JKLF acting chief, associates detained
Srinagar,Wednesday, September 04, 2002: Acting chairman of Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front Javid Ahmad Mir was today taken into preventive custody from the outskirts of the city here when he was going to Kupwara district to kick off anti-election campaign, police said.
Mir was detained at Parimpora around 1300 IST (0730 GMT) alongwith two associates Ghulam Ahmad Kashmiri and Basheer Ahmad, they said.
Several independents believed to be backed by People's Conference, a constituent of the Hurriyat Conference are in fray in the district which has led to rift within the separatist amalgam.
People's Conference has, however, denied the charge and decided to launch an aggressive anti-poll campaign in the district.
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Govt decides to close down Patna airport
New Delhi,Wednesday, September 04, 2002: Government today decided to close down the Jaiprakash Narain Airport in Patna following an official report that it was the "most insecure" airport in the country.
The report of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation has pointed towards "serious security threats" emanating not only from terrorists, but also due to lack of facilities including a short runway, Civil Aviation Ministry sources said here.
The sources said the Bihar government had also not given alternate plot of land for construction of another airport, a demand which was made soon after the Alliance Air aircraft crashed in 2000.
They said the decision of the Government was taken keeping in mind the security interests.
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Over 440 additional companies of para-military troops in J&K
Jammu,Wednesday, September 04, 2002: In a bid to instil a sense of security in the inhabitants and to minimise militants' plans to disrupt the polls, over 440 additional companies of para-military forces have been rushed to Jammu and Kashmir for four-phased assembly elections starting from September 16.
These para-military troops comprising Border Security Force (BSF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Railway Protection Force (RPF) and Punjab Armed Police (PAP) arrived in batches from various parts of the country, official sources told PTI here today.
They said 300 of such companies have been sent to Kashmir valley and Ladakh division and the remaining have been stationed in Jammu division for deployment at different places in first and second phase of polling.
Many of these companies were also in the process of deployment in the districts of Jammu, Kathua, Srinagar and Badgam where elections are to be held in the second phase on September 24, they said.
The Special Director General of BSF, R S Aggrawal, is the coordinating officer for these para-military forces in Jammu and Kashmir during the elections, the sources said, adding Aggrawal has already been camping in summer capital of Srinagar to monitor the movement and deployment of the forces.
Special control rooms have been set up in Srinagar and Jammu to monitor the deployment and make arrangements for boarding and lodging of these troops.
After the elections in first two phases, most of these companies would be rushed to areas in the Valley and Jammu where third phase of polling will take place.
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Maharashtra seeks Rs 25 cr to resettle Narmada oustees
(Times News Network)
GANDHINAGAR: The fundsstarved Gujarat state exchequer may have to spare an extra Rs 60 crore for Maharashtra as the cost of taking the Narmada dam from 95 metres to 100 metres.
The amount is required to resettle more than a thousand oustee families, which the neighbouring state now claims, were left out during earlier assessments.
A final figure of the amount that Gujarat may have to pay is yet to be arrived at. But state officials say Maharashtra is seeking Rs 25 crore as immediate assistance from Gujarat as the cost of rehabilitating 1,000 projectaffected families (PAFs) of the Narmada dam.
Maharashtra officials told their Gujarat counterparts that the amount would be required urgently to buy 1,600 to 2,000 hectares of land needed to resettle the PAFs whose land had either gone into submergence or would be submerged once the dam height reached 100 metres and beyond.
Maharashtra’s demand is similar to that of Madhya Pradesh’s which sought from Gujarat Rs 239 crore to resettle the Narmada oustees on its soil a year ago. Gujarat sanctioned the amount and disbursed Rs 40 crore.
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Class II rail tickets can be booked day in advance
eeking to bring relief to commuters in second class compartments, Western Railway has installed Advance Railway Ticketing System (ARTS) machines at five major stations, including Surat, to issue ‘‘unreserved’’ tickets a day in advance.
‘‘For the first time, such a scheme has been dedicated entirely to commuters of second class compartments for advance sale of unreserved tickets,’’ a Western Railway spokesperson said.
The machines, to be manned round the clock by railway staffers, have been installed at Churchgate, Mumbai Central, Bandra, Borivali in the metropolis and in Surat.
A separate window has been set up at all these stations ‘‘only to cater to the needs of those passengers who want to travel the following day in unreserved second class compartments,’’ he said.
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10% of Mumbai land in private hands
(Excerpted from a Times News Network article)
Mumbai’s 21 largest private land holders collectively own just over ten per cent of the city’s area, according to officials in the state urban development department.
The ownership data, contained in a file tucked away in the labyrinth of Mantralaya, is among the Mumbai’s best-guarded secrets.
These 21 private trusts, companies and families own 10,400 acres of the 99,319-acre city.
any of Mumbai’s biggest landowners are Parsi-held trusts and private companies, named after such stalwarts as solicitor and financier F.E. Dinshaw (the trust owns about 2400 acres), who died in 1936; 19th century philantrophist Byramjee Jeejeebhoy (Byramjee Jeejeebhoy Properties Limited has declared holdings of over 841 acres); his contemporary, merchant A.H. Wadia (the A.H. Wadia Trust has declared land holdings of over 800 acres) and the industrialist Godrej family (Godrej Boyce Private Limited controls more than 1,200 acres in Vikhroli, mainly well-protected mangroves).
By comparison, the Mumbai Port Trust—the central government entity with the largest real estate holdings in the city—owns 1,800 acres.
Also on the Top 21 list are the 332 acres that belonged to a 19th century landlord named Anwar Haji Mohammad Haji Kasam. His land is now controlled by M/S Veekaylal Property Limited.
However, a large chunk of the land held by these entities has been lost due to large-scale encroachments by slumdwellers.
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India deserves permanent seat in UN security council: Taiwan
Taipei,Wednesday, September 04, 2002: Taiwan, viewed as a rebel province by China, is keen to improve relations with India and supports New Delhi's desire to be a permanent member of the UN Security Council, the island's Foreign Minister Eugene Chien said here today.
"India is qualified and competent to be a permanent member of the Security Council and deserves to be supported by UN members," Chien said.
Interestingly, India played a leading role in getting China into the United Nations in 1971 which resulted in Taiwan losing its membership in the world body.
Now, China, one of the five permanent members of the Security Council, says it supports the expansion of the Council but has not taken a decision on backing the candidature of any country, including India.
Describing India as one of the most important countries in Asia, Chien said New Delhi had an "indispensable role" to play in promoting peace, stability, especially in South Asia.
"Though the influence of non-alignment movement had diminished, India is still a leader of third world countries," Chien told PTI in an extensive interview covering topics like India-Taiwan trade ties, three-way relations between Beijing-Taipei and Washington and the vexed Taiwan issue.
Like most other countries, India has no diplomatic relations with Taiwan, as China does not allow countries that have diplomatic ties with it to have any official contacts with Taipei.
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Eco-labelling criteria deleted from text of declaration: Baalu
New Delhi,Wednesday, September 04, 2002: Despite stiff resistance from two powerful blocks, India and other developing countries have come out with honours against attempts to impose trade barriers and other restrictions on them at the World Summit on Sustainable Development at Johannesburg in South Africa.
The industrialised countries were determined on imposing trade barriers against the developing countries in some form or the other.
"We succeeded in deleting eco-labelling criteria from the text of declaration since it could have been misused against us," Environment and Forests Minister T R Baalu, who led the Indian delegation, told PTI on his return here today.
He said the Summit taking place ten years after the Rio Earth meet was very important because the developing countries had a lot at stake.
Asserting that environment was a common global concern and not exclusive to individual countries, he said the success of global effort in this regard was directly related to the right kind of international cooperation in which the developed countries have to help the developing nations with financial and technical resources.
Common but differentiated responsibility, the core element of Rio principles was the main concern for India and the other members of the G-77, he said.
The other concerns were ensuring access for the people to clean water and sanitation facilities, incereasing access to energy, biodiversity, changing the present unsustainable patterns of cunsumption and poroduction and means of implementation, he said.
Baalu, who was engaged in some tough negotiations, said it was not easy to convince the powerful blocks like JUSCANZ group cromprising Japan, the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand or the equally influential European Union.
"On all the major issues of our concern, either the JUSCANZ group or the EU was against us," he said.
He said it required a "well-coordinated strategy" for the G-77 besides clarity and necessary firmness to deal with these two powerful blocks.
Expressing satisfaction at the outcome of the Summit deliberations, he said there was "success" on several fronts.
On the issue of Rio principles, particularly common but diffrentiate responsibilities, India and other G-77 members succeeded in making the industrialised nations reaffirm their commitment to these principles, he said.
"They (developed countries) were otherwise keen on diluting these guiding principles of international cooperation under which the developed countries were required to help us with financial and technical resources. This is a major achievement for us," he said.
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Manisha files appeal in high court and takes her grievance to Thackeray
Film actress Manisha Koirala on Wednesday filed an appeal in the Bombay High Court, challenging its earlier order rejecting her plea to delete obscene scenes from the controversial film Ek Chhoti Si Love Story.
The appeal is expected to come up for hearing before a division bench on Thursday.
The high court had last week dismissed Koirala's plea for deleting shots on the ground that the impugned scenes were integral part of the film.
Upset with the Mumbai high court’s verdict allowing filmmaker Shashilal Nair to release his controversial film Ek Chhotisi Love Story’ without any cuts last Friday, actress Manisha Koirala has taken her grievance to Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray.
The actress reportedly met Mr Thackeray at his residence ‘Matoshree’ in Bandra a couple of days ago.
Manisha is believed to have apprised him of the HC judgment and sought his intervention in her dispute with the filmmaker since it concerned ‘dignity of women’. Mr Thackeray apparently assured her that he would take ‘necessary’ action.
Manisha is also expected to meet the chairperson of the National Commission for Women, Poornima Advani, in New Delhi on Wednesday, sources said.
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RBI asks banks to meet 18 pc credit limit to agri sector
New Delhi,Wednesday, September 04, 2002: Reserve Bank has asked public sector banks to meet the 18 per cent credit limit to the agricultural sector but said there would be no relaxation if borrowers did not pay up loans in time.
"There has been two review meetings. Banks which have not been able to reach the 18 per cent limit have been asked to do so," RBI deputy governor Vepa Kamesan said on the sidelines of an annual conference on micro-finance here today.
Currently, banks are required to extend 40 per cent of their advances to the priority sector and 18 per cent to farm sector. In case of shortfall in meeting the agricultural target, banks can invest in RIDF bonds of Nabard to meet the stipulated limit.
Food credit, which is a measure of credit flow to agriculture sector, was growing less than 23 per cent while non-food credit to industry was growing by about 25 per cent till so far this fiscal.
Total bank credit till August end was at about Rs 6,54,000 crore, which was 23.7 per cent higher than the year-ago period.
"Majority of public sector banks have large network in rural areas. Why can't they meet it?" Kamesan said, adding the banks should continue to work in that manner and wherever room exists, they should fill the gaps.
Despite the drought in several agricultural areas, Kamesan said "credit to agriculture sector was reasonably satisfactory."
This was mainly achieved after banks started rescheduling loans to ailing farmers, at the directive of RBI.
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Kumaramangalam Birla eighth youngest billionaire: Fortune
New Delhi,Wednesday, September 04, 2002: Kumaramangalam Birla ranks the eighth youngest billionaire in the world in Fortune magazine ratings, pipping Australian media tycoon Richard Li with 2.1
billion dollars to his name against Li's 1.6 billion dollars.
Fortune has compiled a list of 40 richest people under 40 years of age and Birla is the only Indian among the top 10 billionaires, according to a statement here.
The list throws up another surprise: as many as 13 Asians make the grade with three billionaires from Japan, India and Hongkong in the top 10 and baby moghuls from China, Fortune said in a statement here.
The world's richest under 40 billionaire is Russian oil baron Mikhail Khodorkovsky with 7.2 billion dollars to his name, followed by Swiss Ernesto Bertarelli with 4.7 billion.
Also, the only woman millionaire in the United States is "pretty woman" Julia Roberts with 145 million dollars to her name while the lone woman outside the US who made it to the Fortune list is Mexican Maria Asuncion Aramburuzabala with 1.5 billion dollars.
"Today, mere millionaires stand no chance of making the list - it will take 136 million dollars to just match Wang Yusuo (at number 40) while a billion dollars will only just scrape into the top 15," the statement said.
"And to be the youngest on the list will take some early saving, because 25-year old British entrepreneur Reuben Singh is already worth 151 million dollars," it added.
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BCCI asks ICC to interact with players on sponsorship issue
Kolkata,Wednesday, September 04, 2002: After failing in its attempts to persuade top Indian cricketers, The Indian Cricket Board today washed off its hands on the contract issue asking the International Cricket Council to negotiate with the players currently in England.
As the battle of attrition continued between the players and cricket authorities, the Indian Cricket Board president Jagmohan Dalmiya wrote a letter to the ICC Chief Executive Malcolm Speed last evening requesting him to interact with the players before the crucial Oval Test.
"We do not have any negotiating power. So it is the best option that ICC speak directly to the players who are currently in England and ICC is also headquartered in London," Dalmiya told PTI today.
In his letter, Dalmiya said "it appears that the players are looking for some more clarifications and in view of paucity of time for the pre-tournament logistics a shorter route should be devised to provide the same."
The Board's latest move to involve ICC in the negotiations with the Indian cricketers to make them sign the controversial Players' Terms came after the cricketers failed to respond to the Board's letter two days ago and amidst reports that the players are contemplating legal action against the game's governing body.
Dalmiya also requested Speed to speak to the players before the start of the Oval Test which is extremely crucial from the Indian standpoint as the series is evenly poised at 1-1.
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India beat Pak 3-2 in Champions Trophy
COLOGNE: India defeated Pakistan 3-2 in a league match of the Champions Trophy hockey tournament here on Wednesday.
Result: India 3 (Prabhjot Singh 21st minute, Dilip Tirkey 34th, Gagan Ajit Singh 52nd) beat Pakistan 2 (Gazanfar Ali 23rd, Sohail Abbas 56th).
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India beat Australia 3-2 for their first victory
Cologne (Germany),Wednesday, September 04, 2002: India survived last minute scares to defeat Australia 3-2 and register their first victory in the Champions Trophy field hockey tournament here.
The World Cup runners-up Australia were themselves to blame on Tuesday for the defeat as they failed to score even once from the 16 penalty corners they received.
The Indian victory was possible due to some brilliant saving by goalkeeper Devesh Chouhan after the defence came under immense pressure following a 3-1 lead 16 minutes into the second half.
Chouhan managed ot thwart several attacks on the post as he came off the line early to deny the Australians more time to convert the penalty corners.
In the first ten minutes of the match, the Aussies earned two penalty corners but it was India who scored the first goal of the day off a penalty stroke in the 12th minute.
India earned the stroke when a Gagan Ajit Singh shot was saved by Aussie goalkeeper Martin Leon and as the forwards moved in for the rebound, they were tackled by the Australian defenders.
Jugraj Singh was on target with the stroke scooping to the left of the keeper to give India the lead.
Five minutes later, a counter-attack from the middle saw India increase their lead to 2-0.
Dhanraj Pillay picked up the ball in the midfield and passed it to Prabhjot Singh who flicked it for Deepak Thakur whose powerful shot beat Martin completely.
It was after that the errors started creeping into the Indian play and the pressure was so relentless that sometimes Pillay had to fall back to defend, thus cutting away some of the edge that India had in the attacks.
In the 19th minute, Scott Webster, playing attacking game, got one past the Indian goalkeeper for the first Australian goal. Webster trapped a neat pass in the circle and in the same movement slammed the ball into the post for a 2-1 scoreline.
At the break Australia had missed as many as six penalty corners.
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