|
|
Energy-efficient buildings: Haryana takes the lead NEW DELHI, Aug 8: With 70 per cent construction activity yet to take place in Gurgaon, the fast developing satellite township near Delhi, the Haryana ...more "Some influential CHANDIGARH, Aug 8: Claiming that her husband R K Sharma, prime suspect in the journalist Shivani Bhatnagar murder...more Manjula
Narasimhan: dancing to her NEW DELHI, Aug 8: Dancer, mother, doctor, wife, teacher and entrepreneur. Manjula Narasimhan might as well add.....more Himachal
Police denies SHIMLA, Aug 8: The Himachal Police today said it had not conducted any raids in Solan or Una districts to locate.....more |
|
Tohra stands by DSGMC NEW DELHI, Aug 8: Sarb Hind Akali Dal (SHAD) president Gurcharn Singh Tohra today recognised Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti as Akal ....more Mohini
Giri, others urge NEW DELHI, Aug 8: Even as the full Election Commission leaves for Ahmedabad this evening for a first hand assessment of the situation in the .....more Gangs
of thieves JALANDHAR, Aug 8: The district police today claimed to have busted gang of thieves with the arrest of twelve persons and recovery of three. ....more Vaiko’s house, CHENNAI, Aug 8: Following up on his arrest under POTA, Tamil Nadu police today raided two.......more |
 |
|
|
|
Energy-efficient buildings: Haryana takes the lead NEW DELHI, Aug 8: With 70 per cent construction activity yet to take place in Gurgaon, the fast developing satellite township near Delhi, the Haryana Government, with the support of a European Commission (EU) programme, has started a project to promote construction of energy-efficient buildings — which would consume 40 per cent less energy than conventional buildings. First of its kind in the country, the project is being implemented by the Haryana Energy Development Agency (HAREDA) in collaboration with EU’s Asia URBs programme which promotes partnership between local Governments in Asia and Europe and enables them to exchange their experience in urban development activities. The programme involves three local Governments, two from EU and one from Asia. HAREDA, in association with the Tata Energy Research Institute (TERI), is the Asian Partner and Institut Catala D’ Energia (ICAEN), Barcelona, Spain and Merton Council, UK, the EU partners, are working to promote sustainable building design based on energy conservation, energy-efficiency and renewable energy, technology in the town. "Under this project, ICEAN, MERTON, HAREDA and local authorities of Gurgaon shall collaborate in transferring skill and knowledge about sustainable building design and incorporation of renewable energy in buildings," say HAREDA officials. The design of buildings would incorporate solar passive techniques which would minimise load on conventional systems of lighting and Heating, Ventilation and Air-Conditioning (HVAC) and use low energy materials. The 715,710 euro project also aims to develop a communication strategy for local authorities on how to engage the private sector and the local community in adopting sustainable energy options in buildings and homes, they say. TERI, which has set up a resource-efficient TERI retreat for environmental awareness and training in Gurgaon, is the technical advisor for the project. "Energy consumption in new energy-efficient buildings could be upto 40 per cent less than conventional buildings," says a teri expert adding, "in existing buildings, with modifications in lighting and HAVc systems, energy consumption could come down by 20 per cent." The project also aims to raise awareness and strengthen the capacity of builders, engineers and architects to implement sustainable measures in new existing building. Out of the total cost of 715,710 euros, EU is contributing 65 per cent of the project cost and ICAEN, MERTON and HAREDA, 35 per cent. The EU grant in aid to HAREDA and TERI is 127,332.50 euro. The two-year project is assessing the need of planners and builders. It is also assessing the existing practice in building design, policy and institutional set up. Based on the assessment of needs, a manual would be developed on sustainable building design, containing guidelines for local authorities on cost-effective policies and programmes for introducing and implementing in building under their jurisdiction, methodologies and practices for engagement with groups and local communities and comprehensive methods for sustainable options, including renewable energy and energy -efficiency in building designs, hareda officials say. The manual would be designed in such a way that it would be relevant universally for Asian as well as European cities. Initiatives would be taken to market the manual extensively three training programmes for planners and builders would also be held in Gurgaon, Merton and Barcelona. For implementation of the project, the Haryana Government has set up a committee, under the chairperson of Financial Commissioner and Principal Secretary. The committee includes officials of HAREDA, Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA), Gurgaon Local Authority, official of Union Urban Development Ministry and a TERI representative. To review the progress of the project from time to time, the State Government has set up a steering committee, under the chairmanship of the Chief Secretary. The committee consists of Principal Secretary to Haryana Chief Minister O P Chautala, Financial Commissioner and Principal Secretary, Haryana Government, HAREDA officials, Joint Secretary, Urban Development Ministry and a representative of TERI. After the completion of the project, the State Government would consider changing building bylaws to replicate the ‘Gurgaon model’ in other areas of the state. (PTI) |
|
"Some influential persons" want to frame R K Sharma: Madhu CHANDIGARH, Aug 8: Claiming that her husband R K Sharma, prime suspect in the journalist Shivani Bhatnagar murder case, is "totally innocent", Madhu Sharma today alleged that "some influential person" was keen to frame him and demanded a CBI probe to unravel the "truth". Even as Delhi police was hunting for the Haryana IG (Prisons), Madhu addressed a press conference here but refused to take any questions. Flanked by her two daughters and surrounded by her lawyers and well-wishers, Madhu just got up after making her statement in which she blamed the police and media of "tarnishing" the image of her husband and family. She said she could not take questions on advise of her lawyers and parried a query by a journalist as to why she was avoiding questions. Occasionally she became emotional when she recalled media reports that she attempted suicide because her relations with her husband had deteriorated. Seeking intervention of the Prime Minister, Madhu said "I appeal through you to the Prime Minister to please intervene and restrain the Union Home Ministry and Delhi Police from targeting my husband who is being made a scapegoat to save somebody." Madhu insisted that her husband was not "absconding" but was "keeping away" because of apprehension that he might be "tortured and made to do things which others (arrested accused) have been made to do". She did not name anybody. "It is a bigger game. Somebody influential and important wants things to be done at great speed. Somebody is behind this unprecedented haste and desperate action," Madhu said, adding "somebody wants to save himself and is pushing Sharma into it." Claiming that R K Sharma had "always cooperated" in the inquiry whenever notices were issued to him, she said "it is absolutely ridiculous that he should be declared absconder within three days." "Why is he absconding or running away? because the entire administrative machinery is against him," she charged and sought intervention of Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee to "restrain the Home Ministry and Delhi Police game." Alleging that the "decorated police officer" was being made a "scapegoat", she demanded the case be transferred to the CBI so that "truth" is unravelled. Claiming that her daughter was abducted before the murder of Shivani Bhatnagar on January 23, 1999 and the family continued to receive threatening calls even after the killing, Madhu said the then Delhi Police Commissioner was apprised of it but nothing was done. "I fear the next murder is going to be of my family," she said. She said she would fax evidence to president A P J Abdul Kalam and Chief Justice of India B N Kirpal to support her contention. Madhu attacked the media for alleged "misreporting" and repeatedly projecting her husband as "India’s most wanted man". She also took exception to reports that she had attempted to commit suicide. "My family life is in a shambles," she said in a voice choked with emotion. She said Sharma was being cornered "like a rat" and that he was looking for legal help. Reacting sharply to the issuance of non-bailable warrant and declaration of a reward for Sharma’s arrest, she asked "has my husband become the most-wanted man just because of the alleged statements by one person in police custody?" "Is he a national threat? will he blow up India,?" she asked, adding "hang my husband if he is found guilty. But please do not make him a scapegoat". Describing herself as an "anguished wife", Madhu said the nation should be proud of her husband’s track record as he was the only Indian officer "selected by the Interpol directly." (PTI) |
|
Manjula Narasimhan: dancing to her own tunes NEW DELHI, Aug 8: Dancer, mother, doctor, wife, teacher and entrepreneur. Manjula Narasimhan might as well add juggling to her list of qualifications, for all the finesse and skills she handles the myriad roles in her life with. Born in India, she shifted to Geneva at the tender age of five when her parents started working for the United Sations. But they made sure that a change of place did not mean a change of heart. Little Manjula came to India, unfailingly, every summer and those visits sparked off a love affair that continues even today- a love affair with Bharatnatyam. "My parents made sure that I came down every summer to learn dance, first under the late Swarna Saraswati, then Kuttalam Ganehsam Pillai, Chitra Vishwesharan and finally to my present Guru, Sudharani Raghupathy," she says. Irrespective of her educational qualifications, which include a bachelor’s degree in physics from Byrn Mawr College (USA) and a Doctorate in Chemistry from the University of York (UK) and are impressive to say the least, Bharatnatyam remains her true passion. "I am a director in a biotechnology and venture capital company in Switzerland, but that is just a job. My dance is my life, my passion," she exults. In the capital last week for the release of her book on Bharatnatyam by the same name, as well as for a dance performance, Narasimhan is visibly excited when she talks about the book and her reasons for writing it. "So many people in Europe equate Bharatnatyam with oriental belly-dancing, I wanted to get rid of those ideas," she says. "There are so many dance schools in Europe which claim to teach Bharatnatyam, but if you ask any of the teachers there about the intricacies of Bharatnatyam, they will feign ignorance," she says, adding the lack of knowledge among so called scholars even in India was "appalling". The book, a beautifully designed 175-page creation is an attempt to simplify the complex and ancient art and chronicle its progress from the primitive times to its present Avtaar. "There are a lot of misconceptions about this art and I feel it is my duty to get rid of them. This book was released in Eurpope by Adam Biro, who is the top publisher of art books in France and its release coincided with the opening of an exhibition on Bharatnayam in Geneva," she informs, her eyes sparkling as she talks of her attempts to popularise the art. The exhibition, which chronicles Bharatnatyam through pictures and images also features a recreation of the thousand pillared hall in the Nataraja Temple in Chidambaram, on which are engraved all the Mudras used in the dance. Narasimhan runs a dancing school herself in her hometown near Geneva by the name of Silambam, which is an alliance of Ragupathy’s dance school shree Bharatalaya in Chennai. "I enjoy teaching whatever I have learnt, especially because my students are not just Indians, they are of all nationalities and ages, and they all react to Bharatnatyam in different ways," she says. Married to a swiss national, Manjula still retains her fathers name, because she doesn’t want to lose that "part" of her personality. Her three children, Ananda, Anjali and Akshay are clearly the apple of her eye and the book is dedicated to them. "Of all my undertakings, one thing that has taught me most about myself is motherhood. It is to thank my three children for having come into my life that I have written this book, so that when they look back, they can remember something their mother loved," she writes in the book. And her love for the dance certainly shows through even now. "I dance for six to eight hours at a stretch when I come here, and I do not feel tired for one moment. It recharges my batteries and refreshes me like nothing else," she says. Having also released a two-CD collection of dance and music in Geneva a couple of years ago, she is all set to take her efforts all around the world. "I hope that I can help to popularise Bharatnatyam and make people appreciate it for what it really is, not just some kind of oriental belly dancing or an exotic dance. It has historical and cultural depth to it that not many dance forms can boast of," she declares. She is also keen that the dance community in India learns to accept artistes from abroad as a part of the community. "Too often I am dismissed as someone who comes once a year, performs and goes back to the business of living my life," she laments. "The dance community in India has to accept us as dancers who put in as much of an effort as they do and have an equal amount of passion for the art." A recepient of many awards, Manjula has been honuoured with Tamil Nadu’s highest honour for artistes, the Kalaimamani Tamil Nadu State Award. However, Manjula says all these honours make little difference to her. "All I want is to dance for the rest of my life." (PTI) |
|
|
|
Gangs of thieves busted, 12 arrested JALANDHAR, Aug 8: The district police today claimed to have busted gang of thieves with the arrest of twelve persons and recovery of three country-made revolvers and stolen properties including three two wheelers. The Jalandhar Police chief, Paramjit Singh Gill stated here today that on receipt of specific information yesterday that a group of persons armed with deadly weapons were gathered in Panj Peer, Kang Kalan and were conspiring to commit a crime, police party raided the place and arrested as many as seven persons. The arrested persons were identified as Baldev Singh alias Deva, Avtar Chand alias Bobby, Sukhbir Singh alias Nikka, Jagtar Singh alias Tara, Mohinder Pal, Jasbir Singh alias Budhu and Prema, Gill said adding that three country-made revolvers of 12 bore with five cartridges and four sprint knives along with other stolen properties including three two wheelers were recovered from their possession. One more alleged thef namely Manoj Bhaskar, was also arrested by the police party when they put the naka at T-point Aujla Dhak, and found the accused trying to escape after seeing the police, he said adding that several stolen gold ornaments have been recovered from him. Phillaur Police has also succeeded in arresting a woman namely Kashmir Kaur and stolen gold ornaments worth Rs 29,000 were recovered from her possession, Gill added. In another successful attempt to nab the alleged criminals, police party of Sadar Police Station arrested three persons for allegedly indulging in the business of pirated CDs, Gill said adding that the arrested persons were Balank Ram, Ranbir Singh and Anil Kumar Gill, SSP said. Huge quantity of pirated VCDs were recovered from them, he added. (PTI) |
|
||
Vaiko’s house, party office raided CHENNAI, Aug 8: Following up on his arrest under POTA, Tamil Nadu police today raided two houses of MDMK leader Vaiko and party offices here and in Madurai looking for possible evidence connecting him to his full-throated support of the banned organisation LTTE. In all 12 raids were carried out including some on the residences of other MDMK activists when the police is said to have seized some audio and video cassettes, pamphlets and income tax statements from Vaiko’s residence and party office here. A ‘Q’ branch team of Tamil Nadu police also went to the New Delhi residence of Vaiko, an MP, but did not raid it, Delhi Police sources said. Besides, the city residence and one at Kalingapatti in Tirunelveli and party offices here and at Madurai, the ‘Q’ branch, which has been entrusted with investigation of the POTA detenues, also raided the houses of eight other MDMK activists, who had been arrested under the Act. The raids in the city which started at 7.50 am was completed at 1.45 pm. The city police was out in large numbers during the raids to maintain law and order. Vaiko was arrested under POTA on July 11 for making speeches allegedly supporting the banned LTTE during a public meeting at Tirumangalam in Madurai district on June 29. Yesterday a Designated POTA Judge had extended the judicial remand of Vaiko and six MDMK activists till September 4 and remanded two others to judicial custody for three days. Talking to reporters at the party office here this evening, MDMK spokesman Nanmaran claimed that "the raiding party got nothing which proves that the cases are false". The ‘Q’ branch had seized audio tapes of the speeches made by Vaiko during the campaign for the May 2001 state Assembly polls, some video cassettes, a few pamphlets printed after Vaiko’s arrest and income tax returns for the last seven assessment years, police said. Vaiko’s Personal Assistant Arunagiri told mediapersons at the residence that the ‘Q’ branch had taken away some VCD’s and audio tapes. The tapes also contained a speech by Vaiko at the Human Rights Commission in Geneva. Stating that raiding party had given receipts for the items taken out of the residence, he said family members had fully cooperated with the ‘Q’ branch. Earlier, MDMK workers stationed outside the residence checked the six member raiding party, including a woman, before they entered the residence. No one was permitted into the house without being frisked. Vaiko’s wife and son were in the house when the raids took place. A party activist said the checking was being carried out to ensure that "nothing" was being taken inside.(PTI) |
||
|
||
|
| home | state | national | business| editorial | advertisement | sports | |
