NMMC`s state-of-the-art school to set example

Date of Publishing in Dainik Jagran Cityplus: 2011-06-24 00:00:00.0

Revenue model needs to be worked out
At a time when many people are concerned about the rising cost of education in the city, the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) has passed a resolution to develop a state-of-the-art school of international standards at a cost of Rs 25 crore at Sector 11, Koper Khairane. This school will be built for the poor children.
Gesu Khan, senior executive engineer, education department informed, "The school has been designed by a consultant 'The Firm'. As per the new design, the proposed school building will have ground plus five floors. We have completed the first phase work that included development of ground plus two floors. And the third floor is under development."
The school will have amenities like architectural roofing, two lifts, CCTV cameras, air condition, fire safety measures, landscaping, garden, boundary wall, etc.
An NMMC official on condition of anonymity said, "Yet, no decision has been made on how the expenditure will be borne. We are also expecting to generate revenue from the usage of auditorium."
"It is a good step as it would raise the level of education and give our children world class education. We are happy that the NMMC has taken this move," said Santosh Sawant, a resident of the area.
"We hope that this facility comes into being soon so that our children get benefited," said Radha Sharma, another resident.

Twisting Present Scenario
"We study in an NMMC school which is in a bad condition as there is no proper drinking water in our school and there is a lack of sanitation as well in the toilets which are very small. So, we are very happy with this development and want the authorities to make our school also better," said Salim Khan, who studies at NMMC-run Urdu school in Khairane.
"The toilet is very small and unhygienic in our school. We hardly use this toilet during recess as it is always full. We also do not drink water as there is only one glass available and the water is
not properly filtered. My ammi has also asked me to drink water from our house which is boiled," said Salma Sayeed, another student of the same school.
Drinking unfiltered water during monsoons can lead to many diseases. An NMMC official on condition of anonymity said, "We clean water tanks at regular intervals. Due to lack of space, this sort of arrangement has been done for the toilets."
Sector 7 and Sector 19 Koper Khairane-based NMMC-run schools do not have a single fire extinguisher in the school. These hazardous conditions in the NMMC-run schools have raised many eyebrows and many residents feel the corporation should also look into these matters and maintain the schools properly.

—Jaspal Singh Naol

NMMC installs pump at underpass to ease woes

Date of Publishing in Jagran Cityplus: 2011-06-17 00:00:00.0

The residents of Sector 6, 7 and 8 every year had to face a lot of problems due to water logging at an underpass in the area. The residents had to run from pillar to post to get the problem solved.
Considering the problem this year, the NMMC has installed a pump to ensure that water logging does not take place. Prawin Sharma, a resident of Sector 6 informed, "There are more than 2000 bungalows in Sectors 6, 7 and 8. As the area is near Sion-Panvel highway, it is linked with an underpass which is used by most of the residents. It is also used by many schoolchildren."
Krishna Pandit, a social worker said, "To the dismay of residents, this underpass used to remain filled with water all through the monsoons. During monsoons, its condition used to turn worse and pedestrians as well as two-wheeler drivers virtually used to get submerged in water."
The NMMC has installed a suction pump to remove rainwater on a daily basis during monsoons. Anand Malinge, another social worker said, "For years, we have been following up the matter with NMMC but to no avail. Flood-like situation in the underpass used to choke vehicles and sometimes one was not even able to reach one's destination if the vehicle breaks down. Pedestrians were forced to take the busy highway and risk their lives. It is a good step and the authorities should do this kind of work at other places as well."
Vashi Ward Officer Ashok Madhavi said "Every year, we make temporary arrangements during monsoons to ensure that water logging does not take place. This year, we have installed a pump to remove water from the underpass and till date, no complaint of water logging has been registered. And to ensure that there is no problem, I and my team is personally visiting the spots. If water logging takes place, one can call us at 27655370 / 27659749."

Irregular power supply troubles many residents

Date of Publishing in Dainik Jagran Cityplus: 2011-06-10 00:00:00.0

Residents of Sector 16-A, Vashi, who stay along Late Vasantdada Patil Marg, have been facing a lot of problems due to frequent failure of electricity for more than a year.
The residents of this road get electricity supply from two sub-stations of Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL), one sub-station is situated near Visnudas Bhave Auditorium and other one is near St Lawrence High School by ring system, sharing the load through two feeder cables.
For a year, the electricity is being supplied through one feeder cable from St Lawrence High School sub-station only as since May 2010, feeder cable of sub-station near Vishnudas Bhave Auditorium has not been working properly due to technical faults and is beyond repairs. This feeder cable has been isolated at sub-station end and disconnected at Feeder Pillar Box end near post office. R Raut, a resident of Kunjali Society informed, "When we asked area engineer about this, he told us that he is waiting for new cable."
Vijay Walunj, another resident said, "During last year, the total load of this particular road was on only one feeder cable from sub-station near St Lawrence High School. This feeder cable has also developed number of faults this year and the societies namely Daulat, New Daulat, Kunjali, Nidhi, Greenfiled, Ichapurti and others on this road have been getting interrupted electricity supply. This particular feeder cable has dozens of underground joints. In three to four months, this feeder cable developed three to four faults. Number of times, residents have been forced to suffer due to single phase problem."
Walunj added, "The problem aggravated with rains last week as fumes started coming from the ground. We again were forced to run after MSEDCL officials to solve the problem. We had to stay without power for the whole night. But this time, all the residents decided not to allow the MSEDC to just make another joint and instead made them replace the whole 80-meter-long old cable which was in poor condition with a new one."
Sanjay Sawant, another resident said, "This cannot be considered as the final solution and the MSEDC must reinstate the old ring system to ensure that the residents are not forced to stay without electricity supply during monsoons. The MSEDC must provide electricity through feeder cable from sub-station near Vishnudas Bhave Auditorium by replacing the faulty 150-meter cable with a new one."
Sawant added, "It seems the MSEDCL has not done proper planning as the feeder cables were laid in 1985-86 and have not been replaced since then. The cables should be replaced for the benefit of the residents."
D R Saboo, superintending engineer, MSEDCL informed, "Monsoon's first showers led to power disruption due to minor problems at few locations, we are repairing the damages wherever found, however, there won't be any problem in the monsoons later. The said region is being taken care by executive engineer Mishra and he can only give an answer about this problem here."
However, Mishra was not available for comments.

Last year, the load of this road was on only one feeder cable from sub-station near St Lawrence High School.
— vijay walunj,A resident


—Jaspal Singh Naol

When lyricist Nishu met his destiny

Date of Publishing in Dainik Jagran Cityplus: 2011-06-10 00:00:00.0

33-year-old Nishu Sharma has proved that dreams can actually come true. A lyricist and resident of Tapowan Society, Sector 21, Kharghar, he always dreamt to become a well-known theatre artist and fortunately, he got the opportunity to give lyrics for 'Deem Deem' song in Bollywood movie 'Shor In The City' this year.
Before venturing into theatre, he was into grocery business where his meeting with actor Farukh Sheikh changed his life completely. He evoked him to join theatre. Sharma says, "Farukh Sheikh was my client and used to regularly visit my house in Gujarat. One day, I expressed him my desire to act and fortunately, he directed me to join IPTA (Indian People's Theatre Association). In 2002, I got an opportunity to work with IPTA Mumbai on back stage but was not able to concentrate as I had to go to village quarterly."

M S Sathyu discovered hidden talent
Sharma has done BA in his favourite subject Economics from A B College, Punjab University. Sharma adds, "In November 2007, M S Sathyu, a well-known director discovered my hidden talent and asked me to write songs for a musical satire Girja Ke Sapne in Hindi. I wrote 22 songs. This was followed by 33 songs for NSD (National School of Drama) Repertory, directed by B Jayshree, mother of famous Kannada play director B Suresha."

Did backstage work, acting
Sharma didn't limit himself to giving lyrics instead he continued doing all his backstage work and acting for hundreds of shows. Apart from this, he also wrote scripts for Mumbai-based famous college events like 'Malhar' and received appreciations.

‘Financial Literacy Programme’
As a social initiative and considering his love for economics, he involved himself in a social awareness programme 'Financial Literacy Programme' of United Nations Development Programme in association with National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development executed by FINO Fintech Foundation in rural areas.

Contribute to bring a change
A sober artist-cum-lyricist Nishu says, "I want to be just one of the figures of theatre and contribute to bring a change in the society in the form of reforms." Gaurav Sharma, younger brother of Nishu and a Sanskrit professor says, "His venturing into theatre was really shocking but it is good as well. He has always been a part of some or the other social initiatives."

Backstage man
When asked with whom he would love to work in future, he replied, "The question is not with whom I want to work, instead I want to perform in such a manner that the question must be that which actors want to work with me, however, I would love to work as a backstage man as well."
—Jaspal Singh Naol

NMMC to beautify Juhu Gaon pond

Date of Publishing in Dainik Jagran Cityplus: 2011-06-17 00:00:00.0

A pond in Sector 14 of Vashi, which is also known as Juhu Gaon, has been in a deplorable state for a long time troubling residents. Considering the demands of the residents for the makeover of the pond, the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) has now decided to give it a facelift.
One of the residents Ravi Patil expressed, "The 500-square metre pond is utilised every year for various religious rituals, the biggest one being the Lord Ganesha emersion. And as there is residential area around the pond, garbage can be found in it in large quantities polluting the water of the pond."
Another resident Sunita Khandagle said, "The boundary grill and the walkway are also in a dilapidated condition. Considering all this, we have been demanding redevelopment of the pond and its surroundings."
Local corporator Prabhakar Bhoir expressed, "Considering the condition of the pond, I had been continuously demanding redevelopment of it at standing committee meets. Fortunately, now that the chairman has interfered and the pond is being given a facelift." The contract has been allocated to V B Bhoir construction company and the whole work will cost around Rs 23.33 lakh. And the work will be completed within five months.
NMMC city engineer Mohan Dagaonkar informed, "We will remove the sludge from the pond, repair the gate and grill, install new arch gate and a huge grill will be installed on the boundary wall to stop residents from throwing garbage in this pond."

Risky transport for school children puts parents in a spot

File photo of Satish jadhav

Date of Publishing in Dainik Jagran Cityplus: 2011-06-17 00:00:00.0

Parents have been facing problems in finding safe transport for their wards nowadays. Auto-rickshaws, vans and school buses are the modes of transport available in the city but most of these vehicles are 10 to 15-year-old and unsafe for commuting.
Parents dread to send their children to school in these vehicles but are forced to do so due to unavailability of a safer option. One of the parents Inderjeet Singh said, "For a few years, the city has been witnessing many school bus accidents and many innocent children have lost their lives due to the negligence of the drivers. The transporters do not follow RTO norms as well. And most of the vehicles used for boarding schoolchildren are more than 10 to 15-year-old."
Riyaz Shaikh, another parent said, "Many parents like me prefer sending their children by autos and vans, but they aren't safe, as the autos and vans carry more than the specified number of the children at a time, but there is no other option."
Deputy RTO Sanjay Raut informed, "The state government has framed a new set of rules under the Motor Vehicles Act, 2011 allowing private vans with a seating capacity of maximum 12 children to be used as school buses. We have sent the circular to all the schools operational in Navi Mumbai limits to adhere the norms. We are trying our level best to implement these norms in the buses to drive safely as the children are on board. Some of the schools have hired private vans and mini buses looking after the safety of the children. The school buses must follow the norms mentioned in the policy to safeguard the life of the children otherwise legal action will be taken against them."
He added, "The autowallahs are strictly warned to take only 5 children at a time to drop them to school. If the autowallahs are seen not following the norms they will be fined and restricted. Parents should prefer sending their child through school buses, mini buses, vans which are given the permission and are seen following the norms, they must not rely on autos as they are risky and some of them ply without permissions."
S V Dhivre, Assistant Commissioner of Police (Traffic) informed, "To ensure the safety of the children, we in-coordination with RTO and schools have been organising various awareness camps for the school teachers, students, bus drivers, attendants and contractors".
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For school buses

• Buses should have the words 'School Bus' written on the front and rear.
• If they are contracted by a school, the words 'On School Duty' should be displayed.
• They should have a first-aid kit.
• A fire extinguisher should also be placed in every bus.
• Windows should have protective grills, not just a couple of bars.
• There should be space beneath seats to accommodate school bags.
• The name of the school and its telephone number should be mentioned on the bus.
• At no time, should the number of students exceed the seating capacity.
• The bus driver should have a minimum five years of driving experience.
• The driver should have no criminal record.

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—Jaspal Singh Naol