| 2008-11-21 | Waldhuni river polluted at its source: study
Faecal content found at source in Ambernath Hills, near townships along the course
The river Waldhuni, known to be heavily polluted, gets contaminated at its source itself, according to the preliminary findings by the Ulhasnagar Municipal Corporation (UMC) and Smt Chandibai Himmatmal Mansukhani College in Thane district. The river originates from the hills of Ambernath near Kakole village in the district.
The Waldhuni, which flows along the Ulhasnagar station, is popularly known as the Waldhuni Nallah for the heavy pollution it receives along its course. Though the industrial stretch of Ulhasnagar and Ambernath and others township like Vithalwadi, Shahad and Kalyan, through which the Waldhuni flows, contribute in polluting it visibly, the river gets polluted at the source itself.
As part of their study, a team of 250 students of the college supervised by nine teachers have been regularly collecting water samples from 18 locations along the 31.8 km stretch of the river. “The coliform bacteria count is consistently high in almost all the samples. Coliform is index organism for faecal pollution and its consistent presence indicates fecal pollution at the point of origin,” said Dr Bela Nabar, the project coordinator.
The finding means that the townships along the stretch of the river use it for dumping untreated sewage. The more urban the settlement along the river, more visible was the damage done to the water body. “The total solids (suspended and dissolved) were found to be high for monsoon and other times. This is due to the sewage discharge and dumping of plastic wastes,” said Dr Nabar.
The study primarily involves mapping and water analysis of the river. The three-year long study, which commenced on World Environment Day (5 June) this year, is being undertaken by the geography, microbiology, bio-technology and chemistry departments of the college. Considering the importance of the Waldhuni river to the ecology of both Ambernath and Ulhasnagar and the neighbouring villages and townships, the UMC decided to clean the Waldhuni river, a la Mithi river. But before taking the task, it decided to conduct the study.
Ulhasnagar municipal commissioner Sameer Unhale said that revival of the river is only possible in its entirety. “Authority such as MMRDA can undertake such a massive task of revival of Waldhuni river by involving the local municipalities,” said Unhale.
The principal of the college, Dinesh Panjwani, who is the overall project coordinator, said the joint endevour by the civic body and the... |
| 2008-11-15 | Chunky Plays Elvis from Ulhasnagar in Hello Darlin
What’s your character like in Mumbai Calling?
I play Chunky La Funga, the superstar of India in the finale episode of Mumbai Calling. The original character was written for the series Goodness Gracious and it was inspired by my star status during the early ’90s. But this time around
Sanjeev Bhaskar wanted me to portray the role and I was more than happy to play a superstar.
This is your debut as an actor on television.
Although I have made appearances for reality shows, technically this is my debut as an actor on TV. It was a totally different experience working with a complete foreign crew. It was shot exactly like a movie, only the cameras used were different. We can term it as a crossover serial. Allan Mckeown who is producing the show has done a fantastic job of putting this programme together.
How was it working with Bhaskar?
He is laugh-a-minute. There is never a dull moment when he is around and he makes sure shooting is as much fun. I have been friends with him from the days of Goodness Gracious and Kumars at No 42. But I have never managed to get tired of his jokes. The only other person I can compare him to is Navjot Singh Sidhu.
Do you have plans of doing more shows on television?
I was highly appreciated for my stint as judge in Zara Nachke Dikha. Star has now offered me another show, but I am not supposed to divulge any information about it.
You got coloured sunglasses into vogue after Zara Nach Ke Dikha.
When I first entered Bollywood, I had a fetish for sunglasses. Every time I had an outdoor schedule I used to buy these sunglasses but I never got a chance to wear them then. When I was invited to be the judge, I thought why not make good use of them.
You are known for your comic timing. How have you perfected the art?
Maybe it’s just inherent. But sadly enough my wife doesn’t think I’m funny at all.
You have been termed as the Bangladeshi superstar. Are you still doing films for them?
I have stormed back to Bollywood now. I stopped doing Bangladeshi films long ago. I’m looking to explore Sri Lanka and Nepal. I don’t want to leave any neighbouring territory unexplored.
What’s happening on the Bollywood front?
I have loads of film offers and my plate is pretty full for the next year or so. I’m doing Khalbali — a film that has 27 comedians. Besides, there is Inder Kumar’s Daddy Cool, Shortcut, a couple of films with Mukta Arts, Hello Darling, where I play the character of Elvis from Ulhasnagar, Sankat City and Paying Guest. |  |
| 2008-11-03 | Partition land curbs on Sindhis lifted
The revenue department has lifted all curbs on the sale or purchase of land by members of Sindhi community who had been allotted residential/commercial plots by the government as part of their rehabilitation on their arrival here after the participation.
The decision was taken at a meeting of divisional commissioners, municipal commissioners and district collectors chaired by the revenue minister Narayan Rane here on Saturday.
The decision will benefit members of the Sindhi community in 13 districts of Maharashtra where the government had allotted land to the community. Some of the major districts under this rehabilitation were Ulhasnagar, Kalyan, Pimpri and Jalgaon.
Though the land allotted was of a free hold title, some provisions in the law required the landowners to seek permission from the district collectors and pay a particular fees to get a no objection certificate to sell or purchase such plots, Thakurdas Kavana, a prominent member of the Sindhi community, from Jalgaon, who was pursuing the issue with the State government, told Sakaal Times.
A number of Sindhis who have migrated abroad could not dispose of their properties under the prevailing rules. |
| 2008-11-01 | Ulhasnagar veterans bag Dhanwantari Medical Awards
Their so far silent individual contribution to the critical area of local healthcare was finally recognized by their peers and their own city, in the form of the prestigious annual Dhanwantari Award 2008. Dr Prakash Bhatia and Dr T S Gwalani were awarded by the NIMA (National Integrated Medical Association), Ulhasnagar branch, before Diwali. This is the second year of this illustrious award.
On Sunday afternoon, Oct 26, the two senior doctors beamed from the dais, at the assembled high-profile dignitaries, other eminent medical professionals and the battery of the busy shutterbugs, carefully posing with the glittering trophies and gleaming scrolls. It was their moment of deserved glory in a staid field of medicine that is low on the glitz but high on community service and personal satisfaction. Noted lawyer and former Union law minister Ram Jethmalani was the Chief Guest. Vice Chairman, legislative council, Vasant Davkhare, presided over the one-hour function held at the packed second floor of the Town Hall, the popular venue for such events, where the top citizens had come together for the guests and the winners alike.
"The two chosen veterans, dentist Prakash Bhatia and radiologist T S Gwalani, have rendered great social service to our city. They have been selected for their excellent track records and a deep commitment to the code of conduct, thus inspiring the younger colleagues here, by their examples and devotion to a demanding field," explained Dr Narendra Panjwani, president of the NIMA, in his introductory remarks. He also highlighted the recent assaults on the doctors across the state and requested Vasant Davkhare to expedite the proposed bill that should also include a relevant clause of protection of the individual doctors in it. Jethmalani praised the recipients for their noble work and exhorted the young breed to follow the Hippocratic Oath more closely. "Do it for society and not for the money only. Lord Dhanwantri should be your example," said the reputed jurist. Davkhare also congratulated the duo and promised action on the demand of the NIMA president.
"You will see the results soon in the new bill for the doctors." The awardees traced their professional journeys in the past when the town was still sleepy and deprived of the basic dental and radiology facilities in the decades of the 70s and 80s. "I was the first one to start a dental clinic here way back in the early 70s," recalled Bhatia. "Same was the case with me then. We plodded on undeterred," concurred Gwalani. Dr Amit Mishra proposed the vote of thanks. The others present included Sitaldas Harchandhani, Ram Jawaharani, Hardas Makhija, doctors like Hemant Kokas, Iswari Gandhi, Neena Nathani and M S Makhija.
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