The Golden Sparrow on Saturday 02/01/2016

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PUNE, JANUARY 2, 2016 | www.thegoldensparrow.com

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TGS LIFE

Face / off

CITY

CITY

How to make a fast buck at Pune station P3

Aag hi aag!

P4

Is the spirit of hockey

dying in Pune?

Hockey which once reigned as a premier sport in India and was the nation’s claim to fame, has been relegated to the sidelines in the city in recent years, and there seem to be no signs of revival on the horizon See Spotlight, p08 & 09

Bottled water meant for Railway smuggled out

The Point of no return The actual buying price of offices in Nariman Point has gone below the government’s Ready Reckoner rate See P2

PICS BY VISHAL KALE

Bottles priced at Rs 15 being sold outside for upwards of Rs 20 See P4

PICS BY RAHUL RAUT AND VISHAL KALE

MUMBAI

THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY JANUARY 2, 2016

PUNE

ABWI advises Centre not to allow jallikattu: PETA P 11

“Mumbai is a linear city and its choc a bloc with traffic on the rail and road networks. The coastal road is a necessity as it will reduce the time taken from travelling from the Western Suburbs to South Mumbai.”

—Ajoy Mehta, Brihan Mumbai Municipal Commissioner

THE POINT OF NO RETURN The actual buying price of offices in Nariman Point has gone below the government’s Ready Reckoner rate

BY YOGESH SADHWANI @yogeshsadhwani Once considered to be ‘the’ place to own an office, Nariman Point in Mumbai is dying a gradual death. Office rentals in the Central Business District (CBD) have been on the decline over the past decade. To make matters worse, now even the market determined price has crashed. It has gone below the government specified Ready Reckoner rate, which in most areas in Mumbai is 30 per cent below the actual selling price.

Several sale deals that have taken place in Nariman Point over the last few months indicate that the precinct is fast losing its sheen. The actual selling price in most cases is 10-30 per cent lower than the government specified rates.

Take the case of a deal that was closed in December 2015. Doshi Enterprises bought a 1148 sq feet office on 15th floor of Atlanta building. The deal was closed at Rs 3.13 crore, while the Ready Reckoner rate for the property is Rs 4.61 crore, a good 32 per cent higher.

In another deal concluded on December 9, RK Traders Pvt Ltd bought a 600 sq feet office on the eighth floor of Maker Chambers V. The company paid Rs 1.82 crore, while the Ready Reckoner rate for the office is Rs 2.25 crore, 19 per cent higher.

Similarly, in January 2015, a private limited company bought a 1,068 sq feet office in Tulsiani Chambers for Rs 3.57 crore, while the Ready Reckoner rate is Rs 4.63 crore. The difference between the market price at which the property was bought and

Reckoner rate works out to 22 per cent Experts reveal that the difference between the market price and Reckoner rates has been widening for the past few months.

Unlike other areas in Mumbai where the market price is increasing as compared to Reckoner rates, in Nariman Point it’s the other way round. In fact state government has decided to revise the Reckoner rates in March 2016 and the new rates would be around 30 per cent higher than the ones in 2015.

In a study done in June 2015, JLL, one of the world’s leading real estate investment and advisory firms, found that rentals in Nariman Point had fallen by 3.4 per cent in last one year.

“One of the major reasons behind the fall in rentals is the shift in demand from Mumbai’s CBD (Nariman Point) to the secondary business districts (SBDs) in its suburbs. The city’s CBD is losing its sheen over the past five to six years,” stated the report. yogesh.sadhwani@goldensparrow.com

RPF personnel to get commando training Rs 20 lakh down the drain on shoes Force One is the name of the special rapid action commando unit that was formed in the wake of the terrorist attack in Mumbai in November 2008.

The specialist Force One personnel will now train Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel in anti-terrorism techniques, and also familiarise them in the use of hi-tech, state-of-the-art weapons and methods.

“The training will include handling of explosives and modern arms and ammunition. The first batch of 200 RPF police personnel will includes only men in the 25-30 age group,” an officer said.

“During the 2008 terrorist attack, the untrained RPF personnel were unable to respond and counter the welltrained Lashkar-e-Toiba terrorist unit headed by Mohammad Ajmal Kasab

at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST),” a senior RPF officer said.

With proper training and equipment, the RPF will be capable of coping with any kind of terrorist attack, he said. “We have selected 200 RPF police personnel for the specialised training in co-ordination with Force One of the Mumbai Police. The training programme is scheduled for February

2016 at the Maharashtra Intelligence Academy in Pune,” he said.

“CST is the busiest station and despite the recent Integrated Security System (ISS) at all Central Railway stations, there is the need for commando units at railway stations.

The RPF police personnel trained by Force One will fulfill this need,” said another senior RPF officer.

Over 3,000 pairs of children’s size shoes ordered for Home Guard jawans seven years ago

BY SANTOSHEE MISHRA @TGSWeekly

Victim’s family gets key accused arrested

The cat is finally out of the bag.

Seven years ago an order was placed for over 3,000 pairs of size 6 shoes for Home Guard jawans. But the well built jawans’ feet just won’t fit into these shoes which have been gathering dust for seven years. IPS officer Sanjay Pandey, who has recently taken over as deputy commandant of the Home Guard, wonders why the small size shoes were ordered in the first place.

“It is surprising that black coloured size number 6 shoes were ordered for Home Guard jawans.

Either the jawans’ shoes sizes have come down, or there was something wrong with the orders,” Pandey said.

Pandey, who is known for his no-

“Either the jawans’ shoes sizes have come down, or there was something wrong with the orders”

his photograph amongst ourselves and even gave it out to our friends and business associates. To my surprise the plan actually worked,” said Riyaz. Most members of the family are in motor training school business and constantly on the road. Abrar was first spotted by one of the family members in Bandra.

They tipped off the cops but he could not be arrested.

In the past three years Abrar was spotted around 50 times by Ejaz’s family.

“On every occasion he was spotted we informed the control room and even alerted the officers investigating the murder. But Abrar was never caught for some reason or the other,” said Riyaz.

With him being spotted so often, the family was able to gather that Abrar prefers travelling in a Mahindra Scorpio.

This narrowed down their hunt for him.

On December 22, one of the family members spotted Abrar in Mahim at around 8 pm. As always he was driving a Scorpio. They immediately alerted Bandra crime branch, which has been investigating the murder. “The investigators told me that they will try their best to nab him this time. However, we didn’t want to take any chances and leave it all to the cops. So we kept tailing Abrar,” said Riyaz.

For the next three hours several

members of Ejaz’s family kept at it. After a while, Abrar was able to figure that he was being chased and started dodging them.

Somewhere Abrar Khan near Vile Parle they lost Abrar in one of the bylanes. “I couldn’t believe what had happened. I started shivering out of anxiety. This is when we decided to split into two groups and look for his vehicle,” said Riyaz. A few minutes later, Riyaz was told that Abrar had been spotted again, this time near Goregaon station. I alerted the cops and gave his location. The cops managed to reach in time and nab Abrar, as several members of Ejaz’s family watched from a distance.

ABOUT EJAZ KHAN Ejaz was a resident of Millat Nagar, a residential colony which was to undergo redevelopment. Constructed way back in the 80s by Ziauddin Bukhari on a 78,000 sq m plot, the colony was meant to offer affordable housing for Muslim families. Bukhari was to construct 50 buildings but managed to complete only

22. Buyers who had been allotted flats completed the remaining buildings and moved in. In 1993, Bukhari, the chief promoter of the colony was murdered.

After his death his wife Khairunissa took over his role.

Over the years, with the real estate prices in Millat Nagar going up, idea of redeveloping old buildings was floated.

In 2010, Khairunissa entered into a redevelopment agreement with one Dev Land Housing Limited. However, not all the residents of the area were happy with the move. Some of them wanted the buildings to be redeveloped independently. Ejaz Khan and his father were among those who did not agree with redevelopment of the entire colony by the same developer. Moreover, they did not recognise Khairunissa as the chief promoter of Millat Nagar.

While Ejaz and his family went around telling people not to fall for redevelopment of the entire colony, Abrar was appointed by the developer to get residents evicted. This led to clash between Abrar and Ejaz. In December 2012, Ejaz was shot by Abrar and three others in the colony. After the murder, while Abrar absconded, cops managed to nab Arman Ali Shaikh (23), Mubashir Firoj Ahmad (22), and Athar Ajmal Khan alias Papa (33).

IMTIYAZ SHAIKH

Abrar Khan, who murdered Ejaz in December 2012, had been on the run. Cops had given up but Ejaz’s family kept looking for him. They spotted him early this week and tailed him for three hours Three years after Ejaz Khan, 44, was murdered in Millat Nagar, Jogeshwari, his killer has finally been arrested. The prime accused Abrar Khan had been on the run since December 2012 and police were unable to trace him. Ejaz’s joint family of 60 members, h o w e v e r , managed to track him down and got him arrested early this week in Mumbai.

Ejaz’s uncle Riyaz Khan Ejaz Khan explained that after the murder, when police were unable to nab Abrar, his family got together and decided to play sleuths. “As time lapsed, I was told by the investigators that Abrar would never get arrested. Three months after the murder, a senior police officer even told me that Abrar had fled to Pakistan and that we should give up hope. That is when my family decided to take matters in our hand,” said Riyaz.

Ejaz used to live in the joint family.

“Abrar stayed in one of the neighbouring buildings and we somehow managed to get a photograph of him. We circulated

nonsense methods, has ordered an inquiry into the purchase order worth a whopping Rs 20 lakh which was paid by the state government. The order dating back to 2007 and 2008, was for black ankle leather shoes and brown oxford leather shoes. “I have initiated an inquiry to determine if the order was made on documents, or if the size number 6 shoes were distributed to the jawans,” Pandey said.

After three years, Home Guard jawans undergo training similar to police training. They are called upon during emergencies and are also trained to do traffic duty.

There are 40,000 men and women Home Guards in the state, and the government has a yearly budget of Rs 127 crore for them. santosheemishra@gmail.com

THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY JANUARY 2, 2016

Retirement policy, more women members on cards in CPI(M) P12

PUNE

“We have over 800 colleges and lakhs of students affiliated to the university. There will be lapses and there will be complaints. But, they were all solved and at present we have zero pendency.”

— W N Gade, Vice-chancellor, Savitribai Phule Pune University

How to make a fast buck at Pune station PICS BY VISHAL KALE

Railway facilitators at ATVMs pocketing the change and fleecing the passengers

BY SUSHANT RANJAN @sushantranjan The Central Railway has launched pre-paid smart cards to make it easier for rail passengers to get tickets without waiting in long queues. The facility has come as a boon for socalled facilitators appointed at the nine Automated Ticket Vending Machines (ATVMs) at Pune station. Since most passengers are clueless how to use the machines, the facilitators, who are retired railway

employees, are making a fast buck.

The facilitators overcharge the passengers for every ticket they generate from the ATVMs. The trick is simple - every facilitator has a smart card of his own, which he uses to print a ticket. They give lame reasons and either do not return the change to passengers, or say that there is a surcharge involved in buying tickets from the ATVMs. The fact is that they get a commission of around Rs 700 for working an eight hour shift and vending tickets.

Railway employees at the ticket counters too seem to be hand in glove.

They discourage the passengers from buying their own smart cards. TGS took a trip to Pune station and found how it’s all done.

Railway Pravasi Group President Harsha Shah said that smart cards will help reduce the long queues at ticket counters. “The ATVMs are a good option as passenger can avail of a five per cent rebate on the fare. But the facilitators are refusing to return the change and putting it in their pockets.”

Name: Binod Kumar (28) Travelling to: Belgavi Experience: When Binod Kumar went to ATVM to get a ticket to Belgavi, he was asked for Rs 150, while the ticket was priced at Rs 145. When he asked for the change, the facilitator said that he had no change.

Person at the ATVM: Prabhu Sopan Shinde Amount pocketed: Rs 5

The facilitator and his customers at one of the ATVMs at Pune railway station

Name: Jagannath Fathak (38) Travelling to: Jaipur Experience: Jagannath was charged Rs 350 for a ticket priced at Rs 330 at ATVM 4 for a ticket to Jaipur. The facilitator said that the Rs 20 was superfast charge.

Person at ATVM: Suresh Kamble Amount pocketed: Rs 20

Name: Sunil Prasad (25) Travelling to: Ratlam Experience: Sunil was told that the fare to Indore was Rs 250 when the printed price on the ticket was Rs 235.

The facilitator said that the extra charge of Rs was routes where the distance was more than 600 km.

Person at ATVM: Suresh Kamble Amount pocketed: Rs 15

Name: Yunush Jamadar (30) Travelling to: Latur Experience: Yunush paid Rs 120 for a ticket at ATVM number 2 which actually cost Rs 115. When he asked for change, the facilitator said Rs five was service tax.

Person at ATVM: Dhyandeo Tukaram Amount pocketed: Rs 5

Pune Rail Division Senior Divisional Commercial Manager Gaurav Jha said, “Ninety-five per cent of ticket sales through ATVMs is done by facilitators. If they are not returning change, we will take action against facilitators. We do not have any complaint regarding this so far. Passengers should give us written complaints.”

The Smart Card service started by the Central Railway in 2014 is modelled on a similar pre-paid card used by the Delhi Metro. Similar cards are popular with Mumbai commuters using the suburban train service. sushant.ranjan@goldensparrow.com

Name: Aniket Sharma (24) Travelling to: Indore Experience: Aniket wanted a ticket to Indore. The facilitator at ATVM 3 said that it cost Rs 275 when the printed price on the ticket was Rs 265. The facilitator said that Pune to Indore being more than 600 km, Rs 10 was the extra charge.

Person at ATVM: Babu Chavan Amount pocketed: Rs 10

Name: Mayur Sathe Travelling to: Nanded Experience: Mayur was asked for Rs 115 for a ticket priced Rs 110 at ATVM 4. The facilitator said that Rs five was service tax.

Person at ATVM: Prabhu Shinde Amount pocketed: Rs 5

Name: Madan Sahu (21) and Jaimohan Sahu (33) Travelling to: Kolhapur Experience: Madan was asked for Rs 350 for a ticket priced at Rs 320 for Kolhapur at ATVM 6.

The facilitator said that Rs 30 was superfast charge.

Person at ATVM: Babu Chavan Amount pocketed: Rs 30

Wishing Pune’s Marathi movie buffs a happy new year

Pune’s iconic Laxmi Kibe Theatre aka Prabhat Talkies opens on January 1 with Nana Patekar starrer ‘Natsamrat’

F F O E C FA

pital Dean Ajay Chandanwale said, “Motewar seems to have suffered a heart attack prima facie. We are preparing him for an angiography to determine the cause. He needs to be kept under observation for 24 hours at least.”

Chandanwale said that they have been directed by the Omerga court to keep the police investigation on hold till Motewar’s health improves, as mental stress may trigger another attack. The

Sassoon doctors have been asked for a medical report on Motewar.

It is not likely that Motewar will be produced in court any time soon.

Motewar, 47, owner-director of the Samruddha Jeevan chit fund company, was arrested by the Osmanabad police near Holkar Bridge in Pune. His firm had been acquiring funds illegally even after the SEBI had banned it from doing so. On December 29, CBI officials raided 58 premises, including Motewar’s own and his business partner’s houses and offices. On the same day, the Osmanabad Police had obtained a three-day-remand custody of Motewar from the Omerga court which was to end on Friday.

FE A T

Motewar suffers heart attack Mahesh Motewar, who was arrested on December 28, complained of chest pain on the night of December 31, and was taken to hospital immediately. The Omerga court has ordered the police to keep all investigations on hold till Motewar’s health improves, according to the hospital authorities.

Motewar was taken to Osmanabad Government Hospital, which, owing to the non-availability of specialists, referred him to Solapur Medical Hospital, which in turn transferred him to Sassoon Hospital, Pune in the wee hours of January 1.

Motewar is under the care of Sassoon Hospital heart specialists. Sassoon Hos-

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Pune’s Marathi film fans have glad tidings for New Year 2016, as Laxmi Kibe Theatre aka Prabhat Theatre has opened its shutters after a year’s hiatus, on January 1, 2016. The reopening of the theatre has been marked by the screening of the Nana Patekar starer ‘Natsamrat’.

Laxmi Kibe Theatre manager Bhalchandra Patil said, “The first show of ‘Natsamrat’ was scheduled for 12 noon on January 1. We will be only screening Marathi films.”

Initially there will be four shows per day, and the number of shows would be increased later. The tickets are priced at Rs 90 for balcony and Rs 70 for dress circle.

The theatre was shut down owing to a dispute between the owners and the tenants, in December 2014.

Eventually, the tenants had to hand over possession to the original owners in January 2015.

The 65-year agreement between the Kibe family, who own the theatre, and Prabhat Talkies director Vivek Damle, thus ended. After the last show in December 2014, there were even

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TEJAS GAIKWAD

BY SHAILESH JOSHI @TGSWeekly

rumours that the heritage building was to be razed.

The theatre was built in 1934 after the residence of the royal family of Sardar Ramchandra Mukundrao Kibe of Indore was gutted in a fire in 1926.

The place then was home to Marathi daily ‘Dnyanprakash’. Kibe built the theatre in his mother’s memory, naming it Kibe Laxmi Theatre. After the iconic Prabhat Film Company moved to Pune from Kolhapur, legendary filmmaker V Shantaram and Fattelal left the company, and the management of Prabhat Talkies changed hands.

Mumbai-based distributor Baburao Pai and the Damle families looked after the day-to-day running of the theatre, which initially screened English films. Owners of Prabhat Film Company and its distributors, Famous Pictures of Mumbai, then changed the name to Prabhat Talkies from Kibe Laxmi Theatre.

The renovated theatre has new seats, curtains, and a new screen as well. The planned October opening was postponed to January 1, due to the licensing process. tgs.feedback@goldensparrow.com

‘Exercise shouldn’t be a punishment’

THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY JANUARY 2, 2016

PUNE

“The PMC is working on various projects to take care of city’s garbage. We are ready with the wet garbage process plant in Talegaon. The 300 tonne capacity plant has been set up by a private player to take care of hotel and wet waste.”

— Kunal Kumar, Municipal commissioner

Inputs sought on start-up action plan from VCs, incubators

Panel favours Board exam in class VIII

P10

P12

AAG HI AAG!

Setting vehicles on fire is a trend that is fast gaining popularity in Pune

Kandhae, Rahul Khade and Mohan Bhegade are the persons whose vehicles were damaged but they have not registered any complaints.

BY YOGESH WAGH @ywagh1857

October 23, 2015, Unnati Nagar, Hadapsar, Pune A dispute between Gopinath Pawar and his nephew Ravi Pawar, residents of Unnati Nagar, culminated in the latter setting Gopinath’s Bullet motorcycle, Activa scooter and a bicycle on fire, destroying all three vehicles.

Scene of the crime: these charred motorcycles tell the sorry saga of senseless destruction of personal property

The Kothrud police arrested one Ajay Vijay Dighe in connection with the incident within 24 hours, while another culprit is still absconding.

Dighe was produced in court and was sent to magisterial custody for further investigation. The victims of the housing society wanted the culprit to be given a more severe punishment than just magisterial custody.

December 15, 2015 - Sriram

Colony, Shastri Nagar, Kothrud, Pune Unidentified miscreants set on fi re seven two-wheelers, a Tempo and an autorickshaw at Sriram Colony, Shastri Nagar, D P Road, Kothrud, Pune on Wednesday early morning.

The residents heard explosions and tried to douse the fi re but had to call in the Fire Brigade eventually.

Bhagyashree Bhegade, Satish Bhegade, Sunil Dhanbe, Ganesh

June 28, 2015 - Sinhgad Road, Pune Seventy-seven two-wheelers, eight four-wheelers and seven bicycles at six housing societies and a commercial building were set afire on Sinhgad Road, between 3 am and 5 am. Six persons, including two children suffered minor burn injuries.

The fi rst incident was at Dominos Pizza at 3.30 am, the second at 3.45 am at Suncity area, Surya Nagari Society, the third at 4.05 at Swaminarayan Society, the fourth at 4.15 am at Akshay Glory heights, the fi fth at 4.26 am Avadhoot Heights and the sixth at 4.48 am at Ram Heights.

The police arrested Aman Abdul Gani Sheikh on the basis of CCTV footage, who has a history of cases of arson. In custodial interrogation, he confessed to the crime. Under trial for these incidents, Sheikh is suffering from a psychological disorder.

against some unidentified persons under sections 435 (mischief by fi re or explosive with intent to damage) and 427 (mischief casing damage) of the Indian Penal Code.

March 10, 2012 - Siddhanath Sankul, Ganj Peth, Pune Eight two-wheelers were set on fi re at Siddhanth Sankul Society in the wee hours, and a girl from a nearby housing society noticed the fi re and alerted the society members, who called up the Fire Brigade.

January 17, 2015 - Kashinath Patilnagar, Balajinagar, Dhankawadi, Pune Th irteen vehicles were destroyed set afire by unidentified miscreants at Kashinath Patilnagar at around 2 am.

Residents woke up to the smell and clouds of smoke and summoned the Fire Brigade and the police. Most of the vehicles were gutted before help arrived. A complaint was registered

Smart city plan hampering Pune’s development and routine work

Corporators allege that smart city proposal is delaying PMC’s developmental works, while Commissioner Kunal Kumar says everything is fine

Prime Minister Naredra Modi announced his government’s ambitious Rs 98,000 crore ‘Smart City’ project in June 2015.

Under this it would develop 100 smart cities and rejuvenate 500 other cities of India. As many as 98 cities from all the states and Union Territories have been selected for Smart City Mission’s fi rst round based on competitions and criteria among various urban local bodies in each state. Pune is one of the 100 cities. But some Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) corporators allege that with Commissioner Kunal Kumar and the administration was busy with the ‘smart city’ proposal for the last 3-4 months, PMC’s regular development work has suffered.

Model Colony Corporator Nilam Kulkarni said, “I had made plans for development works in my ward in the beginning of the year and proposed development works at PMC general body meetings during the year.

Besides road, electricity, drinking water, and issues, I have also mentioned work at Lakaki Lake, installation of sprinklers in Chittaranjan Vatika, recycling of waste water, and traffic park etc.

But the administration has not floated tenders or advertised in newspapers despite approval from the civic authority, so these works are still pending. Commissioner Kunal Kumar has directed to PMC administration to work on smart city work like fi lling forms

from citizens, data compiling, seminars, presentations, which has delayed regular administrative work of the PMC.” Senior Congress party corporator and PMC’s Leader of opposition Arvind Shinde said, “The smart city project is nothing but the misguiding the people of country. The Centre is giving only Rs 500 crore for smart cities in the next five years. What can be done with this? I had opposed the inclusion of Pune in the smart city project because all rights from establishing special utility vehicle (SPV), to appointing consultant agency, refining of proposal and fund raising mechanism is in the commissioner’s hands. Giving powers to administrators is an insult of elective representatives.

It’s an encroachment on our rights. The citizens of Pune elected us then how can one government officer lead us?

The central government is weakening local bodies. PMC Commissioner Kunal Kumar is busy for the last five months in

making this and that proposal, and presentations regarding the smart city project. It has obviously diverted his attention from routine corporation work. Many other important projects like metro, solid waste management, getting land from state government for dumping, waste processing plants have been sidelined by the administration because of the time had spent on debates of smart city.”

Deputy Mayor Ulhas alis Aba Bagul said, “Only five per cent of development work has been hampered because of the administration busy with proposals and planning for the smart city mission. We have decentralised powers in PMC so we do not need commissioner’s intervention in each and every decision process. But it is true that due to the smart city plan, for the last 5-6 months we have faced problems in getting speedy approvals for developmental works from the administration.

Commissioner Kunal Kumar has

visited New Delhi many times for approvals, presentations of smart city, so we have no option but to wait for his return for important administrative works which are under his power. PMC has major issues like getting land for dumping, public transport, waste management, drinking water which have been totally neglected since the smart city proposals debate has started.”

PMC Commissioner Kunal Kumar said, “We have dedicated 20,000 officials and workers in PMC for serving Puneites. Every department has its powers and there is no need for commissioner’s permission for day-to-day or routine work. So there is no issue of pending or hampering of development works. We tried our best to get Pune city included in the smart city mission. PMC officials had distributed more than 3,50,000 forms in different societies and invited suggestions from citizens. We have invited suggestions online as well. We have got great response from the citizens of Pune and many innovative ideas from them which were very useful in getting the city selected in the smart city mission.

PMC’s economic situation is also good. I did presentations to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union minister for urban development Venkaiah Naidu regarding Pune’s smart city proposal. Both were very happy and appreciated our proposal and initiatives. So there is huge chance of Pune city being selected in the first 20 smart cities list.” tgs.feedback@goldensparrow.com

Kothrud police Station Senior Police Inspector Nitin Bhosale Patil says that delinquent youth get cheap thrills from destroying other people’s property. Parents should bring up their children with a fi rm grounding in values.

Psychiatrist Satyajit Mandale said that such anti-social behaviour could be attributed to an ‘impulse control disorder’ where human beings have a reason and justification for every action. The arsonist derive vicarious thrills from destroying other people’s property.

Bottled water meant for Railway smuggled out

RAHUL RAUT

BY TUSHAR RUPANAVAR @TGSWeekly

January 8, 2012 - Prena Heights, Balaji Nagar, Dhankawadi, Pune Unidentified miscreants set on fi re vehicles at Prena Heights, Balaji Nagar in the wee hours. Residents called up the Fire Brigade, who put out the fire. As a background to the incident, there was dispute between two groups during the Toran procession of the Navaratri festival, some vehicles were destroyed and Pramod alias Baiju Navaghane was murdered, for which Datta Mane and others were arrested. yogesh.wagh@goldensparrow.com

Cheap Thrills

The Karolbaug dhaba in the Hinjewadi area

BY SUSHANT RANJAN @sushantranjan Underhand and shady practices are common when it comes to Indian Railway services. From tickets to tenders, everything is a bit tainted or questionable. Th is time around, it’s to do with packaged drinking water. These branded water bottles which are supposed be sold only at railways stations, are smuggled outside and are freely available at dhabas and restaurants.

Officially available for Rs 15 at railway stations, these branded mineral water bottles are sold for Rs 20 or more elsewhere.

‘Kinley’ is the authorised mineral water brand whose bottles are on sale at Lonavala, Sangli, Satara and Kolhapur of the Pune Rail Division.

But Kinley mineral water bottle are available at the Karolbaug dhaba at Hinjewadi Phase II near ‘Mahavitran’.

TGS team bought two bottles from the dhaba. The bottles manufactured on December 16, 2015 clearly state that they are meant ‘For Indian Railways’.

The dhaba staff said, “We get the water bottles from a dealer in Lonavala. We recently got ten crates.”

A Pune Rail Division source admitted that packaged drinking water meant for the Pune Rail Division is openly available outside. The railways have banned five water brands, including Aquafina, Kinley, Oxymore, Pumpum Aqua and Gallon but some stations under this division have permission to sell these branded drinking bottles.

A city based dealer on condition of anonymity said that some of the distributors are authorised to supply branded mineral water to Pune Rail Division. “There is very little sale of mineral water at Lonavala station. The company has invested two to three lakh rupees in the business, which is blocked due to low sales. That is why they are selling these bottles to hotels, restaurants and dhabas,” he said.

A source from the commercial department of Pune Rail Division said, “Some branded packaged mineral water bottles are allowed to be sold at Pune station. The printed price on the bottles is Rs 15. Th is is not a railway product. If a private company sells his product as a railway product, we cannot do anything about it.”

Railway Pravasi Group President Harsha Shah said, “If the bottles are sold outside the station, it is illegal. Without the collusion of railway staff and RFP staff, no one can sell these bottles outside of the station.”

In October, the commercial department of Central Railway Pune Division cracked down on retailers and vendors selling packaged drinking water brands other than the mandatory ‘Rail Neer’. Railway authorities seized over 1,300 packaged drinking water bottles and imposed fines on those selling the unauthorised brands.

PICS BY VISHAL KALE

Setting vehicles on fi re in housing society parking lots is a growing and worrisome trend in Pune, the latest incident occurring this week, which was also the second such this month. There are generally no formal complaints fi led in this regard with the police, the victims coping with their losses without having too many options for compensation, except for insurance.

From an overall perspective, this form of arson seems to be the perfect option for someone with a grudge to damage the property of their enemies. One cannot rule out purely juvenile, delinquent behaviour either, as youngsters of this ilk may be finding setting vehicles afi re a rather doable prank to get their kicks. Of course, this is not confined to Pune alone, but it has been seen in a lot of cities of Maharashtra.

What joy there is to be had in destroying someone else’s property is of course, not something a reasonable and sane person may be able to pinpoint, but there are more than enough people with a decidedly antisocial and even violent streak who will commit such crimes and then brag about and gloat over it for days on end.

It’s time however, that the police take a more stringent view of such destructive pranks, and once they make an example of bringing to book even a few culprits, it will deter others from taking the arson route.

Here is list of such incidents of arson in the city.

December 29, 2015 - Kishkinda Nagar, Kothrud, Pune Five bikes in the parking lot of Ekmat housing society, Kishkinda Nagar, Kothrud, Pune were set on fi re by miscreants at around 2 am on Tuesday.

THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY JANUARY 2, 2016

BY DNYANESHWAR BHONDE @dnyanesh1 A 21-year-old girl from Gondia, who was reported missing on December 18, was allegedly abducted by 10 men, who brought her to Pune, where they raped her repeatedly. The victim girl is now being treated at Sassoon Hospital. Her mother has lodged an FIR against the 10 culprits. One of the accused is said to be related to Gondia MLA Gopaldas Agrawal.

According to complaint, Vijay Agrawal, his two sons and their accomplices abducted the girl from Gondia, brought her to Pune and kept her in a flat at Dhankawadi, where they

raped her repeatedly, and even filmed the crime. The culprits had also abducted her former boyfriend so that he would be blamed for her abduction.

The mother of the victim had filed an abduction complaint against the 10 men in Gondia police station.

“No one paid Victim’s mother any heed to my complaint even though I mentioned the names of the boys who had kidnapped her. The police didn’t take any action,” she said. “They had snatched her phone away and had also threatened her that they would kill me and my husband if she opened her mouth,” the mother alleged.

On December 23, after the mother’s complaint had been lodged, the girl and her former boyfriend were taken back to

Gondia by the abductors, and forced to tell the police that they had eloped. The mother who is a social worker and the father, a Zilla Parishad Primary school teacher, weren’t informed about this.

They brought her back to Pune later.

The mother got to know her daughter’s whereabouts when she called the former boyfriend. She contacted Shaikh Jakir Husain who is the national executive president of Bharatiya Minorities Suraksha Mahasangh, a political body. With his help and the intervention of Bharati Vidyapeeth police station officers, the girl was rescued from the flat in Dhankawadi on December 31 and sent to Sassoon Hospital.

The Bharati Vidyapeeth Police station has recorded the victim’s statement and the offence will be registered accordingly. Inspector (crime) Shrikant Shinde, said, “The victim’s mother approached us on December 31.

Based on the information, we rescued the girl and admitted her to Sassoon Hospital. We have sought a medical report to confirm the rape and charges

BY DNYANESHWAR BHONDE @dnyanesh1 An 11-year-old deaf and dumb boy who met with an accident a month ago at Bhigwan, 104 km from Pune, is now at Sassoon General Hospital with a fractured leg. The police and hospital authorities however, are in a quandary as to where he should be sent after recovery, as they do not know about his family’s whereabouts. If not, they will have no option but to send him to an orphanage.

“Being deaf and dumb, he is unable to tell us his name and address,” said a doctor treating the boy at the orthopaedic ward. The department head Dr S S Daniel said, “The boy had suffered a fracture of the tibula of his left leg below the knee when an unknown vehicle dashed him.” His leg in a cast.

A medical social officer said that the boy being a minor would be sent to an orphanage. “We called the Bhigwan police and also tried communicating

With his fractured leg, a bed at Sassoon Hospital is temporary refuge for the boy

Pune teen missing from Dhanbad

Mystery surrounds the disappearance of Pune teenager boarding train to Pune from Howrah station

BY GARGI VERMA @missgverma

Shaikh Jakir Husain

will be drawn based on the report.”

Shaikh Jakir Husain said, “The culprits brought her former boyfriend who hails from Gondia and works in Benaras, luring him to allegedly marry her. They brought him to Pune and left him in the room where the victim was kept to show that she had eloped with him.” dnyaneshawar.bhonde@goldensparrow.com

Help him reunite with his family Cops have no clue how to trace this 11-year-old deaf and mute’s family

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Gondia girl abducted, gang raped, and dumped in Pune Gondia girl brought to Pune by 10-member gang, who kept her in a flat at Dhankawadi and raped her repeatedly

Cheap goods cause for export plunge

National Green Tribunal orders attract global attention

“We have succeeded to a great extent in bringing down instances of chain snatchings. Police are working on a plan to tackle the other forms of street crimes and will soon implement it.”

— K K Pathak, Police commissioner

PUNE

Assistant Police Inspector in charge of Bhigwan police station, Chandrashekhar Yadav said, “We searched for his family all over Bhigwan and the nearby areas but no one came to claim him. We located him near the State Transport (ST) bus stand at Bhigwan and sent him to Sassoon Hospital. We sent a letter to the hospital, asking them to send him to the orphanage.” in sign language with the boy but we still have no clue as to his identity or address. We have forwarded his case to the government child development centre, and he will be produced in court. As per the court order, he will be sent to an orphanage,” he said. dnyaneshawar.bhonde@goldensparrow.com

A Pune youth has been reported missing. The 18-year-old student was on his way home to Pune from Dhanbad.

Anurag Bharat Jagtap, a second year student of computer and analytics at the Indian School of Mining, Dhanbad was returning to Pune during the winter break which begun on December 10, after his third semester. He had booked a seat on the Howrah-Pune Azad Hind Express on the same day but he missed the train due to college work. His last conversation was with his mother on December 18. “He said they had to work hard as their fest was approaching and they also had a deadline on a project,” said his mother Varsha.

Anurag had been trying to get a reservation in Tatkal quota since December 16. On December 18, he decided to travel on a general ticket and pay the fine. “His holidays were till January 3 and he wanted to spend some time at home. So he decided to travel without reservation,” said Varsha, who was expecting him to reach Pune by December 20.

Anurag’s classmate and friend Vidyabhushan said that he left Dhanbad on the afternoon of December 18. “Some of my other classmates went to drop him off at Howrah station. They left before the train departed,” he said. Varsha said, “He called me from Howrah station at 9:30 pm, saying that he was going to board the Azad Hind Express at 9:50pm.” Anurag said he would call her later.

Varsha tried contacting Anurag on December 19, but his phone was switched off. “I even called at around 10:00pm on December 18 to check if he had boarded the train, but his phone was switched off,” she said.

Thinking that his phone must have run out of battery charge, she waited for Anurag to call, or arrive home on December 20.

Anurag’s father, Bharat Jagtap, is a civil engineer with

the Border Security Force and is currently posted at Gandhi Nagar.

When all efforts to track down Anurag failed, they contacted him, and he immediately caught a train to Pune. “As soon as his father reached Pune, he lodged a missing complaint in Pune office of Government Railway Police (GRP) on December 23,” said Varsha. “The GRP didn’t even look into the matter. They assumed he had run away,” she said.

On December 25, the parents decided to go to Howrah station and try to find their son. “When we met the Howrah GRP, we were told that they could not register a complaint. Since a missing complaint was already filed at Pune station, they could not register a second one,” Varsha said. However, the GRPF transferred the case from Pune to Howrah. The Howrah GRP office refused to comment, stating that the investigation was under process.

“I don’t understand these complexities. All I know is my son was going to come home and he hasn’t turned up after ten days. I want to know where he is, and I want him to come home,” Varsha said, breaking down in tears.

The Jagtap family is currently in Kolkata, trying to find any leads.

They want anyone who has any information on Anurag to contact them on +919405377036. gargi.verma@goldensparrow.com

Public interest rekindled in Peshwa history Shaniwar Wada and Kelkar Museum get record numbers of visitors in the wake of ‘Bajirao Mastani’ film release

BY EKTA KATTI @Ektaak The release of Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s much talked about film ‘Bajirao Mastani’ has rekindled public interest in Pune’s Peshwa era landmark Shaniwar Wada as well as the Raja Dinkar Kelkar Museum, which houses a wide array of artifacts from the past. The result is a huge increase of visitors to the wada and the museum, including visitors from out of Pune, in a kind of impetus to the city’s

tourist trade. ‘Bajirao Mastani’ was released to a rousing public response on December 18.

The historic Bajirao I creation dating back to 1730 AD, the Shaniwar Wada had a record 9,335 visitors in a single day on December 26. The Pune branch of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) stated that there were 5,885 visitors to the wada on December 13, which clearly shows the renewed public interest.

PICS BY VISHAL KALE

There is a constant and larger flow of visitors to the Shaniwar Wada these days

Monica P, 40, of Mumbai who visited the wada with her family, said, “After watching ‘Bajirao Mastani’, my family and I were inspired to see the Shaniwar Wada built by Bajirao I, to see for ourselves this iconic structure dating back to the Peshwa era, which was the backdrop for the film.”

Piyu Talwar, 27, of Delhi is a lawyer, who is not an avid movie-goer but visited Shaniwar Wada when she was in Pune around the time when the film ‘Bajirao Mastani’ was released.

“My trip to Pune and the movie release was a coincidence, but I had a great curiosity to see the iconic structure for myself,” she said.

Mit Sethi, 66, shifted to Pune about a year ago. After watching ‘Bajirao Mastani’, he just had to visit the Shaniwar Wada and get a glimpse into the Peshwa period of history. “I could imagine the heroic Peshwa era and what life then must have been by visiting Shaniwar Wada,” he said.

ASI Conservation Assistant B J Yelikar said, “The film ‘Bajirao Mastani’ has sparked a great public interest in historic sites dating back to the Peshwa era, and this peaked on December 26 with a record number of visitors. Last year’s there were 5000 visitors to the Shaniwar Wada on an average on holidays. We hope that this continues in the coming days and

months.”

In 2014, there were about 9,000 visitors during the Tukaram Wari.

The Shaniwar Wada light and sound show is currently being revamped. Jaishivram Solanke, 42, who is in charge of the renovation of the show said, “There is a constant flow of visitors here, which at times is a hindrance to our work. But this just shows the immense popularity of Shaniwar Wada as a tourist attraction.”

Nanda Pawar, 40, a fruit and snacks vendor has been at Shaniwar Wada for over two decades. “The film ‘Bajirao Mastani’ has greatly increased public interest in the Peshwa era sites, and these are the biggest crowds I have ever seen after the release of the movie.

My business is also flourishing,” she said.

The brainchild of Dr Dinkar G Kelkar (1896–1990), Raja Dinkar Kelkar Museum was dedicated to the memory of his only son, Raja. The museum houses ancient sculptures, ornaments, musical instruments, weapons and vessels. A highlight of the museum is ‘Mastani Mahal’, Raja Kelkar’s recreation of Bajirao I’s wife Mastani’s palace.

There were 4,146 visitors between December 25 and 27 to the museum, the number peaking to 1,480 visitors on December 25. In comparison, there

DID YOU KNOW Peshwa Bajirao I had created a ‘Mastani Lake’ in the memory of his beloved wife near Saswad, which still exists. The exact date when the lake was created is not known. Bajirao and Mastani used to ride on horseback to the lake. Mastani used to go from the wada to the lake to bathe every morning.

Visitors to Kelkar Museum 2014 2015 December 25 826 1354 December 26 803 1480 December 27 864 1312

were just 2,496 visitors during the same period last year.

Kelkar Museum Director Sudhanva Hari Ranade said, “The movie ‘Bajirao Mastani’ has made an impact and renewed public interest in Peshwa history. We see more visitors during the winter vacation,

but the crowds this year were quite unexpected.” Bhansali and his crew had visited the museum to check out Mastani Mahal.

Pune Municipal Corporation Heritage head Sham Dhavale said, “The film ‘Bajirao Mastani’ has sparked greater public interest in Peshwa history and consequently in Shaniwar Wada and Kelkar Museum. I hope that this trend continues and there is a bigger flow of visitors to Pune which has such a rich heritage.” ekta.katti@goldensparrow.com

THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY JANUARY 2, 2016

PUNE

Railway, States JV get Cabinet nod

“Globally, countries are mo ving towards reducing the speed of traffic on city roads. In India, we are widening our roads to not only allow more vehicles, but also encourage drivers to speed up.”

— Sujit Patwardhan, founder of Parisar

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This Pune schoolgirl packs a big punch Teenage schoolgirl Almas Shaikh wants to follow in Mary Kom’s footsteps in the boxing arena

BY TUSHAR RUPNAVAR Almas Shaikh is a name you are going to be hearing often. This 16-year-old standard X student of Anglo Urdu School, Camp won a gold medal at the state level school boxing competition at Bhandara on December 14, 2015 and she also qualified for the Under 19 national level boxing competition 2016.

Teenager Almas’ achievement is all the more noteworthy as she has had to battle against adversity every step of the way. Her father passed away when

she was an infant, just six months old, and her mother Sumayya Sheikh has had to run the household by doing whatever work she could get.

Sumayya said, “Almas is my only child and since my husband passed away, I have had to ensure that Almas not only got a good education, but after she showed her talent, I have also supported her boxing career. My mother and my brothers have always been supportive. It is difficult to raise finance and get sponsorships which are necessary for Almas’ sporting career.

For her role in the film ‘Mary Kom’, Almas was paid just Rs 2000, while our expenses travelling to Mumbai and back amounted to more than that. Almas has been selected for national camps for five years but she is yet to get international exposure, while Manipur and Haryana girls who

have won silver and bronze medals at the nationals, have had international experience. Almas has won three gold medals at the national levels, and my dream is to see Almas represent India in international competitions.”

Almas was encouraged and enrolled at the age of 7 at the Lahuji Vastad Salawe boxing training centre in Bhawani Peth, where she was trained

by Vijay Gujar and she was quick to show her talent. She won a gold medals at the sub-junior girls national boxing championships at Irode, Tamil Nadu in 2010, and at Kolkata in 2011, bronze and silver medals at the National school games at Akola, Maharashtra in 2012, and at Guwahati, Assam respectively, a gold medal at the State School Boxing Championship at Wardha, Maharashtra in 2013, and two gold medals in Zonal Schools

Boxing Championships at Loni and Akola. She is the only one to bag two consecutive gold medals at the Mayor’s Cup District Level Boxing Championships in Pune.

Almas had a brief spot in ‘Mary Kom’, where she boxed against Priyanka Chopra who played Mary Kom in the movie.

Almas said, “The credit for my success goes to my trainer, my mother and grandmother for their unstinting support and encouragement. I am devoted to my practice regimen and my physical fitness. Boxing in India is a male domain but Mary Kom has paved the way for Indian women. I too want to represent India at the Olympics and win medals for my country. But managing the expenses and getting sponsorships is not easy and what I want is international exposure.”

Faraskhana cop in trouble over arrests in a domestic violence case

A sub inspector has been served show cause notice over mishandling of a domestic violence case

Almas Shaikh shows off some of her fancy moves

New PMC app to be unveiled on January 10

PMC developing mobile app to help citizens voice their grievances

BY GARGI VERMA @missgverma

BY EKTA KATTI @Ektaak

The Faraskhana police station is again in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons. After the High Court directed the city police and especially the Faraskhana police station to be more vigilant and cautious when dealing with criminals and victims alike, the district court has sent a show cause notice to a sub inspector there. Police sub inspector Vishnu Koli was served a show cause notice by the Chief Judicial Magistrate on December 29.

He was served a show cause notice for allegedly not following Supreme Court guidelines while handling a case of domestic abuse and violence. Prajwala Riteish Owhal, 27, a resident of Mangalwar Peth is married to Riteish Owhal, 36, who studies at the Pune University. She lodged a complaint of domestic violence and abuse against her husband and his family. “The complaint was lodged against 10 members of the family including his parents, brothers and sistersin-law,” said Toshif Shaikh, Riteish Owhal’s lawyer. “We will debate the complaints later, but our main issue is how the police handled the entire case.”

Owhal’s lawyers Toshif Shaikh and Ambadas Bansod say that the police has a very biased opinion. “Instead of figuring out the facts and trying to understand the nature of the complaint objectively, the police saw only the woman’s perspective. Though they didn’t have a warrant, they arrested the husband, his brothers and even their old father,” said Toshif. “We challenged that as this is in complete contrast to the Supreme Court judgment. This was clearly a contempt of court by the PSI,” he said.

In 2014, in one of its landmark judgments,

Come New Year, and the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) Commissioner Kunal Kumar will address citizens’ grievances via social media.

PMC will soon release a mobile application that will cater to the civic problems of the citizens. The application, which is yet to be named, will be out on January 10 on android and IOS. The PMC has its presence on online portals such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. But the Facebook and Instagram portals are hardly active as they have failed to provide feedback to citizens’ problems or queries.

So what makes this app so special? Will it cater and provide quick feedback?

Kumar assured that a dedicated team will focus on providing solutions to citizens’ issues.

“The team appointed for the Facebook and Instagram wasn’t very efficient. But we guarantee that the team for the app will do the needful. We have a dedicated 10-member team as a Feedback Management Cell at the PMC which will certainly bridge the gap,” Kumar said.

The application will have features to enable citizens to pay property, water and other

Almas Shaikh shows off some of her fancy moves

the Supreme Court had ruled against the State of Bihar in Arnesh Kumar vs State of Bihar. The Supreme Court had ruled that even under the section 41 A that validates arrests made without a warrant, the arrests can only be made only if “the police officer is satisfied that such arrest is necessary – to prevent such person from committing any further offence; or for proper investigation of the offence; or to prevent such person from causing the evidence of the offence to disappear or tampering with such evidence in any manner; or to prevent such person from making any inducement, threat or promise to any person acquainted with the facts of the case so as to dissuade him from disclosing such facts to the Court or to the police officer”.

Taking cognisance of the above judgment, and the lawyers’ rebuttal as to how the husband’s family would not even have the means to influence any part of the case and the old father-in-law was in no state to influence the case, the Chief Judicial magistrate in the Pune District court issued a show cause notice to the PSI asking him why he shouldn’t be considered for, giving him a week to respond.

TGS questioned PSI Koli regarding the show cause notice. He said, “I stand by my actions. I put him behind bars as he could have committed heinous crimes like rape against the complainant. I am sure the honorable court will see my prerogative and consider it.” gargi.verma@goldensparrow.com RAHUL RAUT

BROTHERLY LOVE

tax. “Citizens can vide responsive govuse the app to pay ernance to citizens. their taxes. There is People can also track an added feature for their complaints and provision of emercheck the history gency services,” he of their grievances. said.

The interactive apThe citizens can plication will alaccess the application low citizens to give to get information their views regarding on the PMC. Kunal Kumar how the corporation Complaints can be should spend or alfiled regarding issues locate the budget,” like solid water management, said Dubey. illegal hoardings and flex and The application which construction, unauthorised will be launched next month constructions and banners. is in its testing phase. It will be updated every 45 days and more departments services will be added to provide more information.

“We have a mobile governance road map where we have already identified the interventions for each and every department. For a few departments there is a dependency where they need to have a system in place. So accordingly we will be updating the application. In first phase, people can use the app to pay their taxes and in the second The PMC has given the phase more departments will consultancy to an MNC called be added and more information PriceWaterhouseCooper. will come into picture,” he said.

Project Manager Abhishek Another unique feature of Dubey, 32, feels that the the application is that it will application will bring citizens a send push notification which step closer to the PMC. will alert citizens on civic issues.

“The application will proekta.katti@goldensparrow.com

The new app will bring citizens a step closer to the PMC

Pune records 69 swine flu fatalities

Swine flu makes a big comeback, with a 20-fold rise in Maharashtra in 2015

BY DNYANESHWAR BHONDE @dnyanesh1

An urchin took a break from begging to feed his little sister. The teenager who is often seen begging at Deccan Corner, carries his sister around everywhere he goes

VISHAL KALE

The swine flu toll in Pune saw an exponential rise, going up from 11 in 2014 to 69 in 2015. In Pune rural areas, it was even more alarming, rising from five in 2014 to 66 in 2015. Overall, the state recorded a near 20-fold rise, with 905 deaths in 2015 compared to 43 in 2014.

Doctors and experts blame it on the lack of awareness and people not availing of timely and proper treatment and precautions. “The public is by and large unaware of precautions and proper treatment for swine flu,” said Dr S T Pardeshi, chief health officer of Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC). He also said that there was reduced immunity among youngsters owing to a lack of proper diet and exercise.

PMC health department analysis determines that the 30 to 50 age group is most susceptible to the virus infection, with 150 swine flu deaths in PMC

hospitals till December 10. There were 34 deaths in the 31-40 age group, 27 deaths in the 51-60 age group, 15 deaths in the 21-30 age group, nine deaths each in the 61-70 and above 71 age groups, and three deaths each in the 1–10 and 11-20 age groups. Only one below one year old male child died of the disease.

The 30 to 50 age group, most at risk, have a host of health issues including blood pressure, heart disease and asthma, which reduce immune power and makes them more prone to swine flu.

In rural areas, 212 persons were diagnosed with the deadly virus and 66 of them lost their lives. Among 13 tehsils, Haveli and Khed topped the tally with 11 deaths each. Bhor tehsil didn’t report a single death.

Pune rural additional health officer of

communicable disease Dr Sanjiv Jadhav said that the sharp increase was due to the weather and changes in the virus. “The virus multiplies and increases in winter and monsoons. The virus is changing genetically and so current drugs become ineffective,” said Dr Jadhav.

Pune district chief health officer Dr Bhagwan Pawar said, “People should not ignore health issues and consult a doctor immediately, as timely treatment is crucial in swine flu.”

Of the 905 deaths in the state, Nagpur recorded 83, Nashik 77, Mumbai 70, Pune 69, and Pune rural 66. Hingoli, Palghar, Sindhudurgh and Gadchiroli recorded two deaths each. Every day, 22,000 suspected patients are screened all over the state.

State surveillance officer Dr Pradip Awate said, “A lot of factors, the weather, public attitude, availability of medical facilities are responsible for the spread of swine flu. Free treatment is available at 128 sub rural district hospitals. Four laboratories provide free diagnosis of samples. Pregnant women are provided free inoculation.” dnyaneshwar.bhonde @goldensparrow.com

THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY JANUARY 2, 2016

“ Babasaheb said that industrialisation will give maximum benefit to Dalits. He was the architect of our Constitution, but not many know that he was an accomplished economist too.”

— Narendra Modi, Prime Minister

“We Hindus want to influence the world with our thoughts. We do not want to enslave the world. Our lifestyle and practices are full of love for everybody. We do not harbour hatred for anyone.”

— Suresh Bhaiyyaji Joshi, General Secretary, RSS

His food wand has led slum kids attend school An engineer from Pune is providing healthy snacks to get slum children go to school

BY SALONEE MISTRY @SaloneeMistry To hit the street and be a part of social cause deserves more appreciation then funding the campaign. Mechanical engineer Nitin Jirafe, 40, belongs to that section of people who take out time out of their busy schedule to work towards something that they truly believe in.

Coming from humble background and seeing parents struggle for his education made him realise that he shares the fate of millions across the country. Living in Pune for last 20 years, Nitin has always been Nitin Jirafe involved in social work.

Be it when he was working with Maher or Idea Foundation, he has always tried to do something in the field of education. One day in June last year, while he was visiting a temple near his house in Phule Nagar, he noticed around 10 children studying under a tree on the street. And hearing their stories led him to add another chapter to his social service life.

JUST THE BEGINNING While he passed the children who were studying, he noticed how engrossed they were in what they were being taught.

“Volunteers told me there are many such children and NGO Awakening Jagriti is

Children of Phule Nagar slums love to attend classes as food is served by NGO and Nitin

trying to find a way to get them admitted to a school. All these children aged between three and 12 years need some incentive to come to school. I decided to provide them with some nutritional food like Idlis and bananas on Saturdays and soon the numbers for extra class went up,” he said. Nitin and Awakening Jagriti found that food was acting as the incentive for these children to come for the extra class.

Nitin inspired his office colleagues to join the cause and collectively managed to pool in enough funds to provide snacks for these children every day. He was able to provide snacks for about 40 children for the rest of the year. The number of students attending the extra classes increased and the volunteers couldn’t be happier.

THE MORE THE MERRIER When Nitin saw the benefits gained from a single meal that he could provide for children, he decided to do a little more. Being a professional photographer, he managed to rope in some more people from his group, Impression Photography and Expeditions, and raise more funds. He collected about Rs 35,000 and used the money to provide nutrition for children in Sangvi slum. He arranged a painting and photography sale-

cum-exhibition to help support his cause.

“Along with my three friends Namita Sapre, Snehal Joshi and Preetam Gandhi, we sold close to 45 paintings and 18 photographs in three days and now will be providing nutrition for about 120 children in Kharadi.

These are children of construction workers in that area,” he said. Nitin has also provided a school kit for these children.

YOUNG INSPIRATION Recollecting the true reason why he wants to keep doing more, he remembers this one child Rani. “When we distributed the school kits, Rani was sitting in a corner and crying. The school kits were given to only those who were regularly attending school and so she did not get one. When I spoke to her, she told me how she wanted to go but her parents were not allowing her. I asked her to speak to her parents and convince them and that is just what she did. She now regularly goes to school and is in fact one of the brighter ones,” he said.

It is children like Rani that keep Nitin motivated towards the cause. He is hoping that slowly and steadily he can get more people on board and help in changing the lives of children begging on roads. salonee.mistry@goldensparrow.com

400 women to defy entry ban at Shani temple on R-day

Shani Shingnapur temple trustees faced flak when they performed ‘purification rituals’ after a woman attempted to enter the sanctum where the idol of Lord Shani is installed

To protest gender discrimination, about 400 women would be entering the inner sanctum of the popular Shani Shingnapur temple in Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra on Republic Day. The management of the Shani temple adheres to an age-old tradition of not

allowing women in the inner precincts, which has drawn flak from rationalists and women’s organisations for long.

Tripti Desai, president of city-based Bhoomata Ranragini Brigade, said about 400 members of the organisation have planned to defy the ban on January 26.

“We feel it is a symbol of gender inequality which cannot be tolerated in the 21st century,” she said.

Representatives of the organisation which fights for women’s rights would meet Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to convey their demand of free entry at the temple, Desai said.

“If the CM decides to lift the ban on women, the temple trustees will have to comply,” she said, adding that she also intended to write to the temple management urging it to consider the demand of fair treatment for women.

A young woman had recently breached the security at the Shani temple to enter the prohibited area and have darshan of the deity, causing flutter and evoking strong reactions that led to resignation of some of the office-bearers of temple trust.

PTI

Silver screen Bajirao walks tall on Zendewale’s turbans

Girish belongs to third generation who has been designing traditional headgear for 70 years

BY SHAILESH JOSHI @TGSWeekly

Seeing the 1,200 turban-clad actors in Bollywood blockbuster Bajirao Mastani will always remain a memorable event for 40-year-old designer of phetas (headgear worn in Maharashtra) Girish Murudkar Zendewale. He designed different turbans for Indian historical romance film directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali.

Girish is the third generation owner who introduced phetas in 70 years ago. One can see variety of curtains, decorations and palanquin

Girish Murudkar Zendewale at his shop

covers used in religious and cultural processions at his tiny shop at Pasodya Vithoba Temple in Budhwar Peth.

The movie’s dress designer Anju Modi had contacted Girish to design the turbans six months ago. “I accepted the offer. Modi showed some turbans and asked me her requirement and design. I also showed her some of my designs and suggested the material that should be used to make the turbans

PUNE

look good on the silver screen. Soon they came me the contract to design the turbans that will needed for the fi lm,” he said.

Girish also met Bhansali at his office, besides taking the measurements of actors, including Ranveer Singh and others, who will be wearing turbans in the movie. He designed Peshwai pagdi, Chakari pagdi, Shahi pheta, pagote, Maratha warrior pagdi, Mughlai pagdi, Bundelkhand pagdya and Mavali pagdya for the fi lm. These turbans cost Rs 500 to Rs 3,500.

Shrimant Dagdusheth Halwai Ganapati Mandal gets its turbans designed by Girish and his shop also exports the headgear to 30 foreign countries. With the movie drawing people to theatres, many people are visiting the shop of Girish and buying turbans.

After all, they are proud of his work. tgs.feedback@goldensparrow.com

Spotlight for young at art At Emerge, young artists find a platform to showcase their talent

BY ZAINAB KANTAWALA @kantawalazainab In an effort to promote and encourage young, gifted artists from the city, Gyaan Adab and Susan Bullough Khare are presenting a group art show, Emerge. The main idea is to bring forward artists who have demonstrated their creative talent and shown commitment towards art.

The week-long programme will include a group show, workshops for the young and adult, interactive sessions with the artist and a fi nale that will include a dance performance. “These emerging artists have been selected to exhibit their works because they have a higher level of dedication towards art. Their work is very different in style and medium, which makes for a dynamic and interesting show. Some artists will showcase bold strokes in acrylic, while other works portray fluid movement in paint, realistic impressions, abstract exploration and intense introspection through line and colour,” says Susan, the curator of the exhibition, who is also an art educationalist and therapist.

The line up of young artist includes Ishita Dharap, Patanjali Bhati Th akkar, Sam Bullough and Sameer Dixit.

Ishita, who is a painter and a freelance graphic designer, says, “My paintings are abstract, and it will be a blend of ink, line drawing, paint and paper collage. The paintings denote my inner self and thoughts that are not revealed. Certain things that have remained untold, have come out in the form of my art,” she says. She has also been a part of a group show held in USA, and conducted a solo exhibition in the city.

Another young artist Sameer Dixit has drawn inspiration from every moment of his life and things that surround him. Using acrylic and, occasionally, charcoal on canvas, he began painting professionally in 2011. Patanjali Bhati Th akkar’s work is a culmination of mindful strokes rendered in the present moment.

An interest in Buddhist beliefs has played a significant role in her art. “I will exhibit my

Sam Bullough showing one of his artwork to be exhibited at ‘Emerge’

one stroke paintings that are mainly based on Buddhist philosophy and teachings,” she adds.

Sam Bullough who has trained in a variety of arts related subjects in Ireland, including photography, visual art, architecture, graphic design and basic ceramics, will portray his artwork that involves extensive research that combines personal introspection, which then fi nds form through a variety of mediums and materials.

Besides this, two different workshops will be conducted to reach out to a wider audience. “One workshop is for the younger participants will be conducted by Ishita and another for adults called ‘Meditative response to art’ will be conducted

by Patanjali. It’s an attempt to encourage and inspire people as well as make them aware that art is not just a visual treat, but its meditative too,” says Susan. zainab.kantawala@goldensparrow.com When: From January 3 to 10, 10 am onwards Where: Gyaan Adab Centre, Kalyani Nagar

THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY JANUARY 2, 2016

PUNE

Is the spirit of hockey

dying in Pune?

Hockey which once reigned as a premier sport in India and was the nation’s claim to fame, has been relegated to the sidelines in the city in recent years, and there seem to be no signs of revival on the horizon PICS BY VISHAL KALE AND RAHUL RAUT

BY ASHISH PHADNIS & SUSHANT RANJAN @TGSWeekly The biggest grievance of Pune’s hockey players is not having a quality ground. Despite a rich tradition in the national sport, the city is currently has no reputation to speak of as regards hockey. While organisers bemoan the dearth of quality grounds to conduct prestigious tournaments, the city’s hockey don’t have access to grounds to train upcoming players.

The grounds in Khadki Cantonment and

PCMC areas, which were once thronged with hockey enthusiasts, have now degenerated into vacant spots and even used as dumping grounds. The Chikhalwadi and Khadki Cantonment Board (KCB) grounds, which could have been wonderful venues for players in the vicinity, are now in such a deplorable state fit to be labelled as pig stys, while those in charge of Ammunition Factory ground and SRPF ground, have stopped giving it out to tournament organisers.

There was a time, when Olympians like Babu Nimal, Joe Phillip, Dhanraj Pillay and Vikas Pillay dominated Indian hockey, and

they inspired a legion of youngsters in their home towns. Hockey was a most highly-rated and popular sport and housefull stadiums were the order of the day for quality tournaments.

But it wasn’t long before the municipal officers’ negligence started taking a toll on these grounds. It is this very same lethargy and negligence that is slowly but surely killing the sport in Pune, and all the efforts from senior hockey players to sustain hockey are coming to nought. Even the hockey associations are frustrated with this state of affairs.

“We are ready to conduct tournaments in Pune which would give valuable exposure to the

city’s hockey players. But there’s not much we can do when there are no quality grounds. If the sports directorate and Municipal Corporation really want to promote the national game, they should provide us good stadiums,” they say.

The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) and KCB have spent crores of rupees on these grounds, but it’s all money down the drain owing to the lack of maintenance.

Currently, the city has only two polygras surface grounds, one at Balewadi and the other at Nehrunagar, Pimpri. The remaining stadiums have dirt surfaces, which are outdated.

Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Hockey stadium, Chikhalwadi, Khadki

K

hadki Cantonment Board (KCB) built Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Hockey stadium in Chikhalwadi, Khadki in 2008, with the aim to nurture the talent and provide upcoming hockey players a platform to showcase their skills.

However, the official lethargy and red tape has kept hockey players waiting even after seven years of construction. Even a constant follow-up from the media and sports enthusiasts has not made a dent in the official negligence.

The ground has degenerated into a pig sty. Constant follow-up from the media and PMC brought about some improvement and a few security guards were posted to protect the stadium. But such half measures cannot do much good and any hockey enthusiast would be left aghast at the despicable state of the stadium.

The ground is in a state that defies description.

The changing rooms and washrooms are strewn with heaps of garbage, with broken washbasins, missing

doors completing a picture that is utterly decrepit and dilapidated.

But officials keep making tall promises as they announce the allotment of funds to renovate the stadium.

The PMC had sanctioned Rs 3.5 crore a few years ago for the renovation and had even declared that a Mumbaibased firm would install an astro-turf here. Chikhalwadi would have turned into an ideal training ground for nearby kids and hockey teams if that had been done.

Teams like Rovers Sports Academy, Railway Police and Super XI would have benefited hugely from the improvement, and the stadium would have become a popular venue for local and state level tournaments. But the reality is that players are struggling with the murum spread over the ground.

“This murum is a hazard and several players have developed skin allergies from it,” said a Rovers Academy player.

“The murum is not spread properly and the dust

keeps flying around when the players hit the ball. The goal posts, surrounding wall and drainage cover are beyond repair,” he said.

What’s even worse is that even Hockey Maharashtra’s attempts to improve the ground have proved fruitless.

Hockey Maharashtra general secretary Manoj Bhore had approached PMC officials to conduct a tournament at the ground, and they were ready to spend on the initial improvement work. But, nothing happened and Hockey Maharashtra shifted their venue to Balewadi.

History The 21,200 square metre stadium with a spectator capacity of 1000 was built in 2008. But, within a few years, the stadium turned into a hot spot for liquor parties and gambling. The PMC sanctioned a nominal amount and security staff were posted to guard the stadium. But nothing changed.

In 2010, Rs ten lakh earmarked for the stadium was diverted for the completion of a community hall, that too without any discussion of the matter in the PMC general body meeting.

Two years later, PMC again sanctioned Rs 3.25 crore for renovation and approached a Mumbai-based firm for installing astro-turf.

The hockey players who have high ambitions think that the city’s hockey infrastructure is way below par.

“Modern hockey is played on polygras only. If a players practices on dirt surfaces throughout the year and goes directly to play on polygras, it will definitely affect his performance. Players should get enough practice on polygras,” they say.

It’s not one person’s job. Everyone, including PMC, PCMC and Khadki board officials, hockey association officials, academies, corporates and even sports enthusiasts should come together to save hockey from fading away. tgs.feedback@goldensparrow.com

THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY JANUARY 2, 2016

PUNE

Major Dhyanchand stadium, Nehrunagar

T

he Major Dhyanchand stadium was built in 1993 at a cost of Rs 1.15 crore. It has a seating capacity of 5,000, and is the first polygras stadium in Maharashtra. The stadium has hosted several all India national level, state level and school level matches.

It even hosted World Series Hockey (WSH) matches in 2012 and Rs 2.75 crore was spent on renovation and installation of floodlights.

However, from October 2014, the office-bearers have closed down the stadium for renovation.

But hockey enthusiasts are furious with the

decision, as they feel there was no urgent need to close down the stadium.

“They (PCMC) say that the surface of the ground needs to be changed completely. But it will take time and they are not going to replace it before April this year. So why can’t they keep the ground open for us? We have been playing on this ground for years, and it’s not that bad. In fact it’s good enough to host local level tournaments. But, PCMC doesn’t want to give it for tournaments,” said hockey umpire Sreedharan Thamba.

Supporting PCMC’s stand, Hockey Maharashtra general secretary Manoj Bhore said, “During the nationals in 2013, we noticed a few patches on the ground and decided that the surface needed to be changed completely. We don’t want our players to get injured and that’s why we decided to close it down after the interschool tournaments in October.”

However, Thamba points out flaws in PCMC’s stand, saying that if the ground was so hazardous to conduct a tournament, how could they allow kids from neighbourhood corporation school to use it every day for practice.

“In November, a local corporator used his

Pune Rail Division Ground

R

ailway Sports Promotion Board (RSPB) has allotted grounds to every Rail Division. Pune Rail Division’s ground is located at Rajabahadur Mill Road, near the railway employees residential quarters.

The ground was built for all kind of sports including hockey. It was even a regular venue for railway Pune division sports events. However, for the last two years, no such event has taken place on the ground. The only use of this ground is when employees gather here for the Republic Day and Independence Day parades. Once in a while it’s used for new recruitment of grade four and grade five employees.

As a result, the ground is losing its reputation and turning into a barren spot. The ground is not properly maintained and there is always a risk of getting injured with the broken glass shards, garbage, and holes. Even the two locked gates

don’t provide protection from locals who litter the ground, despite the presence of a Railway Protection Force (RPF) office. Resident in the vicinity have also complained about matka and gambling.

Pune Division has several hockey players but they can’t use the ground as it’s not well maintained. On the other hand, neighbourhood boys use it to play cricket and football.

Pune Rail Division Public Relation Officer (PRO) Manoj Jhawar said, “Every year Railway used to organise sports event here. However, now they have shifted the events to other grounds in Pune district. We handed it over to RPF jawans for their parades. Not it’s their duty to maintain the ground and prevent illegal activities in the area.”

However, Pune division officials oppose this policy, saying that the Railways should use the

influence and hosted a tournament on the same ground. We just don’t understand how the same ground is good for some and hazardous for others,” Thamba said.

History The stadium was mired in controversy in 2010, when PCMC raised the daily rent of the stadium from Rs 300 to Rs 1500.

It was a heavy burden on the organisers.

Due to the unavailability of other grounds,

Other grounds

ground for the benefit of the players.

“Maintenance of this ground comes under the Pune Rail Division jurisdiction. It should give this ground on rent so the cost of maintenance will be recovered and it will be a good venue for our players,” the official said.

R

ailway Police Ground in Khadki is well-maintained. But the Aga Khan Trophy in 2006 was the last tournament to be played at the ground.

It is uses exclusively for police games and is given only to police teams. Private organisers are charged exorbitantly amounts which none can afford.

The Ammunition Factory ground in Khadki also faces a similar dilemma. The ground was a popular venue for national, all-India level tournaments, featuring the cream of Indian hockey players. But it is also closed down.

A source on the condition of anonymity said that the defence ministry had issued an order to use the ground only for services. But the abandoned ground is now in a state of ruin.

Khadki Cantonment Board stadium

W

hen Khadki Cantonment Board (KCB) inaugurated its much awaited Khadki Sports Complex two years ago,, players of all disciplines were delighted that they would have their own sports ground. The stadium was inaugurated by the then chief minister of Maharashtra, Prithviraj Chavan, in 2013. But 2015 opened up another can of worms.

When the sports complex was constructed, it brought a ray of hope for the hockey players in and around the city. Even Olympian legend Dhanraj Pillay had shown interest in grooming young hockey players. But the sports complex is in a truly dismal state now. Forget hosting tournaments or training, it is freely let out for public events, and the state of the ground after such shenanigans is dismay even the most hardhearted of sports lovers.

The crowds who come in for the events leave behind a minefield of broken bottles, garbage, and holes. There are temporary toilets dug up

they had to start the league matches late that season and even had to call off a few tournaments.

PCMC justified its stand by saying that the ground required a lot of water and electricity. So how could we give out the stadium at a throwaway price? If the stadium is given to anybody at a low cost, there are chances of misuse.

In 2012, the civic body put up four high-mast floodlights at the stadium with a capacity of 1,200 lux.

SP College ground was also a fine for hockey tournaments. But not a single tournament has been held here for two years, but it’s used for other sports.

The astro-turf ground in Shiv Chhatrapati sports complex in Balewadi is the only standard ground in the city.

Built in 2008 during the renovation for the Commonwealth Youth Games, the ground required an investment of Rs 150 crore. It was a regular venue for the Indian hockey camp and several Indian international players have trained here.

However, Hockey India shifted base to Delhi, when Balewadi faced a water crisis in 2011.

The ground will host the 5th Senior National Hockey Championship in April.

New Year will bring new hopes

at the sides of the ground. The stadium wall is splashed and splattered with streaks of gutkha and pan masala spit marks. The gallery wall is broken.

KCB had put up a gate which is always locked to keep out intruders. But the neighbourhood kids scale the wall and play cricket on the ground, while in the after hours the ground is a perfect and secluded venue for groups of people quaffing alcohol.

KCB has spent Rs 1.20 crore so far on the project and still expecting funds from the State government for putting in an astro-turf. KCB

has sent the proposal for the laying of astroturf, which cost of Rs 5 crore. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) rejected the proposal last year, and told KCB to send a fresh proposal. The KCB is preparing the fresh proposal which will be sent by the January end.

Asked about the sorry state of the stadium, KCB CEO Amol Jagtap said, “We have received complaints regarding the stadium. We will not be giving out the ground for hockey events until we get permission and put in an astro-turf. But we do host sports events, including the KCB schools sports event.”

H

ockey Maharashtra general secretary Manoj Bhore admits that the state of affairs regarding hockey grounds is alarming in Pune. But he says that the association is working hard to find solutions and that 2016 will bring new hope.

“We are well aware of the ground conditions. We know that the organisers face issues with conducting tournaments in Pune. But we have not been idle and we are working on every aspect which will help the sport of hockey in Pune. Under the government’s Urban Development Scheme, we can get up to five crore rupees which we will use for the makeover of

hockey in the city,” he said.

He said, “The ground in Balewadi needs a little repair and we are also converting the open space into a mediumsized stadium. It will be a perfect venue to host quality tournaments in a few months.”

He also stressed the need for a good ground in Khadki.

“Khadki has been the nursery of hockey players and it has potential of producing national level players. We must give them better infrastructure.

We have zeroed in on Chikhalwadi and KCB stadium. For Chikhalwadi, we have given an application to the PMC and have expressed out interest in developing it at our own expense. If they approve, we will get a sponsor and put in an astro-turf there. The KCB ground will be repaired in the next few weeks as we are hosting a tournament at the month end. Even some local corporators have come forward to lend a helping hand,” he said.

Bhore said that the city will soon have a High Performance Centre at Balewadi.

The association will scout for rural talent and groom them here. The academy will begin functioning in a few months.

“We are conducting high caliber tournaments like the Mayor’s Cup, statelevel tournaments and other local events.

This year the city will have a packed hockey calendar,” he said.

THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY JANUARY 2, 2016

TECH/START-UP

PUNE

“How powerful were the computers that took us to the moon? Turns out that the Apolo 11 computers had less processing power than a modern cellphone!”

— http://kb.soluto.com/

Over 1 million arrivals in Europe by sea: UNHCR P 13

Inputs sought on start-up action plan from VCs, incubators

The entire ecosystem for start-ups will be covered in the action plan and that would consist a mix of exemptions and facilitation steps The detailed action plan for propelling start-ups to be unveiled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 16 would include various facilitation steps and exemptions for new-age ventures.

Top government brass, venture funds, fi nanciers and incubators will convene on January 16 at Vigyan Bhavan to deliberate on the detailed “action plan” for start-ups.

The proposed plan will be presented to the Prime Minister at the end of the day.

“The action plan would include the defi nition of start-ups and incentives for them. Innovation should be the key to qualify as a start-up unit. They have

to be technology driven,” an official said.

The entire ecosystem for start-ups will be covered in the action plan and that would consist of a mix of exemptions and facilitation steps, the official said.

The Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) is also developing a ‘portal’ and an interactive ‘app’ for them.

Modi in his monthly radio programme ‘Mann ki Baat’ said that the Action Plan of the ‘Startup India, Stand-up India’ will be unveiled on January 16.

Modi had announced the campaign — Start-up India; Stand up India — to promote entrepreneurship in his Independence Day speech.

Hectic parleys are going on among the PMO, DIPP, Department of Telecommunications, Cabinet Secretariat and Department of Electronics and Information

Technology for preparing the action plan.

On January 16, about 10-11 sessions would be held to discuss issues such as fi nancing, mentoring, seed capital, linking companies with universities and institutions, marketing support, consultancy on intellectual property rights and providing easy regulatory mechanism for them.

The day-long programme will be held on the lines of ‘Make in India’.

As per estimates, there are about 3,200 tech-led startups in India, with 800 coming on board every year. The government is also planning to give exemptions to startups for participating in government procurements.

Currently, a unit which participates in a government procurement programme has to show its “prior experience and turnover” but “we are planning to give exemptions to start-ups in this,” an official said. “Start-ups face problems in complying with laws such as Minimum Wages Act and Employees’ State Insurance Act. To deal with this, we are thinking to set up a kind of cell which would help them,” the official added.

PTI

DIPP to develop web portal The Commerce and Industry Ministry plans to develop a web portal for information sharing among various stakeholders of startup ecosystem including incubators, venture capital funds and government functionaries.

The development assumes significance

against the backdrop of launching of ‘Start-up India’ initiative on January 16.

It aims to create a strong eco-system for fostering innovation and start-ups in the country.

The Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) intends to

develop a “web-portal for information sharing and information dissemination” among various stakeholders of startup ecosystem including startups, incubators, accelerators, venture capital funds, seed capital funds, angel investment funds and government functionaries”.

IT application development agency shall also be required to develop a startup ecosystem ‘mobile app’ with relevant backend competency to register startups, fulfi l compliance requirements and facilitate quick exit,” it added.

PTI

Microsoft interested in working with entrepreneurs: Nadella

New way to manage your smartphone

Microsoft is interested in working with entrepreneurs on building last mile technological connectivity with India’s rural areas, CEO Satya Nadella said on Monday.

Addressing a gathering at T-Hub, a technological incubator promoted by the Telangana government, Nadella advised the start-up community to learn from the failures.

“Whatever technology you use, like white space technology, it is important to get the last mile connectivity to rural areas. We are interested to work with entrepreneurs in that space. The idea should have marketability,” he said.

Microsoft recently launched a pilot project in Kenya to deliver low-cost, highspeed wireless broadband and create new opportunities for commerce, education, healthcare, and delivery of government services across the African country.

It is the fi rst deployment of solar powerbased stations together with TV white spaces, a technology partially developed by Microsoft Research, to deliver high-speed Internet access to areas currently lacking even basic electricity, Microsoft had said.

Nadella said people celebrate failures only when they learn lessons from them and correct mistakes.

“Failure plays an important role as it gives

PTI

Microsoft recently launched a pilot project in Kenya to deliver low-cost, high-speed wireless broadband

CEO of Microsoft, Satya Nadella with Infosys CEO and Managing Director Vishal Sikka during a visit to the Catalyst, at T- Hub building, in Hyderabad

an opportunity to learn from it. Celebration of failure comes only when we learn lessons from it,” he was quoted as saying by a government official in an interactive session where media was not allowed.

Infosys CEO Vishal Sikka, Nasscom Chairman B V R Mohan Reddy and Dr

Reddy’s Laboratories CEO G V Prasad were also present during Nadella’s visit at the T-Hub. T-Hub is a technology incubator with collaborative efforts from Indian School of Business (ISB), International Institute of Information Technology (IIIT-Hyderabad) and NALSAR University of Law besides various other organisations.

An entrepreneur, who was present during the interactive session, said it was a great inspirational and thought provoking speech

by Nadella who said concept, capability and culture are the mantra of success.

“When we asked about the focus of Microsoft, Nadella said they would focus more on product development rather than services,” he said, adding that entrepreneurs should come up with ideas which will have marketability.

A senior government official said Microsoft would help build a start-up ecosystem in Hyderabad.

A senior official had earlier said that Nadella was expected to unveil some government policies, like IT Policy, during his visit on Monday. However, it could not take place as the election code of conduct is in force in the state.

PTI

WASHINGTON: An innovative magnetic smartphone case and armband has been developed by a US company that can spare you the hassles of managing your cell phone during workouts.

The patent-pending technology creates a super-secure connection but also allows for easy phone access.

The magnetic Z-Case and Z-Band is an innovative solution that can take the hassle out of managing a smartphone while working out, the company claims.

Because the Z-Case is magnetic, users are able to mount their phones nearly anywhere they are, to assist with taking hands-free selfies and group photos. The Z-Case can also mount to refrigerators, metal doors, poles, cars and many other locations, the company said.

The case as well as the ferromagnetic Z-Band has been developed by Cleveland-based startup Selfie-Z. When Z-Band is paired with the magnetic Z-Case, it provides a supersecure smartphone mounting solution, but also allows unencumbered access to the user’s phone.

It is appropriate for running, biking, weight lifting and many other vigorous activities, the company said.

PTI

Smartphones gear up for 4G ride in 2016

BY STUTI ROY With smartphones turning smarter every passing day, it is the domestic players and new Chinese entrants to the market that continued to challenge global giants like Apple and Samsung in 2015 and the New Year can be much more exciting with the expansion of 4G services.

Emerging as a big force in the global smartphones market during 2015, India saw about 75 million devices being shipped in the first three quarters of the year. The pace of the blistering growth was further strengthened by the online channel as many handset makers added eCommerce only devices.

The strong pace is expected to help India replace the the US as the second largest market globally, after China.

“Smartphones as a category have grown at a phenomenal pace this year and this is

across price points. In the coming year, there will be a lot of action in 4G as operators expand coverage.

“With 4G network rollout, India will become one of the biggest mobile Internet markets in the world leading to the launch of many services that consumers can benefit from,” homegrown Micromax co-founder Vikas Jain told PTI. About 40 per cent of smartphones being shipped are already on 4G and more than 9 crore 4G subscribers and 18 crore 4G smartphones can be there by 2018, he added.

A major driver of this growth has been online sales.

“One in three smartphone in October was sold using the digital platform. With a lot of discounted offers, ‘exclusive-to-online’ products accounted for about 17 per cent of the total smartphone volumes, while the overall online including marketplace touched

around 25 per cent of the volumes,” he added.

The online platforms gave a lot of Chinese brands an easy launchpad for India

without much investment in the distribution and service channels.

The year ahead would continue to see “intense action”, especially in the entry-level smartphone market, as companies look to upgrade feature phone users. With 60 per cent of the user base still on feature phones, the expectation is that close to 70-80 million feature phone consumers will switch to affordable smartphones.

Mike Wang, CEO at OPPO Mobiles India, said the ongoing trend of affordable smartphones will continue in the coming year with launch of more mid-segment smartphones.

The app ecosystem grew fast in 2015 with users graduating from just using gaming apps to services-oriented apps like Ola and Uber to book cabs, foodpanda to order food to using mobile wallets like Paytm and Mobikwik.

PTI

APP WORLD

Stay fit with Yoga & meditation 3D Yoga

IOS/Android: Free Yoga is a way of life, an art of righteous living or an integrated system for the benefit of the body, mind and inner spirit. This art originated, was perfected and practiced in India thousands of years ago. The references to yoga are available in ‘Upanishads’ and ‘Puranas’ composed by Indian Aryans in the later Vedic and post- Vedic period. The main credit for systematizing yoga goes to Patanjali who wrote ‘Yoga Sutra’, two thousand Years ago. He described the principles of the full eight fold yogic discipline. He composed the treatise in brief code words known as ‘Sutras’.

‘Yoga Sutra’ is the most important basic text on Yoga. It is through this basic treatise that the essential message of yoga spread throughout the world.

Yoga Journal

IOS/Android: Free Yoga Journal is an app where you can easily find videos that explain how to practice yoga.

From your home or favorite place get get fit, palliate stress and improve your health. Get a state of calm and relaxation through meditation associated with this practice. Whether you’re a beginner or you have practiced yoga previously will come in handy thanks to the variety of videos with different practices such as nitrates yoga, vinyasa yoga, ashtanga yoga, hatha yoga, kundalini and many more. You can use this app on your phone or tablet through Google Play, it’s totally free and you can practice yoga daily.

Yoga tools from Sadhguru IOS/Android: Free This is a set of seven 5 minute Upa-Yoga practices. Designed

by Sadhguru, these practices are based on the science of Upa-Yoga, which is oriented towards physical and psychological benefits. Just five minutes a day can transform your life! Whether you’re seeking health and joy or peace and love, whether it’s success in the world or inner exploration you’re striving for, these simple practices are designed to help you cut through the struggle and walk through life with ease.

Yoga Meditation Music

IOS/Android: Free If you are under stress because you are late for a bus, or can’t find a parking lot or simply because nobody gave you a cookie, Yoga Meditation Music will help you get through all of that. With the soothing sounds of meditation music you will be able to forget about your problems and, who knows, somebody might just get you a sweet chocolate cupcake.

It doesn’t really matter if you practice yoga or not, you won’t be able to resist this spiritual music full of healing sounds. Moments for relaxing are rare and precious, but you can make them available at any moment by having this yoga music app in your phone.

Yoga Mudra

IOS/Android: Free Yoga Mudra is another nonmedical mode to treatment which helps without harming.

Mudras are various postures of fingers and thumbs. By practicing mudras, different diseases are treated by holding and retaining the fingers and thumbs in different ways. This is simple measure surprisingly restores a state of balance in body and raises the level of the performer’s resistance with the patient’s immunity thus strengthened; the disease has no other option but to flee. These Mudras can be practiced while doing yoga asana. Some mudras are simple enough so that you can even do them with your hands in your busy schedule.

ENVIRONMENT “It is very important what you eat, as that is what you are. So it’s very important to make sure you’re eating enough vegetables and drinking enough water, which I’ve always done.”

— Anushka Sharma, Actress

THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY

H EALTH

JANUARY 2, 2016

PUNE

Cleanliness is a part of culture; a habit formation. Total cleanliness at all places will be in the best interest of the cultural image of the State and the nation and for a healthy and happy life for all.

— Mridula Sinha, Governor, Goa

Fuel issue may delay National Green Tribunal BS-V by a year orders attract global attention The Road Transport and Highways Ministry is to take a call on timeline for adoption of stricter emission standards

Tribunal achieved a feat of pronouncing 56 judgments in a single day on December 10 by settling 209 cases

taken by it to bring the pollution level down in the capital which has achieved a dubious distinction of world’s most polluted city.

The tribunal also lived up to the expectation and trust bestowed on it by the apex court while delegating the panel with the issue of Ganga and it acted tough against the polluting industries by ordering their closure.

The green panel, which unveiled its plan to clean Ganga from Gomukh to Bay of Bengal, imposed complete ban on plastic from Gomukh to Haridwar and announced that if any hotel, dharamshala or ashram release waste into the river, it will have to pay

environmental compensation of Rs 5,000 per day. Rafting and camping activities in Uttarakhand also came under the scanner of NGT which banned camping activity in the entire belt of Kaudiyala to Rishikesh on the banks of Ganga till the regulatory regime comes into force but allowed the adventure sport rafting.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s clean Ganga project also got a boost when NGT directed tanneries situated in Kanpur along the river to strictly comply with mandatory pollution norms and warned them of closure.

Keeping in tune with pledge of sustainable development, the green

Bio-diversity under multiple threat

Javadekar said bullocks races has been traditionally and culturally practiced for centuries

issue an executive order to allow jallikattu, bull races and similar events,” he said.

The advisory further states that these kind of activities “have been struck down by the Supreme Court as illegal and unconstitutional.”

Quoting the advisory, PETA said, “You are, therefore, requested to urge the minister to refrain from taking any step to allow any such event... because the same will be at variance with the Supreme Court judgment in the matter of ‘Animal Welfare Board of India Vs A. Nagaraja and Others’

and at variance with law and the Indian Constitution.”

Javadekar had recently told reporters that jallikattu in Tamil Nadu, bullock cart race in Maharashtra, Kambala in Karnataka and other bullocks races in Punjab has been traditionally and culturally practiced for centuries.

“We want to respect that but also ensure that there should be no cruelty. Therefore, we will give you good news in the next couple of days.

We will give you good news so that the cultural practice can be followed as well as cruelty should not happen to animals.

We have found out some ways and will announce soon. The government is positive on the issue,” he had said.

They also found that those using the technique are better off not providing a specific time frame for the target behaviour.

The AWBI is a statutory advisory body on animal welfare laws and promotes animal welfare in the country and was established in 1962 under Section 4 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960.

PTI

NATION

CITY

Get your voice heard on NetaG P6

No damaged goods please P3

GRANDCHILDREN SUE THE COMPLETE MAN

PAGES: 16+16 (TGS LIFE) | PRICE: `5

PUNE, MARCH 21, 2015 | www.thegoldensparrow.com

PAGES: 16+16 (TGS LIFE) | PRICE: `5

PUNE, MARCH 14, 2015 | www.thegoldensparrow.com

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

CITY

Why are traffic cops taking selfies these days?

P3

DITCH THE

P 12

AUTO,

HAIL A

CAB

GAUTAM SINGHANIA

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

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

ALANDI

AKURDI

CHINCHWAD

RAVET

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

Sab golmal hai...

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, the project is nowhere in sight

said director of the school, who

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

CHIKHALI

KIWALENIGDI

~ Suit filed by the siblings

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

Parents teach them more than exams do P 10

`1,816 1,816 crores spent on BRTS,

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,”

Truly, a tree lady P4

~ 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.’

RAHUL RAUT

RAHUL RAUT

The Animal Welfare Board of India (ABWI) has advised the environment ministry not to overturn the Supreme Court’s judgement which presently bans the bull taming sport ‘ jallikattu’ in Tamil Nadu, animal rights group PETA India claimed recently.

Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar had said that the government will let cultural practices like jallikattu and a few other bullock races to continue while ensuring that animals are not subject to cruelty.

Taking note of the statement, the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India expressed its concern over the issue.

“Immediately after PETA India complained about Javadekar’s statement, the AWBI advised the ministry not to overturn the Supreme Court judgement which currently bans them in the country,” the rights group said in a statement.

“The advisory to the Secretary of the Environment Ministry from the Convenor of the AWBI’s legal sub-committee expressed shock and deep concern about the media reports regarding Javadekar’s promise to

TGS LIFE

Run for... yourself

ANIRUDDHA RAJANDEKAR

ABWI advises Centre not to allow jallikattu: PETA

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PICS ANIRUDDHA RAJANDEKAR

“But ill conceived and preplanned poaching going on in protected forests and sanctuaries have impacted the growth of population of wildlife,” he said. Panchayati raj institutions present in fringe areas of Similipal Tiger Reserve should play a vital role in persuading the villagers to refrain from poaching, asserted the deputy director of WCCB. WCCB is a statutory multidisciplinary body set up by the Government of India under the Ministry of Environment and Forests to combat organised wildlife crime in the country.

PTI

ANIRUDDHA RAJANDEKAR

The Chhattisgarh government has decided to make roof-top solar power plants mandatory for new buildings of government, semi-government establishments and institutional bodies from next year onwards in the state.

The decision, which will come to effect from January 1, 2016, was taken at a state Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Raman Singh last evening, Panchayat and Rural Development Minister Ajay Chandrakar said.

Solar power plants with the capacity of 10-50 KW would be installed in various buildings of the state, he said.

PTI

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal with Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia at a function to administer pledge to students to combat air pollution at Rajkiya Pratibha Vikas Vidyalaya, Civil Lines in New Delhi

THANK GOD IT’S S AT U R D AY

ANIRUDDHA RAJANDEKAR

Ignorance coupled with dwindling income level of people living in the fringe areas of forests, has put enormous pressure on the balance of biodiversity, deputy director of Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB), Abhijit Roychowdhury, said.

Roychowdhury said this while addressing a seminar on sensitisation on prevention of wildlife crime and role of panchayatiraj institutions of the buffer villages of Similipal Tiger Reserve. He said tribal people were being instrumental in protection of nature which was considered as an example across the globe.

Rooftop solar power plants made mandatory

chaired the meeting.

“The Road Transport and Highways Ministry will take a final call on implementing BS-V and BS-VI norms for vehicles by tomorrow. The BS-V implementation is likely to be from 2020,” an official source said.

In November, a draft notification by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoEF), had advanced dates for implementation of BS-V norms to April 1, 2019 and BS-VI norms to April 1, 2021. According to the roadmap earlier laid down by the Auto Fuel Policy, BS-V norms were to implemented from April 1, 2022 and BS-VI from April 1, 2024.

PTI

Supriya Bhoite from Chaturshrungi police station.

Contd on p4

PUNE, MARCH 28, 2015 | www.thegoldensparrow.com

Hum

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

ANIRUDDHA RAJANDEKAR

Green panel announced that if any hotel, dharamshala or ashram release waste into Ganga will have to pay environmental compensation of Rs 5,000 per day

Government is likely to delay implementation of BS-V norms for vehicles by a year to 2020 due to unavailability of suitable fuel despite rising concerns over pollution in the national capital.

The Road Transport and Highways Ministry is expected to take a call on the timeline for adoption of stricter emission standards, according to sources.

A meeting of an inter-ministerial group, including representatives of ministries of road transport and highways, petroleum, heavy industries and environment, could not come to a consensus. Road Transport and Highways Secretary Vijay Chhibber

ANIRUDDHA RAJANDEKAR

A halt on diesel vehicles in Delhi and cracking its whip with a slew of directions for restoring the pristine glory of the Ganga reflected the activist mode of National Green Tribunal which in 2015 got global attention in its endeavour for pollution-free environment.

The tribunal, which has been a busy hub of environmental issues, ranging from challenges to clearance granted to projects of big industries to protection of eco-sensitive areas like Rohtang Pass and Kaziranga National Park, achieved a feat of pronouncing 56 judgments in a single day on December 10 by settling 209 cases.

Barely five years into existence, the NGT’s pro-active role was noticed by international media which praised its speedy redressal of pollution issues as an elated Chairman Swatanter Kumar stated that the green panel disposed of 82 per cent pending cases in 2014.

The extraordinary situations arising due to extreme environmental degradation demanded extraordinary measures and some of the tribunal’s decisions like the ban on registration of new diesel-run vehicles in the national capital created controversy, confusion and hogged the limelight.

However, the NGT had the last laugh as the Supreme Court later put the stamp of approval on the steps

panel indicated that its orders would not come in way of the economic growth and in one such decision it stayed the order of the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board to close Coca Cola’s bottling plant in Prime Minister’s Lok Sabha constituency Varanasi.

While, cracking the whip on those polluting Yamuna, the green bench passed a slew of directions including a fine of Rs 5,000 on individuals spotted throwing waste or religious items in the river and held that every household in the city will now have have to pay a minimum environment compensation of Rs 100 for generating sewage.

In another significant order, it banned immersion of idols except those made from bio-degradable material and held that no commercial/ construction activity except floriculture and silviculture would be allowed by any of the authorities on the flood plain of Yamuna river.

It imposed a fine of Rs 1 lakh on Delhi government for not following its orders on implementation of “Maili se Nirmal Yamuna Revitalisation Project 2017”. Cracking the whip on two commercial projects in Bengaluru, the tribunal imposed Rs 117.35 crore and Rs 22.5 crore as damages on two companies for degrading the environment, which was later stayed by the Supreme Court.

PTI

PTI

PHOTOGRAPH FOR REPRESENTATION

BY PAWAN KUMAR SINGH

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

BY ASHOK BHAT @ashok_bhat The fi lm was jinxed from the start. It was commissioned to celebrate 50th Anniversary of Indian Republic.

While 2000 was the celebratory year, the project was assigned to fi lm-maker Vinay Dhumale only by the end of 2001. Money was doled out and it was expected to get over in a year’s time.

Fourteen years later, there is no sign 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

Ministry of Culture wrote to July 2013 admitting that the issue of Kamalapurkar admitting that PUNE, MARCH 21, 2015 | www.thegoldensparrow.com the issue came to light only after 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 Hain

When

HUNGER STRIKES past midnight

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

Run for…

yourself

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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PUNE

“ Youth today does not wait for opportunities, but creates them. We have Sundar Pichai and Satya Nadella rising from the Indian educational system and heading top global companies.

We need to create such employability for our youth on domestic soil too.”

— Pranab Mukherjee, President

Mumbai residents get thrashed for complaining against drug abusers P 15

Retirement policy, more women members on cards in CPI(M) Politburo member Prakash Karat calls for emphasis on ideological and political quality of party membership

KOLKATA: The CPI(M) leadership discussed the idea of introducing a retirement policy for the aged whole timers of the party and also how to increase women membership.

“We are discussing on the aspects of retirement policy for the old and aged whole-timers who are not able to work due to age and ill health. We have near about 10,000 whole-timers.

They are full time dedicated to the party. We have also discussed about selection, training and the retirement policy for whole-timers,” CPI(M) Politburo member Prakash Karat said at a press conference.

“We have said we must have a scientific policy and when they retire, the party has to provide for them.

There is no such age bar. They won’t retire from the party, but from party

CPI(M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury and other leaders at the valedictory session of ‘Kolkata Plenum’ in Kolkata

work. Somebody can work till 70 or 80, so if they are not able to work after that, we will provide them a retirement policy,” Karat said.

The former party general secretary also said the party has discussed to lay emphasis on the quality of membership.

“We need to give emphasis on the quality of party membership, both ideologically and politically,” he said.

“We are also discussing the aspect to increase women membership in

the party. Women membership is near about 15.5 per cent, which is not satisfactory and in the next three years we are planning to increase it to 25 per cent,” he said.

While answering a query on the issue of democratic centralism in the party, Karat said there was need to improve inner party democracy in the CPI(M).

“As far as democratic centralism is concerned, we have reviewed it and we feel the key link today is to strengthen

the inner party democracy,” he said.

Karat’s comments come at a time when questions have been raised in the closed door meet of the party on lack of sufficient democratic atmosphere within the CPI(M).

Earlier on many occasions disgruntled leaders have accused the CPI(M) of lack in inner party democracy and a tendency of imposing decisions from the top.

The CPI(M) in its Plenum session adopted resolutions on the centenary

year of October Revolution, situation in West Bengal and on the achievements of the Left Front government in Tripura.

The party in its resolution on achievements in Tripura said “The Left Front government has not only developed the quality of life of the people of the state, but also showed that alternative policies can be pursued even with limited sources.”

In the resolution on the situation in West Bengal, CPI(M) termed it as “grave.” “The last four and a half year misrule has totally discredited both the Trinamool Congress and the government headed by it. Large scale resort to terror tactics, attacks on all sections of people including atrocities on Dalits and tribals, alarming increase in sexual assaults on women, monumental corruption including the chit fund scams, rampant misuse of government machinery for partisan ends, abject failure to deliver on promises made during the elections, etc have utterly exposed the real face of the ruling party leading to a strong discontent against it,” it stated.

PTI

Haryana detects 1.75 lakh ‘fake’ pension accounts CHANDIGARH: A whopping 1.75 lakh “fake” pension accounts have been detected by Haryana government during the implementation of Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) scheme for social security pension.

“We have found 1.75 lakh accounts, which may be fake and receiving a pension of about Rs 288 crore per annum,” a senior official of Haryana Social Justice and Empowerment Department said.

All beneficiaries will now get social security pension transferred directly into their banks accounts from January for the first time. There are 23.26 lakh beneficiaries of social security pension in the state involving an outlay of Rs 3,400 crore per annum.

“The beneficiaries were asked to submit their copies of bank pass book and other documents for DBT, and 21.50 lakh beneficiaries have deposited their documents, so the remaining are feared to be fake beneficiaries,” the official said. The state government gives eight kinds of pension, including old age, widow, disability and Laadli to the beneficiaries.

Besides, the department also found some cases in which beneficiaries were taking double pension from EPFO and state government, village and city, in both Haryana and Punjab.

PTI

PM nod must for suspending IAS officers HC: Edu loan cannot NEW DELHI: IAS officers working under central government cannot be suspended without the nod of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a move aimed at allowing bureaucrats to take decisions without any fear of political backlash.

A relief has also been provided in the revised rules to all-India services officers — IAS, IPS and IFoS — working in various states in the revised rules under which the Centre needs to be informed within 48 hours if any officer is suspended by them followed by a detailed report within a fortnight.

The rules also cut short to two months from three months the period of suspension of an officer by the Centre

and states. The order of suspension, if it is extended, will now be valid for four months as against existing six months period.

“IAS officers working under central government shall only be suspended on the recommendations of the central review committee as amended with the approval of Minister-incharge, Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT),” the new rules said.

Government aims to eradicate corruption from bureaucracy

Panel favours Board exam in class VIII NEW DELHI: A committee constituted by the Centre has favoured a slew of changes in the no-detention policy for schoolchildren, including holding of board exams in class VIII. The panel chaired

by Rajasthan Education Minister Vasudev Devnani has decided to recommend to the HRD Ministry not to fail students up to class IV while insisting on continuous evaluation in all classes.

It has decided to leave it to the state government to hold exam for class V. If a student fails to clear the exam and does not show “minimum

The Prime Minister is incharge of Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions which has DoPT as one of the departments.

The three-member central review committee will be headed by Secretary in DoPT and will have Establishment Officer and another Secretary of ministry concerned, as its members.

“The government’s aim is to eradicate corruption from

level of learning”, he will be asked to take another test a month later. The student will be detained in the same class if he fails the second test too, a release from the Rajasthan government said. Under the no-detention policy, children are not failed till class VIII. The panel while favouring no-detention in class VI and VII, has decided to recommend Board exams in Class VIII. Quoting Devanani, the statement said the panel had sought suggestions from 22 states on the No-Detention Policy and 18 states had submitted their views.

PTI

Central panel favours no detention in class VI and VII

bureaucracy and we also wish to provide officer-friendly environment so that none of the officers is intimidated by any of the government rules and give their performance.

The new rules will also encourage honest officers and ensure justice for all,” Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions Jitendra Singh told PTI. The move assumes significance as officers like Ashok Khemka, Durga Sakthi Nagpal and Kuldip Narayan, among others, have allegedly been victims of arbitrary suspension and transfer.

PTI

Stray dog on runway halts Air India flight AMRITSAR: It was a narrow escape for 171 passengers onboard a Dubaibound Air India flight when a dog appeared on the runway when the plane was taxiing forcing the pilot to abort the take-off at Rajasansi International Airport.

An official at the airport said the dog appeared before the front tyre of Amritsar-Dubai Air India Express Flight at around 3.10 pm when plane was taxiing to the runway for take-off.

The pilot applied the emergency brakes and brought the plane back to the bay, the official said.

All 171 passengers were deplaned and a thorough technical check-up of the aircraft was carried out, especially the brake pressure and position of engine mountings. After carrying out the necessary check-ups, the plane took off at 7.13 pm for its destination, after nearly four hours of delay.

PTI

be denied to student MADURAI: The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has ruled that an educational loan cannot be rejected merely on the grounds that the employment opportunity was poor and there was stiff competition during the campus interviews.

The ruling was given by Justice K Ravichandra Babu while disposing a petition filed by B Tamilselvan who sought to quash the order of the manager of the State Bank of India’s Narayanapuram Branch rejecting the loan application for his son.

“The Bank is not justified when it gives the ground that the student does not have employment opportunity and there is stiff competition for jobs,” the judge said.

The petitioner, whose son is pursuing BE civil engineering course at a private college in this district, had sought a loan to the tune of Rs 3.10 lakh from the SBI branch.

The Judge observed there could not be any bar for granting educational loan which was repayable with interest.

PTI

GLORIOUS MOMENT

Tourists wave the Tricolour as they run prior to the Beating Retreat ceremony at end of the year 2015 at the India-Pakistan AttariWagah Border Post

India, Asia’s deadliest country for journos Vol-II* lssue No.: 29 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.

LONDON: Nine Indian reporters were among 110 journalists killed around the world in 2015, a media watchdog group said, dubbing India as “Asia’s deadliest country” for media personnel, ahead of both Pakistan and Afghanistan.

In its annual roundup, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said nine journalists had been murdered in India so far in 2015, some of them for reporting on organised crime and its links with politicians and others for covering illegal mining. It said five journalists were killed in the course of their work and four for undetermined reasons.

“Their deaths confirm India’s position as Asia’s deadliest country for media personnel, ahead of both Pakistan and Afghanistan,” RSF said.

“The inadequacy of the Indian authorities’ response is reinforcing the climate of impunity for violence against journalists,” it said. Noting that it had urged the Indian government to establish “a national plan for protecting journalists”, the watchdog said, “a response that matches the scale of the threats to journalists is now essential.”

It said 67 journalists were killed in the line of duty and another 43 died in

circumstances that were unclear.

Another 27 non-professional

“citizen-journalists” and seven other media workers were also killed, it said, adding that “two-thirds were killed in countries ‘at peace’.”

“The 110 journalists killed this year need a response that matches the emergency. A special representative of the United Nations secretary-general for the safety of journalists must be appointed without delay,” it added.

US-based Committee to Protect Journalists annual report said that Syria followed by France and Brazil are the top three deadliest countries for journalists.

PTI

THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY JANUARY 2, 2016

Cricket fans fret over Nehru Stadium upkeep P 16

“This is the latest in a series of significant losses for IS. These barbaric terrorists have lost 30 per cent of the territory they held in Iraq. We will continue to support the Iraqi Government as it re-establishes the security the people of Ramadi will need as they return to their city.”

— Philip Hammond, British Foreign Secretary

Xi warns leaders about corrupt practices in families Chinese President warns that they will meet the fate of fallen leaders like Bo Xilai and Zhou Yongkang

BY KJM VARMA BEIJING: In a stern warning to top Communist Party leaders, Chinese President Xi Jinping has told them to strictly manage the people close to them to prevent corruption or they will meet the fate of fallen leaders like Bo Xilai and Zhou Yongkang who were jailed for life.

At the latest ‘democratic life meeting’ of the 25-member politburo, top cadres of the ruling Communist Party, Xi told his colleagues to ‘strictly manage’ the people close to them to prevent corruption, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

Xi, who has become a ‘supreme leader’ in the mould of former strongman Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping, asked top party leaders to ‘learn from the fall’ of their colleagues Zhou and Bo who are among thousands of officials serving stiff prison terms for corruption and abuse of power.

62-year-old Xi heads the party, government and the military, making him the most powerful Chinese leaders in recent times.

Zhou, regarded as the Czar of previous Hu Jintao regime by heading the national security, and Bo, a hardline leader who was regarded as rival against Xi in 2012 leadership succession of the party, are currently serving life terms.

Xi, who is credited for carrying out a massive anti-graft campaign both in the party, government and the military, is also criticised for using it to consolidate his leadership position neutralising party’s collective leadership structure.

Under the party power structure,

Xi (Right) is credited for carrying out a massive anti-graft campaign in the party, government and military. He is criticised for using it to consolidate his leadership position

Xi is due to continue in the leadership position till 2022.

At the meeting, Xi asked fellow leaders to act as role models and to monitor and correct the behaviour of wayward members of their families or

people working for them, the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post reported. He said without selfdiscipline, cadres were at risk of losing ethics as they rose through the ranks.

He also cited top military officials

readers with racy translations that are often misinterpreted, the report said.

The translations using erotic and vulgar language drew sharp criticism from public which condemned Feng for vulgarising Tagore’s works.

Users on popular Chinese microblog Sina Weibo chastised the translation as “a blasphemy against a classic”.

“Tagore is Asia’s foremost literary titan, revered throughout the world and very much beloved in China.

There are many Chinese versions of his poetry, so it is not surprising one more would appear,” columnist Raymond Zhou wrote in state-run China Daily.

“But, there’s a fine line between imprinting creative works with unique personality and screaming

Sikhs in US: victims of mistaken identity

like Xu Caihou, Guo Boxiong and Ling Jihua, close aide of former President Hu, who were exposed with anti-graft probes.

“Comrades of the politburo must not feel any superiority in terms of power and position,” Xi said.

The top leadership agreed to continue to educate party cadres above county level to reinforce the achievements of the anti-corruption drive and stressed that the campaign must continue, the report said.

Participants at the closed door meeting are supposed to engage in open criticism and self-criticism.

Since ascending to power, Xi has been using democratic life meetings to revive the Maoist tradition of ‘mass line’ or following the masses, the Post reported. The first democratic life meeting of the politburo under his reign lasted four days in June 2013, themed on anti-corruption.

PTI

Chinese translation of Tagore poetry taken off A publisher in China hurriedly withdrew a Chinese translation of Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore’s “Stray Birds”, after facing flak from literary critics who termed the racy translation of the classic as “blasphemy” and “cultural terrorism”.

Considering the huge controversy sparked by Feng’s translation, Zhejiang Wenyi Publishing House, the publisher of the translation, announced that it would pull the books off bookshelves and websites, and recall the sold ones, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

Tagore’s “Stray Birds” has long been deemed as a work of elegance and wisdom by its Chinese fans.

But the new translation by famous Chinese writer Feng Tang has shocked

PUNE

for attention. Feng just crossed it, when he translated Tagore’s tranquil verse into a vulgar selfie of hormone saturated innuendo,” Zhou wrote in his column titled “Lust in translation”.

Despite the barrage of criticism, Feng, 44 remained unrepentant and said that history would judge him.

He said he intentionally added his personal style into the translation instead of mechanically representing the original work, the report said.

Feng is most known for a series of provocative novels about life in Beijing in the 1990s.

In a widely circulated article, children’s author Zhang Hong called Feng’s translation “a cultural terrorist attack” against young readers.

Community is frequently conflated with Muslims and often wind up absorbing the backlash against Islam WASHINGTON: Sikhs have been mistaken for terrorists and radicals and continue to suffer after 9/11 terror attacks in the US, community members feel following the latest attack on an elderly Sikh man in California which is being probed by police as a hate crime.

“This is the latest episode of what Sikhs have been enduring when they are very peace-loving and hardworking citizens of this great country and not members of al-Qaeda or ISIS or any other radical group,” member of the Sikh Council of Central California Ike Iqbal Grewal said.

“Sikhs have been mistaken for terrorists and radicals and continue to suffer after 9/11,” he said.

In the latest attack on Sikhs, Amrik Singh Bal, 68, of Fresno area in California, was assaulted by two white males in their 20s before dawn on Saturday morning while he was waiting for a ride to work. Sikhs are frequently conflated with Muslims and often wind up absorbing the backlash against Islam.

“There’s nothing new about Sikhs

Gian Singh, 78, was assaulted while he waited to pick up his grandson from Warren Middle School in Bakersfield, California on December 7, 2015. An unknown assailant threw an apple with great force at Singh hitting his turban (www.sikhcoalition.org)

being the targets of violence and intimidation in the United States: Followers of the monotheistic faith, which originated in South Asia in the 15th century, have been on the receiving end of xenophobic intolerance since they began arriving in the Pacific Northwest to fill logging jobs in the early 20th century,” according to Simran Jeet Singh, a senior religion fellow at the Sikh Coalition, a nonprofit advocacy group.

That intimidation intensified in the months after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, when a wave of anti-Islamic sentiment washed over the country, leading some to confuse the long beards and turbans worn by many Sikh men as a representation of Islam. Others viewed it simply as an opportunity to attack individuals they perceived as being “un-American”, Washington Post said.

According to the Sikh Coalition, there were more than 300 cases of violence and discrimination against US Sikhs in the first month after the 2001 attacks.

“Over the last few weeks, the level of intimidation is worse than it was after Sept. 11th,” Harsimran Kaur, the Sikh Coalition s legal director, told The Post.

“Then, people were angry at the terrorists and now they’re angry at Muslims, anyone who is seen as Muslim, or anyone who is perceived as being ‘other’.

“It’s not just a case of mistaken identity. It’s beyond that.”

Although estimates vary because of a lack of census data, the coalition believes 500,000 to 750,000 Sikhs live in the United States, with about half of that population residing in California.

PTI

Saudi 2016 growth to dive India tells US to honour visas as debt rises, reserves drop America says Indian students are denied entry based on immigration assessment

RIYADH: Saudi economic growth is set to slow further in 2016 after the OPEC heavyweight announced record deficits due to the slump in oil prices, an economic report said today.

Jadwa Investment forecast the Saudi economy would grow by just 1.9 per cent next year, down from 3.3 per cent this year and 3.5 per cent in 2014.

The world’s top oil exporter announced a record budget deficit of USD 98 billion in 2015 and projected a shortfall of USD 87 billion next year.

Jadwa expects the oil sector to grow by a meagre 0.9 per cent on an average crude production of 10.2 million barrels per day. To finance the budget, the Saudi government withdrew from its huge fiscal reserves and issued bonds on the domestic market.

The reserves dropped from USD 732 billion at the end of 2014 to USD 628 billion in November, Jadwa said. The kingdom is estimated to have issued domestic bonds worth around USD 30 billion since July, raising public debt to USD 38 billion, or 5.8 per

cent of Gross Domestic Product, Jadwa said.

This year also saw the first deficit in the kingdom’s current account since 1998, at USD 41.3 billion or 6.2 per cent of GDP, it said. The slide is expected to continue next year. To counter the shortfalls, Riyadh introduced unprecedented hikes to the prices of fuel, electricity and other utilities by as much as 80 per cent, reducing decades-old subsidies.

Jadwa estimated the cost of energy subsidies at USD 61 billion this year, of which diesel accounted for USD 23 billion and gasoline for USD 9.5 billion.

Jadwa estimated the oil price used to calculate oil income in 2016 at USD 40.3 a barrel, down from USD 64.8 a barrel this year. The actual price of Saudi oil in 2015 averaged USD 49 a barrel.

Jadwa expect the Saudi government to announce a National Transformation Programme (NTP) in January to outline further plans to boost non-oil income.

AFP

NEW DELHI: The US has conveyed that the decision to deny entry to Indian students was not because of black-listing of two California-based institutions but based on the immigration assessment of individuals even as India asserted that American authorities need to honour visas issued by them.

The Indian reaction came after more Indians travelling on business/tourism/work visas have been deported recently.

In a fresh advisory, External Affairs Ministry said according to the US Government, the deported persons had presented information to the border patrol agent which was inconsistent with their visa status.

In continuation of December

23 advisory in connection with denial of entry by the US to Indian students having valid student visas to pursue studies in educational institutions Silicon Valley University at San Jose and Northwestern Polytechnic Universit y, Fremont, the ministry noted that there have been more cases of deportation of Indians.

Subsequently, there have been further cases of denial of entry to Indian students holding valid

visas to pursue studies in other US educational institutions, it said, adding some Indian nationals travelling on business/tourism/ work visas have also been deported.

“The US Government has conveyed that the decision to deny entry to these students is not because of the corresponding institutions being ‘black-listed’ but based on the assessment made by the US immigration authorities of individual applicants.

Students seeking admission in US institutions should do due diligence

“According to the US Government, the deported persons had presented information to the border patrol agent which was inconsistent with their visa status,” the ministry said while noting that India continues to remain closely engaged with the US Government on this subject.

“We have strongly emphasised the need for the US authorities to honour the visas issued by their own Embassy/ Consulates,” it added. The ministry reiterated that all Indian students seeking admission in US educational institutions should do due diligence to ensure that the institutions to which they are seeking admission have proper authorisation and capacities.

PTI

Over 1 million arrivals in Europe by sea: UNHCR

Agency says vast majority of migrants is in need of international protection

BY SHREERUPA MITRA-JHA GENEVA: Over a million refugees and migrants have reached Europe by dangerously crossing the Mediterranean Sea in 2015, nearly half of them from Syria, the UN Refugee Agency said.

“We crossed the threshold overnight of a million arrivals in Europe by sea in 2015,” said Adrian Edwards, spokesperson of the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR).

“The vast majority of those attempting this dangerous crossing are in need of international protection,” the UN agency said.

There were 1,000,573 arrivals by perilous

A girl waits to pass the border police line in the southern Macedonian town of Gevgelija

sea in 2015 with 84 per cent of the arrivals coming from ten countries only.

The one-million milestone also marks an almost five-fold increase over the number of

migrants who came to Europe in 2014, when the UN recorded 216,000 arrivals.

2015 also registered a whopping 3,735 missing persons and deaths of people trying to cross into Europe on unseaworthy boats and dinghies in a desperate bid to escape the prolonged violent conflicts and economic crises at home.

The top ten nations which account for 90 per cent of the sea arrivals in 2015 were: Syria (49 per cent), Afghanistan (21 per cent), Iraq (8 per cent), Eritrea (4 per cent), Pakistan, Nigeria and Somalia (2 per cent), Sudan, Gambia and Mali (1 per cent).

Of the total sea arrivals in 2015, 58 per cent were men, 25 per cent were children and 17 per cent were women.

The monthly Mediterranean sea arrivals gradually picked up from January onwards and reached a peak in October 2015 which

saw more than 2,00,000 arrivals to gradually taper down with the onset of the winter season.

Greece had 8,44,176 arrivals by sea and Italy had 1,52,700 arrivals by sea in 2015.

However, while Syrians, Afghans and Iraqis were the top three nationalities arriving in Greece, Eritreans, Nigerians and Somalis crossed the Ionian sea to reach Italy this year.

The present migrant crisis is considered to be the Europe’s worst since World War II. The number of sea arrivals has increased significantly from 2014 - the year recorded about 2,16,000 arrivals by sea.

On December 22, the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and UNHCR had jointly announced the arrival of million plus migrants and refugees into Europe both by land and sea.

PTI

THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY JANUARY 2, 2016

PUNE

MONEY MATT ER S

“Every website has options for people to share what they read. EdCast as a platform has also invested in building the tech to enable sharing.”

— Karl Mehta, Founder, EdCast

“The demand for smartphones will be huge. Our initial strategy will be to focus more on the mid and entry-level phones and gradually move towards the high-end segment.”

— Wang Guodong, Business Head, Huawei India

Realty sector eyes 2016 to end slowdown Only office, retail segments reported higher leasing numbers against 2014

BY MANVENDRA JHA & PRAJAKTA KARNIK With a multi-year slowdown continuing in 2015 despite abundant supply and fall in prices, the real estate market is desperately looking for a recovery in the New Year when a new law is also expected to herald the muchneeded transparency and accountability in the sector.

Experts said the housing sales have remained flat this year despite 1520 per cent fall in prices and multiple interest rate cuts, while a glut continued in the market because of investors still sitting on old inventories.

Property developers and consultants hope that the new real estate law will see the light of day in 2016 and bring in the much-needed efficiency, transparency and accountability into this sector.

The proposed law, which was

Signposts

recently cleared by the Cabinet and would now go to Parliament for approval, can boost customers confidence, which has dented a lot because of delays of up to 5 years in delivery of projects forcing buyers to protest on streets and even go to courts.

Housing sales, which stood at 1.75 lakh units during last year in the primary markets of seven major cities, are likely to be around same level in 2015, property consultant JLL said, adding that sales were marginally down to 1.16 lakh units in the first nine months of this year.

Launches of new homes reduced drastically this year, still over 6 lakh housing units remain unsold in eight big cities, according to Knight Frank India.

Developers tried their best to boost sales by offering apartments, on both offline and online platforms, at discount laced with freebies and easier payment plans, but potential buyers chose to wait for further correction in housing prices.

However, realtors are confident of turnaround in 2016, banking on the RBI’s move to reduce key interest

According to Knight Frank India, launches of new homes reduced drastically in 2015 and over six lakh housing units remain unsold in eight big cities

rate by 125 basis points and the government’s steps like easing of FDI rules and launch of Housing for All and Smart Cities schemes that could provide new growth opportunity for the sector.

“We started this year on a very bad note. But the end was much better than the beginning in terms of housing sales. Overall, sales remained almost

Railway, States JV get Cabinet nod

With several rail projects delayed due to financial crunch, JV firms formed with equity participation of Railways and state governments would ensure speedy implementation

Scrutiny notice to seek taxpayer details In order to bring down instances of harassment of Indian taxpayers, Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has asked its field offices to make sure the assessment notice should contain details of specific information or documents to be furnished by the assessee. Issuing the instruction, CBDT said while issuing the first notice, the Assessment Officers (AOs) do not convey to assessees the specific compliance requirement like production of accounts and furnishing of documents. “In cases selected for scrutiny, it should be the endeavour of the AO that the initial notice issued under Section 143(2) of I-T Act accompany a notice... along with questionnaire,” CBDT said.

1.5% more growth to sustain wage hikes India needs to grow by additional 1-1.5 per cent so that it can sustain wage hike and other benefits given to workers and the poor, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said. “Our GDP growth of 7.5 per cent is at a time when the world is experiencing global slowdown. We need to increase our growth rate. We have to at least increase it by 1-1.5 per cent,” he said at the felicitation function organised by Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS). “In the coming year, there would be burden of Rs 1.02 lakh crore of Seventh Pay Commission, OROP (One Rank One Pension) burden is also there. That burden can be sustained only when there is increase in economic activity. Because of increased economic activity, government revenue and resources will go up,” he said.

Eyeing greater financial role of states in execution of rail projects, Union Cabinet approved the formation of Joint Venture (JV) companies with several states, which will enable the Centre to mobilise resources for various rail infrastructure projects.

Chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Cabinet decided that the initial paid up capital of Railway Ministry would be limited to Rs 50 crore for each state.

The JVs envisage financial participation of the states as well as faster decision making process to ensure speedy implementation of rail projects in respective states.

JV companies would be formed with equity participation of Railways and state governments, according to a release. Several rail projects are delayed due to financial crunch.

Each JV would have an initial paid

up Capital of Rs 100 crore based on the quantum of projects to be undertaken.

Further infusion of fund/equity for the purpose of the projects would be done after approval of the project and its funding at appropriate competent authority.

JV can also form project specific special purpose vehicles with equity holding by other stakeholders like banks, ports, public sector undertakings, mining companies, etc.

This would ensure greater participation of states in implementation of railway projects both in terms of financial participation as well as decision making process and will also facilitate faster statutory approvals as well as speedy land acquisition. Various cement, steel, power plants etc. would get the necessary rail link for transportation of their raw material and finished products.

PTI

same as 2014,” realtors’ body CREDAI President Getamber Anand said.

DLF’s CEO Rajeev Talwar said: “With banks passing on the interest rate cuts in the form of reduction in home loan rates, we are already seeing signs of buyers coming back to the sector. As the impact of these measures unfolds, we expect buyers to make a comeback to the property market in 2016.”

MF sale on e-commerce sites soon Sebi chairman UK Sinha said sale of mutual funds on e-commerce platforms could become effective in a month, a move which will help deepen the respective market.

The markets regulator has set up a committee under Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani to deliberate ways in which electronic means can be used better for sale of mutual funds (MF).

The committee is also working to make sale of mutual funds possible on e-commerce platforms, the Sebi chairman said.

“My guess is that in the next one month, this will be done (permitting sale of mutual funds on e-commerce websites),” he said while speaking to media on the sidelines of the launch of Bandhan Bank’s 600th branch.

According to Sinha, mutual fund growth in the country has been “very good” and more number of consumers flock to e-commerce websites for shopping.

“However, electronic means are not used as well as they should have been and the growth is not happening using such means. We have some experts deliberating on how the electronic means can be used better,” Sinha said.

Targeting the young and educated people with high salaries and disposable income, Sinha said, the move would help them invest easily.

“If these people are doing e-shopping, and they know financial markets, then they should also invest in MFs,” the Sebi chairman said.

On listing of start-ups, Sinha said it will take its own time. “Important thing to note is that the regulations are in place. If there is a company under pressure, there is alternative before the company to raise(funds),” Sinha said.

PTI

JLL India Chairman and Country Head Anuj Puri said: “2016 may well bring an end to the long and painful journey this sector has had, and signal an upward growth trajectory”.

Unlike housing, the office and retail segments performed better and reported higher leasing numbers against 2014.

According to property consultant Cushman & Wakefield, the PE investments in real estate was up by 84 per cent to Rs 18,300 crore in JanuarySeptember of calendar year 2015, the highest since 2008.

Among the big-ticket deals, DLF sold 50 per cent stake each in two upcoming projects in Delhi for nearly to Rs 2,000 crore to Singapore’s sovereign wealth fund GIC. It announced sale of its cinema business to PVR for about Rs 500 crore. Godrej Properties sold 4.35 lakh sq ft of commercial space at BKC in Mumbai to healthcare products major Abbott for Rs 1,480 crore, while Piramal Realty raised Rs 2,700 crore from Warburg Pincus and Goldman Sachs.

Realty portal Housing.com board on July 1 sacked co-founder and

then CEO Rahul Yadav, saying his behaviour towards investors and media was not “befitting” of a CEO. It appointed Rishabh Gupta as interim CEO in July. Last month, Jason Kothari has been appointed as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO).

On legal front, the year 2015 saw realty major DLF getting a major relief after the Securities Appellate Tribunal passed a ‘majority order’ quashing the three-year market ban imposed on the realty giant by regulator Sebi, even as the Presiding Officer dissented.

However, market regulator Sebi slapped fines totalling Rs 86 crore on DLF, its top executives, their family members and various other related entities for entering into “sham transactions” to mislead IPO investors about eight years ago.

Last month, the government relaxed the foreign direct investment (FDI) norms in construction sector by removing two major conditions related to minimum built up area as well as capital requirement. It also eased rules for foreign investors to exit and repatriate their investments.

PTI

Cheap goods cause for export plunge

India Ratings report state about three-fourths of decline is on account of dip in exports of oil products, agri-commodities Decline in global commodity prices, led by oil, and weakening euro are the key reasons for the continued fall in merchandise exports, says a report.

“The steep fall in export shipments is mainly driven by the fall in global commodity prices and the sharp weakening of the euro (averaged 16.6 per cent lower year-on-year),” India Ratings said in a report.

However, it added that the contraction in exports is not reflective of actual weakness in export volumes.

Merchandise exports have fallen by 16.1 per cent in US dollar terms over the 12 months ending November 2015.

According to government data, exports slumped for the 12th straight month in November, declining 24.4 per cent, as petroleum exports plunged 53.9 per cent, followed by gems and jewellery (21.52 per cent), engineering goods (28.57 per cent) and iron ore (14.04 per cent).

The trade deficit for the AprilNovember period stood at USD 87.54 billion, lower than USD 102.50 billion year-on-year.

“Although global demand conditions remain sluggish, export volumes may not have fallen significantly,” the report said.

Demand conditions in Asia, the OPEC and Africa have been hurt by

falling commodity prices, moderating domestic demand and volatile exchange rates. However, Europe and the US continue to be supportive.

The report said about three-fourths of the decline is on account of a decline in exports of oil products and agricommodities, in line with the fall in prices of these commodities.

A sharp decline in commodity prices has depressed the prices of many intermediate and manufactured goods, leading to a decline in the value of exported items, it explained.

The rating agency expects the mixed performance of export oriented sectors to continue, with some sectors performing better than others. The report added that nominal income growth of corporates in most exporting sectors will remain depressed due to the deflationary impact of falling commodity prices.

“Also, most corporates which have exposure to Europe may be unable to increase prices to offset the decline in margins caused by the depreciation of the euro due to stiff competition from other Asian exporters,” it said. The report also believes that the credit profile of exporting corporates is unlikely to improve even in those sectors which are witnessing modest demand growth.

PTI

Demand conditions decreased in Asia, the OPEC and Africa

It may be curtains for iconic HMT’s tractor unit Centre sents proposal to Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar citing ‘inability’ to run PSU at Pinjore

Not finding running the iconic tractor making unit at Pinjore as ‘viable’, the Centre has proposed Haryana government to take over HMT Limited’s land in lieu of settling the dues of employees.

In a proposal sent by Heavy Industries minister Anant G Geete to Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, the Centre expressed ‘inability’ to run the famous Public Sector Undertaking located about 25 km from Chandigarh.

However, Haryana CM Khattar said that the interest of employees will be kept in mind before taking any decision pertaining to HMT Pinjore unit.

Jawahar Yadav, OSD to Khattar, said, that no final decision has yet been taken in this regard on Centre’s proposal. But he said “the state government will take a call in this regard while keeping in mind the interest of employees working in the factory which has been running into losses”. In the proposal, the union minister has said that in the wake of “changed economic and industrial scenario”, the performance of the company was “unsatisfactory”.

HMT Limited first rolled out 25 HP tractor in collaboration with Motokov of erstwhile Czekoslovakia and later made tractors of several HPs

“It has become economical and financially unviable to run the factory and it is not in a position to pay salaries to its employees and

workers,” the minister said in the letter. The union minister noted that several steps in the past were taken to infuse fresh life into the factory, but in vain.

The government is contemplating to “close down” the unit while employees and workers be given attractive compensation, the letter stated.

The Centre has proposed the Haryana government to acquire 837 acres of land of the factory and in return, clear the dues of the employees before closing it down, as per letter.

Described as pioneer of farm mechanisation in the country, PSU HMT Limited was set up in 1971 in Pinjore. This unit is fully integrated with foundry, manufacturing, assembly and testing facilities for 20,000 tractors and engines. The company first rolled out 25 HP tractor in collaboration with Motokov of erstwhile Czekoslovakia. Thereafter, it launched a range of tractors of several capacities including 25 HP, 35 HP, 45 HP, 59 HP and 75 HP. Vikas Bansal, President of Shivalik Vikas Manch, which is pursuing the revival of HMT factory, slammed the government’s proposal for closing down the factory. The factory is estimated to have about 2,000 employees.

PTI

THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY JANUARY 2, 2016

PUNE

Our voices need to be heard

THE EAST SIDE STORY

The East Side Story is an annual film festival where young filmmakers get an opportunity showcase their work, compete with India’s best independent filmmakers, meet industry professionals, interact with them and win great prizes. A 2-day, annual film festival organised by Symbiosis Centre for Media & Communication, Viman Nagar. Some of the highlights of the festival include student film screenings, lecture sessions from industry experts, and concludes with a grand awards night.

When: January 7 and 8 Where: Symbiosis Auditorium, Viman Nagar

THE KUSH UPADHYAY GROUP

The Kush Upadhyay is a solo group project of Kush Upadhyay featuring a set of their original tunes and hitting renditions of some old school and modern style blues/rock songs. The band is a trio that consists Kush Upadhyay on Guitars, Nathan Thomas on Bass, and Varoon Aiyer on Drums and other artists who join them on stage for vocals, keys, etc.

When: January 6 Where: BlueFrog, Yerawada

BALALAIKA AND MELLOMARTINEE

is an annual photography contest organized by The Western Routes dedicated to photographs taken in our beautiful and vibrant state of Maharashtra! They received a tremendous response of an average of 150+ photographs in each category. These categories were - nature and wildlife, landscapes, built heritage and people and culture. The idea of the contest was not just to felicitate the photographers but to put up their work for the world to see.

When: January 7 to 10 Where: Pandit Bhimsen Joshi Kala Dalan, Sahakar Nagar

Uncleared garbage raises unholy stink at Naylor Road

RAHUL RAHUL

of all genres with Balalaika-the metal core band and Mellomartinee performing Live at Phoenix Marketcity Pune. The bands play experimental rock music of diversified influences from Indian classical, alternative funk, hard rock to give the best to the audience. So lay back and enjoy a weekend of power packed performances and refreshing musical cocktail infused with all flavours of music.

When: January 2 and 3 Where: Phoenix Market City, Nagar Road

KALEIDOSCOPE PHOTOGRAPHY CONTEST

Get ready to enjoy a spectacular double weekend bonanza and groove to popular music numbers

Maharashtra Kaleidoscope Photography Contest

SILVER LIVE A rock band from Pune, Silver will be rocking the stage at Hard Rock Cafe.

Silver is a Hard rock band from Pune, India formed in the year 2007, with the very intention of creating original music.

One can trace funk, blues and progressive influences in their music to add that extra flavour to the band recipe. They released their debut album in 2013. Their video for ‘Funkie Junkie’ is often featured in MTV Indies and VH1.

When: January 7 Where: Hard Rock Café, Koregaon Park

THURSDAY NIGHT ACOUSTIC JAM

Come and join Baner’s very own indie band ‘Chutzpah’ consisting of Shivm Shankr on Guitar & Vocals accompanied by Parag Bhide on Percussion. They are not bound by genre or style; they play original songs as well as covers. They started off as a jam session at one of the Books Chai Cafe and since then they have performed at some of the coolest venues in Pune. They are known for their colourful performances perfectly blended with energy and they know exactly how to get the crowd rolling.

When: January 7 Where: Pagdandi - Books Chai Cafe, Baner

FESTIVE SEASON MENU

Costa Coffee has launched its festive menu with a range of luxuriant hot and cold winter delights to indulge your senses. Topping it all is Costa Coffee’s international sensation, the Caramel Popcorn Latte - brought to Indian shores for the first time ever - a divine cup of caramel coffee that is as velvety as it is aromatic to the last drop with the smokey flavour of popping popcorns - by India’s favourite international coffee brand.

When: Till January 20 Where: All Costa Coffee outlets

WINTER ON A PLATE

Bottlerock brings to you, Winter on Plate. Slip into a comfortable sweater and bring in the evening with hot masala chai and pakodas.

Enjoy a view of the hills, while chatting with your friends and family. As the night sets in, sip on some Tom Yum soup and follow it up with the lounge’s special Indian and Oriental Winter cuisines, infused with a variety of herbs and spices. Warm yourself up from the inside with good food and good company. End your evening with all time favorite Gajar ka Halwa.

When: Ongoing Where: BottleRock, Pashan

VISHAL KALE

WEEK THAT WAS

I

live at Naylor Road, near Koregaon Park.

It is an upmarket area but the spot opposite Oakwood Hotel has become a dumping ground for garbage, which is not collected regularly. The garbage collectors from all the housing societies in the area, dump garbage at this spot. The uncleared garbage has become a nuisance now, what with the foul odour, stray dogs and bugs, not to mention the ugly sight. This has also given rise to a mosquito menace.

G Yogesh The amount of garbage is increasing by the day as more and more people are dumping their waste here. All our complaints to the PMC waste management have had no result.

The situation has reached a crisis point and one wonders what will happen if the dumping of garbage continues unabated.

There seems to be no system in place within the PMC when it comes to garbage clearing and disposal. If this is the way the civic body continues to function, I don’t see much hope for Pune to become a smart city in the near or even distant future.

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.

FEWER NEW YEAR BASHES, COURTESY PUNE POLICE

MUMBAI RESIDENTS GET THRASHED FOR COMPLAINING AGAINST DRUG ABUSERS

Calling the cops to report drug abusers and nuisance mongers in their area resulted in Vedang Vaidya, Samir Kokate, Gaurav Samudra and Prathmesh Janvalkar getting brutally assaulted. The residents of Reclamation Road, Bandra (West) area were thrashed with iron rods and bamboo sticks by miscreants near Amber Prasad building on December 23. Vedang and his friends, who stay in the locality, have informed the police about the nuisance. The victims helped police in identifying the attackers Aniket Sakpal, Mohammad Iliyas Khan alias Sonu, Akbar Hussain Rizvi and Mohammad Arif Sayad.

Security concerns saw New Year celebrations in Pune dropping to a meagre 42 compared to last year’s 130. The district Entertainment Duty Department (EDD) collected just Rs 22 lakh as entertainment tax, which is 50 per cent of last year’s collection. Pune hotel association blames the city police’s convoluted permission procedure for the drop in the number of New Year event. Entertainment duty officer Mohini Chavan said, “The city police refused permissions for events in open spaces and lawns owing to recent incidents of city youth being linked to terrorist organisations. People opted for low-key and in-house parties that are not eligible for entertainment tax.”

PIC

Vedang Vaidya

OF

THE

E WE K

CANTEEN EMPLOYEE RAPED IN TECH FIRM’S WASHROOM

A migrant couple wait for their food to be cooked as they sit on the open ground of Railway Colony on Raja Bahadur Mill Road

LETTERS TO THE

EDITOR

Samir Kokate

Low-key New Year The Pune Police has made it hard to get permissions for hotels and restaurants to host New Year parties this year. The reason is security, they say. But whatever it is, the fact is that each year the night of December 31 gets more and more chaotic, with traffic jams and confusion reigning all around. To top it all, it seems like the time for everyone to behave in a rather irresponsible and juvenile manner, by getting drunk and driving or riding vehicle, outing one’s own and others’ live in danger. From that point of view, I am glad that this year there will be less people and less chaos on the roads. I think the wise course if for people to have their own get-togethers at home with family and friends. As it is the party places charge such exorbitant prices per head for a party that hardly lasts a few hours, because after the stroke of midnight it is a free for all at all the places anyway.

— Pushkar Aswadar

A canteen employee of a reputed IT company in Hinjewadi, Pune was allegedly raped by a housekeeping staff while another filmed them. The incident occurred in the washroom of the company on December 27 (Sunday). The 25-year-old woman has alleged that at around 5.45 pm on Sunday she went to washroom when one of the accused identified as Paritosh Bagh sneaked up behind her. She claims that he pinned her and raped her.

Paritosh Bagh Prakash Mahadik Prakash Mahadik, who works in housekeeping department of the canteen, walked in and started filming the entire episode. The victim later filed a complaint with Hinjewadi police.

Police have registered a case of intimidation and rape against the Paritosh and Prakash under Sections 376, 506 and 34 of the Indian Penal Code and arrested the duo.

Heritage sites get a new lease of life

That the Pune Municipal Corporation has launched the initiative to preserve and restore the heritage sites in the city is welcome news indeed.

When one compares to the care taken by western countries to keep heritage sites in good shape, it is a matter of shame that we do not have the sensitivity or care to look after such historic sites and buildings and preserve them for the benefit of the generations to come. Pune is such an ancient city and one wonders how many priceless treasures have fallen into the dust and forever forgotten because we have not cared to maintain them and preserve them. Though much too late, one should be thankful that the civic body has woken up and is doing something to preserve what is left of or glorious and eventful past — Ravi Ghole

Go IndiGo The IndiGo airline has really shown the way ahead for all those who provide services to the common man. By going out of their way to enable Savita Singh to reach Pune in time for her interview, by even bypassing some of their own rules, is a fine way for a corporation to show its human side and help out a person. If it were not for their timely assistance, probably Savita would have missed her exam and even forfeited a lot of time and money and effort. More and more Indians are using the airlines to travel across the country and a personal touch from the service providers will go a long way in making things better and prosperous for both the customer and the service provider.

— Pramod Fadekar

Welcome to the world

The Sakharwadi example

Shani Shingnapur has had no crime for time immemorial but since the setting up of the police station just two months ago, there has been a spate of crimes in the village. It just shows that the once idealistic scenario where there were only door frames and no doors in the village is now a thing of the past. The people of the village used to believe that any robber would be punished by Lord Shani for his or her evil deeds. It is great that once there was a time when people used to live in such peace and harmony and no one would think of taking something that belonged to another, but now such a world is only to be found in movies and fairy tales.

— Prajakta Raje

The sports teacher of Sakharwadi who has sparked such a sporting revolution in the village and given so many of its young girls an ideal to aim for is like a fairy tale of sorts. Of course, all this has come about thanks to the selfless devotion and unflagging efforts of one person, who had quite a task in changing the traditional mindset of the villages who were opposed to their girls wearing shorts and playing kho kho on the ground. Not the numbers tell the story and that so many of the girls from the little known village have represented India in kho kho is a shining example of what can be achieved if one has the will.

— Shashi Bhonwale

SPORTS

THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY JANUARY 2, 2016

PUNE

“When I got dropped, I was thinking that I’m a good player and can get back into the Indian team but I did not realise that domestic cricket is totally different to international cricket.”

— Virender Sehwag, legendary opener

“Not scoring the runs has been our Achilles’ heel for a couple of Test matches; that’s probably the most disappointing. It’s been disappointing for everybody.”

— Hashim Amla, South African captain

Cricket fans fret over Nehru Stadium upkeep The cricket clubs in city expect PMC to follow strict rules to keep the oldest cricket stadium in city in good state

BY ASHISH PHADNIS @phadnis_ashish

THE RENOVATION The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) had left no stone unturned and allotted Rs 3.5 crore for the renovation. Nadim Memon, an experienced curator, was brought in to curate the pitches. Memon has worked on more than 40 cricket grounds, including the Wankhede and DY Patil stadium in Mumbai and Motera in Ahmedabad.

Memon and his team have removed the earlier pitches and put in quality Poyta and red soil for the main pitch, so that the wicket will remain intact for the duration of a fourday Ranji match. They have even worked extensively on the outfield.

academies shifted elsewhere. Thorve said that from now on only selected academies will be permitted at the stadium.

“They have literally overused the ground and we won’t let it happen again. Only certified coaches, clubs or academies which are part of MCA’s invitational league will be allowed to hold their coaching here. We are even restricting the number of players per wicket. Earlier, around 40 players would use the same wicket in a span of two hours. I just don’t understand how much time a batsman would get if the wicket is overcrowded with 40 players. So now on, we would allow only 16 players per wicket,” added Thorve.

CONTROL OVER ACADEMIES Nehru Stadium has always been a hub of cricket coaching. A number of coaches have started their academies here thanks to the easy accessibility. But there was sharp criticism when the number of academies exceeded the ground’s capacity. When the stadium was closed for renovation for over a year, a few

PRIORITY TO MCA MATCHES Thorve also cleared that highest priority should be given to MCA matches.

“Right now MCA have their own stadium.

In addition they have several well developed grounds in Nashik, Ratnagiri and Aurangabad.

So to attract Ranji or invitational matches, we must keep the infrastructure at par. Secondly

RAHUL RAUT

It all looks rosy and Puneites are now ensured of a great venue besides the MCA stadium in Gahunje, as the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium near Swargate has fi nally got its long-awaited facelift.

However, cricket enthusiasts who are well aware of how government lethargy affects such grounds and facilities, are already wary over the upkeep of the renovated stadium and are putting the celebrations on hold for the time being. They claim that the crores spent on the renovation work will be a complete waste, if PMC fails to maintain it properly, or even continues using it the same way like before.

Using the ground for non-sporting activities, overcrowding the pitches with coaching academies and even giving it for fancy cricket tournaments should be completely stopped and it should be used exclusively for quality cricket matches, they say.

Echoing their point, Club of Maharashtra Chairman Balasaheb Thorve has made it clear that the stadium will be given out only to the players and not a single non-sporting activity will be permitted. The club is the co-owner of the stadium.

“The PMC has spent crores on this stadium and we may get a few Ranji matches and Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) invitational matches but only if we maintain it properly. We want only quality cricket tournaments here. We want this ground to be a nursery for budding cricketers and they deserve a well-maintained infrastructure,” Thorve said.

Thorve has even forced Pune International Marathon (PIM) organisers to change their venue. Earlier, PIM would organise their prize distribution ceremony at the ground.

Signposts Pune veterans shine in state badminton Pune’s veteran shuttlers dominated the Maharashtra State Veteran Badminton tournament held at Nagpur recently. Manjusha Sahastrabuddhe won triple crown while Prerna Joshi, Atul Biniwale and Sameer Bhagwat bagged two titles each. Manjusha won women’s singles’ (above 50) and women’s double with Saroj Sawant.

Arjun, Rutuja win Pravin Trophy tennis Pune’s Arjun Gohad and Rutuja Chaphalkar ended the year on a high note, claiming the boys’ and the girls’ titles at the 28th edition of the Pravin Trophy under-12 national ranking tennis tournament at the Hill Side Gymkhana tennis courts. Eleven-year-old Arjun is a standard VI student of Sanskruti School. He registered a 6-4, 6-4 win over third seeded Achal Samanth of Navi Mumbai. In the girls’ category, Rutuja, student of DES Secondary School stunned top seeded Pari Singh 7-5, 6-2.

Both players train with Kedar Shah at Bounce Tennis Academy.

Infosys win corporate volleyball Infosys women’s team registered a 25-17, 25-21 win over Cognizant to claim title in the inaugural Suhana Corporate Volleyball Championship at Symbiosis School, Prabhat Road this week.

Cognizant’s Payal Suryakar and Shivani Sankpal were adjudged as the best setter and best spiker of the tournament respectively. M S Vindya (Wipro) was the best centre blocker while Supriya Pal of Tata Communications was best receiver of the tournament. Infosys’s Snehal Bene was rewarded as best Libero.

State police game from Sunday The 28th edition of Maharashtra State Police Games 2016 (MSPG) will be organised by Maharashtra Police Department at Sanas ground, Swargate and CRPF ground, from January 3. Th is year MSPG will be participated by 14 teams.

Inauguration of the competition will take place on January 7 at the hands of Devendra Fadnavis, chief minister of Maharashtra at CRPF ground, Wanawari.

A quartet of wins for Aryna in 2015

17-year-old wins her maiden title in $25,000 ITF tournament in Pune, taking her tally to four in 2015 TGS NEWS SERVICES @TGSWeekly Aryna Sabalenka won the biggest pay cheque of her career when she beat Viktoria Kamenskaya of Russia 6-3, 6-4 to win the $25,000 NECC-ITF Women’s tennis title at Deccan Gymkhana last week.

The 17-year-old Belarusian had only other title triumph was at the $10,000 ITF Women’s tournament in Antalya, Turkey early this year, where she also won the doubles title.

In Pune, she proved to be a giant killer, beating Indian qualifier Natasha Palha in the fi rst round, and then stunning fi fth seed Valentyna Ivakhnenko of Russia to enter the quarterfi nals. She maintained her fi ne form in the quarters, and sent another Russian and second seeded Polina Leykina packing. In the semis, she got the better of Serbian seventh seed Nina Stojanovic, while in the summit clash she fi red booming returns and broke Viktoria five times during the course of the fi nal to pocket $3920 as winner’s prize (about Rs 2.60 lakh), only the second title of her career.

“I was p l a y i n g Viktoria for the fi rst time.

She played nicely so it was hard for me but I was focused

on every service game, which helped me beat her,” said Aryna, who had fi nished runner-up to Barbara Haas of Austria last week in the $25000 ITF event at Vashi.

Viktoria, who dabbles in coaching after injuries plagued her in the past, said it was a conscious decision to make a comeback as a player.

“I did pretty well for myself, I guess. To reach the fi nal itself was an achievement, but I must say Aryna played really well today,” said Viktoria, who earned $2090 as runner-up.

The Russian tried to make a rally when she broke Aryna in the fourth game to make it 2-2. They were trading games but Aryna always looked to be in control, using drop volleys to perfection. After breaking Viktoria in the ninth game, Aryna gave herself two championship points with a down-the-T serve which she closed out with a drop volley that Viktoria netted. Then came an ace to fi nish off the contest that lasted for an hour and four minutes.

“In the coming season I will be concentrating on the women’s tou r na ments only and be taking part in Under-17 tournaments though I am eligible for one more year,” said Aryna.

She was happy with her performance especially since she beat higher seeded Polina Leykina twice this year.

“It was good to end the year on a high,” she said. tgs.feedback @goldensparrow.com

if MCA allots any match here, it should not get cancelled due to any PMC event. Benefit of the players should be the highest priority,” he added.

NEED OF STRUCTURAL AUDIT Though the ground and wickets are in a good shape, the stadium should have been demolished and a new one should have been built, Thorve said.

“It’s good that they have built the dressing rooms, and other rooms as per BCCI norms, but the building is quite old. Many bathrooms are in bad shape. A civil engineer has warned that this building needs a structural audit as it’s over 50 years old,” said Thorve.

ABOUT NEHRU STADIUM Nehru Stadium, formerly known as Club of Maharashtra ground, was built in 1969 and has a capacity of 25,000. The stadium has hosted 11 One Day International matches, including two Cricket World Cup (1987 and 1996) matches. ashish.phanis@goldensparrow.com