Think India Foundation

Haryana releases water for Delhi

ThinkIndia — Sun, 19 May 2013 00:01:41 PDT

CHANDIGARH: Haryana has bailed out Delhi from the impending water crisis by releasing 240 cusecs of water from Munak and Tajewala dams. Officials said 85 cusecs water was released on Friday evening and 160 cusecs on Saturday. More water is expected to be released to New Delhi on Sunday and Monday as well, officials in irrigation department said. Read more Source : timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Water crisis deepens in South Kanpur localities

ThinkIndia — Sat, 18 May 2013 23:59:03 PDT

KANPUR: Residents of Barra -2 locality in Kanpur South on Saturday performed prayers at uprooted handpumps on water works premises in protest against erratic water supply in the area. The residents prayed that these handpumps would be repaired and re-installed in the area. Kanpur South is in grip of acute water crisis. Water to the area is supplied by Gujaini water works and handpumps. Overhead water tanks have failed to meet needs of the area owing to frequent power cuts and unscheduled rostering. Even Gujaini water works is not functioning to its capacity. Against the demand of five crore litres,...

Sparrows adapt for survival, find new nesting sites in Delhi city

ThinkIndia — Sat, 18 May 2013 23:55:30 PDT

New Delhi : The humble house sparrow whose population is fast declining due to rapid urbanisation is making fresh efforts for survival. In what is being termed a rare and positive sign, the bird has found new nesting sites for breeding. Several nests have been spotted in the holes of newly-built flyover walls in Delhi. Read more Source : www.hindustantimes.com

GMC election next month

ThinkIndia — Sat, 18 May 2013 23:51:43 PDT

Guwahati : Residents of Guwahati can finally choose their representatives to the Guwahati Municipal Corporation after a five-year gap as elections will be held next month. The Assam State Election Commission today announced GMC elections in adherence to the provisions of the GMC Act and GMC Election Rules 1973. Read more Source : telegraphindia.com

Huda ropes in NGO to address water shortage

ThinkIndia — Sat, 18 May 2013 23:47:02 PDT

Gurgaon : With water shortage worsening with each passing day in the Millennium City, the Haryana Urban Development Authority (Huda) has roped in an NGO to find a permanent solution. At present the city is struggling to meet water shortage, fast depletion of groundwater level and conventional mode of sewage treatment. The authority is all set to tie up with the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), a Delhi-based research organisation, which lobbies for and communicates the urgency of sustainable and equitable development. A crucial meeting between Huda officials and CSE executives was held on Saturday. Read more Source :...

Developers axe old tree, NMC residents protest

ThinkIndia — Sat, 18 May 2013 23:42:21 PDT

Gurgaon : In the wake of the Haryana Urban Development Authority (Huda) allegedly taking into possession the National Media Centre’s (NMC) greenbelt on May 8 to construct a road, private developers of the gated community allegedly tried to axe a 45-year-old tree on the premises on Friday night. According to the residents, the developers of NMC — DLF and ILFS — along with two earth-moving machines allegedly tried to axe a 45-year-old Peepal tree in the gated community’s greenbelt. Read more Source: www.hindustantimes.com

22-hour power supply in Haryana

ThinkIndia — Sat, 18 May 2013 23:37:16 PDT

CHANDIGARH: As the mercury is soaring, the electricity distribution companies in Haryana have made arrangements to provide at least 22-hour power supply in urban areas. Besides monitoring the demand and supply, distribution companies Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam(UHBVN) and Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam(DHBVN) have created a bank of transformers to ensure smooth flow of electricity. Peak summer has set in and the demand for power has risen up to 7,258 MW against the demand of 6,122MW on Friday. Read more Source : timesofindia.indiatimes.com

New techniques to help trees grow

ThinkIndia — Sat, 18 May 2013 23:30:19 PDT

MUMBAI: World Environment Day 2013 is an opportunity to reflect on the importance of a 'green' economy in improving human well-being and social equity, while significantly reducing environmental risks and ecological scarcities. It is also an opportunity to think about how we are progressing as a nation towards a clean and renewable energy future. In one such sustainable solutions initiative, Siemens India, through a paper innovation is celebrating the World Environment Day 2013 in a unique way. This is an idea which allows actual seeds to be embedded in a piece of paper. Read more Source : timesofindia.indiatimes.com

India could face 200 mt coal shortfall by end of 12th Plan

ThinkIndia — Sat, 18 May 2013 23:18:31 PDT

HYDERABAD : Despite efforts to ramp up indigenous coal production, the Planning Commission feels that India will still face a shortfall of about 200 million tonnes of the fuel source by the end of the 12th Plan Period. Tapping other resources: I. A. Khan, Advisor Energy, Planning Commission, talking to mediapersons after his special address at the annual general meeting of the Ficci State Council, in Hyderabad on Saturday. — Mohammed Yousuf I. A. Khan, Advisor Energy, Planning Commission, said India would have to depend on imported coal, unless it is able to tap other natural resources to a greater...

Faulty drawing brought down Ultadanga flyover in Kolkata

ThinkIndia — Sat, 18 May 2013 23:11:10 PDT

KOLKATA: A flaw in the drawing and design of the curved stretch of Ultadanga flyover led to its collapse on March 3 this year, says the report of the fact-finding committee. The urban development department had tasked a five-member panel with finding out why the curved section of the flyover collapsed. The final report has been submitted to the urban development minister Firhad Hakim, who also heads the Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority (KMDA). Read more Source : timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Mixed reactions to DU's 4-yr graduation move

ThinkIndia — Sat, 18 May 2013 23:08:09 PDT

PATNA: The Delhi University's move to replace the traditional three-year graduation courses with a fresh four-year programme has evoked mixed response in Patna from where hundreds of undergrads go to Delhi University for further studies every year. The new curriculum will have 11 foundation courses in Modern Indian Language, Information Technology, Business Entrepreneurship and Management, Communication Skills, Geography, History, Culture and Civilization and Environment and Public Health. All the foundation courses are compulsory, irrespective of the discipline the student is pursuing. Read more Source : timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Now, doctors a call away at Bhopal

ThinkIndia — Sat, 18 May 2013 23:02:02 PDT

BHOPAL: Consulting a doctor from the comfort of your home will soon be possible as telemedicine service is likely to start at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Bhopal, in the coming fortnight, according to officials. Initially, simple two-way consultation would be offered through a call-centre, which would operate from the medical college at AIIMS Bhopal. After it is fully functional, telemedicine service would be extended to even district hospitals in the state. Read more Source : timesofindia.indiatimes.com

It’s time planners did some jugaad on rural public transport

ThinkIndia — Sat, 18 May 2013 22:56:09 PDT

On the face of it, the Supreme Court order of May 15 directing all states to ensure that jugaad vehicles do not ply unless they are registered with the regional transport authorities and have third party insurance needs to be welcomed. Servicing the rural market will be difficult, since it will not be as lucrative as the urban one. Pic:Wikipedia Commons Jugaad vehicles are those makeshift, rickety contraptions powered by irrigation pump motors that pass for public transport in many rural areas of north India. It doesn’t require a Supreme Court order to make one realise that these are extremely...

Meet monorail's first 3 Indian captains

ThinkIndia — Sat, 18 May 2013 19:15:57 PDT

Ahead of August launch, youth share their experience of training & trial runs, and gush about how they enjoy the attention of motorists who stop to click pictures of the rake. Three young Mumbaikars are set to drive the city’s newest mode of transport — India’s first monorail that will start operating between Wadala and Chembur in August this year. A total of 21 captains have been appointed and are undergoing training, while 15 more will be recruited in the coming weeks. Like a local train has a motorman, captain is the title for those who will drive the monorail....

NGO claims lacunae in draft Development Plan of PMC

ThinkIndia — Fri, 17 May 2013 21:51:48 PDT

Pointing out serious lacunae in various studies undertaken by PMC to prepare the draft Development Plan, city-based organisation Parisar has alleged that several urban planning norms were flouted in drafting the DP for the old part of the city. In its 30-page report on suggestions and objections, the organisation has highlighted serious lacunae and mistakes in Existing Land Use (ELU) Study , Demographic Study, Housing Study and Transport Study conducted by the civic administration. Read more Source : www.indianexpress.com