Asia Bizz » News & Updates

Hiked petrol prices likely to be partially rolled back

Anita — Fri, 25 May 2012 06:10:31 +0000

Looking at the wide spread agitation and criticism over the massive hike of petrol of more than Rs. 6. 28 per litre, excluding local taxes, there are chances of a partial rollback. The opposition, the allied parties and even the Congress leaders said that they were not even aware of the of the petrol hike.

So even the parties have now joined in to the protest that the hike should be withdrawn. The push for the withdrawal of the hike has come from the Congress party which leads the UPA government.

Manish Tewari, a spokesperson of the party said on May 24, 2012 that he hopes that the government could find a way to lessen the burden on the common man. But Tewari added, “This is not the decision of the government, this is not a political decision. This falls in the jurisdiction of oil companies.”

Moreover some state governments have already stated to take measures in the issue. Chief Minister Shiela Dixit last night indicated that they might consider cutting taxes on Petrol so that the state people can get some relief from the hike of the fuel prices. Dixit was asked if she would consider to reduce VAT on petrol, to which she said, “We will see what we can do.” Meanwhile the whole country is in rage over the fuel hike.

More Related News

Akash missile successfully test fired in India

Anita — Thu, 24 May 2012 13:42:05 +0000

The Defence Research Development (DRDO) on May 24, 2012 test fired the Akash Missile successfully from the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur in the state of Orissa, India. The test firing was actually a part of India’s routine air defence exercise, but this adds new feather in the cap of the Indian Defence shield.

The missile uses the state of art integral ram jet rocket propulsion system and the onboard digital autopilot gives stability as well as control. The missile also has many safety and abort features for safety handling and operations.

The Akash missile gets it guidance with the use of ‘Rajendra’ radar, which has been developed by the Electronics and Radar Development Establishment (LRDE), one of the DRDO laboratories in Bangalore in the state of Karnataka. Apart from guiding the missile, the Rajendra also does the surveillance, tracks the target and also acquires it.

The development of the Akash Missile began in the 1990s under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP). Looking at the success of the missile, the Defence experts have also compared the missile to the American MIM 104 Patriot surface to Air missile system. It seems like the name Akash goes well in the country.

More Related News

Air India likely to shut down in current situation

Anita — Thu, 24 May 2012 09:31:49 +0000

The centre for Asia Pacific Aviation (CAPA) on May 23, 2012 said that the state run carrier Air India is marching towards a terminal decline. The CAPA also said that there are chances that the airline could shut down due to the massive lack of human resources issues along with a management which is not ready to take the responsibility.

The Capa also added that if the management does not change its mind then it is all set to enter a defining period. Reports have said that the government owned carrier is kept alive due to the generosity of the Indian tax payers.

The merger between Air India and Indian Airlines is defined by the fact that the most critical issues like the integration of human resources, which has been handled in the most careless way and that no one in the management is willing to take the responsibility. The failed merger and the integration issues has been a constant source of tension within the employees.

Even Air India veteran Jitendra Bhargava agrees with the reports and says, “Air India in its current avatar cannot survive. There are harsh realities, which need to be addressed immediately. HR issues have been mishandled, crisis is sitting on the horizon and the people who are handling it are inept.” The pilots have now entered the 16th day of their agitation.

More Related News

Petrol prices hiked by Rs. 6.28, opposition warns protest

Anita — Thu, 24 May 2012 06:39:08 +0000

In another setback to the common man, the prices of petrol went up by Rs. 6.28 plus the local taxes at midnight on Wednesday. This is the largest hike of the fuel in ten years and the opposition is now threatening to launch a big agitation against the raised prices.

The allies of the government and the friends are bringing pressure to roll back the hiked prices and have feared that the LPG and the diesel prices will be the next to go up. Vehicle owners lined up their vehicles at the petrol stations on May 23, to get cheaper petrol and even expressed their anger.

A resident of Chandigarh said, “They don’t think, how will people afford a 7-and-a-half rupee hike? The prices are already sky high. This is very bad. The government should think about poor people as well”. According to the government the petrol is a deregulated commodity and that the decision has been taken by the finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee last evening.

However, the allies of the government are not supporting the decision. Mamata Banerjee has strongly protested and added that the decision was not discussed amongst the allies and even in the parliament which was in session till Tuesday.

More Related News

South Delhi Corporators demand latest laptops

Anita — Wed, 23 May 2012 11:45:35 +0000

The South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) on May 22, passed a proposal to purchase the latest model laptops for its 104 councillors. Though they might not know how to operate a computer, but this has not refrained the councillors from demanding the latest model of laptops.

Even in the year 2007, the councillors were given laptops but most of them did not use the gadget. The old ones will be discarded. The leader of the SDMC house, Subhash Arya said that the councillors need the laptops for their day to day functioning.

Arya added that even new mobile phones and SIM cards are essential . The leader said, “The 2007 laptops are old and cannot be used anymore. New laptops will be purchased and distributed”. This time the councillors also want a printer along with the laptop so that they can provide better services to the citizens.

In the year 2007, the unified MCD spent Rs. 1.63 crores to purchase laptops for its 272 councillors. But during the past five years most of them did not even use it citing computer illiteracy. So they demanded that the operators operate the machines. For this, computer workshops were also organized for its councillors but only a few turned up.

More Related News

BSNL EVDO to Provide wireless High Speed Internet

Elevators at Tokyo Sky Tree shut down due to strong wind on opening day

Anita — Wed, 23 May 2012 10:08:38 +0000

On May 22, 2012 the opening day of the Tokyo Sky Tree, the world’s tallest communications tower, the operators were forced to shut down its elevators due to strong winds. This left some of the visitors stranded at the 450 meter high observation deck.

As expected thousands of visitors flocked at the 634 meter tower in Tokyo, as it became the newest attraction opened for the public for the first time. The visitors expected to catch some spectacular views from the top of the tower.

At around 6 pm the operators shut down two of the elevators linking an observation deck at 350 meters with another at 450 meters for around 30 minutes due to safety concerns. Maki Yamazaki, the spokesperson at the Sky Tree, was not able to say how any people were actually affected by the closure.

The spokesperson added that were later able to return to the lower level once the elevator service resumed. Even the weather hampered the proceedings as the visitors said that they were not able to enjoy the tower’s far stretched views. The tourism sector of Japan is expecting that the tower will boost the number of visitors from abroad especially after the massive earthquake last year.

More Related News

Tokyo Sky Tree, world’s tallest communications tower opened

BSNL to compensate landline owners by waiving rental

Anita — Wed, 23 May 2012 06:43:17 +0000

State owned telecom company Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) might compensate its customers whose telephone lines have been discontinued for more than 10 days by waiving off the rental in the city of Nashik. The telephones lines of the residents of Rane Nagar, Indira Nagar and Rajeev Nagar are dead from May 10.

The earth movers which are operated by the National Highway Authority of India used for widening the road, had snapped the telephone lines. As the telephone lines remained dead for such a long time, the residents along with the corporator Archana Jadhav met the officials of BSNL and demanded for a waiver of the rental for the period it was disconnected.

The officials have assured the complainants that they will consider the matter. Jadhav said, “It has been a long time that the telephone connections of the residents have been disconnected. We raised the issues with the officials and demanded that the customers be given rebate in their rentals”.

The corporator also said that it was mandatory for BSNL to provide discount on the rental if the telephone connections were discontinued for more than four days. A R Akhade, the junior telecom officer of BSNL said that they have constantly requesting the National Highway Authority of India to be careful while carrying out the work.

More Related News

Sonography centres to stop ultrasound tests to protest against government

Anita — Tue, 22 May 2012 12:19:49 +0000

The owners of the private sonography centres in Jaipur have now decided to stop conducting the ultrasound tests on pregnant women from May 22, 2012. The decision has been taken after the private sonography centres have alleged unfair treatment by the Rajasthan government.

Dr. Vijay Kapoor, the Secretary of private hospitals and nursing home secretary said, “We will not perform the test from today and the decision is for indefinite period. Department of Medical and Health is indiscriminately taking action against sonography centres in the name of violation of PCPNDT (Pre conception and Pre Natal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex selection), 1994) Act”. Kapoor added that all the sonography centres are certainly not involved in the illegal practices of sex determination but the government is taking strict action against the centres in an unbiased manner.

The secretary alleged that the health department in the past few days seized some of the machines and cancelled licenses without proper checking. However, Kapoor also expressed support in the need to stop the female foeticide and added that people who are found guilty must be suspended.

But it was argued that the government should be impartial in its approach. About 350 private sonography centres in the city have decided not to perform ultrasound tests on pregnant women from Tuesday.

Other News you might like

Mayor orders alcohol ban on public employees for a month

Anita — Tue, 22 May 2012 09:22:42 +0000

All the public servants have been banned by the Fukuoka Mayor Soichiro Takashima from consuming alcohol outside their homes for a month. The move was announced in an emergency meeting held on May 21, 2012.

The unusual move was taken after a series of scandals involving the city employees. On May 18, a 52 year old port and harbour bureau official was arrested for assaulting a taxi Driver.

More reports said that a 48 year old official from the child care division was arrested for assaulting a former colleague. The incidents reported were both related to alcohol.

Takashima, at the emergency meeting held on Monday told the department managers that the shock of the announcement would make the employees realise the seriousness of the recent incidences. The mayor also said that this would also remind the employees of their responsibility towards the communities. But on the other hand the legal experts have a different opinion. They say that the Mayor’s request is exceptional partly because there is now law which enforces a ban on alcohol drinking on the city employees. The public servants cannot be legally disciplined or fired for ignoring the ban. But still the city is keen on the strict enforcing of the no alcohol, policy.

More Related News

Skymark Airlines in Japan to buy six Airbus A380 superjumbos

Hampi Express hits stationary train in Andhra Pradesh, kills 15

Anita — Tue, 22 May 2012 06:20:20 +0000

About 15 people have died in a train mishap in the Anantpur district of Andhra Pradesh. Train number 16591, Hubli-Bangalore Hampi Express at 3:00 am May 22, collided with a stationary goods train at the Penukonda Railway Station, which is about 400 kms from Hyderabad.

It has been feared that the death toll might rise, while more than 70 people have been injured. Some of the passengers are said to be in a very critical condition. Many of the passengers were still trapped in the bogies and the rescue workers used gas cutters to get them out.

The train was supposed to reach Bangalore at 6 am. One of the railway officials said that a signalling error might have led to the mishap. The impact was so severe that about four bogies of the train derailed from the track and one of them even caught fire.

The deceased include four children and the officials said that some of the bodies were charred beyond recognition. The fire fighters, local police and railway personnel rushed to the spot for rescue operations. The rescue operation is being supervised by the Anantpur District collector Durga Das and other senior officials. The railways minister has announced Rs. 5 lakh compensation for the family of the deceased, Rs. 1 lakh for the severely injured passengers and Rs. 50,000 for the others injured.