News

TOI : The income tax (I-T) department has introduced the refund banker scheme in the district from October 1. I-T refunds would now be sent to the assessee by the refund bunker (State Bank of India) only, either through the electronic clearing service (ECS) mode or as paper refunds. To opt for the ECS mode, taxpayers are required to mention the MICR code and ten-digit bank account number while filing returns.

Taxpayers are also required to list their complete communication address, bank account number, bank details and bank MICR code while filing returns.

In case of returns claiming refund already filed by taxpayers where updated, full and correct particulars have not been mentioned, taxpayers have to communicate the particulars in writing to the assessing officer concerned.

PF, pension-related issues to be addressed:

The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation, Pune regional office, will hold a Bhavishya Nidhi Adalat’ to redress grievances relating to settlement of provident fund and pension claims and to issue annual account slips.

The adalat will be held from 10 am to 1 pm on October 12 at the Regional Provident Fund Office, Pune Cantonment Board building, 2nd floor, Golibar Maidan. The meet will also be simultaneously held at the Regional Office (annexe building), Sector 28, Commercial Complex, Sanjay Kale Sabha Griha, Pradhikaran, Akurdi.

Individuals can write in their grievances to S A Sawant, Assistant PF Commissioner (PGHS), RO Pune, PCB building, Golibar Maidan by October 7. The envelopes should mention Bhavishya Nidhi Adalat’.

Madras Sappers Officers Association Day

The 64th Madras Sappers Officers Association (MSOA) Day was celebrated at the College of Military Engineering on September 30. The annual event saw a number of senior officers from the Madras Sappers fraternity, including Lt Gen B T Pandit, Lt Gen U S P Sinha, Commandant, CME and other serving officers. The highlights of the evening were cutting of the MSOA Day cake,…More

TOI : PUNE: Five national award-winning films from the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) will be screened at the National Film Archive of India (NFAI) on October 10 and 11, 4 pm onwards.

Diploma films made by FTII alumni, like Udedh Bhun’ directed by Siddhartha Sinha (best short fiction), Kramasha’ (winners: Savita Singh for best cinematography and Ajit Singh Rathore for best audiography), Echoes of Silence’ (Zubin Garg for best music direction) and Bhanga Gara’ directed by Nilanjan Datta, (best environment conservation film) as well as Aadmi Ki Aurat Aur Anya Kahaniyan’ (The Man’s Woman and Other Stories), an acting course diploma film directed by Amit Dutta that won a special mention in the competition section of Horizon (Orizzonti section reflecting new trends in world cinema) at the 66th Venice International Film Festival held in September 2009, will be screened during the event.

Aadmi Ki Aurat Aur Anya Kahaniyan’ (78 min) and two short films, Udedh Bun’ (20 min) and Echoes of Silence’ (dir. Reema Borah, 24 min) will be screened on Saturday, October 10, while Kramasha’ and Bhanga Gara’ have been scheduled for October 11.

Vijay Jadhav, director, NFAI, said the Marathi film, Nirop’ directed by Sachin Kundalkar, the winner of National Award for Best Marathi Film, will also be screened on October 11.

Topics: Pune FTII More Stories from this section State revises procedure for sanction of new colleges Four-year-old girl branded with hot iron at creche; two arrested Finally, Urali to get vermicomposting unit 18 stolen vehicles rec…More

TOI : PUNE: They may not have too much experience at the local level, but they have set their eyes for the state assembly seat. More than 20 sitting corporators of Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation are contesting the elections, making it the first time such a high number of elected representatives at the local level vying for assembly seats.

It’s not just seasoned leaders or senior politicians who are contesting the forthcoming elections, but even first time corporators are set to fight the election battle.

The rise in the number of first time corporators fighting the election can also be attributed to Maharashtra Navnirman Sena which was not in existence during the last assembly elections but has fielded its candidates in at least four constituencies this time around.

So, what make the corporators take the big leap despite not having too much experience?

Kishore Shinde of MNS, a first-time corporator contesting from the Kothrud constituency states that experience really doesn’t matter if the candidate has worked during his tenure at the local level.

“It takes time for newcomers to reach this level in established parties. That is why there is a perception that the big jump shouldn’t be taken until a considerable number of years are spent as a corporator. However, Rajsaheb (Raj Thackeray) has shown faith in me and that is how I am contesting this election,” Shinde said.

He adds that even if he does not win the seat, his presence will surely affect other candidates.

According to 34-year-old Murlidhar Mohol, whose unexpected nomination by Bharatiya Janata Party from Khadakwasla constituency raised a few eyebrows, it is important for young leaders to be given an opportunity at the higher level.

“I don’t have a political background and this is just my second term in PMC, but that does not make me ineligible to contest the assembly elections. There are leaders…More

TOI : PUNE: The Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) will be holding meetings with general practitioners in each of the four zones to sensitise them towards adopting measures to control the spread of Influenza A H1N1.

Speaking to TOI on Saturday, PCMC medical director R R Iyer said that while one such meeting was held recently, additional meetings will help in reaching out to maximum number of general practitioners across the city.

The doctors will be informed that Tamiflu tablets are now available at select drug stores in Pimpri-Chinchwad township. “Private doctors can prescribe Tamiflu tablets to their patients,” Iyer said.

Iyer said that it has been found that the patients change private doctors if there is no improvement in their condition and a lot of time is lost in going from one doctor to another. Later, when the patients condition becomes serious, private doctors refer them to government hospitals. “Such serious patients do not respond to treatment,” he said.

“We want to the private doctors to give Tamiflu to B category patients in the beginning itself so that the patient does not develop complications and recovers faster,” Iyer said.

PCMC municipal commissioner Ashish Sharma said, “Some patients have complained that some doctors charge consultation fees for repeated visits even after the patient has been diagnosed with H1N1 influenza. If a person is diagnosed to be suffering from H1N1 and has to visit the doctor a few more times then the doctor should not charge consultation fees over and over.”

Topics: Swine flu Tamiflu More Stories from this section State revises procedure for sanction of new colleges Four-year-old girl branded with hot iron at creche; two arrested Finally, Urali to get vermicomposting unit 18 stolen vehicles rec…More

TOI : PUNE: Lack of planning, over dependence on Enron, neglect of enhancing power generation during the past 10 years, failure to correct inefficiencies of power utilities and apathy and disrespect towards a transparent regulatory process have continued to plague the power sector in Maharashtra despite the Democratic Front (DF) government ruling the state for two terms.

While Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar stresses on “not allowing Maharashtra to become another Gujarat”, the fact remains that Gujarat has surged ahead in power sector thanks to the government’s proactive steps in setting up new power plants.

The 4,000 MW mega power plant sanctioned by Union government three years ago at Mundra in Gujarat is half complete and Union energy minister Sushilkumar Shinde on September 30 announced another mega power project in Gujarat. The Gujarat government has already shortlisted three locations for the project and the central team is due to inspect them shortly. Gujarat is also expected to get 8,000 MW atomic energy plant.

Maharashtra, on the other hand, which also got a mega power project at the same time three years ago, is still struggling to find land for the 4,000 MW project and the political leaders do not seem to be doing anything to expedite the process. This despite the fact that there has been a Congress-led government both in the state and at the Centre with a Maharashtra minister heading the energy portfolio.

Pawar has also been claiming that had the Enron (Dabhol) project taken off, the state’s power woes would have ended by now. The ground reality is that even after revival, the Dabhol project has not been able to generate power to full capacity and is frequently plagued by breakdowns. If and when the plant starts generating 1,400 crore units per year as envisaged, the consumers will have to bear additional burden of Rs 1,400 crore per year as its power…More

TOI : SANGLI: Sangli district recorded its first swine flu death on Sunday when a 35-year-old man succumbed to the influenza at Sassoon General Hospital in Pune on Sunday. Gauging the need of the moment, the Sangli district administration swung into action and initiated various precautionary measures to check the spread of the influenza. Meanwhile, four more people from the district tested positive for H1N1. Three of them had come in contact with the victim.

Sangli district collector Shyam Wardhane said that the victim Krishnadev Dattatray Mahajan (35) a resident of Nainainagar (Islampur) Walwa taluka, who died in Pune, had been suffering from fever, cough and throat infection from September 18.

He consulted a local medical practitioner and was later treated at a private hospital in Islampur. When his condition continued to deteriorate he was moved to the Sassoon General Hospital in Pune on September 28. His throat swab sample was sent to the National Institute of Virology (NIV) on the same day. The report confirmed the presence of the H1N1 virus on September 30.

“He was put on ventilator and administered Tamilfu. But, as he was a patient of asthma his condition continued to deteriorate and he later developed acute respiratory distress syndrome. He died at 11 am on Sunday,” said Wardhane.

The throat swabs of 22 people, including 21 samples from Islampur and one from Miraj, were sent were sent to the NIV for testing, the reports for which came on October 3. “Of the four who tested positive, three are Mahajan’s relatives and one is a 28-year-old man from Mangale village in Miraj,” said Wardhane.

All the three contacts of the victim have been quarantined at the Civil Hospital in Sangli. While the man from Miraj has been quarantined at the Mission Hospital in Miraj, Wardhane added.

The civil hospitals in Sangli and Miraj, Miraj Medical College, Mission Hospital Miraj and Bharati…More

TOI : PUNE: The citizens in Pimpri-Chinchwad can hope to get round-the-clock water supply in two years. The municipal corporation is simultaneously working on various measures including augmenting the water storage capacity and ensuring equitable water distribution. One of the other important measures is installation of water meters for domestic connections. The PCMC has also initiated a concerted drive to detect unauthorised connections and prevent water theft.

The Pimpri-Chinchwad township, with a population of around 15 lakh, depends on Pavana dam for its drinking water needs. The PCMC lifts 340 million litres per day (MLD) water from the dam on Pavana river at Ravet village.

For augmenting the supply, the civic body has planned to construct 24 reservoirs within two years and increase the water storage capacity to 188 million litres from 126.28 million litres at present. Construction of the reservoirs has been undertaken as part of the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM).

According to municipal commissioner Ashish Sharma, “If the citizens are to be provided 24×7 water supply, the storage capacity has to be increased. Water in tanks can be supplied to the residents even if there is no pumping of water.”

Phase I of the water supply project, approved under the JNNURM, includes the Pavana dam to Nigdi pipeline and water supply to the newly-merged villages. In the second phase, the PCMC will be augmenting the internal supply network, besides constructing reservoirs.

According to civic officials, the corporation has the necessary land to construct the 23 reservoirs. Work orders have been issued and a deadline of March 2011 has been set for completing the work.

The civic body has also taken up the work of installation of water meters also. The idea is to recover water charges on the basis of the quantity of water used. As per the central government norms, the civic bodies which receive funds under the JNNURM…More

TOI : PUNE: To avoid any untoward incidents during the assembly elections the police have taken preventive action against as many as 465 suspects from various parts of the city. The police have also exterened nine persons with previous criminal record from the city limits.

The deputy commissioner of police Dyaneshwar Phadtare (zone-I) said, “To ensure that the Assembly elections are conducted smoothly we have detained 18 suspects and have arrested 26 persons involved in selling liquor illegally. We have registered seven offences of gambling and arrested 13 persons.”

The police have also taken action against six people who violated the externment order. They have been identified as Ram Bhiva Pathak, Nilesh Hiraman Gavde, Nilesh Kanta Sawant, Rajendra Bhau Avale, Santosh Ashok Pavale, and Abhay Somnath Chaugule all from Kothrud.

Meanwhile, on Thursday the Kothrud police conducted a combing operation in the area’s slums, including Jay Bhavaninagar and Kishkindhanagar. The police searched 16 persons with a criminal record from Jay Bhavaninagar and nine from Kishkindhanagar. The police seized seven swords during the operation.

Assistant police commissioner of police Savita Turekar (Deccan division), senior police inspector of Kothrud police station Chandrakant Ghodke, police inspector Vilas Narnavar led the operation.

In another combing operation which was conducted at Mangalwar Peth and Shivajinagar areas, the police checked as many as 71 persons with criminal records and externed Poman Machhindra Shedge and Munna Budhlik Pardeshi from the city’s limits.

Meanwhile, the city police on Saturday registered an offence against MNS candidate Ramesh Wanjale from Khadakwasla constituency for allegedly violating the election code of conduct by putting up party flags without taking permission.

Topics: police Assembly polls More Stories from this section State revises procedure for sanction of new colleges Four-year-old girl branded with hot iron at creche; two arrested Finally, Urali to get vermicomposting unit 18 stolen vehicles rec…More

TOI : PUNE: Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati has cautioned voters in the state to guard against misleading’ promises in the manifestos released by the Congress-NCP and the Shiv Sena-BJP alliances for the October 13 assembly polls.

The Uttar Pradesh chief minister singled out the Congress as being responsible for the years of unresolved problems of the poor and the suppressed people in the country as well as the state.

Mayawati was addressing a well-attended rally for the BSP candidates, fielded in the city and from adjoining districts of western Maharashtra, at the All India Shri Shivaji Memorial Society grounds here on Sunday. The BSP is going on its own and has fielded candidates in all the 288 constituencies across the state.

Mayawati said, “Both, the Congress-NCP and the Shiv Sena-BJP have ruled the state at different points of time and have failed to fulfil the hopes and aspirations of the poor and weaker section. The very fact that these opposition parties are making promises now, proves the point.”

She added, “People should not fall for the false and misleading promises made by these parties as history shows they haven’t kept even one per cent of their promises. There wouldn’t have been the need to establish the BSP had the opposition parties kept their promises.”

Mayawati said that in the 62 years since Independence, the problems of socially and economically backward people have remained unchanged. So much so, a section of these people were forced to take the wrong path of Naxalism. Issues like rising prices of essential commodities have hit the poor very hard.

The BSP chief mocked at the slogan Congress ka haath, garibo ke sath’ and said that the Congress was, in fact, working hand in glove with the capitalist and industrialist lobbies. She cited the Union government’s move to bring down fuel prices before the Lok Sabha elections and increase…More

TOI : PUNE: With the Hadapsar constituency being newly-carved, equations have changed for some of the strongholds in the area this assembly elections. While there are no prominent rebels in Hadapsar, the contest will be among sitting MLA Chandrakant Shivarkar (Congress), Mahadev Babar (Shiv Sena) and Vasant More (MNS).

Babar, a senior corporator representing the Kondhwa civic ward since 1992, is seen as a vital cog in the Sena’s network, particularly in the eastern suburbs of the city. Kondhwa, which comes under the Hadapsar constituency has a large base of Muslim voters and have been faithful to Babar for long.

“I have been working here for about 20 years and I have faith in my people. There are quite a number of lawyers in Kondhwa and adjoining areas and I have their support as well. The delimitation will not affect any of my chances,” Babar told TOI on Sunday.

Babar was PMC deputy mayor from 2002 to 2005 and has been among the vocal corporators on issues related to drinking water. He single-handedly helped Sena spread its network in Kondhwa and adjoining region.

On asked if Shivarkar might pose any threat since parts of the Pune Cantonment Board have also been included in Hadapsar, where Shivarkar has a stronghold, Babar said, “I don’t see any threat from other candidates since very small portion of PCB is included in Hadapsar. Also, people know my work as I have brought about good changes in this area and they will vote accordingly.”

Claiming that the Hadapsar constituency is not new to him, Congress candidate Shivarkar, on the other hand, said, “The area has been a stronghold for Congress for many years. Even if delimitation has taken place, it will not quite affect our chances.”

Shivarkar began his career as a PMC corporator in 1974, later became mayor in 1984 and then graduated to state politics after he was…More