Monsoon enters Mumbai
Agencies, Wednesday, May 31, 2006 20:21 IST
MUMBAI/THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The South-West monsoon entered Mumbai with torrential showers lashing the metropolis on Wednesday, injuring six, even as incessant rain continued to pound Kerala and Goa, claiming 11 lives and leaving a trail of destruction.
Heavy rain pelted Maharasthra's coastal Konkan region, where the monsoon was vigorous, hitting train services as weather office predicted more showers in the state.
One person was feared drowned at the Gateway of India in Mumbai.
Three people were injured when lightning struck them and an equal number in a wall collapse in Mumbai where the rains were preceded by gusty wind that uprooted trees and knocked out power at many places.
The monsoon has set over Mumbai, coastal Konkan and parts of South-Central Maharasthra, Deputy Director (Meteorology) Dr C V V Bhadran said in the metropolis.
Konkan and central Maharashtra had widespread rains since last evening with Ratnagiri recording 64 cms. Several trains were left stranded on the Konkan Railway section owing to waterlogging.
Twenty-two fishermen, who ventured into the sea, were reported missing in Kerala where 11 people had perished in heavy rain slamming the state for the past few days.
The fishermen ventured into the sea in two groups on May 25 and 26 from Beypore coast and had not returned to shores so far.
The rains had wreaked havoc in Kerala extensively damaging houses and standing crops and inundating low-lying areas throwing normal life out of gear.
The Kerala government, which sanctioned Rs 6 crore for emergency relief work, announced two-week free rations to those affected by the calamity.
The schools in the state will reopen on June 5 instead of June 1 as most relief camps are set up there.
Showers, accompanied by high-velocity winds, lashed Goa for the fourth day, prompting authorities to shift 300 families living on the outskirts of Margao town to safer places.
Several low-lying areas in south Goa, especially coastal towns, were inundated, prompting evacuation of the marooned, official said in Panaji.
Fishermen were warned not to venture into the sea that was rough due to gusty winds, they said.
Twenty centimetres of rains were recorded in the state since last evening.
Read more at : DNA - Mumbai - Monsoon enters Mumbai - Daily News & Analysis
Wednesday, May 31, 2006
Tuesday, May 30, 2006
IBNLive : Move over Sania, Saina is here
Move over Sania, Saina is here
P Revathi, CNN-IBN, Tuesday , May 30, 2006
There is a new teenage sporting sensation in Indian sports. Move over Sania Mirza as now it is the turn of another Hyderabadi girl to make the headlines.
Saina Nehwal has became the first Indian woman to win a 4-star badminton tournament and her parents Usha and Harvir Singh Nehwal are on cloud nine.
After all their 16-year-old daughter has done what no Indian has done till now.
Saina's win in the Philippines Open saw her parents, both of whom are former badminton players, celebrating.
And now they proudly show off the medals and trophies that their daughter has won till date.
"Saina was was a very different kind of child. At the age of seven-eight months we were worried about her because she was very serious and would never smile. One day, I took her to the badminton court and when she saw a game, she started laughing," her father Harivir Singh says.
Saina's talent was noticed when she was just nine and former all England champion P Gopichand took her under his wing when she was 13.
"I think her achievement is phenomenal because no Indian woman has done it so far. Also to do so when she is just 16 is great. She has got many tournaments to play in future. It is remarkable not only for her but also for Indian badminton," Gopichand says.
Saina's game is simple as she relies on power to subdue her opponents.
It was on display at the 2006 Commonwealth Games when she was part of the team which won the team bronze.
And now her parents want her to go for the biggest prize of them all.
"Determination accha hai uska. Mehnati bhi hai. Woh accha Olympian banegi aur jeetegi (She is very determined and works hard. I want her to win a medal in the Olympics)," her mother Usha Nehwal adds.
At 16 Saina's best is yet to come. She celebrated her birthday just 10 days back and her parents could not have asked for a better gift from her.
Read more at : IBNLive : Move over Sania, Saina is here
P Revathi, CNN-IBN, Tuesday , May 30, 2006
There is a new teenage sporting sensation in Indian sports. Move over Sania Mirza as now it is the turn of another Hyderabadi girl to make the headlines.
Saina Nehwal has became the first Indian woman to win a 4-star badminton tournament and her parents Usha and Harvir Singh Nehwal are on cloud nine.
After all their 16-year-old daughter has done what no Indian has done till now.
Saina's win in the Philippines Open saw her parents, both of whom are former badminton players, celebrating.
And now they proudly show off the medals and trophies that their daughter has won till date.
"Saina was was a very different kind of child. At the age of seven-eight months we were worried about her because she was very serious and would never smile. One day, I took her to the badminton court and when she saw a game, she started laughing," her father Harivir Singh says.
Saina's talent was noticed when she was just nine and former all England champion P Gopichand took her under his wing when she was 13.
"I think her achievement is phenomenal because no Indian woman has done it so far. Also to do so when she is just 16 is great. She has got many tournaments to play in future. It is remarkable not only for her but also for Indian badminton," Gopichand says.
Saina's game is simple as she relies on power to subdue her opponents.
It was on display at the 2006 Commonwealth Games when she was part of the team which won the team bronze.
And now her parents want her to go for the biggest prize of them all.
"Determination accha hai uska. Mehnati bhi hai. Woh accha Olympian banegi aur jeetegi (She is very determined and works hard. I want her to win a medal in the Olympics)," her mother Usha Nehwal adds.
At 16 Saina's best is yet to come. She celebrated her birthday just 10 days back and her parents could not have asked for a better gift from her.
Read more at : IBNLive : Move over Sania, Saina is here
Tata Power plans two 1000 mw projects
Tata Power plans two 1000 mw projects
Gayatri Ramanathan / Mumbai May 31, 2006
Tata Power Company (TPC) is planning to set up two new 1,000 mw imported coal-based projects near Rewas in Maharashtra.
The state government has given approval for the first of the 1,000 mw plants and land acquisition has begun, Adi Engineer, director, Tata Power told Business Standard.
Environmental clearances for the two Rewas plants are also in place. The government is acquiring close to 1000 acres of land for both the plants.
Engineer said that it will take upto three years for commissioning the plant from the time land acquisition is completed. He said that the government expects to complete the acquisition process in the next five to six months.
These power plants are in lieu of the company’s earlier proposal to set up a 1000 mw Vile project which now stands scrapped. Engineer said that the Vile project has been dropped due to logistical problems in the handling of imported coal.
Engineer said that the company was considering its own jetty at the plant site to handle the imported coal. The coal for the plant is being imported from Australia and Indonesia.
Engineer added that the company also has plans of acquiring coal mines in either of the countries and is in talks with some mine owners.
TPC is also planning to set up a 100 mw Diesel Generator sets which have short commissioning period of 10-12 months, as an interim arrangement to meet the peak load shortfall in the Mumbai area, he said.
Engineer said this is part of the company’s plan to expand its power generation capacity to 4500 mw in two to three years time. It is planning an investment of Rs 18,000 crore in capacity expansion. Engineer also said that the company will bid for all the ultra mega power projects.
So far it has received request for qualification documents for the Sasan and Mundra projects in Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat, respectively. It has also been pre-qualified for a 280-390 mw open cycle gas turbine peaking IPP project in South Africa, he added.
On the nuclear power front, Engineer said, “The company is geared to step in at the right time. This is part of our medium term plans,” he said. Group chairman Ratan Tata had earlier indicated the Tata group’s interest in setting up nuclear power plants.
On the transmission front, Engineer said “We are bidding for 1100- 1200 km of the Maharashtra and Gujarat stretches of the western grid strengthening for which Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd has issued tenders.”
Read more at : Companies & Industry
Gayatri Ramanathan / Mumbai May 31, 2006
Tata Power Company (TPC) is planning to set up two new 1,000 mw imported coal-based projects near Rewas in Maharashtra.
The state government has given approval for the first of the 1,000 mw plants and land acquisition has begun, Adi Engineer, director, Tata Power told Business Standard.
Environmental clearances for the two Rewas plants are also in place. The government is acquiring close to 1000 acres of land for both the plants.
Engineer said that it will take upto three years for commissioning the plant from the time land acquisition is completed. He said that the government expects to complete the acquisition process in the next five to six months.
These power plants are in lieu of the company’s earlier proposal to set up a 1000 mw Vile project which now stands scrapped. Engineer said that the Vile project has been dropped due to logistical problems in the handling of imported coal.
Engineer said that the company was considering its own jetty at the plant site to handle the imported coal. The coal for the plant is being imported from Australia and Indonesia.
Engineer added that the company also has plans of acquiring coal mines in either of the countries and is in talks with some mine owners.
TPC is also planning to set up a 100 mw Diesel Generator sets which have short commissioning period of 10-12 months, as an interim arrangement to meet the peak load shortfall in the Mumbai area, he said.
Engineer said this is part of the company’s plan to expand its power generation capacity to 4500 mw in two to three years time. It is planning an investment of Rs 18,000 crore in capacity expansion. Engineer also said that the company will bid for all the ultra mega power projects.
So far it has received request for qualification documents for the Sasan and Mundra projects in Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat, respectively. It has also been pre-qualified for a 280-390 mw open cycle gas turbine peaking IPP project in South Africa, he added.
On the nuclear power front, Engineer said, “The company is geared to step in at the right time. This is part of our medium term plans,” he said. Group chairman Ratan Tata had earlier indicated the Tata group’s interest in setting up nuclear power plants.
On the transmission front, Engineer said “We are bidding for 1100- 1200 km of the Maharashtra and Gujarat stretches of the western grid strengthening for which Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd has issued tenders.”
Read more at : Companies & Industry
Monica agrees to play Sonia- The Times of India
Monica agrees to play Sonia
Subhash K Jha, Tuesday, May 30, 2006, TIMES NEWS NETWORK
The film, to be directed by Jagmohan Mundhra, will go on floor in September.
After a great deal of deliberation, Italian actress Monica Belluci has finally consented to play Sonia Gandhi in a bio-pic on the latter’s life that Jagmohan Mundhra will direct.
The deal was finalised after the director met Belluci last week. Work is now expected to start by September.
Confirming this from London, producer Sunanda Murli Manohar said, "We were waiting for Monica to hear the script. Her confirmation finally puts a seal on the deal. She's excited about the prospect of playing Sonia Gandhi. The script by Carl Austen has gone through a number of re-drafts and now we're ready to roll."
After Provoked, Mundhra is excited about doing this film. He was so impressed with Monica's performance as a war widow in Mellina, that he was keen on casting her for this role.
"There were rumours that I was thinking of casting Aishwarya Rai or Preity. Preity was a possibility but after I met her at Cannes, she admitted she was wrong for the role. Preity said, 'Just because Sonia Gandhi and I have dimples it doesn't mean I'm qualified to play her.'
Monica was perfect because she physically resembles Sonia." But how will she cope with the Hindi language? "Sonia Gandhi only speaks Hindi in public. My film will be in English and Monica will speak English most of the time," he says.
Ahmed Patel, political secretary to Sonia Gandhi says, "We are not aware of the film. But as far as cooperating with its production is concerned, we will not do it as it is not an official bio-pic."
The rest of the cast is yet to be finalised, especially that of Rajiv Gandhi. "I've heard of a Parsi-British actor called Zubin Warla who has done a lot of theatre. I believe he resembles Rajiv. But I'm open to casting a Bollywood actor too," says Mundhra.
Read more at : Monica agrees to play Sonia- The Times of India
Subhash K Jha, Tuesday, May 30, 2006, TIMES NEWS NETWORK
The film, to be directed by Jagmohan Mundhra, will go on floor in September.
After a great deal of deliberation, Italian actress Monica Belluci has finally consented to play Sonia Gandhi in a bio-pic on the latter’s life that Jagmohan Mundhra will direct.
The deal was finalised after the director met Belluci last week. Work is now expected to start by September.
Confirming this from London, producer Sunanda Murli Manohar said, "We were waiting for Monica to hear the script. Her confirmation finally puts a seal on the deal. She's excited about the prospect of playing Sonia Gandhi. The script by Carl Austen has gone through a number of re-drafts and now we're ready to roll."
After Provoked, Mundhra is excited about doing this film. He was so impressed with Monica's performance as a war widow in Mellina, that he was keen on casting her for this role.
"There were rumours that I was thinking of casting Aishwarya Rai or Preity. Preity was a possibility but after I met her at Cannes, she admitted she was wrong for the role. Preity said, 'Just because Sonia Gandhi and I have dimples it doesn't mean I'm qualified to play her.'
Monica was perfect because she physically resembles Sonia." But how will she cope with the Hindi language? "Sonia Gandhi only speaks Hindi in public. My film will be in English and Monica will speak English most of the time," he says.
Ahmed Patel, political secretary to Sonia Gandhi says, "We are not aware of the film. But as far as cooperating with its production is concerned, we will not do it as it is not an official bio-pic."
The rest of the cast is yet to be finalised, especially that of Rajiv Gandhi. "I've heard of a Parsi-British actor called Zubin Warla who has done a lot of theatre. I believe he resembles Rajiv. But I'm open to casting a Bollywood actor too," says Mundhra.
Read more at : Monica agrees to play Sonia- The Times of India
The Hindu : "Da Vinci Code" opens to Rs 3 cr in the first week
"Da Vinci Code" opens to Rs 3 cr in the first week
Mumbai, May 30 (UNI): " The Da Vinci Code" which opened in India on Friday has grossed Rs 3 crore over four days.
Sony Pictures Releasing India (SPRI) released "The Da Vinci Code" on May 26, across 108 prints and 113 screens in English and Hindi. The Da Vinci Code is the 13th largest opening ever for any Hollywood film in India.
Tamil Nadu and Kerala roll out on June 2 while Andhra Pradesh is slotted for a June 9 release. The film was originally slotted for a May 19 release but was delayed by a week due to issues pertaining to the release of the film in India.
A press release issued here today said "The Da Vinci Code" bowed to a worldwide box office taking of 231.8 million dollers on May 19, 2006 - making it the 2nd biggest worldwide opening for any film. North America opened to 77.1 million dollars while the International markets bowed to 154.7 million dollars. This is also the studio's biggest worldwide opening ever.
Internationally (non North American markets) "The Da Vinci Code" opened on 12,213 screens setting an all-time record for weekend box office in the international marketplace grossing 154.7 million dollars.
Meanwhile, Amod Mehra, trade analyst said the collections of "Fanaa" starring Aamir Khan and Kajol are 90 per cent in the first week.
Read more at : The Hindu News Update Service
Mumbai, May 30 (UNI): " The Da Vinci Code" which opened in India on Friday has grossed Rs 3 crore over four days.
Sony Pictures Releasing India (SPRI) released "The Da Vinci Code" on May 26, across 108 prints and 113 screens in English and Hindi. The Da Vinci Code is the 13th largest opening ever for any Hollywood film in India.
Tamil Nadu and Kerala roll out on June 2 while Andhra Pradesh is slotted for a June 9 release. The film was originally slotted for a May 19 release but was delayed by a week due to issues pertaining to the release of the film in India.
A press release issued here today said "The Da Vinci Code" bowed to a worldwide box office taking of 231.8 million dollers on May 19, 2006 - making it the 2nd biggest worldwide opening for any film. North America opened to 77.1 million dollars while the International markets bowed to 154.7 million dollars. This is also the studio's biggest worldwide opening ever.
Internationally (non North American markets) "The Da Vinci Code" opened on 12,213 screens setting an all-time record for weekend box office in the international marketplace grossing 154.7 million dollars.
Meanwhile, Amod Mehra, trade analyst said the collections of "Fanaa" starring Aamir Khan and Kajol are 90 per cent in the first week.
Read more at : The Hindu News Update Service
IBNLive : 16 school kids drown in Kashmir lake
16 school kids drown in Kashmir lake
CNN-IBN, May 30, 2006
Srinagar: Sixteen school students drowned when a boat capsized in Wullar Lake in Baramulla district of Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday.
The students belonged to Burn Candle High School in Handwara town of Kupwara district and had gone to the lake in Watlab for a picnic, police said.
There were 25 people on boat. A defence spokesman said naval personnel had rescued a teacher and 12 children.
A group of school children requested a naval sailor to take them for a boat ride in the lake, a defence spokesman said. The sailor sought proper permission but the boat capsized due to excess weight.
As the teacher and rescued children were in a state of shock and removed to a hospital at Sopore, the exact number of students on board the boat could not be ascertained, he said.
Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad expressed grief and sorrow over the death of the school children in the incident.
Read more at : IBNLive : 16 school kids drown in Kashmir lake
CNN-IBN, May 30, 2006
Srinagar: Sixteen school students drowned when a boat capsized in Wullar Lake in Baramulla district of Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday.
The students belonged to Burn Candle High School in Handwara town of Kupwara district and had gone to the lake in Watlab for a picnic, police said.
There were 25 people on boat. A defence spokesman said naval personnel had rescued a teacher and 12 children.
A group of school children requested a naval sailor to take them for a boat ride in the lake, a defence spokesman said. The sailor sought proper permission but the boat capsized due to excess weight.
As the teacher and rescued children were in a state of shock and removed to a hospital at Sopore, the exact number of students on board the boat could not be ascertained, he said.
Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad expressed grief and sorrow over the death of the school children in the incident.
Read more at : IBNLive : 16 school kids drown in Kashmir lake
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