Centre orders enquiry into Tehri accident
Aug 3: The Centre has ordered a high level enquiry into the major accident at the Tehri Hydroelectric Project in Uttaranchal, in which at least 10 people have been killed. The enquiry committee will be headed by former Chairman of the Central Water Commission and former Secretary of Ministry of Water Resources, Shri M.S.Reddy. It has two members - one from Central Water Commission and Member (Hydel), Central Electricity Authority . The committee is authorised to co-opt experts as required.
The enquiry follows a high level meeting held by the Minister for Power, Shri P.M.Sayeed who has been reviewing the relief operations. He is in close contact with the authorities at the site and monitoring the situation. A team of experts from the Central Electricity Authority has been rushed to the accident site. The Minister has expressed grief over the accident and conveyed his condolences to the bereaved families.
The committee will look into the accident and determine the cause, as also find out lapses if any, due to which it could have happened. The committee has also been asked to suggest measures to prevent recurrence of any such accident. It is expected to submit its report within a month.
Meanwhile, by noon today, 11 bodies have been extricated and some more causalities are feared. Ten injured persons have been rescued and three of them with serious injuries have been shifted to Dehradun. The project authorities with the support of District Administration removed the debris and retrieved the bodies.
The accident occurred at an underground site at the project, due to a massive rock fall. It fell in a 225 m vertical shaft [No.T-3 shaft - rock-fall at Elevation Level (EL) 695 m], at around 10.15 p.m. yesterday. The "slip form", on which a number of persons were working for lining of concrete fell down. The "slip form" while coming down broke a platform [bulk head] at EL 632 m and hit the swirling device below [at EL 618] where also workers were there.
All the deceased and injured were working for M/s Jaiprakash Associates who are the main contractors executing the civil works of the project. It has been informed by the contractor that the workers were insured for Rs.10 lakh each and a supervising engineer who died was insured for Rs.20 lakh. -Keralamonitor.com
MEA statement on Indians being held in Iraq (1330 HRS)
Aug 3: "Last night, our Embassy in Baghdad issued a press release welcoming the discussions that have been underway between Sheikh Hisham Al-Dulaimi, Chairman of the National League of Iraqi Tribes Members and representatives of the Kuwait and Gulf Link Transport Company to resolve the hostage crisis. Appreciation was expressed towards the efforts made by both, representatives of the KGL Company and Sheikh Dulaimi, on humanitarian considerations, in pursuing negotiations. An appeal was made for the earliest possible release of the hostages to enable them to rejoin their anxious families in India. Our current information is that the hostage takers have reconfirmed that Sheikh Dulaimi can continue to negotiate with KGL company on their behalf. Any further development will be communicated to the media by the Crisis Management Group (CMG). " -Keralamonitor.com
President confers Dr. B.C. Roy awards to 54 medical professionals
Aug 3: The President, Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, has urged the medical professionals and statesmen to accord priority to research for developing anti-HIV vaccine and for controlling the Parkinson's disease at the earliest. Conferring Dr. B.C. Roy National Awards to eminent medical professionals and statesmen here today, the President also stressed the need for intensifying cardiac research, as a large number of Indians are genetically susceptible to cardiac diseases.
In his address, Minister for Health and Family Welfare Dr. Anbumani Ramadoss emphasized the need for adopting an integrated approach to improve and increase the primary and rural health care system. He further stated that medical professionals, scientists, medical teachers and specialists in socio-medical fields should contribute enthusiastically so that the medical education and standards of health care delivery system get on par with the standards attained by developed countries.
Stating that Dr. B.C. Roy National Awards are granted not only to medicalmen but also to doyens of philosophy, science, arts and literature, the Minister pointed out that "mass awareness about the incidence of communicable and non-communicable diseases and efforts for their prevention lie squarely on the shoulders of workers in such diverse fields and not exclusively in the domain of medical men and profession".
Dr. B.C. Roy National Awards for the year 2000, 2001 and 2002 were presented to 54 Medical professionals and statesmen for their outstanding contribution to medical sciences and research. -Keralamonitor.com
A.K. Suri appointed DG, Railway Protection Force
Aug 3: Shri A.K.Suri, IPS (JK:69) has been appointed Director General, Railway Protection Force in the pay scale of Rs.26000/- (fixed) until further orders. Shri Suri was the Director General, Civil Defence. -Keralamonitor.com
Extensive use of ICTs alone can increase the operational efficiency of the local bodies: Dayanidhi Maran
Several e-governance projects to be implemented in a phased manner
Aug 3: The Minister of Communications & IT, Shri Dayanidhi Maran, has called for an extensive and imaginative use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in day-to-day management of urban local bodies with a view to increase their effectiveness and efficiency of their operations. Shri Maran said, "ICTs have a particularly vital role to play in transforming the interface between governments and the citizens they serve, particularly in urban agglomerations". He said that because of growing literacy and awareness levels among citizens, their expectations in terms of services from the local bodies are also rising rapidly. It is, therefore, imperative that these bodies are geared to provide efficient services, meet the demands of the citizens and make their interaction with municipalities easy and simple, while ensuring accountability and transparency. Shri Maran said this while delivering the valedictory address at the "National Seminar on e-Governance in Municipalities", orgainised by the Ministry of Urban Development and Department of Information Technology, here today.
Shri Maran stated that e-Governance programmes need to be stabilised, enhanced, replicated and spread to overcome the increasing digital divide between municipal bodies across the country and speed up proliferation of the successes. He said that a number of municipal corporations, particularly in the States of Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Gujarat have successfully implemented e-Governance programmes. The Department of Information Technology has been in close touch with the Urban Development Ministry to take these initiatives forward, he stated.
Shri Maran said that e-Governance Action Plan has been included in the top 10 Priorities of his Ministry. The e-Governance Action Plan envisages several Mission Mode Projects principally focussed on improving service delivery to citizens and businesses. Under this plan, the projects would be undertaken by both the Centre and the States for countrywide implementation in a phased manner over the next 2-3 years. "It is my desire to make the National e-Governance Action Plan result-oriented and citizen-focussed. I am quite keen to ensure that the results are visible in a short duration with tangible benefits to citizens", Mr. Maran said. He disclosed that a National Conference on e-Governance would be called for in the next year as culmination of such sectoral conferences in order to evolve and refine the overall strategy to improve State Government services to the common man.
Several states have implemented e-Governance projects successfully. Many of these are well known and well recognised today, for example, Bhumi for land records in Karnataka, E-Seva or common service centres in Andhra Pradesh, STAR in Tamil Nadu and Sarita in Maharashtra for property registration. "We need not reinvent the wheel in such cases. Instead, we should identify the successes and use them as a basis for rapid implementation in other states or at other locations in the same state" Shri Maran said.
The Minister further said that the Ministry of Communication & IT has evolved a programme to provide handholding support to states and agencies that wish to implement the e-governance projects rapidly based on the successes achieved elsewhere. This approach may be extended to e-governance in municipalities, he added.
GOOD VIBRATIONS - FITNESS DEVICE THAT TAKES THE WORK OUT OF WORKOUTS TO DEBUT IN MID EAST
Shake, rattle and grow. The latest revolution in the fitness world, a machine that takes the work out of workouts, is about to hit the Middle East, India and Pakistan.
PowerPlate, that has a range of applications in the sports and fitness, beauty and wellness, health and medical including rehabilitation arenas, as well as hotel suites, golf courses and the home and office, will make its regional debut at Sportex Middle East 2004 - the exclusive international exhibition for the region’s sports and leisure industries - to be held in Dubai from September 7-9.
Looking like a cross between a treadmill and an exercise bike, the PowerPlate condenses the benefits of a one-hour workout into only 10 minutes.
“It can also speed up the metabolism, leading to weight loss, stimulate the lymph glands, improve skin tone and break down cellulite,” said Frans A M Giezen, Managing Director, Holland Enterprises Group, the official licence holder and distributor of PowerPlate in the Middle East, India and Pakistan.
“Based on the concept of whole body vibration therapy, PowerPlate is stylishly designed to exercise muscles to maximum capacity without putting any stress or strain on joints, so it is ideal for people with specific medical conditions, such as osteoporosis.
“PowerPlate can be used to exercise most muscle groups, including specific exercises for problem areas such as the stomach, buttocks and thighs.”
PowerPlate generates vibrations that are transferred from the base platform to the body. When standing on the machine, muscles contract and expand 30-50 times per second, depending on the frequency and vibrational intensity selected. A variety of fitness exercises can be performed on the plate, including bicep curls, hamstring stretches, squats, lunges, crunches and push ups.
“It’s a very versatile piece of equipment that can enhance an athlete’s performance on and off the field. It can be used for a warm up before a typical workout and it is equally effective as a cool down device that aids in recovery,” said Giezen.
“But on its own, it enhances flexibility, stability and the ability to sense position and movement of the body and its parts, as well as strength, speed and power.”
Included among those who have used whole body vibration therapy are Britain’s Prince Charles, Prince Albert of Monaco, Hollywood stars Jane Fonda and Clint EastwoodTV actor Don Johnson and New York socialite Ivana Trump.
Holland Enterprises Group will stage PowerPlate demonstrations throughout Sportex Middle East 2004, to be held at the Dubai International Exhibition Centre (DIEC). The company will be exhibiting two versions of PowerPlate at the event – Next Generation and Personal Plate.
Organised by International Expo-Consults (IEC), Sportex Middle East 2004, will be the largest in the event’s history. To date companies from 10 countries have confirmed their participation. The exhibition will feature first time national pavilions from Germany and South Africa as well as an official delegation from China.
“People of all ages are increasingly aware of the importance to their physical wellbeing of a healthy lifestyle, which includes eating well, enjoying sport and recreation, personal fitness and appearance,” said Mohammed Falaknaz, Vice President, IEC. “As a result the region’s fitness, health and sports industries are expanding rapidly and this is reflected in Sportex Middle East’s own double-digit annual growth.”
