Nagpur police seize 6,000 litres of kerosene, bust racket

DCP Zone II squad and Gittikhdan police arrested four people in connection with a racket in black-marketing and adulteration of kerosene. With the seizure of 6,000 litres of kerosene, a tenwheeler truck and other petty material worth Rs 9 lakh, cops claimed to have busted one of the biggest kerosene adulteration rackets in the city. Indora-resident Bhaudasrao Raut (50), who is among the four people held, was earlier arrested in similar cases and is suspected to be the kingpin of the racket, said API D N Jadhav, who headed the DCP squad during the raid. The trap was set up on Monday night around 2 am at Ganpati Nagar on Godhni road.

"For half an hour, we kept a watch and after getting the signal, we raided the place. It was the right time as the accused were filling the fuel tanker of the truck with kerosene," said Gittikhadan second senior police inspector R S Bhogavde. Bhogavde, who is probing officer the case, said that the court had remanded the accused to police custody until Friday. Bhaudasrao was accompanied by middle-aged Amol Bhaisare while the other two accused included the truck driver Angrez Singh (55) and truck cleaner Ram Kumar (40).

PSI Sunil Shinde said, "On interrogation, Bhaudasrao told that he would bring the kerosene from MP at cheaper rates and would sell to his regular customers." Jadhav said that Bhaudasrao admitted that he would store the kerosene in the drums in the garage on Godhni road and would then sell to truck drivers in the night time. Bhaudasrao used to sell the kerosene at Rs21 to Rs25 per litre against the government rate of Rs14.

Nagpur civic chief lambasts contractor, officials

Nagpur Municipal Corporation has finally cracked whip against the contractors and officials responsible for the pathetic condition of roads in the city. Disappointed with NMC officials and the contractors, who have failed to provide basic services like - good and pothole free roads, well-maintained streets - municipal commissioner Sanjeev Jaiswal directed them to initiate immediate steps to fill the potholes on roads managed by the NMC on priority within a week's time.

He also instructed other agencies like Nagpur Improvement Trust (NIT), Public Works Department (PWD) and National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to at least take steps to fill the potholes and make roads under their jurisdiction potholes free temporarily. He also instructed the civic body to ensure that citizens were provided all the basic services.

Taking cognizance from TOI report that highlighted in the last five years, despite the fact that rains have exposed the shoddy quality of tarring work done on roads across the city, not one contractor has been blacklisted, and not one NMC engineer or supervisor held responsible, Jaiswal announced that henceforth if contactor or any NMC engineer found responsible for pathetic condition of roads in city, offences will be registered against them. The contractors will be blacklisted while the official responsible will be suspended with immediate effect, he said. Henceforth there will be no formality of issuing show-cause notices and warning letters to contractors and officials. "I have given strict warnings to NMC officials to take tough stand and act accordingly. We are also planning to recover the amount spent on particular road construction work from the blacklisted contractors or else we will not pass any bills of the guilty contractors pending with NMC", Jaiswal said.

Jaiswal said, "I have directed all NMC executive engineers, deputy engineers and junior engineers to identify the bad roads under NMC jurisdiction whether they are main roads or internal roads and make them in perfect condition within next 10 days. The executive engineer (projects) has been directed to keep daily reports about the work done and its progress by NMC and other agencies too. Due to monsoon we cannot repair potholes and patches on tar roads, however, that does not stop us from adopting measures to provide temporary relief to the citizens," Jaiswal said. "I have also directed the concerned officials to resolve others issues like maintenance and cleanliness of roads, streetlights etc," he added. Jaiswal also directed the officials to prepare a list of jobs - like repairing of roads, street lights, garbage clearance, etc - undertaken and completed during the next seven days.

Murder accused stabbed to death in busy Nagpur area

A murder accused was killed in a gruesome manner at Shivraj Nagar near Raj Kamal Chowk on Wednesday morning. Ganesh Ghongre, alias Pinku, was recently released on bail. He was involved in a case of double murder in April. Police said that Ghongre was attacked while on his way to court. Ghongre was stabbed a number of times by masked assailants before being stoned to death in full view of stunned passers-by. Traders downed their shutters immediately after the incident.

Ghongre, in his late 20s, sustained 35 injuries. Police had found two mobile phones from the spot. Ghongre was on his bike when the assailants intercepted him on the pretext of having a conversation before unleashing an attack. It was learnt that two of Ghongre's younger sisters and elder brother are in the police department. One of his sisters is a woman police constable at Ajni police station where Ghongre's murder case was registered. Ghongre's another sister was posted at the traffic wing of the east division. Ghongre's murder created ripples in the entire locality. Imambada police were particularly on their toes as Ghongre hailed from Indira Nagar where he enjoyed considerable support.

Police are still unclear about the motive of the murder but are working on two theories. The first is the gang rivalry angle as Ghongre had a considerable crime record against him. Ghongre's maternal uncle Tarachand Khillare and others, still lodged in Central Jail, had eliminated Rajendra Sahare alias Bablu and Raju Kamble in a brutal manner. Sahare was in jail too for murder. Khillare and Sahare were learnt to have entered into an informal pact in the jail to help each other in getting their respective names cleared from murder charges. The partnership, it seems, did not work. Khillare and others, including Ghongre, were involved in Sahare's and Kamble's murder. It was also learnt that Khillare and Ghongre were also accused in the murder of Nikhil Kaitwas in 2008 outside Nagpur Central Jail. Kaitwas had come to meet Sachin Wasnik at Central Jail. Wasnik was in the jail for the murder of Balya Dolas in October 2008.

Dolas, in turn, was close to Khillare and his gang. Khillare, Ghongre and others eliminated Kaitwas in the revenge killing. Wasnik, a friend of Kaitwas, had vowed to avenge his aide's killings after he was released on bail. Police said that Wasnik too had three murders against his name. Wasnik and his friends had entered into a pact with murdered goon Rocky's close kin to eliminate Khillare and his gang members and kin, including Ghongre. In July, Wasnik and his gang made a murderous attack on Virendra Lonare, alias Girjya and John Guldeokar, both of whom are close to Ghongre and his maternal uncle Khillare. Ajni police had intervened into the gang war. Wasnik was arrested in an injured condition along with others.

Police said Wasnik and his gang was behind the murder of Ghongre. Another theory hinted at the gang equation. It was learnt through sources that the families of Ghongre and murdered goon Pintu Patil's brother Anil had come close to each other through a matrimonial alliance. This had unnerved goon Sumit, his uncle Nayan Chintalnar and their gang. Imambada police has rounded up several criminals including Wasnik and his brother. Police said that the suspects are misleading the probe by naming fictitious people. More than 21 names have come to fore for their alleged role in the murder.

Engg, medical fees to go up

The cost of taking engineering and medical courses (including ayurved and dental) has gone up this year. The Shikshan Shulka Samiti (SSS) has approved fee hikes in many colleges in city for the forthcoming academic year.

The fee hikes ranges between 6%-14% for the entire year. For Nagpur, fees have been hiked for 39 engineering colleges, one medical college, one dental college, two ayurveda colleges, one homoeopathic, one physiotherapy and two nursing colleges. The hike comes just before centralized admission process for engineering starts on June 21. R S Naidu, joint director, Directorate of Technical Education (Nagpur division), said "There are 21,709 engineering seats available in Nagpur division in 58 institutes. In Maharashtra, we have 360 institutes offering just over 1.13 lakh seats."

The admission brochures will be available at 19 ARCS in Nagpur division from 11am-5pm (open on all holidays, except Sunday). The forms will be available from June 21-29. Within this period, students will have to collect the brochure, fill the online application and get documents verified at authorized centres.


IMPORTANT DATES IN ENGG ADMISSIONS

June 21 - Collect free brochures from authorized centres

June 29 - Last date for submission of online application & verification of documents

July 4 - Provisional merit list

July 5&6 - Time to register grievances

July 8 - Final merit list

Indian Rail :- Kolhapur-Nagpur bi-weekly train from July 1

The railways have decided to run a special train between Kolhapur and Nagpur from July 1 considering the demand from passengers.

The bi-weekly train will have halts at Miraj, Sangola, Pandharpur, Kurduwadi, Barshi town, Latur, Parli Vaijnath, Parbhani, Purna, Akola, Badnera, and Dhamangaon .

The 01403 Nagpur-Kolhapur train will leave Nagpur on Tuesday and Saturday at 3 pm and will reach Kolhapur on Wednesday and Sunday at 3.25 pm.

The 01404 Kolhapur-Nagpur train will leave from Kolhapur on Monday and Friday at 12.50 pm and reach Nagpur on Tuesday and Saturday at 12.35 pm.

The train will have 18 coaches, including one 3-tier AC coach, one 2-tier AC coach, eight coaches of second class sleeper class, and six unreserved coaches , according to a railway press release.

RAINY SEASON | Monsoon hits Vidarbha

RAINY SEASON | Monsoon hits Vidarbha
Although monsoon has already hit Vidarbha, it will be another day and half before the monsoon showers reach Nagpur. The Regional Meteorological Office (RMO) declared the arrival of monsoon in south-eastern districts of Gadchiroli and Chandrapur on Wednesday.


Deputy director general of RMO, P N Nandankar said that monsoon rains are likely to reach Nagpur district by late Thursday evening or Friday morning. Since the weather phenomenon that had brought monsoon in Mumbai and Pune almost ten days back have weakened, Vidarbha is getting its first monsoon showers from a low pressure area that has developed over the Bay of Bengal. This low pressure area is driving the monsoon current towards the region. The current reached Chhattisgarh by Tuesday and moved further into Vidarbha partly covering Gadchiroli and Chandrapur districts.


The heavy pre-monsoon showers that lashed the city on late Wednesday afternoon brought the mercury down by almost by six degrees compared to Tuesday when the maximum temperature was recorded at 40.2 degrees Celsius. The city recorded a maximum temperature of 34.5 degrees, five degree below normal and a minimum of 24.4 degrees which was three degree below normal.


"The weather system over Arabian Sea has weakened and only coastal areas are getting the rains from this system. Chhattisgarh and Vidarbha are getting the rains from monsoon current coming from Bay of Bengal. Conditions are favourable for monsoon to reach Nagpur district by Thursday," said Nandankar.


Incidentally, monsoon had touched Nagpur on June 16 last year. It will be exactly a year if the monsoon hits city on Thursday. Weathermen have predicted a normal monsoon this year. The normal date for monsoon in Nagpur is June 10 to be exact. But except for the years 2000, 2001 and 2008 when the monsoon hit Nagpur on June 7, 11 and 11 respectively, monsoon has been reaching the city only after mid June. In 2009 the monsoon was as late as June 26 and three consecutive years (2007, 06 and 05) before that it had hit the city on June 24.


Data available from the RMO shows that monsoon had hit Nagpur on June 11, 20, 19 and 15 respectively from 2001 to 2004. It was only in 2000 that monsoon had reached Nagpur as early as June 7. Though last year the monsoon had reached city on June 16 the total amount of rainfall recorded in 15 days was only 134.7mm which normally should have been 150-200mm.

NTPC's 1,000-MW Mouda power plant to be functional

NTPC will set up two 500-MW units under the first phase of its Mouda power project near here by 2012 at an investment of Rs 5,700 crore, Nagpur District Guardian Minister Shivajirao Moghe said.

"The first unit will start power generation by March, 2012, while the second unit will be functional by September. The work on setting up two units of 500-MW each is on schedule and necessary land acquisition has been done within record time without any resistance from farmers," Moghe told reporters here during a site visit.

Moghe said the project would cost Rs 5,700 crore for the first phase (1,000 MW, with two 500-MW units) and Rs 8,500 crore for the second phase (1320 MW, with two 660-MW units).

The NTPC plant will get coal from public sector undertaking Western Coalfields Limited and water from the Inter-District Irrigation project at Gosikhurd, he said.

Praveen Darade, who demitted the office of District Collector and played a major role in land acquisition, said 18 km of pipleline out of 32 km has been laid for bringing water to the power plant.

Farmers have been paid Rs 10 lakh per hectare and and a total of Rs 27 crores has been already disbursed till now, Darade -- also the Chairman of the Nagpur Improvement Trust -- said.

About 624 families from 15 villages were affected by the project and their rehabilitation was the priority of the government, he added.

Moghe said as part of its commitment, NTPC would sell 37 per cent of the total power generated to Maharashtra. As part of its corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities, NTPC would be setting up a fully equipped hospital and a school also.

To a question, Moghe, flanked by District Collector Saurabh Rao, said the Mouda power plant will be free of fly ash.

"It will be 99.95 per cent free of fly-ash since new technology has been procured for setting up the plant in Nagpur district," he said.

Moghe agreed to make efforts to bring the western region office of NTPC back to the city after it was shifted some 15 years ago.

NAGPUR :- Boy survives rare heart defect and surgery

While 17-year-old Anwar from a small village in Saunsar tehsil in Chhindwara district was being operated for a rare cardiac defect at a city hospital his relatives and grandparents prayed from him at Mecca-Madina.

The family was aware that the chances of his survival were extremely remote as both the disorder and the surgery were equally rare. But, call it faith or wonder of science, the boy survived the surgery and is now hail and hearty. Dr Avinash Sharma, cardiac surgeon at the Sri Krishna Hrudalaya performed the open heart surgery successfully giving new lease of life to Anwar.

Anwar's father Abdul Qureshi, who despite being a poor farmer understood the complexities and risk involved in the operation, is all praise for the doctor's team who detected the problem and treated it correctly. The team led by Dr Mahesh Fulwani, cardiologist who diagnosed the congenital (birth) defect which in most cases would have killed the person before the age of one, passes on the credit to anaesthetist Dr Vinay Kulkarni who actually drew Dr Fulwani's attention to a minute and important parameter monitored pre-surgery.

"The patient had come to us with history of a common defect called ASD (atrial septal defect). He had undergone regular check-ups from doctors at Chhindwara and at Nagpur since six years old for ASD and was on regular medicines. So we were to operate him for it when he came to us. But the night before the surgery Dr Kulkarni noticed that oxygen level in blood was very low. This called for further investigations which helped me get to the route cause which was much more than ASD," said Dr Fulwani.

Dr Fulwani did not hesitate in admitting that had they opened up the patient for ASD without picking up the rare disorder medically called as 'total anomalous pulmonary venous connection (or TAPVC) to coronary sinus with ASD and pulmonary stenosis', the patient would have died on the operation table.

But the Echo test conducted after realizing the low oxygen level led Dr Dulwani to conduct an angiography. The actual defect was picked up then. "I wonder how the boy survived with the defect for 17 years. But closer observation showed that the entry into the lungs of main blood vessel was too narrow which prevented lungs from overflowing with blood," he said.

Dr Sharma tells that the defect is known to occur in just 1-3% of all the heart birth defects. And of these coronary sinus is occurs in 10% cases. In Anwar's case the purified or oxygenated blood from lungs by all the four veins from veins from the lungs was getting shunted to the right side of the heart into the coronary sinus instead of draining into left atrium (upper left half portion of heart). The huge amount of blood from the four veins in turn was again flowing to left atrium from the hole between the two chambers (ASD). The flow of mixed blood into the lungs caused the entire problem of breathlessness. This makes the body appear bluish.

"I could reroute the pure blood from veins coming from lungs via the sinus into the left atrium. The ASD hole was also closed. The narrowed opening into lung was also opened up. All this was done by taking the entire flap with four veins to together to take blood to the heart. Patient was discharged on seventh day and will require no further surgery in life again," said Dr Fulwani.

Dr P K Deshpande, the senior-most cardiac surgeon in the city, admits that both the surgical procedure as well as the disorder is not common. But he himself has done two such cases in the past 20 years on two patients aged 23 and 16. "Recognizing the defect in fact to me is more important than the surgery," he remarked.


SURVIVAL INSTINCTS

The problem

A rare birth defect in heart which instead of taking purified blood from veins coming from lungs takes it to the right part of heart instead of left

Pure and impure blood was getting mixed and flowing back into lungs

There was a hole between the two upper chambers of heart which carry purified blood

The opening into the lungs carrying blood was very narrow

The mixed blood was flowing back into lungs


Solution or surgery

Blood flow was rerouted by taking all four veins from with the flap to left atrium.

ASD was closed.

The pulmonary stenosis (narrowed blood vessel to lung) was opened up

MAHARAJBAGH :- Stray dog menace rises in Maharajbagh

Stray dog menace seems to be growing at an alarming rate in the Maharajbagh garden and zoo threatening visitors.

In the past few days, at least a dozen persons including children have been bitten by stray dogs inside the garden premises. Although there have been no official complaints, the staff on duty claimed the menace is increasing and over a dozen dogs must have made the garden their home.

Last Thursday, Saurabh Gupta, a 10-year-old child was attacked by six dogs near a tree when he was collecting mangoes inside the garden premises.

"My grandson would have almost been lynched had a young couple not come to his rescue," said Kamla Gupta.

On Tuesday, two more persons were bitten by the dogs in the afternoon. They were primarily treated by the interns of College of Agriculture who were in the zoo and garden for study purpose.

Even as the problem is growing, the zoo and garden administration has failed to lodge a formal complaint with the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC). No effort is being taken to check the menace.

MN Wankhede, in-charge officer of the garden, admits the number of dogs has been increasing in the past two months. "These dogs come to feed on beef waste thrown in the Nag nullah in the zoo backyard. The dogs also stray into the garden to eat the food left over by the visitors," Wankhede said. He blamed the security guards for the mess.

Zoo officer in-charge Dr SS Bawaskar says disposing of waste beef in Nag nullah is not an issue. The zoo is protected by a compound wall and dogs enter the garden from the college side.

"No victim has lodged a complaint and hence we have not reported the matter to the NMC," Dr Bawaskar stated.

A section of veterinarians felt the zoo should adopt good practices to dispose of waste. The left over beef can also be buried underground. "Straying dogs inside the zoo and garden can lead to transmission of diseases to wild animals," they cautioned.

Buddhist theme park at Futala in cold storage

On December 23, 2009, the then chief minister Ashok Chavan on December 23, 2009 announced during the assembly session in Nagpur that a Buddhist theme park would be set up at Telangkhedi lake.

The park, part of Chavan's Rs 10,000 crore 'Vidarbha Package', was to be set up in three years. The project was to be monitored by the chief secretary and a provision of Rs 3.30 crore was also promised.

Two-and-a-half years on, the proposed park seems to have been dumped in cold storage.

Information sought under the RTI Act by Prakash Bansod, president of Dalit Panther of India, says the Buddhist theme park finds no place in the administrative sanction to various works to be undertaken for tourism development this year.

Information sought by Bansod from the tourism department states that government has made a provision of over Rs 27 crore this year for tourism development. Of this, a provision of Rs 1 crore has been made to develop Futala or Telangkhedi lake.

The works to be done by the PWD includes some construction and digging works, granite flooring, benches, interlocking paver blocks etc. However, Buddhist park finds no mention, indicating that the project was just a hollow promise.

"The Congress has fooled the Dalit people by making a fake promise. The then chief minister had also announced Rs 50 lakh for redevelopment of museum in the city but no financial provision has been made," alleged Bansod.

On the contrary, Sunil Gujjalwar, superintending engineer of Nagpur Improvement Trust (NIT), says the minor works sanctioned at Futala this year have nothing to do with the theme park.

"The Buddhist theme park is a long-term mega project which will require at least Rs 100 crore. The NIT is in process of preparing expression of interest and a survey is being done. Such projects cannot be completed overnight," Gujjalwar stressed.

MAHARAJBAGH :- Stray dog menace rises in Maharajbagh

Stray dog menace seems to be growing at an alarming rate in the Maharajbagh garden and zoo threatening visitors.

In the past few days, at least a dozen persons including children have been bitten by stray dogs inside the garden premises. Although there have been no official complaints, the staff on duty claimed the menace is increasing and over a dozen dogs must have made the garden their home.

Last Thursday, Saurabh Gupta, a 10-year-old child was attacked by six dogs near a tree when he was collecting mangoes inside the garden premises.

"My grandson would have almost been lynched had a young couple not come to his rescue," said Kamla Gupta.

On Tuesday, two more persons were bitten by the dogs in the afternoon. They were primarily treated by the interns of College of Agriculture who were in the zoo and garden for study purpose.

Even as the problem is growing, the zoo and garden administration has failed to lodge a formal complaint with the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC). No effort is being taken to check the menace.

MN Wankhede, in-charge officer of the garden, admits the number of dogs has been increasing in the past two months. "These dogs come to feed on beef waste thrown in the Nag nullah in the zoo backyard. The dogs also stray into the garden to eat the food left over by the visitors," Wankhede said. He blamed the security guards for the mess.

Zoo officer in-charge Dr SS Bawaskar says disposing of waste beef in Nag nullah is not an issue. The zoo is protected by a compound wall and dogs enter the garden from the college side.

"No victim has lodged a complaint and hence we have not reported the matter to the NMC," Dr Bawaskar stated.

A section of veterinarians felt the zoo should adopt good practices to dispose of waste. The left over beef can also be buried underground. "Straying dogs inside the zoo and garden can lead to transmission of diseases to wild animals," they cautioned.

MAHARAJBAGH :- Stray dog menace rises in Maharajbagh

Stray dog menace seems to be growing at an alarming rate in the Maharajbagh garden and zoo threatening visitors.

In the past few days, at least a dozen persons including children have been bitten by stray dogs inside the garden premises. Although there have been no official complaints, the staff on duty claimed the menace is increasing and over a dozen dogs must have made the garden their home.

Last Thursday, Saurabh Gupta, a 10-year-old child was attacked by six dogs near a tree when he was collecting mangoes inside the garden premises.

"My grandson would have almost been lynched had a young couple not come to his rescue," said Kamla Gupta.

On Tuesday, two more persons were bitten by the dogs in the afternoon. They were primarily treated by the interns of College of Agriculture who were in the zoo and garden for study purpose.

Even as the problem is growing, the zoo and garden administration has failed to lodge a formal complaint with the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC). No effort is being taken to check the menace.

MN Wankhede, in-charge officer of the garden, admits the number of dogs has been increasing in the past two months. "These dogs come to feed on beef waste thrown in the Nag nullah in the zoo backyard. The dogs also stray into the garden to eat the food left over by the visitors," Wankhede said. He blamed the security guards for the mess.

Zoo officer in-charge Dr SS Bawaskar says disposing of waste beef in Nag nullah is not an issue. The zoo is protected by a compound wall and dogs enter the garden from the college side.

"No victim has lodged a complaint and hence we have not reported the matter to the NMC," Dr Bawaskar stated.

A section of veterinarians felt the zoo should adopt good practices to dispose of waste. The left over beef can also be buried underground. "Straying dogs inside the zoo and garden can lead to transmission of diseases to wild animals," they cautioned.

NAGPUR :- Shortage of BT cotton seeds brings AP farmers to Nagur

A shortage of seeds manufactured by a few key players has left cotton growers in a fix as the phenomenon also indicates of the little choice the farmer has in the bargain. BT cotton seeds, of a particular variety which farmers eventually get entirely used to, are in acute short supply this season.

Even as the farmers from the region are feeling the pinch of this shortage, their counterparts from Andhra Pradesh is the worst hit. This has brought the farmers from AP to Nagpur as well as other parts of the region hunting for seeds. As dealers turn them away, touts are making a killing selling the seeds at a hefty premium. A bag officially priced from Rs 850 to Rs 930 is being sold at a rate ranging from Rs 1500 to 2700.

As some grudgingly buy others are left with no choice but to go for some other crop this season due to the prohibitively high rates demanded by touts. The next choice is maize which fetches less than half the price a quintal of cotton does. But at the same time many local farmers are also disappointed at the dealers' counters where they are told that a huge stock has already been purchased by the Andhra peasants.

Over the years cotton growers of Telangana region of Andhra have been used to a few varieties of seeds made by the Jalna-based manufacturer Mahyco. The company has been supplying separate varieties in Andhra and Maharashtra. The 7201 variety supplied in Andhra Pradesh is not available this year with the manufacturer citing a major production failure as a reason for the shortage.

Cotton growers in the Karimnagar and Adilabad districts of the state are now a hapless lot. As the sowing season is about to start, the Mahyco seed is not available. Fresh stock has not arrived as the manufacturer's representatives say that a major production loss has led to the crisis. "The 7201 and other varieties used in this state could not be produced in enough quantities due to unseasonal rains Andhra," said Mayhco's territory manager at Nagpur. "There is a shortage in Maharashtra too. The supply till date stands at 10 lakh packets which is half than the normal level."

"We have been using the same seed since years and are doubtful if any other variety of Mahyco will suit the soil conditions at Andhra. Back at home we have to pay as much as Rs 2000 for a bag with a printed price of Rs 930, so our group came to Nagpur, but the scene is no different here," said Raju Akula from Karimnagar district.

"Some agents here are even demanding Rs 2700," added Sampat Kumar who too is from Karimnagar.

Unable to afford these rates, many say that they would be forced to sow maize which fetches a much lower rate than cotton which otherwise is the mainstay crop for the region. Dealers say apart from Mahyco there is a shortage of some varieties made by companies like Ajeet Seeds and Hyderabad-based Nuziveedu Seeds Limited too.

The secretary of the Nagpur Agro Dealers Association, Sharad Chandak said dealers are turning away farmers from the Andhra so that those from the region get enough seeds. The Andhra rush has receded as compared to a few days before.

NAGPUR :- Shortage of BT cotton seeds brings AP farmers to Nagur

A shortage of seeds manufactured by a few key players has left cotton growers in a fix as the phenomenon also indicates of the little choice the farmer has in the bargain. BT cotton seeds, of a particular variety which farmers eventually get entirely used to, are in acute short supply this season.

Even as the farmers from the region are feeling the pinch of this shortage, their counterparts from Andhra Pradesh is the worst hit. This has brought the farmers from AP to Nagpur as well as other parts of the region hunting for seeds. As dealers turn them away, touts are making a killing selling the seeds at a hefty premium. A bag officially priced from Rs 850 to Rs 930 is being sold at a rate ranging from Rs 1500 to 2700.

As some grudgingly buy others are left with no choice but to go for some other crop this season due to the prohibitively high rates demanded by touts. The next choice is maize which fetches less than half the price a quintal of cotton does. But at the same time many local farmers are also disappointed at the dealers' counters where they are told that a huge stock has already been purchased by the Andhra peasants.

Over the years cotton growers of Telangana region of Andhra have been used to a few varieties of seeds made by the Jalna-based manufacturer Mahyco. The company has been supplying separate varieties in Andhra and Maharashtra. The 7201 variety supplied in Andhra Pradesh is not available this year with the manufacturer citing a major production failure as a reason for the shortage.

Cotton growers in the Karimnagar and Adilabad districts of the state are now a hapless lot. As the sowing season is about to start, the Mahyco seed is not available. Fresh stock has not arrived as the manufacturer's representatives say that a major production loss has led to the crisis. "The 7201 and other varieties used in this state could not be produced in enough quantities due to unseasonal rains Andhra," said Mayhco's territory manager at Nagpur. "There is a shortage in Maharashtra too. The supply till date stands at 10 lakh packets which is half than the normal level."

"We have been using the same seed since years and are doubtful if any other variety of Mahyco will suit the soil conditions at Andhra. Back at home we have to pay as much as Rs 2000 for a bag with a printed price of Rs 930, so our group came to Nagpur, but the scene is no different here," said Raju Akula from Karimnagar district.

"Some agents here are even demanding Rs 2700," added Sampat Kumar who too is from Karimnagar.

Unable to afford these rates, many say that they would be forced to sow maize which fetches a much lower rate than cotton which otherwise is the mainstay crop for the region. Dealers say apart from Mahyco there is a shortage of some varieties made by companies like Ajeet Seeds and Hyderabad-based Nuziveedu Seeds Limited too.

The secretary of the Nagpur Agro Dealers Association, Sharad Chandak said dealers are turning away farmers from the Andhra so that those from the region get enough seeds. The Andhra rush has receded as compared to a few days before.

NAGPUR :- Shortage of BT cotton seeds brings AP farmers to Nagur

A shortage of seeds manufactured by a few key players has left cotton growers in a fix as the phenomenon also indicates of the little choice the farmer has in the bargain. BT cotton seeds, of a particular variety which farmers eventually get entirely used to, are in acute short supply this season.

Even as the farmers from the region are feeling the pinch of this shortage, their counterparts from Andhra Pradesh is the worst hit. This has brought the farmers from AP to Nagpur as well as other parts of the region hunting for seeds. As dealers turn them away, touts are making a killing selling the seeds at a hefty premium. A bag officially priced from Rs 850 to Rs 930 is being sold at a rate ranging from Rs 1500 to 2700.

As some grudgingly buy others are left with no choice but to go for some other crop this season due to the prohibitively high rates demanded by touts. The next choice is maize which fetches less than half the price a quintal of cotton does. But at the same time many local farmers are also disappointed at the dealers' counters where they are told that a huge stock has already been purchased by the Andhra peasants.

Over the years cotton growers of Telangana region of Andhra have been used to a few varieties of seeds made by the Jalna-based manufacturer Mahyco. The company has been supplying separate varieties in Andhra and Maharashtra. The 7201 variety supplied in Andhra Pradesh is not available this year with the manufacturer citing a major production failure as a reason for the shortage.

Cotton growers in the Karimnagar and Adilabad districts of the state are now a hapless lot. As the sowing season is about to start, the Mahyco seed is not available. Fresh stock has not arrived as the manufacturer's representatives say that a major production loss has led to the crisis. "The 7201 and other varieties used in this state could not be produced in enough quantities due to unseasonal rains Andhra," said Mayhco's territory manager at Nagpur. "There is a shortage in Maharashtra too. The supply till date stands at 10 lakh packets which is half than the normal level."

"We have been using the same seed since years and are doubtful if any other variety of Mahyco will suit the soil conditions at Andhra. Back at home we have to pay as much as Rs 2000 for a bag with a printed price of Rs 930, so our group came to Nagpur, but the scene is no different here," said Raju Akula from Karimnagar district.

"Some agents here are even demanding Rs 2700," added Sampat Kumar who too is from Karimnagar.

Unable to afford these rates, many say that they would be forced to sow maize which fetches a much lower rate than cotton which otherwise is the mainstay crop for the region. Dealers say apart from Mahyco there is a shortage of some varieties made by companies like Ajeet Seeds and Hyderabad-based Nuziveedu Seeds Limited too.

The secretary of the Nagpur Agro Dealers Association, Sharad Chandak said dealers are turning away farmers from the Andhra so that those from the region get enough seeds. The Andhra rush has receded as compared to a few days before.

Students find IIT-JEE 2011 easy

About 4,800 students appeared for the IIT-JEE on Sunday in the city. The exams were held in 12 centres in the city. Students from many regions of Vidarbha converged in the city to appear for the exam. An overwhelming majority of students said that the exams were 'easy' as compared to the hype that had been created.

Pranjali Dudhe of Ambedkar College said, "It was very easy compared to what I was expecting. I could complete both the papers on time as I had practised a lot by solving many question papers at my coaching class". Pranjali is a student of the Maharashtra State board and still she found the test easy. She is not alone, Vakas Danish, from Akola, who found the exams easy, is also a student of the State board. Danish said, "I never went to any coaching classes but used to solve sample question papers. I found Paper II a bit hard, but overall I would say that the test was very easy".

The timing for Paper-I was from 9am - 12pm while Paper-II was scheduled from 2pm - 5pm. Majority of students said that the time limit was adequate to complete all the questions.

Sandeep Singh, a CBSE student from Kamptee, who had prepared for the exam after attending coaching classes, found both papers 'equally easy'. He added that there were no surprises in the test. "There is a general feeling about how tough it is to crack IIT-JEE but I found today's paper really easy and am very confident that I would get through".

According to coaching centres the reason for this is the lesser number of questions that carry negative markings. Nisha Kothari, owner of a private coaching class, said, "In Paper-I only half of the questions had negative marking, while in Paper-II only 24 (out of 60) questions carried negative marking. Exams are becoming easier for IIT and I believe the quality of IIT exams are going down like anything".

A team from IIT-Powai had arrived in Nagpur to officiate the exams. They however refused to share details on Sunday's exam saying they were not authorized to speak with the media.

This year the exams were conducted by IIT-K and the results of Sunday's exam will be declared on May 25.

NAGPUR :- State govt seeks chopper at Nagpur for anti-Naxal operations

Home Minister RR Patil has said they had asked for a Mi-17 helicopter to be based at Nagpur.

Patil said the helicopter now based in Raipur took time to reach Raipur. "Even during the last incident, it took more than 20 hours for the bodies to be lifted. We are trying to check if the Union government can get it or we can import it."

He said there was a need to focus on development in Gadchiroli and improving the police skills. "I am also asking private industries to take the lead in hiring unemployed youth in Gadchiroli." Patil said there was a shortage of IPS cadre officers with the creation of elite forces like ATS, Force One and a separate range in Gadchiroli. "We do not have enough IPS quota to match the increase we have made in posts and police departments... We also want the Centre to raise our IPS quota."

No outbreak, but NMC

The health officials of Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) have a reason to be happy on World Hepatitis Day on Friday. There has been no major outbreak of jaundice till now in the city thanks to supply of better quality water. Still the health department will be holding an awareness drive across the city through posters and one to one communication with people in slums to prevent the disease.

"There has been no outbreak of jaundice so far, only some sporadic cases. Still we will be putting up posters near all NMC hospitals like Indira Gandhi Rugnalaya, Panchpaoli hospital, and Isolation Hospital to create awareness,’’ said Dr Rajendra Pradhan, deputy director of health, NMC. This year the NMC water supply department has been taking adequate care to improve quality of drinking water. The department is also testing water from all pockets for chlorination.

Dr Anant Dasarwar, deputy director health services, Nagpur Circle, too told TOI that his officials were regularly meeting gram panchayat members and checking whether bleaching powder was being used in villages. "Random water samples picked up from different villages were put to Orth-toludin test used to check the chlorination. In case the sample gave two positive tests, the gram panchayats were taken to task and corrective measures taken," he said.

However, safe water can only control hepatitis A and E. Other hepatitis forms like B and C transmitted through blood transfusion, surgery, drug abuse, and unsafe sex are more serious. Dr Sudhir Gupta, professor and head, gastroenteritis department, Super Specialty Hospital is more concerned about them. "They can cause chronic liver disease, malignancy or even death. Three percent population is affected by these. But they are treatable if diagnosed in time and correctly. In India, baseline investigations for testing these viruses are never done," he said.

Nagpur to host third New Zealand Test

The third Test of New Zealand's tour of India will be played in Nagpur in November after the original hosts, the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA), backed out citing the renovation work going at the Wankhede Stadium. The BCCI has also announced the venues for the five-ODI bilateral series that follows the Tests.

The Wankhede Stadium is undergoing a facelift ahead of the World Cup next year, and the MCA had said it didn't want to rush things and host a Test without a proper trial run.

Since the renovation work began, the nearby Brabourne Stadium has been hosting matches, including first-class games. It staged a Test between India and Sri Lanka last December and the home matches of Mumbai Indians during the third season of the IPL.

The one-day leg of the series will be held in Guwahati, Mohali, Hyderabad, Bangalore and Chennai. There is no change in the scheduling and venues of the first two Tests: Ahmedabad hosts the first between November 4th and 8th with Kanpur staging the next between November 12th and 16th.

The New Zealand series takes place soon after India host Australia for two Tests and three ODIs. The Indian board has advanced the start of both Tests against Ricky Ponting's side by a day (first Test at Mohali begins on October 1 and the next at Bangalore on the 9th), and the first two ODIs by two days.

English theatre gaining popularity in Nagpur

The second capital of Maharashtra seems to have developed a theatrical taste for English plays with people from various walks of life seen enjoying a drama or a stage recital, opting over a television soap opera.

From school and college students to educated homemakers and service professionals, the audience for English dramas is growing in Nagpur.

The current scene is different from the situation 4-5 years ago, when it was difficult to draw people to watch a play in a language other than Hindi or Marathi and the change augurs well for the theatre industry.

According to Vikas Khurana, who is popularly known as the 'theatre guru' of Nagpur, and has founded Stagecraft, about six plays are produced on an average in a year by his group, with 3-4 shows of a play at a time, running to packed houses.

A disciple of Satyadev Dubey, Om Puri and Naseeruddin Shah, he is primarily responsible for introducing English theatre to Vidarbhaites in 2003 and has worked with the veterans at Prithivi Theatre in Mumbai.

"Central India is essentially a Hindi speaking belt and there are several theatre groups in all major towns and cities but all of them stage plays in regional languages like Marathi, Gujarati and Hindi. But ours is the only English theatre group. The closest English theatre is either in Pune or in Hyderabad," he told PTI.

The group works with convents, public schools and professional colleges, conducting theatre workshops and stage plays for them on a regular basis.

Khurana says theatre has to start at the grassroot level and hence he opts for schools and colleges.

"There is no dearth of talent there," he said.