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TOI : PUNE: On the backdrop of miscreants damaging vehicles and trying to set lifts on fire in the Ved Vihar society, residents have formed a vigilance squad to undertake night patrolling there.

For the past 15 days, residents of the Ved Vihar society near Chandani chowk were experiencing strange and horrifying attacks on their vehicles and other properties like gymnasium and lifts.

On Thursday the miscreants smashed the windscreens of 11 cars which were parked in the parking lot, creating panic among the residents of around 500 flats. They also set ablaze two lifts in building no. 6 when the residents were holding a meeting. They had placed dry grass and tyres in the elevators and set it on fire.

A police team led by senior inspector Shyam Mohite checked the premises and provided police bandobast at the society.

“We have been spending sleepless nights since the first attack around the fortnight ago,” said Sameer Wagle, a resident. On May 22, the security guards of the society beaten up. Two days later unidentified people set ablaze the elevator in building no. 6.

Harrowed by the continuing attacks, the “residents finally decided to fight the situation instead of living in fear and formed a vigilance squad of residents,” Wagle added. The squad will work in association with the police and will keep watch on the society during night time, Wagle said.

Meanwhile, deputy commissioner of police (zone I) C.H. Wakade visited the society on Friday morning. He assured the residents police protection for the time-being.
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TOI : PUNE: Bringing down curtains on the on-going controversy over his dream project of uninterrupted water supply in the city, municipal commissioner Pravinsinh Pardeshi has said that the administration has “no plans to re-introduce metered water billing system for domestic consumers”.

The civic chief, however, expressed deep pain over allegations by a section of the media and elected members that there were gross irregularities in the process of appointing consultants for the project.

“Some even went on to say that the project consultancy contract was nothing short of a scam. This is ridiculous. I am ready to answer all questions pertaining to the scheme,” Pardeshi told TOI .

Pardeshi told TOI that the metered water supply was just a small part of the project, which includes uninterrupted water supply, leakage detection and water auditing. “The installation of meters will take place only after three years. Initially, they will be installed for commercial properties and then for residential properties,” Pardeshi said, adding that the citizens will not be required to pay for the meters as the project will be funded under the Jawaharlal Nehru national Urban Renewal Mission.

“Also, this is being done for water auditing purpose only so that we can ensure equitable water distribution. There is no need to charge the domestic water users as per the actual water use. The general body can continue the present system based on property tax for domestic water users even if the meters are installed for auditing purposes”.

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TOI : PUNE: A woman who lost Rs 20 lakh in an online fraud and later tried to recover the money by duping two real-estate agents was arrested by the crime branch on Friday.

The woman, Flora Ardeshir Akkavan (52), of Dhanori, had received a fraudulent e-mail in early 2007. The mail, which is commonly received by many, read that a former Filipino president wanted to secretly transfer his $120 million to a bank account in the US. The mail, which is believed to have been sent from Nigeria, said that Akkavan would be paid $10 million if she helped in transferring the money.

Inspector Bhanupratap Barge of the anti-extortion cell of the crime branch said that Akkavan fell for the bait. She then received another e-mail asking her to pay $8,000 to open an account in one Crew Bank in the US. She was also given an account number (8601) after the payment was made. The senders of the mail then communicated to her that the $120 million had been transferred to her Crew Bank account. She was asked to pay $12,000 for this transfer.

A few days later, she again got an e-mail that $110 million had been transferred to the former president’s account in the US. While the remaining $10 million would be given to her for her help, the e-mail said that this money could not be transferred out of the Crew Bank account since the bank did not have a branch in India. The e-mail asked Akkavan to open an account in any international bank in India.

Accordingly, Akkavan opened an account with ABN Amro bank. However, a fresh e-mail said that since ABN Amro did not have a tie-up with Crew Bank, Akkavan’s $10 million would be handed over to her personally in India.

The e-mail further asked Akkavan to pay another $12,000 for the…More

TOI : PUNE: Contrary to the expectations, the outcome of the prestigious Indian Institutes of Technology’s Joint Entrance Exam (IIT-JEE) for 2008, which was declared on Friday, showed a marginal dip in the overall performance by young IIT aspirants from the city.

According to data collected by TOI , barely 100 out of the 2,000-odd students from the city who appeared in the exam figured for the all India (AI) rankings. Some of these select 100 were part of the extended merit list (EML), which is utilised for filling up seats at the Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research (IISER) in Pune, Kolkata and Mohali besides the Indian Institute of Space Technology, Thiruvananthapuram.

The AI ranked students usually get into the IITs besides the Indian School of Mines at Dhanbad and the Institute of Technology at Banaras Hindu University. This year, 360 additional seats have been created on account of the three new IITs that are to go functional in Bihar, Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh.

As such, the overall seats have gone up from last year’s 5,500-plus to nearly 5,900. Apart from the new additions, those ranked qualify for the IITs in Powai (Mumbai), Delhi, Rourkee, Kanpur, Chennai, Kharagpur and Guwahati. In all 3.2 lakh students from across the country had appeared for the exam.

Last year, 110 students from the city had qualified for IITs and the showing then was a marked improvement as compared to the results in the preceding years. There were expectations that Pune students would perform better this year.

However, experts involved in IIT coaching pointed say not only the overall result has taken a marginal hit, but the rankings have also gone down. Rising competition is one reasons for this while the famed Kota pattern has once again left its huge impression at the rankings.

At AI rank 117, Prashant Sohani returned…More

TOI : PUNE: On the backdrop of miscreants damaging vehicles and trying to set lifts on fire in the Ved Vihar society, residents have formed a vigilance squad to undertake night patrolling there.

For the past 15 days, residents of the Ved Vihar society near Chandani chowk were experiencing strange and horrifying attacks on their vehicles and other properties like gymnasium and lifts.

On Thursday the miscreants smashed the windscreens of 11 cars which were parked in the parking lot, creating panic among the residents of around 500 flats. They also set ablaze two lifts in building no. 6 when the residents were holding a meeting. They had placed dry grass and tyres in the elevators and set it on fire.

A police team led by senior inspector Shyam Mohite checked the premises and provided police bandobast at the society.

“We have been spending sleepless nights since the first attack around the fortnight ago,” said Sameer Wagle, a resident. On May 22, the security guards of the society beaten up. Two days later unidentified people set ablaze the elevator in building no. 6.

Harrowed by the continuing attacks, the “residents finally decided to fight the situation instead of living in fear and formed a vigilance squad of residents,” Wagle added. The squad will work in association with the police and will keep watch on the society during night time, Wagle said.

Meanwhile, deputy commissioner of police (zone I) C.H. Wakade visited the society on Friday morning. He assured the residents police protection for the time-being.
Print Save EMail Write to Editor Get personalised news s…More

TOI : PUNE: Bringing down curtains on the on-going controversy over his dream project of uninterrupted water supply in the city, municipal commissioner Pravinsinh Pardeshi has said that the administration has “no plans to re-introduce metered water billing system for domestic consumers”.

The civic chief, however, expressed deep pain over allegations by a section of the media and elected members that there were gross irregularities in the process of appointing consultants for the project.

“Some even went on to say that the project consultancy contract was nothing short of a scam. This is ridiculous. I am ready to answer all questions pertaining to the scheme,” Pardeshi told TOI .

Pardeshi told TOI that the metered water supply was just a small part of the project, which includes uninterrupted water supply, leakage detection and water auditing. “The installation of meters will take place only after three years. Initially, they will be installed for commercial properties and then for residential properties,” Pardeshi said, adding that the citizens will not be required to pay for the meters as the project will be funded under the Jawaharlal Nehru national Urban Renewal Mission.

“Also, this is being done for water auditing purpose only so that we can ensure equitable water distribution. There is no need to charge the domestic water users as per the actual water use. The general body can continue the present system based on property tax for domestic water users even if the meters are installed for auditing purposes”.

Print Save EMail Write to Editor Get personalised news s…More

TOI : PUNE: A woman who lost Rs 20 lakh in an online fraud and later tried to recover the money by duping two real-estate agents was arrested by the crime branch on Friday.

The woman, Flora Ardeshir Akkavan (52), of Dhanori, had received a fraudulent e-mail in early 2007. The mail, which is commonly received by many, read that a former Filipino president wanted to secretly transfer his $120 million to a bank account in the US. The mail, which is believed to have been sent from Nigeria, said that Akkavan would be paid $10 million if she helped in transferring the money.

Inspector Bhanupratap Barge of the anti-extortion cell of the crime branch said that Akkavan fell for the bait. She then received another e-mail asking her to pay $8,000 to open an account in one Crew Bank in the US. She was also given an account number (8601) after the payment was made. The senders of the mail then communicated to her that the $120 million had been transferred to her Crew Bank account. She was asked to pay $12,000 for this transfer.

A few days later, she again got an e-mail that $110 million had been transferred to the former president’s account in the US. While the remaining $10 million would be given to her for her help, the e-mail said that this money could not be transferred out of the Crew Bank account since the bank did not have a branch in India. The e-mail asked Akkavan to open an account in any international bank in India.

Accordingly, Akkavan opened an account with ABN Amro bank. However, a fresh e-mail said that since ABN Amro did not have a tie-up with Crew Bank, Akkavan’s $10 million would be handed over to her personally in India.

The e-mail further asked Akkavan to pay another $12,000 for the…More

TOI : PUNE: With decentralisation of power in the civic body, the monthly Lokshahi Din will now be held at zonal commissioners’ offices.

Lokshahi Din is held on the first Monday of every month to address grievances of citizens. The practice was started in 2000. From June onwards, Lokshahi Din will also be held at the four zonal offices from 10 am to 12 noon.

Citizens of Aundh, Ghole road, Karve road and Warje Karvenagar ward offices can approach zonal commissioner number 1 at Maharshi Mamarao Date press, Ghole road. Residents of Sangamwadi, Yerawada and Dhole Patil ward office can approach Madan Adhari, zonal commissioner number 2 at Dhole Patil ward office, Pune 1.

Residents of Tilak road, Sahakarnagar, Kasba Peth, Vishrambaugwada and Bhavani Peth ward office can approach Dnyaneshwar Molak, at Tilak road ward office. Residents under Bibvewadi, Dhankawdi and Hadapsar ward office can approach Rajendra Muthe, Tilak road ward office.

Print Save EMail Write to Editor Get personalised news s…More

TOI : PUNE: Contrary to the expectations, the outcome of the prestigious Indian Institutes of Technology’s Joint Entrance Exam (IIT-JEE) for 2008, which was declared on Friday, showed a marginal dip in the overall performance by young IIT aspirants from the city.

According to data collected by TOI , barely 100 out of the 2,000-odd students from the city who appeared in the exam figured for the all India (AI) rankings. Some of these select 100 were part of the extended merit list (EML), which is utilised for filling up seats at the Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research (IISER) in Pune, Kolkata and Mohali besides the Indian Institute of Space Technology, Thiruvananthapuram.

The AI ranked students usually get into the IITs besides the Indian School of Mines at Dhanbad and the Institute of Technology at Banaras Hindu University. This year, 360 additional seats have been created on account of the three new IITs that are to go functional in Bihar, Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh.

As such, the overall seats have gone up from last year’s 5,500-plus to nearly 5,900. Apart from the new additions, those ranked qualify for the IITs in Powai (Mumbai), Delhi, Rourkee, Kanpur, Chennai, Kharagpur and Guwahati. In all 3.2 lakh students from across the country had appeared for the exam.

Last year, 110 students from the city had qualified for IITs and the showing then was a marked improvement as compared to the results in the preceding years. There were expectations that Pune students would perform better this year.

However, experts involved in IIT coaching pointed say not only the overall result has taken a marginal hit, but the rankings have also gone down. Rising competition is one reasons for this while the famed Kota pattern has once again left its huge impression at the rankings.

At AI rank 117, Prashant Sohani returned…More

TOI : PUNE: With decentralisation of power in the civic body, the monthly Lokshahi Din will now be held at zonal commissioners’ offices.

Lokshahi Din is held on the first Monday of every month to address grievances of citizens. The practice was started in 2000. From June onwards, Lokshahi Din will also be held at the four zonal offices from 10 am to 12 noon.

Citizens of Aundh, Ghole road, Karve road and Warje Karvenagar ward offices can approach zonal commissioner number 1 at Maharshi Mamarao Date press, Ghole road. Residents of Sangamwadi, Yerawada and Dhole Patil ward office can approach Madan Adhari, zonal commissioner number 2 at Dhole Patil ward office, Pune 1.

Residents of Tilak road, Sahakarnagar, Kasba Peth, Vishrambaugwada and Bhavani Peth ward office can approach Dnyaneshwar Molak, at Tilak road ward office. Residents under Bibvewadi, Dhankawdi and Hadapsar ward office can approach Rajendra Muthe, Tilak road ward office.

Print Save EMail Write to Editor Get personalised news s…More