New chapter on Emergency included in textbooks Wednesday, June 28, 2006 | AY
The ruling Samajwadi Party is now harping on the idea of introducing a separate chapter on the 'Emergency' in the text books of junior schools and high schools from the current academic session. On Tuesday, minor irrigation minister Shakir Ali dashed a letter to the CM, urging him to introduce a chapter on Emergency as part of school syllabus. The minister said that awareness was needed to be created among young generation, as Emergency was a black spot in the history of Independent India. He said by learning a lesson about the tyranny of the Emergency rule, young people would be better-equipped to appreciate democracy. On the other hand, this would cultivate a sense among them to oppose any move to suppress democracy.
Day against drug abuse observed Tuesday, June 27, 2006 | AY
THE UP Prohibition Department (UPPD), Tobacco Cessation Clinic (TCC), KGMU and Abhinav Bharat Foundation (ABF) jointly observed the international day against drug abuse and illicit drug trafficing on Monday. Prohibition officer, Aruna Bakshi, said that the treatment of drug abuse helps the community by reducing crimes and the risk of transmission of blood borne infectious diseases. The function was also attended by Prof. Ramakant and a large number of students of the social work depatment of the Lucknow University.
Bulkier kabuli gram by scientists Monday, June 26, 2006 | AY
Scientists of the Indian Pulses Research Institute in Kanpur are working on increasing the size and weight of chick peas to help government reduce the import of the larger variety of this gram from abroad. Agriculture experts of IPRI along with the Central Agriculture and Co-Operative Department are trying to grow a bigger and bulkier variety of `kabuli` gram since the Indian chick peas are small and government has to import the larger size from Turkey, Syria and Mexico. The weight of 100 pieces of normal kabuli grams is 30 to 35 grams and that of the weight of the new variety would be between 55 to 60 grams.
Allahabad Bank travels across seas Sunday, June 25, 2006 | AY
Allahabad Bank has opened its first overseas office in Shenzhen, a Chinese city near Hong Kong, hoping to tap trade and commercial linkages between the two Asian giants. The office inauguration was attended by Allahabad Bank chairman Onkar Nath Singh and senior bank officials, as well as representatives from the China Banking Regulatory Commission and Shenzhen government. China and India recorded USD 18.73 billion in the trade volume in 2005, up 37.5 per cent from the previous year, according to the Chinese Ministry of Commerce. The volume is expected to exceed USD 20 billion this year. Meanwhile, Allahabad Bank has received a licence from the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) for opening a branch in Hong Kong.
Scientists comes up with a new Drug Sunday, June 25, 2006 | AY
Scientists at the Central Drug Research Institute (CDRI)in Lucknow have developed a new drug to control and cure depression - a growing problem afflicting many across the country. The new drug has been found to be safer that the existing anti-depression drugs. It is also free of side effects. The drug named 'sent propezene' has much faster action than the existing drugs, which begin to show results only after two or three weeks of use. CDRI has obtained an international patent for the drug, which would hit the markets in the near future. The new drug is a major landmark achievement and is expected to go a long way in helping people overcome symptoms of depression.
Minister calls meeting to discuss quota issue Saturday, June 24, 2006 | AY
The Mulayam Singh Yadav government plans to introduce quota in sports, though the modalities are yet to be worked out. The agenda — inviting suggestions on “how sports can be developed in the state” — looks innocuous enough, but for the rider. On Monday, communiqués from the UP Sports Directorate invited regional sports officers, sports officers and state’s Olympians for a meeting at KD Singh ‘Babu’ Stadium here on June 26. The meeting is organised at the behest of sports minister R K Chaudhary.
Varanasi being the hot spot for film makers Saturday, June 24, 2006 | AY
Renowned director and producer Rakesh Mehra will make a movie having well-known names to act in it and the film will be shot in Varanasi and its adjoining areas. The story of this movie will be based on Varanasi. The name of movie has not been disclosed while the film team is likely to visit Varanasi to search for locations for shooting the film. Similarly, shooting of Ajay Devgan starrer ‘Hula-Bole’ is likely to be held in Varanasi soon. Shooting of ‘Suryamukhi’ is scheduled to be held in Varanasi besides Goa and Pune. This proposed movie is based on the life of legendary painter Raja Ravi Verma. Renowned singer, Kumar Shanu is also contemplating to shoot his two music albums here in Varanasi. Besides, a Hollywood movie starring Goldie Hawn is also going to be shot here.
Sufi circuit to boost tourism in UP Wednesday, June 21, 2006 | AY
Uttar Pradesh tourism department decided to cash in on the mystic appeal of Sufism. The state government is planning to develop a Sufi circuit to boost tourism and harness potential in the sector. A Sufi music fest is also being organised here on June 21 and 22. The event will be put together by up Sangeet Natak Akademi and Indian Council for Cultural Research (ICCR). Renowned Sufi singers from India and Pakistan are scheduled to perform during the two-day extravaganza. At present, there are seven tourism circuits in UP: Buddhist Circuit, Lucknow-Awadh Circuit, Varanasi-Vindhyachal Circuit, Brij (Agra-Mathura) Circuit, Jal Vihar Circuit, Van-Jati eco-courageous Circuit.
Amol Shetge directs Bhojpuri superstar Wednesday, June 21, 2006 | AY
After directing three super-flop Bollywood films, Amol Shegte too has headed towards Bhojpuri films. Though success has eluded him after the no-show of 'Gunaah' [Bipasha Basu], 'Naam Gum Jaayega' [Dia Mirza] and Rain [Meghna Naidu], he may just get fourth time lucky as he pairs up with Bhojpuri superstar Ravi Kishan. In the film, Ravi Kishan plays a double role of identical twins, Ravi and Kishan, who demonstrate different traits inspite of a similar face. As per the actor, it was quite a challenging role to enact as on one hand he had to be Ravi, who is a simple traditional boy with interests in spiritual and holy things while on the other hand he had to switch to Kishan who is an extreme outgoing'n'cool personality.
IIT-Kanpur students on mass fast Monday, June 19, 2006 | AY
Students of the Indian Institute of Technology-Kanpur have decided on a 12-hour "mass fast" here tomorrow against the proposed OBC quotas in institutions of higher learning even as their relay hunger strike entered the 21st day today. Spokesman for the 'Forum for Indians against Reservation' Rahul 'Bharat' said that the relay fast by IIT-K students continued for the 21st day and students of other IITs and institutes of higher learning had extended full support to the movement against reservation in higher education.
UP cancels petrol sales tax cuts Sunday, June 18, 2006 | AY
Uttar Pradesh has ruled out any reduction in sales tax on petrol and diesel to reduce the burden on consumers of fuel price hike effected by the government last week. The state had asked the central government to give 25% subsidy on diesel used by farmers for agricultural purpose. UP levies 25% sales tax on petrol and 20% on diesel.
Quality of Ganga water improved Saturday, June 17, 2006 | AY
The water quality of river Ganga has shown general improvement with a substantial increase in biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) values over a period of 20 years. The monitoring done by various independent agencies like Central Pollution Control Board and Indian Institute of Technology-Kanpur has found that the BOD values show clear improvement at Kannauj, Kanpur, Allahabad, Varanasi and Patna despite increase in population. The Japan International Cooperation Agency has been providing grant and technical assistance for a development study relating to the water quality management plan for river Ganga with focus on Kanpur, Lucknow, Allahabad and Varanasi.
Unemployment allowance launched in U.P. Saturday, June 17, 2006 | AY
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav handed the first unemployment allowance cheque for Rs. 1,000 to Aarti Devi from Jalalpur in Rae Bareli district. The unemployment allowance scheme promises to give Rs. 500 a month as dole to 7,66,352 registered unemployed graduates and post-graduates in the State. Mr. Yadav distributed cheques to around 50,000 of the 52,570 educated unemployed from six districts of Lucknow Division. He promised to increase the unemployment allowance to Rs. 1,000 a month if the Samajwadi Party and its ally, the Rashtriya Lok Dal were voted to power. He said if his Government mopped up additional financial resources, the dole could be increased to a little more than Rs. 500. The unemployment allowance scheme is Uttar Pradesh's answer to the UPA's National Rural Employment Guarantee Programme.
Aim to promote medical tourism Saturday, June 17, 2006 | AY
In a bid to promote medical tourism in Uttar Pradesh, the Ayurveda Faculty of Banaras Hindu University (BHU) in collaboration with State Government would set up a centre for medical tourism in BHU soon. The tourism department of State government had sanctioned Rs 3.25 crore for setting up a centre of ayurveda and yoga in BHU to promote medical tourism. Construction of a 125-bedded hospital for traditional Indian system of medicine would be set up in BHU soon. Medicinal plants were being cultivated on 100-acre land in South Campus of BHU at Barkacha in Mizapur district, which will be used for treatment of patients in BHU.
Coca-Cola plant in Varanasi bags award Wednesday, June 14, 2006 | AY
The World Environment Foundation has conferred the Golden Peacock Environment Management Special Commendation Award to Coca-Cola's Varanasi plant in recognition of its clean environment practices. Coca-Cola's varanasi unit was adjudged as the winner after an evaluation of the plant's compliance with a prescribed programme assesment format related to environment management system implementation. The assessment covered a period of one year from April 1, 2005 to March 31, 2006. The World Environment Foundation is an NGO dedicated to the improvement of the environment and sustainable development in India and abroad.
International standard airport to come up in UP Tuesday, June 13, 2006 | AY
Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel said that, Lucknow airport will be developed to international standards soon. As Uttar Pradesh is the biggest state of the country, Lucknow has been included in the list of 35 airports, which would be developed to international standards. He said that there were lot of pressures on Delhi and Mumbai airports and that was why the Ministry had initiated decentralisation and in future all major cities of the country would witness a sea change in air traffic with the increase in facilities in the airports.
Reduction of qualifying marks to UPTU Monday, June 12, 2006 | AY
In order to fill all vacancies in engineering colleges affiliated to the Uttar Pradesh Technical University (UPTU), the university has proposed to reduce the qualifying marks. This would raise the number of students who qualify the entrance examination this year. For general and OBC category candidates, the qualifying marks were fixed at 15 per cent, while for the SC and ST category candidates the qualifying marks were 10 per cent. In order to get the required number of qualified candidates, the university has proposed to reduce the qualifying marks by five per cent. A reduction of five per cent in the qualifying marks would raise the number of qualified candidates to 22,500. This would help the colleges to get adequate number of students.
Protest against hike in petrol price Sunday, June 11, 2006 | AY
Protest against the price hike on the petrol and diesel continued in Varanasi. Activists of the Samajwadi Lohia Vahini took out a motorcycle procession, ‘Chetavni Yatra’, to register their protest against the price hike in petroleum products. Chairman of Gau Sewa Commission, Dr. KP Yadav strongly criticised the Union government for price hike in petrol and diesel. He said that common people were already suffering due to increasing rate of food grains and other essential commodities.
Bairi Piya Saturday, June 10, 2006 | AY
After a span of almost seven years, Gyan Sahay is making his second directorial venture, Bairi Piya, this time in Bhoj-puri. It stars newfinds Mohit Daga and Pakkhi in the lead with Manoj Verma, Vivek Vaswani and Reema in supoorting cast. Vivek Shankar and M Hakeem are the producers. Mohit, a discovery of Zee’s India’s Best Cine Star Ki Khoj who is making his debut as a leading man with this film is all of 23 years and is a student of Kishore Namit Kapoor’s acting school.
Monsoon soon to hit UP Saturday, June 10, 2006 | AY
The monsoon is expected to hit Uttar Pradesh in the next 48 hours. The pre-monsoon rains had already entered the state through Bihar, bringing heavy showers to large parts of eastern Uttar Pradesh. 'The current low pressure over Jharkhand is likely to move towards Uttar Pradesh, thereby advancing the arrival of monsoon in this state. Meanwhile, the weather continues to remain extremely humid in most parts of the state with the sky partially clouded.
Jaya Bachchan back in action Saturday, June 10, 2006 | AY
Jaya Bachchan and Amir Alam Khan of the Samajwadi Party were declared elected unopposed in the by-elections to the Rajya Sabha from Uttar Pradesh after the last date of withdrawal of nominations expired. The by-elections were caused by Ms. Bachchan's disqualification for holding an office for profit and the resignation of Anil Dhirubhai Ambani, industrialist. While Ms. Bachchan, whose name appears as Bachchan Jaya Amitabh in the nomination papers, was renominated and retained her seat, Mr. Khan filled the vacancy caused by Mr. Ambani's resignation.
Lucknow gets a red alert Wednesday, June 7, 2006 | AY
The Pre-Monsoon Report on Environmental Status of Lucknow released by the Industrial Toxicology Research Centre (ITRC), said that the average level of Standard Particulate Matter (SPM, or particles in air) in residential areas is between 1.5 and 2 times the prescribed level. And in commercial areas it is nearly double the limit. The blow was softened to some extent with the revelation that Nitrogen Dioxide is reducing. Also, with the switch to unleaded petrol, the harmful lead emission has come down to negligible levels. But Sulphur Dioxide was found to be rising. Meanwhile, the report found the levels of SPM and Respirable Suspended Particulate Matter (RSPM – tiny particles that can enter lungs) rising, especially in residential areas.
Software tech parks in Varanasi & Agra Tuesday, June 6, 2006 | AY
Two new software technology parks would soon be set up in Agra and Varanasi. Besides the software technology parks already functioning with the help of Union government in Noida, Kanpur, Lucknow and Allahabad, Agra and Varanasi would also have such parks. While the place for setting up the park in Agra has been identified, clearance for the same in Varanasi was still awaited.
Rise in Polio cases Monday, June 5, 2006 | AY
The central government has expressed its concerns regarding the recent spurt in polio cases especially in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar till May this year. According to sources in the Union Health Ministry, Uttar Pradesh accounted for 21 cases, Bihar for 12 and a solitary case was reported in Madhya Pradesh. It has been observed that the outbreak of the disease was a result of a total failure on the part of the two governments in running the polio eradication programme. Of the 21 cases reported from Uttar Pradesh, Moradabad district alone accounted for 11; followed by two each in Badaun, Bareilly and Farukkabad; and one each in Bulandsahar, Ferozabad, J P Nagar and Pilibhit.
UP new budget scheme benefitted by children Sunday, June 4, 2006 | AY
Over 2.6 crore children below the age of six years in Uttar Pradesh will be benefited by the increase in the budget allocation to a nutrition programme in the state. The government has decided to increase the department budget from Rs 625 crore to Rs 1100 crore to save children from malnutrition and the increased amount will be shared by both the Central and the state governments. Under the scheme each child was provided 80 grams of nutritious food every day and vaccinations, medical check-up, health education and pre-school education. The government has also ordered to increase the number of anganwadi centres to cover all children under the scheme, he said adding the work of 34000 new centres will start from June 15.
Lucknow division’s kiosk type touch screen launched Saturday, June 3, 2006 | AY
DRM Northern Railway RK Gupta inaugurated Lucknow division’s first kiosk type touch screen system at PRS (Passengers Reservation System) at Charbagh on Thursday. This system will enable passengers to find the current status of their reservation by typing the PNR number directly on the screen. The Railways also planned to provide similar kiosk at the first class concourse at Charbagh station. Besides, two more kiosks will be set up at Varanasi station in the near future.
Amit, Gurwinder bags the Men's single title Saturday, June 3, 2006 | AY
Amit Srivastava of Accountant General (Uttar Pradesh), Allahabad won the men’s single title defeating Harish Kumar of AG (Audit), Haryana in straight four games 11-8, 11-4, 11-6 and 11-5 during the North Zone Inter-Audit and Accounts Department Table Tennis Tournament at the Sector 23 TT Hall. In the women’s singles final, Gurwinder Kaur of AG (Audit), Punjab won the championship defeating Leena Khare of AG (UP), Allahabad at the game score of 4-11, 11-7, 1-11, 11-8, 11-5, 11-7.
Bachans own property worth Rs. 227 cr Saturday, June 3, 2006 | AY
Film actress and Samajwadi Party leader Jaya Bachchan, who has filed her nomination papers for the Rajya Sabha by-elections from Uttar Pradesh, and her husband Amitabh Bachchan own Rs. 227 crore in movable and immovable properties. While Mr. Bachchan owns properties worth Rs. 190 crore, Jaya has Rs. 37 crore, according to an affidavit filed by her along with the nomination papers. Ms. Bachchan has two cars and her husband 11, including a Toyota Land Cruiser, Mercedes Benz and BMW. There is Rs. 11.41 lakh in Ms. Bachchan'sbank account while Mr. Bachchan has Rs. 3.27 lakh. Ms. Bachchan owns 364 kg of silverware, diamonds and pearls worth Rs. 3.22 crore, besides a house in Mumbai, a plot in Noida Film City, and flats in Bhopal and Mumbai. The affidavit states that Mr. Bachchan owns agricultural land in Uttar Pradesh's Barabanki district, a house worth Rs. 4.5 crore and a plot of Rs. 12 crore in Mumbai, a Rs. 35 lakh flat in Gurgaon and immovable properties worth Rs. 67 lakh in Delhi.
