Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) instructed to all the service providers, to clean up their Value Added Services within 45 days of its order comes. TRAI’s move is to eliminate customer complaints claiming accidental activation of caller ring back tunes through the facility of "Press star to copy hello tunes" without their explicit consent. The regulatory body’s recent survey showed that almost all operators offered this service where a pre-recorded song plays out before the called party answers.
TRAI ordered directing all telecom operators to maintain transparency in Value Added Service offerings including BSNL and MTNL. The direction states that in all cases of subscription to VAS offers through "pressing of star key or other keys," the service provider shall, subsequent to the pressing of the key by an interested user, convey to the subscriber in writing or through sms or fax or email details of the VAS scheme.
The information should include terms and conditions and applicable charges as well to obtain explicit consent of the customer prior to activation of the service. TRAI has also directed service providers not to activate chargeable services during a customer initiated call to a third party unless the subscriber’s consent had been obtained.
The order also states music or video related value added services such as caller ring back tune, background music, wallpaper shall not be provided, even if it is free of charge, without taking consent of the consumer . TRAI’s contact details should also be displayed in monthly bill statements and at customer service centers.
A BSNL official said the move was welcome even from a service provider’s perspective as it removed room for users to activate a service and then claim that it was accidental.
Friday, July 10, 2009
City lashes in rain
Two hour of rain was all that required to throw the traffic in the city off track on Friday evening. With the clouds opening up just when office-goers were leaving for home, a few inundated roads and two-wheelers rushing to escape from being drenched threw the traffic at several spots in the city into chaos.
Motorists plying on the Tarnaka-Secunderabad, Tarnaka-Mettuguda routes were caught in traffic jams as vehicles moved at snail’s pace Tarnaka-Mettuguda-Lalaguda stretch and the Saroornagar-Dilsukhnagar route were jammed for over two hours. This is not the first time, every time it rains, the fragile nature of our civic infrastructure is revealed.
As the rain continued, the situation only worsened in the usual problem areas like the Begumpet stretch, Panjagutta and Karkhana, to name a few places. Traffic came to a grinding halt for several hours in many areas including Punjagutta, Khairatabad, Somajiguda, Lakdi-Ka-Pul, Ameerpet, Raj Bhavan, Dilsukhnagar, Saidabad, Paradise, Ranigunj, and MG Road. Adding to the calamity was frequent shut down of Power supply in many localities.
According to Met officials, the total rainfall received in city during the spell was 13.4 mm between 6. 30 pm and 8.30pm. They said scattered rain would continue for more two days under the influence of a feeble off-shore trough extending from south Karnataka coast to Kerala coast rainfall activity will occur over west coast in areas like Guntur, Nandyal, Vishakhapatnam, Khammam , Kurnool and some more areas of Coastal Andhra and Telangana. However monsoon is yet to arrive in city, this is pre- monsoon rains weather officials said.
The chief amounts of rainfall recorded in state are Gooty 5cm, Srisailam 4cm, Gudivada and Kalyandurg 3 cm each, Alur, Mandasa and Rayadurg 2cm each and Machilipatnam, Chilamattur and Kanekal, Chintalapudi , Eluru, Kaikalur , Prathipadu and Sullurpet one cm each.
The maximum temperatures significantly fell at many places over Coastal Andhra Pradesh and fell at a few places over Telangana and Rayalaseema. They were above normal at a few places over Telangana and normal over Rayalaseema but significantly below normal at a few places over Coastal Andhra Pradesh. The highest maximum temperature of 42 degrees Celsius was recorded at Ramagundam.
Motorists plying on the Tarnaka-Secunderabad, Tarnaka-Mettuguda routes were caught in traffic jams as vehicles moved at snail’s pace Tarnaka-Mettuguda-Lalaguda stretch and the Saroornagar-Dilsukhnagar route were jammed for over two hours. This is not the first time, every time it rains, the fragile nature of our civic infrastructure is revealed.
As the rain continued, the situation only worsened in the usual problem areas like the Begumpet stretch, Panjagutta and Karkhana, to name a few places. Traffic came to a grinding halt for several hours in many areas including Punjagutta, Khairatabad, Somajiguda, Lakdi-Ka-Pul, Ameerpet, Raj Bhavan, Dilsukhnagar, Saidabad, Paradise, Ranigunj, and MG Road. Adding to the calamity was frequent shut down of Power supply in many localities.
According to Met officials, the total rainfall received in city during the spell was 13.4 mm between 6. 30 pm and 8.30pm. They said scattered rain would continue for more two days under the influence of a feeble off-shore trough extending from south Karnataka coast to Kerala coast rainfall activity will occur over west coast in areas like Guntur, Nandyal, Vishakhapatnam, Khammam , Kurnool and some more areas of Coastal Andhra and Telangana. However monsoon is yet to arrive in city, this is pre- monsoon rains weather officials said.
The chief amounts of rainfall recorded in state are Gooty 5cm, Srisailam 4cm, Gudivada and Kalyandurg 3 cm each, Alur, Mandasa and Rayadurg 2cm each and Machilipatnam, Chilamattur and Kanekal, Chintalapudi , Eluru, Kaikalur , Prathipadu and Sullurpet one cm each.
The maximum temperatures significantly fell at many places over Coastal Andhra Pradesh and fell at a few places over Telangana and Rayalaseema. They were above normal at a few places over Telangana and normal over Rayalaseema but significantly below normal at a few places over Coastal Andhra Pradesh. The highest maximum temperature of 42 degrees Celsius was recorded at Ramagundam.
Historic Charminar to be closed
The city police wants entry of visitors into the historic Charminar closed. The cops fear that the 400 plus years old monument may soon turn into a favourite suicide or murder point. They cite the case of Sameera, who was pushed from the first floor of the monument by her lover, in their defence.
The police have requested Archaeology officials, reminding them that four members of a family committed suicide by jumping from the monument in 1986, following which entry for visitors was banned.
It was reopened in 2003 but again a housewife jumped from the monument in 2005. "We have requested Archaeology and Tourism officials to ban the entry into Charminar to prevent such incidents, said Charminar Assistant Commissioner of Police K Babu Rao.
However, the Archaeological Survey of India and the Tourism Department are in no mood to stop entry of visitors into the edifice. "Security should be increased and measures should be taken to prevent such incidents. Restricting visitors is not the solution," officials said.
"We are not going to close Charminar for tourists because of such incidents. The closure of Charminar is not a solution and it will not stop such incidents in future. Hyderabad is synonymous with Charminar and if it is closed the city will lose its charm. Charminar is not a jail. It’s an historic monument and closure of its access to the public is not justified," said K Veerabhadra Rao, superintendent of ASI.
"Security at Charminar is not enough. ASI should plan to increase the security around Charminar to stop such incidents in future. The security guards around Charminar are never on duty during such incidents," said Mohammed Afzal, member of The Peoples Union for Civic Action and Rights.
"It is high time the custodians of Charminar made some stringent rules for safety of tourists coming there. ASI and Tourism department should take initiative of creating awareness among tourists. These kinds of incidents will put a black mark on the historical value of Charminar," said Veda Kumar, president of Forum for Better Hyderabad.
On an average 3,000 persons visit Charminar every day and 10,000 on weekends. There have been instances when foreign tourists have been harassed by local youth to pose for a photograph with them. The police remained spectators.
The police have requested Archaeology officials, reminding them that four members of a family committed suicide by jumping from the monument in 1986, following which entry for visitors was banned.
It was reopened in 2003 but again a housewife jumped from the monument in 2005. "We have requested Archaeology and Tourism officials to ban the entry into Charminar to prevent such incidents, said Charminar Assistant Commissioner of Police K Babu Rao.
However, the Archaeological Survey of India and the Tourism Department are in no mood to stop entry of visitors into the edifice. "Security should be increased and measures should be taken to prevent such incidents. Restricting visitors is not the solution," officials said.
"We are not going to close Charminar for tourists because of such incidents. The closure of Charminar is not a solution and it will not stop such incidents in future. Hyderabad is synonymous with Charminar and if it is closed the city will lose its charm. Charminar is not a jail. It’s an historic monument and closure of its access to the public is not justified," said K Veerabhadra Rao, superintendent of ASI.
"Security at Charminar is not enough. ASI should plan to increase the security around Charminar to stop such incidents in future. The security guards around Charminar are never on duty during such incidents," said Mohammed Afzal, member of The Peoples Union for Civic Action and Rights.
"It is high time the custodians of Charminar made some stringent rules for safety of tourists coming there. ASI and Tourism department should take initiative of creating awareness among tourists. These kinds of incidents will put a black mark on the historical value of Charminar," said Veda Kumar, president of Forum for Better Hyderabad.
On an average 3,000 persons visit Charminar every day and 10,000 on weekends. There have been instances when foreign tourists have been harassed by local youth to pose for a photograph with them. The police remained spectators.
Girl pushed from Charminar
An 18-year-old girl, Samira, was pushed down from the first floor of Charminar, allegedly by a youngster, Arshad, along with whom she came, on Thursday evening. Samira, who fell on the steps of the monument on Sardar Mahal side, is battling for life at the Osmania General Hospital having suffered multiple fractures. Police initially thought she might have accidentally slipped or attempted suicide.
But Charminar Inspector R. Karan Kumar Singh, who was among the first to reach the spot, and his sub-ordinates were shocked when the woman said she was pushed by Arshad.
The woman with injuries from the toe to the temple was not in a position to explain how the incident happened and what could be the motive for the attempt on her life. All that she could tell the police was her father’s name is Mohammed Yousuf from Talabkatta and she came to Charminar with Arshad, believed to be her lover.
As her condition was critical, police did not disturb her. After speaking to the private security guards at the Charminar and from what they gathered through her replies, the police believe Samira and Arshad came to Charminar and went up the first floor.
Few minutes later, she fell on the steps between the two minarets. Though there were other visitors when the incident occurred, they left the place by the time police came there to collect details. No family members of Samira contacted police when reports last came in.
Police launched a hunt for the prime suspect,Arshad.
But Charminar Inspector R. Karan Kumar Singh, who was among the first to reach the spot, and his sub-ordinates were shocked when the woman said she was pushed by Arshad.
The woman with injuries from the toe to the temple was not in a position to explain how the incident happened and what could be the motive for the attempt on her life. All that she could tell the police was her father’s name is Mohammed Yousuf from Talabkatta and she came to Charminar with Arshad, believed to be her lover.
As her condition was critical, police did not disturb her. After speaking to the private security guards at the Charminar and from what they gathered through her replies, the police believe Samira and Arshad came to Charminar and went up the first floor.
Few minutes later, she fell on the steps between the two minarets. Though there were other visitors when the incident occurred, they left the place by the time police came there to collect details. No family members of Samira contacted police when reports last came in.
Police launched a hunt for the prime suspect,Arshad.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Layout Regularisation Scheme (LRS) Mela
The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) on Monday organised a Layout Regularisation Scheme (LRS) Mela in local circle offices for regulation of unauthorised layouts and plots. The GHMC has asked applicants to collect the intimation letters for payment of balance amount and approval letters in circle offices by producing a copy of the LRS acknowledgement on Monday.
As many as 3,800 applications were expected to be cleared on Monday. The number of applications received circle office-wise are Alwal (700), Qutbullapur (700), Kukatpally (670), Seri Lingampally (455), Rajendranagar (186), LB Nagar (573) and Kapra (603).
"The applicants, who provided all the required information and paid the balance penal amount, were given approval letter on the spot. The date of disposal of balance of LRS applications will be intimated shortly, said GHMC Chief City Planner (CCP) Purushotham Reddy .
So far GHMC had received Rs 1.8 crore and is expecting to get additional Rs 50 crore to Rs 60 crore in the next mela. The applications will be disposed of within 3 months. Meantime, the last date for submission of applications for Layout Regularisation Scheme has been extended up to June 30 with 10 per cent additional penalty.
Sample results of Sai Krupa Hotel
The officials from Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation are waiting for sample results of Sai Krupa Hotel which have been sent for bacteriological analysis to the Institute of Preventive Medicine, Narayanguda.
"On Monday we will get the results from IPM. We will cancel the license of Sai Krupa Hotel if the authorities are found accountable. Meanwhile we have sealed the Kitchen of the hotel" said, M. Jayram, Chief Medical Officer of Health, GHMC.
Fifteen MBA students of New Horizon College from Bangalore after consuming dinner on Thursday night complained of frequent motions and vomiting, a case of food poisoning. The students were admitted to Gandhi hospital for treatment.Following news of the food poisoning case at Sri Krupa hotel, its kitchen was sealed by food inspectors. Meanwhile 115 eating establishments were inspected throughout the city by GHMC officials. Notices were issued stating to rectify the defects mentioned within 10 days or otherwise, the establishments will be closed.
"We have warned owners of the eating establishments if the hygiene of the kitchen is not maintained well as to endanger the public health, it will be closed without any notice" adds, Mr. Jayram.
This inspection was carried in A.S Rao Nagar, Dilsukhnagar, Malakpet, Moosarambagh, Bahadurpura, Zoo park, Nampally, Nallakunta, Barkatpura, Sanathnagar, Masibanda, Kondapur, Miyapur, Madhapur, kukatpally, IDPL junction to Jagathigirigutta Road, East Anandbagh to Safilguda and MG Road, Secunderabad.
Conflict between the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation and its
The ongoing conflict between the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation and its electrical contractors association has finally been resolved, following assurance by civic authorities that they will clear all the pending bills within a month.
The contractors did not switch on streetlights on Friday causing a virtual blackout in twin cities. The contractors resorted to sudden strike to put pressure on the GHMC to clear long pending dues. They were also seeking extension of their contract by one more year. The present contract expired in February.
There are about four lakh streetlights in the city. The GHMC owes Rs 4 crore to the Electrical Contractors' Association.On April 22 the GHMC Electrical Contractors' Association wrote a letter to the civic authorities stating that they would stop maintenance of streetlights from May 1 if the pending bills were not cleared immediately. The striking contractors were arrested for allegedly damaging government property.
GHMC Special Commissioner MT Krishna Babu said "we assured the contractors that we would look into their demands after the election process is completed."
"We have been continuing the work despite the contract period coming to a close, just on the request of the engineers and other officials. They also pointed out it was for the second time the issue was brought to the notice of the Commissioner but no steps were taken to resolve the issue," said Sudheer Agarwal of the association.
The contractors did not switch on streetlights on Friday causing a virtual blackout in twin cities. The contractors resorted to sudden strike to put pressure on the GHMC to clear long pending dues. They were also seeking extension of their contract by one more year. The present contract expired in February.
There are about four lakh streetlights in the city. The GHMC owes Rs 4 crore to the Electrical Contractors' Association.On April 22 the GHMC Electrical Contractors' Association wrote a letter to the civic authorities stating that they would stop maintenance of streetlights from May 1 if the pending bills were not cleared immediately. The striking contractors were arrested for allegedly damaging government property.
GHMC Special Commissioner MT Krishna Babu said "we assured the contractors that we would look into their demands after the election process is completed."
"We have been continuing the work despite the contract period coming to a close, just on the request of the engineers and other officials. They also pointed out it was for the second time the issue was brought to the notice of the Commissioner but no steps were taken to resolve the issue," said Sudheer Agarwal of the association.
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