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TOI : PUNE: Activists and citizens have strongly opposed the civic general body’s recent move allowing conversion of a water body in Karvenagar into a residential zone.

Already, encroachment on water bodies including nullahs, its tributaries and natural streams is a major cause of concern, since blockages in the out flow of water during monsoon results in widespread flooding in the city.

It may be noted that the ruling combine of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and the Congress, supported by the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, recently joined hands to sanction a proposal converting a water body in Karvenagar into a residential zone. NCP corporator Deepak Bodke and Congress corporator Shailesh Charwad had tabled the proposal stating that survey number-20 in Karvenagar should be converted from an agriculture zone into a residential one.

Vijay Kumbhar, president of the Surajya Sangharsh Samiti, said, “In the past, encroachments on natural streams and nullahs, which block the flow of water, has created major problems in monsoon with water gushing into housing societies and inundating many parts of the city.”

Corporator Ujwal Keskar said, “The move threatens to set a precedent, whereby many similar proposals, demanding conversion of natural zones into residential ones, will flow in. In the future, the GB may be encouraged to allow constructions on the Mula-Mutha basins. The proposal should have been referred to the state government for approval. In fact, it is not only the responsibility of the administration, but of every citizen, to protect natural assets.”

It remains to be seen how the civic administration will deal with this proposal sanctioned by the elected representatives, since it is legally bound to protect natural assets. In August, 2006, the Supreme Court had declared that protection of natural lakes and ponds is akin to honouring the most basic fundamental right the right to life, which is guaranteed under the Article 21 of the Indian Constitution. The concern…More

TOI : PUNE: Activists and party workers in the Pune Cantonment Board (PCB) have demanded that thorough assessment of the work of elected members’ be conducted.

“The nomination and election for the post of PCB vice-president is in the offing. Candidates’ performance should be keenly scrutinised before any decision,” said Rajabhau Chavan, a Congress worker.

It may be noted that PCB elections had taken place in May, 2008. Since the last two years, elected members have been part of the functioning of the board. There are eight elected members in the PCB seven from the Congress and one from the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).

PCB activist N P Bhog said, “Elected members represent the public and are therefore answerable to the latter. An evaluation of their work by the common citizens is a must. Various issues related to encroachment, illegal hoardings, hawkers and parking have remained pending. Elected members need to communicate what their efforts were in dealing with these issues.”

In fact, elected members expressed similar sentiments. “Appraisal of performances of elected members is a must and citizens are right in demanding the same,” said Shailendra Bidkar, a PCB elected member, adding, “The decision to elect the VP will be taken by senior members of the Congress. All elected members will sit together and decide on the right candidate.”

Bidkar said the second VP’s term is getting over in the first week of March and consequent elections for the post should happen soon. Post a comment Email this article Print this article Save this article My saved articles Wanted in 68 cases, robber finally caught Stop encroachment on w…More

TOI : PUNE: The Chatushrungi police on Sunday nabbed Somnath Dhotre (30), a convicted robber who would target people particularly couples and senior citizens who were on walks on hills in the city.

Dhotre, who has 68 cases of robbery, dacoity and theft against him, had escaped from police custody on December 7, 2009 when he was undergoing treatment at the Sassoon hospital.

The police have recovered a sophisticated pistol and six live cartridges from him. Five of his accomplices were also arrested.

During the last two months, he had committed another 10 offences of robbing senior citizens and couples strolling on the hills. These offences were committed at the Hanuman Tekdi at Deccan Gymkhana, the ARAI hills at Paud road and in the jurisdiction of the Warje Malwadi and the Chatushrungi police stations.

A police team led by senior inspector Mahadev Chavan arrested Dhotre, a resident of Wadarwadi, and his accomplices. The gang was nabbed made near the Maharashtra Mendhi Sheli Vikas Mahamandal (MMSVM) at Janwadi around 2.35 am on Sunday. The police recovered sharp weapons and chilly powder from Dhotre’s accomplices. They were identified as Prakash alias Sonya Pol (24), Bablu Pathan Dangade (19), Prem alias Barkya Jadhav (20), Akash Kamble (19) and Vishal Kharat (28), all from Wadarwadi.

Speaking to TOI, Chavan said he had received a tip-off about 10 persons preparing to commit a dacoity at a bungalow near the MMSVM. “We formed two teams led by police sub-inspectors A N Narute and Manisha Dhamne and laid a trap near the MMSVM and nabbed the suspects, including Dhotre,” he stated.

Dhotre had been lodged in the Yerawada Central Jail since 2007, Chavan said. “This was after he was arrested for robbing a couple near Hanuman Tekdi of money and valuables worth Rs 25,000,” he said.

“On December 7, 2009, he claimed to be suffering from piles and was taken to…More

TOI : PUNE: Unfazed by the looming prospect of losing its deemed university status, the Tilak Maharashtra Vidyapeeth (TMV) has unveiled an elaborate expansion plan for the next 18 months, which includes new campuses at Solapur, Sangli, Satara and Navi Mumbai, besides its move to secure a rating by the National assessment and accreditation council (Naac).

TMV vice-chancellor Deepak Tilak spoke about the plan at the varsity’s 21st convocation ceremony here on Sunday, in what is being seen as an attempt to reassure stakeholders including students, teachers and parents that all is well’ with the 89-year-old institution.

“We (TMV) are going through tough times and you all know what is happening,” Tilak said, referring to the human resource development (HRD) ministry’s affidavit in the Supreme Court in January, stating that the government had decided to de-recognise 44 deemed universities on account of various deficiencies. The TMV’s name figured prominently in the list of 44.

A high-powered committee of the ministry had earlier reviewed status of all the 126-odd deemed universities in the country and the ministry’s affidavit was based on recommendations made by this committee. In the ensuing developments, the apex court had ordered a stay on the government move.

Tilak said, “From our point of view, we have done nothing wrong. I have the University Grants Commission’s (UGC) inspection report expressing satisfaction with our performance. There may be some shortcomings like the need to appoint few full-time teaching faculties which will be taken care of, but we will overcome the present crisis.”

To bolster his point, Tilak said, “We have built a substantial infrastructure including a nine-storeyed well-equipped teaching and learning facility on our present campus and we will come up with a new integrated campus on a 30-acre land acquired at Riha near the city.”

He said, “New campuses will also come up at Panchgani in Satara district and at Sangli, and we…More

TOI : PUNE: Nine year-old Dev Basavekar has a plan of action every Friday evening. “I finish my homework and head straight to the Adarsh Mitra Mandal’s sports library. They lend me all kinds of sports equipment. I especially like football and throw rings. It’s a really nice library. Of course, I have to return the stuff every Sunday evening, as I am supposed to study over the week,” he says.

In a span of just four months, this unique sports library, set up in Adarshnagar, Dhankawdi, has become the great source of entertainment for over 800 children, mostly from underprivileged families.

The origin of the concept, according to Uday Jagtap, a member-activist of Adarsh Mitra Mandal, lies in the belief that no child should be deprived of the pleasure of playing for want of resources.

“We are a chawl settlement of over 200 families. Many of these children cannot afford to buy the equipment, so we thought it would be a good idea to set up a library of this kind. The library remains open over the weekend so that it does not come in the way of children’s studies. We are happy to observe that it has emerged as a source of development — both physical and intellectual,” said Jagtap.

So be it cricket kits, chessboards, volleyball, skates, skipping ropes, badminton racquets or more… there’s something for every aspiring sportsman in the age group of 4 to 14 years. “We charge them a nominal fee of Re 1 for each set for a duration of three days,” explained Vishal Naik, another member-activist. “The amount may be negligible, but it is important that we don’t give away things for free. Children must learn to respect and value good things. Furthermore, the amount we charge is given to an orphanage. We are determined not to use it for commercial activities,” he said.

The library also houses…More

TOI : PUNE: Activists and citizens have strongly opposed the civic general body’s recent move allowing conversion of a water body in Karvenagar into a residential zone.

Already, encroachment on water bodies including nullahs, its tributaries and natural streams is a major cause of concern, since blockages in the out flow of water during monsoon results in widespread flooding in the city.

It may be noted that the ruling combine of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and the Congress, supported by the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, recently joined hands to sanction a proposal converting a water body in Karvenagar into a residential zone. NCP corporator Deepak Bodke and Congress corporator Shailesh Charwad had tabled the proposal stating that survey number-20 in Karvenagar should be converted from an agriculture zone into a residential one.

Vijay Kumbhar, president of the Surajya Sangharsh Samiti, said, “In the past, encroachments on natural streams and nullahs, which block the flow of water, has created major problems in monsoon with water gushing into housing societies and inundating many parts of the city.”

Corporator Ujwal Keskar said, “The move threatens to set a precedent, whereby many similar proposals, demanding conversion of natural zones into residential ones, will flow in. In the future, the GB may be encouraged to allow constructions on the Mula-Mutha basins. The proposal should have been referred to the state government for approval. In fact, it is not only the responsibility of the administration, but of every citizen, to protect natural assets.”

It remains to be seen how the civic administration will deal with this proposal sanctioned by the elected representatives, since it is legally bound to protect natural assets. In August, 2006, the Supreme Court had declared that protection of natural lakes and ponds is akin to honouring the most basic fundamental right the right to life, which is guaranteed under the Article 21 of the Indian Constitution. The concern…More

TOI : PUNE: Activists and party workers in the Pune Cantonment Board (PCB) have demanded that thorough assessment of the work of elected members’ be conducted.

“The nomination and election for the post of PCB vice-president is in the offing. Candidates’ performance should be keenly scrutinised before any decision,” said Rajabhau Chavan, a Congress worker.

It may be noted that PCB elections had taken place in May, 2008. Since the last two years, elected members have been part of the functioning of the board. There are eight elected members in the PCB seven from the Congress and one from the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).

PCB activist N P Bhog said, “Elected members represent the public and are therefore answerable to the latter. An evaluation of their work by the common citizens is a must. Various issues related to encroachment, illegal hoardings, hawkers and parking have remained pending. Elected members need to communicate what their efforts were in dealing with these issues.”

In fact, elected members expressed similar sentiments. “Appraisal of performances of elected members is a must and citizens are right in demanding the same,” said Shailendra Bidkar, a PCB elected member, adding, “The decision to elect the VP will be taken by senior members of the Congress. All elected members will sit together and decide on the right candidate.”

Bidkar said the second VP’s term is getting over in the first week of March and consequent elections for the post should happen soon. Post a comment Email this article Print this article Save this article My saved articles Wanted in 68 cases, robber finally caught Stop encroachment on w…More

TOI : PUNE: The Chatushrungi police on Sunday nabbed Somnath Dhotre (30), a convicted robber who would target people particularly couples and senior citizens who were on walks on hills in the city.

Dhotre, who has 68 cases of robbery, dacoity and theft against him, had escaped from police custody on December 7, 2009 when he was undergoing treatment at the Sassoon hospital.

The police have recovered a sophisticated pistol and six live cartridges from him. Five of his accomplices were also arrested.

During the last two months, he had committed another 10 offences of robbing senior citizens and couples strolling on the hills. These offences were committed at the Hanuman Tekdi at Deccan Gymkhana, the ARAI hills at Paud road and in the jurisdiction of the Warje Malwadi and the Chatushrungi police stations.

A police team led by senior inspector Mahadev Chavan arrested Dhotre, a resident of Wadarwadi, and his accomplices. The gang was nabbed made near the Maharashtra Mendhi Sheli Vikas Mahamandal (MMSVM) at Janwadi around 2.35 am on Sunday. The police recovered sharp weapons and chilly powder from Dhotre’s accomplices. They were identified as Prakash alias Sonya Pol (24), Bablu Pathan Dangade (19), Prem alias Barkya Jadhav (20), Akash Kamble (19) and Vishal Kharat (28), all from Wadarwadi.

Speaking to TOI, Chavan said he had received a tip-off about 10 persons preparing to commit a dacoity at a bungalow near the MMSVM. “We formed two teams led by police sub-inspectors A N Narute and Manisha Dhamne and laid a trap near the MMSVM and nabbed the suspects, including Dhotre,” he stated.

Dhotre had been lodged in the Yerawada Central Jail since 2007, Chavan said. “This was after he was arrested for robbing a couple near Hanuman Tekdi of money and valuables worth Rs 25,000,” he said.

“On December 7, 2009, he claimed to be suffering from piles and was taken to…More

TOI : PUNE: Unfazed by the looming prospect of losing its deemed university status, the Tilak Maharashtra Vidyapeeth (TMV) has unveiled an elaborate expansion plan for the next 18 months, which includes new campuses at Solapur, Sangli, Satara and Navi Mumbai, besides its move to secure a rating by the National assessment and accreditation council (Naac).

TMV vice-chancellor Deepak Tilak spoke about the plan at the varsity’s 21st convocation ceremony here on Sunday, in what is being seen as an attempt to reassure stakeholders including students, teachers and parents that all is well’ with the 89-year-old institution.

“We (TMV) are going through tough times and you all know what is happening,” Tilak said, referring to the human resource development (HRD) ministry’s affidavit in the Supreme Court in January, stating that the government had decided to de-recognise 44 deemed universities on account of various deficiencies. The TMV’s name figured prominently in the list of 44.

A high-powered committee of the ministry had earlier reviewed status of all the 126-odd deemed universities in the country and the ministry’s affidavit was based on recommendations made by this committee. In the ensuing developments, the apex court had ordered a stay on the government move.

Tilak said, “From our point of view, we have done nothing wrong. I have the University Grants Commission’s (UGC) inspection report expressing satisfaction with our performance. There may be some shortcomings like the need to appoint few full-time teaching faculties which will be taken care of, but we will overcome the present crisis.”

To bolster his point, Tilak said, “We have built a substantial infrastructure including a nine-storeyed well-equipped teaching and learning facility on our present campus and we will come up with a new integrated campus on a 30-acre land acquired at Riha near the city.”

He said, “New campuses will also come up at Panchgani in Satara district and at Sangli, and we…More

TOI : PUNE: Nine year-old Dev Basavekar has a plan of action every Friday evening. “I finish my homework and head straight to the Adarsh Mitra Mandal’s sports library. They lend me all kinds of sports equipment. I especially like football and throw rings. It’s a really nice library. Of course, I have to return the stuff every Sunday evening, as I am supposed to study over the week,” he says.

In a span of just four months, this unique sports library, set up in Adarshnagar, Dhankawdi, has become the great source of entertainment for over 800 children, mostly from underprivileged families.

The origin of the concept, according to Uday Jagtap, a member-activist of Adarsh Mitra Mandal, lies in the belief that no child should be deprived of the pleasure of playing for want of resources.

“We are a chawl settlement of over 200 families. Many of these children cannot afford to buy the equipment, so we thought it would be a good idea to set up a library of this kind. The library remains open over the weekend so that it does not come in the way of children’s studies. We are happy to observe that it has emerged as a source of development — both physical and intellectual,” said Jagtap.

So be it cricket kits, chessboards, volleyball, skates, skipping ropes, badminton racquets or more… there’s something for every aspiring sportsman in the age group of 4 to 14 years. “We charge them a nominal fee of Re 1 for each set for a duration of three days,” explained Vishal Naik, another member-activist. “The amount may be negligible, but it is important that we don’t give away things for free. Children must learn to respect and value good things. Furthermore, the amount we charge is given to an orphanage. We are determined not to use it for commercial activities,” he said.

The library also houses…More