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24 killed in mishap in Assam
Dhubri, Oct 14 (PTI) At least 24 passengers, including six women and six children, of a long-distance night bus were killed and 43 others injured in a road accident in lower Assam's Dhubri district in the small hours today.
The incident occurred when the bus collided with a stationary potato-laden truck on National Highway 31(c) at Bengtoli Chariali under Bilasipara police station at about 12.35 am, official sources said.
According to the surviving bus passengers, the driver lost control over the speeding vehicle, which turned turtle before hitting the stationary truck.
Fifteen passengers died on the spot, while nine succumbed to their injuries at Bilasipara civil hospital.
Of the 43 admitted in district headquarters Dhubri civil hospital, five critically wounded had been referred to the Gauhati Medical College Hospital.
The impact of the bus on the truck caused it to overturn and fall 10 feet away, the sources said.
The densely packed bus with 66 passengers was travelling from Paglahat in the district to Singimari in Hajo, near Guwahati, carrying workers of a brick-klin there.
The passengers were from Golakganj, Moterjhar and Dhebdhebi area.
Police is on a look out for the driver of the bus who is absconding, the sources said.
The locals who rescued the passengers alleged that the police delayed in responding to their call forcing them to halt another night bus for carrying the injured to hospital.
Police, however, claimed that they reached the spot within 30 minutes of receiving information about the accident. PTI
Mayawati could be prime ministerial candidate: Karat
Kolkata, Oct 14 (PTI) Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati could be a prime ministerial candidate of a non-Congress and non-BJP alliance at the Centre depending on the outcome of the Lok Sabha elections, the CPI(M) said today.
"BSP is an important party and the ruling party in UP. We expect them to do well in Lok Sabha elections and therefore the leader of the BSP is going to be one of the people who I think will be considered," CPI(M) General Secretary Prakash Karat told reporters here.
Karat, who was briefing the media after the conclusion of the three-day central committee meeting of the CPI(M), was asked whether the CPI(M) would favour Mayawati as a prime ministerial candidate.
He, however, said "I think it is an issue which we will take at that time ... Our position is that we are working for a non-Congress and non-BJP dispensation at the Centre." Karat said the central committee discussed the political situation in view of the forthcoming assembly elections in six states and the subsequent Lok Sabha poll.
"For the Lok Sabha elections, the party has decided that it would adopt an electoral platform aiming to defeat BJP, which is a communal party advocating reactionary economic policies, and for the rejection of Congress that is forging strategic alliance with the United States and pursuing anti-people economic policies," he said.
The central committee discussed specific electoral tactics to be pursued in various states and gave direction for election preparations, he said. PTI
FM hopes markets will remain firm; RBI injects Rs 20k crore
New Delhi, Oct 14 (PTI) Enthused by the upswing in the Indian stock market, Finance Minister P Chidambaram today hoped that the buoyancy displayed by the US, European and East-Asian markets will influence the mood here, even as RBI announced measures to inject more liquidity in the mutual fund industry.
After recording a near 800-point jump yesterday, the BSE benchmark index soared by over 500 points in early trade this morning.
"I hope the same sense of optimism and confidence (visible elsewhere) will be visible in the Indian markets too," he told reporters while referring to the strong performance in the US and European markets last night and impressive opening in East Asian markets this morning.
Coinciding with this, RBI announced measures to infuse Rs 20,000 crore through short-term lending route for the mutual fund industry to help it overcome redemption pressure.
RBI has made a special provision of lending short-term (14 days) loans to banks at the annual rate of interest of nine per cent to help the funds meet their redemption obligations.
The apex association of banks and the mutual funds will jointly fix the appropriate rate after due consultations at which banks will lend to fund houses like UTI MF, SBI MF and ICICI-Prudential MF.
The mutual funds were facing redemption pressure because of increase in withdrawal demand by the depositors in view of financial crisis. PTI
BJP seeks early announcement of poll dates for J & K
New Delhi, Oct 14 (PTI) Terming the delay in announcing election dates to the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly as "disturbing", the BJP today demanded immediate resumption of political activity in the border state by conducting polls.
"It is very very disturbing to know that the dates for the J & K polls have not been announced. It is a matter of great concern and it only adds to the agenda of the separatists," BJP spokesperson Rajiv Pratap Rudy told PTI.
"Are we giving voice to the separatist," he asked.
The saffron party demanded immediate "resumption" of political activity in Jammu and Kashmir and declaration of the dates for the polls.
"Political activity should be resumed in Jammu and Kashmir and a popular government be installed at the earliest. There is an urgent need to give space to mainstream political parties in the state," Rudy said.
"It seems that the situation is not conducive only because the Congress is losing ground in the state," he said.
Skipping a decision on polls in Jammu and Kashmir, the Election Commission today announced election schedules for Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Mizoram and Delhi and Chattisgarh.
Chief Election Commissioner N Gopalaswami said that the commission is still assessing the situation in Jammu and Kashmir. PTI
Fool-proof security arrangements for Mohali tie
Mohali, Oct 14 (PTI) Over 700 police personnel would be deployed as a fool-proof security measure for the second cricket Test between India and Australia at PCA stadium here from October 17.
"Keeping in view the security threat and the recent terror attacks in different parts of the country, we have made tight security arrangements and 700 policemen will be deployed in and around the stadium," Mohali's police chief Jatinder Singh Aulakh told PTI today.
BCCI Treasurer and PCA's Secretary M P Pandove said the Association will also depute its private security guards.
"We want to assure the spectators that they can enjoy a good Test match here," Pandove said.
Giving details of the security arrangements, Aulakh said barricades will be put up at the entry points and no inter-sector movement of spectators will be allowed.
He said anti-sabotage teams and bomb disposal squads will also be present at the stadium.
"CCTV cameras have also been installed and spectators will be frisked at four entry points before they can finally enter the stadium," he said.
Meanwhile, Chandigarh police has also made adequate security arrangements for the two teams and the officials.
Tight security arrangements are also in place at the hotel here where the teams will be putting up, a police spokesman said. PTI
Govt to shift relief camps to panchayat level
Bhubaneswar, Oct 14 (PTI) Amid allegation that a large number of people from riot-hit Kandhamal district were migrating elsewhere instead of returning to their villages, Orissa government is planning to shift the relief camps from block headquarters to panchayat level, official sources said.
The move to set-up relief camps at panchayat level came in the wake of allegations made by some Christian leaders who accused the state government of "failing" to take care of people returning to villages.
"I can give names and addresses of 30 families from Kandhamal who have migrated either to Kerala or Surat in Gujarat as they could not return to villages due to fear," President of Minority Forum, Swarupananda Patra claimed .
The Special Administrator of Kandhamal Madhusudan Padhi, however, did not subscribe the claim made by Patra.
"I know people in large number have returned to their villages in Baliguda and Kotgarh blocks," Padhi said, adding he himself visited several villages where people were staying in their houses.
A large number of Christian population had been taking shelter at 10 relief camps in Kandhamal district ever since violence erupted as the aftermath of VHP leader Laxamananda Saraswati's killing on August 23.
While as many as 36 people belonging to both the communities, had so far died in the violence in the district, 3269 houses were gutted and 154 churches or prayer houses damaged. PTI
Broad plays down Zaheer-Haddin spat
Melbourne, Oct 14 (PTI) Australian wicketkeeper Brad Haddin and India fast bowler Zaheer Khan's angry exchange of words during the first Test had all the elements of snowballing into a major crisis but match referee Chris Broad has played down the incident, saying it was just a 'chat'.
"It's a Test match involving Australia isn't it," Broad was quoted as saying in 'The Australian'.
"There's always a bit of chat. Nothing was reported to me," said the Englishman.
Zaheer and Haddin got engaged in an animated exchange shortly before a rain break on the third day of the drawn first Test, raising fears that the acrimony which engulfed the Sydney Test in January would resurface.
The left-arm pacer protested against Haddin's behaviour with Australia skipper Ricky Ponting even as the teams left the ground.
However, Broad and umpires Rudi Dozen and Asad Rauf found nothing wrong with the behaviour of the players. PTI
India hold nerves to draw the first Test against Australia
Sutram Suresh
Bangalore, Oct 13 (PTI) India overcame some anxious moments early in the innings but their famed batsmen survived long enough on a tricky fifth day track to ensure that the first cricket Test against Australia ended in a draw here today.
Set an improbable victory target of 299, the Indians were in doldrums at 24 for two at one stage but recovered to reach 177 for four before play was called off with 10 overs still remaining to be bowled.
After four days of ding-dong battle, the weather played spoil sport to some extent on the final day though the match seemed headed for a draw as the Australians still had a difficult task of wrapping up six wickets in the last 25 overs to take a 1-0 lead in the four-match series.
The last session turned out to be a little farcical as bad light forced two interruptions which robbed the visitors of valuable time to push for victory.
Sachin Tendulkar (49) played a big part to keep the the opposition at bay on a dual-paced Chinnaswamy track which made batting difficult but not impossible.
Tendulkar, who seemed to be in good touch, held the innings together with his gritty knock after the early loss of Virender Sehwag (6) and Rahul Dravid (5) but a momentary loss of concentration meant that he would have to wait for another day to break Brian Lara's record of the highest Test aggregate. PTI
Pak, China expected to sign civil nuclear deal
Islamabad, Oct 14 (PTI) Pakistan and China are expected to sign a civil nuclear agreement during President Asif Ali Zardari's maiden state visit to the Communist nation, the country's envoy to Beijing said today.
Both countries have always supported the peaceful use of civil nuclear energy and an agreement in this connection is expected to be signed during the President's visit to China which began today, Ambassador Masood Khan said.
The two countries will ink several agreements in the fields of technology, agriculture and minerals. They will also sign an investment protocol to their existing free trade agreement to boost investments in Pakistan, he told Geo News channel.
Though Khan did not give details of the proposed civil nuclear pact, official sources were quoted by The Nation newspaper as saying that a nuclear deal with China would be the "main item" on Zardari's agenda.
An official told the newspaper that Zardari would seek a nuclear deal with China to meet Pakistan's increasing energy needs.
"What we need from our Chinese friends is the building of new nuclear reactors with their help and indications are already there that they will not disappoint us," the official said.
The government led by Zardari's Pakistan People's Party is under pressure from domestic political circles to seek a civil nuclear deal with China to match the atomic pact finalised between India and the US.
Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has urged the US to extend a similar deal to Pakistan and called on the world community not to discriminate between Pakistan and India in this regard. PTI
Chenab row: Pak threatens to go for third party arbitration
Islamabad, Oct 14 (PTI) Pakistan today threatened to go for third party arbitration if, it said, India does not compensate it for the loss of two million acre feet of water due to an alleged reduction in the flow of the Chenab River.
Accusing India of diverting water from the Chenab to fill the Baglihar dam in Jammu and Kashmir, Indus Waters Commissioner Jamaat Ali Shah said Islamabad will neither drop its claim nor "sell" its share of Chenab waters.
Shah's comments came days after President Asif Ali Zardari warned that a row over the sharing of waters of the Indus river system could affect bilateral ties.
Talking to reporters on the sidelines of a conference in Lahore yesterday, Shah said he would take up Pakistan's claim for the diverted Chenab waters when he goes to India with a delegation on October 18.
"India will have to compensate Pakistan during the coming rabi season. Otherwise, Islamabad will resort to other treaty mechanisms to get its due share," he said.
Pakistan has no objection to the design of the Baglihar dam, which was changed by India on the recommendations of a World Bank-appointed neutral expert. But India has to observe the criteria for filling the dam, which were not part of the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960, he said.
"If India insists on its rights under the treaty it also has to observe its duties that exclude tampering with the Chenab flows. It is under a treaty obligation to release 55,000 cusecs even when filling the lake," he said.
Pakistan will ask India to release the water that was allegedly diverted for Rabi crops during November-April, Shah said.
During his visit to India, Shah will visit the Baglihar dam and participate in a meeting of the Permanent Commission for Indus Waters. PTI
Pak National Assembly resumes anti-terror deliberations
Islamabad, Oct 14 (PTI) Pakistani lawmakers today resumed crucial deliberations to formulate the country's new national anti-terror policy in the backdrop of recent upsurge in bombings and suicide attacks by militants.
The deliberations which had remained inconclusive earlier are expected to continue for couple of days more as lawmakers are insisting on carrying out a post-mortem of how the nation has come to be gripped by sudden escalation in terrorist violence.
The session was to resume yesterday but was deferred due to untimely death of National Assembly member from Jackobabad Nasrullah Khan Bijarani, who died following a cardiac arrest.
Information Minister Sherry Rehman would be briefing the lawmakers today on the government's new proposed anti- terror policy as the Pakistani armed forces are continuing their operations in the restive North West Frontier Province and tribal agencies to cleanse the area of Taliban and other foreign militants.
The lawmakers have posed a number of vital questions on these operations as well as the situation in NWFP. Among the posers they have raised are on whether there is some sort of tacit understanding reached with the US to allow coalition forces to target militant hideouts inside Pakistani territory.
The main opposition PML-N has gone to the extent of demanding that former President Pervez Musharraf be summoned before the joint panel to give details of agreements he had forged with the US for the anti-terror campaign. PTI
Sensex come off early highs, ends day still higher by 174 pts
Mumbai, Oct 14 (PTI) Stock markets today opened strongly with benchmark Sensex rising by over 500 points after another pep talk by Finance Minister P Chidambaram amid a surge in Asian and European bourses but the bellwether index came off day's high level to close the day with a gain only 174 points.
Extending its gains for the second day in row, the 30-share Sensex on the Bombay Stock Exchange ended the day at 11,483.40, a rise of 174.31 points, or 1.54 per cent, from its previous close.
The broader 50-share Nifty of the National Stock Exchange also advanced by 27.95 points, or 0.80 per cent, to 3,518.65.
The bellwether index yesterday also soared over 780 points taking cues from strong global bourses and particularly after Chidambaram's promising remarks that more measures would be taken to infuse liquidity into the system.
"I hope the same sense of optimism and confidence (visible elsewhere) will be visible in the Indian markets too," the Finance Minister told reporters today while referring to the strong performance in the US and European markets last night and impressive opening in East Asian markets this morning.
An RBI announcement this morning also helped trigger a rally. The central bank said it would conduct a special 14-day repo at nine per cent per annum to enable banks to meet liquidity requirements of mutual funds and strong global trend triggered a sharp rally.
The RBI has injected another Rs 20,000 crore into the system through the repo auction.
Bolstered by positive factors, the BSE bellwether index rose to the day's high of touched a one-week intra-day high of 11,870.22. PTI
Markets remain bullish, Sensex up 174 points
Mumbai, Oct 14 (PTI) Stock markets surged by over 500 points in early trade today after another pep talk by Finance Minister P Chidambaram but pared most of the gains before closing the day with a gain of over 174 points.
The Bombay Stock Exchange's 30-share Sensex settled the day at 11,483.40 points, higher by 174.31 points, or 1.54 per cent, than its previous close.
National Stock Exchange index Nifty also ended higher by 27.95 points at 3,518.65.
Marketmen said shares rose in tandem with the rally in Asian and European bourses. Japanese benchmark index Nikkei jumped 14 per cent as the rescue plans worth over one trillion dollars mooted by various European countries boosted market sentiments.
Stellar gains in American bourses overnight which saw the key Dow Jones Industrial Average Index jumping over 900 points also bolstered the shares in Asia and Europe, they said.
On BSE, IT scrips gained the most by 149.45 points at 2,939.87. Infosys Technologies shot up by Rs 77.40 at Rs 1397.05, Satyam Computer rose by Rs 19.85 at Rs 289.
Banking index also posted a gain of 64.23 points at 6,038.07. Much talked and battered ICICI Bank added Rs 22 at Rs 447.10. RBI remarks that it would hold an extra 14-day money auction today to help banks meet the cash requirements of mutual funds boosted sentiments on banking shares. PTI
IBA, MFs to mutually fix lending rate to meet redemption
New Delhi, Oct 14 (PTI) The apex banking body IBA will fix the lending rate in consultation with the mutual fund industry to help fund houses meet the redemption pressure, Finance Minister P Chidambaram said today.
"Chairman, IBA (T S Narayanaswamy) is in touch with the banks as well as the mutual fund industry to decide on an appropriate rate at which the banks will on-lend to the fund houses," Chidambaram told reporters here.
The mutual funds will be expected to submit the certificate of deposits (CDs) as collaterals to the banks.
"Government has been informed by the mutual fund industry that against their borrowings from the banks they will give as security mainly certificate of deposits of the bank themselves," Chidambaram said.
The RBI today decided to provide Rs 20,000 crore to the banks through 14-day repo auction at 9 per cent to help the mutual fund industry meet redemption pressure.
The decision follows a meeting between Sebi Chairman C B Bhave and RBI Deputy Governors, he said, adding that the central bank also heard key players in the mutual fund industry.
"Government welcomes this announcement," Chidambaram said.
The decision was taken in view of the liquidity stress being faced by some of the mutual fund industry mainly on account of debt instruments and money market instruments.
Mutual fund industry had sought a facility for accessing funds and "consequently, the government requested Sebi and RBI to meet today and address the issue", the Finance Minister said. PTI
Ahluwalia pitches for lowering key rate
New Delhi, Oct 13 (PTI) The Planning Commission today suggested that the key rate (repo) at which RBI provides short-term liquidity to banks should be lowered, as it would automatically bring down commercial interest rates.
"The only interest rate which you can change is the repo rate which is the maximum short term rate at which the banks can borrow from RBI. Yes... You can lower that rate, and it probably would be a signal but that will not determine the structure of lending rate.
Repo rate is 9 per cent and Reverse Repo as well as Bank rate stand at 6 per cent. RBI cut CRR, the amount of cash banks need to keep with the central bank, by 1.5 per cent in two tranches last week releasing Rs 60,000 crore into the cash-starved banking system.
"When you expand liquidity, interest rates will automatically come down," Commission Deputy Chairman told PTI when asked about the task ahead to overcome the impact of the global financial crisis on India.
Replying to questions on RBI shifting from tight monetary policy till a few weeks back to a liberalisation stance, he said: "I don't regard the steps that government has taken as a contradiction or reversal of earlier policy as if the earlier policy was wrong.
"Rather, it is the correct response in the light of the change in the international situation which has led to drying up of liquidity even in India." On the task ahead, he said: "I think the most important thing right now is to ensure that there is trust in the system and that the banks function effectively. There were complaints that liquidity was reduced and people were not able to borrow easily from the banks... This problem has been eliminated for now." PTI
Amitabh Bachchan is recovering: Docs
Mumbai, Oct 14 (PTI) Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan, who was admitted to the Lilavati hospital on his birthday last week for treatment of abdominal pain, is on the road to recovery, a hospital spokesperson said today.
"Big B is definitely improving and the doctors are happy with this. He is in constant conversation with his family who have been besides him throughout," the spokesperson said.
The Bollywood icon has thanked his fans for their good wishes and prayers, the spokesperson added.
The hospital has, however, declined to comment on reports that Bachchan is likely to be discharged today.
The actor, who has spent the fourth day in hospital, is responding very well to the treatment administered to him, doctors in the hospital said.
Other than family members, Bollywood actress Preity Zinta paid a visit to Bachchan this morning. PTI
Malaysian artists protest state award to Shah Rukh Khan
Kuala Lumpur, Oct 14 (PTI) A state award to bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan has stirred up a hornet's nest here with local artists protesting the decision saying the star did not deserve the title.
The President of the Artistes Association of Malaysia Mustapha Maarof said Khan did not deserve the award. The Association said it would hand a letter to the Ministry of Unity, Culture, Arts and Heritage stating that the award by Malacca state was "irrelevant".
"Giving the award to an outsider is as if certain quarters are belittling the credibility and creativity of local talents," he said adding that local film makers and actors had struggled hard to raise the standard of the film industry.
Khan was awarded the Darjah Mulia Seri Melaka (DMSM), which carries the title 'Datuk' was conferred to him by the Malacca state, one of the 13 states of Malaysia for promoting Malacca in his songs and films. Khan's film "One Two Ka Four" was shot in Malacca.
The actor was among several others who to get the award on the occasion of 70th birth anniversary of Malacca's head of state Mohd Khalil Yaakob.
Khan, however, did not attend the award ceremony as he was in Singapore to attend a show.
The actor is hugely popular in Malaysia especially among the Muslim Malays, who see all his Hindi films in Malay subtitles. Khan is also popular among the Pakistani community here.
The award has inadvertently stirred up a controversy in this Indian films crazy southeast Asian country as several people including the opposition parties have already raise questions over the state's decision to award Shah Rukh Khan ignoring the contribution of locals. PTI
Michelle Yoeh wants to work with Shah Rukh
Bedika
New Delhi, Oct 13 (PTI) Actress Michelle Yoeh, best known for acting in multiple-Oscar winning film 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon' and Bond film 'Die Another Day,' loves to deliver punches on screen but her ultimate desire is to pair with India's romantic idol King Khan.
Yoeh, whose science-thriller 'Babylon A D' released in Indian theatres recently is also hoping that the film would be liked in India.
"I know Shah Rukh Khan is quite famous in India and I would love to star opposite him. But unfortunately no calls yet. But, yes I wish I could get to work with him as a lead actress, be it a Hollywood or Indian film," says Yoeh.
This Asian actress is a Bollywood fan too.
"I am an Asian and I like Indian films a lot. Have seen a couple of them in subtitles," Yoeh told PTI in an email interview.
Michelle Yoeh stars opposite Vin Diesel in 'Babylon A D,' which is set against the backdrop of not-too-distant future where much of the planet is in a war zone left by nuclear meltdowns.
In the film, Diesel is playing the character of an mercenary, who is assigned to smuggle a young woman Aurora (Melanie Thierry) from a convent in Kazakhstan to New York City with Sister Rebeka (Michell Yoeh) as Aurora's guardian.
"Kassovitz wanted a nun who could fight, so I was roped to play a feisty French nun, someone who could stand up to Vin, physically and mentally," Yoeh describes her character in the film. PTI
Film projects worth Rs 100 cr riding on Big B
Mumbai, Oct 12 (PTI) Film projects worth at least Rs 100 crore are riding on megastar Amitabh Bachchan, who was admitted to a hospital here after he complained of severe abdominal pain.
Bachchan, who was admitted to Lilavati hospital in suburban Bandra yesterday on his 66th birthday, would be under observation for another 48-72 hours.
Megastar's son Abhishek had yesterday said that his father was responding well to medication.
Bollywood was stunned to hear of Bachchan's sudden illness, who was shooting for Leena Yadav's 'Teen Patti', a Rs 25-25 crore film, at different locations in Mumbai till Friday.
Bachchan has completed shooting for Sujoy Ghosh's 'Aladdin', a Rs 35 crore film starring Ritiesh Deshmukh, Sanjay Dutt in which he plays the role of a genie.
The actor was also shooting recently for Sujit Sarkar's 'Shoebite', which has a budget of Rs 20 crore.
Besides, Sanjay Leela Bhansali's 'Chenab Gandhi' and Chandraprakash Dwivedi's 'Kunal' were to go on floors soon.
Trade sources said Bachchan's illness would affect shooting schedules of these films.
Trade analyst Amod Mehra said that more than a monetary loss, Bachchan's illness is a major setback to the industry as "he is an institute.... A living legend".
The industry prays for his speedy recovery, he said. PTI
Coastal Nicobar bird species need more conservation efforts
Archana Jyoti
New Delhi, Oct 14 (PTI) The tsunami 2004 has wiped away a significant 70 per cent population of the Nicobar megapode, an endemic coastal living bird species in Nicobar and Andaman island, says a recently published study.
However, as the birds are regenerating in the villages evacuated by the locals, there is no cause for immediate worry, if conservation steps are taken with the participation of locals, says the study.
"It is estimated about 800 breeding pairs of the Nicobar megapode occur on the coastal habitat of the Nicobar islands after tsunami killer waves swept the island. It is nearly 70 per cent less than what was reported before the tsunami," says findings of the study done the last two years.
The study was jointly conducted by R Sankaran, director of Coimbatore-based Salim Ali Centre for Orinthology and Natural History (SACONH) and K Sivakumar of Dehradun-based Wildlife Institute of India (WII).
The megapodes being a unique group of birds utilise external sources of heat to incubate their eggs by building mound nests on the base of a live tree. Except the Nicobar group of islands, the species is not found anywhere else In the country.
Locally called Kongah, Nicobar megapode is a brownish stout pheasant-like bird with large powerful legs and toes. Found in pairs or mixed droves of adults and young near dense undergrowth of evergreen forests on sandy beaches of islands, these bird are strong runners and spend most of their time on the ground. PTI
Monuments cheapest for film shooting, Delhi Metro costliest
New Delhi, Oct 12 (PTI) They have withstood vagaries of weather and also the tourists visiting them over several centuries. The capital's monuments also contribute to the exchequer - a sum experts feel can increase manifold if regulations are reviewed and amended.
With the capital fast becoming a favoured destination for film shooting, popular Delhi monuments are still following a age old fee-structure while new corporations like Delhi Metro are charging sky-high prices from cinema producers.
The Delhi Metro, capital's latest attraction charges Rs one lake for one hour shoot in its premises, while popular monuments of the historic state can be captured on the celluloid by giving just Rs five thousand and that too for a full day! K K Muhammad, Superintending Archaeologist, Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), says the prevailing charges for shooting feature films in famous Delhi monuments are minimum and it should be raised for more revenue generation by formulating a marketing strategy.
"We have sent a proposal to the ministry to raise the charges. Right now, the government takes Rs five thousand a day for shooting in Delhi monuments and ten thousand as a security amount. On an average, 4-5 films are being shot in a month. The state has become a hot spot for Bollywood filmmakers in recent times," he says.
Scenes from films such as 'Sunday', 'Black and White','Jugaad', 'Dill Dosti Etc', 'Fanna', 'Rang De Basanti' and 'Delhi Heights', among others were shot here.
Anuj Dayal, Chief Public Relation Officer, Delhi Metro, says, "We give permission seeing the requirements of the film. A convincing script is a must where we confirm that they are not projecting railway in a negative way. We also have to take in account the public convenience." PTI
Foreign vs Desi: Publishing cos fight to tap booming market
Anurag Sharma
New Delhi, Oct 12 (PTI) Demands periodically crop up from trade bodies to impose anti-dumping measures to ensure that the country does not become a dumping yard for substandard goods.
The latest body to join the chorus is the Federation of Indian Publishers (FIP). The Federation feels the government's policies are encouraging foreign publishing houses dump unsold books in the country.
Anti-dumping duties should be imposed on the books published in Special Economic Zones (SEZs) by foreign companies, say Indian publishers, blaming the former of selling these books in the domestic market at prices far cheaper than in other countries.
It also leads to an unfair competition for domestic companies who pay all duties, they add.
"We want anti-dumping duties to be imposed on the books that they say are being sold here at prices far cheaper than other countries. They also dump their unsold books in Indian market and sell at 85-90 per cent discount. They are flooding booming Indian market with these books without paying any custom duty," says R C Govil, President, FIP.
"They are also grossly misusing the various facilities and other subsidiaries available in SEZs (Special Economic Zones) and EPZs (Export Processing Zones), which were meant to promote and facilitate exports from India. Foreign publishers, instead of physically exporting books printed in EPZs are selling these in domestic market itself, defeating the very purpose of proving special facilities," he adds.
Foreign companies, however, refute these allegations claiming they provide the local industry with greater avenues of employment and revenue generation and also pay huge sums as royalties to Indian writers which their local counterparts had been avoiding for years. PTI
A first for auctions in India: Gemstones go under hammer
Annie Samson
New Delhi, Oct 13 (PTI) After paintings, sculptures and installations it is now the turn of gemstone sculptures to go the auction way.
Mumbai-based art and jewellery house Ma Passion is gearing up to hold an auction of sculptures of precious and semiprecious stones with the hope of reviving the ancient craft of gemstone carving said to have been handed down from the Mughals to the traditional Kumawat community in Jaipur.
"The auction of these miniatures would be treated as conventional art," says Dinesh Poddar, Managing Director of MaPassion, a listed company.
Curated by art expert and author Nisha Janmwal the auction later this month would include 55 lots of hand carved statues including among others an emerald Ganesha with 1,000 mice, a crystal Buddha under the Bodhi tree and several nature based themes such as fishes and a group of flying horses.
"The intricate and painstakingly handcrafted ancient craft of India of gemstone carving is on its way to become extinct. The craftsmen are now a dying breed due to a lack of patronage," Jamwal told PTI just before a preview of select auction pieces in the capital.
Traditionally the market for gemstone carvings has been famous in the US and Germany, says Poddar. "Collecting is a niche market and has been famous in the US but is fast catching on in India too. The collectors have always been either royalty or high net worth individuals," he says. PTI
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______Forex_______
1 U.S. $ = 48.085 INR
1 Japanese Yen = 0.4684 INR
1 British Pound = 84.622 INR
1 Canadian $ = 42.217 INR
1 Singapore $ = 32.948 INR
1 UAE Dirham = 13.090 INR
1 Saudi Arabian Riyal = 12.840 INR
1 Euro = 66.074 INR
1 Qatar Rial = 13.199 INR
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This is the Mumbai Grapevine
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