Young people getting attracted to classical music: Hema Malini...........

New index to measure inflation.........

Sab Maya Hai: Mukesh Ambani on billionaires list.......

Rail accidents show decline.........

States responsible for power generation: Shinde

NEW DELHI, Mar 14: Shifting the onus on the State Governments for putting in place a power generation capacity of 78,577 MW during the 11th Plan period, Union Power Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde today said the Centre's role in this regard was supplementary.

"Power is a concurrent subject. It is the duty of the respective states to enhance power generation. Our (Centre) work is supplementary," he said in reply to a question in Lok Sabha.

To a specific question on Uttar Pradesh, he said the power generation work in the state has been very slow in the last 10-12 years.

Shinde said a conference of chief secretaries on power sector issues held here last month agreed that the target of 78,577 MW was achievable if orders for all the projects identified under the programme were placed by the states by March 31, 2008.

States have also been asked to make more efforts to reduce power losses during transmission to 15 per cent and ensure faster implementation of the Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojana.

All states have been asked to quickly draw up plans for developing transmission, sub-transmission and distribution systems so as to ensure that the proposed infrastructure and investments are compatible with the 11th Plan.

In reply to another question, he said power PSU NTPC Limited's six gas-based power stations with a capacity of 3,605 MW are currently under-utilised due to shortage of gas. (PTI)

Millgate sugar price declines

NEW DELHI, Mar 14: Millgate sugar prices receded by Rs 5 each a quintal in the wholesale sugar market today on fresh offerings by stockists against increased supplies.

Marketmen said fresh selling by stockists against adequate stocks position following increased sugar quota for February month, pushed up sugar prices.

In the millgate section, Modinagar, Baghpat and Mawana were lost by Rs 5 each to Rs 1,535, Rs 1,465 and Rs 1,555 per quintal respectively on reduced offtake.

Titabi and Amroha followed suit and faded by Rs 5 each at Rs 1,595 and Rs 1,435 per quintal respectively.

Following were today quotations per quintal:

Sugar ready M-30 1560-1650 and S-30 1540-1640.

Mill delivery M-30 1430-1630 and S-30 1415-1620.

Sugar mill gate prices (excluding duty): Modi Nagar 1535,Bagpat 1465, Daurala 1555, Chandpur 1380, Titabi 1595, Mawana 1555, Simbhawali 1575 Khatauli 1600, Badaiun 1380, Sattha 1365, Ruderavilash 1385, Bijnor 1430, Amroha 1435 and Samali Rs 1580. (PTI)

Exhibition by women artists

NEW DELHI, Mar 14: Be it sculpture, painting or photography, women artists from across the globe have expressed themselves through their work and come together for an exhibition titled "Celebrating Womanhood".

The exhibition, inaugurated by Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit here last evening, will be on till March 19.

Laila Rajpal Khan, Priti Girjala, Meghna Oberoi, Ananya Bannerji, Meena Deora and Shobha Broota are among the artists whose paintings are on display.

"We brought together women artists who achieved recognition and excellence in fine arts," said curator Lovy Singh after she presented a charcoal painting by Ananya Bannerji titled "Mother and Child" to the Chief Minister.

A series of photographs by French artist Bernice Ellena drew appreciation from visitors.

Appreciating the work around her, Dikshit said it was a good attempt to bring a varied collection under one roof.

"It is very good exposure for both us and the artists to see what is happening around the world," said Dikshit as she walked through the exhibition.

"Women look at certain things differently, which is perhaps why their expression, through music, painting, dance or sculpture is something very special," said renowned classical singer and Padma Bhushan awardee Shanno Khurana.

"I worked with reflections of light and glass," said French artist Berenice Ellena as she explained how she photographed trees in the shape of a woman.

Sigrun Srivastava displayed polyester resin sculptures and is the only artist in India who works with the translucent material.

"You must love the material and respect it, otherwise you will never be able to create good works of art with it," Srivastava said. (PTI)

Young people getting attracted to
classical music: Hema Malini

GWALIOR, Mar 14: Witnessing a renewed interest among youngsters in the country for Indian classical dance and music, actress turned politician Hema Malini says it emphasises the need for greater promotion of such art forms in the country.

"Classical music is getting popular among the next generation. The need is to promote classical dance and music in the appropriate way," says the ‘Dream Girl’ of Bollywood, who was here to perform at the closing ceremony of the three-day-long Gwalior heritage festival.

The actress along with her younger daughter Ahana also put up a performance at the festival.

Asked whether she would continue doing films, she said, "I love working. I would act in the films provided I like the scripts."

Pointing out that the country has all that is required to appear as a tourists paradise on the world map, she said "We need to explore places to promote tourism in the country, so that people can understand the great Indian culture."

The festival at Gwalior had a number of classical and fusion performances including that of Amjad Ali Khan, noted Hindustani vocalists Pandit Laxman Krishna Rao, Mita Pandit and Begum Parveen Sultana. Renowned sarod maestro Amjad Ali Khan along with his sons Amaan and Ayaan Ali Khan mesmerised the audience during the second day while the tone of the last day was set by iconic Ustad Rashid Khan, doyen of Hindustani vocal music.

He was accompanied by famous talents of Dagar Gharana Mehmood Dholpuri on harmonium, Subhankar Banerjee on Tabla, Murad Ali, son and disciple of Ustad Gulam Sabir Khan from Moradabad Gharana on Sarangi, Ustad Rashid Khan’s younger brother Nadeem Khan and Neel Madhav on Taanpura.

It was followed by Ahana Deol started with an Odissi recital of ‘Ganesh Stuti’ followed by Hema Malini’s performance. The programme came to an end with a joint performance by Hema and Ahana displaying the power and characteristics of Goddess Durga.

An electrifying laser show based on the theme of A R Rehman’s composition ‘Ma Tujhe Salam’ was the attraction of the evening.

Organised by the Gwalior Heritage Foundation, the festival was held to promote natural, cultural and architectural heritage of the city. (PTI)

New index to measure inflation

NEW DELHI, Mar 14: A new index is being prepared to measure inflation more accurately, Finance Minister P Chidambaram told the Lok Sabha today.

The index, which is in the process of being formulated, will take into account the current baskets of goods and services and hence would more accurately measure inflation, he said in a reply in the House.

"The index that is being used to measure inflation has been there for the last 10-15 years," Chidambaram said.

The inflation rates are calculated on the basis of the average Wholesale Price Index of certain articles. (PTI)

Sab Maya Hai: Mukesh Ambani on billionaires list

NEW DELHI, Mar 14: Within days of being named richest resident Indian by the US magazine Forbes, Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani today termed the hype over list of billionaires from the country as ‘Maya’.

"There was much hype over the list of billionaires that India has thrown up... (but) this is a deceptive distraction," the head of the country’s most valued corporate group said while referring to the Forbes’ worldwide billionaire list that included 53 Indians.

"...It is like Maya (illusion) of our Indian philosophy .... It veils your vision and we should be beware of this titillating illusion," Ambani said while speaking at the India Today Conclave here.

In its list published on March 5, Forbes magazine had ranked Mukesh as the richest resident Indian with a wealth of 43 billion dollars. Among all the Indians residing across the world, Mukesh was ranked second after NRI steel tycoon Lakshmi Mittal, whose wealth was put at 45 billion dollars.

In the global list, Mukesh Ambani was ranked as fifth richest in the world after legendary investor Warren Buffett, Mexican telecom baron Carlos Slim Helu, software czar Bill Gates and ArcelorMittal CEO Lakshmi Mittal.

The magazine said that Mukesh Ambani was the second biggest gainer adding 22.9 billion dollars to a wealth of 20.1 billion dollars reported in the Forbes Billionaire list for August 2007. Last year, Ambani had been placed at the 14^{th position in world. (PTI)}

Rail accidents show decline

NEW DELHI, Mar 14: Rail accidents in the country have shown a decline during the last couple of years with the number falling to 184 this year from 473 on 2000-01, Minister of State for Railway R Velu informed Rajya Sabha today.

Replying to supplementaries during Question Hour, he said 2000-01 recorded 473 rail accidents, which came down to 195 in 2006-07. This year till February the number of accidents reported was 184.

"Out of 195 consequential train accidents during 2006-07, 85 were attributed to failure of railway staff, 84 due to failure of persons other than railway staff, nine due to equipment failure, eight due to sabotage and seven were incidental," he said adding 208 persons lost their lives in these accidents.

Last year, disciplinary action was taken against 200 railway employees held responsible for accidents.

The measures taken to prevent accidents include timely replacement of over-aged assets and upgradation and maintenance of track, rolling stock, signaling and interlocking system.

He said Rs 17,000 crore has been provided for Railway Safety Fund. Of the 16,538-km railway tracks that were envisaged to be replaced through the fund, 98 per cent has been completed.

Similary 91.2 per cent of the bridges identified for overhaul have been completed and 11,222 signals or 77 per cent of the target have been upgraded.

The remaining would be completed by the end of this year, he said. (PTI)