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State, BMC to check genetic counselling centres

Thursday, 27 June 2013 11:07 administrator
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The Indian Express              27.06.2013

State, BMC to check genetic counselling centres

Following allegations that actor Shah Rukh Khan (SRK) conducted a test to determine the sex of his yet-to-be-born surrogate child, the state government and BMC have decided to crack down on genetic counselling centres. A report is expected in 15 days.

The centres counsel families on planning and management. Parents are made aware of disorders unborn children may inherit, the consequences and options available to them.

"Like the crackdown on PCPNDT (pre-conception and pre-natal diagnostic technique) centres across the state, it is time to take a serious view of genetic counselling centres. We will soon begin action," said Jayant Kumar Banthia, state chief secretary.

Additional municipal commissioner Manisha Mhaiskar, in-charge of the BMC public health department, said all such clinics in Mumbai would be checked starting next week.

"The Shah Rukh Khan sex determination issue highlights the need to streamline IVF and genetic counselling clinics. The law mandates BMC inspect these centres. We will start the exercise next week," she said.

The crackdown comes after activist Varsha Deshpande met Banthia and Mhaiskar and served a legal notice to the state demanding action against SRK and genetic counselling centres breaking Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex Selection) Act, 1994 .

Deshpande, supported by NGOs such as Laadli and Indian Radiologists Association, alleged over 50 genetic clinics in Mumbai region and over 150 in the state were conducting sex determination.

"We have served the state a legal notice under section 21(B) of PCPNDT Act and a response according to law is expected within 15 days. If they fail to do so, we will file a private criminal case against the government and the centres. Many genetic counselling and IVF centres in big private hospitals in the city regularly carry out illegal sex determination," she said.

Deshpande also petitioned the authorities to not discriminate between SRK and other citizens.

"Sex determination is a very serious issue. The government will question the sources who provided information to newspapers and take appropriate action," she said.

Mhaiskar said BMC would take action once confusion over jurisdiction was cleared.

"It is a problem of jurisdiction. We do not know whether SRK conducted a sex-determination test in Mumbai or in any other place. If it is found that he did indeed conducted the test here, appropriate action will be taken," she said.

 

MMRDA seeks central funds for water project

Thursday, 27 June 2013 11:02 administrator
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The Indian Express              27.06.2013

MMRDA seeks central funds for water project

The city's development authority has sought central government funding for setting up an infrastructure project to allocate water from Surya dam in Thane to areas such as Vasai, Virar and the Mira-Bhayander belt.

The MMRDA wrote to the Union Urban Development ministry last month requesting for 35 per cent funding under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) for the project expected to cost Rs 933.28 crore.

"We have been allocated 303 million litres of water per day for distribution to Vasai, Virar and Mira-Bhayander. The state government will bear 15 per cent of the cost and the MMRDA will foot 50 per cent," a senior MMRDA official said.

The project, called Surya regional water supply scheme, is expected to make available 185 million litres of water per day to Vasai-Virar and 118 million litres per day to Mira-Bhayander. The MMRDA has written to NHAI to obtain right of way to lay a 88-km pipeline as part of the allocation infrastructure.

"We are in the process of completing formalities for acquiring the right of way. The authority has given a positive response. We will also need some private land," the official said.

Separately, the MMRDA has requested the state irrigation department to hand over 22 hectares near the dam for setting up a chlorination plant and pumping stations. The project is likely to take 34 months for completion after all approvals are in place.

 

South Corporation okays regularisation of 3 colonies

Thursday, 27 June 2013 05:38 administrator
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The Hindu               27.06.2013

South Corporation okays regularisation of 3 colonies

Staff Reporter

Ahead of Delhi Assembly elections scheduled later this year, the BJP-led civic bodies have expedited the regularisation process of unauthorized colonies. The South Delhi Municipal Corporation on Tuesday approved regularisation plan of three unauthorized colonies - Rajouri Garden Extension, Meethapur and Badarpur.

SDMC has around 190 such unauthorised colonies in its jurisdiction. Sources said that ahead of the elections the BJP wants to finalise the plans of at least 50 colonies.

The North MCD regularised one colony - Bhagwan Park- in May and East MCD regularised three colonies in January this year.

The Delhi Government had regularised 895 unauthorised colonies out of 1,639 such settlements with certain riders in September last year paving the way for their development on par with other areas in the city.

 
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