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TOI : PUNE: Laboratory studies carried out on 40 isolates of the pandemic H1N1 virus at the National Institute of Virology (NIV) has categorically ruled out any mutation of the virus in India. The researchers has also studied the isolates the H1N1 virus from those who succumbed to the H1N1 influenza after developing severe complications. “The H1N1 virus is the same, we have not found a slightest mutation in it so far. The virus isolated from the throat swab of those who died after developing severe complication were also studied. But there is no mutation in the virus at this stage,” A C Mishra, director of National Institute of Virology (NIV) told TOI on Monday.

“Unlike the H5N1 (avian flu) virus which mutated substantially over the period, the influenza A H1N1 virus has not yet mutated. But unlike the H5N1, the H1N1 virus has high transmissibility,” said Mishra.

Tracking the H1N1 virus is the part of an on-going laboratory study at NIV. “Any mutation in the H1N1 virus will be immediately communicated to the scientific community who are studying the behaviour and characteristics of the virus world over,” said Mishra/

“A network of 140 laboratories all over the world are vigilantly tracking the virus for possible mutation. None of them have reported any mutation whatsoever so far,” said Mishra.

Elaborating on the mutation phenomenon in the influenza virus, microbiologist Siddhartha Dalvi said, “A mutation is defined as a change in the nucleotide composition of a gene. Nucleotides are molecules that, when joined together, make up the structural units of RNA and DNA. The most commonly observed mutations in RNA viruses, like influenza virus, are point mutations, so called because only a single nucleotide changes in the entire gene.”

“As the RNA is directly translated into specific amino acids, such point mutations lead to changes in the amino acid composition of the major viral surface proteins, that…More

TOI : PUNE: NCP leader Ajit Pawar on Monday expressed confidence that he could handle the rebels within the party and said that the party would contest 124 seats in the forthcoming assembly polls.

Speaking to the media after implementation of the code of conduct, Pawar said that the NCP would not face a problem of dissidents. “Even though the party has a long list of aspirants in many of the constituencies, there are just two or three candidates with impressive credentials in each constituency.” Dissidents will not be considered and will not be given a chance if the party comes to power, he said. Asked about the seat-sharing formula, Pawar said the party would contest 124 seats. “While talks with the Congress are already on at higher levels, we are hoping for a formula which will benefit both the Congress and the NCP,” he said.

“The party has learned a lesson from the Lok Sabha elections. Such mistakes will not be repeated at the assembly polls. We will fight the elections with full strength. We will put forward the work which has been undertaken during the last five years in power. Workers who engineered defeats within the party will not be considered,” Pawar said. More Stories from this section Key ministers from sugar belt to slug it out Members of US consulate visit American couple in hospital H1N1 in city: Criminals take a break Tenders worth Rs 25 cr okayed in a day Corporators, slum…More

TOI : PUNE: As many as 344 new auxiliary polling centres will be set up in the Pimpri-Chinchwad township for the assembly elections to be held on October 13.

Following delimitation of constituencies, there are three assembly constituencies in the township. 131 auxiliary polling centres will be set up in Pimpri assembly constituency; while 101 and 112 auxiliary polling centres will be set up in Chinchwad and Bhosari assembly constituencies respectively.

Speaking to reporters, Shahaji Pawar, returning officer, Chinchwad assembly constituency said, “There were 3,43,666 voters in the Chinchwad assembly constituency during the Lok Sabha elections. There has been an increase of 45,884 voters following the voter enrolment drive and the names of 77 voters were deleted after receiving applications. This leaves 3.89 lakh voters.”

He said, “There were 254 polling centres in Chinchwad constituency for the Lok Sabha elections. There is a need to set up one auxiliary polling centre for every 1,500 additional voters as per the election commission rules. Therefore, 131 new auxiliary polling centres will be set up and 31 sector officers have been appointed for the constituency.”

Ashok Munde, returning officer, Pimpri assembly constituency said, “There were 3,12,447 voters in the Lok Sabha elections from the Pimpri assembly constituency. There has been an increase of 31,124 voters after that and the names of 80 voters were deleted, leaving 3,43,491 lakh voters for the assembly elections.”

He stated that earlier there were 236 polling centres in Pimpri constituency for the Lok Sabha elections. However following the addition of new voters, 101 new auxiliary polling centres will be set up in Pimpri assembly constituency. 24 sector officers have been appointed for the constituency as well as another five to serve as reserve officers.

Dinesh Bhaledar, returning officer, Bhosari assembly constituency said, “There were 3,04,213 voters for the Lok Sabha elections from Bhosari assembly constituency. After the voter list revision, 36,663 voters were…More

TOI : PUNE: The controversy over death of a leopard at Bahinabai Chaudhary zoo has been laid to rest following the post-mortem report that says the leopard died due to old age.

Raja, one of the four leopards at the zoo in Akurdi, had died on July 19. Doubts were raised about the cause of death.

The report was received by the civic administration recently. Speaking to TOI, additional commissioner Subhash Dumbre confirmed that the death was due to old age and natural reasons.

Dumbre said that Disease Investigation Laboratory has submitted the post-mortem report. Bacteriology and pathology report has also been received. The age of the leopard was 14 years and three months when he died.

“One of the cultures had to be made again due to which there was a delay,” said Dumbre when asked why it took so much time for compiling the report.

Raja was the first leopard to be brought to the zoo from the Rajiv Gandhi Zoological Park, Katraj (Pune) in 1996. There are three leopards left in the zoo after Raja’s death. More Stories from this section Key ministers from sugar belt to slug it out Members of US consulate visit American couple in hospital H1N1 in city: Criminals take a break Tenders worth Rs 25 cr okayed in a day Corporators, slum…More

TOI : PUNE: Seven more people tested positive for swine flu in the district on Monday, said district collector Chandrakant Dalvi on Monday. Around 2,209 people were screened in the district on Monday, of which 362 are suspected patients for H1N1 flu, Dalvi told the media. The city, however, did not report any fresh casualty on Monday. “The total number of people screened for H1N1 flu across the district has reached 2.90 lakh so far. Of these, 14,085 were given Tamiflu tablets,” the collector said.

Elaborating on the number of critical patients being treated at government and private hospitals within PMC and PCMC limits, Dalvi said, “At present, there are 12 patients whose condition is critical. Of which five have been put on ventilator.”

Of the five very critical patients, three are being treated at the isolation ICU of the government-run Sassoon hospital while one each is being treated at the isolation ICU of Ruby Hall Clinic and KEM, Hospital. Around 36 patients were discharged on Monday of which five were positive patients, said Dalvi.

The collector has appealed to citizens to take precautions during Ganeshotsav urging parents to restrain children from visiting public places.

More Stories from this section Key ministers from sugar belt to slug it out Members of US consulate visit American couple in hospital H1N1 in city: Criminals take a break Tenders worth Rs 25 cr okayed in a day Corporators, slum…More

TOI : PUNE: The Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) will shift all the electricity poles on the 14-km Aundh-Ravet Bus Rapid Transit System (BRST) route, instead of laying underground electricity cables.

The 14-km route is to be the second BRTS route under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) scheme in Pimpri-Chinchwad municipal limits. The road is to be widened to 42 meters. Recently, the standing committee approved the project and work has already begun.

Earlier, the PCMC was going to lay underground electricity supply lines at an estimated cost of Rs 71 crore on the route, but this proposal was abandoned after stiff opposition to spending such a huge amount on a single project. Now, the electricity poles are to be put in the middle of the widened road.

Speaking to TOI, Pravin Tupe, joint city engineer, said, “The PCMC sent a letter to the Maharashtra State Electricity Transmission Corporation Limited (MSETCL) to prepare an estimated cost for shifting the electricity poles. In the first phase, the PCMC will tackle the 1.5-km stretch from Rajiv Gandhi bridge to Sai Chowk in Sangvi.

“The estimated cost of the first phase of project is Rs 77 lakh. The PCMC has invited bids for the project. The poles will be shifted onto defence land. The work is expected to begin in one-and-a-half months and is expected to be completed in six months,” Tupe added.

More Stories from this section Key ministers from sugar belt to slug it out Members of US consulate visit American couple in hospital H1N1 in city: Criminals take a break Tenders worth Rs 25 cr okayed in a day Corporators, slum…More

TOI : PUNE: The Central Zoo Authority of India (CZAI) has approved the master plan of the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation-run Bahinabai Chaudhary zoo in Akurdi.

PCMC additional commissioner Subhash Dumbre said that it is an all-inclusive plan. More emphasis has been laid on animal collection and e-governance. Around Rs 15 crore including Rs 2.07 crore for building, Rs 3.37 crore for basic amenities and Rs 9.46 crore for wildlife related works such as cages and veterinary care facilities will be required for its implementation. The PCMC will receive Rs 5 crore as grants from the CZAI.

According to the plan, a breeding centre for rare amphibians, lake for the water birds, cell for crocodiles and alligators, butterfly collection and breeding centre, cell for reptiles, an operation theatre and other veterinary facilities will be set up.

A museum with models of ancient animals, nature study centre, an audio-visual centre, a library and other facilities will also be developed as per the master plan. More Stories from this section Key ministers from sugar belt to slug it out Members of US consulate visit American couple in hospital H1N1 in city: Criminals take a break Tenders worth Rs 25 cr okayed in a day Corporators, slum…More

TOI : PUNE: The Chatushrungi police on Monday booked a 54-year-old welder from Senapati Bapat road area for allegedly raping his daughter-in-law at a lodge in Lonavla on Thursday.

The incident came to light on Monday, when the victim told her relatives about the incident. Some of her relatives tried to beat up the suspect and this led to some tension in the Senapati Bapat road area. However, the police intervened on time and detained the suspect. Also, a large number of police were deployed in the area to avert any untoward incident.

A complaint in this regard has been lodged by the victim with the Chatushrungi police station. “Since the incident happened in the jurisdiction of the Lonavla city police, we will transfer the case to the Pune rural police,” said inspector Anil Kadam of the Chatushrungi police station.

The police said that last week, the victim had gone to Mumbai following a quarrel with her in-laws. On Thursday, the suspect went to Mumbai to bring her to Pune. On their way back, the suspect forced his daughter-in-law to get down in Lonavla. He took her to a lodge and raped her. On Friday, he returned to Pune with her, having issued threats that he would kill her if she told anyone about the incident. However, the police said, on Monday, the victim told her relatives about the incident. A mob gathered on the premises of the Chatushrungi police station on Monday, demanding swift action against the suspect.

Kadam said, “We have registered a case and booked the suspect under section 376 for raping the victim.” More Stories from this section Key ministers from sugar belt to slug it out Members of US consulate visit American couple in hospital H1N1 in city: Criminals take a break Tenders worth Rs 25 cr okayed in a day Corporators, slum…More

TOI : PUNE: The state election commission may have decided to conduct polls for the assembly elections, notwithstanding the unremitting spread of the H1N1 virus, but swine flu still remains an area of concern for political parties in their campaign plans.

Considering the considerable spread of the H1N1 virus in Pune, Mumbai and other parts of the state, the EC and political parties had discussed the possibility of a reshuffle in the election schedule.

“However the elections have been announced now and the election code of conduct is in place,” said BJP state spokesperson Madhav Bhandari. “The spread of H1N1 remains cause for concern, especially now that we have to finalise the public campaign plan.” He added that parties would have to decide about public meetings and public gatherings in Pune and Mumbai.

NCP spokesperson Ankush Kakade said, “In assembly elections very few public meetings take place. Political parties generally go for voter-to-voter contact rather then big public meetings. There should be a cautious approach while organising public gatherings. Still, there is a month to go. Let’s wait and watch the situation.”

Shiv Sena spokesperson Neelam Gorhe said that her party would plan a campaign strategy considering all the facts. “The Shiv Sena has a strong network of workers across the state. We will make full use of this network to reach the common people and ensure that our party doesn’t add to the problems of H1N1.”

A state election official said that during an all-party meeting, most parties had been in favour of a timely election.

“A delay in elections would have resulted in constitutional problems as the new state assembly should be in place as soon as the term of the existing assembly ends in October,” said this official.

However, opposition parties are likely to make the spread of H1N1 an election issue. “Certainly the state government has failed to handle the…More

TOI : PUNE: The Pune Municipal Corporation’s move to give common citizens access to civic records every Monday elicited a good response in the first month of its implementation.

Between 20 to 25 people have turned up each week seeking information from offices like that of the building permissions or development plan departments.

Citizens have expressed satisfaction with the response and say that civic officials willingly shared information with them.

Last month, the PMC decided to give common citizens open access to civic records from the first Monday in August. The civic body also decided to start a separate cell to streamline RTI applications and facilitate information dissemination.

Speaking to TOI, PMC labour officer Nandkishore Jagtap said that every Monday around 25 citizens sought information from the main building. He said that the figures of people visiting the 14 ward offices in the city was yet to be compiled.

“Most citizens are concerned with the building permission department and a major chunk of them visit that office,” Jagtap said.

Deputy city engineer (Development Plan) Aniruddha Pawaskar said that 52 citizens had visited his department in August and had left satisfied with the information received.

“It has become convenient not only for citizens but also for us. A specific time is given to them and they can easily check the records as per their requirements. This resolves their problem immediately and they don’t have to wait for a month to send RTI applications,” Pawaskar said.

He pointed out that very often people have problems about their building maps and just want verify it in the civic records.

“Very often, they are not sure what documents they want to check due to the technical aspects involved. This would lead to confusion in the RTI application and inability to get the desired information. But now, with the new system, the documents can all be seen….More