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THE HIMALAYAN DISASTER: TRANSNATIONAL DISASTER MANAGEMENT MECHANISM A MUST

We talked with Palash Biswas, an editor for Indian Express in Kolkata today also. He urged that there must a transnational disaster management mechanism to avert such scale disaster in the Himalayas. http://youtu.be/7IzWUpRECJM

THE HIMALAYAN TALK: PALASH BISWAS TALKS AGAINST CASTEIST HEGEMONY IN SOUTH ASIA

THE HIMALAYAN TALK: PALASH BISWAS TALKS AGAINST CASTEIST HEGEMONY IN SOUTH ASIA

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Wednesday, March 31, 2010

OBC Count Skipped in CERN Times. NO PARIVARTAN Would Change Our Destiny as TMC MP Kabir Suman EXPOSES the Systematic LPG Mafia in BRAHAMINICAL Governance as MAHASHWETA Devi Silent on Economic ETHNIC Cleansing Tries Her best to save the Zionist Satani

OBC Count Skipped in CERN Times. NO PARIVARTAN Would Change Our Destiny as TMC MP Kabir Suman EXPOSES the Systematic LPG Mafia in BRAHAMINICAL Governance as MAHASHWETA Devi Silent on Economic ETHNIC Cleansing Tries Her best to save the Zionist Satanic Hegemony! 2011 population census begins April 1.


Indian Holocaust My Father`s Life and Time - THREE HUNDRED Twenty Six

Palash Biswas

http://indianholocaustmyfatherslifeandtime.blogspot.com/

2011 population census begins April 1.

  1. Census of India, Govt. of India - Ministry of Home Affairs ...

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  1. It's better not to mix quota with religion


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  2. `Maoists will not be held if they come forward for Census'


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  3. Interim nod to Muslim job quota


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  5. IIM-B raises fee by Rs 1.5 lakh


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  7. Right To Education law a tryst with destiny, says Sibal


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011 population census begins April 1

Sify - ‎2 hours ago‎
One of the largest census exercises, to compile India's estimated 1.2 billion people into one single database, begins Thursday with President Pratibha Patil ...

Census kicks off from April 1

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Counting begins tomorrow, even your cell, PC & bank will be listed

Economic Times - ‎18 hours ago‎
NEW DELHI: It's not only population that Census 2011 will gauge. Being described by government officials as possibly the biggest demographic exercise in the ...

Census 2011 to begin on April 1

The Hindu - Vinay Kumar - ‎19 hours ago‎
Billed as the largest census ever attempted in the history of mankind, Census 2011 is all set to take off on April 1. It will also involve the task of ...

Govt. to prepare National Population Register along with Census 2011

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India embarks on headcount exercise April 1

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Census operation to be launched tomorrow by President

Press Trust of India - ‎5 hours ago‎
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Upwardly mobile enumeration

Express Buzz - ‎12 hours ago‎
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FIIs net buy Rs 434cr, DIIs net sell Rs 357cr
BS Reporter / Mumbai March 31, 2010, 18:30 IST

Foreign institutional investors (FIIs) were net buyers of Rs 433.52 crore (provisional) today, according to data released by BSE.


While FIIs made gross purchases of Rs 2,778.13 crore, gross sales totalled Rs 2,344.61 crore.

Domestic institutional investors (DIIs) were net sellers of Rs 356.58 crore today. While DIIs made gross purchases of Rs 1,425.37 crore, gross sales totalled Rs 1,781.95 crore.

FIIs were net buyers of Rs 840.50 crore on Tuesday, March 30, according to data released by Sebi today. While FIIs made gross purchases of Rs 2,719 crore, gross sales totalled Rs 1,878.50 crore.

Mutual funds (MFs) were net sellers of Rs 100.20 crore on Tuesday. MFs made purchases of Rs 465.80 crore and sales of Rs 566 crore.


http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/fiis-net-buy-rs-434cr-diis-net-sell-rs-357cr/89965/on

Big Bang experiment by CERN explained

Posted on Mar 31, 2010 at 01:01

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New Delhi: Imagine a car crash. Two vehicles, way over the speed limit. Smash into each other. Glass, metal and plastic pieces fly out. That's what the big bang experiment is. Only those cars, are now the size of atoms. But is that all?

Gravity, is what makes our world go round. If it moves such huge planets, it must be very powerful, right? But actually, it's much weaker, than even the electricity that powers our bulbs. Nobody knows why. Yet.

CRACKING BIG BANG: Ninety-six per cent of our world is made of anti-matter.

The more mass we have, the more gravity we exert. And what gives us all mass? Scientists say it's called a Higgs Boson particle. And that's what they are looking for in the Large Hadron Collider.




If they find it, they will have more proof for a weird theory. That gravity is actually very strong. It's just leaking out through world's dimensions, that we have never seen. That there are parallel universes, peopled perhaps by our own body doubles, who we will never meet.

There's more. Ninety-six per cent of our world is made of anti-matter. Dan Brown's "Da Vinci Code" says anti-matter destroys everything it touches. Yet, we're all alive. Why? One part of this experiment manufactures and studies anti-matter, in a lab.

And finally, the temperature inside the tunnel, is 100,000 times higher than the heart of the sun.

Atoms here melt into a plasma - it's neither liquid, nor solid, nor gas. Exactly like they were when the universe was born. How that plasma cooled into our stars and planets, is what scientists want to learn.

http://ibnlive.in.com/news/big-bang-experiment-by-cern-explained/112397-11.html

OBC Count Skipped in CERN Times. NO PARIVARTAN Would Change Our Destiny as TMC MP Kabir Suman EXPOSES the Systematic LPG Mafia in BRAHAMINICAL Governance as MAHASHWETA Devi Silent on Economic ETHNIC Cleansing Tries Her best to save the Zionist Satanic Hegemony!Meanwhile, Police extended a curfew to several areas of the IT city of Hyderabad on Wednesday after four days of religious clashes between Hindus and Muslims left two dead and scores injured. While,After establishing yoga centres in Nepal, Baba Ramdev is now eyeing Pakistan, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Bangladesh to popularise the traditional Indian fitness system in the subcontinent.

On the other hand, he Supreme Court on Tuesday permitted the withdrawal of a four-year-old petition against the defreezing of two London-based bank accounts of Italian businessman Ottavio Quattrocchi, suspected to be involved in the multi-crore Bofors pay-off scam.While,Delivery of a UN report has been delayed by over two weeks at the urgent request of Pakistan, the United Nations said on Tuesday.

Friends, I am happy to say that I am well back in Princep Ghat Down Daily Commuter life and got the old friends. It was very hard to travel to Sealdah in Crowded local Trains. Then I had to Cross over the Madding Home Returning Crowd rushing for any train arrival. The Tram Line from Raja Bazar is under the water pipes dumped to be installed to deal with the Monsoon Hell Losing. I was dependent on Bus Service and it was Hell Within. I had to deal with Water Logging also. That is why I fought Nail Biting to readjust my duty time at my workplace and by chance got succeeded.After a break for a Fortnight, I am once again with my old Friends. But the PARIVARTAN Scenario seems to be under DEEP Depression. Those who do support Mamata Banerjee , turned to be those People who Migrated from Bangladesh after liberation and had been helped by CPIM. Now they do complain for the Suffering for Three Decades. CPIM supporters have launched all out attack against them as they seek ESCAPE Route. Ironically, Bonafied Partition Victims from East Bengal do face Identity Crisis and DEPRIVED of Civil and Human Rights, right to land and Property, Reservation and Mother language, while in West Bengal the People who crossed the Fence after 1971, do enjoy Super Citizen status thanks to Brahaminical Party politics and demographic readjustment.This Struggle has to be FIERCEST in future times as REFUGEE Politics concerning the Partition Victims of Forties and Fifties and Sixties may not be distinguished from the Illegal Migrants as Brahamins of Bengal did everything to deface and Destroy the lot. While, Partition victims from West Pakistan got Registered as Indian citizens as soon as they Crossed the Border, East Bengal Partition victims have no way to prove their Citizenship. It means, Very Hard Time for our People ahead as the Bangladeshi Illegal Immigrants have been bailed out with every document and have captured the Prime Properties in Metro and suburban Kolkata, the LOCAL Antipathy dare not harm them. The WRATH and Vengeance have to be targeted against those Poor whose PLIGHT has no END even after SIX Decades. Communal Polarisation in bengal Politics is another IMMINENT Calamity which is certain to Envelop this divided Bleeding sub continent.

We were just discussing the PRICE Hike since Lokasabha Elections and the rates of Food Commodities in different markets, some commuters tried to Blame the LEFT Front Government and emphasised that DIDI would set everything RIGHT Afresh. Suddenly, a young man asked whether DIDI is the REINCARNATION f Goddess Durga with her Ten hands as every CORRUPT and Doubtful Character seem to surround her. It was the Ignition. Suddenly, everyone was asking about the legality of central Policies and the Daily Budget was put on details. The Bangladeshi faces were DETECTED with the difference of Dialect. It is rather intriguing for our people as they speak in their Original East Bengal dialect all over the Country as they have not been allowed to stay in Bengal since the beginning. They tried to return in Marichjhanpi and the Massacre was the ANSWER. You may not Distingwish a Bengali partition Victim and a Bangladeshi Illegal Immigrant anywhere out of Bengal.

TMC is EXPOSED thanks to the ECONOMIC Ethnic Cleansing and Power Politics. The masses seem to be DISILLUSIONED rather very quick. I was habitual to hear the most FEROCIOUS Criticism of the BRAHMIN Front. Now the weather seems to be Full Of HUMIDITY and the NOR`Wester waits in the Wings. The masses do analyse the kolkata Inferno and the Changing landscape as well as Human scape. They feel Insecure in the High rise Concrete Jungle which may EXPLODE in any calamity like simply a FIRE with short Circuit or greater  Calamity like Tsunami or Earth quake and blame the ALL party Brahaminical set Up sponsored by the Anti social Anti national Immoral LPG Mafia! But the Problem is that the Masses are not aware of the Process of Decision making , Legislation, Misinformation and mind control game, revenue management and taxation, government expenditure, judiciary, administration and so on. They SUFFER but Never knows or DIAGNOSE the ROOT of the INFECTION! They are not AWARE of their own IDENTITY Indigenous Aboriginal EXCLUDED BLACK Untouchable. It is the EXPRESSION of Grief only and I am afraid to say that it may not upset the APPLE CART at all!

One of the largest census exercises, to compile India's estimated 1.2 billion people into one single database, begins Thursday with President Pratibha Patil and Vice President Hamid Ansari to be the first ones being listed.

This will be India's 15th census since 1872. It will cost the government Rs.2,209 crore and witness engagement of 2.5 million people, union Home Secretary G.K. Pillai said.

The exercise will be undertaken in two phases, Pillai said, adding that the process to create a database on demography, economic activity, literacy and education, housing and household amenities, urbanisation, fertility and mortality, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, language, religion and migration, would involve visiting each and every household in the country.

The census 2011 will mark a milestone as the government also intends to create the National Population Register (NPR), a comprehensive identity database that will facilitate the creation of a biometrics-based identity system in the country, allowing identity cards for all citizens.

Also, for the first time information will be collected on categories like the ownership of mobile phones, computers, internet, having treated or untreated drinking water facility, and finger prints and photographs of individuals which will help the government formulate plans and strengthen the country's security.

The first phase, called the house listing and housing census, will be conducted between April and July this year.

The second phase, called the population enumeration, will be conducted simultaneously all over the country Feb 9-28, 2011.

Spread across 35 states and union territories, the census would cover 640 districts, 5,767 tehsils, 7,742 towns and more than 600,000 villages.

Chidambaram feels Maoists could be controlled by 2013

Union Home Minister P Chidambaram has expressed confidence that the country will be able to control Naxals by 2013.

Addressing an event organised by the Business Standard group on Tuesday night in Mumbai, Chidambaram said: "We must meet the challenge to fight against Maoists and terrorism in the next two-to-three-years.

"We know it is a big challenge for India, but we will be able to meet the challenge in the next two-to-three years," he added.

Maoists who continued their violence activities killed at least five civilians and four security personnel in as many as 32 violent incidents during the 48 hour-long shutdown call given by them on March 22 and 23.

Stressing on the need to prevent criminals from entering Parliament Chidambaram said: "It's a big challenge. We are the largest and disciplined democracy in the world. We need honest and decent people to come to Parliament," he said.

Earlier, Union Law and Justice Minister M Veerappa Moily also stressed on the need to bring amendments to election laws to prevent criminal elements from entering elected bodies.

Army Chief feels infiltration continues due to repeated attempts made by militants

New Delhi, Mar 30 (ANI): Army Chief General Deepak Kapoor said on Tuesday that militants become successful in infiltrating into the Indian side of the Line of Control because of their continued attempts.

General Kapoor made the statement after handing over the baton of Chairman's office in Chiefs of Staff Committee (COC) to Air Chief Marshal P.V. Naik here.


"This is a matter of understanding that if infiltrators continue to make their attempts to enter the Indian side, as they are being supported by their organisations, they will become successful at some point of time. But whenever they tried to infiltrate, we detected them," he said.

"Almost eight militants got killed during the encounters by our deployed troops. The rest of the militants fled towards the other side of Line of Control. So this is a good job done by our security forces. The militants would continue with their infiltration attempts. We would be able to take actions only if they would come towards us," he added.

Eight militants of the Laskhar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammad and Hizb-ul-Mujahideen were killed during an encounter on March 23 in Kern sector of Jammu and Kashmir's Kupwara district. (ANI)


Nilekani holds meeting on UID project

Special Correspondent

Chairperson of the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) Nandan Nilekani on Tuesday held meetings with key officials of the West Bengal government in a bid to take forward the project which will give every Indian citizen a unique identification number. The project has entered its operational stage and the numbers are expected to be given by early 2011.

State Home Secretary Ardhendu Sen told journalists at the Secretariat that memoranda of understanding would be signed between the UID and the various State governments for enlisting the infrastructure support that would be necessary for implementing the project.

He said the project would give every citizen a UID card and a number based on the name, address, parent's name and biometric details such as finger print and iris impressions.

DG Police Bhupinder Singh later said this would be a revolutionary project although it was a very huge task and also a very futuristic one. However, no police verification would be made as in passport issuance while giving these numbers, he said. Mr. Singh was hopeful that the UID number would bring the curtains down on duplication, fraud and ghost ration cards and would help plug leakages in the system

In November, 2009 West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee received a letter from the Prime Minister's Office on the UID Scheme, which was launched by the UPA government soon after it came to power for a second term.

The letter urged Mr. Bhattacharjee to expedite matters in respect of the UID project which had been launched under the Social Security Mission of the Central government The card was meant to be a single point identification for a citizen, who now has to grapple with multiple such cards and numbers for various purposes.

The letter said two committees needed to be set up. One would be under the Chief Minister and another under the Chief Secretary of the State. The State needed to prepare data for blending with the UIDAI's data base. The 2010-11 budget had allocated Rs. 1,900 crore for the project.

Among those present at the meeting with Mr. Nilekani were the City Police Commissioner, the Director-General of Police, the Home Secretary and 16 departmental secretaries.


http://beta.thehindu.com/news/national/article285549.ece
Govt to raise fuel prices in major cities
Reuters

India will raise the prices of petrol by 1.1 percent from Thursday in major cities that will migrate to Euro IV-compliant fuel, a government official said, to help oil firms recover investment made for plant upgrade.

"The hike will be effective from midnight tonight," said Sudhir Bhargava, additional secretary in the federal oil ministry, adding petrol prices would be raised by 0.50 rupees (about 1 U.S. cent) a litre.

Diesel price in leading cities including Mumbai would be hiked by 0.26 rupees a litre, while in Delhi it will rise by more than 2 rupees because of taxes.

"Delhi government has raised VAT (value added tax) on diesel, which will be implemented from tomorrow. Due to this, diesel prices will go up by 2.35-2.37 rupees a litre in Delhi," Bhargava said, in addition to the rise across major cities.

India is keen to cut emissions as Asia's third largest economy expands rapidly and aims to catch up with fuel quality in Europe, which now follows Euro V standards.

While 13 big cities will migrate to Euro IV-compliant fuel from Thursday, the rest of the country will switch over to Euro III-compliant fuel by October.

From April 1, Euro III-compliant fuel will be introduced in the western state of Goa, where the price of petrol will rise by 0.27 rupees a litre and diesel's price will go up by 0.22 rupees per litre.

As this fuel is introduced more widely, the price will be hiked in other parts of India as well.

Bhargava said the increase in fuel prices is aimed at helping the oil firms, which sell fuel at government-fixed low rates, to recover the investment of about 320 billion rupees made on plant upgrades to produce cleaner fuels.

In Delhi, petrol will cost 47.93 rupees and diesel will be priced at 38.10 rupees a litre, he said.

(Reporting by Nidhi Verma and Pratish Narayanan; Editing by Ranjit Gangadharan, Aradhana Aravindan)

Obama backs closer India-US ties

Expressing satisfaction at the conclusion of an India-US agreement on reprocessing spent fuel, the White House has said President Barack Obama is glad that US is strengthening a very close bilateral relationship in an important region.

"Well, obviously the President is a proponent of the agreement between the two countries," White House spokesman Robert Gibbs told reporters Tuesday pointing out that Obama had supported the India-US civil nuclear deal even as a senator. And he "is glad that in an important region of the world we're strengthening a very close bilateral relationship."    

"Obviously the President, as you know and as many of you have seen, has spent considerable time on our relationships with Afghanistan, Pakistan and India in order to see security strengthened and our mutual goals worked on in an important region in the world," Gibbs said.   

US happy with progress on n-deal with India: Roemer

At the Pentagon too, an official noted India and US have a strong military to military relationship and US was exploring new ways to partner with and sell weapons and other military hardware to India.    

Asked how the nuclear deal would affect India-US military ties, Defence Department spokesman Geoff Morrell said he didn't know that it does, but noted the United States has an excellent military to military relationship with India.    

"We have very strong military-to-military relations with the Indian government, with the Indian military; have had them for some time," he told reporters noting Defence secretary Robert Gates recently visited India and reaffirmed the Obama administration's commitment to have strong working relationship with the Indian military.   

'Obama administration fully committed to implementing N-deal'

"The secretary just visited India recently and reaffirmed our strong working relationship with Indian military, exploring new ways in which we can partner and exercise and do disaster-relief work, and sell weapons and other military hardware to the Indians," Morrell said.


Another honour killing in Punjab

 In yet another case of honour killings, a couple was shot dead in Punjab on the orders of the girl's father for marrying against his wishes.

It has been reported that the victims Prabhjot Kaur and Pradeep Singh from Ferozepur, both students of Class 12 were shot dead by five unidentified gunmen, when they arrived at a local school in Amritsar for their board examinations.

The killers fled the spot after the murder and snatched the carbine of a security guard accompanying the couple. The victims were provided police protection on the orders of the Punjab and Haryana High Court after their marriage.

There are reports that as many as 15 bullets were fired at the couple, who died on the spot.

"This incident should not have happened. But the boy's behaviour was not correct. He had left his first wife and also has a child. He married his wife's niece. It is a case of personal enmity," said Sukhdev Singh Brar, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Firozepur.

"A number of cases were registered against him. The girl is from the same family. We will round up those involved soon," added Brar.

It has been reported that the government is now contemplating to include the crime in the IPC (Indian Penal Code).

The government had earlier said that a proposal to amend the Indian Penal Code to deal with honour killings is under consideration. However, it was not clear by when will the amendment come into practice.

In a landmark judgement, the Karnal sessions court on Tuesday awarded death sentence to the five accused and life-term to the leader of the Khap Panchayat for murder of a newly married couple.

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Suman falls into text trap

Calcutta, March 30: The Trinamul Congress parliamentary party sought Kabir Suman's disqualification from the Lok Sabha a day after he sent a text message to Mamata Banerjee offering to quit Parliament and the party.

The Jadavpur MP had also sent the same message to Trinamul chief whip Sudip Bandopadhyay after a tiff with party workers in South 24-Parganas' Narendrapur yesterday.

"We have written to the Lok Sabha Speaker quoting Kabir Suman's text message to me and Mamata for his disqualification as MP. We have requested the Speaker to treat his message as resignation and the formal letter on this will follow," Bandopadhyay said from Delhi tonight.

Told that Speaker Meira Kumar was away in Bangkok to attend the Inter-Parliamentary Union meeting, Bandopadhyay said the letter had been sent to her office.

Trinamul sources said Mamata "wanted to get rid of the rebel MP" to put an end to the saga of embarrassment that he has brought to the party.

Asked about Suman's resignation threat, a visibly annoyed Mamata refused to react today. "This is our party's in- ternal matter," she told newspersons in Delhi.

Party sources said Mamata was "unhappy" with Suman and would not like to publicly say anything that could draw a response from him and bring even more embarrassment to the party.

A junior Trinamul minister said from Delhi tonight that Suman's text message came in handy for the leadership to train its guns on the "rebel".

"Our four-member disciplinary committee had earlier recommended disciplinary action against Suman. But if we had expelled him, he could have remained an unattached MP. Now that he has offered to resign, we want to take advantage of it."

However, former Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee said a text message from an MP offering to quit could not be treated as resignation. "An MP has to personally hand over his or her signed resignation letter to the Speaker. Had I been in the Chair, I would not have treated such a text message as a resignation letter and acted on it," he added.

However the Trinamul move today is a clear signal to Suman that the party wants him to quit.

"We wanted to make it clear to him that we do not want him any longer in the party," a Trinamul minister said.

Suman was not available tonight for comment on Bandopadhyay's missive to the Speaker.

The singer-MP may have overplayed his hand in impulsively sending in his resignation and may be seeking to find an "honourable" way of getting out of it now.

Although he told a news conference this morning that he would stick to his guns and soon write to the Speaker on quitting as member of the Lok Sabha, he did no do any such thing during the day.

"Sumanda has not written any letter to the Speaker yet," said his election agent Mafazzal Hossain, a Trinamul leader of South 24-Parganas.

At the news conference, Suman iterated his complaints about corruption in the party and instances of how he had been humiliated. "I'm being humiliated in the party for long. But there is nobody in the party to take note of it."

He also poured vitriol on South 24-Parganas district party president Sovan Chatterjee. "I saw Sovan accompanying Mamata in her car and serving tea and biscuit to us. But he has become leader overnight and is dictating to me how I should spend my MP funds for development."

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Salaried people to have more money in their pockets

Salary earners with an annual income between Rs 3 lakh and Rs 8 lakh will have more money in their pockets with the new income tax rates coming into effect from tomorrow. Annual earnings of salaried people in the range of Rs 3 and 8 lakh will now attract 10.3 and 20.6 per cent income tax respectively, against 20.60 and 30.90 per cent in the fiscal ending today.

These rates are inclusive of 3 per cent education cess. Finance minister Pranab Mukherjee had announced the new income tax rates in his budget.

While the Finance Bill 2010 is yet to approved by Parliament, the changes in the direct taxes will remain effective from tomorrow. However, those earning up to Rs 3 lakh annually will have to pay the same amount of tax, though persons with annual income exceeding Rs 8 lakh will benefit marginally.

Besides the personal income tax, the other direct tax proposals, including higher incidence of MAT, will come into effect from tomorrow, subject to modification and approval of the Finance Bill. Unless the rates are modified by the finance minister, the corporates will be required to pay minimum alternate tax (MAT) at 18 per cent as compared to 15 per cent.

MAT is the minimum tax that all companies are required to pay on book profit. Although Mukherjee is likely to modify the some of the tax proposals and rectify the anomalies on the basis of post-budget memorandum by industry chambers and other stakeholders at the time of the consideration of the Finance Bill in Parliament, no major changes are expected.

The direct tax proposals, as per his budget speech, would entail a revenue sacrifice of Rs 26,000 crore during 2010-11. Most of the indirect tax proposals, excluding those concerning service tax, came into effect from the date of the presentation of the budget on February 26.

Nuke Liability Bill does not fix a cap on the operator

The nuclear liability bill, a key step to operationalise the landmark Indo-US deal, does not fix any cap on liability of the operator in case of a nuclear accident while ensuring quick relief to victims. Government sources explained the liability of Rs.

500 crore on the operator stipulated in the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Bill can be enhanced. The amount was specified in the bill to enable the operator to get insurance cover as it could not be open-ended, they said.

The BJP and the Left parties have blocked the introduction of the bill in the Lok Sabha, saying the nuclear plant operators were being let off with a meagre liability in case of such an eventuality. In the face of strong opposition, Government had in a sudden decision beaten a hasty retreat in the Lok Sabha on March 15 by not introducing the bill.

The draft bill will now be sent to Parliamentary Standing Committee for consideration. The sources said the bill provides for ''No fault liability'' that will make it mandatory to the operator to pay immediate relief to the victims.

A clear procedure is also laid down on how to get the compensation. This has been done against the backdrop of the 1984 Bhopal gas tragedy where victims are still waiting to get compensation.

The draft bill also has provisions that would enable the government to either increase or decrease the amount of liability of any operator. The Bill was approved by the Union Cabinet on November 20 last year.

According to the provisions in the draft legislation, the operator would not be liable for any nuclear damage if the incident was caused by "grave national disaster of exceptional character", armed conflict or act of terrorism and suffered by person on account of his own negligence. Seeking to allay apprehensions, the sources said the bill does not take away any rights provided under law and needed to be looked at as an additionality.

The bill also does not in any way dilute criminal liability of the operator.

Depositors to get 3.5% saving interest on actual basis

 Millions of savings accounts holders would get about 10 per cent more as the Reserve Bank asked banks to pay from tomorrow the 3.5 per cent interest on a day-to-day basis instead of taking the lowest deposit during the month for the purpose of computation. At present, the banks give interest of 3.5 per cent on savings accounts on the basis of the least deposit in an account between 10th and the last day of the month.

The interest is credited in the account twice a year in March and September. "With the new norms coming into effect from tomorrow, the cost of funds for banks would increase between 30 and 40 basis points," Bank of Maharashtra chairman and managing director Allen Pereira told PTI today.

"But it would be difficult to say how much of it would translate for individual savings account holders," he added. At the end of February, all the commercial banks had a total deposit of over Rs 44 lakh crore, including savings, current and fixed deposits.

The country''s largest lender State Bank of India has over 1.56 crore savings bank account holders. According to Corporation Bank executive director Asit Pal, the new calculation system on the daily balance basis would be beneficial for customers.

Explaining the new provisions, he said, "supposing that you have Rs 500 in your account and next day it increases to Rs 700, interest rate of 3.5 per cent per annum would be payable on both Rs 500 as well as Rs 700 on a daily basis." With the computerisation of banks, Pal said, it has become easier to calculate interest on each savings account on a daily basis.

The Reserve Bank, while announcing the annual monetary policy for 2009-10 unveiled last April had said, "payment of interest on savings accounts by scheduled commercial banks would be calculated on a daily product basis with effect from April 1, 2010." Several banks have suggested that interest on the savings account may be calculated either on the minimum balance in the account from the first to the last day of the month or on a daily basis.

The matter was then referred to the Indian Banks Association which said the payment of interest on a daily basis would be feasible only when the computerisation of banks is completed. The RBI proposal is based on the view that bank computerisation is satisfactory at present.

Kasab following al-Qaida manual: Nikam

Lone surviving 26/11 gunman Ajmal Kasab has been following the "al-Qaeda manual" by changing his stand quite often but it would not affect the Mumbai attack case, special public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam said on Wednesday.

The "al-Qaeda manual" says that a person trained in terror activities should attempt to derail investigation and court proceedings by changing his stand frequently, Nikam said outside the court where the trial of the Pakistani terrorist is expected to conclude.

"This is exactly what Kasab has been doing," Nikam said.

Earlier, Kasab had confessed before a magistrate, saying that Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) had carried out the Mumbai terror attack and he and nine others had come from Pakistan to commit the dastardly strikes.

Four months later he retracted his confession in the trial court. Again, during the trial, Kasab had said that he wanted to make a guilty plea. In this statement, he partly accepted guilt and partly denied his involvement, saying he had not fired at people but was only following his leader Abu Ismail, who was shot dead by police.

Rosaiah, Chandrababu Naidu appeal for peace in curfew tensed Hyderabad

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister K Rosaiah and Leader of Opposition N Chandrababu Naidu have appealed to the people to observe discipline following reports of fresh clashes between the two communities in the old city of Hyderabad.

Director General of Police (DGP) Girish Kumar said an indefinite curfew has been imposed in the entire south zone area of the city.

It has been reported that at least eight persons including two cops were injured as the protestors' pelted stones during a Hanuman Jayanti procession that led to communal clashes in the new areas of the city.

The curfew was imposed till 6 p.m. on Tuesday and as a precautionary measure all the shops in Ramagopalpet, Nallagutta, Saleemnagar and Tarnaka were closed down.

Meanwhile, the Central Government has rushed in over 1800 troops in the sensitive areas to maintain law and order and restore peace.

Over 130 persons, suspected to be involved in the communal clashes, have been taken into custody so far, police added.

The Andhra Pradesh Government on Monday ordered deployment of additional security forces in old Hyderabad city where tension prevails; following overnight clashes between the two communities.

The Rapid Action Force (RAF) and the state police were earlier deployed in Moosa Bowli, Hussaini Alam, Purana Pul, Begum Bazar, and nearby areas to restore peace following incidents of stone-pelting and assault on religious places, houses, shops and vehicles.

Strife started in Moosa Bowli area when the majority community reportedly removed green flags installed by members of the other community and installed saffron ones, instead, during a recent festival.

The heated exchanges snowballed into clashes between the two groups.

Meanwhile, Class 10 board examinations in around 140 centres have been postponed following the incidents of communal violence.

Osmania University authorities have also announced that the degree examination that was scheduled to begin on Wednesday will start from April 7

Full of drama, ups and downs, Kasab trial ends

Finally one of the most avidly watched legal cases in the world - trial in the Nov 26, 2008, Mumbai terror attacks - ended here Wednesday and May 3 was set as the day of judgment.

Many, including politicians and the prosecution, had hopedf and said that the trial would be over within six months from April 15, 2009, when it commenced. But the hearings overshot that deadline somewhat.

Naturally, many politicians were keen to exploit its outcome in the elections to the Lok Sabha and the Maharashtra assembly last year.

In fact, when the trial started April 15 last year, the then Maharashtra home minister Jayant Patil had gone on record that the Kasab trial would be completed 'within six months' (or by September 2009).

However, it was not to be and it continued till the first quarter of this year when the final arguments by both the prosecution and the defence ended.

Special Public Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam said Wednesday that during the trial, 653 witnesses were examined by the prosecution and a 675-page written submission was also filed.

The witnesses included survivors, eyewitnesses, families of victims, policemen, foreign nationals, government officials, Indian security officials and US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) officials.

The drama involving the prime accused Mohammad Ajmal Amir Kasab had started much before the actual trial.

Kasab - besides two Indian co-accused Fahim Ansari and Sabahuddin Ahmed - was lodged in the high-security Arthur Road Central Jail. The state government went out of the way to make special arrangements to ensure the safety of the lone surviving Pakistani terrorist, the first to be caught alive.

As part of the security measures, an air-conditioned special court presided over by Special Judge M.L. Tahilyani was set up inside the jail premises.

Kasab was lodged in a separate oval-shaped cell which was reinforced with layers of cement and steel capable of thwarting any major attacks or bomb blast.

The trial started with several hiccups. Initially, lawyers refused to take up his case, compelling the court to appoint a lawyer from the State Legal Aid Committee.

First, the mantle fell on criminal lawyer Anjali Waghmare who was later disqualified since she was also defending some of the victims.

After another delay, S.G. Abbas Kazmi was appointed Kasab's lawyer, and he went about his job meticulously and professionally, surprising many at times, including the prosecution.

Kazmi and Kasab managed to create a sensation right at the start of the trial - claiming that the accused was a minor when the terror attacks were carried out and hence should be tried only in a juvenile court.

Caught completely off-guard, the prosecution decided there should not be a repeat of such issues and settled Kasab's age issue with medical help once and for all - that he was indeed a major at the time of the attacks.

'We had decided to settle that issue finally so that it would not create a hurdle at any time during the trial,' Nikam told IANS.

Kasab's dramatics did not end with this - and he took care to ensure that the national and international media covering it did not miss any of his antics.

Early in the trial, he was severely reprimanded by the court for giggling and laughing away in the court during the serious proceedings.

On one occasion he complained of severe pain in the stomach and almost collapsed in the court. Then, he demanded new clothes to wear, he even complained about the food served in the jail.

He was emboldened enough submit a list of items of daily personal use like soap, perfume, newspapers, permission to pray, etc., many of which were rejected.

On several occasions, Nikam was prompted to call Kasab 'an actor par excellence', and the accused showed all his moods - sombre at times, jovial and cheerful often, crying at times, shocked and awed when he was shown some of the evidences or by the accounts of the witnesses during the trial.

In July, Kasab grabbed headlines by confessing to his crimes in the 26/11 attacks and making a passionate plea to be hanged.

'Hang me, please,' Kasab pleaded two days after he made a dramatic confession and gave a chilling blow-by-blow account of his part in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks in which 166 people were killed.

'I have committed the crimes on this earth and the people of the world should punish me. I don't want god's punishment. But, if somebody feels that I have confessed to escape the death penalty, then the court can definitely hang me,' pleaded Kasab.

Later, he demanded a trial in an international court of justice, saying he had no faith in the Indian courts, while co-accused Ansari demanded video-recording of the entire trial.

The special judge promptly dismissed the pleas on grounds that they were 'mischievous' and intended to 'delay the proceedings'.

Special Judge Tahaliyani has been grudgingly credited with taking all care to prevent any unnecessary delays.

Besides Nikam, the defence lawyers, including Kasab's lawyer K.P. Pawar, Ansari's lawyer R.B. Mokashi and Ahmed's lawyer Ejaz Naqvi also completed their final arguments Wednesday.

Kasab has been charged under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including waging war against the nation. Besides, he faces charges under the Explosives Act, Arms Act, Passport Act, Prevention of Damage to Public Properties Act, Customs Act, Explosive Substances Act, Bombay Police Act, Foreigners Act, Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

The 60-hour mayhem that stunned the world left 166 people dead and 244 injured.

The two Indian co-accused have been charged with conspiracy in the terror attacks by preparing maps of the targeted locations and handing these to LeT operatives.

The targeted sites included: the world heritage building of Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, Taj Mahal Palace & Tower Hotel, Hotel Oberoi-Trident, Cama Hospital and the Chabad House, a Jewish prayer centre, the favourite haunt of foreigners Leopold Cafe and several other locations.

Mayawati crackdown on NREGS bungling eyewash: Congress


The Congress Wednesday termed the suspension of 22 officials by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati for alleged bungling of funds meant for the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) as an 'eyewash'.

The chief minister's move Tuesday night came after Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi alleged there was bungling of NREGS funds.

Congress spokesman Subodh Srivastava said the suspensions were an 'eyewash' in view of the suspected huge volume of pilferage across the state.

'Each of the suspended officials were junior functionaries, and no action has been taken against any senior official without whose connivance or complicity the bungling could not have been accomplished,' pointed out Srivastava.

Rahul Gandhi had sought to pointedly draw the state government's attention to irregularities in Sultanpur, which covers his own Amethi parliamentary constituency. However, the state government found largescale bungling in four other districts as well - Gonda, Balrampur, Chitrakoot and Mahoba.

While a sum of Rs.1 crore was found to have been used out of NREGS funds in Gonda to purchase toys and calendars, a similar amount was devoted towards purchase of sub-standard tents and first-aid boxes in Balrampur. Likewise, as many as 700 digital cameras were purchased for about Rs.60 lakh in Chitrakoot and 247 steel cupboards were bought in Mahoba.

It was suspected that many of these purchases were made only on paper, as not more than 25 percent of the cameras and cupboards could be traced on physical verification, according to a departmental official.

Interestingly, the Uttar Pradesh government got into action only after the union rural development ministry asked for details of measures initiated by the state against reported irregularities in the implementation of NREGS here. The union ministry had sought personal appearance of the state Rural Development Principal Secretary Sri Krishna.

Rahul Gandhi said at a district level meeting on NREGS in Sultanpur on March 26 that the irregularities should be probed by a central agency in case the state failed to take appropriate steps.

State Rural Development Minister Daddu Prasad, however refused to give any credit to Rahul Gandhi for it. 'We initiated action into the matter because our chief minister told us to proceed; and even earlier we have got FIRs registered in 29 districts against as many as 60 gram pradhans (village heads) and 30 panchayat (village council) officers,' he said.

Sonia in Rae Bareli, raps officials on development work

 Congress president Sonia Gandhi Wednesday pulled up government officials for improper execution of central government-sponsored schemes in her Rae Bareli constituency in Uttar Pradesh, a party spokesperson said.

'Sonia Gandhi was in fact not at all satisfied with the implementation of several central government-sponsored schemes, particularly NREGA (National Rural Employment Guarantee Act) and the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY),' Congress spokesperson Akhilesh Pratap Singh told reporters here.

'Poor construction work of road and cancellation of around 15,000 NREGA application forms primarily remained the main issues during the Rae Bareli district vigilance and monitoring committee meet presided over by Soniaji at the Collectorate Office,' he added.

At the meeting with government officials, Gandhi asked about almost every development programmes being carried out in Rae Bareli.

Admitting that Gandhi was not fully satisfied with all the schemes, Rae Bareli District Magistrate Charanjeet Singh Bakshi said, 'Poor roads and anomalies in PMGSY were Soniaji's prime concern.'

'She directed us to carry out probe at the earliest so that the welfare schemes sponsored by the central government can meet the desired objectives,' Bakshi told reporters.

'We have, therefore, decided to conduct a review meeting at least once a month for reviewing the developmental schemes.'

Gandhi left for New Delhi later in the evening.


Talks over women's quota bill likely April 5
The government is likely to hold consultations with political parties on the women's reservation bill on April 5, official sources said here Wednesday.

Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Home Minister P. Chidambaram and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal will attend the meeting, sources added.

To contain the protest that ear;ier this month stalled Lok Sabha proceedings for two days and stopped the government from presenting its flagship legislation, Mukherjee had promised that the 'process of consultation with all concerned' would be completed before the legislation is labeled.

The bill was passed by the Rajya Sabha March 9 amid much slogan shouting and unruly scenes by members opposing it.

The government could not push the bill in the Lok Sabha during the first part of the budget session that concluded March 16 following strong protests by the Samajwadi Party, Rashtriya Janata Dal and Janata Dal-United, and rift within the ruling Congress and the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over it.

The second part of the budget session of parliament will commence here April 15.

Beant Singh assasination : Chandigarh court awards life-term to Bheora

A special court in Chandigarh on Tuesday awarded life term to Paramjit Singh Bheora convicted for the assasination of former Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh

The court of Additional District and Sessions judge Ravi Kumar Sondhi had on Monday held Bheora guilty of criminal conspiracy and involvement in the assassination of the former Chief Minister.

Beant Singh. was assassinated by a car bomb on August 31, 1995 in Chandigarh that killed eleven other people, including three members of Singh's security staff.

Following the assassination, the name of Bheora alias Pammi had surfaced for the first time on September 13, 1995. He was caught, among seven militants, in August 1997 from Jammu.

Separatist group Babbar Khalsa had then claimed responsibility for the assassination, but security authorities were reported to be doubtful of the truth of that claim (ANI)

Madu Koda scam: Chaudhary to continue as probing officer

The Jharkhand High Court on Tuesday announced that Income Tax (IT) Director (Investigation) Ujjwal Chaudhary, who is investigating the Madhu Koda scam, would continue to be the probing officer.

The court had earlier on March 16 extended the stay on Chaudhary's transfer till March 30.

The High Court, on February 23, had stayed Chaudhary's transfer after Durga Oraon filed an interlocutory application in the disproportionate asset (DA) case and had asked the IT department to file an affidavit as why the transfer was made.

The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), on February 19, had transferred Chaudhary from the post of director Income Tax (investigation) wing to the post of commissioner Income Tax (Central) an assessment wing of the department.

In another DA case involving ex-ministers including Koda, the bench had earlier asked the state government as why the CBI enquiry should not be ordered for its investigation.

Appearing for petitioner counsel Reetu Kumar argued that since the investigation by I-T and Enforcement Directorate (ED) has found huge investments made by the respondents in foreign countries, the investigation should be handed over to the CBI.

State advocate general RS Majumdar contended the arguments that there is no need for CBI inquiry as investigation is being carried out by the vigilance and other agencies.

The court had also dismissed an interlocutory application filed by the prime accused Binod Sinha in which he has sought relief from any coercive action by the investigating agencies. The bench had then said that court could not interfere in the investigation of the case.

Madhu Koda is involved in the Rs 4000 crore money laundering scam. (ANI)

Prosecution lauds help of FBI in 26/11 Kasab trial


2010-03-31 18:30:00
Last Updated: 2010-03-31 18:59:23

Mumbai: The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) on Wednesday came in for praise from the prosecution in the Mumbai terror attacks trial for its 'contribution and cooperation' to the case.

In a warm gesture, Special Public Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam acknowledged and appreciated the FBI's help which enabled the prosecution wrap up case against Pakistani terror accused Mohammed Ajmal Amir Kasab and his Indian co-accused, Fahim Ansari and Sabahuddin Ahmed.

Timeline of trial in Mumbai terror attack case

'Even David Headley, the Lashkar-e-Taiba operative currently in a US jail, had mentioned the names of some high ranking people in Pakistan in the Mumbai terror attacks. On the basis of this and other evidences recorded before the special court, besides Kasab's statements, we were able to conclude that the LeT and Pakistan Army officials were linked to the attacks,' Nikam explained.

He mentioned how Kasab indulged in dramatics throughout the trial and attempted to scuttle and delay the proceedings, as he was taught by the Al Qaeda manual.

'Now, it is all over and ultimately we have closed the trial against him on Wednesday. We shall now wait for the May 3 day of judgement,' Nikam said.



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Not here, says Jharkhand
Jawans on guard in Jharkhand. (File picture)

Ranchi/Jamshedpur/ Bokaro, March 30: DGP Neyaz Ahmad has said they have no information yet about Maoist leader Kishan having taken refuge in Jharkhand in search of medical help after suffering bullet wounds in his shoulder.

"He might still be in Bengal," he said, referring to the police of the neighbouring state that feel the rebel leader, in charge of operations in Lalgarh, had sneaked in to Jharkhand on a motorcycle along with key aides.

"But we are keeping close watch on the developments," he added.

That explained why the police in Ghatshila, Dalbhumgarh and Chakulia in East Singhbhum district bordering Bengal had mounted a search operation, concentrating in clinics, nursing homes and hotels.

Anup Birtharay, the sub-divisional police officer of Ghatshila, said search operations in clinics and medical centres were on, but they had not received any specific details pertaining to Kishan's whereabouts.

"We are yet to get any specifics from the Bengal police. The West Midnapore police have not contacted us. But we are keeping a watch and that's why the ongoing search operations," he said.

Birtharay, who has instructed the police to keep a close watch on the movements of villagers in the Ghatshila sub-division, said their actions were based more on anticipation rather than any specific information. "We are also searching vehicles in both border and town areas," he said.

News of Kishan's injury has, however, had an impact in the rebel-infested zones of Uparghat, Jhumra hills and Gomia where dozens of rebels are said to be fleeing.

According to sources in the CRPF in Bokaro, elders of Nawadih, Gomia, Jhumra, Dumri, Madhuban hillocks and Parasnath had informed the security forces about this sudden exodus, triggered by the fear of the police launching intense combing operations.

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Right to roof is right to life
Why key is a must
Pictures by Tamaghna Banerjee

Calcutta, March 30: Stephen Court's locked collapsible grille on the terrace that cut off the escape route of at least 17 victims has brought to the fore a question occasionally debated in housing complexes but rarely settled with unanimity.

Whose roof is it?

The 17 who were trapped and charred to death did not have the keys that would have unlocked the grille and possibly led them to survival.

It does not appear that more than two sets of keys were in existence — in a building that housed 130 commercial establishments and 35 residences.

A sale deed in possession of The Telegraph makes it clear the right to the terrace, shared by the four blocks, was held by Stephen Court Ltd, which had the sanction to build one floor on the sixth-floor rooftop.

"The roof and terrace… shall remain the property of the Confirming Party (Stephen Court Limited)… with absolute right to sell, transfer, let out, or dispose of the same," reads the deed.

"The right to the roof was with the company on the ground that it had the right to build a seventh floor," a representative of Stephen Court Ltd said.

Till last year, the promoters or owners of a building enjoyed the right to control access to the roof, provided they had sanction to build more floors.

Not any more.

Under the CMC's building rules of 2009, any new construction or reconstruction in an old building must allow all occupants easy passage to the top. Section 117 (IV) of the rulebook states that "every terrace or topmost storey of any building" shall have "a common access".

The stairs must lead to the terrace and everyone must enjoy equal access. So, if the door to the terrace is kept locked, every flat or unit has the right to demand a key.

What about buildings whose plans were sanctioned before 2009? Can residents demand a key to the roof? "No such challenge has reached the courts yet," said a CMC official.

However, in the light of the Stephen Court tragedy, pressure is expected to mount on housing societies and builders to share duplicates of the terrace key with all residents.

The key to the Stephen Court terrace was with the arrested caretaker, Tarun Bagaria, a sixth-floor resident, said some residents.

The residents added that their appeals for duplicate keys were turned down because the overhead telecom towers needed to be safeguarded.

But the Stephen Court representative said one set of keys was with the caretaker and another with members of the building managing committee. "The grille was not kept locked to protect the mobile towers. There was nothing valuable on the roof. The roof of any such building becomes a den of criminal activities and it was kept locked to prevent that," he said.

What if the occupants of Block II of Stephen Court had the keys of the grille on March 23?

"Some of the victims could have reached the open terrace and not died of suffocation," said Gopal Bhattacharya, the director of fire services.

Many builders in the city continue to retain the right — and keys — to the roof, either to build an extra floor or to milk the rooftop mobile towers.

"Depending on a provision in the original agreement, the builder can retain the right to vertical expansion in future if the civic body increases the FAR (floor-area ratio)," said Pradeep Sureka, the president of the state chapter of Credai, the umbrella body of realtors. "But the right to use the roof remains with all apartment owners."

In modern housing complexes, the flat owners must have roof rights and access, added Jitendra Khaitan of Pioneer Properties.

Nero's fall

If the delay in fighting the Stephen Court fire drew inevitable comparisons to Nero's cursed legend, the emperor's palace complex in Rome suffered a ceiling collapse on Tuesday.

Nero, yoked to the charge of fiddling while Rome burned, built his fabled palace, now around 2,000 years old, as a party villa rather than a residence.

The Golden Palace or Domus Aurea lies on a hill overlooking the Colosseum. An official said the collapse did not touch the main part of the palace but affected a gallery subsequently built at the site by Emperor Hadrian.

Workers were carrying out repairs when a part of the roof collapsed, causing a section of the garden above it to fall into the palace over an area of some 100sqm (AP picture above). No injuries were reported.

Nero did not enjoy the palace for too long. It was completed in AD68, the same year the emperor committed suicide. The complex lay under tonnes of dirt in the bowels of a hill for centuries, before coming to light 500 years ago.

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1100331/jsp/frontpage/story_12285404.jsp

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