Diversion of Rs 2-a-kg rice
 

Kadapa, Oct. 15: Rice being supplied for distribution to the poor under the Rs 2-kg-rice scheme to the Kadapa district is allegedly being diverted to open market.ῠ Middlemen are selling the rice at Rs 1,000 per quintal in the open market.

The Kadapa district is receiving 8,385.107 metric tonnes of rice for distribution of white ration card holders, 1,768.445 metric tonnes of rice for distribution to Antyodaya card holders, 16.660 metric tonnes of rice for Annapurna Yojana card holders and 7.500 metric tonnes of rice for distribution to weavers per month.

About 40 per cent of rice is allegedly being diverted to open market. Middlemen are buying rice from ration shop dealers and ineligible persons, who got white ration cards. Officials failed to weed out bogus white ration cards in the district.

There are 16,096 ration shops in the district and there are no dealers for 107 ration shops. In-charge dealers are distributing rice in the shops giving scope for diversion of rice.ῠ Middlemen are diverting Rs 2 -a-kg rice from Kadapa, Proddutur and Badvel areas in the district to other districts and other states. They are also mixing Rs 2-a-kg rice with quality rice and selling them with profit by creating fake bills.

The Rs 2-a-kg rice is also being supplied to the Kadapa city from Valluru, Khajipeta, Mydukur, Badvel and other areas.ῠ Traders are selling the rice in the open market by again polishing it or mixing it in high quality rice.

As officials failed to take action, the diversion of Rs 2-a-kg rice is going unabated. The Rs 2-a-kg rice is being supplied to the Kadapa city in mini vans and autorickshaws. Officials in the checkposts are allegedly taking bribes and failed to check the diversion.ῠ In September, 25 bags of rice was brought from Mydukur to Kadapa without any bills. The autorickshaw carrying the rice crossed three checkposts.

Farmers suffer crop loss
 

Kurnool, Oct. 15:ῠ Farmers in Kurnool district are facing problems due to the failure of crops and lack of remunerative price.ῠ Even though the yield of onion crop was good, farmers failed to get remunerative price. There are 5..54 lakh hectares of cultivable land in the district and farmers cultivated paddy in over about 2.5 lakh hectares.

Farmers allege that as the supply of fertilisers was erratic, yield was affected.ῠ Farmers cultivated onion over about 45,000 acres in the district and got a good yield. However, traders are refusing to offer a good price for the produce. Some farmers are now using onions as fodder for sheep. Some other farmers, who cultivated groundnut in the place of tomato, also suffered losses.

Groundnut was cultivated over about 2.15 lakh acres in the district and officials said that there was no yield over 99 per cent area of cultivation.ῠ Farmers, who stopped cultivation of tomato as they are not getting a remunerative price, are in for a shock as tomato is selling at the rate of Rs 25 per kg now.

Farmers, who usually cultivate tomato over 20,000 hectares in the district, only cultivated it over 10,000 acres this year. Leaders of farmers unions and the MLC, Ms Masala Padmaja, demanded that the government announce the district as drought-hit and implement a special package.They threatened to launch a protest if the government failed to take steps to help farmers.

Tourism school in Nellore
 

Nellore, Oct. 15: Officials have identified 10 acres adjacent to National Highway-5 near the Toll Plaza at Venkatachalam, 20 kms from Nellore, for the proposed Indian Institute of Tourism and Travel Management (IITTM).ῠ Nellore is going to be the first centre for IITTM, an autonomous body under the ministry of tourism, in Southern India.

As of now, the IITTM has four centres in the country at Bhubaneswar, New Delhi and Goa with headquarters at Gwalior in Madhya Pradesh. The Nellore centre will start fullfledged operations from the next academic year.ῠ Sources said that the Chief Minister, Dr Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy, had prevailed upon the union government to allot an IITTM centre for AP after he came to know about their plans to open a centre in Southern India.

Similarly, The minister for tourism, information and public relations, Mr Anam Ramnarayana Reddy, convinced the CM to establish the same in Nellore, which is emerging as a potential hub for industries and tourism. Students at the Nellore centre can opt for various diploma courses like postgraduate programmes in Tourism and Leisure Management, Tourism and Travel Management and Tourism & International business management.ῠ There are also proposals to add BBA and MBA and all the courses are approved by the All India Council for Technical Education.

Since it would take some time to complete the permanent building, district officials have been looking for a building with 7,500 square feet of space to start the institute from the next academic year. The district collector, Mr K. Ramgopal, said that they had identified required space at three colleges in and around Nellore, and a decision will be taken after inspection by IITTM officials.

“They will send a proposal to the ministry of tourism after visiting the colleges we have identified and the exercise is likely to be completed within the next 10 to 15 days. Classes will start from the next academic year along with campus construction activity,” Mr Ramgopal said.ῠ An IITTM team led by Professor Nimit Choudary from Gwalior already visited Nellore some time ago, and are likely to examine the places identified by the local authorities to give their nod.

Speaking to this newspaper from Gwalior on Wednesday, Prof. Nimit Choudary said that they had plans to add new courses related to international business programmes from 2011 in the Nellore centre.ῠ He also said to visit Nellore shortly to select the site for the institution.

Room boy restores valuables
 

Tirupati, Oct. 15: In a commendable act, a guesthouse attendant at Tirumala restored Rs 2.50 lakh worth valuables including cash, cell phone and jewelry to a devotee who forgot the items in the cottage on Wednesday.ῠ According to information, Sanjay and his family members belonging to Hyderabad stayed in room No 1 and 2 at Vijay Mallya guesthouse at Tirumala for two days and vacated the rooms on Wednesday morning.
The items, Venkataramana found include, Rs 17,500 cash, cell phone worth Rs 35,000 and gold ornaments valued at Rs 2 lakh.

He alerted the enquiry counter official, Mr Lakshmi Narayana, about the valuables and he in turn informed the matter to officer on special duty, Mr Chinnamgari Ramana.ῠ They have managed to locate Sanjay while he was on his way to collect caution deposit he paid for the room.ῠ Officials and the pilgrims appreciated Venkataramana for his honesty.

Rodent menace in farms
 

Rajahmundry, Oct. 15: After facing the nature’s fury in the form of floods and cyclonic storms resulting in crop damage, the farmers are facing rodent menace in their paddy fields during kharif sesaon in East and West Godavari districts.

Though the farmers are able to recover from the crop damage and loss with the intervention of the government in the form of compensation and insurance cover, they are facing the problem of rodent menace and it is expected that nearly 15 to 20 per cent of the total paddy yield is likely to be lost in the two districts. Paddy is the major crop in these districts and the presence of the rodents in paddy fields is quite common. The issue is how best the farmers are able to handle the menace.

The agriculture authorities maintain that the farmers are being educated on how to tackle the rodent menace by keeping rat traps, keeping some poisonous chemicals and also taking up fumigation. The authorities maintain that the steps to tackle the problem should be taken up by the farmers collectively in a particular stretch of the fields and caution that if not so, the rodents simply keep moving from one area to the other area by eating away the crops.

Though there is no specific assessment of the quantum of loss in the paddy fields due to rodents, the agriculture authorities maintain that on an average about 10 per cent of the total crop gets either damaged or destroyed by the rodents. As the harvesting of the extended crop due to floods and cyclonic storm during kharif is underway, the agriculture authorities advised the farmers to work collectively to avoid damage to crop.

In East Godavari, on an average paddy is grown in about 2.24 lakh hectares of land with an average yield of 28 to 30 bags of paddy per acre.

In West Godavari, paddy is grown in about 2.37 lakh hectares land and the average yield per acre ranges from 25 to 28 bags of paddy. The agriculture authorities maintain that they could get good yield during kharif despite cyclonic storm and floods which caused some damage to the crops in certain areas. Though there is no expectation of bumper yield, the farmers could get good yield.

Price of palm oil declines
 

Kakinada, Oct. 15: In the midst of soaring prices of all essential commodities, the sharp fall in the price of palm oil, the largely consumed edible oil brought much relief to the consumer.

The oil which is largely consumed by the middle class and common people soared high much to the discomfort of these sections in the recent past. The price of the oil which was Rs 55 per litre in August this year is now being sold at Rs 39 to 40 per litre pouch pack in the open market. It is said that the fall of retail price by 40 per cent has given much relief to the consumer. The notable factor in the sharp price decline is confined only to palmoil in the open market.

Several reasons were attributed for the price decline in the last couple of months. The first and far most reason is fall in the prices of crude oil in the international market, particularly in Malaysia. Waiver of excise duty to the full extent by the government is another reason. Effective steps taken by the governements both at the state and the central level, in the form of sale of palmoil at subsidised price of Rs 45 per litre introduced in July this year has also helped in the fall in the price. The variation in the prices of other oils is very little when compared to the largely consumed palm oil.

The price of other oils in the open market is as follows: branded sunflower oil ranges from Rs 75 to Rs 73, groundnut from Rs 74 in August to Rs 70 in October. Similarly, the price of soybean stands at Rs 63 as against the price of Rs 65 two months ago. The price of rice bran oil in the market stands at Rs 61 as against Rs 65 in August this year. It is also said that the fluctuations in value of US dollar also had its effect on the price of palm oil in the open market.

Andhra Pradesh Ediable Oil Marchants Welfare Association president Grandhi Babji said the fall in price of palm oil(crude) in the international market had its effect and resulted in the decline of its price.

KCR all praise for Desam MLA
 

Karimnagar, Oct. 15: In an apparent indication of the possible electoral alliance between the Telugu Desam (TD) and the Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS), Mr K. Chandrasekhar Rao, the TRS president, showered praises on the veteran TD leader and the Sircilla MLA Ch. Rajeshwar Rao for convincing his party leadership take separate Telangana stand. Fuelling speculation on the imminent electoral tie-up between the two pro-Telangana parties, Mr Chandrasekhar Rao, accompanied by Hanamkonda MP B. Vinod Kumar, held discussions with Mr Rajeshwar Rao at the latter’s residence for more than half-an-hour at Vemulawada on Wednesday.

Later, the TRS chief participated in the inaugural ceremony of a purified drinking water plant organised by SEWS, a voluntary organisation headed by Chennamaneni Ramesh, the son of Ch. Rajeshwar Rao at Gandhinagar.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Chandrasekhar Rao said thousands of children in Nalgonda district were still reeling under flourosis due to the apathy of the government in providing protected drinking water as assured. The ultimate solution to the plethora of problems faced by the people of the region lies in formation of separate Telangana, he contended and complimented Mr Rajeshwar Rao’s son Ramesh for taking up infrastructure development programmes in the core areas of education, health and drinking water through the NGO in about 100 villages in Sircilla division.

“Telangana is not a slogan but it is a valiant struggle to end exploitation and attain the cherished statehood”, he remarked. Mr Rajeshwar Rao said his ambition was to see a separate Telangana fully developed in all spheres. Ramesh said that the plant will enable the people of the town gain access to 20 litre drinking water for just Rs 2. TRS floor leader in the Assembly E. Rajender and others were present.

PR to ‘honour’ T-sentiments
 

Nizamabad, Oct. 15: Praja Rajyam (PR) party official spokesperson Parakala Prabhakar said that the party had a clear stand over separate statehood for Telangana.ῠ “Party president Chiranjeevi has already declared that the Telangana movement is a struggle for self-respect,” he said and added that the Praja Rajyam would honour the wishes of Telangana people and support their cause.

Dr Prabhakar along with party monitoring team members addressed a press conference here at the PR district unit office on Wednesday.ῠ He said that the PR was committed to eradicate political corruption as it was the main cause for all ills that are afflicting the society now.”If rulers behave honestly, the entire system will follow suit,” he opined.

People of the state were eagerly awaiting grassroot reforms in administration, he added. The spokesperson said that compulsory education for all up to graduation level was planned by Praja Rajyam. “The party high command is planning to provide international standard education to students,” he said. Priority will be given to providing basic facilities like medical care and education to all families across the state, he said.ῠ To provide remunerative prices for agriculture produce, the party will take all necessary steps, he said.

“We will restrict market forces as and when required,” he explained.ῠ Dr Prabhakar said that the Praja Rajyam was concerned about the welfare of unorganised sector workers, particularly, as in Nizamabad district, bidi workers and building construction labourers.ῠ Reacting to a query, he said that the party had arranged 600 persons for security during the Praja Ankita Yatra in North Andhra.

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17 junior colleges sealed
 

Vijayawada, Oct. 15: The future of as many as 10,000 students hangs in balance since 17 private unaided junior colleges in Krishna district which were running without permission from the Board of Intermediate Education were sealed by intermediate regional inspecting athority.

Regional intermediate inspecting officer, Mr K. Gangadhar, told this correspondent that the board has been conducting intensive inspection all over the state on the minimum facilities available for students in the colleges and also the permission for the usage of the building where the classes are being conducting by the colleges.

The board constituted a three-member committee to inspect the junior colleges comprising one officer from the board, one from the engineering department of the state government and one from the revenue department. The committee has been inspecting all the colleges to check the facilities like drinking water, toilets, ventilation in classrooms and other issues along with the permission from the board for such building.

The committee would submit its report to the join collector of each district after the inspection and finally the joint collector would submit a consolidated report on the district to the state government. The RIO said that the government has to take a final decision on the future of the students from the sealed institutions. He said 15 days time was given for all the institutions to provide minimum amenities for students and after that, a revenue officer deputed by the joint collector will conduct a final inspection of the junior colleges.

There are 20 government, 27 aided, one railway, six social welfare and 145 unaided junior colleges functioning in the district. Some of the managements of these sealed colleges are still trying to keep the students in the dark by saying that the required permission would be obtained from the government within a week and also assuring them that the academic year would not be wasted.

It was learnt that some of the colleges are even conducting classes secretly though their classrooms were sealed by the regional intermediate inspecting officer.

Hot food scheme launched
 

Guntur, Oct. 15: More than 2.50 lakh children aged below six years and 60,000 pregnant and lactating women in Guntur district will get hot cooked food which contains rich nutritional value through the 4,150 Anganwadi centres across the district from Thursday.

The women and child welfare department has made all arrangements for supply of hot cooked food free of cost.

The zilla parishad chairperson, Ms K. Vijaya, on Wednesday formally inaugurated the distribution of hot cooked food at a programme organised in the ZP hall. Children, pregnant women and lactating mothers can visit the Anganwadi centres to take hot cooked food which is available in three formats.

Each child will be served with 75 grams and women 130 grams daily. The 75 grams quantity will increase to 225 grams after cooking. The three mixes contain fried wheat, soya beans, vegetable oils, salt, lemon, pulses and spices.ῠ The ZP chairperson said the cooked mix contains five types of vitamins and four types of minerals which give strength to the takers.

As many as 1.30 lakh children aged below three years and 1.23 lakh children below six years will be benefited. Besides, 31,000 pregnant women and over 30,000 lactating mothers will be benefited.

The women and child welfare department project director, Ms N.J. Nirmala, said that two Anganwadi projects are in Guntur while the remaining 21 projects are located in different parts of the district.

She said the mix stocks were sent to Anganwadi centres in 23 projects located across the district. ZP chief executive officer, Mr P. Durga Prasad, officials from women and child welfare department, zilla parishad, ZPTC members and others attended the event.

Police block women
 

Visakhapatnam, Oct. 15: Rights organisations and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) alleg-ed that Paderu police had created an atmosphere of fear in the Agency on Tuesday night in a bid to prevent tribal women of Vakapalli, who were allegedly raped by Greyhounds last year, from attending a meeting in Delhi.

The women planned to go to Delhi for a national consultation on “Violence against indigenous women” slated for October 17 and narrate their case. The consultation is to be held with two United Nations special rapporteurs (UNSRs) - Dr. Yakin Erturk, the UNSR on ‘Violence against women, its causes and consequences’ and Prof. S. James Anaya on the ‘Situation of human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous people’.

Part of the mandate of the UNSRs is to meet and interact with civil society bodies so as to deepen their own understanding and information of issues confronting indigenous women in India, which in turn, will inform their annual report and enhance their work on the selected topic.

Two of the 11 Kondh women of Vakapalli, who were allegedly raped on August 20 last year by special party police personnel, came to Paderu on Tuesday evening. They had planned to come down to Anakapalle and board Nizamuddin Link Express for Delhi on Wednesday. The two, Korra Chilakamma and Pangi Sittayi, along with their relative Pangi Kondababu, were to be accompanied by one or two representatives of the Adivasi Aikya Porata Samiti and a local NGO.

“Police led by Paderu DSP Stalin, went to the house of Mr K. Krishna Rao, a local NGO functionary, at around 11 pm on Tuesday, checked his house and office and threatened him with dire consequences if he extended any support to the Vakapalli women. Given this atmosphere of intimidation, the two women had no choice but to return to their village on Wednesday,” the Human Rights Forum state secretary, Mr V.S. Krishna said adding that over the past 14 months, women of Vakapalli had been subjected to harassment by the police time and again.

“The latest incident comes in the backdrop of a private complaint moved by the Vakapalli women which has since been taken on file by the Paderu court,” Mr Krishna added. The HRF urged the Collector to intervene and ensure that the Adivasis of Vakapalli as well as those extending support to them in their fight for justice were not harassed by police.

Drop economic reforms: BMS
 

Visakhapatnam, Oct. 15: While the American economy is in turmoil and top most banks are collapsing one after the other, the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government is imitating the American model of economy and pushing through the ‘reforms’, observed the all India general secretary, Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh, Mr K. Lakshma Reddy.

Addressing a press conference here on Wednesday, Mr Reddy demanded that the government draw lessons from the recent happenings in the American financial sector and withdraw the so-called ‘economic reforms’.

“Despite strong opposition by the BMS representatives and other central trade unions in the meeting of Central Board of Trustees of Employees Provident Fund in July, the Union minister for labour, Mr Oscar Fernandes, decided to appoint private companies such as the Reliance Capital, the HSBC and the ICICI to manage the huge amount of EPF.

From the decision, it is evident that the UPA government wants to invest the workers’ hard earned PF amount in stock market, where there is no security to the investment, through the private fund managers,” said Mr Reddy. As part of their second phase of protests against the Centre’s move and demanding withdrawal of the decision, the BMS would approach one crore workers from November 1 to 15 and collect their signatures opposing the move.

An all-India delegation of the BMS will meet the President of India and submit bundles of signatures seeking withdrawal of the government’s decision. Earlier, the BMS workers held demonstrations all over India in front of the EPF regional commissioner’s offices on September 12.

Deccan Chronicle

Affordable housing in demand
 

Even as the realty sector in the country is reeling under the pressure of escalating land costs and rising interest rates, the emand-supply mismatch in the premium and affordable housing segment seems to be the prime reason behind this slowdown.

While developers in major cities are developing properties to target the high-income group in the service and manufacturing sector, the affordable property segment catering to the middle and low-income groups remains grossly undersupplied.

A recent survey by HDFC bank for IT professionals working in the IT corridor along the Old Mahabalipuram Road in Chennai, illustrates this problem.

Of the 69,000 professionals working in IT companies in this corridor, more than 64,000 employees have a take-home annual salary of less than Rs four lakh.

“Even if we follow the US standards, which consider 30 per cent EMI to income ratio to be comfortable for affordable housing, the purchasing power of Indian professionals does not match the price tags on upcoming and recently developed properties. The purchasing power of the IT professional, with the help of a home loan stretched over 20 years is restricted to Rs 25 lakh. The situation of employees in the manufacturing sector is definitely not better than the IT sector,” Mr Mathew Joseph, regional manager, HDFC, points out.

With the major IT companies such as TCS, Infosys, Wipro, Accenture, Satyam and Cognizant shifting their Offshore Development Centres to the OMR, huge projects targeting the professionals are coming up in the region.

This includes the Hiranandani Upscale project with 2,000 apartments across 110 acres, the two Mantri Group projects, the DLF Garden City, the Purva Windermere by Puravankara Projects, Eden Park by L&T South City Projects Ltd, and Tapovan being developed by Marg Construction. Almost all of these projects are targeting the upper middle class segment.

“While there has been a spurt in deluxe housing in the Rs 40 + lakh range, the Rs 10-25 lakh affordable housing segment remains grossly undersupplied,” Mr Joseph points out.

The IT corridor is just a point in the case of this demand-supply mismatch prevailing in cities across the country.

Miss Chithra, senior planner at Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority points out, “The high income group requirements account for less than 15 per cent of the total housing requirements, whereas the needs of the economically weaker sections, low-income and middle-income groups are respectively 30 per cent, 35 per cent and 20 per cent. There needs to be a balanced development targeting all segments.”

According to the Planning Commission, the economic weaker section and low-income groups will account for 90 per cent of the estimated 25 million housing shortage that the country is going to face by 2015.

The Second Master Plan for Chennai Metropolitan Area suggests that 1.44 lakh houses need to be developed for the low-income group, and another 1.25 lakh will have to be built for the economic weaker sections.

Realising the immense potential in this segment, land developers have now started concentrating on this segment.

Leading developers have floated separate companies to focus on affordable housing.

This includes Puravan- kara’s Prudent Housing and Infrastructure which is looking for 10,000 acres of land in southern cities for its projects, the Golden Gate Properties, Omaxe and Ozone. However, till the time these projects manifest, the demand-supply mismatch in this segment will remain.

Joint venture plans for city IT park-housing combo
 

Malaysian construction major Haneda Trading and Construction Sdn Bhd has forayed into the country by tying up with Chennai-based Rajathi Group to tap into the property development segment, in Tamil Nadu. The joint venture of the two companies has already secured turnkey projects worth Rs 500 crore to design, construct and develop large size commercial and residential projects across the state.

Mr M Gunalan, executive director, Haneda Rajathi points out, “Yes, talks of a slowdown affecting the glut of commercial space already developed in the city, are doing rounds. But from a longterm perspective, Tamil Nadu and Chennai in particular continue to have an immense potential for real estate development. We hope Haneda’s experience in construction and Rajathi’s knowledge about the local markets will help us grow rapidly in this segment.”

Haneda Rajathi will be developing the Rs 160-crore IT complex coming up on a 4.5-acre plot at Shollinganallur in the city.

A few hundred metres from this commercial complex, the joint venture will also be developing a 450-apartment residential complex on a 5-acre plot owned by the Sunshine Group. Mr M Gunalan, executive directo, Haneda Rajathi points out, “The construction work for both these three-year projects will commence in early 2009. The residential complex will be developed to cater to the middle-income employees at the commercial complex. The 850 to 1,100 square feet apartments will be priced at Rs 3,000 per square feet.”

The joint-venture will also undertake a Rs 20-crore development project for the Balaji Institute of Engineering and Technology at its facility in Thiruporur. Apart from this, the company has secured the construction contract for the expansion of the Breeze brand of business hotels, owned by the Rajathi Group.

In this Rs 500-crore project, fifteen 3-Star business hotels will be set up in the tier-II cities of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. Mr M Madan Prakash, director, Rajathi Group said, “These hotels will come up in two phases.

In phase I, three hotels will come up Tuticorin, Sriperu- mbudur and Thiruchirapalli. In phase II, the remaining hotels will be constructed in Coimbatore, Madurai, Ooty and Kannyakumari in Tamil Nadu and Krishnapattnam and Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh by 2015.”

Eventually, the joint venture will be expanding its presence in other states and is targeting to secure development projects in Sri Lanka and the Middle East after establishing itself in Tamil Nadu.

Understand the ground reality first
 

Good gardens do not happen automatically. They have to be systematically developed with planned effort. One cannot do a good job without understanding the soil conditions and its relationship with the plants in a given environment; and to this knowledge must be brought artistry, taste and a sense of fitness and proportion.

Many gardens are taken over as a bare piece of land, covered with weeds and other garbage. In some cases, the gardens are also planned unimaginatively. The creation of a garden is a responsibility and a challenge, since every site has its own individual problems. Even a narrow strip of plants, identical to hundreds of others can be used in different ways. For example planting a group of trees or creating different levels relieves flatness, whilst irregularly shaped boarders, instead of more oblong beds, take away the straight line effect.

Don’t start any construction or plant any seeds till you develop a workable plan at your site. This is important since mistakes cannot be rectified at a later stage.

The type of soil found in the area dictates certain type of plantings. If the soil is sandy planting palms is an ideal option, at the same time sandy soils may create problems for roses and fruit trees. Roses need a fertile soil so you can’t have two soils at the same.

The essence of garden planning is a sense of proportion and fitness, with trees chosen to fit the soil and the site. The entire area must be considered as a whole and broken down into its component parts or features.

Stand with your back to your house and make your first assessment from this angle.

Examine whether there are any features worth retaining or which things to be hidden. Every garden has its own natural assets like a tree or an architectural feature. Exploit these assets.

Malls must move on
 

By RAI UMRAOPATI RAY

Adidas, Gucci, Reebok, Marks & Spencer, Louis Philippe, and many, many more῅ There is no dearth of international brands in India’s numerous malls. But the fact is that mall mania has gripped our cities to such an extent that many malls end up looking the same and thus catering to a limited clientele. There are almost 40 malls coming up in the Punjab in next couple of years, while the count in the NCR is already breaking records. With so much mushrooming taking place, the question that begs an answer is - are these malls really making a profit? Are they receiving enough footfalls and in turn business to sustain themselves in the long run? If not, then what are the reasons behind mall proliferation?

All malls cater to the local public and any regular visitor will stand testimony to the fact that one rarely sees a ‘tourist’ or a foreigner in these parts - someone who brings in substantial business for malls operating in countries like Singapore, Malaysia, China, Dubai, Bangkok and England or even in the USA. In these places tourist malls have been positioned and publicised to cater especially not only to tourists and foreigners visiting the country but also to the local population, which is no doubt as important as its foreign counterparts.

Back in India, malls only target the local population and that too mainly youngsters but forget that the average spending capacity of a youngster is quite limited. We smartly picked up the mall concept from the West but overlooked the positioning factor. Says Gunjan Sharma, who runs an exclusive jewellery shop in a mall in Gurgaon, “When you go abroad, from the concierge to the guide, everybody is ready to give you information about the nearest mall. These shopping centres have been smartly positioned as tourist spots and most visitors end up buying stuff from there. However, sadly India has not adopted the concept of ‘tourism malls’”.

Avers Avneesh Sood, Director, Eros Group, “The concept of ‘tourism malls’ is very new to this part of the world. Though one may find similar plans to attract domestic and international tourists to specific shopping places in Jodhpur and Jaipur or properties like Delhi Haat or the Central Cottage Emporium the idea of commercial malls targeting the international tourist has not caught the fancy of realtors here. Certainly, it would help to increase the average monthly footfalls and the overall business of the malls but the whole process has to be properly structured and suited to a particular mall’s needs.”

Opines YP Bhasin of Bhasin Associates, “Seeing the current mall scenario, this concept would be quite beneficial for commercial malls in the country. Though, one has to put finer nuances in place and have a proper plan before implementing the idea.”

For an outlet to brand itself as a tourism mall, it needs to go beyond the realms of international branding. Space should be given to local shops and shopkeepers should be encouraged to sell Indian traditional goods to the public. Having done that, information should be given about these outlets in the various brochures and pamphlets that are distributed to tourists. Travel agents across the country should be contacted and told to mention the various malls in the city while selling their travel packages and a stopover at one or two malls should form part of the city tour offered by them.

Once positioning is done, the onus then falls upon the malls to turn their first time clients into repeat clientele. “Our malls in Singapore provide return facilities to tourists. This service acts as a major pull as tourists are often apprehensive of commuting in a new country. But the lure of being dropped back safely to your hotel and that too without payment, acts as a magnet,” informs a senior official of the Far East Organisation, Singapore.

Added services, such as a pick-up and drop facility, regularised taxi/auto service, tourist discounts, weekend specials and delivering purchased goods directly to the airport (as is done by some malls in Dubai and Bangkok) will not only enhance the productivity and sales of India’s numerous malls, but will also make them popular sites on the global tourism map.

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Can we get two loans for the same property?
 
By Harsh Vardhan Roongta

Q We plan to take a home loan for Rs. 40 lakh. The interest rate provided by the bank is 11.75 per cent on Rs. 40 lakh and on Rs. 30 lakh it is 10.5 per cent. Due to this huge difference, we were thinking of taking a Rs. 30 lakh loan at 10.5 per cent. Can we get a loan for the remaining Rs. 10 lakh at 10.5 or 11 per cent from some other source? Can we get two loans for the same property?

S. Chinnaswamiῠ
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Interest rates on home loans above Rs. 30 lakh are higher compared to those below that limit. It may not be possible to get a Rs. 10 lakh loan for the same property from a different bank since the property documents have been given as security to the first loan provider. So you cannot get two loans for the same property from two different lenders but you may get a loan from the same lender from whom you have taken the first loan.
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Q Has RBI waived foreclosure charges on a home loan from ICICI Bank?

R. Richards

It is a misnomer that the pre-payment penalty will be waived. No legal decision has been taken in this regard. Pre-payment penalties exist worldwide and are unlikely to be withdrawn fully in India either.
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QI have taken a home loan from ICICI bank at a floating interest rate, at present the interest rate is 13.25 per cent. It is likely to increase to 14 per cent, but for new customers it is 12 per cent. When I asked them to explain the difference, they said that the interest rate can be changed to 12 per cent if I pay 1.75 per cent as processing fees. Should I continue with the same bank or transfer my loan?

S. Sudha

If you have surplus funds, you can pre-pay a part of your loan. The bank may reduce the EMI or the tenure based on your income and your age of retirement. You can explore the option of shifting to another lender if you get a difference of close to 1 per cent in your current and new interest rate. You may want to consider the prepayment penalty that will be charged by the existing lender and the processing fee charged by the new lender. You can check the ‘Should I switch my loan calculator’ on apnaloan.com to know whether it makes sense for you prepay the loan.ῠ

The author is CEO apnaloan.com which is a complete guide to home loans in India. He can be reached at harsh@apnaloan.com

Is the construction on my plot as per Vaastu?
 
By T.R. Bhandari

Q We are planning to purchase a flat constructed six years ago. Kindly let me know if it is as per Vaastu rules and norms?

Revathi

The following are the Vaastu dosh indicated as per this map῅

*ῠThe cutoff north east corner of balcony in east eshan
* The staircase is in the north of the flat.
* The kitchen is in the eastern room
* The toilet/bathroom in the west neirut in the eshan room comes in the north of the drawing room
* The bedroom is in the agney room
* The main entrance is in the north vayavya of the above flat.
* The doors are in the east agney and south neirut of eshan’s room, east agney of the dining area and south neirut of agney’s room.

Getting of auspicious results is possible because of the open area in the east and north eshan of the flat, but as time passes, you will face some problems due to the bad effect of the above Vaastu dosh. Problems could be an interruption in income, domestic quarrels, financial losses, ill-health, etc.

Rectifying the Vaastu dosh of the internal flat is possible but demolishing the staircase and constructing a new staircase as per Vaastu is totally impossible, because the staircase is common and constructed up to the upper floors.

By purchasing a Vaastu affected flat you will start living a problematic life instead of a happy and prosperous one. Thus either purchase a flat constructed as per Vaastu, otherwise live in a rented flat which should be as per Vaastu norms. Think carefully before you make a decision.

Q We purchased a plot, in which the portion on the right (entrance) is extended. Is the construction of house on this plot correct? Any corner of the plot should not cutoff or extend, as our Vaastu pandit advised.

A.Sweta

You have not mentioned which direction of the plot is extended. The Vaastu dosh of the cutoff of the eshan, gives harmful results. If the cutoff or extension is in any direction or corner other than the eshan, you need not worry and start construction by following the principles of Vaastu without any tension, because you will not get any bad results.

Q Kindly tell me if the Vaastu of my house is correct. If not how do I correct it? Is it necessary to live in a rented house or can any alteration be undertaken? Please tell the positive as well as negative points.

Reeta Jaiswal

How can I give you a solution for Vaastu dosh when the sketch sent by you is not clear. If the house is your own, you can make possible changes to rectify the Vaastu dosh, if any. However, if it is a rented house making changes are not possible. If you are facing any problems in a rented house it is clear that the Vaastu dosh of the house is the reason behind this. In this situation, shifting to another rented house, which should be as per Vaastu norms, is intelligent.

Send your queries to vaastu@deccanmail.com

Energise your space
 

Day in and day out, we are surrounded and subjected to radiation. This eventually affects our health, productivity, sleep and concentration. Almost all objects - building materials, stones, colours, plants and bacteria emit or radiate energy. Research has shown that the earth’s magnetic field is not a blanket but a maze of grids comprised of energy lines, which emanate from the surface of the earth and circumscribe the globe. Though we may not feel it consciously, their presence and effect can be measured by scientific instruments. And our own pulse rate can be used to verify it. In an unhealthy environment, our pulse rate rises.

Based on the above, a new and innovative science practice, Environics is gaining prominence these days. Environics analyses and balances energy fields, electromagnetic radiation (EMR) and Geopathic stress, to create efficient, productive and healthy spaces. Environics can add value to the construction industry as it can be used for new sites being developed, planning of new buildings, services and projects and for existing living and work spaces. Through this science, one can neutralise the effects of magnetic grids over large distances. Work on sites have been seen to go smoothly just by avoiding and correcting radiation lines emanating from the ground (Geopathic stress), which are oriented in the north-south and east-west direction at 4-10 m intervals.

Says Ajay Poddar, Managing Director, Synergy Environics Ltd., “Environics corrects energy imbalances and other geological phenomenon as well as neutralises negative electromagnetic radiation emanating from the earth’s magnetic gridlines. Radia-tion is measured and corrected and the correction is verified by a Lecher Antenna which is a scientific mechanical instrument, working on the phenomena of resonance. This instrument detects various energies present in our environment based on their wavelength. The use of this new science can improve the health of people and can reduce stress levels in offices. Resultant improvements in productivity and interpersonal relationships are widely reported. Since stress, blood pressure, heart beat and pulse rate increase due to radiation, the correction improves these parameters immediately.”

Some related sciences and practices used in other parts of the world are Geobiology and Geomancy. The science is also not new to our part of the world. In the old monasteries in the Himalayan region, the structures and cells for monks were placed in such a way that they were contained within the energy grid lines. In ancient India, cardinal and diagonal grids were used in the concept of the eight dishas (orientations), especially in the alignment of temples and other structures. Our forefathers used rock structures called menhirs and dolmens on the nodes of magnetic grids. These acted as transmitters and receivers of energy. The menhirs located on the nodes would reverse the nature of the flow turning it into positive radiation. For instance, in the Ajanta Caves, researchers found that the magnetic grid lines were (and are) completely neutralised in the whole area and the energy levels are quite high.

In Environics, the same effect is generated by using flat copper pieces with clockwise spirals inscribed on them, says Poddar. These acts as a combination of the dolmen and the menhir, when fixed or positioned accurately on the nodes of intersecting grid lines.

RBI’s monetary policy is inimical to real estate
 

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) should immediately review its monetary policy to remove its excessive focus on taming inflation. The policy should also concentrate on reducing mortgage rates, besides take measures to curtail interest rates to enable wage earners to afford dwelling units.

The recent study by ASSOCHAM vis-†-vis the RBI Monetary Policy states that the premier bank has been framing its credit policy with too much emphasis on containing inflation. It is totally ignoring the tight credit policy’s consequences on real estate as the bank has not given any thought in reducing interest and mortgage rates and thus the policy is proving to be inimical to real estate growth. The increase in interest rates and those of mortgage rates, has seen the demand for properties being eliminated as realty prices have gone up beyond affordable limits. Although, the demand for property purchases existed, today affordability has come into question, says the paper.

Sajjan Jindal, President, ASSOCHAM sought that the government get out of the business of infrastructure building and leave it entirely to the private sector to spur up growth in the property businesses just as it played the role of facilitator in telecommunications about couple of years ago.

Further unveiling its findings, the paper says that even as default rates on the instalment payment of home loans have risen around 8 per cent, the Indian real estate market which is estimated at US$ 14 billion currently is likely to be US$ 90 billion by 2015 as demand for both commercial and residential property is surpassing supplies.

The paper projects that the real estate sector is growing at a rate of 30 per cent and that demand will continue to surpass supply even in the near future. It is estimated that US$ 12 billion worth of investment is expected to flow into the sector by end of the year 2009. The paper further points out that lucrative returns ranging from 20 to 25 per cent coupled with the cheap and easy availability of funds have seen people from all walks of life investing in Indian realty. Furthermore, improving the institutional framework and fiscal benefits have encouraged more and more players to enter the market. The list of investors includes High Net Worth Individuals, Non Resident Indians, Financial Institutions, Private Equity Funds and Retail Investors.

Housing which constitutes almost 80 per cent of the Indian real estate development has witnessed a huge demand, which is set to multiply further. As per the Global Report on Human Settlement 2005 - ‘Housing crisis in the making’, 40 per cent of the Indian population will require proper housing and basic infrastructure by 2030.

Home loans formed nearly 12 per cent of the total outstanding credit of scheduled commercial banks way back in March 2005, up from just 2.4 per cent in March 1990. The sales value of housing construction has witnessed an exceptional leap from Rs. 17.61 crore in 1991 to Rs. 5000 crore in the year 2006. This goes to prove that the lower interest rate regime played a pivotal role in increasing credit outflows and also demand towards the reality sector.

Rising home loan rates, resulting from Reserve Bank’s measures to control overheating in the real estate market, have severely impacted genuine buyers, says the ASSOCHAM paper. It has also found that the interest payout on housing loans has amplified tremendously with the sharp rise in home loan rates. The annual additional burden on an average on reality home loan interest rates has gone up by approximately Rs. 50,000 annually on a single individual.

Home buyers have received a double blow with the rise of more than 400 basis points since January 2006 and property prices mounting by 50-100 per cent in most locations. The eligibility of borrowers has come down by roughly 30 per cent since the hike in interest rates begun some time ago but its pinch is now increasingly being felt. Speculative purchasing activity in housing markets has come down as funds have become dearer. This is evident by a drop of 60 per cent in sales in the re-sale markets of Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata and Bangalore as compared to a 35-40 per cent rise in May 2006.

The growth in home loans has been severely affected due to the rise in the cost of funds. Growth rates of housing loans had come down to 29.1 per cent in FY2005-06 and 26.6 per cent in FY2006-07and about 20 per cent in 2007-08 as compared to 73.9 per cent and 48.6 per cent in FY05, FY04 and FY03. The ASSOCHAM paper has forecast that the growth in home loans may slow down to 15-17 per cent in the financial year 2008-09.

Can I avail of a tax rebate?
 
By S.C. Vasudeva

QI have taken a Rs 4 lakh loan from the bank for the renovation and repair of my house. Can I avail of a tax rebate with respect to the repayment of the loan as well as the interest on such a loan?
KPRK Menon, Chennai

The benefit of deduction under Section 80C of the Income-tax Act 1961 (the Act) is allowed within the overall limit of Rs.1 lakh in case an assessee has borrowed money from specified sources for the purchase or construction of a residential house, the income from which is chargeable to tax under the head “income from house property.” The
specified sources include a bank and a cooperative bank. The benefit of deduction under Section 80C of the Act is therefore not available for the repayment of a loan taken for the renovation and repair of the house. However, you would be entitled to a deduction of interest paid on the amount so borrowed against the income from house property. Such a deductible amount is limited to a sum of Rs 30,000 per year in case of a self- occupied property.

QI constructed a building in 2006. I intend transferring it this year. If the land was purchased in 1998 and the building constructed in 2006, is the profit earned on the sale of the land in 2008 a short term capital gain?
S. Anganayelu, Bengaluru

The land would be a long term capital asset and the superstructure would be a short term capital asset. The profit earned on the sale in the year 2008 would thus be a long term capital gain and the gain on the sale of the superstructure in 2006 would be a short term capital gain. This position stands accepted by the Madras High Court in the case of GT v Dr. B.D.L. Ramachandra Rao (1999) (236ITR51).

QIntend purchasing a plot in order to construct a house. I haveῠ to spend about Rs. 50,000 towards stamp duty and registration. Is the above amount deductible from my gross total income - Rs. 2,50,000 for the year ending 31st March 2009?
P. Sivanandan, Chennai

The above amount is not deductible from your gross total income. The income from the property (as and when the house stands constructed) shall be taken as NIL in case the house is self-occupied. If it is let out, the rental income will be taxable and no deduction from such amounts would be allowed in computing the above income.ῠῠ
ῠῠ
The author is a reputed Chartered Accountant.ῠ
Readers can send their queries to
vasu@scvasudeva.com

Enhancement of rent and eviction of tenant
 

Raj wanted his tenant to leave his shop so that he could use it for his own business purposes. The tenant did not agree. Raj filed a petition to evict his tenant. But the trial kept pending for a long time and Raj did not know how long it would take before any decision was taken by the court. In the meantime Raj felt that the rent he was receiving from his tenant was quite inadequate as it did not even meet his maintenance requirements. The point is, can Raj ask for fair rent fixation or the enhancement of rent while the eviction petition is pending trial?

Sometimes the owners of houses or shops such as Raj has, face peculiar problems. They cannot evict tenants quickly and/or rent out the premises for more money or use the premises for their own businesses or residential purposes by which they could save at least Rs 10,000 a month. There is a very huge gap between what Raj, for example, is getting and what he is supposed to get reasonably. The rent Raj is getting was fixed a long time ago at Rs. 500 per month, while the house would fetch not less than Rs. 12,000 a month today. The tenant is making huge profits of Rs. 45,000 in his business, but not willing to pay Rs 10,000 as rent, which is the prevalent value for those premises in that area where there is high business potential. The tenant also has several other shops elsewhere which are making good profits.

Petition for Eviction

In a case that went up to the Supreme Court, a landlord filed an eviction petition on the grounds of personal need, which was allowed. Against such an order the tenant went in appeal. The case was pending and would take some years as the backlog of cases in that particular court was very high. Meanwhile the owner of the shop premises filed an application for the determination of the provisional rent/mesne profits, interalia, claiming rent at the rate of Rs. 59 per square ft. A petition was filed before the appellate authority, who determined rent/ mesne profits at the rate of Rs. 59 per square ft which came to Rs. 9600, against which he was getting only Rs. 500 per month. The tenant felt it was a steep increase in the rent and took the case to the High Court. The High Court in the revision petition affirmed the order of the appellate authority, a special leave petition was filed which on grant of leave was heard in the presence of the counsels of both the tenant and landlord.

Commercial purpose

The tenant who came to the Supreme Court against the fixation of reasonable rent while an eviction petition was pending, was using the premises for commercial purposes, which fact was considered to be very significant in appreciating the need for increasing the rent from a paltry amount to a reasonable sum. The Supreme Court ordered Rs 5000 as provisional rent fixed for the premises till the appellate authority finally disposed the case. It also directed the tenant to immediately deposit the rent as per the rate of Rs 5000 per month and the Supreme Court also fixed a time limit of three months for disposing the case from the date of the supply of the order of the court. The court did not award costs to the landlord.

The decision was taken on August 1, 2008 by Tarun Chatterjee and Aftab Alam, Judges of the Supreme Court in the Sadhu Ram v Parminder Singh (2008) 8 SCC 132. Thus landlords like Raj have every right to seek enhancement and fixation of reasonable rent even during the pendency of the appeal for the eviction of a tenant.

The writer is a professor at NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad

Decorative decor
 

Come October and the festive season kicks off in our country. Navratri, Durga Pooja, Dusshera and Diwali - celebration is the buzzword. This time, bring the celebratory mood into your home d
cor, as interior specialists offer festive collections truly Indian in spirit. It’s all about Indian craftsmanship, jewel tones and rich fabrics that lend the atmosphere of festivity at home.

As Delhi-based interior designer Punam Kalra puts it, “Festivities are around the corner. The whole year we have been surrounded by the same colours, the same objects and essentially the same feel. Any change would be most welcome.”

Change the drapes. Punam suggests, “It’s an instant feel-good formula. Go for gold and silver tissue curtains. You could also highlight an important wall with a good wall-paper or textured paint. Introduce bright fresh colours like fuchsia, turquoise and lime green.”

To which Minal Parekh, product development manager at Yamini, adds, “Sheer luxurious curtains in maheshwari and organza add the celebratory touch to a living and bedroom. Beaded-tiebacks with beaded tassels add a touch of glamour to curtains. These tiebacks look absolutely gorgeous and complement any interior well.”

Indulge in Indian craftsmanship. Why restrict the zardozi and kundan to your clothes and jewellery? Pamper your d
cor with colourful cushions and table cloths bedecked with bling. Traditional motifs instantly lift the look and add to the festivity with style aplomb. Minal informs, “We have designed cushion covers in a vivid array of festive colours characterising the spirit of the festivals. They come in silk, poly silk and blend and cotton silk with a combination of appealing kundan work, zardozi, appliqu
 and taanka in a riot of colours retaining the traditional classic look.”

One could also go for cushion covers with pretty tie-up detail or traditional motifs like the peacock, mango and royalty.

It’s time to change that table linen too. “Dining tables always look special when covered with a table cloth. Kota table cloth with pretty trims is a perfect way to add that special touch to your home this holiday season. Our table linen focuses on leaf-jaal block print and badla-on-kota with trims,” adds Minal.

A new accessory can also go a long way in updating your d
cor for the holiday season. Punam says, “Bring in a new piece of furniture just for a statement. A Venetian mirror added to a space can instantly glamorise it. Accessorise with flowers, hangings, paintings, cushions and interesting carpets.”

As the festival of lights draws near, introduce concept lights. “An array of candles, perfume burners will instantly lift any low swings,” suggests Minal.

Bling may be the buzzword but maintenance is a matter of concern. To which Minal adds, “Cottons being the sturdiest could be hand-washed. But cottons with embellishment need to be dry cleaned. Again, silk or silk blended fabrics need to be dry cleaned only.”

If your budget is big and the mood for renovation strong, you could add

festivity to even your kitchen and bathroom! Indulge in tiles with traditional Indian prints. Vijay Aggarwal, managing director, H. and R. Johnson, informs, “When the entire house wears a festive and rich look, the walls of your kitchen and bathrooms too deserve something special. Inspired by the beauty of the traditional textile designs of Indian mythology and culture, we have designed a collection of ceramic tiles with traditional designs which include Kanjivaram, Paithani, Narayan Peth, Gher, Pallu and matching Kinaris or borders.”

So, pick and choose your celebratory style and bring on the festive fervour at your abode.

 
 Features of the Week
 
 

Deccan Chronicle

Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud

KUCHING: Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud is prepared to intervene, but has yet to be asked by 10,000 villagers facing eviction from their native customary land in Bekenu, Miri.

An eviction notice has been issued to the villagers by an oil palm plantation company which required them to leave their homes by Tuesday.

“I was informed that they wanted me to intervene and help them settle the problem, However, I have yet to receive any letter of appeal from them,” Taib said at his Hari Raya open house at Stadium Perpaduan Negeri in Petra Jaya yesterday.

The villagers, given notice to vacate their land within 14 days from Sept 15, decided to stay on in the hope that Taib would intervene in the matter.

The affected villages are Kampung Batu Satu, Kampung Butir, Kampung Kejapil, Kampung Keluru Tengah, Kampung Keluru Jaya, Kampung Subak, Kampung Sepurau, Kampung Selangau, Kampung Opak, Kampung Tusan, Kampung Uban, Kampung Terahad and Kampung Beraya.
The villages are believed to have been established more than 100 years ago.

Last week, the villagers held a peaceful protest near Kampung Beraya to publicise their predicament.

It is understood that the company had already cleared 5,500ha of land.

On Monday, Second Minister of Planning and Resource Management Datuk Seri Awang Tengah Ali Hasan said evicting such a large number of people required the state government’s approval.

Moving them required planning and identification of an alternative resettlement area, he said.

New Straits Times