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TOI : PUNE: If you have been fretting and fuming at the lack of certain civic amenities in your locality, stop worrying. A simple one page citizens’ suggestion form for the Pune Municipal Corporation’s (PMC) Participatory Budget 2009-2010 could be just the panacea for your problems.

This one page form is being issued by the PMC through its 14 ward offices and 46 customer facilitation kiosks and can also be easily downloaded from its website www.punecorporation.org. It allows common citizens to write in their suggestions, demands and requirements to the PMC by September 10, 2008.

The form is a product of relentless follow-up, suggestions and changes initiated by several citizen action groups like Janwani, National Society for Clean cities (NSCC) and Centre for Environment and Education (CEE) among others.

Inspired by the Brazilian city of Porto Alegre, where citizens have been part of the civic budgeting exercise for the last 19 years, city-based citizen action groups decided the time was ripe to initiate a similar movement in the city here.

According to Ranjit Gadgil, TOI’s ‘Lead India’ finalist and programme director of Janwani, the PMC did issue a citizens’ suggestion form in October 2007. “Sadly, the citizens were given just one week to communicate their suggestions and demands. This timeframe was way too short,” says Gadgil.

This time, the PMC decided to issue the forms from August 10 this year and citizens have been given time till September 10 to communicate their needs and demands.

Another significant improvement is the on-line tracking facility, which is available, thanks to software developed jointly by Janwani and the KPIT Cummins company. Says Gadgil, “Citizens will be able to track the fate of their suggestions after October 10.”

According to Satish Khot, president, NSCC, “The PMC has promised to list out the reasons for the rejections on a public board in…More

TOI : KOLHAPUR: The world famous Kolhapuri chappals are all set to get a face-lift. Shivaji University in collaboration with the Chennai-based Central Leather Research Institute (CLRI) in Kolhapur will set up a well-equiped training centre for the artisans.

CLRI has sanctioned funds worth Rs 2 crores for the Shivaji University to provide the artisans with technical know-how to hone their skills. The centre will train around 2,000 artisans in the leather industry.

Rajendra Kankaria, the register at the Shivaji University said, “The funds will be utilised to establish a training centre for the artisans. Both male and female artisans will benefit from this initiative. We want to improve the quality of Kolhapuri chappals and bring it back to the highest pedestal.”

Asit Mandal, director of the CLRI said that the project will provide a major boost to this traditional industry. “Artisans will be introduced to novel techinques in the training course. We aim to give a fresh lease of life to Kolhapur chappal industry,” he said.

Raghunath More, district unit president of Charmakar Samaj Seva Sangh, said that the varsity has not made it clear how artisans from rural area will be benefited from this course. “There are around 20,000 artisans working in this industry. This novel concept should help in improving the exports which will help industry,” he said. Print EMail DiscussNew B…More

TOI :
PUNE: The Pune Rural police have nabbed seven absconding suspects during a massive raid operation on Wednesday night in the run up to Ganeshotsav and Ramzan. Interestingly, two of the seven people arrested were on the police’s wanted list for the past 27 years.

Additional superintendent of police Ashok Morale said such mass raids will continue. “We conducted a mass raid at Narayangaon on Wednesday night, where we nabbed seven people who were on our wanted list,” Morale said, adding that they will continue with the raids periodically.

Of the seven, two - Mahadu Nikam and Gulab Mali from Junnar - were absconding for the past 27 years, Morale said, adding, “These suspects are wanted in cases pertaining to property offences. Another two suspects arrested during the raid are wanted in a case of murder.”

Morale said that the eight crime units of Local Crime Branch, Rural police, headed by six deputy superintendents, participated in the raid along with additional superintendent Pravin Patil and Morale himself. Print EMail DiscussNew B…More

TOI : The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) will use Rs 25,50,000 from its funds for the celebration of cultural programs during the Ganeshotsav this year.

The civic body plans to organise dramas and musical shows at Shaniwarwada, Hadapsar, Kothrud, Dhankawadi and Kharadi.

In a proposal tabled before the standing committee the municipal secretary asked for the committee’s permission to authorise the mayor for taking decisions about the programmes.

Meanwhile, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), which had opposed MNS’ stand against north Indians, in another move to woo the migrant population here, will organise Onam celebrations on Sunday.

The programme will be inaugurated by RSS Kerala pracharak Shankar Shastry and M P Bendre, vice-president of Akhil Bhartiya Adhivakta Parishad, will be guest of honour. The program will be organised at Janaki Hall near Swargate ST stand. Print EMail DiscussNew B…More

TOI : PUNE: The Pune Municipal Corporation’s (PMC) new parking policy has received a setback with the state government issuing orders that the implementation be held till modifications were effected in the Development Control (DC) rules, which will take a minimum of six months.

After almost a year-long debate, the civic general body (GB) in April this year had finally approved the new parking policy. Under this, increased parking capacity in commercial and residential establishments in the city were made mandatory.

However, the state government has issued orders disallowing the civic body from proceeding with the new policy, Pune municipal commissioner Pravinsinh Pardeshi told TOI. The point here is, as Pardeshi added, that since the civic body was still at the stage of inviting suggestions and objections, it had not forwarded the proposal to the state for requisite approval.

The municipal commissioner admitted that the PMC was aware that amendments had to be made in the DC rules, which calls for following a set procedure, but they had their reasons to go ahead with the plan. “We do intend to adhere by the rules, but planned to do so simultaneously with the implementation. This was because we could thus approve new building plans as per the new parking policy. However, now, we have to abide by the state’s orders and wait till the DC rules have been amended,” he said.

It may be noted that the procedures for amending DC rules include inviting suggestions and objections from citizens, hearing them, making changes in the policy (if required), again seeking approval from the GB (after making changes, if any) and then forwarding the proposal to the state.

The PMC’s new parking policy was framed after much deliberation and long-pending demands for increased parking space at commercial establishments, like malls, multiplexes and restaurants. Shortage of parking space leads to vehicles being parked on…More

TOI : The Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) has warned that mandals flouting the decibel norms as fixed by the state government’s Noise Pollution (control and regulation) Rules, 2000, will not be spared during the Ganesh festival this year.

“The state has framed decibel norms for industrial, commercial and residential areas. There is also a category called the ’silent zone’, which houses establishments like courts, schools, temples etc., “said V.P. Shirure, sub-regional officer, MPCB. The stipulated decibel norms in all four zones range from 50 to 75 during the day and 70 to 40 during the night.

However, during the Ganesh festival and Diwali, the decibel levels in the city range from 95 to 105 decibels, said Shirure. “We have also found that the average noise level increases to 120 decibels during the idol-immersion processions.”

“In some areas, it is difficult to differentiate between commercial and residential zones. In such cases we usually allow decibel limits permitted for commercial zones,” he said.

Shirure added, “We have shortlisted a few areas where we are going to monitor the noise levels on a regular basis.” These are Rasta Peth, Ganesh Peth, Dagdu Sheth Halwai area, Babu Genu chowk, Mahatma Phule mandai, Khadalmala Ganapati, Hirabaug Ganapati, Alka theatre and Deccan . “Monitoring of the noise level in these areas will mainly be from 8 to 10 am and 7 to 10 pm.”

“The MPCB has eight noise measurement machines and an equal number of men to gauge the noise levels,” said Shirure. Therefore, simultaneous monitoring at all designated points during the peak hours will be done. The erring mandals, where noise level is more than 70 decibels, will be reported to the police for appropriate action, he added.

Watch Out

Savita Turekar, assistant commissioner of police, special branch, said, “Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad have around 757 Dahi Handis every…More

TOI : The Dahi Handi celebrations in the city are becoming increasingly lavish with the prize money touching the Rs 6-lakh mark and hi-tech laser as also sound shows being planned to entertain the ‘Govindas’, so much so that the income tax (I-T ) department has decided to keep a keen eye on the celebrations. Dahi handi is traditionally celebrated on Janmashtami - the birthday of Lord Krishna - when a pot containing curd is tied at a height and people form human pyramids to reach up and break the pot. The group that achieves the feat is rewarded handsomely. This year Dahi Handi falls on August 24 and public mandals are gearing up for the festivities. The fact that artists who had performed at the inauguration and concluding ceremony of the Indian Premier League (IPL) have been booked by city-based Dahi Handi group Akhil Laxminagar Shahuvasahat Mitramandal near the Swargate bus stand to entertain spectators, shows how large the celebrations have become. Most Dahi Handi groups are essentially Ganesh mandals, that primarily celebrate the 10-day Ganesh festival every year. The famous Dahi Handis of the city in the Peth areas are put up by Hutatma Babu Genu, Suvarnayug Mandal, Akhil Mandai Ganesh Mandal, Shanipar Mitra Mandal, Jilbya Maruti Mandal among others. Some of the mandals have been celebrating the festival since the pre-independence years, but over the last five to seven years the scene of celebrations has changed drastically. The festival has now become an event complete with walls of sound systems belting out remix Hindi, Marathi and English songs. ‘Govinda’ groups (people who move from area to area breaking the curd pots) are now clad in uniforms and competition is stiff to claim the lucrative rewards ranging from Rs 25,000 to Rs 6 lakh.

In the recent years, Pune mandals have started celebrating the festival with many innovative ideas too, like inviting DJs from Mumbai and organising…More

TOI : PUNE: The police on Friday allowed the use of loud speakers till midnight on the fifth, seventh and tenth day of Ganapati festival in the city and Pimpri-Chinchwad area. Meanwhile, the pandals have been warned of stringent action if they violate the 10 pm deadline on other days.

These three days have been sanctioned under the 14-day deadline extension quota of the state government. Moreover, the police has also warned the Ganesh mandals of legal action if they are found digging roads without appropriate permission from the authorities.

Print EMail DiscussNew B…More

TOI : The Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) has warned that mandals flouting the decibel norms as fixed by the state government’s Noise Pollution (control and regulation) Rules, 2000, will not be spared during the Ganesh festival this year.

“The state has framed decibel norms for industrial, commercial and residential areas. There is also a category called the ’silent zone’, which houses establishments like courts, schools, temples etc., “said V.P. Shirure, sub-regional officer, MPCB. The stipulated decibel norms in all four zones range from 50 to 75 during the day and 70 to 40 during the night.

However, during the Ganesh festival and Diwali, the decibel levels in the city range from 95 to 105 decibels, said Shirure. “We have also found that the average noise level increases to 120 decibels during the idol-immersion processions.”

“In some areas, it is difficult to differentiate between commercial and residential zones. In such cases we usually allow decibel limits permitted for commercial zones,” he said.

Shirure added, “We have shortlisted a few areas where we are going to monitor the noise levels on a regular basis.” These are Rasta Peth, Ganesh Peth, Dagdu Sheth Halwai area, Babu Genu chowk, Mahatma Phule mandai, Khadalmala Ganapati, Hirabaug Ganapati, Alka theatre and Deccan . “Monitoring of the noise level in these areas will mainly be from 8 to 10 am and 7 to 10 pm.”

“The MPCB has eight noise measurement machines and an equal number of men to gauge the noise levels,” said Shirure. Therefore, simultaneous monitoring at all designated points during the peak hours will be done. The erring mandals, where noise level is more than 70 decibels, will be reported to the police for appropriate action, he added.

Watch Out

Savita Turekar, assistant commissioner of police, special branch, said, “Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad have around 757 Dahi Handis every…More

TOI : The Dahi Handi celebrations in the city are becoming increasingly lavish with the prize money touching the Rs 6-lakh mark and hi-tech laser as also sound shows being planned to entertain the ‘Govindas’, so much so that the income tax (I-T ) department has decided to keep a keen eye on the celebrations. Dahi handi is traditionally celebrated on Janmashtami - the birthday of Lord Krishna - when a pot containing curd is tied at a height and people form human pyramids to reach up and break the pot. The group that achieves the feat is rewarded handsomely. This year Dahi Handi falls on August 24 and public mandals are gearing up for the festivities. The fact that artists who had performed at the inauguration and concluding ceremony of the Indian Premier League (IPL) have been booked by city-based Dahi Handi group Akhil Laxminagar Shahuvasahat Mitramandal near the Swargate bus stand to entertain spectators, shows how large the celebrations have become. Most Dahi Handi groups are essentially Ganesh mandals, that primarily celebrate the 10-day Ganesh festival every year. The famous Dahi Handis of the city in the Peth areas are put up by Hutatma Babu Genu, Suvarnayug Mandal, Akhil Mandai Ganesh Mandal, Shanipar Mitra Mandal, Jilbya Maruti Mandal among others. Some of the mandals have been celebrating the festival since the pre-independence years, but over the last five to seven years the scene of celebrations has changed drastically. The festival has now become an event complete with walls of sound systems belting out remix Hindi, Marathi and English songs. ‘Govinda’ groups (people who move from area to area breaking the curd pots) are now clad in uniforms and competition is stiff to claim the lucrative rewards ranging from Rs 25,000 to Rs 6 lakh.

In the recent years, Pune mandals have started celebrating the festival with many innovative ideas too, like inviting DJs from Mumbai and organising…More