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TOI : PUNE: With the entire state recording rainfall in excess of the average from July 9 to 15, the monsoon has finally given a reason to cheer for the first time since its onset.

As per meteorological norms, if the actual rainfall is higher by 20% or more, then it is considered excess rainfall for the region. If the difference between the actual rainfall and the normal rainfall is plus or minus 19%, then it is considered as normal.

The India Meteorological Department’s (IMD) weekly rainfall update, compiled on Friday, revealed that all the four regions in the state, including Marathwada, have received excess rainfall during the week ending July 15.

A comparison of the season’s rainfall in the state from June 1 to July 15 showed that Marathwada was the only region in the state which had received deficient rainfall. All other regions namely Vidarbha, madhya Maharashtra and Konkan have got normal rainfall, as per their respective seasonal figures.

During the period July 9 to 15, Marathwada was expected to get 34.3 mm rainfall as per the average, but recorded 50.4 mm rainfall which is 47% more than its average.

Other regions like Vidarbha, madhya Maharashtra and Konkan (which also includes Goa) too followed the same pattern. Rainfall in madhya Maharashtra and the Konkan region was higher by 60 and 62% receptively. Vidarbha has recorded 30% more rainfall, IMD officials said.

According to statistics available with the IMD, Vidarbha normally gets 76.9 mm rainfall during the July 9 to 15 period, but this year it recorded 100.3 mm rainfall. Madhya Maharashtra, which witnesses 54.5 mm rains, has received 87.0 mm, while Konkan (including Goa) that usually records 227.3 mm rainfall, has received 367.7 mm rainfall during the same period this season.

“This is the first time in the season that the entire state has got excess rainfall. A good increase in rainfall…More

TOI : PUNE: With the entire state recording rainfall in excess of the average from July 9 to 15, the monsoon has finally given a reason to cheer for the first time since its onset.

As per meteorological norms, if the actual rainfall is higher by 20% or more, then it is considered excess rainfall for the region. If the difference between the actual rainfall and the normal rainfall is plus or minus 19%, then it is considered as normal.

The India Meteorological Department’s (IMD) weekly rainfall update, compiled on Friday, revealed that all the four regions in the state, including Marathwada, have received excess rainfall during the week ending July 15.

A comparison of the season’s rainfall in the state from June 1 to July 15 showed that Marathwada was the only region in the state which had received deficient rainfall. All other regions namely Vidarbha, madhya Maharashtra and Konkan have got normal rainfall, as per their respective seasonal figures.

During the period July 9 to 15, Marathwada was expected to get 34.3 mm rainfall as per the average, but recorded 50.4 mm rainfall which is 47% more than its average.

Other regions like Vidarbha, madhya Maharashtra and Konkan (which also includes Goa) too followed the same pattern. Rainfall in madhya Maharashtra and the Konkan region was higher by 60 and 62% receptively. Vidarbha has recorded 30% more rainfall, IMD officials said.

According to statistics available with the IMD, Vidarbha normally gets 76.9 mm rainfall during the July 9 to 15 period, but this year it recorded 100.3 mm rainfall. Madhya Maharashtra, which witnesses 54.5 mm rains, has received 87.0 mm, while Konkan (including Goa) that usually records 227.3 mm rainfall, has received 367.7 mm rainfall during the same period this season.

“This is the first time in the season that the entire state has got excess rainfall. A good increase in rainfall…More

TOI : PUNE: With the Khadakwasla dam water level crossing the 100 per cent mark twice last week, the state irrigation department and the PMC have stepped up their flood control machinery.

The irrigation department, which had issued an alert on Tuesday following discharge at the rate of 17,311 cusecs from the dam, withdrew the alert on Wednesday as the discharge was reduced to 9,840 cusecs. However, the irrigation department and the PMC initiated measures to mitigate possible flooding of the Mula and Mutha rivers. While the irrigation department has started marking the high and low floodlines along the Mutha riverbank, the PMC has launched a 24-hour flood control cell. It has also made arrangements for rehabilitation of slumdwellers residing in floodline areas. The PCMC too has completed the work of demarcation of floodlines and has geared up to tackle any flood-like situation in the Pavana river.

Incidentally, the state for the first time since the start of the monsoon, witnessed excess rainfall for the week between July 9 and 15. More Stories from this section Water literacy drive introduced in city schoolsWater cuts remain but daily supply increasesSix more H1N1 cases in cityCorporators…More

TOI : PUNE: With the entire state recording rainfall in excess of the average from July 9 to 15, the monsoon has finally given a reason to cheer for the first time since its onset.

As per meteorological norms, if the actual rainfall is higher by 20% or more, then it is considered excess rainfall for the region. If the difference between the actual rainfall and the normal rainfall is plus or minus 19%, then it is considered as normal.

The India Meteorological Department’s (IMD) weekly rainfall update, compiled on Friday, revealed that all the four regions in the state, including Marathwada, have received excess rainfall during the week ending July 15.

A comparison of the season’s rainfall in the state from June 1 to July 15 showed that Marathwada was the only region in the state which had received deficient rainfall. All other regions namely Vidarbha, madhya Maharashtra and Konkan have got normal rainfall, as per their respective seasonal figures.

During the period July 9 to 15, Marathwada was expected to get 34.3 mm rainfall as per the average, but recorded 50.4 mm rainfall which is 47% more than its average.

Other regions like Vidarbha, madhya Maharashtra and Konkan (which also includes Goa) too followed the same pattern. Rainfall in madhya Maharashtra and the Konkan region was higher by 60 and 62% receptively. Vidarbha has recorded 30% more rainfall, IMD officials said.

According to statistics available with the IMD, Vidarbha normally gets 76.9 mm rainfall during the July 9 to 15 period, but this year it recorded 100.3 mm rainfall. Madhya Maharashtra, which witnesses 54.5 mm rains, has received 87.0 mm, while Konkan (including Goa) that usually records 227.3 mm rainfall, has received 367.7 mm rainfall during the same period this season.

“This is the first time in the season that the entire state has got excess rainfall. A good increase in rainfall…More

TOI : PUNE: Municipal commissioner Mahesh Zagade has issued orders to carry out insistent’ drives against encroachments in the city.

In a press statement issued by the PMC, Zagade said that illegal constructions in the city and encroachments are causing problems in development planning and adding to the traffic woes of the city.

“In an effort to control the encroachments, the municipal commissioner has ordered concerned department, zonal commissioners and ward officers to carry out insistent drives against encroachments,” states the press statement. The commissioner also ordered that development works at ward levels should be given priority.

Following the orders, PMC ward offices sprung into action. Action was taken against encroachments spread across 16,764 square ft in the city. The Karve road ward office initiated action against hotels in the Paud road and Chandni chowk areas. About 1,500 square ft of space was vacated by the anti-encroachment department, which demolished the illegal extensions of hotels in the locality. The Dhankawdi ward office acted against the illegal mobile tower in the Saidatta area. Encroachments at Ambegaon, Bibvewadi and Katraj were demolished by the ward office.

On Tuesday, party leaders had questioned municipal commissioner Mahesh Zagade and mayor Rajlaxmi Bhosale over the city police commissioner’s remarks that the PMC was not co-operating with the police in solving the city’s problems with traffic and encroachments.

Following the meeting, the municipal commissioner took a review of the anti-encroachment drive carried out by the PMC and promised the elected representatives that continuous action would be initiated against encroachments. More Stories from this section Water literacy drive introduced in city schoolsWater cuts remain but daily supply increasesSix more H1N1 cases in cityCorporators…More

TOI : PUNE: Reeling under a heavy financial crunch, the wine producers in the state are demanding a Rs 250-crore stimulus package from the state government.

The Nashik Valley Wine Producers Association, representing all the 66 wineries in Maharashtra, would submit their demands to the state cabinet, which is scheduled to meet in Nashik from Wednesday.

The convenor of the association, Manoj Jagtap, told TOI: “The economic slowdown and the stringent laws varying from state to state have badly affected the wine industry, which was flourishing till two years ago. The sale has fallen drastically. Of the total production of 3,15,64,000 litres of wine last year, 2,11,28,254 litres is still lying unsold. Many wineries do not have space to store such a huge stock.”

Jagtap added that, “As the producers have not yet recovered their investments, they are unable to purchase grapes, which is going to affect wineries as well as grape growers.”

One of the major demands of the association is a 50 per cent subsidy from the government on the project cost of wineries. As the total investment of wine producers in the state is around Rs 500 crore, the subsidy will amount to Rs 250 crore, Jagtap said.

“It will bring liquidity to the wineries, which could be invested in fresh procurement of grapes, as well as for further marketing of wine across the country.

Recently, Union agriculture minister Sharad Pawar has brought down the value added tax on wine bottles from 20 per cent to four per cent. “This will help the wineries in long run, but it will not create liquidity in the industry. Hence, the association is demanding a stimulus package,” Jagtap said.

“The state government should also ask banks to return the 13 per cent interest charged on loans to wineries, which will also generate some liquidity. The interest rate for new loans should be four to…More

TOI : PUNE: Reeling under a heavy financial crunch, the wine producers in the state are demanding a Rs 250-crore stimulus package from the state government.

The Nashik Valley Wine Producers Association, representing all the 66 wineries in Maharashtra, would submit their demands to the state cabinet, which is scheduled to meet in Nashik from Wednesday.

The convenor of the association, Manoj Jagtap, told TOI: “The economic slowdown and the stringent laws varying from state to state have badly affected the wine industry, which was flourishing till two years ago. The sale has fallen drastically. Of the total production of 3,15,64,000 litres of wine last year, 2,11,28,254 litres is still lying unsold. Many wineries do not have space to store such a huge stock.”

Jagtap added that, “As the producers have not yet recovered their investments, they are unable to purchase grapes, which is going to affect wineries as well as grape growers.”

One of the major demands of the association is a 50 per cent subsidy from the government on the project cost of wineries. As the total investment of wine producers in the state is around Rs 500 crore, the subsidy will amount to Rs 250 crore, Jagtap said.

“It will bring liquidity to the wineries, which could be invested in fresh procurement of grapes, as well as for further marketing of wine across the country.

Recently, Union agriculture minister Sharad Pawar has brought down the value added tax on wine bottles from 20 per cent to four per cent. “This will help the wineries in long run, but it will not create liquidity in the industry. Hence, the association is demanding a stimulus package,” Jagtap said.

“The state government should also ask banks to return the 13 per cent interest charged on loans to wineries, which will also generate some liquidity. The interest rate for new loans should be four to…More

TOI : PUNE: Reeling under a heavy financial crunch, the wine producers in the state are demanding a Rs 250-crore stimulus package from the state government.

The Nashik Valley Wine Producers Association, representing all the 66 wineries in Maharashtra, would submit their demands to the state cabinet, which is scheduled to meet in Nashik from Wednesday.

The convenor of the association, Manoj Jagtap, told TOI: “The economic slowdown and the stringent laws varying from state to state have badly affected the wine industry, which was flourishing till two years ago. The sale has fallen drastically. Of the total production of 3,15,64,000 litres of wine last year, 2,11,28,254 litres is still lying unsold. Many wineries do not have space to store such a huge stock.”

Jagtap added that, “As the producers have not yet recovered their investments, they are unable to purchase grapes, which is going to affect wineries as well as grape growers.”

One of the major demands of the association is a 50 per cent subsidy from the government on the project cost of wineries. As the total investment of wine producers in the state is around Rs 500 crore, the subsidy will amount to Rs 250 crore, Jagtap said.

“It will bring liquidity to the wineries, which could be invested in fresh procurement of grapes, as well as for further marketing of wine across the country.

Recently, Union agriculture minister Sharad Pawar has brought down the value added tax on wine bottles from 20 per cent to four per cent. “This will help the wineries in long run, but it will not create liquidity in the industry. Hence, the association is demanding a stimulus package,” Jagtap said.

“The state government should also ask banks to return the 13 per cent interest charged on loans to wineries, which will also generate some liquidity. The interest rate for new loans should be four to…More

TOI : PUNE: Reeling under a heavy financial crunch, the wine producers in the state are demanding a Rs 250-crore stimulus package from the state government.

The Nashik Valley Wine Producers Association, representing all the 66 wineries in Maharashtra, would submit their demands to the state cabinet, which is scheduled to meet in Nashik from Wednesday.

The convenor of the association, Manoj Jagtap, told TOI: “The economic slowdown and the stringent laws varying from state to state have badly affected the wine industry, which was flourishing till two years ago. The sale has fallen drastically. Of the total production of 3,15,64,000 litres of wine last year, 2,11,28,254 litres is still lying unsold. Many wineries do not have space to store such a huge stock.”

Jagtap added that, “As the producers have not yet recovered their investments, they are unable to purchase grapes, which is going to affect wineries as well as grape growers.”

One of the major demands of the association is a 50 per cent subsidy from the government on the project cost of wineries. As the total investment of wine producers in the state is around Rs 500 crore, the subsidy will amount to Rs 250 crore, Jagtap said.

“It will bring liquidity to the wineries, which could be invested in fresh procurement of grapes, as well as for further marketing of wine across the country.

Recently, Union agriculture minister Sharad Pawar has brought down the value added tax on wine bottles from 20 per cent to four per cent. “This will help the wineries in long run, but it will not create liquidity in the industry. Hence, the association is demanding a stimulus package,” Jagtap said.

“The state government should also ask banks to return the 13 per cent interest charged on loans to wineries, which will also generate some liquidity. The interest rate for new loans should be four to…More

TOI : PUNE: Reeling under a heavy financial crunch, the wine producers in the state are demanding a Rs 250-crore stimulus package from the state government.

The Nashik Valley Wine Producers Association, representing all the 66 wineries in Maharashtra, would submit their demands to the state cabinet, which is scheduled to meet in Nashik from Wednesday.

The convenor of the association, Manoj Jagtap, told TOI: “The economic slowdown and the stringent laws varying from state to state have badly affected the wine industry, which was flourishing till two years ago. The sale has fallen drastically. Of the total production of 3,15,64,000 litres of wine last year, 2,11,28,254 litres is still lying unsold. Many wineries do not have space to store such a huge stock.”

Jagtap added that, “As the producers have not yet recovered their investments, they are unable to purchase grapes, which is going to affect wineries as well as grape growers.”

One of the major demands of the association is a 50 per cent subsidy from the government on the project cost of wineries. As the total investment of wine producers in the state is around Rs 500 crore, the subsidy will amount to Rs 250 crore, Jagtap said.

“It will bring liquidity to the wineries, which could be invested in fresh procurement of grapes, as well as for further marketing of wine across the country.

Recently, Union agriculture minister Sharad Pawar has brought down the value added tax on wine bottles from 20 per cent to four per cent. “This will help the wineries in long run, but it will not create liquidity in the industry. Hence, the association is demanding a stimulus package,” Jagtap said.

“The state government should also ask banks to return the 13 per cent interest charged on loans to wineries, which will also generate some liquidity. The interest rate for new loans should be four to…More