Litchi production is likely to dip by 20 per cent from the normal 4.2 lakh tonnes to around 3.36 lakh tonnes this year due to adverse weather conditions in the growing regions.
"This year the production may go down by 20 per cent from the normal crop size as the weather was extremely hot with almost no rainfall in the main growing regions of Bihar, Uttrakhand and Himachal," Litchi Growers Association of India President Niraj Chhinwal.
In Bihar production may dip by 50 per cent if there is no rainfall in a week, a litchi farmer in Muzaffarpur said.
For the last 2-3 years there has been a dip in litchi production due to adverse weather conditions, he added.
The season for the fruit has already started with the 'Bambiya' variety from West Bengal currently available in the markets.
The most popular variety 'Sahi', grown in Muzaffarpur, will hit the market from May 20, Chhinwal added. The Bihar variety will be followed by the ones from Uttarakhand and then Himachal.
Litchi is mainly grown in about 7,000 hectares in Bihar, West Bengal, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh. The fruit is also grown in Tripura, Assam, Orissa and Jharkhand.
Monday 11 May 2009
Repoll not required in Bihar's certain constituencies: Election Commission
The Election Commission today said there was no case for ordering repoll in certain constituencies in Bihar following the fact finding team's visit there.
"The Commission has decided that there is no case for any repoll in certain constituencies," Deputy Election Commissioner R Balakrishnan told reporters here.
He said the six teams of EC officials, which went into the complaints, had detailed discussions in the state and briefed the EC today.
The panel members did not recommend any repoll, he said.
BJP had earlier criticised the Commission for sending fact finding teams to Bihar to probe alleged poll irregularities in six parliamentary constituencies but the electoral body justified its decision saying the "Commission cannot ignore the complaints made to it".
A delegation of NDA leaders had met the Commission and submitted a memorandum to it in context of six teams of Commission officials' visit to Bihar to look into complaints of alleged malpractices in a few constituencies which went to poll on April 16 and April 30.link
"The Commission has decided that there is no case for any repoll in certain constituencies," Deputy Election Commissioner R Balakrishnan told reporters here.
He said the six teams of EC officials, which went into the complaints, had detailed discussions in the state and briefed the EC today.
The panel members did not recommend any repoll, he said.
BJP had earlier criticised the Commission for sending fact finding teams to Bihar to probe alleged poll irregularities in six parliamentary constituencies but the electoral body justified its decision saying the "Commission cannot ignore the complaints made to it".
A delegation of NDA leaders had met the Commission and submitted a memorandum to it in context of six teams of Commission officials' visit to Bihar to look into complaints of alleged malpractices in a few constituencies which went to poll on April 16 and April 30.link
Sunday 10 May 2009
An evening dedicated to mothers of Patna
At a glittering function, full of musique concrete and fun, a number of moms in different age-groups sashayed down the ramp to mark Mother's Day on Sunday at Chanakya Hotel here. The vibrant programme was jointly organised by The Times of India and Radio Mirchi. The chief guest on the occasion was Bollywood producer and actor Poonam Sinha, better known as wife of actor-turned-politician Shatrughan Sinha. Also present on the occasion was Meera Srivastava, mother of actress Neetu Chandra.
The special evening was dedicated to the mothers of Patna who came with their kids and participated in the three-hour-long programme. The title of Super Mom went to Sushmita Mukherjee and the first and second runners-up were Nisha Agarwal and Anita Rathee respectively. They were awarded by Poonam Sinha, who too, possibly for the first time, walked on the ramp in a black sari amid much applause.
Super Mom Sushmita said, "I am feeling very nice and I never expected to be adjudged the Super Mom." She gave credit for this to her daughters, Ishani and Indrani, who were also present on the occasion. The first runner-up Nisha said, "My entire family is delighted. I too had not expected this award." Nisha has two children -- Ritwik and Ananya.
Poonam Sinha, who was there for over one and a half hours and enjoyed the evening, said this was the first time she was away from her children Luv, Kush and Sonakshi on Mother's Day. She, however, was hopeful to reach Mumbai before midnight to be with her children to accept their greetings. But she was happy to be in the midst of a good number of mothers and children and said they belong to her extended family.
The programme, full of fun, entertainment, humour, games, food and music was anchored by Radio Mirchi's RJs who successfully tried to involve all the mothers present there. All participants, including children, were given away prizes. A few mothers also shared their views and spoke about their hubbies and children. Others who were involved in hosting this programme included Advantage Services, Chanakya Hotel, VLCC and Sudha.link
The special evening was dedicated to the mothers of Patna who came with their kids and participated in the three-hour-long programme. The title of Super Mom went to Sushmita Mukherjee and the first and second runners-up were Nisha Agarwal and Anita Rathee respectively. They were awarded by Poonam Sinha, who too, possibly for the first time, walked on the ramp in a black sari amid much applause.
Super Mom Sushmita said, "I am feeling very nice and I never expected to be adjudged the Super Mom." She gave credit for this to her daughters, Ishani and Indrani, who were also present on the occasion. The first runner-up Nisha said, "My entire family is delighted. I too had not expected this award." Nisha has two children -- Ritwik and Ananya.
Poonam Sinha, who was there for over one and a half hours and enjoyed the evening, said this was the first time she was away from her children Luv, Kush and Sonakshi on Mother's Day. She, however, was hopeful to reach Mumbai before midnight to be with her children to accept their greetings. But she was happy to be in the midst of a good number of mothers and children and said they belong to her extended family.
The programme, full of fun, entertainment, humour, games, food and music was anchored by Radio Mirchi's RJs who successfully tried to involve all the mothers present there. All participants, including children, were given away prizes. A few mothers also shared their views and spoke about their hubbies and children. Others who were involved in hosting this programme included Advantage Services, Chanakya Hotel, VLCC and Sudha.link
Saturday 9 May 2009
Muzaffarpur girl to star in Aamir’s next venture
After Darsheel Safary, perfectionist Aamir Khan is set to make a star out of a little girl from Bihar.
Parul, a nine-year old girl hailing from Muzzafarpur is going to be part of Aamir’s next venture named “The Falling” which will be directed by Anushka Rizvi.
Parul’s performance in a play staged in Delhi impressed Aamir so much that he made the mind to cast the little girl in his next movie.
Trained under renowned theatre stalwart Habib Tanwar Parul has travelled across the continents and won acclaims as a part of her Theatre’s play in Germany and European Countries.
Parul has a lengthy role in the movie and Aamir is thrilled that he found a talent like her for the film.
The film which is based on the serious issue of farmer suicides in Maharashtra had started shooting since six months. Parul has already started shooting for the film.link
Parul, a nine-year old girl hailing from Muzzafarpur is going to be part of Aamir’s next venture named “The Falling” which will be directed by Anushka Rizvi.
Parul’s performance in a play staged in Delhi impressed Aamir so much that he made the mind to cast the little girl in his next movie.
Trained under renowned theatre stalwart Habib Tanwar Parul has travelled across the continents and won acclaims as a part of her Theatre’s play in Germany and European Countries.
Parul has a lengthy role in the movie and Aamir is thrilled that he found a talent like her for the film.
The film which is based on the serious issue of farmer suicides in Maharashtra had started shooting since six months. Parul has already started shooting for the film.link
Friday 8 May 2009
Tourists' resort at Manersharif to become operational soon
Bihar's first resort for tourists at the famous Sufi centre -- Manersharif -- would soon be a reality. The area in and around the resort would be developed at par with international standards to attract Asian and domestic tourists. Manersharif is barely 32 km away from west of Patna on Patna-Ara highway.
Manersharif is the most important and oldest centre of Sufis in Bihar. Maner has the tombs of several Sufi saints, including the Mausoleum of Shah Daulat, a contemporary of Akbar and Jehangir. Sufism is still a living tradition in Bihar and many important centres of the Sufis continue to flourish even today.
This resort has been designed to cater to the needs of family willing to spend a weekend at the resort. As of now, there is no such place in the nearby areas where a family can spend a day with all basic amenities.
The facilities would be designed to cater to the needs of children and health conscious citizens. It would be designed in an eco-friendly atmosphere and tourists can enjoy their outing away from hustle and bustle of the city.
The project includes construction of a 32-room hotel, gymnasium, conference room, car parking, landscaping in and around the hotel, flood lights, tubewells for water supply, boating, cafeteria, with proper lighting.
"This project has already been delayed. The Centre has already released Rs 7 crore for developing this resort for tourists," said a senior official of the tourism department.
Bihar's building construction department has been given the job of construction of the hotel. The Bihar State Tourism Development Corporation (BSTDC) would invite tenders to run this hotel under private-public partnership, said an official.
The work on the development of pond facing the monument would start after clearance from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). The removal of all the vegetation developed inside the pond, construction of staircase and pathway are also on the cards. Boating in the pond would be an added attraction for the visiting tourists.
"Almost 90 per cent work at the site has been completed. The resort would become operational within six months. At present, the cafeteria is being run by the BSTDC," said an official.
The BSTDC-run cafeteria at Manersharif is still the favourite eating joint for those who are passing through Maner en route Ara and beyond. "It gives us an ambience of peaceful atmosphere. It also offers simple home-made food, but it requires more facilities," said a couple who were having lunch at the restaurant.link
Manersharif is the most important and oldest centre of Sufis in Bihar. Maner has the tombs of several Sufi saints, including the Mausoleum of Shah Daulat, a contemporary of Akbar and Jehangir. Sufism is still a living tradition in Bihar and many important centres of the Sufis continue to flourish even today.
This resort has been designed to cater to the needs of family willing to spend a weekend at the resort. As of now, there is no such place in the nearby areas where a family can spend a day with all basic amenities.
The facilities would be designed to cater to the needs of children and health conscious citizens. It would be designed in an eco-friendly atmosphere and tourists can enjoy their outing away from hustle and bustle of the city.
The project includes construction of a 32-room hotel, gymnasium, conference room, car parking, landscaping in and around the hotel, flood lights, tubewells for water supply, boating, cafeteria, with proper lighting.
"This project has already been delayed. The Centre has already released Rs 7 crore for developing this resort for tourists," said a senior official of the tourism department.
Bihar's building construction department has been given the job of construction of the hotel. The Bihar State Tourism Development Corporation (BSTDC) would invite tenders to run this hotel under private-public partnership, said an official.
The work on the development of pond facing the monument would start after clearance from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). The removal of all the vegetation developed inside the pond, construction of staircase and pathway are also on the cards. Boating in the pond would be an added attraction for the visiting tourists.
"Almost 90 per cent work at the site has been completed. The resort would become operational within six months. At present, the cafeteria is being run by the BSTDC," said an official.
The BSTDC-run cafeteria at Manersharif is still the favourite eating joint for those who are passing through Maner en route Ara and beyond. "It gives us an ambience of peaceful atmosphere. It also offers simple home-made food, but it requires more facilities," said a couple who were having lunch at the restaurant.link
Cop recruitment scam: Three more arrested
The CBI arrested three more people in the alleged irregularities in recruitment of constables in CRPF. They include DIG, CRPF, Muzaffarpur, P S Bakhala, a commandant from Bihar and Jharkhand B S Sidhu and a tout from New Delhi. Sidhu was posted at Daltonganj as commandant of the 134th Battalion. The investigating agency has so far arrested 11 persons in this connection.
Confirming the arrest of these three people, a CBI official said that they were produced before the special CBI court on Thursday itself. DIG Bakhala and commandant Sidhu were taken on police remand for further interrogation in the matter, he said.
A CBI official confided that a well organized racket had been clandestinely going on in the recruitment of constables in the CRPF. Prima facie it appeared that some senior CRPF officials were allegedly involved in the recruitment scam. Everything would come to light after a thorough probe into the matter, he said.
According to CBI sources, the CBI sleuths raided the house of DIG located in Ranchi and recovered several incriminating papers. Similarly, Sidhu's house in Chandigarh too was searched and several incriminating papers and 10 live cartridges were also recovered during a raid by the CBI team, sources said.
Incidentally, CRPF IG Pushkar Singh and several other persons, including middlemen, who were involved in the scam, are among those already arrested by the CBI team from different places across the country.
The investigating agency had seized about Rs 1.15 crore cash and documents relating to fixed deposits during search operation carried out at the IG's office and residential premises, sources said.link
Confirming the arrest of these three people, a CBI official said that they were produced before the special CBI court on Thursday itself. DIG Bakhala and commandant Sidhu were taken on police remand for further interrogation in the matter, he said.
A CBI official confided that a well organized racket had been clandestinely going on in the recruitment of constables in the CRPF. Prima facie it appeared that some senior CRPF officials were allegedly involved in the recruitment scam. Everything would come to light after a thorough probe into the matter, he said.
According to CBI sources, the CBI sleuths raided the house of DIG located in Ranchi and recovered several incriminating papers. Similarly, Sidhu's house in Chandigarh too was searched and several incriminating papers and 10 live cartridges were also recovered during a raid by the CBI team, sources said.
Incidentally, CRPF IG Pushkar Singh and several other persons, including middlemen, who were involved in the scam, are among those already arrested by the CBI team from different places across the country.
The investigating agency had seized about Rs 1.15 crore cash and documents relating to fixed deposits during search operation carried out at the IG's office and residential premises, sources said.link
Saturday 2 May 2009
Village of Unmarried People’s Road to Love
The remote village of Barwaan Kala, west of Bihar in the heart of the Kaimur Hills in India, is the home of some 121 bachelors between the ages of 16 and 80.
Since the village is so remote and there are no decent roads to allow outsiders to travel to and from the village, it has become known locally as the “Village of Unmarried People”.
The townsfolk have longed dreamed that they would be able to have a road developed so that they could finally attract women from local villages to come and visit them.
This vision seemed a lot closer to fruition when during the last state assembly elections, a party candidate, Ram Chandra Singh Yadav, visited the village and promised that if elected, he would build them a road. He also made one promise that he didn’t keep; namely, that he would not get married unless he could build the villagers a road.
“The biggest problem for us and for outsiders is the difficult hilly terrain to pass through,” said 40-year-old bachelor Ram Lal Yadav.
The men got tired of waiting for help, and armed with tools, decided to take matters into their own hands. Although they have collectively laid more than half of the four-mile stretch of road across very hilly terrain, there are legal problems that may stand in their way to their path of happiness.
Unfortunately, The area is within a zone that protects wild life and where guidelines for construction projects are strictly enforced.
After all of their work, the government may intervene and stop them from completing their road to ecstasy.
Perhaps they could claim that as bachelors without potential heirs they represent an “endangered species”?
Hopefully then the government will take pity on these poor men and let them finish their road that can only lead to the better things in life.link
Since the village is so remote and there are no decent roads to allow outsiders to travel to and from the village, it has become known locally as the “Village of Unmarried People”.
The townsfolk have longed dreamed that they would be able to have a road developed so that they could finally attract women from local villages to come and visit them.
This vision seemed a lot closer to fruition when during the last state assembly elections, a party candidate, Ram Chandra Singh Yadav, visited the village and promised that if elected, he would build them a road. He also made one promise that he didn’t keep; namely, that he would not get married unless he could build the villagers a road.
“The biggest problem for us and for outsiders is the difficult hilly terrain to pass through,” said 40-year-old bachelor Ram Lal Yadav.
The men got tired of waiting for help, and armed with tools, decided to take matters into their own hands. Although they have collectively laid more than half of the four-mile stretch of road across very hilly terrain, there are legal problems that may stand in their way to their path of happiness.
Unfortunately, The area is within a zone that protects wild life and where guidelines for construction projects are strictly enforced.
After all of their work, the government may intervene and stop them from completing their road to ecstasy.
Perhaps they could claim that as bachelors without potential heirs they represent an “endangered species”?
Hopefully then the government will take pity on these poor men and let them finish their road that can only lead to the better things in life.link
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
