Monday 3 April 2017

Unchecked realty growth leaves this ward crying for better infrastructure

MUMBAI: Once a quaint suburb, with leafy lanes and old bungalows, M-West ward has slowly turned into an overcrowded urban jungle, with probably the costliest real estate in the eastern suburbs. All thanks to the presence of public sector undertaking such BPCL, educations institutions and also the Eastern Freeway.
However, unchecked growth has brought a host of problems, such as over-crowding on streets, and put severe pressure on the infrastructure.

Activist Rajkumar Sharma said, "There has been only real estate development, but not real development such as pavements, roads and drainage system." For instance, the Central Avenue, which stretches fr-om Chembur railway station to Diamond Garden, was once a beautiful road. "The paveme-nts are broken and road taken over by cars," said Chembur resident Sangeeta Nair.


Similarly, Tilak nagar, once a middle class Mhada colony, is now home to highrises. This has led to a huge water problem. Rajan Palani, chairman of Revathi Charitable Trust in Tilak Nagar, said, "Earlier each building had 36 tenements. They have given way to high-rises of 300 houses. However, the amount of water being supplied to the buildings has remained the same."

And then there's the hawkers' menace. "They have occupied every inch of the Chembur station road," said a shopkeeper on N G Acharya Road.Mobile Number database provider

Sharma also pointed out how mono rail pillars have eaten into the roads, making driving difficult. "For instance, the narrow carriageway of RC Marg has shrunk. Tankers heading towards Mahul make the stretch dangerous for pedestrians." Poor roads is a major issue across the ward, said NK Pratapan, general secretary of Pestom Sagar Citizen Forum. "Also unauthorized structures are coming up in the ward," he said. LV Rangnathan of Chembur Resident Welfare Association added, "The service road of Eastern Express Highway being opened as a by-pass has aggravated air and sound pollution."

Source:- Timesofindia

MIM’s debut in civic polls likely to eat into SP, Congress votes

MUMBAI: The All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) battling BMC decisions interestingly undermines to eat into the vote bank of the Congress and the Samajwadi Party (SP), political experts say. Despite the fact that the Congress and the SP have a union for Uttar Pradesh gathering decisions, they don't have a tie-up in Mumbai. This may demonstrate to valuable for MIM, an expert said.

Of the 227 corporators in the active enterprise, around 23 of them are Muslims. The MIM has chosen to concentrate on ranges that have a critical minority populace. MIM sources said the gathering arrangements to challenge 45-50 painstakingly chose seats, for example, Byculla, Mohammad Ali Road, JJ Hospital zone, Mumbadevi, Nagpada, Dongri, Wadala and Dharavi in the island city.

It is additionally looking at Bandra (E), Jogeshwari, Malad, Dindoshi, Andheri in Western rural areas and Govandi-Shivaji Nagar-Baiganwadi in eastern rural areas. The MIM feels these wards may give the gathering simple passage to the BMC house. Mobile Number database provider

Political investigator Surendra Jondhale said the MIM will profit if the Congress and NCP don't have a partnership. "As the Congress and NCP have not shaped a collusion, their votes may be part and the MIM would rise as option," said Jondhale.

Source:- Timesofindia

Tuesday 24 January 2017

Guess who introduced Amitabh Bachchan to Twitter?

Amitabh Bachchan has a humungous fan following on the social media as he keeps sharing his professional and personal life experiences on a regular basis.

Well, it was none other than his son- Abhishek Bachchan.

Abhishek revealed, "Well, I got him (Amitabh Bachchan) on to Twitter. I started Twitter and he used to ask me, 'What is this thing? You are always on Twitter.' I told him what Twitter is and I remember, couple of months later, I got him on Twitter. He is great at it."

"I enjoy social media and that's not only Twitter. I enjoy Facebook and Instagram too. I think it's a great way to be in touch with the fans and know what's going on," he added.


On a related note, while Junior Bachchan now has a Twitter family with 10 million followers, Senior Bachchan is the second most followed Indian person on the micro-blogging site after Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Amidst the ongoing demonetisation drive, when Abhishek was further quizzed whether he is a heavy spender or not, he said, "I am not a heavy spender. We are so busy working that we get very little time to spend. But yes, I prefer to save my money."

The 'Housefull 3' star even supported the move and said, "Anything that will bring radical change will come with its own share of difficulties."


source:-Timesofindia

Monday 23 January 2017

NEXT STORY Jallikattu: Actors say time to end protests, trash violence

CHENNAI: With the pro-Jallikattu stir in Chennai degenerating into extensive violence on its seventh day and the state appearing to have lost the plot, several actors on Monday appealed for peace and calm and urged protesters to halt the demonstrations.

Superstar Rajinikanth posted a statement via his Twitter handle in which he urged protesters not to allow anti-social elements to capitalise on their struggle.

Asking them to call off the agitation, he said the victory of peaceful and disciplined protests against the ban on Jallikattu by students, youth, women and all sections of Tamil people, which earned widespread attention and appreciation.

Actor Kamal Haasan, who has been vocal in his support for Jallikattu and the protests, tweeted: "This is a mistake. Aggressive police action on students' passive resistance will not bear good results."


Source:-Timesofindia

Sunday 22 January 2017

Lack of uniform data for road deaths foiling both research and remedy

NEW DELHI: The data relating to road crashes in 2015 released by two different central agencies have once again exposed the lack of uniformity. Though the sources for both the reports are state police, the transport ministry claims 1.46 lakh people died in road crashes in 2015 while the home ministry estimates it be more than 1.48 lakh.

There are similar differences in the total number of crashes and persons injured during 2015. The transport research wing (TRW) of transport ministry had released the road accidents report early last year and the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) of home ministry made its report public recently.

Comparison of the data from past reports also show similar differences. Sources said several rounds of discussions had been held involving officials from both the departments to have uniform details, but it has not helped so far. Raising serious question on the quality of data, the last report of World Health Organisation had estimated over 2.07 lakh people dying in road crashes way back in 2013.

"Road accident data in our country are unreliable and are not good for any research or remedy. What is the use of data that can't be used for remedial action? We don't include hospital data while preparing these reports despite knowing well that most of the injured persons in road crashes are taken to hospitals," said road safety expert Rohit Baluja.

Piyush Tewari of Savelife Foundation said discrepancies in data highlight the need for a uniform data collection and scientific road crash investigation mechanisms in India. "Countries that have been successful in curbing road fatalities and crashes give high priority to data collection. Besides numbers, such reports must also indicate the exact causes of crashes so that appropriate measures can be initiated," said K K Kapila of International Road Federation.


Source:-TOI

Friday 20 January 2017

Third party has no role in Kashmir row: India to UK

NEW DELHI: India brushed aside a debate in UK Parliament on the Kashmir issue saying no third party had any role to play in resolving the dispute.

MEA said it was aware of the development but added all issues between the two countries (India and Pakistan) can only be resolved bilaterally.

"Our position on the issue of Jammu & Kashmir is very clear that all issues between India and Pakistan are to be resolved bilaterally and peacefully in accordance with the Simla Agreement and Lahore Declaration," said MEA spokesperson Vikas Swarup.
"There is no room for third party," he added.

The British MPs warned against any escalation of violence in Kashmir.

UK Parliament held a debate on Kashmir, led by David Nuttall (Conservative) along with Nusrat Ghani (Conservative), Robert Flello (Labour) and Fiona Mactaggart (Labour). This debate was determined by the Backbench Business Committee following an application from David Nuttall.

The motion of the debate said, "That this House notes the escalation in violence and breaches of international human rights on the Indian side of the Line of Control in Kashmir; calls on the government to raise the matter at the United Nations; and further calls on the government to encourage Pakistan and India to commence peace negotiations to establish a long term solution on the future governance of Kashmir based on the rights of the Kashmiri people to determine their own future in accordance with the provisions of UN Security Council resolutions."



Source:-Timesofindia

Wednesday 18 January 2017

Obama administration approves co-op affordable housing deal in Manhattan before Trump takes office

A deal that preserves close to 3,000 units of affordable housing in the heart of Manhattan has been finalized in one of the last acts by the Obama administration, officials said Tuesday.

The federal Office of Management and Budget approved the refinancing agreement at Chelsea’s Penn South co-op, which is home to 2,820 units of affordable housing, Sen. Chuck Schumer said.

The Daily News first reported the federal approval online.

“Penn South tenants can breathe a sigh of relief,” Schumer (D-N.Y.) said in a statement.

Harlem attorney to voice displeasure over Trump at Women's March
The senator and other supporters were pushing the Obama administration to sign off on the agreement between the co-op developer, the city and the Department of Housing and Urban Development before President-elect Donald Trump takes over.

Source:-nydailynews