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indianexpress: PUNE’s dream of having an international airport at Rajgurunagar about 6 km from the original site in Chakan is likely to come true in four years’ time.

With Pune’s population expected to increase from 5.5 million to over 10 million in the coming years this airport would help bail out pressure on the existing airport facility.

Civil aviation minister Praful Patel who was in the city on Friday said the proposed airport would be developed on the lines of those in New Delhi, Hyderabad and Mumbai.

“A global tender will be floated for developing the airport and it would be a joint venture, “ said Patel. The site which has been cleared by the Indian Air Force is between Chakan and Rajgurunagar on Pune-Nashik highway.

He had pulled up the State government recently for delaying the execution of the airports in Navi Mumbai and Pune.

Patel said they were now waiting for the State government’s notification on the Chakan site and it is now up to them to initiate the land acquisition process.

“It should be completed in one year and then the bidding process to construct an airport could begin. If all this is on schedule, the city could have the facility by 2011-12,” the minister said

indianexpress: AN all-inclusive growth in the country was the need of the hour to make it a superpower. This was a point constantly stressed on by Praful Patel, Union Minister for Civil Aviation, at Summit SIBM 2007 organised by Symbiosis Institute of Business Management on Friday.

Gleaning over the various facets of India’s growth, the minister said the aviation sector had deservedly been called the ‘sunrise sector’, courtesy the boom. “There were only 130 commercial planes three years ago. Today, there are 350. By 2020, there will be 2,000,” he said. “This naturally will also mean pumping in investment worth $ 200 billion besides generating three million new jobs. It should definitely be looked as the ‘sunrise sector.’”

But Patel said every sector needed to be tapped, especially the tourism sector that could generate large employment opportunities.

Essar chairman Shashi Ruia, also present at the seminar, spoke about how entrepreneurs and managers needed to adopt new mantras. “Maintain a good image and give quality time to your work,” he said, for instance. He also said mentoring was very crucial especially for students entering the industry. “The initial years are very critical (for the freshers), and it is up to the seniors to groom them.”

Ruia added that India needed to find solutions to match China which had outpaced us. He called on the education and industrial sectors to join hands for a better future.

J J Irani, director of Tata Sons, said Indians were enterprising but weak in their mindset, a condition that warranted change. “But I am optimistic about the current scenario. The entrepreneurial genes have been let loose,” he said, at the same time calling students to shed the Indian ‘chalta hai’ attitude.

indianexpress:  UNCERTAINTY cloaked workers and their unions with Bajaj Auto Limited (BAL) set to suspend production at its Akurdi plant from Saturday.

Meanwhile, the State government has heeded to deputy labour commissioner Anil Lakaswar’s recommendation and convened a meeting on September 5. Lakaswar was approached by labour unions and management officials on Thursday. “The management has not responded and the production is scheduled to close as intended. Cabinet minister for state excise and environment Ganesh Naik has called for a joint meeting on September 5, “ he said. Lakaswar, who had sought the grounds for the workers’ suspension by Friday, said he had not received it. “The management has sought more time to incorporate a detailed analysis,” he added.

Meanwhile, labour unions said the suspension order would come into force technically from Monday because of the four-day week. “The workers did not work on Friday. They will not work on Saturday and Sunday. Hence, the actual suspension will come into force starting Monday,” said Bharatiya Kamgar Sena’s general secretary Vijay Shelar. The Sena, a recognised labour union, had sent a letter with its demands and proposals to the labour minister, the labour commissioner and the management on Thursday, said BKS vice president Manohar Bhise.

The letter alleges that the company had sent the August 30 notice of suspension without any prior intimation. It also protests that the lockout from September 3 is illegal as per Section 24(2) of the MRTU and PULP Act of 1971. The letter, referring to the union’s February meeting with the management, states that the ‘negotiations about the union’s charter of demands were progressing smoothly’ before being abruptly cut off last month.

“The company has told production workers not to come from September 3. Research and development, tool room and other spare parts shop workers have been retained,” said president of Vishwakalyan Sanghatana Dilip Pawar.

indianexpress: THE Pune Wildlife Division has launched a campaign against plastic carry bags and bottles strewn around by tourists and pilgrims at Bhimashankar — a protected forest area that houses one of the 12 Jyotirlingas of Shiva and the rare Giant Indian Squirrel — located 110 km from here.

The monsoon campaign is being carried out with local forest dwellers and volunteers of social organisations from surrounding Manchar, Junnar and Pune as non-biodegradable plastic threatens to spoil and degrade the thick forest area. “Over a lakh pilgrims visit the ancient shrine during the month of Shravan generating huge plastic waste in the area. This is having an adverse impact on the local ecology, which needs to be dealt with on a war footing,” said an official press note.
 
The wildlife authorities have appealed to the pilgrims and tourists to avoid carrying plastic, especially carry bags and water bottles, or strictly avoid throwing them in the open.

The authorities fear that the garbage, especially plastic, was already affecting the rich wildlife comprising the rare Giant Indian Squirrel, Leopards and other wild animals and birds, besides the rich variety of flora. “Many wild animals and birds have been found to devour the plastic waste,” said the press note.

They have also sought to bring to the notice of the visitors — especially from urban areas — that besides being a religious place, Bhimashankar’s location in the ghat section of the Sahyadris which is also the source of the river Bhima flowing south eastwards, makes it a ecologically sensitive spot. The authorities have already instructed stall owners around the shrine not to stock plastic bags that are not bio-degradable.

indianexpress: THE Pune Camp Merchants’ Association has opposed Pune Cantonment Board (PCB) and Modular Advertising and Display Solutions’ plans for the walking plaza when it opens after the monsoon break on Saturday. The merchants’ association has called the proposed fresh look ‘a new tamasha’.

In a press release, the association has said the walking plaza had caused problems to customers, shopkeepers, banks, office-goers and residents of M G Road and other adjoining areas. “By encouraging event organisers, PCB is creating a new tamasha on M G Road in the name of walking plaza,” the release said.

The walking plaza would include events for children and cultural shows by Indian folk artistes, painters, folk singers, instrument players, and performers.

“We have worked hard to clear the road of vendors and hawkers, now why are they bringing them back on M G Road,” said association president Anand Kocchar, adding that they were not consulted by the PCB.

He said after the events start, food stalls and other vendors would sell their wares and become a regular feature. “The road is not a place for music shows or skating for children. For more than 100 years, this road has been doing business. The PCB should look at other areas like Golibar Maidan, and Sub Area ground for a walking plaza.”

indianexpress: THE Pune division of Central Railway has changed the timings of 1625A Daund-Baramati and 1626 Baramati-Pune passengers from Saturday for the convenience of rail users. Accordingly, the Daund-Baramati passenger will start from Daund at 2.15 pm, leave Maladgaon at 2.37 pm, Shirsai at 2.48 pm, Sirsuphal at 2.53 pm, Katphal at 3.09 pm and reach Baramati at 3.35 pm. The Baramati-Pune passenger will start from Baramati at 4 pm and leave Daund at 5.25 pm, Kedgaon at 5.50 pm, Uruli at 6.20 pm, Loni at 6.32 pm, Manjari Budruk at 6.37 pm and reach Pune at 7.15 pm.