YEH MERA INDIA

50 new buses turning to junk

Bhayandar : It has been around  five years since the public transport utility of the Mira-Bhayandar Municipal Corporation (MBMC) became the proud recipients of 50 swanky new buses under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM). However, in a classic example of civic apathy, the buses are gradually being reduced to junk.

Left to rot, these buses attract anti-social elements as most of them are stationed on the stretch of a secluded road in Bhayandar, some without wheels doing a balancing act on makeshift blocks which could lead to accidents. Sans security, the buses have become a safe haven for drug addicts and drunkards.

The MBMC launched its public transport authority in 2005. After operating services on its own for a couple of years, they adopted the Public-Private-Partnership format and inked a deal with Kestrel Infrastructure in 2010, Subsequently 50 new buses were handed over to the company in 2011.

Umpteen complaints on the erratic frequency, non-maintained and rickety buses led to an outrage amongst commuters and finally the company winded up its operations last month, a step which they claim was taken owing to MBMC’s failure in providing bus depots as promised in the agreement.

While the MBMC procured another 28 new buses and continued to provide services on its own strength, the earlier fleet of 50 buses have been grossly neglected.

“We have officially intimated the contractor to hand over all the buses in running condition, however he has not cared to respond, prompting us to initiate legal proceedings. I will ensure that personnel are deployed for security of buses immediately,” said Asst. Civic Chief- Kalpita Pimple-Vade.

Meanwhile, the contractor has moved the Arbitral Tribunal to resolve its disputes with the MBMC.

7th Pay Commission ready. But 6th dues are in arrears

Mumbai : More than 2,400 teachers attached to Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) education department are yet to get their arrears as per the Six Pay Commission which came into force eight years ago.

In 2008, the BMC applied for the Sixth Pay Commission to its employees including 11,000 teachers attached to the education department. However, 2400 teachers out of a total of11,000 staff are yet to be paid as per the Sixth Pay Commission.

During the eight years, some of the teachers have been retired from the service. Several of them are seen waiting at account department to get their arrears.

According to civic officials, “There is some miscalculation, which civic accountants have failed to explain and correct it. Teachers will have to wait till then.”

Blind man cheated by the two eyed

 Mumbai: The property cell of Mumbai police arrested a man for duping a visually impaired person by promising him a job in railways. The victim, Punargal Devendra (29), is a yoga teacher and visually challenged, stays in Wadala. He met accused Ramanar Pillai (57) who told Devendra that he works for the Railways and could get him a job as a yoga teacher for the department. Devendra handed over Rs 25,000 to Pillai. When after a few months Pillai stopped answering his calls, Devendra approached the police. The police have arrested Pillai.

Being 16 didn’t stop him from Extortion

A 16 year-old boy was apprehended for allegedly hacking the email and other personal social networking website accounts of a television actress , and for blackmailing and demanding money from her, police said. The boy was apprehended from suburban Dahisar area by a team from Banguar Nagar police station, a Mumbai police official said.

The victim, a small-time TV actress, had lodged an extortion complaint, she stated that her email and other personal accounts on social networking websites were hacked and the juvenile delinquent had sent her private photos on WhatsApp.

The juvenile delinquent had also allegedly threatened the victim on phone, saying she should pay him Rs 5lakh or else he would make her private photos uploading it on the social networking sites, police said. A team led by Police Inspector Deepak Phatangare traced the juvenile delinquent and recovered a mobile, a SIM card and other electronic  material from his possession.

Free Vacation

Autorickshaw drivers in Mumbai and its suburbs are trusted to take commuters safely from one destination to another, specially during late night hours when there are very few public transport means available. Earlier auto-drivers came from local areas, nearby villages and towns. But however, over the decades, the trade has passed on into the hands of migrants from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. One late evening there were very few auto-rickshaws plying and more passengers eager to hire one. A reporter somehow managed to convince one driver to drop her at her destination.

When she asked the driver, why since past few days there are very few autorickshaws plying on the road, he said: “Rickshaw drivers work in shifts, some of them have gone to their respective native villages, so there are few who work in the night shift.” On questioning why so many drivers have gone at the same time, he replied, “Most of the drivers come from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, as there were local elections, most have gone to cast their votes”.

“How can they afford to take days off from their occupation and also spend money on the train fare?” I asked. This was his reply: “The poll candidate pays for the drivers’ two-way train fare and also some extra money. The candidates after winning the elections can easily recover the money. And for drivers, they are also able to meet their relatives.”

 

No regularization for Life Guards! But 7th Pay Commission for unproductive Government staff! 

Panaji: The Goa government said that it was monitoring the situation on the beaches in the wake of strike by Lifeguards which entered its second day, even as 361 lifeguards were arrested after they took out a protest march defying prohibitory orders.

Later, the 361 lifeguards were released after being produced in a court here. The lifeguards, mainly demanding regularization of services, went on an indefinite strike, prompting the state government to invoke Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) against them. The protesters, however, said they will continue with their agitation in support of their demands.

“The government and the company (which mans the beaches) have decided not to intervene into the matter, so we have decided to continue our strike. Now it is ‘satyagraha’ for us, “All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) leader Christopher Fonsenca told PTI at the Azad Maidan here where the lifeguards are currently camping.

Fonseca said the agitators have put forth a legitimate demand which is being ignored by the company. The lifeguard services along Goa’s beaches are manned by Drishti Lifesaving  Services Private Limited.

“We will continue to be on the streets till our demands are passed,” Fonseca said. As the strike entered the second day to-day, the agitators took to streets during the morning traffic hours. Police tried to stop the protest march, but had to arrest the agitators when the situation appeared to be getting tensed.

“A total of 361 people were arrested under section 151 of IPC (knowingly joining or contributing in assembly of five or more persons after it has been commanded to disperse). They were produced before the sub-divisional magistrate,” police inspector Siddant Shirodkar said. Meanwhile, the tourism department is monitoring the situation on the beaches considering the New Year rush as several lifeguards have joined the strike. State Tourism Minister Dilip Parulekar told that his department officials are on the job to monitor situation on the beaches.