Category: Kharcha paani

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Mumbai’s real estate market takes a beating

Realty report on six cities in country; Mumbai has witnessed rising property prices, declining sales volumes in the last two years.

Mumbai is fast becoming a real estate nightmare. “The residential market has witnessed a phenomenon of rising property prices and declining sales volumes. High prices coupled with a stagnating job market have adversely impacted sales momentum. Going forward, the price growth in Mumbai will be muted on account of the unsold inventory and increasing share of peripheral markets,” says a just-released report by Knight Frank India recently.

The report, an Economy and Realty Report for December 2012, focusses on the Indian residential market scenario and the performance of the top six cities in the residential space. As per the report, “GDP growth declines from 9.3 per cent to 6.5 per cent, crippling the residential sector, launches declined by 30 per cent in 2012 compared to seven per cent in 2011 as banks’ credit exposure to developer’s falls from 23.21 per cent to mere 3.88 per cent.”

Further, the report notes that, “The residential market in 2012 was plagued by high property prices, relatively higher mortgage rates, weak business sentiments and a bleak employment scenario which is reflected in the residential launches, which declined by 30 per cent in 2012 in comparison to a fall of 7 per cent in 2011. Banks’ credit exposure to developers has fallen from its peak growth rate of 23.21 per cent in Jun-2011 to 3.88 per cent as per the latest reported data on September 2012.”

It turns out that developers are cautious of launching projects as the gap between the launch and the absorption numbers reduced to 32,000 units in 2012 compared to 82,000 and 94,000 units in 2010 and 2011 respectively. Meanwhile, on the other big market, Delhi-NCR, the report states, “Increase in supply in the NCR will primarily emanate from the opening up of new sectors in the Gurgaon market. Gurgaon, Noida and Greater Noida will continue to lead the overall NCR residential market. However, controlled new supply will keep a check on the quantum of unsold inventory. As a result we expect the NCR residential market to stabilise in 2013.”

(Picture courtesy hindubusinessline.com)
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Relay fast continues at Azad Maidan

Ghar Bachao Ghar Banao Andolan continues despite no response from Government. Several slums and activists are united in the cause.
by National Alliance of People’s Movements

The Ghar Bachao Ghar Banao Andolan agitation entered its seventh day yesterday, with 30 representatives from various slums of Mumbai, who had been fasting for the last 24 hours, breaking their fast and the next 30 representatives beginning their fast in their place. People who observed the fast only drank water, but spoke passionately about the need to struggle against injustices happening to them in their bastis.

Ajay Palande, from Jogeshwari Indira Nagar, while breaking his fast, shouted the slogan “Bhooke pyaase ladenge, Andolan chalayenge.” Added Kantabehen from Chandiwali, “We are trapped in the cruel web of SRA-builders-duplicate notices-lack of basic amenities-fake allotments and have been fighting for the last 12 years. Now we won’t go anywhere, they (the Government) have to come to hear us.”

Two days ago, Rashi Azmi from the All India Milli Council, Anita Vyas from Ambujwadi, Sabrunnisa Saha from Adarsh Nagar, Lakhan Mandal from Mandala, Gauri from Malwani 8, Shamim Ansari, and 24 others from different slums and middle class localities were fasting for their land rights and right to dignified housing.

While there as been no response from the Government as yet, people are determined to continue their agitation. Letters of appeal are being drafted by the people and the supporters to take immediate decisions on the demands of the Andolan. Support from various organisations, senior activists and students is coming from all over the country, which has intensified the energy and increased the enthusiasm of Andolankaris here at Azad Maidan.

Surekha Dalvi, Indavi Tulpade, Rambhau Wadu from Adivasi Sangathan and Shoshit Jan Andolan, Byaneshwar Shedge and Gyanoba Bhikule from Mosekhore Bachao Jan Andolan (which is fighting Lavasa), and many others came to show their solidarity with the Andolan.

Read the story of Susheela, who has faced demolition of her home several times and who is part of this Andolan, here. 

(Picture courtesy unitedblackuntouchablesworldwide.blogspot.com)

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‘Don’t snatch our shelter’

A woman whose home has been demolished often, tells a story of constant battle with the authorities and endless devastation.
by Nidhi Qazi

Mankhurd: The year was 2004. Susheela Patel, a resident of Sathe Nagar, Mankhurd, lost her house. “Our slums were called illegal and one day, without any prior notice, they were demolished,” she said.

Ambedkar Ground: The year is 2013. The Ground was the starting point of a two-day road march which ended at Azad Maidan yesterday. The Ground bustled with the energetic sloganeering of more than a 100 protestors including slum dwellers, students and activists.

Susheela is high on energy too, as she continues to battle it out with the authorities who come, demolish homes, and go. The only difference is that this time, she is not alone. Susheela is part of a larger agitation called the ‘Ghar Bachao Ghar Banao’ Andolan (GBGB) under the aegis of the National Alliance of People’s Movement (NAPM).

Dressed in a sari, hair neatly plaited, the 40-something Susheela greets me with a smile, holds out her hand in an excited handshake and tells me her story with all the enthusiasm and grit of a seasoned activist. “In the last one decade, our houses have been demolished more than thrice. They (the demolitions) continue to devastate us. This is despite the repeated requests to give us notice,” she says. A part of the movement since 2004, Susheela has been there, seen that. “We are always under the fear of demolition. They (the authorities) don’t even bother to listen to us. They throw away our belongings, too.”

Susheela’s problem points to a bigger issue which the city is currently engulfed in: the State-builder nexus. Activists openly allege that Mumbai is one of the hubs of corruption perpetrated under the garb of infrastructure development projects. “The big players of this nexus include MHADA (Maharashtra Housing & Area Development Authority), MMRDA (Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority), Adarsh housing, Hiranandani group, developers in areas like Golibar, Sion-Koliwada. A number of irregularities happen in the name of slum eviction drives and slum rehabilitation projects,” a housing activist says.

The Andolan has started a renewed agitation called ‘Mumbai Ke Gareebon Ki Nayi Jung’ which began on Tuesday, the first day of this year. Susheela is one of the members at the front. “We not only want freedom from the ever-lurking fear of our houses getting demolished any time, we want the Rajeev Awas Yojana to be implemented,” she says. The scheme has already been approved from the Delhi government, but the Maharashtra government is still sitting on it, informs Susheela.

The Andolan has raised these issues along with other peoples’ organisations in Mumbai, and demanded Rajeev Awas Yojana (RAY) as self-development towards right to shelter. However, it is the builders-politicians nexus, with bureaucrats and police force to support, that is preventing RAY from being implemented.

The area near Mankhurd is home to a large number of rag pickers who earn their livelihood from the Shivaji Nagar dumping ground. Because of the everyday fear of slum eviction, people like Susheela, many a days have to miss work (rag picking) and thus their livelihood suffers. “Most of the people here are daily wage earners but are not able to earn a decent living thanks to these authorities,” she alleges. The livelihood problem apart, the children’s education suffers, too. “We have to start from scratch; from collecting material for a new house, to building it. In all this, our children suffer.”

She breaks away for a while to join small clusters of women to help them raise a voice. While everyone assembled there is equally angry and agitated, people like Susheela help them channelise their distress during protests like these. I watch as Susheela rushes to a group of volunteers, helping them with simple logistics such as microphone arrangement, banners and placards.

Moving away after helping others, she then barges into another cluster of people surrounding activist Medha Patkar. They both whisper to each other, and Susheela comes away.

She greets me again with the same enthusiasm and chats awhile before concluding, “We don’t want big buildings. We don’t want anything. But don’t snatch our shelter. Just assure us a simple, decent life which is free of fear.”

(Pictures courtesy Nidhi Qazi)

 

 

 

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Mumbai drinks the most energy drinks

Bangalore and Delhi rank second and third in the country; survey reveals that more boys than girls consume energy drinks.

This is party season, and while the New Year approaches, the nation is looking for ways to stay up all night and party hard. And one way to do this is by consuming energy drinks.

But a recent Associated Chamber of Commerce (ASSOCHAM) survey reveals some staggering truths about energy drink consumption in the country. Titled ‘Increasing demand of energy drinks among youngsters’, the survey reveals that energy drink consumption has grown by 45 per cent in Mumbai, the highest growth rate anywhere in the country, followed by 42 per cent in Bangalore and 40 per cent in Delhi.

“The use of energy drinks increased with age, especially in boys, with almost 55% of 12th grade consuming energy drinks to boost their game…about 71 per cent of adolescents in urban centers of India consume energy drinks which leads to seizures, diabetic, cardiac abnormalities and behavioural disorders,” the survey reveals.

ASSOCHAM Social Development Foundation (ASDF) team conducted the survey in major states-cities of Delhi-NCR, Mumbai, Haryana, Kolkata, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Chandigarh, Jaipur and Lucknow, and interacted with around 2,500 adolescents (almost equal number of males and females) in the age group of 14-30 years. The respondents admitted that they consumed energy drinks for such promised factors as boost in energy, appearance, performance, improved immunity and overall health.

“Over 85 per cent of school and college students said, these drinks are easily available easily available in the market like retail stores, bars and pubs etc. The target buyers for energy drinks continue to be the young and working Indian population,” reveals the survey.

“Energy drinks are non-alcoholic beverages containing caffeine, guarana, glucuronolactone, taurine, ginseng, inositol, carnitine, B-vitamins, etc as main ingredients that act as stimulants. These drinks contain high levels of caffeine, which stimulates the nervous system,” said Dr BK Rao, Chairman, ASSOCHAM Health Committee.

“These drinks include high levels of sugar and up to 270 calories in each bottle – in addition to potentially harmful levels of caffeine, which has been linked to seizures, heart problems and behavioural disorders,” said Dr Rao.

“Among 82 per cent teenagers, admitted that they opt for energy drinks during exercise for ‘extra energy’, 61 per cent for ‘better hydration’ and 40 per cent as they ‘prefer the taste’. The consumption levels and situations in which people are consuming these energy drinks are worrisome,” added Dr Rao.

(Picture courtesy thinkpress.org. Picture used for representational purpose only)

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The heat is on. Again.

City’s weather seesaws yet again, with the mercury rising to 34 degree Celsius. Minimum temperatures will be 19 degree Celsius.
by The Editors | editor@themetrognome.in

Don’t expect cool and pleasant mornings of last week to continue into this one. In yet another turnaround, temperatures have risen from yesterday and the city is expected to clock in a maximum temperature of 34 degree Celsius, while minimum temperatures will be in the 18 to 19 degree Celsius range.

As per the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), Mumbai, this forecast is applicable for the next 48 hours. However, accuweather.com, one of the world’s premier and most reliable weather monitoring systems, shows this forecast for the entire week, apart from overcast skies. However, as per graphs for Mumbai on the accuweather.com site, maximum temperatures will dip next week to hover at 32 degree Celsius, while minimum temperatures will remain largely unchanged.

(Picture courtesy earthtimes.org)

 

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CM wants mini Press Council for Maharashtra

Rising attacks and mounting pressure from journalists prompts CM to promise to push for Bill in the next Cabinet meeting.
by The Editors | editor@themetrognome.in

Rising attacks on journalists in the State have got Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan promising a string of measures to protect journalists. Precipitated by a need to have a stringent law in place to ward off attacks on journalists, especially after the February 2012 attack on The Times of India building in Mumbai by the Shiv Sena, a Committee Against Attacks on Journalists had been set up to push for a law to protect journalists.

In a meeting with the Committee in Nagpur yesterday, where the State Legislature is currently in its Winter Session, Chavan assured the delegation that he would review and further discuss the need to implement a law that protected journalists in the State. “We will also look into the setting up of a body like The Press Council of India which is unique to Maharashtra, and which will look into the welfare of journalists in the State,” Chavan said during the meeting.

Members of the Committee had been sitting on an indefinite fast to have their demands met – the Committee has been increasingly frustrated by the State Government’s inaction in the matter. Chavan said, “No doubt there needs to exist a law that protects journalists from attacks. However, such a law and its implications need to be studied in great detail before it can be effectively implemented.”

In February this year, the CM promised to push for the Bill in the Cabinet, and appointed State Industries Minister Narayan Rane to the panel that would formulate the law. Interestingly, Rane was one of the ministers opposed to such a Bill in the first place.

Maharashtra has had quite a few examples of journalists clashing with politicians, builders and others, especially in the mofussil areas, where journalists are said to be targeted routinely. As per records of the last 10 years, 11 journalists have been murdered and six media organisations have been attacked, with a majority of these attacks perpetrated by political parties. From 2010 till date, there have been 212 attacks on journalists and media houses in Maharashtra.

 (Picture courtesy criticalppp.com)

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