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Poll holiday in City on Nov 23

Friday, 13 November 2009 11:16 administrator
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The New Indian Express 13.11.2009

Poll holiday in City on Nov 23

Express News Service


HYDERABAD: The government has declared November 23 as a holiday under the Negotiable Instruments Act for all government offices and educational institutions situated in the limits of Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation where elections are being conducted to enable voters to exercise their franchise.

1,310 candidates in fray

As many as 1,310 candidates are in the fray for the elections to the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) slated to be held on November 23.

The Congress is contesting all the 150 wards while Telugu Desam has fielded 141 candidates. The BJP is contesting in as many as 137 wards, PRP for 64 wards, MIM fielded 70 candidates while the CPM is contesting for 35 wards and CPI for 13 seats. The remaining candi-dates are contesting as independents.

Sixteen candi- dates are in fray in Somajiguda, Yousufguda, Old Bowenpally and Suraram Colony while 15 are contesting in Ramanthapur, Gowlipura, Moosapet, Mothinagar and Quthbullapur wards.

SEC issues guidelines

The State Election Commission (SEC) has issued guidelines with regard to setting up of temporary offices for campaigning by candidates of various political parties in the GHMC elections.

The guideliness are as follows: Offices should not be in religious, educational institutions, hospital or within 200 metres of an existing polling station and private property.

DGP reviews arrangements

Director-General of Police R R Girish Kumar Thursday made a whirlwind tour of the sensitive parts of the Old City in the wake of GHMC elections. The DGP along with the City Police Commissioner B Prasada Rao reviewed the bandobust at Asif Nagar, Tappachabutra and Mangalhat. Speaking to reporters at the Charminar police station, Girish Kumar said elobarate bandobust would be made at all the sensitive parts of the Old City for the smooth conduct of the polls.

Last Updated on Friday, 13 November 2009 11:20
 

Venerable lodge in for royal flushing

Friday, 13 November 2009 11:04 administrator
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The New Indian Express 13.11.2009

Venerable lodge in for royal flushing

Mouli Mareedu


A public toilet being constructed along the wall of the Goshamahal Baradari building in Hyderabad.

When the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb conquered the Kingdom of Golconda in 1687, the Baradari building housed his administration and his son, Shah Alam’s engagement was held in the aesthetic building. Now, the heritage building, housing the Freemasons Lodge, situated in Goshamahal in Hyderabad is going to be a public urinal. Incidentally, it is the oldest building housing a Freemasons Lodge in the country.

The city of Hyderabad famous for its monuments, which were built hundreds of years ago by the nawabs and Nizams, now, are being destroyed by the apathetic officials of the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC).

A 325-year-old heritage building, the Goshamahal Baradari Masonic building is a case in point.

B Nataraj, secretary of the Goshamahal Baradari Masonic Building Committee (GBMBC) told ‘Expresso’ that the historical building Baradari Freemasons Lodge is soon to become a public toilet as the GHMC officials gave permission to a contractor to set up one under Build Operate and Transfer (BOT) basis.

“A few months ago, GHMC officials tried to construct a public toilet and failed as the building committee opposed their move. After a long gap, the GHMC officials took up the move to build a public toilet attached to the boundary of the Baradari Masonic building. Our complaints to the officials fell on deaf ears,” he laments.

The Goshamahal Baradari means ‘Secluded Palace for ladies’. Gosha is the veil worn by Muslim women and Baradari means a building with 12 doors.

The historical building was built by Sultan Abu Hasan, the last Sultan of the Qutub Shahi dynasty, which ruled the kingdom of Golconda.

D Ramachandram, one of the members of the building committee said that the Nizam constructed the present structure in memory of his beloved, Nanni Sanwali, an orphan, who died before they could be married. She requested that, as a memorial, he should build a public bath for ladies.

When Nizam Osman Ali Khan was ruling Hyderabad, he donated the building to the Freemasons to set up their Lodge there. The Nizam himself was a Freemason. In 1933, the building was officially given to Freemasons and now it is being maintained by a committee formed by senior citizens.

“Now the building is being used by the Freemasons to run the Masonic Study Circle, and the library is housed in one corner. A portion of the ground floor serves as a sewing centre for ladies. Another portion of the ground floor is has the medical centre, where two qualified and experienced doctors provide allopathic and homeopathic medicines free of cost,” said A Sridhar, president of the building committee.

“The Baradari building had great significance during the rule of the Nizams. It is unfortunate that the GHMC officials plan to build toilets for the public at the building,” lamented 60- year-old Ahmed Ansari, resident of Goshamahal.

Last Updated on Friday, 13 November 2009 11:10
 

Curbs on parking soon

Friday, 13 November 2009 05:26 administrator
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The Hindu 13.11.2009

Curbs on parking soon

Special Correspondent

Steps to be taken to widen many key roads in the city

 

‘Some contractors have been terminated’

‘Space constraints hampering progress of work’

MANGALORE: Deputy Commissioner V. Ponnuraj said on Thursday that a major drive would be launched to stop roads from being used as parking lots. Steps would be taken to widen many key roads in the city and construct a flyover at the Hampanakatta signal.

Addressing members of the Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) here, Mr. Ponnuraj agreed with a member that a lot of space on the newly laid concrete roads was being used for parking. Promising a comprehensive drive against this in two months, he said, “Half-hearted efforts will not do. A series of actions have been planned.”

Terminated

He said there was a lull in the concreting of roads because some of the contractors who were guilty of shoddy work had been terminated. New contractors would soon be chosen and it was hoped that city would have good concrete roads in two or three months. Lack of space for utility shifting was also hampering the progress of work in some places, he said.

Under the new master plan, about 65 roads in the city, which were too narrow and could hardly take the city’s traffic, would be widened, he said. KCCI president Srinivas Kamath handed over a cheque of Rs. 2.2 lakh to the Deputy Commissioner for rehabilitation of flood victims in north Karnataka. This was the second instalment of the chamber’s contribution, he said.

Last Updated on Friday, 13 November 2009 05:27
 
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