Baggit eyes Rs 50 cr turnover; plans to open 50 stores

MUMBAI, Aug 3: Mumbai-based premium brand of bags, Baggit, is eyeing a turnover of Rs 50 crore, as it plans to roll-out 50 stores, in the next three years, a top company official said.

"Baggit is also planning another manufacturing unit in the next two years at Khatar Kadak near Pune," Baggit’s owner Nina Lekhi told PTI.

"We are planning for another manufacturing unit in Khatar Kadak for which we will be investing around Rs 2.5 crore," she said.

"We are also planning to raise some money through the banks for our expansion plans. However, she declined to give the exact figures saying that we keep raising money from the banks as and when needed," she said.

"Presently, we have a turnover of around Rs 15 crore, with eight stores operational," she said adding "we will have 50 stores across the country in the next three years and expect to have a turnover of Rs 50 crore."

In the next one month, three more stores will be coming up in Bangalore, Delhi and Mumbai, she said.

The size of the stores varies from 450 sq ft to 600 sq ft, she added.

Baggit has also imported some automated machines from Italy and China, for its manufacturing unit at Lalbaug, in Mumbai.

Baggit presently, manufactures around 1,20,000 bags and 4,00,000 accessories per annum, she said.

Speaking on overseas foray she said, "We got some enquiries from Dubai and Canada but we did not go ahead since at this point we want to focus in India. However, we have plans to foray overseas after around three to four years," she added. (PTI)

Info on pvt properties of royals subject to restrictions

NEW DELHI, Aug 3: Information relating to the private properties of erstwhile royal families can only be disclosed if Parliament decides that it will not lead to breach of privilege, the Central Information Commission has said.

The decision of the CIC came on an application filed under Right to Information Act seeking details with regard to the property - Saheliyon-Ki-Bari - which was the private property of erstwhile Maharaja of Udaipur in Rajasthan.

Taking into consideration that the disclosure of information sought in the present application will not, in view of the Lok Sabha Speaker, breach the exemption from disclosure, the CIC said the information relating to the private property in question is to be provided to the applicant.

Basant Lal Singhvi had sought details about Saheliyon -Ki-Bari, the private property which remained with the rulers at the time of accession and information regarding it was denied in 1967 by the Home Minister in Parliament.

The CIC had requested Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee to consider the issue and decide as to whether it would be a breach of privilege if the information, which has been refused to Parliament by the Executive at one point of time, is now disclosed to an applicant under the RTI Act.

The panel headed by Chief Information Commissioner Wajahat Habibullah delivered its finding after noting the response of Lok Sabha Secretariat.

The Secretariat had informed the Commission that "the principle (details of ... Private property of the ruler should not be a matter of public disclosure) on which information was was denied to Parliament does not appear to be applicable to Saheliyon-Ki-Bari, which as per the admission of the Government is a state property."

The information seeker had also contended that the incident being more than 20 years old must be disclosed under the provisions of the RTI Act.

However, the Commission clearly said that the information relating to an incident or event which had occurred 20 years earlier cannot be disclosed if it is decided that the disclosure amounts to the breach of privilege of Parliament.

Even the Lok Sabha Secretariat said, "It seems to be debatable whether provisions of Right to Information Act may be invoked under these circumstances." (PTI)

Take care of your pets they too run heart attack risk

NEW DELHI, Aug 3: Humans have heart attacks not dogs! Well, new global research has poured cold water on the belief by pointing out that heart disease affects one in four dogs over the age of seven.

Statistics reveal that 50 per cent of dog owners lack knowledge that their pets may be at the risk of heart failure and calls for educating owners on the means to recognise the disease and maintain the health of their animal friends.

The new data were also presented at the 29^th World Veterinary Congress that shows that dogs with congestive heart failure (CHF) that is due to a condition called myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) live longer when treated with pimobendan (Vetmedin®) compared with a commonly used ACE inhibitor.

The results of the QUEST trial, the largest international study of its kind to be conducted amongst dogs with congestive heart failure, are due to be published in the Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine (JVIM) later this year, according to a release issued by Asianet.

The survey was conducted in May 2008, amongst 1,531 dog owners in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, UK and US.

The statistics indicate a critical need to raise general awareness about congestive heart failure in dogs. If more dog owners are aware of the disease and the signs to look out for in their pet, heart failure could be detected and treated at an earlier stage, allowing for timely management and a potentially longer and more comfortable life for their dog, says the research.

The condition myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) accounts for approximately 75 per cent of all cases of CHF in dogs.

MMVD is associated with the thickening of the cusps of the mitral valve (one of the main one-way valves within the heart), affecting the flow of blood from the heart to the rest of the body. Although there is no cure for CHF due to MMVD, there are treatments available to manage the condition, improving the quality and length of the dog’s life).

Professor Jens Haggstrom, lead investigator of the QUEST trial from the University of Uppsala, Sweden, comments, "The QUEST trial is a significant milestone in our efforts to reassure both veterinarians and dog owners, that there is compelling evidence to show that pimobendan is an effective treatment for CHF that prolongs their dog’s life and provides the pet and owner with more quality time together."

The QUEST trial was a randomised, positive-controlled, multi-centre trial conducted at 28 sites across 11 countries, and is the largest study of its kind ever conducted in veterinary cardiology. (PTI)

India to soon get global navigation system for ISRO, AAI

NEW DELHI, Aug 3: India will soon acquire a comprehensive global navigation satellite system to meet the requirements of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and Airports Authority of India (AAI).

"India has tied up recently with US aerospace major Raytheon Company for the final phase of its ambitious Global Positioning Satellite-Aided Geosynchronous Augmented Navigation System (GAGAN)," said Andy Zogg, the company’s vice president of Airspace Management and Homeland Security.

GAGAN will provide satellite-based navigation for civil aviation across South and East Asia, which will provide India with "the most accurate, flexible and efficient" air navigation system deployed.

"Raytheon looks forward to continuing our collaborative relationship with ISRO and AAI during this critical phase of GAGAN. We are committed to a thorough transfer of knowledge of the GAGAN system to further enhance India’s leadership position in air navigation," Zogg said.

A Raytheon team will be reaching India soon to deliver the solution and to leverage its experience gained during the past several years in deploying the technology demonstration system phase of GAGAN.
"The GAGAN design is based on the experience gained delivering the only certified space-based augmentation system. For instance, the Wide Area Augmentation System was certified by the US Federal Aviation Administration in July 2003, and the MTSAT Satellite Augmentation System was certified by the Japanese Civil Aviation Bureau in September 2007," Zogg said.

Raytheon has already teamed up with Accord Software Systems from Bangalore for GPS-based user-receiver prototype development optimised for the equatorial region.

Another Indian team member in the project would be Elcome Technologies from Gurgaon for logistical and on-site support.

Washington-based Naverus Inc. Would be the third team member for performance-based navigation route design, procedure flight validation and other related services. (PTI)

ASI to face-lift historical monuments ahead of CW games

NEW DELHI, Aug 3: An internationally enhanced triad of World Heritage Sites—Red Fort, Qutab Minar and Humayun’s Tomb—along with 43 other historical monuments in the capital will play host to the visitors during the sporting extravaganza of 2010 Commonwealth Games.

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has set the ball rolling to beautify, conserve and bring about a "visual uniformity" with international standards, to all these monuments in the national capital with a focus on the three World Heritage Sites, Superintending Archaeologist for ASI, Delhi Circle, K K Muhammed told PTI.

Special efforts are being taken to install signage and public convenience facilities at these sites. The new and decorative signage, which display the monument’s history and relevance will be made on international standards so that the visitors—are treated the best.

The ASI will also build and spruce up toilets to world standards. A budget of Rs 25 crore has been envisaged for the entire project, he said.

Prominent among the monuments which represent the cultural heritage of the country and are being specially conserved for the Commonwealth Games are Sher Shah Gate, Arab-ki-Sarai, Safdarjung Tomb complex, Khuni Darwaza, Ajmeri Gate, Jantar Mantar complex, Kotla Feroz Shah, Dadi Poti, Tughluqabad Fort, Adilabad Fort, Teen Burji, Siri Fort Wall, Ugrasen-ki-Baoli and Delhi Gate.

While the boundary walls of the Red Fort, Qutab Minar and Humayun’s Tomb are being spruced up as part of the monumental conservation, the lawns of these world renowned heritages are also being "returfed". Major work is also being carried out at the Kotla Feroz Shah.

The department is also addressing the issue of encroachments on various monuments and in their vicinity areas, Muhammed said.

Public amenities and conveniences would be taken care of as a lot of visitors will throng Delhi during the sporting spectacle in the capital.

"However, the criteria of ticketed and non-ticketed monuments along with ticket fares would probably remain the same," he said.

The capital has 174 historical monuments in all with seven ticketed monuments, five museums and three World Heritage Sites. (PTI)

Corp prefers nil revenue under fine system to make
city clean

CHENNAI, Aug 3: Just two months since it launched a concerted drive to make the city clean, Chennai Corporation has netted Rs 13 lakh by way of fine on defaulters, but its Mayor prefers zero revenue and voluntary compliance of the drive to make the city garbage-free.

A ‘unique’ initiative which came into force on June 1, the levy of fine on citizens for dumping debris and waste in open and public places of the metropolis has indeed turned out to be a good reveue generator for the corporation, which manages the city under 10 different zones.

"We have collected Rs 13 lakh as fine in the last two months ever since the the system was introduced to make Chennai a cleaner city," Mayor M Subramaniam told PTI here.

"But we did not implement the fine system to make money as it was aimed at dissuading residents from spoiling their neighbourhood. Our aim will be achieved only on the day the corporation records zero revenue," the Mayor said.

On the proposal of slapping fines on spitting and urinating in public, Subrmanian said a proposal was being worked out and ruled out punishing the citizens before the Corporation constructed proper urinals around the city.

In fact, the corporation had proposed to include spitting and urinating in public places under the fine regime, but had to backtrack following public opposition as people wanted the civic body to first come up with urinals in the city before penalising them.

The corporation slaps Rs 100 on defaulters throwing garbage in public places and Rs 500 on those dumping debris.

The civic agency is also embarking on awareness campaigns to dissuade its citizens from dumping garbage in public places.

"We have produced a film with popular actor Manorama playing the lead. It is being screened in theatres and the slums of Chennai, aimed at creating awareness among people from all strata of the society," Subrmaniam said.

In a noble gesture, the corporation has stopped charging for cremations and burial in its burial grounds and crematoria.

The effort was aimed at eliminating irregularities in the collection of fee for burial and cremation, the Mayor said.

"The Corporation will foot the annual expenditure of about Rs one crore incurred on these," he said.

Previously, the civic body used to collect Rs 225 for cremating bodies in its gassifiers as well as burying adults.

An amount of Rs 125 for was charged for burying bodies of children, officials said. (PTI)

Greening young minds: Plans to turn schools into
forest covers

BANGALORE, Aug 3: Aimed at ‘greening’ young minds and planting a green cover on school campuses, Japan-headquarterd OISCA International has executed a Children’s Forest Programme (CFP) in four southern and two northern states in the country in collaboration with the state governments.

The CFP, currently being executed in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Puducherry, Haryana and Delhi, is all set to take off in Karnataka with OISCA (Organisation for Industrial, Spiritual and Cultural Advancement), an NGO aimed at building sustainable development, and the Karnataka Forest Department, enrolling schools across the city and neighbouring areas for the project.

A flagship project of OISCA, CFP aimed at planting a seed of concern for the environment in addition to expanding the forest cover and envisages schools and educational institutions developing a thick wooded cover on their campuses, said Nalinassan, Chief Coordinator, OISCA International, South India Chapter.

"It is the first step aimed at protecting the environment by making young students aware of the need to expand Earth’s green cover", he said. The first hand approach of getting students directly involved in tree plantation, watering and looking after them, the organisation hopes, would help in building a strong batallion of young green warriors.

"A mind where the seed of concern for the environment has been strongly built, will never in life go against the environment or take up acts that would destroy it", he said.

Under the greening project, OISCA has roped in Governments as co-partners in all states the programme currently runs. In Karnataka, the forest department has been roped in. The project,which is in its inception phase, would be a three-year JBIC assisted and funded project. (PTI)

Hawaii man accused of helping China design missile

HAIKU, HAWAII, Aug 3: Cheryl Gowadia couldn’t figure out why FBI agents in riot gear, guns drawn, were storming her home on Maui’s tranquil North Shore.

At first, she thought they might be after the man building a pond in her backyard. Instead, she was stunned to learn they wanted to question her husband, a former B-2 stealth bomber engineer.

"This came out of nowhere," Gowadia said.

A week later, on Oct 13, 2005, agents arrested Noshir Gowadia, a native of India who received a PhD at 15, on suspicion he sold military secrets to China.

Maui, a mostly rural island of 140,000 known more for big-wave surfing and five-star resorts, is an unlikely place for a spy saga.

But prosecutors say Noshir Gowadia used Maui as a base to design a stealth cruise missile for China. He was indicted on 21 counts of conspiracy, money-laundering and falsifying tax returns.

Despite the seriousness of the charges, the case has received scant public attention.

The defendant has been out of sight since a judge determined he was a flight risk and denied him bail.

And, adding to his obscurity, Gowadia’s trial date has been repeatedly postponed as both prosecution and defense lawyers have sought more time to review thousands of pages of classified evidence. The trial is now due to begin on Jan 21. Gowadia has pleaded not guilty.

The case comes amid growing US concern about Chinese spying and enhanced prosecution efforts across the country.

Last year, a jury convicted Chi Mak, an engineer for a California-based defense contractor, of conspiring to export US submarine propulsion technology to China. He was sentenced to 24 ½ years in prison. (AGENCIES)

Use of trademark ‘Original Choice’ is right: Delhi HC

NEW DELHI, Aug 3: The Delhi High Court has refused the plea of BDA Pvt Ltd, manufacturer of Officer’s Choice’ whiskey, to restrain its rival company from using the trademark ‘Original Choice’ which is similar to its mark.

"I am of the view that the plaintiff (BDA) ought to have disclosed the fact that it was aware of the defendant’s (John Distilleries) activities and of its use of trademark ‘Original Choice’ in respect of whiskey from the very inception i.e. 1995-96. Not having done so, the plaintiff would not be entitled to any interim injunction," Justice B D Ahmed said.

The court, in its interim order, also vacated its interim arrangement under which John Distilleries, the manufacturer of Original Choice, was restrained from selling its whiskey under the Original Choice mark in few states.

It also took strong note of the delay made by BDA in filing suit for passing off and infringement of the mark after seven years.

"The plaintiff (BDA) knew about the defendants in 1995 -96. Yet, the plaintiff took no action in respect of the alleged passing off purportedly indulged by the defendants. The suit was also filed in the year 2002," the bench said.

"The delay in approaching this Court would, therefore, come in the way of plaintiff for the purpose of an interim injunction," the court said.

The counsel for BDA contended that the get up and design of the defendant’s label as well as the bottle in which it sells its whiskey is deceptively similar to that of the plaintiff’s.

BDA submitted that it was using the mark Officer’s Choice’ since 1988 whereas defendant started using the mark ‘Original Choice’ only in 1995-96.

However, Sushant Singh, counsel for John Distilleries, pointed out that the plaintiff has not disclosed the fact that there was a case pending in the court with regard to assignment of mark Officer’s Choice to BDA by its predecessor Cruickshank and Co.

Singh said the assignment of the mark Cruickshank and Co was temporary to BDA which is under challenge.

BDA has not disclosed the date or even the year when it came to know of the defendant’s mark ‘Original Choice’ or its use of the letters OC, Singh said.

It acknowledged that it was aware of the defendant’s use of the mark ‘Original Choice’ since 1995 but did not file any suit or take any action and hence there was substantial delay on the part of plaintiff for filing suit, the counsel said. (PTI)

Health sector projects run into rough weather

PUDUCHERRY, Aug 3: Controversies and want of funds have stalled two major projects in the health sector in the union territory of Puducherry.

Though the work on construction of a massive building to accommodate the Rs 32 crore state-of-art maternity hospital is almost complete, the structure remains a showpiece as the authorities await more funds for setting up some more facilities.

The project was mooted several years ago and after surmounting various hurdles, the construction had almost been completed.

But Health Minister E Valsaraj had recently said the hospital needed some more key infrastructure facilities and funds shortage was standing in the way of utilising the hospital for maternal and child health care. While Rs 29 crore had already been spent and another Rs three crore was required to complete the work, he said.

The Perunthalaivar Kamarajar Government Medical College and Research Hospital is another project which has run into opposition, causing discontinuation of the construction work.

The structures for this first ever state-government sponsored medical college were under construction for some years. All of a sudden a controversy cropped up on the actual investment the hospital would need, leading to stoppage of the construction work.

According to official sources, so far, around Rs 87 crores had been spent on the project.

The project faced criticism not only from the opposition but also from a section of ruling Congress and the Rangasamy Ministry for what they felt ‘highly extravagant estimates‘ made for the college. (PTI)

I regret the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi: Nalini

NEW DELHI, Aug 3: Nalini Sriharan, serving a life sentence for her involvement in the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi, says she "regrets" the killing of the former Prime Minister and claims that the real conspirators have not been booked yet.

Calling Rajiv Gandhi a "great leader" and a "loss" to the country, Nalini, the lone surviving member of the five- member squad behind the assassination, said "I regret the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi." Nalini was one of the prime accused in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case.

When asked whether the real conspirators have been brought to book, Nalini, whose interview was mailed by her lawyer Elangovan in reply to a questionnaire , said "No, as the real killers Sivarasan, Suba and Dhanu were already dead."

Dhanu, a suicide bomber, had carried out the attack at Sriperumbudur in Tamil Nadu on the fateful night of May 21, 1991 killing Rajiv Gandhi and 15 others on the spot. Dhanu perished in the bomb attack.

During the course of investigations, pictures clicked by S Haribabu, an LTTE photographer who was also killed in the blast, exposed the role of Nalini and others.

Arrested about a month after the assassination which shook the country, Nalini was sentenced to death by hanging after being convicted on 16 counts of murder.

However, her sentence was later commuted to life imprisonment at the intervention of Congress President Sonia Gandhi who pleaded for clemency on account of Nalini’s young daughter who was born in jail.

Nalini said in her e-mail reply through her lawyer that her meeting with Priyanka Gandhi who had come calling to visit her in jail in March was "historical".

Elangovan, while describing the meeting of Nalini and Priyanka as "unique" added that "the real reason behind the meeting is still to be revealed by Priyanka."

"The meeting is unique. There is no comparison in the world history. Priyanka and Nalini do not know each other prior to the meeting. It is unexpected for a daughter of a victim in a gruesome murder to meet an accused who had been sentenced with death penalty later on converted to sentence for life," he said.

Elangovan further said, "whatever may me the reason (for not coming out with real reason for meeting) the courage and the generosity of Priyanka should be appreciated. The outcome of the meeting in no way helps Nalini."

Nalini, whose petition for premature release is pending before the Madras High Court, said the Gandhi family and especially Sonia Gandhi has been kind to her. Her husband Murugan, an LTTE supporter sentenced to death for the same crime is presently lodged with her in Vellore jail in Tamil Nadu.

Nalini said that if she is ever released from jail, she does not fear for her safety and was also candid about her plans for her daughter Megara, who has turned 15, saying she wants her to be a "software engineer" when she grows up.

Megara, who was living with her grandparents in Sri Lanka, was recently given permission by Madras High Court to come to the country for further studies as it ruled that she was an Indian citizen because she was born in India. (PTI)

HP conducting survey to trace evidence of Pandavas
visit

SHIMLA, Aug 3: In a bid to bring the rich historical root of Himachal Pradesh out of oblivion and to promote tourism, the State Government is conducting a survey to find evidence of places linked with visit of the Pandavas.

"Survey is underway to find evidence for these historical references of visit of the Pandavas to the state during their 14 years of banishment to forest and on other occasions," Prem Sharma, Director, Department of Language and Culture, said.

The objective behind the exercise is to trace the rich historical root of Himachal Pradesh popularly called "Dev bhoomi" (land of lords) and promote tourism by developing these sites, Sharma said.

"Historical texts say that during their banishment the Pandavas had stayed at Hatkoti which falls in the modern day’s Shimla district," he said adding that there is a temple of Hidimba, wife of mighty Bhima, at Kullu.

There is also reference of Arjuna travelling to ‘Kinner’ country which is considered to be the modern day Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh, the director said.

To corroborate all these historical references with evidence, researchers of the state Language and Culture department are conducting the detailed survey expected to be completed in a year, Sharma said.

He said memorials would be built at the places where evidences are found about the links with Pandavas.

According to the epic Mahabharta, Pandavas—a group of five brothers namely Yudhisthir, Arjuna, Bhima, Nakul and Sehdev—were forced to live in jungle for 14 years. (PTI)