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indianexpress: Science should lead to the development of an alternative habitat for mankind on the planet Mars, said former president and eminent scientist APJ Abdul Kalam. He was speaking at the inaugural function of the 15 th National Children’s Science Congress (NCSC) organised by Baramati’s Vidya Pratishthan and Thane’s Jidnyasa Trust.

The function saw nearly 650 children from 30 different states in the country as well as 22 students from 10 member countries of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) participating. Urging the students to become the future scientists of India, Kalam read out a letter written by a German scientist to a student on what ‘Science Can Do For You.’

Kalam said that scientific research should be applied in fields like agricultural science, energy efficient technologies and disaster prediction. Referring to the overpopulation of the planet Earth (600 million people), Kalam said there was now a need for an alternative habitat, like Mars.

“Evolution of an Earth-Moon-Mars complex is needed to bring back to the earth new material like helium three and generate solar power,” Kalam said. Kalam’s speech received an overwhelming response from the students gathered there in large numbers.

Other dignitaries present at the inauguration were State Minister for Energy and Higher and Technical Education Dilip Walse-Patil, Guardian Minister Ajit Pawar, former Department of Science and Technology chairman Anup Sinha, Vidya Pratishthan chairman Vinod Kumar Gujjar, State Minister for Health Vimal Mundada, National Council for Science and Technology Communication (NCSTC) chairman Anil Goswami, Vidya Pratishthan trustee Sunetra Pawar, NCSC chairman Vijay Bhatkar and vice chairman Surendra Dighe, among others.

indianexpress: In a major boost to the development works under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM), the State Government on Thursday approved the additional component proposed by the civic administration after re-estimation of the various projects in the city.

The civic administration had re-estimated project cost to Rs 1462.91 crore from the earlier Rs 807.12 crore — an 80 per cent rise — and had faced opposition from political parties. “The government has given a green signal to the re-estimation proposal submitted by the civic administration for making additional provisions in the existing road development project under JNNURM,” Municipal Commissioner Pravinsinh Pardeshi said.

The Mumbai Metropolitan Regional Development Authority (MMRDA), a nodal agency for the State Government for JNNURM projects, had approved the re-estimation proposal and based on that the State Government to gave approval to the proposal, he said.

The proposals will now be sent to the Union Government, Pardeshi said, adding, “the raising of funds for the additional cost to be incurred due to increase in provisions for various service lines on the roads will be decided by the Central Government.”

The steering committee meeting for JNNURM projects in the State chaired by Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh also approved Rs 150 crore for six projects of sewerage treatment plant to enable the entire sewage daily generated in the city and Rs 82 crore for the sewerage lines. PMC treats 305 MLD of the total 753 MLD sewerage generated every day in the city while projects for additional 260 MLD were under execution. However, the 187 MLD sewerage was likely to be released without treatment and the State Government has given approval to six projects of sewage treatment plants so that would the entire sewerage generated will be treated now.

indianexpress: Officers and corporators of the Pune Municipal Corporation seem to be least interested in knowing the inside-out story of the Central Government’s Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM). It became quite clear today as they bunked the “rapid training programme” on JNNURM, organised especially for them.

Only eight of the total 149 PMC corporators turned up while no civic officer was present on the first day of the two-day programme held at YASHADA. The programme, aimed at creating awareness about the participation of elected representative in JNNURM execution, is being conducted by Centre for Good Governance, Hyderabad, (CGG) along with Administrative Staff College of India on behalf of the Union Government. “We are shocked by the response of elected representatives,” said Vardhaman Vaidya, Knowledge Manager of CGG which has been entrusted by the government to conduct programmes in 32 of the 63 cities undergoing development under JNNURM.

He said they received “tremendous response” in Nashik where 60 of the 80 elected representatives attended the programme along with civic officers.

“Pune is the second city where we organised the programme and the response was very poor despite we informing the PMC two weeks in advance,” Vaidya said, adding, they will be giving the feedback to the government.

indianexpress: Surajya Sanghtana Samiti (SSS) has decided to issue a notice to the Pune Muncipal Corporation on restaurants not complying with the development control rules of having one toilet block for 40 people. “This norm is grossly violated” says SSS president Vijay Kumbhar who would be forwarding the same to PMC on Friday.

“I have also noticed that the existing toilets have their exhaust fans open to the kitchen. This is very unhygienic,’’says Kumbhar who has surveyed many leading hotels in the city for the same. He said that these eateries do not follow the necessary hygiene rules and stands to be very harmful.

Kumbhar in his notice has demanded that the PMC conducts a survey to find out how many restaurants were not complying to the necessary norms.

“It is very essential as people being deprived of the needful facility opt for open spaces, he said.

Earlier Kumbhar had seeked details on the number of public urinals in the city under Right To Information Act to which PMC admitted that there were only 352 public urinals, which meant one public urinal per 9000 people. This was grossly inadequate as PMC’s own public health norms says that there should be one urinal per 100 people.

indianexpress: Maharashtra Navnirman Sena corporator from Kartraj, Vasant More on Thursday alleged that the health department of the Pune Municipal Corporation has been using pesticides well beyond their expiry dates. He said that the the estimated cost of such pesticides is pegged at Rs 20-25 lakh and has demanded that an inquiry should be initiated.

More said, “The pesticides bought by the health department is used by in all ward offices for spraying purposes to curb health hazards. However, all these pesticides have become old and have already crossed their expiry dates and hence have become harmful, as they are poisonous as well. Some of these pesticides had crossed their deadline in June, while some in November. Hence it is quite obvious that the manufacturers and the PMC officials have been risking the lives of citizens for their personal gains. However, now nobody is ready to take responsibility.”

More also alleged that the PMC authorities have been using pesticides with chemical contents in them, for the decomposition of garbage. “The Supreme Court directive has put a ban on using any pesticides with chemicals. The manures being made from such garbage will be harmful. The price of this new solution is ten times higher than the earlier solution used in the past.”

indianexpress:  In what looks like a disturbing trend, two city policemen succumbed to heart attack in the last two days. Assistant Police Inspector Janardhan Patil (56), who was with the Preventive Crime Branch, died on Thursday after a heart attack. He was suffering from prolonged ill health, said DCP Crime Anil Kumbhare.

Patil, who joined the police force in 1973, was a recepient of 594 prizes for his services to the force. Besides crime branch, he had also served in Vishrambaug, Swargate, Faraskhana, Cantontment police stations.

On Wednesday, another policeman Rupaji Gulabrao Dhumal (49) died in his sleep following a heart attack. He was inducted into the force in 1979. He had served at Khadak, Chatursinghi, and Hadapsar police stations.

Deputy Commissioner of Police Anil Kumbhare said, “Police personnel are sent for medical check ups at the Jehangir Hospital, especially for those above 40 years of age. Besides this, dietary plans are also outlined by the doctors.”