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Gujarat News Today blog is written by Dilip Gadhvi to keep people of world aware about the activity and news happening across the Gujarat and World. I would try to provide you best information that is interesting.
Showing posts with label Gujarat news today. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Gujarat news today. Show all posts
Monday, January 18, 2016
Friday, June 6, 2014
Ahmedabad’s rank improved from 4th most polluted city to 84th: CM Anandiben Patel
AHMEDABAD: Gujarat chief minister Anandiben Patel on Thursday said that our efforts should be to free the society from pollution, instead of controlling the pollution.
Speaking at function to launch a mass tree plantation drive, called "Make Vatva a Vrindavan'' by a dozen industrial groups to mark the World Environment Day in the Vatva Industrial Area here, she said a clean environment has its direct benefit in the form of a healthy, disease-free future.
Patel said that tertiary sewage treatment plants are proposed to set up in 50 towns in the state. She stressed on the need to synchronize development with environment protection. She said that indiscriminate exploitation of natural resources is a major reason for the problem of global warming.
There was a time when Gujarat was the 4th most polluted city in the country. With consistent efforts, it has been brought down to 84th position, she said.
The Chief Minister lauded the industrial houses' initiative to plant 25,000 saplings in the Vatva area as part of a social responsibility. It is not enough to plant saplings; they should be nurtured till they grow to their full height. She released publications of the Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB) on the occasion.
Forest & Environment Minister Ganpat Vasava said Gujarat is one state which has created a separate Environment Department to deal with the crisis of climate change. He had a word of praise for the industrial houses joining the state government in solving the problem.
Minister of State for Law Pradeepsinsh Jadeja, who hails from the same Vatva constituency, exuded confidence that Gujarat would march ahead in making Gujarat a Clean Green Environment under the leadership of the first Chief Minister.
Speaking at function to launch a mass tree plantation drive, called "Make Vatva a Vrindavan'' by a dozen industrial groups to mark the World Environment Day in the Vatva Industrial Area here, she said a clean environment has its direct benefit in the form of a healthy, disease-free future.
Patel said that tertiary sewage treatment plants are proposed to set up in 50 towns in the state. She stressed on the need to synchronize development with environment protection. She said that indiscriminate exploitation of natural resources is a major reason for the problem of global warming.
There was a time when Gujarat was the 4th most polluted city in the country. With consistent efforts, it has been brought down to 84th position, she said.
The Chief Minister lauded the industrial houses' initiative to plant 25,000 saplings in the Vatva area as part of a social responsibility. It is not enough to plant saplings; they should be nurtured till they grow to their full height. She released publications of the Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB) on the occasion.
Forest & Environment Minister Ganpat Vasava said Gujarat is one state which has created a separate Environment Department to deal with the crisis of climate change. He had a word of praise for the industrial houses joining the state government in solving the problem.
Minister of State for Law Pradeepsinsh Jadeja, who hails from the same Vatva constituency, exuded confidence that Gujarat would march ahead in making Gujarat a Clean Green Environment under the leadership of the first Chief Minister.
Source: TOI
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Nirma to lose clearance for cement plant at Mahuva
The environment permission granted to Nirma Limited to construct a cement plant on a waterbody in Mahuva taluka of Bhavnagar is likely to be cancelled. According to sources, the Ministry of Environment and Forest is likely to file an affidavit before the Supreme Court to this effect.
In such a scenario, Nirma will have to give up its plans to but the plant in Mahuva. The final hearing of the case in Supreme Court will be held this week.
The Ministry of Environment will take into account two committee reports that supported the farmers claim that the detergent giant had procured environmental clearance from the ministry by making faulty representation that the land was a wasteland.
A media report quoting ruling BJP MLA Kanubhai Kalsariya, who has gone against the party and championed the cause of Mahuva farmers, stated: “The expert committee report has pointed out that the plant will disturb the ecological balance of Mahuva. We hope the ministry will withdraw the environment clearance given to Nirma.”
Long legal battle
The Gujarat government had allotted 268 hectare of land to Nirma for its cement plant in Mahuva. This upset farmers who had with great difficulty converted what was once a barren wasteland into a fertile farmland. They had persuaded the administration to construct four check dams (bandharas) to prevent fresh water from flowing into the ocean.
They contended that the plant would pose a threat to agriculture, animal husbandry besides causing irreparable damage to environment. The samiti claimed that the Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB) and Union environment ministry had wrongly given Nirma environment clearance.
Under the banner Shree Mahuva Bandhara Khetiwadi Pariyavaran Bachav Samittee, they filed a Public Interest Litigation before the Gujarat High Court through advocate Anand Yagnik in 2009.
After a long legal battle, a two-judge bench gave green signal to the plant on the condition that the consumer giant surrenders some 100 hectare of land which formed the water body. Kalsariya filed an appeal before the Supreme Court challenging the High Court order.
A seven-member Balu committee, which was formed after SC intervention, consisting of top scientists of the country concluded that the land allocated to Nirma for the cement plant was located on a waterbody. Earlier, the Vaishnai committee formed by the ministry had also arrived at the same conclusion.
SourceAhmedabad Mirror
Sibal’s moral policing: ‘Offensive’ tweets, FB posts will be removed
New Delhi: The Indian government will not allow social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter to host “objectionable” content and will take steps to screen and remove these, Communications Minister Kapil Sibal said on Tuesday.
Sibal said this a day after representatives from Facebook, Twitter, Youtube and Microsoft declined to remove offensive content.
Sibal said some of the content available on these sites could hurt the religious sentiments of a large section of communities in India. “Religious sentiments of many communities and of any reasonable person is being hurt because of content which is on the sites,” he told reporters here.
The minister said he had first met with officials of Facebook, Twitter and Orkut on September 5 to discuss the concerns of the government over objectionable pictures being posted on their sites by users.
The pictures, which were shown off the record, depicted Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in a bad light, while some others were insulting to various religions.
“Nobody minds satirical image of any public personality but if you show a certain form of me... this is not acceptable. Even individuals should be protected,” said Sibal. The minister said these firms were hesitant to even share information relating to terrorist activities.
“They will have to give us data, then there will be actions taken. We will ask them to give information. Allow us time to deal with it. But one thing is sure we will not allow this kind of content,” Sibal said.
The minister said he did not want to speak to the press on this issue but was forced to do so after the New York Times reported that the government was trying to censor these sites, which was not true. “This is far from the truth. If someone does not wants to remove this kind of incendiary material then the government has to do something about it,” said Sibal.
SourceAhmedabad Mirror
Monday, December 5, 2011
Civil Hospital Ahmedabadf lies under RTI, again
Govt has fixed Rs 26 per sq m for mechanised cleaning, while RTI reply states that it is Rs 36 per sq m; the authority states that no office space has been provided to cleaning company BVG, our picture below speaks for itself
The Civil Hospital administration has perfected the art of dodging questions and providing wrong information under RTI when it concerns mechanised cleaning on the campus. The mechanised cleaning project worth lakhs has been granted to Bharat Vikas Group India Limited.
Two more falsehoods perpetrated by the hospital authority has come to light after Mirror sought information on particulars about the deal with BVG for mechanised cleaning under the Right to Information Act.
Mirror had reported on October 22, ‘Civil Hospital gives wrong info under RTI’, about the hospital having dismantled one X-ray machine following adverse reports by AERB and CAG, yet in its RTI reply, it denied being pulled up for using old and unsafe devices.
Cost of cleaning
In an RTI application filed on August 25 to the hospital’s information officer, we posed certain questions: What is the rate fixed for mechanised cleaning? How much area will it cover? Are the loo, bathroom and walls of the wards been included in the carpet area? Who will pay for the electricity? If any office has been allotted to the company and if any rent has been fixed? If yes, give the details. If not, what steps have been taken to recover it?
According to the hospital authority’s reply on September 12, “The carpet area allotted for cleaning is 58,400.85 square metre and the rate fixed is Rs 36 per sq metre. Roads have not been included in the mechanised cleaning.”
This is in clear violation of the order issued by the Directorate of Medical Education and Research for mechanised cleaning on June 22. The DMER has fixed Rs 26 per square metre for mechanised cleaning at civil hospitals in Ahmedabad, Bhavnagar, Rajkot, Vadodara, Jamnagar and Surat.
Only an independent investigation can bring out the truth: if the hospital has paid an additional Rs 10 per square metre, amounting to Rs 5.84 lakh on the total carpet area, to the contractor or the amount has been siphoned off by vested interests.
When we asked Civil Medical Superintendent Dr M M Prabhakar why there was a difference of Rs 10 per square metre between the government order and the figure provided by Civil in the RTI reply, Dr Prabhakar said, “If this information is provided to you then it is false. It is possible that it is a printing mistake. I will have to check.”
No office provided
Regarding allotment of office space to BVG, the RTI reply states, “At present no order has been passed to allot an office to Messrs BVG India Ltd.”
A visit to Civil Hospital revealed that BVG personnel carry out their activities from a huge room allotted to them on the third floor of D9 block of main building. A manager who has been provided with a phone and desk space along with his administrative staff sit in the room surrounded by cleaning equipment.
Dr Prabhakar’s statement also nails the falsehood in the RTI reply. When we asked the Civil chief if office space has been provided to BVG, he said, “We’ve provided space to store the company’s equipment. But no rent has been taken. It is included in the contract.”
When asked, why was false information provided under RTI, Dr Prabhakar said, “If you want a reply, then you file another RTI!”
How BVG came into the picture
Mirror had reported on January 26, ‘Civil’s Rs 1 cr clean-up act’ about Maharashtra-based Bharat Vikas Group being roped in by the hospital to carry out mechanised cleaning on its premises from February 1. The spending on cleanliness was hiked from Rs 14 lakh to Rs 1 crore.
Subsequently, five government hospitals — Sir T General Hospital (Bhavnagar), GGS Hospital (Jamnagar), Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Civil Hospital (Rajkot), New Civil Hospital (Surat) and SSG Hospital (Vadodara) had decided to go for the expensive clean–up act for an annual expenditure of a whopping Rs 28 crore. from the same date.
Following this report in Mirror, ‘Five more govt hospitals go for costly clean-up’ on January 28, the costly cleaning pact was stayed. An investigation into the irregularities was ordered by Health Secretary Rajesh Kishore, after which the carpet area and the rate per square metre was revised.
Source Ahmedabad Mirror
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Presidential ‘race’: Republicans call Obama tar baby, boy
Washington: Republican Doug Lamborn of Colorado and commentator Pat Buchanan, a former candidate for the president, have both apologised for using racially charged terms to describe President Barack Obama.
Both Lamborn and Buchanan had called Obama, the first African-American president, alternately a “tar baby” and “boy”, giving new fuel to speculation that underneath much of the criticism of the president and his policies, lurks the shadow of racism.
Lamborn had made his comment on a Denver talk radio show on Tuesday. Referring to Obama, he said that it was like touching “a tar baby and you get it, you’re stuck, and you're a part of the problem now and you can’t get away”.
The term tar baby comes from the 19th century Uncle Remus stories, where B'rer Fox uses a doll made of a lump of tar to trap B'rer Rabbit, who gets more stuck the more he pummels and kicks the tar baby. In more recent parlance, tar baby is widely considered racial slur.
Former GOP presidential candidate and MSNBC contributor Pat Buchanan, in a tête-à-tête with the Rev Al Sharpton, referred to Obama as “your boy”. “My what?” Sharpton shot back. “My president, Barack Obama? What did you say?”
Buchanan hinted that he was using a boxing analogy, replying that the president was “your boy in the ring”. Lamborn, who apologised to Obama in a letter, said in a separate statement on Wednesday that he shouldn’t have used a term “that some find insensitive”.
“Some folks took what I said as some kind of a slur,” Buchanan said on Wednesday. He added: “None was meant, none was intended, none was delivered.”
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Police thrash tribals in Satellite Ahmedabad
Police claim injuries were fallout of clash between two groups residing in area. Agitated tribals seek action against inspector; commissioner institutes inquiry
Ramaben Medasar who was badly injured could not walk and had to be carried
While police claimed the injuries inflicted on women and others were a fallout of a clash between two groups residing in the area, the agitated tribals met city police commission Sudhir Sinha on Thursday and demanded action against Senior Inspector J M Bharwad who led the charge.
“We were surprised to see the police team in the midnight. Without any provocation, they charged at us and started beating up us indiscriminately,’’ said Ramaben Medasar who along with others received injuries.
The tribal members alleged that the they were beaten up, at the stance of Bharward, who was annoyed with some members. “We have demanded action and sought suspension of Bharwad, who not only misused his position but also committed a misconduct by beating up elderly women and men,’’ said a member of the delegation.
Meanwhile, after meeting the delegation police commissioner Sudhir Sinha, has ordered an inquiry into the incident. The probe to be conducted by ACP division A, will also look into the allegations against Bharward.
Medasar shows her injury, while another tribal showshis fractured hand
Sinha also assured the delegation members, who were led by Alka Brahmbhat, member Gujarat state social welfare board, that a suitable action would be taken against Bharwad and other cops responsible.
Meanwhile Barwad denied the allegations and claimed that he was being falsely implicated.
“The area has been a shelter to a number of history sheeters, many of whom have jumped parole and escaped from the law. I had gone to the area following after my team received information about the history sheeters. We found that the members had clashed amongst themselves.
Bharwad also claimed that recently he got removed some illegal vendors from the area, which had led to resentment against him. The tribal members meanwhile maintained that they had been residing in the area for past several years and the inspector concerned had grudge against them. According to them, the habitants including old men and women were being harassed and beaten up by the local police, without any reason.
Ramaben Medasar who was badly injured could not walk and had to be carried
While police claimed the injuries inflicted on women and others were a fallout of a clash between two groups residing in the area, the agitated tribals met city police commission Sudhir Sinha on Thursday and demanded action against Senior Inspector J M Bharwad who led the charge.
“We were surprised to see the police team in the midnight. Without any provocation, they charged at us and started beating up us indiscriminately,’’ said Ramaben Medasar who along with others received injuries.
The tribal members alleged that the they were beaten up, at the stance of Bharward, who was annoyed with some members. “We have demanded action and sought suspension of Bharwad, who not only misused his position but also committed a misconduct by beating up elderly women and men,’’ said a member of the delegation.
Meanwhile, after meeting the delegation police commissioner Sudhir Sinha, has ordered an inquiry into the incident. The probe to be conducted by ACP division A, will also look into the allegations against Bharward.
Medasar shows her injury, while another tribal showshis fractured hand
Sinha also assured the delegation members, who were led by Alka Brahmbhat, member Gujarat state social welfare board, that a suitable action would be taken against Bharwad and other cops responsible.
Meanwhile Barwad denied the allegations and claimed that he was being falsely implicated.
“The area has been a shelter to a number of history sheeters, many of whom have jumped parole and escaped from the law. I had gone to the area following after my team received information about the history sheeters. We found that the members had clashed amongst themselves.
Bharwad also claimed that recently he got removed some illegal vendors from the area, which had led to resentment against him. The tribal members meanwhile maintained that they had been residing in the area for past several years and the inspector concerned had grudge against them. According to them, the habitants including old men and women were being harassed and beaten up by the local police, without any reason.
Is Crorepati ko lock kiya jaaye?
In the hot seat of Bhojpuri game show Ke Bani Crorepati, Rajesh Singh, a finance manager from the city, is vying for the grand prize. Psst... the 35-yr-old has already won Rs 50 lakh
The city might be home to a brand-new crorepati tomorrow. Rajesh Singh, an IIM Ahmedabad graduate, is set to win the grand prize in Ke Bani Crorepati, the Bhojpuri version of the popular game show Kaun Banega Crorepati.
Hosted by former Bollywood actor Shatrughan Sinha, the episode featuring Rajesh Singh will be aired in two parts — on Tuesday and Wednesday — at 9 pm on Mahuaa channel
Hosted by Shatrughan Sinha, the episode will be aired in two parts — on Tuesday and Wednesday — at 9 pm on Mahuaa channel. We will let you in on one secret: He has already crossed the halfway mark.
Urmika Rai, senior executive of Ke Bani Crorepati, confirmed, “Rajesh has definitely won Rs 50 lakh. He will attempt the Rs 1-crore question. He is the first to reach this point in the show.”
Selection process
The 34-year-old, who works as a manager at a micro-finance bank in the city, hails from Kushinagar, a small town in Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh. He called up the show and was selected for the primary round following a lucky draw. “I went to Varanasi for auditions on June 17. Then, I was called for the shoot on July 17 and 18 in Kolkata,” said Singh, who lives in Jodhpur with his wife Manisha and children Aditi (5) and Arnav (2).
Interestingly, Singh had earlier participated in KBC. “In KBC, I reached the Rs 25-lakh question but had exhausted my lifelines. I gave the wrong answer and won Rs 3.2 lakh only.”
His KBC experience helped Singh fix his nervousness. “I had decided that I would not use the lifelines in panic. As a result, in the second show, I had two lifelines — audience poll and phone-a-friend — till the end,” he said.
Interestingly, Singh was also the fastest contestant in the fastest finger round. He set a record of 3.2 seconds — the highest among participants of all shows in the crorepati format, Singh claimed.
Pucca Amdavadi
Singh comes from a humble background. He tilled a farm for almost 20 years before moving to Gorakhpur. “I realised I had to leave my village if I wanted to achieve something in life. After completing my BSc, I got a job in State Bank of India and was posted to Gujarat. I lived in Godhra, Surat and Vadodara for eight years before settling in Ahmedabad.” He did a one-year course in post-graduate programme for executives in Public Management and Policy from IIMA in 2009.
“When I came to Ahmedabad three years ago, I was not sure what the city would be like. But my attachment to the city grew so strong in a year that I turned down a job in Hyderabad and settled for a less-paying one here. This is an interesting city where life is not as fast as it would be in Mumbai and yet, does not lack in luxuries,” he said, pointing out that his bond with his friends also made it tough for him to shift to another city.
“During the show, I spoke a lot about Gujarat and Ahmedabad. I hope they haven’t edited it,” he said.
Friends in deed
Manish Tanwar, who had worked with Singh for eight years, said, “If Singh believes in something, he goes for it. Be it a book or a cricket match. Once he made an overnight train journey and still made it to the ground to play a match. No excuses.”
Sherin Joseph, who worked with him for two years, said, “Rajesh has been an inspiration for me. He is persistent and has great endurance. Be it constructive criticism, social debate or casual talk, Rajesh has a unique style of making his point. His wit supplemented by his exceptional flair for ‘shayiri’ ensures that his presence never goes unnoticed.”
Fulfilling dreams
What will Singh do if he wins Rs 1 crore? Singh plans to begin at home and then cast the net wide. He said, “I want my kids to do what they are passionate about without having to worry for money. Then, there are relatives and friends who need financial support. I also want to start career counselling for kids from weak backgrounds. Their parents tell them to get admission to engineering or medical courses without thinking of the pros and cons. I want to help such confused kids.”
The city might be home to a brand-new crorepati tomorrow. Rajesh Singh, an IIM Ahmedabad graduate, is set to win the grand prize in Ke Bani Crorepati, the Bhojpuri version of the popular game show Kaun Banega Crorepati.
Hosted by former Bollywood actor Shatrughan Sinha, the episode featuring Rajesh Singh will be aired in two parts — on Tuesday and Wednesday — at 9 pm on Mahuaa channel
Hosted by Shatrughan Sinha, the episode will be aired in two parts — on Tuesday and Wednesday — at 9 pm on Mahuaa channel. We will let you in on one secret: He has already crossed the halfway mark.
Urmika Rai, senior executive of Ke Bani Crorepati, confirmed, “Rajesh has definitely won Rs 50 lakh. He will attempt the Rs 1-crore question. He is the first to reach this point in the show.”
Selection process
The 34-year-old, who works as a manager at a micro-finance bank in the city, hails from Kushinagar, a small town in Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh. He called up the show and was selected for the primary round following a lucky draw. “I went to Varanasi for auditions on June 17. Then, I was called for the shoot on July 17 and 18 in Kolkata,” said Singh, who lives in Jodhpur with his wife Manisha and children Aditi (5) and Arnav (2).
Interestingly, Singh had earlier participated in KBC. “In KBC, I reached the Rs 25-lakh question but had exhausted my lifelines. I gave the wrong answer and won Rs 3.2 lakh only.”
His KBC experience helped Singh fix his nervousness. “I had decided that I would not use the lifelines in panic. As a result, in the second show, I had two lifelines — audience poll and phone-a-friend — till the end,” he said.
Interestingly, Singh was also the fastest contestant in the fastest finger round. He set a record of 3.2 seconds — the highest among participants of all shows in the crorepati format, Singh claimed.
Pucca Amdavadi
Singh comes from a humble background. He tilled a farm for almost 20 years before moving to Gorakhpur. “I realised I had to leave my village if I wanted to achieve something in life. After completing my BSc, I got a job in State Bank of India and was posted to Gujarat. I lived in Godhra, Surat and Vadodara for eight years before settling in Ahmedabad.” He did a one-year course in post-graduate programme for executives in Public Management and Policy from IIMA in 2009.
“When I came to Ahmedabad three years ago, I was not sure what the city would be like. But my attachment to the city grew so strong in a year that I turned down a job in Hyderabad and settled for a less-paying one here. This is an interesting city where life is not as fast as it would be in Mumbai and yet, does not lack in luxuries,” he said, pointing out that his bond with his friends also made it tough for him to shift to another city.
“During the show, I spoke a lot about Gujarat and Ahmedabad. I hope they haven’t edited it,” he said.
Friends in deed
Manish Tanwar, who had worked with Singh for eight years, said, “If Singh believes in something, he goes for it. Be it a book or a cricket match. Once he made an overnight train journey and still made it to the ground to play a match. No excuses.”
Sherin Joseph, who worked with him for two years, said, “Rajesh has been an inspiration for me. He is persistent and has great endurance. Be it constructive criticism, social debate or casual talk, Rajesh has a unique style of making his point. His wit supplemented by his exceptional flair for ‘shayiri’ ensures that his presence never goes unnoticed.”
Fulfilling dreams
What will Singh do if he wins Rs 1 crore? Singh plans to begin at home and then cast the net wide. He said, “I want my kids to do what they are passionate about without having to worry for money. Then, there are relatives and friends who need financial support. I also want to start career counselling for kids from weak backgrounds. Their parents tell them to get admission to engineering or medical courses without thinking of the pros and cons. I want to help such confused kids.”
SGVP fans attacks DPS players after team loses match
The unidentified fan hurled a stone at the player after SGVP team lost to DPS in the under-16 basketball match held on home ground; matches for district-level selection for school games postponed after incident.
Unable to digest a third consecutive defeat on home ground, an irate fan of SGVP International school’s basketball team hurled a stone at a Delhi Public School, Bopal player shortly after an under-16 match on Thursday.
The player, identified as Aatish Shah, suffered a head injury and had to take three stitches to close the wound, sources told Mirror.
The incident took place at SGVP International (Chharodi), which was hosting the tournament being held for district level selection for school games. All further matches have been rescheduled and will be held at a different venue now, sources said.
DPS Bopal had defeated SGVP in the first round of under-19 tournament and even won the under-14 final. On Thursday, the team again defeated SGVP (12-10) in the first round of under-16 tournament, much to the chagrin of SGVP students.
Witnesses said the DPS players were being booed constantly by SGVP fans during Thursday’s match. Despite all the hooting, the DPS boys maintained their composure and won the match, they said.
“The attacker has to be an SGVP student since only students and officials conducting the matches were present at the venue,” said a witness on condition of anonymity.
“SGVP fans created a furore after losing the match. Just when DPS players were leaving the court, somebody from crowd hurled a stone at them. One player was injured and immediately taken for emergency medical treatment to SGVP’s clinic. The victim has been identified as Atish Shah, a student of Class X. He had to take three stitches,” said another witness.
He added, “The DPS sports coach had spoken to the SGVP coach about the lack of discipline among SGVP students before the match. However, no warning was issued to the fans or the players.”
‘THEY THREW LEMONS EARLIER’
A DPS student who had witnessed all the basketball matches of his school team, said, “In the under-19 match held on Tuesday, SGVP fans threw lemons at our players. In another match, held the next day, they displayed rowdy behaviour by hooting and abusing our players. But what happened on Thursday, just cannot be tolerated.”
“Our boys never reacted to their abuses and name-calling. They simply played well and won matches. A school that doesn’t know how to inculcate sportsmanship spirit in its students should never participate in sports,” said another eyewitness.
Sources told Mirror that a police complaint in the case is ruled out since SGVP principal spoke to teachers, principal and players of DPS school, assuring them such incidents will not take place in future.
MATCHES RESCHEDULED
Sources said no police complaint will be filed since both DPS Bopal and SGVP have sorted out the matter District Sports Officer Baldev Desai, however, tried to downplay the incident. “Someone from the crowd threw a stone at DPS players in a fit of rage. We still do not know who did it. But the injured boy is out of danger. There is no enmity between the players of DPS and SGVP. Further matches have been put on hold. These will be rescheduled and held at a different venue.”
SGVP Principal Caesar D’Silva said, “Both DPS and SGVP students were present in the audience when the attack took place. But we don’t know who threw the stone at the student. We took the injured boy to the doctor as soon as we learnt about the incident. It is not a serious injury. I have already spoken to DPS school authorities, assuring them such an incident will not take place in future.”
DPS authorities informed Mirror that they made it very clear to SGVP principal that what happened was not right. “Our student’s condition is stable now. We have no idea who threw the stone at him. But we have made our displeasure about the incident very clear to SGVP principal. Further matches will now be held at another venue,” said Pradeep Chudasama, assistant manager, media and advocacy DPS (Bopal).
Unable to digest a third consecutive defeat on home ground, an irate fan of SGVP International school’s basketball team hurled a stone at a Delhi Public School, Bopal player shortly after an under-16 match on Thursday.
The player, identified as Aatish Shah, suffered a head injury and had to take three stitches to close the wound, sources told Mirror.
The incident took place at SGVP International (Chharodi), which was hosting the tournament being held for district level selection for school games. All further matches have been rescheduled and will be held at a different venue now, sources said.
DPS Bopal had defeated SGVP in the first round of under-19 tournament and even won the under-14 final. On Thursday, the team again defeated SGVP (12-10) in the first round of under-16 tournament, much to the chagrin of SGVP students.
Witnesses said the DPS players were being booed constantly by SGVP fans during Thursday’s match. Despite all the hooting, the DPS boys maintained their composure and won the match, they said.
“The attacker has to be an SGVP student since only students and officials conducting the matches were present at the venue,” said a witness on condition of anonymity.
“SGVP fans created a furore after losing the match. Just when DPS players were leaving the court, somebody from crowd hurled a stone at them. One player was injured and immediately taken for emergency medical treatment to SGVP’s clinic. The victim has been identified as Atish Shah, a student of Class X. He had to take three stitches,” said another witness.
He added, “The DPS sports coach had spoken to the SGVP coach about the lack of discipline among SGVP students before the match. However, no warning was issued to the fans or the players.”
‘THEY THREW LEMONS EARLIER’
A DPS student who had witnessed all the basketball matches of his school team, said, “In the under-19 match held on Tuesday, SGVP fans threw lemons at our players. In another match, held the next day, they displayed rowdy behaviour by hooting and abusing our players. But what happened on Thursday, just cannot be tolerated.”
“Our boys never reacted to their abuses and name-calling. They simply played well and won matches. A school that doesn’t know how to inculcate sportsmanship spirit in its students should never participate in sports,” said another eyewitness.
Sources told Mirror that a police complaint in the case is ruled out since SGVP principal spoke to teachers, principal and players of DPS school, assuring them such incidents will not take place in future.
MATCHES RESCHEDULED
Sources said no police complaint will be filed since both DPS Bopal and SGVP have sorted out the matter District Sports Officer Baldev Desai, however, tried to downplay the incident. “Someone from the crowd threw a stone at DPS players in a fit of rage. We still do not know who did it. But the injured boy is out of danger. There is no enmity between the players of DPS and SGVP. Further matches have been put on hold. These will be rescheduled and held at a different venue.”
SGVP Principal Caesar D’Silva said, “Both DPS and SGVP students were present in the audience when the attack took place. But we don’t know who threw the stone at the student. We took the injured boy to the doctor as soon as we learnt about the incident. It is not a serious injury. I have already spoken to DPS school authorities, assuring them such an incident will not take place in future.”
DPS authorities informed Mirror that they made it very clear to SGVP principal that what happened was not right. “Our student’s condition is stable now. We have no idea who threw the stone at him. But we have made our displeasure about the incident very clear to SGVP principal. Further matches will now be held at another venue,” said Pradeep Chudasama, assistant manager, media and advocacy DPS (Bopal).
Court slams cops for cover-up in custodial death
Metropolitan magistrate trashes police version which states the 48-yr-old prisoner succumbed to injuries sustained after ‘collapsing several times’ on jail premises. Court to conduct its own inquiry based on post-mortem report
Anwar Rangrez suffered 33 injuries (L), On the day Rangrez was to be freed, his family received news of his death (R)
Metropolitan court blasted Sabarmati police after they allegedly tried to cover up a custodial death by submitting a C summary report, winding up the probe. Magistrate U K Trivedi, while dismissing the report which brazenly contradicted post-mortem and FSL reports, stated the court will now conduct its own inquiry into the 2008 case.
A 48-year-old rickshaw driver, Anwar Rangrez, died after he was allegedly beaten up inside Sabarmati Central Jail in December 2008. The post-mortem and FSL reports state that Rangrez suffered cardiac and respiratory failure due to 33 injuries inflicted on his body. It also said the injuries were caused because the victim was hit by a rod or some such hard object.
However, the C summary report filed by ACP K M Vaghela, states that Rangrez, a drug addict, sustained injuries after “he fell down” a couple of times on jail premises. It says he suffered a seizure on December 11 and collapsed, injuring himself. It also says he fell from the bed of the jail clinic on December 15 and near the compound wall again, the next day.
Rangrez’s mother with his photograph BAIL GRANTED, RELEASE NOT ALLOWED
Interestingly, Rangrez had been granted bail from the court on December 17, a day before the news of his death was conveyed to his family. He, however, was not allowed to leave the jail despite his son Mehboob submitting the bail order to the tantri before 6 pm. This, because the tantri allegedly demanded Rs 500 from Mehboob who did not have the money at that time.
The next day, he went to the jail at 7 am to bring his father home. Mehboob waited till 10 am, but jail authorities did not tell him anything about his father. He then received a call from his mother asking him to come back home. When Mehboob reached home, he learnt that the prison officials had called up the mother to inform her about Rangrez’s death.
FIR REGISTERED AFTER 4 MONTHS
Mehboob remembered that on one particular visit to the jail to meet his father, the latter had told him that a bearded jailer used to beat him up. Suspecting foul play in Rangrez’s death, he went to Sabarmati police station to lodge an FIR against jail authorities and unidentified persons. However, the cops registered the FIR four months after the post-mortem report.
‘MISLED INTO FILING FIR’
On Friday, ACP Vaghela told the court that Sabarmati police were “misled” into filing an FIR under section 302 (punishment for murder) of the IPC. But Rangrez’s lawyer Amit Balsari strongly opposed Vaghela’s claims by producing the post-mortem and FSL reports. Metropolitan magistrate U K Trivedi then dismissed the C summary report, stating the court would conduct an independent inquiry into the case.
Anwar Rangrez suffered 33 injuries (L), On the day Rangrez was to be freed, his family received news of his death (R)
Metropolitan court blasted Sabarmati police after they allegedly tried to cover up a custodial death by submitting a C summary report, winding up the probe. Magistrate U K Trivedi, while dismissing the report which brazenly contradicted post-mortem and FSL reports, stated the court will now conduct its own inquiry into the 2008 case.
A 48-year-old rickshaw driver, Anwar Rangrez, died after he was allegedly beaten up inside Sabarmati Central Jail in December 2008. The post-mortem and FSL reports state that Rangrez suffered cardiac and respiratory failure due to 33 injuries inflicted on his body. It also said the injuries were caused because the victim was hit by a rod or some such hard object.
However, the C summary report filed by ACP K M Vaghela, states that Rangrez, a drug addict, sustained injuries after “he fell down” a couple of times on jail premises. It says he suffered a seizure on December 11 and collapsed, injuring himself. It also says he fell from the bed of the jail clinic on December 15 and near the compound wall again, the next day.
Rangrez’s mother with his photograph BAIL GRANTED, RELEASE NOT ALLOWED
Interestingly, Rangrez had been granted bail from the court on December 17, a day before the news of his death was conveyed to his family. He, however, was not allowed to leave the jail despite his son Mehboob submitting the bail order to the tantri before 6 pm. This, because the tantri allegedly demanded Rs 500 from Mehboob who did not have the money at that time.
The next day, he went to the jail at 7 am to bring his father home. Mehboob waited till 10 am, but jail authorities did not tell him anything about his father. He then received a call from his mother asking him to come back home. When Mehboob reached home, he learnt that the prison officials had called up the mother to inform her about Rangrez’s death.
FIR REGISTERED AFTER 4 MONTHS
Mehboob remembered that on one particular visit to the jail to meet his father, the latter had told him that a bearded jailer used to beat him up. Suspecting foul play in Rangrez’s death, he went to Sabarmati police station to lodge an FIR against jail authorities and unidentified persons. However, the cops registered the FIR four months after the post-mortem report.
‘MISLED INTO FILING FIR’
On Friday, ACP Vaghela told the court that Sabarmati police were “misled” into filing an FIR under section 302 (punishment for murder) of the IPC. But Rangrez’s lawyer Amit Balsari strongly opposed Vaghela’s claims by producing the post-mortem and FSL reports. Metropolitan magistrate U K Trivedi then dismissed the C summary report, stating the court would conduct an independent inquiry into the case.
Raj Thackeray Choose Hindi to Make Communication in Gujarat Tour
MNS chief Raj Thackeray, known for imposing the use of Marathi in Maharashtra, began his nine-day visit of Gujarat and spoke in Hindi the entire day. That is, until media pointed out his blooper
Was he being opportunistic or plain street smart? All those who met Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray on Wednesday, the first day of his nine-day-long “state visit” of Gujarat, were left wondering at the language in which he chose to interact with them.
I speak Marathi in Maharashtra. I do not speak Gujarati. So I chose to speak in Hindi here
- Raj Thackeray,
MNS chief The Thackeray scion, known for his acerbic tongue and roughish ways against Hindi and Hindi-speaking people on his home turf, looked pleased and at ease speaking in Hindi everywhere and with everyone he met in Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar. He realised he had fallen into a trap of his own creation in the evening when someone from the media drew his attention to his opposition to Hindi in Maharashtra.
Thackeray blamed media for creating controversies and promptly switched over to Marathi.
But by that time, the word had spread far and wide. “This won’t do. Violently opposing Hindi in Maharashtra and speaking in Hindi outside the state is rank opportunism. In this era of globalisation, this is not done,” said translator Kishor Gaud. “If he has so much love for his mother tongue, I could have offered my services as an interpreter. I know Marathi and Gujarati languages and cultures well to help him speak in his mother tongue even in Gujarat,” said Gaud who has translated as many as 25 Marathi books in Gujarati.
Thackeray, the estranged nephew of Shiv Sena patriarch Balasaheb Thackeray, began his Gujarat “study tour” with a visit to Sardar Patel Memorial in Shahibaug in the morning. He spoke to memorial officials, and sources said he evinced keen interest in knowing about the life and work of the Iron Man of India.
“All in Hindi,” said a memorial official.
The next stop was Sabarmati Ashram. He paid tribute to the Father of the Nation and was presented with a copy of his autobiography in Marathi — Satyache Prayog — by ashram director Amrut Modi. Thackeray and his wife Sharmila interacted with trustees and members of the ashram. Those present there were quite impressed with their eagerness to know about Gandhi. “Questions were few but sharp,” said Modi.
“All in Hindi,” Modi added.
Ashram officials offered him the VIP visitors’ book in which he could have entered his tribute or
comment.
Thackeray opted not to give either. An opportunity to do so in Marathi was lost. The state guest was offered a chance to spin Gandhi’s wheel (charkha). While most of the visiting dignitaries latched on to the opportunity and tried their hands at it, Thackeray was quite frank.
“It is beyond me to spin the wheel and draw a thread,” Thackeray said. In Hindi.
Gandhi Sena, an assembly of some members of the ashram’s residential quarters, presented him with a small replica of the charkha. “Bahut achha (very good) ... thank you,” Thackeray exhaled.
Part English, part Hindi.
“We were not surprised,” said Dhimant Badhia, Gandhi Sena secretary. “He seems to have broadened his world view.”
Later in the day, the MNS chief called on Chief Minister Narendra Modi. Thackeray was visibly overwhelmed by his host and lavished praise on his development work.
Thackeray watched audio-visual presentations on Gujarat’s development, something that he has come to study and draw lessons from. Modi presented him with a shawl and a figurine of Maratha ruler Shivaji. Thackeray had quite a few queries and Modi patiently answered all of them. Thackeray expressed his gratitude. The interaction lasted for three hours.
“Mostly in Hindi,” said an official.
Mediapersons caught up with the visiting leader at Circuit House in Gandhinagar where he is staying. Someone was prompt to ask, “You have spoken in Hindi all day long. Why then do you insist on speaking in Marathi in Mumbai?”
A visibly disturbed Thackeray retorted, “You (media) create such controversies.” This was in Hindi.
Having realised he had fallen into a trap, Thackeray switched over to Marathi: “I speak Marathi in Maharashtra. I do not speak Gujarati. So I chose to speak in Hindi here. Had I spoken in Marathi, would you’ve understood?”
To which the media persons said there are professionals called interpreters.
CHIDED BACK HOME
Incidentally, Thackeray was chided back home as he embarked on the tour. Members of the Congress-NCP took a pot-shot at him. On Monday, Mumbai Congress chief Kripashankar Singh had taunted him: “Which language is he going to converse in during his Gujarat visit? Is he going to hire an interpreter?”
Newspapers reported NCP member Nawab Malik as saying, “Even though I’m from north India, I make it a point to use the state language, Marathi, while addressing the house, and communicating with the natives. But will the leaders who further their political agenda using the Marathi language as leverage ever deliver a speech in Hindi? Hindi is the national language, and we must honour it. Maharashtra is an integral part of the nation.” Malik’s remarks created quite a stir among MNS members present.
CONGRESS DEMANDS APOLOGY
Meanwhile, state leader of opposition Shaktisinh Gohil on Wednesday protested Thackeray’s Mukesh Ambani-related statement in strong words and demanded an apology from him for his anti-Gujarat expressions.
“Raj Thackeray has criticised industrialist Mukesh Ambani in his statement for investing in Gujarat. This is highly objectionable and Thackeray should apologise for his statement. Any person in India is free to invest in Gujarat. We would not tolerate such anti-Gujarat statements at any cost,” said Gohil.
Was he being opportunistic or plain street smart? All those who met Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray on Wednesday, the first day of his nine-day-long “state visit” of Gujarat, were left wondering at the language in which he chose to interact with them.
I speak Marathi in Maharashtra. I do not speak Gujarati. So I chose to speak in Hindi here
- Raj Thackeray,
MNS chief The Thackeray scion, known for his acerbic tongue and roughish ways against Hindi and Hindi-speaking people on his home turf, looked pleased and at ease speaking in Hindi everywhere and with everyone he met in Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar. He realised he had fallen into a trap of his own creation in the evening when someone from the media drew his attention to his opposition to Hindi in Maharashtra.
Thackeray blamed media for creating controversies and promptly switched over to Marathi.
But by that time, the word had spread far and wide. “This won’t do. Violently opposing Hindi in Maharashtra and speaking in Hindi outside the state is rank opportunism. In this era of globalisation, this is not done,” said translator Kishor Gaud. “If he has so much love for his mother tongue, I could have offered my services as an interpreter. I know Marathi and Gujarati languages and cultures well to help him speak in his mother tongue even in Gujarat,” said Gaud who has translated as many as 25 Marathi books in Gujarati.
Thackeray, the estranged nephew of Shiv Sena patriarch Balasaheb Thackeray, began his Gujarat “study tour” with a visit to Sardar Patel Memorial in Shahibaug in the morning. He spoke to memorial officials, and sources said he evinced keen interest in knowing about the life and work of the Iron Man of India.
“All in Hindi,” said a memorial official.
The next stop was Sabarmati Ashram. He paid tribute to the Father of the Nation and was presented with a copy of his autobiography in Marathi — Satyache Prayog — by ashram director Amrut Modi. Thackeray and his wife Sharmila interacted with trustees and members of the ashram. Those present there were quite impressed with their eagerness to know about Gandhi. “Questions were few but sharp,” said Modi.
“All in Hindi,” Modi added.
Ashram officials offered him the VIP visitors’ book in which he could have entered his tribute or
comment.
Thackeray opted not to give either. An opportunity to do so in Marathi was lost. The state guest was offered a chance to spin Gandhi’s wheel (charkha). While most of the visiting dignitaries latched on to the opportunity and tried their hands at it, Thackeray was quite frank.
“It is beyond me to spin the wheel and draw a thread,” Thackeray said. In Hindi.
Gandhi Sena, an assembly of some members of the ashram’s residential quarters, presented him with a small replica of the charkha. “Bahut achha (very good) ... thank you,” Thackeray exhaled.
Part English, part Hindi.
“We were not surprised,” said Dhimant Badhia, Gandhi Sena secretary. “He seems to have broadened his world view.”
Later in the day, the MNS chief called on Chief Minister Narendra Modi. Thackeray was visibly overwhelmed by his host and lavished praise on his development work.
Thackeray watched audio-visual presentations on Gujarat’s development, something that he has come to study and draw lessons from. Modi presented him with a shawl and a figurine of Maratha ruler Shivaji. Thackeray had quite a few queries and Modi patiently answered all of them. Thackeray expressed his gratitude. The interaction lasted for three hours.
“Mostly in Hindi,” said an official.
Mediapersons caught up with the visiting leader at Circuit House in Gandhinagar where he is staying. Someone was prompt to ask, “You have spoken in Hindi all day long. Why then do you insist on speaking in Marathi in Mumbai?”
A visibly disturbed Thackeray retorted, “You (media) create such controversies.” This was in Hindi.
Having realised he had fallen into a trap, Thackeray switched over to Marathi: “I speak Marathi in Maharashtra. I do not speak Gujarati. So I chose to speak in Hindi here. Had I spoken in Marathi, would you’ve understood?”
To which the media persons said there are professionals called interpreters.
CHIDED BACK HOME
Incidentally, Thackeray was chided back home as he embarked on the tour. Members of the Congress-NCP took a pot-shot at him. On Monday, Mumbai Congress chief Kripashankar Singh had taunted him: “Which language is he going to converse in during his Gujarat visit? Is he going to hire an interpreter?”
Newspapers reported NCP member Nawab Malik as saying, “Even though I’m from north India, I make it a point to use the state language, Marathi, while addressing the house, and communicating with the natives. But will the leaders who further their political agenda using the Marathi language as leverage ever deliver a speech in Hindi? Hindi is the national language, and we must honour it. Maharashtra is an integral part of the nation.” Malik’s remarks created quite a stir among MNS members present.
CONGRESS DEMANDS APOLOGY
Meanwhile, state leader of opposition Shaktisinh Gohil on Wednesday protested Thackeray’s Mukesh Ambani-related statement in strong words and demanded an apology from him for his anti-Gujarat expressions.
“Raj Thackeray has criticised industrialist Mukesh Ambani in his statement for investing in Gujarat. This is highly objectionable and Thackeray should apologise for his statement. Any person in India is free to invest in Gujarat. We would not tolerate such anti-Gujarat statements at any cost,” said Gohil.
Even Obama does not know who shot Osama
Revealed: fascinating details of the Abbottabad raid, including the SEAL’s first words after he killed the world’s most-wanted man: “For God and country — Geronimo, Geronimo, Geronimo”
Washington: Osama bin Laden’s killing in a covert US operation in Pakistan on May 2 was the culmination of months of meticulous planning during which the US explored options like tunnelling in and an attack by B-2 Spirit bombers.
Tunnelling would have avoided ground troops sneaking through the town of Abbottabad as they penetrated the walled compound, The New Yorker magazine reported. But they determined from satellite photos that a water table was probably just below the surface of the building land and that tunnelling was highly unlikely to be successful.
A less exotic option for striking bin Laden was to bomb from the sky. The article detailed how then secretary of defense Robert Gates preferred a strike by B-2 Spirit bombers. But President Barack Obama disliked that idea and said the helicopter raid should go ahead.
In the end, bin Laden was shot by a SEAL, who gave his account of the assault in an interview with The New Yorker magazine.
When he pulled the trigger on his silenced rifle in a darkened bedroom and shot a tall, unarmed man with a straggly beard, he ended a nine-year manhunt for bin Laden, the man who claimed 2,973 lives on September 11, 2001.
But no one — not even President Barack Obama — will ever know the name of that SEAL, nor of the comrade who wrapped bin Laden’s wives in a huge bear hug and dragged them aside in case they were wearing suicide bomb vests, knowing he would absorb most of the blast and save the men behind him.
In the interview, for the first time, the fascinating details of that raid have been revealed, including the SEAL’s first words after he killed the world’s most-wanted man: “For God and country — Geronimo, Geronimo, Geronimo”.
The SEAL told The New Yorker, “There was never any question of detaining or capturing him — it wasn’t a split-second decision. No one wanted detainees.”
He told the magazine how he stepped into the terror leader's bedroom and “trained the infrared laser of his M4 [rifle] on bin Laden’s chest. “The al Qaeda chief, who was wearing a tan shalwar kameez and a prayer cap, froze; he was unarmed.” The SEAL fired, hitting bin Laden once in the chest and above the left eye.
Moments earlier, the SEAL told The New Yorker, another SEAL had entered the room and was confronted by two of bin Laden’s wives. One screamed and appeared to charge at him. The SEAL shot her in the calf and then, “fearing that one or both of women were wearing suicide jackets, he stepped forward, wrapped them in a bear hug and drove them aside.
The report also revealed that the SEALs were not wearing cameras on their helmets, and Obama and his colleagues spent 25 minutes waiting to hear the news.
After the first dramatic words from Abbottabad, the SEAL added: “Geronimo E.K.I.A — enemy killed in action”. Geronimo was the codename for a hit on bin Laden. The president pursed his lips, and speaking to no one in particular said: “We got him”.
The SEALs then put bin Laden in a body bag and carried him out of the house, where a medic took two bone marrow samples and DNA swabs.
Five days after the May 2 operation, Obama went to Kentucky where he met the assault team and spoke to each one in turn, but he never asked one crucial question — who pulled the trigger.
The men didn’t volunteer the information either. Known as ‘the best of the best’, whoever shot bin Laden is likely to have received acclaim within the unit, but will never be revealed outside it.
Instead, The Daily Mail reported, Obama settled for a flag, taken from one of the Chinooks, which the team had framed, signed, and inscribed. The message read: “From the Joint Task Force Operation Neptune’s Spear, 01 May 2011: For God and country. Geronimo.”
Washington: Osama bin Laden’s killing in a covert US operation in Pakistan on May 2 was the culmination of months of meticulous planning during which the US explored options like tunnelling in and an attack by B-2 Spirit bombers.
Tunnelling would have avoided ground troops sneaking through the town of Abbottabad as they penetrated the walled compound, The New Yorker magazine reported. But they determined from satellite photos that a water table was probably just below the surface of the building land and that tunnelling was highly unlikely to be successful.
A less exotic option for striking bin Laden was to bomb from the sky. The article detailed how then secretary of defense Robert Gates preferred a strike by B-2 Spirit bombers. But President Barack Obama disliked that idea and said the helicopter raid should go ahead.
In the end, bin Laden was shot by a SEAL, who gave his account of the assault in an interview with The New Yorker magazine.
When he pulled the trigger on his silenced rifle in a darkened bedroom and shot a tall, unarmed man with a straggly beard, he ended a nine-year manhunt for bin Laden, the man who claimed 2,973 lives on September 11, 2001.
But no one — not even President Barack Obama — will ever know the name of that SEAL, nor of the comrade who wrapped bin Laden’s wives in a huge bear hug and dragged them aside in case they were wearing suicide bomb vests, knowing he would absorb most of the blast and save the men behind him.
In the interview, for the first time, the fascinating details of that raid have been revealed, including the SEAL’s first words after he killed the world’s most-wanted man: “For God and country — Geronimo, Geronimo, Geronimo”.
The SEAL told The New Yorker, “There was never any question of detaining or capturing him — it wasn’t a split-second decision. No one wanted detainees.”
He told the magazine how he stepped into the terror leader's bedroom and “trained the infrared laser of his M4 [rifle] on bin Laden’s chest. “The al Qaeda chief, who was wearing a tan shalwar kameez and a prayer cap, froze; he was unarmed.” The SEAL fired, hitting bin Laden once in the chest and above the left eye.
Moments earlier, the SEAL told The New Yorker, another SEAL had entered the room and was confronted by two of bin Laden’s wives. One screamed and appeared to charge at him. The SEAL shot her in the calf and then, “fearing that one or both of women were wearing suicide jackets, he stepped forward, wrapped them in a bear hug and drove them aside.
The report also revealed that the SEALs were not wearing cameras on their helmets, and Obama and his colleagues spent 25 minutes waiting to hear the news.
After the first dramatic words from Abbottabad, the SEAL added: “Geronimo E.K.I.A — enemy killed in action”. Geronimo was the codename for a hit on bin Laden. The president pursed his lips, and speaking to no one in particular said: “We got him”.
The SEALs then put bin Laden in a body bag and carried him out of the house, where a medic took two bone marrow samples and DNA swabs.
Five days after the May 2 operation, Obama went to Kentucky where he met the assault team and spoke to each one in turn, but he never asked one crucial question — who pulled the trigger.
The men didn’t volunteer the information either. Known as ‘the best of the best’, whoever shot bin Laden is likely to have received acclaim within the unit, but will never be revealed outside it.
Instead, The Daily Mail reported, Obama settled for a flag, taken from one of the Chinooks, which the team had framed, signed, and inscribed. The message read: “From the Joint Task Force Operation Neptune’s Spear, 01 May 2011: For God and country. Geronimo.”
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Harry Potter series to be sold as e-book
JK Rowling on Potter and the future of print and digital books
Continue reading the main story
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Rowling launches 'mystery' site
The seven Harry Potter novels are to be sold as e-books for the first time in October.
Author JK Rowling announced the series will also be available as audiobooks through a new website, Pottermore.
The interactive website will also feature new material which Rowling says she has been "hoarding for years".
"This is such a great way to give something back to the fans who made Harry Potter such a huge success," the author said.
The Harry Potter novels have sold more than 450 million copies through Bloomsbury in Britain, and Scholastic in the United States.
However the e-books - which will be available in several languages - will be published through Rowling's Pottermore Publishing, rather than her print publishers which do not own the digital rights.
'New stuff'
Pottermore will go live on 31 July - Harry Potter's birthday.
Rowling told the BBC that the new material was being released online, rather than in a new book, because she did not have "a new story".
"Most of this writing is material I generated while I was writing the books initially," she said.
"It's background, and lots of details that didn't make it into the book.
"Some of it is new stuff in response to things fans have asked me over the years."
The site, which Rowling said she had been working on for two years, promises to immerse users in the boy wizard's world, offering opportunities for computer gaming, social networking and an online store.
Sections let users shop for wands in Diagon Alley, travel to Hogwarts from the imaginary platform at London's King's Cross train station and be sorted into Hogwarts' school houses using the Sorting Hat.
One million users will initially be chosen to help develop the online world, before it is open to all users from October.
Rowling told reporters at the London Pottermore launch she had no intention of writing an eighth Harry Potter book.
"I do have closure with Harry. I'm pretty sure I'm done on the novel front, but it was fun while it lasted," she said.
Sachin Tendulkar sells his Ferrari to Surat businessman
SURAT: The '360 Modena Ferrari', which once occupied pride of place in batting icon Sachin Tendulkar's fleet of premium cars, is now a prized possession of a city businessman.
Jayesh Desai, Chairman of Raj Hans group, said he purchased the car a fortnight ago.
"I have bought the 360 Modena Ferrari car directly from Sachin Tendulkar with all legal documents," Desai said, but declined to reveal the price.
"It was my dream to drive a Ferrari and now my dream has come true," Desai, who has a passion for driving luxury cars, said.
The Ferrari, which was presented to Tendulkar by racing legend Michael Schumacher, will be the first racing car in his fleet of luxury vehicles, Desai said, adding that his latest acquisition was a prized possession as it was owned by the batting great.
"Kindly ask me only about the car and nothing about Sachin," he said when asked if he and Tendulkar were friends or had known each other.
The Ferrari had got mired in a controversy in 2003 after it was reported that Tendulkar had requested for a customs duty waiver despite getting it as a gift and not winning it as a prize in a tournament.
In August 2003, the finance ministry had exempted Tendulkar from paying around Rs 1.13 crore (approximately $245,000) towards import duty for the vehicle, valued at Rs 75 lakh (approximately $162,600).
The car was gifted to him by FIAT, which manufactures the premium Ferrari cars and endorsed by Tendulkar, after the Indian batting legend equalled Don Bradman's tally of 29 Test centuries.
Ferrari's Formula One driver Schumacher presented the car on behalf of the company to Tendulkar when the two met in 2002 at Silverstone, England.
Tendulkar has taken a break from cricket after playing in IPL and is away on a vacation in England with family.
Jayesh Desai, Chairman of Raj Hans group, said he purchased the car a fortnight ago.
"I have bought the 360 Modena Ferrari car directly from Sachin Tendulkar with all legal documents," Desai said, but declined to reveal the price.
"It was my dream to drive a Ferrari and now my dream has come true," Desai, who has a passion for driving luxury cars, said.
The Ferrari, which was presented to Tendulkar by racing legend Michael Schumacher, will be the first racing car in his fleet of luxury vehicles, Desai said, adding that his latest acquisition was a prized possession as it was owned by the batting great.
"Kindly ask me only about the car and nothing about Sachin," he said when asked if he and Tendulkar were friends or had known each other.
The Ferrari had got mired in a controversy in 2003 after it was reported that Tendulkar had requested for a customs duty waiver despite getting it as a gift and not winning it as a prize in a tournament.
In August 2003, the finance ministry had exempted Tendulkar from paying around Rs 1.13 crore (approximately $245,000) towards import duty for the vehicle, valued at Rs 75 lakh (approximately $162,600).
The car was gifted to him by FIAT, which manufactures the premium Ferrari cars and endorsed by Tendulkar, after the Indian batting legend equalled Don Bradman's tally of 29 Test centuries.
Ferrari's Formula One driver Schumacher presented the car on behalf of the company to Tendulkar when the two met in 2002 at Silverstone, England.
Tendulkar has taken a break from cricket after playing in IPL and is away on a vacation in England with family.
'Confident & optimistic’ India, Pak hold talks; Advani issues threat
ISLAMABAD: Voicing "a great sense of confidence, optimism and determination," India and Pakistan on Thursday opened their two-day foreign secretary-level talks here and discussed the issue of peace and security, including confidence-building measures on Kashmir.
Foreign secretary Nirupama Rao, who arrived here on Thursday morning, and her Pakistani counterpart Salman Bashir began the first round of their talks, which have been divided in three segments.
The first round of parleys is dealing with the issue of peace and security, including confidence-building measures on Kashmir. On Friday, two more rounds will take place on the issues of Jammu and Kashmir and promotion of friendly exchanges.
BJP, upped the ante on the Kashmir issue and warned the government against making any compromise on it. BJP leader LK Advani threatened to launch a mass demonstration if the government went in for a settlement of the Kashmir issue with Pakistan.
Advani warning of protests said, "Sometimes we realise that under pressure from some foreign nation, the Indian government thinks of compromising on Kashmir. In fact in the middle, we got information that informal compromises have already been made. I want to tell them that in the early days, the Bharatiya Jan Sangh had carried out a historical agitation, in that, our respected leader, Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee had sacrificed his life for the cause. So you should wish us well, the BJP is in great numbers across the country. If there is a compromise on Kashmir, if they talk of turning back time, we will organise a protest on a massive scale in India, a protest that no one has ever seen before."
BJP spokesperson Nirmala Seetharaman said there is no point of a dialogue till terror is discussed.
She said, "Decision to initiate composite dialogue makes us uncomfortable since it's happening after Abottabad. No confidence in our mind. We have not poushed Pakistan to do the needful. Therefore talks only for the sake of talks."
At the beginning of the talks, Bashir said they were approaching the parleys with a "great sense of confidence, optimism and determination." Agreeing with him, Rao said this was an "apt" statement.
Bashir said this is an important point in the relationship and will also help the two sides to prepare the agenda for the ministerial meeting in the near future.
Rao said "we have a clear agenda in front of us for discussions" and noted that there have been good meetings in the past few months.
"We are approaching these talks with an open and constructive mind," she said.
The two sides first held restricted talks, which were followed by the delegation-level meeting in which Rao was accompanied by joint secretary (Pakistan-Afghanistan-Iran) Yash Sinha, joint secretary (nuclear disarmament) Venkatesh Verma, Indian high commissioner Sharat Sabharwal and other senior officials.
Warmly welcoming the Indian side, Bashir said "We wish to engage with you in not only walking the trajectory but also exploring new avenues further."
"This series of meetings is of great importance," he said.
Soon after her arrival in Islamabad, Rao had said she had come to Pakistan with "an open mind and a constructive spirit" in order to work towards building trust and confidence in bilateral relationship and thereby leading to an eventual normalisation of ties for the well being and prosperity of the people of the two countries.
She said "this is an important visit as it marks the penultimate leg of the resumed dialogue process before the visit of the foreign minister of Pakistan to India by July 2011" and added that they would discuss the issues that have been mandated to them by their leadership.
During the two-day talks, nuclear and conventional confidence-building measures would also be discussed.
Earlier this year, the two countries decided to resume talks on all bilateral issues under the Composite Dialogue, two years after the parleys were suspended in the wake of the Mumbai terror attacks.
Following the resumption of talks in February, the defence, interior and commerce secretaries have met in the last few months while Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani visited India in March to watch the India-Pakistan cricket World Cup semi-final at the invitation of his counterpart Manmohan Singh.
The foreign secretaries will also take stock of the progress made in the meetings between the interior, commerce and defence secretaries.
Foreign secretary Nirupama Rao, who arrived here on Thursday morning, and her Pakistani counterpart Salman Bashir began the first round of their talks, which have been divided in three segments.
The first round of parleys is dealing with the issue of peace and security, including confidence-building measures on Kashmir. On Friday, two more rounds will take place on the issues of Jammu and Kashmir and promotion of friendly exchanges.
BJP, upped the ante on the Kashmir issue and warned the government against making any compromise on it. BJP leader LK Advani threatened to launch a mass demonstration if the government went in for a settlement of the Kashmir issue with Pakistan.
Advani warning of protests said, "Sometimes we realise that under pressure from some foreign nation, the Indian government thinks of compromising on Kashmir. In fact in the middle, we got information that informal compromises have already been made. I want to tell them that in the early days, the Bharatiya Jan Sangh had carried out a historical agitation, in that, our respected leader, Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee had sacrificed his life for the cause. So you should wish us well, the BJP is in great numbers across the country. If there is a compromise on Kashmir, if they talk of turning back time, we will organise a protest on a massive scale in India, a protest that no one has ever seen before."
BJP spokesperson Nirmala Seetharaman said there is no point of a dialogue till terror is discussed.
She said, "Decision to initiate composite dialogue makes us uncomfortable since it's happening after Abottabad. No confidence in our mind. We have not poushed Pakistan to do the needful. Therefore talks only for the sake of talks."
At the beginning of the talks, Bashir said they were approaching the parleys with a "great sense of confidence, optimism and determination." Agreeing with him, Rao said this was an "apt" statement.
Bashir said this is an important point in the relationship and will also help the two sides to prepare the agenda for the ministerial meeting in the near future.
Rao said "we have a clear agenda in front of us for discussions" and noted that there have been good meetings in the past few months.
"We are approaching these talks with an open and constructive mind," she said.
The two sides first held restricted talks, which were followed by the delegation-level meeting in which Rao was accompanied by joint secretary (Pakistan-Afghanistan-Iran) Yash Sinha, joint secretary (nuclear disarmament) Venkatesh Verma, Indian high commissioner Sharat Sabharwal and other senior officials.
Warmly welcoming the Indian side, Bashir said "We wish to engage with you in not only walking the trajectory but also exploring new avenues further."
"This series of meetings is of great importance," he said.
Soon after her arrival in Islamabad, Rao had said she had come to Pakistan with "an open mind and a constructive spirit" in order to work towards building trust and confidence in bilateral relationship and thereby leading to an eventual normalisation of ties for the well being and prosperity of the people of the two countries.
She said "this is an important visit as it marks the penultimate leg of the resumed dialogue process before the visit of the foreign minister of Pakistan to India by July 2011" and added that they would discuss the issues that have been mandated to them by their leadership.
During the two-day talks, nuclear and conventional confidence-building measures would also be discussed.
Earlier this year, the two countries decided to resume talks on all bilateral issues under the Composite Dialogue, two years after the parleys were suspended in the wake of the Mumbai terror attacks.
Following the resumption of talks in February, the defence, interior and commerce secretaries have met in the last few months while Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani visited India in March to watch the India-Pakistan cricket World Cup semi-final at the invitation of his counterpart Manmohan Singh.
The foreign secretaries will also take stock of the progress made in the meetings between the interior, commerce and defence secretaries.
Ind vs WI: India beat West Indies by 63 runs to win first Test, lead series 1-0 PTI | Jun 23, 2011, 11.43pm IST
KINGSTON: India allowed the West Indies tail-enders to delay the inevitable before wrapping up the first cricket Test with a comfortable 63-run victory inside four days and take a 1-0 lead in the three-match Test series on Thursday.
Scorecard
Chasing a victory target of 326, West Indies never recovered from the twin-blow dealt by debutant Praveen Kumar dismissing Darren Bravo (41) and Shivanarine Chanderpaul (30) as they were all out for 262 in 68.2 overs.
The final pair of Devendra Bishoo (26, 33 balls, 2x4, 1x6) and Fidel Edwards (15 not out, 54 balls, 1x4) frustrated the Indian bowlers for around 10 overs after lunch. It was Suresh Raina who effected a freak dismissal with the ball rolling onto the stumps after hitting Bishoo's thigh-pads to bring an end to the proceedings.
It was a clinical performance by the Indian bowlers with Praveen being the pick snaring three for 42 and ending with a six-wicket haul in his very first Test match.
Ishant Sharma (3/81) bowled some poor deliveries but got crucial breakthroughs. The Indians blew away the middle and lower-middle order in the morning session where the home team needing a further 195 for a victory lose six wickets with an addition of 95 runs.
This was India's second victory at the Sabina Park having clinched the series with a win during their tour of 2006. This is also their fifth overall win on Caribbean soil.
The two teams now travel to Barbados where the second Test match will be held at Kensington Oval from June 28.
Scorecard
Chasing a victory target of 326, West Indies never recovered from the twin-blow dealt by debutant Praveen Kumar dismissing Darren Bravo (41) and Shivanarine Chanderpaul (30) as they were all out for 262 in 68.2 overs.
The final pair of Devendra Bishoo (26, 33 balls, 2x4, 1x6) and Fidel Edwards (15 not out, 54 balls, 1x4) frustrated the Indian bowlers for around 10 overs after lunch. It was Suresh Raina who effected a freak dismissal with the ball rolling onto the stumps after hitting Bishoo's thigh-pads to bring an end to the proceedings.
It was a clinical performance by the Indian bowlers with Praveen being the pick snaring three for 42 and ending with a six-wicket haul in his very first Test match.
Ishant Sharma (3/81) bowled some poor deliveries but got crucial breakthroughs. The Indians blew away the middle and lower-middle order in the morning session where the home team needing a further 195 for a victory lose six wickets with an addition of 95 runs.
This was India's second victory at the Sabina Park having clinched the series with a win during their tour of 2006. This is also their fifth overall win on Caribbean soil.
The two teams now travel to Barbados where the second Test match will be held at Kensington Oval from June 28.
Dogs on a biting spree, AMC watches
The corporation’s sterilisation project is yet to take off even as city records more than 3,000 cases of dog bites every month
Nothing can shake up Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC). Every day, on an average, the city registers 121 dog-bites even as six vans of Cattle Nuisance and Control Department (CNCD) circle the city like headless chickens to catch the canines.
It would be an understatement to say that AMC has failed miserably in curbing the perilous menace. In fact, it has not tried at all to control the nuisance, claim sources.
How do you explain this? In 2010, there were 30,726 cases of dog bites. Between January and May this year, there were 18,256 dog-bite cases – the figures will be staggering by the end of the year.
But Deputy Municipal Commissioner Dilip Gor maintains there has been “no increase” in dog-bite cases. “The canine menace has been well within control uptil now. However, the cases are likely to increase after the mating season which begins in July,” he said.
According to him, the menace will “persist till September”. The city has 2.4 lakh dogs currently. After the monsoon, there will clearly be a spurt in the dog population, increasing the possibilities of canine-human conflict in the city.
The highest dog-bite cases were reported in January this year. Of the 4,255 cases, 1,000 each were reported by V S Hospital and L G Hospital. In May alone, 3,254 cases of dog-bites were reported in the city. The CNCD receives nearly 50 dog-menace complaints every day, but the AMC is “yet to finalise” contractors to kickstart its sterilisation programme.
The civic authority had contemplated a dog sterilisation facility of its own, but there has been no development in this direction as well. A proposal for such facility has to be presented before the standing committee for approval, but no such initiative has been taken by the CNCD department so far. AMC will have to shell out around Rs 12 crore to set up this facility.
Last month, Girija Jayram, a resident of Vastrapur, was mauled by a stray dog near Lad Society during the morning walk. She was bitten on her leg and hand. She said, “I walked past a stray dog lying on the road. It came running behind me and bit me on the leg. When I tried to defend myself, it bit my hand. Something needs to be done to protect people from stray dogs.”
Nisarg Sunetra, a teenager, was attacked by a dog while he was on his two-wheeler, waiting at the Jodhpur traffic signal. He said, “I was too shocked to react first. It just bit me and ran away. The pain was unbearable. Why is the AMC sitting idle?”
Health Committee Chairman Dr Suresh Patel said, “I am doing my level best to curb the nuisance. I have already asked the officials to start the sterilisation procedure as soon as possible. But they are slow in responding. I had a meeting with the officials of Animal Welfare Board of India. We have planned several things to rid the city of dog menace.” Another empty promise?
Nothing can shake up Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC). Every day, on an average, the city registers 121 dog-bites even as six vans of Cattle Nuisance and Control Department (CNCD) circle the city like headless chickens to catch the canines.
It would be an understatement to say that AMC has failed miserably in curbing the perilous menace. In fact, it has not tried at all to control the nuisance, claim sources.
How do you explain this? In 2010, there were 30,726 cases of dog bites. Between January and May this year, there were 18,256 dog-bite cases – the figures will be staggering by the end of the year.
But Deputy Municipal Commissioner Dilip Gor maintains there has been “no increase” in dog-bite cases. “The canine menace has been well within control uptil now. However, the cases are likely to increase after the mating season which begins in July,” he said.
According to him, the menace will “persist till September”. The city has 2.4 lakh dogs currently. After the monsoon, there will clearly be a spurt in the dog population, increasing the possibilities of canine-human conflict in the city.
The highest dog-bite cases were reported in January this year. Of the 4,255 cases, 1,000 each were reported by V S Hospital and L G Hospital. In May alone, 3,254 cases of dog-bites were reported in the city. The CNCD receives nearly 50 dog-menace complaints every day, but the AMC is “yet to finalise” contractors to kickstart its sterilisation programme.
The civic authority had contemplated a dog sterilisation facility of its own, but there has been no development in this direction as well. A proposal for such facility has to be presented before the standing committee for approval, but no such initiative has been taken by the CNCD department so far. AMC will have to shell out around Rs 12 crore to set up this facility.
Last month, Girija Jayram, a resident of Vastrapur, was mauled by a stray dog near Lad Society during the morning walk. She was bitten on her leg and hand. She said, “I walked past a stray dog lying on the road. It came running behind me and bit me on the leg. When I tried to defend myself, it bit my hand. Something needs to be done to protect people from stray dogs.”
Nisarg Sunetra, a teenager, was attacked by a dog while he was on his two-wheeler, waiting at the Jodhpur traffic signal. He said, “I was too shocked to react first. It just bit me and ran away. The pain was unbearable. Why is the AMC sitting idle?”
Health Committee Chairman Dr Suresh Patel said, “I am doing my level best to curb the nuisance. I have already asked the officials to start the sterilisation procedure as soon as possible. But they are slow in responding. I had a meeting with the officials of Animal Welfare Board of India. We have planned several things to rid the city of dog menace.” Another empty promise?
Dogs on a biting spree, AMC watches
The corporation’s sterilisation project is yet to take off even as city records more than 3,000 cases of dog bites every month
Nothing can shake up Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC). Every day, on an average, the city registers 121 dog-bites even as six vans of Cattle Nuisance and Control Department (CNCD) circle the city like headless chickens to catch the canines.
It would be an understatement to say that AMC has failed miserably in curbing the perilous menace. In fact, it has not tried at all to control the nuisance, claim sources.
How do you explain this? In 2010, there were 30,726 cases of dog bites. Between January and May this year, there were 18,256 dog-bite cases – the figures will be staggering by the end of the year.
But Deputy Municipal Commissioner Dilip Gor maintains there has been “no increase” in dog-bite cases. “The canine menace has been well within control uptil now. However, the cases are likely to increase after the mating season which begins in July,” he said.
According to him, the menace will “persist till September”. The city has 2.4 lakh dogs currently. After the monsoon, there will clearly be a spurt in the dog population, increasing the possibilities of canine-human conflict in the city.
The highest dog-bite cases were reported in January this year. Of the 4,255 cases, 1,000 each were reported by V S Hospital and L G Hospital. In May alone, 3,254 cases of dog-bites were reported in the city. The CNCD receives nearly 50 dog-menace complaints every day, but the AMC is “yet to finalise” contractors to kickstart its sterilisation programme.
The civic authority had contemplated a dog sterilisation facility of its own, but there has been no development in this direction as well. A proposal for such facility has to be presented before the standing committee for approval, but no such initiative has been taken by the CNCD department so far. AMC will have to shell out around Rs 12 crore to set up this facility.
Last month, Girija Jayram, a resident of Vastrapur, was mauled by a stray dog near Lad Society during the morning walk. She was bitten on her leg and hand. She said, “I walked past a stray dog lying on the road. It came running behind me and bit me on the leg. When I tried to defend myself, it bit my hand. Something needs to be done to protect people from stray dogs.”
Nisarg Sunetra, a teenager, was attacked by a dog while he was on his two-wheeler, waiting at the Jodhpur traffic signal. He said, “I was too shocked to react first. It just bit me and ran away. The pain was unbearable. Why is the AMC sitting idle?”
Health Committee Chairman Dr Suresh Patel said, “I am doing my level best to curb the nuisance. I have already asked the officials to start the sterilisation procedure as soon as possible. But they are slow in responding. I had a meeting with the officials of Animal Welfare Board of India. We have planned several things to rid the city of dog menace.” Another empty promise?
Nothing can shake up Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC). Every day, on an average, the city registers 121 dog-bites even as six vans of Cattle Nuisance and Control Department (CNCD) circle the city like headless chickens to catch the canines.
It would be an understatement to say that AMC has failed miserably in curbing the perilous menace. In fact, it has not tried at all to control the nuisance, claim sources.
How do you explain this? In 2010, there were 30,726 cases of dog bites. Between January and May this year, there were 18,256 dog-bite cases – the figures will be staggering by the end of the year.
But Deputy Municipal Commissioner Dilip Gor maintains there has been “no increase” in dog-bite cases. “The canine menace has been well within control uptil now. However, the cases are likely to increase after the mating season which begins in July,” he said.
According to him, the menace will “persist till September”. The city has 2.4 lakh dogs currently. After the monsoon, there will clearly be a spurt in the dog population, increasing the possibilities of canine-human conflict in the city.
The highest dog-bite cases were reported in January this year. Of the 4,255 cases, 1,000 each were reported by V S Hospital and L G Hospital. In May alone, 3,254 cases of dog-bites were reported in the city. The CNCD receives nearly 50 dog-menace complaints every day, but the AMC is “yet to finalise” contractors to kickstart its sterilisation programme.
The civic authority had contemplated a dog sterilisation facility of its own, but there has been no development in this direction as well. A proposal for such facility has to be presented before the standing committee for approval, but no such initiative has been taken by the CNCD department so far. AMC will have to shell out around Rs 12 crore to set up this facility.
Last month, Girija Jayram, a resident of Vastrapur, was mauled by a stray dog near Lad Society during the morning walk. She was bitten on her leg and hand. She said, “I walked past a stray dog lying on the road. It came running behind me and bit me on the leg. When I tried to defend myself, it bit my hand. Something needs to be done to protect people from stray dogs.”
Nisarg Sunetra, a teenager, was attacked by a dog while he was on his two-wheeler, waiting at the Jodhpur traffic signal. He said, “I was too shocked to react first. It just bit me and ran away. The pain was unbearable. Why is the AMC sitting idle?”
Health Committee Chairman Dr Suresh Patel said, “I am doing my level best to curb the nuisance. I have already asked the officials to start the sterilisation procedure as soon as possible. But they are slow in responding. I had a meeting with the officials of Animal Welfare Board of India. We have planned several things to rid the city of dog menace.” Another empty promise?
No deduction for plots of 300 sq yds
Nearly 10,000 property owners can breathe easy as Ahmedabad Urban Development Authority has decided to impose
In a major policy decision, Ahmedabad Urban Development Authority (AUDA) on Wednesday decided on a zero deduction norm for plots up to 300 sq yards and 20 per deduction for those above 300 sq yards. Around 10,000 plots owners in Ghuma who were struggling to save their plots from AUDA decision of deducting land for the implementation of town planning schemes, can relax now.
AUDA had proposed flat 40 per cent deduction for all plots, subplots and open land in Ghuma for the development of three town planning (TP) schemes
AUDA had proposed flat 40 per cent deduction for all plots, subplots and open land in Ghuma for the development of three town planning (TP) schemes.
According to realty experts, this will save deduction of plots worth Rs 600 crore and the biggest beneficiaries will be middle and upper-middle class. There are around 45 plotting schemes and 9000 to 10,000 plots in these schemes.
At the board meeting, AUDA decided to submit the three town planning (TP) schemes of Ghuma to the government on June 25. Ghuma is spread over 21 lakh sq yards (ie, 700 hectares) of which 30 per cent falls under plotting schemes. The land price in Ghuma is floating between Rs 10,000 and Rs 15,000 a sq yard. An estimated conservative figure of the worth of the property comes to around Rs 1200 crore.
AUDA Chairman Dharmendra Shah confirmed the news and added, “The open land that has no plotting scheme will see 40 per cent deduction, as per the town planning Act. However, considering the practical problem the board has decided against carrying out deduction for plots below 300 sq yard. For plots above 300 sq yard there will be 20 per cent deduction.”
Shah further said, “AUDA will also help the builder as well as plot owners in re-plotting of the scheme so that there is no grievance later.
Realty experts are happy with the decision as this will allow many small time investors to save their hard earned money that they had put in for their children.
Hitesh Shah of Space Management Ltd told Mirror, “It is a remarkable decision as deduction of 40 per cent was out of proportion for the sub-plot owners who invested in these properties when there was no rule of town planning and land deduction.”
Agreeing with Shah, Gujarat Institute of Civil Engineers and Architects (GICEA) former president Prashant Shah said, “It is a welcome step by AUDA. We also suggest that AUDA try to convert internal roads of plotting schemes into TP roads. This will help the plot owners save some land in deduction.”
AUDA can also consider common plots under deduction which can help plot-owners save some portion of their plot, he said.
The development authority had received more than 5000 applications of objections and recommendations by plot owners from Ghuma. It had made public the deduction announcement on March 4 and gave 10 days (till March 14) to residents and owners to submit their objections and recommendations.
In a major policy decision, Ahmedabad Urban Development Authority (AUDA) on Wednesday decided on a zero deduction norm for plots up to 300 sq yards and 20 per deduction for those above 300 sq yards. Around 10,000 plots owners in Ghuma who were struggling to save their plots from AUDA decision of deducting land for the implementation of town planning schemes, can relax now.
AUDA had proposed flat 40 per cent deduction for all plots, subplots and open land in Ghuma for the development of three town planning (TP) schemes
AUDA had proposed flat 40 per cent deduction for all plots, subplots and open land in Ghuma for the development of three town planning (TP) schemes.
According to realty experts, this will save deduction of plots worth Rs 600 crore and the biggest beneficiaries will be middle and upper-middle class. There are around 45 plotting schemes and 9000 to 10,000 plots in these schemes.
At the board meeting, AUDA decided to submit the three town planning (TP) schemes of Ghuma to the government on June 25. Ghuma is spread over 21 lakh sq yards (ie, 700 hectares) of which 30 per cent falls under plotting schemes. The land price in Ghuma is floating between Rs 10,000 and Rs 15,000 a sq yard. An estimated conservative figure of the worth of the property comes to around Rs 1200 crore.
AUDA Chairman Dharmendra Shah confirmed the news and added, “The open land that has no plotting scheme will see 40 per cent deduction, as per the town planning Act. However, considering the practical problem the board has decided against carrying out deduction for plots below 300 sq yard. For plots above 300 sq yard there will be 20 per cent deduction.”
Shah further said, “AUDA will also help the builder as well as plot owners in re-plotting of the scheme so that there is no grievance later.
Realty experts are happy with the decision as this will allow many small time investors to save their hard earned money that they had put in for their children.
Hitesh Shah of Space Management Ltd told Mirror, “It is a remarkable decision as deduction of 40 per cent was out of proportion for the sub-plot owners who invested in these properties when there was no rule of town planning and land deduction.”
Agreeing with Shah, Gujarat Institute of Civil Engineers and Architects (GICEA) former president Prashant Shah said, “It is a welcome step by AUDA. We also suggest that AUDA try to convert internal roads of plotting schemes into TP roads. This will help the plot owners save some land in deduction.”
AUDA can also consider common plots under deduction which can help plot-owners save some portion of their plot, he said.
The development authority had received more than 5000 applications of objections and recommendations by plot owners from Ghuma. It had made public the deduction announcement on March 4 and gave 10 days (till March 14) to residents and owners to submit their objections and recommendations.
Friday, June 17, 2011
Gujarat most preferred investment destination: ASSOCHAM study
Bangalore: Gujarat tops the list of preferred investment destination in the country with 1,455 projects worth Rs 13.35 lakh crore underway, according to Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry in India (ASSOCHAM). Karnataka is the next preferred investment destination in the country with 1,528 projects worth Rs 9.1 lakh crore under way it added.
The study was jointly released by ASSOCHAM president Dilip Modi, Co-chairman of ASSOCHAM southern regional chapter J Crasta and ASSOCHAM Secretary General D S Rawat on Thursday.
Nearly 44 per cent of the 1,528 projects in Karnataka are in manufacturing sector followed by 22.4 per cent in services, 15 per cent in power and about 14 per cent in real estate.
The projects are in different stages of implementation, ASSOCHAM said in its study titled ‘Karnataka - Next Growth Leader in the Making.’ Investment flows into manufacturing sector marked a 107.8 per cent jump during 2010, compared to the previous year while those in services sector registered a healthy growth of 76.5 per cent, it said.
The study was jointly released by ASSOCHAM president Dilip Modi, Co-chairman of ASSOCHAM southern regional chapter J Crasta and ASSOCHAM Secretary General D S Rawat on Thursday.
Nearly 44 per cent of the 1,528 projects in Karnataka are in manufacturing sector followed by 22.4 per cent in services, 15 per cent in power and about 14 per cent in real estate.
The projects are in different stages of implementation, ASSOCHAM said in its study titled ‘Karnataka - Next Growth Leader in the Making.’ Investment flows into manufacturing sector marked a 107.8 per cent jump during 2010, compared to the previous year while those in services sector registered a healthy growth of 76.5 per cent, it said.
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