Tag: mumbai

Categories
Deal with it

Stop power thefts: Mumbaikars write to police chief

Residents from the F-North ward have written to Police Commissioner Rakesh Maria exhorting him to stop power thefts during festivals.
by The Editors | editor@themetrognome.in

Irked by frequent instances of power thefts from public utilities, a group of residents from F-North ward have dashed off a letter to Mumbai Police chief Rakesh Maria. The letter appreciates his latest order to Ganpati mandals not to steal power from light poles or other public utilities, and entreats him to be as strict with other instances of theft also.

In the letter, written by Sion-based activist GR Vora on behalf of F-North ward residents, the group has asked Maria to issue instructions that proper vigil be maintained even during celebrations like Eid, Navratri and other festivals, to ensure that power is not stolen. Additionally, the letter exhorts the police to nab hawkers taking power from residential housing societies for their illegal stalls or businesses. Interestingly, these residents have asked for a dedicated helpline that citizens can use to report power thefts.

The letter is reproduced below:

‘Dated: 23.8.2014

To,

Police Commissioner (Mr Rakesh Maria),

Police Commissioner’s Office, L T Marg,

Mumbai – 400002

Sub. :–  Electricity thefts from public utilities (street-light poles, residential buildings etc) by organisers of functions on our roads, footpaths and other open spaces.

Ref. :–

  1. Police Commissioner’s meeting with BEST officials in response to the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Mr Ketan Tirodkar against power thefts by Ganesh Utsav Mandals.
  2. TOI newsitem dated 23.8.2014, on page 11, titled “Mandals told to refrain from stealing power for Ganapati” (copy enclosed)

Dear Sir,

This is to compliment you for warning Ganesh Utsav Mandals against stealing electricity from public amenities (street-light poles etc) during Ganesh Utsav celebrations.

But we wish to bring to your notice that during other celebrations too, such as Shivaji Jayanti, Ramzan Id, Navratri etc. and festivals of several other religious groups, electricity is stolen from our street-light poles and from residential buildings for lighting their pandals and other light decorations.  Also, unauthorised hawkers steal electricity from our light poles or illegally take power-extensions from domestic users (like homes, housing societies etc) and steal it for lighting their stalls/bakadas. Please note that usage of power from domestic CHS sources too should not be permitted as it is used for commercial purpose.

So we urge you and all other members of the Vigilance Cell (i.e. Police Commissioner, Chief Security Officer (BEST), Chief Vigilance Officer of BEST – Electrical and the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Operations) ) to kindly keep vigil on all such violators and take immediate stringent penal action against them as it is a burden upon all other citizens who have to pay frequent increase in tariffs for power usage.

Sir, it would be highly worthwhile if a telephone helpline is initiated for citizens to report such power thefts directly to the Vigilance Cell, so that prompt action can be taken against the people who steal power.

We would appreciate if you could inform us of the action taken on our complaint and suggestions.

Thanking you.

 

Sd/-   GR Vora

 

For all members of F-North ward Citizens Federation.’

What do you think of the power theft issue in Mumbai? Tell us your views in the comments section below.

(Image used for representational purpose only)

Categories
Tech

Ganpati darshan, at the click of a button

Two Mumbaikars have launched a website that lets users develop free Ganpati pages, and look at prominent Ganpatis across Mumbai, Maharashtra.
by The Editors | editor@themetrognome.in

For years, Mumbaikars have loved Ganpati and the feeling of goodwill that the elephant God ushers in with his arrival. Moving from mandal to mandal to see Ganesh idols and the accompanying decorations is a favourite activity among Mumbai’s citizens.

But what if you had the chance of a darshan of not just the local idols but the Ganesh murtis in Mumbai and Maharashtra in just one sitting (literally)?

New city-based start-up Web Sizzlers has developed a first of its kind, innovative website www.liveganesh.com, that gives users the chance to have a ‘live darshan’ of the top most Ganpati mandals in the city, look up private murtis inside people’s homes, see the murti in their favourite celebrity’s home, and create their own mini website that gives all the information about their own Ganesh idol at a specially-created, free URL.

pratikKhushal Thakkar

 

Developed by founders Pratik Sejpal and Khushal Thakkar (left to right, in pic above), the site is live and ready for people to register on it and get all the Ganesh-related information they need in Mumbai and Maharashtra. Says Pratik, “When we were young, our parents would take us to local Ganpatis to see the idols and the decorations. But we always wondered what the idols in other areas looked like. Even now, there is a limit to how many mandals you can physically visit. And some Ganpatis can be seen only after you stand in line for 12 hours.”

“Khushal hit upon the idea for this site about a year ago, and we have been working on it since then. The basic idea is to connect people virtually and spiritually with Ganpati during this season.”

How does it work?

Users must first register on the site, and look out for an activation email. “We also generate a unique QR code per user. The added advantage of the QR code is that it can lead one directly to the page of the local mandal, for example, and one can virtually participate in a live aarti,” Khushal says.

He adds that owners of private, residential Ganesh murtis would especially love the features of the site. “Normally, people post daily updates about the murti on Facebook. But we are offering them a separate website, which will have all the details about their murti. They are free to upload as much information about the idol as they wish, with photos and videos. All they need to do is guide people to their website,” he explains.

Using the site, people can manage their Ganpati photos, videos, details such as idol height, type (eco-friendly or other), the decoration details, visarjan area, daily videos of aartis, organiser or member details, etc. “Besides, we offer a live darshan of the top Ganpatis in the city – imagine taking a darshan of Lalbaugcha Raja without standing in queue for a day – and a free registration and listing for mandals,” Pratik says. A bonus point for mandals to register is that for every such registration, the site will plant one tree in the city.

Additionally, the site will offer a look into celebrities’ homes during the Ganpati period. “People are always eager to see how celebrities are celebrating the festival, how their idol looks, what the decoration is like. All of these details and photographs will be available on the site,” Pratik says.

The duo has hired a marketing team to cull out details about mandals and celebrity Ganpatis in Mumbai and the State, and which are being constantly added to the site. “Currently, we are working as a team of four on this project. We are anticipating a good response and we hope many mandals and others make use of our site,” Pratik says.

Write to Pratik and Khushal at info@liveganesh.com for details.

 

(Pictures courtesy Web Sizzlers)

Categories
Bombay, bas

What I miss about the Bombay I grew up in

A Mumbaikar gets nostalgic about the Bombay she grew up in, and the Mumbai that her home city has become.
Shifa Maitraby Shifa Maitra | @ShifaMaitra on Twitter

Bombay sure has changed.

Okay, a lot of how much and why I miss the Bombay I grew up in has to do with my being younger and idealistic. So when I recount what I miss, I am not putting in things that still exist but are not in my frame of reference. Things like double decker buses and Samovar restaurant (though it’s not the same without Mrs Rajbans Khanna at the counter in her gorgeous cottons) are two things that rank in that list. But what I definitely miss and would willingly re-embrace include:

Feeling safe. At any time of the day or night and anywhere. Taking an auto or a cab at 2 am, even alone, was par for the course, but not any longer. Bad things actually happen with unfailing regularity in aamchi Mumbai and that’s really not on.

Long drives. Madh island for a drive, Haji Ali for juice, Lonavla just for fun…these were places we actually visited when the whim caught us. But with the current state of roads, the traffic and the cost of fuel being what it is, just commuting to work is bad enough.

Less paranoia. There were times when you could chat with random strangers at a night club, on the train, or in the elevator and ruffle a cute kid’s hair without being looked at with suspicion.

Clean beaches. Madh island didn’t stink the way it does now, and it was actually possible to have a great time there.

Cheap hangouts. Not only were these places easy on the pocked, they were great spots for a chat, a dash of romance or just to hang at. Café Seaside (in it’s earlier avatar), Open House on Hill Road and Linking Road, Sea View at Juhu beach, were some of these places.

Cosmopolitan buildings. The cosmopolitan building culture is almost vanishing. There are very few buildings left where residents actually celebrate all festivals and Promenades in Mumbaiare welcoming and not just tolerant of others.

Local darzis. Oh, the joy of hunting for fabric and then designing it yourself without spending a bomb! And most importantly, not having people in college or office wearing exactly what you are wearing. Those hours spent at Anwarallys near Elco Market and Jam Design in Matunga…they were so much fun.

Circulating libraries. Actually, I miss the time when people actually read. Whether it was magazines, Archie’s comics or M&Bs, everybody read. And then they talked about the latest Jeffery Archer or Robin Cook, not just tweeted about it.

Children playing. In our time, there were actually games like butterflies, hop scotch, and seven tiles. The play station was down in the building and you had to solve your own fights and not go home crying to mummy.

Oh, for the time when having a good time wasn’t about how much you spent. Watching a movie at Gaiety-Galaxy was cool, having cutting at the tapri or vada pav outside Mithibai College was legit and good fun.

But that’s not to say that there’s nothing likeable about the new, improved (?) Mumbai. There is lots to love, still, such as:

It is still safer compared to other cities.

Mumbai has the wonderful Sea Link.

It has amazing coffee shops.

There is free home delivery of practically everything you need.

Cabs and autos here still run on meter.

The local trains are rightly called the lifeline of the city.

The street food is gorgeous.

There is no need to ‘dress up’ to impress people.

Prithvi Theatre cafeMumbaikars are chilled out, even blase, around celebrities.

We have Candies, Prithvi Theatre cafe, the Kala Ghoda Festival, Literature Fest, the MAMI Film Festival.

There are promenades.

We have occasional candle light marches. They don’t serve much purpose, but they rally the city around for a common cause.

Did Shifa miss any unique Mumbai places or experiences? Tell us about them in the comments section below.

‘Bombay, bas’ is a weekly column on getting around Mumbai and exploring the city with a fresh perspective – and with a hint of nostalgia. 

(Pictures courtesy mumbaioutdoors.com, www.boston.com, www.prithvitheatre.org)

Categories
Deal with it

This actor, activist says ‘I am the Tiger’

An environment-entrenched initiative by actor and activist Shivani Wazir Pasrich is garnering a good response and discussion wherever it travels.
by The Editors | editor@themetrognome.in

Shivani Wazir PasrichActor Shivani Wazir Pasrich is going great guns with her IATT (I am the Tiger) initiative. Most recently, IATT performed for 800 students at the Maharashtra National Park, Mumbai, and the following day, to a packed auditorium in the city. ‘I am the Tiger’ is the story of Taqdeer (or ‘Destiny’), raised in the forest of Sarhi. His sister, Bachi, is forced to fight for food to feed her cubs and is branded a ‘man- eater’. After seeing his uncle Banka cruelly killed by hunters, Taqdeer is shattered. Love changes everything and Trisha, his mate, and he make a family of their own.

However, the good times are short lived and Taqdeer ends up in a zoo in Delhi. Here a life of barren captivity, inhumane conditions and loneliness force him to the very brink of existence and madness.

Says Shivani, “The initiative seeks mass involvement. As you are aware, tiger numbers have fallen steadily each year since 1990. India now has fewer than 1,800 tigers alive in the wild. India is losing the tiger, and with it, the natural abundance the nation needs to survive. We can’t just sit there counting numbers, we have to do our bit.” For this, she envisioned IATT to encompass a variety of conservation activities. “‘From tree planting in the immediate future to setting up a conservation dome in the long run (a green area in the capital city where people can feel the forest, hear the forest, smell the forest), the initiative will be a one stop where there will be performances, lectures, seminars and interactions on conservation. It is where you will find the answers to waste management like disposal of batteries, CFL bulbs, e-waste and so on. It’s also a place you will call when you want to know how to stop someone from cutting a tree or when you want to share your simple innovation with others.”

She adds that for the past two and a half years, this project has been a focal point in her life. “My vision for this project is that it will bring together people who feel for the cause and will influence other people to look at issues of concern in an empathetic way, as they are directly impacted. Hence the use of “I”. Perhaps, in time to follow, there will be an, ‘I am the Elephant’ , ‘I am the Leopard’ and eventually ‘I am the True Conservationist’.”

She says she would like to create a version of this work to showcase at conservation and climate change conferences and drive policy decisions. Further, she hopes to showcase the initiative on the Bio-diversity Train, where 16 bogies carry the story of India’s bio-diversity and stop at platforms where people can board the train free of cost and experience first hand what responsible tourism means. “The effort is to use innovative existing platforms and make them effective with a dose of creativity,” she says.

(Pictures courtesy Shivani Wazir Pasrich and www.delhievents.com)

Categories
Trends

About 35% couples took a trip this weekend

Survey reveals that about 5 lakh travelers from the metros went to nearby tourist spots over the long I-Day weekend.
by The Editors | editor@themetrognome.in

The long weekend, starting from Friday, August 15 (Independence Day), and ending on Monday, August 18 (Pateti, Janmashtami) certainly allowed several people to take short trips to nearby locations. If a quick survey by ASSOCHAM (Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry in India) is to be believed, about 35 per cent working couples of 500 couples surveyed in the metros of the country took planned an extended weekend trip during this time. 

About 5 lakh travelers made the journey to renowned weekend destinations, as per the survey based on feedback received from various working couples and tour operators in metros. “The weekend, starting this Independence Day on Friday, was extended up to Janmashtami on Monday (August 18) and about 35 per cent of working couples in metros planned to make it an extended holiday and escape to the nearby tourist destinations,” highlighted the survey.

ASSOCHAM representatives interacted with about 500 working couples to gauge their mood and plans for the Independence Day weekend in five cities of Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Delhi-NCR, and Kolkata during the last fortnight.

While about 35 per cent respondents conceded they had planned their itinerary in advance, about 55 per cent said they would relax at home and enjoy some good quality time with their family and the remaining 10 per cent said they have not made any plans so far. “With work schedules getting hectic by the day, working couples in India impatiently await weekends and thus make the most of extended weekends,” said DS Rawat, secretary general of ASSOCHAM.

The survey also took into account inputs from representatives of leading travel portals, travel agencies, and hoteliers who came up with various packages, as they had received a good number of bookings for traditional picturesque destinations located around the metros.
 
Certain respondents even said that their companies enabled the ‘work from home’ facility for their employees so that they could spend the weekend comfortably and complete their tasks as per their convenience.

Ashtvinayak, Goa, Khandala, Lonavla, Mahabaleshwar, and Matheran were the top destinations for about 30 per cent working couples in Mumbai, while almost 40 per cent respondents from Delhi-NCR rated Agra, Dharamshala, Haridwar, Jaipur, Jim Corbett, Khatu Shyam, Landsdowne, Mathura and Vrindavan, Manali, Mussoorrie, Nainital, Rishikesh, Shimla, Vaishno Devi and other spots among their favourite spots. 

Ambaji, Gir, Kutch, Mount Abu, Daman and Diu, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Udaipur and others were significant getaway destinations for about 45 per cent working couples planning a quick holiday this weekend in Ahmedabad. Meanwhile, Chikmagalur, Coorg, Madhugiri, Mysore, Nandi Hills, Ooty, Ramanagara, Shivanasamudra Waterfalls, Wayanad and others were most sought-after weekend getaway destinations for 35 per cent working couples in Bangalore.

Bakkhali, Darjeeling, Digha, Mandarmoni, Murshidabad, Navadivpa, Raichak Santiniketan, Sunderbans, Tajpur, Tarapith and others were preferred weekend getaways for about 25 per cent respondents in Kolkata.

Also read: ‘Four-day holiday causes six-hour traffic snarl on Mumbai-Pune Expressway‘, TOI

(Picture courtesy www.planmoneytax.com)

Categories
Trends

Are these Mumbai’s best MLAs?

Praja Foundation rankings for 32 Mumbai MLAs put BJP’s Yogesh Sagar in top spot, followed by the Congress’ Amin Patel.
by The Editors | editor@themetrognome.in

Mumbai is well out of the Lok Sabha election fervour, but in a few days, when the Election Code of Conduct sets in prior to the Assembly Elections later this year, the city will once again reel from election fever.

Before a new Government is elected, however, city-based Praja Foundation deemed it fit to release a ‘scorecard’ for the 32 city-based MLAs. Mumbai elects 36 MLAs in every Assembly, however, since four of the current MLAs are ministers in the current State Government, they were excluded from the ratings.

The findings revealed that 68 per cent people who voted positively for their MLA thought they were less corrupt; while 53 per cent people who voted against their MLA felt they were corrupt.

Releasing the Report Card, Nitai Mehta, Founder Trustee, Praja, said, “The current report card is going to be the last for the 12th Assembly and fourth in the series. This report card which we publish every year gives the citizens, elected representatives, political parties and the Government valuable feedback on the functioning of the elected representatives. We hope that it will set standards and benchmarks for the performance of the elected representatives.”

The number one MLA this year, too, has been the previous two years’ topper, Yogesh Sagar of the BJP. Also retaining their ranks from last year are Amin Patel of INC on second position and Madhukar Chavan, again from INC, on third position.

Rating methodology

The MLAs have been rated on four quantitative parameters and three qualitative perception-based parameters: 1) Quality of questions asked in the assembly, 2) Number of questions asked, 3) Attendance, 4) Clean criminal record 5) Perceived least corrupt 6) Perceived accessibility for the public from relevant constituency, and 7) Perceived performer for the constituency.

Said Mehta, “We collected quantifiable data through RTI applications over the year. We also commissioned Hansa Research to do a scientific-statistical survey from among over 22,580 people of Mumbai to gauge the public perception of the MLAs on the above mentioned parameters.”

Milind Mhaske, Project Director, Praja, added, “The appraisal is based on the constitutional role and responsibility of the elected representatives and opinions of their electorate.” The Report Card covers the working and performance of the 32 MLAs during Winter 2012, Budget 2013, Monsoon 2013 and Winter 2013 assembly sessions. It also covers the Local Area Development funds spent by the MLAs for the period between December 2009 and March 2014.

Mehta added, “There is no standard rule for establishing the performance of elected representatives. Voters have voted on traditional factors to expectations or perceptions to ideologies; few have attempted a scientific approach, mainly due to lack of standardised data and the humongous efforts involved. Hence, Praja made its first MLA report card in 2011.”

Changes in rank

Mangesh Sangle, who got the first rank in the 2011 report card dropped to 20th in 2013 because of low attendance and a new charge sheet, then recovered to the 6th position due to improved attendance and consistency in his other parameters. Sardar Tara Singh’s rank has gone down from 3rd in 2011 to 15th in 2012 due to a new charge sheet, then recovered to 10th in 2013 due to increase in overall perception and quality of questions and is now down to 24th due to drop in attendance, questions asked and overall perception.

On the other hand Yogesh Sagar has remained in the top four in all years and number one for the last three years due to his consistent scores in all parameters. Similarly, his party colleague, Prakash Maheta, has remained in the bottom five in all the years. Bala Nandgaonkar who has asked 4933 questions i.e. 12 per cent of all the questions asked by Mumbai MLAs, has had above average ranks but has never been in the top three as asking questions is just one aspect of the gradation system but there are many more parameters on which this system grades performance.

Mhaske shared that 50 per cent MLAs not only have criminal cases registered against them, but some of them are also charge-sheeted and some also have new criminal cases.

In the survey, respondents were asked to comment on whether they will vote for their current MLA and the score was matched with whether they find them to be corrupt. The findings revealed that 68 per cent people who voted positively for their MLA thought they were less corrupt; while 53 per cent people who voted against their MLA felt they were corrupt.

(Featured image courtesy dnaindia.com)

Exit mobile version