Nagpur: The state government assured in Assembly on Thursday that an First Information Report (FIR) against construction giants L&T would be filed if they were found to have violated rules of Urban Land Ceiling (ULC). Dr Ranjeet Patil, minister of state for urban development, assured that action would be taken within a week against the company on the basis of report submitted by the BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and Mumbai suburban collector in case of violation of ULC Act.
Congress legislator Arif Mohammad Naseem Khan raised the issue in the lower house through a calling attention motion and alleged that L& T had violated an ULC Act. Khan said, “L&T company has given an undertaking to the government stating they would use land, admeasuring 1.04 lakh meter which was declared surplus under the ULC Act, only for industrial purposes forever without change of user purpose.”
Khan further said, “The land was declared surplus as per the ULC Act and the government had started the process of acquisition. However, the company gave an understanding assuring that the land would be used for industrial purpose and they wouldn’t change the reservation even in future, which the company has breached.”
“The L&T has changed the use of land from industrial to residential and constructed two towers of 24 storeys each. The company has not even paid the premium of over Rs 1000 crore to the government,” he added.“The company has breached the terms and conditions. Hence, the government should seal both buildings and recover Rs 1000 crore plus and should file an FIR against the company and architect too,” he demanded.
Patil said, “It is a fact that the government had assured an inquiry into the matter and of taking action during the monsoon session. However, the state had asked the BMC and collector to submit their reports to the state and it will be received on December 5.”
“On the basis of report, the government will initiate action in the next seven days. If it is proved that the company is at fault, then an FIR will be filed against the company,” added the minister.
Shiv Sena MLA Sunil Prabhu, while supporting Khan, questioned, “Whether the government or BMC is delaying the action? The government should file an FIR and arrest whoever is responsible.”
Nagpur: The state assembly on Thursday passed the Maharashtra Lifts, Escalators and Moving Walks bill which will ensure that people who use escalators and elevators will be covered under third party insurance by the owner in case of an accident. The bill has restricted life span of lifts of escalators to twenty years.
Minister for energy Chandrashekhar Bawankule said the Maharashtra Lifts Act 1939 hadn’t been amended for past 78 years. The bill was passed in the Assembly without any discussion. It will now be sent to the Council on Friday, the last day of winter session.
The Bill makes ‘Third Party Insurance’ mandatory to the owner of the lift, escalator or moving walk. It has also mentioned the lift, escalator company may be prosecuted and held liable for the punishment under this Act in case of an accident occurs in the lift or escalator due to malfunctioning of any of the safety provision.
The Bill further states that whoever contravenes any of the provisions of this Act or rules or condition of license or electrical inspector shall be punished with a fine up to Rs 50,000 if conviction.
The new Act also makes it mandatory for buildings that have escalators to obtain a license in retrospect
The state government on Thursday declared a Rs 10,886 crore river linking project, asserting that it would not allow a single drop of water from its rivers go unclaimed to the neighbouring state of Gujarat. The government stated that 434 thousand million cubic (TMC) feet of water from the state flowing to Gujarat would be reclaimed from upstream Ukai dam. Therefore, there should be no reason to worry about the state losing its quota of water in the inter-state river linking project.
The work under the national river linking project has been taken up after discussions with Maharashtra, Gujarat and the Centre. Sources said the final draft is under way and the Centre would provide 90 per cent funds. The remaining 10 per cent would be provided by the state government.
The central aspect of the work includes the Damanganga-Pinjal river linking project that would help resolve the drinking water problems of Mumbai. Water from Damanganga Valley, around 579 TMC, would serve the purpose. The project cost of the two river linking project is Rs 2,746 crore.
The state government has pushed four more projects to retain its water share — Nar-Par-Girna (362 TMC ), worth Rs 4,500 crore, Par-Godavari (97 TMC) worth Rs 990 crore, Damanganga-Viatarna-Godavari (202 TMC) worth Rs 1,800 crore and Damanganga-Godavari (143 TMC) worth Rs 850 crore. Apart from the four projects, the Damanganga-Pinjal river linking project of 579 TMC aims at providing drinking water to Mumbai city.
The Opposition went all out on the penultimate day of the winter session, making serious allegations against Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. The two senior opposition leaders from NCP, Ajit Pawar and Dhananjay Munde, alleged that Fadnavis was protecting his loyalist from Nagpur in a series of murder cases and had failed as a home minister in controlling the increasing crime in the state.
Aggressive assembly
Ajit Pawar quoted from crime record books and referred to several publications for substantiating his allegations. He asked why Fadnavis was protecting murder accused Munna Yadav, who is chairman of a cash-rich state corporation for construction workers.
Ajit Pawar and Dhananjay Munde said the government had failed in creating any kind of fear in the minds of criminals. “This is a strange government. Ministers give so much ‘respect’ to the officers and employees that they are taken for granted. Someone needs to tell these guys that they are no longer in the opposition but the government,” said Pawar, sarcastically.
“Yadav is absconding, but people say he is seen around in Nagpur, and yet, the police don’t arrest him. This happens despite the DGP asking the CP not to buckle under any political pressure for protecting Munna. Isn’t this shameful for a CP of this city? His boss comes here and raps him, but the officer doesn’t budge.” Pawar said Yadav was given the status of a minister. “Can the CM tell us what is Yadav’s qualification and eligibility for getting such an appointment?”
Calling law and order a cause for concern, Dhananjay Munde told the Upper House that the government didn’t allow anyone to speak, and when anyone talked about the poor law and order, they were branded anti-national. “If the evidence provided by us is fake, then sue us, punish us in a city square, but please verify the evidence and bring the guilty to book,” he said, referring to many crimes across the state and alleged scams in which ministers and bureaucrats were given a clean chit. “The CM is fooling the 11 crore people of Maharashtra.”
“Nagpur is next to Kochi in crime rate. Six people were killed in four hours here early this week. Gang wars are a daily business here. It’s not the rule of law but the rule of bribing. We are ready to take to the streets if home department fails in getting its act together,” said Munde, adding that if Yadav hadn’t been arrested, how could anyone expect the police to arrest the killers of Dr Dabholkar and Prof Pansare.
‘Women unsafe’
The former deputy CM said crime against women was on the rise in Mumbai, where the police had consistently failed in ensuring security for women commuters on the suburban rail network. “There is no adequate police force. Women are violated regularly. Why? This government is insensitive, inefficient and inactive,” said Pawar.
Dhananjay Munde said the state was a topper in crimes against women. “In fact, Maharashtra has surpassed Bihar in all types of crimes. I remember late RR Patil, who took a stern decision to ban dance bars; but now, Mumbai, Navi Mumbai and Thane have dance bars running under the garb of discotheques. Recently, the Thane police scrapped licences of 43 bars, but ACS (home) stayed the action in just two days,” he added.
Debating for the government, ruling party members, especially those from BJP, defended the home department and CM. But some Shiv Sena members said they were not happy with police’s handling of certain cases. Fadnavis will respond to the debate on Friday.
Cop-criminal nexus?
Taking the debate to another level, Ajit Pawar said some non-Marathi policemen were suspected to be hand in glove with criminals. “I don’t want to create a controversy over regionalism and language, but what I said should be probed,” he added.
Newlyweds Virat Kohli & Anushka Sharma’s much-anticipated marriage reception was held at the Taj Palace, New Delhi on Thursday night. The glitzy affair saw high-profile people from many walks of life, including Bollywood stars, along with cricketers descended on the venue to celebrate the high-profile couple’s wedding, which was held in Tuscany, Italy on December 11. This is the first reception that the couple, whose ‘Virushka’ tag has gone viral, will be hosting. There is another reception scheduled for December 26 in Mumbai, a day ahead of the Indian team’s departure for South Africa. Anushka will accompany Virat Kohli to South Africa where the Indian captain will join the Indian squad and start preparing for the two-month long series against the Proteas, starting January 5.
Two days back, photos of Virat and Anushka started doing the rounds as the couple spent quality time with their family members, after landed in the national capital after a brief honeymoon in Europe.
Virat and Anushka had also met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi to extend him the invitation to attend their marriage reception. The official Twitter handle of PMO India shared the image of the couple with PM Modi. “Captain of the Indian cricket team @imVkohli and noted actor @AnushkaSharma met PM @narendramodi this evening. The Prime Minister congratulated them on their wedding”, the PMO India handle captioned the image.
It has been reported that Virat will be shifting cities, from his hometown New Delhi to Mumbai where Anushka lives. The couple will be moving into a sea-facing apartment in Mumbai, say reports.
Anushka will spend New Year’s Eve with Virat and return in the first week of January to begin next schedule of a film with Shah Rukh Khan in Mumbai, the actor’s spokesperson had said.
Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has won a $2.25bn outsourcing contract from Nielsen, as per media reports. This is the largest ever deal bagged by an Indian information technology firm. Under this contract, TCS is assured of $320mn in business from Nielsen every year, from 2017 to 2020, $186 mn in annual revenue from 2021 through 2024 and $139.5mn in 2025.
TCS has received the first deal from Nielsen in 2007 for $1.2bn, a 10-year contract. In 2013, the deal size was increased to $2.5bn and extended until 2020. And, now the term of the Agreement has been extended for an additional five years, set to expire on December 31, 2025, with three one-year renewal options granted to Nielsen.
Under the renewed contract, the companies have agreed to terminate the separate Global Infrastructure Services Agreement between them. TCS will now globally provide Nielsen with professional services relating to information technology (including application development and maintenance), business process outsourcing, client service knowledge process outsourcing, management sciences, analytics, and financial planning.
TCS is among world’s top 10 IT companies deriving ~40.2% of its revenue from BFSI vertical in FY17. Retail and distribution contributed 17.3% to TCS’ revenue, while communication, media & technology contributed 16.5% each to its revenue in FY17. Company’s revenue has grown at 17% CAGR over FY13-17.
The state government has decided to open 100 international schools to provide quality education to students. The decision was announced Wednesday by School Education Minister Vinod Tawde in the state Assembly session in Nagpur. The decision comes on a day the government adopted the amendment in the Maharashtra Self Financed Schools (Establishment and Regulation) Act, that would allow private companies and the corporate sector to open schools on no-profit-no-loss basis.
Dispelling apprehensions that such a legislation would not serve the poor and help only the rich, Tawde said, “Even today, private players have made inroads in school education. We have only simplified the process.” He assured that the interest of students, including fee regulation, would be protected, and state language Marathi would be promoted in these schools.
The government said the decision to open 100 international schools is to provide a platform to children who cannot afford similar education in private schools.
On a whirlwind global tour for his latest release, Will Smith, along with the cast and crew of Bright, made a pit stop in Mumbai. The Hollywood star regaled Mumbaikars in true style, between his back-to-back interview schedules, meeting with fans, posing for selfies, and even beatboxing to Indian moves prior to the premiere. Netflix’s Bright is a fantasy-thriller directed by David Ayer, which revolves around two Los Angeles-based police officers, Daryl Ward (Will Smith) and Nick Jakoby (Joel Edgerton, the first orc officer), who stumble upon an elf that possesses a magic wand that could unleash the Dark Lord. Though set in modern-day LA, the film has strong fantasy elements featuring orcs and fairies and elves. Will Smith, who at 49, still does his own stunts, talks about the movie, what he wishes audiences take away from it and his favourite foods. (Watch Video of Will Smith Below)
You have been to India a number of times before, anything you would like to do this time around?
Will Smith -The one thing that I’d love to do, but I won’t be able to — it’s a tragedy — is I would love to go back to Akshay’s (Kumar) house for dinner. It was, literally, the best food I’ve ever had in my life. And I’m not going to be able to do that on this trip… I love Chicken Tikka Masala. Oh, my god, yes. Indian food and sushi are my two favourite foods around the world.
On the surface, Bright is a fantasy film but it also deals with racism and other sensitive issues. How pertinent is that in today’s day and age?
For me, that was part of the decision to make Bright. In (writer) Max Landis and (director) David Ayer’s world, the elves are the one percenters of society, they’re the haves and the orcs are the bottom of society, they’re the have-nots. And the humans they are in the middle. For my character as an African American police officer to be racist against orcs, that was such a social flip that I thought it would be fun and interesting to explore and it turned out to be a really informative experience for me around the idea of racism.
Do you feel we as humans have become extremely judgemental?
My experience playing a racist character, I used to think it was about being judgemental, but it’s less about being judgemental and it’s more about an ego- need for comparative superiority. That we need to be better than other people. Everybody is struggling for a sense of comparative superiority that our egos need to look at somebody and say, ‘Hey, we are better than them.’ It is an emotional survival mechanism that lives at the core of all of our isms — racism and sexism and nationalism, we all need ourselves and our group to be better than others. And it’s what’s difficult in the discussions that we have around diversity, for example. In the world of models, people will say you can’t just have models that look like this, you have to have plus size and models of colour and everything but what happens is both groups are struggling for comparative superiority so it’s just one is winning. Whatever group is losing, it feels like they’re right. But it’s actually the same thing, everyone is struggling for that space to feel better. But I do think that technology is forcing a human evolution.
Bright deals with concepts like a magic wand and the Dark Lord. What does that represent to you?
We talked about this a lot on the sets and we decided to stay away from it but the idea of magic being the power of the unknown and magic being hope, being the next evolutionary human superpower. Magic is what will save us from the Dark Lord. Our belief in magic and our belief in something even though we haven’t seen it happen before. In this film, magic was around unity. It was the necessity for all of us to come together in support of our magic and to be able to defeat the Dark Lord which is our lower selves, our base, chaotic, brutal, reptile selves.
Is there any takeaway you want audiences to have from this film?
There’s a really central idea of how we treat and believe and, you know, disrespect one another for our selfish cravings and needs… It’s entertainment, I want people to have fun and enjoy it but I think there’s interesting conversations that could be had definitely around bullying and the treatment of one another.
The film features a lot of intense action stunts and you’re an actor who does his own stunts. Do you enjoy that?
Yeah, that’s just stupid though (laughs). I think I’m done with this, that’s the last movie… There’s one stunt in the movie, there’s a part where my feet are on the back of a car and the car is spinning the wheels and pushing me back and like we actually did that. And I still think that was a good idea. See, I thought Joel said yes (to the stunt), so I said yes, and then I ended up doing mine and then I see Joel’s stuntman going and I’m like, ‘Hey what’s he doing?’ Joel was more cautious but I definitely channelled my inner Tom Cruise on that one.
Watch Video – Will Smith has a message for Akshay Kumar
Nagpur: The Maharashtra government’s contentious slum redevelopment plan, which would entitle even non-protected residents of slums for rehabilitation under its slum redevelopment policy, received the nod of the Legislative Assembly Wednesday, and is now close to becoming a law. While the move has major implications for Mumbai where almost every second resident lives in a slum, the Assembly passed the legislation within minutes without any debate.
Earlier, the state’s law department had raised strong objections to the move. But it was tabled in the Assembly on Wednesday morning. Within minutes of being taken up for discussion in the evening, it was cleared with members of the Opposition not raising any objection. The ruling side will now take the legislation to the Legislative Council Thursday.
Over 52 lakh people reside in slums in the commercial capital, which have some of the highest population densities in the world. While presently only residents of slums in dwelling units that existed before January 1, 2000 are protected against demolition and entitled to free owned rehabilitation in a slum redevelopment plan, the government has now proposed to accommodate even ineligible slum dwellers in the Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) scheme.
On the basis of the Centre’s ‘Housing for All’ initiative, it has now proposed two separate rehabilitation components for SRA projects. While protected occupiers living in pre-2000 dwelling units will remain eligible for free rehabilitation, those found ineligible in this category are proposed to be accommodated on-site under provisions of the Centre’s Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY). While the move would blur slum cut-off deadlines, government sources admitted that permitting more buildable space to accommodate more slum-dwellers would further increase local population densities.
But for now, the chief minister has capped the rehabilitation benefit among non-protected dwellings only for residents of slums in dwelling units existing before January 1, 2011. While a formal assessment of the number of dwellings that would benefit from the move is yet to be made, sources said at least 3.5 lakh additional slum dwellings and 18 lakh slum dwellers may get accommodated.
Although post-2000 dwellings won’t be eligible for free rehabilitation, they will have to pay the construction cost for the rehabilitation home, a source said. “They will, however, be eligible for rebate offered under PMAY,” he added. Also, in the event of there being lack of space to accommodate such slum dwellers in situ, the proposal is to relocate them into PMAY houses within the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said, “All residents of slums in dwelling units upto January 1, 2011 will now be entitled to rehabilitation. This was done as it was noticed that non-protected occupiers, who were evicted from the Slum Rehabilitation Area without any rehabilitation arrangement, would shift to the slum area again, defeating the goal of a slum-free city and the government’s ‘housing for all’ mission.”
Despite the law department’s objections, the legislation has also a proposal to include non-slum portions, including lands used by slum dwellers for traditional occupations, in the “slum area”. Slum projects in Mumbai’s prime areas have already turned into a goldmine for developers, who are already permitted to build anywhere between three to four times the slum area. Sources said the inclusion of non-dwelling portions in the “slum area” would further increase sale incentives for builders.
The government has set an upper limit of 45 days for slum dwellers to object to an SRA proposal. It has also proposed mandatory disclosures and registrations by developers. It also proposes to empower Chief Executive Officers (SRA) to declare a land as a slum, along with the Collector’s office. Meanwhile, land owners, whose encroached lands have been declared as slums, would get 120 days to initiate slum redevelopment plan.
Provisions have been made to acquire such lands otherwise. Sources said the legislation will also require the President’s assent for becoming a law.
Ranji Trophy 2017-18 : One of the most dramatic and emotionally-charged Ranji Trophy matches in recent memory hurtled to a pulsating finish in Kolkata as Vidarbha charged into their maiden tournament final of Ranji Trophy 2017-18 with a five-run victory over favourites and eight-time champions Karnataka.
Passionate, exhilarating and unpredictable until the very end, this match had all the ingredients that go into the making of a classic. Rajneesh Gurbani picked the ultimate stage to turn in the performance of his life – a career-best seven-for – as Karnataka folded for 192 in their second innings, ending what turned out to be the match of the season.
In Ranji Trophy 2017-18 Karnataka dominated almost every moment of the 75 minutes that the final day lasted. Shreyas Gopal (24*), Vinay Kumar (36) and Abhimanyu Mithun (33) mounted a sensational fightback as Karnataka’s experience in big-match situations prominently came through. Almost every run was shaved off the target in a clinical manner as Vidarbha watched their dream slip away. All until one critical moment of madness dashed Karnataka’s hopes and subjected them to heartbreak.
Mithun, who had dented Vidarbha the worst of all Karnataka batsmen, paid the ultimate price for his lofty ambition. With his team nine runs away, and with Vidarbha having nearly lost nearly all hope, Mithun gave them a spark in his pursuit of a glorious finish. Gurbani pitched it full outside Mithun’s off stump and the batsmen threw his hands at it as hard as he could, and sliced a catch to Akshay Sarwate at deep point.
It brought out S Aravind, Karnataka’s weakest batsman and Vidarbha’s strongest hope. Aravind managed to see off four deliveries. And then Karnataka suffered their second brain-fade of the morning. Off Umesh Yadav’s last delivery, Aravind flicked the bowler to fine leg. Shreyas Gopal, without a moment’s hesitation, crossed over for the single.
Six runs required and six balls to bowl at No.11 Aravind. It was Vidarbha’s last chance, and Faiz Fazal turned to his young hero, Gurbani. One ball later, it was all over. Gurbani shaped the first ball away from Aravind. The batsman reached out, and the resultant edge was snaffled at gully. Gurbani elatedly sank to his knees, Vidarbha’s players roared out from their dressing room, and Shreyas and Aravind were disconsolate figures as they wearily and reluctantly dragged themselves off.
Nagpur : Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and other Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders gathered and paid rich tribute to Dr K.B. Hedgewar at Smruti Mandir in Nagpur’s RSS headquarters on Wednesday. Dr. Hedgewar was the founder of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and every year BJP leaders pay tribute to him in RSS headquarters.
Nagpur : The Maharashtra government is considering a proposal requesting it to hold the monsoon session of the legislature in Nagpur, the second capital of the state, instead of Mumbai which is the norm.
As per a convention, the winter session of the state legislature is held in Nagpur, located over 800 kms away from the state Capital.
Maharashtra Parliamentary Affairs Minister Girish Bapat said the government has received a proposal requesting shifting the monsoon session to Nagpur and is “keen on implementing it”.
“The state government has received a proposal from some legislatures to hold monsoon session in Nagpur. The monsoon session generally lasts for a month. It (Holding the session in Nagpur) will help many legislatures from Vidarbha region to raise and discuss their issues. We are keen on implementing it (the proposal),” Bapat told reporters outside Assembly in Nagpur today.
The winter session of the state legislature is currently underway in Nagpur.
“The next session (of the legislature) is scheduled to be held in Mumbai, where we will discuss the possibility of holding the monsoon session in Nagpur,” Bapat said.
After Maharashtra was formed from the division of the Bombay State in 1960, it was decided to hold every winter session in Nagpur where most of the issues are expected to be regarding Vidarbha region.
“Generally, the period of monsoon session is not more than two weeks. If monsoon session is held in Nagpur, more issues related to Vidarbha could be discussed,” the minister said.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni on Wednesday played a key role in India’s biggest T20I win till date. The former India captain contributed in every department, helping the hosts register a crushing 93-run win over Sri Lanka in the 1st T20I at Cuttack’s Barabati Stadium. Not only did the wicketkeeper-batsman provide a final flourish to India’s innings with an unbeaten 39-run knock, he also went on to add four wicketkeeping dismissals taking his tally to 74. Not just that, the 36-year-old notched up three other records during the series opener against Thisara Perera’s men.
Dhoni (39 not out + 4 dismissals) became the first Indian wicketkeeper to post 35 or more runs and effect four dismissals in the same T20I, joining South Africa’s Quinton de Kock (twice) and Pakistan’s Kamran Akmal.
Dhoni is the first wicketkeeper to effect four dismissals in T20Is involving India and Sri Lanka.
Dhoni (201 dismissals in 272 matches) has become the second wicketkeeper after Kamran Akmal (207 in 211 matches) to complete 200 dismissals or more in T20 cricket.
Captain Rohit Sharma applauded Dhoni, who was promoted up the order, during the post-match presentation.”MSD (Dhoni), he’s just class. No. 4 really paid off. He’s played so many games for us, won so many games for us and moving forward, we feel making him bat at No. 4 is ideal,” Rohit said.
Dhoni’s batting record as number four player has been excellent – his aggregate being 244 in eleven innings (seven times not out), including a half century – 56 vs England at Bengaluru on February 1, 2017. His strike rate of 134.01 is quite impressive at this batting position.
“For a long period of time, MS has been finishing games off, but we want him to bat freely now, without that pressure. We were not sure what the ideal score would be, with dew and the wicket playing weirdly. So I thought 180 was a great effort,” he added.
This year get your loved ones Best Merry Christmas Wishes 2018, looking inside all of the birthday cards to find the right one, prefer to send an e-Card to your friend on his or her special day, or even like making your own, there are many different ways you can make a message that is just the right to wish well for your friend. Best Merry Christmas Wishes Here are some ideas to get you started.
Check Out Best Merry Christmas Wishes 2018
A Christmas candle is a lovely thing; It makes no noise at all, But softly gives itself away; While quite unselfish, it grows small.
I can’t wait to do all the holiday things with you. I want to bake Christmas cookies, drink eggnog, and decorate the home.
On Christmas, there’s a reason to be happy and a reason to smile, and there’s a reason why I’m sending Christmas wishes your way. You’re it.
Christmas is all about sharing love with your loved ones. That’s why I am taking the time to share the love with you and I hope to get some love back.
The holiday season is the best time of year. One of the things that make it so great is that I get to spend it with you.
A lovely thing about Christmas is that it’s compulsory, like a thunderstorm, and we all go through it 2gether.
You are special, you are unique; may your Christmas be also as special and unique as you are my love! Merry Christmas!
The true heart of Christmas is one of wonder and warmth. May any holiday stress you feel fade away and be replaced with this. Merry Christmas!
May all the beauty and blessings this Christmas season has to offer to be with you and your family. Happy Christmas to you all!
Beneath the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, there is the true beauty of connecting with loved ones. May this beauty and joy lift you up during Christmas and the New Year!
I wish you all the peace and joy of the season! Here’s to wishing you and your loved ones a very Merry Christmas and Joyful New Year!
May this Christmas bring joy and love to your heart and soul, and may you start the New Year on a beautiful note. Wishing you the best Christmas and a safe and happy New Year!
A star has come to earth! Spread the Christmas love and cheer! Merry Christmas!
Christmas is forever, not for just one day, for loving, sharing, giving, are not to put away like
Christmas is not a time nor season, but a state of mind. To cherish peace and kindness, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas.
Christmas is not an eternal event at all, but a piece of one’s home that one carries in one’s heart.
I’m sending you warm bear hugs, loving kisses and earnest wishes for the wonderful occasion of Christmas. May you have a splendid Christmas filled with lights, songs, and cheer. Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year to you.
I wish Santa brings you the gift of never ending happiness this Christmas! May you and your family be blessed abundantly. Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year!
A song was heard at Christmas. To wake the midnight sky. A savior’s birth, and peace on earth and praise to God on high.
As we rejoice and celebrate this wonderful season of Christmas, let us not forget to thank baby Jesus for coming into our lives. Let us together prepare ourselves to welcome him into the homes of our hearts. Merry Christmas to you and your loved ones.
Christmas is not only about buying new clothes and preparing sweets. Christmas is about spreading the love of Jesus Christ to whomever you meet. May you have a blessed Christmas.
I wish You Lovely X-mas; I wish You Favorable; I wish You Enjoyable; You shall not Lack in this X-mas; Thy Lord shall provide to You!Merry X-Mas.
Good news from heaven the angels bring; Glad tidings to the earth they sing; To us this day a child is given; To crown us with the joy of heaven.
Bless us Lord, this Christmas, with the quietness of mind; Teach us to be patient and always to be kind.
May the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ. Bring you and your family endless prosperity.
The babe of Bethlehem was born today. May His peace, love, and serenity descend upon you and remain with you forever and ever! Here’s wishing you a blessed and a holy Christmas!
Check Out Best Merry Christmas Wishes 2018
Christmas is the one time of year when people of all religions come together to worship Jesus Christ.
Joy to the world, a king has been born! Here’s wishing you and your families peace and prosperity this Christmas! May the Lord send you His abundant blessings! May you have a Merry Christmas and a Gratifying New Year!
May baby Jesus bless you and your family this Christmas with wonderful and spiritual gifts. I wish you a Memorable and Bright Christmas this year. Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year to you and all your loved ones.
May this Christmas bring you all the joys of heaven. May you have angels rejoicing at your doorstep. May Baby Jesus teach you the true meaning of life. May this Christmas bring you closer to him. Merry Christmas to you and your family.
May your hearts be filled with peace and faith in God. May your days of doubt be replaced with days of hope and cheer. May you and your family get nurtured with lots of love! Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you and to your loved ones!
This Christmas as you count your blessings sent to you by the Almighty, don’t forget to pray for those you aren’t able to partake in this wonderful celebration. I wish you have a Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year ahead.
I love the Christmas-tide, and yet; I notice this, each year I live; I always like the gifts I get, But how I love the gifts I give!
I hope life treats you kind, and I hope you have all you ever dream of, I wish you joy, happiness, peace, and prosperity but above all this, I wish u love this Christmas.
This Christmas may all that you ever dreamt of, turn into reality. Merry Christmas to you my dear and followed by a Happy New Year.
Santa Claus is on his way, It’s going to be a bright and a happy day, So pass on the happiness to every person you meet, Brighten up their day and touch their lives beneath. Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year!
This Christmas may Santa Claus get you lots and lots of gifts. May all those gifts be just wanted you always wanted. May all your wishes, dreams and desires come true this Christmas. Have a Blessed Christmas.
May baby Jesus make all your dreams, aspirations and wishes come true. May love and friendship come your way to stay with you forever. I wish you have a perfect Christmas this year. Merry Xmas buddy!
May the lovely spirit of Christmas bring you lots of peace, joy, and happiness. May it live with you all through the Christmas season. Here’s wishing you a Wonderful Christmas and a Blessed New Year.
May the closeness of friends, the comfort of home and the unity of our nation, Renew your spirits this holiday season.
May joy and happiness snow on you, may the bells jingle for you and may Santa be extra good to you! Merry Christmas!
Sending you the spirit of love, joy, and giving. Unwrap it on Christmas eve. Wishing you a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.
May your world be filled with warmth and good cheer this Holy season, and throughout the year! Wish your Christmas be filled with peace and love. Merry Xmas.
May this Christmas turn out to be better that you ever expected. Merry Christmas to you. Go out and spread the joy!
May this year be more promising than the year before! Spread the happiness all around you! It’s Christmas! Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you and your family!
Sending you all my love and the choicest blessings from heaven this Christmas. May you have a brilliant Christmas season. Merry Christmas to you and your loved ones!
This Christmas, make it a point to bring a smile to every face you see. Wishing you and your family a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Make it a special one!
May you and your family cherish the wonderful memories, of love, care, and hope. May you live life in joy and peace. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.
May your Christmas sparkle with moments of love, laughter, and goodwill. And may the year ahead be full of contentment and joy. Have a Merry Christmas.
Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way, May you be blessed this Christmas with peace and love all day! Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Top Business Happy New Year Wishes 2018: New Year 2018 is soon going to knock on our doors. It is one among the best occasion and celebration of life which is celebrated by everyone annually around 1st of January. Enough time is flying so quick and we are at the close of the year 2017. We have lived 12 long months of the 2017 yr and also so are going to enter 2018 soon. Welcome, the first day of this calendar year wholeheartedly with no fear and with plenty of aspirations and visions.
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May the fireworks brings you the sound of Victory in your ear,
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Best Happy New Year Wishes 2018: New Year 2018 is soon going to knock on our doors. It is one among the best occasion and celebration of life which is celebrated by everyone annually around 1st of January. Enough time is flying so quick and we are at the close of the year 2017. We have lived 12 long months of the 2017 yr and also so are going to enter 2018 soon. Welcome, the first day of this calendar year wholeheartedly with no fear and with plenty of aspirations and visions.
New Year gives us the guts to dream a brand new and big fantasy. Joyful New Year gives us the main reason to take to new thing in our life. It is perhaps not it is the time that begins with all the brand new group of goals. Today all of us amass a few Unique Happy New Year 2018 wishes
Check our Best Happy New Year Wishes 2018
“I wish that the New Year turns out to be a very special one for you filling each day with peak of health, abundance of happiness and sunshine, bountiful luxury and prosperity ”
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“New Year is the time to visit our relatives and friends to warm up relations,
And strengthen friendship wishing you a New Year with fun,
And party with relatives and friends Happy New Year !”
“New Year is the times for fun and party so let us have party …!
And Dance to welcome a New Year with …!
Luck and success Happy New Year…!”
“Wishing you a New Year that brings luck and,
Prosperity fills your home with joy and spirit,
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.”
“New Year is there to enjoy and take rest to face our challenges,
With more courage wishing you a great holiday,
And celebration Happy New Year !
“Before starting the New Year celebration make sure that,
You are calling Taxi to take you home,
Happy New Year !”
“This message is for a nice kid nobody else should read this,
You will get lot of chocolate in New Year,
Happy New Year.”
“Wishing you a Happy New Year Filled with happiness and peace,
May your home be filled with joy and Happiness,
Happy New Year.”
“May the friendship you created in the past years with a good heart,
May make your new endeavors a Great Success in New Year.”
“May this New Year brings you immense happiness in all you do,
May the fireworks brings you the sound of Victory in your ear,
Wishing you happy New Year.”
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“New Year comes again and again to spread the spirit and,
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Happy New Years !”
“You know it’s New Years when you hear the fireworks and,
The really big count down! Happy New Years,
Wishing you all the best !”
Former chief minister Narayan Rane is expected to be inducted into the state Cabinet soon, during its proposed reshuffle. It could happen within a week, indicated sources in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), after he met Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis at Nagpur on Tuesday evening.
Rane’s induction had been delayed as the Shiv Sena is dead opposed to the plan, and the BJP was in no mood for a tussle close to the Gujarat Assembly elections. The party leadership had also put on hold the proposed Cabinet reshuffle for the same reason. Now that the results are out, the reshuffle is back on the agenda for the BJP leadership in the state.
“Narayan Rane will surely be inducted into the state Cabinet. The experience of stalwart leaders like him and former revenue minister Eknath Khadse is valuable for us. The Cabinet reshuffle will happen soon,” Fadnavis told reporters on Tuesday morning. “There is no reason for the Shiv Sena to oppose Narayan Rane being part of the Cabinet as he will be inducted from the BJP quota.”
Speaking to , Narayan Rane said: “I called on the chief minister to congratulate him for his party’s victory in Gujarat elections. We discussed the reshuffle, and he said it would take place before December 31. We did not discuss the portfolio.”
Rane’s induction has been on the cards ever since he quit the Congress and floated his own political outfit as part of an understanding between him and the BJP in October.
Sources in the state government said the reshuffle may take place early next week after a final go-ahead from the BJP leadership in Delhi.
Other than Narayan Rane, a few new faces are likely to be inducted, to replace those based on their performance over the past three years. Sources said Fadnavis had discussed the matter with Prime Minister Narendra Modi when they met in Mumbai on December 14.
Nagpur: Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis said in the council on Tuesday that his government would take strict action against government officers, who held land near the proposed Mumbai-Nagpur Samruddhi Mahamarg expressway.
The CM in his written reply, said, “There was no wrong found…where we can say that officers have bought land by roadside. But, if the opposition has any proof against them, they should give it to us. We will investigate and take action.”
MSRDC minister Eknath Shinde also said that there would not be forceful land acquisition for the project. “Around 45 per cent land is acquired till now. Almost 58 per cent of the people have given it in written. The land measurement work in 380 villages out of 392 is completed,” said Mr Shinde.
Congress MLC Husnbanu Khalife has raised the question. “There are allegations against few officers who have bought huge land on the road side of Samruddhi Mahamarg. If this is true then it is shocking,” Ms Khalife said. The CM denied any such thing saying that it has not come to the notice of state government. Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) minister Mr Shinde also denied the allegations.
Opposition leader Dhananjay Munde intervened during debate and asked about FIRs being lodged against protesters. “Is it true that Baban Harne who is leading the agitation against land acquisition for the project is being harassed by police?” he asked. Mr Shinde clarified that complaint against Mr Harne is not for protest. “He was booked for buying land from farmers in cheap rates,” Mr Shinde said.
The 705-km Samruddhi Mahamarg is CM Fadnavis’s pet project connecting Mumbai to Nagpur. The project costs approximately Rs 46,000 crore of Rs 36,000 crore will come as debt from a South Korean bank. Mr Shinde said that the government has distributed Rs 2,300 crore to farmers who gave their land for the project.
Nagpur: Senior NCP leader Sunil Tatkare questioned the absence of Secretary-level officers of various ministries during a special discussion on the issue of farmers in the Legislative Council.
“We brought this (absence of secretaries) to the notice of the chief minister during the business advisory meeting (and told him) that the concerned administrative officers should be present during important discussions,” Tatkare told the Upper House.
In his reply, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Girish Bapat (BJP) promised action against the absentees.
“It was decided that the concerned secretary or deputy secretary should remain present during important discussions in legislature,” he said.
Bapat said a list of absentee officers will be handed over to the Chairman of the Upper House and a show cause letter seeking their explanation over absence will be issued. The winter session of the state legislature is currently underway in Nagpur.
Two months after they called off a state-wide strike, anganwadi workers and Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA Workers) will hold a protest at the Vidhan Bhavan in Nagpur, demanding that the government fulfil the promises it made in October. Shubha Shamim, state general secretary of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), said that the government had failed to act on its promises.
“The government had promised that it would increase anganwadi workers’ honorarium based on seniority from October and give a five per cent increase from April next year. But, it has not yet taken a Cabinet decision on it,” she said. She also said that anganwadi workers were hoping the government would make budgetary provisions for the same in the Winter Session. “They have not done that either. In 2014, when the anganwadi workers were protesting, the then Congress-led government took Cabinet decisions while the strike was on and issued government resolutions. This government does not seem to be serious about the anganwadi workers’ issues,” Shamim added.
Shamim said their demand for the ASHA workers would be to give them a fixed monthly honorarium. “Presently, they are not being given a fixed honorarium despite a lot of work. We want them to be given some fixed honorarium,” she said.
Anganwadi workers had gone on strike from September 11 to October 6, seeking a rise in honorarium and demanding a new scheme in place of the take-home rations for children. Currently, anganwadi workers get Rs 5,000 per month and anganwadi helpers get Rs 2,500.
However, officials from the Women and Child Development Department said there is a shortage of funds due to the farm loan waiver announced by the state. “We need to see that funds are available to give to anganwadi workers. We are working on it,” said an official.
Nagpur : Even as the state home department drafts rules to regulate hookah parlours across Maharashtra, Bharatiya Janata Party’s MLA from Malbar Hill Mangalprabhat Lodha has introduced a private member bill to ban these parlours as they are “ruining the young generation”. The legislator has alleged that many of these parlours sell drugs.
Lodha has moved the bill to amend the Cigarette and Other Tobacco Products Act, 2003, and make selling tobacco products in hookah parlours punishable with up to three years’ in prison and a fine of up to Rs50,000. The legislator also wants sections 4 and 27 of the Act amended so that the offence becomes cognisable.
The BJP MLA said he moved the bill as the government has failed to regulate parlours despite its assurance in December 2015 to do so.
While introducing the bill in the lower house on Friday, Lodha said hookah parlours have become hotspots for consumption of tobacco products among school and college students below 18 years. These parlours also sell additives and drugs and have become shelters for anti-social elements, he alleged.
“If not ban such joints, the government should at least ensure that the entry to minor youngsters and the sale of banned products are restricted here. I have spoken to chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and Mumbai police commissioner, and they are in favour of bringing regulations on such parlours,” Lodha told HT.
Last year, the Supreme Court (SC) had ruled that hookah parlours cannot be banned. It had, however, said that the government could regulate them. After that, the state’s home department initiated the process of formulating a draft rule to regulate such parlours, it is likely to bring an amendment in the bill in the Budget session early next year.
As per rough estimates, at 500, Pune has the highest number of hookah parlours, followed by 400 in Mumbai.
Anti-tobacco activists point out that most of these parlours are right outside schools and colleges. “The SC order came because government authorities did not establish facts adequately. It was not brought to the notice of the court that their target audience is minor youngsters, or that these places have become centres for selling addictives. Mere restrictions will not serve the purpose, a blanket ban should be imposed,” said Vincent Nazareth of Crusade Against Tobacco, which was a petitioner in the court demanding a ban on hookah parlours.
Nagpur: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and former state minister Eknath Khadse on Monday questioned the Maharashtra minister for food and drugs Girish Bapat over alleged irregularities in the purchase of medicines by the state-run Haffkine Institute in Mumbai. Congress leader and former chief minister Prithviraj Chavan had raised a question in the Maharashtra Assembly over the Supreme Court order on the bulk purchase of polio vaccines by the Parel-based institute.
The Supreme Court had observed that purchases were not according to norms laid down by Central Vigilance Commission, Mr Chavan claimed. But the apex court has not told the government to prosecute anyone, he added.
Mr Khadse also pulled up the treasury benches, saying it was unfortunate that the government was not able to retain the top brains at the only institute for the study and research on serpents and their venom. Mr Khadse said that it was unfortunate that scientists working there were being paid poorly. Mr Bapat admitted in his written reply a school headmaster was receiving Rs 1.5 lakh.
He also said that criminal offences should be registered against those found guilty of irregularities. “Why government was shielding corrupt persons?” Mr Khadse asked. The senior BJP leader also demanded an investigation by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) into the matter.
Maharashtra FDA (Food and Drug Administration) will inaugurate in fourth food laboratory within a year-and-a-half. This facility will be located in Nagpur, where a lab is already functional. The others are located in Mumbai and Aurangabad.
State FDA commissioner Pallavi Darade informed that a sum of Rs 17 crore was sanctioned for the plot on which the lab would be set up.
She added, “The amount will be used to build a large complex, which will include an office and labs. The building will be four- or five-storeyed, and is expected to be completed in a year-and-a half. Excluding a microbiology lab, it will have everything, and will be a facility for food and drug tests.”
Besides, the FDA has also made plans to set up another lab at its headquarters in Mumbai. A proposal was sent to the government in this regard.
Darade said, “Recently, we have submitted a proposal for the construction of a microbiology lab at the Mumbai office and are in the process of further increasing the space of the already existing labs.”
“So on the fourth floor of the Mumbai office, a full lab can be set up, along with a cabin for the assistant director of the lab. Moreover, major infrastructure expansion is underway to strengthen the lab. These include the installation of new machinery.”
It is not only the shortage of labs, but manpower crunch is also plaguing the operations of the state FDA. Thus, it is also planning to open a staff training centre in Mumbai.
The proposal is already been sent to the state government. But considering the financial constraints the government of Maharashtra is facing, FDA has sought permission to run running such centres at the Mumbai office until a regular centre is approved.
Darade said, “What we are suggesting that until the proposal is approved, we could run such a training centre at our Mumbai offices for lab activities on our own. We have some space available with us that can be used for training purposes, immediately.”
Mobile testing labs
According to Maharashtra FDA, mobile testing labs in the state need to be strengthened, as the available instruments are not adequate enough to serve the state.
There are three mobile testing vans in Maharashtra and all are in a working condition. While one serves Pune, the second serves Nashik and Aurangabad and the third serves Amravati and Nagpur.
Darade said, “The feedback I have received is that the mobile vans need further strengthening in terms of manpower, instrument and handling. It is our priority, and these facilities would be available where immediate access to labs are not (for instance, in rural areas, at small places and in fairs, yatras and festivals.”
Health labs
In another move undertaken by Maharashtra FDA recently, a proposal was submitted to health department, suggesting that hand 14 health department labs across state be handed over to it.
Darade said, “The health department only does the checking of salt (iodised salt) and water (apart from bottled water).”
“In case it hands the task over to us, we would be undertaking our own check, plus whatever is their mandate of checking, as we have the infrastructure ready at our lab,” she added.
Nagpur: The State government came under heavy criticism from the opposition in the Council on Thursday over the land given to Baba Ramdev’s Patanjali Limited at “throwaway rates”.
It has come to live that a piece of land estimated at Rs 268 crore was allotted to the company for only Rs 58 crore. This issue was raised by Congress MLC Sanjay Dutt in the ongoing session of Maharashtra assembly who went on to claim that non-SEZ land did not have any approach road initially and was constructed later.
Raising the issue during Question Hour, senior Congress MLC Sanjay Dutt alleged that the land to the Patanjali was given at INR 25 lakh per acre in MIHAN project area in Nagpur as against the market price of INR 100 crore per acre.
“Two officers – Sameer Gokahle and Atul Thakare — were transferred for giving information about the land transfer through RTI. You are doing nothing for the state’s farmers and providing land to some Babas at throwaway prices. Acharya Balkrishna (the CEO of Patanjali) is the eighth richest man in India according to Forbes magazine. By giving land at cheaper rates to such people, this government is proving that it’s a government of rich and not of poor. The land, worth INR 268 crore, was given to Patanjali at INR 58 crore. Patanjali runs for the commercial purpose, not for charity. Why are you giving concessions to them? This is one of the biggest scams under this government,” Mr. Dutt alleged.
The Congress MLC also questioned the basis on which the land was given.
“Your contract said the land will be taken back in six months if the work does not start and if production doesn’t start in 18 months. What has happened in last one and a half years? Did you take bank guarantee from Patanjali in case the project does not succeed?” Mr. Dutt asked.
In his response, the Minister of State for Tourism Madan Yerawar claimed that proper procedure was followed in the sale of land to Patanjali. “The land was kept for a food park. Global tenders were issued thrice. Full transparency was maintained while giving land. They have started work and production will start soon. The government’s motive is absolutely clear,” the Minister said.
NCP leader and Leader of Opposition in the Council Dhananjay Munde also raised questions over the process of land transfer and sought to know which other companies had competed.
Mr. Yerawar claimed that all the conditions of the tender were fulfilled and the officers were transferred for administrative purpose.
Senior BJP minister Chandrakant Patil accused the opposition of wasting time over the issue and asked them to approach the court.
Mr. Munde asked why the price was reduced.“They (Patanjali) are talking of producing jeans pants and this government does not want us to ask questions,” he said.
The Chairman Ramraje Naik-Nimabalkar asked the minister to arrange a trip for the opposition members to the project site.
New Delhi: With Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) back in power for the sixth straight term in Gujarat and taking Himachal away from the Congress, the party now controls 19 of the 29 states.
Never before has any political party controlled as many states in India. Congress, 24 years ago, was the last time a political party was in control of 18 states.
In December 1993, when Congress was a dominant force at the Centre, the party, controlled 15 states out of 26 by itself and one through an alliance. Two others were held by CPI (M), which then provided an outside support to the Congress government at the Centre.
Today, either the BJP or one of its partners in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is in control of 19 states. Much of this success is being credited to Prime Minister Narendra Modi after he came to power in May 2014. Since then he has led the BJP to major state election victories and expanded the party’s base.
Prior to the win in the General Election, BJP was in power in the five states of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Nagaland.
After BJP came to power in the Centre in 2014 with its largest mandate, the party continued its winning streak in major state elections that followed.
BJP’s ally, the Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) retained the state of Sikkim in the election that was held simultaneously with the Lok Sabha polls. Another BJP ally, the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) formed bifurcated Andhra Pradesh’s first government.
The party tasted success in the state of Maharashtra where BJP won122 seats in the 288-member assembly and formed the government in Maharashtra following a post-poll alliance with NDA ally Shiv Sena. The party then came to power in the state of Haryana.
Shortly after, BJP along with its allies secured the state of Jharkhand as well.
The party also made strong inroads in the state of Jammu and Kashmir in the year 2014 where it was the second-best performer. A post-poll alliance with the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) helped BJP come to power in the state for the first time.
However, in 2015, the BJP witnessed two major setbacks when they faced routing defeats in Delhi and Bihar. But in a surprise political move, the BJP renewed its ties with regional party leader Nitish Kumar, thus helping the party control the state. Nitish and his new government, which he formed with the BJP, won the crucial trust vote in the Bihar State Assembly, with 131 legislators voting in favour.
BJP, in 2016, also ended a 15-year Congress rule in Assam where it 60 seats out of 126.
In September 2016, Arunachal Pradesh’s 47 Members of Legislative (MLAs) from the ruling Congress, defected to BJP. The lawmakers were able to prove majority on the floor of the house, helping BJP form a government in the state.
The party, however, failed to make a mark in the other three major state elections in West Bengal, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu.
In 2017, BJP had its fair share of successes. The party bagged Uttarakhand and won a large mandate in the state of Uttar Pradesh. In Goa and Manipur, where BJP won lesser seats than the Congress, the party still managed to stitch together an alliance with regional parties and independents, to form a government in both states.
2017 was also the year when BJP lost in Punjab after two terms of rule along with ally Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD).
Now that the BJP has won Gujarat and Himachal, the party will be now focusing on other states that will go for polls in 2018 including Meghalaya, Nagaland, Tripura, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Mizoram.
In its ambitious bid to make India ‘Congress Mukt’, will the BJP be successful in making inroads into southern and eastern states is what remains to be seen. Or has the reversal already begun with Congress putting up a fight in Gujarat?
Reliance Jio has silently launched a Jio TV web version of its JioTVlive streaming service. JioTV now joins the ranks of JioCinema to become Jio’s second service to have a Jio TV web version. It allows Jio users to view all live TV shows through a Web browser.
To access the Web version of JioTV and JioCinema, follow the preceding links. The interface of both browser versions appears similar to the apps, available on both Android and iOS. The JioTV website, first spotted by TelecomTalk, shows all TV channel categories, including Entertainment, Movies, News, and Sports. There is also an option to filter out HD channels from their regular SD counterparts. The Web version of JioTV even offers the option to filter out channels in your preferred regional language.The Catch-Up TV feature is also present, allowing users to see content for the past seven days.
To use JioTV or JioCinema on the Web, you need to login on the respective websites with a valid Jio ID and password. Unlike the app versions, you do not need to be on a Jio mobile network in order to access the Web version. This move is expected to pave the way for users to view their favourite channels even when connected to Wi-Fi or other mobile networks.
A major factor behind releasing the Web version for JioTV could be live sports. Partners like Hotstar get a definite boost from users who prefer to stream live sports on the Web. Jio subscribers will now have the option to view their favourite channels on bigger screens.
JioCinema, on the other hand, offers users with an option to enjoy from any of the listed movies on their PCs and laptops.
Reliance Jio’s JioTV and JioCinema currently do not have dedicated app support for Amazon Fire TV Stick, Google Chromecast, or Apple TV. The JioTV iOS app got a facelift on the iPhone and iPad, in June this year.
Nagpur: The public health ministry has admitted that the file to regularise contractual staff working under Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme (RNTPC) disappeared from their office. However, Health Minister Dr Deepak Sawant informed a committee of commissioner that a National Health Mission (NHM) has been appointed on June 5, 2017, to consider how to regularise these contractual staffs and to accommodate in government jobs permanently.
The Free Press Journal revealed on August 16, 2017 about the file having disappeared from the office of public health minister. Kalidas Kolambkar, Congress member, raised the issue in the Assembly through a starred question and asked whether the proposal was pending with the department since the last three years. Kolambkar further asked if it was true that the file of the same proposal had disappeared?
In his written reply, minister Sawant replied that the proposal had been received by his department. “It is not possible to accommodate the contractual staff working under Tuberculosis Control Programme into government service. This decision was taken by the government and the file of this said decision is available with us,” Dr Sawant stated. He further said, “The proposal submitted by the Maharashtra Association of Gazetted Medical Officers (MAGMO) asking to regularise contractual staff working under RNTPC has disappeared and could not be find out.”
RNTCP is the state-run tuberculosis (TB) control initiative of the Government of India. As per the National Strategic Plan 2012-17, the programme has a vision of achieving a ‘TB free India’ and aims to achieve Universal Access to TB control services.
Maharashtra State Revised National Tuberculosis Control Employees Association approached the state government in 2014 and demanded that it regularise their service.
According to Sagar Kadam, leader of the association and working under BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation’s health department, the employees were appointed on contract during 2000 and 2001 across the state. “Earlier, there were around 1600 employee but later the state appointed another 500 employees and hence the number reached 2100,” said Kadam.
The Central Railway is on way to install energy-saving LED lights at all its 438 stations by March 2018, and exploit solar and wind power in a big way to cut on electricity bills, an official said here on Saturday.
The Central Railway and Energy Efficiency Services Ltd have signed an agreement wherein the latter will invest Rs 30 crore on the project, CR Spokesperson Sunil Udasi said.
While 250 stations have already switched over from the conventional to LED lighting, the remaining 188 will be provided LED lights by March next, he added.
As for EESL’s investments, the CR will repay it in instalments from savings accruing from lesser energy bills and retaining a part of the amount in five years, making it a win-win situation for both organisations.
The EESL will replace defective fittings and equipment, due to which annual energy savings are estimated to be 1.4 crore units, saving Rs 13.14 crore in the process. Prioritising energy conservation and reducing energy bills, besides adopting green sources of energy, the Central Railway has already installed 28 solar power generation plants with a total capacity of 924 kWp.
Ten plants are in Mumbai, including at Matunga workshop, nine in Solapur, and three each in Pune, Nagpur, and Bhusawal in Maharashtra. Additionally, wind-cum-solar energy plants have been set up at eight locations with a total capacity of 44 kWp. Independent solar plants have come up at several small stations, level crossings and street lights at 953 locations with a total capacity of 49 kWp.
The plants at Sanpada’s EMU POH Shop and Matunga Workshop, both in Mumbai, have a capacity of 1,000 kWp each and are in various stages of implementation. “Once completed, they are expected to generate around 25 lakh units per annum. Additionally, a total of 11.335 MWp plants at 118 locations of CR are expected to be completed by July 2018 in collaboration with the Railway Energy Management Company Ltd,” Udasi said. This would generate 142 lakh units per annum and help further slash energy bills of Central Railway considerably.
ECIL Nagpur jobs: The Electronics Corporation of India Limited (ECIL) has invited applications for dynamic and result-oriented young engineers, with post-training placements at their headquarters in Hyderabad or any of zonal/branch/site offices located across India.
The last date to apply for the ECIL Nagpur jobs is December 22.
The aspirant should be holding a first class engineering degree with minimum of 65 per cent marks in aggregate (55 per cent for SC/STs) from AICTE approved colleges/recognized Indian universities in the relevant discipline.
Age limit: The upper age should not exceed 25 years as on November 30, 2017.
Stipend: The selected candidates will undergo training for a period of one year on a consolidated stipend
of Rs 38,430 per month. After completing their training, they will be appointed as Engineer for a period of
three years.
Total emolument will be as follows (for all metros):
The shortlisted candidates will be selected on the basis of a Computer Based Test (CBT) followed by an interview .
The duration of the objective type test will be 1.5 hours.
Petroleum companies have cancelled the licences of eight petrol pumps in Maharashtra after they were found guilty of tampering with fuel dispensing machines. As many as 33 persons have also been arrested in connection with the “fraud”. The eight petrol pumps are located in Mumbai, Nagpur, Satara and Nashik. At least three petrol pump owners in Pune have been issued show-cause notices, said sources in petroleum companies. One of the pumps is in Pimpri-Chinchwad, while two others are in Pune city.
One of the pump owners is absconding after an arrest warrant was issued against him, said sources, adding, “These three pumps have been issued show-cause notices and are set to lose their licences”. The information regarding cancellation of licences was placed before the Assembly by Food and Civil Supplies Minister Girish Bapat on Saturday.
The minister said since September 1, 186 petrol pumps have been inspected, of which 98 were found to have tampered with fuel dispensing units. “Of the 98 pumps, 59 were found guilty of fraud during lab testing… eight have lost their licence, further action will soon be initiated,” said Bapat. He added that the inspection was undertaken following the petrol pump fraud case in Uttar Pradesh, which was traced back to Maharashtra.
The issue of customers being “cheated” at petrol pumps surfaced in May, when the Special Task Force of the Uttar Pradesh Police made two arrests from Maharashtra, including one from Pune, in connection with a multi-crore scam. Several petrol pumps in the state were found to be using remote control-linked electronic chips in their fuel dispensing machines, and cheating customers by giving them less fuel than what they had been charged for.
“From September 1, the state government has undertaken a drive to stop pilferage of petrol and diesel and to ensure that the system become transparent and efficient. Petrol pumps are being inspected to check… their hardware/software and conduct their audit,” Bapat said, adding that the Maharashtra government was the first to conduct such a drive.
Amitabh Gupta, controller, Legal Metrology Department, said, “The eight petrol pumps which have lost their licence for tampering with fuel machines will have new dealers… the petrol pumps will continue to operate, the oil companies are expected to appoint new dealers”. Welcoming the action, Ali Daruwalla, spokesperson for the All India Petrol Dealers Association, said, “All the wrong-doers should be punished. We are strongly in favour of a transparent, honest and efficient system.”
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