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Sign Up For Prime Video and Watch Your Favourite Movies, TV Series & Shows. Start Your 30 Day Free Trial. €5,99/Month After Trial Period. Cancel Anytime nora roberts Share your videos with friends, family, and the worl Nora Roberts is a romance novelist that wrote many successful books, Roberts novels have spent 861 weeks on the New York Times Bestseller List. Not only has Roberts books been bestsellers, you have probably seen them as made for television movies on the Lifetime network, a few or Roberts movies are, Montana Sky, Northetn Lights, and High Noon
NORA ROBERTS COLLECTION. Menu. Movies. Release Calendar DVD & Blu-ray Releases Top Rated Movies Most Popular Movies Browse Movies by Genre Top Box Office Showtimes & Tickets Showtimes & Tickets In Theaters Coming Soon Coming Soon Movie News India Movie Spotlight. TV Shows The film is based on the Nora Roberts novel of the same name and is part of the Nora Roberts 2009 movie collection, which also includes; Midnight Bayou, High Noon, and Tribute. The film debuted. The Best Shows and Movies on Amazon Prime in April. The Best Shows and Movies on Hulu in April. Nora Roberts' High Noon. Nora Roberts' Carnal Innocence. Screenwriter 2 Credits Find films and movies featuring Nora Roberts on AllMovi . Nora Roberts was born on October 10, 1950 in Washington, District of Columbia, USA as Eleanor Robertson. She is known for her work on Brazen Virtue, Sanctuary (2001) and Blue Smoke (2007). She has been married to Bruce Wilder since July 6, 1985. She was previously married to Ronald Aufdem-Brinke
Several of Nora Roberts' books have been adapted into movies. The Lifetime network even named February, 2007, as Nora Roberts Month Nora Roberts' Carolina Moon movie free online Nora Roberts' Carolina Moon free online. You may also like. play_arrow. Bob Roberts. HD 1992 102m. play_arrow. Sweet Home Carolina. HD 2017 N/A. play_arrow. Christmas in Carolina. HD 2020 76m. play_arrow. Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star. HD 2003 98m. play_arrow. Transformers: Dark of the Moon. HD.
Movies Like Nora Roberts' Montana Sky. The Wish List. Sarah Fisher, an overly organized, by-the-numbers kind of woman, makes... Love on a Limb . Genres: Romance. PART I. INNOCENCE LOST. Daughters are the thing. He found the more the first time he turned over a bit of that hard-earned pay to sit in a movie theater with Mary of the flaxen hair. There he saw magic on the silver screen, worlds far beyond everything he knew, worlds holding everything a man could. Nora Roberts' High Noon. Watch the full movie online. 4 / 5 stars 51%. 2009 90 min TVPG Drama, Suspense TV Movie. Read Less. 4 / 5 stars 51%. 2009 90 min TVPG Drama, Suspense TV Movie. Read Less. Watch Nora Roberts' High Noon starring Emilie de Ravin in this Drama on DIRECTV. It's available to watch. A psychopathic killer (Ivan Sergei. Read Stars of Fortune free novels read online from your Pc, Mobile. Stars of Fortune (The Guardians Trilogy #1) is a Romance Books by Nora Roberts Nora Roberts Books. The Collector. The Obsession. Island of Glass (The Guardians Trilogy #3) Bay of Sighs (The Guardians Trilogy #2) Stars of Fortune (The Guardians Trilogy #1) Valley of Silence (Circle Trilogy #3) Dance of the Gods (Circle Trilogy #2) Morrigan's Cross (Circle Trilogy #1
Watch Nora Roberts' Tribute 2009 Full Movie Online 123Movies Go123Movies. A former child star buys her grandmother's house to rescue it from ruin but her hope for serenity is soon eclipsed by haunting dreams of her famous grandmother, who died of a supposed overdose in the house more than 30 years ago Nora Roberts (born Eleanor Marie Robertson on October 10, 1950) is an American author of more than 225 romance novels. She writes as J. D. Robb for the in Death series and has also written under the pseudonyms Jill March and for publications in the U.K. as Sarah Hardesty.. Nora Roberts was the first author to be inducted into the Romance Writers of America Hall of Fame
Directed by Stephen Tolkin. With Claire Forlani, Oliver Hudson, Chad Willett, Jonathan Scarfe. A woman who has psychic visions returns to her hometown to exorcise her demons, and finds both danger and love Author Nora Roberts is well-known throughout the literary community for creating a limitless world of steamy romance, and one of her most popular novels has been greenlit to be turned into a. Watch Nora Roberts' Angels Fall (2007) Full Online HD Movie Streaming Free A woman starts a new life in a small Wyoming mountain town after. Watch Nora Roberts' Angels Fall (2007) Movie Free Online, download Nora Roberts' Angels Fall (2007) full movie youtube with English subtitles for download, Nora Roberts' Angels Fall 1080p HD Watch Online Download HD Nora Roberts' Angels Fall - A woman starts a new life in a small Wyoming mountain town after suffering a traumatic event on the other side of the country - but one day, she.
Carolina Moon is an American romance/mystery/drama film based on a novel by Nora Roberts. Tori Bodeen was an outcast in her hometown as a child. As a child Tori's best friend Hope was murdered and Tori may hold the key to who the murderer is. Tori has a gift to see into the past and present and what she knows may rock this small town Directed by David Carson. With Alicia Witt, Scott Bakula, Matthew Settle, Talia Shire. Detective Reena Hale (Witt) is revisited by the stalker who traumatized her years ago by offing any man she fell in love with Nora Roberts' Tribute Full movie Eng Sub 720p 1080p 4K HD - movie watch free online 123. Nora Roberts' Tribute movie full movie 123. Nora Roberts' Tribute watch: Nora Roberts' Tribute online free | Watch a movie online through best free 1080p HD videos on your desktop, laptop, notebook, tablet, iPhone, iPad, Mac Pro and more
Nora Roberts' Carnal Innocence. Watch the full movie online. 4 / 5 stars 29%. 2011 90 min TV14 Drama, Mystery/Crime, Romance TV Movie. Read Less. 4 / 5 stars 29%. 2011 90 min TV14 Drama, Mystery/Crime, Romance TV Movie. Read Less. 4 / 5 stars 29%. Released Year: 2011. Share on . You can also buy, rent Nora Roberts' Lifetime Movies on demand at Apple TV online Nora Roberts was born on October 10, 1950 in Washington, District of Columbia, USA as Eleanor Born: October 10, 195 Nora Roberts responds to criticism over Alyssa Milano casting in Netflix movie Gina Vivinetto 1/27/2021 In California: COVID-19 cases down 25%, and no masks required during Oscar 1. Tessa Bailey. Like Nora Roberts, Tessa is a versatile romance author who's created a variety of sexy stories. If you like Roberts's suspense novels best, start with Protecting What's His.If you prefer her home improvement novels (this is a sub genre of her work, I swear—just think of the amazing Inn at Boonsboro trilogy), pick up Bailey's newest novel, Fix Her Up
Dancing in the moonlight in a secluded garden, now that reached the height of romantic on her scale. She could imagine it, the scent of summer roses, the music drifting out of the open windows of a ballroom, the way the light turned the edges of everything silver, like in the movies With perfect flowers, delicious desserts, and joyful moments captured on film, Nora Roberts's Bride Quartet shares each woman's emotionally magical journey to romance. In Bed of Roses, florist Emma Grant is finding career success with her friends at Vows wedding planning company, and her love life appears to be thriving by Nora Roberts includes books The Return of Rafe MacKade, The Pride of Jared MacKade, The Heart of Devin MacKade, and several more. See the complete The MacKade Brothers series book list in order, box sets or omnibus editions, and companion titles Our romance audiobook collection features several top selling Nora Roberts titles including The Awakening, Waiting for Nick and The Witness to name a few. Browse our collection to find your favorite Nora Roberts novels to download for your compatible media player
Nora Roberts' Tribute. Watch the full movie online. 4 / 5 stars. 2009 90 min TVPG Romance, Drama TV Movie. Read Less. 4 / 5 stars. 2009 90 min TVPG Romance, Drama TV Movie. Read Less. 4 / 5 stars. Released Year: 2009. Share on: Share via Facebook; Share via Twitter; Share via Email; 4 / 5 stars. 2009 90 min TVPG Romance, Drama TV Movie Nora Roberts is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than 200 novels, including Shelter in Place, Year One, Come Sundown, and many more. She is also the author of the bestselling In Death series written under the pen name J.D. Robb. There are more than five hundred million copies of her books in print Nora Roberts Movies. 3,894 likes · 3 talking about this. A full month of Nora Roberts' movies. Now available online. http://www.myLifetime.com/video Nora Roberts' Tribute (2009) TMDb Score. 62. PG 1 hr 28 min Apr 11th, 2009 TV Movie, Movies Like Nora Roberts' Tribute. The Perfect Assistant Nora Roberts has 1027 books on Goodreads with 7301433 ratings. Nora Roberts's most popular series is Bride Quarte
Nora Roberts is my favorite author. Her political beliefs is her business. Anew Nora roberts movie. I can't wait for it as I have read both books and thought it would make a good movie. Buy or don't buy, read or don't readthis is a free country where you can make your own choices, but you do not have a right to malign and. Nora Roberts' Carnal Innocence is an Mystery movie that was released in 2011 and has a run time of 1 hr 27 min. Nora Roberts' Carnal Innocence is available to watch and stream, download, buy on demand at Amazon Prime, Apple TV+, The Roku Channel, Lifetime Movie Club, Amazon online Read Key of Light free novels read online from your Pc, Mobile. Key of Light (Key Trilogy #1) is a Romance Books by Nora Roberts The bestselling author of a whopping amount of at least 215 books, Nora Roberts is the queen of summer reads. With her fervour in writing romances with minimum corniness and domestic dramas with. Nora Roberts is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than 200 novels, including Hideaway, Under Currents, Come Sundown, The Awakening, Legacy, and coming in November 2021 -- The Becoming -- the second book in The Dragon Heart Legacy. She is also the author of the futuristic suspense In Death series written under the pen name J.D. Robb
Rivers End PDF book by Nora Roberts Read Online or Free Download in ePUB, PDF or MOBI eBooks. Published in 1999 the book become immediate popular and critical acclaim in romance, romance books. The main characters of Rivers End novel are Olivia MacBride, Noah Brady Nora Roberts (Goodreads Author) (shelved 1 time as nora-roberts-trilogies ) avg rating 4.10 — 32,173 ratings — published 199 . Whether it's the emotional journeys between characters - JoAnn Ross - the thrills and spills of danger - Suzanne Brockman - or captivating characters - Julie Garwood - you're sure to find what you need here Nora Roberts is an award winning and best-selling author of over 200 books. Her latest book, written under the name J.D. Robb, is Echoes In Death, available now. Nora Roberts, thank you so much.
Nora Roberts : Bride Series, Books 1-4: Vision in White, Bed of Roses, Savor the Moment, Happy Ever After (Audio MP3 CD - Unabridged) by Nora Roberts , Emily Durante , Angela Daw Apr 13, 2021 - Shop Midnight Bayou [DVD]  at Best Buy. Find low everyday prices and buy online for delivery or in-store pick-up. Price Match Guarantee Video of High Noon - FULL MOVIE for fans of Nora Roberts. 2009 film starring Emilie de Ravin and Ivan Sergei
Nora Roberts' Montana Sky. Watch the full movie online. 2.5 / 5 stars 66%. 2007 96 min TV14 Drama TV Movie. Read Less. 2.5 / 5 stars 66%. 2007 96 min TV14 Drama TV Movie. Read Less. 2.5 / 5 stars 66%. Released Year: 2007. Share on: Share via Facebook; Share via Twitter; Share via Email ..
Nora Roberts' Blue Smoke (2007) 02/12/2007 (US) Action, Drama, Romance, Thriller, TV Movie 1h 35m User Score. Overview. After witnessing an uncontrollable blaze burn her family's pizzeria to the ground when she was just 11 old, it's no wonder that Reena decides to become an arson investigator. Now, years later, she decides to visit the old. Read Key of Light online free from your Pc, Mobile. Key of Light (Key Trilogy #1) is a Romance Books by Nora Roberts Nora Roberts' latest novel is already high on the New York Times best seller list, so soon after its post-Memorial Day release. Why? The author, 69, has a wildly devoted following, with fans snapping up her dizzying number of books — more than 215 and counting — including romance, fantasy and thrillers (often under the name J.D. Robb) Great deals on Nora Roberts Books. Get cozy and expand your home library with a large online selection of books at eBay.com. Fast & Free shipping on many items Sep 14, 2015 - Nora Roberts- Secrete periculoase.pdf - Free ebook download as PDF File (.pdf) or read book online for free
Nora Roberts Sign of Seven by Nora Roberts Audio Book CD - The House of Oojah - AudioBooks, Audio, Books, Talking Books, Books on Tape, CD, Mp3 - Australia - Online Store Shop on-line Blood Brothers: Every seven years, on the seventh day of the seventh month, strange things happen NORA ROBERTS is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than 230 novels, including Legacy, The Awakening, Hideaway, Under Currents, The Chronicles of The One trilogy, and many more. She is also the author of the bestselling In Death series written under the pen name J.D. Robb. There are more than 500 million copies of her books in print When it comes to numbers of books written and sold, Nora Roberts is in her own elite league, with more than 220 romances, thrillers (often under the name J.D. Robb) and fantasy novels available for devouring by her legions of fans, and some 500 million copies of her works in print. The next addition to her stack of best sellers is The Awakening, set for a Nov. 24 release and kicking off a new. Jul 24, 2017 - Shop Blue Smoke [DVD]  at Best Buy. Find low everyday prices and buy online for delivery or in-store pick-up. Price Match Guarantee Free download or read online True Betrayals pdf (ePUB) book. The first edition of the novel was published in 1995, and was written by Nora Roberts. The book was published in multiple languages including English, consists of 400 pages and is available in Trade Paperback format. The main characters of this romance, romance story are Kelsey Byden, Gabriel Slater
NORA ROBERTS is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than 200 novels, including Year One, Come Sundown, The Obsession, The Liar, and many more.She is also the author of the bestselling In Death series written under the pen name J.D. Robb. There are more than 500 million copies of her books in print The Law Is a Lady by Nora Roberts at OnRead.com - the best online ebook storage. Download and read online for free The Law Is a Lady by Nora Roberts Nora Roberts' Carnal Innocence is a series that is currently running and has 1 seasons (1 episodes). The series first aired on June 13, 2011. Where do I stream Nora Roberts' Carnal Innocence online? Nora Roberts' Carnal Innocence is available for streaming on A&E, both individual episodes and full seasons
Carolina Moon by Nora Roberts. Jul 25, A cliche South. Cheese made tolerable by Forlani's beauty, reminiscent of Loretta Lynn - the suggestion of whom provides a cultural authenticity. The Nora Roberts Collection Angels Fall/Blue Smoke/Carolina Moon Jacqueline Bisset . This movie is based on Nora Roberts' novel by the same name Nora Roberts does it again with another one of her wonderful novels. This book is another one of Ms. Roberts's hate-to-put-it-down books. All the books in this series, The Bride Quartet, are in this category, but this last book of the series is the best, definitely NORA ROBERTS is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than 200 novels, including Legacy, The Awakening, Hideaway, Under Currents, The Chronicles of The One trilogy, and many more. She is also the author of the bestselling In Death series written under the pen name J.D. Robb. There are more than 500 million copies of her books in print
Northern Lights, also known as Nora Roberts' Northern Lights, is a 2009 television film directed by Mike Robe, which stars Eddie Cibrian, LeAnn Rimes, and Rosanna Arquette. The film is based on the 2004 Nora Roberts novel of the same name and is part of the Nora Roberts 2009 movie collection, which also includes; Midnight Bayou, High Noon, and Tribute Check out this great listen on Audible.com. A canine Search and Rescue volunteer fights danger and finds love in the Pacific Northwest wilderness in this riveting #1 New York Times bestseller from Nora Roberts. To most people, Fiona Bristow seems to have an idyllic life - a quaint house on an isla.. Nora Roberts is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than 200 novels.She is also the author of the bestselling In Death series written under the pen name J. D. Robb. There are more than 500 million copies of her books in print Nora Roberts' Tribute Share DVD • April 11, 2009 • 1h 28m • P
Every year the Nora Roberts Foundation awards a scholarship to a Boonsboro High School graduating senior whose higher education focus includes study of Journalism, Creative Writing, Communication, English, Education or related fields. Applicants write a short story or essay-any topic, any genre, anything at all Blue Smoke by Nora Roberts. The incomparable #1 New York Times bestselling author Nora Roberts delivers a tale of gut-level Download and Read Free Online Blue Smoke Nora Roberts. Blue Smoke(68) Author: Nora Roberts. Except she'd never known him to smoke. Still, the team had recovered a pack of cigarettes, a book of matches—both with Buy The Perfect Hope by Nora Roberts online at Alibris. We have new and used copies available, in 15 editions - starting at $0.99. Shop now
Stars of Mithra by Nora Roberts is $2.99! This is the complete trilogy and is a mix of contemporary romance and romantic suspense, and the books were originally published in the mid to late 90s. This is the complete trilogy and is a mix of contemporary romance and romantic suspense, and the books were originally published in the mid to late 90s Nora Roberts is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than 200 novels. She is also the author of the bestselling In Death series written under the pen name J. D. Robb. There are more than 500 million copies of her books in print Buy a cheap copy of The Reef book by Nora Roberts. A marine archaeologist and a salvager join forces to search for a legendary treasure in this novel that takes readers to the depths of the Caribbean and the heights... Free Shipping on all orders over $10 In the Movies; On TV; Pop Icons; Heroes vs. Villains; Seen in Anime; Our Favorite Collections; Harry Potter; Pokemon; Nora Roberts close Remove Nora Roberts. Available In Stores Filters. keyboard_arrow_down. Nora Roberts close Remove Nora Join the Millionaire's Club and receive FREE SHIPPING, plus tons of exclusive benefits and offers

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LAST UPDATED : Apr 21, 2018, 08:44 AM IST
- PMC move to tackle water scarcity in summer
PATNA: Five deep-bore submersible pumps each will be installed in the 75 wards under the Patna Municipal Corporation (PMC) to tackle scarcity of water in the ongoing summer season. A decision to this effect was taken at a meeting on Friday of the empowered standing committee of the civic body. PMC officials said similar pumps were installed in the city in 2016 by PMC. “These pumps will be in addition to the existing ones. Funds to the tune of Rs 2 lakh per boring will be required,” PMC commissioner Keshav Ranjan Prasad said. The PMC will also soon use six sweeping machines to sweep the city roads. “It has not been decided if the machines will be procured or outsourced. All major roads, including Ashok Rajpath and Bailey Road, will be swept using such machines,” Mayor Sita Sahu said. Sahu also directed PMC officials to sprinkle water on the main roads using water tankers to check pollution due to dust. The civic body authorities have also been asked to complete drainage-cleaning work before June. Nearly 35% of the drainage-cleaning work has been completed as of now, officials said.
- Chhabra appointed secy of Kurukshetra development board
Kurukshetra: Madan Mohan Chhabra took charge as the secretary of the Kurukshetra Development Board (KDB) on Friday. He paid floral tributes at the statue and memorial of former Prime Minister Gulzari Lal Nanda before taking over the post. Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar has appointed Chabbra on the specially-created post for two years. Chabbra is an entrepreneur and the state coordinator of Hindu Helpline, a service launched by Vishwa Hindu Parishad, providing a platform to Hindus who have been harassed or victimized. He is also an affiliate of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). KBD is a high-profile board with the governor and the CM as its ex-officio chair and vice-chair respectively. Several other cabinet ministers and bureaucrats are also members of the management board.
- Make payments or will stop beach cleaning, warns Lifesaving Pvt Ltd
PANAJI: Drishti Lifesaving Pvt Ltd which has been carrying out beach cleaning since December 2016, has conveyed to the government that it will be compelled to suspend its activity if pending bills are not cleared. A source said the company has written to the government that delays in receiving payments not only cause financial strain, but also restricts its ability to effectively and efficiently conduct beach cleaning services as resources are stretched to the maximum. “The situation is such that the agency may have no choice but to stop collecting garbage from the beaches,” a source said. Tourism minister Manohar Azgaonkar said “the process to clear the bills is under way”. Drishti was brought on board temporarily after the government terminated the contract with two agencies—Ram Cleaners and Developers Private Limited and Bhumika Clear Tech Services. It’s been over a year since then, but the government is yet to float a tender. A official said they had sent the draft tender document for the government’s approval, but is yet to hear from it. The department also informed the government that it does not have the expertise in garbage management. A source said that the job should have been entrusted to the Goa Waste Management Corporation rather than the tourism department. A source said that after all the negative publicity in the last three years over beach cleaning, and allegations of corruption in awarding the contract, some in the department feel that the responsibility should be entirely entrusted to the waste corporation.
- Structure collapse: Kochi corporation revokes building permit
KOCHI: The technical committee constituted by district collector following the collapse of a structure in Kaloor has decided to expedite the rectification of damaged stretch of road near Kaloor. The work will begin on Saturday morning. The technical committee also advised the district collector to constitute another committee to find out the reasons for the collapse of the structure. The building permit issued by the Kochi corporation for the construction of the building of the private textile company has been revoked. The licence of the construction company was also cancelled. The six-member committee, formed on Friday morning submitted its report to the collector with recommendations on the rectifications need to be done. PWD will strengthen the road. “Earlier the firm excavated up to 7m and did not experience any problem. When they excavated further 3m, pressure from water and heavy traffic movement on road affected the soil. The shoring pillars could not withstand the pressure and this led to the caving-in of the structure,” said Anil Joseph, a structural engineering expert who was part of the technical committee. The committee was tasked with road protection works and safety of nearby buildings. Collector K Mohammed Y Safirulla said rectification works would be carried out on a war-footing and traffic restrictions would be eased by Wednesday. Since the 300mm water supply pipe of the Kerala Water Authority got damaged due to the collapse of the structure, the water supply to the city will be disrupted till the rectification work is over. “We resumed water supply from distribution line on Kaloor- Kathrikadavu road on Friday morning but with low pressure on another pumping line. We can start rectification work on our line after strengthening of the ground. Usually we open 12 valves while resuming supply. But we only opened five,” said KWA engineer Sheena S S. The water supply to Vaduthala, Elamakkara, SRM Road and parts of M G Road will be disrupted in the next three days. The technical committee comprises officials from public works department, Kochi Metro Rail Ltd and a structural engineer. The promoter of the project on whose land the collapse happened has been asked to raise it by five meters.
- Free LPG connections handed out to 450 on Ujjwala Diwas
CHENNAI: On the occasion of Ujjwala Diwas on Friday, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) conducted 'LPG panchayat' at Sirunium village, Ponneri taluk (Tiruvallur), where free LPG connections were handed out to 450 beneficiaries under Prime Minister Ujjwala Yojana. LPG Panchayats were organised in rural areas across the country to coincide with Ujjwala Diwas celebrations. BPCL chairman and MD D Rajkumar, Ponneri MLA P Balaraman, LPG regional manager S Thangavel and LPG state head R Sivasankaran took part in the celebrations.
- Nagarjuna Oil goes for liquidation as bidding fails
CHENNAI: The beleaguered Rs 4,700-crore Nagarjuna Oil refinery project at Cuddalore in Tamil Nadu has entered the liquidation process under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) after the 270-day deadline, offered by National Company Law Tribunal’s Chennai bench to identify a successful bidder, ended on Friday. With no successful bidder or a resolution plan in place, the Committee of Creditors (CoC) has recommended liquidation and the same has been informed by the resolution professional (RP) to NCLT on Friday evening. Nagarjuna Oil Corporation’s (NOCL’s) books show a secured debt of Rs 8,000 crore and an unsecured debt of Rs 800 crore. The four bidders which came forward — BPCL, Citax Ventures, Gulf PetroChem and Haldia Petrochemicals — submitted bids lower than Rs 1,450 crore set as liquidation valuation, hence rejected. Nagarjuna Oil — backed by Nagarjuna group, Tatas and Trafigura — planned to set up a 6 mtpa (metric tonnes per annum) oil refinery in Cuddalore. This project was later recommended to be the anchor client for the Petroleum, Chemicals & Petrochemicals Investment Region (PC&PIR) by the Tamil Nadu government to the Centre, which too accepted and declared the Cuddalore zone as a PC&PIR region. “The CoC was not happy with the resolution plan that successful bidders had submitted, as they found them far below liquidation value. It is sad that NOCL is going for liquidation. May be something good can happen in the liquidation process itself,” NOCL’s RP, S Rajendran, appointed by the NCLT, told TOI. “The process will take a few days and NCLT will have to appoint a liquidator. I have declined to take up that role, since I came here to ensure a resolution,” Rajendran added. On Friday, the NCLT dismissed a petition by employees seeking to ensure their rights, as the process of liquidation was out to take place, on certain grounds. Another petition moved by the RP before the NCLT to direct Chennai Corporation, which had sealed NOCL’s office in Chennai for non-payment of dues on Monday this week, was posted for further hearing, with a notice to the Chennai Corporation, it is learnt.
- KMC raids eateries to check for carcass meat
KOLKATA: A day after police arrested two persons from Budge Budge in South 24 Parganas, allegedly for selling meat from carcasses to hotels and restaurants, the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) carried out surprise raids in different eateries in Sealdah on Friday. The civic body collected samples of both fresh and cooked meat from the restaurants and sent them for testing. Three teams from KMC started raiding different hotels and restaurants from Friday morning and the inspection will continue on Saturday as well. They will also collect samples from the wholesale market in Sealdah from where the meat is supplied to different restaurants and food joints. “There was no request either from the police or Budge Budge Municipality, but we took suo motu cognizance of the case and made surprise visits to different hotels and restaurants. Strong action will be taken against the owners if meat from dead animals is found in the samples,” said MMiC (health) of KMC Atin Ghosh. Police, however, said they were yet to find out where the meat was actually supplied. “Interrogating the duo, we learnt that they used to send it to Kolkata. One of them said it was sent to a person named Sani in Kabardanga and another said it was sent to Sealdah where some people collected it and mixed it with fresh meat. We are verifying both statements. We are also on the lookout for Sani and Nimai, the masterminds behind the operation. Once we get them, we will be able to know other details,” an officer said. Budge Budge Municipality, too, has taken steps to check such incidents. A six-member team of councillors visited the spot in Budge Budge and have submitted a report to the chairman regarding the security arrangement there. “We have decided to deploy watchmen round the clock and have also arranged for lighting. We have requested the police to arrange for a patrolling van as well. These people managed to carry out the operation since the area is in the backyard of the city,”vice-chairman of Budge Budge Municipality Goutam Das Gupta said.
- Traffic jam delays Metro rakes on way to depot
KOLKATA: Senior officials of Kolkata Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (KMRCL) and Metro Railway visited the East-West Metro corridor depot at Sector Vto catch their first glimpse of the six new coaches that were to arrive from BEML Ltd before dawn. But by noon, the buzz changed. The officials were informed that even though the coaches crossed the toll plaza on second Vivekananda Bridge around 1am, they got caught in traffic soon after. By the time they reached Durganagar on Belgharia Expressway, it was too late to go on to Salt Lake, only a few kilometres away. “We agree that there was a lack of co-ordination. We aren’t used to coaches being moved in this manner. In the Railways, coaches are drawn by locomotives from the factories to their destinations. Even Metro Railway coaches are brought that way from Chennai and other places. These coaches had to be brought by road due to the gauge difference. We weren’t sure of the hassles involved. Now we will be prepared for the others,” a senior KMRCL official said. Those in the six-trailer convoy complained that they had been hassled at Kharagpur by Regional Transport Authority officials and had even been roughed up by the police while trying to negotiate the traffic on the second Vivekananda Bridge. The traffic snarl on the bridge is primarily due to illegally parked trucks and trailers along each flank, which leave just a single lane for others to pass. Authorities allegedly do little to stop either the illegal parking or the reported extortion from the parked vehicles. “What can we do? We can only keep the area around the toll plaza free of congestion. We can’t take responsibility of the whole stretch,” a toll plaza official said. On Thursday evening, the trailer drivers had parked their vehicles at a garage on NH-6 and inspected the route to take into the city. “Local agents told us that we would reach Salt Lake by 3am if we started around midnight. They even assured us that traffic would be light then. We started accordingly and ended up several kilometres short of the destination by the time it was 6am,” one of them said.
- After encroachment demolition, state hands over Mahishbathan land to Metro agency
KOLKATA: The state has handed over the land, where five buildings encroaching the New Garia-Airport Metro alignment stood, to the executing agency of the 34km Metro project. The office of Antara Acharya, North 24-Parganas district magistrate, on Thursday spoke to engineers of Rail Vikas Nigam Limited and informally handed over the Mahishbathan site, next to the flyover connecting New Town with Salt Lake Sector V. “The formalities of handing over the land in writing can come later. We just want the work to start as soon as possible,” a district official said. RVNL officials have also started taking measurement of the site. Officials at the DM’s office said next on their agenda was the shifting of the 40-odd shanties in the area, for which arrangements are being made. The agency will first barricade the plots, the one where a five-storey hotel stood, one where the Mahishgote Primary School was located and the plots where three two-storey buildings had come up. After barricading, RVNL will supervise the removal of electric cables; in fact, the agency has already paid WBPDCL to remove the underground cable lines there. The Bidhannagar Municipal Corporation had first sent across a demolition notice to the encroaching structures and soon, in a late-evening drive on March 29, it deployed backhoe loaders to raze the hotel and three other structures. The school building was kept out of the notification as RVNL had taken it over last year and demolished the wall first in February, 2017. The school has been shifted elsewhere and compensation paid to the state school education department. But this hand-over does not quite clear the entire path. Two encroaching structures—built after the Metro alignment was announced in 2011—continue to act as a bottleneck for the 1.45km stretch of viaduct, which has been stuck for seven years. Their demolition has been put on hold owing to legal cases. The Bidhannagar Municipal Corporation over the past fortnight has pulled down five structures, two big and three small. They removed the erstwhile Mohishgote Primary School campus, along with three two-storey structures, and the five-storey Blue Orchid hotel, a few yards away. These were among the seven buildings that were standing in the way of the Metro alignment between Sonarpur and Airport, running across E M Bypass. RVNL is now waiting to remove the remaining two buildings: the five-storey Megacity Inn, whose owner has moved the land reforms and tenancy tribunal, and Ramdhanu Complex, where flat-owners have moved Calcutta High Court. Balaram Chowdhury, owner of the fivestorey hotel which has been demolished, said, “We shall present our case before the chief minister and seek compensation that matches the value of our fivestorey building. The CM is busy with the panchayat elections now.” A district official said, “We will inform the tribunal that Megacity Inn was built after the Metro project notification was issued in 2009. We hope the tribunal will let us proceed with the demolition.”
- Corporation inches closer to Mambalam skywalk
CHENNAI: The corporation on Friday announced that the construction work on its long-pending skywalk project connecting the Mambalam railway station and the T Nagar bus terminus is set to start soon. In a statement, corporation commissioner D Karthikeyan said a detailed project report (DPR) was ready and that after receiving administrative sanction, the project would be tendered out. “The cost of the skywalk is estimated at Rs 30.35 crore,” the statement said. The project would connect the pedestrian foot-over-bridge (FOB) at Mambalam railway station and help commuters avoid vendors on their way to the bus terminus. The structure will align with the Railway Border Road and Madley Road. A small group of vendors on the Railway Border Road abutting the railway compound wall would be evicted to facilitate the construction. “The skywalk will be 600m long and 4m wide,” the statement said, adding the structure will be fitted with escalators to provide easy access for senior citizens. The sky walk will have three entry/exit points. Besides the bus terminus and the railway station, commuters can access the facility from South Usman Road opposite the bus terminus. Conceived in 2015, the project had been in limbo due to technical problems involving alignment, construction of pillars and establishing land ownership, corporation officials said. In March, TOI reported that the civic body had achieved a breakthrough with Southern Railway in terms of land usage for the project. The railway too is in the middle of extending the width of the existing FOB at the station. “There were issues with respect to land ownership on Railway Border Road. These have been sorted out and no land acquisition or transfer process is necessary with the railway,” a corporation official said. “We had to deliberate if pillars (for the skywalk) ought to be laid in the middle of Madley Road subway. It has now been decided that the subway’s parapet wall would be sufficient (to hold the pillars),” the official added. The skywalk would have a 5.5m ground clearance. Funds for the project would be drawn from the Chennai Smart City Limited. Sources told TOI design elements of the project are yet to be approved. “After the finer details are approved, the project would be sent to the Smart City Board for sanction,” the official added.
- AC buses left in cold, MTC has no plan to keep fleet fit
CHENNAI: At a time when, feeling the pinch from app-based taxis, Bengaluru is trying to attract more passengers towards air-conditioned (A/C) buses by reducing fares, Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) in Chennai has brought down the number of A/C buses altogether. Thirteen services have been stopped in the past one year and from 100 A/C buses in 2008, the numbers have come down to only 11 this year. The buses, which lie idle at various depots due to mechanical failures, get little attention as MTC has stopped subscribing for the annual maintenance contract (AMC) with the manufacturer. Consequently, it does not have spare parts for replacement. Technicians are not trained to carry out repairs forcing depot authorities to adopt unscientific methods as temporary solutions, said an MTC official. “For instance, the lid covering the AC unit is kept open and tied to the body of the bus using a cable as technicians are unable to fix issues pertaining to the cooling and exhaust systems. Also, A/Cs in some of the buses plying on the road are not working, causing discomfort to passengers,” said the official. At present, AC buses are run along three routes - 570 (Koyambedu to IT corridor along Old Mahabalipuram Road), 19B (T Nagar to Kelambakkam) and 21G (Broadway to Tambaram). Former managing director of MTC R Balasubramanian said most of the buses in operation have exhausted their shelf lives. A majority of the buses were bought more than eight years ago. AC or non-AC buses can run for six years. But despite its rickety vehicles, MTC did not replenish its fleet in the last five years. Given the rate of decline due to gross negligence of the authorities, AC buses would soon join the club of obsolete special services including double-decker buses, he said. Balasubramanian said patronage for double-decker buses started dipping a couple of years after they were introduced because of the discomfort faced by passengers while boarding and alighting from the buses. Senior citizens found it difficult to access the bus. Next in line were the vestibule buses that had two compartments. Services of these buses, which occupy lesser road space, are also on the decline. “These vestibule buses were fitted with bellows that were specially designed to take the impact whenever the brakes were applied. Similarly, where the two compartments were joined, oval wooden planks were fixed to help drivers turn the buses without much difficulty,” said Balasubramaniam. However, more than five vestibule buses were sent off the roads recently due to poor-maintenance and lack of adequate spare parts.
- Remove cable mess: Mamata Banerjee
KOLKATA: An attempt is finally under way to remove an eyesore that has permeated the very fabric of the city in the past three decades. The mesh of cable wires hanging from lampposts, trees and every vantage point not only spoils the city's skyline, it has even caused fatal accidents like the death of an 18-year-old youth in Park Circus this January. Addressing multi-service operators (MSOs) and cable operators on Friday, chief minister Mamata Banerjee asked them to clean up the act and clear up the city. Speaking at the cable TV summit, she urged all stakeholders, including Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC), public works department (PWD) and private utility CESC whose posts are used to string up the cables to chalk out astrategy that would set the house in order. “The cable TV industry has progressed and prospered in the past three decades. There is alot that you have done. But there is something more that you need to do, especially in removing the mess of cables that has become an eyesore. All stakeholders should evolve a publicprivate partnership (PPP) model to either take the cables underground or carry it overhead through a pipeline,” she said. While constructing ducts will be expensive and time consuming, cable operators said the mess can be cleaned up if multiple users including, MSOs and telecommunication firms that also use overhead optic fibre cable (OFC) lines to provide internet connection join hands to lay cables. The city has around 2,500 cable operators and 17 lakh cable homes, where the cables are connected. A conservative estimate puts the length of cables dangling all over the city at 20,000 km. On main roads, one could find 50-100 cables of which half could be damaged and should have been removed while fresh cables were being laid but have been left there. Any drive to bring order to the system will lead to natural clean-up. Sudip Ghosh of Manthan welcomed the proposal and said all MSOs would support the government in its drive. The drive will require setting up of a design and technical team that will create the architecture for laying the cable network afresh across the city.
- Just 3 challans a day show Delhi has turned blind eye to polybags
NEW DELHI: With the focus shifting to civic issues like pollution and sealing, the municipal corporations aren’t as enthusiastic about keeping tabs on the ban on thin plastic bags, imposed in the capital in August last year. The South Delhi Municipal Corporation, for instance, has been issuing just around a couple of notices per day in the past three months. Ironically, the more upmarket central and west zones in SDMC have seen only two and seven bookings, respectively, in this period. The action taken report in the North Delhi Municipal Corporation says not a single violation was recorded in its six zones last week, and surprisingly still, the average punitive action in the last eight months was three challans a day. Last August, the National Green Tribunal ordered curbs on the use of carry bags made of plastic less than 50 microns thick and imposed a fine of Rs 5,000 for violating the ban. In the immediate aftermath of the ban announcement, the municipal corporations had cracked down on illegal bag manufacturers and seized 8,000kg, 20,000kg and 30,000kg in August, September and October 2017, respectively. The seized plastic had been used at the various waste-to-energy power plants, an SDMC official claimed. Today, that deterrence is no longer visible, though the civic officials are adamant that the ban has been implemented properly. A senior north corporation official went so far as to attribute the dismal booking of violators in recent months to the effectiveness with which plastic use has been checked in the capital. “There is no laxity on our part,” the official asserted. “At the outset, teams from the licensing department focused on the wholesale markets from where the banned plastic bags were sourced and the number of seizures was large. After that, even the small vendors have shifted to using plastic bags that are more than 50 micron in thickness.” Between January 1 and March 31, the four administrative zones were lackadaisical in hauling up defaulters. SDMC’s central zone carried out only two raids during this period, seizing 22kg of plastic, while the west zone fined seven people. The Najafgarh zone booked 128 people and confiscated 56kg of plastic. The north corporation booked, on average, just around two persons a day in the eight months since the imposition of the ban, with the City-SP zone issuing 99 challans, Karol Bagh 31, Narela 11, Rohini 21, Civil Lines 224 and Keshavpuram 178. In the eight months, 7,580kg of plastic was seized. The east corporation fared better with an average of five bookings a day. The Shahdara north zone booked 694 violators and the Shahdara south zone 454 challans, with seizure of 2,298kg of plastic in eight months. Corporation officials said that bookings had gone down because field staff, who kept watch on plastic earlier, had since been deployed for other duties, including sealing. The environment department too confirmed that fines and seizures had decreased in recent days. “The reduction proves people are following the rules and avoiding polythene bags,” claimed an official rather disingenuously. The Plastic Manufacturers’ Association estimates that Delhi needs 60,000kg of 50-micron plastic bags.
- SDMC eyes Rs 15crore in property tax from 3,000 mobile towers
NEW DELHI: With over 3,000 mobile towers in areas under its jurisdiction, the South Delhi Municipal Corporation is planning to bolster its revenues by charging property tax on them. The civic body is likely to move a resolution in this regard. According to a rough estimate, this could mean an additional Rs 15 crore in its kitty annually. In the previous fiscal, SDMC had collected around Rs 650 crore in property tax. Last year, the Supreme Court had ruled that property tax could be levied on mobile towers and telecom companies would have to pay the charges to the civic body concerned as these towers came in the ambit of land and building. A separate battle between SDMC and telecom companies regarding one-time installation charges for mobile towers is raging in the Delhi high court. “HC had directed telecom companies and SDMC to come to an agreement over the charges. The matter will be heard at the next hearing. The law and building department has been directed to examine legal terms and structural safety of buildings, along with the possibility of declaring mobile towers as building units, to levy property tax,” a senior SDMC official said. The one-time installation charge was hiked from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 5 lakh by the erstwhile municipal corporation in 2010, which prompted the telecom companies to move court. The case has been pending since then and thousands of illegal towers have come up across the city. Several proposals have been brought to regulate the one-time installation charges, but the three corporations have failed to curb mushrooming of mobile towers. The official quoted above said: “As per the Delhi Municipal Corporation Act, there is a provision to levy property tax on mobile towers. It will not only increase revenue but also help regulate towers being run illegally.” There are 3,670 mobile towers under the jurisdiction of south corporation, of which 2,537 are either illegal or erected without prior approval. Under the east civic body, there are 2,383 mobile towers, of which 900 stand illegally. Also, there are 2,539 mobile towers under north corporation, of which 1,284 are illegal. “Right now, the telecom companies directly consult a builder and install a mobile tower. But it can lead to accidents if the building is not safe. The building department will examine the safety needs while erecting a mobile tower,” said a senior official.
- North corporation to give fresh push to Rani Jhansi flyover, traffic restrictions from Monday
NEW DELHI: Giving the much delayed Rani Jhansi grade separator project a final push, the North corporation will enforce traffic restrictions on the highly congested Filmistan-Tis Hazari stretch from Monday. “Both heavy and slow-moving, non-motorised vehicles will be banned but our appeal to all Delhiites is to avoid the route. Around 90% of the work is complete and the rest includes some civil work and road carpeting. But congestion and the round-the-clock movement of vehicular traffic are affecting its speedy completion,” a senior corporation official said. The new deadline for the project, which has become a symbol of the corporation’s inefficiency in executing major projects, is June 30. Under Section 303 of Delhi Municipal Act, the corporation has already banned bullock and hand carts, and other similar slow-moving vehicles on this stretch as well as in the Azad market area till further orders. The restrictions on heavy vehicles will be in place till May 15. A senior official of the City-Sadar Paharganj zone said a consultative meeting with the traffic police, local resident welfare associations and market bodies was held on Friday to chalk out alternate routes. “We will issue the notification on Saturday and the final routes will be published in the next two days,” he said. The six-lane grade separator has been touted as a solution to traffic woes on the stretch between Pusa Road and ISBT Kashmere Gate. It will connect Pusa Road, Upper Ridge and Rohtak Road through Filmistan Cinema, DCM Chowk, Azad Market and Roshanara Road, further extending to Kashmere Gate ISBT. Conceived in 1998, work started in 2006. However, the project cost has escalated from Rs 177 crore to Rs 825 crore due to the delay. The horticulture department of the corporation is setting up a park under the 1.8km-long flyover and it will also be included in the civic body’s vertical garden initiative.
- Power corp starts removing towers blocking Dwarka Expressway
GURUGRAM: Haryana Vidyut Prasaran Nigam (HVPN) has finally started work on removing gantry towers carrying high-tension transmission lines, which have been posing hurdles to Dwarka Expressway. HVPN officials said two gantry towers, which were located on the Dwarka-bound carriageway near Harsaru village, had been removed on Tuesday, a couple days after TOI reported about a series of bottlenecks, including transmission lines, that delayed the expressway by around a decade. However, many more high-tension towers are still blocking the expressway. The towers are located at five different places between Kherki Daula and Dwarka — near Delhi-Gurugram border, in Sector 102-102A, near Basai railway over-bridge (RoB), Kherki Daula junction towards Dwarka. The officials further said the two towers were carrying a 17-m-long 220kV power line stretched from Daultabad to IMT-Manesar, which had now been shifted underground. “The towers were virtually blocking the expressway. We have removed the towers and laid an underground 220 kV line. Normally, a 220 kV line should flow overhead, and can run underground only when it is near or inside the premises of a substation. This was one of our ambitious projects and it cost us around Rs 10 crore,” said Anil Yadav, superintendent engineer, HVPN. Officials said the two towers were part of a trijunction of three power lines — two HVPN lines of 220 kV and 400 kV, and one BBMB (Bhakra Beas Management Board) line of 220 kV. “We were initially asked to raise the height of these towers, but technically, a 220 kV line cannot be placed higher than a 400 kV line. So we decided to shift the lines underground,” Yadav explained. According to Yadav, the other towers, which are still coming in right of way of the expressway, would be removed soon. “There is a 400kV HVPN line and another 400kV HVPN-DHL line that are blocking the proposed cloverleaf junction near Kherki Daula. These are very high-voltage lines and have an extensive sphere of electric field. So, the height of the lines has to be essentially raised. We have also issued a notice to NHAI, asking it to carry out all necessary changes in the height of the power lines. It will get it done through a consultancy, but the process will be monitored by us,” Yadav said. Earlier, Huda had claimed that all high-tension towers of 220 kV would be shifted by mid-February while the towers with 66 kV lines would be shifted by mid-March. Though it missed the deadline, Huda lately swung into action to remove all the hurdles, including buildings, along the expressway. If sources are to be believed, Huda has already given allotment letters to 148 of the 223 eligible oustees and removed most of those houses. However, around 75 houses of GPA and SPA holders are still coming in right of way of Dwarka Expressway. A case related to the GPA and SPA holders is still pending in the Punjab and Haryana high court which is expected to hearing the matter again on April 26.
- MSME industry flays the new tariff order for industry
LUDHIANA: The micro small and medium enterprises (MSME) sector has hit out against Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission (PSERC) for the hike of 2.22 percent in the power tariffs across all categories of consumers. In addition to this the fixed charges for the industrial consumers too has been hiked which has further angered the businessmen who are now demanding the roll back of the new tariff order. Badish Jindal, president of Federation of Punjab Small Industries Association (FOPSIA) said, "We strongly oppose the increase in power tariff by PSERC. As per new tariff order the fixed charges of Small Power connections increased from Rs. 85 per Kilowatt (KW) to Rs. 90 per Kilowatt along with this the consumption charges have been increased from Rs. 5.48 to Rs. 5.58 per Kilo Watt Hour (KWH). Apart from this the fixed charges for medium connections have been hiked from Rs. 100 to 115 Rs per Kilo volt ampere (KVA) and likewise the consumption charges have been increased from Rs. 5.60 to Rs. 5.72 per Kilo Volt ampere Hour (KVAH)” Jindal also added, “ This shows the negative approach of the PSERC and Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) towards small and medium consumers as the number of such consumers in 94 percent which is around 1,05,500 whereas the number of large consumers is merely 6,933 who will be benefitted from the new tariff under which the tariff will be cheaper for the large scale consumers of power. We condemn this tariff order and it should be immediately withdrawn else our industry will suffer very badly." According to Inderjit Singh Navyug, president of United Cycle and Parts Manufacturers Association (UCPMA), "The new tariff order is totally anti-industry and it has exposed PSERC and PSPCL officials who have negative attitude towards industrialists. As per the new order the power will cost more for the small consumers as both fixed charges and consumption charges have been increased for us. On the other hand it is being propagated that tariffs have been reduced for industry which is not true as rebate is being offered that too to the large scale industrial consumers" Navyug also said, “This is a serious situation and we are calling a meeting of our association on the issue to discuss the next course of action as this tariff will destroy micro and small industry."
- After cable develops cracks, Naini ropeway to remain shut for repairs for 2 months
The cable car to reach the panoramic Snow View point, one of the prime attractions for tourists visiting the lake town, will not be available for the next two months. A decision was taken to suspend the aerial ropeway services on Thursday after cracks were found at various spots on the cable supporting the cars
- BJP sweeps municipal corporations elections in Jharkhand
RANCHI: Ruling BJP on Friday swept all the five municipal corporations for the posts of mayor and deputy mayor, polls for which were held on party lines for the first time in Jharkhand on Monday. An elated chief minister Raghubar Das said it is the victory of politics of development of prime minister Narendra Modi. "The people of the country have enormous faith in the leadership of the prime minister," Das said. While Asha Lakra won the Mayor"s post for the Ranchi Municipal Corporation, Sanjiv Vijayavergiya won the deputy mayor's post, state election commissioner NN Pandey told a press conference after counting of the votes of April 16 elections. While Lakra defeated Jharkhand Mukti Morcha's Varsha Gaadi, Vijayavergiya trounced Congress's Rajesh Kumar Gupta. Roshni Tirkey won the mayor's post for Hazaribagh Municipal Corporation defeating Gunja Devi of the Congress and Raj Kumar Lal won the deputy mayor's post beating Anand Dev of Congress. For Giridih, Sunil Kumar Paswan won the mayoral post beating Congress's Samir Raj Choudhary while Prakash Ram won the deputy mayor's post beating Mohammad Istiak of the Congress. For Adityapur Municipal Corporation, Vinod Srivastav defeated Congress's Yogendra Sharma for the post of mayor while Amit Singh won deputy mayor's post defeating Manoj Mahto of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha. For Medininagar Municipal Corporation, Aruna Shankar defeated independent candidate Punam Singh to win the mayor's post, Rakesh Kumar Singh defeated Congress's Manoj Singh for the post of deputy mayor.
- Too few women in parliaments and corporates but reservations help
Be it parliaments or the boards of major corporations, few women find a place in them. In India, there’s only one woman to about nine men in both fields. That may be because women face many restrictions and bear most of the domestic responsibilities. HOW RESERVATIONS HELP WOMEN Scandinavian and African countries that have the highest representation of women in parliament practise some form of reservation. In Europe, many countries require that up to 50% of party candidates be women, while many African countries reserve seats in their parliaments. European countries with more women on corporate boards also have quotas.
- Corporate Carnival held for working professionals in the city
Amol Kalamkar from an IT company won a gold medal in singing competition at the ongoing 3rd edition of ‘Corporate Carnival’, a platform for employees of the companies to take their hobby to next level. Over 100 companies have participated in this carnival under various sport and activities. Famous singers Savani Ravindra, Anjali Marathe and writer Abhijit Thite judged the final round of the singing competitions in Corporate Carnival. On Saturday, April 14 the final round of the singing competition took place at Malhar Studios in Navi Peth. In the final round, Amol Kalamkar won a gold medal, Rohini Prabhugaonker got the silver medal and the bronze medal was shared by Sharvani Mylavarapu and Tejaswini Naik from IT companies won the competition.
- BJP wins Ranchi Municipal Corporation polls
RANCHI: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) clinched victory in the Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC) elections in Jharkhand, the results of which were declared on Friday. BJP candidate Asha Lakra, who is also the sitting mayor, defeated Jharkhand Mukti Morcha’s (JMM) nominee Varsha Gari by 39,000 votes. Lakra secured 1.49 lakh votes in her favour. Gari secured 1.10 lakh votes. Ranchi went to polls on April 16 along with 33 other urban local bodies in Jharkhand. The state capital had recorded 49% voter turnout on poll day. This was the first ULB election in Jharkhand where mayoral and deputy mayoral posts were contested under political party symbols. “I was confident of winning. The support of BJP’s state leadership and chief minister Raghubar Das was with me. I thank the people of Ranchi for re-electing me. I will work for the people with renewed energy,” Lakra said outside the counting center as BJP supporters celebrated. BJP’s deputy mayoral candidate Sanjeev Vijaywargia also registered victory by defeating Congress candidate Rajesh Gupta by a huge margin.
- US acting like a 'bully' to stifle our scientific development: China
BEIJING: China on Friday hit out at the US for its protectionist policies by imposing restrictions on its tech firms, like ZTE, in the name of national security and said Washington was thinking and acting as a "bully". "We have noticed that recently the US has been making relevant moves 'one by one' by accusing China of forcing technology transfer on the one hand and 'exclaiming' on the other hand that Chinese products threaten its national security," foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying told a media briefing here. "I believe it reveals that the US is thinking and acting as a bully that only it can have it and others cannot," she said responding to question on the US Treasury considering ways to restrict sensitive Chinese investments in the country, specially for corporate acquisitions. On the restrictions on high tech fields, Hua said, "We believe that they are citing the reason of national security but what they are doing is protectionism". "In China, lot of people have iPhone. Do we think it pose a threat? But in the US, if some American consumers buy Huawei cellphone it is regarded as a national security threat. Is the US really this fragile although it is the number one developed country and bellwether in scientific field. "On the one hand the US is demanding us to open our market but on the other, it is putting obstacles. This is inconsistent with the market principles. They are not living up to the principle of fairness, equality and reciprocity, they have been calling for," Hua said. She alleged that the US is using the excuse of national security to crush China's scientific development. "Last year, China's scientific development contributed 57.5 per cent for the whole world economy," she said, adding that China's efforts in this regard will not be disturbed or halted by external noises. On Tuesday, China's Ministry of Commerce (MOC) had threatened retaliatory measures hours after the US announced activation of denial of export privileges against the Chinese telecom equipment maker -- ZTE -- for alleged violations of the Export Administration Regulations. "The MOC will closely track the case and is ready to take necessary measures to protect the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese companies," MOC spokesperson was quoted as saying by the state-run Xinhua news agency. The ZTE has extensive trade and investment cooperation with hundreds of US companies, creating tens of thousands of jobs in the US, the spokesperson had said.


text:
Crews responding to a sheen from a spill of about 500 barrels from California oil pipeline. Photo courtesy U.S. Coast Guard
LOS ANGELES, May 20 (UPI) -- After 500 barrels of oil spilled from a California pipeline, environmental groups said the regional quality of life was under threat.
"This incident is all the more reason to ban fracking both offshore and onshore to help prevent future spills and protect Santa Barbara's beautiful beaches and coastal environment," Becca Claassen, a Santa Barbara County organizer with Food & Water Watch, said in an emailed statement.
Sheen reported off the Santa Barbara coast stretches for about 4 miles from a leak of about 500 barrels, or 21,000 gallons, of crude oil from a 24-inch pipeline operated by Plains All American Pipeline, which has headquarters in Texas.
Bob Deans, a spokesman for the Natural Resources Defense Council, said big oil comes with big risks.
"This time, a burst pipeline and its resulting four-mile oil slick remind us yet again: it's time to invest in clean energy," he said in a statement. "We need real solutions that don't spill, explode or cause climate chaos."
California is the third-largest oil producer in the United States. While the U.S. Coast Guard in the region said the source of the spill was secured, there was no information on the origin of the oil spilled from the pipeline.
Plains All American operates crude oil storage depots and pipelines in and around the southern California area. There was no statement on the breach from the pipeline company.
The Coast Guard said it was working with emergency crews, wildlife officials and regional oil companies to respond to the spill. A commercial oil spill company was contracted for cleanup operations.
"The Coast Guard will continue to monitor the situation and conduct an investigation," it said in a statement.

domain: news


For an enhanced digital experience, read this story in the ezine.
For the past two years, this pandemic has challenged us in ways we never thought possible — all while extinguishing that clichéd and worn-out notion: “It could never happen here.” On top of a global health crisis, our nation has grappled with wildfires, extreme weather events, mass shootings and even cyberattacks. And yet through it all, park and recreation agencies across the country remain resilient while providing comfort and aid to their communities. So, it seemed only fitting for us to devote our May issue to safety and emergency response.
Living in a digital world affords us certain conveniences and rewards; however, we often forget the risks that come with advanced technology. In the cover story, “Protecting Against the Digital Unknown,” on page 34, author Paula Jacoby-Garrett explains how local governments and agencies can become major targets of data breaches and theft, with damages totaling billions of dollars. She also identifies the various cyber threats and offers tips for safeguarding yourself and your park and recreation agency from a crippling cyberattack.
Does your organization prepare for natural disasters? Do you have access to mobile crisis resources, if necessary? Can your organization provide translation services in the event of an emergency? These are just a handful of questions that contributor Jaimie Clout, a seasoned aquatics supervisor and safety expert, believes park and recreation professionals should be addressing when preparing for an environmental disaster or traumatic event. In the article, “Is Your Organization Ready for an Emergency?” on page 40, Clout also explains why it’s vital to have a training mindset from the get-go. “Learning how to synergize the resources you have along with the resources available to you is critical in planning for emergencies,” she writes. “The more training that is done, the more prepared your organization will be to handle any emergency that may arise.”
As we celebrate the aquatics industry during National Water Safety Month in May, contributor Tara Eggleston Stewart points out that fatal drowning and water-related injuries in our communities is a national public health crisis that disproportionately impacts people of color and individuals with disabilities. In the feature article, “Recognizing Water Safety Month,” on page 44, Eggleston Stewart also shares sobering statistics. For example, Black children ages 10 to 14 drown in swimming pools at rates 7.6 times higher than white children, while kids on the autism spectrum are 160 times more likely to experience nonfatal and fatal drowning than their neuro-typical peers. She writes, “It is critical for agencies and park and recreation leadership to advocate for keeping pools funded and accessible to communities most in need.”
The common thread running throughout the pages of this issue is not just about the importance of creating comprehensive safety and emergency response plans for our staff and patrons, but also understanding that a one-size-fits-all approach to crisis preparedness is contrary to sound equitable practices. Thus, our efforts must be intentional and inclusive. After all, the more park and recreation professionals begin shifting their thinking about emergency readiness, the more community members of all abilities along with local elected officials will see you for what you truly are — first responders.
Vitisia Paynich is Executive Editor and Director of Print and Online Content at NRPA.


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Hello Gothamites and welcome to the World of Bats, the Batman Book Club!
For the month of March, in celebration of the release of The Batman in theaters, we’ll be highlighting stories about the rogues that show up in the film. This week will start with the main villain of the film, Edward Nygma/The Riddler, as we look at the story “Dark Knight, Dark City,” written by Peter Milligan with art by Kieron Dwyer.
Batman is led through a labyrinthine urban maze by his old nemesis the Riddler, who seems to have changed into an abominable monster with one purpose: to drive Batman insane.
Reading will last from 2022-03-05T06:00:00Z→2022-03-11T06:00:00Z, but if you’re stuck meeting the Founding Fathers in the worst possible way, you can always come back later.
Looking forward to discussing this story with you all!
Click here to learn more about World of Bats.
Click here to join and get cool flair!
A bit of a supernatural turn for Batman here. Riddler is more bloodthirsty than I am used to, but it makes sense in the context of the story. Nice to see Alfred lending a hand in both solving riddles and freeing Batman. I do wonder if younger readers who never learned cursive would be able to read the diary entries. Overall, I enjoyed this story a lot.
Hah, funny you mention that – being an elder millennial I can read cursive, but it was a little hard to read in this instance because I was reading from my phone.
Glad you liked it, and thanks for sharing your thoughts.
This is a great arc. It’s gothic, creepy, and the ending surprised me a bit. It kind of felt like one @Jay_Kay would save for October.
I do think that it’s a bit weird that Batman discovered a real demon in Gotham, one that maybe shaped the city, and just shrugged it off.
I didn’t have much trouble reading the cursive bits; I can read cursive but I would struggle to write it. Use it or lose it, I guess
Hmm. Talk about timing. This video just came out.


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The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) https://www.hrsa.gov awarded $2 million to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists https://www.acog.org to help reduce maternal morbidity and mortality through the “Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health” https://safehealthcareforeverywoman.org/aim-program.
The U.S has the highest maternal mortality rate of any high resource country and it is the only country outside of Afghanistan and Sudan where the rate is rising. AIM is a national data-driven maternal safety and quality improvement initiative to use proven implementation approaches to improve maternal safety and outcomes in the U.S.
AIM will engage provider organizations, state-based health and public health systems, consumer groups, and other stakeholders in a national partnership. Together they will help teams implement evidence-based “Maternal Safety Bundles” in delivery settings. So far, AIM is working with 13 states and 687 hospitals to implement the Maternal Safety Bundles”.
So far, Illinois has shown promising results as the state has reduced severe maternal morbidity by 22.1 percent and reduced morbidity due to hypertension by 19.9 percent through its AIM hypertension initiative since April 2015.
Also, Oklahoma has seen a 20.5 percent decrease in severe maternal morbidity in 42 participating hospitals since April 2015. This represents a decrease of 19.3 percent in hemorrhages among women and a decrease of 12.4 percent among women with severe hypertension.
Many women who are considered low-income in both rural and urban communities face barriers in accessing prenatal care. Once pregnant, conflicting priorities such as work, child care, and lack of transportation can make it difficult to make the 15 recommended prenatal visits to their provider’s office.
HRSA is also in the process of establishing the “Remote Monitoring Challenge” https://mchbgrandchallenges.hrsa.gov/challenges/remote-pregnancy-monitoring due to launch September 2018. The Challenge will award $375,000 in prizes to support the development and testing of low cost scalable technology innovations to help prenatal care providers remotely monitor the health and wellbeing of pregnant women.
Also to improve maternal safety, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) supports a new Senate HELP Committee bill referred to as the “Maternal Health Accountability Act” (S 1112) that would take significant steps towards fighting maternal mortality and improve maternal health.
The bipartisan legislation introduced by Senators Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND) and Shelley Moore-Capito (R-WV) will help states establish or improve multidisciplinary committees known as “Maternal Mortality Review Committees” that will track, analyze and identify local solutions to prevent maternal deaths.

domain: health


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In the Lowe's shopping center, there's an outdoor mall that's largely deserted; one of the few storefront's that's occupied is Amato's. I was doing something nearby, so I thought I'd check it out. The have some tables outside with red checkered vinyl tablecloths, but it's still too hot to eat outside at lunch, so I went inside. It sort of reminds me of Carlucci's in terms of decor.
It was about 2:30pm, so the lunch crowd was gone, but every booth was still in need of service. I chose one without plates, but it still needed to be wiped down. It was awhile before I got a menu, I ordered an Iced Tea and looked over the menu. I thought about the chicken francese, but I fell back to the eggplant parmesan. I am a creature of habit. My server was busy talking with the only other people in the place, so I had to wait for the tea and for him to take my order. Finally he brought over the tea; a quart sized glass with a little sliver of lemon. I asked for some extra lemon and ordered the eggplant with linguine.
Amato's Quart Size Iced Tea
My server initially forget to bring me the extra lemon, so I asked someone else; a couple of minutes later he came back and apologized; but there was something red on the lemons, like there was something red on the cutting board, so only one of the mini slices was usable.
Some garlic rolls came out; they looked pretty good but they were burned on the bottom and they didn't taste like much, so I dismissed them as empty calories.
Amato's Garlic Rolls
When the eggplant came out, knew I was in for trouble. The menu at the restaurant says that this is lightly breaded and baked, but this was neither. It had a skinny piece of sliced mozzarella that was only partially melted.
The eggplant had a layer of ricotta under the mozzarella, that could have been ok, but it was very sweet. The sauce didn't look right, and it tasted even worse; it was way too sweet, and not sweet like it was sweetened with caramelized onions, but sugar sweet. I couldn't eat the pasta at all, and I struggled through the eggplant.
This was easily the worst Italian food I've had in a long time. If you've ever had good or even decent Italian food, you won't like this.

domain: food