Dakshnia Kannada district limps back to normalcy

MANGALORE, Oct 6: Eerie silence descended upon Mangalore city, Bantwal and Puttur towns in Dakshina Kannada district today which was rocked by violent incidents since Wednesday night that left more than 25 people injured.

Police had resorted to firing in the air, burst tear gas shells and ordering cane charge at various places on agitators who indulged in violent incidents. Violence erupted following an incident of a mini lorry, allegedly carrying cows to a slaughter house, hit a jeep at Kudroli in the city limits.

Today police did a mild cane charge on agitators in Puttur town who were forcing some shop owners to close down their establishments. Ten people had been arrested in this connection. Mangalore city also saw some minor stone pelting incident. However situation remained under control. Ban orders under 144 Cr P C remained in force in all the three places.

District in-charge minister B Nagaraja Shetty visited some sensitive areas in this city today.

The district observed bandh for the second day since yesterday which was called by the Sri Ram Sena whose activists today protested against the arrest of their leader Pramod Mutalik in Bababudangiri hills in Chikmagalur yesterday. He was arrested by the police on charges of making inflammatory speech in Belgaum last week. The other reason the pro-Hindu activists cited was ‘growing atrocities on Hindu community’ in the district.

With all modes of public transport including private and government bus service and autorickshaws were off the roads putting commuters into great hardship. The bandh was total as almost all shops, commercial establishments and cinema houses were closed down.

In view of the bandh, the district administration had declared a holiday for all colleges and schools in the city and at Bantwal today and tomorrow.

A top police official said that additional police force had been deployed in all sensitive areas in the city and in other places of the district to maintain law and order. The situation was now under control and it remained peaceful. District police force which was sent to Chikmagalur district to maintain peace in the sensitive Bababudangiri hills where Hindu organisations were taking out ‘Shobha Yatra’. Additional forces from Shimoga, Haveri and Shimoga districts had been requisitioned to maintain security in the district. (UNI)

Stringent guidelines for broadband service providers

NEW DELHI, Oct 6: To increase broadband connections from the current 17 lakhs in the country stringent laws have been put forth by the telecom regulator to ensure that service providers do not slacken on servicing the customers.

In all cases where payment towards installation charge and security deposit is taken and the broadband connection is not provided within 15 working days, a credit at the rate of Rs 10 per day, subject to a maximum of installation charge or equivalent usage allowance shall be given to the customer, at the time of issue of first bill, the regulator, Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) said.

The fault repair or restoration time should be the next working day or maximum within the next three working days.

If pending faults are not attended for three working days a rebate equivalent to seven days of minimum monthly charge or equivalent usage allowance will be paid by the operator.

For, faults Pending for more than 15 working days, rebate equivalent to one month of minimum monthly charge or equivalent usage allowance will be paid.

TRAI said if on any link(s)/route bandwidth utilisation exceeds 90 percent, then network is considered to have congestion. For this additional provisioning of Bandwidth on immediate basis, but not later than one month, is mandated.

The Broadband Policy issued by the Government in October, 2004 provides for fixation of the Quality of Service standards for Broadband Service by TRAI. At the time of issue of the Broadband Policy, Broadband connections in India were of the order of 50,000 only. This has crossed 17 lakhs connections by August, 2006.

Alongwith the increase in the numbers of customers, the numbers of consumer complaints pertaining to Broadband Services are also increasing. The analysis of complaints received by the Authority indicates the customers concern for fault repair, service provisioning, and network and billing related problems. To address customers_ concern and to create conditions for consumer satisfaction, a need is, therefore, felt to fix the Quality of Service benchmarks for Broadband.

The Authority had undertaken public consultation by releasing a Consultation Paper on May 23, 2006 and comments of stakeholders were sought by June 16, 2006. Open House Discussions with the stakeholders were held at Delhi on June 28, 2006.

After the Open House Discussions, a core group, consisting of representatives from COAI, AUSPI, ISPAI, BSNL, MTNL, VSNL, Spectranet and an independent Consultant, was formed to further deliberate on some of the issues relating to Quality of Service for Broadband.

The Authority considered the comments received from stakeholders during the consultation process and the deliberations of the core group while finalising the Quality of Service norms for Broadband.

The Authority after extensive deliberations decided to lay down the following Quality of Service Parameters and Benchmarks for Broadband Service. (UNI)

BJP fields Shahnawaz Hussain in
Bhagalpur, Rampal Singh in Vidisha

NEW DELHI, Oct 6: Former Union Minister Shahnawaz Hussain will be BJP’s candidate in the Bhagalpur Lok Sabha byelection, while Madhya Pradesh Public Health Engineering Minister Rampal Singh will contest the prestigious Vidisha Lok Sabha seat on the party ticket, ending speculations about fielding Maneka Gandhi’s son Varun Gandhi or Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s wife Rekha Singh.

Mr Hussain, considered as ‘the Muslim face of the BJP’ in Bihar was the Civil Aviation Minister in the Vajpayee government but had lost in the Kishanganj Lok Sabha seat in the last election.

The decision was taken at the BJP Central Election Committee which finalised candidates for byelections in MP, Bihar, Jharkhand and Orissa.

The party has not taken a final decision on fielding its nominee for Chimur byelection where its local unit is at loggerheads with the Shiv Sena.

The party has finally put at rest speculations about fielding Varun Gandhi from Vidisha as the local unit is strongly backing a local candidate in the seat where RSS has a strong following. The BJP has decided to field Mr Singh, an MLA belonging to powerful Rajput community, to take on former Chief Minister Uma Bharti, from where the party believes she will contest. Mr Singh represents Udaypura Assembly segment in Raisen district, which is also part of Vidisha constituency.

In Bada Malhera seat, the party has chosen Kapurchand Guwara, a new entrant to the party from the Jain community. He is a former MLA who has represented Communist Party and Congress and in the 2003 elections, he contested as an Independent securing 20,000 votes against Ms Bharti, who was then the BJP’s Chief Ministerial nominee.

In Koderma Lok Sabha constituency in Jharkhand, where former BJP Vice President Babulal Marandi is trying out his luck as a candidate of his own political outfit, the party has fielded Mr Pranav Kumar Verma.

For the Thelsera Assembly constituency in Orissa, the party has chosen Mr Sahdev Khaka. (UNI)

Western Fleet bids farewell to Admiral Prakash

MUMBAI, Oct 6: Outgoing Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Admiral, Arun Prakash today reiterated that "expansion & modernization" of the Navy will go ahead as per plans to transform the force into a strong maritime Blue Water Navy by 2015.

Addressing officers of the Western Naval Command at Sasson docks, he said the Indian Ocean was an "asset," having large deposits of oil and gas and offered large business opportunities. Hence, its protection was vital for the country.

"However, in the last few years, threats such as terrorrism, piracy and smuggling have increased on the sea front, which should be dealt strongly with the assistance of the Coast Guard other security agencies," the CNS, who will retire by the end of this month added.

He further said the government was fully aware of its commitments and needs of the Navy. As a result, efforts were being made to fulfill and upgrade the force into a vital force of the subcontinent.

At the same time, Admiral Prakash said the Indian Navy would function as a "peace time force" and will not hesitate to show its strength in the event of any challenge thrown upon the nation.

Earlier, in the morning, the CNS inspected the Western Fleet of the Indian Navy, which staged a ceremonial parade in his honour.

Admiral Prakash served the force for 42 years and had actively partcipated in the 1971 war with Pakistan where he was awarded a gallantry medal. (UNI)

All district headquarters will have medicine banks: Paswan

AZAMGARH, UP, Oct 6: All district headquarters in the country will have medicine banks from January, Union Cheminal and Fertilizer Minister Ram Vilas Paswan said today.

"All medicine companies having an annual turnover of Rs 4,000 crore would contribute for the medicine bank which will start functioning from January 1 next year," he said here.

Paswan said that medicines worth Rs 35,000 crore were being produced in the country.

With an aim to provide cancer drugs to the patients, he said that health cards would be issued for providing free cancer medicines to those living below poverty line and 50 per cent subsidy to others.

The price of life saving drugs would be fixed as per its production cost, he said adding that Government would have a control on its sale price.

All medicine wrappers would have a mention of its price both in Hindi and English besides date of manufacture and expiry to help the buyers.

Promising sops for the coming assembly elections in the state, he said in case his Lok Janshakti Party came to power it would issue health cards at the time of birth besides depositing Rs 2,000 to Rs 5,000 in bank for every girl child.

Paswan also said that Rajbhar caste would be included in the list of scheduled castes. (PTI)

Naveen for stamp on largest crocodile

BHUBANESWAR, Oct 6: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has requested Union Communication Minister Dayanidhi Maran to issue a postage stamp featuring the world’s largest crocodile in Orissa.

"Issue of the stamp will show the success of the State Government’s conservation project to protect crocodiles. I hope this will raise the level of awareness among people on the importance of conserving wildlife," Patnaik said on the occasion of a Wildlife Week celebration here today.

According to the latest count, around 1,460 crocodiles were spotted in rivers and creeks in and around Bhitarakanika National Park. Three of the reptiles measured above 20 feet, he said.

"In 1976, the number of estuarine crocodiles had dwindled to less than 100. Due to various conservation methods, their number has risen to 1,460 now," Patnaik said.

Quoting the Guinness Book of Records, he said the world’s largest crocodile, measuring over seven metres, was found in Bhitarkanika National Park.

Patnaik announced the state wildlife conservation award would be raised to Rs one lakh from Rs 50,000.

Noted ecologist Priyambada Hejmadi-Mohanty emphasised the need for better management of the growing population of estuarine crocodiles.

"Management of the crocodile population has already yielded success. The reptiles should be relocated for further propagation," she said. (PTI)

Mittal’s Rs 5 cr for Gandhi inst; PM lauds
‘fund-raiser’ Deora

MUMBAI, Oct 6: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today lauded Petroleum Minister Murli Deora for his fund-raising ability after hearing how the latter managed to wangle Rs five crore out of steel tycoon L N Mittal.

Singh was speaking at the opening of a centre of the Bharatiya Vidya Bhawan’s Gandhi Institute of Computer Education and Information Technology.

Deora, vice chairman of the Institute, said Mittal, who was present when Singh inaugurated the Institute in 1996, had agreed to donate Rs 5 crore to it.

"I showed him the photograph of that function where he is seen along with Singh and asked him to contribute for the institute’s activities. He has given Rs five crore," Deora said.

Deora also asked Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh to extend financial assistance to the Institute. "But I am not in any photograph," Deshmukh quipped. "Don’t worry, we will make sure you are there in the photo," Deora replied as Singh, Governor S M Krishna and others broke into a grin.

The Prime Minister said Deora’s ‘fund raising capabilities were well known’. "I am sure that he would be able to expand the number of the Institute’s centres to 50 soon", he said. (PTI)

India needs to sign NPT for nuke cooperation
with Europe: EU

NEW DELHI, Oct 6: The European Union today asked India to sign the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), saying this would open the doors for civil nuclear cooperation with European nations.

"The Parliament is calling on India to sign a treaty on the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons as it is an indispensable multi-lateral instrument for maintaining international security and stability," visiting EU Parliament president Josep Boreel Fontelles said in his address at the Indian Council of World Affairs here.

"Signing it would open the way to civil nuclear cooperation with Europe," he said.

Fontelles lauded India’s efforts to create a world without confrontation under the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM).

He said the world has not become multi-polar and "is still dominated by the super power-the US". He stressed the need for India and the EU to work together in creating a multi-polar world because both share the same democratic values.

"The same cannot be said of China and other countries. Neither the European Union nor India will like to see (the world being dominated) by the US or China," he said.

He hoped the upcoming India-EU summit on October 13 will provide new impetus to their relations and strengthen the stretegic partnership.

Referring to the Doha round of WTO talks, he said every possible effort should be made to reach an agreement.

However, he said even if the Doha talks fail, "we must be prepared to strenghten our relations any way". Fontelles also expressed confidence that EU-India trade will grow as the potential between the two sides was enormous.

India and the EU need to work together for international political stability, he said, identifying two areas of common interset-tackling terrorism and avoiding a "clash of civilizations".

He stressed that human rights must not be violated while tackling terrorism.

Lauding India for successfully avoiding a "clash of civlisations", Fontelles said the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi could play an important role in this regard.

The EU Parliament, he said, has decided to promote a dialogue between civilisations and sought the cooperation of other countries to achieve this goal. (PTI)

Cong to field 40 new faces in Punjab polls

CHANDIGARH, Oct 6: The Congress has decided to field 35 to 40 new faces in the coming assembly elections in Punjab keeping in mind the "winnability" factor and ruled out forging an alliance with the Left or the BSP.

"Keeping winnability as the criteria, the Congress is going to field between 35 to 40 new candidates in the ensuing assembly elections," Chief Minister Amarinder Singh told reporters here today.

As a result, several sitting MLAs and ministers may find their names missing from the list of Congress hopefuls in the February 2007 polls.

The Chief Minister said his party would not enter into an electoral alliance with the Left, including the CPI.

When reminded of state Congress chief Shamsher Singh Dullo statement that the party was open to an alliance with the Left, Singh said he held "similar views when he was unit president. At the last hustings, the Left paries have turned out to be of no use for the Congress".

He said the party was also not in favour of forging an alliance with the BSP in the state. "The BSP is a divided house in Punjab," he said.

He announced visiting all the 117 assembly constituencies of the state. "I will listen to problems of the people and redress these on the spot," he said.

His programme to visit every constituency and village would last for 38 days and would be over by December end. He would tour the constituencies on a special bus that would cover 150 km per day, the Chief Minister said. (PTI)

Articial limbs presented to land mine victims

CHANDIGARH, Oct 6: In an initiative aimed at providing succour to land mine casualties, Western Command Army chief Lt Gen Daljeet Singh today presented artificial limbs to 17 civilians, including three women, at Yol Cantonment in Himachal Pradesh.

Taking personal interest towards the welfare of those who had accidentally got affected by mine blasts, Gen Singh had directed the Artificial Limbs Centre, Command Hospital at Chandimandir to manufacture artificial limbs for these persons, an Army spokesman here said.

The rising Star Corps then sent these persons to the centre for measurement before manufacture of artificial limbs and the efforts of the centre, formations and the individuals have now fruitfully culminated into proper design and manufacture of properly fitting artificial limbs.

Earlier, the Army had also taken up the case of all theseland mine casualties with the Ministry of Defence for providing financial compensation.

Besides undertaking measures for civilian welfare and Border Area Development, the Army has always shown its concern to the civilians who suffered injuries due to land mines. Civilians are sometimes exposed to war like conditions due to various operations conducted by the Army.

The mines had been laid during Operation Parakram in certain important areas due to security requirements and circumstantial needs. Although the Army had made utomost efforts to retrieve these mines, certain mines got drifted due to vagaries of the weather and terain configuration resulting in injury to certain civilians residing in border areas when they ventured into these areas. (UNI)

‘No more unauthorised construction inside Jama Masjid’

NEW DELHI, Oct 6: Shahi Imam of Delhi’s historic Jama Masjid today gave an undertaking before the High Court that there would not be any further unauthorised construction inside the Moghul monument.

A Bench headed by Acting Chief Justice Vijender Jain, however, said that it would decide the fate of the existing unauthorised structure in the prescints of the shrine on the next date of hearing on November 17. (PTI)

Preparations underway for Ardh Kumb Mela 2007

ALLAHABAD, Oct 6: As the water levels of the Ganga and the Yamuna rivers recede, preparations for the auspicious Ardh Kumbh Mela 2007 have begun in Allahabad.

The mela, which is organised every three years at four different locations in India, attracts devotees from around the country.

A tent city on the sandy beach of the river Yamuna has been set up. Camping in these tents are the various government departments, including the public works department, power corporation, water works and health department. The government has set December 15 as the deadline for completion of the mela work.

The state government has sanctioned Rs 170 crore to the various departments for organising the mela. The divisional commissioner has ordered monitoring of the work done by various departments to ensure adequate transparency during verification and audit.

The mela covers an area of 1600 hectares of land and will be divided into 12 sectors, according to Mela officer Pragyan Ram Mishra.

Following a change of course by the river Ganga towards Jhusi, the mela will be held in the city side. Levelling of the land will be started soon, he said.

The mela administration has decided to construct fourteen phontoon bridges on the river Ganga, work for which has already started.

The mela administration could face the wrath of the sadhus and mahatamas following high pollution levels in river Ganga. The sadhus have warned to boycott the mela and taking of jal samadhi if the mela administration fails to provide them clean water in river Ganga by December 25 next.

The Allahabad High Court had ordered the release of adequate water from Tehri and Narora dams and taping of the drains which were directly falling in the river Ganga, thereby polluting it. But the government has yet to take action.In Allahabad alone, about 57 drains of the city lead to the Ganga and Yamuna rivers.

The saints, besides taping the drains, have also demanded closing of the tanneries in Kanpur, which they claim directly releases polluted water in the river.

According to Mr Mishra, an artificial pond on the bank of the Ganga river is being constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 80 lakh. He assured that not even a single drop of polluted water would be allowed to flow in the river after October 15 next. The drainage water would lead to this artificial pond, he said, ensuring that the bathers and devotees would get clean water during the Ardh Kumbh Mela.

The sadhus, however, have objected to the construction, calling it a temporary arrangement.

Days considered auspicious for taking a holy dip during the month-long mela include: January 3 (paush purnima), Janaury 14 (makar sankranti), January

19 (mauni amavashya, the most auspicious bathing day of the mela), January 23 (basant panchami), Febuary 2 (maghi poornima) and February 16 (maha shivratri).

The Indian Railways and the UP State Road Transport Corporation have decided to run special trains and buses during the mela. The police have also stepped up viligance following increased terror threats. (UNI)