrocket and political parties take advantage of it. Sometimes shortfall is engineered to manipulate prices. If only the country manages to save just 25- 30 per cent of the wastage through better cold storage facility, the supply can be regulated preventing spurt in prices. Unfortunately this
MPCC President Ashok Chavan and Manikrao Thackrey participate in a protest against the anti farmers policy of the BJP government during the Winter Session of Maharashtra State Assembly in Nagpur
Reasons for rising retail prices NEW DELHI: Hoarding, rising transportation cost and a lack of production are the main reasons behind rise in retail prices of pulses in the country, government said. “There has been a rise in the retail prices of pulses over the year. The main reason is the reduced availability following a decline in production of pulses from 19.25 million tonnes in 2013-14 to 17.20 million tonnes in 2014-15 on account of adverse weather conditions,” he told the Lok Sabha. He said the other factors responsible for high prices of pulses are hoarding, rise in transportation cost and black-marketing. 14 state governments have carried out 14,134 raids resulting in the seizure of 1,30,606 tonnes of pulses. Paswan said countries like Canada, Africa and Myanmar which used to export pulses to India were also facing production shortfall. does not happen in the country as it prevents traders and political bosses to reap benefit from price manipulations.
Srinagar girls go on tour despite threat
In the case of pulses the problem is more complex. India is the only country which consumes huge quantity
of pulses as it is perhaps the major source of cheap protein, particularly for vegetarians. There is no incentive for farmers to increase production of pulses unlike in rice and wheat where minimum support prices is increased substantially disproportionate to the increase in input costs. This disincentivise farmers from producting pulses as there is also no proper procurement policy for pulses like in the case of food grains, where the country has stocks, which is three times more than the buffer required to meet any contingency at around 60 million tonnes. One of the reasons the BJP lost the recent Bihar assembly elections is because of the soaring prices of pulses, which touched Rs 200 a kilo. Rightly government has thought of creating a buffer now for pulses. The agriculture ministry has decided to create a buffer of 50,000 tonnes of pulses using the market stablisation fund. The new pulses crop start coming into the market from January and government would create the buffer initially through imported pulses from. It will state in January with import of 10,000 tonnes. This makes sense as when India imports huge quantity during shortage global prices of pulses soar as it happened recently. The prices of imported pulses, which was around $700 per tonne in August rose to $1900 a tonne in Octoer when India imported huge quantity to meet the shortfall to stablise prices. PTI Feature
PARLIAMENT PEDAL PUSHER
last week. The 10-day tour to Delhi and Agra, which will introduce the children to diverse cultural, socioeconomic and historical dimensions of the country, was flagged off from Badami Bagh Cantonment by Major General Mukesh Kumar, 31 Sub Area Commander yesterday, the defence spokesperson said. “The children are accompanied by two lady teachers from school faculty besides Army persons and some of their spouses,” he said. The itinerary includes visits to premier educational institutions including IIT Delhi, Delhi University, Miranda House, Jesus & Mary College and Maulana Azad College, he said. The students will also get an opportunity to visit heritage monuments like Qutub Minar, Humayun Tomb, Lal Qila, Taj Mahal, Agra Fort and Rail Museum. PTI
Vol-II* lssue No.: 26 Editor: Yogesh Sadhwani (Responsible for the selection of news under the PRB Act, 1867) Printed and Published by: Shrikant Honnavarkar on behalf of Golden Sparrow Publishing Pvt. Ltd. CIN:U22200PN2014PTC151382 and printed at PRI – Media Services Private Limited CIN: U22222MH2012PTC232006 at Plot No. EL-201, TTC Industrial Area, MIDC, Mahape, Navi Mumbai. Golden Sparrow Publishing Pvt. Ltd. 1641, Madhav Heritage, Tilak Road, Pune-411 030, Tel: 020-41220010.
UP tops list of food sample adulteration Over Rs 10.93 crore penalty has been imposed in 2,795 cases, while culprits have been convicted in 1,402 cases NEW DELHI: One out of every five samples of food items tested by public food safety labs in the country has been found “adulterated and misbranded”, with maximum in Uttar Pradesh followed by Punjab and Madhya Pradesh. Over Rs 10.93 crore penalty has been imposed in 2,795 cases, while culprits have been convicted in 1,402 cases so far this year, according to the testing report of public laboratories released by the Food Safety Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). As per the report compiled by the state governments, food safety labs received 83,265 samples, of which 74,010 were tested till November 24 of 2015. Out of the tested samples, the labs found 14,599 samples were “adulterated and misbranded”, the data showed. A maximum 4,119 samples were found adulterated and misbranded in Uttar Pradesh, followed by Punjab (1,458), Madhya Pradesh (1,412), Gujarat (1,243), Maharashtra (1,162) and Tamil Nadu (1,047). The penalty of Rs 10.93 crore has been imposed in 2,795 cases, and maximum fine of Rs 5.98 crore was imposed for cases reported in Uttar
Pradesh. As many as 2,676 criminal cases and 7,860 civil suits were registered, of which convictions were reported in 1,402 cases, the report added. Issues related to quality of food and FSSAI came into the limelight after it imposed the ban on Maggi in June this year, which was later lifted by the Bombay High Court. In August this year, the Supreme Court junked the FSSAI’s advisory that asked manufacturers to get clearance for products even if the ingredients were already approved or deemed safe. The government is also mulling Rs 1,750-crore proposal to strengthen central food regulator FSSAI as well as state bodies. PTI
Govt is also mulling Rs 1,750-cr proposal to strengthen FSSAI
Health club banned from playing music NEW DELHI: The National Green Tribunal has termed loud music from gyms located in residential areas as source of “nuisance” and restrained a health club in East Delhi from playing music in and around it. A bench headed by Justice UD Salvi, which had earlier issued notices to the Delhi Pollution Control Committee and assistant commissioner of police, warned the gym that “if the use of amplifying system is not stopped, coercive measures shall be resorted to”. “We do see reason in the premise that the excitement caused by the sound/music amplifying system is the source of nuisance which cannot go hand in hand with the exercise for which the gym is meant for. “We therefore, injunct Respondent no 5 (gym) from using any amplifier for music system in the gym or in any premises around it,” the bench said.
The green panel was hearing a plea by East Delhi residents seeking directions for closure of Body Mechanics Gym and Spa Centre in Ram Vihar alleging it was creating noise pollution in the area. “The gym and spa plays very loud music on power amplifiers which generates a lot of noise that irritates the inhabitants and causes vibration in the wall. “Besides this, 50 to 100 vehicles are being parked on the road and on the pedestrian path which obstructs the way of the vehicles and pedestrians resulting air pollution and noise pollution,” the plea, filed through advocate Sachin Jain, said. The residents have further stated that they approached the statutory authorities “number of times” to take appropriate steps against the “erring” gym for causing pollution but no effective steps have been taken till date. PTI
East Delhi residents allege the club is creating pollution
Union Minister for Human Resource Development, Smriti Irani with the girl students from Government Schools of Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, in New Delhi
SRINAGAR: Ignoring the warning of women’s outfit Dukhtaran-e-Millat (DeM), a group of 30 girl students from various schools here have embarked on an Army-sponsored educational tour. “Towards its commitment for better education of youth in general and women empowerment in particular, the Army on Saturday embarked on an educational tour for 30 girl students of various Higher Secondary Schools of Srinagar,” a Defence spokesperson said here. The tour of the girl students comes five days after DeM chief Asiya Andrabi warning the parents to desist from sending their girls on such tours. “It is shameful and deplorable on part of those parents who have consented and enrolled class 11th and 12th daughters for the Army tour. I am not appealing to these parents but warning them to desist from such activities,” Andrabi said in a statement
Shiv Sena blames coalition partner BJP for price rise P 13
Rajya Sabha MP KTS Tulsi arrives on a cycle at parliament during the Winter Session in New Delhi on Tuesday
New Delhi adopts Odd-Even formula The government will only allow emergency vehicles like PCR vans, fire tenders, ambulances to run on roads in the national capital
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said that the government would discontinue the move after 10 to 15 days if people faced problems. “On Monday, Wednesday and Friday, odd numbered vehicles will be allowed on roads in a week. “Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday will have even numbered vehicles on roads, and we don’t care about which cars belonged to whom,” Jain said. The minister said that the government will only allow emergency vehicles like PCR Van, Fire tenders, ambulance to run on roads in the
national capital. “Odd-Even formula will also be applicable on all ministers and officers. I will also use my car on alternate days and will use carpooling service on other days,” Jain said. The minister has also sought people’s suggestions on the government’s odd-even formula. People can send their suggestions to mailto:pollutionfreedelhi@gmail.com, he said. “Pollution level has gone up in winter in Delhi. Due to heavy smog, such a situation has emerged that people are being advised against going for exercise,” he said. Jain also said that the government also will do something about rampant use of generators by companies in the national capital which also contribute to pollution. “We will soon discuss this issue in a meeting,” Jain said. PTI
CJI endorses plan on vehicles
Lt Governor Najeeb Jung talks with Dy CM Manish Sisodia as Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal looks on in New Delhi
NEW DELHI: Chief Justice of India T S Thakur virtually endorsed the Delhi government’s decision to allow plying of private vehicles bearing odd and even registration numbers on alternate days to lower pollution levels, saying it can be followed “if it helps in reducing” the problem. Amid criticism of the policy to be implemented from January one, Justice Thakur said the problem was grave and drastic measures are needed to curb it. When asked whether the apex court judges follow the policy and sacrifice by resorting to car pooling to reach the court, the CJI said, “we would love to do so if it helps reduce pollution”.
THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY DECEMBER 12, 2015
“The Pentagon is deploying a specialised operations force which would over time conduct unilateral operations in Iraq and Syria as part of US military campaign against the Islamic State (IS).” — Ash Carter, US Defence Chief
SDYM enters Garden City cricket league final P 14
Beijing’s air turned from ‘very unhealthy’ to ‘hazardous’ BY KJM VARMA
BEIJING: Half of smog-hit Beijing’s 5.5 million private cars were kept off the roads, with the Chinese capital enforcing its first-ever red alert for pollution as air in the city of over 22 million people turned “hazardous” and schools and construction sites remained shut. Beijing’s air turned from “very unhealthy” to “hazardous” as PM 2.5 - particulate matter with size equal to or less than 2.5 micron and the main gauge to identify pollutant particles in the air - touched 365 compared to the previous day’s 256 level. A grey haze hung over the city at a time when crucial climate talks have entered their final phase in Paris. According to the Beijing Municipal Environmental Monitoring Centre, heavy smog will linger until Thursday. It is expected to disperse on Thursday afternoon as a cold front arrives. Under the red alert, the highest in the four-tier emergency response system created in 2013, all schools have been ordered to be closed, and outdoor construction halted. The red alert, Beijing’s first ever, was issued yesterday will last from 7 am today to noon on Thursday. Officials have also clamped restrictions
A man takes a picture of a child near Tiananmen Square on a heavily polluted day in Beijing. Schools in the Chinese capital kept students indoors and parents brought their kids to hospitals with breathing ailments
on factories and traffic. The reading of the PM 2.5 the Particulate matter in the air at the US Embassy Beijing Air Quality Monitor showed 365 this morning. According to the US embassy classification, anything beyond 300 is categorised ‘hazardous’, warranting people to take preventive measures like
avoiding outdoor exposure. Car use will be limited during the red alert period as cars are allowed on the roads on alternating days depending on the odd or even numbers of their license plates. In addition, 30 per cent of government cars will be banned from streets on an odd/even basis.
The Al Fursan aerobatic team of the United Arab Emirates’ air force performs a stunt at the World Air Games in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The World Air Games includes precision aerobatics, skydiving and hot air balloon competitions
‘Sri Lanka will never sign CEPA with India’ COLOMBO: Sri Lanka will never sign the long- pending CEPA with India mooted during the previous Mahinda Rajapaksa regime, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe told parliament but said Colombo will instead enter into a new economic and technology pact with its neighbour next year. Wickremesinghe’s clarification in the Sri Lankan parliament came a day after trade union of state doctors -- Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA) -- claimed that the government is trying to sign the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with India under a new name. “Our government will never sign the CEPA agreement under any circumstance, and that it won’t be signed under another name,” he said and lashed out at GMOA for “misleading its members and the public” by making baseless statements. He said the government does
not agree with the clauses that were included in CEPA by Rajapaksa government and the “harmful” agreement has been completely removed. He said the government will instead enter into an economic and technical cooperation agreement (ETCA) with India that is favorable to Sri Lanka. Wickremesinghe said the new pact will replace CEPA. The ETCA will not have most of CEPA features which were seen as inimical to Sri Lankan interests, he said, adding that the new pact will create employment opportunities for hundreds of thousands of unemployed youth in the country.
The restriction of car use is expected to push an extra two million passengers onto public transport per day. Beijing will add 21,000 to 25,000 buses, including 8,182 clean-energy buses, to the roads from today, officials said. Few students showed up at the Beijing No. 2 Experimental Primary School as the school sent out text messages giving them the choice of either staying home or coming to school. He Jinglong, a physical education teacher of the affiliated school of Beijing Jiaotong University, led students in indoor exercise yesterday. “We designed a set of exercises specially for smoggy weather to keep students fit,” He was quoted as saying by state-run Xinhua news agency. The Beijing Education Commission issued a notice last night asking all middle, primary schools and kindergartens to suspend classes during the red alert period. The air quality in Beijing in every winter suffers as the city operates dozens of massive coal fired heaters to keep millions of homes warm, but add to the industrial, vehicular pollution besides burning of agricultural waste in the outskirts. PTI
Nepal to amend Constitution BY SHIRISH B PRADHAN KATHMANDU: Top leaders of Nepal’s three major parties decided to amend the new Constitution within the next three months to address the demands of Indian-origin Madhesis even as a tripartite dialogue with them was put off as the agitating leaders did not turn up. The senior leaders of ruling CPNUML and UCPN-Maoist, and main opposition Nepali Congress made the decision at a crucial meeting held at the Prime Minister’s official residence in Baluwatar to resolve the ongoing political crisis in the country. Top leaders, including Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli, Nepali Congress president Sushil Koirala and UCPN-Maoist chief Prachanda, agreed to proceed with the Constitution Amendment Bill registered at the
Parliament and resolve the issues regarding the demarcation of federal units within three months. Two major demands of the agitating Madhesi groups -proportionate representation and allocation of Parliament seats on the basis of population -- are incorporated in the constitution amendment bill proposed by previous Nepali Congress led government. In the meeting, the parties discussed issues relating to blockade of key trade points at the border with India, ongoing agitation in the southern Nepal and ways to address the concerns of the agitating Madhesi parties. The discussion of the major parties also focussed on making a common stance on the demands put forth by the Madhes-based parties, according to Nepali Congress sources. PTI
Upendra Yadav, a leading ethnic Madhesi protest leader, speaks in parliament in Kathmandu, Nepal
Gurdwara vandalised in US
WORLD AIR GAMES, DUBAI
Colombo will instead enter into a new economic and technology pact with India next year
PUNE
The Prime Minister’s statement followed yesterday’s statement by Foreign Trade Minister Malik Samarawickrema that the framework agreement would be signed in January. There will be negotiations lasting 5 to 6 months, Wickremesinghe clarified. The government will hold discussion with trade unions and political parties and will seek the approval of the Cabinet before finalising any agreement, he said. India emerged as Sri Lanka’s largest trading partner in 2012, accounting for 20 per cent of that country’s imports and 5.6 per cent of exports. PTI
Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, left, and Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena review an honor guard during a welcome ceremony in Bangkok
LOS ANGELES: In the wake of the California massacre by a radicalised Muslim couple, a Gurdwara in a suburb here has been vandalised with hateful anti-ISIS graffiti. The Gurdwara Singh Sabha’s board members and community members said in the early hours of December 6, the Gurdwara in Buena Park, a suburb of Los Angeles, along with a community member’s truck in the parking lot were vandalised. “We are concerned about the safety and security of our community members. We are of the opinion that this is a hate crime and that this is a direct result of a possible backlash from the San Bernardino killings,” said Inderjot Singh, president of Sikh Gurdwara in Buena Park. The Gurdwara’s members reported the crime to the Buena Park Police Department and are actively cooperating with law enforcement officials probing the incident. “The Gurdwara was vandalised
Partition museum project kick-starts in UK BY ADITI JEHANNA LONDON: A new 1 million pound project to set up a museum in Amritsar dedicated to the history of India’s Partition has been kick-started with a series of brainstorming sessions in the UK. A meeting in a room in the House of Lords complex brought together a group of historians, authors and academics this week to explore the span and scope of the Partition Museum Project, which was launched in India in August. “We are creating a people’s museum, in which we will focus greatly on oral histories, apart from public and private documents. We therefore require information on Partition survivors as well as documentation. “We are working with institutions both in India and the UK,” said Kishwar Desai, chair and trustee of the Arts and Cultural Heritage Trust, which initiated the project. Through this project, we hope to eventually create a physical space that will be a memorial to the personal and human tragedies of this event, a commemoration of the resilience of people that migrated, a reminder of the need for continuous dialogue,” she said. PTI
during Sunday early hours and a hateful graffiti was seen on the walls of the Gurdwara and also a truck parked in the parking lot. The graffiti included the phrase, “F*** ISIS,” and the words “Islam” and other reference of gangs,” Washington-based Sikh Council on Religion and Education said in a statement. The Gurdwara is attended by over 800 community members on a weekly basis. The White House, which was informed about the incident, has forwarded the incident to the Department of Homeland Security to investigate. “The Sikh community across the nation is in a heightened state of alert and is deeply troubled by this latest incident. We are appealing to all Sikh place of congregation to be in
touch with the local law enforcement agencies as well with the elected officials,” Dr Rajwant Singh of the Sikh Council on Religion and Education said. Singh also expressed concern over the recent anti-Muslim rhetoric by the contenders of American presidency. “This will directly result in elevated level of violence against minority religions in America and particularly the Sikhs. We are fearful that this kind of hate speech against Muslims with engulf Sikhs and members of the Muslim community across the nation,” he said. “We believe that the Gurdwara Singh Sabha was vandalised because it is a Sikh house of worship,” Rights group Sikh Coalition’s Senior Staff Attorney Gurjot Kaur said. PTI
The gurdwara was attended by 800 members every week
US backs reduction of Indo-Pak tension BY LALIT K JHA WASHINGTON: The US has said it supports “any and all positive steps” India and Pakistan take to reduce tensions and engage in dialogue as it welcomed their NSA-level talks in Bangkok. “We welcome reports of the meeting between Indian and Pakistani officials. “We support any and all positive steps India and Pakistan can take to reduce tensions, engage in dialogue, and forge closer relations,” a State Department spokesperson said. “The normalisation of relations between India and Pakistan is vital to both countries and the region,” the spokesperson said when asked about the talks between the National Security Advisors of India and Pakistan in Bangkok. The talks that lasted for four hours was attended by the foreign secretaries of the two countries. The State Department also welcomed that Pakistan is hosting the Heart of Asia Summit this week in Islamabad, which among others would be attended by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and
Afghan President Ashraf Ghani. “We are pleased that Pakistan is hosting the Heart of Asia Summit. We are also encouraged that President Ghani, Indian Minister of External Affairs Swaraj, and other senior officials will be attending,” the official said. “The meeting is an opportunity for the United States and all participating countries to discuss our shared commitment to a stable, peaceful, and prosperous Afghanistan,” the spokesperson said in response to a question. Deputy Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Special US Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Richard Olson will represent the US in the fifth meeting of the Heart of Asia process in Islamabad. The US had earlier welcomed the brief meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif in Paris on sidelines of the UN climate summit, saying it “always welcomes these kinds of exchanges and dialogue between India and Pakistan”. PTI
THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY DECEMBER 12, 2015
PUNE
MONEY MATT ER S
“A large part of government revenues needs to go to fund social sector programmes for poverty alleviation in a country where over 30 per cent of people live below the poverty line.” — Arun Jaitley, Finance Minister
Signposts ‘Watching borrowings of large corporates’ The Reserve Bank of India is maintaining a database which is being shared among banks to avoid over-borrowing by large corporate houses, RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan said. “Moderation is required and some debt is good and not too much. Avoid overborrowing to avoid problems,” Rajan said at the Presidency University. Rajan said RBI has a database of large borrowers whose status of borrowings is shared among banks. Acknowledging that Indian banks have the right kind of leveraging, he added that “those who said the banks have no capital requirements are not sensible”.
Fitch keeps India’s rating at ‘BBB-’, outlook ‘stable’ The rating agency said private banks are in a better position to take advantage of the economic recovery
Fitch Ratings on Monday affirmed India’s rating at ‘BBB-’,— the lowest investment grade — with a stable outlook, saying strong medium-term growth outlook and favourable external finances balance out weak structural features, including its business environment. “India’s sovereign ratings and a stable outlook balance a strong medium-term GDP growth outlook and favourable external finances, including a strong foreign reserves buffer, with a high government debt burden and weak structural features, including a difficult - but improving - business environment,” Fitch Ratings said in a statement. BBB- is just a notch above the ‘junk’ status. “The stable outlook reflects Fitch’s view that upside and downside risks to the ratings are balanced,” it said. The sovereign rating and outlook for a country are often referred to as key parameters by foreign investors and global bodies to gauge its investment climate. Fitch forecast that India’s GDP growth will accelerate to 7.5 per cent in the current fiscal and further to 8 per cent in 2016-17 supported by the government’s beefed-up capex spending and gradual implementation of a broad-based structural reform agenda. “India’s positive GDP growth outlook stands out globally. The RBI policy rate cuts of 1.25 per cent in total in 2015 are also likely to contribute to higher GDP growth even though monetary transmission is impaired by relatively weak banking sector balancesheets,” it added. Indian economy expanded at 7.3 per cent in the previous fiscal. Of the 1.25 per cent RBI rate cut, banks have so far passed on up to 0.60 per cent to borrowers. Fitch said the government continues to steadily roll out its ambitious structural reforms agenda, including recent
China’s BO peaks at USD 6.3 billion BY KJM VARMA
China’s 2015 box office sales hit the record high of USD 6.3 billion, growing more than 48 per cent from the same period last year, official data showed amid allegations that theatres held empty “phantom shows” to inflate box office revenues to get better TV rights. It is the fi rst time box office sales in China stated to be the world’s second largest fi lm market reached such a high milestone, China’s State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television (SARFT) said today. The USD 6.3 billion puts Chinese fi lm industry next to Hollywood stated to be around US 10.35 billion and far above the estimated USD 2.20 billion of revenue of Bollywood and Indian fi lm industry in general. The SARFT said China’s domestic fi lms pulled in USD 3.95 billion accounting for more than 59 per cent of the total box office
“India is a very important market for us. It is the second largest for us after China. In the next few years, we hope to have 10 million businesses from India on our platform.” —T Leung, head, Alibaba.com Global Business Development
earnings. Among the top 10 earners during the recording period, domestic fi lms, including the live action animation “Monster Hunt” and the animation “Monkey King: Hero is Back,” took six spots. Foreign productions that made the top 10 list include “Furious 7,” “Avengers: Age of Ultron,” “Jurassic World” and “Mission: ImpossibleRogue Nation.” While officials claimed miraculous growth, official media reports earlier said theatres claimed houseful shows in the wee hours in the computer systems to claim higher gross revenues. “The purpose of these screenings is to inflate box-office receipts of the fi lm,” state run China Daily said in a report in October this year, casting doubts on the claims of record box office earnings. A state run Xinhua news agency report said that China’s fi lm market has posted an average growth of 30 per cent year on year since 2003. PTI
USD 6.3 billion puts the Chinese film industry next to Hollywood
Govt may delay fiscal plan again
new measures that may improve the business environment, including changes in the foreign direct investment regime. Fitch also said decline in government debt burden, improved business environment through reforms, higher growth, investments and controlled inflation would lead to positive rating action. However, a deviation from the fiscal consolidation path, deterioration in the banking sector’s asset quality, higher inflation and widening of current account deficit could lead to a negative rating action, Fitch warned. Credit growth of banking sector may moderate further in the current financial year as worsening asset quality coupled with capital constraints were acting as impediments, according to ratings agency, Fitch. The rating agency said private banks are in a better position to take advantage of the economic recovery. “The recovering GDP growth outlook is a positive and should bode well for the sector, and large private banks are distinctly better placed in leveraging a rebounding economy,” according to Fitch Ratings. PTI
‘Sebi does not need to ration number of IPOs’ With the country’s primary market seeing a record uptrend in four years, Sebi chairman U K Sinha said the market regulator does not need to “ration” the number of initial public offers (IPOs). “There are certain countries that do some sort of a rationing for IPOs and I think they have disastrous consequences. India does not do that,” Sinha told reporters here on the sidelines of a corporate governance event organised by industry body CII. “We don’t impose such limits on IPOs so that the secondary market can grow,” he said, adding that companies go for public issues based on macro economic conditions. Recognising that primary market is in an upbeat mood, Sinha observed that the number of IPOs this fiscal has already surpassed those in the previous years. “Between 2011-13, Rs 16,000 crore worth of draft red herring prospectus were fi led with Sebi and then they lapsed. Today, that is not the case. Today larger and larger number of corporates are coming,” he said. “Our job is to ensure that correct disclosures are made and I think we have deep vibrant market and all FPIs and large funds are registered so we don’t need rationing of IPOs,” he noted. PTI
MUMBAI: Managing fiscal arithmetic after implementing seventh pay panel recommendations will be a challenge and there is a “real possibility” of Finance Minister Arun Jaitley delaying the fiscal consolidation plan again, Fitch said. “The main issue for the budget will be fiscal issue, how are they going to manage the 0.5 per cent extra wage bill. Also, it would be interesting to see what the medium term fiscal consolidation looks like,” the ratings agency’s director Thomas Rookmaaker told reporters here. When asked if there is a possibility of the roadmap to achieve 3 per cent fiscal deficit target by FY18 being deferred, Rookmaaker said, “I think it’s a possibility. There would be some tough choices to be made by the government in the next budget, part of the choice will be the fiscal consolidation programme. Yeah, that’s a real possibility. They have done it (in the past).” In his fi rst full budget presented in February, Jaitley had announced that he will concentrate on growth and put off the fiscal consolidation plan.
27 cases of fund misappropriation by NGOs The government has referred 17 cases of alleged misutilisation and misappropriation of foreign contribution by NGOs to CBI while 10 cases were given to the state police, Lok Sabha was told. Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju said complaints of alleged misutilisation and misappropriation of foreign funding by NGOs are routinely received from general public as well as security agencies. “After inspection and scrutiny of accounts, 17 cases have been referred to CBI and 10 to state police for further action,” he said replying a written question. Rijiju said accounts of 23 NGOs have been frozen, 20 other NGOs have been prohibited from receiving contribution and registration of one NGO has been cancelled. “Notices were issued to 10,343 associations in 2014 for not fi ling annual returns continuously for three years. Consequently, registration of 10,117 associations was cancelled in March 2015 after issue of show cause notices to such associations and given them adequate opportunity,” he said. The Minister said as on December 1, 2015, 33,458 NGOs are registered under Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act 2010 and Rs 5,246 crore foreign funds were received by them during 2014-15 and Rs 13,052 crore in 2013-14. Rijiju said in order to make the receipt and utilisations of foreign contribution by NGOs transparent, all FCRA services online and also to make the existing FCRA forms simpler, it is proposed to amend the FCRA Rules 2011. PTI
Online hiring activity up by 53 per cent in Nov: Monster Monster Employment Index, a monthly gauge of the country’s online job demand, rose by 76 points to 220 in November this year from 144 previously
Online hiring activities in November grew by 53 per cent compared to the same month last year, led by the retail sector, according to a Monster.com report. Monster Employment Index, a monthly gauge of the country’s online job demand rose by 76 points to 220 in November this year from 144 in the corresponding period last year. “The Index for November 2015, exceeded by 53 per cent when compared to a muted growth in November last year. Th is is a reflection of increased positive business sentiment and faith on business potential from mid to long term perspective”, Monster.com (India, the Middle East, South East Asia and Hong Kong) Managing Director Sanjay Modi said. Emerging sectors such as e-commerce (along with retail) have dominated the market with the right kind of enthusiasm, he said. “That is one of the reasons why we see the retail sector achieving the strongest growth year-on-year. The government’s push towards health care reforms corroborates the most indemand occupation growth in the sector. “If we closely look at some of the other pivotal sectors such as infrastructure, power and manufacturing, those have not taken off
as expected, resulting in subdued job opportunities,” Modi pointed out. According to the report, industry year-over-year trends, online recruitment activity surpassed the year-ago level in 22 of the 27 industry sectors monitored by the Index. Retail led all industry sectors charting the steepest annual growth of 75 per cent from the year-ago period, the highest in the series. . However, the retail sector has been recording negative three-month growth successively since September 2015, indicative of slowdown in hiring activity in the recent months, it added. The oil, gas, petroleum and power sectors registered the steepest annual decline (down 8 per cent). The report further revealed that online demand exceeded the year-ago level in all 13 cities monitored by the Index. PTI
Emerging sectors such as e-commerce have dominated the market
Long weekend travel fast becoming a trend: survey The survey revealed that 62 per cent of the respondents preferred hill stations during a long weekend break, followed by beaches (54 per cent)
Travelling is no longer restricted to a once-a-year activity as more and more people are preferring long weekends to break the monotony of their usual schedules, according to a survey. Long weekend seems to be triggering travel plans, with more than half the respondents having travelled thrice or more on long weekends during the last one year, according to
a MakeMyTrip ‘Long Weekend Travel Trends India (2015)’ survey. The weeklong survey was conducted among 1,000 respondents via email. The survey revealed that 62 per cent of the respondents preferred hill stations during a long weekend break, followed by beaches (54 per cent). About 31 per cent respondents said they would prefer a historical destination for their weekend getaway, it said. “There has been a massive shift in consumer behaviour towards travelling over the years. Travel is no longer a once-a-year syndrome. People today like to indulge in frequent trips to break the monotony of their usual 9-to-6 schedules. Working
professionals especially look forward to extended weekends to socialise and indulge in fulfi lling their leisure travel aspirations,” MakeMyTrip Chief Business Officer - Holidays, Ranjeet Oak, said. The survey noted that despite being a short duration travel, people start make their long weekend travel plans fairly in advance, probably to beat the rush. 30 per cent of the respondents said they plan their travel only a week in advance, it said. Flights and trains are booked more than one month in advance, mostly due to cheaper rates and limited seats. However, bus and cab bookings are deferred to the last moment or done on the spot, the survey said.
More than 30 per cent respondents prefer to drive down in their own cars to the destination, it added. The survey also found that 44 per cent respondents take long weekend breaks lasting for four or more days, taking extra days off from work mainly with family and friends. However, nine per cent of the respondents prefer to travel solo on long weekends. About 62 per cent of long weekend travellers aged 25-39 years chose Goa as the most preferred destination for a short holiday, it found. Goa is followed by Jaipur in Rajasthan (21 per cent) and Agra in Uttar Pradesh (17 per cent) as the most popular destinations, the survey added. PTI
The beaches of Goa are the perfect destination for a relaxing vacation and holiday in India. Water sports and sea food are major attractions
THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY DECEMBER 12, 2015
PUNE
Our voices need to be heard
ENCHANTED VALLEY CARNIVAL
EVC is a music fest that offers you an unparalleled experience with an adventure in music! It’s not just another Music festival but is an amalgamation of music, camping and adventure sports put together in the scenic setting of the stunning Aamby Valley city, Fe s t i v a l arena.
PARTY WITH DJ AGNEL
Agnel showed his passion for music from the young age of 14, and has matured over the years from being the new kid on the block to an absolute
In 2015The festival is back on the 18th, 19th and 20th of December at Aamby Valley City, Pune with global superstars Tiesto and Fatboy Slim confirmed as headliners in what promises to be the biggest and most exciting festival to date. All in all, a multi-genre music festival that combines riveting performances, adrenalinepumping adventure sports and the best camping experience. When: December 18 to 20 Where: Aamby Valley, Lonavala
ENNUI.BOMB NIGHTS
Experience a fresh new wave of music at Arc Asia with ennui.BOMB featuring Shubhangi Joshi and Bianca Love. Shubhangi is a singersongwriter and poet based out of Mumbai, India. A self-taught guitarist since the age of twelve, her musical style is primarily a mix of acoustic, folk, and soft rock, with the occasional outlier that sounds nothing like the above. Bianca Love, born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana, is a vocalist and dabbles in genres such as R&B, Blues, Jazz, Soul, Gospel, Funk and Neo-Soul. When: December 12 Where: Arc Asia, Koregaon Park
AN ARTISTIC AFFAIR
The recent work of an accomplished Pune based artist M. Narayan depicts a zestful life capturing the ethos of India. Narayan captures two of its distinct aspects in this body of work. One is the contrasting world of the equestrian sport of polo that engages a few privileged in Urban India. The other is the rustic, humble people and life in the remote areas in India. The Pune based artist’s creative endeavor is aimed at capturing life in villages and hilly, forested areas of hit native in Karnataka. Scenes like the weekend market or mela, religious procession like the mylara jathra held every year February and local shrines are captured in his depiction. When: Till December 24 Where: The Westin, Koregaon Park
SOULSTUDIO
Get ready to indulge in a mesmerizing experience as Ishanya Art and Culture Club presents SoulStudio, a unique initiative to celebrate, nurture, revive and promote the love for India’s classical art and our rich heritage. The first edition of Soul Studio will be presenting an alluring array of workshops by Anup Joshi, an ace tabla player and by Sandeep H. Deshmukh, a master vocalist. The Ishanya Art and Culture Club has been instrumental in reviving and promoting art forms that have contributed significantly in building the Indian heritage thus providing them a platform to perform
and be appreciated. When: Decmber 12 and 13 Where: Ishanya Mall, Yerwada
When: December 12 and 13 Where: SM Joshi Hall, Navi Peth
SMITA PATIL DOCUMENTARY AND SHORT FILM FESTIVAL
Lost the Plot is hosting a weekend of Cineplays. On Sunday, they are screening Adhir Bhat and Bobby Nagra’s ‘Some Times.’ Paramjit Singh Duggal aka Pammi aka Doggie aka Parmeetay has problems bigger than his pet names. His father wants him to join the family business. But he has his friends, top class weed, an affinity for whisky and a great night-life. When: December 13 Where: Seasons Hotel, Aundh
On to its 4th year, Smita Patil Documentary and Short Film Festival received more than 165 films from 30 countries this year. Some of the shortlisted entries include Rochak Sahu’s A Bohemian Musician, Victor Perez’s Another Love and Christoph Von Toggenburg’s Alegria A Humanitarian Expedition. The screening will be followed by Award Ceremony.
CINEPLAY WEEKEND
TEJAS GAIKWAD
WEEK THAT WAS SHIV SENA BLAMES COALITION PARTNER BJP FOR PRICE RISE
TEJAS GAIKWAD
PIC
THE
EDITOR
LETTERS TO THE
Can’t believe that a mother would stage the abduction of her twomonth old son and sell the infant. Archana Sonawane is surely a disturbed person and as she was not getting along with her husband, she would stoop to selling her son for some money so that she could live apart from her husband. I think we live in really awful times when even motherhood has come to mean nothing at all. Does Archana have a heart or any feelings at all? Imagine what the little child would go through if her plan had worked? A woman is supposed to be gentle, kind and loving especially when it comes to her own children, but what Archana wanted to do borders on the monstrous. —Kedar Thungade
Soft targets for criminals The well-dressed chain snatcher who targets elderly women from upmarket residential areas brings into focus how vulnerable we still are despite Pune being regarded as a rather safe city. Elderly women out for a stroll on their own need not be wearing gold jewellery first of all. And don’t they know that they should not be talking to strangers, no matter how well spoken and decent they may seem. The fact is that Pune is a huge city and all kinds of people live here, including those who have no sources of income or jobs, and it is these people who are desperate enough to resort to crime and take advantage of unsuspecting people, like elderly women. The family members of such women should also prevent them from going out on their own and make sure that they remain in a safe zone always. —Shashika Bhupe
Write to Us
Letters to the Editor may be emailed to editor_tgs@goldensparrow.com, yogesh.sadhwani@goldensparrow.com or mail it to The Editor, Golden Sparrow Publishing Pvt Ltd, 1641 Madhav Heritage, Tilak Road, Pune-411030.
TRUCK CARRYING STOLEN LIQUOR WORTH RS 66 LAKH TRACED
A truck laden with liquor worth Rs 66 lakhs was stolen from Lonand in Satara District on Thursday, last week. In the wee hours of Sunday, sleuths attached to crime branch found the vehicle, still laden with 950 boxes of liquor, in Pune. The driver of the vehicle along with a history-sheeter were trying to find a buyer for the stolen goods when they were nabbed. The suspects have been identified as Dattatray Laxman Narute (31), a resident of Madanwadi in Indapur, and Shivaji Eknath Pondkule (32) of Parwadi in Baramati. Narute was the driver of the truck. The truck had been hired by Pernod Ricard, a liquor manufacturing company based in MIDC, Lonand.
Former Ambegaon sarpanch and working member of NCP, Dattaraya Ravikant Rasal (36), was hacked to death near Lonavla on Sunday night. This incident happened near Pale Shind Village, Dudhiware Khinda at around 8.30 pm on December 6. According to the Lonavla Dattaraya Ravikant Rasal Ashok Rajiwade Rural Police, Rasal was attacked while he was on way home on his bike with Lahu Shelke after attending a marriage party. The duo were assaulted by the NCP leader and present Ambegaon sarpanch Ashok Rajiwade, Vinayak Rajiwade, Balu Rajiwade and Manohar Rajiwade. The police have booked the four under IPC 302 and suspect political rivalry behind the murder.
This bike rider near Sangamwadi Bridge thinks his identity written on number plates is licence enough to drive on Pune roads
Is she a mother or a monster?
The Swargate area is one of the busiest and most congested in Pune, owing to the ST and PMPML bus stands, and because so many roads converge on this junction. Amidst all the chaos and confusion, there are so many people who blatantly park their twowheelers in no parking zones or on the pavements. And the traffic police seem to be too busy to take any action against the owners of these wrongly parked vehicles. But it is time that stringent action be taken against such vehicles because they are Sumit Dhamale obstructing the smooth flow of traffic in an already overcongested area, not to mention that with vehicles parked on the pavements, pedestrians are forced to walk through traffic. One of the solutions would be to create some spacious parking zones. Another solution will be to divert some of the traffic coming to Swargate to other roads. There does not seem to be any way that the congestion of vehicles in this area can be reduced as it is a conduit for people coming into the city as well as going out to the fringe areas like Katraj and Sinhagad, not to forget onward to Satara, Kolhapur, Goa, Mahabaleshwar, etc. The citizens should also co-operate and not park their vehicles haphazardly or in no parking zones or pavements. If the corporation, police and citizens all work together, the Swargate area can become easier to navigate through, compared to the hazardous and chaotic freefor-all that it has become.
NCP EXSARPANCH STABBED TO DEATH NEAR LONAVLA
OF
E WE K
Having supported BJP in the Lok Sabha polls and being in the coalition in Maharashtra, Shiv Sena has decided to cross swords with BJP over price rise. Sena has hit streets to protest about the rise in cost of living. Sena’s Pune wing launched ‘Varan-Bhaat Morcha’ at Pune’s Goodluck Chowk on December 9. They blame BJP-led Centre’s inaction to check rising prices. Former MLA and Sena city chief Vinayak Nimhan launched the protest and party’s Pune coordinator Vilas Sonawane said that peaceful methods like street plays and nukkad nataks will be organised over three days in the state. The campaign will end with a rally ending at the Collectorate on December 11.
Unruly parking compounds the chaos at Swargate
RAHUL RAHUL
showman. A party starter in the true sense DJ Agnel has carved a niche for himself among the top leading DJs. He has specialised in different styles of mixing, morphing various genres of music such as house, funky, progressive, tech, techno, electro, hip hop, Bollywood, Punjabi, retro etc. When: December 12 Where: BlueFrog, Ishanya Mall, Yerawada
Woman power
The feature on Pune women who have made their mark in whatever field of enterprise they have entered, highlights the fact that women are not inferior to men in any way. These women have showed that they are quite the equal of men when it comes to making a success of their endeavours. With the benefits of education and more importantly opportunity, women today are capable of playing a significant role in the welfare and progress of society and the world. The age when the man was the boss, in the home and outside of it, is long gone. In this age, when both the husband and wife are out earning a living, it is only fair that the women be treated as equal. Every woman featured in the article is a perfect example of the liberated and capable human being and shoulder to shoulder with the male, she is making the world a better place for herself and others. —Pramod Lande
Unfair to the fair sex The feature about women being denied entry to temples is a perfect example of carrying on with age-old traditions that should now be frowned upon and done away with. In today’s age when women are involved in every sphere of human activity, it is not becoming for civilised society to ban entry to women in temples, for as primitive a reason as because they are in the midst of their menstrual cycle. These are prehistoric and concepts that have no logical basis and the sooner we shed them the better it will be for society at large. But the truth is that India and the Indian people may have progressed in terms of the clothes they wear and the food they eat, but we are still a rather superstitious race, dogged by blind faith. It is laudable then that you have highlighted the fact that though outwardly modern we are still caught up in primitive rituals and beliefs. —Prathamesh Kaker
It’s all about the money The authorities who are in charge of running the Balewadi sports complex are twisting words to make things convenient for themselves. Vinod Tawde had stated that the sports arena would not be used for non-sporting activities. But the stadium is being rented out under the premise that it is okay as long as there is no food in the arena. Another reason is that the shooting range brings in higher revenues than those for sporting events. The authorities are ignoring the possibility that the shooting equipment may result in higher costs of maintenance of the sports complex. But then as they say, it’s all about the money. —Akshara Soothi
SPORTS
THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY DECEMBER 12, 2015
PUNE
“The only thing I can advise is that try to have right people around you, who know about the sport, who really support you and try to help you reach your best level.” — Rafael Nadal, Legendary Tennis Player
Signposts St Vincent’s win title in inter-school football St Vincent’s High School (Under-12), Loyola High School (Under-14) and JN Petit (Under-16) clinched titles in the Loyola Cup inter-school football tournament. St Vincent’s defeated JN Petit 6-0, while hosts Loyola registered a 4-1 win over Vidya Bhavan. Braces each from Navjot Singh and Suryan Ghatge helped Loyola overpower Bhavan. Loyola missed double crown as they went down to JN Petit 0-1 in the under-16 final.
PFC U-15, U-18 teams play goalless draws Ten-man Pune FC put on a brave show to play out a goal-less draw with local rivals DSK Shivajians FC in an U18 I-League encounter at the DSK Football Fields in Loni last week. Having shared the spoils in this crucial Maharashtra Zone, Round 7 encounter, Pune FC (GD +33) continue to lead the standings with 17 points ahead of Shivajians (17 pts, GD +29) going into the final game. Meanwhile, Pune FC’s under-15 side also played a goalless draw against Mumbai FC in the Youth League clash in Mumbai.
City players sparkle in national skating tourney City’s Shubh Gupta and Anish Birnale won the individual titles in the under-11 inline category of the National Roller Skating Championship held in Belgaum, officially known as Belagavi. Meanwhile, Siddhant Kamble of BMCC won three titles in the under-19 segment.
TGS NEWS SERVICE @TGSWeekly Talented junior Swapnil Kusale got the better of experienced shooters like Chain Singh and Olympics bronze medallist Gagan Narang to win the gold medal in the men’s 50-metre rifle prone event in the 59th National shooting championship at the Dr Karni Singh Range, Tughlakabad, last week. The 20-year-old Swapnil, who has been with the Central Railway and has lived in Pune for about a year, is supported by Lakshya and Sahyadri Industries, Indira Institute. It was a class act in the climax as he warded off the threat from two of the best rifle shooters who have won Olympic quota place for the Rio Games in prone and 3-position events. Swapnil, who owes his rapid strides in recent times to coach Deepali Deshpande, said that he was happy with the way he shot, both in the qualification in which he won the junior gold ahead of Ishan Goel and Akhil Sheoran, with 623.8, and the fi nal in the men’s event. Swapnil had shot 605.2
RAHUL RAUT
‘We can beat the Chinese’ Says city-based paddler Manthan Shah, who led Indian team and returned with two bronze medals from the recent School International Games in Australia BY ASHISH PHADNIS @phadnis_ashish Chinese table tennis players are a formidable lot. Their global dominance can be gauged from the fact that the Olympic table tennis format was changed after Beijing 2008, to stop China from winning all the medals. Manthan Shah, city-based paddler, led the Indian (under-18) team in the International School Federation table tennis tournament held in Australia last week. It was the first international exposure for Shah and after some initial glitches, he returned with two bronze medals. He said, “It was a great learning experience for me. When I first encountered the Chinese players, I was amazed by their speed and aggression. They were even using the backflip stroke effectively. You don’t see such strokes at the junior level in India. I must confess I was nervous and lost my first match 0-3. The other Indian, Jash Dalvi also lost his match rather tamely.” But Shah bounced back from his initial setback and also got over his fear of the Chinese counterparts. “I observed their style and realised that though they were fast, they were not very strong technically. They play to a pattern. If you block their good shots, they run out of ideas and that’s where we Indians got a chance. I used this strategy in my next match, and I was in a leading position. We were more experienced in handling the pressure at crucial stages,” he said. BETTER SUPPORT SYSTEM Highlighting differences between the Indians and Chinese, Shah said that Indian
Swapnil wins gold ahead of Gagan Narang City’s junior talent adds another medal after his Asian gold
“We have seen the potential of business in sports. For us Pune worked the best as it offered the best economic sense.” — Sanjeev Goenka, Pune IPL Team Owner
in the last World Championship and 615.9 in the International Junior Cup in Suhl this year. It was National Games gold medallist Chain who was leading after 16 shots in the final, but Swapnil came up with shots of 10.5, 10.4 to get ahead by 0.9 point, which proved the difference in the end, as both the shooters had the same total of 20.1 on the last two shots. Chain, trying a new kit, said that he was happy for the young lad and Gagan Narang echoed the sentiment that it would motivate the junior for the future. Defending champion Hariom Singh settled for the fourth place ahead of Ishan Goel, Surendra Singh Rathod and Sushil Ghaley (628.7) who had topped qualification, and Shamsher Singh Bhandari. Former national champion Rakesh Manpat missed the fi nal by 0.1 point, while Joydeep Karmakar who had placed fourth in the London Olympics was 12th with a total of 618.8. The results: Men: 50m rif le prone: 1. Swapnil Kusale 206.4 (623.8); 2. Chain Singh 205.5 (623.4); 3. Gagan Narang 184.2 (627.2).; Juniors: 1. Swapnil Kusale 623.8; 2. Ishan Goel 621.0; 3. Akhil Sheoran 615.4. tgs.feedback@ goldensparrow.com
players are not too inferior to the Chinese in terms of technique and skill. But the Indians need a better support system, which really matters at the international level. “In age group matches, Indian and Chinese players are more or less on the same level. Our under-12 team defeated China to win gold, while we struggled, but hauled in a bronze. The gap gets wider at the youth level and they become dominant. If our players had a better support system, we could beat them at the senior level too,” he said. Shah also interacted with Chinese players to discover the secret of their dominance. “In China, most players at the agegroup level are dedicated and very focused. They have residential schools and along with studies, they spend daily six hours on training and three hours on fitness. They get high quality facilities, the best coaches, and the government takes care of their other needs so they can concentrate on their game. In contrast, we have to manage everything, from coaching, travelling, finding sponsors and managing finances. MONEY MATTERS Table tennis is an expensive sport and players need a constant flow of cash to continue training. Shah’s parents are bearing the expenses but the 18-year-old is aware of the need to find a source of support. For the record, an average table tennis player at the international level needs at least Rs 80,000 per month. That includes equipments, rubbers, air fare, tournament fees, coaches and diet. “With meager prize money and huge expenses, it’s a huge task to keep going. Making money from it is out of the ques-
tion. One can’t rely on our parents for long. Right now I haven’t approached anyone for sponsorship, as I was thinking my performance will speak for itself,” said Shah, who is preparing for the School National games. WHAT NEXT? Shah said that he wants to avail of advance training abroad. “I would prefer to train in China. But they are not open to outsiders. On the other hand, most of the European countries have a good system of training foreign players. However, I may opt for training in Japan, as they combine a blend of Chinese and European styles,” he said. ashish.phadnis@ goldensparrow.com
ATK, Chennaiyin FC semifinal clash in city today TGS NEWS SERVICE @TGSWeekly After FC Pune City finished seventh in their league matches, the thrill of Indian Super League was over for Pune football enthusiasts. However, the floods in Chennai have forced Chennaiyin FC team to host their first leg of semi-final clash (home match) to a neutral venue. Thus, Puneites will get to witness their clash against defending champions Atletico de Kolkata (ATK) at Shiv Chhatrapati sports complex in Balewadi on Saturday. The Kolkata team had a shaky start but soon got into their stride and turned the tables with their big win over Kerala Blasters in Kochi. Following that win, they drew with Delhi Dynamos and thumped FC Goa 4-0 and FC Pune City 4-1 at home on their way to the semis. On the other hand, Chennaiyin FC thrashed FC Goa 4-0 followed by Pune 4-1 and Delhi 4-0 this season. However, they have lost both of their matches against Kolkata. Their manager Marco Materazzi will be eager to settle the scores in this crucial tie on Saturday. ATK manager Antonio Habas will be relying on their key player Iain Hume, who has shouldered the responsibility of scoring goals in the absence of marquee player Helder Postiga. He will be assisted by Sameehg Doutie, who has provided three goals and six assists in nine outings. Even Izumi Arata has managed to find the net five times. John Stiven Mendoza will spearhead Chennaiyin FC’s challenge. The Colombian is ISL’s leading scorer with 11 goals including two hat-tricks, and will be a major threat for ATK. However, Materazzi will be concerned about key players Elano and Mehrajuddin Wadoo, who picked up yellow cards in their last match against FC Pune City and will be suspended for the first leg of the semi-finals. tgs.feedback@goldensparrow.com
SDYM enters Garden City cricket league final
The women’s team will take on Indus Warriors on Sunday TGS NEWS SERVICE @TGSWeekly
Sachin Dodke Yuva Manch (SDYM) women’s team put in an impressive performance to enter the final of the 5th Garden City Premier League cricket tournament at Warje. They will now take on Indus Warriors in the title clash slated for Sunday. The tournament started with a scintillating opening ceremony, followed by an exhibition match for senior citizens. The Indotech and SDYM teams played with great enthusiasm by hitting some huge sixes and fours. However, in the end it was tight bowling spell by DSYM
players that won the battle for them. The leagues matches in other categories, witnessed some nail biting finishes with super over and even a bowl-out. Even the matches of junior girls saw some cracking shots and bodyline blowing techniques. In the men’s quarterfinals, Pouncing ProFive Peshwas, Sachin Dodke Yuva Munch, Investa Challengers, AVI’s Achiever, Mrugesh Laser Lions, Indotech Warriors, Jawk Tigers and Avengers entered quarterfinals. Pouncing ProFive Peshwas will face Investa Challengers while Sachin Dodke Yuva Munch will take on AVI’s Achiever. Mrugesh Laser Lions against Indotech Warriors and Jawk Tigers against Avengers are the other encounters. Meanwhile, in the junior semi-finals, Indotech Warriors will take on Pouncing ProFive Peshwas, while Indus Warriors will clash with Sachin Dodke Yuva Munch for a place in the final. In the women’s segment, Ghe Bharari and Indotech Warriors will clash in a playoff match. tgs.feedback@goldensparrow.com
Will Pune players get a chance in the new home team? TGS NEWS SERVICE @TGSWeekly Cricket enthusiasts of Pune have a reason to cheer, as after a gap of two years, they will get their own Indian Premier League team from next season. The new franchises co-owned by Kolkata-based business tycoon Sanjiv Goenka’s RP-Sanjiv Goenka group, will be seen in action for two years. Although the rumours about inclusion of former Indian captain MS Dhoni and Suresh
Kedar Jadhav
Raina in the Pune team are making headlines, the local cricket community is wondering if any Pune player will get a chance to represent the home team. Pune’s last IPL team, Sahara Pune Warriors, which was launched in 2011 and was terminated by BCCI in 2013, was
not successful, remaining at the bottom of the table in three seasons. In the initial years, Sahara Warriors had signed up local players like Harshad Khadiwale, Shrikant Mundhe, Ganesh Gaikwad and Dheeraj Jadhav. However, they never got an opportunity to prove themselves. On the other hand, players like Kedar Jadhav and Domnic Muthuswami sparkled for other teams. Kedar who has been representing Delhi Daredevils since 2010, has some half centuries under his belt and
the team has retained the player for the next season. So far he has been the most successful Maharashtra Ranji player in the IPL circuit. His team-mate, Muthuswami also had a dream start for Delhi, when he effectively bowled in the slog over against Chennai Super Kings in the opener. However, Maharashtra’s wicket-keeper batsman Nikhil Naik was roped in by Kings XI Punjab. The 20-year old has performed well in List A circuit with three half centuries and a top score of 78. But, so far he hasn’t
had a chance to represent his team in the IPL. Batsman Vijay Zol has had a similar fate. While representing Royal Challengers Bangalore, Zol scored 29 runs in three matches in 2014 and is waiting for another chance. It will be interesting to see, whether the new franchise will rope in talented local players like current Maharashtra Ranji team captain Rohit Motwani, leading run scorer Ankit Bawane, all-rounder Sangram Atitkar or left-arm spinner Akshay Darekar. tgs.feedback@goldensparrow.com