India - Canada N-deal

The nuclear agreement with Canada will be the latest in a series of civil nuclear agreements India has been signing with key countries in the wake of the deal with the US. It will allow Canadian companies to export and import “controlled’’ nuclear materials, equipment and technology to and from India. In effect, this will see India’s nuclear history coming a full circle. In 1974, Canada had accused India of conducting its first nuclear test with Canadian nuclear material, which was supposed to be for peaceful uses.Briefing journalists, Vivek Katju, secretary (west) in the MEA, said India and Canada were also working on a slew of other agreements on science and technology, health, agriculture and culture. He said a number of agreements and MoUs were under active negotiations and were likely to be concluded and signed during the PM’s visit. These included civil nuclear energy cooperation, social security, mining, higher education and culture.

Gurgaon Metro snapshotz

The monsoon's progress so far

Somewhere in Hyderabad....

Denizens on a shopping spree near Charminar on the longest day of the year as the sun set late (at 7.30 pm) in the city on Monday

RIL's agenda

GoM recommendations on Bhopal

The group of ministers (GoM) on the Bhopal gas tragedy recommended a hike in compensation for victims, review of the verdicts of the Supreme Court and trial court which are seen as being unfair to them and lenient to the accused, and a fresh effort, backed by evidence of graver charges, for the extradition of the fugitive former head of Union Carbide, Warren Anderson. As per the GoM’s recommendation, families of the deceased would be provided Rs 10 lakh instead of the Rs 1-3 lakh provided earlier. Those with permanent disability will receive Rs 5 lakh as against the Rs 50,000-Rs 2 lakh they got earlier, while those with lesser injuries will get Rs 1 lakh. Patients of cancer and renal failure will get Rs 2 lakh. But the government has decided not to look afresh at the classification and decisions taken on the claims by the welfare commissioner, Bhopal.
The GOM’s report—which recommends pursuing Anderson, enhancing compensation and a total package of Rs 1,320 crore for rehab of victims, environmental clean up and all other costs—will be taken up by the Union cabinet for consideration on June 25. While a sum of Rs 300 crore will be set apart for the clean-up job, Rs 227 crore has been earmarked for upgradation of seven hospitals, including the Bhopal Memorial Trust hospital which was set up in the aftermath of the tragedy. Importantly, the GoM has steered clear of the mystery around the arrest and release of then UCC chief Warren Anderson. Fingers have been pointed at the Rajiv Gandhi-led Centre and Arjun Singh-led MP government while diplomats have spoken of a ‘safe passage’.
A new request for the extradition of Anderson from the US will be made by India in the light of the fresh evidence that has surfaced against the fugitive as mentioned in the June 7 trial court judgment. India will take the stand that the ex-UCC chief technically still faced serious charges under Section 304-II (culpable homicide) of the IPC as he was not a party before the Supreme Court in 1996 when the culpability was diluted to a lighter Section 304 A (criminal negligence).
Though India had made the extradition request in 2003, the US had turned it down saying it did not meet the requirements of the extradition treaty. Besides making a fresh extradition effort, the Centre will also file a curative petition in the SC for review of its infamous 1996 judgment diluting the charges against the accused from the stringent section 304-II to section 304A of the IPC.
The second curative petition seeking to review the 1991 judgment endorsing the court-guided settlement between UCC and Union of India for a $470 million Settlement Fund will also be filed. Besides, the GoM also recommended a revision petition before the Jabalpur HC under Section 397 against the judgment of the trial court, arguing that it be set aside and the case referred to the sessions court for a fresh trial under sections 304-II, 324 (causing hurt), 326 (causing grievous hurt) and 429.
These recommendations are based on the evidence dug out from the Bhopal gas leak case trial records.

Mumbai's monorail rake tested in Malaysia

Mumbai took a huge step towards improved commuter connectivity on Monday when the first monorail rake for the metropolis was launched and tested in Rawang, Malaysia, where the 15 four-car rakes are being built. The sleek, blue-and-white rake will be shipped to Mumbai in early July and is expected to begin carrying commuters between Chembur and Wadala in December. After that, Scomi, which has its plant north of Kuala Lumpur, has promised to ship 14 more rakes at the rate of one a month to Mumbai.
The Chembur-Wadala monorail would be extended to Jacob Circle (Saat Rasta) in May 2011 and is expected to ease the rush on other mass-transit systems in the city. By 2016, the entire line is expected to carry 1.25 lakh commuters a day and by 2031 it could carry 3 lakh passengers a day. The monorail will use 18 stations and improve connectivity between the eastern suburbs and central Mumbai. The MMRDA plans to develop Wadala, which will have the main monorail depot, along the lines of the Bandra Kurla Complex.
Mumbai’s first monorail rake was inaugurated by Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) commissioner Ratnakar Gaikwad. Speaking on the occasion, Gaikwad thanked the Scomi group for delivering the rakes on time, but pulled up the Larsen & Toubro (L&T) group for delays. Gaikwad said the standards for the curved beams, being made by L&T as part of the civil works for the project, are yet to be fully met. He said the monorail project has about 40% curved beams. State urban development secretary T C Benjamin said L&T has been told about the need for perfection.
MMRDA officials said the civil works comprised mainly straight beams and curved beams. While there was no problem with the straight ones, the MMRDA’s consultants want 100% perfection in the curved beams for smooth and hassle-free movement of the rakes. Gaikwad confirmed that Phase-1 would start by December and Phase-2 by May 2011. “Even a day’s delay can mean a fine of Rs 50 lakh to the contractor,’’ he warned.
The MMRDA had earlier planned to deviate from its path at Jacob Circle due to terrorist Ajmal Kasab being imprisoned at Arthur Road jail. But Gaikwad said the MMRDA met the police chief and there was no problem with the route.
The Chembur-Jacob circle route will have 15 rakes, each having a carrying capacity of nearly 600 people.
Scomi group president (engineering) Syahrunizam Samsudin said, “After the successful exhibition run of the first monorail car in Mumbai on January 26, 2010, we have been steadily working towards meeting the deadline set by MMRDA. We plan to complete and dispatch one train a month starting from July from our manufacturing facility. We will ensure that by 2011 all 15 trains are ready in Mumbai.’’
Gaikwad said that plans for monorail connectivity between Thane-Bhiwandi and Kalyan are almost finalised. “Since the Chembur-Saat Rasta monorail was the first of its kind, the MMRDA decided to fund the Rs 2,460-crore project, but the Thane-Bhiwandi-Kalyan line will be on a Public Private Partnership basis,’’ he said.
The MMRDA also plans to construct a monorail between Lokhandwala Complex and SEEPZ. The MMRDA is also planning a monorail between Diva junction and Nevle via Nilje. This would help the area around Kalyan develop into a business hub. In the next few years, the MMRDA is planning a 180-km network connecting Mumbai and its satellite areas.
Since many cities in India—like Pune, Bangalore and Hydearbad—want monorails, Scomi has asked the state for help in setting up a plant. Benjamin said the government would examine the proposal.

Chembur-Jacob Circle — 20 km

18 stations

15 rakes, each with 4 cars

Each rake to carry upto 568 passengers

Speed 31 kmph (max 80 kmph)

Trains to run from 5 am to midnight

Frequency 4 to 6 minutes initially



Phase 1

Chembur-Wadala 8.26 km

Journey Time : Around 25 min

Phase 2

Wadala-Jacob Circle 11.28 km

Journey Time : Around 19 min

Fare System

Smart cards, for single and multiple journeys

Manned ticket office machine

Passenger-operated, ticket vending machine

Ticket readers/portable ticket decoders (used by ticket inspectors)

Computer-controlled gates

Rail Tracker

The monorail requires a 1-metre-wide space, approximately the space of a footpath. It rests on a 6.5-metre-tall pillar, so it doesn’t disturb traffic below
Compared to other mass-transit systems, it produces less noise and is eco-friendly. Hence, it is acceptable in dense residential locales
It is eventually expected to save 200 tonnes of carbon dioxide from being emitted into the air daily
Monorails are used in Tokyo, Kuala Lumpur and China
Urban development secretary T C Benjamin has asked for cushions to be removed from the Mumbai trains
Source: mmrdamumbai.org

EAST-CENTRAL CONNECT

Phase 1 | Chembur-Wadala Opening Date : Dec 2010
Phase 2 | Wadala-Jacob Circle Opening Date : May 2011

THE 18 STOPS:

Chembur Railway Station

VN Purav & RC Marg Junction

Fertiliser Township

Bharat Petroleum

Mysore Colony

Bhakti Park

Wadala Depot

GTB Nagar

Antop Hill

Acharya Atre Nagar

Wadala

Dadar (East)

Naigaum

Ambedkar Nagar

Mint Colony

Lower Parel

Chinchpokli

Jacob Circle