Mumbai: The initial culling operation was restricted to three-km radius in Nawapur as per the WHO guidelines, which would be extended further to the 10 kilometres.
 
The culling of over 1.5 lakh chickens in Nawapur, Maharashtra, which reported the first case of bird flu in the country, was completed on Tuesday night and the authorities will commence culling of birds within 10 km radius of the remote township.

The initial culling operation was restricted to three-km radius in Nawapur as per the WHO guidelines, which would be extended further to the 10 kilometres. The state Animal Husbandry Minister Anees Ahmed, who is camping at Nawapur, is personally overseeing the culling process.

Mr Ahmed had on Saturday stated that the birds in 10-km radius will first be vaccinated, and if that process failed, they will be eliminated.

However, in the last three days, the entire concentration of the official machinery was in

Nawapur and 19 villages including Uchchala in three-km radius on the Maharashtra-Gujarat border. The entire 10-km radius area of Nawapur is estimated to have chickens numbering around a million, all of which now will be culled.

The officials will start scrutinising the account books of the poultry farms to assess the losses suffered by the poultry owners and the retailers. Among the farms which were cleansed was that of senior state minister Swarupsingh Naik, whose farm had over 45,000 birds.

Although the birds have been killed, it will take at least two to three months to completely sterilise the area of the deadly H5N1 virus. The silver lining is that it is the onset of summer with temperatures rising to around 40 degrees, in which the virus usually does not survive. According to experts, the bird flu virus cannot survive in temperatures beyond 39 degrees.

Till Tuesday night, a total of 1.5 lakh birds were eliminated through the culling operation, which does not include birds killed by the private farm owners themselves. In addition to the birds, around 1.58 lakh eggs too were destroyed.

No chicken soup for body or soul

Flu spread stopped, 223,000 chickens culled, another 100,000 to go.

Farms being cleared of feed, manure, droppings.

Compensation: Rs 40 for a broiler chicken and Rs 10 for a chick, shared 50:50 by Central, state govts.

Another 3 months for farmers to resume operations.

Armed forces drop chicken from menu.

Mumbai: Sudheer Nonia’s body finally arrived at Mumbai airport at 2.45 am yesterday, 14 days after he was killed in a ship off the coast of the UAE.

The coffin reached his house in Nerul at 6.45 am. His mother Motiba and sister broke down when they saw the coffin.

Says Motiba, “He was supposed to get married next year and his unexpected death has left us all bereft.”

Beaten up before death

Sudheer’s death certificate has confirmed that he was murdered. It mentions that he was beaten by a solid object and died due to a fracture in the skull, haemorrhage, neurological shock and severe contusions.

Says Sudheer’s close friend Therot Anthony, “It was an emotional moment for us when we read his death certificate provided by the UAE police. I don’t know what he went through on the ship on February 6. We are also groping in the dark about why he was killed.”

Family clueless

Adds Anthony, “We were clueless on the body’s arrival and what compensation would be given to the family till Sunday. The company, Genoa Maritime, was maintaining a stark silence and whatever information we got was from media reports.”

In absence of proper information, the family had to go all the way to the shipping company’s local office to get information on his body. Says PK Purshottam another friend of Sudheer, “Twelve days after his death, Genoa sent Captain Sunil Bhadukar to the UAE to get police clearance to bring back Sudheer’s body.”

Compensation

No company representative was present at the airport. However, during the funeral, Bachchulal Gupta, an agent who had sent Sudheer abroad, came to console the family.

Reacting to the compensation issue, Gupta says, “Officials from the headquarters of Genoa Maritime in Norway were in Mumbai and UAE to probe the death. The compensation could run into lakhs, but the family will have to wait for the legal hassles to get over.”
Short-tempered captain 

Speaking on captain Jitendra Malhotra, who is behind bars in UAE along with seven crew members, Gupta said, “The captain is known to be short tempered, but I cannot say anything beyond that.”

The funeral was attended by local corporators along with hundreds of people from neighbouring buildings. Says Shiv Sena corporator Vijay Mane (of ward no 78), “We will help the family financially and provide a job to Sudheer’s younger brothers.”

Sudheer was the only breadwinner in his family and his younger brothers Sunil and Shyam are still studying.

Mumbai: More than two months after he was operated on for intestinal problems and advised rest by doctors, superstar Amitabh Bachchan recorded a song for his forthcoming film Babul, sources said here on Tuesday.

"He is taking it gradually and not straining himself. He recorded a song for Ravi Chopra's Babul recently and will begin dubbing for another film. He will take time to get back to his original workload," they said.

The 63-year-old actor underwent a successful surgery for infection, inflammation and perforation in his small and large intestines at Leelavati hospital here on November 30.

The superstar's illness had thrown the entire film industry in a whirl, with producers and directors as well as legions of fans praying fervently for Bachchan's speedy recovery.

Many projects including the popular Kaun Banega Crorepati television series had been stalled following his sudden illness.

New Delhi: The new chief minister, on his second visit to New Delhi, will on Wednesday morning take a personal look at the way the world-class Delhi Metro is run.
 
Is Chief Minister H D Kumaaraswamy taking a pro-Metro rail stand?

Official sources say he is. The new chief minister, on his second visit to New Delhi, will on Wednesday morning take a personal look at the way the world-class Delhi Metro is run.

During his Metro ride, Mr Kumaaraswamy will have a chance to chat up with Delhi Metro Managing Director E Sreedharan, popularly called the “Metro Man”. He will embark on the Metro at the Central Secretariat station and travel to Connaught Place two stations away. After this, in all probability, he would make up his mind whether the JD(S)-BJP government should go in for the Metro or not.

The chief minister has not aired his thoughts on whether he would favour the Metro or its rival Mono. He had said on February 15 that the government would take a final decision shortly and start work immediately after that. However, if official sources are to be believed, Mr Kumaaraswamy is likely to vote for the Metro which has transformed the way people travel in parts of Delhi.

The chief minister is said to be of the opinion that he was all for the Metro and wants it to come up in Bangalore fast as a relief from the messy infrastructure and the traffic gridlock.

Politically, a decision in favour of the Metro would help the young chief minister to come out of the shadow of his father H D Deve Gowda. The JD(S) president has steadfastly opposed the Metro while favouring mono rail which has not been found favour with the Union Government. This would also give an opportunity to Mr Kumaaraswamy to show that he can take decisions independently, which is against the stated stand pursued by his father who had written many letters to the prime minister, the finance minister and the Planning Commission deputy chairman opposing the Metro.

The Metro has gone far in obtaining major approvals from the Union Government. The Rs 6,000-crore project has been approved by the Public Investment Board from the funding point of view and has been referred to the Group of Ministers which is slated to meet here on Wednesday. The GoM would go specifically into two issues: the legal cover and the type of gauge (track) required for the Bangalore Metro — broadgauge or standard gauge. Chaired by Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, the GoM consists of Union ministers P Chidambaram, Laloo Prasad Yadav, Jaipal Reddy and the Plan panel’s M S Ahluwalia. The UTI Bank, the lead bank which has made a financial appraisal of the project, has agreed to raise Rs 3,200 crore. As for guarantees, there is none from the government but there will, however, be an escrow cover. The bankers have agreed to it.

TOWNSHIP FOR IT SECTOR

Bangalore, DHNS:

The State Government is planning to create four to five integrated townships in the State to cater to professionals of the IT and BPO sectors. Briefing reporters after a meeting with NASSCOM President Kiran Karnik, Chief Minister H D Kumaaraswamy on Tuesday said the State’s townships would be part of a plan devised for 12 integrated townships across the country.

“The towns earmarked for the projects will be identified soon,” he said. The Chief Minister quoted NASSCOM figures and said software export revenues from the State were tipped to be $US 20 billion by 2010, as against a national figure of $US 60 billion.

Mumbai: A special court on Tuesday remanded suspended police officer Daya Nayak and his alleged associate Rajendra Padte to the custody of the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) till March one in a disproportionate assets case.

After Nayak and Padte were arrested on Monday, they were produced in Additional Sessions Judge S P Mahajan's court around 3 pm on Tuesday for obtaining police custody.

Public prosecutor R V Kiny argued that ever since ACB had filed the FIR against Nayak on January 20, the sleuths never got any opportunity to conduct further investigations, let alone a chance to question Nayak, due to the month-long legal battle which extended up to the apex court.

The defence lawyer did not make elaborate arguments but objected to the prosecution's demand of 14-day police custody, saying that it was inordinately long.

Prosecutor Kiny later told reporters outside the court that among other things, the ACB would be probing the source of donations to a school set up by Nayak at his native village in Karnataka.

It would also be looking into a case registered in Malad police station by owner of the hotel 'Aangan' against Nayak, alleging that the latter had forcibly taken possession of the hotel.

Kiny said that the ACB would also be looking into the suicide case of one Annappa Shetty, who in his suicide note allegedly wrote that Nayak should not be allowed to touch his body.

Nayak allegedly owed him Rs 16 lakh, Kiny said.

In accordance with the High Court's orders, ACB is providing Nayak with a separate cell at the Bhoiwada lock-up facility.

He would also be allowed to partake of home-cooked food and medicines, apart from a daily medical check-up. Nayak's lawyers have also been allowed to meet him for half-an-hour every day.

Mumbai: In keeping with the Supreme Court direction, suspended sub-inspector Daya Nayak would surrender before the Anti-Corruption Bureau sleuths here in a disproportionate assests case today, his family sources said.

Nayak has great respect for the judiciary and he will surrender before the ACB today, the sources said.

The ACB sources said the investigating agency had taken steps to arrest Nayak but his whereabouts were not known.

Mumbai: Daya Nayak’s 76-year-old mother, Radha, was very emotional as she waited to hear the Supreme Court’s verdict on his bail plea.

When Radha heard that his application had been rejected, she was inconsolable.

“I can’t bear to see him suffer all this insult and pain. It is really humiliating. If Daya goes to jail, I will commit suicide.”

She wailed, “I know people are jealous of my son’s fame. His name has always commanded respect. He was always the news!”

Discord in marriage

Radha also said that there was a rift in Daya and his wife Komal’s relationship.

“Daya has been married to Komal for eight years, and for the first time they are not getting along. They have severe arguments with each other every day. The allegation on the couple for amassing wealth has created a rift between the two,” said Radha.

“Someone has definitely cast a spell on our happy family. My son and my daughter-in-law have been fighting for the past month. None of us have slept since then,” she added.

Son craving for parent’s love

“Komal goes to court every day, and their only son, Chaitanya, who is six, is craving for some attention from his parents.

“For the past one month, I have been taking him to school and bringing him back. Though he does not understand what is happening, he can make out his parents are very tense,” said Radha.

Popat banaya

Meanwhile, media and ACB officials waited desperately for the encounter man to surrender before the sessions court. According to ACB officials, Nayak was to surrender before justice P N Deshmukh and necessary security arrangements were in place, but at the end Daya managed to give them the slip. ACB officer Vilas Jadhav said, “We will arrest him soon.” 

NEW DELHI: The Rangarajan Committee on pricing and taxation of petroleum products has proposed a steep hike in LPG prices along with a rise of Rs. 1.21 per litre increase in petrol and Rs. 1.96 per litre in diesel prices. Calling for a shift from the existing import parity system to a trade parity model, it has also suggested cutting customs duties on petrol and diesel from 10 to 7.5 per cent and shifting excise duty from ad valorem levies to specific rates.

The committee, which submitted its final report to Petroleum Minister Murli Deora here on Friday, suggested restricting the sale of subsidised kerosene to below poverty line (BPL) families. "While the committee acknowledged the need for subsidising kerosene, it called for the subsidy to be restricted to poor families only," the report said.

Mr. Deora, however, gave a clear indication that kerosene and LPG prices were not likely to be increased, as there was definite political consensus that these products should be spared as they were used by the weaker sections. He said all political parties, including the ruling Congress and its allies, were against any hike in prices. "It will be my endeavour that the common man continues to be able to get household fuels like kerosene and LPG at affordable rates."

He declined to answer any other question on the report, saying the Government would have to study it before any decisions are taken.

The committee suggested raising the LPG price by Rs. 75 per cylinder immediately and quarterly increases till the Rs. 148 per cylinder gap between the current retail selling price and the production cost was eliminated. It favoured hiking the kerosene price by Rs. 10 a litre in the medium term and giving a Rs. 9 per litre subsidy dole directly to poor families as coupons or vouchers. On excise duty, it proposed shifting from the current mix of specific and ad valorem levies to pure specific levy of Rs. 5 per litre on diesel and Rs. 14.75 per litre on petrol.

Jodhpur: Salman Khan was sentenced to a year in jail by a court here on Friday on charges of poaching endangered blackbuck deer in Rajasthan eight years ago......
 
Salman Khan was sentenced to a year in jail by a court here on Friday on charges of poaching endangered blackbuck deer in Rajasthan eight years ago.

Immediately after announcing its sentence, the court granted Salman bail and gave him 30 days to file an appeal in the sessions court.

Found guilty
 
As hundreds of fans and others massed the complex, the court pronounced its verdict shortly after holding him guilty under the provisions of the Wildlife (Protection) Act. The court also fined Salman Rs 5,000.

Salman, who currently has films worth Rs 1 billion riding on him, was accused of killing two endangered blackbuck deer – a crime under the country’s wildlife laws.

The court, however, acquitted Bollywood comedian Satish Shah and six others who were also accused in the case. Salman's counsel Hastimal Saraswat said, “Salman was given bail by the court immediately after the verdict, and we will approach the sessions court.”

Fans protest

When the star arrived at the court on Friday, his fans gathered outside greeted him with cries of "Salman zindabad!" (long live Salman).

After the court sentenced the actor, the fans protested the verdict.

Salman and the seven others were accused of killing a couple of blackbucks in two separate incidents – one at Bhawad on the outskirts of Jodhpur Sep 26, 1998 and another at Ghoda Farms Sep 28, 1998.

They were then shooting for the film Hum Sath Sath Hain.

The poaching incident evoked protests, particularly by Rajasthan's Bishnoi community that acts as the natural guardian of the animal.

In western Rajasthan, the Bishnois have for several centuries been the biggest protector of blackbucks, and the community worships the hoofed animal.

The hearing in the second blackbuck poaching case is slated for Feb 27.

The movies Salman is currently working in include Rumi Jaffrey's God Tussi Great Ho, Janeman and Marigold.

Heavy fog in Delhi has left hundreds of passengers stranded at Mumbai Airport.  About 10 flights have been delayed by two hours,

Sources said here visibility in Delhi is poor, and it could take some for the flights to take off.  While about seven Delhi-Mumbai flights were reported delayed, Air Sahara, Air Deccan, Spice Jet, Jet Airways and Indian Airlines in Mumbai rescheduled their morning flights to Delhi.

Some airlines informed their passengers about the delays via SMS, but others were caught unaware.

Savitri Rai, who was to fly to Delhi on Air Sahara, had been at the airport since 6.30 a.m.  “ I have been here for the past two hours.  I have been told that the flight will take off around 9 a.m.”

Her fellow passenger to Delhi, Saji CT, said “ I was supposed to fly at 9.30 a.m.  I have just been informed that the flight has been rescheduled for 10.45 a.m.”, he said.

The Delhi fog quickly affected other routes too.  Nani Gopal Banik and Payal Chowdhury were to fly from Mumbai to Kolkatta at 7.50 a.m. on a Jet Airways flight.  “ Now we have been told that the flight will take off at 9 a.m.” Banik said.