Counting of Votes On Saturday

Will It Ease the Administration

Curtains will come down on the election process of Pune on Saturday with about 4,500 employees deployed for the counting work. This will be the first time in the history of Pune district that such a large number of employees will be deployed for the exercise.

Counting of all four constituencies — Pune, Maval, Shirur and Baramati, will take place at Shivajinagar godown on Saturday. The counting process will be over before the noon itself. But the Election Commission has ordered to depute maximum employees for the counting. That is why, for each constituency one thousand employees will be deputed. Till now, there were only three constituencies in the district.

District collector Chandrakant Dalvi on Thursday informed that the administration is ready to carry out the counting process. Counting boxes from all four constituencies are placed in the 20 godowns. A total of 508 rounds of counting of votes will take place, Dalvi said.'

For common citizens, it also means that administration will return to working mode, at its usual slow pace. All the functions of the administration were put on back burner for last two months in the garb of code of conduct. As much as the usual problem of water supply, which is an annual exercise for the administration is also on hold. There is acute shortage in the district of drinking water. But hardly anybody has paid heed to it.

Counting in Maharashtra will be held at 39 centres. “Counting will begin at 8.00 am and almost all the results are expected within 8 hours”, according to Debashish Chakraborty, Chief Electoral Officer of Maharashtra.

The exercise will begin with the counting of postal ballots followed by assembly wise counting of votes. These will later be aggregated to obtain the result for the Lok Sabha constituency. Counting of votes will take place for one or more Lok Sabha Constituencies at a particular counting centre.

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Wealth From the Waste

Only Remedy to Assuage the Problem of Garbage

Can the city dump its unserviceable lifestyle on the areas adjoining it. This question has been brought to forth by the strong agitation carried out by the residents of Uruli Devachi near Hadapsar. The villager of this small village are protesting against the garbage depot for last many years. The latest agitation is going on for four day in a row and today is the fifth day. But the issue has been overlooked by all and sundry. There have been even instances in the past where the water in the wells of the village has been proved to be contaminated with poisonous matters because of existence of garbage depot.

The garbage depot was first situated in Kothrud. But owing to the rising complaints from residents nearby, the Pune Municipal Corporation decided it to be shifted to Uruli Devachi. What was a problem essentially of city dwellers was sent to the villagers ho had nopart to play in it. After about a decade, the vicious effects of 1000 to 1200 tonnes of garbage being dumped daily are felt. Besides the pollution, it has also posed health hazards. Just three months ago, a fire started in the depot which lasted for more than a week. Demands were made in past with Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) authorities to rein in PMC.But MPCB has done little except issuing notices to PMC for “unscientifically” dumping the garbage.

Now that the garbage dumping has been stopped in Uruli Devachi, the heaps of garbage are piling up in the city. Complaints about the same have also been sounded. But one must look at the problem not through one side. City dwellers pride themselves and are always demanding for the new conveniences. But once their needs are fulfilled, these conveniences make a huge amount of garbage. And new trash dumps are always needed to put this waste. That's where the areas like Uruli Devachi come in. This area has been used as a dumping ground since 1983.

While Pune has developed multitudinously during last two decades, the adjoining parts of the city are best sites to develop housing and waste disposal as well. Fursungi, Vishrantwadi and such areas are looked upon as the best supporting land for the growing needs of citizens. You have industrial waste? dump it at Fursungi. You have drainage and human waste? Dump it in the rivers. This is the standard approach of civilized and democratic Puneites coming from all over the world. Nobody bothered to aks the villagers whether they want to accommodate the remains of human bodies, ash and decomposed food items, old and defunct parts of the machines that were engaged in building successful businesses, the dust and everything else that was thought not to be fit enough to keep in the city.

So this is the reason why the villagers are up in arms over the garbage issue. It is not about the rural versus urban divide. It is about arrogance versus existence. City's arrogance has reached its threshold and existence of the areas near cities is in question. The remedy? I am tool little and uninformed to suggest a remedy over this much big a problem. But it will be always good if we can find a way to create wealth from waste!

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A. R. Rahman To Start His World Concert from Pune

Jai Ho Flag Hoisted At MIT

Oscar winner A. R. Rahman will start his world tour from Pune. The musician known 'Isai Puyal' (Musical Storm) was in the city today. He addressed a press conference in which he announce the program of the concert aptly titled 'Jai Ho' concert. The program will take place at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Stadium in Balewadi and will be the first public concert of Rahman in Maharashtra.

Rahman also unfurled Jai Ho flag in front of the students of MAEER's MIT. Rahman said, "Pune is known as the cultural and educational centre. I wanted to have a program in the city for long." He especially mentioned Pandit Bhimsen Joshi and Lata Mangeshkar as the personalities who have graced Pune. The proceeds of the concert will go to Lata Mangeshkar Foundation and Shri Kshetra Dehu-Alandi Vikas Samiti, which is responsible for the development works in Dehu and Alandi.
Rahman's show will take place in Pune on May 31st।SInger Hariharan, Sadhana Sargam and others will take part in it। This will also mark the start of his world tour. Rahman's show is hosted by MAEER"S MIT headed by Vishwanath Karad.

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Jeffrey Archer to Visit India Again

Celebrated writer Jeffrey Archer is to visit India and possibly also Pune again this month. The visit follows last year's visit which Archer had described as 'overwhelming'.

PTI has reported that Archer is coming here to promote his new book 'Paths of Glory.' The trip is organized by 'Landmark' and presented by Citibank.

Archer would catch up with fans at Landmark stores across Gurgaon, Chennai, Mumbai, Pune and Bangalore on his week-long trip from May 11 to promote his new book. Archer, 70 was on his first trip to India as part of the ‘Landmark Jeffrey Archer Tour’.

He had come to Pune on May 22-23. He had said that he was charmed by the city but was surprised by the traffic.

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Checking Influenza H1N1

Doctors Put At International Airport

Even though Pune authorities say that there is no fear of swine flu, which is now called Influenza A (H1N1) spreading in Pune, the government does not want to take any chance. A team of doctors is put up at the Pune International Airport. It is expected that all persons coming from America, Canada, Mexico will be checked for the infection.

According to J. P. Mathur, director of Pune airport, a team of doctor from central governments health scheme was present at the airport from May 1. Now the team from Sate government has been appointed at the airport. The team will be working in various shifts round the clock at the airport.

Dr. P D Adling, who is a part of the team told, “At present we have a team of 10 doctors, 12 nursing staff and 4 servants who will be examining the suspects. As there are cases from America, Canada and Mexico our focus is on foreigners. While boarding the international flight all the passengers are given a form in which they have to fill up the details of their health.

Meanwhile, the central government has directed all state governments to carry out checks for Swine Flu infections. As a part of prohibitive steps, it has been suggested all the poultries and pig farms in the state should be registered with Animal Husbandry department rather than agriculture department. This will enable the department to carry out routine checks on the animals.

However, the proposal is not new. It was put up three years ago when the Bird Flu hit India in 2006. Vasant Ramteke, additional commissioner of Animal Husbandry department told Pune Mirror, “A committee is being formed in this regard. The new rules for the registration of the poultries and pig farms will be framed based on the recommendation of the committee.”

Meanwhile, the central government has issued directions to all state governments with regard to measures against Swine Flu. This includes checking the places where pet and stray pigs are found. The abattoirs will also be checked by the department. On asked whether the piggeries are registered in the state with Animal Husbandry department, Ramteke said that pork consumed in the state come mostly from local breed. “Mostly a group of about 10 to 15 pigs are reared. It is not organised in the profession manner. Hence, there is no question of registering the piggeries,” he said.

Local officials have rejected the idea of any threat of Influenza A (H1N1). According to the Pune Municipal Corporation officials, hardly any imported pork is consumed in Pune. Therefore the the risk is minimal.

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Cong. NCP Alliance in Jeopardy

Mudslinging Continues from Both Sides

Can Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party part ways? That is a question on the mind of everyone watching Maharashtra politics. As the war of words intensifies between two coalition partners, the situation is fast heading towards a five cornered fight in the ensuing Legislature elections four months later.

Congress today came in with hard words towards NCP. It asked NCP to introspect on whether its senior leaders had worked for or against Congress candidates recently concluded Lok Sabha elections in the state. Manikrao Thakre, state chief of Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC)has sent a letter to the NCP president R R Patil. He has asked in the letter that air of confusion between the two coalition partners must be cleared first. This came as a response to some harsh comments from NCP leaders in the state.

Issue arose over the some candidates. For example, in Mumbai North Central, NCP leader Nawab Malik was instrumental in putting up the candidature of Bhaijan on BSP ticket against Congress candidate Priya Dutt. Home Minister Jayant Patil had allegedly backed Congress rebel Ajit Ghorpade against party nominee Prateek Patil in Sangli. Tribal Development Minister Vijaykumar Gavit had put up his brother on Samajwadi party ticket against Congress candidate Manikrao Gavit in Nandurbar whereas Ajit Pawar had stayed away from Suresh Kalmadi's campaign in Pune.

The debate has flared up after chief minister Ashok Chavan, gave ultimatum to cabinet minister for Non-Conventional Energy Vinay Kore to quit the government for supporting candidates of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, party led by Raj Thackerey. Since MNS is perceived as a party dividing citizens between Maharashtrians and North Indians, Congress can never have an truck with it. There was also one more reason. Jan Surajya Party, led by Kore fielded two candidates in Marathwada for Lok Sabha elections. These candidates were fielded in Nanded and Latur, two constituencies represented by current and ex-chief ministers.

This strategy was seen as ploy by leaders of western Maharashtra to undermine the leadership of Marathwada. After Chavan's ultimatum, Kore had dared him by saying that Jansurajya Party was free to take any decision as there was no policy decision taken by Congress-NCP and alliance front government in Maharashtra for the ongoing general polls. Jan Surajya Party had supported Raj Thackeray-led MNS South Mumbai Lok Sabha candidate Bala Nandgaonkar.

Kore had even said that the ministership was given to him through NCP quota. Hence any decision about his ministership was to be made by NCP president Sharad Pawar and state party president R R Patil.

In the just concluded meeting of district Congress chiefs, NCP came under fire for not co-operating with the candidates of Congress. They district chiefs even advocated fiercely going solo for the Legislature elections. That has reallyl put the Ten year old alliance into jeopardy. The dynamics of the alliance are such that no leader from either side wants to continue it. It was some smart bargaining on the part of Sharad Pawar, which forced Congress leadership in the center to forge an alliance with the broke away party.

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First French Movie

Thanks to NFAI, I Could Watch It

First time in my life, I watched a French movie a day before yesterday. It was a beautiful movie telling a story of two young girls with dreams in their eyes. Though I understand French a little, it was easy to understand the movie because of subtitles.

French films are screened in Pune time and again but I do not get a chance see them. For one reason or another, I have always missed the bus. This time round also, I could not go to the all movies because of office timings. It was a chance holiday on May 1 that enabled me to attend the screening. There was a motley group of about 100 people to see the film. Although, I doubt how many of them came out of the love of French language because as far as I could see, the majority of them were from Film and Television Institute of India.

The movie was a part of the French film festivals organized in Pune by National Film Archives of India with the co-operation of Embassy of France in India. La vie rêvée des anges, that was the title of the movie. The film festival started on May 1 and will go on till tomorrow.

Before the start of the festival, India and France signed an agreement to donate 234 films to India. The films are donated from the library of embassy of France to NFAI.

All these films are produced in France. An agreement to this effect was signed on April 30 at NFAI by Philippe Martinet, Cultural Counsellor, Embassy of France and Vijay Jadhav, Director, NFAI will sign the agreement.

This is one more time that NFAI will get a treasure of French movies. In 2003 also 88 films were handed over to NFAI by Embassy of France. Before that, Earlier, in 1998, the Embassy of France donated 29 films to the National Film Archives of India.

Under the agreement, these films will be preserved at NFAI. They will have non-commercial screenings, research and studies. An embassy press release said that the Embassy of France in India is committed to strengthening the relations between cultural institutions of our two countries towards achieving this goal.

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