States News and Discussions

member_19686 · Post by **member_19686** » 05 Apr 2012 01:49

Vai (Maharashtra) : The State Government has not been taking any action to implement the order passed by Supreme Court for demolition of unauthorized construction around Afzal Khan’s tomb at the footsteps of Pratapgad. Instead of demolishing the unauthorised construction, 12 policemen have been appointed for its protection. Besides, for the last two days, the administration has undertaken repair work of this unauthorized construction and rubbed salt into the wounds of Hindus. On behalf of BJP, fast unto death has been taken up in front of Tehsildar’s office at Vai from today. Mr. Avinash Farande, the district-chief and Mr. Kashinath Shelar, the city-chief of BJP have undertaken such fast unto death.

Pro-Hindu organizations have been fighting, in lawful manner, for demolition of unauthorized construction around Afzal Khan’s tomb on Pratapgad for many years. The High Court had also passed order on 15th October 2008 and 11th November 2009 for immediate demolition of unauthorized construction. The pro-Hindu activists had filed a case in Supreme Court against the State Government for not implementing High Court’s orders. Recently, the Supreme Court has ordered Maharashtra Government to immediately destroy the unauthorized construction; but instead of implementing the order, the Government is repairing this unauthorized construction.

http://www.hindujagruti.org/news/13577.html

member_19686 · Post by **member_19686** » 08 Apr 2012 08:13

Road that may erase history

T. S. SUBRAMANIAN

The temple at Panaiyapuram that has been marked for demolition to facilitate NH expansion. Photo: T. Singaravelou

The NHAI's plan to widen the Vikkiravandi –Thanjavur National Highway 45C will destroy a 1,300-year-old Siva temple.

A 1,300-year old Siva temple, celebrated in the verses of Saivite saint Tirugnana Sambandar and boasting of inscriptions belonging to the Chola kings, is facing demolition by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). The Tirupuravar Panankateesvarar temple is situated in Panaiyapuram village, two km from Vikkiravandi in Villupuram district of Tamil Nadu. The Pennaiyar flows near Panaiyapuram. The temple is also called Paravaipuram.

The NHAI, which is widening the Vikkiravandi –Thanjavur National Highway 45C, over a distance of about 160 km, has painted big arrow marks in white on the compound wall of the temple and inside its premises, where the widened road will cut through.

The NHAI has placed stones outside the temple to signify the portions that will be lost to the highway's widening. If this plan goes through, the temple's sanctum sanctorum for Panankateesvarar, the adjacent shrine for the goddess Satyambikai and much of the temple premises including other shrines, will be demolished. This has shocked and angered about 4,000 Panaiyapuram villagers and residents of Pappanapattu, Mundiyambakkam, Kappiyampuliyur and Thuravi villages. They met the Villupuram District Collector, V. Sampath, and submitted a petitionto him.

STRONG STAND

R.P. Pugazhendhi, former president of the Panaiyapuram panchayat, said: “We are spending sleepless nights. Almost the entire temple including the sanctum, the shrines for goddess Satyambikai, Ganesa and Muruga will be demolished. Only the flag-post and the shrine for Saneesvarar will remain. There is enough land on the west of the temple for the broadened highway to go through or a new alignment can be given from the National Highway 45. We will not allow even a single stone from the temple to be removed.”

R. Nagaswamy, former Director, Tamil Nadu Archaeology Department, said that the 1,300-year old temple was visited by the Tamil Savite saint Tirugnana Sambandar, who lived in the seventh century CE, and had sung verses celebrating the deity, a Sivalinga. The Sivalinga is called Panankateesvarar because the area abounds with palmyra trees.

The temple has a number of inscriptions belonging to Rajendra Chola I (regnal years 1012 CE to 1043 CE), his son, Rajendra Chola II, Adhi Rajendra, Kulotunga I, Jatavarman Sundara Pandya I and Vikrama Pandya among others.

Rajendra Chola's inscription called the deity Nethrodharaka Swami (meaning, the main deity will cure eye ailments). The inscription recorded the gift of land and money for worship and making offerings in the temple. It spoke about Rajendra Chola's conquest of Kadaram. (The present-day Kedda in Malaysia was called Kadaram and it belonged to Sri Vijaya kingdom). It revealed that the Chola emperor rebuilt the main temple between 1025 CE and 1040 CE, pointed out Dr. Nagaswamy.

“Another important aspect of the village is that it is also named Paravaipuram,” he said. Paravai was the consort of Tamil Saivite saint Sundarar, who lived in the eighth century CE. Paravai belonged to a family of dancing girls and she is worshipped even today, along with Sundarar, in Siva temples. Rajendra Chola I also had a personal assistant called Paravai, who was an ‘anukki.' This Paravai was named after Sundarar's consort. (Female personal assistants, who were trusted by the kings, were called anukki and anukkan were their male counterparts). Paravai built the Thyagaraja temple at Tiruvarur in Tamil Nadu and covered the vimana with gold, said Dr. Nagaswamy .

HONOURING PARAVAI

To honour her, Rajendra Chola I made her sit next to him in his royal chariot and drove her in a procession on the four main streets around the Thyagaraja temple. The Chola emperor made two bronze images resembling her and placed them before the deity in the Tiruvarur temple's sanctum and worshipped them. “This is recorded in a long inscription in the Tiruvarur temple,” said Dr. Nagaswamy, a scholar in epigraphy. Rajendra Chola I re-built the Panaiyapuram temple in Paravai's honour, when she was alive and the town around the temple was named after her.

The temple has two inscriptions of Rajendra Chola II (regnal years 1052 to 1064 CE), both datable to 1058 CE. One of the inscriptions mentions his gift of paddy to “Paravai Easwaramudaiyar Mahadeva in the town of Paravaipuram in Panaiyur Nadu”, falling under the larger division called “Rajendra Chola Valanadu.”

The temple has an inscription of Adhi Rajendra, who ruled from 1068 to 1071 CE. This inscription, dated 1070 CE, records the gift of tax-free land to the temple by a merchants' guild of Paravaipuram to feed the pilgrims. There is a record of Kulotunga Chola I (regnal years 1070-1122 CE) on the gift of gold coins by a chieftain named Ponnambala Kizhan of Arumbakkam, near present-day Chennai, for lighting a perpetual lamp.

“An interesting point about the Panaiyapuram temple”, said Dr. Nagaswamy, “is that on the first day of the Tamil month of Chithirai every year, the sun rays fall on the Sivalinga enshrined in the sanctum and the idol of Satyambikai. The temple's orientation is so perfect that this happens and special pujas are offered.”

S. Ganesa Gurukkal, the temple priest, was emphatic that the villagers would take all steps needed to save the temple. “We went to Chennai and gave a petition to the NHAI officials,” he said.

When contacted, an NHAI official said, “We are trying to save the temple. We are trying to look at other options. The NHAI headquarters has been informed about the villagers' objections.”

http://www.thehindu.com/arts/history-an ... 283627.ece

http://www.nhai.asia/register/rgr/traffic.asp
Mandatory Fields, suggested filluup other than your Name and Email.
Name:
Email:
National Highway: NH 45c
Nearest Place: Panyapuram
Prominent Landmark: Panyapuram
City: Panyapuram
State: Tamilnadu
Complaint Category: Other
Comments: Temple "Panagattuesan" near Panyapuram is 1000 yr. old famous temple this should not be demolished to create four lane traffic enroute to Panruti.

Vipul · Post by **Vipul** » 12 Apr 2012 20:14

Northeastern states pip others in TV, auto growth in past decade.

It wasn’t the developing Bihar or the developed Gujarat that recorded the highest increase in the number of households with televisions, bicycles, two-wheelers and cars in the last decade; it was the long-ignored Northeast.

Putting aside years of lack of growth that was fuelled by a precarious law and order situation, these states are fast catching up with the rest of the country. Data from the Houselisting and Housing Census 2011 showed between 2001 and 2011, in most asset parameters, these states performed better than others. However, compared to other northeastern states, Assam continued to lag.

The census data showed the number of households with televisions in Mizoram rose from 20 per cent in 2001 to 55 per cent in 2011, a 169 per cent rise, the highest in the country. In 2001, Mizoram had fewer households with television than the national average. However, by the end of 2011, the number of such households in the state was eight per cent more than the national average.

A similar rise was seen in the case of Nagaland, Manipur and Tripura. These states registered growth that was more than the national average. Though 43 per cent of households in the rest of the country stopped using radios/transistors, Manipur saw a rise of 26 per cent in the number of such households. The state now has the highest number of households with radios/transistors.

The increase in households with four-wheelers was also impressive. Both Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh showed high growth in the number of households with cars, jeeps and vans. Between 2001 and 2011, these states recorded an increase of over 230 per cent, with Sikkim growing at 267 per cent - the highest rise. In 2001, the percentage of households possessing four-wheelers in Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh was lower than the national average. However, by the end of 2011, it was twice the national average.

Nagaland recorded the second- highest increase (126 per cent) after Kerala in the number of households with two-wheelers. Mizoram and Tripura also emerged among the top five states that witnessed the highest increase in the number of households with scooter/motorcycles and mopeds between 2001 and 2011. However none of the northeastern states had more households with two-wheelers than the national average.

An interesting trend was while in the bigger states, people moved away from bicycles to automobiles, households in the northeast continued to buy more of these. Sikkim saw the highest rise of 110 per cent in the number of households with bicycles, followed by Mizoram, Tripura and Meghalaya. However, the rise in Sikkim and Mizoram was also because of a very low base over which the increase was measured.

gunjur · Post by **gunjur** » 13 Apr 2012 17:34

Was casually talking with a friend today who is basically from AP. He told that in past 1 week, there were riots in hyderabad. Now is rioting a recent phenomenon (5-10 yrs)?? Is it mainly because mim feels it is loosing it's grip with every day, hence this sort of tactics to be relevant among it's base?

member_20036 · Post by **member_20036** » 15 Apr 2012 11:30

There are three types of dictators:strict ,gentle and incompetant. Mamata falls in third category.

Mamata cartoons: Outrage in West Bengal, CM defends action, Congress unhappy

KOLKATA/NEW DELHI: A Jadavpur university professor was arrested today for allegedly posting a cartoonon the internet showing West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee in poor light after she forced out Dinesh Trivedi and put Mukul Roy in his place as railway minister.
The arrest of Ambikesh Mohapatra, achemistry professor, sparked an outrage with opposition CPM and the academic community saying the police action is "highly atrocious" and a "clear assault" on the minimum democratic right of freedom of expression. The professor was later granted bail by an Alipore court. Protests were also held by students and the professor's colleagues at the Jadavpur universitycampus here.
DCP (south suburban division) Sujay Chanda said the professor was arrested along with a neighbour residing in east Jadavpur for spreading derogatory messages against "respectable persons" on a popular social networking site. Mohapatra was charged with IPC offences relating to defamation and insulting the modesty of women as well as cyber crime offences, police said.
Labour minister Purnendu Bose justified the arrest. He argued that the objectionable content was not a cartoon, but real pictures, which were nothing but an insult.
"Law will take its own course," he said. The cartoon in question, which was also sent by e-mail, showed chief minister and the railway minister apparently exchanging dialogues from a popular Bengali film Sonar Kella , a detective masterpiece by Satyajit Ray, which alluded to the replacement of Trivediby Roy as railway minister.
"The arrest is a clear assault on the democratic right of freedom of expression. It is like very much what happened during Emergency," CPM leader Brinda Karat said. Karat's party colleague Md Salim said the police action is highly ridiculous and highly atrocious.
However, Mamata has defended the police action saying that the professor was arrested for his"wrong deeds" and blamed the CPM for raising trivial issues to malign her.
Congress disapproves of professor's arrest
Congress today sought to disapproveof the arrest of a Professor by West Bengal Police for allegedly posting a cartoon showing chief minister Mamata Banerjee in poor light on a popular social networking site.
Party spokesman Manish Tewari saidthe Congress always believed in the freedom of right of expression granted by the Constitution which was intrinsic to the democratic ethos of the country.
He, however, added that he had no first hand knowledge of the incidentand therefore it was inappropriate for making any sweeping judgementwithout understanding facts from the West Bengal unit of the party.
Congress is a junior partner in the West Bengal government headed by the Trinamool Congress supremo while Banerjee's party is the second largest constituent of the UPA at the Centre after Congress. In recent times, Trinamool has emerged as themost troublesome ally for the Congress at the Centre.
The cartoon by the professor of chemistry of Jadavpur University alsoinvolved Railway Minister Mukul Roy and former railway minister Dinesh Trivedi.
Police have said that Professor Ambikesh Mohapatra was arrested along with a neighbour residing in east Jadavpur for spreading derogatory messages against"respectable persons".
The cartoon showed the chief minister and the railway minister exchanging dialogues from a popular Bengali film by Satyajit Ray which alluded to the replacement of Dinesh Trivedi by Mukul Roy as railway minister.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city ... 652236.cms

gunjur · Post by **gunjur** » 16 Apr 2012 12:15

Apologies if already posted.
Chavan fails to deliver. Hunt on for successor:Cong minister.

Aditya_V · Post by **Aditya_V** » 16 Apr 2012 16:41

Now that YSR legacy is no longer part of INC, the turth about INC rule from 2004 to 2009. why we had so days discussing Yeddi and no news on this.

Jalayagnam: The mother of all frauds

gunjur · Post by **gunjur** » 17 Apr 2012 20:10

Adarsh scam interim report tabled

in a breather to the politicians facing the heat over the alleged scam, said there was no evidence to support the claim that the apartment was built on defence land or that it was reserved for Kargil War widows.

Hence i suppose the below thing is being pushed.

Gunjur wrote:Apologies if already posted.
Chavan fails to deliver. Hunt on for successor:Cong minister.

nawabs · Post by **nawabs** » 28 Apr 2012 18:51

SC quashes quota benefits for SCs,ST, OBCs in promotions

http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/oth ... 364404.ece

Terming the move unconstitutional, the Supreme Court has quashed Uttar Pradesh government’s decision to provide reservation benefits for SCs, STs & OBCs in promotions to higher posts saying the same was done without any sufficient data.

Upholding a bunch of petitions filed by aggrieved general category employees challenging the reservation in promotions, the apex court said the State failed to furnish sufficient valid data to justify the move to promote employees on caste basis.

“The conditions precedent have not been satisfied. No exercise has been undertaken. What has been argued with vehemence is that it is not necessary as the concept of reservation in promotion was already in vogue.

“We are unable to accept the said submission, for when the provisions of the Constitution are treated valid with certain conditions or riders, it becomes incumbent on the part of the State to appreciate and apply the test so that its amendments can be tested and withstand the scrutiny on parameters laid down therein,” a bench of justices Dalveer Bhandari and Dipak Mishra said.

In this case, the employees had challenged the validity of the provisions contained in Rule 8-A of the U.P Government Servants Seniority Rules, 1991, which provided for promotions to SC, ST, OBC employees for higher posts.

While a two-judge bench of the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court had quashed the rule as unconstitutional, another two-judge bench of the High Court upheld the reservation, after which the employees and the UP government filed appeals in the apex court.

The apex court said the rule was contrary to the various judgements by the Constitution benches in the M Nagara, Indra Sawhney and various other cases wherein it was provided that reservation in promotions can be provided only if there is sufficient data and evidence to justify the need.

svenkat · Post by **svenkat** » 30 Apr 2012 14:00

Caste outfits ask members to shed sub-sect identities Idea is to demonstrate their numerical strength during census

With the first socio-economic and caste census of the post-Independence era under way all over Tamil Nadu, barring Chennai, caste-based outfits have started urging their members to shed sub-caste identities and register themselves under one prime caste name to demonstrate their collective identity.

Major caste blocs have told their members not to mention the names of sub-castes while registering the caste name. A few outfits have dispatched batches of volunteers to “educate and supervise” the enumeration so that there was no confusion over which caste they belong to. They have issued advertisements and statements in the local print and electronic media, instructing people under which caste name they should register.

The Vanniyar Sangam, caste face of the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK), was the first outfit to issue such an appeal in the media asking all Vanniyars, who are concentrated predominantly in the western and northern districts, to register their caste name as Vanniyarkula Kshathriyar.

The Sangam, which came into limelight when it launched an agitation demanding exclusive reservation for Vanniyars in the 1980s, urged them not to register under the names of sub-castes, such as Palli, Padayatchi, Kandar, Muthalipillai, Mooper and Vandaiyar, since it would deprive them of the benefit of reservation.

Sangam senior deputy general secretary and former MLA, A. Karti, says Vanniyars are a mass caste bloc in the State. “Unfortunately, we remain divided into sub-sects. Hence, the forum is highlighting the fact that many sub-sects have not been included under Most Backward Classes (MBC) list.”

He argues that the census findings will corroborate the claims of PMK leader S. Ramadoss that Vanniyars are the largest single caste bloc.

“To retrieve their rights, Nadars should register their caste name as Nadars,” says G. Karikkolraj, general secretary of the Madurai-based Nadar Mahajana Sangam. According to him, Nadars, who migrated to other parts in Tamil Nadu, are identified under various sub-castes. “It will deprive us of all opportunities in future. Hence, we should all register our caste name only as Nadars.”

Those who converted to Christianity should register themselves as Christian Nadars, but another group from the same caste, the Tamil Nadu Kshathriya Nadar Iyakkam, in a statement, has asked people to register either under Nadar or prefixing it with the names of sub castes such as Sanar, Kiramani, Mukkanthar, Kodikalar or Nattathi.

Groups representing the Kongu Velala community have asked people to register their names as Kongu Velala so that the benefits of reservation and employment could be harvested fully in future. ‘BEST' Ramasamy, President of the Kongnadu Munnetra Kazhagam, endorses this view. However the sub-castes of Piramalai Kallars and Maravas in southern and central districts prefer to keep their identities intact since almost all their sub-caste groups are enjoying the benefits of reservation. So do the Dalit castes.

The Tamil Nadu Telugu Brahmana Sabha has urged its people to register their caste under Hindu Telugu Brahmin, while Telungupatti Chetti Mahajana Sangam has told its people to register their caste name as Telungupatti Chetti.

svenkat · Post by **svenkat** » 30 Apr 2012 14:40

http://www.deccanchronicle.com/channels/nation/south/nityananda-crowned-pontiff-151

http://www.deccanchronicle.com/channels/nation/south/protest-against-nitya%E2%80%99s-appointment-142

Even as Hindu outfits and religious leaders expressed dismay at his decision, the Madurai Aadheenam head reiterated on Sunday controversial self-styled godman Nityananda was his successor to be the 293rd pontiff of the influential Saivite mutt 'founded by' Saivite saint Thirugnana Sambandar 1,600 years ago.

RamaY · Post by **RamaY** » 16 May 2012 20:45

Friends, can we collect various issues faced by and the measures taken by successful CMs?

Parrikar in Goa

"People ask me why I am not suspending some of the officers although they were proved to be corrupt. I can't do that because I am already facing shortage of officers. There are so many of them who are yet to be promoted and so many vacancies not filled," Parrikar, who is an alumnus of IIT Mumbai, told Mail Today.

The BJP leader, who has been tagged as a Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Goa, has already begun cleaning up certain departments. His mopping began with the suspension of director of mines and geology Arvind Lolienkar, who was allegedly neck deep in the corruption.

He began eliminating rogue traders from the mining field so that the illegal mining is controlled. He suspended licences of all the traders and asked them to re-apply. Only the genuine ones re-applied.

Public Works Department (PWD), which had become a hub of corruption, also faced Parrikar's onslaught when a senior officer and a couple of junior officers were suspended.

The saga of suspension continues with block development officers, panchayat secretaries and lower rank staff involved in malpractices also feeling the heat.
Parrikar was an instant hit with the people after he reduced the tax on petrol to bring down the oil price by Rs.11. Since then his popularity graph has been constantly rising as with each passing day people get convinced of sincerity, integrity and perseverance. The chief minister travels in his Tata Innova vehicle which was given to him when he was leader of the opposition. Even after becoming the CM he has not changed his vehicle.

Read more at: http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/goa- ... 86583.html

nawabs · Post by **nawabs** » 16 May 2012 21:18

In Uttar Pradesh, the jobless get money. Not jobs

http://www.tehelka.com/story_main52.asp ... 0512UP.asp

After assuming office, Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav wasted no time in convening a Cabinet meeting on 15 March to obtain its approval for giving an allowance of Rs 1,000 per month to every jobless youth in the state.
In what is being seen as pursuing a populist agenda, this move by the Samajwadi Party government will add an additional recurring burden of Rs 2,000 crore on the state, even as Uttar Pradesh reels under an accumulated debt burden of close to Rs 2 lakh crore as on 31 March.

Instead of adding to a burden of over Rs 16,000 crore in annual debt servicing obligations, the government could have done well to fill over 5 lakh sanctioned government posts lying vacant in various departments. This includes 2.18 lakh posts of police personnel, 2.78 lakh teachers’ posts in government- run primary, upper primary and secondary schools, besides 6,000 sanctioned posts of doctors and over 1,000 para-medical staff, including nurses.Against the sanctioned strength of 191 police personnel per lakh people, as many as 116 posts are lying vacant. of the total 58,794 sanctioned posts of head constables, 44,177 are vacant. of 2.5 lakh posts for constables, as many as 1.62 lakh remain unfilled. Important wings like the Special Task Force and anti-terrorist squad are also crippled by a paucity of staff.The health department too fares no better. Against the total sanctioned 14,103 posts for doctors, as many as 5,621 are vacant. Close to 7,000 posts for medical staff such as pharmacists, lab technicians, x-ray technicians, auxiliary nurse midwives and basic health workers are also waiting to be filled.

After West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh clamours for Rs 93000 crore bailout

http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes ... -observers

Panic sets in as probe begins in 3 Noida projects

http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-new ... 57025.aspx

The three projects are: farmhouse plot allotments, Noida Park and Ganga water scheme.

Maya’s jumbo scam: EOW likely to take over probe

The ongoing probe into the installation of elephant statues by the previous Mayawati government, in which Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav sensed a scam to the tune of Rs 40,000 crore, is likely to be transferred to the Economic Offences Wing.

Uttar Pradesh gets Rs 600 crore canal scam

http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes ... l-mirzapur

SP scraps Mayawati’s Gr Noida airport project

http://zeenews.india.com/news/uttar-pra ... 74182.html

Greater Noida realty rates down by 30 per cent after scrapping of Jewar airport project

nawabs · Post by **nawabs** » 19 May 2012 21:11

UP govt releases vision document for development

http://zeenews.india.com/news/uttar-pra ... 76017.html

The long-term agenda of the vision document is aimed at better facilitation in departments where the public interface is maximum, an official said. The key sectors highlighted in the document include agriculture, industries, power, education, health, social welfare and some 100 points on which state departments have been asked to "react and deliberate upon."

Food processing and potato production are the key focus areas in the new policy, officials pointed out. Besides, issuing Kisan credit cards to farmers and strengthening the cooperative banks system in the state is also high on the agenda of the government, an official said.

The 2004 industrial policy will be reviewed and the government is likely to announce a host of incentives for the industrial sector in the state, the official added.

The government has cleared the way for more public-private partnership projects in the state and construction work would soon be started on the Agra-Lucknow Expressway and the northern peripheral road in Ghaziabad, a government spokesman said.

According to officials, the power sector will soon be prioritised and projects in Panki, Jawaharpur, Aanpara-D, Harduaganj extension and Obra-C would be completed in a set time frame.

In the health sector, priority would be accorded to vaccination campaigns, besides opening of state medical colleges and intensive care units in many districts across the state, officials said.

Agra-Lucknow Expressway project

http://zeenews.india.com/news/uttar-pra ... 76120.html

Keeping with its promise of giving fresh impetus to infrastructure in the state, the Akhilesh Yadav-led Uttar Pradesh government has expedited work on the ambitious Agra- Lucknow Greenfield Expressway project and has selected a consultant for the project.

The consultant has been entrusted with the task of preparing a concept report on the project that will cut the travelling time between Lucknow and Agra from six hours to three-and-a-half hours.

Officials told a news agency that the eight-lane eco-friendly expressway is proposed to be constructed on a "minimum distance formula" through Public Private Partnership mode and is envisaged to provide a smooth link from Greater Noida to Lucknow via Agra. The consultant appointed for the expressway, covering a distance of 365 km, has been asked to prepare the "preliminary feasibility reports on economic, geographical, physical and social parameters" of the project.

The expressway will also help motorists cover a distance of about 530 km from Greater Noida to Lucknow in five hours instead of current time of nine hours.

Theo_Fidel · Post by **Theo_Fidel** » 20 May 2012 08:22

Most unbecoming for a CM. Should have the wisdom not to go into such uncontrolled situations. And once in them to have an aide come in with a convenient emergency to leave gracefully. I fear for WB at this rate.

Moments after walking off the stage where a discussion hosted by a television channel on Friday evening was being recorded, an angry West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee instructed the police to take photographs of those in the audience who had asked questions which did not go down well with her.

The police, according to unofficial reports on Saturday, have begun enquiries.

The questions that drew Ms. Banerjee's ire were on the increasing attacks on women in the State, the infringement of democratic rights by the authorities, and the police action following the recently circulated e-mail by a Jadavpur professor with graphics directed at her.

One feels for Bengal. How did it come to this. The two parties are competing in de-industrialisation.

http://www.business-standard.com/india/ ... sm/474837/

Her stand on special economic zones is now threatening to add Infosys and Wipro’s proposed campuses in Bengal to an already significant list of scrapped or uncertain projects that includes the Tata Nano car factory at Singur, Bhushan Steel project, Videocon steel plant, Nayachar chemical hub and Haripur nuclear plant.

Flight of business is not new to West Bengal. The excesses of the Left prompted several companies to move their headquarters out of the state in the 1980s. This includes tea major Brooke Bond India, ICI India, Shaw Wallace, Singhanias of JK Tyre and electronics giant Philips India. Though the Left Front government under Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee attempted to arrest that trend, it failed to do so. JSW Ispat Steel (formerly Ispat Industries) is now looking to move its registered office from Kolkata. Ispat’s corporate’s headquarters was moved to Mumbai in 1994-95.

“When the law of the street takes over the law of the land, investors are unsure of the safety of their investment,” Bengal Chamber of Commerce and Industry president and Tata Metaliks managing director Harsh K Jha said.

The new government, however, claims to have garnered proposals worth over Rs 100,000 crore, though bureaucrats say most of these proposals, save Railway projects, were from Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee’s regime.

“If we keep counting the same proposals over and over again, then the investment proposals will surely multiply,” an industrialist said.

In a way, the land policy of her own government has left Banerjee at the mercy of the Centre for bailing the state out from a gargantuan debt of over Rs 2 lakh crore.

“The only policy that the state government has to reduce its debt is to knock on the Centre’s doors, it seems. The state must generate resources,” Tata Steel Processing and Distribution managing director Sandipan Chakravortty said.

But Banerjee’s policies are not just a stumbling block for investment in Bengal, it’s for the country as a whole. Even though she has shown some flexibility in giving the go-ahead for a hike in power tariff and milk prices back home, the same was not extended to the Centre.

“If there is a single party that has held the country to ransom and throttled its growth and policy reforms story, then it has to be the Trinamool Congress. Whether it’s FDI in retail, land policies or railway fare hike, Mamata Banerjee has always been a spoiler. But she should realise that if her heart beats for the aam aadmi, no one would benefit more from FDI in retail than the farmers,” an industrialist said, on condition of anonymity.

nawabs · Post by **nawabs** » 20 May 2012 09:34

Bihar has become the first state to respond to the Central Vigilance Commission's recommendation to sign an Integrity Pact with Transparency International to ensure fair play in tendering and implementation of major projects..TI is now engaged with various stakeholders in State of Bihar for promoting all the basic ojectives such as promoting Integrity and Development Pact in Bihar and mobilize relevant stakeholders to commit for the same and facilitate making of citizen's charter in Judiciary and basic services delivery.
Bihar State Road Corporation will be the first PSU to sign it.

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/bihar ... al/931452/

Supratik · Post by **Supratik** » 20 May 2012 15:46

Theo_Fidel wrote:Most unbecoming for a CM. Should have the wisdom not to go into such uncontrolled situations. And once in them to have an aide come in with a convenient emergency to leave gracefully. I fear for WB at this rate.

She is in the cross-hair of both the INC and left. Since 95% of the media in India is controlled by these two entities she is getting bad press. The INC is unhappy with her for stalling reforms and doing what they could not do i.e. get rid of the left. The left is sulking because they lost their empire. So their media minions are going after her. Mamata has always been mercurial and a motor mouth. Some of the things she has said are clearly unacceptable. However, she cannot suddenly start acquiring land for industry after coming to power based on Singur and Nandigram. Nor can she suddenly start supporting SEZs after opposing it during campaigns. Unless you are a rank opportunist you wouldn't do that. What they have done is relaxed the land ceiling for many industries. The land bill proposed by the Mani Sankar Aiyer-led parliamentary panel has similar provisions of Govt not acquiring land for private profit. The bottomline is that both the INC and CPI(M) consider Mamata as leprosy. WB INC absolutely hates her. You can see that from the comments of Adhir Chaudhuri and Deepa Das Munshi. My point is give her 5-10 years. If she fails to deliver then kick her out.

Virupaksha · Post by **Virupaksha** » 20 May 2012 18:27

nawabs wrote:Bihar has become the first state to respond to the Central Vigilance Commission's recommendation to sign an Integrity Pact with Transparency International to ensure fair play in tendering and implementation of major projects..TI is now engaged with various stakeholders in State of Bihar for promoting all the basic ojectives such as promoting Integrity and Development Pact in Bihar and mobilize relevant stakeholders to commit for the same and facilitate making of citizen's charter in Judiciary and basic services delivery.
Bihar State Road Corporation will be the first PSU to sign it.

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/bihar ... al/931452/

I dont like it at all. Why do we need a west dominated TI for this?

So TI is going to arbitrate over what contracts it will cancel, what kind of absolute nonsense and rubbish is this.

Has Nitish Kumar gone bonkers ?

Virupaksha · Post by **Virupaksha** » 20 May 2012 18:34

Mamata without her combative attitude and no-prisoners approach couldnt have taken on the massive dictatorial all-emcompassing left machinery. It is this machinery which is hitting back. Mamata's cartoon attack wasnt as such an attack on cartoons (and it was completely legal, all it was - a case in court) but was against this same machinery. With the deep roots of left in all academics and press media, Mamata is facing an 270 degree slopes to scale.

I think we can all expect Mamata to lose in this. All I expect nay hope is she will hurt the leftist assets badly as well.

tejas · Post by **tejas** » 20 May 2012 20:52

Can any form of gov't perform more poorly than the one India has? A single buffoon like Didi can stop so many important reforms for the nation as a whole due to the parliamentary form of democracy. The center should start building a fence around WB and let them merge with Bangladesh. The entire nation would be better off.

chaanakya · Post by **chaanakya** » 20 May 2012 21:11

tejas wrote:Can any form of gov't perform more poorly than the one India has? A single buffoon like Didi can stop so many important reforms for the nation as a whole due to the parliamentary form of democracy. The center should start building a fence around WB and let them merge with Bangladesh. The entire nation would be better off.

Please do not call mamta Didi a bafoon. She has to contend with 30 years of trashrule called left in West bengal . It has lef WB deeply scarred and bruised. She would need all the time , strength and help to clean this up. Just like Nitish KUmar did /doing for Bihar.
In Parliamentary form of Democracy even her opinion has to be respected, esp when INC depends on her so much.Individual disagreements are not much counted for.

As for reforms, I suspect INC is more to blame with its petty politickinh and oneupmanship.

chaanakya · Post by **chaanakya** » 20 May 2012 21:15

Virupaksha wrote:Mamata without her combative attitude and no-prisoners approach couldnt have taken on the massive dictatorial all-emcompassing left machinery. It is this machinery which is hitting back. Mamata's cartoon attack wasnt as such an attack on cartoons (and it was completely legal, all it was - a case in court) but was against this same machinery. With the deep roots of left in all academics and press media, Mamata is facing an 270 degree slopes to scale.

I think we can all expect Mamata to lose in this. All I expect nay hope is she will hurt the leftist assets badly as well.

She needs more time and some latitude to deal with it. But given that Media is not unbiased she would have to have combative attitude and address concerns of poor people . I think that is what she is doing. There is new hope in WB despite all protests on these issues.

One can not even begin to imagine the tentacles of left rules grip the administration so deeply.After 30 years of left rule , one would expect that.

Theo_Fidel · Post by **Theo_Fidel** » 20 May 2012 21:49

IIRC the media and the educated elite supported her whole heartedly in the removal of the CPI goons. If you went back and read through media reports everyone was almost uniformly willing to give her a chance. Even now she is not facing the brunt for her actions. Imagine Nitish or even Modi had done half the things she has, the elite would have torn them to pieces.

It is OK to be at war and combative in opposition. Once in power she has to take everyone along, and that includes the CPI and the Congress. This too is how democracy works. That is her job. This business of fighting when you have power is not a positive outlook for WB. Prematurely deciding that everyone is your enemy is declaring failure at the outset.

Even AMMA, who is surrounded by enemies, only takes on one enemy at a time. And you definitely don't want to pick a fight with the babu's.

RamaY · Post by **RamaY** » 20 May 2012 21:52

Theoji

Please take whatever reports you read on dhimmi media with bucket full of salt, especially when it comes from commie intellectuals.

NM showed the way how this paid media should be treated. Ignore them or walk out if they insist being dhimmi. Remember him walking out of that devil's advocate program?

RamaY · Post by **RamaY** » 20 May 2012 21:55

Virupaksha wrote:Mamata without her combative attitude and no-prisoners approach couldnt have taken on the massive dictatorial all-emcompassing left machinery. It is this machinery which is hitting back. Mamata's cartoon attack wasnt as such an attack on cartoons (and it was completely legal, all it was - a case in court) but was against this same machinery. With the deep roots of left in all academics and press media, Mamata is facing an 270 degree slopes to scale.

I think we can all expect Mamata to lose in this. All I expect nay hope is she will hurt the leftist assets badly as well.

+1.

If Kabil Sibal can apologize to Dalits in Parliament and fire 2 authors (I am glad 2 JNU turds are lost their power) in CBSE then it is fair for Mamtadidi to say and do what she did right?

Supratik · Post by **Supratik** » 20 May 2012 22:58

@Theo

The current breed of intellectuals in Bengal are mediocre with a few exceptions. They are no Rabindranath or Satyajit Ray. Most of their time is spent in politicking. They are basically disgruntled leftists who sided with Mamata because they felt the reformist left under BB was deviating from the book. They were quiet happy when the left had kept the state a replica of North Korea. So these intellectuals should not be a yardstick for anything but because the "bhadralok" likes "culture" they get disproportionate media time. The media in Bengal which is pro-INC (the pro-left media backed the left) backed her to get rid of the left but are probably upset for giving the INC trouble. Mamata used the Maoists against the left and then dumped them. Killing of Kishanji and arrest of Suchitra Mahato are examples. So she is not exactly stupid either. There may be two reasons behind her anti-reformists stand - 1) she doesn't exactly understands economics very well and 2) it is competitive leftism to show that she is more left than the left (in Bengal if you are "right" you are thought to be mentally disturbed). At the end of the day we can hope that she learns that the leftist economics does not work or she will loose it and people will look for alternatives. Bottomline is many of us who want to see a prosperous Bengal do not want to go back to the leftist way.

Theo_Fidel · Post by **Theo_Fidel** » 21 May 2012 02:18

^^^^
I agree. People need governance and investment. I did not say anything for one year but I'm having a hard time seeing how she gets there from here.

Gaurav_S · Post by **Gaurav_S** » 27 May 2012 15:09

Dabang-II to be shot in Gujarat

AHMEDABAD: Chulbul Pandey might be seen performing his shunt for his Dabang-II somewhere in Gujarat. The directors of Dabang-II are negotiating with the state government for shooting a portion of the film in the state.

On Saturday the director of the film Arbaz Khan met chief minister Narendra Modi. However, the official called it as a courtesy visit. But sources in the tourism department said that the team of Dabang was in talks with the tourism department for holding certain portion of the film in the state.

Officials said the department has also set up a dedicated cell and is offering various incentives for producers who offer to shoot their films in Gujarat. The cell would ensure the producer get all required permit from one place and that too without any hassles.

The government has decided not to collect any charges for infrastructure facilities and police protection for the shooting. Usually, other states levy charges for police security.

Officials said that after Devgadh Baria featured prominently in the recent flick Saheb Biwi aur Gangster, inquiries started flowing in about the palace and hence the state thought it was justified to project tourism spots. The only condition would be that the producer has to give credit to the state and mention the places where the shooting took place.

Officials said that recently a south Indian film was also shot in Kutch. Apart from these several directors are in talks with the state for shooting in the state. Officials said team of Dabang-II was negotiating the location where they could carry out certain portion of the film. Officials said that if this was achieved it would be a major achievement for the state.

nawabs · Post by **nawabs** » 28 May 2012 16:40

Northeast India's fifth software technology park in Tripura

http://zeenews.india.com/news/technolog ... 78169.html

The STP in Agartala would be the fifth information technology centre in northeast India after the Guwahati, Imphal, Gangtok and Aizawl STPs, which have either started functioning or are under construction.

nawabs · Post by **nawabs** » 28 May 2012 16:57

CPI (M) clinches Shimla municipal corporation top posts

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/indi ... 596210.cms

Communist Party of India (Marxists) has created history in hill town of Shimla by winning the posts of Mayor and deputy mayor by huge margins. Results announced on Monday has left Congress and BJP shocked as both parties were claiming to win the elections comfortably.

Sanjay Chauhan of CPI(M) won the election to the post of Mayor by defeating Dr S S Manhas of BJP and Madhu Sood of Congress. While Tikender Panwar of CPI (M) defeated Devender Chauhan of Congress and Digvijay Chauhan of BJP for the post of deputy mayor. Sanjay Chauhan defeated BJP candidate Dr S S Manhas by a margin of 7868 votes.

Since the creation of Shimla municipal corporation in 1851, this is for the first time when CPI(M) has clinched the top two political posts of the civic body. Congress for last 26 years was enjoying majority but this time voters in Queen of Hills decided for a change.

BJP has emerged as the single largest party by winning 12 councillors seat while Congress won 10 seats. CPI (M) besides winning two mayoral posts also won three councilors seat.

Election to the Shimla municipal corporation are considered as mini assembly polls as it seats the voting trend for assembly polls which is due late this year. Considering the fact that people from all 12 districts of state residing in Shimla participate in the corporation election political parties consider the results crucial to understand voter's nerve.

But today's election have shown that people are in favour of change as they have rejected the Congress and BJP candidates by favouring CPIM) for mayor and deputy mayors post. Union minister Virbhadra Singh while campaigned for Congress candidates, chief minister Prem Kumar Dhumal and his entire cabinet had thrown their weight behind BJP candidates. CPI (M) candidates besides relying on their state leadership had invited Sitaram Yechury as star campaigner.

ajit.d · Post by **ajit.d** » 28 May 2012 20:45

Hi,

Any one's got some news on the Fuel Shortage in Chennai? Both Petrol and Diesel is in shortage and we see km long queues in the few petrol bunks that have the fuel (typically the IOC bunks seems to be having fuel, whilst others are running short). Surprising part is, only Chennai seems to be facing this problem as even nearby Kanchipuram seems to be getting along quite well. News papers is mention partial shut down of refineries. But I am not able to understand how only Chennai is affected.

disha · Post by **disha** » 28 May 2012 21:36

Posting here in full with URL and text, since not sure when TOIlet will remove the content.

CPI M leader boasts of murder

Quoting text in full:

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: After embarrassing the CPI-M by his controversial statement that the party had often eliminated its political foes, senior party leader M M Mani has found himself in trouble with the police registering a case against him on murder and other charges.

Thodupuzha police registered the case in view of Mani's statement that CPI-M was behind some of the political killings in Idukki district in the 1980s, which the party has, however, distanced itself from.

According to police sources, Mani, who is CPI-M Idukki District Secretary, has been charged under IPC 302 (murder), 109 (abetment) and 118 (concealing design to commit offence).

State home minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan said the government would allow the law to take its own course.

After the party drew flak from all quarters, CPI-M state Secretary Pinarayi Vijayan yesterday openly censured Mani and said his statement was a "mistake and against the political line of the party."

Senior leader V S Achuthanandan, against whom also Mani made some sarcastic comments during his controversial public speech at Thodupuzha, said his utterances on political murder should be rejected with contempt.

Achuthanandan, who was the party state secretary when the murders Mani referred to happened in Idukki District, said he could say with authority that it was not true.

Mani's speech has sparked a controversy with the Congress and BJP saying it exposed CPI-M's "politics of violence."

Mani had later clarified that he was only narrating the history of resistance put up by the party in the past during adverse political situations.

His statement had only added to the acute embarrassment of CPI-M in the state which is on the defensive with some of its activists being arrested in connection with the murder of party rebel and RMP leader T P Chandrasekharan at Onchiyam in Kozhikode district on May 4

You see if you are a "rebel" in CPI-M., you do not have any human rights. I am sure Arundhoti Roy, Beasta Setalvad and their ilk will see a consiparacy by Modi here.

nawabs · Post by **nawabs** » 28 May 2012 21:57

Andhra HC strikes down minorities sub-quota

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/a ... epage=true

A Division Bench of the High Court of Andhra Pradesh on Monday struck down the office memorandum issued by the Central government creating a sub-quota for religious minorities from the existing 27 per cent reservation for the backward classes (OBC).

It may be recalled that just prior to the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, the Central government issued two separate orders declaring that the religious minorities would be given 4.5 per cent sub-quota from among the 27 per cent reservation existing for OBCs. This has been challenged by the Andhra Pradesh BC Welfare Association president R. Krishnaiah and others.

The Bench, comprising Chief Justice Madan B. Lokur and Justice P.V. Sanjay Kumar, declared that this action of the Central government was based upon religious lines and not on any other intelligible consideration. There was no rationale or empirical data to justify such an action, the Bench opined.

The Bench expressed deep anguish at the casual manner in which the issue was dealt by the Central government and said that it had exceeded Constitutional boundaries.

member_19686 · Post by **member_19686** » 02 Jun 2012 19:31

Of Secular Carvings, Sacred Spaces and Agama Violations
1 JUNE 2012

Dear friends, I am not sure how many of you will be shocked and outraged by what I am about to share with all of you. I was more than shocked and outraged, I was aghast and furious; and determined to do something about this. But first, a sad story of government invasion of sacred spaces (aka “management” of temples by government controlled “Trusts”), “secular” carvings, Agama violations and outrageous “renovations”. As some of you may know, I am very time-constrained at present so this post is more in the nature of rough note based on a few bullet points. It does manage to convey all the relevant points though. Read on:

The Kalamangalam temples in Erode Taluk

Kalamangalam is located in Southern bank of Cauvery river 15 km from Erode to Karur road. It is one of the traditional “Kaani” Village in Poondurai country out of it 32 Kaanis, since Chera Maharaja times. It comprises 18 villages
Kulavilakkamman temple (form of Badrakaliamman) is a “Kaani” temple for 18 villages. The village also contains Bhuloganayaki Sametha Mathyapureeswarar temple and Bhudevi Neeladevi Sametha KalyanaVaradharajar temple.
These temples are managed traditionally by Kanna Gothra Konga Vellalar community (see additional information on the Kongu Vellalar community here; also here)
The Kulavilakkamman temple is now under the management of HR&CE appointed trustees from Konga Vellalar community, since 1960s.
Apparently, the “commercialization” of the temple and the entry of “politics” into this sacred space started in 2007 when a massive fund-raising drive was launched (with publicity) for the purpose of renovation and consecration of the temple. I do not know exactly how much money was collected but it was enough to do a number of things in the name of “temple renovation”. These included:

Removal of statues of horses, cows and elephants on the ground that they were not in good condition (but photographs suggest otherwise)
Removal of the Nagar statues in the north west corner
Steel roofs around the temple premises that hid the view of the Gopura Kalasam (a major violation of the Agama Shastra; see this and this; also this for more on Agama Shastra)
Marble flooring that was slippery and another Agama violation
Around the same time apparently, a proposal was mooted to rent out the temple for marriage purposes and charge money for it. You can see some photos of the “work” here. http://pinterest.com/satyamevajayate/bl ... m-related/

But worse was to come…

Sometime during the last few years, the eastern doors of the temple were replaced(?) with ones that had carved faces of – among others – EVR (who apparently once garlanded SriRam with a garland of shoes), Mother Teresa, Annadurai and Abdul Kalam (see here: http://pinterest.com/satyamevajayate/bl ... m-related/). The walls were further defaced by engraving the names of trustees on them.

Worse, the roof angles made for the “godown-like” structures initially carried the DMK symbol, Rising Sun which were eventually removed after opposition from the devotees (pl see pics at the link above & if you wish to see more, pl leave a comment below).

The final aggravating act for the devotees of the Kulavilakkamman temple was the consecration of the temple in February 2011 in violation of the established rituals and Shastras. Apparently, this was done in spite of the entreaties of the traditional Sivacharya.

The temple is a “living” example of Chola architecture and the Vijayanagara style – besides being a few centuries old – and on the basis of being a protected monument, it should not have been violated in this manner. Sadly, people who protested have apparently been threatened with false cases; unsurprisingly, no one is prepared to come out publicly on this. The story would have remain buried among the locals were it not for the effort of some keen Bhaktas who were aghast with these developments and decided to share it with the wider world.

Please share this tale of egregious and outrageous behaviour among your friends and family – especially those from Tamil Nadu. Needless to add, please keep an eye out for any such work or activities in any sacred places you visit. If you spot something like this, pl send me details and I will be happy to share it on the blog. As for this particular matter, a legal case is now being prepared, complaints have been filed and hopefully we will see a resolution in due course. Thanks to Radha-ji for alerting us to this and sharing with the wider community. I have additional photographs and links to some videos of these violations in case anyone is interested.

P.S. Poet Kalamegham of 14th century (who sung like dark clouds lashing rains) lived in this Eswar temple and hence the town was renamed after him as Kalamangalam from Mathyapuri. This village is in centre (madhya) of the river Cauvery’s length & breadth, hence the earlier name.

Related Post: On Ancient Temple, Mosques, Highways and Airports http://satyameva-jayate.org/2012/03/24/ ... e-highway/

Also read: Of Hindu Temples, Forms of Gods and Mother Teresa http://satyameva-jayate.org/2010/06/18/ ... er-teresa/

http://satyameva-jayate.org/2012/06/01/ ... iolations/

Murugan · Post by **Murugan** » 04 Jun 2012 11:05

UP

Mathura Riots leave four dead

http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_ma ... ad_1697405

Aditya_V · Post by **Aditya_V** » 04 Jun 2012 12:16

Theo_Fidel wrote:IIRC the media and the educated elite supported her whole heartedly in the removal of the CPI goons. If you went back and read through media reports everyone was almost uniformly willing to give her a chance. Even now she is not facing the brunt for her actions. Imagine Nitish or even Modi had done half the things she has, the elite would have torn them to pieces.

It is OK to be at war and combative in opposition. Once in power she has to take everyone along, and that includes the CPI and the Congress. This too is how democracy works. That is her job. This business of fighting when you have power is not a positive outlook for WB. Prematurely deciding that everyone is your enemy is declaring failure at the outset.

Even AMMA, who is surrounded by enemies, only takes on one enemy at a time. And you definitely don't want to pick a fight with the babu's.

Well Rahal Baba is still being combative in opposition blaming all and sundry claiming no responsibility.

RamaY · Post by **RamaY** » 04 Jun 2012 21:02

Centre okays 51K crore annual plan for Gujarat

GANDHINAGAR: The Planning Commission of India has approved an annual plan of Rs 51,000 crore for 2012-13 as against Rs 50,599 crore approved during the budget session of Gujarat state assembly this March. The approval, which came following a high-level meeting between chief minister Narendra Modi and commission vice-chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia in Delhi on Friday afternoon, is 34.21 per cent higher than the annual plan for previous year, Rs 38,000 crore.

...

During the meeting, several Planning Commission members raised concern over poor nutrition levels in Gujarat, as noticed in the recent India Human Development Report. Modi agreed, but said, "Gujarat government has begun a survey of its own for this. In order to fight the problem, we have formed Gujarat State Nutrition Mission." He added, it will adopt "multi-sectoral approach to the problem. Already, energy dense, fortified blended food has been provided to12.6 lakh children under six, adolescent girls, pregnant and lactating mothers."

When some Planning Commission members tried raising issues like only 41 per cent of schools having girls' toilets and poor quality of education in Gujarat, Modi said, "You are armed with old data of 2005-06 and 2006-07. There should be a well-worked-out mechanism under which new data are made available from the states."

During the meeting, Modi referred to the Centre's "lopsided textile policy" which led to Gujarat's cotton growing farmers losing Rs 14,000 crore, even as protesting against its latest move to take complete control the "entire cotton trade."

Modi also raised the issue of failure of the Centre to declare the Sardar Sarovar Project as a national project and fund it; asked Centre to permit Gujarat and other states to buy imported gas and produce electricity and supply the same to National Thermal Power Corporation; provide special allocations for urban areas in the 12th Plan by revamping JnNURM; non-payment of royalty on crude as per market rate; immediate allocation of funds for six-lane National Highway connecting Somnath and Dwarka, the "two revered places for Hindus" and central sales tax compensation.

ramana · Post by **ramana** » 05 Jun 2012 00:56

Pioneer article

Rural Gujarat is really shining

Rural Gujarat is indeed shining in Modi’s rule

Author: Nilesh Shukla

According to Indian Oilseed and Produce Export Promotion Council estimates, the summer groundnut production in Gujarat this year stands at around 4,59,000 tonnes, which is about 56 per cent higher than 2,94,000 tonnes recorded last year. Gujarat dairies send 20 lakh litres of milk to Delhi, eight lakh litres to Mumbai and five lakh litres to Kolkata daily, besides supplying milk power to the Armed Forces.

The world’s largest irrigation network is made possible by the Sardar Sarovar Project on the Narmada river, with the dam height of 121.9 metres. The farm miracle in Gujarat has come full circle in a decade.

Gujarat has a total geographical area of 19.8 million ha, of which about 9.8 million ha is utilised under agricultural purposes. About two-third of the land in the State falls under arid and semi-arid tropics. This area receives scanty and uneven rainfall, while marginal lands have low soil fertility and less moisture holding capacity. Despite, all these odds, Gujarat has maintained a remarkable growth rate of 11 percent in agriculture as compared with just 2.5 percent for the rest of the country. The double-digit growth stands testimony to Gujarat pioneering a second ‘Green Revolution’ in India.

Gujarat set a benchmark in milk production with its white revolution. The production of dairy items in the State has increased by 68 per cent during the last 10 years. It is evident that the share of cooperative dairies has increased from 46 lakh litres to 100 lakh litres per day, a big leap from Rs 2,400 crore to Rs 12,250 crore, over the same period.

The number of primary milk cooperative societies in Gujarat has increased from 10,000 to 16,000, membership from 22 lakh to 32 lakh. and the number of milk societies formed and run by women from 800 to 2,250. Gujarat has created history in water conservation by launching its blue revolution — constructing check-dams, boribunds and khet talavadis (farm ponds). The Sardar Sarovar Project on Narmada river has made immense contribution towards irrigation, hydropower and drinking water supply in the State.

Recognised far and wide as the “growth engine of India” for its industrial growth per se, Gujarat is now a leading State of agricultural and milk produce. This has been made possible by the progressive agriculture policies of the State Government leading to construction of water harvesting structures and use of modern technology in agriculture sector.

The team effort of farmers with the supportive infrastructure from the State Government and guidance of agro-scientists has yielded desired results. However, the gains are not overnight miracle but a steady outcome of meticulous planning, sustained hard work and effective allocation of available resources. Gujarat’s achievement in agriculture sector by leaps and bounds has drawn the attention of researchers, economists and various national and international institutes.

The foundation of the agricultural revolution in the State was laid between 2002 and 2003 when Chief Minister Narendra Modi decided to revamp the supply of electricity to farms and industries. Plagued by mounting power losses (caused by lines tripping and also by theft), he decided to supply quality power to the farms for at least four hours without any interruption — but only at night. He sold the idea to farmers thus: Accessing power at night would allow them to run their pumps on three-phase electricity, thus saving them the cost of diesel-powered pumps.

The new and innovative approach adopted by Gujarat to rejuvenate its virtually defunct farm extension system involves bringing farm scientists and service providers on the same platform and taking them to the farmer’s doorstep, rather than the other way round. To galvanise the farming community, the State Government organises a month-long event called ‘Krushi Mahotsav’ every year where a team of officials from agricultural department accompanied by agricultural scientists visit each of the 18,000 villages and provide farmers with information and guidance about latest technology available, creating marketing linkages, micro-irrigation, use of pesticides etc.

Mr Modi kicked off the eighth Krushi Mahotsav in Manavadar of Junagadh district earlier this month. Along with this festival, the State-wide cattle health fairs have also begun. The Krishi Raths will move across all the 224 seats of taluka panchayat of the State.

In Mr Modi’s words, the nation’s agricultural growth was hindered primarily because of the water shortage. But the water conservation initiatives of Gujarat have shown a new direction to the country. “Only the use of drip irrigation and the approach of ‘more crop per drop’ will make the farmers prosperous”.

Gujarat is the first State in the country which issues Soil Health Cards to farmers. Growers who used to grow one-to-two crops now cultivate three-to- four yields that give huge margins of profit. In addition, new concepts of contract farming and micro irrigation have helped farmers increase their earnings by more than double.

Gujarat’s success story in farm revolution is far from over. In last seven years, the agriculture income rose over four times from Rs 14,000 crore to Rs 59,000 crore. The Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit 2011 saw investments of Rs 37,000 crore pouring in for agro-based projects.

It is a remarkable achievement of the Government of Gujarat which initiated public-private partnership model to set up more than six lakh check dams, khet talavadis and bori bandh. This endeavour resulted in recharging of more than 10 lakh wells and bore-wells in the State during last decade. Due to this, irrigation facilities covered an additional land of 33 lakh ha and ground water level rose from three metres to 13 metres.

Till year 2001, drip and sprinkler irrigation technique was available in only 10 thousand ha land but now this figure has been increased to seven lakh ha. This technique has changed the face and fate of Kutchh district. The region, once known to be a totally arid land, now produces fruits like Amla, date, fig, pomegranate, Kesar mango, Colocasia etc. Kutchh alone exports more than 70,000 tonnes of the popular Kesar mango variety to West Asia.

Besides cereal production, Gujarat has become the topmost State in fruit and vegetable production with farmers producing 78 lakh tonnes of fruits and 73 lakh tonnes of vegetables.

Gujarat received a feather in its cap with an international organisation, Washington International Food Policy Research Institute, praising the State for attaining new heights in agriculture sector while Chief Minister of Maharashtra Prithiviraj Chavan recently accepted that his State is far behind in agri-sector as compared to Gujarat.

The State Government has played a pivotal role in changing the mindset of farmers for adopting advanced cultivation technology and left no stone unturned in providing the basic necessities — abundant power and water supply. Indeed, it’s Gujarat Shining!

krisna · Post by **krisna** » 06 Jun 2012 02:54

Govt mulls quota for SC/ST, minority groups

Eyeing the 2013 Assembly elections, the Delhi Government is mulling to have a quota for minority groups and Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) in the new auto rickshaw policy.

The new policy has been drafted in wake of the Supreme Court lifting a ban on the number of auto rickshaws in the city in the month of November last year. The order paved the way for plying one lakh auto rickshaws in the city, giving its verdict on an application moved by Delhi Transport Authority in 2002 for lifting a freeze imposed by the apex court in its earlier direction of December 16, 1997.

what next.
very creative thinking after all by the politicians.

vishvak · Post by **vishvak** » 06 Jun 2012 08:44

Heard yesterday that somewhere in Gujarat 4 or 5 villages came together and built a lake like structure roughly near intersection area. The water just seeps into the ground during monsoon that is all it does as it holds no water by itself. This causes the ground water level to increases well for all villages nearby.