Premshankar Bhatt, a retired IAS officer who once served as urban secretary, started a campaign to seek a municipality for the state capital 14 years ago
DILIP PATEL
The Narendra Modi government, following an order issued by the Gujarat High Court six months ago, on Tuesday took the first step in giving Gandhinagar a civic body. It formally announced in the assembly that Gandhinagar would become the eighth city in the state to get a municipal corporation.
However, it was not just the court’s directive that compelled the government to make the landmark announcement. It was an 81-yearold man’s relentless efforts that tipped the scales in the favour of state capital’s well-being.
Premshankar Bhatt, a retired IAS officer who once served Gujarat as the urban secretary, started a campaign to seek a municipal body for Gandhinagar 14 years ago. In fact, the court order is a result of a PIL filed by an NGO founded by Bhatt.
“I decided to take up the fight of helping Gandhinagar get a municipal corporation because I could not tolerate the increasing number of civic problems such as cleanliness affecting its denizens,” Bhatt said.
“Besides, I am a proud resident of Gandhinagar. How can I just stand and witness the city being denied a constitutional right.” According to the Constitution, every large urban area should have a local governing body.
Bhatt’s NGO, Gandhinagar Shahar Jagrut Nagrik Parishad, filed the PIL challenging the government’s reluctance to give the city such a body in 2007. On September 17, 2009, the high court asked the government to begin the process of forming a municipality in six months.
“The PIL was filed in 2007, but my battle began in 1996. I joined a senior citizen’s council and raked up the issue. The attempt didn’t bear results, so a few years later I formed Gandhinagar Shahar Jagrut Nagrik Parishad to my campaign forward,” he said.
The 81-year-old said that between 2001 and 2007 he wrote several letters to various government departments, officials and even the chief minister to seek a municipality for the city. The NGO, he said, also held a satyagraha.
“After the PIL was filed, there were attempts by the state government to delay the case. These attempts, however, failed,” he claimed.
Interestingly, the legal fight was not the only battle he won against the state government. During the course of his campaign, he filed an RTI application to seek copies of government documents relating to the issue.
The documents included notes made by officials during a meeting of the state cabinet. The government reportedly turned down the request for information, saying it was too sensitive to be shared.
Bhatt then approached the RTI commissioner, who ruled in his favour and asked the government to provide copies of requested documents. This was first of its kind ruling. The retired IAS officer’s campaign was carried forward his son and grandson, Jayant and Jeet.
Jayant, a lawyer, argued the case in the high court. Jeet, law student, conducted a research on cities with local governing bodies and presented his findings in the court to support the case. In the meantime, old age started to take a toll on Bhatt, but he didn’t budge.
Despite facing difficult in walking and hearing, he appeared in court hearings whenever needed. “It’s not just a victory for me or people of Gandhinagar. It’s a victory for the Constitution,” he said.
Monday, March 22, 2010
JD-U MLA accused of usurping Narmada land
JD-U MLA accused of usurping Narmada land
GANDHINAGAR: Jhagadia MLA and president of JD(U) in Gujarat, Chhotubhai Vasava, has been charged with illegally encroaching on 800 acres land located at Vasna village in Bharuch district, which was originally given to the oustees of the Narmada project.
The district authorities of Bharuch, in a report to the state government, have held that the land is in possession of Vasava, who has been cultivating it for years.
The agriculture land was allotted to over 50 Narmada project affected families who were rehabilitated by the state government.
However, they were soon driven out from the land and subsequently Vasava has been tilling it and cultivating sugar cane, cotton and other crops for almost two decades now.
“Our party MLA Kiran Makwana had asked in the Assembly about the land concerned but the government had replied that the land was in the possession of the state authorities.
“Now, there is a report of the district authorities which clearly says that the said land is cultivated by MLA Vasava,” said leader of opposition in Gujarat Assembly Shaktisinh Gohil. According to Gohil, after the question was raised in the assembly, the government had asked the revenue officials of Bharuch district to report the status of the said land.
GANDHINAGAR: Jhagadia MLA and president of JD(U) in Gujarat, Chhotubhai Vasava, has been charged with illegally encroaching on 800 acres land located at Vasna village in Bharuch district, which was originally given to the oustees of the Narmada project.
The district authorities of Bharuch, in a report to the state government, have held that the land is in possession of Vasava, who has been cultivating it for years.
The agriculture land was allotted to over 50 Narmada project affected families who were rehabilitated by the state government.
However, they were soon driven out from the land and subsequently Vasava has been tilling it and cultivating sugar cane, cotton and other crops for almost two decades now.
“Our party MLA Kiran Makwana had asked in the Assembly about the land concerned but the government had replied that the land was in the possession of the state authorities.
“Now, there is a report of the district authorities which clearly says that the said land is cultivated by MLA Vasava,” said leader of opposition in Gujarat Assembly Shaktisinh Gohil. According to Gohil, after the question was raised in the assembly, the government had asked the revenue officials of Bharuch district to report the status of the said land.
Gir prepares for lion census with mock exercise
Forest dept estimates put the number of big cats at 400-plus
DILIP PATEL
As part of groundwork for the three-day lion census to be held in the last week of April, the forest department on Sunday began a mock counting exercise. The drill for forest staff, experts and members of NGOs and Wildlife Institute of India is as good as the actual census, officials said.Chief Conservator of Forest R V Asari said the counting method and other nuances are being be put into practice during this drill.
On Sunday, the first day of the three-day drill, water bodies in the Gir national park, sanctuary and newer areas where lions have migrated to were identified. Participating members were taught how to estimate the number of lions by looking at pug marks. Retired chief conservator of forest G A Patel who has handled the census several times said this time the number of lions may near 400; it was 359 as per the 2005 census.
The method in place since 2001 will be used. Till 2001, live baits were used on the last day of counting. This has been done away with, he said.
Beat guards have been allocated zones, where they, accompanied by four members of the census team, will keep round-the-clock watch on prides. “Lions don’t attack beat guards. A guard knows about the number of births and deaths in prides and migrations,” Patel said.
DILIP PATEL
As part of groundwork for the three-day lion census to be held in the last week of April, the forest department on Sunday began a mock counting exercise. The drill for forest staff, experts and members of NGOs and Wildlife Institute of India is as good as the actual census, officials said.Chief Conservator of Forest R V Asari said the counting method and other nuances are being be put into practice during this drill.
On Sunday, the first day of the three-day drill, water bodies in the Gir national park, sanctuary and newer areas where lions have migrated to were identified. Participating members were taught how to estimate the number of lions by looking at pug marks. Retired chief conservator of forest G A Patel who has handled the census several times said this time the number of lions may near 400; it was 359 as per the 2005 census.
The method in place since 2001 will be used. Till 2001, live baits were used on the last day of counting. This has been done away with, he said.
Beat guards have been allocated zones, where they, accompanied by four members of the census team, will keep round-the-clock watch on prides. “Lions don’t attack beat guards. A guard knows about the number of births and deaths in prides and migrations,” Patel said.
Modi’s no-show at SIT
AHMEDABAD MIRROR BUREAU
Chief Minister Narendra Modi did not appear before the Special Investigation Team (SIT) on Sunday which had summoned him for questioning in connection with post-Godhra riots case.
The office of the SIT in Gandhinagar was kept open on Sunday but the chief minister ignored the summons and gave the panel a miss. The SIT has also not received any communication from the state government regarding the summons issued on March 11, sources said. Official sources said that Modi has sought legal alternatives in response to SIT summons. It was for the first time that the chief minister was being called for questioning in connection with the riots. Modi was summoned with regard to a complaint filed by Zakia Jaffery.
WHY SIT HAS CALLED CM
It is alleged that Modi had called a meeting with top officials of the state on February 27, the day four boggies of Sabarmati Express was set ablaze at Godhra. However, Modi has denied any such meeting.The state Assembly record of March 14, 2002, cites the then home minister Gordhan Zadaphia’s statement that chief minister had called a meeting to review the situation in the state.
Another allegation against Modi is that he had apparently asked top cops to remain inactive for three days, after the large scale violence broke out on February 28 across the state. Modi had called Godhra carnage a pre-planned terrorist act. The SIT wants to ask Modi on what grounds did he make such statement.
Chief Minister Narendra Modi did not appear before the Special Investigation Team (SIT) on Sunday which had summoned him for questioning in connection with post-Godhra riots case.
The office of the SIT in Gandhinagar was kept open on Sunday but the chief minister ignored the summons and gave the panel a miss. The SIT has also not received any communication from the state government regarding the summons issued on March 11, sources said. Official sources said that Modi has sought legal alternatives in response to SIT summons. It was for the first time that the chief minister was being called for questioning in connection with the riots. Modi was summoned with regard to a complaint filed by Zakia Jaffery.
WHY SIT HAS CALLED CM
It is alleged that Modi had called a meeting with top officials of the state on February 27, the day four boggies of Sabarmati Express was set ablaze at Godhra. However, Modi has denied any such meeting.The state Assembly record of March 14, 2002, cites the then home minister Gordhan Zadaphia’s statement that chief minister had called a meeting to review the situation in the state.
Another allegation against Modi is that he had apparently asked top cops to remain inactive for three days, after the large scale violence broke out on February 28 across the state. Modi had called Godhra carnage a pre-planned terrorist act. The SIT wants to ask Modi on what grounds did he make such statement.
Look what the city got: Rs 1,900 cr from the govt
What’s in store? Multi-level parkings, new medical colleges, Blackberrys for judges and slum upgradation to name a few
DILIP PATEL
Looking at the size of the funds allocation this financial year, there’s lot more in store for the city. The state government has earmarked Rs 1,900 crore in 2010-11 for improving services in Ahmedabad. The money is to be used for projects spanning all sectors under a plan that aims to change the way the city looks and its citizens live.
The focus this year will be on slum upgradation and urban development. State Finance Minister Vajubhai Vala said, “Approximately Rs 2,000 crore has been allocated this year. 2010-11 will focus on slum upgradation. We want to achieve the target of providing housing facility to one lakh slum dwellers.”
Urban Development Minister Nitin Patel said the BRTS, the biggest project of 2009 has been a great success and thus, more funds will go into extending the services “according to the share in government funds”.
POLICE (HOME DEPARTMENT): Rs 183 CRORE
A new scheme, ‘Gaurav Senani’ (police aide) will be launched to generate posts in the department. A Home Guard Bhavan will come up in the city for Rs 42 lakh. The Sabarmati Central Jail will get 400 new cells at a cost of Rs 9 crore.
ROADS AND BUILDINGS: Rs 66 CRORE
Rs 5.48 crore has been allocated for Ahmedabad-Gandhinagar metro link. Three new bridges will be built on the Sarkhej-Gandhinagar highway. Rs 7 crore will be spent on a mini-theatre, lab and a hostel for women at L D Engineering College campus.
JUDICIARY: Rs 40 CRORE
Of this Rs 12.25 crore will go into constructing new sessions and city civil court. The 30 bungalows for judges in Bodakdev will be renovated. Judges will get new cars (allocation: Rs 3.36 crore) and 42 Blackberry phones (Rs 15 lakh) from this.
HEALTH: Rs 249.55 CRORE
The funds will be directed at adding more facilities and upgrading existing ones and establishing more medical colleges and hospitals. A new building will come up at the Civil Hospital campus at a cost of Rs 57.87 crore.The New Civil Hospital will be renovated under the Phase II. Phase I saw completion of one block. The Ashmita Hall & OPD complex here will have an audio-video system and new electrification. Rs 24 crore have been set aside for construction of medical colleges and hospitals. The BJ Medical College will get Rs 37 crore for development. A government medical college at the cost of Rs 25 crore will come up near the High Court.
SLUM UPGRADATION AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT: Rs 300 CRORE
There are many ambitious plans. For starters, the city plans of multi-level parking complexes with private participation. These parking lots are to come up in Navrangpura and near Municipal Market, Vastrapur Lake and Fun Republic.
DILIP PATEL
Looking at the size of the funds allocation this financial year, there’s lot more in store for the city. The state government has earmarked Rs 1,900 crore in 2010-11 for improving services in Ahmedabad. The money is to be used for projects spanning all sectors under a plan that aims to change the way the city looks and its citizens live.
The focus this year will be on slum upgradation and urban development. State Finance Minister Vajubhai Vala said, “Approximately Rs 2,000 crore has been allocated this year. 2010-11 will focus on slum upgradation. We want to achieve the target of providing housing facility to one lakh slum dwellers.”
Urban Development Minister Nitin Patel said the BRTS, the biggest project of 2009 has been a great success and thus, more funds will go into extending the services “according to the share in government funds”.
POLICE (HOME DEPARTMENT): Rs 183 CRORE
A new scheme, ‘Gaurav Senani’ (police aide) will be launched to generate posts in the department. A Home Guard Bhavan will come up in the city for Rs 42 lakh. The Sabarmati Central Jail will get 400 new cells at a cost of Rs 9 crore.
ROADS AND BUILDINGS: Rs 66 CRORE
Rs 5.48 crore has been allocated for Ahmedabad-Gandhinagar metro link. Three new bridges will be built on the Sarkhej-Gandhinagar highway. Rs 7 crore will be spent on a mini-theatre, lab and a hostel for women at L D Engineering College campus.
JUDICIARY: Rs 40 CRORE
Of this Rs 12.25 crore will go into constructing new sessions and city civil court. The 30 bungalows for judges in Bodakdev will be renovated. Judges will get new cars (allocation: Rs 3.36 crore) and 42 Blackberry phones (Rs 15 lakh) from this.
HEALTH: Rs 249.55 CRORE
The funds will be directed at adding more facilities and upgrading existing ones and establishing more medical colleges and hospitals. A new building will come up at the Civil Hospital campus at a cost of Rs 57.87 crore.The New Civil Hospital will be renovated under the Phase II. Phase I saw completion of one block. The Ashmita Hall & OPD complex here will have an audio-video system and new electrification. Rs 24 crore have been set aside for construction of medical colleges and hospitals. The BJ Medical College will get Rs 37 crore for development. A government medical college at the cost of Rs 25 crore will come up near the High Court.
SLUM UPGRADATION AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT: Rs 300 CRORE
There are many ambitious plans. For starters, the city plans of multi-level parking complexes with private participation. These parking lots are to come up in Navrangpura and near Municipal Market, Vastrapur Lake and Fun Republic.
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Gujarat police more approachable for public
progress of investigation, is a bid to make police more approachable for public
DILIP PATEL
Filing police complaints and FIRs will now be a click of a button away within six months as the Home Department has decided to make registration online in a bid to bring in more transparency in the investigation process.
People can also check the status of FIR and investigation after registering their complaints on www.home.gujarat.gov.in.
“Any citizen will be able to register a complaint sitting at home. He can also track case status and learn about investigation details. This will help us deal with the problems and complaints of the people more transparently. A provision has been made in the state budget to help put the system in place,” Minister of State for Home Amit Shah said.
The online complaint registration will first begin in major cities such as Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, Rajkot, Surat and Vadodara. The service will be gradually extended to the entire state.
The pilot project has already started in the Dabhoda police station in Gandhinagar and the outcome has been satisfactory, said Gandhinagar DSP Piyush Patel.
Home Department officials said that the move was aimed at taking governance closer to the public and make the police more approachable. “This move will go far beyond the RTI as each office will have access to in-depth information. This will also increase the policepublic interface as heads of various departments be directly accessible to the citizens and in-depth information about the cases will be available to them.”
Complaints like reporting of missing persons and stolen vehicles can be filed online. Registration of tenant/servant will also be possible. Moreover, the status of passport and visa extension can be checked.
Patel told Mirror that the move would help citizens and the delivery of justice will be more transparent. “A pilot project has been launched at Dabhoda police station in Gandhinagar. It is a move towards having a paperless police station. The move will also help the police learn a lot about the needs of the people,” he said.
The portal of Home Department will have links to 70 individual web sites, including those of the Home Department, the Anti-Corruption Bureau, Prohibition and Excise, Prisons, Gujarat Police (DGP, Commissionerate, DSPs, Armed Unit, Training, Human Rights, etc), Port and Transport Department, Commissioner Transport and all RTOs and ARTOs.
SERVICES & INFO TO BE AVAILABLE ONLINE
• Lodging complaints
• Search police station
• Tracking the FIR status/ passport status
• Knowing the organisational setup and contacts of government office and officers
• News and events
• Loging in as e-citizen and avail of more information
• Getting tenant/servant registration
• Booking the police band
• Crime statistics
• Know your rights,
• Reporting missing person, mobile and other things
• Finding details of missing/kidnapping
• Finding details of missing/ stolen Vehicle
• Providing feedback
• Acts and Rules, Do’s & Dont’s
• View various fee structure, licensing process
• Details of Right to Information
• Foreigner’s section
• Safety precaution (road, fire, war, quake)
• Community policing suggestions
• Blog (open discussion forum)
Premsankar Bhatt 81-yr-old fought for G’nagar civic body
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Premshankar Bhatt, a retired IAS officer who once served as urban secretary, started a campaign to seek a municipality for the state capital 14 years ago
DILIP PATEL
The Narendra Modi government, following an order issued by the Gujarat High Court six months ago, on Tuesday took the first step in giving Gandhinagar a civic body. It formally announced in the assembly that Gandhinagar would become the eighth city in the state to get a municipal corporation.
However, it was not just the court’s directive that compelled the government to make the landmark announcement. It was an 81-yearold man’s relentless efforts that tipped the scales in the favour of state capital’s well-being.
Premshankar Bhatt, a retired IAS officer who once served Gujarat as the urban secretary, started a campaign to seek a municipal body for Gandhinagar 14 years ago. In fact, the court order is a result of a PIL filed by an NGO founded by Bhatt.
“I decided to take up the fight of helping Gandhinagar get a municipal corporation because I could not tolerate the increasing number of civic problems such as cleanliness affecting its denizens,” Bhatt said.
“Besides, I am a proud resident of Gandhinagar. How can I just stand and witness the city being denied a constitutional right.” According to the Constitution, every large urban area should have a local governing body.
Bhatt’s NGO, Gandhinagar Shahar Jagrut Nagrik Parishad, filed the PIL challenging the government’s reluctance to give the city such a body in 2007. On September 17, 2009, the high court asked the government to begin the process of forming a municipality in six months.
“The PIL was filed in 2007, but my battle began in 1996. I joined a senior citizen’s council and raked up the issue. The attempt didn’t bear results, so a few years later I formed Gandhinagar Shahar Jagrut Nagrik Parishad to my campaign forward,” he said.
The 81-year-old said that between 2001 and 2007 he wrote several letters to various government departments, officials and even the chief minister to seek a municipality for the city. The NGO, he said, also held a satyagraha.
“After the PIL was filed, there were attempts by the state government to delay the case. These attempts, however, failed,” he claimed.
Interestingly, the legal fight was not the only battle he won against the state government. During the course of his campaign, he filed an RTI application to seek copies of government documents relating to the issue.
The documents included notes made by officials during a meeting of the state cabinet. The government reportedly turned down the request for information, saying it was too sensitive to be shared.
Bhatt then approached the RTI commissioner, who ruled in his favour and asked the government to provide copies of requested documents. This was first of its kind ruling. The retired IAS officer’s campaign was carried forward his son and grandson, Jayant and Jeet.
Jayant, a lawyer, argued the case in the high court. Jeet, law student, conducted a research on cities with local governing bodies and presented his findings in the court to support the case. In the meantime, old age started to take a toll on Bhatt, but he didn’t budge.
Despite facing difficult in walking and hearing, he appeared in court hearings whenever needed. “It’s not just a victory for me or people of Gandhinagar. It’s a victory for the Constitution,” he said.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Arjuna awardee Parul Parmar
MASTERJI!
Postmaster J K Bhavsar denies Arjuna awardee Parul Parmar an hour’s leave to attend a Women’s Day felicitation So much for celebrating Women’s Day
DILIP PATEL
In 2009, this badminton player received the Arjuna Award, the highest national honour for achievement in sports. Parul Parmar, 36, was the first player from the state to receive the award in the paralympics category in the last 11 years.
On International Women’s Day on Monday, the polio-affected shuttler should have been one of the 20 proud women achievers to have been felicitated by Udgam, a Gandhinagar-based NGO.
But Parmar was busy handing out postal stamps to customers at Post and Telegraph Department office in Sector 11. She was denied permission to take an hour’s time off to attend that function.
This despite the NGO chairman Mayur Joshi requesting postmaster J K Bhavsar to grant her an hour’s time off for the felicitation ceremony.
“I was told that she looks after the stamps counter and cannot be given leave due to heavy workload. We were very disappointed. She is the only person from Gandhinagar to have been honoured with an Arjuna Award. She is a role model for so many women in the state. Now, we shall do the honours at her residence,” Joshi said. Parmar, whose right leg is polio-affected, was crowned singles and doubles champion at the world championships in Thailand in 2007 and the Asian championships in Bangalore in 2008.
She has 11 gold medals to her credit. She had even won the badminton championship held at first Asiad Paralympics in Kuala Lumpur in 2004.
In Gujarat, till today, 13 people have received the Arjuna Award. Former India wicket-keeper Nayan Mongia, was the last recipient of the award, way back in 1998. Since the Arjuna Awards were instituted in 1961, only 12 sportspersons from Gujarat have made it to the illustrious list.
“My sister is the 13th sportsperson from the state and the only from the P&T Department in the country to have received the award. But here people do not value her,” says her brother Mahesh Parmar.
He says she always finds it difficult to get leave for badminton tournaments. “Twice in the past she was not granted permission to attend tournaments. Most of the times she is given permission at the eleventh hour. Officials say there is too much of work and they cannot let her go. As per rule, Central Government employees, who are selected to participate in sporting events of national or international importance are entitled to get period of actual days on which they participate in the event as also the time spent in travelling treated as duty,” he says adding, “She had to forego several days of casual leave in order to participate at the world championship in Thailand in 2007.”
When contacted postmaster Bhavsar said: “I don’t remember any NGO having told me about any such ceremony. Senior superintendent has to approve her leave. You better talk to him.”
Postmaster J K Bhavsar denies Arjuna awardee Parul Parmar an hour’s leave to attend a Women’s Day felicitation So much for celebrating Women’s Day
DILIP PATEL
In 2009, this badminton player received the Arjuna Award, the highest national honour for achievement in sports. Parul Parmar, 36, was the first player from the state to receive the award in the paralympics category in the last 11 years.
On International Women’s Day on Monday, the polio-affected shuttler should have been one of the 20 proud women achievers to have been felicitated by Udgam, a Gandhinagar-based NGO.
But Parmar was busy handing out postal stamps to customers at Post and Telegraph Department office in Sector 11. She was denied permission to take an hour’s time off to attend that function.
This despite the NGO chairman Mayur Joshi requesting postmaster J K Bhavsar to grant her an hour’s time off for the felicitation ceremony.
“I was told that she looks after the stamps counter and cannot be given leave due to heavy workload. We were very disappointed. She is the only person from Gandhinagar to have been honoured with an Arjuna Award. She is a role model for so many women in the state. Now, we shall do the honours at her residence,” Joshi said. Parmar, whose right leg is polio-affected, was crowned singles and doubles champion at the world championships in Thailand in 2007 and the Asian championships in Bangalore in 2008.
She has 11 gold medals to her credit. She had even won the badminton championship held at first Asiad Paralympics in Kuala Lumpur in 2004.
In Gujarat, till today, 13 people have received the Arjuna Award. Former India wicket-keeper Nayan Mongia, was the last recipient of the award, way back in 1998. Since the Arjuna Awards were instituted in 1961, only 12 sportspersons from Gujarat have made it to the illustrious list.
“My sister is the 13th sportsperson from the state and the only from the P&T Department in the country to have received the award. But here people do not value her,” says her brother Mahesh Parmar.
He says she always finds it difficult to get leave for badminton tournaments. “Twice in the past she was not granted permission to attend tournaments. Most of the times she is given permission at the eleventh hour. Officials say there is too much of work and they cannot let her go. As per rule, Central Government employees, who are selected to participate in sporting events of national or international importance are entitled to get period of actual days on which they participate in the event as also the time spent in travelling treated as duty,” he says adding, “She had to forego several days of casual leave in order to participate at the world championship in Thailand in 2007.”
When contacted postmaster Bhavsar said: “I don’t remember any NGO having told me about any such ceremony. Senior superintendent has to approve her leave. You better talk to him.”
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